Customer Reviews

Sanctuary

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

 

 

Cate Canton is a thirty-four year old American living in Italy for the last 16 years, she has seen more than her share of tragedy. Her mother dies when Cate is just in her teens, her only sibling dies in a car crash when she is sixteen and her father becomes so remote that they become virtual strangers. Cate runs away to Italy where she studies fashion design like her mother before her. Her one goal is to destroy or take her mother's Boston fashion design house that is still owned by her father, who she has not spoken to in almost two decades. She has a fashion house of her own and success is already hers.

Thirty-something Dita Newton having survived a loveless childhood finds happiness in running and being chief fashion designer of Seraphim for the last six years, the fashion house that Cate believes was wrongfully denied her. Dita is described as generous graceful and genuine, someone who could capture even a heart of stone.

So many interesting twists and turns in this novel make this a real page turner. Lots of angst, intrigue, secrets, sorrow, drama, passion, danger and most of all love.

A totally fun read with not a few surprises.

Revenge that backfires. This is the story of Cate Canton who is a successful fashion designer with her own company. Despite that, she holds a grudge against her father who she feels forced her out of the fashion house, Seraphim, that was her deceased mother's.

Dita Newton is in charge of Seraphim and Cate targets her as the object of revenge to get even with her father.

Despite falling in love with Dita, Cate carries out her plan, emotionally hurting Dita. She regrets it and attempts to make things right by working behind the scenes to assist Dita and Seraphim.

There are some explosive encounters between Cate and Dita. One encounter is sexual and far from loving.

Both characters are well fleshed out and the story is believable. The only problem I had is changing point of view just about every other sentence. It was hard at times to follow who said what, and I found myself backing up a few sentences. This is one I'll read again.

Sanctuary is a story of revenge and misunderstanding that has a conclusion none of the characters could have suspected.

Cate Canton is a successful clothing designer who has established her own company as a force in the fashion world, but that isn't enough. She feels that her father unfairly turned her away years ago and robbed her of her heritage, Seraphim, the design house started by her mother. Cate is determined to get her revenge on her father and take back what is hers. While they're both on vacation in Italy, Cate accidentally meets Dita Newton, the young designer who has been put in charge of Seraphim, and fate seems to be playing into her hands. Cate starts out looking for ways to undermine Dita, but finds herself falling in love with her instead. By the time Cate realizes how she truly feels it's too late to stop what's she's done to hurt Seraphim and when Dita finds out what has happened, she turns on Cate with hatred. Dita is injured seriously in a mugging later and Cate steps in anonymously to save the company and Dita's career. It means making a truce with her father and facing truths about herself, but Cate is willing to try. She does it knowing that it may not be enough to show Dita that she's changed or earn her a second chance to make their relationship work.

Sanctuary is a much better than average romance. The characters are interesting and, even when the reader knows they're doing negative things, it's hard to dislike any of them. The story gives some insight into the fashion industry, but it's the characters and their relationships that drive the book. Cate and her father clearly demonstrate how a family can become dysfunctional because the members don't communicate. Sanctuary is one of those books that's hard to put down, though why may not be clear. Maybe it's that it's a well told story. The reader should get a few hours of good entertainment from this one.

Set in the world of fast moving and competitive fashion design, the characters are lively and richly and deeply described. Very enjoyable read. The love is full of angst. Set in the traditional mold of love-hate-love scenario and time-frame, a bit predictable, but all-in-all, enjoyable.

However, for the life of me, I don't know how the title "Sanctuary", fit into the story. I must have missed the page that explained the plot into the title.

If you must immerse yourself in an alternate universe for three hours, read this.

I really had no idea what to expect with this first book from I. Beacham, but I'm always excited to read something from a new author in this genre. Beacham has delivered an amazingly fresh story that kept this avid reader hooked from the first sentence. I couldn't put it down (haven't said that in a while) and was actually sad to get to the last page. Without a doubt, I'll be reading this one again soon.

There is nothing I didn't like about this book (pardon the double-negative). The main premise is set in the fashion industry. I have no real interest in fashion (give me my jeans any day), but this was really more of a backdrop for the story than the main focus. The primary plot was about a woman (Cate Canton) who unfairly lost everything at a young age and was determined to get it back in adulthood. On the other side of the equation is Dita Newton, a woman who had love as a child but little else. Dita is now living the life Cate thinks is rightfully hers.

From the second the two meet, attraction reigns. Cate, knowing who Dita is, plans to undermine the other woman but regrets her actions almost immediately. Dita, oblivious to Cate's plight, is emotionally wounded by the other woman's actions. The book goes back and forth between present and past, which can be a little confusing at first but is manageable if you're paying attention. The best part is this really adds depth and dimensionality to the plot and improves the quality of the story immensely.

Both protagonists are well developed too. Both have solid personal and family histories, business and personal networks, and unique personalities. It's not often an author is able to make her characters seem so alive.

Bottom line - Wow. Absolutely amazing!

I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book; fashion does not intrigue me. But, having read stories by the author on the net, I knew it had to be at least well written.

Do not let the fear of fashion keep you from reading this. I don't really know about fashion, but the author lays out a believable course and it provides the backdrop to the main attraction: the characters.

Cate and Dita are revealed through their experiences, fears, and desires. The supporting characters are interesting in their own right, but Cate and Dita remain the sole couple of focus-- a nice change of pace from some of the current popular les fiction.

It's a slow unveiling of the characters, their connection and ultimate fate. In spite of that, I found I couldn't put it down-- A Page Turner-- forgive the cliche. Just the kind of Fire and Ice I enjoy. Cate is auburn haired, slight of build, but fiercely determined and focused. Dita is self protectively cool, guarded and awkward in her relationships, but beauty and brilliance propel her forward.

It feels a bit rushed at the end, and only then does any hint of cliche enter the writing.
A solid first novel and I do hope to see more from Beacham.
Time well spent.

I agree with the other reviewers. This was an unexpectedly great book. I really enjoyed the characters and really came to understand what motivated them, and to ultimately root for them. I will look forward to other books from this writer!