“A master of her craft.” —Maggie Shayne London’s diversions hold no charm for Roan Cabrera. Despite his reputation as a scoundrel, he’s in high demand among the city’s most eligible young women. And though their blood can quench his undying thirst, none of them can fill the emptiness in his centuries-old soul. He finds solace only in easing the pain of those near death—by helping them relive … death—by helping them relive their most cherished memories …
The last thing Kathryn Winterbourne remembers is being struck by a carriage. When she awakens in a luxurious bed, she feels like she must have died and gone to heaven. But the man who has saved her is no angel. With his penetrating eyes, the darkly handsome Roan looks more like the devil himself. And when Kathryn is confronted with the truth about her mysterious hero, she’ll have to decide whether to shutter her heart against him—or give in to the thrill of his love …
Praise for Amanda Ashley and Twilight Dreams
“A tender paranormal romance exploring love and family ties, and it’s tinged with intrigue and vengeance. . . . This portrait of new love is sweet and endearing.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Author Ashley is no stranger to paranormal romance … Intriguing.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Master storyteller Amanda Ashley weaves a classic vampire tale of sensual, spine tingling suspense.”
—Christine Feehan
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Despite his reputation as a scoundrel, Roan Cabrera is in high demand among the city most eligible women. Their blood can quench his undying thirst but not of them can fill the emptiness in his centuries-old soul. The last think Kathryn Winterbourne remembers is being struck by a carriage but upon awakening she’s wonders if she’s died and gone to heaven, although with penetrating eyes, her darkly handsome savior looks more like the devil himself.
This historical vampire romance is a sweet, enticing and powerful romance that has readers shivering in delight. The characters are strong, captivating and easily grab the readers’ attention while the romance is sweet and full of sizzling chemistry. The relationship between Kathryn and Roan has lots of emotional turbulence as at first Kathryn mistrust Roan’s altruistic endeavors and when she discovers his truth, she has to decide if she can accept him into her heart and all the while Roan is doing his best to protect and provide for her.
The plot is steady paced and full of gripping suspense that keeps readers glued to the pages not only in regards to Kathryn and Roan’s HEA but a dangerous rogue has infiltrated Roan’s territory, one who seems to be out to destroy Roan and everyone he cares for and in his quest to do so attracts hunters who have every intention of collection a prosperous bounty on Roan’s head. The historical London setting adds to the delicious gothic ambiance of a traditional vampire romance that ignites readers’ fantasies and ensures that they don’t to miss one second of this vampire’s delight.
Another great story by Amanda Ashley, it is well written with a very good storyline. I now want to check and see where I left this series off, and instead of paperbacks start getting eBooks instead. Roan Cabrera and Kathryn Winterbourne’s story, that kept me turning page.
Paranormal romance is not usually my normal reading genre but when combined in a historical timefarme it becomes a different story. Vampires have existed through time and this one, Roan is unique. He has a gift of sitting with people who were dying and giving them their good memories to relive and talking to them on another level. It helped him as much as it did them.
But when he found a young girl lying in the street, having been hit by a carraige, he rescured her and willed her to live.
This was a really different story but was intriguing to say the least. Roan of course had lived a long life but he seemed very controlled and had an empathetic heart. Kathryn had left a terrible situation at home and was at her wits end on how she was going to survive when she got hit by the carraige.
Prepare to be drawn in quickly and not being able to stop reading until you get to the end!
3.5 Stars
Roan is everything you could want in a hero…well almost everything since he’s dead. But if you don’t mind the pesky vampire business, he’s darn near perfect. Dark and mysterious with a kind and tortured soul, he has a power to gift the dying with reliving their most cherished memories. When he finds a beautiful maiden near death after a carriage accident, he looks into her mind searching for her favorite memory, and discovers she is just as lost as he is. Unsure if it will cure or curse the beauty in his arms, Roan offers her his vampire blood…and waits…
Kathryn Winterbourne is distraught. Having to leave her home out of fear, she now has no money, nor anywhere to go. Lost in her thoughts and walking the streets trying to find a solution to her problem, Kathryn becomes a victim of a careless carriage driver, and is struck down, left to die. When she awakens and finds herself in the arms of a devilish handsome man, Kathryn knows her life has been changed forever…but for better or worse?
I’ve been reading Amanda Ashley’s vampire stories for years and have an entire shelf filled with her wonderful vampire novels. While reading Hold Back the Dawn, I found myself aggravated over Kathryn’s inability to make a decision, and what Roan saw in her. Kathryn is one of those heroines that you love to hate…and that, dear reader, is good writing. Being able to craft a character to the extent you want to reach in the book and smack them for being so irritating and indecisive! Roan had me hooked from page one, and was the main reason I stuck through reading the rest of the book…I just had to know if he got his much deserved happily ever after!
Amanda Ashley is a gifted storyteller when it comes to vampire romance, and I would recommend to those that enjoy reading paranormal.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
I loved the blurb and the story itself. I’m always excited to immerse myself in a paranormal romance. I’m sad to say that this paranormal romance fell flat for me.
I wanted to love the characters and experience everything they were going through but there was a huge disconnect. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. For me, they lacked passion and fire. Whether there was a momentous occasion or something terrible was happening, I felt none of it. No sadness, happiness, passion, desire or fear, it all came off as bland. For me, the characters and story lacked the feelings that make a paranormal romance thrilling, exciting and sexy.
I also had a very hard time understanding and believing Roan and Katherine’s relationship. It felt one-sided. I understood Katherine’s attraction and eventual love for Roan. He is handsome, chivalrous and kind. I did not, however, understand Roan’s attraction and love for Katherine. She was so indecisive. One moment she loves him and wants to be with him, the next, not. For me, she did not bring anything to the relationship and I did not see any character growth from her.
The story itself was intriguing and kept me turning the pages.
I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Amanda Ashely is a superb writer. I have read everyone of her books and I always fall in love with her characters. You will love this story line and how true love prevails.
Hold Back the Dawn by Amanda Ashley is the story of Kathryn Winterbourne and Roan Cabrera.
This brings to Romantic Genes that I love together…Historical Romance and the Vampire/Paranormal. Roan is a Vampire who has seen centuries of loneliness and only finding ‘food’ upon the women he has know. Roan has also used his skill to help some of the dying people that he has ran into to help them as much as he can. Kathryn last know thought was being hit by a carriage before waking up in a luxury bed with a handsome man possible being her hero. But what will happen when the truth comes fully out.
Loved this story.