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“That first earthquake
was not my fault.” With that, one of the best opening lines I can remember,
Evelyn Vaughn sets the tone for all that is to follow in Lost Calling,
the premiere book in a new continuity series, The Madonna Key, from
Silhouette Bombshell.
Readers of Evelyn Vaughn’s Grail Keepers series have previously met archeologist Catrina Dauvergne. Now she has a chance to redeem herself from her previous villainess ways. When a surprising earthquake strikes the center of Paris, Catrina drops through the pavement and into a long hidden grave. Her she finds the skeletons of five women, slain during the 18th century and the French Revolution. But why was this grave different from the catacombs all throughout the underground of Paris? Catrina knows she must preserve this shocking archeological find if she hopes to uncover the answer. She turns to former priest turned archeology student, Rhys Pritchard, the one man who can help her… and the one man she’s desired but never been able to have. As they work to catalog and preserve the site, Catrina, helped by strange visions of the slain women, uncovers some shocking enigmas. Now she and Rhys are in a race against time, and a deadly enemy who will stop at nothing to rebury old secrets. The must find a series of seven keys that will unlock the mysterious past before their adversaries can prove that some people will go to any costs to smite the wicked. Move over Robert Langdon, we have a new heroine determined to make sure the truth is not lost forever! Catrina’s life is all about protecting history and now she is about to make the find of her life. Even her past bad deeds were done in the name of her cause. She is a strong woman, admittedly not the nicest woman in the world, without being the usual tough martial arts practicing, kick butt broad. She is only human, with the more tender emotions commonly associated with women everywhere, though she works very hard to keep those hidden. Rhys is a tortured soul, torn between his strong Catholic beliefs and former life as a priest, and his masculine desires. Throughout the entire story we experience the difficult decisions he has made and his guilt and agony over the results of some of his decisions. Seeing his battles with personal demons, and Catrina’s struggles to understand what he is thinking and feeling, add a whole different dimension to the tale. The bond that develops between them is a natural extension of their somewhat love/hate relationship. Don’t forget the action found either! From the very first page, readers are wrenched into the story, and find we cannot escape, nor would we want to, until the final climactic encounter, which sets in motion the chain of events to follow in future books in the series. We find natural disasters that may not exactly be “natural” after all, excursions into the bloody history of France through Catrina’s visions, and a psychotic enemy who will do whatever it takes to keep secrets from being revealed. Evelyn Vaughn is a brilliant storyteller who weaves intricate stories that readers love. Lost Calling is no exception, only further cementing the author’s reputation for writing powerful books that will leave readers breathless. I have been a strong supporter since the heyday of the Silhouette Shadows series and will continue to follow Evelyn’s Vaughn’s career with relish. © Kelley A. Hartsell, July 2006. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006-2008 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved. |
The Madonna Key: Lost Calling
Rating:
Posted July 2006 |
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