Customer Reviews

Tapestry

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

TO KISS IN THE SHADOWS - What a great story! Lynn Kurland tells the tale of Lianna of Grasleigh, once beautiful but now her face ravished by the effects of the pox. She was shunned, ridiculed and kept to the shawdows. Jason de Piaget finds her and is attracted by her personality, when he does see her face, he can still see the beauty of the person she is. He was shunned as well - guilt by association because of his connection to the Lord of Blackmour reputed to practice the 'dark arts'. They find a love together that lets them love amongst the treachery and intrigues of court. AN INTERRUPTED TAPESTRY by Madeline Hunter is the story of Andreas von Brennan and lady Giselle. Once close friends but separated for the last 10 years. She comes to him in anger not knowing why he had broken the friendship - he was her last hope to save her brother. The years passed but the attraction is still there. This is another fine entry by a wonderful medieval author. DRAGONSWAN by Sherrilyn Kenyon - This was my introduction to this author. Never considering myself a huge fan of fantasy type stories, I was very pleased with this story. It was written with a huge dose of love and compassion. The dialog was also quite witty and fresh! Super story! INTO THE DREAMING by Karen Marie Moning - Again, another new author for me in this time travel story. Aedan had been tricked by the fairy king in order to save his people, what he thought was imprisonmen for 5 years was actually 5 'fairy' years - (100 human years equals one 'fairy' year) After being frozen in time and for 500 years and given subconscious directions, he had forgotten who he was. Jane had been dreaming of her knight rescuer for years, she knew exactly who he was so when she was sent a tapestry with the face of her knight on it whe was transported back in time. She had one month to make Aedan remember who he was and why they would always be to together!

All in all - these were four SUPER GOOD stories by four extremely talented authors. Excellent offering and a keeper!

Assemble four of the finest craftswomen of romance writing and the result is an intricate tapestry of boundless love, passion and exhilarating fantasy. The collection of stories in this romantic anthology is sprawling in its imagination, rollicking fun and hopelessly quixotic at times.

Lynn Kurland hailed as one of the best romantic writers today weaves an unconventional tale of pageantry when Lianna of Grasleigh rouses the jealousy of the palace maidens when the chivalrous knight Kendrick of Artane associates with her. The ward of King Henry despite her blemished beauty finds solace with Jason of Artane - Kendrick's brother who is a notorious sorceror of dark arts. He rescues her from a poisoned death schemed by the maidens - and when Lianna uncxpectedly becomes the prize in a contest of valor between Kendrick and his spiteful cousin, the path to love becomes a tad complicated...

Madeline Hunter's tale evokes unexpected shades of honor and passion with a rich Venice merchant Andreas claiming back his lost love Giselle when she tries to sell him her cherished tapestry to rescue her debt-ladened brother. Karen Marie Moning tells a silly but entertaining tale of a romantic novelist who receives a tapestry and is transported to ancient Scotland to resuscitate the man of her destiny from 500 years of solitary confinement.

While the stories mentioned above are equal parts poignant and fantasy, none can match the imaginative Sherrilyn Kenyon in her colourful patchwork of Greek myths like Moirae of the Fates, lycanthrope and exciting time-travel. Historian Channing McRae has no idea that the tapestry she is studying on will bring her to Sebastian, descendent and former sentinel of the Arcadian - a population with human instincts but animal traits. The tapestry made by his demised sister he failed to protect will provide him a chance to rescue his brother and string him to his mate...

Tapestry is silky-smooth in its transition and the quartet of romance mavericks weave a common thread of passion and adventure. Quite possibly the most consistent anthology, this tapestry is of vintage quality and as fine as gossamer threads.

Pleasant and entertaining, the romantic anthology TAPESTRY features two outstanding short stories and two that are pretty decent.

"To Kiss in the Shadows" by Lynn Kurland fleshes out an incident mentioned in her full-length novel STARDUST OF YESTERDAY. Set in medieval times, the heroine Lianna is scarred by pox and her hero knight, Jason, is feared as a sorcerer. It's a non-sexual story, but that's not what bugged me. What bothered me were pertinent questions that were not answered, like why was Lianna's family killed and why would no one tell the King that his ward was poisoned? Rating: 3 stars.

"An Interrupted Tapestry" by Madeline Hunter had good passion and a believable background between the main characters. Set in London 200 or 300 years ago, wealthy merchant Andreas is helping Giselle raise money to pay her kidnapped brother's ransom. It's almost painful to watch them deny their feelings for each other. Rating: 5 stars.

"Dragonswan" by Sherrilyn Kenyon was the reason I bought this anthology; it was also a letdown. Don't get me wrong: I love Sebastian, from his frankness to his dark sexuality to his cool facial tattoo. I also loved the fact that he was a dragon who could travel through time. Everything else about the story was blah. Kenyon's Dark-Hunter fans will want to read it though, for its explanation about the were-hunter's "claiming" ritual. Rating: 3 stars.

"Into the Dreaming" by Karen Marie Moning was a delight. I'm not a fan of hers, so I'm still reeling in shock over the fact I liked this story the most. Highlander Aedan has one chance to free himself from eternal servitude to a dark (and deliciously intriguing) faery king, and Jane is sent back in time to help him. The characters are great, the attitude fun. Rating: 5 stars.

Lynn Kurland - TO KISS IN THE SHADOWS
Lianna of Grasleigh is a ward of King Henry brought to his court when her family was slain. Until Henry gives her away in marriage, she hides in the shadows to avoid being taunted and treated cruelly because of her ugly visage. The envious, malicious women in the queen's solar treat her even worse when Kendrick of Artane, the most sought after knight of the realm, befriends her. His brother Jason who carries a message from their father follows Kendrick, and Jason also sees Lianna's inner beauty, rather than her outer countenance. Though Jason is even more comely than his brother, he was squire to a known warlock, thus everyone believes he's practiced the dark arts and fears him. - Everyone except Lianna. Lynn Kurland's story that follows is one for Lianna to weave into a tapestry as romance unfolds between two most unlikely people. It's refreshing to read a story about an imperfect woman and man of maligned reputation. And it's fun to read of siblings who love each other deeply, yet have the most unusual way of showing that love.

AN INTERRUPTED TAPESTRY - Madeline Hunter
An old friendship promises to develop into much more when the lovely Giselle must seek out the only person who can help her brother: Andreas, a wealthy merchant shipper who was at one time her brother's best friend. Giselle is still an innocent who believes in her brother Reginald's schemes to strike it rich and regain their noble title and lands. Andreas is in London to sign a contract to wed the daughter of a wealthy Italian merchant shipper, a merger that will make the two families the most powerful merchants in the world. Giselle must come to realize truths about her brother, and Andreas must decide whether love or wealth and power are most important. Ms. Hunter leaves them with a new tapestry to weave to replace the treasured family tapestry now lost to Giselle.

DRAGONSWAN - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Prepare yourself for a sizzling, sensual time-travel when the immortal Sebastian meets Channon in a museum as she studies a famous Dragon tapestry. The gorgeous six foot five hunk of the Drakos race doesn't know it, but fate has chosen her to be his mate. Sexual tension heats up the instant their eyes meet, and when she sleepily agrees to travel home with him; Channon has no idea what/when/ or where she is going to end up. I won't spoil the story for you, but I will give you a teaser. Sebastian comes from a race that can weave magic spells, and his human form transforms into a dragon by electrical impulse. His powers are enhanced through sexual contact, and the passion he and Channon share give him awesome power to last two full days. This one is a scorcher that will have you flying through the pages.

INTO THE DREAMING - Karen Marie Moning
Venture into the land of the fairies, where good will battle evil. Aidan McKinnon was tricked in the tenth century by an evil fairy king, and has been held a prisoner in an icy world for five hundred years. He's lost his hold on sanity and is as cold as the ice that has preserved him. Aidan is in total dominance to the fairy, kept in his control by evil spells. He's become an evil, brutal killing machine known as Vengeance, marauding at the whim of the evil fairy. There is nothing but a shell left of the old Aidan McKinnon; in fact he remembers nothing, not even his name.

In the warm realm of light, the fairy queen knows all about her counterparts plans and decides to cast a few spells of her own. She able to reach Aidan through dreams and weaves a beautiful tapestry in poem and song, sending the dreaming spell to Aidan and his true mate - a little girl living in the 21st century. Five hundred years pass before the window of opportunity opens. The fairy queen has thirty days until the moon reaches it fullness once more, during which time she'll time-travel a sassy, grown-up Jane back to early Scotland to resurrect Aidan. INTO THE DREAMING is an excellent sensual fantasy. Karen Marie Morning weaves her own tapestry to cover readers with her magic storytelling that will enchant them.

Carol Carter, Reviewer - As written for Romance Reviews Today

I purchased this book for the story "To Kiss in the Shadows" by Lynn Kurland, as she is one of my favorite authors. After reading all of the other de Piaget stories, how could I not be interested in a story about Jason?! I can honestly say, that my only disappointment was in it not being its own book!!! The story deserved it! I also think too many people haven't read the other books that go along with this story, so they are confused by the Kendrick, Jason, Lianna triangle. All I can say is read Stardust of Yesterday and that should clear up any confusion.

I did read the rest of the stories as well.

"An Interrupted Tapestry" by Madeline Hunter was my least favorite. It moved along well, but to me lacked the feeling that I get from other stories.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dragonswan" was more than I could have hoped for!! It moved quickly and the storyline was one of the best I have read in a long time. I enjoy magic, mythical beasts and time travel, so when you get them all in one story, by a gifted storytetller, it is WONDERFUL!! Any disappointment stems from the same thing as the Lynn Kurland novella - This should have been its own book!!!

The final story "Into the Dreaming" by Karen Marie Moning was no disappointment either. She is so creative, that you are finished before you know it and are ready to buy the next book (or re-read another)!!

The book begins with two stories by author's I had never heard of and both these stories aren't really that paranormal, especially the second that is simply a historical romance, the last two stories by Sherrily Kenyon and Karen Marie Moning both had similar elements of time travel and were much more pleasing, my favourite of the entries is Karen Marie Moning's, cause there's nothing like one of her highlander time travel books, yummy!!!

This book (as mentioned by other reviewers) is a four-stories-in-one thing.

The first, "To Kiss in the Shadows," is about how a great guy with a bad reputation and a girl with a good heart (and a scarred face) end up together. This was a great story.

The second, "An Interrupted Tapestry," is about a reunion between friends after years because of bad circumstances. Of course, they fall in love. This was my favorite, but I sure wish they had made this into a full novel.

The third, "Dragonswan," is about an immortal guy who looks human (and turns into a dragon) meeting his human mate and bringing her back to his world. This is also a favorite, but another I wish was a full-length novel.

The fourth, "Into the Dreaming," is about how a woman saves her Highlander love from a fate planned for him by a fairy king. Another great story, in my opinion.

Actually --- as you may have realized by now --- I love all four stories, and found this book a better-than-good read.

Karen Marie Moning and Madeline Hunter's stories were the best!!!! I wish they'd been longer, especially Hunter's tale! Lynn Kurland's was good, but Sherilyn Kenyon's was merely an okay tale.

Tapestry will not disappoint. Four novellas into one, this novel is filled with adventure and romance. All of the stories revolve around a tapestry.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dragonswan was a great read. Sebastian was a dragon slayer standing at six foot five, with long black hair and eyes a greenish-gold. Wow ~ talk about mouth watering!

My favorite, though, was Karen Marie Moning's Into the Dreaming. No, it wasn't Aedan MacKinnon which grabbed my attention. Nope ~ it was the Unseelie King. Wow! He just leapt off the pages and instantly DEMANDED my attention. The power he possessed was enormous and terrifying. He was so seductive and sinister as he cleverly set into motion a plan that even the Seelie Queen does not know about. I had such a soft spot for those that are dark. And there was no one darker than the Unseelie King. I would love to read a novel solely about him.

Enjoy.

There are four short stories in this one book and they are all great. I considered a five star rating but one of the stories was not quite up to par so I kept it at a four.

1st Lynn Kurland-To Kiss in the Shadows-this is the story of Jason of Artane. He is rumored to dable in the dark arts because he fostered for the mysterious Christopher of Blackmoor. He meets and falls in love with Lianna of Grasleigh. Her once beautiful face is marked by the pox scars and the other ladies at court treat her cruelly because of it. When they become jealous of her friendship with handsome sought after Kendrick of Artane, they poison and almost kill her. Jason tends her and brings her back to health and then begins his plea to the king for her hand in marriage. This is a great story of loving someone for who they are on the inside, Even Lianna has to learn that lesson.

Madeline Hunter's-An Interrupted Tapestry-This one was okay but a little disappointing. Giselle goes to Andreas when her brother Reginald is kidnapped. Reginald has left debts all over town and left Giselle facing the creditors. Andreas was once their good friend but for some unknown reason to Giselle abruptly stopped coming around a couple of years ago. Andreas a wealthy tradesman knows it would be good to marry wisely to increase his trade. However, he cannot forget the feelings he has always had for Giselle. It is revealed that Reginald once offered Giselle to Andreas as a leman if he would help them financially. When Reginald is finally rescued by raising the money through the sale of a tapestry, Giselle must decide if she is willing to love Andreas without being able to marry him. Reginald must decide if he will marry for love or trade.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's- Dragonswan-This is one of the better two stories. It is a toss up whether it or the last story is the best. Sebastian is of a mythical Drakos race (human with dragon traits) who comes to modern times to recover a tapestry that is needed to rescue his brother. He meets Channon and is instantly attracted. They make love and he discovers he is mated to her. When a Drakos is mated, they are only allowed to love and have a family with that mate, otherwise they are doomed to life of celibacy. Sebastian must take Channon back to his times pre-medievil to protect her. Sebastian knows he should let Channon decide if she wants to stay herself, he will not use his powers to sway her. When Sebastian is injured protecting Channon she must decide whether she will bond with him to save him or return to her old life.

Karen Marie Moning-Into the Dreaming-I think this has to be my favorite of the four. IF you like Karen Marie Moning, you will like this one. Aeden MacKinnon makes a pledge to a dark faery to be his prisoner for five years to spare his family from the faery's wrath. What he doesn't know is five years in faery time is five hundred years. Most mortals lose their minds during that amount of time and the evil faery king uses him for evil plots during that time. At the end of his sentence, he is given one month to love and be loved or he will forever be bound to the evil king. The problem is he thinks he is someone named Vengeance and doesn't remember his true self. The faery king suggests to him not to get close to people or things in hopes of keeping him a slave. The good faery queen sends Jane to Aeden in his dreams to give him a chance to learn to love. At the end of his sentence she sends Jane to him in reality to help him remember. Jane knows Aeden from her dreams and hopes for a real life love. Aeden doesn't not remember anything of being human, love, food, the ways of people. He is confused by Jane and doesn't know why she calls him Aeden. He is drawn by her but afraid to disobey his king. Then he remembers, the king made suggestions but did not give orders. The clock races towards his one month while he learns to love. This is great and very sensual and sometimes humorous.