Lost Calling by Evelyn Vaughn

After falling into a hole opened up by an earthquake, Catrina Dauvergne, a curator for the Musée Cluny in Paris, finds a some old artifacts, including a mysterious key that she’s compelled to recover. With assistance from her associate, Rhys Pritchard, she manages to recover most of the artifacts, but soon she finds herself part of a ancient struggle. Driven to protect the artifacts, Catrina and Rhys begin their research and learn that the key is tied to the legacy of the Marian priestesses, also known as the Black Madonnas. The Black Madonnas represent an ancient force who’s power rivals anything available to mankind today. But the Black Madonnas have an enemy who craves that power and is willing stop at nothing to control it. Now can Catrina protect the Madonna legacy or is Paris and the world doomed to complete destruction.

After being forced to wait a month between each volume of the White Star books, I decided to collect all seven volumes of the Madonna Key series before I read the first one. This book is very powerful and reading it will definitely leave its mark on you for years to come. The amount of research is apparent from the high level of details left and the amount of planning is demonstrated through a plot where you’re never sure what’s going to happen next. If you like adventure on a larger than life scale and haven’t read this book yet, I’d suggest you start reading now.

Details: Bombshell #97, July 2006 (Madonna Key #1)
Excellence Rating: Great
Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave
Warning: Topics depicted in this book may offend members of some religions
Warning: This book deals with graphic violence and death