Seven sisters…
and a legacy of magical secrets.
Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted
with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for
her northern California town's annual Christmas pageant, Kate
catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore
in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S.
Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn't mind
working in the undeniably eerie house-not if it means getting
closer to Kate. There's something about the quiet, sensual woman
that powerfully attracts him.
When an earthquake cracks the mill's foundation and reveals
a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been
unleashed…and that it's coming after her. Though Matt vows to
guard her from dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon
all of her and her sisters' powers to battle the darkness threatening
to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion
her hometown hero wants her to keep forever…
Click Here to Read Chapter 1
Release Date: November 1, 2003
Number of Pages: 304 pages
Publisher: Jove
Language: English
ISBN: 074347628X
~ORDER THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS~
~AUTHORS NOTES ~
Okay, I have to say it, I LOVE this cover very much and hope all of you do as well. This book is a book of the heart, written with my sisters in mind. I love having ten sisters and when we get together, the good times roll!
~KATE DRAKE'S JOURNAL~
~THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS POETRY~
I sent out a out the call for 'sick and twisted' Christmas poetry and
received many wonderful poems. This
poem was used in the book. Many thanks to Heather and Rose for
their dark, twisted minds!
click here for
some samplings of the other poems.
The Twilight Before Christmas
By Heather King and Rose Brungard
Twas the twilight before Christmas and all through the lands,
Not a thing has occurred that was not of my hand.
The snowglobe he holds has a secret inside,
Where the mist rolls in place of the snow that's outside.
A chill, colder still than the air they will feel,
As I rejoice in release as I slip past the seal
A wreath of holly meant to greet,
Looks much better tossed in the street.
A town dreams of sweet thoughts while nestled in bed,
Until nightmares of me begin to dance in their heads.
The time, it was right, for a present or two,
And the fog on the sand holds a secret, a clue
As lovers meet beneath mistletoe bright,
Terror ignites down below them this night
And the blood runs red on the pristine white snow...
While around all the houses the Christmas lights glow.
A star burns hot in the dead of the night,
As the bell tolls it's now midnight
Beneath the star, that shines so bright,
An act unfolds, to my delight
In the stocking hung with gentle care,
A mystery, I know, is hidden there.
A candle burns with an eerie glow,
As it melts, the wax does flow,
My last gift now, is a special one,
A candy cane for a special son,
He watches and tends and knows the land,
But not enough to evade my hand.
All deeds are now done, forgiveness is mine,
As two people share a love for all time
~THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AWARDS~
Finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Published Awards
for Paranormal / Futuristic / Fantasy
~THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
BESTSELLER LISTS~
NY Times Bestseller List
USA Today Bestseller List
Waldenbooks Bestseller List
B Dalton Bestseller List
Barnes and Nobles Bestseller List
Barnes and Nobles Online Bestseller List
Amazon Bestseller List
Sirenbooks Bestseller List
Ingram Bestseller List
~THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS REVIEWS~
Publisher's
Weekly Review
Set in a homey American small town, where the annual community
Christmas pageant is the highlight of the year, The Twilight
Before Christmas treads ground that may feel unfamiliar at
first to fans of Christine Feehan's gothic Dark series (Dark
Melody, etc.). But things are not always what they appear.
In the hands of this imaginative author, something as harmless
as a spell of bad weather-specifically, fog in a village that
never has fog-rapidly develops into an evil entity that uses
Christmas decorations as deadly weapons to prevent said pageant.
It's up to Kate Drake and her six sisters (witches all) to
save the festivities and the town, with the help of ex-Army
Ranger Matt Granite and a few other heroic hunks. As is typical
of Feehan's novels, dark suspense and sensual romance co-exist
here in unlikely but perfect harmony.
Copyright
2003 Reed Business Information.
Library
Journal Review
The people of the small coastal town of Sea Haven have always known that the seven Drake sisters were special; gifted with
strange powers and generous to a fault, they are considered
the town's "treasures." Now, just as Christmas approaches,
the sisters sense a growing danger-strange shadows slink about
the family's prescient mosaic floor and slither up the pathway
in the Christmas snowglobe-and when Kate discovers a broken
seal, ancient and symbol covered, in the old mill, they know
that something evil has been unleashed and that they will
have to deal with it. Chilling, suspenseful, passionate, and
rewarding, this is not your average holiday romance; it will,
however, be one to savor and remember. Feehan (Shadow Game)
is noted for her Carpathian novels and lives in Northern California.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Reviewed
by Jill M. Smith
Romantic Times Magazine
http://www.romantictimes.com/
In this heart-pounding release, the amazing Feehan delivers
the second story in her saga of the seven mystical Drake sisters.
