All About Awaiting The Moon
...the
first book in a new paranormal series by Donna Lea Simpson
The wait for a new take on werewolf
romances is over!
It
is said that werewolves roam the woods around Wolfram Castle-- but Elizabeth
Stanwycke, newly arrived tutor to the Count's niece, is not a child to
be frightened by bedtime stories. Of more pressing concern is her attraction
to the mysterious Count.
It is 1795, well past the time when folks should have abandoned such superstitious
notions as a belief in werewolves, Elizabeth Stanwycke thinks as she travels
into the heart of Germany to tutor a young countess in the ways of the
world, and the English gentry in particular. But Elizabeth has never seen
anything like Wolfram Castle, her new home for the time she is to work
there, nor has she ever met any man like Count Nikolas von Wolfram, her
new student's uncle. Handsome, commanding, enigmatic, he is keeping secrets,
but whether they are merely sordid family tragedies of the past that he
is concealing, or something more terrifying and sinister is anyone's guess.
All Elizabeth knows is, the more time she spends in Count Nikolas's company,
the more she is drawn to him... but she understands only too well the price
a woman paysfor allowing the urgings of her heart to influence her behavior,
and she is determined never to pay that price again.
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Set
in 1795, the atmospheric first book in Simpson's new paranormal romance
series serves up gothic suspense and explicit sex among denizens of a German
castle. One moonlit evening, as Englishwoman Elizabeth Stanwycke approaches
Wolfram Castle, home of the sullen girl whom she's been hired to tutor,
Elizabeth sees a nude blond woman run across the highway, pursued into
the snowy woods by a hooded horseman. Her efforts to help are stymied by
her companion and mentor, Frau Katrina Liebner, who warns against questioning
the many secrets at the castle, which include insanity, mysterious deaths
and rumor of werewolves.
Desperate
for work because of a scandal in her background, Elizabeth assumes her
duties without complaint but is unable to restrain her curiosity. Soon
she's entangled with the intimidating master of the house, Nikolas von
Wolfram. Simpson peoples the castle with distinctive characters, though
at times they act carelessly or foolishly (e.g., the hero fails to tie
up a murderer before leaving him alone) in order to keep tension high.
...Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier
Inc.
All rights reserved
~ First Review
~
Ms.
Simpson has taken several sub genres and combined them into a very good
read.“Awaiting The Moon”
is a combination of historical, paranormal, and gothic romance. With a
dark and interesting premise, Ms. Simpson will entertain.
Elizabeth Stanwyck has been forced
to leave England. A scandal had rocked her situation and thanks to a good
friend she has a chance to leave behind the pain. She is going to tutor
a young woman in Germany. But the closer she gets to Wolfram Castle she
begins to rethink her decision, especially after the bizarre encounter
in the woods before her arrival. But, when she meets Count Nikolas von
Wolfram she’s immediately drawn to her handsome but reclusive employer.
Elizabeth thinks she can handle
the job but the dark secrets, odd tension between family members and the
burning attraction between Nik and Elizabeth only adds to the feels of
uncertainty that plagues Elizabeth. When she realizes the secrets Nikolas
hides will she accept him or will she let doubt and fear keep her from
the one man she will ever love?
Elizabeth
and Nikolas are wonderful characters! The secondary characters that
pepper
the pages only add to the mystique and Ms. Simpson has penned a very
sensual
paranormal, historical, gothic read and it will entertain without
loosing momentum. It appears the gothic romance is on the upswing and
Ms. Simpson
has created a story that is worthy for the genre
....
Reviewed by: Luv2readinBruxelles
~ Review From Romantic
Times ~
TOP PICK 4.5 Stars
![[image] stars](Four_Star.gif)
Elizabeth
Stanwycke leaves England for an uncertain future as a governess at Wolfram
Castle in Germany where rumors of strange incidents haunt the castle.
Her unease begins when her carriage is forced off the
road near the castle and she sees a nearly naked woman being pursued by
a man on horseback. Though told she has an overactive imagination, Elizabeth
cannot chase the horrible image away.
She is distracted by her enigmatic employer, Count Nikolas
von Wolfram. He is the ideal gothic hero -- brooding, handsome, mysterious
and obviously hiding something about his family history.
Elizabeth's task is to prepare Nikolas' niece to attract
an English earl as a husband, but the girl is sullen and uncooperative.
Then there are the extremely loyal servants; the fragile Gerta; the visitors
Melisande and her father; and the omnipresent wolves who stalk the castle
grounds and seem to know something about the strange happenings and the
runaway girl. Most perturbing of all is that Elizabeth has fallen in love
with Nikolas, a man whose secrets could destroy her life.
By mixing a classic gothic with paranormal overtones Simpson
has a winner. This impossible-to-put-down romance belongs alongside Victoria
Holt, Phyllis Whitney and Daphne du Maurier. Here is a pure classic plotline
with just the right touch of the ominous, the perfect amount of suspense
and plenty of sexual tension to keep you reading late into the night and
finish satiated. ~ SENSUAL~
Reviewed by: Kathe
Robin
... Romantic
Times
Excerpts
of some great reviews!
Booklist
Review
journal for the American Library Association
"Simpson's
latest is a treat for lovers of gothic romance and a welcom offering for
readers looking for European adventures beyond the British Isles. There's
a natural progression here from the traditional gothic of eerie occurrences
with rational explanations to a true paranormal twist, and Simpson keeps
the sultry sensuality at a strong simmer."
...Nina
Davis
Copyright
© American Library Association.
All rights reserved.
Romance Reviews Today
"With its gothic tone, Awaiting The
Moon draws readers in right from the beginning. There are plenty of secrets
in Wolfram Castle, but just when you think you've got them figured out,
the author throws a curve; nothing is as it seems."
"A complex and intriguing story,
look for Awaiting The Moon."
...Jennifer
Bishop
Copyright © Romance Reviews
Today
myshelf.com
"Awaiting The Moon will have readers
on the edge of their seats as they read this fascinating tale. Filled with
mystery and suspense, this book will have readers eagerly turning pages.
This reader will be eagerly awaiting Ms. Simpson's next magnificent story
taking place in Wolfram Castle, in Awaiting The Night."
...Tangela
Williams
Copyright © myshelf.com
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