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The Curse of the Templars #1
Immortal Hope: The Curse of the Templars
Centuries ago, Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll that revealed the locations of the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they now roam the earth, protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation—the return of the seraphs.Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul, releasing him from the clutches of their enemy. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers that she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As Merrick struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold. Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache that he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she is destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death. At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2012
11 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Claire Ashgrove
39 books123 followersClaire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed contemporaries, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars, will debut with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat under the pen name Tori St. Claire.
Claire lives on a small farm in Missouri with her two toddler sons, fifteen horses, four cats, and five dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at rummy, studying ancient civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. She credits her success to her family's constant support and endless patience.
To learn more about Claire, visit her on the web at www.ClaireAshgrove.com, or www.ToriStClaire.com
Claire lives on a small farm in Missouri with her two toddler sons, fifteen horses, four cats, and five dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at rummy, studying ancient civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. She credits her success to her family's constant support and endless patience.
To learn more about Claire, visit her on the web at www.ClaireAshgrove.com, or www.ToriStClaire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 16, 2012
"If things were different, she'd be in heaven. This place was a made-to-order catalogue for single women. Pick hair color, eye color, and the rest of the package was waiting and ready. Assuming one could ignore their surly attitudes"
Immortal Hope is my kind of book. I'm a complete sucker for a gorgeous but slightly grumpy tortured warrior who is saved by the love of a good woman, so introduce me to six potential tortured warriors and I'm so there. Immortal Hope definitely has the feeling of a really good series, it reminded me a little bit of J.R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (which is one of my all time favourite series) where each book will focus on one warrior finding his HEA. So if you are a fan of BDB then this is right up your street.
I really enjoyed the historical background which was brought right up to date and given a little paranormal twist. Merrick is the last of the original 9 Knights who rode to the Holy Land becoming the Knights Templar, it looks as though the rest of series will concentrate on five Knights who swore their loyalty to Merrick. These Knights have spent eternity battling Azazel's demons but with each kill more darkness enters their soul so they are all in a race against time to find their Seraph. The female descendants of the Nephilim, Seraph's are the only thing that can heal the souls of their fated Knight. So these six mighty warriors are desperate to see if the first Seraph Anne is their chosen one.
I loved the fact that Merrick's Seraph Anne was no push over, she's been completing her thesis on the Knights Templar and was absolutely itching to find out Templar secrets after being brought into their world. She's pretty gutsy and determined and with one eye on the future she was my kind of gal as she decides to take notes on the Knights distinguishing marks which will match their fated Seraph's. I could almost see her documenting it all in a spreadsheet! Anne's mark matches Merrick but she's too afraid to tell him as she believes it will lead to his death and he doesn't want to tell her that he's in a desperate race against time as evil is taking over his soul. On one hand, I honestly don't know how many times I wanted to shout out loud "just tell each other!" but on the other hand the slow burn was absolutely worth it.
I really can't wait for the next instalment Immortal Surrender in which Anne's sister Sophie finds her Knight, I'm holding out for Tane!
Immortal Hope is my kind of book. I'm a complete sucker for a gorgeous but slightly grumpy tortured warrior who is saved by the love of a good woman, so introduce me to six potential tortured warriors and I'm so there. Immortal Hope definitely has the feeling of a really good series, it reminded me a little bit of J.R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (which is one of my all time favourite series) where each book will focus on one warrior finding his HEA. So if you are a fan of BDB then this is right up your street.
I really enjoyed the historical background which was brought right up to date and given a little paranormal twist. Merrick is the last of the original 9 Knights who rode to the Holy Land becoming the Knights Templar, it looks as though the rest of series will concentrate on five Knights who swore their loyalty to Merrick. These Knights have spent eternity battling Azazel's demons but with each kill more darkness enters their soul so they are all in a race against time to find their Seraph. The female descendants of the Nephilim, Seraph's are the only thing that can heal the souls of their fated Knight. So these six mighty warriors are desperate to see if the first Seraph Anne is their chosen one.
I loved the fact that Merrick's Seraph Anne was no push over, she's been completing her thesis on the Knights Templar and was absolutely itching to find out Templar secrets after being brought into their world. She's pretty gutsy and determined and with one eye on the future she was my kind of gal as she decides to take notes on the Knights distinguishing marks which will match their fated Seraph's. I could almost see her documenting it all in a spreadsheet! Anne's mark matches Merrick but she's too afraid to tell him as she believes it will lead to his death and he doesn't want to tell her that he's in a desperate race against time as evil is taking over his soul. On one hand, I honestly don't know how many times I wanted to shout out loud "just tell each other!" but on the other hand the slow burn was absolutely worth it.
I really can't wait for the next instalment Immortal Surrender in which Anne's sister Sophie finds her Knight, I'm holding out for Tane!
February 26, 2013
It could have been a 5 stars if not for the heroine's misguided convinction that it was better to keep secrets. She didn't understood the situation, but stubbornly didn't ask questions that could clarify it. She was too sure of herself. And I didn't like that.
Otherwise the story was interesting and I'll be reading the next books.
Otherwise the story was interesting and I'll be reading the next books.
May 4, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Men with honor and loyalty. And they ain’t bad to look at either.
Opening Sentence: Abigail Montfort blew out the solitary candle in her windowsill and closed her eyes, inhaling the smoke-laced vanilla.
The Review:
In the fight of good versus evil, there are out Knights of the Templar, here to protect the world from the invasion of demons through the gates of hell, cursed by the angels for their insatiable curiosity…and we all know what that did to the cat. These knights, upon the death of their enemies, take the stain of evil into themselves, eventually becoming overrun with it, and turning into the very thing they are sworn to destroy. But there still remains hope, for around the globe there are descendants of an ancient race, and they alone have the power to heal the soul of the Templars, keeping them from becoming demons. For there is one for every Templar, each wearing a mark, one identical to a mark being worn by a certain knight, the one they are destined to heal and to be mated to forever. I don’t know enough about the legends and such surrounding the Templars to know if this is an original premise, but it is a good one all the same. The idea that there is one person in the world fated to be our soulmate is always a popular one, and for good reason. People love the ideas that out there somewhere is in fact the perfect person for them, if they haven’t already found them. And in the case of the Templars, a woman destined to rescue their very soul from the evil that will eventually overcome them, fate is something they have been searching out for a millennial.
Merrick Du Loire is one of these knights, the last of the original Templars, and the reason they all now bear this curse. He has made a pact with his cousin and other fellow knights, to be killed when the evil took them over. And when his cousin succumbs, he must travel all over to find him, and put him out of his misery once and for all. There is one slight snag, however. He has been given the duty of looking after the first of the seraphs, those destined to become a knight’s salvation. Being responsible for her has made continuing his search difficult, his attraction to her making his life as a whole lot more complicated. For she has told him she does not bear his mark, thus making her someone else’s salvation.
Anne MacPherson is a college history professor on her way to making head of the department, if only she can find the pieces she is missing for her final thesis. The subject of this thesis? Well, the Knights of the Templar, of course. So, when she meets a real live Templar knight, she believes she has found the mother lode, and it should be a piece of cake to find the last bits of information she needs. Only one problem, though. She has been effectively kidnapped for her part in the destiny of the knights.
Anne has been proclaimed the first of the seraphs, a title and responsibility she refuses to acknowledge. Planning to escape as soon as she gets what she needs, she denies every Templar she meets, claiming that none of them bear her mark. In reality, she bears a tattoo identical to one on Merrick’s beautiful form. But, she has had a psychic vision she believes points to Merrick’s death if she makes this fact known. However, when Merrick finally meets with his demonic cousin, and the battle threatens to claim his own mortality, Anne realizes that love can overcome even the scariest of visions.
Overall, a good read, nicely written and organized. There is an interesting little cliffhanger at the end as well.
Notable Scene:
“Du Loire!”
Dimly he recognized the distant call of his name. The voice grew closer, the bellow louder, and Merrick clung to the sound. Each syllable pulled him back from unconsciousness, slowly restored his vision. He sucked in a deep breath, and lifted his chin, setting his jaw against the pain and willing his body to cooperate.
He would not die this way. ‘Twas not the death he desired.
Staring into the face of his attacker, Merrick eyed the way Fulk lifted his sword above his head. The strike was predictable—a quick cut meant to sever heads. ‘Twas a favored move of his cousin’s and Merrick waited. He had one chance to emerge victorious, and he would not waste his energy.
Time moved in slow motion as the blade descended toward his neck.
At the last moment, Merrick threw his weight into his good leg and propelled himself to his feet. Fulk’s sword connected harmlessly with Merrick’s left shoulder. But Merrick’s blade sank deep into his cousin’s gut.
Agony ripped down Merrick’s spine. He used the last of his strength to jerk his broadsword up, elongating the wound. Fulk’s eyes rounded in disbelief, and the angry beast inside let loose a deafening bellow. As the horrendous noise tapered into a whine, recognition flashed within Fulk’s features. His expression softened. His dark eyes returned to the familiar shade of olive.
His whisper washed across Merrick’s face. “Cousin.”
Merrick did not have the time to consider the oddity of what had just happened. In the next moment, a wispy film of white spiraled heavenward. On its heels, however, the darkness spilled forth.
It flooded Merrick, consuming him with insatiable rage. As if some beast clawed at his insides in a desperate attempt to escape, his bodt lit with fire. The need to wretch bore down on him with a hammer’s fury, and he instinctively reached for his sword.
Through the bleary haze, he saw only shadows, the ability to decipher between friend and foe an impossible task.
“Merrick.” A hand clamped down on his shoulder.
He knew the voice, and yet he could not place the face. Confused, disoriented, Merrick whirled with a ferocious sweep of his blade.
He did not know whether his attack struck true. Whilst he struggled to make sense of his surroundings, something heavy slammed into his temple.
Darkness blanketed his mind.
The Curse of the Templars Series:
1. Immortal Hope
2. Immortal Surrender
3. Immortal Trust
FTC Advisory: Macmillan/Tor provided me with a copy of Immortal Hope. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Men with honor and loyalty. And they ain’t bad to look at either.
Opening Sentence: Abigail Montfort blew out the solitary candle in her windowsill and closed her eyes, inhaling the smoke-laced vanilla.
The Review:
In the fight of good versus evil, there are out Knights of the Templar, here to protect the world from the invasion of demons through the gates of hell, cursed by the angels for their insatiable curiosity…and we all know what that did to the cat. These knights, upon the death of their enemies, take the stain of evil into themselves, eventually becoming overrun with it, and turning into the very thing they are sworn to destroy. But there still remains hope, for around the globe there are descendants of an ancient race, and they alone have the power to heal the soul of the Templars, keeping them from becoming demons. For there is one for every Templar, each wearing a mark, one identical to a mark being worn by a certain knight, the one they are destined to heal and to be mated to forever. I don’t know enough about the legends and such surrounding the Templars to know if this is an original premise, but it is a good one all the same. The idea that there is one person in the world fated to be our soulmate is always a popular one, and for good reason. People love the ideas that out there somewhere is in fact the perfect person for them, if they haven’t already found them. And in the case of the Templars, a woman destined to rescue their very soul from the evil that will eventually overcome them, fate is something they have been searching out for a millennial.
