The Dark Lady (Mad Passions, #1)

Feb 08, 2013 Pamela / SpazP rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed several components of this book, particularly the dark Victorian setting and the creepy asylum the heroine is imprisoned at. There is a scene in the beginning of the book that had me holding my breathe, it was so intense. I love the trope of friends to lovers, and in this case the hero and heroine have loved each other since they could remember, but they were separated by duty. I love that shit. :P However, the story for me fell apart somewhere around the middle of the book. The romanc...more

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May 06, 2013 Lynn Spencer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I gave this a C- at All About Romance, so 2.5 stars.
The Dark Lady is one of those books that intrigued me from the moment I saw the synopsis - drug-addicted heroine, dark and gothic-sounding plot - I really looked forward to this debut. And then I read it. It caught my attention at first, but ultimately ended up a major disappointment.

As the book opens, Lord Ian Blake has returned from India, obviously in pain and deeply burdened. The opening of the book has an almost gothic tinge to it as Ian...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book started out strong and then just kept getting weaker. The romance aspect reminded me of Wuthering Heights, with the whole tortured love aspect of two people in love who cannot be together because of obligations to family and position. Eva and Ian are the people in question. Both are adopted into the same family but actually come from different families. Eva was there first and was promised to the heir of the estate: Hamilton. Ian becomes best friends with Hamilton until an incident aft...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Book Binge Blog rated it 3 of 5 stars

Viscount Ian Blake returns to England after three years in India. He is anxious to return to the home he grew up in as he’s not sure what his welcome will be by his childhood friend Eva. When he gets to the house, however, what he finds is quite shocking. He finds Eva gone, her son dead and her dead husbands brother as the Lord of the Manor. Ian finally gets out of Thomas (the current Lord) that Eva was put into an asylum because she went mad after the deaths of her husband and son in such short...more Viscount Ian Blake returns to England after three years in India. He is anxious to return to the home he grew up in as he’s not sure what his welcome will be by his childhood friend Eva. When he gets to the house, however, what he finds is quite shocking. He finds Eva gone, her son dead and her dead husbands brother as the Lord of the Manor. Ian finally gets out of Thomas (the current Lord) that Eva was put into an asylum because she went mad after the deaths of her husband and son in such short succession. Ian is determined to get Eva out of the mad house and goes there acting as if he is Thomas.

Ian manages to get Eva out (and almost get her friend Mary as well but that didn’t work out) and he heads off to try and keep Eva away from the asylum thugs that are looking for her to take her back and to keep her away from the Laudanum that she’s become addicted to.

Eva wants nothing but to forget. She hates herself for killing her son and feels she deserves to be in the mad house. Ian tries to make her see that it’s not her fault but he has guilt aplenty about Eva’s dead husband, Hamilton, who was also Ian’s best friend. Ian sets out with a friend of his to prove that Eva isn’t crazy and that will get her out from under Thomas’s thumb. He tries to hide his love for Eva along the way but can’t quite manage it when she’s in such close proximity at all times.

This book started off really good. I was completely into Ian finding Eva and what he needed to do to get Eva out of the asylum. Even not long after that when they stopped for the night and they had it out about Eva’s Laudanum usage and she almost got herself killed trying to get a fix. Shortly after that the book went downhill for me.

Yes, the book was dark and gothic but the guilt that both Eva and Ian carried with them brought the story down to an almost depressing level. I was unimpressed with the constant inner fighting they both did with themselves and the slow pace that the book took on because of it. During the middle of the book I almost put it down completely but kept reading. I’m not sure I’m happy I did. Yes, everyone was happy in the end and it all worked out for everyone (almost too smoothly) but the getting to that point, for me, wasn’t worth the time spent.

I’m giving this story a slightly higher grade than I normally would just for the first part of the book, Mary’s part (which was small but awesome) and Ian’s friend’s involvement as those parts saved the book for me. I think this is one that you have to read in order to decide on for yourself. I looked at Goodreads and apparently I'm in the minority on my rating so if you read it let me know what you think.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Noelle Pierce rated it 4 of 5 stars

First, I want to qualify that I don't read the darker romances, so this review is without comparison to other dark historical romance.

From the beginning, this book gripped tight and held on. I didn't want to put it down, and if not for the fear that some government entity would take my children away if I didn't feed and clothe them, I might not have. The characters and their demons were compelling, and I was desperate to find how they'd grow and change over the course of the book.

The author's...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Callixta rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Avis de Callixta

Maire Claremont propose en février son premier roman et c’est une entrée intéressante dans la romance historique. Elle propose un livre dense et très tendu qui n’est pas sans défaut mais elle a été exigeante et n’a décidément pas choisi la facilité.

Le début du livre nous permet de faire la connaissance de Ian Blake. Il revient d’un séjour éprouvant en Inde où il a combattu aux côtés de son ami de toujours qui a finalement été tué. Il va au...more http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Avis de Callixta

Maire Claremont propose en février son premier roman et c’est une entrée intéressante dans la romance historique. Elle propose un livre dense et très tendu qui n’est pas sans défaut mais elle a été exigeante et n’a décidément pas choisi la facilité.

Le début du livre nous permet de faire la connaissance de Ian Blake. Il revient d’un séjour éprouvant en Inde où il a combattu aux côtés de son ami de toujours qui a finalement été tué. Il va au devant de la veuve de son ami, la jolie Eva. Il a toujours été amoureux d’eux et est effondré quand il apprend qu’elle est enfermée dans un asile de fous après avoir perdu son fils dans un terrible accident. Le début du roman est marqué par ces drames et donne le ton d’une histoire où l’atmosphère demeurera toujours sombre et tourmentée car les deux héros sont marqués par leurs drames et par un passé complexe.

Maire Claremont va conjointement nous raconter ce qui se passe après cette terrible révélation pour Ian et revenir dans des flashbacks sur l’enfance de Ian, de son ami et d’Eva car ses trois là se connaissent depuis très jeunes et ont toujours fonctionné en trio. Ils ont fait les quatre cents coups et Ian et Eva ont toujours été très proches même si elle a toujours été destinée à leur ami. Ces moments sont essentiels comme ceux qui se sont déroulés en Inde pour comprendre l’état d’esprit.

Maire Claremont avec une grande rigueur nous raconte également pendant une longue première partie comment étaient traités les fous dans des établissements où ne figuraient pas que des gens souffrant de problèmes mentaux mais tous ceux dont on voulait se débarrasser. Elle ajoute une intéressante mais frustrante approche de l’addiction au laudanum. Nous restons un peu sur notre faim car elle ne s’attardera pas vraiment sur la façon dont cette addiction affectait ceux qui en souffraient et comment ils s’en soignaient. Il est vrai que le roman est long, riche, dense et empli d’aventures. Il ne restait sans doute plus assez de place pour développer cette partie de l’intrigue.

Car nos deux héros vont se retrouver dans des conditions difficiles et qui n’ont rein à voir avec les salons londoniens ni les habituels sujets de préoccupation des jeunes gens de l’époque. Eva est dans cet asile pour une bonne raison, l’en tirer sera complexe.

Eva est un personnage formidable, endurcie par une vie très difficile et elle illustre à merveille le diction « ce qui ne me tue pas, me rend plus fort ». Elle a survécu et a l’envie de vivre cheviller au corps. Face à elle, Ian est aussi dense et impressionnant, rongé par le chagrin et les remords sur ce qui s’est passé en Inde et est bien plus complexe qu’on peut le penser au départ. En un mot, c’est une intrigue originale, forte et grave . Cela fait du bien de voir des romances différentes et qui vraiment ne cherchent pas à séduire dans la facilité.

Le petit revers est que la lecture est parfois très austère et sombre et que l’on attend les moments trop rares entre les héros.Le livre se dévore et il aurait fallu encore un peu plus de temps pour profiter de ces formidables personnages.d’ailleurs, il y aune prometteuse jeune femme, prisonnière comme Eva et qui a tout d’une grande héroïne. Nous la retrouverons peut-être un jour.

Maire Claremont est sans conteste une auteure à suivre, elle a également publié une nouvelle de Noël qui montre peut-être un autre aspect de son talent mais elle émrite d’être découveret dans ce genre sombre et gothique de la romance historique.(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Jovon Tucker rated it 5 of 5 stars

First off, let me begin by saying that while I do enjoy a good romance novel every now and then, they are not my favorite genre. However,the Dark Ladyby Máire Claremont, coming out February 5th 2013, is just that. A GREAT romance novel!

The reason I'm not too fussed on romances is because to me, they seem to focus mostly on the sexual escapades of the characters rather than the rest of the storyline. In my opinion, they usually are bordering on erotica more than romance. I can usually guess what...more First off, let me begin by saying that while I do enjoy a good romance novel every now and then, they are not my favorite genre. However, the Dark Lady by Máire Claremont, coming out February 5th 2013, is just that. A GREAT romance novel!

The reason I'm not too fussed on romances is because to me, they seem to focus mostly on the sexual escapades of the characters rather than the rest of the storyline. In my opinion, they usually are bordering on erotica more than romance. I can usually guess what's going to happen and overall I just feel the plots draw on and on.

The Dark Lady by Máire Claremont set in 1865 is definitely NOT one of these drab and predictable story lines! From chapter 1, I was drawn in to the dark, sorrowful, and horrific madhouse that Lady Eva Carin has been subjected to for two years! Thrown into what could only be described as the very pits of Hell by her brother-in-law, Thomas. Eva is beaten, molested, put under constant darkness and more. All under the watchful eye of Mrs. Palmer; the woman who runs the asylum.

