Susan Krinard
Krinard, Susan - BODY AND SOUL (Bantam - 1998) (4+)
BODY AND SOUL is a love story of two lost souls—one reborn and the other a ghost. They struggle trying to right an old wrong from centuries past, then after two centuries, the chance comes to make things right. Will history repeat itself...or will love triumph?
Jesse Copeland, a beautiful, lonely woman, who risked her life in daring rescue missions while in the Peace Corps, has returned home to Manzanita. She wants to settle down and start a new life. For years, Jesse has struggled with nightmares about her mother's mysterious death, and now that she is back home they are even stronger and more frequent. In order to rid herself of the nightmares, she must learn the truth about her mother's death.
David Ventris, an ex-soldier of His Majesty, is a handsome and virile man who also happens to be a ghost. He has been in a void of "nothingness" since he died, waiting for two centuries to be called back to earth by the one woman who is his salvation. Centuries before, he had failed to protect his wife, and his lack of responsibility resulted in her death and his own guilt. David's only salvation is to be forgiven by the one he had forsaken.
Susan Krinard has written an engaging, refreshing tale that captures the reader...page after page. It is a story about a lonely soldier, guilty of not loving enough, and a heroine who loves too much. BODY AND SOUL is a perfect blend of the supernatural and natural forces, with love and forgiveness being the key. ~Robin Peek for Bookbug on the Web
Krinard, Susan - PRINCE OF DREAMS (Bantam - 1995) (4)
Psychologist Diana Ransom is afraid that something terrible has happened to her fey and fragile cousin Keely. Realistic and dark dreams, absent for the past 15 years, have begun to come again to Diana. She knows from past experience that to ignore them could be dangerous to herself and to Keely, the only family she has left. Her instincts lead her to the compelling and enigmatic Nicholas. Unable to sleep or dream himself, Nicholas is the last of a race of vampires who live not on blood, but on the life essence of dreaming mortals. He holds the key to Keely's salvation, but Diana must somehow persuade him to help her when, unknowingly, what she asks of him might well cause him to face the terrors of the damned.
This is the third book that I've read by Susan Krinard, and I continue to be amazed at the way she takes a figure from myth and legend and transforms it into something new and exciting. In PRINCE OF DREAMS, the vampire legend comes to life in Nicholas, an "immortal" who invades the dreams of his victims, but leaves his "dreamers" intact and unaware of their use to him. The relationship that develops between Nicholas and Diana is intense, sensual and uniquely romantic. One caution to the reader—this book is by no means a romantic romp. Save it for a quiet day or two when you'll have few interruptions. Once you begin it, you'll have a hard time putting it down. ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
Krinard, Susan - PRINCE OF SHADOWS (Bantam - 1996) (4)
As a child, Alexandra spent an enchanted summer roaming the woods
with a seemingly tame young wolf. Even though the summer ends in
tragedy, the memory of that free and hopeful time sustains Alex in the years that follow, and spurs her to devote her life to studying wolves. But she isn't prepared when a naked man appears in her bed one morning—especially when he turns out to have a mysterious bond with the wolf that she knew all those years ago.
Susan Krinard has no equal in creating paranormal characters and situations that seem completely real. Somehow she gives the reader just enough description to let us enter into a different reality, without distracting us with too many details or gaps of logic. I found the character of Kieran, struggling to understand his past and trying to figure out how to survive as a werewolf, extremely compelling. It took longer for me to warm up to Alexandra, who seemed to waffle a little too much at the beginning, one minute standing up for Kieran and the next pulling away from him. It may have been understandable, given her past history, but it became tedious after a while. However, the second half of the book was both fascinating and exciting. I couldn't put it down. Even though PRINCE OF SHADOWS didn't have the dreamy intensity of Krinard's earlier book, PRINCE OF WOLVES, I enjoyed it very much and recommend it highly. ~Karen Wheless for Bookbug on the Web
Krinard, Susan - PRINCE OF WOLVES (Bantam - 1994) (4+)
When Joelle arrives in a remote Canadian town, she is enchanted
by its rugged beauty, and fascinated by the wolves she encounters
nearby. She is also drawn in by the charismatic and mysterious
Luke Gévaudan, but she is determined not to fall easily into his
bed. As she spends more time with Luke, however, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to him—until she is pulled into his secret life.
