DIVINE FIRE

Author: Melanie Jackson ISBN: 0505526107 2/2005 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER/Love Spell

WHO IS DAMIEN RUTHVEN? In 1816, Lord Byron stayed at the castle of Dr. Johann Dippel, the inspiration for Mary Shelley's Baron von Frankenstein. Trapped there by a lightning storm he was approached by the doctor and promised a cure for his epilepsy. That 'cure' changed him forever. AND IS HE MAD, BAD, AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW? In the 21st century, Brice Ashton wrote a book. Like all biographies about famous persons, hers on Lord Byron was sent to book critics in advance. One Damien Ruthven responded. He contacted Brice from New York suggesting her work contained two errors—and that only he could give her the truth. His words held hints of long lost knowledge; were fraught with danger and with deception...and desire. And his eyes, those windows to the soul, showed the experience of centuries. Damien promised to share his secrets. But first, Brice knew, she would have to share herself with him.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Hmmmm. Melanie Jackson's, DIVINE FIRE, is complex and unique, which is enough to earn it a Four Rose award from me. I must say, though, Ms. Jackson's vocabulary and penchant for extreme detail might actually squash some of your interest in the story. I happen to be a details person, so it's okay for me, but having a thesaurus and dictionary on hand to decipher some phrases and adjectives is a good idea. In other words, some of the passages left me feeling, well, humbling enough, rather dumb!

DIVINE FIRE is an original and exciting story, despite a lot of the content being dark, graphic, and depressing. The love story is haunted by both main characters' pasts and futures, making it more of an intellectual romance, than a physical one. Honestly, you won't find another paranormal quite like it. I do believe that Ms. Jackson has a talent and gift for coming up with such a stormy plot (no pun intended), fabulous metaphors, and engaging characters. Besides the, uh, challenging words, and a far-fetched scene where the hero and heroine are being pursued by zombie creatures, yet take the time for a quickie on the shower stall floor, this a plot you will not find anywhere else.

On a personal note, I have the feeling that the author is not all that fond of reviewers, and that she could be of the mentality that reviewers review simply because they cannot write. (Perish the thought!) Perhaps I am wrong, or maybe she can be swayed into thinking differently, since the heroine in the story finds her reviewer quite delicious? She does say the heroine is not her, but that she does share some of her ideals, so I do wonder. Naturally, if I am mistaken, then I apologize to Ms. Jackson.

Of course, I am glad I like DIVINE FIRE well enough so as to spare myself the task of writing a not-so-favorable review, thus being forced to send her out copies of my own unfinished works!

Shannon Johnson