Annie has grown up knowing she is destined to meet her soul mate. He will always remain close to her. He will always know exactly where she is, and how she’s feeling. He’ll guard and protect her. At least, until she produces the next heir to her Cherubim line.
There has to be a way to avoid this supernatural stalker.
Determined to find her own identity before becoming bonded to her Guardian, Annie does everything she can to keep him at a distance – until her partner Cherub, Harry, dredges up the mystery of his parents’ deaths and triggers unwanted attention from an organised crime syndicate. Now all three of them need to do whatever it takes to save Harry’s farm, solve the mystery of the missing ruby necklace, and keep anyone from finding the hidden Paradise it came from.
Carolyn lives on a farm on the outskirts of Melbourne with her husband, daughters, her parents and a very needy naked cat called Sly. She has written short stories for 'Aurealis' and 'Andromeda Spaceways' magazines and is currently working on an AI romance series. After that she may just retire to Eden. Apparently they have great music there.
Annie’s use of the standing stone meant her memories would be fresh and clear – memories of her as a teen; of Harry, her partner Cherub; of Lucas, her Guardian and of Kiah, her beloved mother. Those memories caused grief and sadness, but much happiness as well. She was ready…
Knowing what was destined in her future made it easy for Annie to rebel. She was determined to find her own way. So, when she was holidaying with friends on a beach not far from Melbourne, the sight of the three bronzed boys in the surf didn’t hold much interest, unlike her two friends. That was until one of the boys was injured. From that moment, Annie’s life changed, her future set.
Annie and her mother’s farm was near Nalong, in a small rural area of the Wimmera in Victoria and since her father had died, her mother had drifted between awareness and a soul destroying grief. Often away in Eden to heal, Kiah left Annie to manage the farm on her own. Harry helped out as often as he could, but he had his own farm to run next door. But Harry also needed answers to his parents’ deaths, and his naïve questions would put them all in danger from a crime syndicate which had caused havoc in their lives before.
Sympath is the 3rd in the Sentinels of Eden series by Aussie author Carolyn Denman, and it’s another gripping, fascinating addition to the series. The story of Lainie’s mother as a teen is an intriguing one; of Harry as a youth and Annie’s avoidance at bonding with her Guardian. The tension was ramped up by murder, lies and devious activities; my heart was in my throat numerous times and I found it hard to put down. I’m really looking forward to #4, Shamar, which releases in June 2019. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
Denman again delivers a sweet and sorrowful tail of nearly but not quite. This wonderfully told story is set in the nineties where the story revolves around Annie and Harry rather than Lanie and Noah. I'm not going to spoil it except to say there is love, pain, near death, trickery and sorrow and that is just in the first chapter. A very enjoyable read. I can't wait to see how this story weaves into the next.
Sympath is a book that resonated with me on many levels. Carolyn Denman has a masterly way with words, using clear crisp prose that immediately conjures space, time, action and character. *confession* I haven't read the first two in the series, but I certainly will seek them now, and wait (im)patiently for number four. Sympath is set in 1980s Australia - a 1980s Australia that is not only recognisable, but almost tangible - with the sights, sounds, perspectives and limitations of the era. However the story features paranormal characters whose values and vision lift the narrative to a much higher plane. I very much enjoyed the folk in this book. I'm a little bit in love with Harry (how not?), and more than a bit dazzled by Lucas (again, how not?), but it's Annie whose strength and resilience captures me most. The necessity of keeping Eden safe and secret imposes many trials on the Cherubim and their human Guardians, and all of this is rendered with a sure and deft touch. A completely credible para-world emerges, one that we can almost glimpse in our own surroundings. So real. The book revolves around spirituality and philosophy, enough to make the reader consider her own values and attitudes, but not intrusively. Fundamentally the story is about the choices we make and how these affect the world/s in which we live. Sympath includes a crime mystery that rivals any of the Peter Temple stories, and a rural setting that's just as brilliantly described as anything in Raimond Gaita or Sally Morgan's works. Read it. You won't be disappointed. Hurrah for Australian novels of this quality!
I think this might be my favourite book of the series so far. It goes back to when Lainie’s mother was a teen and trying to avoid being bonded to her Guardian until she was ready for it. Of course, nothing goes as planned and it was wonderful to see the relationship developing between Annie and Lucas despite her doing everything she could to derail fate’s plan for her. It was also great to see a young Harry and watch him overcome personal tragedy and adversity to mature into the man Lainie looked to for guidance in book one. With the fore warning of what would happen in the future from the first two books, it was bittersweet to watch Annie and Lucas fall in love. Even though I know how their particular story ends, it still made for an engrossing read, as was Harry’s realisation of who his Guardian was and what the future would hold for them. With a murder mystery and a crime syndicate thrown into the mix, it made for a tense and exciting story that kept me glued to the pages. Having first met Annie as the absentee parent in book one, seeing how she had come to be that way gave great insight into her character and I loved that she went form strength to strength in this story as she learned what it truly meant to be Cherubim and exactly what the bond with her Guardian signified. I especially loved the end and can’t wait to see what will happen next for Annie as she reconnects with Lainie and the world beyond Eden. As a result, I will be waiting impatiently to read the next book in the series.
Just like the previous novels in this series, I was unable to put the book down. This is basically a prequel to book 1 and 2 sharing the story of Lainie's parents, Annie and Lucas. Once again, the storyline has plenty of intrigue, action, and romance. The writing is always effortless, making this series accessible to anyone.
I cannot wait for the last book. From the epilogue, it seems that Annie's and Lainie's storylines will tie in together in what I expect to be an epic series finale.