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Dark #2
Dark Desire
They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light...
The stranger silently summons her from across the continents, across the seas. He whispers of eternal torment, of endless hunger...of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran can feel his anguish, sense his haunting aloneness, and she aches to heal him, to heal herself.
Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea finds a ravaged, raging man, a being like no other. And her soul trembles. For in his burning eyes, his icy heart, she recognizes the beloved stranger who's already become part of her. This imperious Carpathian male compels Shea to his side. But is she to be his healer...or his prey? His victim...or his mate? Is he luring her into madness...or will his dark desire make her whole?
The stranger silently summons her from across the continents, across the seas. He whispers of eternal torment, of endless hunger...of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran can feel his anguish, sense his haunting aloneness, and she aches to heal him, to heal herself.
Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea finds a ravaged, raging man, a being like no other. And her soul trembles. For in his burning eyes, his icy heart, she recognizes the beloved stranger who's already become part of her. This imperious Carpathian male compels Shea to his side. But is she to be his healer...or his prey? His victim...or his mate? Is he luring her into madness...or will his dark desire make her whole?
369 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
About the author
Christine Feehan
187 books52.1k followersChristine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 90 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series, Shadow Riders and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews
October 27, 2020
5 Wild Man Stars
First read June 2012
Reread January 10, 2016
Reread January 22, 2017
reread oct 27, 2020
Some Spoilers
"You aren't getting ready to bite me again, are you? I've got to tell you, there isn't a place on my body that isn't sore." She flashed him a wan smile. "Just out of curiosity, your rabies shots are up to date, aren't they?" -Shea
Dark Desire the 2nd book in the Dark Series was better then the first book. This book was darker, but I loved Jacques and Shea more than I did Raven and Mikhail which is saying a lot. I connected more to them as a couple. This is my 4th time reading this book/series and it still manages to captivate me. I feel like I learn something new each time. It never gets stale or boring. That is the beauty of this entertaining series, it seems to suck me into a world that is so compelling that it never gets old to me.
I know little of my past, but almost from the beginning of my imprisonment I have known of you. I waited. I called you to my side. I hated you for allowing my suffering to continue. She caught his face in her hands, suddenly anxious that he believe her. "I didn't know. I swear to you, I didn't know. I never would have left you there." -Jacques and Shea
My Jacques:
"I was just thinking what a vulnerable, boyish look you have in your sleep. Now I think you're a spoiled brat."-Shea
My poor Jacques. In this book he got captured, tortured, and then buried alive for 7 years. Jacques is no longer the sexy, charming, carefree, laid-back character from book 1. He was a dark, damaged, and broken man. Barely a shadow of his former self. No memories of his past life. His mind was fragmented and he was barely hanging on to his grip on reality. I loved Jacques in book 1 and I fell more in love with him in this book. He had such courage as he tried to fight his way back from the brink, and figure out who he use to be. And even though he was different in this book he still felt like Jacques. I love that he wasn't afraid to show his vulnerable side to Shea. To tell her how much he loved and needed her. Of course even though he was darker, he was still sweet, sexy, playful, and charming!
I want you with every cell in my body, with my mind and my heart. Your soul is the other half of mine. When you are with me, I feel. Joy, desire, anger, even laughter. You are my lifemate. I have waited over eight hundred years to find you. I could not see color until you came into my life.-Jacques
My Shea:
"Want me enough, Shea. Want me with more than just your body. Let me into your heart." His mouth fastened on hers, not gently but wildly, hungrily. The hunger was in his eyes when he raised his head to look down at her. "Open your mind to me. Want me there, as you want me in your body. Want me coming to you wild with a need only you can satisfy. Take me into your soul and let me live there." -Jacques
I loved Shea. Shea has had a hard life and no parents to depend on. Her mom was like a shell of a person, Shea raised herself. Shea has a photographic memory and was very smart. She worked hard and became a Doctor(surgeon) at a very young age. Shea was a thinker, she doesn't do well with emotions. I love that she had a playful sense of humour. Brave and caring she did everything she could to help Jacques, even after he attacked her when she first found him and he was out of his mind. There was just something special about Shea that I can't put my finger on. I just found her endearing.
"Sometimes, wild man, you break my heart," -Shea
"I was not aware that you were not Carpathian. I was not capable of knowing much at all at that time. I inadvertently converted you. I would like to say I am sorry, but in truth, I am not. I did not know what I was doing, and I hope I would have done it differently had I known better, but you are my life, Shea. There is no existence for me without you. I would have nothing to live for except revenge, and I would become the undead. I do not want to be vampire, preying on humans and Carpathians alike. You are my salvation." She pushed him away from her. The rain swept over her face as she lifted emerald eyes filled with laughter to his. "That's it? That's your big apology? I can see you're not going to be a candy-and-flowers man."-Jacques and Shea
Jacques and Shea together were enthralling and sweet. The way they need and heal each other was beautiful. They had a very strong connection. My heart just ached for Jacques and all the pain he went through. I felt that Shea was a great and supportive lifemate for him. They had a rough start in their relationship. They were both blind to what was happening, Jacques not remembering and Shea just not knowing, but they found their way together. I loved getting to see Mikhail and Raven again and getting caught up on their life since this book takes place 25 years after the first book. I love the news that we find out about Raven! We get to meet Julian(Aidan's twin) in this book. Gregori of course was the show-stealer for me, but he is my all time favorite of the whole series so really no shocker there. Gregori is just so hard and arrogant, that I just can't help but love him and want to see him get taking down a peg or two. A great read in a magical series. The Dark series is one of my top 5 favorites and will always hold a special place in my heart.
You, are my lifemate. I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.
https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...
First read June 2012
Reread January 10, 2016
Reread January 22, 2017
reread oct 27, 2020
Some Spoilers
"You aren't getting ready to bite me again, are you? I've got to tell you, there isn't a place on my body that isn't sore." She flashed him a wan smile. "Just out of curiosity, your rabies shots are up to date, aren't they?" -Shea
Dark Desire the 2nd book in the Dark Series was better then the first book. This book was darker, but I loved Jacques and Shea more than I did Raven and Mikhail which is saying a lot. I connected more to them as a couple. This is my 4th time reading this book/series and it still manages to captivate me. I feel like I learn something new each time. It never gets stale or boring. That is the beauty of this entertaining series, it seems to suck me into a world that is so compelling that it never gets old to me.
I know little of my past, but almost from the beginning of my imprisonment I have known of you. I waited. I called you to my side. I hated you for allowing my suffering to continue. She caught his face in her hands, suddenly anxious that he believe her. "I didn't know. I swear to you, I didn't know. I never would have left you there." -Jacques and Shea
My Jacques:
"I was just thinking what a vulnerable, boyish look you have in your sleep. Now I think you're a spoiled brat."-Shea
My poor Jacques. In this book he got captured, tortured, and then buried alive for 7 years. Jacques is no longer the sexy, charming, carefree, laid-back character from book 1. He was a dark, damaged, and broken man. Barely a shadow of his former self. No memories of his past life. His mind was fragmented and he was barely hanging on to his grip on reality. I loved Jacques in book 1 and I fell more in love with him in this book. He had such courage as he tried to fight his way back from the brink, and figure out who he use to be. And even though he was different in this book he still felt like Jacques. I love that he wasn't afraid to show his vulnerable side to Shea. To tell her how much he loved and needed her. Of course even though he was darker, he was still sweet, sexy, playful, and charming!
