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Cape Cursed
Bliss Sherman doesn’t believe in curses—that is until she arrives at Cape Destiny, North Carolina. Bliss comes to the cape determined to make a name for herself and her new firm by accomplishing an incredible engineering feat—moving the Cape Destiny Lighthouse inland before it's swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Bliss, who has struggled with dyslexia, discrimination, and betrayal by her ex-husband and former business partner, Jonathan, faces her greatest challenge when she falls in love with the handsome, mysterious descendant of the lighthouse keepers, Parker Swain, who is vehemently opposed to the lighthouse’s move.
When Bliss is targeted, she begins to wonder if the curse that is rumored to be attached to the lighthouse may be true. Who is sabotaging her dream? Who is trying to harm her? Who wants to kill her? When all clues point to Parker, she dismisses her suspicions, deciding to trust him and her heart, but as the evidence mounts against Parker, she begins to doubt not only herself and her heart, but Parker.
Can she trust her judgment? Can she trust Parker? Most importantly, when she is trapped inside the lighthouse with him, can she trust Parker with her life?
A romantic suspense with all the seaside moody romance of du Maurier’s Rebecca and the spine-tingling thrills that will make you draw the covers up closer as you read late into the night, Cape Cursed casts a spell of sensuous deception and seductive danger.
Bliss, who has struggled with dyslexia, discrimination, and betrayal by her ex-husband and former business partner, Jonathan, faces her greatest challenge when she falls in love with the handsome, mysterious descendant of the lighthouse keepers, Parker Swain, who is vehemently opposed to the lighthouse’s move.
When Bliss is targeted, she begins to wonder if the curse that is rumored to be attached to the lighthouse may be true. Who is sabotaging her dream? Who is trying to harm her? Who wants to kill her? When all clues point to Parker, she dismisses her suspicions, deciding to trust him and her heart, but as the evidence mounts against Parker, she begins to doubt not only herself and her heart, but Parker.
Can she trust her judgment? Can she trust Parker? Most importantly, when she is trapped inside the lighthouse with him, can she trust Parker with her life?
A romantic suspense with all the seaside moody romance of du Maurier’s Rebecca and the spine-tingling thrills that will make you draw the covers up closer as you read late into the night, Cape Cursed casts a spell of sensuous deception and seductive danger.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
26 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Janice Lane Palko
15 books56 followersJanice Lane Palko grew up in Pittsburgh and is the author of the new romantic comedy Our Lady of the Roses, a spinoff from her first novel, St. Anne’s Day. She has also written the award-winning romantic suspense, Most Highly Favored Daughter as well as the Christmas romance, A Shepherd's Song, and Cape Cursed, a romantic suspense. A writer for more than two decades, her work is featured on the Popular Pittsburgh website. She is the executive editor of Northern Connection and Pittsburgh 55+ magazines, where she also pens a column and contributes regularly to the magazines’ content.
Her work has also appeared in publications such as St. Anthony Messenger Magazine, The Reader’s Digest, Guideposts for Teens, Woman’s World, The Christian Science Monitor, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In addition, her articles have been featured in the books A Cup of Comfort for Inspiration, A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mothers, and Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul. Janice has won several awards for her writing including the prestigious Amy Foundation Award of Merit, and she has a bachelor’s degree in Writing & Literature from Union Institute& University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 14, 2018
Perhaps I expect too much from Kindle freebies, and this is a prime example.
It starts out like a pretty typical romance novel. She's in charge of moving a historical lighthouse from its disintegrating home so a safe spot further inland, and he's agin' it. You know of course that they are going to end up between the sheets because sparks fly instantly.
And from there on, they fight, they circle back to each other, lingering glances are exchanged as they try to deny their feelings, a secret from his past threatens to destroy her trust; she's hholding oonto a secret of her own, etc etc etc. We've all been down this road before.
Okay, the first problem is -- everybody in the book, including the hero, agrees that if the lighthouse isn't moved, it's going to be destroyed. So where are the objections coming from?
And the second is ... about three-quarters of the way through, it suddenly tries to become a suspense book and one of the characters goes completely (and conveniently) off the rails in an utterly unbelievable dramatic climax. (And this is not a spoiler, just a statement of fact --- ONE Vicodin tablet dissolved in Alka-Seltzer, will not knock a person out.)
I probably wouldn't even have finished this, but I was stranded without anything else to read. Reminder to self: download some more Kindle content, even if you have to PAY for it in order to get books that have been well written.
It starts out like a pretty typical romance novel. She's in charge of moving a historical lighthouse from its disintegrating home so a safe spot further inland, and he's agin' it. You know of course that they are going to end up between the sheets because sparks fly instantly.
And from there on, they fight, they circle back to each other, lingering glances are exchanged as they try to deny their feelings, a secret from his past threatens to destroy her trust; she's hholding oonto a secret of her own, etc etc etc. We've all been down this road before.
Okay, the first problem is -- everybody in the book, including the hero, agrees that if the lighthouse isn't moved, it's going to be destroyed. So where are the objections coming from?
And the second is ... about three-quarters of the way through, it suddenly tries to become a suspense book and one of the characters goes completely (and conveniently) off the rails in an utterly unbelievable dramatic climax. (And this is not a spoiler, just a statement of fact --- ONE Vicodin tablet dissolved in Alka-Seltzer, will not knock a person out.)
I probably wouldn't even have finished this, but I was stranded without anything else to read. Reminder to self: download some more Kindle content, even if you have to PAY for it in order to get books that have been well written.
October 5, 2013
3.5 shining stars
“Isn’t that the way it is with most everything in life. You’re usually crusing along thinking things are just swell and then a storm comes and slaps you silly.” --Parker from Cape Cursed
Cape Cursed is set in the fictitious Cape Destiny at the Outer Banks in North Carolina, which is one of the main reasons I chose to read this romance. It’s a beautiful area that is far less commercialized than many other beaches in NC, and the ocean itself is the main attraction. The Outer Banks also holds a special place in my heart because this is where I fell in love with with the man who is now my husband.
The romance centers around Bliss and Parker, two individuals brought together in their mission to preserve the Cape Destiny Lighthouse, the focal point and natural treasure of Cape Destiny. Parker is passionate about the lighthouse because he is a descendent of the lighthouse keepers, and he’s excited to meet Bliss, one, because she’s very attractive, and two, she is eager to learn more about the history of the lighthouse. However, once he realizes Bliss’s engineering firm has been designated by the state to move the lighthouse to a different location, she becomes an enemy.
Bliss is disappointed that she and Parker won’t be able to get along since this charming, southern gentleman is currently living right beside the work site in the lightkeeper’s house while doing renovations for its preservation. However, this is her company’s first major job and meeting the deadline for completion is essential to the future success of the company, and she refuses to be thwarted by Parker or anyone else’s opposition to the move. Yet, someone out there keeps trying to sabotage the project.
Surprisingly, when Bliss sees Parker the next day, he apologizes for his behavior and seems to have had a change of heart and accepted the lighthouse’s relocation. This caught me off guard because of how harsh his words were to her only 24 hours earlier. Although the story alternates between Parker’s and Bliss’s POVs, I didn’t get any insight on what caused him to change his mind.
Character development and description about the developing relationship between Parker and Bliss dominate much of the book. Although they are very much attracted to each other, both are reluctant to reveal secrets about their past. Their lack of openness with each other, once their secrets are exposed, creates a major barrier between them that gave me serious doubts about whether they can build a future together. It takes the danger of a major hurricane for Bliss to learn the shocking truth about Parker’s past. Not only does the hurricane cause literal fear and destruction, it symbolizes Bliss’s devastation and mounting suspicion about who Parker is and what he’s really capable of doing.
My feelings about their romantic relationship fluctuated, and even though they pledge their love for each other, which I think comes a bit too soon, I question how genuine it is. If Parker and Bliss really knew each other and had developed a foundation of trust, they wouldn’t have been so quick to judge and doubt each other’s character and intentions. Instead of approaching one another about their concerns, they make decisions based on what they assume the other person feels or thinks. This frustrated me so much at times that I wanted to just give up on them.
On the other hand there were scenes where I couldn’t help but be moved by the power of their feelings for each other:
*****
All love scenes in the book are mildly sensual (consummated but not explicit).
At times, Parker and Bliss both question whether the lighthouse is really cursed. They experience heartache, danger, and fear as one major conflict after another crashes down upon them. The story has plenty of obvious foreshadowing so the plot was predictable in many ways. I easily identified the antagonists, but I underestimated and was actually shocked by the lengths their enemies go to in order to protect their interests. The stakes intensify toward the end of the book building toward a very suspenseful climax.
I received a copy of the book courtesy of the author to provide an honest review.
“Isn’t that the way it is with most everything in life. You’re usually crusing along thinking things are just swell and then a storm comes and slaps you silly.” --Parker from Cape Cursed
Cape Cursed is set in the fictitious Cape Destiny at the Outer Banks in North Carolina, which is one of the main reasons I chose to read this romance. It’s a beautiful area that is far less commercialized than many other beaches in NC, and the ocean itself is the main attraction. The Outer Banks also holds a special place in my heart because this is where I fell in love with with the man who is now my husband.
The romance centers around Bliss and Parker, two individuals brought together in their mission to preserve the Cape Destiny Lighthouse, the focal point and natural treasure of Cape Destiny. Parker is passionate about the lighthouse because he is a descendent of the lighthouse keepers, and he’s excited to meet Bliss, one, because she’s very attractive, and two, she is eager to learn more about the history of the lighthouse. However, once he realizes Bliss’s engineering firm has been designated by the state to move the lighthouse to a different location, she becomes an enemy.
