Seize The Dawn (Zebra Historical Romance) [Paperback]

Shannon Drake (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821767739
• ISBN-13: 978-0821767733
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #382,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham was born somewhere in Europe and kidnapped by gypsies when she was a small child. She went on to join the Romanian circus as a trapeze artist and lion tamer. When the circus came to South Florida, she stayed, discovering that she preferred to be a shark and gator trainer.

Not really.

Heather is the child of Scottish and Irish immigrants who met and married in Chicago, and moved to South Florida, where she has spent her life. (She has, at least, been to the Russian circus in Moscow, where she wished she was one of the incredibly talented and coordinated trapeze artists.) She majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred and fifty novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, horror, and Christmas family fare.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages, and has had over seventy-five million books in print. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television.

Heather loves travel and anything that has to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. She also loves ballroom dancing. Each year she hosts the Vampire Ball and Dinner theater at the RT convention raising money for the Pediatric Aids Society and in 2006 she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf region. She is also the founder of "The Slush Pile Players", presenting something that's almost like entertainment for various conferences and benefits. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a great read, February 27, 2001

By 

"kamisi" (Newtown Square, pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seize The Dawn (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

I really enjoy reading Shannon Drake novels. They always seem to combine and interesting plot with complex and likeable characters. Ms. Drake's new novel is no exception. Brenden and Eleanor, Lady of Clarin, create enough spark and sizzle throughout the book to keep one reading long into the night. There was also enough historical detail and intrique to keep the story moving from the very first page. I kept from rating this book a 5 star for the same reason that a previous reviewer sited. The first third of the book pitted Eleanor and Brenden in numerous conflicting situations which left both hero and heroine angry and frustrated. Brenden carries vivid memories of a battle injury incurred from the lovely Lady of Clarin that left continuing thoughts of vengence, against her, in his mind. Eleanor, despises all Scotts due to previous violence ,from the highlanders ,against her family. The two rant and rave at each other-almost at nauseum- for much of the book. THAT becomes tiring. The romance that erupts from the two is sudden and catches the reader by surprise. There is no real hint of attraction before Eleanor " throws" herself on Brenden and consummates the relationship. I certainly am not conservative enough to expect flowery words and gifts before a relationship starts. However, there is a bit of a gap between hate and love that could have been more succesfully and SMOOTHLY explored, from this author, given the quality of her latest book. With all that said it is still a wonderful read. Well worth the time. I understand this book is the beginning of The Graham family saga. I look forward to the next installment- as should you!!! P.S **Sometimes I wish the Amazon ratings had another half level to them***** I really would have given this book 4.5 stars. Just under that magical 5!! Enjoy!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance the way It was meant to be written, January 24, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Seize The Dawn (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

By 1301, Lady Eleanor of Clarin knows she will do anything, even sleep with Lucifer, to keep her people safe. She has fought in war against the murderous Scots who killed her father. Now she is marrying an elderly, wealthy French aristocrat all for the good of her people and to thwart the plans to control her and her land by King Edward I, who selected a bestial knight as her spouse.

On the journey across the Channel to France, pirates take her ship and capture Eleanor. However, the victors have no time to celebrate as Scots led by Brendan Graham attack their ship and make Eleanor their prisoner. Each one hates the other based on prejudices that center on deaths of loved ones. However, loathing turns quickly into passionate loving, but they realize they have no future together as the machinations of King Henry and Robert the Bruce supersede even the noblest of aristocrats.

SEIZE THE DAWN is an exciting medieval romantic thriller that leaves the audience gasping for breath. The story line is fast-paced, filled with the era's intrigue, and loaded with historical tidbits and persona that make the plot feel authentic. The star crossed lead couple is a charming duet as the intrepid Eleanor wants nothing to do with love thy enemy and Brendan is a worthy Gibson-like hunk. Shannon Drake writes an appealing historical romance novel that readers will need more than the dawn to finish this one-sitting tale.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Romance Novels I have ever read., March 9, 2006

By 

Alyce In Wonderland "The Looking Glass" (Over the hill or underland, or just behind a tree) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seize The Dawn (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

I've read hundreds of historical and modern- day romance novels. I get bored easily with run- of- the- mill stories. This story was excellent. It's not all about sex between a spoiled virgin and a jerk of a hero. While the main couple gets the lion's share of the story, there are several other exciting characters who are engaging in a war for freedom. The characters are as passionate towards one another, as their about the war between their countries, England and Scotland.

The pages of the book come alive in realistic battle scenes, dramatic interactions between characters, and vibrant love scenes that are as emotional as they are steamy. Shannon Drake does tend to include a lot of history in her stories, but I did not find it overly so in this book.

The Story:

Lady Eleanor of Clarin has inherited her parents grand English castle. However, she must marry and produce an heir before the English king decides to assign a husband for her. She chooses to marry a life- long family friend, even though he is decades older than herself. She needs a respectable English husband to keep Castle Clarin.

While on her way to France to meet her intended husband, Eleanor's ship is seized by French pirates. In a stroke of bad luck, the French pirates are then raided by Scottish warriors. One of the leaders of the Scottish men looks familiar to Eleanor. Both she and the Scotsman recognize one another at the same time. She is the lady who showed up on the battle field years earlier, and knocked him out as he was fighting against her countrymen. In a panic, Eleanor jumps into the Irish sea to try to swim for land. Her chances are not good, but anything is better than facing the wrath of this Scottish warrior, Brendan Graham. Brendan knows that she can not survive in the freezing water, so he jumps to rescue her. He has no love for his enemy, but his human decency causes him to save her.

Once they reach France, Brendan and his friends hope to use Eleanor to both collect a ransom from her wealthy fiance, as well as using her as a bargaining tool with King Phillip of France. During the time they spend together, Eleanor and Brendan grow attracted to one another. She asks him to be her first lover, before she has to marry an elderly man. Once Brendan touches her, he is obsessed. He has to be with her as much as he can, savoring the days with her until he has to turn her over to her fiance. The two fall in love, Brendan telling her "I could die in you."

When the time comes for Eleanor to marry her fiance, Alain, Brendan can't believe that she intends to go through with it. But Eleanor has no choice, as King Phillip warns her that he will hunt her down if she turns away from his good friend, Alain. Brendan offers to run away with her, but Eleanor fears the king. On the day of the wedding, Brendan goes to the church. When he hears Eleanor make vows to Alain, he storms to his ship in hopes of sailing back to Scotland and forgetting her.

When Eleanor and Alain reach Clarin, Alain becomes deathly ill. As he is dying, he claims that he has been poisoned. Immediately, the sheriff accuses Eleanor. He has heard rumors that she has a Scottish lover, and he claims that she married Alain for his money. During a sham of an investigation, it becomes obvious that Eleanor will be found guilty and most likely hanged. She has to escape Clarin.

Brendan hears of the tragedies at Clarin and immediately rides to England to rescue Eleanor. The only safe place for her now is Scotland. However, enemies who want Eleanor's estate are determined to find her and murder her. Now Brendan and Eleanor must find peace with one another while their countries are at war. Brendan is fighting for freedom for Scotland, and for Eleanor's life.