Customer Reviews

Seduced by A Stranger (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Seduced by a Stranger by Eve Silver
Historical Romance-Gothic- Sept 1st, 2009
4 stars


Eve Silver has written has out done herself with her latest gothic Seduced by a Stranger. This story kept me guessing until almost the very end! Seduced by a Stranger is without a doubt, her most terrifying and thrilling gothic to date. I was intensely drawn to the shadowy, tortured hero and the courageous heroine. This novel is guaranteed to scare and shock you with deliciously twisted turns and a diabolical murderer!

Catherine's invitation to visit with an old school mate, Madeline seems like a Godsend. However, when she reaches Cairncroft Abbey she is dismayed by the lack of hospitality and warnings of doom should she stay. But Cathereine will not desert her friend. Poor Madeline is emaciated and confused. Her cousin, Sir Gabriel St. Aubyn is dark and forbidding. Although Catherine eventually comes to fear for herself and her friend, she has no where else to go. Unfortunately, complications from her past leave Catherine with few choices. She resolves to make the best of her situation and console Madeline. To add to her troubles, Catherine soon finds herself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic and handsome Sir Gabriel even as she suspects he may be linked to a series of grisly murders.

This gothic was much darker and twisted than I had expected. Eve Silver also does an excellent job of creating characters with depth. Each has a past they would rather not reveal and I found their secret pasts added tremendously to the characters and the story line. As I discovered more about them I became caught in the stories of these 2 strong personalities, eager to discover the truth behind their suffering. The character development in Eve Silver's hero and heroine are fully fleshed and extremely interesting. Gabriel is particularly fascinating and mysterious. I was impressed with Catherine's determination and willingness to risk all for love. In addition, the villain in this novel was deliciously evil and diabolical. One of the cruelest I've read in a long time. Although I was engrossed by the mystery in the story the villain both fascinated and repelled me. At the suspenseful and tumultuous end, I was shocked by the murderer's motives and cruelty.

This was a rare read. Gothic romance at its very best!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Oh my, Seduced by a Stranger is absolutely phenomenal!

Catherine Weston has a secret to hide that holds the truth of her past. The gossip is everywhere, so when her old friend Madeline St. Aubyn requests Catherine visit her at Cairncroft Abbey, the St. Aubyn family estate, Catherine is happy to go. She owes an old debt to Madeline, who saved her life as a young girl. However, when Catherine arrives, it is obvious the Abbey has a dark history as well, not the least of which is Madeline's declining health and terrible fear of her cousin, Gabriel St. Aubyn.

Gabriel St. Aubyn has a very dark past that affects all he feels and does. He has no desire to share these secrets though if anyone could break down his walls, it would be the enchanting friend of his cousin. When a young woman with ties to Catherine ends up dead, Gabriel becomes a prime suspect because of the very past he keeps hidden. Now it appears Catherine may be in danger as well and she is torn - trust this man who haunts her dreams or fear him for the villain he might be? Catherine has been Seduced by a Stranger and it could mean her death... or her greatest fantasies come true.

Seduced by a Stranger is a story of overcoming the sins of the past to find happiness and love in the present. However, it is also so much more than that. Catherine and Gabriel are two deeply wounded individuals who have experienced horrors no one should ever have to face, especially alone. They each have plenty of reasons to doubt one another and turn their backs on love, but these two are so much stronger than they believe they are. They belong together and following along with them as they finally let go of the past to find happiness in the present makes for a beautiful love story.

Most everything Eve writes is dark in tone, but Catherine and Gabriel's story is her darkest yet. Also I feel it important to point out, if you are squeamish or have problems with reading graphic violence, you may want to think twice about Seduced by a Stranger. There are several parts with explicit descriptions of the murders the villain commits and of the torture one of the characters suffers as a child. I do think however, that Eve did a fantastic job of giving just enough detail for us to understand what drives the characters and how these events affected them, without crossing the line into unacceptable. Just be forewarned when you start this one.

I have read everything Eve Silver has written, under both pseudonyms and she only gets better with each book. I was sucked in to Seduced by a Stranger from page one. Here we have a highly complex tale of passion and intrigue that keeps us reading long into the dark night, though most likely leaving the light on when it is time to go to sleep. There are a few stunning plot twists and I was completely blown away by the conclusion and exactly how everyone was involved.

Eve Silver is an amazing writer and I for one cannot wait to read her next book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2009. All rights reserved.

After receiving a letter from a childhood friend pleading for her to visit, Catherine packs her bags and journeys to Cairncroft Abby. A place where unbeknownst to her, secrets lie. Terrible, disturbing secrets. As the story unfolds, so too does the romance between Catherine and Gabriel. Together they shed their secrets, freeing their souls, opening themselves to each other to grasp and hold the love long denied them.

If you haven't read an Eve Silver Gothic historical, I would urge you to pick one up. She is simply an amazing story-teller. I have not read any thing that compares to the eerie tone that she sets in each of her books. She is one gifted author in the art of making your eyes widen, your blood curdle, your skin crawl, your heart to beat in anticipation, as each scene unfolds, engaging you further and further into the disturbing plot and the lives of each of the characters.

Without a doubt, Seduced by a Stranger is Eve Silver's darkest, most twisted tale to date. I wondered how she would top His Wicked Sins, and as I read this one I was amazed all over again at her uncanny ability to seduce you into the mysterious, dark and at times morbid lives of Gabriel, Geoffrey, Sebastien, Madeline and Catherine.

Eve Silver builds such amazing intensity, leading you to the culminating ending. If you want to read a little something dark, and completely riveting then this book is sure to meet your needs.

