Holly‘s review of Lair of the Lion
Impoverished aristocrat Isabella Vernaducci will defy death itself to rescue her imprisoned brother. She’ll even brave the haunted, accursed lair of the lion–the menacing palazzo of legendary, lethal Don Nicolai DeMarco. Rumor says the powerful don can command the heavens, that the beasts below do his bidding…and that he is doomed to destroy the woman he takes as his wife.
But Isabella meets a man whose growl is velvet, purring heat, whose eyes hold dark, all-consuming desire. And when the don commands her to become his bride, she goes willingly into his muscled arms, praying she’ll save his tortured soul…not sacrifice her life.
I adore this book. Feehan’s writing style is perfectly suited for gothic novels. Although I generally hate how domineering her heroes are vs how limp her heroines are, this book is a huge exception. Right from the beginning they start out on even ground. The heroine is the beauty, strong and caring, with a solid streak of honesty that makes her stand out. The hero is the tortured beast who knows he shouldn’t keep the heroine for himself but can’t seem to walk away from her.
Everything about this novel works for me. The dark and gloomy castle, the strange howling in the night, the ghosts, the beasts, the dark and stormy weather. But mostly it’s the romance I love. I love that Nicolai falls in love with Isabella in spite of his good intentions, and that Isabella brings out the best in him. They way they care for each other is fabulous, and really brings home what romance is all about. All-in-all a great read.
4.5 out of 5
This book is available from Leisure Books. You can buy it here
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