Ian Blake, Eva's late husband, Hamilton and herself, all grow up together in a wonderful estate in England. With Hamilton always trying to outdo the naturally more inclined Ian in everything from sports to winning Eva's affection (she was betrothed to Hamilton) and even the late Lord Carin's love.

Throughout this entire book, I was trying to guess what was happening next and was delightfully surprised when I was wrong! Claremont kept me guessing and looking forward to the plot! =]

The relationship that blossoms between the tortured souls of Ian and Eva is really quite beautiful! Each have unspeakable secrets. Each have something weighing them down. Drowning in guilt. Between the two, and some help from loved and trusted friends, the childhood loves begin to come into themselves. Into their own rights.

I love the character progression. It was not dull nor drawn out. Instead, the skirmishes that took place were exciting and I held my breath, waiting to read who comes out as the victor!

For a great love story, peppered with some action, addictions, a little betrayal, and just a dash of sex, the Dark Lady by Máire Claremont is the book for you! I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be recommending it to my friends!

Claremont does not go with the "norm" on this one and because of that, I think the Dark Lady will be a great hit and simply fly off the shelves!

Look out to get your copy of the Dark Lady by Máire Claremont on February 5th 2013!

**Just a little disclosure here. I was able to get an ARC copy of the Dark Lady through a website I love! I obtained this wonderful book legally. =]

Check out my blog, Book2Buzz st http;//www.book2buzz.blogspot.com (less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully written story that is set in the Victorian era, is focused on the hurts and damage that comes when a society continues to view women as expendable unless they behave as gentled lap dogs, who conform to the social norms of beauty without brains, and who sometimes stand in the way of one man's greed and avarice and insatiable hunger for power. Then the hidden horror of "asylum," especially private institutions who destroy women who must be silenced, who are simply impairments...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Cherie Jensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book

I don't usually read "dark" romance. I read for entertainment and like to learn something at the same time. Therefore, since I never considered stopping reading this book I guess it's not as dark as others I've started and stopped reading.

Someone else referred to this as a debut and if so it is very, very good for a debut. There was a tightness in my chest several times when Eva was in danger and Ian's devotion to Eva was palpable. I will read Mary's story when it comes out because she was an un...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first word that came out of my mouth as I’ve finished reading this story was WOW… and then I exhaled.

‘The Dark Lady’ by Máire Claremont is her début, and what a début it is!

If you’re like me, one of those bookworms that have a need for the book to grab them from the first page, then you’re in luck if you decide to read this book. You’ll be on pins and needles ‘till the end.

For a change this story develops in 1865, Victorian era and what a contrast to Regency era it is. For some reason it loo...more The first word that came out of my mouth as I’ve finished reading this story was WOW… and then I exhaled.

‘The Dark Lady’ by Máire Claremont is her début, and what a début it is!

If you’re like me, one of those bookworms that have a need for the book to grab them from the first page, then you’re in luck if you decide to read this book. You’ll be on pins and needles ‘till the end.

For a change this story develops in 1865, Victorian era and what a contrast to Regency era it is. For some reason it looks like women suffered even worse than in the earlier years. This is the case with our heroine. This woman, as the story opens, is in hell and she’s hanging by a thread.

Lady Eva Carin not only lost her husband, but soon after suffered a loss even greater than that, a loss of her son in an accident of her making. Thomas, her brother-in-law who is now the new Lord Carin, uses her pain and devastation to his advantage and commits her to an asylum in which for the past two years she’s endured many ‘disciplinary’ treatments ordered by the woman who runs the place, such as a regular dose of opium to a point of addiction, many beatings and more.

Lord Ian Blake is back from India and as much as he dreads coming face to face with Eva, he knows that he ows her the truth about Hamilton’s death, and feel that this as his only opportunity of redeeming himself in her eyes and coming to terms with his role in it. He’s been haunted with memories of not just Hamilton’s death but also with their life as children as all three have grown up together in a wonderful home provided by Hamilton’s father, Lord Carin. He took in both Eva and Ian after their individual parents died. As they grew together, boys were always vying for love and approval of the old man but it was Hamilton who started envying the bond that had developed between his father and Ian.

Ian on the other hand hadn’t realized that his earnest admiration and love for Lord Carin was a sore point to his best friend so whatever he did to please him, Hamilton viewed it as a challenge and affront to his own character. Even Eva was in some way touched by their rivalry. While they all were aware of her duty to marry Hamilton, they also realized that she had more in common with Ian than Hamilton, but neither Eva nor Ian voiced their thoughts or feelings out loud as that would be a breach of duty and bring much hurt to the man who they both loved like a father.

Ian is shocked to find out that she’s been committed, but once he enters the hell she’s been living, he is livid and enraged. The only thing stopping him from committing murder is the thought ....Thanks for jumping over to b2b to finish reading the rest of my review...

http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...

Mel for b2b

*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.(less)

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Feb 16, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

First off, I want to declare that I'm not a romance novel person at all. Usually I find them cheesy and over the top, with way too much emphasis on manly men and weak women. I wasn't sure if The Dark Lady could overcome these inhibitions, but I was pleasantly surprised!

The Dark Lady is surprisingly fun. It's got a pair of damaged lovers that have a complicated relationship, and it avoids a lot of stereotypical pitfalls of the genre. I'm a sucker for childhood friends that become lovers, and this...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B+

Eva has been locked away in an asylum following her husband, Hamilton, and later young son’s deaths. The family title went to Thomas, her dead husband’s brother and he had her committed, telling her friends and those in society that she was being taken care of by the best professionals. When in reality, she was locked in a room with another young lady, beaten repeatedly, having to endure knowing her roommate, Mary was being raped and other...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B+

Eva has been locked away in an asylum following her husband, Hamilton, and later young son’s deaths. The family title went to Thomas, her dead husband’s brother and he had her committed, telling her friends and those in society that she was being taken care of by the best professionals. When in reality, she was locked in a room with another young lady, beaten repeatedly, having to endure knowing her roommate, Mary was being raped and other horrible situations from being stuck in this nightmare with other women that the men in their lives wanted to banish away. She’s addicted to laudanum and kept in a constant state of fuzziness. She can’t clearly remember the events from the day that her son died; only that she was driving the carriage with him in it in a mad rush to get away from Thomas and get a letter posted. Beyond that, she thinks she may be truly mad and she’s all but forgotten in this place until Ian finds out.

Ian grew up as an orphan like Eva, and lived with Hamilton and Thomas and their father, a man who didn’t help his own sons at all when his love for Ian was greater than his love for his own blood. Regardless, Hamilton, Eva and Ian were the best of friends and Eva had been promised to Hamilton for years, it was a marriage that she accepted, being given a home and a good future. Hamilton was not a nice boy and later a worse man, there was something dangerous and unstable about him and it ended up tearing the trio apart. He did marry Eva but soon after, he went into service as an officer and Ian went as well, hoping to help his friend get his head on straight and become the person that Ian and Eva were best friends with. Hamilton didn’t change and as a result was killed, his death is something that Ian feels completely responsible for and is convinced that Eva will never forgive him. He learns that Eva has been put into an asylum and rushes to get her out. This sets off a chain of events that put Eva’s roommate Mary in danger, as well as Eva who, even escaping the asylum with Ian, is now being hunted by the not only the woman running the asylum, but the man who put her there in the first place, Thomas.

I was sucked into this story from the start. My heart went out to Eva and Mary and learning what they had to endure being stuck in this hell of an asylum. Ian tries to get Mary out as well, but she sacrifices her freedom to give Ian and Eva a chance, and that was the moment I loved Mary. She’s the heroine of book 2 and I can’t wait learn about what has happened to her, even though it might break my heart.

But this story was completely centered on Eva and Ian and how they’re both dealing with putting the past and ghosts to rest so they might try to have a future. It’s, oddly enough, easier for Eva to reach this moment first. I really enjoyed seeing her journey, she suffered getting herself off the laudanum, had to deal with her memories coming back and reliving the day her son died. Her immediately goal is trying to convince society that she in not in fact mad, so she can get out from under Thomas’s “protection” and try to have a life again. Ian helps her through all this, but he suffers from the guilt of not trying to save Hamilton, who didn’t deserve to be saved. Ian has loved Eva since they were young, but knew that she was going to marry Hamilton and didn’t let his feelings show. He can’t hold back now and they have some pretty emotional scenes together. I never felt like their sex scenes were front and center, but they were very emotional and provided a connection that they both needed.

For as dark as the overall tone of this story was, especially early on and during the flashbacks where we got to see exactly how Hamilton changed and the signs he displayed early on that he wasn’t the most stable guy, it’s a story that I found to be very easy to get hooked into. Ian was a strong hero, he did what he had to do to make Eva safe and give her a chance at a future. But he struggles with loving her and feeling like he deserves that love. I liked the progression of their relationship, and I always enjoy a story that gives us characters that have known each other for years, were kept apart by circumstance and then find their way to each other.

Do things work out a little too perfectly for Eva in the end after her big confrontation with Thomas? Maybe. But dammit, after knowing the hell she went through in that asylum, I was pleased that she found the ending that she did. Eva and Ian both deserved to find some happiness and their journey was so satisfying.(less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Rachel (BAVR) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angst-city, brooding-mcbroody-hero, dead-spouse-baggage, historical-romance, screw-this-world, velociraptor-balls, victorian-romance

I've been waiting so long for an HR that opens in an asylum (because I'm creepy), and The Dark Lady sort of / kind of attempts to make my dreams come true. It doesn't fail outright, but it does lose most of its balls in the middle.