I want you with every cell in my body, with my mind and my heart. Your soul is the other half of mine. When you are with me, I feel. Joy, desire, anger, even laughter. You are my lifemate. I have waited over eight hundred years to find you. I could not see color until you came into my life.-Jacques
My Shea:
"Want me enough, Shea. Want me with more than just your body. Let me into your heart." His mouth fastened on hers, not gently but wildly, hungrily. The hunger was in his eyes when he raised his head to look down at her. "Open your mind to me. Want me there, as you want me in your body. Want me coming to you wild with a need only you can satisfy. Take me into your soul and let me live there." -Jacques
I loved Shea. Shea has had a hard life and no parents to depend on. Her mom was like a shell of a person, Shea raised herself. Shea has a photographic memory and was very smart. She worked hard and became a Doctor(surgeon) at a very young age. Shea was a thinker, she doesn't do well with emotions. I love that she had a playful sense of humour. Brave and caring she did everything she could to help Jacques, even after he attacked her when she first found him and he was out of his mind. There was just something special about Shea that I can't put my finger on. I just found her endearing.
"Sometimes, wild man, you break my heart," -Shea
"I was not aware that you were not Carpathian. I was not capable of knowing much at all at that time. I inadvertently converted you. I would like to say I am sorry, but in truth, I am not. I did not know what I was doing, and I hope I would have done it differently had I known better, but you are my life, Shea. There is no existence for me without you. I would have nothing to live for except revenge, and I would become the undead. I do not want to be vampire, preying on humans and Carpathians alike. You are my salvation." She pushed him away from her. The rain swept over her face as she lifted emerald eyes filled with laughter to his. "That's it? That's your big apology? I can see you're not going to be a candy-and-flowers man."-Jacques and Shea
Jacques and Shea together were enthralling and sweet. The way they need and heal each other was beautiful. They had a very strong connection. My heart just ached for Jacques and all the pain he went through. I felt that Shea was a great and supportive lifemate for him. They had a rough start in their relationship. They were both blind to what was happening, Jacques not remembering and Shea just not knowing, but they found their way together. I loved getting to see Mikhail and Raven again and getting caught up on their life since this book takes place 25 years after the first book. I love the news that we find out about Raven! We get to meet Julian(Aidan's twin) in this book. Gregori of course was the show-stealer for me, but he is my all time favorite of the whole series so really no shocker there. Gregori is just so hard and arrogant, that I just can't help but love him and want to see him get taking down a peg or two. A great read in a magical series. The Dark series is one of my top 5 favorites and will always hold a special place in my heart.
You, are my lifemate. I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.
https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...
August 11, 2016
Why did I read the second one when I thought the first one was meh? Sometimes I don't understand myself. I need some psychiatric care. Much like the heroes in this book. Total nutjobs. And, while I admit that nutjobs can be entertaining sometimes, I just found this tedious.
First of all, the caveman attitude of these not-vampires is annoying. So, you will die if she leaves you. Blah, blah, blah. Poor you! Maybe she has better things to do than to help you hold on to your tenuous grip on your sanity. Telling a woman you met minutes ago that she has to stay with you forever and that you will listen to every thought in her head for the rest of her life is slightly needy. Dude, modern women don't like clingy, needy men. If we want a parasite, we will drink the water in Mexico. But, we don't. We ask for bottled water when we visit, or we get our water in the form of alcohol because it will kill the parasite. Yeah, that's why.
The second issue with this book is the repetitiveness. I swear that they told us that it was hard for their race to have female children at least 5,000 times. Really, 5,000. Okay, actually that's impressive for a book of around 300 pages. They really mentioned it a lot. And, that's not the only thing. Life-bondmate's stuff was also mentioned 5,000 times.
but, not in this case...
And, my biggest issue was the same as in the first book. Too much "velvet". Get a dirty thesaurus and give me a break!
First of all, the caveman attitude of these not-vampires is annoying. So, you will die if she leaves you. Blah, blah, blah. Poor you! Maybe she has better things to do than to help you hold on to your tenuous grip on your sanity. Telling a woman you met minutes ago that she has to stay with you forever and that you will listen to every thought in her head for the rest of her life is slightly needy. Dude, modern women don't like clingy, needy men. If we want a parasite, we will drink the water in Mexico. But, we don't. We ask for bottled water when we visit, or we get our water in the form of alcohol because it will kill the parasite. Yeah, that's why.
The second issue with this book is the repetitiveness. I swear that they told us that it was hard for their race to have female children at least 5,000 times. Really, 5,000. Okay, actually that's impressive for a book of around 300 pages. They really mentioned it a lot. And, that's not the only thing. Life-bondmate's stuff was also mentioned 5,000 times.
but, not in this case...
And, my biggest issue was the same as in the first book. Too much "velvet". Get a dirty thesaurus and give me a break!
October 31, 2008
Will someone please explain to me how a couple can have sex when he’s on top and she’s on the bottom and her jeans are pushed down but still around her ankles? Because frankly, I really don’t think that is humanly possible. If she was bent over, alright. Or if they were really stretchy pants with an elastic waistband, maybe. Or if the jeans are only around one ankle but have completely slipped off the other, definitely. But if they’re hiding out in a secret Carpathian cave and they are immediately overcome by a wave of lust and can’t even remove all their clothes before going horizontal, the Laws of Blue Jeans Physics makes having sex impossible if both her ankles are encased in denim.
So if you have any undeniable proof that this is possible, please share with me stat, because I’m giving myself a headache trying to make it work.
The hero of this book is a criminally insane Carpathian named Jacques who is the younger brother of the king Carpathian. He had been tortured and left for dead by a pair of evil human beings who were working in conjunction with a nasty vampire. They stabbed him with a wooden stake and buried him in a coffin in the Carpathian Mountains. Since Carpathians are immortal, this did not kill him. But after seven years of suffering, his mind is completely gone and he is a raving lunatic.
Practically out of nowhere (a common occurrence in Feehan’s books), an overachieving female surgeon from California becomes psychically connected to Jacques. Shea dreams of his ordeal for seven years, never believing it might actually be real. When she finally travels to the Carpathian Mountains to track down her father, she is inexplicably drawn to the scene of Jacques’ imprisonment.
She breaks him free. He attacks her. She can’t stay away from him. He craves Shea. Shea craves him. They start drinking each other’s blood. And Jacques explains that he doesn’t remember anything about his past, but exhibits the very Carpathianesque tendency of demanding outrageous loyalty from his lifemate (which she is) even though she has no f%cking clue where he’s coming from or what he’s going on about. When she questions his claims, he says he doesn’t know why he thinks the things he does but he assures her that they are gospel truth and that she must go along with whatever he says. And as is always the case when Carpathian males and human women are destined to become lifemates, they lock horns and Feehan is able to fill page after page after page with senseless arguments.
