Emma has always been more of a burden than anything to her aunts, also being the brunt of many slights and insults due to her illegitimate birth. When she has the chance to escape her aunts’ home and become a governess to the child of her late cousin, she jumps at the chance. Never mind there are many rumblings about the widower, Lord Craven, and what really happened to her cousin.

When Emma arrives at the Manorbrier estate, she is immersed in even more mysteries. Previous governesses met unfortunate ends and Emma herself experiences strange accidents. What exactly is Lord Craven doing in that forbidden tower late at night, and with dead bodies no less? These questions plague Emma, but she can’t resist her delightful charge, Nicky, or his sinfully handsome father. When opportunity presents itself for a more personal relationship with Lord Craven, Emma is torn between her unanswered questions and her dangerous attraction to the seductive man. But what will be her fate if she gives in to her desires for His Dark Kiss?

Eve Silver has written another brilliant gothic romance. Her first novel Dark Desires was wonderful, and His Dark Kiss is even more incredible. There is a richness to the setting and the story which measures up to even the extremely high standards set by classic masters of the genre like Victoria Holt. However, Eve Silver brings a modern heat level to her stories that is guaranteed to curl your toes in delight. The interactions between our hero and heroine are very passionate and intense. Characters are brought to life with vivid descriptions and mysterious behaviors.

As with any true gothic story, suspense is key to the story, as is the requisite spooky manor house and dark hero. His Dark Kiss has all that in spades. I found myself drawn into the setting, envisioning the manor and experiencing Emma’s fears and desires. I, too, wondered what was going on in the dark tower and why the servants were so secretive.  As events spiral farther onward, I was sucked into the maelstrom, and carried along for the ride.

The gothic romance is far from dead as some would like to believe. Eve Silver breathes new life into the genre that is the basis for so many romance novels on the market today. If readers want a thrilling story that will give them goose bumps in an oh-so-good way, than His Dark Kiss by Eve Silver is just the novel for them!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2006. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2006 CK²S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

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Posted November 2006