Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting paranormal romance, December 2, 2008
This review is from: Cursed (Mass Market Paperback)
Years ago, Alex asked Elizabeth out. She turned him down. In the twelve years that have passed since then, Elizabeth has haunted his dreams, leaving him unable to develop a relationship with any other woman in his life. He only wants his Beth Ann. Now she is back in his waking life, and he is determined to break through her formidable defenses. Because being with her now may mean the difference in whether she and her family lives or dies in the very near future. With the evil Maeve awakened and bent on vengeance, none of them are safe. Jamie Leigh Hansen had a wonderful debut with her first novel, BETRAYED. With CURSED, the sequel to that first story, she proves she is no one-hit wonder as she delivers a paranormal romance that is even more compelling than its predecessor. I totally fell for Alex in this book. I liked him a lot in BETRAYED, but getting to know him better in CURSED showed a man who is the epitome of hero in anyone's book. Sensitive, strong, thoughtful, and patient, he is the kind of guy who can kick major butt, but prefers to solve things without fighting whenever possible. That combination is exactly what Elizabeth needs in her life. Elizabeth is such a giving person, with a warmth and sense of responsibility that has her sacrificing everything to help her family. It's no wonder that Alex loves her so much. Unfortunately, she is so fearful of repeating her mother's mistakes that she can't trust love, and chooses to be alone rather than risk her heart. Well, at least until Alex comes around again... Jamie Leigh Hansen set the stage for the villain of CURSED in the previous story, and she really developed the character of Maeve more in this book. The woman is just evil through and through. Counterbalance to Maeve are the mysterious pair that work to protect those cursed by Maeve in both stories, Silas and Draven. I like this duo more and more, and am very intrigued to see what secrets will be unearthed about them in future sequels. The never ending battle of good vs. evil has never been more heartrending or heartwarming than it is in Jamie Leigh Hansen's book CURSED. This sexy paranormal romance is definitely a must-read! **Courtesy of Wild on Books**
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rather flat and uninspiring, January 11, 2009
This review is from: Cursed (Mass Market Paperback)
'Cursed' is the follow-up to 'Betrayed' which featured the improbably-named Kalyss and Dreux and a plot concerning an evil queen who turned a man (Dreux) into stone. 'Cursed' focuses on Kalyss's partner in their dojo, Alex Foster, and also has the rather Lazarus-like Geoffrey, whom we met in the previous book, playing a part. Alex has always carried a torch for Beth Ann Raines, despite her rejecting him on the night of the Prom and moving away from Spokane. However Alex has been dreaming of her for some time, very realistic-feeling dreams, and they tie in with what he knows about the evil demon Maeve (who battled Dreux) and her doings. When Alex sees Beth Ann in the flesh he instantly tries to reconnect with her, helping her with her flat tyre on her car. He discovers that she's living with ten children, the offspring of her brothers and sisters, whilst her mother (their former caregiver) is dying in hospital. Life for Beth, now known as Elizabeth, is incredibly busy and Alex wants to help her out. Elizabeth needs to keep Alex at a distance, however, because she has a strange power over dreams and has previously locked people into dreams because she doesn't want to lose them. She doesn't realise Alex has some strange powers himself - can the two of them work together to change their destiny and keep all Elizabeth's charges safe? Somehow this story didn't work for me. It took me several days to read as it wasn't at all gripping. In fact it felt that there wasn't really any significant thread running through the story. The overall plot was unusual but it didn't quite tie together. The most successful parts were when Elizabeth interacted with her nephews and nieces and, to some extent, with the rather-too-good-to-be-true Alex. However the sections with Maeve and the other fallen angels, plus Elizabeth's dealings with various people in dreams, and her attempts to change the possible destiny of her and her relatives, just didn't work at all for me. Although the book was a sequel, and I had read the previous one, I wasn't entirely sure what was going on the whole time and I think it would be even more confusing for anyone who hadn't read the previous story. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting twist to the paranormal romance genre., January 6, 2009
This review is from: Cursed (Mass Market Paperback)
A curse was cast by one of the most powerful of the original fallen angels, Maeve, the goddess of lust. The chaos caused was horrible. Then someone interfered with Maeve's curse and trapped her in the Tunnels of the Forgotten Ones. It has been almost a millennium, but now Maeve is free at last. She is weak, but her strength grows quickly. First Maeve will find out who interfered. Her vengeance will be swift and merciless. Then she will search for her powerful emerald. Elizabeth "Beth" Raines has a life in Seattle as a designer and beta-tester of software applications. But for now she must return to Spokane and place the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her mother is dying in the hospital. Her brother is in prison. Her sister was in drug rehab, but has disappeared. Beth must not only care for her dying mother, but care for ten nieces and nephews. The house is run down, there is little money, and the kids delight in making things worse. There is seldom even escape in sleep. A monster stalks the corridors of her dream realm. Sometimes she can slip into a room of paradise with Alex, a man she care for but cannot have without harming him. Alex Foster knows Beth has a secret. For the past twelve years she has pulled him into her dreams and ruined him for any other woman. But Alex has secrets too. He is a healer. He can heal inflicted wounds. But not if they be natural, such as cancer.) Alex knows that danger hunts Beth and the ten special children she is caring for. And only Alex and Beth's combined supernatural gifts can save them all from horrible deaths. *** Though the plot is sound and characters are interesting, the narration needed by a pair fallen seraphim takes away some of the intensity of the story. However, I can understand why the author wrote this tale in such a way. Readers can learn much from the fallen pair that would be difficult, if not impossible, to learn from the main characters. If you have not read the first book, Betrayed do not fret. You will totally understand what is going on and why. All-in-all, an interesting twist in the paranormal romance genre. *** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