Even still, they manage to have lots of sex. Jacques and Shea get involved with his Carpathian family and begin working together to kill the bad vampire. And they live happily ever after.
Despite the fact that these books annoy me, I keep adding the next title and the next to my queue on booksfree.com. Carpathian males are extremely compelling. Maybe I’ll figure out what it is that keeps me coming back after I finish the next one!
So if you have any undeniable proof that this is possible, please share with me stat, because I’m giving myself a headache trying to make it work.
The hero of this book is a criminally insane Carpathian named Jacques who is the younger brother of the king Carpathian. He had been tortured and left for dead by a pair of evil human beings who were working in conjunction with a nasty vampire. They stabbed him with a wooden stake and buried him in a coffin in the Carpathian Mountains. Since Carpathians are immortal, this did not kill him. But after seven years of suffering, his mind is completely gone and he is a raving lunatic.
Practically out of nowhere (a common occurrence in Feehan’s books), an overachieving female surgeon from California becomes psychically connected to Jacques. Shea dreams of his ordeal for seven years, never believing it might actually be real. When she finally travels to the Carpathian Mountains to track down her father, she is inexplicably drawn to the scene of Jacques’ imprisonment.
She breaks him free. He attacks her. She can’t stay away from him. He craves Shea. Shea craves him. They start drinking each other’s blood. And Jacques explains that he doesn’t remember anything about his past, but exhibits the very Carpathianesque tendency of demanding outrageous loyalty from his lifemate (which she is) even though she has no f%cking clue where he’s coming from or what he’s going on about. When she questions his claims, he says he doesn’t know why he thinks the things he does but he assures her that they are gospel truth and that she must go along with whatever he says. And as is always the case when Carpathian males and human women are destined to become lifemates, they lock horns and Feehan is able to fill page after page after page with senseless arguments.
Even still, they manage to have lots of sex. Jacques and Shea get involved with his Carpathian family and begin working together to kill the bad vampire. And they live happily ever after.
Despite the fact that these books annoy me, I keep adding the next title and the next to my queue on booksfree.com. Carpathian males are extremely compelling. Maybe I’ll figure out what it is that keeps me coming back after I finish the next one!
June 2, 2019
Jacques Dubrinsky and Shea O'Halloran
He was a creature of the night. The dark was his home. Yet now, in his agony, it was his enemy. There was only pain and silence. Always before, he was the one who chose whether to stay in the darkness, in the healing soil. Now he was a prisoner, locked away, with the soil just out of reach. Comfort should have been his, was near, yet always the wood of the coffin prevented his body from touching what would eventually have healed his wounds.
Love, love, love it!
The epitome of decadence vampire romance.
Shea is drawn to the Carpathian mountains answering the summons of a complete stranger who has invaded her dreams. This stranger is in torment and he hungers endlessly.
Jacques is almost crazy with pain and hunger. He is imprisoned inside the earth by vampire hunters. He has survived only by using the blood of rats . Nobody looks for him because the other Carpathians think that he is dead.
He only thinks of a woman. His madness make him believe that she accountable for his imprisonment and she is also responsible for not letting him out. He calls for her for years, but only recently he feels that she will come for him.
When the woman meets the wounded monster of her dreams, she will realise that maybe she is not just human herself.
You know, you are my lifemate.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Lifemate? You - you think we know one another? I've never met you before in my life."
In this book, we also have the start of the story for ....
He was a creature of the night. The dark was his home. Yet now, in his agony, it was his enemy. There was only pain and silence. Always before, he was the one who chose whether to stay in the darkness, in the healing soil. Now he was a prisoner, locked away, with the soil just out of reach. Comfort should have been his, was near, yet always the wood of the coffin prevented his body from touching what would eventually have healed his wounds.
Love, love, love it!
The epitome of decadence vampire romance.
Shea is drawn to the Carpathian mountains answering the summons of a complete stranger who has invaded her dreams. This stranger is in torment and he hungers endlessly.
Jacques is almost crazy with pain and hunger. He is imprisoned inside the earth by vampire hunters. He has survived only by using the blood of rats . Nobody looks for him because the other Carpathians think that he is dead.
He only thinks of a woman. His madness make him believe that she accountable for his imprisonment and she is also responsible for not letting him out. He calls for her for years, but only recently he feels that she will come for him.
When the woman meets the wounded monster of her dreams, she will realise that maybe she is not just human herself.
You know, you are my lifemate.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Lifemate? You - you think we know one another? I've never met you before in my life."
In this book, we also have the start of the story for ....
October 11, 2022
"Sometimes, wild man, you break my heart" -Shea to Jacques
There is something so darn alluring about Christine Feehan`s way of writing stories.It is so obvious that she loves to write and that passion of writing shows in every page."Dark Desire" is the second instalment in the paranormal romance "Dark"-series about the vampire breed Carpathians that turns into cold blooded and heartless vampires if they don`t meet their lifemates.Carpathians are being hunted and killed all around the world,and there are so few of them left especially female carpathians.In this book we follow the story of Mikhail`s (hero from the first book) younger brother Jacques Dubrinsky who in the former book had been a carefree and playful soul but who almost turns into a mad monster through torture and being buried alive for 7 years.He finds solace in the woman whose dreams he haunts,the surgeon Shea O'Halloran.
This book had such dark edge to it and it was so vivid that i easily lived in their world.Jacques and Shea are fated soulmates without a doubt,the mind they shared and the brutal honesty between them shattered my heart.I can`t imagine what would have become of Jacques if Shea hadn`t found him.The darkness almost broke his soul and made him forget his past.Being linked to Shea made him hold onto reality.Their every glance,word and touch fired up the pages,their chemistry so strong that i was aware of them with every fiber of me.Everytime Jacques told her he loves and needs her,my heart just swooned further.This is one incredible,shattering,romantic and sexy love-story with the type of suspense and magic i expect from this author.It was nice meeting Mikhail and Raven again,love them so much.It also looks like their unborn daughter will be the fated mate of Gregori,and his dark brooding exterior is calling to my soul!
There is something so darn alluring about Christine Feehan`s way of writing stories.It is so obvious that she loves to write and that passion of writing shows in every page."Dark Desire" is the second instalment in the paranormal romance "Dark"-series about the vampire breed Carpathians that turns into cold blooded and heartless vampires if they don`t meet their lifemates.Carpathians are being hunted and killed all around the world,and there are so few of them left especially female carpathians.In this book we follow the story of Mikhail`s (hero from the first book) younger brother Jacques Dubrinsky who in the former book had been a carefree and playful soul but who almost turns into a mad monster through torture and being buried alive for 7 years.He finds solace in the woman whose dreams he haunts,the surgeon Shea O'Halloran.
