SABINE

by Rachel de Vine

He might have killed her, but he fell in love with her instead. Finding herself alone again, after a passionate three-way romance, Sabine is overjoyed to make a fresh start in the South of France with a new job and a new man. It is 1961, and the post-war world is changing fast. Rich people begin flocking to the French Riviera in search of the good life. But criminals are also attracted to this new source of money. Russia is still a closed Communist state, but some are able to bribe their way in and out of the country for the rich pickings of the Mediterranean life. Sabine’s world comes crashing down, when she finds herself a pawn in a power game, and is taken hostage by a gang of Russian criminals. There begins the most tumultuous year of her life. A year packed with love and tragedy. This is a fast-paced, hot and steamy story, that will have you on the edge of your seat, as Sabine tries to overcome danger and heartache. Will she ever find her rainbow’s end? How could she be attracted to the man who had kidnapped her? Sabine is the follow-on book to Nothing to Regret, but can be read as a standalone.

207 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

I write steamy (and sometimes erotic) romance, with a bit of excitement and adventure combined. My characters don’t have an easy ride in my books – I certainly put them through their paces – but there is also passion and sensuality to make your heart soar, I hope.

I live in the heart of England and, before Covid, I used to travel to some wonderful, exotic places. Sadly, now, I am reduced to looking at my travel photo albums. I love the beautiful British landscape, good music, beautiful sunsets, and my wonderful friends and family. Above all, I value kindness and love. Everything else is a bonus.

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Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabine, by Rachel de Vine.
Sabine is the follow-on story to Nothing to Regret. Although each book can be read as a standalone story I recommend that you read the other book first, to give you a valuable insight into the new story.
 
Starting a new book by an original author is always a surprise, but the beginning of this one was enough to knock me over. Yet it had the ring of truth to it.
 
However, if you're at all put off by non-traditional relationships, you may find this novel startling. But it becomes real in a hurry as the author draws you cleverly into a series of experiences that provide not merely a thrilling romance, but a thriller of a story.
 
Sabine is a beautiful French woman who, following the breakup of a ménage a trois she is involved in, has a steaming love affair with hotel owner Alexis. Then, for no immediately apparent reason, she is kidnapped by the Russian mob.
 
Confident Alexis will come to her rescue, she is blindsided when he denies loving her or feeling anything for her at all. He leaves her in the hands of her kidnappers.
 
But her captor, Gustav, turns out to be a decent man in spite of his criminal background. He treats her well, and as time passes, she grows to depend on him.
 
It's a classic case of the Stockholm Syndrome, but it goes well beyond that. She comes to love Gustav. He takes her into his mobster lifestyle as his mistress, then moves her to Russia when the mob says he has to return.
 
Then, on a business trip to Switzerland, something disastrous happens.

It changes the whole tenor of the novel. It's a rapid and significant turnaround, but I can't reveal any of it here. That would spoil your read. Take my word for it. If you thought the first part of the story was thrilling, wait till you read the second half!
 
The thing about Sabine that takes my breath away is how author Rachel de Vine alternates between heated love scenes, and quieter, almost pastoral passages. She builds the tension in the story almost to the breaking point, then relieves it with every-day experiences.
 
This is a remarkable novel and a great read. It's different, exciting, and well worth your time. It's so good, in fact, I immediately went back and bought the first book, Nothing To Regret, and read it through completely, as I should have done in the first place. Even though books are offered as stand-alones, it sometimes doesn't pay to listen to the author. Read the first book first.

[Ian D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this character when I first met her in “Nothing To Regret”, and felt she had her own stories to tell. So I was delighted to learn that Rachel had let Sabine out to play on her own. She certainly has a variety of adventures in this story, not all of them comfortable, but she’s a survivor. This story’s set in 1961, which sounds recent but was a rather different culture from today’s in the way women were generally treated, which might seem a little odd to many people today.

I enjoyed the writing style used, as it almost seemed as if Sabine was relating her story many years later, and at times it felt a bit more like an autobiography than a novel.

An enjoyable story combining drama, tension and very steamy interludes. I had my fingers crossed for Sabine from start to finish.

[Sean Hurdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabine is a wonderful follow up book to Nothing to Regret. Though a stand alone novel, I recommend reading the first simply to get the whole back story.
Rachel has done a fantastic job with Sabine. So complex, intriguing, and the romance is off the charts! Rachel is a formidable writer, one I enjoy reading to the fullest.
The story follows Sabine from one alternative romantic relationship to one of heavy romance. Then the unthinkable happens. Even in the adverse situation she finds herself Sabine still finds romance...
Fantastically written, and I highly recommend it!

[Jodi Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabine

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Rachel is an amazing writer.
Great storyline and easy to get completely lost in.
I think I almost became Sabine while reading this.
Brilliant!