Sacrament

I read The Companion first and loved it, so I immediately bought Sacrament. I know several people have given this book bad reviews, but I disagree. A few readers couldn't figure out when and how Sarah and Julien fell in love. I guess they didn't see the subtle signs, Julien not taking Sarah's land, Sarah thinking about him constantly, etc. After all this story takes place in a different time. Women had a different place in society and weren't outspoken about their feelings. Some readers thought the story was too drawn out. I, on the other hand, like my characters fleshed out and the exotic locales described in detail. It's true, there was not a lot of info about "The Companion." But I read the second book first, so I already knew some details that were omitted from this story. As to the friendship between Corina and Sarah, I believe Sarah was a friend more out of pity than real friendship. She knew what Corina had suffered as a child. I also think she was afraid if she ended the friendship, Corina would reveal what she knew about her. I read this book very quickly and enjoyed it - give it a chance. I am eagerly waiting for The Hunger to come out in October.

I know alot of reviews said that this book is not their cup of tea or this book is too graphic or whatever ...I truly enjoyed this book. This is my first Susan Squires book and it won't be my last. This story is about Sarah (heroine) and Julien (vampire hero) Sarah finds out that her neighbor Julien is trying to take her precious estate from her. But why would a wealthy man like Julien want Sarah's property that is just scrapping by to make ends meet? Her deeds to the land are missing and she suspects that it was Julien who stole it. She does some investagating to try and find something that says she owns the property.....Mean while Sarah's friend (corina) the talk of England sets her sights on Julien, but Julien isn't interested in Corina and she exacts her revenge on him for that . At first Julien is cold toward Sarah but he finds himself drawn to her...because of her heart, her smarts and her naivety. This story is worth reading all the way through. It's not like your ordinary romance novel. It has alot of twists and turns and you find yourself not being able to put it down! I couln't anyway. I highly reccomend this book. I am going to look for Susan Squires other books as well.

Susan Squires shows with this book that the strength of voice she used on Danegeld was not some happy fluke. Sacrament is a powerful read. Those who are used to the light regencies of Georgette Heyer will be fascinated at this dark look at this era-- add to that a string of mysterious murders, a facinating vampire, a woman who will take a chance on love to save a soul, and you have an amazing dark romance.

When I first started Sacrament, I was impatient for the romance and vampire side of the story to begin. As I kept reading, I found myself getting caught up in the characters' lives and caring about them. Sarah is a very interesting heroine and the hero, Julian Davenoff,is the thing fantasies are made of. Tall, dark, brooding, and handsome, he oozes sex appeal. Sarah's friend, Corrine, had me wanting to strangle her. I couldn't figure out why Sarah stayed friends with her because she was self centered and cared nothing for anybody's feelings but her own. She proved to be quite ruthless in obtaining what she wanted.In the beginning, it is Corrine who wants Julian, and she does everything she can to snare him. Meanwhile, Julian has produced a deed to Sarah's family home and she believes he will steal it out from under her. Her own deed has conveniently disappeared and she suspects Julian of having it stolen. As a result, their relationship starts out on shaky ground. If you want a book with pages of graphic sex scenes and vampires attacking humans on every other page, you've got the wrong book. Instead, this book concentrates on Sarah and her relationship with Corrine and issues she has with her past. We also see how Sarah's relationship with Julian undergoes a change due to Corrine's actions. Last, but not least, we get to know Julian and come to care for him. I recommend this book very highly.

Susan Squire's second book proves she is here to stay!! Danegeld was a gritty medieval; this time her talent it turned toward a vampire tale. It is moody, dark, gothic, and captivates the reader in a story that is far from the normal vampire tale.Her lead characters are extremely well drawn, though I really really want to just smack Corrine really HARD!!! Squires maintains the brooding darkness, the duality we find in ourselves, vampire or not, and the question of how far are we willing to go for love. He is Julian Davinoff, the dark lord always in black, and he has come to claim Sarah's beloved and ancient home. She suspects he is so determined to gain possession of the family home that he has bribed to have the deed stolen so she cannot prove her claim.From the first, despite the legal entanglement, Sarah is pulled toward this man, scare of him as much as she is fascinated by him.Unfortunately for Sarah and Davinoff, Sarah's "friend' becomes suddenly obsessed with him as well, a friend already bordering on madness, a friend rumoured to have tastes for dark and evil for perversions, with the obsession pushing her into complete insanity. She will destroyed them both if not stopped.Squires paints extremely complex characters, hardly stereotypical, in a moving story that will haunt you long after you put it down.WISE WRITERS AND READERS Book of the Month May 2002