Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Black Lion Tours: "Angel's Assassin" by Laurel O'Donnell Review/Top 10 List (Ends 1/25) WW


Laurel O’Donnell 's
ANGEL'S ASSASSIN
Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart.

Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

 

Enjoy an excerpt from Angel's Assassin



Damien watched the startled expression cross her eyes, heard the gasp stop in her throat.  His fingers trembled.  One quick move…  How innocent she was.  How trusting.  How foolish.  Foolish in her blind faith and trust in him.
He had waited a long time for this moment.  His freedom was within striking distance.
Her lips parted in a silent gasp and she lifted her chin beneath the pressure of the blade.  “Damien,” she whispered.
Betrothed.  Anger flared through his veins at the thought of Ormand laying his hands on her, at the image of him kissing her and tasting her as he had.  Is that why Roke wanted Aurora dead?  So no one else could have her if he could not?  Were Roke’s thoughts thick with jealous rage just as his own thoughts were now?  Did that make him just as evil and twisted as Warin Roke?
He had to do it now.  He felt himself swirling toward oblivion.  He was becoming lost.  Lost to his mission, lost to his freedom, lost to everything he held dear except for her.  Damien looked at the silver blade he held to the white skin of her neck.  Your freedom means everything to you.  He pressed the dagger up tighter against her throat.  Her beautiful, smooth, white, flawless throat.  Do it
She should be afraid.  Why wasn’t she moving?  Why wasn’t she running or trying to talk him out of it?  Would she stand so motionless before another assassin like this?  All of his victims had struggled and fought for their lives, especially when they knew their end was near.
Aurora stood before him, her chin held high, unflinching, unmoving.  Unafraid.
Damien clenched his teeth tighter.  Trusting, he thought with bitter disdain.  No one trusted him.  No one.  Not his father.  Not his colleagues.  No one.  And rightfully so.  He was an assassin.  He brought death.  He was death.
And yet…  Aurora stood before him, imperiously, bestowing goodness on him with a simple glance.
His hand shook, his fist tightening around the handle of the dagger.  “You’re wrong about me,” he snarled.
In her eyes, in her stunning blue eyes, he saw absolution.  Damien could not move.  His freedom was at hand.  Just a little slash with his sharp dagger.  But this was Aurora.  She was so damned pure and innocent.  He wanted desperately to kiss her.  He wanted to have her.  She was dangerous to him.  So dangerous.  That thought could not save him from his desperate need for her.  Damien growled low in his throat.
He threw the dagger aside and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her against him tightly, pressing his lips to hers.  It was a frantic, despondent kiss.  A punishing kiss.  He would not give up his freedom.  Not for anyone.  It was all he wanted.  It was all he needed.  She would not stand in his way.

 
Giveaway
The author is giving away one copy of "Angel's Assassin" and one copy of her medieval romance, "The Angel and The Prince".   Just leave a comment to enter!


I did have the opportunity to review this a while back, but I will publish my 5-star review here just to make it easier to access.


Angel's AssassinAngel's Assassin by Laurel O'Donnell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the quintessential historical romance--practically perfect in every way.  This was one of those books that I almost could not put down.  I loved the writing style, the romance, the story, and you will probably not see the twists and turns that come towards the end.  I sure didn't!  This was crafted in such an amazing way, and I think most romantics would love it and even some history buffs might find it enjoyable.

There were a few minor issues as far as the book goes.  I don't think there really was any profanity in the book--at least that I can remember.  There are some sex scenes, and I didn't feel that the detail during one of the scenes was necessary, but it did not ruin my perception of the book--as you can see.  While there is a lot violence, none of it is overly graphic.  Yes, it paints a picture, but it was never offensive to me.

This author is absolutely amazing.  Her powers of description are rare in today's writing world (at least from what I have seen).  And her characterizations are amazing.  Practically ever character is three-dimensional, and I truly connected with the story even though I am so far removed.  I would definitely recommend this book, and I can hardly wait to read more of her historical novels.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.


View all my reviews



Meet the Author
Laurel O’Donnell has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, the Happily Ever After contest for Angel’s Assassin, and the Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest for Immortal Death. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. O’Donnell lives in Illinois with her four cherished children, her beloved husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to escape into the medieval world and bring her characters to life in her writing.


Website | Her Story Calls | Facebook | YouTube | Goodreads | Twitter 


10 Things You Can’t Do Without (from the author)
It is given that I have a comfortable warm place to live with air conditioning.

Chocolate
A pen that never runs out of ink
Endless paper
A good cup of Coffee for every day (with sugar)
A comfortable chair
My cat Charming (and food and liter for him)
A super comfortable bed for that place I live in
Water
Toilet (with an endless supply of toilet paper)
A really hot man to tend to my needs



 

4 comments:

  1. Ruth -
    Thanks for hosting me and giving your readers a peek at Angel's Assassin!
    Laurel

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the grat review. I laughed when I read your ten things you can't do without especially the toilet with the endless supply of tiolet paper.
    Congrats on the book release. Can't wait to read it.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  3. That was a nice review.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a book I would really enjoy. Thanks for the review.

    michelletucker at baconnation dot net

    ReplyDelete

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