Stealing Kathryn (The Gatherers) [Paperback]

Jacquelyn Frank (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Gatherers | Publication Date: May 1, 2010

Sandman. Angus. Morpheus. He is known by many names, except his true one, Adrian. When he departs his world, it is to enter the sacred space of sleep, and he is not there to sow sweet dreams. Adrian's mission is to reap the dark energy of nightmares, work that has twisted his soul as well as his once-handsome face. Now, he lives only to await the day darkness finally overcomes him...and to collect exquisite reminders of what he's lost...But there is one treasure that stands apart. Having risked everything to obtain her, Adrian soon realizes his mistake. For Kathryn has a wholly unexpected power over him, not only for what she represents, but for what for she is: a soul with desires as strong as his own, tempered by compassion that could save Adrian from his self-made hell - or condemn them both...

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (May 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420109847
• ISBN-13: 978-1420109849
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi there. It's me! Again. Time to update some more. I am rounding the bend into the double 4's (44 on 2/22/2012) and things are changing so fast in the writing world. I've expanded my online presence to include Facebook and Twitter, a website a blog and every other bleeping thing there is out there in the cyber world. Was finding it hard to manage all that exposure and get work done at the same time, so I now have a full-time assistant, named Natalie. Feel free to contact her for any of your authoring, blogging, promotional requests at [e-mail]. She's a good egg and will answer all of your questions, big or small and see to it that I get back to you in a timely manner. I am writing for three different lines (Zebra, Aphrodisia and Ballentine) and under two names (JAX is for my steamier stuff...and yes, it does get steamier!) And I am in over half a dozen languages now! INCUDING a full line of NIGHTWALKERS audio books with the glorious narration of the superb Xe Sands. I'm thrilled with the job she did!

ADAM has just debuted and my fingers are crossed that it will do well. The first hints are that you all LOVE IT and HATE IT and LOVE IT and...well, that's kind of the reaction I was hoping for. ;) Hehehe. What good am I if I can't torment my readers?

I'm still living in Asheville, NC. My kitty family has swelled to *wince* TEN cats. I was fostering and...I found it so hard to trust anyone would give them a better home than me! Is that ego or arrogance or just trust issues?

Email will always be welcomed. I am a tech queen and my laptop has grown roots into my thighs. (And my bottom has grown them into my recliner). I am so thrilled about all of my books and I want to know what everyone thinks of them! I think it would be fascinating to hear what my readers would like to see happen in the Nightwalker world as the series advances. I receive emails at [e-mail] these days. Feel free to say hi! Natalie will see to it I get back to you in one way or another. :)

If you haven't tried me, please do. I always recommend starting with JACOB. Or if you don't want to invest in a series, go for DRINK OF ME. It's a stand alone.

Enjoy,
Hugs and Kitties,
Jacquelyn Frank

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars beauty and the beast, April 29, 2010

By 

C. Stone "Reese" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stealing Kathryn (The Gatherers) (Paperback)

I think J Frank was going for a beauty and the beast theme. Adrian is a horrible, large misshapen beast that controls nightmares in order to gather energy and send to his people. If you read Hunting Julian you will understand this, if not, you will probably be a bit lost in the beginning as Frank does not do as well a job describing what the deal is with the peopple Beneath.Kathryn is the woman whose nightmares that Adrian has become obsessed with. Poor Kathryn is basically a slave in her home taking care of her family home in Australia, caring for her sister and her recently ill father. She is so worn that her dreams are susceptible to Adrian giving her nightmares. Horrible, deformed Adrian has been consumed by the nightmares he is constantly absorbing and thus his physical and mental deteriation. One day he gets the bright idea to kidnap Kathryn and add her to his museum of beautiful things that he collects.

possible spoilers

Sooo, maybe I didnt fully enjoy this because of the fairy tale aspect. Frank relied heavily on this as part of the plot line for most of the book leaving me wandering whats up with the Beneath, the energy starved villagers and the blind Amplii/council people. We are in Adrian's castle so none of that is shown and I was thrown since I expected a story with more detail and interest featuring a Gatherer. This story also has some weak spots such as every time Kathryn touches Adrian, her innate goodness causes him pain. The pain we later realize is Adrian being healed from the nightmares. Every day he returns more and more to his own handsome appeal and normal physique. Of course, Adrians very own Igor sidekick does not like this and tries several times to harm her. At this point, I want to throw the book. I really like Jaquelyn Frank and her writing. I was able to swallow Hunting Julian but Stealing Kathryn was like being thrown into another series. It wasnt until halfway through the book that the Amplii members who are trying to kill Adrian (because he's so evil??)that the two go to Beneath. There love feeds the villagers though we dont see that nor meet anyone other than two of Adrian's Gatherer friends.(gotta set up the next books) Julian makes a cameo and I realize its 3 years after he has found his kindra. (how time flies)

Anyway, we never know what sickness Kathryn's sister has, we dont know why her dad has money but uses her as a slave and the reason that the Amplii people want to get rid of Adrian is weak at best. What a dissapointment on what could have at least been a decent spin on futuristic-like romance

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reworking Beauty and the Beast for a VERY Mature Audience, May 13, 2010

By 

K. A. Wynde "Alex" (Barstow, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stealing Kathryn (The Gatherers) (Kindle Edition)

I will gripe on Stealing Kathryn and state that if you have not read Hunting Julian, you really need to before reading the second book in the series. There are a lot of concepts that are just plain out there/weird to deal with and are not explained very well at all in the second book.

Also, this is a series about not just a completely different culture, but a completely different reality from Earth even thought its world and Earth are connected dimensions. Completely different Ethics and Morality from an Earth standpoint. This society essentially survives by "harvesting" emotions from other cultures -- Earth's in particular. They are Psychic Vampires. They even "feed" from mated pairs in their own society -- their legendary Kindra/soul mate relationship -- which I take it by book two of the series is going to be the theme for each book, that of each character finding his/her soul mate. I am seeing that the potential HEA for the series could be positive in that if enough harvester/gatherer characters -- which Julian and Adrian are -- find their soul mates, the resultant energy surplus would make their current predatory gatherer roles obsolete. A "win-win" from the point of view of us hapless Earthlings having our emotions siphoned off and transferred to this other dimension!

I loved Jacquelyn Frank's first series and the related Shadowdweller series. This new Gatherers series is a completely different direction. I enjoyed reading the two books, I get where Adrian had more than a personality change but also a complete physical change because of his particular Gatherer task to harvest nightmares. I found the heroine not so enjoyable as the heroine in the first book in this series, let alone her heroines in her first two series. Also, it seems like the heroine gives in too easily to the whole concept of: "Totally different reality and you're stuck here you can't go back but Hey! Your life essentially sucked back on Earth and your dad was lying to you/using you!" Perhaps part of the problem other readers have with this book is down to their dislike of the heroine.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Ok..., April 28, 2010

By 

Melissa Randolph (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stealing Kathryn (The Gatherers) (Paperback)

I've enjoyed all of Jacquelyn Frank's books so far, but I just can't get into this book. The writing in this book seems forced and overly complicated. Sometimes it's simply not enjoyable to read because it seemed like the author was watching a period piece and trying to inject that language in random parts of the book. The story seems somewhat forced as well. I really enjoyed the author's previous books and I hope that the next book flows more naturally.