Merrick Du Loire is one of these knights, the last of the original Templars, and the reason they all now bear this curse. He has made a pact with his cousin and other fellow knights, to be killed when the evil took them over. And when his cousin succumbs, he must travel all over to find him, and put him out of his misery once and for all. There is one slight snag, however. He has been given the duty of looking after the first of the seraphs, those destined to become a knight’s salvation. Being responsible for her has made continuing his search difficult, his attraction to her making his life as a whole lot more complicated. For she has told him she does not bear his mark, thus making her someone else’s salvation.
Anne MacPherson is a college history professor on her way to making head of the department, if only she can find the pieces she is missing for her final thesis. The subject of this thesis? Well, the Knights of the Templar, of course. So, when she meets a real live Templar knight, she believes she has found the mother lode, and it should be a piece of cake to find the last bits of information she needs. Only one problem, though. She has been effectively kidnapped for her part in the destiny of the knights.
Anne has been proclaimed the first of the seraphs, a title and responsibility she refuses to acknowledge. Planning to escape as soon as she gets what she needs, she denies every Templar she meets, claiming that none of them bear her mark. In reality, she bears a tattoo identical to one on Merrick’s beautiful form. But, she has had a psychic vision she believes points to Merrick’s death if she makes this fact known. However, when Merrick finally meets with his demonic cousin, and the battle threatens to claim his own mortality, Anne realizes that love can overcome even the scariest of visions.
Overall, a good read, nicely written and organized. There is an interesting little cliffhanger at the end as well.
Notable Scene:
“Du Loire!”
Dimly he recognized the distant call of his name. The voice grew closer, the bellow louder, and Merrick clung to the sound. Each syllable pulled him back from unconsciousness, slowly restored his vision. He sucked in a deep breath, and lifted his chin, setting his jaw against the pain and willing his body to cooperate.
He would not die this way. ‘Twas not the death he desired.
Staring into the face of his attacker, Merrick eyed the way Fulk lifted his sword above his head. The strike was predictable—a quick cut meant to sever heads. ‘Twas a favored move of his cousin’s and Merrick waited. He had one chance to emerge victorious, and he would not waste his energy.
Time moved in slow motion as the blade descended toward his neck.
At the last moment, Merrick threw his weight into his good leg and propelled himself to his feet. Fulk’s sword connected harmlessly with Merrick’s left shoulder. But Merrick’s blade sank deep into his cousin’s gut.
Agony ripped down Merrick’s spine. He used the last of his strength to jerk his broadsword up, elongating the wound. Fulk’s eyes rounded in disbelief, and the angry beast inside let loose a deafening bellow. As the horrendous noise tapered into a whine, recognition flashed within Fulk’s features. His expression softened. His dark eyes returned to the familiar shade of olive.
His whisper washed across Merrick’s face. “Cousin.”
Merrick did not have the time to consider the oddity of what had just happened. In the next moment, a wispy film of white spiraled heavenward. On its heels, however, the darkness spilled forth.
It flooded Merrick, consuming him with insatiable rage. As if some beast clawed at his insides in a desperate attempt to escape, his bodt lit with fire. The need to wretch bore down on him with a hammer’s fury, and he instinctively reached for his sword.
Through the bleary haze, he saw only shadows, the ability to decipher between friend and foe an impossible task.
“Merrick.” A hand clamped down on his shoulder.
He knew the voice, and yet he could not place the face. Confused, disoriented, Merrick whirled with a ferocious sweep of his blade.
He did not know whether his attack struck true. Whilst he struggled to make sense of his surroundings, something heavy slammed into his temple.
Darkness blanketed his mind.
The Curse of the Templars Series:
1. Immortal Hope
2. Immortal Surrender
3. Immortal Trust
FTC Advisory: Macmillan/Tor provided me with a copy of Immortal Hope. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 13, 2012
4.5 Stars
A riveting tale of honor, destiny and romance – where good could very well turn evil in a heartbeat!
Almost a thousand years ago nine Knights of the Templar uncovered a forbidden scroll that revealed the secret location of portals that open to Hell. Cursed by the Archangels for their disobedience, they now walk the earth immortal, protecting humans from the evil they have unleashed onto the world and fighting dark creatures back to the gates of Hell. But there is a price, with each demon they destroy a part of their soul captures the darkness from them and eventually the Knights will turn into the very thing they fight against. Their only hope for survival is to find their destined Seraph, the one woman that can conquer the darkness with her light.
Merrick du Loire is the last remaining knight from the original Templars. Fighting the darkness that seeks to consume him more every day, Merrick returns to a safe house after a recent battle to find a stranger in residence. Thinking at first that the woman is a demon in disguise sent to seduce him, Merrick nearly takes Anne’s life but when she convinces him of her humanity they retreat to the Templars’ temple to discover that Anne is a Seraph. Now she must find her destined mate, a Knight that carries the same mark as her and the Archangel Michael charges Merrick to help Anne discover him. But not even the knowledge that Anne is destined for one of his brothers can dim the fires that burn inside him when he is close to Anne. However, Anne is carrying a secret that could either be his salvation or his destruction. Anne bares the same mark as Merrick but tells no one because she had a vision and is convinced that if she bounds herself to Merrick then it will mean his death.
Wow, I was utterly absorbed by Claire Ashgrove’s Immortal Hope start to finish! The author weaves together an intriguing story rich with history and overflowing with vivid characters. I was enamored with the Templar Knights and the plot that the author built around them. The author was knowledgeable about the Templars’ history and it came through in the pages.
Anne and Merrick’s journey into love was heart wrenching, filled with torment and tension. They each have a wall up blocking vital communication between them, thinking that they are doing what is best for the other but we all know how that usually works out in romances. I suppose if heroes and heroines were straight with each other from the get-go though we wouldn’t have any full-length novels out there, just a bunch of short stories and novellas! However, this didn’t make me want to wring Anne’s neck any less! Throughout the novel she keeps the important secret of her tattoo to herself, which harms not only Merrick but all of the Knights. Making them go through the process of hope and then disappointment, it was really sad and I felt for each of them. As secondary characters I found each of the Knights multi-dimensional. I was surprised by the amount of Knights in the temple and around the world though when there were only originally nine and I am curious as to whether each Knight is in need of their own Seraph to save them, because of that is the case then this series could go on indefinitely. But back to the main characters…Anne and Merrick had a sizzling chemistry that I felt moved their relationship along at a natural pace for the story line. The sex scenes were hot and intense; I was scooting towards the edge of my seat while reading them and Merrick was a hero that I easily fell in love with. Dark, brooding but honorable and oh-so-sexy!I never wanted the story to end!
Action and suspense round out this captivating romance that is sure to please fans from all sub-genres. I really loved Claire Ashgrove’s voice, this is the first of her novels that I’ve had the pleasure of reading but it will definitely not be the last! I’m impatiently looking forward to the next installment in the series, Immortal Surrender, to place on my keeper shelf right next to Immortal Hope!
A riveting tale of honor, destiny and romance – where good could very well turn evil in a heartbeat!
Almost a thousand years ago nine Knights of the Templar uncovered a forbidden scroll that revealed the secret location of portals that open to Hell. Cursed by the Archangels for their disobedience, they now walk the earth immortal, protecting humans from the evil they have unleashed onto the world and fighting dark creatures back to the gates of Hell. But there is a price, with each demon they destroy a part of their soul captures the darkness from them and eventually the Knights will turn into the very thing they fight against. Their only hope for survival is to find their destined Seraph, the one woman that can conquer the darkness with her light.
Merrick du Loire is the last remaining knight from the original Templars. Fighting the darkness that seeks to consume him more every day, Merrick returns to a safe house after a recent battle to find a stranger in residence. Thinking at first that the woman is a demon in disguise sent to seduce him, Merrick nearly takes Anne’s life but when she convinces him of her humanity they retreat to the Templars’ temple to discover that Anne is a Seraph. Now she must find her destined mate, a Knight that carries the same mark as her and the Archangel Michael charges Merrick to help Anne discover him. But not even the knowledge that Anne is destined for one of his brothers can dim the fires that burn inside him when he is close to Anne. However, Anne is carrying a secret that could either be his salvation or his destruction. Anne bares the same mark as Merrick but tells no one because she had a vision and is convinced that if she bounds herself to Merrick then it will mean his death.
Wow, I was utterly absorbed by Claire Ashgrove’s Immortal Hope start to finish! The author weaves together an intriguing story rich with history and overflowing with vivid characters. I was enamored with the Templar Knights and the plot that the author built around them. The author was knowledgeable about the Templars’ history and it came through in the pages.
Anne and Merrick’s journey into love was heart wrenching, filled with torment and tension. They each have a wall up blocking vital communication between them, thinking that they are doing what is best for the other but we all know how that usually works out in romances. I suppose if heroes and heroines were straight with each other from the get-go though we wouldn’t have any full-length novels out there, just a bunch of short stories and novellas! However, this didn’t make me want to wring Anne’s neck any less! Throughout the novel she keeps the important secret of her tattoo to herself, which harms not only Merrick but all of the Knights. Making them go through the process of hope and then disappointment, it was really sad and I felt for each of them. As secondary characters I found each of the Knights multi-dimensional. I was surprised by the amount of Knights in the temple and around the world though when there were only originally nine and I am curious as to whether each Knight is in need of their own Seraph to save them, because of that is the case then this series could go on indefinitely. But back to the main characters…Anne and Merrick had a sizzling chemistry that I felt moved their relationship along at a natural pace for the story line. The sex scenes were hot and intense; I was scooting towards the edge of my seat while reading them and Merrick was a hero that I easily fell in love with. Dark, brooding but honorable and oh-so-sexy!I never wanted the story to end!
Action and suspense round out this captivating romance that is sure to please fans from all sub-genres. I really loved Claire Ashgrove’s voice, this is the first of her novels that I’ve had the pleasure of reading but it will definitely not be the last! I’m impatiently looking forward to the next installment in the series, Immortal Surrender, to place on my keeper shelf right next to Immortal Hope!
August 13, 2016
I'm always intrigued by the combination of history and fantasy. This book was awesome because it was also a romance.
The premise is that the Templar Knights became cursed to immortality when they discovered something under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem that they were not supposed to find. They now had to battle demons and absorb the demon's evil into their own bodies every time they killed one until finally they succumbed to evil. They are also sworn to protect several holy relics that must be kept out of evil's hands at all costs or evil will win over heaven. Over the centuries, the knights grow fewer and weaker in number as they are killed or are taken over entirely by evil. Just when all hope seems to be lost, an ancient prophesy is remembered to give them hope. When everything is at its darkest, the seraphs will come. The seraphs are the appointed mates for each knight who will balance the dark and remove the evil from each knight.
This is the story of Merrick and Anne. Anne is a history professor working on her doctorate that coincidentally features the Knights Templar. She also possesses the second sight. Through a mistaken circumstance, Merrick takes her from her home and brings her to the Templar compound. There she discovers that she is the first seraph to be found. She also discovers that she is Merrick's seraph, but due to her second sight which sees him dying if he learns this and her own desire of free will, she keeps this secret. She also is determined to learn the secrets of the order and use it to finish for her doctorate and get the dept chair position.