This book had such dark edge to it and it was so vivid that i easily lived in their world.Jacques and Shea are fated soulmates without a doubt,the mind they shared and the brutal honesty between them shattered my heart.I can`t imagine what would have become of Jacques if Shea hadn`t found him.The darkness almost broke his soul and made him forget his past.Being linked to Shea made him hold onto reality.Their every glance,word and touch fired up the pages,their chemistry so strong that i was aware of them with every fiber of me.Everytime Jacques told her he loves and needs her,my heart just swooned further.This is one incredible,shattering,romantic and sexy love-story with the type of suspense and magic i expect from this author.It was nice meeting Mikhail and Raven again,love them so much.It also looks like their unborn daughter will be the fated mate of Gregori,and his dark brooding exterior is calling to my soul!
February 3, 2012
I enjoyed Dark Prince but this book is just more of the same thing. I am Carpathian hierarchy and not a Vampire and still they are having problems getting a life-mate just wanted more drama more action, i was expecting more and i think this is where i do not go any further in the series. There are so many good books to read at the moment.
February 5, 2020
Dark Prince didn’t exactly win me over. But I was so intrigued by Gregori that I continued on.
This book was more of the same. I know it has a lot of amazing reviews. And again maybe if I’d read this 20 years ago mine might have been one of them. Instead I found it boring. Loads of repetition.
This seems to be a thing with this author. Her books are long but I end up skimming at least a third.
I’m hoping the next one is better.
January 16, 2022
I'm going to be brutally honest here. I've never rated a CF book this low. However, this had to be my
least
favorite of all the books I've read from her, and I've read
a lot.
I loved the author's letter to her readers. It made this book seem more personal. I adored how she couldn't let go of Jacques (and seriously, who could blame her). And the very beginning of this story, when Jacques was injured, on the brink of death, and slowly losing his mind... brilliant. It was everything else that made it all go sour.
Shea was absolutely horrible. It's just my opinion, but she ruined this story for me. Raven wasn't far behind. It also didn't help that there were so many voices fighting to be heard that it all got confusing sometimes. Who was speaking???
Once again, I enjoyed the story of the Carpathians. I loved the richness of their history, the fluidity of their movements, the invincibility of their bond. It was how ridiculous the women were that gave me trouble suspending belief. Every time I got sucked into the story, the supposedly cool and logical doctor was freaking out like a child. That's it! She was childish and I couldn't take her seriously.
Ah well, this story in no way deters me from continuing to read from this author. She writes such beautiful stories and has appeared in many of my "must have" and "best of" lists. I'll continue to work my way through her backlist and marvel over how much she has grown in her writing.
Jacques owned my heart in this novel and I can only hope he gets better. I miss the fun and carefree male I met in Dark Prince.
I haven't looked ahead, but I hope to get Grigori's story soon. Knowing that Mikhail's child is his fated mate... I can't begin to imagine how all of that will turn out!
Find more on the blog
I loved the author's letter to her readers. It made this book seem more personal. I adored how she couldn't let go of Jacques (and seriously, who could blame her). And the very beginning of this story, when Jacques was injured, on the brink of death, and slowly losing his mind... brilliant. It was everything else that made it all go sour.
Shea was absolutely horrible. It's just my opinion, but she ruined this story for me. Raven wasn't far behind. It also didn't help that there were so many voices fighting to be heard that it all got confusing sometimes. Who was speaking???
Once again, I enjoyed the story of the Carpathians. I loved the richness of their history, the fluidity of their movements, the invincibility of their bond. It was how ridiculous the women were that gave me trouble suspending belief. Every time I got sucked into the story, the supposedly cool and logical doctor was freaking out like a child. That's it! She was childish and I couldn't take her seriously.
Ah well, this story in no way deters me from continuing to read from this author. She writes such beautiful stories and has appeared in many of my "must have" and "best of" lists. I'll continue to work my way through her backlist and marvel over how much she has grown in her writing.
Jacques owned my heart in this novel and I can only hope he gets better. I miss the fun and carefree male I met in Dark Prince.
I haven't looked ahead, but I hope to get Grigori's story soon. Knowing that Mikhail's child is his fated mate... I can't begin to imagine how all of that will turn out!
Find more on the blog
January 2, 2018
I'm not sure why I'm compelled to read this series.
It's all talk and no action!
Yes, this book is kinda uniqe in a world of vampires, written pretty well in an old-fashioned way, with a fiercely protective and possessive alpha hero and stubborn heroine. True mates trope with no OM/OW drama.
But for the love of God, nothing happens.
To summarize this book and the heroine:
Mommy issues...
Daddy issues...
Carpathian lifestyle issues...
Commitment issues....
I will continue with this series in the future, I'm intrigued about the other Carpathians finding their lifemates.
December 9, 2015
I like the ideas behind this series, but the writing style puts me off a little. Too much of the focus is on the romance, and not enough on the events or the plot. It was very repetitive at times; again and again, we have to listen to beautiful Jacques thinks Shea is and how people are feeling toward one another. Normally I love that sort of thing, but it was too much for me. I also found the dialogue somewhat lacking. Still, I'm moderately into the series still. I'm most interested in reading Gregori's book.
May 20, 2009
There is something about the way that Christine Feehan writes. I think she really pours her heart into her stories. There is so much intensity there. This was a really interesting, enjoyable read. I can't say it's my favorite Feehan because I am so in love with the Ghostwalkers. But I must say that Feehan's take on vampires really captivated me and sucked me in. I find that I am becoming a big fan of vampire romance, and this book probably helped to push me over the edge.
Jacques is one tortured character. Gosh, what he suffered. Shea is probably just slightly less tortured, and she really gives herself and sacrifices herself for Jacques. This book has some dark, violent moments, and you probably shouldn't read this if you are squeamish about violence. But it absolutely fits and is in no way gratuituous. The Carpathians lead very dark hopeless lives until their lifemates come to save them. Definitely a book for the fan of fated to be mated pairs (which I am).
Let me just say that I am hooked on these Carpathian books, even though I can't say this was my favorite book. Again, something about the way Feehan spins a yarn. Do read this book if you like tortured heroes and determined, fiercely intelligent, good-hearted heroines.
Jacques is one tortured character. Gosh, what he suffered. Shea is probably just slightly less tortured, and she really gives herself and sacrifices herself for Jacques. This book has some dark, violent moments, and you probably shouldn't read this if you are squeamish about violence. But it absolutely fits and is in no way gratuituous. The Carpathians lead very dark hopeless lives until their lifemates come to save them. Definitely a book for the fan of fated to be mated pairs (which I am).
Let me just say that I am hooked on these Carpathian books, even though I can't say this was my favorite book. Again, something about the way Feehan spins a yarn. Do read this book if you like tortured heroes and determined, fiercely intelligent, good-hearted heroines.
June 24, 2014
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Paranormal Romance
Series : - Book 2 in the Series. Jacques is the brother of Mikhail from Dark Prince
Writing - Third person, Dual POV.
Main Characters :Shea O'Halloran - a surgeon who is on the run, from "vampire" hunters. Is doing research into a blood disorder she thinks she has.
Jacques Dubrinsky - Carpathian Male, tortured and trapped. He has a mental connection to Shea during his imprisonment. Tortured to the point of madness, he has no memories of his life before.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes, and have done so
★Review★
There was only pain. Terrible endless pain. He could not make a sound, even when his mind shattered into a million fragments and he could no longer remember what, or whom, he was struggling to protect.
