Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real page turner, November 26, 2005
This is a hard book to review because there's much more to it than meets the eye. Dark Dreamer is a real page turner that successfully mixes romance, paranormal mystery, and thriller.
Rowe Devlin, a horror author, moves in next door to two identical twins, Phoebe and Cara Temple. Phoebe is looking for love but seems too dependent on her twin to make room for it. She also possesses telepathic abilities that have two government agencies competing to control her. Cara is trapped between protectiveness and love of her sister, and a desire to lead her own life. They both flirt with Rowe, who has a bad habit of falling for women who don't want her. She's a down to earth person who doesn't believe in ghosts, but she's sharing her new house with one that wants her to leave. To discover why the ghost is lingering, she must solve a mystery from the past.
What sets this book apart is not only the excellent writing and great characters, but also the fascinating and believable portrait of the twins. The complexity and intensity of their bond is shown with great subtlety and skill. Another thing I loved was the erotic side of the story. I've read most of this author's romances and it's obvious that she's so good she can write at any temperature she wants. She turns up the heat in this book! Dark Dreamer is easily one of the best books I've read this year.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning start to brilliant new series, November 27, 2005
You can see from my reviews that I don't rave about every book. But this one is worth raving about. I was hooked from the first sentence and captivated all the way through. As usual, this author has written a highly original book full of memorable characters. Rowe has plenty of commonsense except when it comes to women. Cara is hot and trendy and sleeps around. Phoebe is seductive and dreamy and her story alone is compelling reading. There are also some amazingly good secondary characters.
The plot is fast paced and engrossing and the writing is vintage Fulton - sharp, funny and classy. I was a nervous wreck in the scenes when Rowe is in danger from the ghost in her house. As far as the romance goes, the tension had me sweating, and the sex is spicier than in the Moon Island series - no complaints here! The bath scene was one of the most teasing and erotic scenes I've ever read, and at the same time it was very emotional and real. Also the ending was nothing short of brilliant, and the complicated bond between the twins is written with true perception.
Dark Dreamer is a romance wrapped within a thriller built around a mystery from the past and a threat in the present. The author pulls off the demanding plot without skipping a beat or losing the reader, demonstrating why she is one of the best. This is the first book in Ms. Fulton's new 'Heartstoppers' series and it's obviously meant to be a different kind of book from her ultra-romantic Moon Island stories. I thought it was stunning and I can't wait for the next one.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read from beginning to end, July 26, 2006
I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of this novel. A number of readers often express concern when an author separates women into sterotypes. In theory, I have the same problem, so it surprised me when I knew the sterotypes were there and they didn't bother me.
Phoebe is so delicate on so many levels, from beginning to end, but the author doesn't try to hide that fact, or force the character out of her comfort zone. Instead, she allows us to witness Phoebe's personal growth as multiple mysteries develop and unfold. The result is a very believeable character, one who has a gift and is in a position to help so many people, drawing strength not from her own ego, but from those who love her.
Conversely, Cara initially appears to be the more attractive target as she is the one who kepts everything under control. But we eventually see that, despite her mental strength, Cara is not immune to her own set of vulnerabilities.
In the end -- and I must commend the author for her choices in when and how to bring this all to a close -- the reader is left with feelings of warmth and compassion that are not easily forgotten.
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