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Obsession
October, 1888. Death stalked London's West End. Death that materialized from the soft embrace of the fog with the sharp thrust of a knife. Terror and desire co-mingled in the night, neither one a stranger to Caitlynn O'Connor. Her cousin had disappeared in the city's twisted streets, leaving behind an enigmatic diary and a baffling secret. Did Caitlynn's new employer hold the key to either? Could the devilishly handsome doctor free her heart from fear, or was he only willing to unlock her deepest inhibitions?
354 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2017
As Jack the Ripper terrorizes London, Caitlynn O'Connor is searching for her missing cousin. Deidre disappeared without a trace several months ago while working at the residence of Dr. Donovan Fitzgerald. Caitlynn has now been hired for the same position that Deidre once had...companion to a child in poor health. As she works for the handsome Dr. Fitzgerald, she wonders why he goes out in the dark streets on so many nights. She also suspects he had a relationship with Deidre. Did he have something to do with her disappearance?
I decided to read this gothic romance solely because of the Jack the Ripper theme. It started off well with everyone talking about Saucy Jack's latest murder. Caitlynn arrives at Dr. Fitzgerald's home and meets the various residents. Within weeks she is in love with Donovan, but doesn't trust him. Sometimes she believes he may even be the killer himself.
This story moved at a slow pace. It drove me crazy that Caitlynn would jump to some crazy conclusions with very little evidence. I didn't like the ending of the book at all. My rating: 2 Stars.
I decided to read this gothic romance solely because of the Jack the Ripper theme. It started off well with everyone talking about Saucy Jack's latest murder. Caitlynn arrives at Dr. Fitzgerald's home and meets the various residents. Within weeks she is in love with Donovan, but doesn't trust him. Sometimes she believes he may even be the killer himself.
This story moved at a slow pace. It drove me crazy that Caitlynn would jump to some crazy conclusions with very little evidence. I didn't like the ending of the book at all. My rating: 2 Stars.
August 25, 2018
2.5 stars, despite the whackadoodle ending.
Alas, said whackadoodle ending arrived too late to rescue my flagging interest. The majority was dull & predictable without any personality, while the heroine was a moron who kept missing the obvious or, when seeing it, totally misinterpreting what she saw because of no good reason other than I Hate You But Actually Love You!! hormones. (And don't get me started on her idiocy re: the hero, whom she initially loathes & despises because he was brusque with her after she accidentally stumbled into him & inanely tried to induce small talk while he was late to attend someone's deathbed, so he got annoyed & didn't stay to chit-chat for proper introductions. Seriously? SOMEONE WAS DYING. HE'S A DOCTOR. YOU WERE IN HIS WAY. Brusque manners in that scenario are not unreasonable.)
I haven't had much luck with Saucy Jack-inspired romances.** The setting is great, but I think the problems arise when heroines inexplicably decide they've solved everything & the hero is Jack the Ripper because omg, he's a doctor, he sometimes works in the slums, & he has a peen that responds to kissing me! C'mon, ladies. That's just weak. 🙄
**The exception being Seductive Caress by Carla Simpson. That one rocks. :D But IIRC, the heroine never confuses the hero with Saucy Jack -- so there you go. My theory holds true.
Alas, said whackadoodle ending arrived too late to rescue my flagging interest. The majority was dull & predictable without any personality, while the heroine was a moron who kept missing the obvious or, when seeing it, totally misinterpreting what she saw because of no good reason other than I Hate You But Actually Love You!! hormones. (And don't get me started on her idiocy re: the hero, whom she initially loathes & despises because he was brusque with her after she accidentally stumbled into him & inanely tried to induce small talk while he was late to attend someone's deathbed, so he got annoyed & didn't stay to chit-chat for proper introductions. Seriously? SOMEONE WAS DYING. HE'S A DOCTOR. YOU WERE IN HIS WAY. Brusque manners in that scenario are not unreasonable.)
I haven't had much luck with Saucy Jack-inspired romances.** The setting is great, but I think the problems arise when heroines inexplicably decide they've solved everything & the hero is Jack the Ripper because omg, he's a doctor, he sometimes works in the slums, & he has a peen that responds to kissing me! C'mon, ladies. That's just weak. 🙄
**The exception being Seductive Caress by Carla Simpson. That one rocks. :D But IIRC, the heroine never confuses the hero with Saucy Jack -- so there you go. My theory holds true.
October 6, 2012
Obsession
2 Stars
Very disappointing and not up to Neri's standards.
The hero fails to live up to his dangerous, gothic and brooding potential, and the heroine is a naive ninny who can't see the clues right under her nose.
The murder mystery is mundane and lacking in suspense and the Jack the Ripper theme is completely superfluous with little to no plausible explanation.
Left me feeling cheated.
2 Stars
Very disappointing and not up to Neri's standards.
The hero fails to live up to his dangerous, gothic and brooding potential, and the heroine is a naive ninny who can't see the clues right under her nose.
The murder mystery is mundane and lacking in suspense and the Jack the Ripper theme is completely superfluous with little to no plausible explanation.
Left me feeling cheated.
February 18, 2009
Jack the Ripper gothic
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews