At the cusp of the twentieth century, an heiress turned detective enters a world of deception and danger and must learn to trust her nemesis with both her life and her love.
Tormented by a tragic past, Miss Lillian Holmes nonetheless found the strength to go on, to become the greatest female detective of her time. To make her uncle proud. Except…he was not truly her uncle. Sherlock was a fictional character, and Lil was less a true detective than a sheltered twenty-six year old heiress with taste for mystery…and morphine. But then she saw him. Leaping from her neighbor’s second-story window, a beautiful stranger. With the recent murders plaguing Baltimore, here was a chance to reveal the truth.
Except, the Leaping Man was far more than he seemed. A wanton creature of darkness, an entry point to a realm of deception and evil, and to a Truth she had waited countless years to uncover, he would threaten far more than Lillian’s life. He would take both her heart and soul. And she would rejoice in it.
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One of the great things about doing book reviews and being a writer- I can get green with envy over the brilliance of others... this is one of those books. Ciar has created amazing characters, an amazing setting, and a plot that makes you want to keep reading- what more could you want? Nothing!
Why did I love this book? Lillian! She is such a great character. There is a lot of depth and you can see her grow and change in the story! She's sort of mousy in the beginning- not in the way you think, but because of the barriers that she's created for herself against the cruelties of the world that have been slapped against her young blossoming heart! By the end of the book, you know that this girl could rip someone's throat out if she needed to. A big change from the girl that hid her night rides on a motorbike... but she goes through some big changes! But do not mistake what I've said as a way to make her a less character in the beginning of the book- oh hell no! The girl dresses in men's clothing so she can go out for her night rides, stands in front of a window naked as the day she was born and watches the Leaping Man (oh, yum, by the way!).
Okay, I've said too much about her and perhaps too much of the beginning? I never know what to say and what not to say! I want you all to read the book! Bask in the awesomeness that is this book and remember that I'm the one that pointed you in that direction!
If you love Sherlock Holmes, even if it is only because of the smexy Robert Downey Jr., then you'll want to read this book. I completely imagine George as a RDJ kinda handsome rouge. I'm sure his brother would be just as delicious- but there is something about the character qualities that cause George to be that bad boy type that draws women to him in the flocks and I want to be there too!
Anyways, back to my point! This book has characters and stuff in it for everyone. We have the strong eccentric female; the soft mild-mannered best friend; the smexy brothers (one the bad boy and one the favorite); mysticism; death threats; rowdy street urchins & their trusty mutt; love; murder; mayhem; paranormal; and enough real life to slap reality in the face.
I am truly in love with this book and I cannot wait until Ciar writes the next one! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE write it soon and let me proof read it! I will be totally honest and kick some serious proofreading butt!
I highly recommend this book for everyone! You love romance (check!), action (check), historial (check), paranormal (check), strong females (check!), strong males (check!), insanity brought about by "medicines" (yep, that is there too!)... it's just a great book for the start of what I know will be an AMAZING series!
Ciar (KEE-er) Cullen hails from Baltimore, Maryland. She started her academic life as a theater major, but when she learned she couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag she turned to archaeology, another love. She earned her degree at Indiana University, summered on digs in Greece and England, landed a gig in New Jersey, and eventually went into nonfiction publishing. Her third career is as a bureaucrat at a university. She is married to a photographer and has two cats. Eventually she hopes to retire to a small cabin, with the same husband and more cats.
Ciar is not one of those authors who dreamt of writing since childhood. She took up virtual pen on a dare in mid-life and forgot to stop. She loves reading just about anything, but especially nonfiction. Some of her favorite novelists are Mark Twain, E.L. Doctorow, Roger Zelazney, and yes, Nora Roberts. When she¹s not reading or writing, she loves to knit, to study all things Major League Baseball, and to jog.
Website: www.ciarcullen.com
Blog: www.ciarcullen.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ciar.cullen
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Ciar_Cullen
Ciar and her publisher, Boroughs Publishing Group, will be awarding a 10-book subscription to their Lunchbox Romance line, which will include The Shopgirl and the Vampire, Ciar’s precursor to Lillian Holmes and the Leaping Man.
Sunday 29th September
Sarka-Jonae Miller from Between Boyfriends
Monday 30th September
C.M Brown (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Writer)
Tuesday 1st October
Robin Kalinich
Wednesday 2nd October
Natalie-Nicole Bates
Thursday 3rd October
Suzanne Lazear from Steamed!
Tana Rae from Tana Rae Reads