Customer Reviews

Dark Rival (The Masters of Time)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought Dark Rival, because I have faith in good authors and know some have off days. For the most part, I love Brenda Joyce. I do not enjoy the "Cahill" books (so just do not read them) and did not love the last De Warren book, but otherwise I pretty much think she rocks. A huge exception to this "rule" was the first book in this Masters of Time series - Dark Seduction. I do not hate that book, but I honestly cannot recall a single fact about the storyline or the characters.

Dark Rival is a very good book and it is so much better than the first in the series. This cannot really be a summary review because the plot is complicated and a summary will threaten to blow the twists and turns. I have no doubt people who cannot suspend their disbelief to picture an Escada gown in 1430 will hate this book and just should not read it. But hell it is a story about time travel to start with so suspend away...

The lead characters are very good. The Hero Royce is complex and darling and you want him heal and to come out on top. The Heroine Allie starts great but becomes less likable (but comes back). For me the Heroine is what keeps this from being an outstanding book. By page 360 I started to really dislike Allie. She did not get the complexities of ALL that was going on because she would not use her BRAIN. She eventually improved but I was so frustrated with her that I wanted someone to slap her, tell her to get a grip and that she was far too old to behave so childishly.

My only other complaint is that I wanted more development of the Allie/Royce relationship in modern time (the first time) before the time travel to 1430. Otherwise, this book is good ole Brenda Joyce. Angst galore! It made me laugh, brought me to tears, was very sweet at parts and really made me long for a good happy ending. I would recommend the book and I look forward to another one in the series.

Black Royce was a fledgling Master new to his powers, when he watched his wife suffer at the hands of the formidably evil Kael. For centuries he travels back to this horrible time and place reliving the pain and immense grief, silently wishing that he could change the past. It was while he was on one of these journeys that he suddenly hears a woman's voice begging and pleading with him to find her. Incredulous, he wonders what kind of trick this is and starts a wild and relentless search. Floundering in bewilderment he is informed by a fellow Master that she is from his future and is his destiny. He gives up his search for her knowing that in time they will cross paths again.

In the year 2007, Allie Monroe is an heiress by day but a gifted healer by night. When she is confronted by daemons, a Highland Warrior appears to her and saves her from certain death. Grateful, Allie is stunned at the immediate and powerful attraction she feels for this irresistible but dangerous Highlander named Black Royce. One of the Master's of Time she has heard about. Whisking her off to his castle in present day Scotland, Allie and Royce bask in their love but evil lurks around them still and once again Royce battles evil and he is killed. Devastated that she was unable to save him, Allie begs Aidan to take her back to a time before she met Royce. She knows it was not Royce's time to die, and she will do anything to undo the past to protect her future with her soul mate.

Dark Rival is the second entry in Brenda Joyce's new series The Masters Of Time. It is a sexy and steamy romp through time as Allie and Royce battle evil and defy the odds with their intensely powerful bond. Allie is a feisty but determined woman, she stands up for what is right and she knew when she saw Royce he was the mate that she'd been waiting her whole life for. Bringing a smile to this reader's face, as the twists, turns and surprises are unraveled throughout the novel. Royce is an indomitable male hero whose torments in his past affect his future. With Allie's quiet and patient determination he is able to banish his horrible memories and become the powerful master we read about in Dark Seduction. Dark Rival continues to develop and enhance the roles of The Masters bringing a better understanding of this world Brenda Joyce has created. I am especially drawn to Aidan and I cannot wait for his story, he is such a tortured and sexy character that his story is demanding to be read.

Primarily my disappointment lies with the heroine Allie Monroe. She was so immature and whiny that I just wanted Royce to send her back to her time and be done with her. If Ms Joyce could have just placed an older, wiser heroine in Allie's place, I would have enjoyed reading this book much more. Despite the disappointments, I still loved all of the other characters and felt that there was decent character development.

I have enjoyed many of Brenda Joyce's book over the years, but I have to say this one was just weird! I had forgotten all about this new series after I read Book 1, and then happened to come across this one, Dark Rival, at the used book store. After I got home, I realized it was Book 2 of the series after reading the inside cover. I guess that tells you what I thought of the first one too --- forgettable.

There were just so many things wrong with this book, including bad editing. I can't even mention the discrepancies I saw without blowing the storyline for future readers. And Allie Monroe was just not likeable to me. I agree with other reviewers - she was whiny, immature, and really, just plain stupid or dense or whatever.

I realize that time travel books are not rocket science, but many authors have used this platform and some have actually told well-written, (almost) believable stories. That is just not the case here. I will read Books 3 and 4 though, if I can get them at the library, because I am a sucker for Series books.

