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Sebastian's Salvation
[BookStrand Interracial Romantic Suspense, HEA]
Three lives intertwine—a former Green Beret, now a painter of nude portraits tormented by the death of his comrade, an earl’s daughter, and a crazed stalker. Will the acts of the stalker force the soldier back into the life of violence which he sought to avoid?
Sebastian Hughes, wounded on a mission in Afghanistan, discovers a talent for painting nude portraits while in a rehabilitation center learning to walk again after losing part of his leg. He becomes the toast of London society and women clamor to be painted by him.
Lady Joanna Gresham, nursing a broken heart and used to getting what she wants, sets her sights on having her portrait painted by Sebastian. Once she meets him, she wants him for herself. She pursues him, intent on winning him. What she didn’t count on was a stalker who wants to harm everyone Sebastian holds dear.
Three lives intertwine—a former Green Beret, now a painter of nude portraits tormented by the death of his comrade, an earl’s daughter, and a crazed stalker. Will the acts of the stalker force the soldier back into the life of violence which he sought to avoid?
Sebastian Hughes, wounded on a mission in Afghanistan, discovers a talent for painting nude portraits while in a rehabilitation center learning to walk again after losing part of his leg. He becomes the toast of London society and women clamor to be painted by him.
Lady Joanna Gresham, nursing a broken heart and used to getting what she wants, sets her sights on having her portrait painted by Sebastian. Once she meets him, she wants him for herself. She pursues him, intent on winning him. What she didn’t count on was a stalker who wants to harm everyone Sebastian holds dear.
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First published February 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 18, 2012
Sebastian's Salvation was different from anything I've read before. First the hero is on a WOW factor of 10. It's a fast read, one that once started is hard to put down. The characters are again not what I was expecting. But they work for this story and fit in with the author's unique voice. I didn't really like them at first. It's like the TV show Body of Proof, one of my favorites. The medical examiner Megan Hunt is what I would call an abrasive personality which puts her at odds with almost every other character in the show. But it works.
One thing that Jillian nails is that illusive something that makes you feel you are living in the story. She paints a word picture with the setting, characters and even the verbiage. I'm looking forward to reading more of Jillian Chantal's books.
One thing that Jillian nails is that illusive something that makes you feel you are living in the story. She paints a word picture with the setting, characters and even the verbiage. I'm looking forward to reading more of Jillian Chantal's books.
February 25, 2012
Put an injured American hero and one of London's elite together, toss in a psychopath and you've got an intriguing premise for this story. I enjoyed Sebastian's humanity as well as Lady Joanna's willingness to see life from a different perspective. And when they hook up, it's, well, sizzling. :) Also, I loved the fact that I had no clue who the villain was until the author revealed the person. Well done, Jillian Chantal!
May 11, 2012
Joanna doesn’t want much, just the enigmatic artist Sebastian for herself once and for all. She has pursued him long enough and she will have him paint her portrait and in her bed. Not used to not getting what she wants and trying to get over her own broken heart, Joanna won’t stop till he is hers.
Trying to get over the injuries he sustained in war, both mental and physical, Sebastian is trying to move on with his life. The last thing he needs is a spoiled Earl’s daughter hanging around all the time. Her reaction to his leg humbles him and cracks the wall he’s erected around himself since his discharge. Maybe he’s been wrong about her all along.
My first book by Jillian Chantal and I have to say all went pretty well! I felt that from the beginning, Sebastian was an engaging character that was well written with lots of depth. As an injured and discharged war veteran speculation always seemed to swirl around him as to his past. A vicious looking facial scar brought all the ladies panting and the mens jealousy. Now living in England earning a living as an impressive artist with an interest in painting nudes in a respectable light has every woman clamoring for his work. With the exception of Lady Joanna. I was a bit confused by her character at the beginning. She makes it known that she wants nothing to do with him. Goes out of her way to be snotty about his work and then in an instant she is wanting him to paint her. Seems affronted that he tells her no and then gets it set in her mind that she wants him…all of him. I wasn’t sure if she wanted him at the beginning simply because she couldn’t have him or what. Her emotions and reactions were all over the place and it made it hard to follow her character a bit. I did enjoy her reaction to his physical limitation of only having one leg. Or maybe I should say her un-reaction since she accepted him instantly for who and what he was. I enjoyed the connection once they got past all the bickering back and forth and the fighting of their mutual attraction. Though it was obvious that Sebastian really didn’t accept his own limitations well and that Joanna desperately needed to feel like she mattered and belonged.
