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Shadow Guard #1
Night Falls Darkly
A new voice in paranormal romance...
A brand-new chilling saga....
A cunning immortal who's been called upon to reclaim a marked soul...
Ever since an accident took away her memory, Miss Elena Whitney can't recall the secrets of her own past. All she knows is that with her mysterious benefactor Archer, Lord Black, returning to London at the behest of Queen Victoria, she should seize the chance to get some answers.
A member of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer has been summoned to London to eliminate the soul of an evil demon-Jack the Ripper. Archer feels not only bound to protect the women of the night, but also his beautiful young ward, Elena, whom he spared from death two years before. But with a wave of panic spreading across London, Archer fears that Elena is his weakness-a distraction he can't afford, especially since she's likely to become the Ripper's next target...
A brand-new chilling saga....
A cunning immortal who's been called upon to reclaim a marked soul...
Ever since an accident took away her memory, Miss Elena Whitney can't recall the secrets of her own past. All she knows is that with her mysterious benefactor Archer, Lord Black, returning to London at the behest of Queen Victoria, she should seize the chance to get some answers.
A member of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer has been summoned to London to eliminate the soul of an evil demon-Jack the Ripper. Archer feels not only bound to protect the women of the night, but also his beautiful young ward, Elena, whom he spared from death two years before. But with a wave of panic spreading across London, Archer fears that Elena is his weakness-a distraction he can't afford, especially since she's likely to become the Ripper's next target...
324 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 7, 2008
11 people are currently reading
1922 people want to read
About the author
Kim Lenox
4 books62 followersKim Lenox is the author of the Shadow Guards historical paranormal romance series, published by NAL (Signet/Eclipse)."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 15, 2010
The first words that comes to mind when trying to describe Night Falls Darkly is refreshingly different. This book was recommended to me by Jan (thank you, Jan!!!) as part of a “Pick-it-for-me” book challenge. It’s not something I would have ever chosen for myself, so to be totally honest, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like it. Wow, was I ever wrong!
This is the first novel in the Shadow Guard series by Kim Lenox. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book because, for me, the first book in any series drags. There is so much information that has to be conveyed to the reader that it seems as though the author just drones on for pages and pages “telling” us the details rather than “showing” the details. This is not the case with Ms. Lenox. From the prologue to the epilogue I felt as though I were watching a good movie. There was nothing ‘text book’ feeling about the unveiling of her new paranormal world and at no time did I find myself skipping pages to get past something boring.
I have to admit that one of the reasons for my hesitancy regarding this story is that I had never heard of Archer, the hero, before. Usually on some GoodReads thread somewhere, any hero worth his weight in drool is mentioned and certainly lusted after by the readers, but I don’t recall ever reading a single *fanning myself*, *drooling*, or *sighing* over Archer! And he is, in the words of Danielle, very “thudworthy.” He is honorable, noble, caring and sexy!
Elena is a great heroine. Despite her loss of memory due to an accident, and the painful uncertainty of her own past, she was determined to get into medical school, which was extremely difficult for women of her day. Her greatest desire is to help the less fortunate members of society who couldn’t afford medical care; those women who had fallen on hard times and had to sell their bodies to put food on their tables, children who either had no parents or their parents couldn’t afford doctor’s’ fees. She is definitely the kind of woman I love to root for. Caring, loving, generous and kind – those are the words I would use to describe Elena.
In addition to our main characters there are several others who offer a supporting cast and I enjoyed them all as well. While they may have played, to some extent, a lesser role in the story, Ms. Lenox took the time to ensure that they were well developed, nonetheless. Again, I became invested in them am very much looking forward Marcus, Lord Alexander’s story in the next installment, So Still The Night.
If you’re looking to read something with a little twist, this might be the book for you. Night Falls Darkly pumps fresh blood into a genre saturated with the “same old, same old.”
August 31, 2016
This was a really good paranormal romance. It had an interesting Jack the Ripper story, and great Victorian London atmosphere. I really liked the gorgeous hero and I love books set in England! It also had a very likeable heroine. It’s part of a three book "Shadow Guard" series.
Book 2
Book 3
Book 2
Book 3
October 17, 2008
Hmmm, interesting plot but choppy execution. "Night Falls Darkly" by Kim Lenox is a historical paranormal story which incorporates the tale of Jack the Ripper, mythology, and a different view of (I think) heaven and hell.
Elena can't remember anything about her life from before a year and a half ago when she was in an almost fatal accident. She now lives in the luxurious mansion of her guardian, the mysterious and unknown-to-her Lord Black. She fills her days helping out at the hospital where she spent so much time recovering from her accident. These activities have awakened a desire to become a doctor herself, but she knows it won't be easy for a woman of these times to be accepted into training...not to mention expensive. But why should her guardian care?
Lord Black is really Archer, an immortal being who has existed since the beginning of time. He and his fellow 'Shadow Guards' are immortals who now live 'beyond the veil' and stop really bad guys from becoming so bad that they are able to 'cross the veil' and kill the remaining immortals living there in peace and prosperity. He actually saved Elena from death when she was caught up in his 'disposal' of a bad guy. He was immediately drawn to her and couldn't stand to see her die. He directed his factotum to 'take care' of her, but seeing as how his factotum loves to read penny dreadfuls, his idea of 'taking care' turned out to be quite different from his lords! Now Archer is chasing a terrifyingly strong bad guy (Jack the Ripper) whose killing grounds are entirely too close to the hospital where Elena works. If he could just keep his mind off Elena, his job would be much easier.
As I said, the plot is compelling, but several times I felt I must be 'missing' some information that would clear things up for me because I became confused on the hows and whys. Additionally, while the kissing and love scenes are hot, there was just too much pushing and pulling on both sides and I didn't feel much of a connection between the hero and heroine. Kim Lenox does have a second book in this series planned and the hero of that book appears in this one. If you can overlook the things I mentioned, give it a spin.
Elena can't remember anything about her life from before a year and a half ago when she was in an almost fatal accident. She now lives in the luxurious mansion of her guardian, the mysterious and unknown-to-her Lord Black. She fills her days helping out at the hospital where she spent so much time recovering from her accident. These activities have awakened a desire to become a doctor herself, but she knows it won't be easy for a woman of these times to be accepted into training...not to mention expensive. But why should her guardian care?
Lord Black is really Archer, an immortal being who has existed since the beginning of time. He and his fellow 'Shadow Guards' are immortals who now live 'beyond the veil' and stop really bad guys from becoming so bad that they are able to 'cross the veil' and kill the remaining immortals living there in peace and prosperity. He actually saved Elena from death when she was caught up in his 'disposal' of a bad guy. He was immediately drawn to her and couldn't stand to see her die. He directed his factotum to 'take care' of her, but seeing as how his factotum loves to read penny dreadfuls, his idea of 'taking care' turned out to be quite different from his lords! Now Archer is chasing a terrifyingly strong bad guy (Jack the Ripper) whose killing grounds are entirely too close to the hospital where Elena works. If he could just keep his mind off Elena, his job would be much easier.
As I said, the plot is compelling, but several times I felt I must be 'missing' some information that would clear things up for me because I became confused on the hows and whys. Additionally, while the kissing and love scenes are hot, there was just too much pushing and pulling on both sides and I didn't feel much of a connection between the hero and heroine. Kim Lenox does have a second book in this series planned and the hero of that book appears in this one. If you can overlook the things I mentioned, give it a spin.
June 7, 2009
Her Shadow Guards series is about a selective group of immortals who have the responsibility of eliminating those souls who are wicked and so very evil. I guess you can compare this series to a paranormal Law and Order or CSI with a historical twist. The first book in this series, Night Falls Darkly, is about the killer, Jack the Ripper who wants to transcend into the Inner Realm and wreak havoc among the immortals there, just like he is doing to the human mortals in London. For some reason he is only targeting London’s East End prostitutes to murder. Since the London police have their hands tied with this killer, there is only one who can stop him, and that is Archer Black, an immortal who works as a Reclaimer for the Shadow Guard. Archer is not alone and has back up in the form of two immortal siblings, Selene, who sleeps with snakes and eats documents, ink and all, to become more knowledgeable against those they must destroy, and her brother Mark, who is Archer’s second in command. Mark likes to one up Archer so he can come out on top and receive the praise he thinks he deserves. These three can hardly stand each other, but because they are trying to achieve one common goal, they must try and get along.
Archer comes across as dark, broody and cold, but he has a weakness, and that is Elena Whitney who he brought back from the dead. Two years ago he was chasing after a rapist, and Elena was caught in the middle. Elena has amnesia because Archer erased all her memories. She is the ward of the mysterious Lord Black whom she has never met. Elena has quite the life of luxury because Lord Black is obscenely rich and she has many things at her disposal. Elena wants to meet her benefactor to thank him, and make him aware that she wants to become a doctor. For the time being she volunteers as a nurse in a hospital close to Whitechapel where most of the Ripper’s killings have taken place. Elena doesn’t care that her life could be in danger because she must help those unfortunate enough not to have good health care. Then out of the blue Lord Black comes to pay a visit.