Merrick is one of the original nine knights and is almost ready to succumb to the dark. He is appalled at first by Anne's modern ways, but at the same time he is attracted to her. He is disappointed when Anne tells him that she is not his match.
While Merrick and Anne slowly progress toward acknowledging their feelings, other knights are cracking under the strain of evil and the demons are succeeding in taking a few holy artifacts.
Will Merrick receive the light of the seraph he needs to keep from finally losing to the evil or will Anne tell him and he fulfill that vision she saw and die in battle?
I have to say that I found the fantasy world building and plot a marvelous thing. I also really liked the detail given to each character in the story and the depth of empathy the knights' plight is given. The romance was slow building and believable. I did get irritated a few times with Anne's repeated blindness to the bigger picture going on around her as she stayed insulated in that goal of her career. Hello Anne! Demons taking control of the planet and possibly heaven!
Okay so maybe it just made it all the more poignant when she gets it. And then there was the irritation that knowing she was a seraph, they withheld the whole time factor bit of each time a warrior took on evil, he just got more corrupted. Would it kill you to help the woman make an informed decision guys! Oh yah, medieval male thinkers!
Look forward to the next story in the Templar series which a few loose threads and the seraph prophecy hint at.
Recommend!
The premise is that the Templar Knights became cursed to immortality when they discovered something under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem that they were not supposed to find. They now had to battle demons and absorb the demon's evil into their own bodies every time they killed one until finally they succumbed to evil. They are also sworn to protect several holy relics that must be kept out of evil's hands at all costs or evil will win over heaven. Over the centuries, the knights grow fewer and weaker in number as they are killed or are taken over entirely by evil. Just when all hope seems to be lost, an ancient prophesy is remembered to give them hope. When everything is at its darkest, the seraphs will come. The seraphs are the appointed mates for each knight who will balance the dark and remove the evil from each knight.
This is the story of Merrick and Anne. Anne is a history professor working on her doctorate that coincidentally features the Knights Templar. She also possesses the second sight. Through a mistaken circumstance, Merrick takes her from her home and brings her to the Templar compound. There she discovers that she is the first seraph to be found. She also discovers that she is Merrick's seraph, but due to her second sight which sees him dying if he learns this and her own desire of free will, she keeps this secret. She also is determined to learn the secrets of the order and use it to finish for her doctorate and get the dept chair position.
Merrick is one of the original nine knights and is almost ready to succumb to the dark. He is appalled at first by Anne's modern ways, but at the same time he is attracted to her. He is disappointed when Anne tells him that she is not his match.
While Merrick and Anne slowly progress toward acknowledging their feelings, other knights are cracking under the strain of evil and the demons are succeeding in taking a few holy artifacts.
Will Merrick receive the light of the seraph he needs to keep from finally losing to the evil or will Anne tell him and he fulfill that vision she saw and die in battle?
I have to say that I found the fantasy world building and plot a marvelous thing. I also really liked the detail given to each character in the story and the depth of empathy the knights' plight is given. The romance was slow building and believable. I did get irritated a few times with Anne's repeated blindness to the bigger picture going on around her as she stayed insulated in that goal of her career. Hello Anne! Demons taking control of the planet and possibly heaven!
Okay so maybe it just made it all the more poignant when she gets it. And then there was the irritation that knowing she was a seraph, they withheld the whole time factor bit of each time a warrior took on evil, he just got more corrupted. Would it kill you to help the woman make an informed decision guys! Oh yah, medieval male thinkers!
Look forward to the next story in the Templar series which a few loose threads and the seraph prophecy hint at.
Recommend!
January 4, 2012
Long ago, nine men --Knights of the Templar-- unearthed sacred relics best left hidden to humanity... one of which was the scroll that reveals the locations to the portals to hell on earth. As a punishment, they were rendered immortal... cursed to for their souls to darken as they fight demonkind. Their only hope for the redemption of their souls is to find their seraph --the fated woman to bring light to each knight's darkness.
Anne has spent her life studying the Templar Knights, but never dreams she'll actually meet one face to face. Of course, she doesn't know her boss is the angel Gabriel either. Gabe knows that she is not only a seraph, but the very first one that has been found for the knights. And she will lead the way for the other women yet to come.
A string of events lands her in the midst of the knights, with her destiny revealed. To find her mate, she must match the tattoo on her body to the knight who bears the same mark. She is assigned one man in particular to help her through the process. That man is Merrick.
Of course, Merrick is the man she is supposed to be with, but she is afraid to tell him. You see, Anne has visions and she's had one of Merrick that shows him dead. She fears that their official joining will set off the chain of events that lead to his death, so she keeps her mouth shut. At the same time, Merrick stays mum on the fact that evil will take over her mate's soul if she doesn't join with him soon. Communication barriers abound, leading me to great frustration.
The book was slow to reel me in. But once it did, I was hooked. When Anne and Merrick realized and accepted their attraction to each other, the sexual tension and eventual payoff was really, really good. Merrick is such an honorable man. And he thinks that Anne isn't his, so he fights his need of her... making it all the more satisfying when he finally gives in. Deeee-licious.
(*fans self*) Where was I?
There's a great cast of secondary characters found in Merrick's fellow knights. Each, a great tortured hero in the making. (I'm holding out for Tane's story, myself.)
The book's not perfect. Like I said, it took me a little while to really warm up to it. The secrets our main characters kept were frustrating. And I got lost once or twice in the Templar background and world building. My biggest question was why there ended up so many knights immortal and in-need of a seraph if only nine were originally cursed. But it was still a really engaging read. Sexy, with a lot of heart. And I will definitely be reading the next installment. 4 stars.
Book provided by author for review
Anne has spent her life studying the Templar Knights, but never dreams she'll actually meet one face to face. Of course, she doesn't know her boss is the angel Gabriel either. Gabe knows that she is not only a seraph, but the very first one that has been found for the knights. And she will lead the way for the other women yet to come.
A string of events lands her in the midst of the knights, with her destiny revealed. To find her mate, she must match the tattoo on her body to the knight who bears the same mark. She is assigned one man in particular to help her through the process. That man is Merrick.
Of course, Merrick is the man she is supposed to be with, but she is afraid to tell him. You see, Anne has visions and she's had one of Merrick that shows him dead. She fears that their official joining will set off the chain of events that lead to his death, so she keeps her mouth shut. At the same time, Merrick stays mum on the fact that evil will take over her mate's soul if she doesn't join with him soon. Communication barriers abound, leading me to great frustration.
The book was slow to reel me in. But once it did, I was hooked. When Anne and Merrick realized and accepted their attraction to each other, the sexual tension and eventual payoff was really, really good. Merrick is such an honorable man. And he thinks that Anne isn't his, so he fights his need of her... making it all the more satisfying when he finally gives in. Deeee-licious.
Hoarse and thick, his voice held torment. "Wrong it may be, but I can no longer fight this. I will choose shame and disgrace if it eases the ache that consumes me." His onyx eyes flashed with something she couldn't recognize. It reached in deep, wound its claws around her heart, and held on tight.
Quietly, he murmured, "Touch me, Anne."
(*fans self*) Where was I?
There's a great cast of secondary characters found in Merrick's fellow knights. Each, a great tortured hero in the making. (I'm holding out for Tane's story, myself.)
The book's not perfect. Like I said, it took me a little while to really warm up to it. The secrets our main characters kept were frustrating. And I got lost once or twice in the Templar background and world building. My biggest question was why there ended up so many knights immortal and in-need of a seraph if only nine were originally cursed. But it was still a really engaging read. Sexy, with a lot of heart. And I will definitely be reading the next installment. 4 stars.
Book provided by author for review
January 26, 2012
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/01/...
Anne MacPherson is determined to finish her thesis on the Knights Templar and gain the promotion that she richly deserves, but when a handsome, rather imposing Knight appears in her home and whisks her away to the Templar stronghold, she doesn’t know what to think. One thing she does know is that when Merrick touches her, she sees a terrible vision, one of his death. Anne comes to find out she is a seraph, which is a decendant of Nephilim, and her destiny is to be mated to one of the cursed Knights and save his soul. When the Knights unearthed ancients scrolls almost 900 years ago, instead of finding a devine relic, they inadvertently uncovered scrolls that were the keys to the gates of Hell. Azazel is sending his minions to steal relics that will allow him to gain power, and it is up to the Knights to thwart his plans. The only hope for the Knights, before the cursed darkness claims their souls, is to find their matches in the seraphs and banish the darkness forever. Anne is Merrick’s destined, but she is afraid if the makes that known, it will lead to his death. Makes for some serious drama, yes? You have no idea…
I’ll admit, even after discovering some really good paranormal romance, I still consider myself a reluctant romance reader. However, I’m a sucker for the Crusades, and the premise of Immortal Hope looked very promising. I wasn’t disappointed, not in the least. Seriously, guys, Immortal Hope will hook you from page one. Anne is a smart, feisty heroine, and her acclimation into the Knight’s stronghold had me giggling at times as she encountered the Knight’s chivalrous and outdated habits concerning women. As the darkness comes closer to claiming each Knight, however, not all of the men have good intentions, but don’t worry, Merrick is loathe to let Anne out of his site, a fact that both excites and frightens her. As for Merrick, he’s about as swoonworthy as it gets, girls, and he’s got poor Anne in knots. Merrick starts off cranky and sullen, but Anne’s influence is too much, and that tough veneer slowly begins to crack. The author puts her poor readers through the ringer with Anne and Merrick’s push and pull, as she falls for him, and he tries to resist her, since, for all he knows, she’s meant for another. Delicious tension, seriously. The romance is passionate and tender, but doesn’t overwhelm the story. Ms. Ashgrove weaves in rich history and great characterization (getting to know the Knights was one of my favorite parts), and creates a wonderful fantasy to lose yourself in. Yes, there are sexy parts, but they only serve to highlight the love that develops between Anne and Merrick. And of course, there’s angel and demon lore. How can you pass this one up? The author has a gift for storytelling, and I can’t wait to get to know other Knights, and other seraphs, in future installments!
Anne MacPherson is determined to finish her thesis on the Knights Templar and gain the promotion that she richly deserves, but when a handsome, rather imposing Knight appears in her home and whisks her away to the Templar stronghold, she doesn’t know what to think. One thing she does know is that when Merrick touches her, she sees a terrible vision, one of his death. Anne comes to find out she is a seraph, which is a decendant of Nephilim, and her destiny is to be mated to one of the cursed Knights and save his soul. When the Knights unearthed ancients scrolls almost 900 years ago, instead of finding a devine relic, they inadvertently uncovered scrolls that were the keys to the gates of Hell. Azazel is sending his minions to steal relics that will allow him to gain power, and it is up to the Knights to thwart his plans. The only hope for the Knights, before the cursed darkness claims their souls, is to find their matches in the seraphs and banish the darkness forever. Anne is Merrick’s destined, but she is afraid if the makes that known, it will lead to his death. Makes for some serious drama, yes? You have no idea…
I’ll admit, even after discovering some really good paranormal romance, I still consider myself a reluctant romance reader. However, I’m a sucker for the Crusades, and the premise of Immortal Hope looked very promising. I wasn’t disappointed, not in the least. Seriously, guys, Immortal Hope will hook you from page one. Anne is a smart, feisty heroine, and her acclimation into the Knight’s stronghold had me giggling at times as she encountered the Knight’s chivalrous and outdated habits concerning women. As the darkness comes closer to claiming each Knight, however, not all of the men have good intentions, but don’t worry, Merrick is loathe to let Anne out of his site, a fact that both excites and frightens her. As for Merrick, he’s about as swoonworthy as it gets, girls, and he’s got poor Anne in knots. Merrick starts off cranky and sullen, but Anne’s influence is too much, and that tough veneer slowly begins to crack. The author puts her poor readers through the ringer with Anne and Merrick’s push and pull, as she falls for him, and he tries to resist her, since, for all he knows, she’s meant for another. Delicious tension, seriously. The romance is passionate and tender, but doesn’t overwhelm the story. Ms. Ashgrove weaves in rich history and great characterization (getting to know the Knights was one of my favorite parts), and creates a wonderful fantasy to lose yourself in. Yes, there are sexy parts, but they only serve to highlight the love that develops between Anne and Merrick. And of course, there’s angel and demon lore. How can you pass this one up? The author has a gift for storytelling, and I can’t wait to get to know other Knights, and other seraphs, in future installments!
January 5, 2012
3.5 Stars
Who doesn't know a little something about the Templer knights? Most recently brought into the spot light by Dan Brown and other religous conspiracy books, now romance takes a bash out of them and in true romance style have turned them into an order of (semi chaste) immortal knights sworn to protect human kind by battling the denizens of hell. However, each time they kill a demon they take the taint of evil into their souls, until eventually they either become demon knights or they are killed by the brothers they serve with. After 100s of years fighting the Templers are tired, their numbers decimated and all their souls full of darkness. The only thing that can cleanse their souls are the Seraphs, women who bare the mark of the knight they are destined for, who can then not only cleanse their knight's soul, but prevent any further evil entering it.
Although there were somethings that I found I didn't like about this book, over all I feel like I have discovered hidden treasure! I loved the idea of this book and the Templer knights, I found it a little strange at first that a sect of supposedly chaste knights found their salvation by joining with a woman, but I soon got over it and enjoyed reading the story.
First of all I am going to let loose the little rant about what I didn't like out my system. In a word, communication, or in this case the lack of it! I found Anne's insistance of NOT telling Merrick that they were to be paired very annoying, especially when she saw the amount of pain and shame it caused him to be lusting after a woman he thought belonged to one of his brothers. And then no one telling Anne the consequences of her not matching her mark also frustrated me! Why, oh why, can people in romance novels not bloody well talk to one another?! Drives me insane!
Phew, rant over! Now back to what I did like, the knights themselves were great, espcially Merrick's friends and I really hope that they all get a book, you canreally feel the camraderie between the Templers. This book also had angels, and I liked the way they were depicted as generals, a different archangel in charge of different groups of Templers, I also liked that it didn't shy away from Christian religon, they mentioned God and the angels as his messangers.
Despite my little annoyance with Anne and Merrick (as detailed above!) their romance was good, you could see they had chemistry, but also that they grew to care about eachother. As for the hotness content, it was hawt, but also a little sweet to.
I thought this was a great read and I will definitely be reading the next one when it comes out.
Who doesn't know a little something about the Templer knights? Most recently brought into the spot light by Dan Brown and other religous conspiracy books, now romance takes a bash out of them and in true romance style have turned them into an order of (semi chaste) immortal knights sworn to protect human kind by battling the denizens of hell. However, each time they kill a demon they take the taint of evil into their souls, until eventually they either become demon knights or they are killed by the brothers they serve with. After 100s of years fighting the Templers are tired, their numbers decimated and all their souls full of darkness. The only thing that can cleanse their souls are the Seraphs, women who bare the mark of the knight they are destined for, who can then not only cleanse their knight's soul, but prevent any further evil entering it.
Although there were somethings that I found I didn't like about this book, over all I feel like I have discovered hidden treasure! I loved the idea of this book and the Templer knights, I found it a little strange at first that a sect of supposedly chaste knights found their salvation by joining with a woman, but I soon got over it and enjoyed reading the story.
First of all I am going to let loose the little rant about what I didn't like out my system. In a word, communication, or in this case the lack of it! I found Anne's insistance of NOT telling Merrick that they were to be paired very annoying, especially when she saw the amount of pain and shame it caused him to be lusting after a woman he thought belonged to one of his brothers. And then no one telling Anne the consequences of her not matching her mark also frustrated me! Why, oh why, can people in romance novels not bloody well talk to one another?! Drives me insane!
Phew, rant over! Now back to what I did like, the knights themselves were great, espcially Merrick's friends and I really hope that they all get a book, you canreally feel the camraderie between the Templers. This book also had angels, and I liked the way they were depicted as generals, a different archangel in charge of different groups of Templers, I also liked that it didn't shy away from Christian religon, they mentioned God and the angels as his messangers.
Despite my little annoyance with Anne and Merrick (as detailed above!) their romance was good, you could see they had chemistry, but also that they grew to care about eachother. As for the hotness content, it was hawt, but also a little sweet to.
I thought this was a great read and I will definitely be reading the next one when it comes out.
January 2, 2012
Immortal Hope surprised me!Really and truly surprised me in a really pleasant way! When I picked this title, all I knew about it was what the blurb revealed, there were no reviews about it at the time so to be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. And believe me, maybe knowing absolutelly nothing abou it was what made me love it as much as I did!
Immortal Hope is like reading BDB but with Templar Knights instead of vampires! Don't get me wrong, there aren't any similarities with BDB whatsoever, just the concept of a group of warriors who wait for their predestined mate. That's where the similarities between the two series begin and that's were they end.
From the very first pages of the story, the action is non stop and not only that, but the action scenes are so well written and vivid that it's like each battle is being unfolded before your eyes!
The characters are well developed and consistent and I'm not just talking about the main ones but about the secondary as well. I'm guessing that since some of the secondary characters appearing in Immortal Hope are going to be the main ones in future books, Ashgrove just wanted to give each of her knights the chance to tell something about him.
I was always fascinated by Templar Knights, and have read a number of books about them but most of them were mysteries. I could never imagine them starring in a paranormal romance and that's what intrigued me most about Immortal Hope. And I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book, cause let me tell you knights can be equally hot with vampires or any other paranormal creature out there, or at least, that's what Claire Ashgrove made me believe!
One other thing I was a bit afraid of was the religious connection that is unavoidably associated with the Templars and how would that be handled in a paranormal romance story. But once more, Ashgrove just proved wrong all my fears.
There are religious mentions in the book, there are angels in it but they are handled in such a way that they could as well not been there.
All in all, Immortal Hope is a very well written paranormal romance title, set in an intricate world, whose sequel I just can't wait to read!
Immortal Hope is like reading BDB but with Templar Knights instead of vampires! Don't get me wrong, there aren't any similarities with BDB whatsoever, just the concept of a group of warriors who wait for their predestined mate. That's where the similarities between the two series begin and that's were they end.
From the very first pages of the story, the action is non stop and not only that, but the action scenes are so well written and vivid that it's like each battle is being unfolded before your eyes!
The characters are well developed and consistent and I'm not just talking about the main ones but about the secondary as well. I'm guessing that since some of the secondary characters appearing in Immortal Hope are going to be the main ones in future books, Ashgrove just wanted to give each of her knights the chance to tell something about him.
I was always fascinated by Templar Knights, and have read a number of books about them but most of them were mysteries. I could never imagine them starring in a paranormal romance and that's what intrigued me most about Immortal Hope. And I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book, cause let me tell you knights can be equally hot with vampires or any other paranormal creature out there, or at least, that's what Claire Ashgrove made me believe!
One other thing I was a bit afraid of was the religious connection that is unavoidably associated with the Templars and how would that be handled in a paranormal romance story. But once more, Ashgrove just proved wrong all my fears.
There are religious mentions in the book, there are angels in it but they are handled in such a way that they could as well not been there.
All in all, Immortal Hope is a very well written paranormal romance title, set in an intricate world, whose sequel I just can't wait to read!
January 8, 2012
I’m a long-time fan of historical fiction so it’s no surprise that Immortal Hope was very appealing to me, but the romance aspect kinda scared me a little. Romance has never been a favorite of mine but Claire Ashgrove has definitely changed my thoughts on the genre as a whole after devouring her latest tale. From the very first page, I was immersed in a world that took my breathe away and never let me go. I simply couldn’t put Immortal Hope down, and when I finished reading, I wanted the next book in the series right then and there.
The characters are exciting and very well developed, keeping you enthralled in every detail as the story progresses. Anne is a kick-ass heroine and a seraph that can barely be contained in the pages of this amazingly brilliant story. Merrick – oh my goodness – he is definitely the hottest thing since…umm…well dang, he’s just super awesome and definitely a character that is totally unforgettable. Together, they make Immortal Hope live up to its title and so much more. The romantic heat between them is startling, leaving you begging for more. The relationship grows in a realistic way so there’s none of that insta-love crap here.
The historical qualities of Immortal Hope are well researched, giving a real-world feel from beginning to end. Ashgrove really did her homework and you can feel her passion for history as you delve deeper into Anne and Merrick’s journey. Coupling history with the paranormal was a brilliant twist, giving readers that enjoy paranormal, romance, or historical fiction a tasty morsel to gnaw on that is sure to please.
Ashgrove has made a lover of romance out of me and I’m happy to say I will definitely be stalking her future works, and I will continue to read this amazing new series. Immortal Hope is packed with intense action, immortality, a romance that will make your heart skip a beat or two, and the most intoxicating descriptions a reader could hope for. The next installment in the series is Immortal Surrender. I’m dying to find out what happens next. I highly recommend that everyone add this captivating read to their reading pile. I’ll definitely be reading more of Claire’s works.
The characters are exciting and very well developed, keeping you enthralled in every detail as the story progresses. Anne is a kick-ass heroine and a seraph that can barely be contained in the pages of this amazingly brilliant story. Merrick – oh my goodness – he is definitely the hottest thing since…umm…well dang, he’s just super awesome and definitely a character that is totally unforgettable. Together, they make Immortal Hope live up to its title and so much more. The romantic heat between them is startling, leaving you begging for more. The relationship grows in a realistic way so there’s none of that insta-love crap here.
The historical qualities of Immortal Hope are well researched, giving a real-world feel from beginning to end. Ashgrove really did her homework and you can feel her passion for history as you delve deeper into Anne and Merrick’s journey. Coupling history with the paranormal was a brilliant twist, giving readers that enjoy paranormal, romance, or historical fiction a tasty morsel to gnaw on that is sure to please.
Ashgrove has made a lover of romance out of me and I’m happy to say I will definitely be stalking her future works, and I will continue to read this amazing new series. Immortal Hope is packed with intense action, immortality, a romance that will make your heart skip a beat or two, and the most intoxicating descriptions a reader could hope for. The next installment in the series is Immortal Surrender. I’m dying to find out what happens next. I highly recommend that everyone add this captivating read to their reading pile. I’ll definitely be reading more of Claire’s works.