Bliss is disappointed that she and Parker won’t be able to get along since this charming, southern gentleman is currently living right beside the work site in the lightkeeper’s house while doing renovations for its preservation. However, this is her company’s first major job and meeting the deadline for completion is essential to the future success of the company, and she refuses to be thwarted by Parker or anyone else’s opposition to the move. Yet, someone out there keeps trying to sabotage the project.
Surprisingly, when Bliss sees Parker the next day, he apologizes for his behavior and seems to have had a change of heart and accepted the lighthouse’s relocation. This caught me off guard because of how harsh his words were to her only 24 hours earlier. Although the story alternates between Parker’s and Bliss’s POVs, I didn’t get any insight on what caused him to change his mind.
Character development and description about the developing relationship between Parker and Bliss dominate much of the book. Although they are very much attracted to each other, both are reluctant to reveal secrets about their past. Their lack of openness with each other, once their secrets are exposed, creates a major barrier between them that gave me serious doubts about whether they can build a future together. It takes the danger of a major hurricane for Bliss to learn the shocking truth about Parker’s past. Not only does the hurricane cause literal fear and destruction, it symbolizes Bliss’s devastation and mounting suspicion about who Parker is and what he’s really capable of doing.
My feelings about their romantic relationship fluctuated, and even though they pledge their love for each other, which I think comes a bit too soon, I question how genuine it is. If Parker and Bliss really knew each other and had developed a foundation of trust, they wouldn’t have been so quick to judge and doubt each other’s character and intentions. Instead of approaching one another about their concerns, they make decisions based on what they assume the other person feels or thinks. This frustrated me so much at times that I wanted to just give up on them.
On the other hand there were scenes where I couldn’t help but be moved by the power of their feelings for each other:
“Oh Parker,” she whispered, if I ruled the world, I’d take away all the pain your past has caused you. I’d restore the lighthouse for you--- “
“Know what I’d do? he asked.
She turned and looked back at him, and the longing in his deep brown eyes reached into her heart and made it ache.
He took her hand. “I’d find a way to love you enough so that you’d never leave me.”
*****
“He charged after her. “Stay, Bliss. Don’t go!” he cried.
As she broke into a run, she heard him call, “When you discover that it’s love that moves heaven and earth, and not some hydraulic lift, come back to me, Bliss. I’ll be here. Waiting for you. Loving you.”
All love scenes in the book are mildly sensual (consummated but not explicit).
At times, Parker and Bliss both question whether the lighthouse is really cursed. They experience heartache, danger, and fear as one major conflict after another crashes down upon them. The story has plenty of obvious foreshadowing so the plot was predictable in many ways. I easily identified the antagonists, but I underestimated and was actually shocked by the lengths their enemies go to in order to protect their interests. The stakes intensify toward the end of the book building toward a very suspenseful climax.
I received a copy of the book courtesy of the author to provide an honest review.
November 16, 2014
I wanted to give this book more of a chance, but it's so sappy I can't finish it. The two main characters are obviously destined to wind up together. All I know so far is they don't like each other, but they keep commenting on how sexy/hot the other is, in spite of being on opposite sides of an issue. Too much romance, not enought plot. This had good reviews when I decided to get it, but it's not my kind of story. And, even though I didn't get very far, there were several typos and overall poor sentence structure. Disappointing all the way around!
July 12, 2014
After reading 25% I just put it down. The story was ok but very slow to get going...and the fast switch from the hero/ heroine fighting to being nice was unbelievable. The mystery idea was good but needed to show itself at this point...it was very superficial and I didn't want to invest more time waiting for it to get interesting.
May 25, 2015
Great Read
What a good story line written about the beautiful coast of North Carolina. How erosion can cause havoc with the shore line and destroy land marks. The main characters Parker and Bliss were definitely meant to be together. Truly a story of romance, heartbreak, surprises, survival and awesome ending. Had a difficult time putting the book down.
What a good story line written about the beautiful coast of North Carolina. How erosion can cause havoc with the shore line and destroy land marks. The main characters Parker and Bliss were definitely meant to be together. Truly a story of romance, heartbreak, surprises, survival and awesome ending. Had a difficult time putting the book down.
June 11, 2014
Cape Cursed
Enjoyed this romance and mystery book. Liked the hero and heroine and loved the dog. Well thought out secondary characters. No swearing and one tastefully done sexual part. Will be looking into purchasing her other books. JudyE
Enjoyed this romance and mystery book. Liked the hero and heroine and loved the dog. Well thought out secondary characters. No swearing and one tastefully done sexual part. Will be looking into purchasing her other books. JudyE
June 16, 2014
Loved this romance! Both main characters were people I would like to meet and be friends with! Good mystery in the middle with lots of worry about how it would turn out. Worth reading, for sure!!
October 13, 2014
Very good read...
...although I figured out early on the assistant's part in the story. Full of suspense and lot as of shock elements.
...although I figured out early on the assistant's part in the story. Full of suspense and lot as of shock elements.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews