Casee‘s review of The Twilight Before Christmas (Drake Sister Series, Book 2) by Christine Feehan.
Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for her northern California town’s annual Christmas pageant, Kate catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn’t mind working in the undeniably eerie house — not if it means getting closer to Kate. There’s something about the quiet, sensual woman that powerfully attracts him.
When an earthquake cracks the mill’s foundation and reveals a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been unleashed?and that it’s coming after her. Though Matt vows to guard her from dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon all of her and her sisters’ powers to battle the darkness threatening to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion her hometown hero wants her to keep forever….
When I originally read the series, it seemed as if each new book was better than the one before. As I re-read them, I am realizing that while I have favorites, the books are all exceptional. Like I said in my review of Magic in the Wind, I love everything about this series.
Re-reading, I have found some inconsistencies, but unlike like Holly it generally doesn’t bother me. I think that the series obviously grew from the time CF started writing. I think the best example is Jonas. In the first few books, he was a friend of the family. Later, he’s more like the family protector/brother. Just things like that.
I liked how this book started. Matt Granite has never hid the fact that he’s in love with Kate Drake. He also can’t hide the fact that he turns into a blathering idiot anytime he gets around her. There in a running joke in his family about what will happen the next time Matt sees Kate.
Kate Drake knows that Matt isn’t the one for her, but that doesn’t stop her from lusting. What’s funny in the Matt/Kate dynamic is that they both think that they’re to blame for the embarrassments that happen when they’re together. It made for some very entertaining reading.
Like all the residents of Sea Haven, Matt has heard the whisperings of the Drake sisters. He doesn’t really put much thought into it until an evil is unleashed onto the town and Kate seems to be its target. Now he’s trying to protect the woman he loves from an unseen enemy, when she doesn’t want to be protected.
Kate and Matt were complete opposites. Kate was concerned that she was too “boring” for Matt, not seeing what he saw when he looked at her. The romance was sweet and I loved the whole snow globe thing.
4.5 out of 5.
This book is available from Pocket Star. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Other books in the series:
I haven’t read these at all yet. One of my goals for June is to read one of her books, either more in the DARK series or this one. Thanks for letting me know the order of them! Wow I heard alot talk about loving this series and after reading this review, I see why! Thanks!