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Beautiful Creatures #1
Dark Rapture
Scarlet Rose has fallen madly in love with Sebastian DelaCourte. But the dark, wild rock idol has a consuming secret that binds him to an unholy fate. Now, as a terrifying curse sweeps her back in time to 18th-century Paris, Scarlet finds herself in a desperate struggle to change destiny, compelled to enter Sebastian's midnight world where desire never ends—and where undying love is the most dangerous fantasy of all.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
4 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Michele Hauf
208 books939 followersMichele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 2, 2014
Michael Hauf’s vampire tale has a few unique twists and turns. I enjoyed the way the author set up the players back story, with the parallel timeline. He also a very cleverly further defined his characters by the type of music they played. Sensuous, passionate flamenco, versus the chaotic beat of heavy metal. It did seem a little more than fate that all of our vampires, past and present would wind up in mansions or castles in Los Angeles. I also found the leather clad character of Vincent Lyons to be a close parallel with Ann Rice’s, Lestat.
The author did start with a good hook, and kept me entertained and involved with the characters throughout this story and the sequel Wicked Angels. The story moved through past and present time lines very smoothly. The story left me with two things on my mind. First, it has definitely been reaffirmed that vampires are exquisite lovers. Second, it left this burning question. Who was Marie Elizabeth Debonet?
July 13, 2013
Wishy-washy at best. The whole present/past/ future scenario did not work for me. Scarlet and Sebastian's relationship was pretty boring for a vamp tale. I was looking for the "fangs" in this one but they never came out!
December 29, 2017
This book was great it’s one of my favorite vampire romances. Sebastian is super yummy. He’s a famous musician he meets Scarlett and falls inlove. She reminds him of the one that turned him. She somehow gets sent back In time where the mystery of his maker is revealed. You have to was this book it’s super good
June 14, 2020
From the beginning of this book, the vampire “hero” is very rapey. Gross.
March 5, 2016
Just having come off a bad werewolf story (is this what I'm reduced to, reading freebies?), I wasn't terribly impressed finding a vampire tale. Then it became more about the time loop. Who came first? Very Time After Time (is that the Jane Seymour/Christopher Reeve movie?) Fom there, it got interesting.
But then it ended and launched right onto a sequel (and the percentage read kept going on, but the page number was stuck to the end--so many bookmarks at page 457, WTF?) The formatting was the least of the problems. The editing (?) got worse. "She could not 'bare' it," was a frequent gaffe. There were others.
The story itself became unfocused. It's the diary. It's Sebastian's past. It's the present. It's Vince's weird descent into evil. It's Rico and Cat, which resolved badly but didn't (wasn't he supposed to go away or die or something?) Then it's Esmeralda come to save Vince, only who knows how that turned out.
Scarlet's betrayal was weird, Gary's sudden disappearance from the story, and the infuriating non-ending (*another* secret to drive Scarlet away, really?) was all just too much. If it had ended at page 457, I would have been more impressed. As it is, I think I'm primed to get back to some heavier reading and a much more established author--one with editors and experience.
But then it ended and launched right onto a sequel (and the percentage read kept going on, but the page number was stuck to the end--so many bookmarks at page 457, WTF?) The formatting was the least of the problems. The editing (?) got worse. "She could not 'bare' it," was a frequent gaffe. There were others.
The story itself became unfocused. It's the diary. It's Sebastian's past. It's the present. It's Vince's weird descent into evil. It's Rico and Cat, which resolved badly but didn't (wasn't he supposed to go away or die or something?) Then it's Esmeralda come to save Vince, only who knows how that turned out.
Scarlet's betrayal was weird, Gary's sudden disappearance from the story, and the infuriating non-ending (*another* secret to drive Scarlet away, really?) was all just too much. If it had ended at page 457, I would have been more impressed. As it is, I think I'm primed to get back to some heavier reading and a much more established author--one with editors and experience.
