Dark Revelations

One last job... Dr. Ginny Moon intends to retire after one last assignment for the Adriano family. She is tired of the secret life that forced her to give up her identity as Aubrey de Lune. Ginny doesn't realize that her "last job" for the Adriano family is a manuscript that could devastate all that the Marians have worked for. Will the Adriano family truly let their best art thief go so easily? And just why is Ginny so important to the Adriano family anyway? DARK REVELATIONS is yet another installment in the fascinating Madonna Key series. Lorna Tedder has written a story that truly addresses the heart of a mother and what she is willing to sacrifice for her child. Ginny isn't always a sympathetic character as an art thief is a bit difficult for most people to identify with. But her love for her daughter shines through very clearly and helps soften her. I did find her seeming ignorance over the entire Joan of Arc issue surprising, but some history is provided later in the novel that helps explain this to at least some degree of satisfaction. DARK REVELATIONS is very action oriented. As with many Bombshell stories, the strength of the heroine is key to the story and Ginny certainly proves herself to be strong. Her relationship with Eric Cabordes is only a secondary part of the story but is sure to satisfy romance readers with the devotion seen between these two. DARK REVELATIONS furthers the ongoing saga of the series and leaves me wanting to know what is next in store for the descendants of Joan of Arc! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Adventure is sure to follow wherever Aubrey goes in Dark Revelations. Readers of previous books in the Madonna Key series will remember Dr. Moon, the infamous art thief plaguing Europe. This is her story... Aubrey was forced in to a life of crime by the Adriano family, due to circumstances beyond her control. She even had to give up her beloved daughter so the young girl would be protected and safe from the evil Italian family determined to use Aubrey for their own personal gain. Aubrey's life takes a fantastical bend though when she of forced to steal an ancient manuscript, believed to be from the pen of Joan of Arc herself. The discovery of this document, and the secrets found within, reveal a destiny Aubrey never knew she had. Now she is on the run, with only Eric Cabordes to assist her. He is the personal bodyguard to the Adriano heir, but shockingly Dark Revelations lead him on a new path. If only he and Aubrey could find time to explore the intense feelings between them. The third book in the Madonna Key series reveals even more secrets about the mysterious and near mythical Black Madonnas. It also shows the expansion of the nefarious plot a small sect of men have to permanently bury the legend of the Madonnas and the women who worshipped them. Time is of the essence for the Marians to win this war. One thing I love is how each book delves deeper in to the past, crossing the centuries backwards, to reveal the story of the Marians, the protectors of the Madonnas. We've visited the 18th century, the 17th century, and now the 15th century in successive books, as we learn more about the women from whom Aubrey is descended. In this chapter of the saga, we discover one unique spin on the story of Joan of Arc. Romance, though most definitely present between Aubrey and Eric, plays a lesser role in this story, but is still key to the plot. The focus here is on Aubrey, as she comes to terms with her past, and strives to protect her future. Readers will cheer her on to the resolution of her dramatic life. Eric's story is important too however, as we see his acceptance of Aubrey and what she stands for, even if it's in direct opposition to what duty asks of him. In a departure from her usual works, author Lorna Tedder has written a fascinating story in Dark Revelations that is more than up to the expectations of Madonna Key followers. She knows just the right recipe for a good romance/adventure novel. I hope to see more works by this talented author in the future. © Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2006. All rights reserved.

Dr. Ginny Moon stole art for the highly connected deadly "philanthropist" Adriano family, but wants out as she wants to go straight. However, the family patriarch refuses to free the notorious Aubrey de Lune jewel thief, somewhat out of an obsession, but also because she could cripple the gang if the authorities learn who she is. Besides, the bottom line is no one leaves his Family. The Family asks her to perform one last job for them with bodyguard Eric Cabordes at her side; she assumes as a babysitter. However, she soon finds out that the object she is purloining is worth a lot more than just money if it ends up in the wrong hands. She turns to Eric in a desperate move to keep the Adriano Family from stepping closer to obtaining the Madonna Key. Ginny makes the action-packed thriller work as she struggles between doing the right thing and the demands of her "employer" in the latest stand alone yet interrelated Madonna Key tale (see HAUNTED ECHOS). The fast-paced story line never allows the audience to catch their breath as she and her new cohort try to remain one step ahead of their former employer. With its Joan of Arc connection already making DARK REVELATIONS fascinating, part of the delight of this fine romantic suspense is the heroine's turmoil as to whether she should trust the bodyguard who she is falling in love with. Lorna Tedder adds a strong thriller to this fine miniseries. Harriet Klausner