Bitten by Paranormal Romance: Review of IMMORTAL HOPE: THE CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS, Book 1

Announcements of upcoming authors and giveaways

Contest and giveaways now running!

Book promo giveaway A Brodding Beauty by Jillian Eaton

Upcoming events/guest post/interviews

If the authors name is highlighted with a link the giveaways is still open.

February

Tracy Cooper-Posey 20th

Pamela Palmer 27th
Amanda Greene 29th giveaway

March
Stacey Kennedy 1st
Nana Malone 2nd
Cynthia D'Alba 5th giveaway
Olivia Starke 7th

Marguerite Kaye 6th

Catherine Green 9th

Jane Cook 12th

Dianna Hardy 18th
18 and over book giveaway weekend 22-25th

Annie Nicholas 27th

April

Ana Heat 2nd

Cynthia Eden 4th

Dakota Banks 6th

Judi Fennell 10th

Karyn Gerrard 16th

A.S. Lane 20th

Suzanne Rock 23rd

Christine DePetrillo 24th

3 Star Rating blog hop sign up post

ATTENTION AUTHORS. Guest post/interview. I am now scheduling for June and beyond.

Authors sign up for the 2012 events, click here.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Review of IMMORTAL HOPE: THE CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS, Book 1

Posted by Artemis |

Edit Post

IMMORTAL HOPE, The Curse of the Templars, Book 1

Claire Ashgrove

Tor Romance

January 3, 2012

Mass Market Paperback

ISBN-13: 978-0765367587

Paranormal Romance

Book provided by author for review

CENTURIES AGO,

Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

My Ratings

Review

Sexual

When Laurie asked me if I wanted to read a book from another new-to-me author (NTMA), honestly, it was all I could do to keep from a *deep sigh* But once she told me it was about Templar Knights, I figured, “what the heck”. I’ve always had an interest in the history of the Templars and the Church and thought the book can’t be that bad.

What - - - how could she? This NTMA DARED to take the glorious, beautiful, honorable, and courageous Templar Knights and turn them into creatures as vile as the ones they were sworn to destroy! I would write a scathing review. Only, as the story started to unfold and the character’s complexity is revealed, did I realize just how captivating IMMORTAL HOPE is. All is forgiven Ms. Ashgrove.

To know the Knights swear an oath to serve unceasingly, unerringly and for however long it takes – it boggles the mind. Their only salvation (and a very minute one at that) is finding the seraph who bears the same mark they have. Yeah, right: Needle in a haystack. Nevertheless, I find the idea of a Templar Knight having to find his redemption in a matching seraph so utterly romantic. Unfortunately, the process of getting there and finding “The One” is heart wrenching and tormenting.

There was only one problem I had with IMMORTAL HOPE. And that was Anne’s continuing refusal to reveal to Merrick she carried the matching mark. It was to the point where I just wanted to take her by the shoulders and tell her to “snap out of it!” But the archangel Gabriel said it much more eloquently that I ever could:

His smile vanished. His eyes dropped to her arm, as if he could see the armband beneath her sleeve. “You did take the oath didn’t you?”
With a gulp, Anne shook her head.
Gabe closed he eyes and slowly presented his back.
Looking skyward, he mumbled, “Why must your humans be so infinitely stupid?”

I am enamored with the Templar Knights of IMMORTAL HOPE and with their bravery to endure the impending evil that steals their souls bit by bit. The tease that Ms. Ashgrove leaves us with in the Epilogue of IMMORTAL HOPE gives me hope the next book of The Curse of the Templars Series will see a Templar Knight meeting his “match” when he finds his seraph!

Labels: author requested review, Paranormal Romance, Templar Knights

5 comments:

Princess Rayne said...: OMG this sounds like a very delicious tale. I love men in chainmail!; Dec 28, 2011 7:44:00 AM
Artemis said...: @Princess Rayne: Yeah, I like that too!; Dec 28, 2011 9:30:00 AM
Blue Shedevil said...: I just adore books about the Templars. Theirs was such a tragic history. Can't wait to try this one.; Dec 28, 2011 3:40:00 PM
Diane said...: Certainly sounds like a great book from the review you gave it.; Dec 28, 2011 4:23:00 PM
Jen at Red Hot Books said...: Great review. And I agree with everything you said. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I'm looking forward to see where the author takes the series next!; Dec 28, 2011 5:06:00 PM