|
|
 |
|
My favourite books in this genre
|
|
|
Laura Kinsale
The Shadow and the Star
One of the most captivating heroes I've ever come across. His name is Samuel, a sensitive man with the face of an
angel and a spirit scarred by a cruel childhood; the master of an ancient martial art form. He executes a series of
sleek and confounding burglary of royal treasures, leaving a trail which leads the police to clandestine organisations
involving the abuse of children, boys specifically. What sets Laura Kinsale apart beside her beautiful, almost
poetic style of writing is the complex profiling of her heroes and heroines, unveiling layer by layer,
the deep, intrinsic working of their psyche.
Since Shadow and the Star, I've devoured The Hidden Heart, Uncertain Magic and Seize the Fire. I'm now waiting anxiously to
get a copy of Flowers from the Storm.
Katherine Sutcliffe
Darkling I Listen
This book is a prized find with explosive writing and an intriguing plot, one of Sutcliffe's best. Haunted by the
malicious rumors that destroyed his acting career, Hollywood bad boy, Brandon Carlyle, returns to his hometown to seek refuge.
An obsessive stalker followed him, sending disturbing, threatening letters which grew bolder and more real as events, both
past and present, closed in on him. Only the love from an old couple who stood as his surrogate parents and a beautiful stranger kept
him from going mad. With torrid scenes, heartstopping action, emotional moments with a lingering sweetness, this
book and its author deserves recognition and to win some awards. Warning: a few chapter contain adult
material.
Other good books by Sutcliffe include Jezebel, Bad Moon Rising and Renegade Love.
Mary Jo Putney
This is part of a trilogy, each book focusing on one of the members of the Fallen Angels, boys with a tragic past which
bonded them together.
Here, Lord Michael Kenyon is our hero; strong, courageous to the point of recklessness and haunted by a past
which gave him that vulnerability, utterly believable and lovable. Frankly, I am smitten by him, as with many of
Mary Jo Putney's heroes. Her heroine is just as special, a battlefield nurse who saved him twice with such selflessness that
he became indebted to her. With its twists and turns, the story is riveting, to say the least, and a thoroughly exhilirating
read.
|
|
|
Dancing on the Wind
Second book of the trilogy, this one featuring Lucien Fairchild, a golden-haired archangel known for unearthly beauty and
diabolical cleverness. A tragic past has driven him to use his formidable talents to go undercover to root out spies in his
country. A mysterious woman, by turns glamorous and subdued, enchants yet baffles him as they traverse the same paths in their
separate secret missions. What I love about this book is the hero - but of course - and also, the vivid scenes of intrigue,
harrowing escapes and surprises after surprises. Michael Kenyon joined in towards the end, making it even more memorable :)
Beautifully written and a mesmeric adventure.
|
|
|
Karen Robards
Dark of the Moon
I love many of Karen Robards' books, having read more than twenty so far :) For me, this one tops them all. An orphaned
girl took to the streets, disguised as a boy, to steal for a living. A nobleman identified with the spunky, out-of-luck
little ruffian and took him into his fold without realising his mistake. A respectable Lord by day, and the leader of
a band of outlaws by night who steal from the rich to give to the poor, our hero here is endearing in his bravery and bull-headedness,
the heroine vulnerable yet strong. For those who love romance and intrigue.
Patricia Potter
The Heart Queen
What I love about Patricia Potters' books are the long-suffering heroes whose past, unveiled, layer by layer, making
us sympathise and draw near to them. There are a number of favourite books including Renegade and Defiant which I enjoyed
very much.
This one, the Heart Queen, is no exception. The stoic warrior, blacksheep of the Braemoor clan, became an incidental Marquis.
A dark secret about his parentage makes him abstain from love until a helpless woman from his past, accused of murdering
her husband, brings him out of his mental prison to be the hero he is meant to be. A mesmeric read.
Nora Roberts
Inner Harbour
I love Nora Roberts' books for the clean, smooth style of writing, minimalistic and yet bringing the emotions across
in a way only she knows how. My favourite of favourites among her many works would be the Quinn trilogy, specifically Inner
Harbour and Seaswept.
By now, you must know the kind of books I love, heroes with tragic past, somewhat like Eric Su of my novel :) Here,
three came together bonded by a benevolent couple who picked the down-and-out off the streets to nurture and grow.
In Inner Harbor, Phillip Quinn is featured, a hard-core gang member at the age of fourteen who died, for a few seconds, in
the cross-fire between two rival gangs. Touching storyline. A mesmeric read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|