DARK OBSESSION

Author: Allison Chase ISBN: 9780451223876 5/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/SIGNET
Time Period: 1830 London

They wed in haste—Nora Thorngoode, to save her ruined reputation, and Grayson Lowell, to rescue his estate from foreclosure for unpaid debts. Each resents the necessity to exchange vows that will bind them for all time, and yet passionate flames soon arise between them... quickly engulfing them in a sensual obsession. But soon the lover that Nora married becomes a dark stranger to her—a man torn apart by guilt over his brother's recent, mysterious death and driven half mad by ghostly specters who demand that Grayson expose the truth. Has Nora married a murderer whose wicked deeds blacken everything around them? Or, together, in the secret passageways of Blackheath Grange and along Cornwall's remote coastline, can Grayson and Nora discover what really happened that terrible night and, in setting free the troubled ghosts, free themselves as well?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

After reading the first few chapters of DARK OBSESSION, I had more than high hopes for it. It was lusty, dark and passionate, while maintaining an aura of mystery that really had me excited. I loved the dialogue, intrigue, and scorching chemistry between the hero and heroine. Mostly, I loved the ghostly mystery. But abruptly, about three quarters of the way through, it suddenly changed from the brooding, enthralling story it was into some wild goose chase with a less than satisfying outcome.

The ghosts I were so anxious to meet spoke only in riddles, which was more annoying than curious. And after all of the build up, or perhaps I should say frame up, the ending was quite boring. I should explain that I mean not the actual ending on a crumbling piece of hill, but upon whom the ending focused. I understand how the outcome worked for the author as a quiet resolution of sorts, but I wanted a more thrilling climax. (Yes, I know what I just said.) And the romance, well, one page it was hot and the next page it was not. For the heroine to put up with such nonsense and not blatantly question it just makes her rather dumb. So, I suppose I feel rather let down about the whole thing.

Anyway, while I truly enjoyed the first half of DARK OBSESSION, I'm afraid it veers off course near the end, enough to stop me from giving it a Top Pick endorsement. Above average? Sure. I do look forward to more offerings from Allison Chase, because I suspect with her gift for creating combustible characters, I will find a book of hers to love all the way through.

Shannon Johnson