He's sad because he lost his balls, too.

My obsession with somehow fitting an asylum-bound woman into a romance novel started in college when I was really high on my kick as a newly energized feminist. I was all, "OMG, they locked women in asylums just for being asser...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lord Ian Blake has returned from India with troubling demons and many regrets, feeling that he’s responsible for his best friend’s death. Now that’s he’s back in England, he needs to make sure his friend Hamilton’s wife, Lady Eva Carin is safe and cared for. When he discovers that she has been locked in an asylum after an accident that resulted in the death of her young son, he embarks on a mission to save her. This story is aptly named, for it is a dark and twisted tale of the nastier side of V...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Sharyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

The premise of this book was so intriguing to me: Eva Carin has been committed to a madhouse in Victorian England by her brother-in-law, Thomas, the current Lord Carin. Eva was sent there after the tragic death of her young son, Adam. Viscount Ian Blake, a childhood friend of Eva, arrives back in England after being in the military in India. He discovers Eva has been sent to the asylum by Thomas and is determined to find out what happened to her. He also wants to apologize to her because he did...more The premise of this book was so intriguing to me: Eva Carin has been committed to a madhouse in Victorian England by her brother-in-law, Thomas, the current Lord Carin. Eva was sent there after the tragic death of her young son, Adam. Viscount Ian Blake, a childhood friend of Eva, arrives back in England after being in the military in India. He discovers Eva has been sent to the asylum by Thomas and is determined to find out what happened to her. He also wants to apologize to her because he did not keep Hamilton, his best friend and Eva's husband, safe in India, making Eva a widow. Throw Ian grabbing Eva in a daring escape from the madhouse, and Eva's laudanum addiction, and the story is looking very good.

The theme of this book is "mistakes" - all the characters have made mistakes which have affected other characters in the book. I'd say most of the mistakes originated with the former Lord Carin, Hamilton and Thomas's father. This causes a rift between Hamilton and his best friend Ian, that follows them for the rest of their lives.

However, I found the middle of the book, after the escape from the asylum, to be somewhat disjointed in places. Eva and Ian would be having a conversation when suddenly Ian would grow angry and stop talking with her. I would read back a few paragraphs but couldn't find the reason for his sudden mood swing. There's even a sex scene where I couldn't figure out where Eva and Ian were and what time it was. She is in a robe so I assume it is after dark - are they in Eva's room? Ian's room? One of the public rooms? And, Eva's laudanum addiction, which I thought would be very interesting and run through the book, comes to a somewhat quick conclusion after the first few chapters focusing on it. Another thing is that new characters just pop into the story with no background. The Earl of Wyndham is apparently one of Ian's friends but we don't get introduced to him until more than halfway through the book - how old is he? How long has Ian known him?

The storyline does pick up more at the end when Eva has faced her demons and now Ian must face his. The flashbacks from India are heartbreaking and interestingly, are all shown from Hamilton's point-of-view. The result, at least to me, was to make Hamilton a somewhat more tragic and sympathetic character and really showed the horror of what happened to Hamilton - I'm not sure that was where the author was going with that because it made me not like Ian as much.

Some threads of the overall story are missing and some neatly resolved. For example, what happened to Mrs. Palmer, the owner of the asylum? And, I thought the scenes with the gardener and his wife at the end were too neat and tidy and unrealistic.

I do think Maire Claremont has a good voice, it just appeared to me that either too much of the story had been cut in revisions or maybe certain scenes needed to be tied together better to form more of a flow. (Note: I received this ebook from the author for an honest review)(less)

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Jan 26, 2013 Kerry Allen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-eat-your-spinach, donated, never-again

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Backstory: Her husband (who was kind of a dick) died in the war in India. Her baby died in a carriage accident. Her creepy brother-in-law had her doped up and stuck in a nuthouse (where everybody got raped on a regular basis except the heroine because she had stretch marks and everyone knows rapists can't get it up in the presence of stretch marks) and told all of society her poor fragile mind had shattered and she was recuperating at a spa in Europe.

Clearly, creepy brother-in-law is villainous...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Aislynn (Stitch Read Cook) added it

Shelves: arc-s-to-review, ebook, historical-romance, netgalley-read, read-in-2013

After the death of her husband, Eva tragically loses her child and is locked away to protect her and her family. Unfortunately for Eva, this is one of the most horrible places she could be – drugged to keep quiet, at the mercy of other inmates, the staff and independence curbed.

