Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Master Storyteller Delivers Again, October 5, 2008
Marriage counselor Gale Sinclair could not be more vexed: he knows that impartiality is the cornerstone of his profession, but he can't help the fact that he's fallen madly in love with one of his clients, the lovely Zoelle. Having been approached by her in a desperate effort to salvage her marriage to wealthy real estate tycoon Laurent Crews, Gale becomes so captivated by Zoelle that he rushes to her aid one night when she makes a fervent plea for him to stem the swelling tide of Laurent's growing rage. Unfortunately, in his haste to save her, Gale falls victim to a horrendous accident with a tractor trailer on a night-darkened, rain-slicked road...
When he awakens, not only is it three months later, but he's not even the same man he used to be - literally. Much to his surprise, Gale's soul has been infused into the body of Zoelle's estranged husband, Laurent, and he suddenly finds himself struggling to reconcile the feelings that he still carries for her in the spirit, while trying to reignite in her the old flames of passion that used to burn for a man that she now loathes in the flesh...
Amid all this drama, Gale also has to contend with the fact that the reason his soul entered Laurent's body in the first place is that someone killed him - or at least tried to - and he finds himself in a race against time to discover the identity of Laurent's would-be dispatcher. As he steps up his efforts to win over Zoelle, the mystery surrounding his looming assassination heats up, and he begins to learn some disturbing truths about where the loyalties of close friends and family truly lie...
Eternal Designs is not only an action-packed thriller, but it's also a tight-fisted tale of suspense and intrigue. Gracie C. McKeever continues to amaze with her uncanny ability to weave a tantalizing tapestry of unique characters, enrapturing plotlines, and cinematic detail. She has mastered the difficult technique of presenting this literary trifecta in such a powerfully compelling way time and again, and she only gets better with time. In each tale that she crafts, the vividness of her characters and the vigor of her storytelling create exciting, enticing worlds to which the reader will long to escape time and again. Highly recommended.
Josee Morgan
Apex Reviews
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3.0 out of 5 stars
An Ambitious and Intriguing Story about Love and Second Chances - 3.5 Stars, February 17, 2009
Gale Sinclair is a marriage counselor who has fallen for Zoelle Sutherland, the woman who came to him seeking help to get her marriage back on track. Zoelle loves her husband and wants to make the marriage work, but her quick wit and tall athletic body have Gale constantly dreaming of claiming her for himself. As much as he wants her, Gale remains determined to keep their relationship strictly professional - at least that was the plan until he caved in to his desires and kissed Zoelle at the end of their last session.
Zoelle Sutherland has tried her best but realizes her marriage is over. Her husband, Laurent Crews is every woman's dream. Handsome, strong, and successful - if only she could add "loving" to that list. As a powerful Real Estate tycoon, Laurent demands perfection from everyone around him. His dominating nature serves him well in business, but Zoelle is tired of living by his strict code of conduct and always falling short of his expectations. She has a successful interior design firm and can support herself. The time has come to divorce him and move on.
Zoelle and Laurent `s relationship problems eventually come to a head. An argument ensues and Laurent becomes uncontrollably violent. Desperate for help, Zoelle calls Gale in a panic and he rushes out in a terrible storm to get to her. In his haste, Gale loses control of his vehicle and dies in a fatal accident. When Gale regains awareness, Zoelle is staring down at him with a worried frown. He discovers that he has been dead for 3 months; however by some bizarre cosmic happenstance his spirit now resides in the body of Laurent Crews...and someone has just tried to murder him.
Fate has granted Gale a unique opportunity and he intends to take full advantage of it. Gale suspects that Laurent wasn't the monster he appeared to be, but clearing his name won't be easy. There is a killer at large and he has to find a way to reconcile with a wife and step-son whom Laurent has hurt repeatedly over the years. Before he can come clean with Zoelle about his reincarnation, Gale must learn more about the man whose body he now possesses. But first, Gale must figure out who stands to gain the most from murdering Laurent and he has to do it before someone tries to kill him again.
Zoelle senses a change in her "husband" ever since she found him unconscious in his office, but past disappointments warn her that he may just be up to his old tricks again. Still, there's no mistaking his new relaxed demeanor and the tender caresses he now gives so freely. If she didn't know better, she'd swear he was someone else entirely. Someone Zoelle once knew and missed dearly. Someone who died tragically months ago, leaving her with crippling guilt and grief. Can a man change overnight? And is this version of Laurent here to stay? Zoelle ponders these questions as she learns of the greed, violence, and deception that surround their lives. Zoelle doesn't know who to trust and everything she cherishes is at stake. And with Laurent back in her life, Zoelle may have once again fallen for the enemy.
ETERNAL DESIGNS is an ambitious and intriguing story about second chances and being true to oneself. It is appropriate that the hero of this tale is a therapist, as much of this novel explores ideas of what drives the actions of others and how our experiences shape who we are. Gale and Zoelle are likeable and authentic as they struggle with their issues; Laurent comes through as a complex and troubled man. McKeever packs a lot of characters (and a few red herrings) into this novel, which lead to some confusion towards the end. I must admit that the motive for murder left me a bit puzzled and unconvinced, but for me the romance compensates for the chaotic ending. For readers who enjoy stories about lost love, love found and second chances, ETERNAL DESIGNS may be worth a try.
~*Courtesy of ParaNormal Romance Reviews*~
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The plot and motives were messy. I didn't enjoy the story. I wanted it to be over., November 19, 2008
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
There were a lot of different characters. It was hard to keep track of them even though I took notes as I read. There were several suspects. Having more back story about some of the suspects would have made the book easier to follow. When I finished the book, I was confused as to what the motive for murder had been. I went back through the book, trying to find the motive thinking I missed it somehow. After I thought I figured it out, I didn't buy it. Several other characters had stronger motives for murder than the murderer. Someone also pushed a little girl into a swimming pool. She would have drowned if someone else had not seen her and saved her. The motive for the person pushing her was stupid and did not tie in realistically. This annoyed me. The only positive was that I liked the two main characters.
The picture on the book cover shows a man and a woman, both with black hair to the center of their backs. In the book her hair is chestnut and his is shoulder length. Does the publisher not care about matching the cover with the characters?
STORY BRIEF:
Zoe is married to Laurent. Laurent is emotionally distant and controlling. Zoe has sessions with marriage counselor Gale. Gale secretly starts to fall in love with her. Gale is killed in a car accident. A couple of months later, someone hits Laurent in the head, which kills him. A few moments later, Gale's soul enters Laurent's body and Laurent is alive again. Gale is a warm, loving, giving person. The story is interesting in how the new Laurent interacts with various people who knew the old Laurent.
DATA:
Story length: 319 pages. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 5. Length of sex scenes: 0.5 to 5.7 pages. Total number of sex scene pages: 14. Setting: current day New York City. Copyright: 2008. Genre: erotic contemporary romantic mystery.
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