What do you think?
Rate this book
Forbidden Tarot #2
The Dark Horse
Claire Coulter’s brother is dying. To Claire’s astonishment, her boss offers to pay for the the risky operation that might save him. The catch? Claire must accompany Tobias Benton on a search for the Fountain of Youth.
Despite believing Tobias is on a wild goose chase, Claire agrees—she’ll do anything to save her brother. The trip is a disaster: Tobias doesn’t just want Claire’s company—he wants Claire. But Claire is drawn to Jack, their mysterious and sexy guide.
Although the strange and beautiful deck of tarot cards she’s carrying with her predicts a positive outcome, Claire suspects everyone around her is hiding something. Especially Simeon, an urbane older man who claims to be studying snakes, but whose dark demeanor hints at a terrible past.
Claire’s psychic sensitivity alerts her that all is not what it seems, but can she figure out who to trust before it’s too late?
Despite believing Tobias is on a wild goose chase, Claire agrees—she’ll do anything to save her brother. The trip is a disaster: Tobias doesn’t just want Claire’s company—he wants Claire. But Claire is drawn to Jack, their mysterious and sexy guide.
Although the strange and beautiful deck of tarot cards she’s carrying with her predicts a positive outcome, Claire suspects everyone around her is hiding something. Especially Simeon, an urbane older man who claims to be studying snakes, but whose dark demeanor hints at a terrible past.
Claire’s psychic sensitivity alerts her that all is not what it seems, but can she figure out who to trust before it’s too late?
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Simpson
62 books18 followersPatricia Simpson grew up in the wilderness of Western Montana, where it meant a 3-1/2 hour drive just to buy shoes. When she was young, the iPod hadn't yet been invented, and there were no radio stations in the area, so on the many long drives for shoes, Patricia amused herself by reading novels or creating her own stories in her head. She was encouraged to write by her sister, who always asked to be read what she had written so far that day, her Egyptian-born English teacher in junior high, and then again by a creative writing professor at the University of Washington. Instead of seeking a writing degree, Patricia chose to pursue a BA in Art and has worked as a graphic artist/web developer at the University of Washington since 1982. Patricia still enjoys painting almost as much as she loves to write.
Ms Simpson has won numerous awards for her fiction, including Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Career Achievement Award, and has been a finalist in the RITA awards and for Best Indie Paranormal of the Year.
Her Scottish husband encourages her to accompany him on his frequent business trips around the world, and whenever possible Patricia goes with him to scope out spooky historical places to use as the settings of her books.
Ms Simpson has won numerous awards for her fiction, including Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Career Achievement Award, and has been a finalist in the RITA awards and for Best Indie Paranormal of the Year.
Her Scottish husband encourages her to accompany him on his frequent business trips around the world, and whenever possible Patricia goes with him to scope out spooky historical places to use as the settings of her books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2012
PB/Romance: Jack isn't too bright. He is training a race horse to run in the Kentucky Derby, in the desert. Really? Then he goes away from the training to help these idiots traipse across the desert to find the fountain of youth. The first Forbidden Tarot book was a page turner with a great heroine. This one is just okay. I wanted to shake Claire. She kept going off by herself and didn't stick with the other women until the middle of the book. Did she ever take into consideration that her brother wouldn't want her to sacrifice so much for his health; especially because there is no matching donor yet.
I almost gave up at the beginning of the book so I skipped a few pages and got to where they started the trip. That was a lot better, but if you want to read a great trek, read Preston and Child's Thunderhead.
I almost gave up at the beginning of the book so I skipped a few pages and got to where they started the trip. That was a lot better, but if you want to read a great trek, read Preston and Child's Thunderhead.
August 23, 2020
Claire Coulter is desperate to find a way to help her dying brother. The opportunity comes when her tech magnate boss offers to solve all of her problems if she will take part in an expedition to find a mysterious archaeological site. She says yes, but she pretty immediately finds that Tobias has an unsavory ulterior motive.
Before they can leave, Claire comes into possession of a nearly priceless set of Tarot cards. They may be the oldest in existence. The cards are beautiful. The art is like nothing she has seen before. She doesn't know what this mean to her future.
This is the second book in a trilogy. I read the first book a very long time ago and this one has been on my want to read list all that time. I only just managed to get a copy. For the first half of the book, I was second guessing my memories. The usual dance between the heroine and hero seemed too sexist. As I kept going and watched the two grow, I really liked the relationship.
The mythology behind the trilogy is really intriguing. I have access to the third book and I am really looking forward to reading it.
Before they can leave, Claire comes into possession of a nearly priceless set of Tarot cards. They may be the oldest in existence. The cards are beautiful. The art is like nothing she has seen before. She doesn't know what this mean to her future.
This is the second book in a trilogy. I read the first book a very long time ago and this one has been on my want to read list all that time. I only just managed to get a copy. For the first half of the book, I was second guessing my memories. The usual dance between the heroine and hero seemed too sexist. As I kept going and watched the two grow, I really liked the relationship.
