"Stephan's story and what a story it is!"
I believe this is Susan Squires' best book yet! For those
fans who have read THE COMPANION and THE HUNGER, we now
get Stephan Sencai's story and what a story it is! Stephan is still trying to atone for the huge mistake he
made with Asharti. After the whole Asharti debacle,
Stephan thinks he is totally unredeemable. He decides to
go to Rubius and Mirso in order to try to get back into
the ancient ones' good graces. There he is told if he goes
through rigorous training through Rubius' three daughters
and becomes a Harrier, he will atone for all of his sins.
Stephan thinks he has no choice so he agrees. Little does
he know the horror he must endure in order to be worthy of
the challenge he is to face. He knows as soon as training
is complete, he must destroy all of Asharti's made minions
starting with Lord Kilkenny. Is he up to the task? Ann Van Helsing has always been different. She is a unique
individual who can determine everything about a person
just from one touch but this comes at a very high price to
her and to those she touches so she is a loner with only
her uncle to take care of her. Unfortunately her uncle is
very ill and thinks if he marries her off to a distant
relative in name only that this will take care of her.
The problem is the distant relative has devious plans of
his own. Ann meets Stephan at her special cave when they both come
up a vampire feeding from a local girl. Stephan knows he
must destroy the vampire but hesitates in front of Ann and
thereby losing the chance to destroy the vampire. He knows
there is something different about Ann and he's intrigued
but knows there can come nothing of it. After all he has
a job to do now. This is an intense and highly emotional read. Susan
Squires was totally in her element when writing this
book. It is highly recommended as are all of her books
thus far. Susan Squires can write in any genre, any time
period and I will be there to gobble them down and want
more. As always I eagerly await each and every one of her
stories!
Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted April 3, 2006
SummaryA Forbidden Temptation . . .
It is 1821, and all who know the beautiful, mysterious Ann
Van Helsing believe she is insane. Yet Ann's curse is not
lunacy, but rather the deep psychic ability that allows her
to know everything about another human being—their
history, thoughts, and desires—simply by touching them.
Overwhelmed by a power she can barely control, Ann roams the
woods and caves near her estate, searching for a peace that
eludes her. It is here she encounters the man who will
change everything.
Leaves Her Yearning . . .
To repent for an unforgivable transgression against his own
kind, vampire Stephen Sincai has become a vigilante who must
hunt and kill those whom other vampires have made. When Ann
discovers Stephen bleeding in the woods, she reaches to
touch him before she can stop herself. In an instant, Ann
knows every fiber of Stephen's being—and the knowledge
is at once frightening and insatiable.
For Eternal Fulfillment . . .
Ann and Stephen are drawn together by a force more powerful
than they know. As Stephen and Ann continues to fight
against the evil surrounding them, an unseen treachery has
yet to be revealed: an enemy bent on destroying them by
making them choose between what they love and fear the most.
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