Veena’s review of Grim Shadows (Roaring Twenties, Book 2) by Jenn Bennett
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 03 Jun 14
The book starts on a very exciting note and right then I knew this story was going to be a wild adventure in true Indiana Jones style as our protagonists run down a railway track to catch a rapidly accelerating train in the face of gun-toting villains and deal with shattering windows and flying luggage to collapse in someone else’s first-class compartment together. To top the exciting start, our protagonists are a wonderful study in contrasts. Lowe Magnusson is a colorful character who sooner lies than speak the truth, staying one step ahead of vengeful spirits and other villains who want to lay claim to his archeological finds, while Hadley Bacall is like a black-and-white still picture, all calm on the surface and seething insides.
Clearly a lot of people want Lowe’s head on a platter not just for his most recent finds, which have been splashed in the newspapers, but also for past misdeeds that are catching up with him. For a while it’s difficult to sort all the various colors and threads, but the focus is clearly on his most recent find – an amulet that is coveted by a multitude of people in the forefront of whom is Hadley’s father, which is why their paths cross in the first place.
It turns out that there are pieces that fit onto the prongs of the amulet that were first found and brought to the US by Mr. Bacall, Sr. and subsequently hidden by his wife. Once the piece is assembled in its entirety, it will open the gates of the underworld and help cure him of a curse that is slowly stealing his life. Hadley and Lowe team up to find the pieces that have been scattered around the city by her mother.
As they find clues and start to solve them, it seems that while they may be a step ahead, there are other people who are on the same quest as evidenced by their feeling of being watched and attacked by horrific creatures out of a horror movie. Fortunately they have Lowe’s friends who help with Voodoo and Hadley herself commands the Mori, who thrive on chaos. Hadley has lived a very isolated, almost sterile life because of her fear of unleashing the creatures and the impact of this on any relationship, since they seem to respond to her emotions.
Lowe, of course, with his colorful lifestyle takes these into stride and becomes a true adventure partner for Hadley, freeing her in ways she’s never experienced before in her life. As they explore the chemistry between them, Lowe’s past comes front and center and like a storm will sweep away all that they’ve developed so far. Will their relationship survive this upheaval? Can Hadley find it in her to forgive him and forge a future? Will they find the missing pieces of the amulet together and help her father? What will happen when and if they do find the pieces and assemble them all together? Will Hadley lose her demons? The twists and turns in the story are a total page turner and some of them totally amaze and blow me away.
Unfortunately for me, while the story is an exciting adventure, it does not have the same emotional impact as the first book in the series. I do look forward to see what the author puts forth with the next Magnusson in her next book, however.
Grade: B
Summary:
It’s the Roaring Twenties in foggy San Francisco. Prohibition is on, inhibitions are low, and dark magic is rolling into town…
Archaeologist Lowe Magnusson is packing something everyone wants. The djed amulet, a priceless Egyptian artifact, will fetch Lowe a hefty paycheck from one of San Francisco’s wealthiest. But when the handsome Swede runs into his patron’s uptight daughter, what he once considered easy money becomes maddeningly complicated…
Cursed with deadly spirits as her constant companions, curator Hadley Bacall must keep calm to hold her dangerous specters at bay and prevent them from lashing out at anything—or anyone. Trouble is, Lowe is driving her crazy, but her father needs the artifact he’s transporting. While Hadley can feel the amulet’s power, she can’t fathom the destruction—or the desire—it’s about to stir up.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