The mythology behind the trilogy is really intriguing. I have access to the third book and I am really looking forward to reading it.
Read
May 30, 2020If you prefer to listen to the audiobook version, you can get it here: https://www.audible.com/pd/B013HGAY2W...
January 30, 2023
Life for the heroine has been anything but easy despite what people may think because of the way she looks. Though she is stunningly beautiful, voluptuous and exudes a calm sort of confidence- she’s had to fight for everything she has. She thinks her appearance a hindrance in most things and caring for her sick brother had taken up all of her time and money so she rarely dates. She dedicates herself to her career in an attempt to fill the void inside.
Then she touches a pair of antique tarot cards, gets a prediction that she doesn’t completely understand but which compels her to then accept the offer from her boss to take a trip to Tahoe lake in search of the mythical fountain of youth. Her boss is a creep and a pervert who constantly cross over that professional line but is selfish and cruel enough to demand the heroine’s compliance else he retract his offer to get her brother the kidney he needs. So, stuck in the company of a disgusting man and away from her brother whom she worries over constantly, the heroine is miserable. But then she meets their guide.
From the second they lock eyes, the connection the hero and heroine feel towards each other can only be described as magical and animistic. There’s just something about the cowboy that draws her in. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself-with a cool, calm, confidence that makes her trust in him, or maybe it’s the fact that he seems to be unaffected by her unconsciously seductive allure. In fact, he seems to treat her like a leper- shying away where ever she gets too close. And though brief moments of contact having the heroine sees visions of a powerful black stallion- she’s never seen visions through human touch before only through animals. As they make the trek deep into the forest, the heroine finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the hero’s spell despite her greasy boss’s protects and the ruse of she being his fiancé.
The hero in turn has never felt such a powerful connection to anyone as much as the beautiful heroine. It’s not just her physical appearance- her soul, her kindness and her pride are all so seductive to him. But he keeps the secret of his spirit animal from everyone because of how his ex-fiancé reacted and as such there has always been that wall between him and the rest of the world. This causes a strain between him and his parents, and it makes him argue with the heroine quite frequently. But despite this, there is always that connection and even though they’ve only known each other for a few days, they speak to one another as if they’ve always known each other.
When her greasy boss turns from being a creepy pervert to a true villain- the heroine is kidnapped and abused at the hands of him and the creepier professor, she battles for her life with all the passion in her heart. And when the hero comes for her, like she knew he would, she feels secure in the idea that he can make it all okay again. But life is not that easy or that fair and things become so much worse before they get better and at the heart of everything is that lastly connection.
The plot summary above is very watered down and unsatisfying considering how much I loved this story. There was a lot going on and a lot to take in. But I was hooked from the start to the finish. You know when you start a book and you’re not expecting anything remarkable then all of a sudden you feel that spark and your heart starts racing with excitement? Yeah, that’s how I felt with this story. It was so bizarre and weird with its plot line me trying to explain the plot to my coworkers was comical but none of that matters because at the end of the day it was so well written. It was exciting! I was taken on the ride and didn’t want to get off! I loved loved loved the heroine. Confident Latina woman with a great deal of strength and fire who could stand up for herself and for others and yet at the same time smart enough to keep her mouth shut and bid her time to act. And I loved loved the hero who was the kind of man one can rely on and who made me swoon reading about his sexy cowboy strut. He too was confidant yet insecure and considered lazy and cold because he doesn’t argue with people-or at least he didn’t until the heroine. Out of the box storyline but it was very interesting and had stellar characters-both good and bad- and I loved the main character’s connection.
Then she touches a pair of antique tarot cards, gets a prediction that she doesn’t completely understand but which compels her to then accept the offer from her boss to take a trip to Tahoe lake in search of the mythical fountain of youth. Her boss is a creep and a pervert who constantly cross over that professional line but is selfish and cruel enough to demand the heroine’s compliance else he retract his offer to get her brother the kidney he needs. So, stuck in the company of a disgusting man and away from her brother whom she worries over constantly, the heroine is miserable. But then she meets their guide.
From the second they lock eyes, the connection the hero and heroine feel towards each other can only be described as magical and animistic. There’s just something about the cowboy that draws her in. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself-with a cool, calm, confidence that makes her trust in him, or maybe it’s the fact that he seems to be unaffected by her unconsciously seductive allure. In fact, he seems to treat her like a leper- shying away where ever she gets too close. And though brief moments of contact having the heroine sees visions of a powerful black stallion- she’s never seen visions through human touch before only through animals. As they make the trek deep into the forest, the heroine finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the hero’s spell despite her greasy boss’s protects and the ruse of she being his fiancé.