Elena is already half in love with her guardian because she has imagined what he looks like and how things will be when they will meet. Archer and Elena’s first meeting does not go the way Elena thought it would because he insults her by acting as if he doesn’t know who she is and can’t even remember her name. Elena is heartbroken. Archer feels the same way because he is lusting after Elena, but can’t act on his desires because he is this immortal with all the weight of the world on his shoulder. But that never stopped two characters such as these from denying themselves just because of a bit of an age difference.
For the next few hundred pages or so, Archer and Elena go on their merry way where Elena will continue to find herself in dangerous places just because she feels the need to be super nurse, and Archer goes out late at night where he tries his best to locate Jack, but always fails. Jack is always one step ahead, and not Archer or his fellow underling crime fighters can stop him. Things go from bad to worse when Jack realizes how much Elena means to Archer, and then begins to target her.
Night Falls Darkly should be a chilling atmospheric tale with great action and a wonderful romance. I have no doubt that readers who enjoy the Jack the Ripper legend will enjoy this twist that Kim Lenox has written. And it was also nice to see a change in the setting, especially with Victorian England rather then the same old Regency wallpaper reads being published. But even with these pluses, I found myself finding too many minuses to really want to continue on with the next book in this series. I simply could not keep myself interested with the characters or even the mystery itself. Simply put, I was bored.
My main pet peeve was with Archer and Elena. Archer is just like every other hero I have read in past paranormal romance. His motivations were not clear enough for me to understand. I felt like Archer arrived on the scene and you take him as he is. We had no back story of who he was or why he acts the way he does. We know he cares for Elena, so much so to save her life, but why? What is about Elena that makes him care? I found Elena to be too perfect, especially with her, “I have to save the world!” Mary Sunshine attitude. When we are first introduced to Elena, she is much like Archer, where we have no clue who she really is because of her accident. And when she finally remembers everything, because Archer gives her back her memories back, I felt I was robbed. This build up was very weak in regards to Elena. I also found the chemistry between the two lacking. The majority of the time these two hardly interact with each other, and when they did, Elena would snipe at Archer. He in turn, would just stand much like a little boy with his head down because he had to deny his feelings for Elena. He can’t have Elena because of who he is. Well, we all know where that will go. And when these two have their love scene that is expected, it was not the bells and whistles I was expecting but more like a kazoo that lost its wax paper, as you blow, hardly any sound can be heard. Perhaps it was just me, but my reaction to their love story was more “meh” than anything.
The horrible serial killer, Jack, pops up every so often to taunt Archer. Again I couldn’t find any real enjoyment in that part of the story because Jack is a one-dimensional character with no real traits. This may have been done on purpose because Jack the Ripper is still very much an enigma that has never been solved.
I still give credit to Kim Lenox for coming up with the idea for Night Falls Darkly, but for this reader, I found it just a bit too flat for my reading tastes.
Archer comes across as dark, broody and cold, but he has a weakness, and that is Elena Whitney who he brought back from the dead. Two years ago he was chasing after a rapist, and Elena was caught in the middle. Elena has amnesia because Archer erased all her memories. She is the ward of the mysterious Lord Black whom she has never met. Elena has quite the life of luxury because Lord Black is obscenely rich and she has many things at her disposal. Elena wants to meet her benefactor to thank him, and make him aware that she wants to become a doctor. For the time being she volunteers as a nurse in a hospital close to Whitechapel where most of the Ripper’s killings have taken place. Elena doesn’t care that her life could be in danger because she must help those unfortunate enough not to have good health care. Then out of the blue Lord Black comes to pay a visit.
Elena is already half in love with her guardian because she has imagined what he looks like and how things will be when they will meet. Archer and Elena’s first meeting does not go the way Elena thought it would because he insults her by acting as if he doesn’t know who she is and can’t even remember her name. Elena is heartbroken. Archer feels the same way because he is lusting after Elena, but can’t act on his desires because he is this immortal with all the weight of the world on his shoulder. But that never stopped two characters such as these from denying themselves just because of a bit of an age difference.
For the next few hundred pages or so, Archer and Elena go on their merry way where Elena will continue to find herself in dangerous places just because she feels the need to be super nurse, and Archer goes out late at night where he tries his best to locate Jack, but always fails. Jack is always one step ahead, and not Archer or his fellow underling crime fighters can stop him. Things go from bad to worse when Jack realizes how much Elena means to Archer, and then begins to target her.
Night Falls Darkly should be a chilling atmospheric tale with great action and a wonderful romance. I have no doubt that readers who enjoy the Jack the Ripper legend will enjoy this twist that Kim Lenox has written. And it was also nice to see a change in the setting, especially with Victorian England rather then the same old Regency wallpaper reads being published. But even with these pluses, I found myself finding too many minuses to really want to continue on with the next book in this series. I simply could not keep myself interested with the characters or even the mystery itself. Simply put, I was bored.
My main pet peeve was with Archer and Elena. Archer is just like every other hero I have read in past paranormal romance. His motivations were not clear enough for me to understand. I felt like Archer arrived on the scene and you take him as he is. We had no back story of who he was or why he acts the way he does. We know he cares for Elena, so much so to save her life, but why? What is about Elena that makes him care? I found Elena to be too perfect, especially with her, “I have to save the world!” Mary Sunshine attitude. When we are first introduced to Elena, she is much like Archer, where we have no clue who she really is because of her accident. And when she finally remembers everything, because Archer gives her back her memories back, I felt I was robbed. This build up was very weak in regards to Elena. I also found the chemistry between the two lacking. The majority of the time these two hardly interact with each other, and when they did, Elena would snipe at Archer. He in turn, would just stand much like a little boy with his head down because he had to deny his feelings for Elena. He can’t have Elena because of who he is. Well, we all know where that will go. And when these two have their love scene that is expected, it was not the bells and whistles I was expecting but more like a kazoo that lost its wax paper, as you blow, hardly any sound can be heard. Perhaps it was just me, but my reaction to their love story was more “meh” than anything.
The horrible serial killer, Jack, pops up every so often to taunt Archer. Again I couldn’t find any real enjoyment in that part of the story because Jack is a one-dimensional character with no real traits. This may have been done on purpose because Jack the Ripper is still very much an enigma that has never been solved.
I still give credit to Kim Lenox for coming up with the idea for Night Falls Darkly, but for this reader, I found it just a bit too flat for my reading tastes.
April 16, 2010
Night Falls Darkly was my first Kim Lenox novel, and I was impressed!
I picked it up thinking it would be a good novel to pass the time, but it turned out to be an amazing read that I couldn't put down. I had 5 pages to go and I had to leave for work, all day at work that's all I was thinking about. It was pretty nerve wrecking!
The novel takes place in White chapel, England during the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. Night Falls Darkly is the first installment of the Shadow Guard series with the sequel, "So Still the Night" released last may.
Due to an unfortunate accident two years prior, Elena Whitney is unable to remember anything significant about her past. Now being the ward of Lord Black, that Elena has not even met before (or at least doesn't doesn't think she has), being a nurse in White Chapel, Elena wants more than anything to become a doctor. But to become a female doctor is not very likely during those times.
Early into the book Elena arrives home to find Archer, Lord Black, has arrived at his house. She doesn't know what to expect of him, and she finds out he his not at all like she expected. Mysterious and darkly handsome, Lord Black is hardly bad on the eyes. But he also appears to her in only a towel, which makes her mouth dry. Her enthusiasm is dampened when she realizes he
doesn’t recognize her as his ward. He didn't realize she'd be staying in his house while he was away, thinking she would be staying in a boarding house. So he didn't expect her to be there when he arrived. But he is furious with himself for acting the way he did and soon heads out to find Elena and explain. Archer's main priority is to hunt down and kill Jack The Ripper, but he can't afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction.
I don't want to give too much away about our beloved couple, but I can honestly say this book was amazing. I was glued to the page. The history and romance is perfect, the plot is fascinating and the characters are well written and interesting. Not to mention charming. This story is very passionate and intriguing. I found it truly made me feel as if I was in White Chaptel all those years ago. Lenox has a way with words that makes me believe all she writes.
I'm not into historical romances too much, but if they were more like this book, I'd say they'd be one of my favorite genres. I do wish we had more information of the immortals history since Lenox only just starts to scratch the surface of the story in Night Falls Darkly, telling us the bare minimum about the Immortals, which is okay because I know we'll get it all in the books to come. I like a series that builds on the past and future of the characters lives in each book.
I enjoyed having some well known characters slip in the story, like Queen Victoria, Mr. Stoker, and of course Jack himself.
If this book isn't a page turner, no book is.
I picked it up thinking it would be a good novel to pass the time, but it turned out to be an amazing read that I couldn't put down. I had 5 pages to go and I had to leave for work, all day at work that's all I was thinking about. It was pretty nerve wrecking!