This is the story of Jacques and Shea.
It is often brutal - Jacques has been tortured and buried alive for seven years, with no memory of who he is. His only connection in this madness is his mental link to Shea - a woman he believes at the time, to be part of his torture.
The first half of the book, is pretty much just Jacques and Shea. From when they make the mental connection, to years later, when Shea comes across his battered and tortured body, and saves him.
Jacques walks the edge of madness and often does not know what he is doing. Shea is resigned to death, thinking her illness will kill her.
They both have a hard path to walk, coming to terms with what they are to each other, and what they have become. Both damaged and wounded souls.
Again, as book 1, not a huge set of characters, indeed even less so than in book 1, but we do see Mikhail, Raven, Gregori and Byron again.
Having read the series before, these first few books are very much setting up the history of the "vampire" huntings starting again, and setting the basis for the "wars" beginning again for the Carpathian people!
Book 1 is set 25 years before this one, and book 3 is another 25 years after book 2. So as I say, these first few books are very much about outlining the players and setting up for how the "vampire" huntings are going to get worse, and how the "Society" hunting them grown from what is to what it will become.
As they go on, the world building gets more involved and hidden foes are brought out into the open. Friends and enemies alike, both thought long dead begin to make a reappearance and the series gets better and better. If you want a new PNR series to start, you cannot go wrong with this.
My Review
Genre : - Paranormal Romance
Series : - Book 2 in the Series. Jacques is the brother of Mikhail from Dark Prince
Writing - Third person, Dual POV.
Main Characters :Shea O'Halloran - a surgeon who is on the run, from "vampire" hunters. Is doing research into a blood disorder she thinks she has.
Jacques Dubrinsky - Carpathian Male, tortured and trapped. He has a mental connection to Shea during his imprisonment. Tortured to the point of madness, he has no memories of his life before.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes, and have done so
★Review★
There was only pain. Terrible endless pain. He could not make a sound, even when his mind shattered into a million fragments and he could no longer remember what, or whom, he was struggling to protect.
This is the story of Jacques and Shea.
It is often brutal - Jacques has been tortured and buried alive for seven years, with no memory of who he is. His only connection in this madness is his mental link to Shea - a woman he believes at the time, to be part of his torture.
The first half of the book, is pretty much just Jacques and Shea. From when they make the mental connection, to years later, when Shea comes across his battered and tortured body, and saves him.
Jacques walks the edge of madness and often does not know what he is doing. Shea is resigned to death, thinking her illness will kill her.
They both have a hard path to walk, coming to terms with what they are to each other, and what they have become. Both damaged and wounded souls.
Again, as book 1, not a huge set of characters, indeed even less so than in book 1, but we do see Mikhail, Raven, Gregori and Byron again.
Having read the series before, these first few books are very much setting up the history of the "vampire" huntings starting again, and setting the basis for the "wars" beginning again for the Carpathian people!
Book 1 is set 25 years before this one, and book 3 is another 25 years after book 2. So as I say, these first few books are very much about outlining the players and setting up for how the "vampire" huntings are going to get worse, and how the "Society" hunting them grown from what is to what it will become.
As they go on, the world building gets more involved and hidden foes are brought out into the open. Friends and enemies alike, both thought long dead begin to make a reappearance and the series gets better and better. If you want a new PNR series to start, you cannot go wrong with this.
My Review
February 7, 2017
I loved this book! So well written! Jacques was an awesome hero and I loved everything about him! Shea was a great heroine as well, but I did get a little tired of her wanting to leave Jacques. So far this series is wonderful!
September 18, 2021
Segunda entrega de la serie Oscura de la autora, que encontré bastante más floja que la primera (la cual es imprescindible leer para entender ésta) y bastante repetitiva, en el sentido de que da demasiadas vueltas sobre el mismo tema, alargando la historia innecesariamente.
Falta despliegue de personajes secundarios y un desarrollo más hábil de los acontecimientos; los momentos realmente emocionantes son muy pocos. Independiente de lo anterior, adoro la raza de los carpatianos creada por la autora, es fascinante, por lo que mantiene el interés de continuar la lectura y la saga.
Falta despliegue de personajes secundarios y un desarrollo más hábil de los acontecimientos; los momentos realmente emocionantes son muy pocos. Independiente de lo anterior, adoro la raza de los carpatianos creada por la autora, es fascinante, por lo que mantiene el interés de continuar la lectura y la saga.
October 28, 2021
another great one!
Feehan always pulls at the heartstrings. The dark, sensual nature of the couple’s love affair makes you need to turn page after page. Highly recommended.
Feehan always pulls at the heartstrings. The dark, sensual nature of the couple’s love affair makes you need to turn page after page. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2017
"Dark Desire" is the story of Shea and Jacques.
Years ago, Jacques was captured trying to save Raven, stabbed, tortured mercilessly and buried alive, blindfolded. As the trauma makes him lose his memory and sense of time, he reaches out to the unknown for help.. and finds ears in a female far away.
7 years ago, medicine resident Shea woke up with the most excruciating pain of been "stabbed in the chest" and since then while she's become a surgeon, she hears and dreams of a male who unbending-ly keeps calling her to Carpathian mountain, while she's pursued by Hunters. She thinks she has a rare blood disorder, that requires her frequent transfusion, her parentage is unknown, but one day she finds her mother's diary- and to find further clue about her father, decides to go to the mountain.
Drawn to a remote house with a coffin, she meets a extremely fragile Jacques, and despite him initally attacking her, decides to help him.
I really enjoyed this story. The couple's "need" for each other is strong, and their telepathic communication reveal how much they really depend on one another. Their lovemaking is sweet yet fierce, and I really enjoyed their overwhelming connection. I'm getting used to these OTT males and merging of souls stuff.
Midway, Jacques does get his memory and we meet familiar characters like Mikhail, Raven, Gregori et al and fight hunters and evil vampires who keep attacking Carpathians and their mated with help of our main couple.
Overall, I enjoyed this more than book 1.
Safe
4/5
Years ago, Jacques was captured trying to save Raven, stabbed, tortured mercilessly and buried alive, blindfolded. As the trauma makes him lose his memory and sense of time, he reaches out to the unknown for help.. and finds ears in a female far away.
7 years ago, medicine resident Shea woke up with the most excruciating pain of been "stabbed in the chest" and since then while she's become a surgeon, she hears and dreams of a male who unbending-ly keeps calling her to Carpathian mountain, while she's pursued by Hunters. She thinks she has a rare blood disorder, that requires her frequent transfusion, her parentage is unknown, but one day she finds her mother's diary- and to find further clue about her father, decides to go to the mountain.
Drawn to a remote house with a coffin, she meets a extremely fragile Jacques, and despite him initally attacking her, decides to help him.
I really enjoyed this story. The couple's "need" for each other is strong, and their telepathic communication reveal how much they really depend on one another. Their lovemaking is sweet yet fierce, and I really enjoyed their overwhelming connection. I'm getting used to these OTT males and merging of souls stuff.