The hero in turn has never felt such a powerful connection to anyone as much as the beautiful heroine. It’s not just her physical appearance- her soul, her kindness and her pride are all so seductive to him. But he keeps the secret of his spirit animal from everyone because of how his ex-fiancé reacted and as such there has always been that wall between him and the rest of the world. This causes a strain between him and his parents, and it makes him argue with the heroine quite frequently. But despite this, there is always that connection and even though they’ve only known each other for a few days, they speak to one another as if they’ve always known each other.
When her greasy boss turns from being a creepy pervert to a true villain- the heroine is kidnapped and abused at the hands of him and the creepier professor, she battles for her life with all the passion in her heart. And when the hero comes for her, like she knew he would, she feels secure in the idea that he can make it all okay again. But life is not that easy or that fair and things become so much worse before they get better and at the heart of everything is that lastly connection.
The plot summary above is very watered down and unsatisfying considering how much I loved this story. There was a lot going on and a lot to take in. But I was hooked from the start to the finish. You know when you start a book and you’re not expecting anything remarkable then all of a sudden you feel that spark and your heart starts racing with excitement? Yeah, that’s how I felt with this story. It was so bizarre and weird with its plot line me trying to explain the plot to my coworkers was comical but none of that matters because at the end of the day it was so well written. It was exciting! I was taken on the ride and didn’t want to get off! I loved loved loved the heroine. Confident Latina woman with a great deal of strength and fire who could stand up for herself and for others and yet at the same time smart enough to keep her mouth shut and bid her time to act. And I loved loved the hero who was the kind of man one can rely on and who made me swoon reading about his sexy cowboy strut. He too was confidant yet insecure and considered lazy and cold because he doesn’t argue with people-or at least he didn’t until the heroine. Out of the box storyline but it was very interesting and had stellar characters-both good and bad- and I loved the main character’s connection.
November 4, 2015
The Dark Horse (Forbidden Tarot) ...
Patricia Simpson
Very unusual plot for a paranormal romance series. An Ancient Egyptian God - Set - and articles of power from the Golden Ones. I did get a little
confused as to who they were..but I didn't read the first in the series..hoping that will tell me. The characterizations were good & I was able to follow the story. The Heroine is an extremely smart linguistic who is working on a newly found artifact. Her boss is a creep with tons of money but blackmails her to be his fiance with the promise of getting her & her brother Green Cards and a organ transplant for her brother...and she has to go with him to unlock the "fountain of youth"
My only problem is that it's too "wordy", too descriptive. Fewer words could have worked, perhaps even better.
Patricia Simpson
Very unusual plot for a paranormal romance series. An Ancient Egyptian God - Set - and articles of power from the Golden Ones. I did get a little
confused as to who they were..but I didn't read the first in the series..hoping that will tell me. The characterizations were good & I was able to follow the story. The Heroine is an extremely smart linguistic who is working on a newly found artifact. Her boss is a creep with tons of money but blackmails her to be his fiance with the promise of getting her & her brother Green Cards and a organ transplant for her brother...and she has to go with him to unlock the "fountain of youth"
My only problem is that it's too "wordy", too descriptive. Fewer words could have worked, perhaps even better.
July 19, 2012
Really enjoyed this book, had flirted with the idea of reading it for six months. Very glad I committed to it finally. Some women may have the opulent luxury of choice: marriage, career, children etc. Other women have the choice of indentured servitude or see their family starve. The main character Claire is intellectually brilliant, honest, caring and at the mercy of many white men because of her status as a beautiful illegal Mexican living in the U.S. She occupies two worlds, the one where her brilliant mind sets her free and the other where the colour of her skin/ illegal alien status traps her. There is a strong story of hope and redemption wrapped up in her adventures with Jack, the handsome and complicated cowboy. Five stars.
June 15, 2009
Claire Coulter's brother is dying and her creepy boss offers her a chance to save him. They're going to try to find a fountain of youth. She doesn't really believe but he's paying and she has skills he needs.
She doesn't know that he's being led by a mysterious backer who has little regard for her and she's also finding herself attracted to their guide. A man with secrets.
I like the characters and the romance was quite believable.
She doesn't know that he's being led by a mysterious backer who has little regard for her and she's also finding herself attracted to their guide. A man with secrets.
I like the characters and the romance was quite believable.
May 4, 2010
My God, the heroine Claire is drowned then shot and when she is saved the second time ..... and there is no evidence that she was shot there is no exploration of the consequences.
Interesting side story about ancient Gods being from another planet and SET is the 'chauffeur' or captain of their spaceship. And he destroys them all but if the fountain SET and Claire drank from grants everlasting life what does that mean for Claire?
Interesting side story about ancient Gods being from another planet and SET is the 'chauffeur' or captain of their spaceship. And he destroys them all but if the fountain SET and Claire drank from grants everlasting life what does that mean for Claire?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2008
Contemporary romance with a paranormal twist to it.
July 23, 2014
An interesting plot to this one. Not really a romance, but there is a romantic thread running through the story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews