Five Star Expressions - The Guardian of the Amulets [Hardcover]

Jessica Andersen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786247045 | ISBN-13: 978-0786247042 | Publication Date: February 2, 2003 | Edition: 1

When she escaped from Santa Caribe Island, Christine took only what she could carry -- three priceless amulets of religious significance and a Guardian cub. Seemingly betrayed by her husband Michael and his criminal friend Jonas, Christine has no choice but to fake her death and go into hiding with her daughter. When Michael finds out where Christine died, he travels there to say his goodbyes -- never knowing that she thought him a traitor . . . or that she was alive. Once the secrets are revealed Michael and Christine set out to return the amulets to their rightful owners. . . and to right the wrongs between them.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For eight years Christine Finch has been running from her past, the men who would stop at nothing to find her, and her husband, Michael. She has set up a small candle shop in Farewell, Massachusetts, with her daughter, Kayla. Meanwhile, Michael has been valiantly searching for his wife since she mysteriously disappeared on their wedding night. Believing that she is dead, he is shocked to find her alive and to learn that he has a daughter. Just when Michael thinks he will finally learn about Christine's disappearance, the men she's been hiding from resurface and kidnap Kayla. Christine explains that the men are really after three precious amulets, and, determined to save their daughter, she and Michael must learn to trust each other once again. As Michael and Christine work together, their love is rekindled, but it may not be strong enough to save their family. Part romance, mystery, and fairy tale, Andersen's tale is a captivating book with wide appeal. Megan Kalan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 201 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (February 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786247045
• ISBN-13: 978-0786247042
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,790,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jessica Anderson is a shining new star in romance fiction!, May 2, 2003

By 

Freelance Reviewer "Carla" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - The Guardian of the Amulets (Hardcover)

Christine Finch aka Dewdrop, has left a world of pain and betrayal behind for eight years. She is now focused on raising her eight year old daughter, Kayla, and making a living at her candle shop in the small town of Farewell, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But Dewdrop has a secret, and it involves three mysterious amulets and a telepathic lion.

When Michael Finch comes to the end of his eight year quest to find his bride, Christine, he is stunned to find out that she's dead. He's even more stunned to walk into a small candle shop and find her alive. What Michael discovers about the past eight years and what really happened after Christine disappeared on their wedding night, will test his strength, intellect and trust.

Can these two return the amulets to their rightful owner and heal the pain from the past, learning to again trust each other?

Superb characterization, a unique and fast-paced storyline, and flawless writing combine to make THE GUARDIANS OF THE AMULET one heck of a read. I look forward to reading more from this amazing author!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating paranormal romantic suspense, October 22, 2004

By 

Kelley Hartsell "Kelley" (Irving, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Guardian of the Amulets (Paperback)

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Christine left Santa Caribe Island after her first night as a married woman. She had witnessed some very disturbing events that put her life in danger. Believed to have been betrayed by her husband and his best friend Jonas, she runs, taking with her only three religious amulets and a lion cub, Thor, one of the Guardians of the island, who has abilities beyond human comprehension. After giving Michael, her husband, one chance to prove his innocence, and he seemingly betrays her even more, she has put that life behind her and has been on the run ever since.

Several years later, Christine is alive and well in a small Cape Cod town. She had faked her death shortly after arriving there, hoping to throw those after her off her trail. She now lives under an assumed name, with the daughter of she and her husband, and Thor. Michael had just found out about her death, heading to the town of Farewell, to say his to his wife, only to bump into her in the flesh, with the daughter he never knew he had.

Now the real adventure begins. Michael does not understand why Christine left him all those years ago, nor why she seems to hate him upon finding each other again. Slowly the story comes out, and Michael realizes he had been used in a game he can't believe, one conducted by his best friend. When he unknowingly puts Christine and their daughter Kayla in danger, they have to work together to solve the mystery of why those amulets are so important to Jonas, and why he will stop at nothing to retrieve them. Through it all they learn their love has never died, but only grown stronger. But can they get beyond the hurts of their past to build the life together they have always dreamed of?

This is a suspenseful story that crosses land and water from Cape Cod to the Caribbean Islands. Christine is a remarkable woman to have overcome so much in her young life. She was not the strongest heroine in flashback scenes, but her ordeal shaped her into a force to be reckoned with. It sure doesn't hurt either that she has a huge wild cat as her constant companion. Michael is a confused man who just wanted his friend and wife to get along, the reason behind some of his less then stellar choices made, and can't understand why they don't just love each other. He is torn between his love of the woman he made wife before she vanished, and his loyalty to the friend he thought he could count on for anything. Though Michael is a powerful member of this story, the focus does seem to be on Christine and how she handled the curves fate had thrown her way.

From the very first paragraph, the reader learns they are in for a treat. Ms. Anderson paints a vivid picture that one can't help but envision in the mind. Her descriptive passages are delightful and the action never stops throughout the entire book. There is plenty of mystery as Christine and Michael try to find the answers to what the amulets really can do, and what they mean to those after them. And who can forget Thor, the loveable telepathic lion? He is a wild cat of extraordinary abilities, like all of his kind, who was bred for one reason... protect Santa Caribe and her native inhabitants, and never let the amulets of power fall into the wrong hands.

Ms. Anderson has found a winning formula with this book, combining adventure, passion, mystery, and the paranormal into a story that will enthrall the readers, not releasing them from its spell until the final page is turned. This reviewer hopes this story is a sign of things to come from the talented author, and hopes just maybe to get to visit with some of these beloved characters again. This one is not to be missed!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2003. All rights reserved.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine romantic crime thrillers with some paranormal elements, April 4, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - The Guardian of the Amulets (Hardcover)

For eight years Michael Finch has searched for his spouse Christine. All this time he had felt she must still be alive or he would know otherwise in his gut, though the private detectives hired by his best friend Jonas Harding fail to find her. He wonders why she ran away so soon after their marriage, but now at least he knows where she died. He is in Farewell on Cape Cod to say his good byes. He enters DewDrop's Candle Shop because Michael remembers Chrissy loved candles, but is shocked when he sees the proprietor, his wife.

Michael leaves two phone messages for Jonas, inadvertently enabling his friend's thugs to find Chrissy. They kidnap her daughter Kayla and demand Chrissy return the three amulets she "stole" from these felons who actually robbed the gems from the natives of St. Caribe. Meanwhile Michael realizes he sired Kayla and begins to understand what his ignorance cost his beloved then and now. Both head to St. Caribe to retrieve their child, but though he still loves her and feels she does likewise, Michael desperately needs to regain her trust.

There are some paranormal elements that mostly surface towards the climax of the novel though a guardian Santa Caribbean Lion who telepathically communicates with the humans throughout the book. Thus, the tale is more of a crime thriller. The story line is action-packed and the support cast provides insight into the likable lead couple and pushes the plot forward. Fans of romantic crime thrillers with some paranormal elements mostly at the end will relish the stimulating THE GUARDIAN OF THE AMULETS.

Harriet Klausner