Midway, Jacques does get his memory and we meet familiar characters like Mikhail, Raven, Gregori et al and fight hunters and evil vampires who keep attacking Carpathians and their mated with help of our main couple.
Overall, I enjoyed this more than book 1.
Safe
4/5
January 31, 2016
*****4.5 Stars*****
November 10, 2014
I liked this one better than the first (which I enjoyed). This is PNR, so you have to be able to suspend disbelief. Also, these are quite violent PNRs. I love horror, so it's a great combo for me. However, the violence could be a little much for someone who's not a fan.
This has been mentioned over and over in reviews and I'll just briefly re-iterate here. These novels are fairly repetitive. They seem to follow this pattern, so far.
Modern-minded, yet virginal heroine meets ancient, controlling powerful hero with very old fashioned ideas on a woman's place. He needs her to be his one and only life mate to keep him from going evil and becoming a vampire. She's bi-polar between "I need time" and "I can't stand to be away from you". He's always EXTREMELY pushy and has to learn compromise. The heroines tend to be, IMHO, a little too determined to run into danger when they have no idea what they're getting themselves into. Discretion truly can be the better part of valor, just saying.
Also, they are repetitive in word choice and epithets. It drives some people crazy. However, I've enjoyed the series so far. It's one of those things that you know is flawed but you enjoy it anyway. It really depends on your taste. I do think, however, that I may take a break for a while after I finish my next one - just so I don't burn myself out on the similarities.
Note/ Sorta Warning: I'm always torn on the type of books where the hero is such a controlling and dangerous individual who "needs" the heroine to save him. In the context of a PNR, I'm willing to ascribe different rules to the hero than I would in something more reality based. However, I suppose there is always a part of me that worries about the impressionable teen who might read one of these and apply that sort of logic to real-life relationships. Because, "you're the only one who can save me from myself" is NOT a healthy basis for a relationship.
As a very devoted aunt to two nieces, it always niggles at me when I read something that I know requires a mature understanding of what a healthy relationship entails and what is just ok in fantasy. I know I snuck and read novels that were probably far too mature at 13-14. Therefore, I did fairly recently give my oldest niece and her BFF a little talk about what they need to take into consideration if they do happen to sneak and read something like 50 Shades, which is not out of the realm of possibility with how hyped that is been and how curious teens are about the "forbidden".
However, if you can understand the difference between what is healthy in real life vs. fantasy, and go in with the mindset that this is a different species with different rules, it is harmless, adult fun as far as I'm concerned.
This has been mentioned over and over in reviews and I'll just briefly re-iterate here. These novels are fairly repetitive. They seem to follow this pattern, so far.
Modern-minded, yet virginal heroine meets ancient, controlling powerful hero with very old fashioned ideas on a woman's place. He needs her to be his one and only life mate to keep him from going evil and becoming a vampire. She's bi-polar between "I need time" and "I can't stand to be away from you". He's always EXTREMELY pushy and has to learn compromise. The heroines tend to be, IMHO, a little too determined to run into danger when they have no idea what they're getting themselves into. Discretion truly can be the better part of valor, just saying.
Also, they are repetitive in word choice and epithets. It drives some people crazy. However, I've enjoyed the series so far. It's one of those things that you know is flawed but you enjoy it anyway. It really depends on your taste. I do think, however, that I may take a break for a while after I finish my next one - just so I don't burn myself out on the similarities.
Note/ Sorta Warning: I'm always torn on the type of books where the hero is such a controlling and dangerous individual who "needs" the heroine to save him. In the context of a PNR, I'm willing to ascribe different rules to the hero than I would in something more reality based. However, I suppose there is always a part of me that worries about the impressionable teen who might read one of these and apply that sort of logic to real-life relationships. Because, "you're the only one who can save me from myself" is NOT a healthy basis for a relationship.
As a very devoted aunt to two nieces, it always niggles at me when I read something that I know requires a mature understanding of what a healthy relationship entails and what is just ok in fantasy. I know I snuck and read novels that were probably far too mature at 13-14. Therefore, I did fairly recently give my oldest niece and her BFF a little talk about what they need to take into consideration if they do happen to sneak and read something like 50 Shades, which is not out of the realm of possibility with how hyped that is been and how curious teens are about the "forbidden".
However, if you can understand the difference between what is healthy in real life vs. fantasy, and go in with the mindset that this is a different species with different rules, it is harmless, adult fun as far as I'm concerned.
March 16, 2016
I don't understand what all the fuss is about over this series.
The women are pathetic, the men are ridiculously needy, and the plotline is weak. Having said that, I did at least finish it, so it must have something about it. What I'm not sure of.
The character of Shea really bothers me. She digs Carpathian Jacques out of the wall and even though he attacks her she still feels the need to help him out. As you do. Seriously, the women need to be much stronger than they are. If I had an overbearing ridiculous male spouting orders at me after I had rescued him, I know what I would do.
I also can't get my head around the idea that the choice is pretty much out of their hands once they have been claimed. Jacques pretty much binds her to him without her consent and from then on its just tough if she doesn't like it. Not to mention the fact that he totally abuses her throughout the first half of the novel. But its fine, because he was in a wall for 7 years. Well no, actually. As a reader, none of this comes across well. Least of all the characters, which for the most part seem to be a watered down Raven and Mikhail.
Unless somebody does a decent job of convincing me that this series improves and I should continue reading, I am not sure I doubt i will attempt the next installments.
The women are pathetic, the men are ridiculously needy, and the plotline is weak. Having said that, I did at least finish it, so it must have something about it. What I'm not sure of.
The character of Shea really bothers me. She digs Carpathian Jacques out of the wall and even though he attacks her she still feels the need to help him out. As you do. Seriously, the women need to be much stronger than they are. If I had an overbearing ridiculous male spouting orders at me after I had rescued him, I know what I would do.
I also can't get my head around the idea that the choice is pretty much out of their hands once they have been claimed. Jacques pretty much binds her to him without her consent and from then on its just tough if she doesn't like it. Not to mention the fact that he totally abuses her throughout the first half of the novel. But its fine, because he was in a wall for 7 years. Well no, actually. As a reader, none of this comes across well. Least of all the characters, which for the most part seem to be a watered down Raven and Mikhail.
Unless somebody does a decent job of convincing me that this series improves and I should continue reading, I am not sure I doubt i will attempt the next installments.
November 19, 2016
4.25 Beautiful love story stars
I read this book years ago but never reviewed it.
One of my favorite books by CF. One of her early books so the sex was meh. The writing was awesome. I felt connected to the story. I loved the H. The h was ok she annoyed me because she didn't want the assholes to suffer or die.
The h was everything to the H. You could feel his love for her.
.
I read this book years ago but never reviewed it.
One of my favorite books by CF. One of her early books so the sex was meh. The writing was awesome. I felt connected to the story. I loved the H. The h was ok she annoyed me because she didn't want the assholes to suffer or die.
The h was everything to the H. You could feel his love for her.
.
March 28, 2017
Kind of liked it. This was super intense and gory with an unusual amount of violence for a novel that's primarily a romance. In fact, it was a little distracting and I couldn't really get into the love story of the two leads as much as I would've liked. Also, some chapters were a little boring/tedious to read with too much of an emphasis on the 'Carpathian' way of life. The H Jacques and the h Shea were ok and made a decent couple.