February 29, 2012
Honestly, I wasn't so sure I was going to like Immortal Hope. After all, the subject of the Templar Knights is uncharted territory for me. I wasn't sure what to expect or if it would even hold my interest.
Maybe it was due to my doubts about this book. But the story was a bit slow to pull me in. But I am delighted to say that this impression did NOT last long! WOW!! This book is packed full of fast paced action, heartache, smoldering hot tension and a VERY lustful and passionate romance! I couldn't help but fall in love with Immortal Hope!
The Knights have been cursed with immortality. They have sworn an oath to protect humans from evil. They fight demons and with each battle, the evil taints their souls a bit more and eventually the darkness will take over and they will fight against their own brothers. Their only hope for redemption is for each Knight to find their one fated mate. A woman (seraph) who shares their own unique mark. Only their seraph will let the light back into their souls and chase away their darkness.
The characters were very well developed. Not only do you get a very vivid picture of who the main characters are, but you also get to know and love many of the secondary characters. I'm sure we will be able to indulge in more of their personal stories in future installments in this series. *Hint* ;)
Once that spark of interest ignited there was NO turning back! I am now HOOKED on this series and will be going into the next book with my eyes wide open!!
Reviewed for WearVampsRomance. http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/
Maybe it was due to my doubts about this book. But the story was a bit slow to pull me in. But I am delighted to say that this impression did NOT last long! WOW!! This book is packed full of fast paced action, heartache, smoldering hot tension and a VERY lustful and passionate romance! I couldn't help but fall in love with Immortal Hope!
The Knights have been cursed with immortality. They have sworn an oath to protect humans from evil. They fight demons and with each battle, the evil taints their souls a bit more and eventually the darkness will take over and they will fight against their own brothers. Their only hope for redemption is for each Knight to find their one fated mate. A woman (seraph) who shares their own unique mark. Only their seraph will let the light back into their souls and chase away their darkness.
The characters were very well developed. Not only do you get a very vivid picture of who the main characters are, but you also get to know and love many of the secondary characters. I'm sure we will be able to indulge in more of their personal stories in future installments in this series. *Hint* ;)
Once that spark of interest ignited there was NO turning back! I am now HOOKED on this series and will be going into the next book with my eyes wide open!!
Reviewed for WearVampsRomance. http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/
May 31, 2013
This book was disappointing--and mainly because I found Anna to be annoying and sometimes a cuntface. Yup, I said it. Here's the deal: I can understand her dislike of the situation, but she was actively trying to steal long-buried secrets (buried for a reason). She was constantly manipulating Merrick and everyone around her so that she could steal what she wanted and go back to her life. I didn't like her selfish behavior regarding Merrick. "Oh, his honor is causing him to not bone me? Weellllll guess I'll just play the jealousy card and make all the other men have (fake) hope."
Gah. I just didn't find her to be a very likable heroine.
I was intrigued by the book's idea, but less than impressed with Anna. The plot was also slow to move. Merrick's caveman mentality at times was trying, but since he's from the 12th century it's not hard to understand. Although I did find irony in "You are our savior....buuuuuut don't walk around alone because someone will rape you." Yup. Sounds like a peachy life!
And one last nitpicking detail: In academia, Anna, not even done (but working) on her PhD ("finishing up her thesis") would probably NOT be in line for a position as Department Head. Yeah.... no.
Despite this, I wanted to read the second book because I'm interested in Sophia, but it seems books 2 & 3 are not about her at all. Hmph.
Gah. I just didn't find her to be a very likable heroine.
I was intrigued by the book's idea, but less than impressed with Anna. The plot was also slow to move. Merrick's caveman mentality at times was trying, but since he's from the 12th century it's not hard to understand. Although I did find irony in "You are our savior....buuuuuut don't walk around alone because someone will rape you." Yup. Sounds like a peachy life!
And one last nitpicking detail: In academia, Anna, not even done (but working) on her PhD ("finishing up her thesis") would probably NOT be in line for a position as Department Head. Yeah.... no.
Despite this, I wanted to read the second book because I'm interested in Sophia, but it seems books 2 & 3 are not about her at all. Hmph.
January 1, 2012
5*s
Review posted here
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Review posted here
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
January 25, 2012
A+++++++
I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and likeable.
Good plot
Looking forward to the sequel
I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and likeable.
Good plot
Looking forward to the sequel
October 1, 2012
Previously reviewed at www.smexybooks.com
Immortal Hope is the first in a new series revolving around the Knights Templar. I was completely taken in by the blurb on this book. Having attended a private Catholic high school, I had to write a report on the Crusades my sophomore year. I remember trying to teach myself calligraphy so that I could create a project cover that would blow my teacher away (it didn’t-my religion teacher was kind of a dud. He was male; what was I thinking?). This was a long and tedious (read boring) project. And while that was oh so many years ago, I was amazed at the little things I remembered in regards to the Knights Templar. Of course, Ms. Ashgrove has put a fabulous paranormal spin on this by making her Knights immortal.
Merrick du Loire is the last of the original Knights Templar who rode out with Hughes de Payens in the year 1119. Due to a curse, he has been fighting Azazel and his demons through the centuries. Unfortunately, with each kill Merrick and his fellow Knights absorb just a little bit more of the darkness into their souls and in time, the darkness will overwhelm them and they will become soldiers for Azazel. Their only hope is an ancient prophecy that states that their souls can be healed by the seraphs, female descendants of the Nephilim. But it’s been centuries and the seraphs have not shown themselves. Azazel’s might is growing stronger and of the six Templars that stand above the rest, Merrick is at the edge. He knows that he’s only a few kills away from the darkness consuming him.
Anne McPherson is a teacher working on her PhD. Her subject matter relates to the Knights Templar, but she’s hit a snag. She’s researched as much as she can but she is missing that last, vital piece of information to prove her thesis. Anne also has the gift of sight. Upon touching an object or person, she can sense its history, see others who have touched it and scenes will unfold in her mind telling her the story behind any item or show her memories of that person. When her friend Gabe gives her an old armband in the shape of a serpent, she takes it home to see what it can tell her. The visions that she receives are unmistakable. She sees a Knight, in full chain mail, wearing a white surcoat with a crimson red cross across his chest. Not just any Knight, a Templar Knight.
Unbeknownst to Anne, the home that she’s recently moved into has long been a sanctuary for the Immortal Knights that fight Azazel’s demons. All she knows of the house is that the woman who lived there and recently died was rumored to be a witch. So, she is totally unprepared for the hulking man who waltzes into her home late that night and the fight with a demon that she witnesses. When the man sees the serpent armband, he seems to recognize it. He tells Anne that she must come with him so that they can sort everything out. Anne is scared and confused, but she’s sure that the vision she received when she first touched the armband was of this man. He doesn’t give her a chance to say no, he picks her up and carts her off to the waiting truck.
When they arrive at their destination, Anne meets Mikhail who informs her in no uncertain terms that the serpent armband has identified her as a seraph. If that wasn’t enough, she learns that she alone holds the key to healing one knight that she is destined to be with. She will know him by the matching markings on their bodies. It could be in the form of a scar, a tattoo or even a birthmark. Mikhail tasks Merrick to be her guardian until such time that her mate is discovered.
Merrick is tired, hungry and hurting from battle and the last thing he wants is to be burdened with Anne. Yet, he cannot deny that there is something about her that calls to him. Anne, too, isn’t really buying everything that she’s been told about this prophecy and just how she fits into it. It’s just too hard to believe, but she cannot refute the fact that these men are clearly from another time. She also cannot believe her luck. This is the proof she needs about what really happened to the Knights Templar. She figures that she’ll play the game, go through the motions of looking for her mate while collecting information for her thesis.
However, the next morning Merrick decides that he may as well eliminate himself by showing Anne his tattoo. When he removes his shirt and reveals it, Anne cannot believe her eyes. It is identical to the tattoo she has around her ankle. She hides her surprise, though and tells Merrick that she’s never seen anything like it before. So, Merrick begins the task of locating the man meant to be Anne’s mate.
As the first book in a new series, there is a lot of information given herein. We meet the main six Knights Templar and learn a bit of their history. They are completely and without question loyal to each other and their cause. We learn that many of them are struggling with the darkness and they all hope that Anne is meant for them and will deliver them into the light. And when they learn, one by one, that she is not, they take comfort in the fact that one of their brothers will be redeemed. They know that she is just the first, and they hope that she is not the last. I loved that the author chose to use the archangels as counterparts to the Knights. We meet Mikhail, Gabriel, Raphael and the beautiful Uriel.
It is obvious to the reader that Merrick and Anne are meant to be together. Their attraction to each other grows the more time they spend together. Anne may be keeping the secret of her tattoo from Merrick but it doesn’t stop them from exploring their attraction to each other. Merrick fights this for as long as he can, thinking that he is taking a woman who is meant for one of his Templar brothers. Even, then, he cannot stop himself from being with Anne.
I thought the author did an awesome job of combining the old world of the middle ages with present time. The Knights speak in a kind of Old English, yet they wear jeans, boots, use cell phones and drive SUVs.
I did find myself frustrated with Anne once she and Merrick get together. Initially, she does not reveal her mark because she thinks she’ll be able to get the info for her thesis and be one her way. Then she gets a vision, makes an incorrect assumption of it and thinks that she can stop Merrick from dying by not revealing her tattoo. Yet, the more time she spends with Merrick the more attached she is to him and she cannot imagine ever leaving his side. Of course, the revelation that Anne bears the matching mark to Merrick has everything to do with the final conflict of this story and frustrating as it was to the reader, the author hit the mark by leaving it till the end.
I really liked this story and look forward to the next one.
Immortal Hope is the first in a new series revolving around the Knights Templar. I was completely taken in by the blurb on this book. Having attended a private Catholic high school, I had to write a report on the Crusades my sophomore year. I remember trying to teach myself calligraphy so that I could create a project cover that would blow my teacher away (it didn’t-my religion teacher was kind of a dud. He was male; what was I thinking?). This was a long and tedious (read boring) project. And while that was oh so many years ago, I was amazed at the little things I remembered in regards to the Knights Templar. Of course, Ms. Ashgrove has put a fabulous paranormal spin on this by making her Knights immortal.
Merrick du Loire is the last of the original Knights Templar who rode out with Hughes de Payens in the year 1119. Due to a curse, he has been fighting Azazel and his demons through the centuries. Unfortunately, with each kill Merrick and his fellow Knights absorb just a little bit more of the darkness into their souls and in time, the darkness will overwhelm them and they will become soldiers for Azazel. Their only hope is an ancient prophecy that states that their souls can be healed by the seraphs, female descendants of the Nephilim. But it’s been centuries and the seraphs have not shown themselves. Azazel’s might is growing stronger and of the six Templars that stand above the rest, Merrick is at the edge. He knows that he’s only a few kills away from the darkness consuming him.
Anne McPherson is a teacher working on her PhD. Her subject matter relates to the Knights Templar, but she’s hit a snag. She’s researched as much as she can but she is missing that last, vital piece of information to prove her thesis. Anne also has the gift of sight. Upon touching an object or person, she can sense its history, see others who have touched it and scenes will unfold in her mind telling her the story behind any item or show her memories of that person. When her friend Gabe gives her an old armband in the shape of a serpent, she takes it home to see what it can tell her. The visions that she receives are unmistakable. She sees a Knight, in full chain mail, wearing a white surcoat with a crimson red cross across his chest. Not just any Knight, a Templar Knight.