As a kid, I loved those tame gothic romances. As an adult, I need more- more twists, more suspense; and more spice in my story. This book covers all the bases, as well as having a twist at the end that surprised me. I love when that happens. This is Eve Silver's best story yet. Be advised that it is dark (that's what a gothic is about) and the hero and heroine had to endure horrible experiences in their pasts. You are drawn into wanting them to find love and healing, as well as retribution for the killer. The story keeps you on the edge of your chair, and culminates absolutely PERFECTLY! Can't wait for Eve's next book.

There are a lot of positive reviews here about this book. There is not really anything I could add that has not been already said. But when I enjoy a novel as much as I did this one I feel as if I owe it to the Author to write a review.

This is a great Gothic Romance/ Murder Mystery. It grabbed me with the opening sentence and I had a hard time putting it down. It's price on the Kindle is a steal considering how good this novel is.

I would also add a cautinary note to tanyone who does not enjoy reading graphic descriptions of violent acts. There are several of them in this book described in gory detail. If that bothers you then don't read this book.

For about the first quarter to half of this book, I was puzzled about the book being deemed a "historical romance". It seemed more along the lines of a dark mystery with a possible romance side plot. This was my first book by Eve Silver and boy, does she know how to ramp up the spooky factor using atmosphere.

There are several mysteries going on throughout this book:

1. The heroine, Catherine, has a horrible secret and harbors a deep pain. What is her secret?
2. Catherine's friend, Madeline's, health is deteriorating and she seems quite delusional one moment and sane the next. When she is warning Catherine of danger lurking around every corner - is she sane or is it a side-effect of her paranoid delusions?
3. There is someone killing and taking apart women that Catherine knows... who is doing the killing and for what purpose?
4. The hero - again, he didn't seem much like hero material for most of the book - Gabriel, is cold and harbors secrets even more successfully than Catherine. Can she trust this man? Is he the killer? Are Madeline's ramblings about him true? What're his secrets and what has caused him to become so cold and in control of his emotions?

I formulated a guess early on in the book as to who the killer was and I was right. But this didn't disappoint me because when the story behind the killer is revealed late in the book, I was surprised. The mysteries in this book were very solid. The end did come pretty abruptly, but it was still a good book.

I had two minor problems with this book which caused me to lower the grade from 5-stars to 4-stars.

1. Again, deeming this book a "historical romance" is misleading. In my opinion, this book is more mystery than romance. Yes, there is romance and some sexing near the end of the book, but it really doesn't seem to be central focus of the novel.
2. The author included the killer's POV when he was doing the killing. These were very disturbing parts of the book because the murders are graphic and sick. The killer is sick and the author really captured his joy at torturing these poor women. The descriptions could have been scaled back and the story wouldn't have lost anything.

And on that note, I would like to finish off with a warning for potential readers: This book contains scenes of explicit violence against animals and women. Not for the faint of heart who are bothered with dismemberment, torture, and sadistic descriptions of violence.

I loved this book and hated for it to end. This was my favorite so far from this very talented author. Her stories are dark gothics but she always adds in heartbreaking well written romance. Both of the characters were damaged yet found each other and connected in a honest and believable way. Great way to spend an evening.

This 5 Star rating isn't because the fine author of this book personally mailed me an advanced autographed copy or because of the fact that she has taken the time in her busy schedule to correspond with me in emails. Oh no indeed....

This rare 5 Star rating from me is because Eve Silver's on her way to becoming "The Queen of Goth" in Historical Romances. She has a way of making the dark underlying love of not your average everyday Lord and Lady shine from page to page. She makes you feel the pain and tears, let's you smell the musty stinch of old castles, clogs your nose with dust in rooms that are only lit by moonlight and gives you the never-ending hurt and abuse of her characters...

Just a taste...

"At the age of eleven, Catherine Weston was buried alive in a shallow, wet grave"...

"'Tell me,' she whispered urgently. 'What does it feel like to die?'"...

"He lifted his eyes to hers once more, and when he spoke, his words were a rough whisper. 'When we lie together, Catherine-and make no mistake, we will lie together-it will be because you want me. Because you are parched and I am water, because you are breathless and I am air. And until then, until you come to me with hunger and need'-he gave a dark smile-'I shall make do with my solitary bed'"...

There were parts in this story that actually made the hair on my arms stand up, and until now Stephen King and Dean Koontz are the only ones who have ever received that honor from me. Eve Silver will get your heart rate up with the mystery and romance, and keep it up while your guessing at all the "who done it's".

Oh my goodness ladies...Buy this book. Read this book. And add this book to your "All Time Favorites" shelf...I know I will!

I was absolutely hooked after the first page. The story was gripping and the characters were so scarred, so compelling. I loved this authors writing. This was historical romance at its best.

Eve Silver should fire the person who came up with the cover/marketing for this book. It does not reflect the tone or the quality of the writing/story telling. At. All.

The plot has already been summarized, so I won't repeat it here. Even if is had not, I would hesitate to do so for fear of giving too much away.

This books was great. The skills of the writer impressed from the very first page. Great characters, original story line, tragic protagonists who at last find homes in the love and hearts of their soul mate, tension like you wouldn't belive(I had to skip to the end. I was too anxious and excited to wait and see how it ll played out!), mystery and insights into the plight of women who were sometimes ill served by a societal structure that left them vulnerable and prey to the more powerful.

The writer was particularly successful in the depths of her characterization of her hero and heroine. I also liked how she showed them fall in love rather than just tell the reader they did. It was a nice touch that Gabriel was first drawn to seek a meeting with Catherine after being attracted by the sound of her voice and, upon meeting her, recognized, on some basic level, that they came from the same tribe of people who had known great suffering. Wonderful.

This is my first book by Eve Silver. It will not be the last. Loved it.