Allison Chase
Auteur de Dark Obsession
A propos de l'auteur
Séries
Œuvres de Allison Chase
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Nom légal
- Manuel, Lisa
- Sexe
- female
- Nationalité
- USA
- Lieu de naissance
- New England, USA
- Lieux de résidence
- New England, USA
South Florida, USA - Organisations
- RWA
Florida Romance Writers - Courte biographie
- Lisa Manuel was born on New England, USA and she grew up with a deep appreciation for the rich history of her surroundings. Now she enjoys a busy life in the warmth of the South Florida sunshine with her husband of more than twenty-five years and their two wonderful and very talented daughters. But, she and her family love to travel, especially throughout the British Isles and Ireland, and she's never happier than when exploring historic sites such as castle ruins, ancient abbeys, or the rambling gardens of old country manors.
Lisa Manuel, now also writes as Allison Chase. She is a member of the RWA and the Florida Romance Writers, and in large part credits both organizations for her success as a romance author. In adition to travel, the inspiration also comes from reading books by fellow authors, many of whom have become good friends as well as mentors over the years. Before she ever sat down to write, she was an avid reader and continues to enjoy a fairly wide variety of styles and genres. Her favorite romance subgenres are historical, paranormal, and romantic suspense. She also loves historical fiction and nonfiction, her favorite eras being the Middle Ages, Tudor times and the Regency. Her hobbies include archery and collecting period costumes. In a pinch, she can be anyone from Maid Marion to a Celtic Queen to Jane Austen!
Membres
Critiques
I've enjoyed the adventures of the Sutherland sisters as they secretly help out a young Queen Victoria--Laurel and Ivy not only had tense, urgent missions, but the way they worked with their respective husbands was a treat to read. Colin and Holly however, were less endearing to me.
Colin's attitude and behavior was the main reason why actually. In previous novels there felt an equality and partnership in the pairings. Holly and Colin never quite reached that level to me. Colin spent much of the book 'protecting' Holly's sensibilities for a variety of reasons (he was never at a loss for those). Holly's accusation that he underestimated her resolve and strength of character are the most genuine words spoken. He was so certain that Holly would break under the faintest of hardships that he didn't take the time to get to know her. Never mind that Holly has endured quite a few hardships in her life, or that her sister's (regardless of the 'secret' reason why) lives weren't peaches and cream either. He was bound and determined to keep Holly far, far away from the presumptive horrors to the point where it got to be really irritating. It stopped being 'charming' and 'protective' around the fifth or sixth time he silently consoled himself that he was doing the right thing by not pursuing a long lasting entanglement with her.
Holly was, unlike her twin Ivy or her oldest sister Laurel, headstrong and reckless (hence the title, more apt words never spoken). She doesn't much care what the mission for Victoria is (in fact if it had been to chase down a murderous, wanted criminal she would have been off like a light quicker than you could blink!), only that it means adventure. The fact that it could also lead to a prestigious marriage as well seemed more of an afterthought honestly, and remarked on more often by other characters then Holly herself. She's clever and quick-witted, with a soft heart and an unshakeable belief and loyalty to Victoria that almost borders on the zealous (all the Sutherlands do honestly).
The ongoing sub-arc about the Sutherlands true origins gets a real step up here, becoming much more twined with the main plot then in the previous volumes. We learn a bit more about their parents and their french connections, as well as a surprising amount about a secondary villain from the first book Henri de Vere. It's a bit outrageous and I'm not entirely certain the novels needed that added layer. The fact these girls were Queen Victoria's Secret Servants was plenty enough--the added French Revolution and their parents mysterious deaths muddied the waters. This plot seemed to take precedence in the novel in the latter half, and will likely be a driving force in the fourth book (about the youngest Sutherland Willow).
Review originally posted at Night Owl Reviews… (plus d'informations)
Colin's attitude and behavior was the main reason why actually. In previous novels there felt an equality and partnership in the pairings. Holly and Colin never quite reached that level to me. Colin spent much of the book 'protecting' Holly's sensibilities for a variety of reasons (he was never at a loss for those). Holly's accusation that he underestimated her resolve and strength of character are the most genuine words spoken. He was so certain that Holly would break under the faintest of hardships that he didn't take the time to get to know her. Never mind that Holly has endured quite a few hardships in her life, or that her sister's (regardless of the 'secret' reason why) lives weren't peaches and cream either. He was bound and determined to keep Holly far, far away from the presumptive horrors to the point where it got to be really irritating. It stopped being 'charming' and 'protective' around the fifth or sixth time he silently consoled himself that he was doing the right thing by not pursuing a long lasting entanglement with her.
Holly was, unlike her twin Ivy or her oldest sister Laurel, headstrong and reckless (hence the title, more apt words never spoken). She doesn't much care what the mission for Victoria is (in fact if it had been to chase down a murderous, wanted criminal she would have been off like a light quicker than you could blink!), only that it means adventure. The fact that it could also lead to a prestigious marriage as well seemed more of an afterthought honestly, and remarked on more often by other characters then Holly herself. She's clever and quick-witted, with a soft heart and an unshakeable belief and loyalty to Victoria that almost borders on the zealous (all the Sutherlands do honestly).
The ongoing sub-arc about the Sutherlands true origins gets a real step up here, becoming much more twined with the main plot then in the previous volumes. We learn a bit more about their parents and their french connections, as well as a surprising amount about a secondary villain from the first book Henri de Vere. It's a bit outrageous and I'm not entirely certain the novels needed that added layer. The fact these girls were Queen Victoria's Secret Servants was plenty enough--the added French Revolution and their parents mysterious deaths muddied the waters. This plot seemed to take precedence in the novel in the latter half, and will likely be a driving force in the fourth book (about the youngest Sutherland Willow).
Review originally posted at Night Owl Reviews… (plus d'informations)
Prelim Review: In the first book, MOST EAGERLY YOURS, I remarked how sad Queen Victoria seemed. It was just at the beginning of her reign and she was so desperately alone. Calling upon the Sutherland sisters, childhood friends of hers she trusted implicitly, didn't seem reckless so much as not exactly reasonable given what she wanted of them.
OUTRAGEOUSLY YOURS kind of pumps this up a little more with her request to Ivy to pretend to be a man and ingratiate herself with a rumored to be quite mad scientist. All for what amounts to a rock. You know what though? Less then a third of a way into the book I didn't really care that it was ridiculous and implausible. I wasn't reading historical fiction about the Queen--I was reading a romance that used her as a plot device, much like the Regency Romances tended to use the Prince Regent as a plot device.
I do have to wonder though if Victoria wasn't also trying to run a peer of the realm match-making business on the side because its extraordinary that she's 2 for 2 on matching her old childhood friends with peers of the realm who fit them perfectly. Unintended side effect maybe?
Full review to be posted at Romance Reader at Heart… (plus d'informations)
OUTRAGEOUSLY YOURS kind of pumps this up a little more with her request to Ivy to pretend to be a man and ingratiate herself with a rumored to be quite mad scientist. All for what amounts to a rock. You know what though? Less then a third of a way into the book I didn't really care that it was ridiculous and implausible. I wasn't reading historical fiction about the Queen--I was reading a romance that used her as a plot device, much like the Regency Romances tended to use the Prince Regent as a plot device.
I do have to wonder though if Victoria wasn't also trying to run a peer of the realm match-making business on the side because its extraordinary that she's 2 for 2 on matching her old childhood friends with peers of the realm who fit them perfectly. Unintended side effect maybe?
Full review to be posted at Romance Reader at Heart… (plus d'informations)
When her pursuit of the truth and the hunt for a story lands the heroine is hot water and in the mist of a scandal to her reputation, she's sent to the Cornish countryside to live with her aunt and uncle. But the heroine has the nose for trouble and she soon sniffs out mystery in the quiet fishing town. The hero, grieving the loss of his father and struggling under the debts he'd inherited made the mistake of involving himself in a snuggling ring. Charged with the crime, he turned on the men he sponsored but still, he'll do anything to make amends for the pain and death his actions have caused. He's sent home, back to where he spent his childhood and into the house where his father burned to death to uncover the underground snuggling ring and expose those responsible. One night, the hero and heroine each find themselves wondering the countryside and lost in the magical mist around them, they take shelter in a church. Drawn together by fate and more than a little attraction, they find themselves tied together by the ghost and spirits all around them. Despite the hero's valid attempts to both prevent the heroine from involving herself in matters that very well result in her death or serious injury or the ill advised notation of involving herself with a man with such guilt upon his soul, the heroine's pride and stubborn naivety keeps her from listening to reason. On numerous occasions she stubbles into one perilous situation or another and the hero must rescue her. He soon realizes that in order to keep the woman safe, he must keep watch over her. But the plan comes with it's one dangers. Mainly because no matter how hard he tries he finds himself drawn to her and the sense of completeness she inspires within him. And she doesn't help matters with her open readiness to surrender to him. But soon it's apparent that the smuggling ring goes deeper than imagined and spans the entire town they live in. Lost in the chaos of secrets and myths and two faced characters, the hero and heroine must battle not only for truth and justice but for the love that could be if they survive. I enjoyed this book to an extent but found it dragged it's butt on more than one occasion. I thought the hero was a bit whiny and I found the heroine to be obnoxious at times. Yes, she had the thirst for adventure and the idea of feminism to urge her to insert herself in dangerous situations but I found her to be too stubborn to be likeable. I like my heroine's to be intelligent enough to realize that in the time period they live in, it's a matter of fact that a woman just can't do things a man can do. And she was from London. Even if she was not the typical well bred lady, she should know enough that a single unwed woman just shouldn't wonder the beach or the countryside alone at night! It's frustrating when her stupid choices result in the near death of the hero as he tries to save her. It just reiterates the fact that the woman is silly and recluse and in need of a man to help her out of problems. Over all I thought the story was meh .… (plus d'informations)
Prix et récompenses
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Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 9
- Membres
- 267
- Popularité
- #86,454
- Évaluation
- 3.5
- Critiques
- 14
- ISBN
- 21
- Langues
- 1
(for the full review please refer to Romance Reader at Heart)