Unbeknownst to Anne, the home that she’s recently moved into has long been a sanctuary for the Immortal Knights that fight Azazel’s demons. All she knows of the house is that the woman who lived there and recently died was rumored to be a witch. So, she is totally unprepared for the hulking man who waltzes into her home late that night and the fight with a demon that she witnesses. When the man sees the serpent armband, he seems to recognize it. He tells Anne that she must come with him so that they can sort everything out. Anne is scared and confused, but she’s sure that the vision she received when she first touched the armband was of this man. He doesn’t give her a chance to say no, he picks her up and carts her off to the waiting truck.
When they arrive at their destination, Anne meets Mikhail who informs her in no uncertain terms that the serpent armband has identified her as a seraph. If that wasn’t enough, she learns that she alone holds the key to healing one knight that she is destined to be with. She will know him by the matching markings on their bodies. It could be in the form of a scar, a tattoo or even a birthmark. Mikhail tasks Merrick to be her guardian until such time that her mate is discovered.
Merrick is tired, hungry and hurting from battle and the last thing he wants is to be burdened with Anne. Yet, he cannot deny that there is something about her that calls to him. Anne, too, isn’t really buying everything that she’s been told about this prophecy and just how she fits into it. It’s just too hard to believe, but she cannot refute the fact that these men are clearly from another time. She also cannot believe her luck. This is the proof she needs about what really happened to the Knights Templar. She figures that she’ll play the game, go through the motions of looking for her mate while collecting information for her thesis.
However, the next morning Merrick decides that he may as well eliminate himself by showing Anne his tattoo. When he removes his shirt and reveals it, Anne cannot believe her eyes. It is identical to the tattoo she has around her ankle. She hides her surprise, though and tells Merrick that she’s never seen anything like it before. So, Merrick begins the task of locating the man meant to be Anne’s mate.
As the first book in a new series, there is a lot of information given herein. We meet the main six Knights Templar and learn a bit of their history. They are completely and without question loyal to each other and their cause. We learn that many of them are struggling with the darkness and they all hope that Anne is meant for them and will deliver them into the light. And when they learn, one by one, that she is not, they take comfort in the fact that one of their brothers will be redeemed. They know that she is just the first, and they hope that she is not the last. I loved that the author chose to use the archangels as counterparts to the Knights. We meet Mikhail, Gabriel, Raphael and the beautiful Uriel.
It is obvious to the reader that Merrick and Anne are meant to be together. Their attraction to each other grows the more time they spend together. Anne may be keeping the secret of her tattoo from Merrick but it doesn’t stop them from exploring their attraction to each other. Merrick fights this for as long as he can, thinking that he is taking a woman who is meant for one of his Templar brothers. Even, then, he cannot stop himself from being with Anne.
I thought the author did an awesome job of combining the old world of the middle ages with present time. The Knights speak in a kind of Old English, yet they wear jeans, boots, use cell phones and drive SUVs.
I did find myself frustrated with Anne once she and Merrick get together. Initially, she does not reveal her mark because she thinks she’ll be able to get the info for her thesis and be one her way. Then she gets a vision, makes an incorrect assumption of it and thinks that she can stop Merrick from dying by not revealing her tattoo. Yet, the more time she spends with Merrick the more attached she is to him and she cannot imagine ever leaving his side. Of course, the revelation that Anne bears the matching mark to Merrick has everything to do with the final conflict of this story and frustrating as it was to the reader, the author hit the mark by leaving it till the end.
I really liked this story and look forward to the next one.
April 18, 2021
Good read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 30, 2021Great read loved the plot and story it really had me torn by pride. This one really left me stripped I almost feel like I have immortal temptations. Highly recommend
April 4, 2025
6 Another self-deprecating heroine who is all things to everyone.
December 22, 2012
Review from Backchatting Books
I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of this novel as the cover looked pretty cheesy but the blurb was intriguing. I’m glad I picked it up though as I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Knights Templar got caught checking out a scroll that no humans were ever supposed to see. They were cursed and have to wander around fighting Azazel’s demons. Every evil being they kill, pollutes a bit of their once pure souls until one day they turn into Dark Knights and become agents of doom. The only thing that can save them is the love of a good woman, a seraph to be precise. Every Templar has one seraph but finding them is tricky and if they should die before their Templar can find them, the Templar is basically screwed.
Our hero Merrick du Loire is the last of the original Templars and his soul is pretty black by this point. He goes to a safe house to rest only to discover Anne, a beautiful woman there. Most men would immediately think ‘awesome’ but Merrick is convinced that she is a demon in disguise and nearly kills her. Fortunately he doesn’t though as otherwise the story would have been over fairly quickly. He whisks Anne back to his lair the Templar digs to try to work out who her Templar is. Merrick knows that the Templars and the seraphs share a mark but he can’t persuade Anne to show him hers. Anne quickly realises that she has the same tattoo as him but rather than sensibly showing him, she decides to prolong the process and make Merrick introduce to all the Knights because she has a vision of his death. His soul is wavering while she checks out the other guys. She might have consulted the Archangel but where’s the fun in that. Apart from this TSTL moment which drags on way too long, Anne is an interesting character. She is researching the Knights and so the longer she spends with them, the more fodder she thinks she has for her thesis. She starts to drag these men into the modern age bit by bit and it is quite funny to read. Anne is able to ‘read’ objects and people and find out their past. This adds a nice dimension to the story. The romance between her and Merrick works as they try to fight their attraction. The secondary characters are not well sketched at the moment but as this is a series, I expect we will get to know their tortured pasts.
Overall this was a really fun read. The concept was executed well with the plot bubbling along nicely as the stakes kept getting raised. The biggest issue was waiting for Anne to fess up and commit to Merrick while he tortured himself thinking he was falling for another Knight’s seraph. A fun read that would be great for Black Dagger Brotherhood fans. Bring on the next tortured Knight.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of this novel as the cover looked pretty cheesy but the blurb was intriguing. I’m glad I picked it up though as I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Knights Templar got caught checking out a scroll that no humans were ever supposed to see. They were cursed and have to wander around fighting Azazel’s demons. Every evil being they kill, pollutes a bit of their once pure souls until one day they turn into Dark Knights and become agents of doom. The only thing that can save them is the love of a good woman, a seraph to be precise. Every Templar has one seraph but finding them is tricky and if they should die before their Templar can find them, the Templar is basically screwed.
Our hero Merrick du Loire is the last of the original Templars and his soul is pretty black by this point. He goes to a safe house to rest only to discover Anne, a beautiful woman there. Most men would immediately think ‘awesome’ but Merrick is convinced that she is a demon in disguise and nearly kills her. Fortunately he doesn’t though as otherwise the story would have been over fairly quickly. He whisks Anne back to his lair the Templar digs to try to work out who her Templar is. Merrick knows that the Templars and the seraphs share a mark but he can’t persuade Anne to show him hers. Anne quickly realises that she has the same tattoo as him but rather than sensibly showing him, she decides to prolong the process and make Merrick introduce to all the Knights because she has a vision of his death. His soul is wavering while she checks out the other guys. She might have consulted the Archangel but where’s the fun in that. Apart from this TSTL moment which drags on way too long, Anne is an interesting character. She is researching the Knights and so the longer she spends with them, the more fodder she thinks she has for her thesis. She starts to drag these men into the modern age bit by bit and it is quite funny to read. Anne is able to ‘read’ objects and people and find out their past. This adds a nice dimension to the story. The romance between her and Merrick works as they try to fight their attraction. The secondary characters are not well sketched at the moment but as this is a series, I expect we will get to know their tortured pasts.
Overall this was a really fun read. The concept was executed well with the plot bubbling along nicely as the stakes kept getting raised. The biggest issue was waiting for Anne to fess up and commit to Merrick while he tortured himself thinking he was falling for another Knight’s seraph. A fun read that would be great for Black Dagger Brotherhood fans. Bring on the next tortured Knight.
January 13, 2012
The Templars eradicated from the ancient Church did not die, they live even now, under a curse for an order disobeyed and an ancient treasure unearthed, a treasure that has led mortals to believe in error. The Templars live among us, almost immortal protecting us from demons prophesied to ascend to the Almighty’s throne. Merrick du Loire is such a man he has lived for centuries fighting against evil answering to the archangels who lead their holy war, a man doomed to die with an evil stain upon his heart, a man who seeks his salvation.
What if you learned that the history you’ve been taught and have grown to love is a lie. Anne MacPherson, Templar scholar is faced with this inescapable truth, not only that but she is a seraph a direct descendent of the Nephilim fated in the Templar’s holy texts to save them by taking the darkness from their souls. But Anne doesn’t wan the job and she’s fighting for her very life to leave. The one thing in her way is an immovable object called Merrick and the more she’s around him the more she’s rethinking her future, is she his “Immortal Hope” or is she his downfall.
Claire Ashgrove I have enjoyed for years, she has a unique way with words that always makes a reader believe what she says. And now she takes her fans outside the box into the realm of myths and legends and she still makes her audience believe. Her storyline is from the Bible, the Old Testament where the Giants and heroes are larger than life and the word of God is shouted from Mountaintops and printed in stone and from secular history too and yet she turns our worlds upside down by leading us down her garden path. Her characters are larger than life in essence and in spirit. Her hero Merrick and heroine Anne will fill the pages with their antics, their light and their love and will have every reader pulling for a Happy Ending that doesn’t seem possible. The dialogue is a parry between the old speak of centuries ago and the modern American English and she meshes it well together so her readers never wonder what they’ve just read. Her romance is a clash of the Titans between two strong personalities that really works for the tale. Her love scenes are as earthy and sensual as the characters.
If you’re looking for a sizzling romance to warm a cold winter day look no farther than “Immortal Hope” and on the subject of Templars, this is the first in Ms. Ashgrove’s new series staring all your bigger than life heroes of old.
What if you learned that the history you’ve been taught and have grown to love is a lie. Anne MacPherson, Templar scholar is faced with this inescapable truth, not only that but she is a seraph a direct descendent of the Nephilim fated in the Templar’s holy texts to save them by taking the darkness from their souls. But Anne doesn’t wan the job and she’s fighting for her very life to leave. The one thing in her way is an immovable object called Merrick and the more she’s around him the more she’s rethinking her future, is she his “Immortal Hope” or is she his downfall.
Claire Ashgrove I have enjoyed for years, she has a unique way with words that always makes a reader believe what she says. And now she takes her fans outside the box into the realm of myths and legends and she still makes her audience believe. Her storyline is from the Bible, the Old Testament where the Giants and heroes are larger than life and the word of God is shouted from Mountaintops and printed in stone and from secular history too and yet she turns our worlds upside down by leading us down her garden path. Her characters are larger than life in essence and in spirit. Her hero Merrick and heroine Anne will fill the pages with their antics, their light and their love and will have every reader pulling for a Happy Ending that doesn’t seem possible. The dialogue is a parry between the old speak of centuries ago and the modern American English and she meshes it well together so her readers never wonder what they’ve just read. Her romance is a clash of the Titans between two strong personalities that really works for the tale. Her love scenes are as earthy and sensual as the characters.
