Immortal Surrender (The Curse of the Templars) [Mass Market Paperback]

Claire Ashgrove (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 25, 2012 | Series: The Curse of the Templars

Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice—his heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This series (The Curse of the Templars) is explosive, sexy, riveting, and Claire Ashgrove is a master of her craft." ~New York Times Bestelling Author of MARK OF THE WITCH, Maggie Shayne

"Ashgrove's Templars will steal your heart and her world building will leave you wanting more." ~National Bestselling, Award Winning Author of the L.O.S.T series, Karin Tabke/Harlow

"Claire Ashgrove weaves complex layers of history, paranormal worlds and romantic fiction seamlessly." ~New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of WIFE BY WEDNESDAY, Catherine Bybee on the Templar Series

"Compelling characters, crackling sexual tension and a fascinating paranormal mythology--Immortal Surrender has it all!" ~Award Winning and Bestselling author of WEST OF WANT, Laura Kaye

From the Back Cover

Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won't turn him into a fool again--he'd rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty--but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he's determined that he'll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice--his heart.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1 edition (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765367599
• ISBN-13: 978-0765367594
• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, award-winning author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed romances, Claire's paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars (Tor), marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. Her books have received multiple nominations for "Best Romance of the Year" awards as well as placements within a variety of contests, including the rigorous, Reader's Crown Awards, where Immortal Hope was named Best Paranormal Romance of 2011. For those who prefer the more erotic side of life, she also writes darkly arousing espionage novels for Berkley as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America, and her local RWA chapters, Heartland Romance Authors, Midwest Romance Writers, North Texas Romance Writers of America, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Claire lives in Missouri with her two young sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs. In her "free" time, she enjoys cooking, studying Ancient Civilizations, and spending downtime with her children and the critters. She credits her success to her family's constant support and endless patience.

To learn more about Claire, visit her on the web at www.claireashgrove.com, or www.toristclaire.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid second installment September 25, 2012

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's the second in Claire Ashgrove's Curse of the Templars series. And one of the things that I like best about these books is that each one features a tortured hero with a heroine who can save his soul.

In this case, our hero is Farran. Like Merrick before him, he doesn't want a seraph. He thinks he is too far gone. He wants one of his brothers to receive the gift. Beyond that, though, he is still nursing a 900 year-old heartbreak brought on by a treacherous and unfaithful wife.

Noelle is an unlikely choice for a seraph. She doesn't even believe in God, which makes the whole immortal Templar thing sound all the more insane to her. She does, however, trust in science. She dates and authenticates ancient relics for a living. She doesn't have much of a life beyond her work. Apparently, Noelle is plain and flat chested and no man has ever really been interested in her.

Once the angel Gabriel does his thing and orchestrates a meeting between Farran and Noelle, he realizes immediately that she is his fated match. He decides he must speak his oath to bind with her, in order to honor his duty, but he will never allow anything real to grow between them. He essentially kidnaps her, drags her back to the Temple and spends the rest of the book trying to force her to speak the oath back to him while he fights he growing feelings for her.

I like the world-building and the story is rich with great secondary characters. It gives the entire book such a great canvas. I enjoyed the tender moments between Farran and Noelle, but he also frustrated me at times with his thoughtless comments designed to put emotional distance between them. He wasn't a bad guy, but he was thick-headed. And 900 years is a long time to hold a grudge against women. As for Noelle, it kind of stretches credulity to think that any functional 29 year-old woman can be that innocent in 2012. Beyond that, I liked her well enough. She has a sharp mind and demands the kind of proof that most rational people would need. I just hated to see her feelings hurt so often.

When the walls finally start to come down between these two, the heat factor was fantastic. The love scenes were great and there was a fair amount of action worked in --as well as enough intrigue to keep me guessing. --Not everything is tied up neatly. There are definitely loose ends that will branch over to the next book. But the ending gives good closure on the relationship, so it's by no means a cliffhanger.

I liked it. And I'll read the next one when it comes out. I'm hoping for Sophie's story... with Tane perhaps? Or maybe Declan? I'm looking forward to it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great second in the series September 25, 2012

By Deborah Haupt

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The curse came when Farran de Clare and his brother knights of the Templar went against orders and discovered a forbidden scroll. For their act of disobedience they were given immortality to fight the evil demon Azazel and his minions. And with every kill of evil they made they would absorb some of that evil. But all is not lost; there is a prophecy that tells of the return of the seraphs that will redeem them.