Three stars.
Three stars.
July 10, 2024
3.5 stars
April 30, 2019
3 This series isn’t for me Stars
I wasn’t going to give this series another go, but I thought maybe it would be better in audio format.
First off, the narrator Abby Carden was pretty good. Her voice is mature and she does really great voice transitions. She kind of has a breathy voice so you do get the emotional part of her reading. She can read at a slow pace, but since she acts out everything it didn’t hinder my reading experience.
The first half of the book was fine. I was listening to it in one sitting for the first 4-6 hours. I was really interested in Jacque. The book starts with him captured and buried alive. I usually don’t like to read inner monologues, but since it was in audio format it worked in favor of the book.
He links to Shea and I really enjoyed reading him trying to reach to her.
But just like the first book, I got kind of tired towards the second half of the book. The first half was pretty slow in itself, there was a lot of writing and inner monologues and descriptive writing. You have to weed through a lot to get to something.
I had problems with Shea, even though she’s a doctor she acts really immature and young. I found her lacking and not looking at the bigger picture. She’s only concerned for herself and doesn’t understand that Carpathians is another race and you kind of have to go along with the way they live.
My problem with this author is that she writes REALLY slow. She has a great plot and the world building is okay, but goodness, it takes hundreds of pages to get anywhere in the book. I just don’t think her writing style is for me. As much as I tried.
I wasn’t going to give this series another go, but I thought maybe it would be better in audio format.
First off, the narrator Abby Carden was pretty good. Her voice is mature and she does really great voice transitions. She kind of has a breathy voice so you do get the emotional part of her reading. She can read at a slow pace, but since she acts out everything it didn’t hinder my reading experience.
The first half of the book was fine. I was listening to it in one sitting for the first 4-6 hours. I was really interested in Jacque. The book starts with him captured and buried alive. I usually don’t like to read inner monologues, but since it was in audio format it worked in favor of the book.
He links to Shea and I really enjoyed reading him trying to reach to her.
But just like the first book, I got kind of tired towards the second half of the book. The first half was pretty slow in itself, there was a lot of writing and inner monologues and descriptive writing. You have to weed through a lot to get to something.
I had problems with Shea, even though she’s a doctor she acts really immature and young. I found her lacking and not looking at the bigger picture. She’s only concerned for herself and doesn’t understand that Carpathians is another race and you kind of have to go along with the way they live.
My problem with this author is that she writes REALLY slow. She has a great plot and the world building is okay, but goodness, it takes hundreds of pages to get anywhere in the book. I just don’t think her writing style is for me. As much as I tried.
May 13, 2021
Hmmmm I didn't like the main couple. Simple as that. Based on the first book I thought I would love the hero but he was like someone else completely, I know he was tortured and everything, but... And the heroine was so hysterical, for someone with a scientist mind and already living the truth of her not being a normal human, I would have expected her to be better.
It just started to be nice when the people from the first book appeared and I loved seen more in depth the healing process of their species.
2.5⭐
It just started to be nice when the people from the first book appeared and I loved seen more in depth the healing process of their species.
2.5⭐
June 16, 2019
Re read via audible
Prior comments:
3.5 stars. I am giving this less than 4 stars because I liked the first book better and it was 4 stars for me. But it is still worth rounding up.
I loved the continuation of the story, although I was a little lost until I figured out how long it had been since the end of book 1, Dark Prince. I was surprised by the length of time between books. I mean times were desperate and Mikail and Raven still had not tried to have a child? What was up with that? Anyway, once I got a firm grasp of the timeline, I had to again suspend my beliefs. How is it possible that Jacques, beloved brother to Mikail, could remain alive but undetected - practically in their back yard - for all these years? It did not track to what I learned in the first book. After getting past all of that, there was the harder story about Jacques trying to fight insanity. Shea was, at most times, truly heroic. Jacques was, at times, horrifying to her in his madness But she helped him survive and reunite with his family on multiple levels. I enjoyed their bond.
Jacques overcame more than anyone can imagine and I admire him for it. But he is not going to top my BBF list. Not much sexy about being on the edge of insanity. Shea, however, is pretty awesome. But I don't read romance for the ladies ;-)
I am glad I read the book and I think it is important to the progression of the overall storyline. Very important things happen in the 2nd half of the book that I would not have wanted to miss. While I am dying to read Grigori's story (book 4) I do not want to miss the progression that the next book is sure to bring so I am going to resist skipping and move onto book 3.
I know this may not sound like a great review, but it is a really good book. I highly recommend to anyone willing to read PNR and I believe it is critical if you are reading the Dark series.
This is a totally safe read. No OW, cheating, etc. These guys wait hundred of years for their lifemate. While they may be conceited and domineering, they are faithful and committed!
Prior comments:
3.5 stars. I am giving this less than 4 stars because I liked the first book better and it was 4 stars for me. But it is still worth rounding up.
I loved the continuation of the story, although I was a little lost until I figured out how long it had been since the end of book 1, Dark Prince. I was surprised by the length of time between books. I mean times were desperate and Mikail and Raven still had not tried to have a child? What was up with that? Anyway, once I got a firm grasp of the timeline, I had to again suspend my beliefs. How is it possible that Jacques, beloved brother to Mikail, could remain alive but undetected - practically in their back yard - for all these years? It did not track to what I learned in the first book. After getting past all of that, there was the harder story about Jacques trying to fight insanity. Shea was, at most times, truly heroic. Jacques was, at times, horrifying to her in his madness But she helped him survive and reunite with his family on multiple levels. I enjoyed their bond.
Jacques overcame more than anyone can imagine and I admire him for it. But he is not going to top my BBF list. Not much sexy about being on the edge of insanity. Shea, however, is pretty awesome. But I don't read romance for the ladies ;-)
I am glad I read the book and I think it is important to the progression of the overall storyline. Very important things happen in the 2nd half of the book that I would not have wanted to miss. While I am dying to read Grigori's story (book 4) I do not want to miss the progression that the next book is sure to bring so I am going to resist skipping and move onto book 3.
I know this may not sound like a great review, but it is a really good book. I highly recommend to anyone willing to read PNR and I believe it is critical if you are reading the Dark series.
This is a totally safe read. No OW, cheating, etc. These guys wait hundred of years for their lifemate. While they may be conceited and domineering, they are faithful and committed!
November 23, 2011
Dark Desire is the Carpathian story of Jacques and Shea.
Jacques story is extremely intense and incredibly brutal. Captured by vampire hunting fanatics, he is held prisoner for over 7 years. Tortured. Complete agony. After so many years, the physical wounds can heal but the mental ones have made him deadly dangerous and unpredictable.
Sensing the presence of a female, he believes her as his betrayer. He sees in color. He knows she is his lifemate. The rage festering his insides lashes out at her, forcing her body to endure the torture he experiences.
