Dark Promises (Dark Series #29) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway

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DARK PROMISES (Dark Carpathians #29) by Christine Feehan-dual review and giveaway

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DARK PROMISES
Dark Series #29
By Christine Feehan
Genre: adult, paranormal,erotic, romance
Release Date: March 15, 2016

Dark Promises

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 15, 2016

Gabrielle has had enough of battles, of wars, of seeing Gary Jansen, the man she loves nearly lose his life when it isn’t even his fight. Once he was a gentle and very human researcher. Now he’s a fearless and lethal Carpathian warrior with the blood of an ancient lineage coursing through his veins—a man Gabrielle still needs and desires and dreams of with every breath she takes. All she wants is a life far away from the Carpathian mountains, far from vampires and the shadows cast by the crumbling monastery that hides so many terrible secrets. But Gabrielle soon learns that promises made in the dark can pierce the heart like a dagger.

And she isn’t the only one in search of answers in the corners of the unknown…

Trixie Joanes has come to the Carpathian mountains in search of her wayward granddaughter, fearing that she has been lured there by something unspeakable. Instead, Trixie has stumbled into the path of a desperate man and a woman in love and on the run. And they’re all fated for the lair of a mysterious ancient with revenge in his soul and the undying power to make bad dreams come true.

•••••••••••••

Sandy’s Review:

DARK PROMISES is the twenty-ninth installment in Christine Feehan’s adult DARK paranormal romance series focusing on a community of supernatural beings known as the Carpathians. Two ancient warriors will find their mates, and two psychic human females will struggle with their new life.

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males, must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul.

At the onset of the story line we revisit the relationship between Gary and Gabrielle –once human, but now both have been converted to Carpathian due to fatal circumstances. As their wedding hour draws near, Gary soon realizes that to claim Gabrielle as his lifemate is something he is unable to do……

Told from several third person points of view DARK PROMISES tells the tale of two ancient Carpathian males-close to turning, Aleksei and Fane have been secluded along with several other warriors in a monastery in the Carpathian Mountains. As they approach the end of their supernatural existence, these warriors find themselves on the verge of turning vampire or greeting the sun. The monastery is the last line of hope for a once proud group of Carpathian men.

Aleksei will be awakened when he ‘hears’ the cries of his fated female as she comes to realize that everything she had hoped for in her life has come crashing down. Aleksei is an ancient who demands obedience and respect, and in this his lifemate will struggle with the arrogance and dominance of the Carpathian male. The former human female Gabrielle is unprepared for the Carpathian lifestyle, a failing that falls upon the Carpathian race. The $ex scenes are aggressive, seductive and provocative- Aleksei is a male who likes to discipline his mate during $ex;. Aleksei is initially abusive towards his new lifemate which is a recent, ongoing issue with many of Christine Feehan’s leading males (in all of her series), but like all Carpathian males, he will come to see that his lifemate is the light to his soul, and his initial treatment was questionable and dishonorable.

Fane is another ancient who will find his lifemate in the guise of an American vampire hunter-Trixie Joanes-Teagan’s (Dark Ghost #28) grandmother-and a woman who is a bit of a snarky, spitfire with attitude to spare. Unlike Aleksei, Fane welcomes his lifemate’s idiosyncrasies, and the couple easily adapts to one another’s emotions. I did have a bit of an issue with the explanation as to her age and fertility, but I leave that up to Christine Feehan to explain this one to the reader!

DARK PROMISES is a story rich in sexually graphic details, but to be fair there are TWO couples who find their happily ever after, and each is given some page time to build up their new found relationships. Christine Feehan’s story lines have always traversed a path of erotic fantasy, and DARK PROMISES is no different. The characters are varied and colorful although Gabrielle’s personality and persona are fragile and weak. The romances are passionate and energetic.

Christine Feehan has, once again, ‘tweaked’ the Carpathian backstory and lifestyle to suit her most recent adventures into the Carpathian Mountains. At one time NO male could be converted, let alone be imprinted with the ritual words of the lifemate vows. There is also an issue with Gary’s conversion that sees a development that Mikhail and Gregori never saw coming; and the latest trio of women introduced to the Carpathian world combine their own psychic powers enabling them to help the ancient warriors. With the conversion of two males and the difficulties of addressing the new complication, the series premise has been modified to allow for another change in direction to the story lines.

 

Barb’s Review:

Dark Promises by Christine Feehan is the 29th book in her Dark series. As this story started, it was about two people we have been following for a long long time: Gabrielle and Gary. Though when they first met and fell in love, they were human, and now both have been converted to Carpathian. Early on, we can see Gabby’s unhappiness in all things Carpathian, and her plans on making Gary walk away with her when they are married. She can see a change in him since he was converted, but she is determined to marry him and pull him away from the Carpathian world.

When the time comes to for Gary to do the lifemate words to bond Gabby, he senses something is not right between them; something is standing in their way. This is where we get thrown for a loop, and at the same time I have to admit, I became upset, enough to stop reading this book. We have known Gabby a long time, and when she is brutally pulled away by another Carpathian male; it was disturbing. This man is her lifemate, and in the current fashion of macho abusive men that Christine is so fond of lately, he treated her horribly, so much so I was disgusted. Poor innocent sweet Gabby. Why do this to her?

I kept reading, and in time Alexsei who has become Gabby’s lifemate, begins to calm down and eventually throughout the story, she will fall for him. She will accept that Gary is truly a friend that she depended on, not a lifemate for her. There is also the story of Trixie, who is Teagan’s (last book heroine) grandmother, who will also find her lifemate.

There was an interesting storyline, involving all the Carpathian men who are living in the monastery, as they are all near the end and extremely dangerous. The three ladies will try to help them, and that part was an interesting twist for the future.

Except for the early part of the story, and the latter part, which was nice, the rest of the book was mostly sex scenes. Christine Feehan has always had steamy sex in her books, but in the last few books the sex becomes more dominant and the story becomes the background. I enjoy steamy sex scenes in romances, but I prefer the story to lead.

I loved this series, as at one time this was my top favorite, and loved Christine’s writing. But a lot has changed in the last few books, with more abusive men, who in the beginning you have a hard time liking; and the overall exciting story, which is missing. Sadly, after 29 books, I am considering not reading this series anymore. But there are so many recurring characters that I love that still holds me, so time will tell if it will keep me here.

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Reading Cafe and Christine’s publisher are offering a hard cover copy of DARK PROMISES to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from March 14-18, 2016

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41 thoughts on “Dark Promises (Dark Series #29) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway”

  1. I love this series and can’t wait to read this one. I have liked already liked Christine Feehan on facebook before this. I did like you on Facebook and clicked get notification. I’m following you on twitter, goodreads, and Tumblr as well.
    After reading your reviews I’ll admit I too have problems with the overly dominant way the men act from the start of the last few books. I continue to hope she will stop with all that and go back to the way the Carpathians were before. I’m kind of surprised that there is so many sex scenes, but hopefully those issues won’t overshadow the rest of the book for me. Thanks for the reviews and the giveaway.
    Crissygreenawalt@gmail.com

    • Christina, I do agree. I keep waiting for Christine to go back to way she used to write this series. The last book I totally loved was Dark Slayer, and Razvan was a great hero. I did enjoy Dark Wolf, and Dimitri was great to Skylar. But other then Wolf, all the books since Slayer have not been Christine.

      I stopped reading Ghostwalkers, and Leopard due to these same macho abusive men for the most part. If things don’t change, I will be stepping away from the series. I don’t read to get angry.

  3. Great reviews. I loved this series, but stopped reading it about 5 books ago. I did read about Skylar & Demitri, which was good. After that the heroes were too abusive. I lost the fun of this series.

  6. Love Christine Feehan’s book. Have them all so far! From this review, the books does sound a little disturbing regarding the more dominant and aggressive ways of the newest Carpathian males. However, I am a devoted fan of this series as well as her others and will continue to collect the series. Just hope that the new direction of characters will, in the long run, help complete the series versus taking away from the overall story.
    Please enter me in the giveaway.
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    denise_hendrickson@hotmail.com
    Thanks!

  7. I like a little sex with my story, not a lot of sex and little story. I have been reserved about the Carpathian males for a lonnngggg time. Mikhail virtually rapes Raven, Jacques is brutal with his lifemate, but Colby & Raphael in Dark Secret really tipped me over. Colby was essentailly raped, and as a rape counselor I found that book offensive and have never re-read it. I don’t mind a strong Carpathian. The earlier books were “better” men, even Gregori! The Savage twins come to mind easily and I loved those two. Francesca and Jaxon stories also I have re-read and enjoyed. These last couple of books… not so much. I get that these are ancients from a time when women submitted, but the trend is toward abusive, and that I find hard to stomach. Please Ms Feehan the men can still be strong AND not be abusive.

  8. Thanks for the chance and the review! Appreciate the heads up, I also noticed a tendency for the heroines to be badly abused, I would have thought it would be difficult to have a healthy relationship after that, but it is fiction after all. I like how we have a double dip of couples in this book, I wonder how that will play out. I am bummed that Gabrielle doesn’t end up with Gary, I was wondering how that would play out. I am looking forward to the continuation of the series, thanks!

  9. Terrific reviews, Ladies. I love your dual reviews. This one was particularly great, as it points out some of the same and different points. I have read most of Christine’s books, but stopped reading the Leopard series awhile ago. I too have noticed a major change in her writing with abusive mean and a predominance of sex throughout the books. Hopefully she will return to her old style of writing, which had the perfect blend of excitement and sexy romances.

  10. I stopped reading after Skylar & Demitri. Things started to take a darker more violent turn with the males. Yes, their was always some difficulty, but not like it is now. Her writing has changed. I would like her to return to the old style of writing. It had the perfect blend of sexy and excitement.
    Thanks for the reviews ladies.
    Already Like Christeine Feehan on FB
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    Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures

  11. Awesome reviews, my friends! I total agree with the points you both made. The way Gabby was treated in the beginning had me putting it down as well, Barb. It took me almost two weeks to read this one. Even though it did get better, I found it lacking something. Namely THE WAY THE SERIES USED TO BE!!!

    I will say that the “development” that Sandy talked about that neither the Prince, nor Gregori saw coming was a welcome surprise for me. That made the tweaking a little more bearable for me.

  12. Please Enter me in this giveaway
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    I Follow/Like Christine Feehan on Facebook and I Like and Follow You on FACEBOOK and clicked to GET NOTIFICATIONS – Linda Buzard-Moffitt
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    Thank You for the giveaway

  13. Wonderful review ladies. I have many issues with the last couple of Ghostwalker books, as well as the Leopards. The Dark series has many male leads with control issues but it is the secondary males that are some of the worst in the last few books of the DarkSeries.

  16. Great reviews . I have been a fan of Christine’s for several years but lately I am disappointed in the amount of abuse and more than controlling behaviour. As for too much sex, I don’t see the amount of sex as the problem but as to how CF is using power and control over women as equal to love.

    Please enter me into the giveaway. Thanks for all of the work you ladies at TRC do for the readers. We can always count on you for your honesty.

  17. It seem that a lot will feel as Barb does . Many felt that way about Zacarius and I felt he acted like I expected from what Christine said about him and the ones in the Monastery asre worse off than he was. Can’t wait to get mine. Great reviews ladies.

  21. I would love to win a copy of this book I have read all of Christine Feehan’s bOoks and enjoyed them alot. It will be interesting to read about the latest Carpathian couple, and I really liked Gabbie in the earlier books so thanks for entering me in the giveaway lorainediaz49@yahoo.com

  23. I have been a big fan of Ms. Feehan for years. I love the series and reading about the dark and sexy Carpathian men. The stories are always filled with fully fleshed out characters as well as vivid descriptions of the locations where the story is happening. Please enter my into the giveaway: email: nichols.kathy@yahoo.com.

    I have completed required task 1 -6. I don’t have a Tumblr

  25. Great reviews, Ladies. I have always been a big fan of Christine Feehan. Lately, I have not liked the stories, and seem to be gravitating to other authors.

  27. Wonderful review ladies! Sadly, I cannot bring myself to finish this book. I have adored Gary for too long to tolerate the personality transplant he received in this book. Nor the suffering that both he and Gabrielle have to endure learning they are not lifemates. Perhaps I will revisit this series again someday.

  31. Thanks for the reviews ladies. I stopped reading Ms. Feehan’s Leopard series because I wasn’t completely comfortable with the treatment of the women in the books. I’m behind in the Carpathian series so I haven’t reached a point where I want to stop reading. I hope I don’t. I still would like to be enter in the contest. Already liked Christine and Reading Cafe.
    gailsmail.925 (at) gmail (dot) com

  32. Wonderful reviews ladies. It is truly sad to see a once ‘favorite’ author no longer on your ‘go to’ list. I have an author I stopped reading for a similar reason-too much brutality. Please enter me into the giveaway

  33. I just picked up my first couple Christine Feehan books recently I enjoyed them! I can understand needing to let a series go after that many books if you aren’t feeling it anymore though!

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