December 1, 2013
Magnetic, July 1, 2013
This review is from: Dark Rapture (Kindle Edition)
This book is magnetic and not easily put aside until the last page has been read. The characters come to life in ways that enable the reader to feel their emotions; especially the heavy/dark emotions of betrayal and forgiveness as shown through Sebastian and Scarlett's relationship. While reading this book, I prayed for Sebastian and held my breath for Scarlett. While I wanted to love one and hate the other, there could be no righteous decision in support of either but rather an acknowledgement that love is sometimes awakened before the mind is ready to accept it. This is a good read for all romance readers. Though dark there are sparks to light the way!
This review is from: Dark Rapture (Kindle Edition)
This book is magnetic and not easily put aside until the last page has been read. The characters come to life in ways that enable the reader to feel their emotions; especially the heavy/dark emotions of betrayal and forgiveness as shown through Sebastian and Scarlett's relationship. While reading this book, I prayed for Sebastian and held my breath for Scarlett. While I wanted to love one and hate the other, there could be no righteous decision in support of either but rather an acknowledgement that love is sometimes awakened before the mind is ready to accept it. This is a good read for all romance readers. Though dark there are sparks to light the way!
July 27, 2013
This book started out OK but it became tedious and boring about halfway into the second part. I read the Kindle version that combined the first and the second books. I understand that this was Ms. Hauf's first foray into writing. Not bad for a first book but not good either. I had a problem with the age difference between Scarlet and Sebastian. She's 26 and he's 19. At 26 I would not have been attracted to a 19 yr old. I'm glad I had the version with the 2 books because the first one ended as a cliffhanger. Actually the second one left you with a big question too but I'd had enough.
July 14, 2013
As the author pointed out, the two separate stories contained within the edition I read were written at different times, therefore the flow of writing was not continuous and I could see the evolution. It did distract me from the story but overall, the story was an excellent read. As most series are written closer together, character development grows much easier and small changes are harder to spot, it is less so with an authors writing talent, as it was with the writing skill that changed, not the characters in this case. I am looking forward to reading more Michele's stories!
December 6, 2013
I love vampire books! This book, unfortunately, was just ok. The editing was somewhat poor, since there is a lot of typos in the Kindle edition.
Sebastian, the hero of the story, is great; the heroine, not so much. The book has its ups and downs, and overall I enjoyed it. The book included the sequel, titled Wicked Angels, which I'm reading right now. I'm glad I got it for free, since this is not a book in which I would invest any money.
Sebastian, the hero of the story, is great; the heroine, not so much. The book has its ups and downs, and overall I enjoyed it. The book included the sequel, titled Wicked Angels, which I'm reading right now. I'm glad I got it for free, since this is not a book in which I would invest any money.
September 25, 2013
I was able to get book 1 and 2 in one book, which was great. I didn't enjoy book 1 even half as much as I enjoyed book 2. I was about ready to quit reading when I got to book 2 and was finally feeling connected to the characters. No offense to the author, but I felt book 1 just moved too slow. If you can hang in there until book 2, I think you will enjoy it.
April 23, 2013
Beautiful vampire romance story. Nice start to what looks like to a interesting series. Though I would have liked them to get married at the end.
June 29, 2013
I really liked this, and although it took me a while to get into it at first it soon became page turner. :-) grab it whilst its free on amazon x
Read
September 14, 2014Please ignore my star. I haven't finished the book yet. Not sure of I will, but if I do I will rerate this book
July 8, 2013
Is a great book to read
Read
July 19, 2013Don't know if I'm gonna finish it. So far I don't like the main love interest and to supposedly be on love with the girl he sure doesn't act like it. It seems like he could take her or leave her.
September 13, 2013
Started off quite slowly, then I thought it might be a bit too dated for me - but halfway through, I really started to enjoy it. The mystery, the romance - enjoyable read, just stick with it.
September 9, 2016
It's an okay vampire romance, but I think it made more sense without the time travel stuff.
July 27, 2014
just couldnt get in to it. maybe another time....
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews