Shadows of the Night (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Immediately after her wedding, Fern Ashcroft begins to wonder if she might have made the biggest mistake of her life in marrying Colin Radcliffe. Not only does Colin insist that he is in charge in their marriage, but he also seems to be keeping secrets from her. When Colin cuts their honeymoon in Brighton short so that they can travel to his estate in Wrexmere, Fern suspects there is more to the trip than Colin’s wish to spend some quiet time alone with his new wife. Upon arriving in Wrexmere, Fern finds not only a run-down estate but also dangerous secrets from the past that could destroy any chance Fern might have of a happy future with Colin. Brilliantly blending atmospheric elements from Ann Radcliffe’s classic gothic novels with a generous dash of Brontë-esque romance, Joyce creates an elegantly dark and intensely sexy Victorian historical romance that is certain to cast its own mysterious spell over readers. For more bewitching Victorian romances, see the adjacent Read-alikes. --John Charles

Review

"If there is only one new author you will try this year, it must be Lydia Joyce."
-Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author of Devil in Winter

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045122342X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223425
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #741,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging Victorian romantic suspense, March 6, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

During the courtship Colin and Fern behaved as expected of aristocrats by Victorian society. Both expected a normal somewhat boring relationship as neither showed a tendency to break out of the mold. Then came their wedding night in which Fern displays sass, boldness, and desire, which makes Colin hot for her and dream perhaps they can have an ardent loving marriage that breaks sexual taboos with some safe S&M.

They go on their honeymoon to his most remote estate where she wants independence and he desires more of what they had on their wedding night. They fall in love and enjoy their isolation until Joseph Reston from Colin's past arrives with demands that shake apart the newlyweds as she realizes he has hidden things from her while he insists they no longer matter as love has changed him from what he was.

SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT is an engaging Victorian romantic suspense in which the peril comes later in the plot, but enhances the story line by causing a major rift between the lead couple who struggle to understand their sexual appetites. Fans will enjoy this heated historical because the conflict comes from within the relationship between Colin and Fern even before Reston arrives and amplifies the already existing issues.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sexy and intriguing Victorian gothic..., April 12, 2008

By	CoffeeGurl (MA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Set in Victorian England (no year is specified, but based on the descriptions, I am guessing this takes place somewhere around 1850s-1860s), Shadows of the Night tells the story of the Honorable Mr. Colin Radcliffe, heir to a vicounty, and his marriage to the perfect woman -- someone quiet and resilient to have children and live a quiet life with. He will continue to have mistresses and live his somewhat passionless, stoic life on the side. But Fern isn't the woman he had thought she was. She seems demure and proper enough, but underneath her primness lies an independent, passionate woman with secret desires and a wantonness even she hadn't been aware of possessing. Colin is appalled but strangely drawn to his wife. She makes him feel alive, especially when she gets rough on him. Erotic encounters beyond his wildest dreams ensue, and Fern turns out to be not just the perfect bed partner, but also -- could it be possible? -- a good friend. But things may be destroyed when he and Fern travel to an old estate in need of restoration. The Restons are responsible for the repairs, but instead of using the funds to fix up the place, they have been keeping the money for themselves. They have been doing this to the Radcliffes for centuries. They hold a secret that has kept the Radcliffe dynasty in their power for many generations. What could this big secret be?

Lydia Joyce has written quite a vivid gothic romance novel. Shadows of the Night is beautifully written. Having read and enjoyed Music of the Night, I see that Joyce's eye for historical detail is dead on. There are some modern words and expressions sprinkled here and there, but other than that the descriptions of Victorian England are quite accurate. The erotic scenes are wonderful as well. The switch from indifference to sexual tension to intense love are nicely shown. My one complaint is that the book is too short and the story is sort of rushed in certain areas. The whole thing with the mystery surrounding the estate and the Restons confused me at first, and things didn't make sense until the book's final pages. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. Well-written and fascinating historical romance novels are few and far in between. Most of them are nothing more than 21st century characters in period costume. I am glad to see that Joyce is not the author of one of those books.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reviews of the Night, March 17, 2008

By	Eleanor Skinner (Albany, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Shadows of the Night starts out as light bdsm femdom erotica, then about a third of the way through turns into a gothic novel about real estate fraud. While this is initially jarring, Joyce's writing is good, & after a short while I started enjoying the gothic/mystery (with occasional lovemaking) just as much. I'd love to see more of the characters (or see one or two more details wrapped up at the end - ex. the cell with writing & the fate of the natural child)!

The romance/sex part was quite nice. Neither the bride or groom know what they're doing, but the way they figure it out seems decently realistic. Fern is made realistically independent without being portrayed as some kind of radical suffragette (I like radical sufragettes, but it would have been out of place). I like the way Joyce phrases things, especially when Fern speaks.