I liked the artistry angle and the thought process of everyone around Sebastian that if he painted nudes he must be sleeping with all the women he works with. I liked how he seemed unaffected by his amorous fans and thought he was very well grounded. Even thinking to himself that he didn’t understand all the publicity. I loved that he wasn’t showy with his talent. He was quite content to just make enough to pay his bills. Joanna had plenty of money as the daughter of an Earl but what she needed was the emotional connection. Together these two completed each other and while the realization of that took them a long time to come to terms with, I enjoyed the ride to them getting there.
I also liked the fact that they were an interracial couple and instead of sweeping that fact under the rug, Chantal chose to highlight it and the typical reactions a interracial couple might face. The stereotypes that people choose to believe in and how the characters behaved because of it. I thought Sebastian threw out a lot of stereotypes himself about Joanna and I liked that too.
While this is listed as a contemporary/romantic suspense I found that it fell trap to not being very suspenseful throughout the novel. Sebastian had a few things happen but some blood on the walls and a dead rat in a box, while gross, isn’t really enough to keep me thinking about a sadistic killer. Also not enough of a continuous threat in my eyes to be called a suspense. There was suspense in spades towards the end, I would have just liked to see more throughout the novel. When you can take all the suspense out and still be left with a workable novel, there isn’t enough in there for me.
I found the characters in Sebastian’s Salvation to be wonderfully written and heartfelt in a deeply connecting way. Correctly depicting the anguish an injured soldier might feel when trying to move past his limitations and begin to live again.
I give Sebastian’s Salvation by Jillian Chantal 3.75 stars!
Trying to get over the injuries he sustained in war, both mental and physical, Sebastian is trying to move on with his life. The last thing he needs is a spoiled Earl’s daughter hanging around all the time. Her reaction to his leg humbles him and cracks the wall he’s erected around himself since his discharge. Maybe he’s been wrong about her all along.
My first book by Jillian Chantal and I have to say all went pretty well! I felt that from the beginning, Sebastian was an engaging character that was well written with lots of depth. As an injured and discharged war veteran speculation always seemed to swirl around him as to his past. A vicious looking facial scar brought all the ladies panting and the mens jealousy. Now living in England earning a living as an impressive artist with an interest in painting nudes in a respectable light has every woman clamoring for his work. With the exception of Lady Joanna. I was a bit confused by her character at the beginning. She makes it known that she wants nothing to do with him. Goes out of her way to be snotty about his work and then in an instant she is wanting him to paint her. Seems affronted that he tells her no and then gets it set in her mind that she wants him…all of him. I wasn’t sure if she wanted him at the beginning simply because she couldn’t have him or what. Her emotions and reactions were all over the place and it made it hard to follow her character a bit. I did enjoy her reaction to his physical limitation of only having one leg. Or maybe I should say her un-reaction since she accepted him instantly for who and what he was. I enjoyed the connection once they got past all the bickering back and forth and the fighting of their mutual attraction. Though it was obvious that Sebastian really didn’t accept his own limitations well and that Joanna desperately needed to feel like she mattered and belonged.
I liked the artistry angle and the thought process of everyone around Sebastian that if he painted nudes he must be sleeping with all the women he works with. I liked how he seemed unaffected by his amorous fans and thought he was very well grounded. Even thinking to himself that he didn’t understand all the publicity. I loved that he wasn’t showy with his talent. He was quite content to just make enough to pay his bills. Joanna had plenty of money as the daughter of an Earl but what she needed was the emotional connection. Together these two completed each other and while the realization of that took them a long time to come to terms with, I enjoyed the ride to them getting there.
I also liked the fact that they were an interracial couple and instead of sweeping that fact under the rug, Chantal chose to highlight it and the typical reactions a interracial couple might face. The stereotypes that people choose to believe in and how the characters behaved because of it. I thought Sebastian threw out a lot of stereotypes himself about Joanna and I liked that too.
While this is listed as a contemporary/romantic suspense I found that it fell trap to not being very suspenseful throughout the novel. Sebastian had a few things happen but some blood on the walls and a dead rat in a box, while gross, isn’t really enough to keep me thinking about a sadistic killer. Also not enough of a continuous threat in my eyes to be called a suspense. There was suspense in spades towards the end, I would have just liked to see more throughout the novel. When you can take all the suspense out and still be left with a workable novel, there isn’t enough in there for me.
I found the characters in Sebastian’s Salvation to be wonderfully written and heartfelt in a deeply connecting way. Correctly depicting the anguish an injured soldier might feel when trying to move past his limitations and begin to live again.