If you’re looking for a sizzling romance to warm a cold winter day look no farther than “Immortal Hope” and on the subject of Templars, this is the first in Ms. Ashgrove’s new series staring all your bigger than life heroes of old.
October 2, 2012
First of all I love the time period that the Templar knights came from and second I love sword fighting especially if it involves demons. This story has immortal knights, seraphs (descendants of angels) and a war that has been fought since the twelfth century. Combine all this with great writing and of course I loved this story as it had all this and more. I can’t wait to start Immortal Surrender. I give the book 5 stars.
This is a story of good vs. evil, dark vs. light and angels vs. demons. I like how this book introduced us to the series and several of the knights as well as the first seraph. The author left us in suspense of the whole story of the knights and seraphs and just revealed a little at a time as the main character figured it out. It seems it is Gabriel’s job to locate the seraphs and bring them to the knight’s safe haven to locate her mate.
I really loved Merrick he was loyal, fierce and passionate. Merrick is the final remaining knight of the original nine who unearthed the copper scrolls and consequently was cursed with immortality to defend mankind from evil. He knows he doesn’t have long before the darkness and evil that he fights will take over his soul, forever damning him to fight on the side of evil as others have crossed over before him. Anne is the first seraph identified and brought to the temple but she keeps fighting the inevitable matching to a knight. My only complaint in this book is with Anne she was a little to stubborn and blind in my opinion when it came to her visions of the future and whether she should reveal herself to her mate. She is surrounded by archangels and she never thinks to seek counsel with one of them if she doesn’t want to discuss it with her intended. I am sure had she talked to Mikhail or maybe Uriel then she could have cleared it up a lot sooner. Even though I felt this way about Anne it really didn’t detract from the story.
Now I have to discuss the location. In this book the Templar’s stronghold and a lot of the action takes place in Atchison, KS and Kansas City. I found this to be kind of cool for me to read this book also because I had no idea where it took place but I live close to Kansas City and Atchison. I did not realize it but the author is from Missouri just like me!!!
In conclusion this book was awesome and I highly recommend you to read it!
*I received this from the author in return for an honest review*
This is a story of good vs. evil, dark vs. light and angels vs. demons. I like how this book introduced us to the series and several of the knights as well as the first seraph. The author left us in suspense of the whole story of the knights and seraphs and just revealed a little at a time as the main character figured it out. It seems it is Gabriel’s job to locate the seraphs and bring them to the knight’s safe haven to locate her mate.
I really loved Merrick he was loyal, fierce and passionate. Merrick is the final remaining knight of the original nine who unearthed the copper scrolls and consequently was cursed with immortality to defend mankind from evil. He knows he doesn’t have long before the darkness and evil that he fights will take over his soul, forever damning him to fight on the side of evil as others have crossed over before him. Anne is the first seraph identified and brought to the temple but she keeps fighting the inevitable matching to a knight. My only complaint in this book is with Anne she was a little to stubborn and blind in my opinion when it came to her visions of the future and whether she should reveal herself to her mate. She is surrounded by archangels and she never thinks to seek counsel with one of them if she doesn’t want to discuss it with her intended. I am sure had she talked to Mikhail or maybe Uriel then she could have cleared it up a lot sooner. Even though I felt this way about Anne it really didn’t detract from the story.
Now I have to discuss the location. In this book the Templar’s stronghold and a lot of the action takes place in Atchison, KS and Kansas City. I found this to be kind of cool for me to read this book also because I had no idea where it took place but I live close to Kansas City and Atchison. I did not realize it but the author is from Missouri just like me!!!
In conclusion this book was awesome and I highly recommend you to read it!
*I received this from the author in return for an honest review*
October 23, 2012
Anne MacPherson is a highly intelligent and independent woman, a history professor specializing in the Knights Templar, who were destroyed many centuries ago…or were they? Anne also has the gift of sight, seeing both the past and fleeting glimpses of the future. When Templar Knight Merrick du Loire busts into her house convinced she’s a demon, Anne doesn’t know what to do, but she knows she’s not scared, she’s fascinated by a real, live Templar Knight. Merrick is impressed with Anne’s fortitude (more than he’d ever tell her or anyone else) and she is taken back to their headquarters where it is revealed she is a seraph, meant to bind together with one of the Knights Templar to save their soul from Azazel, the lord of evil. The remaining Knights battle for their very souls every time they go up against Azazel’s forces and given enough time, they will lose them and become the pawns in Azazel’s army. Anne holds a secret, a mark on her body which matches a mark on one of the Templars. While she knows whose mark she carries, she doesn’t dare take the sacred oath with him because her vision has shown his death once they’ve joined…or does it?
I’m personally fascinated by the Knights Templar and I enjoyed the new spin Ms. Ashgrove has put on the history and myths surrounding them. As Anne learns more, so does the reader, and you will be holding your breath to see what happens next. There is a genuine relationship between Anne and Merrick, regardless of what they profess, and it is passionate and deep, which was hot as hell!! ‘Immortal Hope’ reminded me slightly of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (if Disney had an adult version), because only Anne can tame one of the Templar Knights and make him whole again. Yet she is not interested in anyone except Merrick, mark or no mark, and she can be as stubborn as he. The sparks between them are explosive and I enjoyed all the historical and fantastical background information Ms. Ashgrove wove into the tale without it feeling like a data dump. I’m looking forward to what is in store for the Templar Knights and the seraphs who are their salvation.
The Curse of the Templars series: Immortal Hope (1), Immortal Surrender (2), Immortal Trust (3)
I’m personally fascinated by the Knights Templar and I enjoyed the new spin Ms. Ashgrove has put on the history and myths surrounding them. As Anne learns more, so does the reader, and you will be holding your breath to see what happens next. There is a genuine relationship between Anne and Merrick, regardless of what they profess, and it is passionate and deep, which was hot as hell!! ‘Immortal Hope’ reminded me slightly of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (if Disney had an adult version), because only Anne can tame one of the Templar Knights and make him whole again. Yet she is not interested in anyone except Merrick, mark or no mark, and she can be as stubborn as he. The sparks between them are explosive and I enjoyed all the historical and fantastical background information Ms. Ashgrove wove into the tale without it feeling like a data dump. I’m looking forward to what is in store for the Templar Knights and the seraphs who are their salvation.
The Curse of the Templars series: Immortal Hope (1), Immortal Surrender (2), Immortal Trust (3)
September 13, 2012
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Michelle L. Olson:
My first comments upon finishing this book were: “Incredible find!
A HUGE thank you to Claire for reaching out to me, sending me the ARC of Immortal Surrender & prompting me to buy and read Immortal Hope. A sassy heroine, super sexy alpha males, incredible Knights Templar history with a fresh & unique preternatural spin, smoldering romance, and plenty of action. Loved it.”
O.K, now let’s break that down…
Anne, our heroine, is a sassy history professor immersing herself in the task of finishing her thesis on the Knights Templar. Ironically, she ends up meeting a real-life Knight of the Order, and throws herself at the chance to get first hand accountings and validation for her hypotheses. The problem, there’s more to Anne than meets the eye, and the Order has no plans to simply let her use them and then leave.
Merrick, our hero, is an honest to goodness Templar Knight. An immortal cursed back during the Crusades for uncovering relics they had no business finding. With the help of his ‘brothers’, it’s Merrick’s duty to fight the evil that exists in the world as well as fight the darkness within himself. He has sworn an oath to serve forever, or until 1 of 2 things happens – 1) He finds his seraph, that one woman meant exclusively for him and who can save his soul, or 2) He succumbs to the darkness and becomes part of the evil himself.
Anne and Merrick’s journey to their HEA was not an easy one. It was heart wrenching, utterly frustrating, fascinating and beautifully romantic all in one.
Immortal Hope is action packed from start to finish, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting more and even trying to think further ahead in the series to guess what might happen next and to whom.
I’m thoroughly captivated by Immortal Hope and the CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS series and I cannot wait to dig into Immortal Surrender.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Immortal Hope 4 Skulls and would recommend it to any paranormal romance fan who wants something different to sink their teeth into.
My first comments upon finishing this book were: “Incredible find!
A HUGE thank you to Claire for reaching out to me, sending me the ARC of Immortal Surrender & prompting me to buy and read Immortal Hope. A sassy heroine, super sexy alpha males, incredible Knights Templar history with a fresh & unique preternatural spin, smoldering romance, and plenty of action. Loved it.”
O.K, now let’s break that down…
Anne, our heroine, is a sassy history professor immersing herself in the task of finishing her thesis on the Knights Templar. Ironically, she ends up meeting a real-life Knight of the Order, and throws herself at the chance to get first hand accountings and validation for her hypotheses. The problem, there’s more to Anne than meets the eye, and the Order has no plans to simply let her use them and then leave.
Merrick, our hero, is an honest to goodness Templar Knight. An immortal cursed back during the Crusades for uncovering relics they had no business finding. With the help of his ‘brothers’, it’s Merrick’s duty to fight the evil that exists in the world as well as fight the darkness within himself. He has sworn an oath to serve forever, or until 1 of 2 things happens – 1) He finds his seraph, that one woman meant exclusively for him and who can save his soul, or 2) He succumbs to the darkness and becomes part of the evil himself.
Anne and Merrick’s journey to their HEA was not an easy one. It was heart wrenching, utterly frustrating, fascinating and beautifully romantic all in one.
Immortal Hope is action packed from start to finish, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting more and even trying to think further ahead in the series to guess what might happen next and to whom.
I’m thoroughly captivated by Immortal Hope and the CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS series and I cannot wait to dig into Immortal Surrender.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Immortal Hope 4 Skulls and would recommend it to any paranormal romance fan who wants something different to sink their teeth into.
July 26, 2013
I ended up really loving Immortal Hope. It was an entertaining, exciting read that I had trouble putting down.
Before I picked up this book, I had expected to enjoy it. It has an interesting premise and falls under a genre that I've had much success with in the past. What was unexpected however, was how much I would end up enjoying it. With a somewhat slow first chapter, I was worried the rest of the book would follow suit. Boy, was I wrong. Instead, the story became exciting, intriguing, and a real page turner. I am really pleased with the change that took place.
I like Merrick a lot. His interactions with Anne were the best part of the story. I can't help but feel bad for him and the rest of the Templars though. Most of them are hoping to save their souls by meeting their seraph. Tane is a prime example of the lengths some of them would go to to find the one destined for them. While a great deal of them started out good, overtime the darkness has clouded their souls, and now all they want is release from it, like in Tane's case. Add in the fact that Anne is meant for one of them, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
Anne is a very spirited character. She's strong, and not afraid to stand up for herself. At the same time, she is also caring. There were a few things that both Merrick and Anne did that bothered me a little, but I can't really get into them without spoiling the book.
I was surprised by the uniqueness of the story. I've never encountered Templars in a novel before. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't even heard of them before reading this. Then there are the seraphs. With those two things in the mix, this book is exceptionally different from most of the stories involving angels that I have read in the past.
