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What happens when two people from very passionate species get together? A whole lot of tension, lots of action, secrets revealed, and a whole mess of animal attraction. This pretty much describes Love’s Beguiling Healer by Angela Verdenius, the latest book in her Heart and Soul series. The Felys people, a very sensual and catlike species, are in danger of dying out. They’ve always had the occasional runt born in their litters, but the numbers are increasing rapidly. If they don’t resolve the problems plaguing their kind, they may become extinct. Enter Tera, Argon healer, very skilled in science and research. When Denyon, Felys leader, and his right hand man, Illam, come to Argon, they request the aid of the famed healers to get to the bottom of what is causing the problems for their kind. Tera is the most likely candidate to go with them, unfortunately, she and Illam can’t get within 10 feet of each other without arguments ensuing. Once they all get to Scytha, home planet of the Felys and two other species, the Lypeople and the Canis, Tera begins her research. She encounters many mysteries regarding the declining health of the Felys, some of which may not be exclusive to their kind. Add in the fact Illam has discovered, much to his surprise, that Tera is his mate and he will do anything to claim her, and Tera is in for the ride of her life. Once again, Angela Verdenius has written a brilliant story full of adventure and romance in Love’s Beguiling Healer. Trademark of her work, we find a fast paced tale with twists and turns bound to provide a thrilling escapade. The primary storyline is skillfully woven to keep you turning the pages. Verdenius is also talented in teasing her readers with bits of other stories unfolding parallel to the main plot, that make you wonder about how they fit in. When the ties between the various threads are revealed, they are often shocking in how key they were to the story. I have come to expect this different storytelling method from Angela Verdenius and I can happily say I was most definitely not disappointed! In addition to the usual trademarks to be found in one of Verdenius’ novels, Love’s Beguiling Healer ups the ante in the heat department. It is most definitely the hottest story to date in the series. But it works beautifully here as Tera and Illam are from the two species in the Heart and Soul universe known for their extremely passionate and sexual natures. A “tamer” story just would not be true to their people’s makeup. So you have been forewarned, expect a spicy tale here. Tera and Illam are both strong characters, which often causes them to clash, but Tera’s hidden vulnerable side endeared her to me even more. She has lost in love in the past and is very reluctant to allow Illam into her heart. Illam is all alpha male, with a very animalistic nature perfectly in tune with the fact he is of a feline race. He knows exactly what he wants… Tera… and doesn’t quite know how to handle her independent nature. Yet when he discovers why she is so resistant to his desire to dominate and claim her as his own, we see his softer side and can’t help loving him even more. One thing I absolutely have to mention is Angela Verdenius’ masterful rendering of a truly feline race. We never lose site of the fact Illam and his people are cat-like beings, with all the instincts of the animal. Readers can’t help but notice how very knowledgeable the author is of cats and their behavior. Being a cat lover myself, and being the resident human companion of three furry friends, I had to laugh out loud several times throughout the story over just how real the Felys personalities and lifestyles were. If cats really could walk and talk like us, this is exactly how they would act. I kept seeing my own three in the personalities of the Felys. If you want a delightful adventure story, full of mystery, passion, and romance, then Love’s Beguiling Healer by Angela Verdenius is most definitely for you, especially if you are a cat lover yourself. © Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2006. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006-2008 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved. |
Heart and Soul Book 11: Love's Beguiling Healer
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Posted October 2006 |
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