Susan Krinard strikes a balance between romance and fantasy in PRINCE OF WOLVES. Even though I'm usually a skeptic, I found myself immersed in the world that Krinard had created—totally drawn in by her detailed descriptions and compelling characters. Both Luke and Joelle have flaws, but I empathized with them completely and felt as if I was experiencing the same emotions that they did. My only disappointment came near the end. The author skillfully sets up a conflict between Luke and Joelle—a conflict that isn't forced but comes from within their characters and situation, then she glibly resolves it in a few short pages at the end of the book. I was left feeling vaguely unsatisfied; however, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise unforgettable read. I can say unhesitatingly that this is the best paranormal book I've ever read, and I recommend it highly. I look forward to reading more by this talented author. ~Karen Wheless for Bookbug on the Web
Krinard, Susan - TOUCH OF THE WOLF (Bantam - 10/99) (4)
TOUCH OF THE WOLF, the first book in an exciting series about werewolves, takes place in England and Northumberland in 1875. Tiberus Forster, an unbending man who uses fear and intimidation to rule the entire race of werewolves, teaches his eldest grandson and heir, Braden Forster, about "The Cause." Stipulating arranged marriages within the order and disallowing any breeding with the human race, this plan is necessary for the future welfare of the werewolves. It is also vital that Braden
retains his leadership and heir status, even after he becomes blinded by mysterious circumstances.
In America, Cassidy Holt's werewolf mother dies before she is able to teach her young daughter how to change into werewolf form. Cassidy hasn't seen her father and brother since they disappeared years ago, so she is alone in the world. After she discovers the existence of English relatives, the Forsters, she is prepared to seek them out, but unexpected events prevent her from doing so for fifteen years. When Cassidy and her mother's friend, Isabelle, finally travel to England, they meet Braden and his siblings, the twins Quentin and Rowena. The relationship between all the siblings is strained...and sometimes outright hostile. Arrangements have also been made for the twins to marry designated partners, a situation which they find quite distasteful.
Once at Grayburn, the Forster country estate, Cassidy is disturbed by the fact that Braden rules the townspeople and his servants through fear in order to gain their loyalty. She cannot escape the fact, however, that she wants to be a part of Braden's life. Cassidy and her warm, innocent, loving ways begins to change the lives of everyone around her. She gradually gets through to Braden's tortured, haunted soul, and he is forced to admit his feelings for her, as well.
I am a lover of paranormal romance, and Susan Krinard's sterling reputation as an author made me eager to read this story. It definitely stood up to my expectations. I found TOUCH OF THE WOLF to be a vividly emotional, fast-paced read. Braden won my heart, and as I became more deeply drawn into the characters and story line, I didn't want the book to end. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series, which I understand will be the twins' story. ~Pat Cavender for Bookbug on the Web
Krinard, Susan - TWICE A HERO (Bantam - 1997) (4)
A curse has followed the Sinclair family ever since a distant ancestor returned from the Mayan jungles with half of a stone pendant. . .and without his partner. Or so Homer Sinclair believes. On his deathbed, Homer gives his scholarly, insecure granddaughter, Mac, a challenge: travel back to the
jungles of Tikal, make restitution for any wrongdoing, and
remove the family curse. So begins Mac's incredible journey into the past, where unseen forces conspire to lead her straight into
the arms of Liam O'Shea, holder of the other half of the pendant, and the explorer who was abandoned in the jungle so long ago.
In this uniquely plotted and creatively written time-travel romance, Susan Krinard again proves herself to be a master of the unusual. Although lighter in tone than her previous, darkly-sensual titles, TWICE A HERO is a compelling read, nonetheless. She combines historical detail, believable fantasy, and sizzling sensuality to create a book that is fast-paced and totally engrossing. ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
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