I had very few issues with Immortal Hope. I ended up falling in love with the characters, and the story itself. In my opinion, this novel would be perfect for anyone looking to read a book with a new twist on the classic angel romance. If you decide to read this story, I hope you like it as much as I did.
Before I picked up this book, I had expected to enjoy it. It has an interesting premise and falls under a genre that I've had much success with in the past. What was unexpected however, was how much I would end up enjoying it. With a somewhat slow first chapter, I was worried the rest of the book would follow suit. Boy, was I wrong. Instead, the story became exciting, intriguing, and a real page turner. I am really pleased with the change that took place.
I like Merrick a lot. His interactions with Anne were the best part of the story. I can't help but feel bad for him and the rest of the Templars though. Most of them are hoping to save their souls by meeting their seraph. Tane is a prime example of the lengths some of them would go to to find the one destined for them. While a great deal of them started out good, overtime the darkness has clouded their souls, and now all they want is release from it, like in Tane's case. Add in the fact that Anne is meant for one of them, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
Anne is a very spirited character. She's strong, and not afraid to stand up for herself. At the same time, she is also caring. There were a few things that both Merrick and Anne did that bothered me a little, but I can't really get into them without spoiling the book.
I was surprised by the uniqueness of the story. I've never encountered Templars in a novel before. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't even heard of them before reading this. Then there are the seraphs. With those two things in the mix, this book is exceptionally different from most of the stories involving angels that I have read in the past.
I had very few issues with Immortal Hope. I ended up falling in love with the characters, and the story itself. In my opinion, this novel would be perfect for anyone looking to read a book with a new twist on the classic angel romance. If you decide to read this story, I hope you like it as much as I did.
March 26, 2025
Anne has always possessed the ability to see the past & future when touching objects. It’s what helped her in her historian career. One night, her boss gives to her an ancient templar knight bracelet to work on and she never imagined that the artifact would lead to her, her very own Templar Knight.
Merrick and his fellow soldiers have been fighting a losing battle against demons for the control of mankind. Cursed with forever life until he eventually succumbs to the darkness and becomes a danger to those he cares about, Merrick has longer for the one woman who will sooth his soul. Destiny shows she will possess a mark to match his and when Anne comes to him, he is hopeful that she is the one. When she tells him the markings do not match, he is crestfallen but happy one of his brothers will have a chance at peace. Anne may be beautiful but she is headstrong and disobedient. He shouldn’t fell at attracted to her as he does and the idea of her finding her fated mate kills him.
Anne lied about the marking not matching his when she believed herself to be kidnapped. Now that she knows Merrick only wants to protect her and the fact that they have become so close, she feared him finding the truth of her deceit.
I really struggled with finding the purpose of this book. It definitely had the feeling of a budding series with all the tormented knights each looking for their mate but from my knowledge, there was only 2 books in the series. I think I can figure out why. It was beyond boring. Nothing happened for almost 330 pages and I began to wonder what the author was trying to do. No action, barely any love scenes, dull/lifeless characters. No wonder it didn’t get picked up. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that the whole book is talking. For someone who’s supposed to be fighting for the fate of the world, these guys did a lot of chit chatting.
Merrick and his fellow soldiers have been fighting a losing battle against demons for the control of mankind. Cursed with forever life until he eventually succumbs to the darkness and becomes a danger to those he cares about, Merrick has longer for the one woman who will sooth his soul. Destiny shows she will possess a mark to match his and when Anne comes to him, he is hopeful that she is the one. When she tells him the markings do not match, he is crestfallen but happy one of his brothers will have a chance at peace. Anne may be beautiful but she is headstrong and disobedient. He shouldn’t fell at attracted to her as he does and the idea of her finding her fated mate kills him.
Anne lied about the marking not matching his when she believed herself to be kidnapped. Now that she knows Merrick only wants to protect her and the fact that they have become so close, she feared him finding the truth of her deceit.
I really struggled with finding the purpose of this book. It definitely had the feeling of a budding series with all the tormented knights each looking for their mate but from my knowledge, there was only 2 books in the series. I think I can figure out why. It was beyond boring. Nothing happened for almost 330 pages and I began to wonder what the author was trying to do. No action, barely any love scenes, dull/lifeless characters. No wonder it didn’t get picked up. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that the whole book is talking. For someone who’s supposed to be fighting for the fate of the world, these guys did a lot of chit chatting.
September 28, 2012
More and more I am finding the paranormal romance genre to my liking. I've only read a few books in two series so far, but in both cases, the writers did enough world building to make the story have enough depth beyond the romance to hold my interest. There are real issues, obstacles and dangers here, not just a broken heart. And those come in the form of demons, angry fellow nights and more. While I found the juxtaposition here of Templar Knights who speak like they are still living in a the medieval age while driving vans and living in an urban fantasy, contemporary setting a bit awkward at times, I enjoyed the strong plotting, characterization and pace. I think the battle scenes could have been unfolded in a bit more detail to make them a bit more powerful and realistic but they may well be very well done for typical PNR. I don't have enough basis for comparison. I also struggled with some of the knights who offered so little likeable about them while fighting with each other and yet defending each other like brothers. Yes, they come from an age where honor and oaths are blood ties almost and enough to overcome many obstacles, but I hope Ashgrove finds a way to make that more relatable and deal with those issues as the series progresses. It will add depth and sympathy to her characters and world that will enrich the series. Given that the knights in question are each destined for their own story, I think this is necessary to make them empathetic protagonists as well. The mystery of Anne's sister is left unresolved but I predict that perhaps somehow she and Tane will wind up together. They seem well suited in their selfish drives and self-focus. Time will tell if I got it right. Meanwhile, Farran is next in book 2 and I look forward to seeing what unfolds.
October 18, 2015
Imagine being a teacher, clairvoyant n interested in the history of the Templars. Next imagine that ur boss, Gabe Anderson, gives u two arm bracelets. One for u n one for ur twin sister, that will turn their lives upside down. One wiil flee in the middle of the night. The other will receive a vision that frightens her n controls all her actions for the wrong reasons.
A long time ago ,several Templars dug up some artifacts in a hidden cave against orders. For their punishment, they were made immortal n tasked with fighting Azazeal's minions. In so doing they retain a portion of that evil soul. As their goodness is over taken by the evil they become Dark Knights for Azazeal. He wants several artifacts the Templars found n with them he can ascend n wage war with the Almighty.
Anne meets the Templars from her vision(Merrick) n is taken to their stronghold where she meets the archangel Michail who tells her she is a seraph. She must find the knight who matches the mark she bears n bind with him. But she's convinced herself that by doing so will bring him death n not salvation. Can she do the right thing? Can Merrick, tasked with watching over her, restrain himself from taking what he considers another knights betrothed?
I laughed at some parts, cried at others, n wanted to smack the ..hit out of Anne the next. I hope the author resumes this series I would love to read Sophie's story.
A long time ago ,several Templars dug up some artifacts in a hidden cave against orders. For their punishment, they were made immortal n tasked with fighting Azazeal's minions. In so doing they retain a portion of that evil soul. As their goodness is over taken by the evil they become Dark Knights for Azazeal. He wants several artifacts the Templars found n with them he can ascend n wage war with the Almighty.
Anne meets the Templars from her vision(Merrick) n is taken to their stronghold where she meets the archangel Michail who tells her she is a seraph. She must find the knight who matches the mark she bears n bind with him. But she's convinced herself that by doing so will bring him death n not salvation. Can she do the right thing? Can Merrick, tasked with watching over her, restrain himself from taking what he considers another knights betrothed?
I laughed at some parts, cried at others, n wanted to smack the ..hit out of Anne the next. I hope the author resumes this series I would love to read Sophie's story.
June 7, 2017
I want to start with a huge WOW! This is the first book that I have read by Claire Ashgrove and I tell you now, it won't be the last. This book went immediately to the category of one of my most favorite books. If you love medieval history, this book is for you, even though it is set in the now. Think immortal Templar Knights. This story made me feel so many emotions and I even found myself fussing loudly at one point. It was such an emotional read for me that I'm having trouble finding words to write a review without giving away the story. I'm not one for spoilers, so I will just insert something that I wrote to Claire after reading Merrick and Anne's story....
When an author can move me from laughter, to what I call nail biting moments, and have me feeling like my soul is being ripped out with the characters, and actually have me standing there in the moment with their descriptions of sights, smells, and sounds, then they have stood above and as a reader they have my respect.
I won this book in a contest at The Quillery. It's the first book in a series and I patiently await the next, Immortal Surrender.
When an author can move me from laughter, to what I call nail biting moments, and have me feeling like my soul is being ripped out with the characters, and actually have me standing there in the moment with their descriptions of sights, smells, and sounds, then they have stood above and as a reader they have my respect.
I won this book in a contest at The Quillery. It's the first book in a series and I patiently await the next, Immortal Surrender.
August 25, 2012
I reeeeeeeally wanted to give this book 2 stars. Lots of aspects of the novel should have driven me to distraction, including (but not limited to):
1) downright stupid motivations for avoiding the truth - admittedly, it would have been a much shorter book if people had been honest from the start, but still! I like my dramatic tension to be convincing, rather than thrust upon me
2) a paper thin supporting cast (the MOODY one! the JOLLY one! the OBSERVANT one! the CRAZY one!)
3) an unremarkable and all together too easy denouement
However, for reasons I'm not sure I can successfully articulate, I rather enjoyed this book. It hit the spot for lazy Sunday reading and I really do geek out about all things Templar, so I loved the concept and think the world has promise. And somehow, despite the aforementioned stupidity, the romance between the central couple worked well, as I am a sucker for the hate-at-first-sight trope.
Hopefully, book 2 will improve on the points listed above!
1) downright stupid motivations for avoiding the truth - admittedly, it would have been a much shorter book if people had been honest from the start, but still! I like my dramatic tension to be convincing, rather than thrust upon me
2) a paper thin supporting cast (the MOODY one! the JOLLY one! the OBSERVANT one! the CRAZY one!)
3) an unremarkable and all together too easy denouement
However, for reasons I'm not sure I can successfully articulate, I rather enjoyed this book. It hit the spot for lazy Sunday reading and I really do geek out about all things Templar, so I loved the concept and think the world has promise. And somehow, despite the aforementioned stupidity, the romance between the central couple worked well, as I am a sucker for the hate-at-first-sight trope.
Hopefully, book 2 will improve on the points listed above!
December 11, 2012
Just finished Immortal Hope, and I loved it. The paranormal element is clear, but this is really a romance, heavy on the interpersonal relationships. I'm hoping she adds in some more action in the next book. My only complaint about this book is that it relied heavily on the characters not telling each other basic information. That's fine for a first book, but I really would like to see a more in depth conflict for the next book. Especially since I felt her that the other men had more interesting personal conflicts with the evil growing inside them. (I never did figure out what was really wrong with the hero.) Fix those tiny things and it would be a full five stars. As it is I would read it again and I'm looking forward to find out whose story is next as those guys had some angst!
Immortal Hope was well written (which is nice to see in the paranormal genre) and I definitely want to read more from Claire Ashgrove.
Immortal Hope was well written (which is nice to see in the paranormal genre) and I definitely want to read more from Claire Ashgrove.
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