Customer Reviews

Seize The Dawn (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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

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.

Lady Eleanor of Clarin is traveling to France to marry her fathers friend in order to provide security for her people. On her way her ship is rudely border by pirates. During her captivity on board she encounters Brendan Graham of Scotland. Eleanor blames all Scots for her fathers death, but cannot deny the attraction. This is the start of Shannon Drake's Seize the Dawn, which is part of the chronicles of her own family history.

Requisite of all romances is the necessary heat and sizzle between hero and heroine and there is undeniable sparks between Brendan and Eleanor. There are also the necessary hurdles to overcome, Eleanor's own prejudice against the Scots and a marriage interfere with their happily ever after. Between them there is also the tension which makes exciting reading in romance stories.

I for one look forward to reading the sequels of this series.

I have read many Shannon Drake books and this was the only one I can say that I did not enjoy. The story line moved very slow. I found the story to be borring and was constantly skipping over parts just to get through it. There was way to much history explained in the book (William Wallace and the war) which I found to take away from the characters and plot line. Not one of her best. Pass on this one and invest your money in one of her better books like Brave the Wind,Knight of Fire,Come the Morning etc.

In the beginning of this book, the heroine is fighting in a war and ends up knocking the hero out. What I loved about this book is the fact that she fights him throughout most of the book, and still it doesn't begin to bore you or make you want to burn the book!! Another classic Drake novel that will keep you reading long into the night.

Yes, I agree with most of the reviews that gave this book a 5 star. It is a great book, has a good storyline, you felt a part of it, etc. HOWEVER, did anyone notice that when Eleanor offers herself to Brenden, it seemed a little odd considering that she hated him from the beginning of the book up until that point? There is no mention whatsoever of her even finding him attractive or thinking about him, desiring him, nothing. Then all the sudden, unbeknownst to the reader, she asks him to sleep with her. Hello! Where was I? What did I miss? As far as we know, she hates him. I mean we, the reader, find him sexy, but for some reason we can't understand, she continues to hate this man with a passion that goes way beyond the normal "I hate the Scots because your kind killed my kind" type thing. Brenden would win me over in a second no matter who he was. But the thing is, she does an about face asking him to sleep with her, which is fine, but when the reader is thinking "did I miss something here?", it just goes to show that the author might have missed a few steps building up the romance between the two. But other than that obvious flaw, the book had a great story that kept you into it. And overall, you were very glad that they ending up sleeping together because at least then they could find something to agree upon!

This was a really fun book to read because it takes a few twists and turns that you really don't expect. The love that develops between Brenden and Elenor is the best part of the story. I also love the fact that Elenor is such a strong charater even though she is a woman. Wonderful story.

I was curious about reviews of Drake's newest book because I was highly disappointed in several aspects of it. As I read the "Customer Reviews," I wondered if we had read the same book. The argumentative saga of Eleanor and Brenden begins in a lackluster way and continues in a plodding manner. There are numerous typos in this book which also made me wonder if an editor took time to read it. Was Drake on some "forced" schedule to release a 2001 book? The novel seems poorly planned and hastily written. Conflicts are added that don't advance the plot: (1) two (!) ships must attack Eleanor's? (2) a group of thieves just happens to be on the Calais shoreline to intercept Eleanor? Characters are not fully described so that the reader is unable to "see" what makes him/her attractive/hideous, etc. (Example: The French "rogue" who seizes Eleanor has an eyepatch that indicates to Eleanor that he could have leprosy, and the rogue is later described as "scarred.") I truly don't mind reading a novel that contains some logistical errors or includes some convenient events, but this novel was very disappointing as a historical romance and is not on par with Drake's previous romances. I would suggest that readers skip this one and hope for something better from Drake in 2002.

I found the book enjoyable as I have always enjoyed historical romances (thus loving all of her scottish romances written under Heather Graham). I honestly thought to myself...why is the writing style so familiar to me? Although I had one small problem with it. On the first page of chapter 13 she talks about 'ancient wiccan holidays'. Being a High Priestess, this stuck out to me like a sore thumb since Wicca is a neo-pagan 'regligion' created by Gardner in the first half of the 20th century. Oops. But we all make small mistakes. Other than that...the book was a wonderful delight to read.