Farran is not looking for redemption; he doesn't believe he deserves it so when it knocks on his door in the form of an unbeliever he does everything in his power to deny it and her. But she's in grave danger from the demon Azazel who wants the artifact she's responsible for and it's he who must protect her. But at what cost, his life, his immortality or his heart.
Dr. Noelle Keane is a firm unbeliever in a higher power; she's relied on the science of fact for all of her life. When she and her bodyguard Farran are attacked she suddenly finds the black and white of her beliefs in question. When Farran tells of prophecies, demons and immortal knights she's convinced he's crazy until fiction becomes fact and she has a choice to make and the choice becomes more difficult the more she learns about this knight, his past and their future.
Farran and Noelle are one of the fated pairs of seraph and immortal knight and are stronger together but they each have their own reason to fight against divine promise and must make their own path and live with their choices. Will those choices save them or lead to their demise.
Claire Ashgrove has given me many hours of happy reading starting with her contemporary romance novels and now with her newest and fantastic series about the Templar Knights and the women who save them. It's inventive, imaginative, epic and a fantastic mix of medieval fact and fiction encompassed by a beautiful romance complete with all the obstacles I'd expect from this doubting Thomas fated pair. Her hero and heroine fill the pages with their personalities and keep the pages turning with their antics and their deeds. The dialogue flows with a hint of the old amongst the common language of today and the narrative is fast paced, action filled and at times nail-biting terror along with the very tempestuous and sensual love scenes.
If you've never read Claire it's time you did, if you're looking for a new look in urban fantasy/paranormal or the Templar legend give this series a try. Even though this is novel two of a series it stands well on it's own.
Claire thank you for this journey into myth and lore, I can't wait to see where you take me on our next trip.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Immortal Surrender September 25, 2012

By LITERAL ADDICTION

Format:Kindle Edition

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

Another incredible installment in THE CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS series by Claire Ashgrove. Not quite as action packed as Immortal Hope, but engaging and thrilling just the same.

Picking up where Immortal Hope, book #1, left off, the Order is still guarding the gates, fighting back Azazel's minions, their fallen brethren, and doing whatever they can to keep the darkness within themselves at bay.

Dr. Noelle Keane, the 2nd of the prophesied seraphs, is commissioned to carbon date and validate another of the sacred relics. In keeping with his meddling ways, Archangel Gabriel presents Noelle with her Templar torc, thus setting in motion events beyond her control. As the prophesied 2nd seraph, Noelle is said to be `The Blind'. That is at first taken literally due to her declining eye sight, but what it comes to mean is much more profound - the fact that she's blind to the truth and the glories of the Almighty. She's a true scientist and struggles with faith.

When one of her appointed guards, Farran de Clare, realizes that Noelle bears his matching mark and that she is HIS seraph, things get a little dicey. Farran is quite possibly one of the only Order Knights who wants nothing to do with a seraph. He has some pretty heavy duty baggage from his past and refuses to be made a fool again by any woman. His honor and allegiance to the Order supercede everything, however, and he resolves to take the oath with Noelle, if only to strengthen his sword for the cause.

Grumpy, duty bound Farran and naďve, insecure Noelle are an interesting match. Despite their mutual passions, their combined stubbornness is overwhelming and quite the roadblock. Misunderstandings abound, and the entire situation is quite volatile. Farran does everything in his power to distance himself from Noelle, and Noelle simply thinks Farran is insane. The back and forth of these things and the growth of the characters both individually and as a pair is a large part of the tale. Unlike Immortal Hope, Immortal Surrender didn't get action packed until the end, but was an enjoyable read none-the-less.

Outside of Farran and Noelle's story, Claire begins several side tales in this installment. The growing darkness within the other unmated knights, the side sects beginning to form, the organization of Azazel's army, etc. The prologue confused me a bit though. It was about a Knight named Iain and his seraph Bianca, but after that initial action packed sequence Iain was never mentioned again. I can only assume that it was a segue to a future book and that we'll find out what happens to him at a later date...

Once again I give Claire huge kudos for her attention to detail and the obvious research that went into writing these books. She has created an amazing world full of wonder and mystery and it's obvious that she has taken the time to research what she's writing about. I also like the journey she took with the growth of the characters in this book. Acerbic, unshakable Farran's edges get softened and he caves to his heart, and Noelle's insecurities and naivety give way to an inner strength and determination I wasn't sure that we'd see from her.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Immortal Surrender 4 Skulls and would recommend it to Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance lovers who are looking for something a bit different. I would suggest that readers start out with Immortal Hope before reading Immortal Surrender, however. While it can be read as a stand-alone, the introduction to the world and the supporting cast will be much more appreciated if the series is read as a whole.