"Terrific Introduction to NEW Bombshell Series"

In the first book of the Silhouette Bombshell Madonna Key series you are introduced to an unusual heroine, Caterina Dauvergne. She is a museum curator of the Mussee Cluny who had once stolen a priceless artifact. Still trying to maintain a relationship with her dying grandmother her mind was caught off guard by tremors that shook the ground beneath her warning of an earth quake -- IN PARIS! The fissure that opened and Caterina fell into revealed five beheaded skeletons, mysterious tiles and keys that would spark the beginning of an adventure and lead her on a trail of mystery and possibly her destiny. When Caterina touched the key she was shown visions of the terrors and desperate actions of women she would later identify as Marian worshippers beheaded during the French Revolution.

Catrina called on the one person she knew she could count on to help her, Rhys Pritchard, archeological teacher and ex-priest to translate the religious etchings on her discovery. Their complicated relationship (it was his friend whom she'd stolen the Medieval chalice from) would become more so. Together they'd embark on discovering the secrets behind the unusual find as a madman stalked Caterina willing to kill her to keep the artifacts and the truth dead and buried. In the meantime, someone else was desperate to obtain these tiles to create more havoc and manmade earthquakes?

In this fully robust, stand alone introduction for this fascinating series Vaughn keeps up a fast paced tempo uncovering more and more mysteries that effectively open threads for the books to come. Caterina is a terrific heroine who has made mistakes in her past, a wounded soul who doesn't want to feel, yet secretly yearns for that special connection in her life with another. Romance wise Rhys is conflicted over feelings for Caterina -- desiring her and hating the loss of self control she invokes in him. Vaughn introduces several other secondary characters who may or may not be all that they seem -- Scarlet Rubashka being one of them - and one hopes to see returning in the future books of this series. High marks must be given for this fascinating opener as Vaughan expertly weaves historical aspects, suspense, romance and intrigue in a most astonishing way in this promising new series for the Bombshell line.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO -- Reviewers International Organization

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted February 21, 2007