The novel takes place in White chapel, England during the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. Night Falls Darkly is the first installment of the Shadow Guard series with the sequel, "So Still the Night" released last may.
Due to an unfortunate accident two years prior, Elena Whitney is unable to remember anything significant about her past. Now being the ward of Lord Black, that Elena has not even met before (or at least doesn't doesn't think she has), being a nurse in White Chapel, Elena wants more than anything to become a doctor. But to become a female doctor is not very likely during those times.
Early into the book Elena arrives home to find Archer, Lord Black, has arrived at his house. She doesn't know what to expect of him, and she finds out he his not at all like she expected. Mysterious and darkly handsome, Lord Black is hardly bad on the eyes. But he also appears to her in only a towel, which makes her mouth dry. Her enthusiasm is dampened when she realizes he
doesn’t recognize her as his ward. He didn't realize she'd be staying in his house while he was away, thinking she would be staying in a boarding house. So he didn't expect her to be there when he arrived. But he is furious with himself for acting the way he did and soon heads out to find Elena and explain. Archer's main priority is to hunt down and kill Jack The Ripper, but he can't afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction.
I don't want to give too much away about our beloved couple, but I can honestly say this book was amazing. I was glued to the page. The history and romance is perfect, the plot is fascinating and the characters are well written and interesting. Not to mention charming. This story is very passionate and intriguing. I found it truly made me feel as if I was in White Chaptel all those years ago. Lenox has a way with words that makes me believe all she writes.
I'm not into historical romances too much, but if they were more like this book, I'd say they'd be one of my favorite genres. I do wish we had more information of the immortals history since Lenox only just starts to scratch the surface of the story in Night Falls Darkly, telling us the bare minimum about the Immortals, which is okay because I know we'll get it all in the books to come. I like a series that builds on the past and future of the characters lives in each book.
I enjoyed having some well known characters slip in the story, like Queen Victoria, Mr. Stoker, and of course Jack himself.
If this book isn't a page turner, no book is.
December 29, 2008
4.5 out of 5. I really enjoyed this paranormal one and cannot wait till the next one is published.
This book is written to the times of the late 1880's. The Shadow Guard is and ancient line of guardians between the mortal and immortal planes. The Shadow Guard reclaim the souls of the most vile creatures that roam the earth. This book is related around the murders committed by Jack the Ripper in London.
Elena is the ward of Lord Black. She has amnesia and cannot remember her past except for a locket that has a picture of her father.
Archer, Lord Black, Is the oldest member of the Shadow Guardians and the most trusted. He saved Elena from being murdered by a hideous child pedophile and erased her memories.
But they are both in love with each other but there are problems as the book unfolds.
This one kept my interest, a real page turner for me and I really enjoyed a work of fiction that has real historical facts intertwined with it.
This book is written to the times of the late 1880's. The Shadow Guard is and ancient line of guardians between the mortal and immortal planes. The Shadow Guard reclaim the souls of the most vile creatures that roam the earth. This book is related around the murders committed by Jack the Ripper in London.
Elena is the ward of Lord Black. She has amnesia and cannot remember her past except for a locket that has a picture of her father.
Archer, Lord Black, Is the oldest member of the Shadow Guardians and the most trusted. He saved Elena from being murdered by a hideous child pedophile and erased her memories.
But they are both in love with each other but there are problems as the book unfolds.
This one kept my interest, a real page turner for me and I really enjoyed a work of fiction that has real historical facts intertwined with it.
November 2, 2011
Elena has little memory of her life in the past and now lives in a mansion under the guardianship of Lord Black, but when he comes for a visit, he is not what Elena was expecting. When she sees him the first time almost totally stark naked apart from some cloth I was green with envy!
Sparks fly between Elena and Lord Black and the tension between them sizzles but he must remember why he has come back and not get distracted. Lord Black has returned back to London because he is on the hunt, after Jack the ripper who is killing women as he is a shadow guardian he needs to stop him and Reclaim his soul. I really wanted to love this book, mostly because of the cover I mean look at it! I am not much for the historical romance genre even with this books paranormal edge, but I picked up this book and decided to give it a shot anyway. The wording and accented speech was well done with the old cockney accents. I liked how Elena had a mind of her own and was determined to make a name for herself in the profession of her choosing and not willing to submit to being married off. I think those of you who are fans of the historical romance genre will love this, but for someone like me who only dabbles lightly in the genre, it just didn’t float my boat.
“Elena turned. Her eyes widened.
Flickering lamplight revealed the outline of a man standing in a small alcove off the study. A tall, naked man, save for the small narrow swath of linen he clasped against a tightly corded hip. His skin glistened and golden, except for the defining shadows that clung to each tautened sinew. Behind him sat an enamelled hip tub.”
Sparks fly between Elena and Lord Black and the tension between them sizzles but he must remember why he has come back and not get distracted. Lord Black has returned back to London because he is on the hunt, after Jack the ripper who is killing women as he is a shadow guardian he needs to stop him and Reclaim his soul. I really wanted to love this book, mostly because of the cover I mean look at it! I am not much for the historical romance genre even with this books paranormal edge, but I picked up this book and decided to give it a shot anyway. The wording and accented speech was well done with the old cockney accents. I liked how Elena had a mind of her own and was determined to make a name for herself in the profession of her choosing and not willing to submit to being married off. I think those of you who are fans of the historical romance genre will love this, but for someone like me who only dabbles lightly in the genre, it just didn’t float my boat.
September 21, 2012
I enjoyed this book - the hero had a personality you could feel - and angst to go along with it. The heroine was a spunky thing with ideas ahead of her time, not a pushover at all. The two of them together crackled!
The story was interesting, however, I found the bits about the Immortal world building a bit on the dull side. Plus the Jack the Ripper thing just didn't work for me. It felt so very anti-climatic in the way he got his comeuppance and I never felt that the heroine was in any real danger from him as her rescue came along way too fast.
Plus, what was going on about the end? A major cliffhanger which speaks to me like a marketing tool to buy the next book to see what happens. I don't like this bulldozing.
Aside from these things, I really did enjoy the story and I will read the next, despite the in-your-face approach...
The story was interesting, however, I found the bits about the Immortal world building a bit on the dull side. Plus the Jack the Ripper thing just didn't work for me. It felt so very anti-climatic in the way he got his comeuppance and I never felt that the heroine was in any real danger from him as her rescue came along way too fast.
Plus, what was going on about the end? A major cliffhanger which speaks to me like a marketing tool to buy the next book to see what happens. I don't like this bulldozing.
Aside from these things, I really did enjoy the story and I will read the next, despite the in-your-face approach...
Read
September 21, 2012I enjoyed the premise of the book and found the back story intriguing. However, I felt like the story was rushed to fit into ~300 pages. The character interactions in the last 100 pages felt forced, and I just couldn't buy into some of Elena's reactions as the story progressed. I felt like extending the length to develop the characters further could have greatly enriched the story. That said, I was interested enough to see it through to the end, and I would consider another of the author's works.
November 1, 2009
5 stars – Paranormal/Victorian Historical Romance
April 9, 2019
In book 1 in the Shadow Guard series, Elena has severe, permanent amnesia (she lost all her memories from birth to the “accident,” which happened a year earlier), but her guardian, Lord Black, provides everything she needs financially. Even though she lives in his manor, she’s never met him since he’s been aboard. When he returns, she hopes he’ll help her uncover her lost memories.
Archer, Lord Black, is an ancient immortal and the oldest of the Shadow Guard. For his age, the book states he’s been around since the beginning of time. He saved Elena’s life the year prior and purposely gave her amnesia to protect his immortal secret. When they meet again, he’s torn three ways: he needs to concentrate on finding Jack the Ripper (a Transcending soul who’s part of a larger conspiracy); he wants to spend time with Elena because she’s intriguing; and he wants to avoid Elena because his immortality forbids him from falling in love with a mortal.
Archer and Elena barely talked or spent any time together, so I didn’t feel much romance between them. There’s only one sex scene and it was breezed over.
I couldn’t relate to the H/h. Archer destroyed Elena’s chances for medical school because he wanted her to marry and have kids like a “respectable” woman should. Also, what kind of hero gives the heroine amnesia?
Elena is infatuated with Archer and forgives him very easily for stealing her memories. She also spurns the love of a much better, more decent suitor. Her actions didn't seem logical.
The Shadow Guard is a special warrior branch of the Amaranthines race, and their job is to kill corrupt human souls that are in the process of Transcending. Their special power is that they can literally turn into a shadow to better stalk their targets and use immortal blades to kill with. (This information is revealed in bits and pieces. Most of it didn’t make sense to me.)
The beginning captured my interest, but then the pacing slowed. The book could use a light edit to add in missing periods and fix stray POV shifts. Even though this story just wasn’t for me, opinions are subjective. I have two other books in the series and I’m interested in reading those.
