"Another phenomenal story of the Carpathians"
Gabriel has just arisen from a centuries long sleep, deep
in the earth. His first thought is to assuage his crippling
hunger. He needs blood, and he needs it desperately.
However, he is hesitant to feed for fear his hunger will
make him unable to stop... and push him past the point of
no
return, causing him to turn vampire. In this moment of
desperation she comes to him, making his world explode into
brilliant color and emotion, as she freely offers her life
for his. Francesca Del Ponce is a remarkable healer, having
dedicated her last several hundred years to helping the
sick and underprivileged. She turned away from her own kind
centuries ago when Gabriel, her lifemate, rejected her.
Ashamed she could not capture his love, she left her home
and sought a new life for herself, one where no one would
know who or what she was. Francesca set a new course,
aiding humans with her incredible skills, determined to
live her life as a human, avoiding detection by her people,
Carpathians and vampires alike. When Gabriel stumbled back into Francesca's life, all of
her well-orchestrated plans were for naught. Having found
his lifemate when he was so close to losing his battle with
the demon within, he was not about to give her up a second
time. Francesca, unaccustomed to depending on anyone or
anything, struggles with her newly awakened desire, while
Gabriel tries to give her the space and time she needs to
accept him. While Gabriel and Francesca are learning to meld their
separate lives, an ancient enemy finds them during this
emotional time. For Lucian, Gabriel's twin, one of the most
powerful hunters of the undead, now turned vampire himself,
has awoken as well, and his conflict with Gabriel wages on.
Gabriel made a promise to his twin over a thousand years
ago that should Lucian turn, only Gabriel will destroy him.
So the game continues, sweeping them across Paris, in a
dangerous battle where there can only be one survivor. Ms. Feehan has done it again as her saga continues to
unfold in this, the latest of the Dark series. Her richly
detailed world comes alive again with Francesca's and
Gabriel's bittersweet reunion. Their story is provocative,
a kaleidoscope of emotion and a whirlwind of passion.
Gabriel's love for Francesca is so strong that he tries to
be noble and give her the opportunity to accept him into
her life, on her own terms, even though it goes against
everything he knows. His instincts are telling him to grab
hold and never let go, to protect her life at the risk of
his own. That is exactly what this book does to the
reader...
takes hold and never lets up until the end. Just as strong
as Gabriel's adoration for Francesca, is the agony he feels
over the vow to his brother, to destroy Lucian before it is
too late. Ms. Feehan's talent for weaving a thoroughly engrossing
tale shines bright once more. Every book is better than the
ones before as she climbs her way to the very peak of
stardom in the paranormal romance world. With the
introduction of even more characters in this book, she
shows the end to her world is yet very far from coming. One
will laugh, cry, scream, and shout for joy throughout this
entire tale. © Kelley A. Hartsell, 2002. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted February 12, 2002
SummaryGabriel wakes deep within the ground, and the first
sensation he feels is an overwhelming hunger for blood. But
as he hunts the dark streets of Paris for prey, a voice
calls to him, soothing, calming, giving him the strength to
control his craving. Francesca Del Ponce is a healer, a
woman who radiates goodness as powerfully as the sun does
light. Though Garbriel knows she will be like hot silk in
his arms, though he knows the taste of her will be
addictive, he fears for her life and his soul if he takes
her. Then with one mind-shattering vow she gives herself--
I offer freely, without reservation, I offer my life for
yours as is my right--and with a firestorm of long-
forgotten feelings, he glimpses salvation.
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