Her abiility to build unique situations and then create a
variety of characters ensures that she will be providing extraordinary
reading for a long time to come.
Reviewed
by Kari Thomas
Five roses
Ms.
Feehan never disappoints her readers! Her characters come
to life instantly, the heroine brave and independent, the
hero strong and sexy. Their love heats up the pages with a
passion that is soul-deep and forever enduring. This reviewer
will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this fascinating
series and will definitely recommend them all!
Reviewed
by Diane Mason,
Romance and Friends
I
found Matt and his Katie to be a very likeable couple. They
each are successful, good looking people who seem to have
it all but deep inside they are full of insecurities. Matt
feels he's not good enough for someone like Kate and Kate
feels that she doesn't have it in her to be what Matt needs.
There are other issues for them to work out, especially Kate
with her magical abilities.
Ms. Feehan does a wonderful job blending everything together
in such a way that will leave you satisfied but craving more.
Christine Feehan is a master of building worlds with characters
so intriguing you won't want to leave them. TWILIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS sizzles so much you will need potholders to pick
it up with. The tension, sexual and otherwise will keep you
on the edge of your chair. This is one book that you will
definitely want to read in one sitting. Once you start you
won't be able to stop. I for one can't wait for the next book
in the series.
Reviewed
by Bee
Twilight
Before Christmas is the second story in the Drake Sisters
series. All seven sisters will have their stories told and
they promise to rival Ms Feehan's Dark series. With her award
winning style, she tells a marvelous story of sisters that
are a close-knit family who support each other and who give
tirelessly to their community. The heroes are willing to stand
by their sides, at the same time letting them be the strong
independent woman they are. Their challenge is trying to protect
them from themselves and the demands of their special gifts.
The humor that is written into the dialogue will delight you,
the action will keep you turning page after page and the special
feelings of family and love will give you a warm glow after
you are done. As always with a Feehan novel, you willing be
marking your calendar for the next book by this extraordinary
storyteller.
Reviewed
by Kelley Hartsell
Loves Romances
Best Reviews
Paranormal Reviews
Is there nothing the incomparable Ms. Feehan can't write?
Once again she has proven herself a master of the paranormal
romance genre. She is always pushing the envelope with new
stories bound to become keepers for all of her fans, as well
as to bring in new ones. Her voice is as fresh as ever, proving
her imagination is far from tapped out. This book is very
different from most of her other works, while still showing
strong her trademark voice. ….
The action is well-developed and perfectly paced to keep the
reader waiting with baited breath. The anticipation builds,
with Kate and her sisters' victory becomes more imperative
as the malevolent entity grows in strength, all the while
wearing their own strengths down. Events spiral up and around,
leading into the ultimate confrontation, which is not quite
what the reader is expecting, but guaranteed to please.
This book has it all, with a fiery romance, abundant humor,
plenty of action, and a satisfying ending, leaving the reader
begging for more. One will be happy to know, the story does
not end here… it is only beginning.
Reviewed
by Terrie Figueroa
Romance Reviews Today
THE
TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a captivating tale of love and
forgiveness, and is appropriately set during the season of
love. Filled with familial as well as romantic love, the story
is at turns romantic and chilling, and even has its moments
of amusement. Kate Drake is an engaging character, rather
introverted, but with an inner strength that is only bolstered
by the love and encouragement of her sisters. Each of the
Drake sisters has a special power, and Kate's is that of her
voice. She can calm, soothe, and offer peace, love and forgiveness
with just her voice. Matt Granite is as practical and down
to earth as an ex-army ranger can be. He's also a man with
a generous, steadfast heart, and enough courage to make him
a true hero. Matt and Kate are both from large families, and
their interaction with each other and their various family
members adds warmth and dimension to their characterization.
Secondary characters are well developed and add to the overall
enjoyment of the story; from Inez, the town gossip, to Old
Man Mars, Sea Haven's own Scrooge, each adds depth and dimension
to the story. Kate's sisters are an integral part of the plot
and are well-developed, and although Kate is the most fully
fleshed out in this, her story, the others are defined enough
to have this reader wanting to read more about them. Sarah
Drake, the eldest sister, has had her story told, and it can
be found in the LOVER BEWARE anthology. I was delighted to
visit with Sarah and her ultra sexy fiancé Damon once again.
THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is the second story in the Drake
Sisters series, and I certainly hope it won't be the last.
As with Christine Feehan's Carpathian series, the Drake Sisters
stories introduce new characters that have me dying to read
more about them. For a story that's guaranteed to touch your
heart as well as send a few chills down your spine, I highly
recommend THE TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, a story that reinforces
the belief that with love and forgiveness all things are possible.
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