2 Stars
Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
Archer, Lord Black, is an ancient immortal and the oldest of the Shadow Guard. For his age, the book states he’s been around since the beginning of time. He saved Elena’s life the year prior and purposely gave her amnesia to protect his immortal secret. When they meet again, he’s torn three ways: he needs to concentrate on finding Jack the Ripper (a Transcending soul who’s part of a larger conspiracy); he wants to spend time with Elena because she’s intriguing; and he wants to avoid Elena because his immortality forbids him from falling in love with a mortal.
Archer and Elena barely talked or spent any time together, so I didn’t feel much romance between them. There’s only one sex scene and it was breezed over.
I couldn’t relate to the H/h. Archer destroyed Elena’s chances for medical school because he wanted her to marry and have kids like a “respectable” woman should. Also, what kind of hero gives the heroine amnesia?
Elena is infatuated with Archer and forgives him very easily for stealing her memories. She also spurns the love of a much better, more decent suitor. Her actions didn't seem logical.
The Shadow Guard is a special warrior branch of the Amaranthines race, and their job is to kill corrupt human souls that are in the process of Transcending. Their special power is that they can literally turn into a shadow to better stalk their targets and use immortal blades to kill with. (This information is revealed in bits and pieces. Most of it didn’t make sense to me.)
The beginning captured my interest, but then the pacing slowed. The book could use a light edit to add in missing periods and fix stray POV shifts. Even though this story just wasn’t for me, opinions are subjective. I have two other books in the series and I’m interested in reading those.
2 Stars
Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
November 14, 2018
IF THIS WAS A MOTION PICTURE I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED IT MORE. ROMANCE ASIDE, THE ENTIRE STORY WAS UNIQUE AND UTTERLY FASCINATING. BUT THE ROMANCE WISE...THE CHARACTERS WERE PRETTY MUCH WRITTEN IN STONE I JUST DIDN'T BUY INTO IT TILL LATER.
OUR HERO is an Immortal who hunts souls who have sinned and must be sent to Tartarus. A different spin on the same concept we have read plenty before. But because of the setting in the historical era, I say hell yes it works! Archer is a man I can't puzzle out in the beginning. It's like the author just plopped him into the story after introducing the heroine I was ABIT lost at first about who he was. He's Elena's guardian, and he also saved her life once before in a moment of weakness and rarity. Despite his desire for her, he is hellbent to keep his distance yet his ward is impossible to ignore. With his latest mission to reel in Jack the Ripper, a conundrum from all the evils he has hunted, the almost infallible Archer is worried that the mortal he loves will be endangered.
OUR HEROINE doesn't remember her past. All she knows is what her Guardian has relayed and she also believes him to be an older man, and a kind, benevolent one. Except she's wrong and terribly disappointed when the sudden appearance of her Guardian in her life makes her realize that he doesn't even remember her name, never received her letters and makes it painfully obvious he doesn't want anything to do with her. Although she can't help but be attracted to him and intrigued by who he is.
OVERALL the romance got better after the first few chapters, AFTER I got my bearings on what the hell was going on. Perhaps the story intro for a first book in the series needed working on, and the characters' chemistry just dropped in from the middle of nowhere. Would have been nice to have a built up. Would I read this again? No, I don't think I will because it didn't make an impression.
OUR HERO is an Immortal who hunts souls who have sinned and must be sent to Tartarus. A different spin on the same concept we have read plenty before. But because of the setting in the historical era, I say hell yes it works! Archer is a man I can't puzzle out in the beginning. It's like the author just plopped him into the story after introducing the heroine I was ABIT lost at first about who he was. He's Elena's guardian, and he also saved her life once before in a moment of weakness and rarity. Despite his desire for her, he is hellbent to keep his distance yet his ward is impossible to ignore. With his latest mission to reel in Jack the Ripper, a conundrum from all the evils he has hunted, the almost infallible Archer is worried that the mortal he loves will be endangered.
OUR HEROINE doesn't remember her past. All she knows is what her Guardian has relayed and she also believes him to be an older man, and a kind, benevolent one. Except she's wrong and terribly disappointed when the sudden appearance of her Guardian in her life makes her realize that he doesn't even remember her name, never received her letters and makes it painfully obvious he doesn't want anything to do with her. Although she can't help but be attracted to him and intrigued by who he is.
OVERALL the romance got better after the first few chapters, AFTER I got my bearings on what the hell was going on. Perhaps the story intro for a first book in the series needed working on, and the characters' chemistry just dropped in from the middle of nowhere. Would have been nice to have a built up. Would I read this again? No, I don't think I will because it didn't make an impression.
April 6, 2021
3.5 stars
December 9, 2012
Erster Satz: "Zeigen Sie sich, Mr. Winslor."
Wenn die Nacht beginnt war eines der Bücher, auf die ich mich diesen Monat am meisten gefreut habe. Eine Geschichte mit Unsterblichen zu der Zeit in der Jack the Ripper in London sein Unwesen treibt. Spannender geht es nichtmehr. Dachte ich zumindest. Die Geschichte beginnt mit Archer der gerade auf der Jagd nach einem Mr. Winslor ist. Am Anfang war mir Archer nicht gerade sympathisch und wie man ihn kennenlernt... nun, mit so etwas hatte ich nicht gerechnet. Winslor nimmt Elena als Schutzschild und schließlich stürzen beide von dem Dach auf dem sie bisher gestanden hatten.
Scheinbar hat Elena überlebt, denn als nächstes lernt man sie als das Mündel eines wohlhabenden Lords kennen das im Hospital in Whitechapel als Krankenschwester arbeitet. Lord Black soll ein Freund ihres verstorbenen Vaters gewesen sein, doch da Elena sich an nichts erinnert, weiß sie nicht ob das stimmt. Auch hat sie ihren Vormund niemals kennengelernt. Bis zu dem Tag an dem er plötzlich und unerwartet von seiner Auslandsreise zurückkehrt. Von Anfang an ist zwischen den beiden eine gewisse Spannung, auch wenn beide anfangs dagegen ankämpfen. Vor allem Archer fällt dies schwer, denn er weiß das er eigentlich bessere Dinge zutun hat, zum Beispiel seine Vollstreckung beenden und Jack the Ripper unschädlich machen.
Angesichts der Kurzbeschreibung hatte ich vermutet das Jack the Ripper eine größere Rolle spielen würde und das tut er auch durchaus, allerdings nicht so groß wie ich vermutet hatte. Er muss aufgehalten werden bevor er transzendiert und das innere Reich der Amaranthiner betreten kann. Denn genau das ist Archer, genauso wie Selene und Mark, ein Amaranthiner, noch dazu ein Uralter. Einer der von Angebinn der Zeit existiert und als Schattenwächter fungiert. Er beschützt das Reich seiner Rasse indem er abgrundtief böse Menschen daran hintert zu transzendieren. Eigentlich ist das ganze recht spannend, nur bekommt es leider neben der Liebesgeschichte zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit. Die Liebesgeschichte steht hier eindeutig im Vordergrund, was ich bei dem Plot falsch finde, denn er hätte so viel mehr hergeben können. So viel verschenktes Potenzial.
Auch über die Amaranthiner erfährt man nicht sonderlich viel, allerdings ist dies ja der erste Band der Shadow Guard Reihe, es kann also durchaus sein das man in den Folgebänden noch mehr erfährt. Mir gefiel die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Elena und Archer durchaus. Elena ist eine sehr sympathische Frau mit den richtigen moralischen Werten. Archer fand ich bis zum Ende sehr undurchlässig. Wirklich richtig sympathisch wurde er mir nicht, irgendwie fehlte bei ihm das gewisse Etwas. Man erfährt so gut wie nichts persönliches über ihn und das, wo solche Dinge einen Charakter doch erst wirklich ausmachen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fazit
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Meine Erwartungen hat Wenn die Nacht beginnt nicht erfüllt, dennoch war der erste Shadow Guard Band unterhaltsam und leicht und schnell zu lesen. Ich gebe die Hoffnung noch nicht aus das im nächsten Band ein wenig mehr auf den Plot eingegangen wird und die Liebesgeschichte nicht so im Vordergrund steht, denn das war hier eindeutig das Problem. Ein gesundes Mittelmaß ist die Lösung.
Wenn die Nacht beginnt war eines der Bücher, auf die ich mich diesen Monat am meisten gefreut habe. Eine Geschichte mit Unsterblichen zu der Zeit in der Jack the Ripper in London sein Unwesen treibt. Spannender geht es nichtmehr. Dachte ich zumindest. Die Geschichte beginnt mit Archer der gerade auf der Jagd nach einem Mr. Winslor ist. Am Anfang war mir Archer nicht gerade sympathisch und wie man ihn kennenlernt... nun, mit so etwas hatte ich nicht gerechnet. Winslor nimmt Elena als Schutzschild und schließlich stürzen beide von dem Dach auf dem sie bisher gestanden hatten.
