Lost Calling

I tried to submit this to the Bombshell editors and Harlequin, but they have removed the website contact information, and disallowed posting to the Guestbook. Is that a hint that they might realize they've made an error, and don't want to hear any more about it? I can't believe that the Bombshell line is being killed off. This is the first romance series that is read in its entirety by every woman in my family. It fills a niche that no other women's series addresses. Bravo to whoever conceived of this. Kudos to the authors and editors responsible for those books released on this label. Shame on Harlequin for not marketing it better in the first place, and killing it off precipitously. Regarding the Madonna Key series, I have every volume, and will reread them. I enjoyed them immensely, and found it hard to believe that such a seemless continuity series was actually written by different authors. Smooth as silk, ladies. My respect for the amazing writing feat you have performed, quite successfully.

ARGH!!! Why did Harlequin kill the Bombshell line? The Madonna Key series is dynamite! This is the first book in the series, and those coming are every bit as brilliantly conceived and realized. Harlequin is DUMB!! Catrina Dauvergne is the curator of a museum, while trying to balance her personal life and its problems. Her biggest concern at the moment is her grandmother is dying. Just when she thinks her life cannot get more stressful, the ground beneath her feet begins to crumble - literally. Caught in the middle of an earthquake in Paris, the ground opens up under her. Okay, things are going down hill (excuse the pun!) fast for Catrina, surely it cannot get worse? Wrong. The whole she tumbled into gives her a shock. There are five bodies - skeletons. They had been beheaded and with them are special keys that set her on a wild adventure. When Caterina touches a key, she is assaulted by visions of a past life during the turbulent French Revolution. Unable to understand what is happening to her, she turns to Rhys Pritchard. Rhys was formerly a priest, but is presently an archaeologist, and is one of the few people who can translate the strange religious etchings she found. They naturally have a strong attraction, but Catrina is hiding the fact she once stole a Medieval Grail type chalice from Rhys' friend. Despite this uneasy relationship, they are propelled to work together to solve the riddle of the Madonna Keys. They are catapulted into a breakneck adventure as someone is determined to possess the keys and their secret, and will stop at nothing to get them - even killing Rhys and Catrina. The pace is manic, fascinating, mesmerizing setting up the other books in the series by such amazing talent as Carol Stephenson and Jenna Mills. This is Bombshell at its very best - and a sad statement on the lack of vision on a company that so carelessly dumped this line.

In the first book of the Silhouette Bombshell Madonna Key series you are introduced to an unusual heroine, Caterina Dauvergne. She is a museum curator of the Mussee Cluny who had once stolen a priceless artifact. Still trying to maintain a relationship with her dying grandmother her mind was caught off guard by tremors that shook the ground beneath her warning of an earth quake - IN PARIS! The fissure that opened and Caterina fell into revealed five beheaded skeletons, mysterious tiles and keys that would spark the beginning of an adventure and lead her on a trail of mystery and possibly her destiny. When Caterina touched the key she was shown visions of the terrors and desperate actions of women she would later identify as Marian worshippers beheaded during the French Revolution. Catrina called on the one person she knew she could count on to help her, Rhys Pritchard, archeological teacher and ex-priest to translate the religious etchings on her discovery. Their complicated relationship (it was his friend whom she'd stolen the Medieval chalice from) would become more so. Together they'd embark on discovering the secrets behind the unusual find as a madman stalked Caterina willing to kill her to keep the artifacts and the truth dead and buried. In the meantime, someone else was desperate to obtain these tiles to create more havoc and manmade earthquakes? In this fully robust, stand alone introduction for this fascinating series Vaughn keeps up a fast paced tempo uncovering more and more mysteries that effectively open threads for the books to come. Caterina is a terrific heroine who has made mistakes in her past, a wounded soul who doesn't want to feel, yet secretly yearns for that special connection in her life with another. Romance wise Rhys is conflicted over feelings for Caterina - desiring her and hating the loss of self control she invokes in him. Vaughn introduces several other secondary characters who may or may not be all that they seem - Scarlet Rubashka being one of them - and one hopes to see returning in the future books of this series. High marks must be given for this fascinating opener as Vaughan expertly weaves historical aspects, suspense, romance and intrigue in a most astonishing way in this promising new series for the Bombshell line. Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques "That first earthquake was not my fault." With that, one of the best opening lines I can remember, Evelyn Vaughn sets the tone for all that is to follow in Lost Calling, the premiere book in a new continuity series, The Madonna Key, from Silhouette Bombshell. Readers of Evelyn Vaughn's Grail Keepers series have previously met archeologist Catrina Dauvergne. Now she has a chance to redeem herself from her previous villainess ways. When a surprising earthquake strikes the center of Paris, Catrina drops through the pavement and into a long hidden grave. Her she finds the skeletons of five women, slain during the 18th century and the French Revolution. But why was this grave different from the catacombs all throughout the underground of Paris? Catrina knows she must preserve this shocking archeological find if she hopes to uncover the answer. She turns to former priest turned archeology student, Rhys Pritchard, the one man who can help her... and the one man she's desired but never been able to have. As they work to catalog and preserve the site, Catrina, helped by strange visions of the slain women, uncovers some shocking enigmas. Now she and Rhys are in a race against time, and a deadly enemy who will stop at nothing to rebury old secrets. The must find a series of seven keys that will unlock the mysterious past before their adversaries can prove that some people will go to any costs to smite the wicked. Move over Robert Langdon, we have a new heroine determined to make sure the truth is not lost forever! Catrina's life is all about protecting history and now she is about to make the find of her life. Even her past bad deeds were done in the name of her cause. She is a strong woman, admittedly not the nicest woman in the world, without being the usual tough martial arts practicing, kick butt broad. She is only human, with the more tender emotions commonly associated with women everywhere, though she works very hard to keep those hidden. Rhys is a tortured soul, torn between his strong Catholic beliefs and former life as a priest, and his masculine desires. Throughout the entire story we experience the difficult decisions he has made and his guilt and agony over the results of some of his decisions. Seeing his battles with personal demons, and Catrina's struggles to understand what he is thinking and feeling, add a whole different dimension to the tale. The bond that develops between them is a natural extension of their somewhat love/hate relationship. Don't forget the action found either! From the very first page, readers are wrenched into the story, and find we cannot escape, nor would we want to, until the final climactic encounter, which sets in motion the chain of events to follow in future books in the series. We find natural disasters that may not exactly be "natural" after all, excursions into the bloody history of France through Catrina's visions, and a psychotic enemy who will do whatever it takes

In Paris, the earthquake opened up a buried catacomb below the Musee Cluny. Curator Catrina Dauvergne explores only to find the remains of females probably guillotined during the French Revolution. She also finds some weird looking tiles and odd relics. However, her discovery also brings to light an apparent maniac who claims all items as his under some religious right. This obsessed person is willing to kill Catrina to obtain her finding. She turns to archeology student Rhys Pritchard to help her solve what the religious etching s on the tiles and the relics mean and how that ties to the late eighteenth century beheadings while a dangerous madman stands ready to murder anyone who stands in his way of possessing what the earthquake uncovered. LOST CALLING is a fast-paced action thriller that never slows down from the opening earthquake sequence until the final confrontation. Catrina is an interesting heroine who is thrust into her role due to events out of her control (though she ponders whether her grandma would blame her for the earthquake, the find underneath the Cluny, the maniac, and much more). The seemingly crazy religious fanatic with his demands that she hand over what she found and his apparent willingness to do what it takes to achieve his claim makes the tale work as readers wonder who he is. Though the climax seems more to set up a sequel, fans will appreciate this Parisian romantic suspense thriller. Harriet Klausner