"A thrilling debut gothic romance by a rising star"
This stunning debut novel by new author Eve Silver is sure
to keep readers on the edge of their seats in captivated
interest. Darcie Finch is desperate. She has no money, no food, and
no place to live after the death of her stepfather. She
arrives in Whitechapel, on the doorstep of the well-known
Madam, Mrs. Feather, for help. Though sent away from the
house, she is given the name of one man who will give her
a job. Now Darcie is out in the cold dark night in search
of the home of Dr. Damien Cole. Fortunately for her the man himself whisks her off of the
dank streets. Damien takes her in, no questions asked
after hearing the reference Darcie provides him. She is
thrilled to have a job and a dry bed, swearing to do a
wonderful job. She should be quite content, but strange
occurrences plague this household. Maidservants seem to
disappear, unusual people show up at all hours, the kind
doctor has been seen in questionable circumstances... and
of course who can forget for even a moment that a deadly
stranger stalks the shadowy streets? Then there is the fact Darcie has a strong attraction to
Damian, and he to her. Who is the real Dr. Cole? Is he the
caring man who will help anyone in need? Or are these late
night visitors combined with those niggling thoughts in
the back of her mind hints that he is a ruthless murderer?
Will Darcie and Damien's passion be their salvation... or
their undoing? What a read! Ms. Silver strikes at the very center of
readers with this story. One will feel the dark cold of
late night London streets, sensing the evil pervading
Whitechapel. The chill of fear and the heights of passion
will invade the reader's heart. The story is fraught with
tension, keeping the pages turning late in to the night.
The plot gradually picks up pace as it progresses, gearing
up for the exciting climactic moments that will make
readers hold their breath in anticipation. Darcie is a strong woman, who changes from the young
privileged girl she was into a young lady who is confident
in her abilities and her strong mind. One sees how she
adapts to her new life with ease, winning the esteem and
friendship of her fellow servants and the heart of Damien
Cole. Damien is a tortured man, agonizing over his
inability to protect and aid the one person who needed him
most. He is lost in the dark world of his perceived
failure, unable to see the light until Darcie arrives in
his life. Their mutual respect for one another first grows
from friendship to an all-consuming desire they are
helpless to fight. They need each other to be complete. The cast of secondary characters is full and varied, with
people from all walks of life. Darcie's friend and fellow
maid Mary is a sweet girl who has her own issues with
which to deal. There is Poole, the head servant, who come
across as abrupt and cold, but hides a tender side as
well. Readers will find they can't help but like Mrs.
Feather, who hides her own broken heart behind the life of
a well-known Madam. Of course, one can't forget Inspector
Trent who is on the trail of a killer, the suspicious late
night visitors to the Cole home, and the frightening
monster stalking the streets. If Dark Desires is any indication, Eve Silver is on the
path to a great future in the gothic romance genre.
Readers will become engrossed in the story immediately.
The conclusion to this tale leaves readers with a feeling
of eager anticipation for the next novel from this
promising writer. © Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2005. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted October 29, 2005
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