Shea, a brilliant surgeon, has a rare blood disease that she has been researching for a cure. Her mother lived a shell of a life before committing suicide on Shea’s 18th birthday. Fleeing from everything she has known, Shea succumbs to Jacque’s compulsion. She visits the Carpathian mountains to continue her research and learn more about her father whom she has never met.
Finding Jacques and saving him from the tomb he lived in, the battle of wills begins as she attempts to heal him. He attacked her, yet she couldn’t leave him. She had to save him.
This book is long and repetitious. 75% of this book is based on the struggles between Shea and Jacques and his mental state. I can appreciate fighting inner demons. But this book was a bit much. Enough already.
I recommend this book to mature adults reading this series. Extreme violence and sexual content.
~Happy reading!
Jacques story is extremely intense and incredibly brutal. Captured by vampire hunting fanatics, he is held prisoner for over 7 years. Tortured. Complete agony. After so many years, the physical wounds can heal but the mental ones have made him deadly dangerous and unpredictable.
Sensing the presence of a female, he believes her as his betrayer. He sees in color. He knows she is his lifemate. The rage festering his insides lashes out at her, forcing her body to endure the torture he experiences.
Shea, a brilliant surgeon, has a rare blood disease that she has been researching for a cure. Her mother lived a shell of a life before committing suicide on Shea’s 18th birthday. Fleeing from everything she has known, Shea succumbs to Jacque’s compulsion. She visits the Carpathian mountains to continue her research and learn more about her father whom she has never met.
Finding Jacques and saving him from the tomb he lived in, the battle of wills begins as she attempts to heal him. He attacked her, yet she couldn’t leave him. She had to save him.
This book is long and repetitious. 75% of this book is based on the struggles between Shea and Jacques and his mental state. I can appreciate fighting inner demons. But this book was a bit much. Enough already.
I recommend this book to mature adults reading this series. Extreme violence and sexual content.
~Happy reading!
August 27, 2010
While this installment of the Carpathians is engaging, it didn't live up to the first. It is darker, Jacques (who is the charming younger brother in book one) has been held and tortured for sevens years and left for dead. He comes out of the experience barely hanging on to his sanity and with a vicious streak a mile wide. The story still has it's twists and turns along with an interesting (if rather dysfunctional) love story, which keeps it moving and would earn it a 3.5 star rating.
June 1, 2024
“What we need, Mikhail, is Raven’s calming influence. You look about as reassuring as a Bengal tiger."
"Oh, and you look like a bunny rabbit," Mikhail scoffed.
This is based off a re-read.
The Carpathian series is a little silly and repetitive, but they are guilty pleasure type books that get me in the mood to re-read sometimes. Following Dark Prince, where Mikhail, the prince of the Carpathians found his lifemate in Raven, now it's Jacques's turn. Instead of finally finding "the one", he's been tortured and chained for seven years, bordering on insanity until she finds him based on his summons and being chased by hunters.
I liked Shea - she was independent, a lot like Raven, had a big craving for knowledge and medical work, and came with weird childhood baggage. While I enjoyed Jacques in the first book - he was sort of funny - he lost that humor here through all he's suffered and is kind of just there. Likable but not as addictive as other leads. I admit I skimmed their sex scenes, didn't do anything for me since it's repetitive, but they didn't have nearly as many as in Dark Prince.
The reason this book is slapped with a four star rating over a three is because of so much Gregori, my personal favorite, and Mikhail and Raven. Love all three of them, they entranced me in the first book, and were just as captivating here. Gregori's backhand scheming with the pregnancy was thrilling and he still remains my favorite, even if Feehan has insisted on bringing in so many other Carpathians to try and thwart the original group's power and standing with later books to keep things interesting. It takes awhile for them to come on stage, but the book soared when they did.
Honestly - despite the guy being evil in the end, I feel bad for the villain. He shouldn't have acted cowardly before with events in the first book, but it wasn't his fault he was separated besides that error in not speaking up - and the consequences were catastrophic for him.
Not as good as Dark Prince, but it was a worthy sequel. Paranormal romance just isn't good at avoiding being repetitive and melodramatic, but these still keep me hooked as quick reads.
"Oh, and you look like a bunny rabbit," Mikhail scoffed.
This is based off a re-read.
The Carpathian series is a little silly and repetitive, but they are guilty pleasure type books that get me in the mood to re-read sometimes. Following Dark Prince, where Mikhail, the prince of the Carpathians found his lifemate in Raven, now it's Jacques's turn. Instead of finally finding "the one", he's been tortured and chained for seven years, bordering on insanity until she finds him based on his summons and being chased by hunters.
I liked Shea - she was independent, a lot like Raven, had a big craving for knowledge and medical work, and came with weird childhood baggage. While I enjoyed Jacques in the first book - he was sort of funny - he lost that humor here through all he's suffered and is kind of just there. Likable but not as addictive as other leads. I admit I skimmed their sex scenes, didn't do anything for me since it's repetitive, but they didn't have nearly as many as in Dark Prince.
The reason this book is slapped with a four star rating over a three is because of so much Gregori, my personal favorite, and Mikhail and Raven. Love all three of them, they entranced me in the first book, and were just as captivating here. Gregori's backhand scheming with the pregnancy was thrilling and he still remains my favorite, even if Feehan has insisted on bringing in so many other Carpathians to try and thwart the original group's power and standing with later books to keep things interesting. It takes awhile for them to come on stage, but the book soared when they did.
Honestly - despite the guy being evil in the end, I feel bad for the villain. He shouldn't have acted cowardly before with events in the first book, but it wasn't his fault he was separated besides that error in not speaking up - and the consequences were catastrophic for him.
Not as good as Dark Prince, but it was a worthy sequel. Paranormal romance just isn't good at avoiding being repetitive and melodramatic, but these still keep me hooked as quick reads.
December 2, 2020
3 Stars
This book was much more enjoyable than the first, and the hero was not a complete moron like the one in the first book, but I still had a problem with the way he lured Shea into sleeping with him the first time. It felt like a rape to me, especially after what she faced the night before, it was like he used her even though she said no. I'm beginning to dislike the author way of thinking when it comes to bending the women will. I don't care if this was a Paranormal read and the hero is suppose to be possessive, it still made me hate the hero for a long time.
This book was much more enjoyable than the first, and the hero was not a complete moron like the one in the first book, but I still had a problem with the way he lured Shea into sleeping with him the first time. It felt like a rape to me, especially after what she faced the night before, it was like he used her even though she said no. I'm beginning to dislike the author way of thinking when it comes to bending the women will. I don't care if this was a Paranormal read and the hero is suppose to be possessive, it still made me hate the hero for a long time.
February 28, 2019
Jacques is betrayed by someone he knows, and then tortured by human butchers. Shea O'Halloran is a surgeon who is on the run from dangerous fanatics, who want to take her for scientific experimentation. She flees to the Carpathian mountains, where she continues her research into her blood disorder. She feels drawn to the woods and a burnt-down dwelling. Beneath the dirt she finds a trap door. It leads to a cellar where she digs into the dirt and finds a coffin. Inside the coffin is Jacques, her beloved stranger who has haunted her dreams. But will Shea be more prey than healer to a tortured man?
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