Scheinbar hat Elena überlebt, denn als nächstes lernt man sie als das Mündel eines wohlhabenden Lords kennen das im Hospital in Whitechapel als Krankenschwester arbeitet. Lord Black soll ein Freund ihres verstorbenen Vaters gewesen sein, doch da Elena sich an nichts erinnert, weiß sie nicht ob das stimmt. Auch hat sie ihren Vormund niemals kennengelernt. Bis zu dem Tag an dem er plötzlich und unerwartet von seiner Auslandsreise zurückkehrt. Von Anfang an ist zwischen den beiden eine gewisse Spannung, auch wenn beide anfangs dagegen ankämpfen. Vor allem Archer fällt dies schwer, denn er weiß das er eigentlich bessere Dinge zutun hat, zum Beispiel seine Vollstreckung beenden und Jack the Ripper unschädlich machen.
Angesichts der Kurzbeschreibung hatte ich vermutet das Jack the Ripper eine größere Rolle spielen würde und das tut er auch durchaus, allerdings nicht so groß wie ich vermutet hatte. Er muss aufgehalten werden bevor er transzendiert und das innere Reich der Amaranthiner betreten kann. Denn genau das ist Archer, genauso wie Selene und Mark, ein Amaranthiner, noch dazu ein Uralter. Einer der von Angebinn der Zeit existiert und als Schattenwächter fungiert. Er beschützt das Reich seiner Rasse indem er abgrundtief böse Menschen daran hintert zu transzendieren. Eigentlich ist das ganze recht spannend, nur bekommt es leider neben der Liebesgeschichte zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit. Die Liebesgeschichte steht hier eindeutig im Vordergrund, was ich bei dem Plot falsch finde, denn er hätte so viel mehr hergeben können. So viel verschenktes Potenzial.
Auch über die Amaranthiner erfährt man nicht sonderlich viel, allerdings ist dies ja der erste Band der Shadow Guard Reihe, es kann also durchaus sein das man in den Folgebänden noch mehr erfährt. Mir gefiel die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Elena und Archer durchaus. Elena ist eine sehr sympathische Frau mit den richtigen moralischen Werten. Archer fand ich bis zum Ende sehr undurchlässig. Wirklich richtig sympathisch wurde er mir nicht, irgendwie fehlte bei ihm das gewisse Etwas. Man erfährt so gut wie nichts persönliches über ihn und das, wo solche Dinge einen Charakter doch erst wirklich ausmachen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fazit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meine Erwartungen hat Wenn die Nacht beginnt nicht erfüllt, dennoch war der erste Shadow Guard Band unterhaltsam und leicht und schnell zu lesen. Ich gebe die Hoffnung noch nicht aus das im nächsten Band ein wenig mehr auf den Plot eingegangen wird und die Liebesgeschichte nicht so im Vordergrund steht, denn das war hier eindeutig das Problem. Ein gesundes Mittelmaß ist die Lösung.
Read
November 14, 2018For the past two years, Elena Whitney has wanted for nothing. Clothes, money, a fashionable address, and the freedom to pursue her passion for medicine – all have been granted to her by her absent benefactor, Lord Black. In fact, the only thing Elena does not have is her memory of her life before coming to live in Lord Black’s home. When her mysterious guardian returns to London, Elena seizes the chance to get some much-needed answers.
One of the oldest and most talented members of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer, Lord Black, has returned to London. His mission? Capture and Reclaim the soul of a killer who is none other than Jack the Ripper. Archer can’t afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction. Archer saved her life two years before and has done his best to put her out of his mind ever since. But as panic spreads throughout London, Archer and Elena are increasingly drawn to one another. Will they have a chance to act on their newfound passion? Or will the deadly Ripper make Elena his next victim?
Murder, mayhem, passion, and the paranormal – Night Falls Darkly has it all. Kim Lenox kicks off her intriguing new series with a fascinating plot and an interesting cast of characters who are sure to charm. I suppose Elena can be considered a somewhat unusual Victorian heroine. Though unimaginable wealth and opportunity for marriage lie at her feet, Elena’s true passion is medicine and she spends her time working as a nurse and desires to become a doctor. I liked that about her; it made her stand out to me as a heroine. She’s intelligent, inquisitive, brave, and willing to stand up to anyone, even her guardian. Archer, for his part, is a wonderful hero. He’s sexy and ruthlessly efficient at his job, but to my delight this was countered by his being thrown off balance by Elena and his feelings for her. Archer and Elena were two strong-willed characters who matched one another perfectly on every level. Adding to the cast are the twins, Mark and Selene, two other members of the Shadow Guard. Both Mark and Selene are unique characters, each of them adding another layer to the story. I finished Night Falls Darkly incredibly impatient to read Mark’s story, So Still the Night.
The only thing I would wish for is more background information. I finished Night Falls Darkly not fully clear about the details of the Shadow Guard, the Amaranthine (Archer’s immortal race), Reclaiming, and Transcension. What little explanation was offered was given in an almost off-hand manner, as if I should already know the information. This struck me as a bit odd for the first book in a series. It is my hope that So Still the Night provides more insight into the Shadow Guard world, for Ms. Lenox has created a universe that has the potential to be incredibly fascinating. Still, I greatly enjoyed Night Falls Darkly and can’t wait for the next installment in Ms. Lenox’s exciting new series.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
One of the oldest and most talented members of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer, Lord Black, has returned to London. His mission? Capture and Reclaim the soul of a killer who is none other than Jack the Ripper. Archer can’t afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction. Archer saved her life two years before and has done his best to put her out of his mind ever since. But as panic spreads throughout London, Archer and Elena are increasingly drawn to one another. Will they have a chance to act on their newfound passion? Or will the deadly Ripper make Elena his next victim?
Murder, mayhem, passion, and the paranormal – Night Falls Darkly has it all. Kim Lenox kicks off her intriguing new series with a fascinating plot and an interesting cast of characters who are sure to charm. I suppose Elena can be considered a somewhat unusual Victorian heroine. Though unimaginable wealth and opportunity for marriage lie at her feet, Elena’s true passion is medicine and she spends her time working as a nurse and desires to become a doctor. I liked that about her; it made her stand out to me as a heroine. She’s intelligent, inquisitive, brave, and willing to stand up to anyone, even her guardian. Archer, for his part, is a wonderful hero. He’s sexy and ruthlessly efficient at his job, but to my delight this was countered by his being thrown off balance by Elena and his feelings for her. Archer and Elena were two strong-willed characters who matched one another perfectly on every level. Adding to the cast are the twins, Mark and Selene, two other members of the Shadow Guard. Both Mark and Selene are unique characters, each of them adding another layer to the story. I finished Night Falls Darkly incredibly impatient to read Mark’s story, So Still the Night.
The only thing I would wish for is more background information. I finished Night Falls Darkly not fully clear about the details of the Shadow Guard, the Amaranthine (Archer’s immortal race), Reclaiming, and Transcension. What little explanation was offered was given in an almost off-hand manner, as if I should already know the information. This struck me as a bit odd for the first book in a series. It is my hope that So Still the Night provides more insight into the Shadow Guard world, for Ms. Lenox has created a universe that has the potential to be incredibly fascinating. Still, I greatly enjoyed Night Falls Darkly and can’t wait for the next installment in Ms. Lenox’s exciting new series.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
October 5, 2015
This was a very interesting novel to read. I actually found this one at a resale shop and thought for a moment that it looked dark. Imagine my surprise when I found out that this novel is placed in the late 1800's in London. Talk about a dark time. Of course once I knew this I had to buy it and find out what it's about. It's not very often that I find a novel not based in the present or near future, but when I do find one my curiosity always gets the best of me. It actually wasn't that bad of a read, however I wouldn't put it on my list of favorites. This novel has to do with immortals, to a certain degree, and what they can do. One of these immortals is Archer, one of the longest living Shadow Guards that they have. He became the very first Shadow Guard after a soul that he was to reclaim killed his first love. He's been doing his duty for a very long time and never kills an innocent. He can transform into his beast side or a mist if he has to. He's never let anybody get in the way of his duty until he met Elena. Elena had ended up getting in the way of Archer's kill when they first met. She had been dragged along by the soul that was to be reclaimed and they'd both fell off a rooftop. Archer had ended up saving her and then left her in a big mansion, with an even larger inheritance. After the recovery from her fall, which she can't remember, she became a nurse at the hospital. Elena wants nothing more than to be a Doctor and to help people just like her. This makes it even more interesting since a serial killer named Jack the Ripper has been set loose. This makes for a good story plot, because Jack the Ripper is a famous character that nobody knows anything about. Perhaps this could be one of the ways it went down all those years ago. In a not real, but we hope so kind of way that is. This novel has a rather simple plot, but nonetheless a good one. It's more tuned in to Elena, so there's actually not that much action. This is more of a romance novel than an action filled one, and that part doesn't even show until the middle. I romance part was good though and I especially liked it when they keep getting pushed apart. It made it much more interesting to read and with the lack of action in this novel you definitely need interesting. For being set back in the late 1800's it wasn't that bad. I couldn't tell if it was historically accurate or not, but it did feel like it to me. It's certainly in a time when all that matters is pedigree and a dowry. So if you do enjoy a good romance novel, then by all means pick this novel up. Just don't pick it up if you're into action mixed with romance, because this certainly isn't it.
*Read on August 9th, 2015
*Read on August 9th, 2015
December 16, 2009
Elena Whitney cannot remember a thing about her past because of some accident. She doesn’t know that her savor Lord Black took her under his wings as his ward, but always made sure she didn’t see him, so Elena doesn’t know who he really is. Elena is determined to become a doctor and to help people, so she’s applying to schools, but being a woman makes it hard to get selected. On top of that the mysterious Lord Black has arrived and Elena is intrigued by Archer and falls madly in love with him.
Lord Black “Archer” is a member of the immortal Shadow Guards and it is his job to get rid of all kind of evil and at this moment he is chasing Jack the Ripper. Two years ago Archer saved Elena Whitney from the hands of a mad man. When he discovered that she couldn’t remember a thing from the attack and about her past, he took her in as his ward and provides her with everything she wanted.
But now it seems Jack the Ripper has sets his eyes on Elena. Archer knows he cannot be distracted and let his feelings for his ward be the end of them both. One thing is for sure, Elena will not be harmed by this maniac.
Night falls darkly by Kim Lenox is the first novel in her Shadow Guards series and I have to say it was good. I love the concept of using a part of Jack the Ripper in this novel.
Archer saved Elena when she was almost killed by a maniac and he proved her a home and loving servants to take care of her. Because he is a member of the Shadow Guards and is immortal, he knows he has to stay away form her. But when he is on a case and tries to catch Jack the Ripper in London, he cannot stay away from his home and comes face to face with Elena. She still cannot remember him being her savor all those years ago. The huge attraction between them cannot be ignored and when The Ripper sets his eyes on Elena, Archer will do anything in his power to keep her save from harm.
I’m glad that I discovered Kim Lenox when I was shopping for books to read, she is a new author to me, but definitely worth to discover. She wrote a fabulous book with Archer as a dark and mysterious hero and Elena as his heroine, a strong and determined young woman who wants to becomes the first female doctor.
I am definitely going to read the next book in this series, just to see if that one will be as good as this novel.
Lord Black “Archer” is a member of the immortal Shadow Guards and it is his job to get rid of all kind of evil and at this moment he is chasing Jack the Ripper. Two years ago Archer saved Elena Whitney from the hands of a mad man. When he discovered that she couldn’t remember a thing from the attack and about her past, he took her in as his ward and provides her with everything she wanted.
But now it seems Jack the Ripper has sets his eyes on Elena. Archer knows he cannot be distracted and let his feelings for his ward be the end of them both. One thing is for sure, Elena will not be harmed by this maniac.
Night falls darkly by Kim Lenox is the first novel in her Shadow Guards series and I have to say it was good. I love the concept of using a part of Jack the Ripper in this novel.
Archer saved Elena when she was almost killed by a maniac and he proved her a home and loving servants to take care of her. Because he is a member of the Shadow Guards and is immortal, he knows he has to stay away form her. But when he is on a case and tries to catch Jack the Ripper in London, he cannot stay away from his home and comes face to face with Elena. She still cannot remember him being her savor all those years ago. The huge attraction between them cannot be ignored and when The Ripper sets his eyes on Elena, Archer will do anything in his power to keep her save from harm.
I’m glad that I discovered Kim Lenox when I was shopping for books to read, she is a new author to me, but definitely worth to discover. She wrote a fabulous book with Archer as a dark and mysterious hero and Elena as his heroine, a strong and determined young woman who wants to becomes the first female doctor.
I am definitely going to read the next book in this series, just to see if that one will be as good as this novel.
August 29, 2011
Night Falls Darkly
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Archer, Lord Black is an immortal warrior whose only goal is to reclaim corrupt souls. That is until the day he saves Elena Whitney from a maniac and makes her his ward. Now, he has returned to London to reclaim the soul of Jack the Ripper and must come to terms with the emotions that Elena evokes in him before they prove to be a fatal distraction.
Review:
An intriguing mix of paranormal romance, historical romance and historical mystery. The traditional Jack the Ripper tale is engrossing as always and the additional twist as to his identity is unique to say the least. The author intersperses historical figures, such as Bram Stoker and Queen Victoria, among her fictitious characters, which adds an air of credibility to the paranormal elements and the gothic Victorian atmosphere contributes a chilling quality to the overall reading experience.
The hero is wonderfully drool-worthy and despite the fact that he initially comes across as moody and unfeeling, he is slowly revealed to be fiercely protective and intensely passionate. His chemistry with the heroine and the gripping buildup of their relationship is one of the highlights of the book.
The characterization is good but there is insufficient detail regarding Archer’s background and his relationship with the other Shadow Guards. The reader is unceremoniously dropped into the midst of their ongoing conflict and it takes a while for the circumstances to become clear. Elena’s motivation and emotions are better detailed even if her background is murky (this is explained by the fact that she suffers from amnesia). The other Shadow Guards evoke a certain amount of curiosity even though they are not particularly likeable characters.
While it is easy to follow the plot, Lenox’s writing style can be a little disorganized, and requires more exposition and explanation. Nevertheless, I will continue reading the series as its underlying mythology is very appealing.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Archer, Lord Black is an immortal warrior whose only goal is to reclaim corrupt souls. That is until the day he saves Elena Whitney from a maniac and makes her his ward. Now, he has returned to London to reclaim the soul of Jack the Ripper and must come to terms with the emotions that Elena evokes in him before they prove to be a fatal distraction.
Review:
An intriguing mix of paranormal romance, historical romance and historical mystery. The traditional Jack the Ripper tale is engrossing as always and the additional twist as to his identity is unique to say the least. The author intersperses historical figures, such as Bram Stoker and Queen Victoria, among her fictitious characters, which adds an air of credibility to the paranormal elements and the gothic Victorian atmosphere contributes a chilling quality to the overall reading experience.
The hero is wonderfully drool-worthy and despite the fact that he initially comes across as moody and unfeeling, he is slowly revealed to be fiercely protective and intensely passionate. His chemistry with the heroine and the gripping buildup of their relationship is one of the highlights of the book.
The characterization is good but there is insufficient detail regarding Archer’s background and his relationship with the other Shadow Guards. The reader is unceremoniously dropped into the midst of their ongoing conflict and it takes a while for the circumstances to become clear. Elena’s motivation and emotions are better detailed even if her background is murky (this is explained by the fact that she suffers from amnesia). The other Shadow Guards evoke a certain amount of curiosity even though they are not particularly likeable characters.
While it is easy to follow the plot, Lenox’s writing style can be a little disorganized, and requires more exposition and explanation. Nevertheless, I will continue reading the series as its underlying mythology is very appealing.
June 18, 2013
Nach einem Unfall, an den Elena keinerlei Erinnerungen hat, arbeitet sie als Krankenschwester in einem Londoner Hospital. Viele Menschen leben dort weit unter der Armutsgrenze und mitten unter ihnen wütet Jack the Ripper wie ein blutgieriges Monster.
Elena steht unter der Vormundschaft von Lord Black, den sie noch nie gesehen hat und der von der Ferne aus über ihre Geschicke bestimmt. Motiviert und engagiert arbeitet sie im Hospital und strebt schließlich entgegen den Wünschen ihrer Gesellschafterin eine Ausbildung als Ärztin an, anstatt sich gesellschaftlichen Verpflichtungen zu widmen.
Black kehrt überraschend nach London zurück und sobald er und Elena sich begegnen, brennt die Luft zwischen den beiden. Über die wahre Identität ihres Vormunds bleibt Elena allerdings im Unklaren. Black versucht die junge Frau auf Abstand zu halten, denn er ist in London um dem Ripper das Handwerk zu legen.
Shadow Guard ist der erste Teil einer Trilogie rund um einen unsterblichen Schattenwächter und sein Mündel – Elena. Eine spannende Idee, die als Geschichte verpackt einiges an Reiz bietet.
Leider versucht Lenox zuviel in ein Buch zu packen, so werden viele Seitengeschichten angerissen ohne wirklich vorangetrieben zu werden. Die Geschichte der Schattenwächter wird nur unzureichend erzählt und die inflationäre Verwendung von „Fantasy-Begriffen“ ohne auf diese einzugehen, schmälern den Lesegenuss zusätzlich.
Wortwiederholungen vor allem bei Satzanfängen stören den Lesefluss. Warum das Ende die LeserInnen beinahe im Schlaf überrascht und sehr komprimiert wirkt ist schwer nachzuvollziehen, gibt es ja doch noch zwei Folgebände, also hätte das nicht sein müssen.
Trotz aller Kritikpunkte ein Buch, das mit zwei starken ProtagonistInnen aufwarten kann und um zu wissen wie die beiden weiter miteinander tun, bin ich gespannt auf Teil 2 und 3.
Elena steht unter der Vormundschaft von Lord Black, den sie noch nie gesehen hat und der von der Ferne aus über ihre Geschicke bestimmt. Motiviert und engagiert arbeitet sie im Hospital und strebt schließlich entgegen den Wünschen ihrer Gesellschafterin eine Ausbildung als Ärztin an, anstatt sich gesellschaftlichen Verpflichtungen zu widmen.
Black kehrt überraschend nach London zurück und sobald er und Elena sich begegnen, brennt die Luft zwischen den beiden. Über die wahre Identität ihres Vormunds bleibt Elena allerdings im Unklaren. Black versucht die junge Frau auf Abstand zu halten, denn er ist in London um dem Ripper das Handwerk zu legen.
Shadow Guard ist der erste Teil einer Trilogie rund um einen unsterblichen Schattenwächter und sein Mündel – Elena. Eine spannende Idee, die als Geschichte verpackt einiges an Reiz bietet.
Leider versucht Lenox zuviel in ein Buch zu packen, so werden viele Seitengeschichten angerissen ohne wirklich vorangetrieben zu werden. Die Geschichte der Schattenwächter wird nur unzureichend erzählt und die inflationäre Verwendung von „Fantasy-Begriffen“ ohne auf diese einzugehen, schmälern den Lesegenuss zusätzlich.
Wortwiederholungen vor allem bei Satzanfängen stören den Lesefluss. Warum das Ende die LeserInnen beinahe im Schlaf überrascht und sehr komprimiert wirkt ist schwer nachzuvollziehen, gibt es ja doch noch zwei Folgebände, also hätte das nicht sein müssen.
Trotz aller Kritikpunkte ein Buch, das mit zwei starken ProtagonistInnen aufwarten kann und um zu wissen wie die beiden weiter miteinander tun, bin ich gespannt auf Teil 2 und 3.
January 9, 2016
Like sneaking the last chocolate, Night Falls Darkly will leave you devilishly satisfied!
Archer, like all good Dukes, is no match for his clever staff and the witty and charming enigma that is Elena Whitney.
This is a wonderful Historical paranormal romance, written with a great plot, and filled with some delightful turns of phrase. Every now and then one will just leap up, and you have to read it twice.
“Archer couldn’t claim to know what might please a mortal woman. Although necessity required him to move amongst them at times, he took care to keep himself distinctly apart. The few he had passed time with had seemed to enjoy sex an inordinate amount”
The story twists around the time of Jack the Ripper. Anyone familiar with any of the theories of his identity will be delighted with the combination of in-depth research and incredible imagination used to recreate this story. I do particularly love how Queen Victoria keeps popping up as a peripheral character, and is given a distinct personality and opinion!
Personally, I thought it was a pretty enjoyable story – and I will certainly be rounding up the second book. It did get a little slow in places, but that is also due to the nature of historical romance, they do tend to have more plot than action (it would be written VERY differently if it was an Urban Fantasy!). But it certainly falls into the ‘read in the tub with a glass of wine’ category.
However, the ending may drive many balmy! It’s a perfectly happy ending, but it’s almost like the Kim Lenox was walking out the door at the end of the story, turns slowly to the camera, looking just over her shoulder and throws out a cliff hanger of a question... you can feel the words ‘too be continued’ etched into your soul.
Archer, like all good Dukes, is no match for his clever staff and the witty and charming enigma that is Elena Whitney.
This is a wonderful Historical paranormal romance, written with a great plot, and filled with some delightful turns of phrase. Every now and then one will just leap up, and you have to read it twice.
“Archer couldn’t claim to know what might please a mortal woman. Although necessity required him to move amongst them at times, he took care to keep himself distinctly apart. The few he had passed time with had seemed to enjoy sex an inordinate amount”
The story twists around the time of Jack the Ripper. Anyone familiar with any of the theories of his identity will be delighted with the combination of in-depth research and incredible imagination used to recreate this story. I do particularly love how Queen Victoria keeps popping up as a peripheral character, and is given a distinct personality and opinion!
Personally, I thought it was a pretty enjoyable story – and I will certainly be rounding up the second book. It did get a little slow in places, but that is also due to the nature of historical romance, they do tend to have more plot than action (it would be written VERY differently if it was an Urban Fantasy!). But it certainly falls into the ‘read in the tub with a glass of wine’ category.
However, the ending may drive many balmy! It’s a perfectly happy ending, but it’s almost like the Kim Lenox was walking out the door at the end of the story, turns slowly to the camera, looking just over her shoulder and throws out a cliff hanger of a question... you can feel the words ‘too be continued’ etched into your soul.
August 12, 2016
Helden sind weder schwarz noch weiß, in diesem Fall, wie so oft, folgen die Herzen jedoch der unabänderlichen Segnung der Liebe und aus herrlichen Bestien werden Schoßhunde. Und sämtliches Menschenvolk, welches irgendwie in der Gesamtheit erhaltenswert sein soll, ist ein einziger Pfuhl aus Nebendarstellern, die nichts zu melden haben, es sei denn sie sind verliebt in einen der Protagonisten.
Aber für die Szene wie Archer aus der emaillierten Sitzwanne in seinem Arbeitszimmer steigt und sich ein knappes Handtuch umwickelt und Elena betont das sie ihn nicht so nackt erwartet hätte- stützt meine Vermutung: Es brauch' manchmal nicht perfekt sein, wenn es Momente gibt, die man auf der Stelle allen die wollen oder nicht wollen vorlesen will. Außerdem freue ich mich darauf von Mark zu erfahren wie das denn nun war, damals, mit der Enthauptung und frage mich wie die Ahnen es finden, das ihre Shadow Guards anfangen zu leben statt einfach nur da zu sein. Völlig überschätzt wird übrigens mal wieder die Tatsache der Unsterblichkeit. Unsterblich sein ist totaler Mist und am Ende verliert man vollkommen den Überblick über so viele Jahrhunderte, die einem so viel beigebracht haben.
Ein amaranthinisch- hartes Urteil: durchschnittlich
mit qualitativen, vielversprechenden Ausreißern nach oben.
Mehr von mir auf:
http://lesekatzen.blogspot.de/2014/04...
May 1, 2010
For the past two years, Elena Whitney has wanted for nothing. Clothes, money, a fashionable address, and the freedom to pursue her passion for medicine - all have been granted to her by her absent benefactor, Lord Black. In fact, the only thing Elena does not have is her memory of her life before coming to live in Lord Black's home. When her mysterious guardian returns to London, Elena seizes the chance to get some much-needed answers.
One of the oldest and most talented members of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer, Lord Black, has returned to London. His mission? Capture and Reclaim the soul of a killer who is none other than Jack the Ripper. Archer can't afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction. Archer saved her life two years before and has done his best to put her out of his mind ever since. But as panic spreads throughout London, Archer and Elena are increasingly drawn to one another. Will they have a chance to act on their newfound passion? Or will the deadly Ripper make Elena his next victim?
I loved the unique angle of a "dark and brooding" guardian angel. At least that's the way I'd describe the hero, Archer. I also love the way Kim strings her sentences together. This is a story with powerful characters and a unique plot line.
One of the oldest and most talented members of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer, Lord Black, has returned to London. His mission? Capture and Reclaim the soul of a killer who is none other than Jack the Ripper. Archer can't afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction. Archer saved her life two years before and has done his best to put her out of his mind ever since. But as panic spreads throughout London, Archer and Elena are increasingly drawn to one another. Will they have a chance to act on their newfound passion? Or will the deadly Ripper make Elena his next victim?
I loved the unique angle of a "dark and brooding" guardian angel. At least that's the way I'd describe the hero, Archer. I also love the way Kim strings her sentences together. This is a story with powerful characters and a unique plot line.
July 18, 2025
Having no memories before a few years ago, the heroine lives on an estate owned by her benefactor, a man whom she has never met but feels a desire to understand. She's not a typical lady of her station. She swears and she defies all apposing orders and works as a nurse in a hospital.
The hero broke the rules the day he saved her but didn't realize that the girl who enchanted him all those years ago, is waiting in his house when he returns from his travels He's an immortal guardian, charged with defending the other world from evil beings who long to destroy it. He's forbidden to take a human lover but no matter how hard he tries to distant himself from his ward, he finds himself drawn closer to her every day. He's on the hunt for a murdered who's killing prostitutes in Whitechapel and I enjoyed reading about a mythical Jack the Ripper who's more than a serial killer, he's also one of the beings the Guardians hunt. I also loved the heroine. She knows what she wants and what she wants in to help people. She's ahead of her time as woman had no rights and certainly could not become doctors. She just wants the hero to understand her drive but all he wants to do is protect her. It was a nice romance with the characters coming together despite the subplot of such a dark time in history.
