Seventh Key by Evelyn Vaughn

Waking up and realizing she and her baby had been kidnapped, Maggi Sanger-Stuart tried to remain calm while her billionaire husband arranged for her release. Maggi learned that Simon Adriano didn’t want her husband’s money, instead he kept her baby as a hostage and ordered her to retrieve some tiles that once belonged to Mary Queen of Scots, along with some more tiles held by some friends of hers. It wasn’t until she found her friends that she learned about Simon’s sinister plans and the modern Marians. Now can Maggi and the Marians succeed in stopping Simon and rescuing his hostages or will the world face its ultimate destruction?

The final story in the Madonna Key series chronicles the final battle between the Marians and the Adrianos. Unlike the other books, all of the heroines from the previous book were present in this story and all played a significant role in the final outcome. It was very interesting watching the women interact, while each kept their own personality traits intact. A challenging task at best and one that can only be pulled off by a great storyteller. My only complaint is that the story ended too quickly, but we can always hope that another Adriano will arise to challenge the Marians The Madonna Key is the Bombshell line at its best. If you haven’t read the collection, I highly recommend it as stories like this are few and far between.

Details: Bombshell #121, January 2007 (The Madonna Key #7)

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Sensual

Warning: Topics depicted in this book may offend members of some religions
Warning: This book deals with graphic violence and death

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

Something Wicked by Evelyn Vaughn

Kate turned to evil to save herself from the man that left her sister lying bloody and beaten on the floor of her living room. The curse she placed on her attacker condemned Ben Fisher to a life of pain and suffering. As with all dark magic, the curse exacted a toll on her too, but it was worth it to see her sister’s killer suffer for the rest of his life. When the police finally caught up with the killer, Kate learned the killer wasn’t Ben Fisher, but his twin brother Victor. Now her curse was split between the two men – one good and one evil, leaving Kate with no other option but to embark on a quest to find a way to undo her curse.

This author came highly recommended by Sadhbh, so when I saw her latest title on the shelf, I picked it up and read it. The book has a very strong plot filled with lots of suspense and action. Evelyn’s vivid descriptions left me wondering if she had taken time to visit the places where the story took place. Though I was surprised that this story didn’t have an intense romance like the Blazes I’ve been reading. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to anyone that wants a little magic in their reading.

Details: Bombshell #77, February 2006

Bottom line: A great book