Mariana de Reuilles, beautiful half-Basque witch, comes into her full powers torn between the love of two men. Breton knight Richard de la Guerche, her childhood sweetheart, knows of the old ways, the circle fires and standing stones. Henri de Baucais, tortured soldier of the Inquisition, was sent to destroy her. Yet he can't bring himself to carry out his orders. When a treasure from the massacre at Montsegur falls into her hands, she must choose . . .
Door in The Sky is not the typical fare found in today's romance market. It
is a complex romantic adventure laced with paranormal elements, richly
populated and beautifully written. Since the story is firmly grounded in
historical accuracy, the paranormal aspects do not seem far-fetched. Rather
author Carol Lynn Stewart weaves a tapestry in which the mystical is a
strongly colored thread that complements all the others. The heroine, Mariana de Reuilles, is the daughter of a witch, and comes
into her own powers at a time when an Inquisition against the Cathar
heretics is ripping apart the Basque land in which she lives. As Mariana learns
the "old ways", she becomes embroiled in the fate of a sacred, magical
vessel that was spirited out of a city being conquered by the Inquisition
forces. During her adventure, two men touch her life and her heart. One,
Richard, is a Breton knight whom she loved when a girl, and who understands
her nature and traditions. The other, Henri, is a knight of the Inquisition
sent to destroy her. These three characters have rich histories and complex emotions, and Ms.
Stewart develops them wonderfully. Mariana begins the story as a naive girl,
but by the last page is a brave, confident woman. Henri is that rarity of
all characters---a villain who grows into a hero. And Richard comes to face
a hero's choice--is his duty to the past, or the future? Ms. Stewart is an excellent writer, and she doesn't skimp or pull her
punches. When the story is dark, it is very dark. When evil appears, it is
uncompromising. When she explores the mystical elements, she takes the
reader right into the wonders of Mariana's transcendence. When the
characters experience love, it is poignant and tender. This isn't your mother's romance. There is nothing predictable about it, not
even its structure. It is a marvelous adventure, written in a lyrical style,
packed with fast-paced action and daring ideas.
Review by Madeline Hunter, author of BY ARRANGEMENT, BY POSSESSION and BY DESIGN. http://www.madelinehunter.com.
Peter Angelakos is on top of the world. He's just finalized plans to launch Angel Web , a device that will revolutionize data transmission, and will make him as wealthy as, well, Midas. Maire O'Donnell is furious. She just discovered that her mentor, Professor Peter Angelakos, the man she loved more than any she'd ever met, the man who flunked her from the doctoral program in physics, has stolen the formula from her thesis. Now she has to confront him and convince him of the dangers of what he plans to do, for Angel Web , the very device that will make him rich, will open the path between the worlds and unleash the fury of the gods.
"...an intense, memorable reading experience. This richly detailed novel is filled with magic, tenderness, sensuality...DOOR IN THE SKY is worth the effort." Romantic Times April, 2000
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Rising Stars of Romance site is owned by Carol Lynn Stewart.
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