The hero broke the rules the day he saved her but didn't realize that the girl who enchanted him all those years ago, is waiting in his house when he returns from his travels He's an immortal guardian, charged with defending the other world from evil beings who long to destroy it. He's forbidden to take a human lover but no matter how hard he tries to distant himself from his ward, he finds himself drawn closer to her every day. He's on the hunt for a murdered who's killing prostitutes in Whitechapel and I enjoyed reading about a mythical Jack the Ripper who's more than a serial killer, he's also one of the beings the Guardians hunt. I also loved the heroine. She knows what she wants and what she wants in to help people. She's ahead of her time as woman had no rights and certainly could not become doctors. She just wants the hero to understand her drive but all he wants to do is protect her. It was a nice romance with the characters coming together despite the subplot of such a dark time in history.
September 16, 2009
Lenox has some very intriguing background and plot ideas she employs in her series debut. The concept of the "tortured hero" is a tad cliche, admittedly, but I found the idea of him being around since the beginning of time rather intriguing as it pertained to his role in stories and circumstances that had long since passed into the realm of myth and legend.
Unfortunately, it's difficult as a reader to grasp the rationale behind such a timeless individual's psyche. I had trouble suspending disbelief within the parameters of her story, for one, and that's not ordinarily an issue I have. This time, I'm going to blame it on the quality of her prose and technical aspects of the literary construction, not necessarily the nature of the raw materials.
I found little in Lenox's overall voice and narrative to be pleased with, which disappointed me immensely. It was a tolerable read, however, and I'm going to read the sequel with the intention of discovering whether Lenox's writing talents have evolved and been honed for the better.
The final word on it though? Well, this is one of those forgettable ones. Ask me in six months and I probably won't even be able to recall the plot, let alone the characters....
Unfortunately, it's difficult as a reader to grasp the rationale behind such a timeless individual's psyche. I had trouble suspending disbelief within the parameters of her story, for one, and that's not ordinarily an issue I have. This time, I'm going to blame it on the quality of her prose and technical aspects of the literary construction, not necessarily the nature of the raw materials.
I found little in Lenox's overall voice and narrative to be pleased with, which disappointed me immensely. It was a tolerable read, however, and I'm going to read the sequel with the intention of discovering whether Lenox's writing talents have evolved and been honed for the better.
The final word on it though? Well, this is one of those forgettable ones. Ask me in six months and I probably won't even be able to recall the plot, let alone the characters....
January 5, 2009
This book is what I consider "sweet". The romance is more mental rather than physical although our hero definitely has "physical" moments if you know what I mean. However, this is more about the two characters and the capturing of a villain with the romance almost taking a backseat to a larger degree than I'm used to seeing in romance novels.
It was a nice change to all the dark paranormals I have been reading although our villain is "Jack the Ripper" so I guess it's still pretty dark but the story as a whole was not so oppressive.
A nice light read, the heroine is delightful and has a backbone without coming across as unbelievable for the 19th century. The light attempt at a love triangle was cute but not too intense and the hero was tall, dark, somewhat brooding but honestly, did not put up much of a fight to avoid his love interest even though he spent a great deal of time mentally admonishing himself for it. That didn't quite feel right but it wasn't enough to toss me out of the story.
Overall, a nice read for something to fill a gap between two intense reads.
It was a nice change to all the dark paranormals I have been reading although our villain is "Jack the Ripper" so I guess it's still pretty dark but the story as a whole was not so oppressive.
A nice light read, the heroine is delightful and has a backbone without coming across as unbelievable for the 19th century. The light attempt at a love triangle was cute but not too intense and the hero was tall, dark, somewhat brooding but honestly, did not put up much of a fight to avoid his love interest even though he spent a great deal of time mentally admonishing himself for it. That didn't quite feel right but it wasn't enough to toss me out of the story.
Overall, a nice read for something to fill a gap between two intense reads.
September 2, 2014
Wow! Historical Paranormal Romance at its Best! I normally don't read paranormal romance but discovered Kim Lenox books by chance. I've fallen in love with this series. Ms. Lenox knows how to world-build with suspense while layering that all-important sensual touch that keeps a reader like me begging for more. Great character development! Her hero, Lord Archer, is a perfect alpha ready to defend against an evil that wants to take over the world. Set in Victorian London, the story centers around Archer who must defeat Jack the Ripper. Somehow, Jack has found a secret portal that allows him to have unconscionable powers. Throw in Lord Archer’s beautiful ward, Elena, as bait, and you have a story that will keep you up all night. All Elena wants is to find her past and become a doctor. Hard to do in Victorian times, but Ms. Lenox’s scrappy heroine is determined. Archer and Elena’s beautiful love story fits in perfectly with the suspense. Will good triumph over evil? You’ll have to read it. Here’s a hint-I’m reading the second in the series, So Still the Night and loving it!
February 22, 2013
I vacillate between being disappointed by and approving of this book. There are A LOT of elements jam packed between its pages, only some of which include; an assassin sub-god/vampirelike race charged with eliminating corrupt souls that could potentially transcend and destroy the human race, some of said corrupt souls are being encouraged by an imprisioned Greek? god who caused an earthquake that triggered their gruesome following -one of which happens to be Jack the Ripper (very interesting), and to top that, the plight of a turn of the century woman who is devoted to becoming a doctor faced with the daunting task of breaking into a nearly all-male profession while being pursued (in a round-about way) by the most powerful god/vampire assassin. Needless to say, each of these...directions...are intreaguing in and of themselves, however as a fusion summed up in 1 (ONE) book was a lot daunting.
March 24, 2016
Auftakt einer neuen Reihe, eine neue Welt, neue Wesen und das alles im 19. Jahrhundert. Nach einem Unfall hat Elena Whitney ihr Gedächtnis verloren. Als ihr mysteriöser Gönner und Vormund nach London zurückkehrt, hofft sie auf Antworten. Doch Black gehört zu einem geheimen Orden unsterblicher Krieger an und er ist auf der Jagd. Als Elena ins Visier des Mörders gerät muss sich Black entscheiden.
Ich mag die Welt von Shadow Guard. Elena ihrer Zeit voraus, den Sie wollte nicht heiraten und Kinder bekommen, sondern leben retten. Auch ist die Funken die zwischen ihr und Black fliehen sind so nett anzuschauen. Ab und zu musste ich von den Wortgefechten lachen und manchmal wollte ich auch am liebsten Black einen Arschtritt geben. Eine schöne düstere Fantasygeschichte, mit Figuren die liebenswert sind. Eine starke Frau, ein Frauenheld, eine geheimnisvolle Frau und ein Mann mit der Last der Welt auf den Schultern. Genau die richtige Mischung für ein paar Stunden flucht aus dem Alltag.
Ich mag die Welt von Shadow Guard. Elena ihrer Zeit voraus, den Sie wollte nicht heiraten und Kinder bekommen, sondern leben retten. Auch ist die Funken die zwischen ihr und Black fliehen sind so nett anzuschauen. Ab und zu musste ich von den Wortgefechten lachen und manchmal wollte ich auch am liebsten Black einen Arschtritt geben. Eine schöne düstere Fantasygeschichte, mit Figuren die liebenswert sind. Eine starke Frau, ein Frauenheld, eine geheimnisvolle Frau und ein Mann mit der Last der Welt auf den Schultern. Genau die richtige Mischung für ein paar Stunden flucht aus dem Alltag.
July 31, 2015
Sometimes you pick up a real jewel from the HPB $1 clearance bin. This is not that book. But don't despair.
I nearly strained something due to my giant eyeroll on page two. We were not off to a great start. But since I didn't have anything better to do, I hung in there.
Let's get this out of the way: this book is objectively not great. It's cheesy and campy and over-the-top. There are plot holes the size of Nebraska. Things are introduced and never explained--I still have no idea why our hero cut his hair. The author made it into a thing and THEN NEVER EXPLAINED IT.
But none of that matters, because this book is fun.
I can't decide if this book takes itself way too seriously or not seriously at all. And that's okay, because I decided not to take it too seriously. It's a fun paranormal romp through a historical romance.
I nearly strained something due to my giant eyeroll on page two. We were not off to a great start. But since I didn't have anything better to do, I hung in there.
Let's get this out of the way: this book is objectively not great. It's cheesy and campy and over-the-top. There are plot holes the size of Nebraska. Things are introduced and never explained--I still have no idea why our hero cut his hair. The author made it into a thing and THEN NEVER EXPLAINED IT.
But none of that matters, because this book is fun.
I can't decide if this book takes itself way too seriously or not seriously at all. And that's okay, because I decided not to take it too seriously. It's a fun paranormal romp through a historical romance.
September 16, 2009
Elena and immortals mix it up in Jack the Ripper's London.
Extract:
Extract:
"He approaches a state of Transcension. You can't deny that."
"Because of you. You let things go too far while you attended your balls and your routs. While you gambled and whored."
Mark hissed, his eyes wavering from blue to black. "As if you didn't suffer your own bit of distraction tonight."
Archer struggled to tamp down the dangerous fury searing his veins. He'd taken such care to be certain his immortal peers did not learn of Elena's existence. But something that infuriated him more was that he agreed with Mark' accusation. He should never have gone to that ball tonight. He had made a mistake in deepening his involvement with Elena.
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