Society believes Eva is away at a “spa” taking the waters to improver her health. No one really knows what’s happening to her – aside from one family member and Ian – a man who loves her beyond all else and is willing to...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Wendy La Capra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Dark Lady grabbed me on page one and kept me riveted through the end. The writing is gorgeous, the heroine strong and very sympathetic, and the hero honorable and sigh-worthy through the darkest moments. The story is swims through the hidden side Victorian splendor, where laws could be twisted to satisify the ends of the powerful. As the hero and heroine clash against the forces bent on their destruction (and sometimes against each other), their strength and honor build and the very deep wounds...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Annah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, physical-copy, favorite

I was so excited to start reading The Dark Lady. Every review I saw or bloc post about it was good. I was not disappointed in the least. I read a lot of historical romance so there are a lot of similarities amongst various authors of the genre but I feel like Maire brought something new to the table. This wasn't just a love story about two people trying to love one another despite the odds. It was about each character reconsiling with the past and learning to live with themselves in order to liv...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Maire Claremont is embracing the dark side of Victorian London with this first installment of her Mad Passions series. Our heroine, Eva, isn't mad, but after what she has endured, no one hesitates to believe her late husband's brother when he claims otherwise. Not only did her husband Hamilton die, but she lost their young son shortly afterwards. Evil brother-in-law had her committed to a madhouse, where she has been locked away for the past two years.

The conditions Eva is forced to live with ar...more Maire Claremont is embracing the dark side of Victorian London with this first installment of her Mad Passions series. Our heroine, Eva, isn't mad, but after what she has endured, no one hesitates to believe her late husband's brother when he claims otherwise. Not only did her husband Hamilton die, but she lost their young son shortly afterwards. Evil brother-in-law had her committed to a madhouse, where she has been locked away for the past two years.

The conditions Eva is forced to live with are subhuman. The women are drugged... abused... violated. And she would have stayed there to rot, if not for the return of her childhood friend, Ian.

As children, Eva, Ian, and Hamilton were inseparable, the best of friends. The were all raised by Hamilton's father, who set up the betrothal of Eva and his son, before anyone was old enough to know their own hearts or minds. Ian was the golden boy, and Hamilton became increasingly jealous and bitter that his father seemed to prefer his cousin. The insidious feelings transformed Hamilton into a twisted man, which ultimately led to his own death.

Ian has always loved Eva, so when he saves her, his heart can't help but beat for her. Yet he has so much guilt wrapped up in Hamilton's death (and about the fact he wasn't there to save Eva sooner) that it cripples his ability to give in to his feelings. Eva needs him, though, to help her beat her forced addictions... to elude her brother in law and the fiends hunting her from the asylum... and to prove her sanity.

It was so angsty and dark. I really enjoyed the vast majority of the book. The conditions in the madhouse were absolutely chilling. And what was done Eva was heartbreaking. But in contrast, the tentative steps Eva and Ian take toward love and solace are so satisfying. Ian is so utterly devoted to saving Eva in every way, to keeping her safe forever. And she manages to find this inner strength, to rise above the horrors she has endured. Both are so damaged by the past. I got so wrapped up in reading it. It was very engaging.

It wasn't perfect, though. The end of the book didn't fit for me... it didn't keep with the tone of all that came before it. It was just too happy and perfect after all we went through with these two. It took away something from the struggle they triumphed over (if that makes sense.)

Overall, I did like the book. I liked that Clairmont wasn't afraid to "go there," especially in the first half. And I am very intrigued to read Mary's story. There is so much great material to mine from among the women in that asylum.

*ARC provided author for review(less)

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Feb 14, 2013 Karla rated it 3 of 5 stars

What an interesting premise! The hero rescues the heroine from a insane asylum, a great beginning. I was loving this until about half way through when the story shifted gears to a more conventional romance with the attendant romance cliches. The writing was melodramatic, which worked in the first half but became annoying in the second. Spoiler follows: (view spoiler)...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book started out SO good. Really dark and unlike anything I've read before, especially in a Historical Romance.

The heroine, Lady Eva Carin, had lost her husband to war and her infant son in an unfortunate accident of her doing. The trauma and guilt sent her into such a state of depression that her brother-in-law sent her to an asylum, claiming her insane. Polite society believes she is "resting" at a lovely spa but poor Eva is really living in horrific conditions where the patients become h...more This book started out SO good. Really dark and unlike anything I've read before, especially in a Historical Romance.

The heroine, Lady Eva Carin, had lost her husband to war and her infant son in an unfortunate accident of her doing. The trauma and guilt sent her into such a state of depression that her brother-in-law sent her to an asylum, claiming her insane. Polite society believes she is "resting" at a lovely spa but poor Eva is really living in horrific conditions where the patients become hooked on laudanum and are beaten or even raped on a regular basis.

Lord Ian Blake comes back from the war in India to ask Eva for forgiveness to relieve a heavy burden on his heart concerning Eva's dead husband Hamilton. The three were best friends as children but grew apart due to Hamilton's increasing jealousy of Ian. Still Ian followed Hamilton to war with a promise to Eva to protect him. When he realizes what has happened to Eva in his absence, he stops at nothing to rescue her and prove her sanity. Recusing her from the asylum turns out to be the easy part. Riding out Eva's addictions, getting her to trust again and overcoming both their guilty conscious is more difficult than he imagined.

I know this sounds really dark, and it is, but it's so beautifully written and once Ian enters the picture with his stubborn determination, you know that things will get better for Eva soon. I love how the author was able to address really tough topics while still giving the reader something to hope for. The relationship between Ian and Eva is not one of instant lust, or the usual silly romance. After what Eva has been through, you know her mind will take time to heal and Claremont gives her characters the space and time they need. They have a very strong foundation to build on from their past friendship.
The Dark Lady is told in alternating pov's including a few past tense chapters from Hamilton. It was a great way to show how everyone first became friends and how it turned sour.

Unfortunately around the half way mark the story took a turn more towards integrating Eva into proper society. To be fair, I HATE this part of historical romances so I might not be the best person to judge this aspect. Eva had to be accepted and shown to be sane to get out from under her brother-in-law thumb so it's understood that she would have to be introduced back into society. What didn't work for me was that there was such a focus on that aspect that it took me away from her and Ian's relationship, losing focus of both Eva & Ian's inner demons. At that point they were just ….I want you, but I'm a horrible person, I did horrible things…then Eva is whisked away for a week to learn to drink tea. While Ian started out so steadfast, he was suddenly acting aloof. I wasn't really into that.

I was so very happy that Eva and Ian get their HEA (I don't think I'm spoiling anything with that did bit) but it happened so quickly and way too neatly for my tastes. It almost had a soap opera feel. This is the first book in a new series called Mad Passions. We were introduced to Mary (Eva's cellmate) but by setting up Mary's book there were thread's to Eva's story that were left wide open.

Final thoughts: This book starts out dark, so it's probably not for the faint of heart (I LOVED it though) but it really is a heartwarming story of triumph and worth it if you can get through that part. I don't think the second half lived up to the potential of the first but it was still very good.
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Mar 24, 2013 Linda Dickson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Read. An intensly interesting story of deciet, romance, mystery and adventure that takes place in England circa 1865. After the death of her husband and son, Eva is placed in a women's asylum. With the help of Ian, a childhood friend posing as her guardian, Eva narrowly escapes to freedom and begins a journey to recovery from the torment that was inflicted upon her at the asylum. The childhood bond blossoms into a romance amidst the jostling...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Melody May rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

Originally posted on What I'm Reading

First off let me just say, WOW! I normally stay far away from darker novels, but Máire Claremont did a fantastic job with her debut novel, The Dark Lady. I was seriously impressed and I can honestly say that I haven't read anything like this. With so many romance novels out there it is truly amazing to find a unique story.

The story starts off with Lord Ian Blake coming home from India to check on Lady Eva Carin. However, was informed by her sniveling brother...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked the idea of this story, and the characters. The biggest reason I did not give it a higher rating is the setting was not historically correct. English society in this time was very strict on what was and was not allowed between men and women. Especially in the latter parts of the book that is mentioned, but never truly comes into play. I also thought the main character got over her addiction rather quickly, and easily once they arrived at Ian's home.
This all aside I will still read the s...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been anxiously awaiting Máire Claremont's debut from the moment I first spied the cover. The lush art work led me to believe that the contents inside would certainly be even better. The Dark lady had me from page one and kept me entranced right through the final pages. The writing is solid. The Dark Lady’s hero and heroine are equally matched in strengths and tragedies. The story weaves its way through the dark side of Victorian England, a side which is often forgotten. Claremont draws re...more I have been anxiously awaiting Máire Claremont's debut from the moment I first spied the cover. The lush art work led me to believe that the contents inside would certainly be even better. The Dark lady had me from page one and kept me entranced right through the final pages. The writing is solid. The Dark Lady’s hero and heroine are equally matched in strengths and tragedies. The story weaves its way through the dark side of Victorian England, a side which is often forgotten. Claremont draws readers into the dark recesses of an often cruel era where those who have power often abused such power. From a country side madhouse to the beautiful ballrooms of London this book takes readers on ride that so few historical romances do.
They had been friends since early childhood but destiny and duty fell in their paths. Lady Eva Carin has not only lost her husband but soon after suffers a much greater loss than that, the loss of her infant son in an accident of her own making. Her brother-in-law Thomas, the new Lord Carin sees fit to commit Eva to an asylum of which she has endured many cruelties including a regular dosing of laudanum and many pain filled beatings. Lord Ian Blake has returned from India haunted by the events that led to the former Lord’s death and dreads coming face to face with Eva, but he knows he owes her the truth about what really happened to her husband. Iain is stunned to learn that she’s been committed, but upon entering the halls of the asylum that she has been placed in, he becomes livid and enraged. The only thing that stops him from committing murder is the thought of never being able to see Eva again. This sets off a chain of events that puts them both in danger as they each try to overcome the torments that life has thrown at them.
I was drawn into the story from beginning and my heart went out to Eva and Ian. The story telling is lush and simply draws you into the period. There are many strong secondary characters that will make you want to come back for a second helping. Beautifully crafted, and has been written in a fashion that believable for its time period. For a novel that has an overall darkness to it, the light soon begins to filter in.
Easily a Five Star
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Mar 21, 2013 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

