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Out of the Shadows
Ann Gimpel has woven a tale of unforgettable love which spans two continents and reveals the shadows where our nightmares live. From the old country to the new world, one woman learns you cannot change who and what you are in a quest for everlasting love.
Relegated to a shadowy existence of half-truths, Gwendolyn lives in fear her wolf side will be discovered. She leaves the Old Country with Hunters nipping at her heels, but things in the Americas aren’t any better. Eighteenth-century society is just not kindly disposed to either shifters or witches.
Mikhail, the love of her life—except the relationship always felt pretty one-sided—has been missing for a hundred years. When he shows up after escaping imprisonment from an abbey in Austria, Gwendolyn is ecstatic to see him. But she’s afraid nothing’s really changed. Victimized by superstition and running for her life, she’s sure she’ll never be able to emerge from the shadows.
Relegated to a shadowy existence of half-truths, Gwendolyn lives in fear her wolf side will be discovered. She leaves the Old Country with Hunters nipping at her heels, but things in the Americas aren’t any better. Eighteenth-century society is just not kindly disposed to either shifters or witches.
Mikhail, the love of her life—except the relationship always felt pretty one-sided—has been missing for a hundred years. When he shows up after escaping imprisonment from an abbey in Austria, Gwendolyn is ecstatic to see him. But she’s afraid nothing’s really changed. Victimized by superstition and running for her life, she’s sure she’ll never be able to emerge from the shadows.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2013
About the author
Ann Gimpel
174 books654 followersAnn Gimpel is a USA Today bestselling fantasy and romance author. She's also a clinical psychologist with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. She’s published over 75 books to date, with several more contracted for 2019 and beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 8, 2013
I was provided a copy of this book without charge for an honest review. My opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any payment, agreement or other compensation.
Gwendolyn is a shifter, part of a wolf pack being hunted mercilessly in Europe by the clergy and their hired hunters. Gwendolyn, She’Lara (the pack leader) and many others escape to America, but find in the 18th century that their persecutors are in the new world as well.
Gwendolyn loves a shifter whom she believes does not share her feelings, but secretly he has always loved her and only the needs of the pack and a long period of captivity have kept him from her. When they are reunited in America, it seems that nothing will keep them apart, but dangers are following them and only a secret pact, made by She’Lara, may save them.
As those who follow my reviews are aware, short stories & novellas are not my favorite books, but this one was a very entertaining read. The action was continuous, the characters were interesting and the erotic content is adult only (you get all the action beyond the bedroom door) but not over the top. Back story is doled out in digestible increments, so as not to be boring or overwhelming.
The main character, Gwendolyn is a scrappy survivor and has confidence in herself as a woman. She is sexually mature and has no problem fulfilling her needs. She is independent as a midwife and has no need or desire for a husband before her true love appears again in her life.
The dialogue is good and flows naturally. The story keeps you engaged but the plot is simple and the story is an easy read.
Good Work, Ann! I will watch for more great things from you!
Gwendolyn is a shifter, part of a wolf pack being hunted mercilessly in Europe by the clergy and their hired hunters. Gwendolyn, She’Lara (the pack leader) and many others escape to America, but find in the 18th century that their persecutors are in the new world as well.
Gwendolyn loves a shifter whom she believes does not share her feelings, but secretly he has always loved her and only the needs of the pack and a long period of captivity have kept him from her. When they are reunited in America, it seems that nothing will keep them apart, but dangers are following them and only a secret pact, made by She’Lara, may save them.
As those who follow my reviews are aware, short stories & novellas are not my favorite books, but this one was a very entertaining read. The action was continuous, the characters were interesting and the erotic content is adult only (you get all the action beyond the bedroom door) but not over the top. Back story is doled out in digestible increments, so as not to be boring or overwhelming.
The main character, Gwendolyn is a scrappy survivor and has confidence in herself as a woman. She is sexually mature and has no problem fulfilling her needs. She is independent as a midwife and has no need or desire for a husband before her true love appears again in her life.
The dialogue is good and flows naturally. The story keeps you engaged but the plot is simple and the story is an easy read.
Good Work, Ann! I will watch for more great things from you!
March 11, 2013
YAY!!! Ok, so when you read this short story, I hope you cheer as much as I did. And you know, it’s not terribly short, it’s just not a huge novel either. However, I will say this, it’s felt like reading a true novel. There’s plenty in it to keep you busy and a ton of things happening But I won’t have a huge review, because then I would just spoil things for you!
Gwendolyn is very cool with being a female werewolf. However, she is very not cool with all the crazy hunters killing her kind. And when some serious trouble hits home, not only is she terrified but she’s in trouble. She is separated from her pack and a lot of them are missing or killed and she must move, run, go, just to stay alive! And worse, the love of her life has been missing for a while now.
This is quite the interesting twist on fairy tales and werewolves, and even shifters in general. First, they don’t have alphas, they have “the one” which has a special name, but due to spoilerish things, I will say ‘the one” LOL and then, they are also not crazy strong or really fast in their human forms, though they do get some sight and smell amplifications. And there’s rules about mating that I wasn’t used to… WAY TO BE DIFFERENT!!! You guys know I love differentness!
I will say there’s definitely some suspense, and some romance, and some paranormal, but mostly it’s written beautifully. I am also not usually a historical type fan. But, I loved this story! It’s got the perfect story outline, and it was a quick read. With a very happy ending, at least for me You should all read it! LOL 5 WOLFISH PAWS!!! hehehehehe wolfish, get it!?
Gwendolyn is very cool with being a female werewolf. However, she is very not cool with all the crazy hunters killing her kind. And when some serious trouble hits home, not only is she terrified but she’s in trouble. She is separated from her pack and a lot of them are missing or killed and she must move, run, go, just to stay alive! And worse, the love of her life has been missing for a while now.
This is quite the interesting twist on fairy tales and werewolves, and even shifters in general. First, they don’t have alphas, they have “the one” which has a special name, but due to spoilerish things, I will say ‘the one” LOL and then, they are also not crazy strong or really fast in their human forms, though they do get some sight and smell amplifications. And there’s rules about mating that I wasn’t used to… WAY TO BE DIFFERENT!!! You guys know I love differentness!
I will say there’s definitely some suspense, and some romance, and some paranormal, but mostly it’s written beautifully. I am also not usually a historical type fan. But, I loved this story! It’s got the perfect story outline, and it was a quick read. With a very happy ending, at least for me You should all read it! LOL 5 WOLFISH PAWS!!! hehehehehe wolfish, get it!?
March 8, 2013
Today's review is on Out of the Shadows by Ann Gimpel
I have to tell you that the more I read these short novellas the more I like them. And Ann sure knows how to write them. You're drawn in from the very first sentence until the very last word. Thought not over the top as far as the X-rated aspect, Ann's erotic romance novellas do light the spark to leave you a wanton woman.
Gwendolyn and the others of her pack can no longer live and run free in their wolf form. The Clergy is out to destroy all of the Shifters and has gone as far as gathering hired Hunters to aid them in their task. The danger is at an all time high in the Old country, and when the Hunters attack the pack one evening Gwendolyn is luck to get away with her life. But others weren't so lucky and she worries that Mikahil may be one them.
Gwendolyn has always loved Mikahil and has even gotten him into her bed, but he'd never offered her much more than a tryst. And after over a hundred of years pining for him she just about looses all hope of ever becoming his mate.
Soon the ultimate battle between Shifters and Humans will be upon them in the Americas and they will need not only each other but the other Shifter clans as well. And who knows, maybe Gwendolyn and Mikahil may even find love.
4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I have to tell you that the more I read these short novellas the more I like them. And Ann sure knows how to write them. You're drawn in from the very first sentence until the very last word. Thought not over the top as far as the X-rated aspect, Ann's erotic romance novellas do light the spark to leave you a wanton woman.
Gwendolyn and the others of her pack can no longer live and run free in their wolf form. The Clergy is out to destroy all of the Shifters and has gone as far as gathering hired Hunters to aid them in their task. The danger is at an all time high in the Old country, and when the Hunters attack the pack one evening Gwendolyn is luck to get away with her life. But others weren't so lucky and she worries that Mikahil may be one them.
Gwendolyn has always loved Mikahil and has even gotten him into her bed, but he'd never offered her much more than a tryst. And after over a hundred of years pining for him she just about looses all hope of ever becoming his mate.
Soon the ultimate battle between Shifters and Humans will be upon them in the Americas and they will need not only each other but the other Shifter clans as well. And who knows, maybe Gwendolyn and Mikahil may even find love.
4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews