Extremely graphic and violent: (2010-08-20) 
I've read almost all of Christina Dodd's historical novels and this is the first one that was the most unpleasant to read. It was overtly violent and graphical, the storyline flowed like molasses, the two main characters not developed well and the dialog between the characters did not grab you and pull you into their world. Also, the story did not tie in well to her previous historical novel, My Fair Temptress - there were some gaps in the storyline that did not get resolved or closed with the conclusion of the two story arc. This novel is a far cry from her previous historical novels; in fact, I can't remember any historical novel by any other of my favorite authors (Amanda Quick, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Loretta Chase) that has been so dark, menacing and disturbing.

I like my historical novels to have some meat to them but I do not need nor enjoy a graphical representation of the killing, butchering and processing of it.

Not pleasant to read: (2010-08-11) 
Obviously people enjoy different kinds of books, but are romance readers and lovers of grisly action adventures the same audience? There's so much awful, sadistic violence in this book that it made me sick to try and read it - even skipping major sections, I finally had to put it down. Dodd is an experienced and competent writer, and this book is not badly written, but it was not a pleasure to read.

parts were so bad thought it was a group effort with amateurs: (2010-07-10) 
My biggest complaint was the unevenness of the writing. there were discrepancies in style, vocabulary and tone. Part of the fun of an historical romance is the immersion in another time's social mores but this was all over the place, parts were so bad I thought it was a group effort with amateur contributors. The editor should be ashamed. Slow reading, inconsistent and really not worth the money.

Interesting Story and Easy Read with Minor Flaws: (2010-05-28) 
I really enjoyed this story, it was different than anything I have read lately. There definately could have been more development of the attraction between the Heroine and the Reaper before she started to get physical with him. However, I found the hero very likeable and the same for the heroine for the most part. I might not buy this for my collection, but it was worth the check-out from the library.

not a great book -would only buy used if doing it over: (2010-05-16) 
I don't know why I keep buying Christiana Dodd books-her stories are bland-poor characterizations-banal plots-way too much sex and not enough interesting dialogue or story development. At midway in the last two books I have read-one not a romance-I had the same thought-"I need to finish this because I paid for it-but this is dreary and unsatisfying".