"terrific historical vampire romance"
By 1822 anyone in England especially in the Wiltshire area
who knows of Ann Van Helsing assumes she is insane as she
avoids human contact as if everyone else suffers from the
plague. However, Ann's shunning of human contact is
actually self-preservation; when she touches someone; she
immediately learns everything about that person even their
deepest desires hidden from themselves. Thus Ann hides at
her uncle's estate, but principally in the nearby woods
and caves. In Transylvania his arrogance led to his making an evil
action that placed his world on the brink of extinction;
his punishment is a millennium as a hunter. Thus vampire
Stephen Sincai roams Europe searching and destroying those
abominations made by others of his species. However, his
last prey has left Stephen severely injured and bleeding
in the woods frequented by Ann. When she finds him
seemingly near death, she cannot stop herself from
touching him. Now she knows his frightening history
including that he is a vampire who has been cursed by his
people for what he wrought back in the twelfth century.
Instead of being repelling, Ann is attracted to Stephen,
who though it is ataboo taboo reciprocates her feelings.
As they fall in love, his evil transgression is near ready
to destroy her creator and his beloved. The third Susan Squires' historical vampire romance (see
THE COMPANION and THE HUNGER) is a terrific tale due to
the full blooded lead couple. The story line is action-
packed with readers anticipating a high noon (make that
midnight) showdown between the hero and the malevolent
one. Still this tale belong to the fine lead pair whose
forbidden love is a double edged sword as the most
powerful tool in their repertoire and their most
vulnerable Achilles' Heel when the confrontation occurs. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 25, 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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