I loved this book! It has been a long, long time since a romance novel has brought me to tears, but this one surely did. I made an attachment to these characters and I felt their pain. As Allie struggles to make Royce understand he deserves to be loved I felt her frustration and despair. And I cried for her.
The characters were rich and fully developed. The book had my attention right from the beginning and I finished it in record time. So far both books in this series have held me spellbound and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

The charachters was beautifull, and storyline was bold, couldn't put the book down untill the end. Loved it.

If you want an ubersensual time traveling immortal Highlander of your own, better move to N.Y. city quick before they're all taken -- they're going fast.

Dark Rival gives us healer Allie who is already aware of the demons stalking the streets and she has dedicated herself to trying to save as many women from being victim of pleasure crimes (still icky but only lightly touched on in this book) as possible. Since Allie's already part of the fight, she is not surprised when a gorgeous Highlander turns up to aid her in the battle against the demons.

Allie has never been in love, so you can't blame her for instantly falling for the deeply sensual Scot, Royce, who tells her he's waited 575 years to be with her and then sweeps her off her feet with the single best day and sensual night of her life. Her bliss is short lived when Royce is killed. Though she is told that fate is immutable, she bullies her way back to the past certain that she can save Royce and their love.

In the past, Allie is annoyingly impulsive and has no sense of self preservation. She openly heals, even though she is now in a time when witches are burned at the stake. She nearly gets Royce killed again and herself several times. Combine that with a lack of self esteem, as she spends the bulk of her time chasing after a man who keeps rejecting her cruelly and I found her frustrating at times. But as much as Royce, tries to keep Allie at bay, he just can't stay away and just when they are starting to make headway in their relationship, Royce ends up having to face his past or lose Allie in the same guilt inducing way that he lost his first wife centuries before.

If you are looking for a smart romantic paranormal, Dark Rival is not it. But finally, the Time Masters actually do use their time traveling ability for more than dragging a modern women back into the past -- Royce and his nemesis carry their battle through time -- even though there was no attempt to plan the story so that time paradox's were dealt with in an intelligent way. That said, if you like erotic romances wrapped in a paranormal wrapper, with lots of steamy stuff and a bit of a story, Dark Rival does fit the bill. Royce and the rest of the Masters of Time are sexual to almost a ludicrous degree, but this time since Royce is fighting against being involved with Allie, there is none of the creepy overwhelming sensual compulsion based lust that kept me from liking Dark Seduction (Masters of Time, Book 1).

I am looking forward to the next book which is Aidan's story, although the direction Joyce plans to take him, worries me. Aidan was one of the few things I liked about the previous book, so I hope he gets the story he deserves.

Brenda Joyce is an amazing author. She makes sure the reader is wondering and asking questions. This book is a page turner, full of action, romance and I had trouble laying the book down for any length of time. " Masters of time, Dark Rivel" Was even better than the first, if at all possible. Brenda Joyce is the best!
I want more, more, more!

DARK RIVAL is the story of Allie Monroe, a healer, and her protector, Royce. Able to time travel, Royce appears in present day New York and guards Allie from darkness as she heals others. When Royce is murdered in front of her, Allie forces his friend, Aidan, to take her back in time to prevent his death from happening.

I realize this is not the first book in the series, but I was lost for a good section of the book. The author did continue to reference the backstory, but this proved more annoying than helpful. I did at least grasp the concept of the story.

Allie knows her calling in life, almost too well, and is portrayed with a solid strength. She was likable until she and Royce were reunited. At this point, she came across as overbearing and whiny, which resulted in him appearing wimpy. Royce doesn't know what to think of this woman who keeps insisting that she is in love with him. He is sworn to a code and does try to keep her safe, even when she does everything to encourage 'evil' to find her.

The plot is filled with undeveloped, secondary characters with storylines that lacked continuity and believability. The scenes with the queen and Royce only served to undermine his character and distanced Allie from me as a reader.

There were glimmers of hope, but these all fizzled. I really wanted, and tried, to like this book. I love time travel stories. This one, even with all of its false starts, never came across.

CarolASpradling.com author

I usually like to read Brenda Joyce's book; however, this book proved to be so irritating. First of all the heroine starts off as this very strong, confident woman. But by the middle of the book all she ever did was whine. There was no build up of the relationship between the hero and heroine. They screwed and for her it was a deep and enduring love. OH PLEASE. So for the rest of the book she kept harping on how much she loved him. I found the book shallow and empty. If you just want to read something that has bulky, oversexed characters, get this book. If not, find something else and save your money.