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Friday, November 16, 2012

Romance Review: Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

This book has been reviewed by History Undressed reviewer Morgan Wyatt...


ABOUT THE BOOK:


Evangeline Ames has rented a country cottage far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she finds pleasure in sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds. And when her life is threatened again, she instinctively goes to the gardens for safety.

Lucas Sebastian has never been one to ignore a lady in danger, even if she is trespassing on his property. Quickly disposing of her would-be assassin, he insists they keep the matter private. There are rumors enough already, about treasure buried under his garden, and occult botanical experiments performed by his uncle — who died of mysterious causes.

With Evangeline’s skill for detection, and Lucas’s sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they have a common enemy. And as the energy emanating from Crystal Gardens intensifies, they realize that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long...


MORGAN'S REVIEW:


Amanda Quick’s Crystal Gardens is the first in the series of Ladies of Lantern Street series, which deals with three unusually gifted women who become companions in dangerous situations that require their talents. Crystal Gardens is the story of Evangeline Ames and Lucas Sebastian.

Evangeline Ames escapes to the country to settle her frazzled nerves from her almost murder in London. This is why it is so unnerving to hear a prowler in the house. He isn’t trying to be quiet, probably because he doesn’t expect her to live to report him. Evangeline planned for such a predicament, however, she didn’t plan to end up in the arms of the mysterious owner of Crystal Gardens.

Sebastian Lucas returns the much-rumored Crystal Gardens to investigate the curious death of his Uncle. He realizes things aren’t as they seem from the glowing gardens resulting from botanical experiments to his uncle’s death. On his first day, he meets his new tenant, the intriguing Miss Ames. On the second night, he finds his arms wrapped around the delectable lady.

Crystal Gardens are a menace drawing in treasure hunters searching for Roman gold hidden, only to become fatalities of the gardens’ mysterious power. Paranormal energy fuels the plants, vision pools, and Lucas’s ability to track his uncle’s killer, and the person after Evangeline.

Evangeline and Sebastian have wonderful chemistry together. There are some enjoyable secondary characters in Molly and Stone. The setting is appropriately eerie, which adds to the atmosphere.
Crystal Gardens is another delight from a master author Amanda Quick.  It is a fun, sexy read. I would recommend it for all romance fans.  

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