DNF-- I stopped somewhere in Ch. 7. My own fault, really, because I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting into, but the language was just too melodramatically gothic for my taste (YMMV). I liked the idea of the plot, and the descriptions are first-rate, but the language just made me roll my eyes.

Also, a seemingly minor quibble-- unless by some miracle both the Carin and Blake families have family names that match their titles, the author completely ignores proper form of address from the ge...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Franny (Mind Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how I love Historical Romances!!! The Dark Lady was full of plot twists and awesomeness, and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to review this great book. Although she might seem very fragile, I think Eva has a very strong personality, and I could tell by the way she reacted at certain events. Has she really done what she was told she did?
The huge plot twist at the end was so exciting, and I didn't see that coming at all. However, one minor character that left a mark was Mary, even thou...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Cerian rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'd been eagerly anticipating The Dark Lady, Maire Claremont's debut novel, for some time. And I was not disapppointed.
This isn't like the majority of other romance novels, and I loved the fresh take on the genre. The book starts with our heroine, Eva, locked in a horrific mental asylum on the Yorkshire Moors- abused, addicted to laudanum and drowning in her grief, Eva has a lot to overcome. Enter our hero, Ian, already tortured with guilt, as he sets out to save Eva.

From the beginning I was dra...more

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Feb 05, 2013 J9 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, historical, looking-forward-to-next-installment

Originally reviewed for The Book Vixen

In a Nutshell: Dark, gothic historical with a star-crossed romance.

The Set Up: Eva and Ian were childhood friends and first loves but their other friend, Hamilton, married Eva. Hamilton was jealous of Ian and dragged him to India to keep him from Eva. Hamilton was mysteriously murdered and Ian returns to England a broken man to confront Eva. But Eva is now an opium addict in an insane asylum. Will Eva and Ian fight their past and Eva’s enemies to be together...more Originally reviewed for The Book Vixen

In a Nutshell: Dark, gothic historical with a star-crossed romance.

The Set Up: Eva and Ian were childhood friends and first loves but their other friend, Hamilton, married Eva. Hamilton was jealous of Ian and dragged him to India to keep him from Eva. Hamilton was mysteriously murdered and Ian returns to England a broken man to confront Eva. But Eva is now an opium addict in an insane asylum. Will Eva and Ian fight their past and Eva’s enemies to be together?

Why I Read this Book: I liked the synopsis and eye-catching cover.

What I Liked: This is a well written gothic historical in the line of Henry James. The insane asylum is historically accurate making it even more scare than a figment of an author’s imagination. Eva’s addiction and Ian’s guilt are realistic and compelling storylines. Their romance is both a reunion and one of star-crossed lovers so both their emotional and sexual intimacy has a frantic giddiness to it that fit the dark atmosphere of this novel but didn’t wow me.

What I Also Liked: I really liked the flashbacks to Ian, Eva and Hamilton’s childhoods. Hamilton is dead by the time this novel begins but he’s very much present so it was very well done to show who he was and how he affected Ian and Eva’s lives so much. The flashbacks were heartbreaking but shows readers why Eva and Ian are the characters they are. The author has a good sense of time and integrating the flashbacks with the present plot.

I also like Mary, a fellow victim in Eva’s asylum. I can’t wait to read this firecracker’s story and hope she’ll be next in this Mad Passions series. This novel also hinted at who her hero may be and I liked him a lot too so hope this author writes the next story quickly.

What I Didn’t Like: The ending was just too neat but also left a HUGE thread dangling. The asylum is run by a cold, vindictive woman and she plots often how to make Eva pay for her escape but NOTHING is said about this at the end! This woman’s revenge plans have their own scenes but then the ending includes nothing about this. Big oops! Additionally, the villain is brought to heel too neatly and quickly and there is the big soap opera ending that I can’t say or it’ll spoil. But I will say it reminded me I was reading a HEA plot and it layered it on thickly!

IMO: This is a decent historical novel if readers don’t mind dark, sinister plots or reunion romances. (less)

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The Dark Lady (Mad Passions #1)

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