Crystal Gardens
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4.2 • 309 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick delivers “a promising start to a Victorian-era series”* with the first Ladies of Lantern Street novel…
Evangeline Ames has rented a country cottage far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she finds pleasure in sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds. And when her life is threatened again, she instinctively goes to the gardens for safety.
Lucas Sebastian has never been one to ignore a lady in danger, even if she is trespassing on his property. Quickly disposing of her would-be assassin, he insists they keep the matter private. There are rumors enough already, about treasure buried under his garden and occult botanical experiments performed by his uncle—who died of mysterious causes. With Evangeline’s skill for detection, and Lucas’s sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they have a common enemy. And as the energy emanating from Crystal Gardens intensifies, they realize that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Romance and the paranormal are neatly entwined in late 19th century England in the opening of the new Ladies of Lantern Street series from the prolific Quick (Quicksilver). Sent to the country to recover from the trauma of a murder attempt, psychic investigator and novelist Evangeline Ames is pursued by a hired assassin onto the grounds of an ancient abbey, Crystal Gardens, which have become the focus of an unusual surge of paranormal energy. Rescued by the owner of the Gardens, Lucas Sebastian, who has arrived to investigate the sudden death of his reclusive uncle and the dangerously increasing power of the Gardens, Evangeline finds herself drawn not only to the various mysteries but to Lucas himself, possessor of a dark paranormal talent of his own. While not a standout, the occult elements provide an original twist to a competent mystery plot with a dash of gothic flair and a traditional romantic pairing for a pleasant tale that will satisfy fans of gaslight paranormals.
Customer Reviews
Love
I love this book
Interesting foray into the metaphysical
Great plot twists and interesting character development, set in Victorian London, adds to the page turning appeal of the Crystal Gardens. If you enjoy the lifestyle described in lush detail from the Victorian era, you will be entranced by everything from the houses, clothing, customs and eerie fog shrouded London, as the perfect backdrop for a great mystery. Some way out, other worldly scenes perhaps add to the 'glitter' of this story, but it is the hot, steamy bond between the two main characters that keeps the pages turning. Quick is erotic without being tawdry or gratuitous, and the ending you will catch you off guard. One of her best!
Crystal Gardens
Enjoyed this book. the story was well written. I look forward to the the next book.