This is Book 1 of Ephemera and I was surprised but extremely pleased to see this as darkly enthralling as her earlier series.

From the Author’s website:
Her worlds have been described as “vividly painted” (Lynn Flewelling) and “lavishly sensual” (Library Journal). Now, award–winning, bestselling author Anne Bishop invites you into a new realm, one that is ever–changing, caught between the Light and Dark forces of the heart…

“Let your heart travel lightly. Because what you bring with you becomes part of the landscape.”

Long ago, to stop the onslaught of the Eater of the World, Ephemera was split into a dizzying number of strange and magical lands connected only by bridges—which may take you where you truly belong, rather than where you had intended to go.

Now, with the Eater contained and virtually forgotten, the shifting worlds of Ephemera have been kept stable by the magic of the Landscapers. In one such land, where night reigns and demons dwell, the half–incubus Sebastian revels in dark delights. But then in dreams she calls to him: a woman who wants only to be safe and loved—a woman he hungers for while knowing he may destroy her.

But a more devastating destiny awaits Sebastian, for in the quiet gardens of the Landscapers’ school, evil is stirring. The prison of the Eater of the World has weakened—and Sebastian’s realm may be the first to fall…

Intoxicating, erotic, and intensely romantic, Sebastian is for those who know on which side of the heart—Light or Dark—their passions lie.

Sebastian here is such a sexy delight! It’s hard not to love him. I’d be surprised to find a die-hard of this genre having a hard time loving him. Lynnea is adorable – she’s a perfect complement for Sebastian. I wish there were more scenes of them together though. Teaser is cute – wish there’d be a girl for him! And Lee is like a sexy nerd, though I don’t know why he comes across like that for me lol.

You’ll find similarities between here and the earlier series but there are enough differences to make them distinguishable from each other.

Great read! 10 / 10

This is Book 2 and the last – I think – of Anne Bishop’s Ephemera series.

From the Author’s website:

In Sebastian, national bestselling and award-winning author Anne Bishop introduced a stunning new realm, a world of strange and magical landscapes connected only by bridges – bridges that may transport you where you truly belong, rather than where you wished to go. But only the magic of the Landscapers can protect this world from the entity determined to enshroud it in darkness…

One by one, the landscapes of Ephemera are falling into shadow. The Eater of the World is spreading its influence, tainting people’s souls with doubts and fears, and feasting on their dark emotions. With each victory, the Eater comes closer to extinguishing Ephemera’s Light.

Only Glorianna Belladonna possesses the ability to thwart the Eater’s plans. But she has been branded a rogue, her talents and vast power feared and misunderstood. Determined to protect the lands under her care, Glorianna will stand alone against the Eater if she must – regardless of the cost to her body and soul.

But she is not alone. In dreams, a call has traveled throughout Ephemera: “Heart’s hope lies within Belladonna.” That call has traveled far from the landscapes Glorianna claims and reached Michael, a man with mysterious powers of his own. It awakens a fierce hunger within him to find the dark-haired sorceress he’s dreamt of, over and over again – a beautiful woman named Belladonna.

As Michael and Glorianna’s hearts call out to each other across the Landscapes, together they may offer Ephemera the very hope it needs…

Review: I had been waiting so long for this book but unfortunately, I’d have to give it a 7 / 10. It could have been so easily a 10…but on second thought, maybe not so easy. Glorianna or Belladonna is just so glorious that, I guess, it’s hard to create a man who could match her. But then again, Bishop was able to do that in her earlier series. Janelle’s consort Daemon was every bit her match even if she was THE most powerful Witch.

Still a good read but it’s mostly because of Ephemera. It’s just too mesmerizing a place to resist!

To please his father, Edgar Downes, a wealthy merchant, agrees to choose a well-born bride by Christmas. He picks out a suitable young lady, but then finds himself caught up in an unconsidered passion for a widow his own age. Helena, Lady Stapleton, is hiding a deeply troubled past behind a cool, seductive, cynical exterior. Edgar takes his bride home for Christmas, but all the magic of the season is necessary to bring Helena pardon and peace and to bless their marriage.

This is another book that made me get past another bias of mine – old characters. Maybe, when I’m also in my thirties, I’ll get to appreciate them more easily but for now, I need to have a good reason to read such books and thankfully, Balogh gave one. Helena is older than Edgar by one or a few years by the way. Theirs isn’t like a mushy love story but it’s very much passionate and inspiring.

Lady Emily Marlowe has never forgotten Lord Ashley Kendrick, who went to India when she was very young and married someone else there. She is engaged to another man when Ashley returns, widowed and alone and desperately unhappy. Emily’s love is revived, but Ashley harbors a deep, dark, dangerous secret, and she can neither hear not speak.

Remember Heartless? Well, this is about Lucas’ brother Ashley and Anna’s sister Emily. Emily’s deaf by the way. And mute. But Balogh does a great job in making her express herself! A must read! Sweet and poignant!

When Viscount Rawleigh attends a house party in the country, he plans to amuse himself with a beautiful young widow from a nearby village. He refuses to believe she is unwilling until it is too late. For her part, Catherine Winters has been living quietly in the village for several years, trying to keep a secret that could yet destroy her. She dare not give in to her attraction to the viscount. As her world falls apart, Rawleigh has to try to make amends and win her love at the same time, while Catherine has to face up to her past and take a hand in rebuilding her life once more.

Can’t remember much of this – I think it’s because the girl’s a widow. Sorry, I’m used to reading books with either virgins or spinsters as heroines. If you’re not like me then you could enjoy this story. I think I did, too, after I got past my biases.

When they were children, Geraint Penderyn and Marged Evans were close friends. But years have passed since then. Geraint is now the Earl of Wyvern and Marged hates him more than any other man on earth. She blames him for her husband’s death, and both she and all the other inhabitants of the Welsh village where she lives blame him for oppressing his people. Geraint has to devise some scheme to convince his people that really he is on their side. A masked savior, a man dressed as a woman named Rebecca, rides out at night to lead his people in rebellion against the toll gates that are destroying them all. He is a daring and commanding figure, and Marged is soon deeply involved with him, though she has never seen his face. Beneath the disguise he is, of course, her friend-turned-foe, Geraint.

This was probably the second book I’ve read of Balogh. The thing is with Balogh, it’s best if you start with her Signet romances first. There, you’ll be used to the slow pace she uses for her stories – she takes her time building her characters. It’s all about the characters. The plot’s strong, too, but the characters are what shines through. When you get used to that then that’s the time you should start on her full-length novels.

Unfortunately, I did it the opposite. After Heartless, it was Truly and I’m afraid I didn’t like the book. I just skimmed it I think since things were progressing too slowly for my taste.

Reviews in Amazon were in like mind, in the sense that with this book, you need to appreciate the slow gradual pace. If you can do that then you could like this!

When the Duke of Bridgwater picks up Stephanie Gray in his carriage one day, she is wearing a fuchsia colored cloak and a bright pink, garishly adorned bonnet. He draws his own conclusions about her and listens to her story about being on her way to claim an inheritance with a great deal of amusement. By the time he realizes that she is telling the truth, it is too late–he has compromised her virtue and must marry her.

Couldn’t remember this again so went back to Amazon for reviews. There were only two but both of them gave it a perfect score. This is also connected to The Famous Heroine.

The Marquess of Staunton cold-bloodedly advertises for a governess for his non-existent children, chooses the plainest and dullest applicant, and offers her marriage. His only motive is to anger his estranged father, who has chosen a different bride for him. After he has presented her to his family, he plans to establish her somewhere with a great deal of money and never see her again. Charity Duncan agrees to the strange bargain because she is desperate for money to help support her brothers and sisters. But when she meets his family and recognizes the pain behind the estrangement, her warm heart cannot remain aloof. And when Staunton realizes that his temporary wife is in fact neither plain nor dull, his cold heart stirs to new life.

Not cute, not a tearjerker or even sensual, but you can feel the love between them definitely!

When Lord Francis Kneller first sees Cora Downes, she is tripping over her own feet, shrieking, and laughing rather too loudly. His conclusion is that she is a frightful young lady. When Cora first sees Lord Francis, he is wearing a bright satin turquoise coat with silver and turquoise striped waistcoat and silver knee breeches and copious amounts of lace. She immediately thinks of peacocks. Cora has a habit of getting herself into dreadful scrapes, and Lord Francis always seems to be close enough to get her out of them–at the cost of compromising her once too often. Soon this ill-assorted pair is forced into a marriage neither of them has sought. The book is a farce.

Funny and sweet. Another case of opposites attract. Balogh seems to love the name Francis, don’t you think?

“Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, Duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his brother, rejected by his fiancée, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later, fate has brought him back home, to the rescue of the very people who had once shunned him. Luke is amused by the advice that a wife will make his takeover of both the title and the family estate smoother, but amusement turns to desire once he sets eyes upon Lady Anna Marlowe. Unbeknownst to Luke, Anna is also no stranger to pain, but her suffering can’t be so easily overcome, not when her tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey. Luke and Anna, each made fragile by the past, must learn to trust both each other and their love if they are to have any chance for a future together.”

The first ever Balogh I’ve read. Although the story is very touching, I couldn’t help but be turned off with the fact that the guy’s so dandified! But when I got used to reading Balogh’s books, I learned not to mind about it.