Book one-seventy-one: Touch of Darkness

Touch of Darkness
Christina Dodd

Rating: 1.5/5

Once again, there is something missing here. No idea what. But it just doesn’t feel right or read right or… I don’t know, there is just something wrong with it at its centre. None of the books plot’s feel complete. Its kind of like coming in halfway through a story, then leaving before its done.

It was a vaguely frustrating experience. The whole way through I just couldn’t pin point what it was that was bothering me.

It does have a sort of interesting premise and I am intrigued by some of the secondary characters, but neither of the books so far in the series have felt complete.

A thousand years ago, a brutal warrior struck a terrifying bargain. In return for the ability to change at will into a cold-hearted predator, he promised his soul, and the souls of his descendants, to the devil.

Handsome, powerful Rurik Wilder battles darkness — the darkness without, and the darkness within. For he possesses the power to transform himself into a fierce bird of prey, and that gift has caused death and destruction.

At last he is offered the chance to redeem himself and break the evil pact which has held his family in thrall for centuries. Only one woman stands in his way — flamboyant Tasya Hunnicutt, a writer determined to wreak revenge on the assassins who murdered her family. Assassins, it’s been rumored, who have powers no human should ever possess...

---

Finished: Sunday 23/9

more...

Book one-hundred-and-forty-eight: Scent of Darkness

Scent of Darkness (2007)
Christina Dodd

Rating: 2/5

There’s nothing really wrong with this book, but at the same time there is something that’s not quite right about it too.

It also has a lot of walking around and doing things while thinking, and I much prefer dialogue.

There’s also this whole weird bit in the middle. And then the end? Huh? Out of nowhere, its suddenly there. Not a lot of resolving goes on.

A thousand years ago, Konstantine Varinski roamed the Russian steppes. Driven by his craving for power, he struck a terrible bargain. In return for the ability to change from a magnificent warrior to a predator that could hunt down his enemies and kill them, he promised his soul — and the souls of his descedents — to the devil.

Plain Ann Smith loves her handsome, dynamic boss, Jasha Wilde, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she finds a black wolf warming itself before the fire. Before her horrified eyes, the wolf changes into the man she adores. She flees, he pursues, but they can't escape their destinies.

For Jasha is the descendant of Konstantine Varinski and Ann is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul. To find heaven in each other's arms, they have the devil to pay.

---

Finished: Saturday 25/8

more...

Book eighty-eight: Someday My Prince

Someday My Prince (1999)
Christina Dodd

Rating: 2/5

Alright. At least the heroine didn’t do anything overly stupid. Or not that I can remember, anyway.

Princess Laurentia leads a fairy-tale life, but she leads it alone. Until she's swept away by Prince Dominic: soldier of fortune, black sheep of his family . . . and the man hired to protect her. Has her prince finally arrived?

Princess Laurentia leads a fairy-tale life, attending glittering balls and wearing beautiful gowns. But after the ball is over, Laurentia finds herself getting into bed...alone. She dutifully agrees to choose a husband, but when she casts her eyes over her sea of suitors, she doesn't see a single man worthy enough to claim her.

Then suddenly, she is swept off her feet by Prince Dominick, soldier of fortune, black sheep of his family...and the man hired to protect her. He's brazen enough to steal her kisses, yet tender enough to soothe her with one touch. He makes no promises, speaks no vows of forever...yet Laurentia can't help but hope that her prince has finally arrived.

---

Finished: Saturday 30/6

more...

Book eighty-four: Runaway Princess

Runaway Princess (1999)
Christina Dodd

Rating: 2/5

I do wish that the “runaway princess” had stopped running away from safety and into life threatening situations. That was kind of annoying.

But I did like how she kept using things she’d read in books – like martial arts. It was very cute.

An unexpected inheritance lets Evangeline live the life of her dreams -- to travel abroad as a lady of mystery. But one night a darkly handsome Crown Prince claims her as his fiancé, and he'll do anything to seduce her into his royal world of peril, promise, and passion.

English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritance, she can afford one perfect summer--a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery.

But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince--and her fiancé.

One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his betrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephinia. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fulfil their destinies, the prince will do anything--abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

---

Finished: Wednesday 27/6

more...

Book seventy-one: A Well Pleasured Lady

A Well Pleasured Lady (1997)
Christina Dodd

Rating: 1.5/5

It was disconcerting that they kept have these whispered conversations with other people in the room. It seemed like the group conversation would pause and wait for them to finish talking before continuing.

I just kept picturing everyone in the room frozen in some kind of Georgian wax model display, that would spring back to life once the main characters were done with their little chat.

And the whole “forced seduction” thing. Yick.

Powerful Sebastian Durant, Viscount Whitfield, has good cause to hate the Fairchild family, so when his godmother requests Sebastian's help in regaining an incriminating diary she believes to have been stolen by the Fairchilds, he welcomes the opportunity to exact revenge. Lady Mary Fairchild, though estranged from her family for 10 years, is loath to aid the Viscount. Unfortunately, her loyalty to his godmother, and the knowledge that Sebastian is privy to the dark secret she hides from the world, compels her to cooperate. The handsome Viscount and the beautiful Lady Mary pose as engaged lovers, and their charade soon becomes reality as they untangle a web of lies, theft, and betrayal that threatens their very lives.

---

Finished: Sunday 17/6

more...