Customer Reviews

Heaven's Rogue (Romance of the Millennium)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Colleen Shannon has quietly given us super tales for long time now. I know when I pick up one of her books I am really going to enjoy this. Frankly, I am surprised she has not received more attention for the quality work she does.

Heaven's Rogue is an example of Shannon's fresh approach to romance. Honoria Psyche Fitzhugh is a curator at an art museum. He latest acquisition is a statue of the perfect man. He career is on the line when it is proclaimed a fake. But Honor knows the real "thing" when she see it. However, with her career in ruins, so goes into to say goodbye to the statue, and her tears end up bringing surprising results.

Dominico Castiglione, has travelled 500 years into the further but was trapped in stone until the tears of a virginal Honor awoke him. He must seek out his relatives or be lost, naturally Honor is along for the chase and romance blooms.

It is a witty tale that will keep you smiling to the end!

It is so nice to stumble upon a writer who gives free reign to their imagination, and comes up with an original plot. The premise for this story is refreshing and well thought out. Unfortunately, thus saying, I felt that there are many weak points in the book itself. (Which is why I have only giving it a 3 star rating).

The writing style is simple, with no complex dialogue. Honor and Dom both question the world around them, and ponder deep thoughts, but it comes across as elementary. Dom is depicted as the Renaissance man, of which there is no doubt that he is, but the portrayal seemed oversimplified. It is as if the author used the basic facts of what it meant to live in that time as a description, as opposed to actually getting into the character's head and living in that time. They are obviously two intelligent people, but I didn't pick up too much depth to them.

Things seemed to happen too easily for our characters as well. They did not have to try to hard to accomplish what they needed. Finding a missing ancestor (after 400 years and about 20 generations), buying some marble and carving a masterpiece in 3 months, finding homeless people in New York City, and many other incidents, make for a lack of credibility in the story. There is also a heavy leaning into the spiritual and faith in God. Although there is nothing wrong with using this as a literary device, it is not my usual preference. Since that last criticism is a subjective offering, I feel compelled to add that I did enjoy reading this story, and recommend it for those looking for an enjoyable, easy read.

The back of the book reads: "His was a timeless perfection, molded by a genius.>>" In short, he was the model for Michaelanglo's David. But he was cursed until he was awakened by a virgin's tears. This was a wonderful read from cover to cover. He interaction between H/H was fantastic!! Such tension! They played off each other so well, and it became so erotic! The side characters were so essential to the story that I hope Ms. Shannon comes out with a sequel involving 1 or more of them. Can't wait for more stories like this one!

The storyline of this book really drew me in. The herion's lifelong dream of the perfect man embodied in Dom is the most wonderful character. His ego and everyday male charcateristics add so much humor and intrigue to the book that you just keep turning pages, not to mention what all his other perfectly made attributes add to the romance scenes.

In 1499 in a Roman cistern, artist Dominico Paolo Constantine Castiglione curses God and the angels for the losses of everyone he cherishes. To his shock, a beautiful angel appears and informs him that he will turn into a statue for the next five centuries to atone for his blasphemy. At the dawning of the new millennium, a virgin's tears will awaken him from his enforced slumber and Dominico must find his family's last living descendent. He then must guide the lad onto the right path in order to save humanity. If he fails, Dominico will turn to stone for eternity.

In 1999, visiting American Dr. Honoria Fitzhugh falls into a hidden Roman cistern and finds Renaissance artifacts including a statue that probably is the first model of Michaelangelo's David. With the cooperation of the Italian government, the Portland assistant art curator unveils her find. However, Honor's elation turns to grief when the tests prove that the statue consists of an unknown material, but is definitely not made of stone. Her subsequent tears turn the statue into a human and she agrees to help Dominico find his relative. As they work together, her beloved "statue" falls off the pedestal, only to be replaced by a deep love that seems to have no future or past.

Award winning Colleen Shannon's latest tale, HEAVEN'S ROGUE, is a magical blending of elements from several sub-genres into a wonderful story. Honor is an intriguing character whose childhood leads her to obsess over her work until "David" enters her life. Dominico is a great protagonist whose fifteenth century philosophy towards women makes him seem as if he truly traveled through time. The story line works because Ms. Shannon simply knows how to tell a superb tale that will garner her more acclaim.

Harriet Klausner

book was ok, but I was expecting something more centered in Florence like the 2nd book. I might have liked it better if I had read them in order

***Spoiler***
Since others have mentioned the storyline all I can tell you is that I must have missed something. Yes, this could have been a five star book but the relationship between Dom and Honor was too bumpy. For two supposedly smart people their communication skills weren't the best. And the secondary stories between Honor and Bruno plus Dom and Rafe were tied up a little too neatly. I know, I know... it should have been just a light read but I enjoy a plot with a little more consistency.

I got this book from the library so I didn't lose out on anything but I did buy book #2- Heaven's Hero- Nick's story, based on reviews here. I'll let you know how that goes.

This was a most unique story. I have always enjoyed time travel romances but this one has a twist. The hero has traveled 500 years into the future but not as a man but as a statue. He is the exact replica of the "David" by Michelangelo, but smaller. He is discovered by the heroine Honoria Psyche Fitzhugh, aka Honor. Honor has just announced her discovery to the world only to have it declared a fake and her career is in ruins. She is saying good-bye to the statue when her tears bring him to life. Dominico Castiglione, Dom, was trapped in stone until the tears of a virgin awaken him right before the year 2000 so that he can find his long lost realtive and help him. Honor agrees to help him and together they flee to New York where they try and find Rafe, Dom's relative. The also are helped along the way by Honor's friend Ernie and his brother Nick. Dom must find his family or be lost forever but he must also fight the struggle to remain honorable and not take Honor. He wants her and she him. They love each other but Dom cannot bring himself to soil her. Honor is confused and hurt but know no matter what happens she will not regret anything that she and Dom do.

This is a exciting story that keeps the reader guessing how it will turn out. I liked the ending and I look forward to the sequel "Heaven's Hero". I also hope their are others in the series.

Colleen Shannon has done a wonderful job with her newest book, Heaven's Rogue. The book had a very interesting plot, with the inclusion of Michelangelo's historical David, but what I liked most of all were the characters. Dom and Honor are wonderful and likeable individuals who you will know well by the end of the book and hate to see the last of as the final page turns. Nick, Rafe and Ernie are the friends who bring the tale to life. I liked them so much that I felt they should have their own happy endings so I followed up and found out that the author does intend to tell their stories, Nick in the spring and Rafe in the winter of next year. I also believe we have not seen the last of Honor and Dom. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Misty Phiffer

What hot-blooded American woman hasn't dreamed of Michelangelo's masterpiece coming to life. I used to have daydreams about it. So you can imagine how interested I was when I saw the cover of this book. And the story definitely didn't disappoint, even if it wasn't actually "the" statue of David but a statue of the man who posed for the sculpture who has actually come to life in present day America. Although somewhat simplistic, as many romances are prone to be, it was nonetheless a walloping read and I really loved the ending. It was somewhat surprising to me that Honor chose to do what she did to stay in Dom's life.