I give Sebastian’s Salvation by Jillian Chantal 3.75 stars!
May 11, 2012
Chantel crafts a story filled with romance, betrayal, suspense, and love with "Sebastian's Salvation." Sebastian Hughes has seen combat in Afghanistan that's left him scared physically and emotionally. Is he ready to find love or will a foe seeking revenge ruin his happiness?
The story is set in modern day London. Sebastian Hughes is an American ex-green beret now medically retired. On his last mission, Sebastian's body suffered shrapnel wounds and he uses a prosthetic from the knee down on one leg. While in the hospital, Sebastian became a portrait painter.
The story opens with Sebastian's friend, Jackson, an art curator hosting a show of Sebastian's work. Sebastian is the talk of the town. His work involves painting women in the nude - tastefully, of course. A slew of potential clients make the night a success, but not before Sebastian receives a cryptic warming - a dead rat.
Sebastian, treating the rat like a prank, meets Lady Joanna Gresham at the event. Joanna challenges Sebastian in ways he hasn't been before and reawakens urges he hasn't felt in years. Still, he keeps her at bay, afraid his scared body is repulsive and he isn't a whole man.
Joanna isn't intimidated in the least by Sebastian's off-putting nature and goes after what she wants. When she learns her father has made arrangements for their family to entertain a group of friends at their Swiss chalet. Joanna is delighted to find out Sebastian is on the guest list. While Joanna makes her plans, Sebastian's stalker becomes bolder, putting him on edge. Dare Sebastian let Joanna into his heart knowing that danger lurks just around the corner?
Chantel's writing is easy to read and pulls the reader into Sebastian's story with ease. I appreciated the contemporary setting and Sebastian's military background. It gives the story a topical theme in which many returning from the war zones have struggles. The plot flows smoothly. Chantel builds suspense well, leaving the reader anxiously turning the page.
The author uses a good economy of words to paint nice visuals of the London setting. The dialogue also adds a nice accent to the characters.
The characters make the story shine. Sebastian is a true hero and his intentions are always noble.
Joanna is as tenacious as a bull when it comes to letting Sebastian know how she feels about him. Her steadfast belief in their love proves to be his salvation.
The supporting cast is well rounded and a delight, complimenting the main characters well.
The story is sophisticated for romance readers. There are several love scenes that capture the passion and intensity of the couple. Sebastian's Salvation is a page-turner. I highly recommend it.
The story is set in modern day London. Sebastian Hughes is an American ex-green beret now medically retired. On his last mission, Sebastian's body suffered shrapnel wounds and he uses a prosthetic from the knee down on one leg. While in the hospital, Sebastian became a portrait painter.
The story opens with Sebastian's friend, Jackson, an art curator hosting a show of Sebastian's work. Sebastian is the talk of the town. His work involves painting women in the nude - tastefully, of course. A slew of potential clients make the night a success, but not before Sebastian receives a cryptic warming - a dead rat.
Sebastian, treating the rat like a prank, meets Lady Joanna Gresham at the event. Joanna challenges Sebastian in ways he hasn't been before and reawakens urges he hasn't felt in years. Still, he keeps her at bay, afraid his scared body is repulsive and he isn't a whole man.
Joanna isn't intimidated in the least by Sebastian's off-putting nature and goes after what she wants. When she learns her father has made arrangements for their family to entertain a group of friends at their Swiss chalet. Joanna is delighted to find out Sebastian is on the guest list. While Joanna makes her plans, Sebastian's stalker becomes bolder, putting him on edge. Dare Sebastian let Joanna into his heart knowing that danger lurks just around the corner?
Chantel's writing is easy to read and pulls the reader into Sebastian's story with ease. I appreciated the contemporary setting and Sebastian's military background. It gives the story a topical theme in which many returning from the war zones have struggles. The plot flows smoothly. Chantel builds suspense well, leaving the reader anxiously turning the page.
The author uses a good economy of words to paint nice visuals of the London setting. The dialogue also adds a nice accent to the characters.
The characters make the story shine. Sebastian is a true hero and his intentions are always noble.
Joanna is as tenacious as a bull when it comes to letting Sebastian know how she feels about him. Her steadfast belief in their love proves to be his salvation.
The supporting cast is well rounded and a delight, complimenting the main characters well.
The story is sophisticated for romance readers. There are several love scenes that capture the passion and intensity of the couple. Sebastian's Salvation is a page-turner. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews