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Storm #3
Mistress of the Storm
While magic still glimmered over the lands and people of Scotland and the Vikings ruled the western islands and the north, three brothers struggle against their fate to overcome a dreaded curse tied to their own Fae powers. Their hearts, souls and very lives depend on the women they betrayed.
Duncan of Skye heals with his touch and many powerful nobles vie to use it for themselves. But every use of his power brings pain and destroys his body and he knows he will not survive much longer. When a woman given to him gives him blessed relief from his suffering, he knows he must keep her as he seeks a way to end the curse.
Isabel has been forced by her stepfather to use her body for his aims. She's learned to numb herself as she is given to many men to serve as his spy and blackmailer. But, when she is sold to the man called the Healer, she finds him to be different than any other before him.
Time is running out for Duncan and, as he draws Isabel closer and closer, they discover that they could be each other's redemption or their destruction. When love could break the curse can these two risk everything and claim it?
This dark, emotional and steamy fantasy romance series set in medieval Scotland was previously published by Kensington Books in their Brava imprint and is now re-released by the author.
Duncan of Skye heals with his touch and many powerful nobles vie to use it for themselves. But every use of his power brings pain and destroys his body and he knows he will not survive much longer. When a woman given to him gives him blessed relief from his suffering, he knows he must keep her as he seeks a way to end the curse.
Isabel has been forced by her stepfather to use her body for his aims. She's learned to numb herself as she is given to many men to serve as his spy and blackmailer. But, when she is sold to the man called the Healer, she finds him to be different than any other before him.
Time is running out for Duncan and, as he draws Isabel closer and closer, they discover that they could be each other's redemption or their destruction. When love could break the curse can these two risk everything and claim it?
This dark, emotional and steamy fantasy romance series set in medieval Scotland was previously published by Kensington Books in their Brava imprint and is now re-released by the author.
263 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
About the author
Terri Brisbin
226 books557 followersTerri Brisbin is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than 50 historical, paranormal and fantasy romances and her books have been released in more than 20 languages and 25 countries around the world since 1998. Her current and upcoming releases will be with Harlequin Historicals and self-published, too.
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a mom of 3, a grammy of 4 and a dental hygienist. And she's always plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland .
For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a mom of 3, a grammy of 4 and a dental hygienist. And she's always plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland .
For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 7, 2012
http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.co...
1.5
This book caught me off guard, in a good way at first. On page one, the heroine is trying to leave a man’s bed, but he tells her that her skills are not exaggerated and he drags her back. Afterwards, we see her ritual after a night like that, where she goes to the beach to clean off, and debates coming back up for air. She would end it all if she thought her sister would be protected.
Isabel is trying to protect her sister, so when her stepfather forces her to whore herself out so he can use the information she gathers against his enemies, she does so. He uses her sister’s welfare against Isabel in order to keep her in line. We are shown emotional and heartbreaking scenes where he has her leg broken, and then lets his men rape her repeatedly while her leg is broken. This made me just want to reach through the book and choke her stepfather. It was hard for me to understand, though, why Isabel was so ready to believe he’d abuse Thora, her sister. Thora was his blood daughter, and it would be to his advantage to get a good match for her. Isabel was not his blood relation, so while I loved her protectiveness of Thora, it made little sense that she believed her stepfather would harm the girl. I get that it's the 11th century, but still, she had no reason to believe he'd hurt his "real" daughter.
I got about 85 pages in before I knew it, and I was blown away by the plot. Blown away. This book was a solid 4, until... the hero did something that floored me. It’s awful. And he did this more than once!
***SPOILER***
Duncan asks Isabel what she would like to do this evening. She dons her "whore persona" (she is a whore, btw, it's all she knows, and he has paid her stepfather a ton of gold for a month with her).
"As she considered her words carefully before speaking he felt her retreating within herself, almost as if building a wall around her innermost thoughts and desires and needs so no one could touch them. The whore's expression returned to her features and he wondered if she even knew when she used it.
"You," she whispered in a husky tone. "I wish to do you."
(...) POV shift here
His response was fast and almost furious as he crossed the few paces between them, pulled her into his arms and dragged her onto the surface of the table where they'd just shared a meal. When she tried to ease her hands free so she could touch him, he took them in one of his and held them above her head. Before she could say a word to him, he kneed her legs apart, pulled the robe and his shirt out of his way and thrust into her.
Isabel gasped in surprise, for he'd never done that in all their joinings. With no prelude and no attention to her at all, he shoved his cock until it could go no farther and then relentlessly sought his own release. Her body adjusted to his, her inner walls relaxing as they accommodated his length and thickness, pouring out moisture to ease his way. Just as her body fell into rhythm with his movements, his cock hardened and released his seed into her. His breaths were shallow and quick, but he did not pause to relax after his release. Instead he withdrew from her and stepped away.
Laying exposed, her legs spread and his seed still escaping from within her, she felt like the whore she was...
"Now that Isabel the whore has had what she wanted," he began in a low voice.
His words hurt her for some reason she did not wish to examine too closely.
"What does Isabel the woman wish to do this evening?"
(...)
"Have I angered you in some way?" she asked.
"If and when you act the whore, I will fuck you like you are one."
Wow, he paid for a whore, got a whore, then got pissed when she acted like one?
Up til now, he's been the model hero. Patient, kind, and generous. This passage makes me want to stab him. Duncan had been trying to help her see that she could become more than just a whore, and he wanted her to see her value was more than just what she did on her back. And then he pulled this. And he did it again later! What kind of man is that? Definitely not a hero.
Loose ends:
Her sister is never told/shown her father has been using Isabel. She was used as well, just in a different way. And it felt like she was a cardboard character. She is just used by Duncan, and by her father, and even by the author as a plot device.
The betrayal, was such a huge deal, and completely under-used. Things that could have been used and could have been incredibly emotional scenes were glossed over. I mean, Duncan’s solution to free Isabel from her stepfather is a gut-wrenching decision. (I won’t spoil it) But at the end, the solution is less than a paragraph. Way too easy, and too fast.
The paranormal aspect was mild, her water connection was never used to its fullest potential. Duncan is a healer, but he doesn’t understand his gifts. Isabel has a connection with water, but other than just looking refreshed after a rain, or understanding the storm and knowing how long it’ll last, there’s another plot device that could have been explored so much more.
I thought this book started off strong, amazing, and intense. Then it fell apart. I'm sad I didn't like it as the plot had the potential to be fantastic. It started off so well. But I lost all respect for the hero many times over. I liked the betrayal but it was glossed over. The ending was too easy.
***Kensington provided the review copy
1.5
This book caught me off guard, in a good way at first. On page one, the heroine is trying to leave a man’s bed, but he tells her that her skills are not exaggerated and he drags her back. Afterwards, we see her ritual after a night like that, where she goes to the beach to clean off, and debates coming back up for air. She would end it all if she thought her sister would be protected.
Isabel is trying to protect her sister, so when her stepfather forces her to whore herself out so he can use the information she gathers against his enemies, she does so. He uses her sister’s welfare against Isabel in order to keep her in line. We are shown emotional and heartbreaking scenes where he has her leg broken, and then lets his men rape her repeatedly while her leg is broken. This made me just want to reach through the book and choke her stepfather. It was hard for me to understand, though, why Isabel was so ready to believe he’d abuse Thora, her sister. Thora was his blood daughter, and it would be to his advantage to get a good match for her. Isabel was not his blood relation, so while I loved her protectiveness of Thora, it made little sense that she believed her stepfather would harm the girl. I get that it's the 11th century, but still, she had no reason to believe he'd hurt his "real" daughter.
I got about 85 pages in before I knew it, and I was blown away by the plot. Blown away. This book was a solid 4, until... the hero did something that floored me. It’s awful. And he did this more than once!
***SPOILER***
Duncan asks Isabel what she would like to do this evening. She dons her "whore persona" (she is a whore, btw, it's all she knows, and he has paid her stepfather a ton of gold for a month with her).
"As she considered her words carefully before speaking he felt her retreating within herself, almost as if building a wall around her innermost thoughts and desires and needs so no one could touch them. The whore's expression returned to her features and he wondered if she even knew when she used it.
"You," she whispered in a husky tone. "I wish to do you."
(...) POV shift here
His response was fast and almost furious as he crossed the few paces between them, pulled her into his arms and dragged her onto the surface of the table where they'd just shared a meal. When she tried to ease her hands free so she could touch him, he took them in one of his and held them above her head. Before she could say a word to him, he kneed her legs apart, pulled the robe and his shirt out of his way and thrust into her.
Isabel gasped in surprise, for he'd never done that in all their joinings. With no prelude and no attention to her at all, he shoved his cock until it could go no farther and then relentlessly sought his own release. Her body adjusted to his, her inner walls relaxing as they accommodated his length and thickness, pouring out moisture to ease his way. Just as her body fell into rhythm with his movements, his cock hardened and released his seed into her. His breaths were shallow and quick, but he did not pause to relax after his release. Instead he withdrew from her and stepped away.
Laying exposed, her legs spread and his seed still escaping from within her, she felt like the whore she was...
"Now that Isabel the whore has had what she wanted," he began in a low voice.
His words hurt her for some reason she did not wish to examine too closely.
"What does Isabel the woman wish to do this evening?"
(...)
"Have I angered you in some way?" she asked.
"If and when you act the whore, I will fuck you like you are one."
Wow, he paid for a whore, got a whore, then got pissed when she acted like one?
Up til now, he's been the model hero. Patient, kind, and generous. This passage makes me want to stab him. Duncan had been trying to help her see that she could become more than just a whore, and he wanted her to see her value was more than just what she did on her back. And then he pulled this. And he did it again later! What kind of man is that? Definitely not a hero.
Loose ends:
Her sister is never told/shown her father has been using Isabel. She was used as well, just in a different way. And it felt like she was a cardboard character. She is just used by Duncan, and by her father, and even by the author as a plot device.
The betrayal, was such a huge deal, and completely under-used. Things that could have been used and could have been incredibly emotional scenes were glossed over. I mean, Duncan’s solution to free Isabel from her stepfather is a gut-wrenching decision. (I won’t spoil it) But at the end, the solution is less than a paragraph. Way too easy, and too fast.
The paranormal aspect was mild, her water connection was never used to its fullest potential. Duncan is a healer, but he doesn’t understand his gifts. Isabel has a connection with water, but other than just looking refreshed after a rain, or understanding the storm and knowing how long it’ll last, there’s another plot device that could have been explored so much more.
I thought this book started off strong, amazing, and intense. Then it fell apart. I'm sad I didn't like it as the plot had the potential to be fantastic. It started off so well. But I lost all respect for the hero many times over. I liked the betrayal but it was glossed over. The ending was too easy.
***Kensington provided the review copy
April 11, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this story. The paranormal aspect of it was interesting but I've always disliked it when the heroine is a harlot. It also seemed like 3/4 of the book is them having sex, sometimes tender and other times brutal! I just didn't feel much for Duncan as a hero, either. All in all, I just couldn't connect with the story at all.
July 18, 2011
A dark and uncomfortable story of a 11th century whore.
For a complete review visit Affaire de Coeur magazine, online at http://affairedecoeur.com/ - or hard copy, July 2011 issue.
Want to Read
April 9, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/9/2022)! 🎁
September 17, 2022
DNF: Stopped at 21%
Summary: This story is about Isabel, a person in a horrible situation , and Duncan, a healer who is experiencing worsening side effects from his healing.
Analysis: This story was too dark for me, it opens with Isabel being , however, I kept reading hoping it would get better but her initial interaction with Duncan and then his arrangement with her stepfather left me disappointed in him.
Recommendation: If you like dark historical romances, then this book is for you.
Trigger Warnings: Potentially disturbing content, read with care.
Summary: This story is about Isabel, a person in a horrible situation , and Duncan, a healer who is experiencing worsening side effects from his healing.
Analysis: This story was too dark for me, it opens with Isabel being , however, I kept reading hoping it would get better but her initial interaction with Duncan and then his arrangement with her stepfather left me disappointed in him.
Recommendation: If you like dark historical romances, then this book is for you.
Trigger Warnings: Potentially disturbing content, read with care.
October 1, 2022
Curses, Healers, Lady of the Night:
This is a fascinating story from the start and all the way to the end.
The characters were incredibly intriguing.
The plot very deep with a lot of mysticism and feelings.
Duncan the healer, Isabel the Lady of the Night and a villain to hate.
Isabel and Duncan generated enough magnetism that the pages were scorched by the end of this gripping story.
I loved everything about it and truly enjoyed reading this book.
A heartwarming epilogue had me shedding a tear when the family all came together.
Adult Advisory:
Cover:5 stars
This is a fascinating story from the start and all the way to the end.
The characters were incredibly intriguing.
The plot very deep with a lot of mysticism and feelings.
Duncan the healer, Isabel the Lady of the Night and a villain to hate.
Isabel and Duncan generated enough magnetism that the pages were scorched by the end of this gripping story.
I loved everything about it and truly enjoyed reading this book.
A heartwarming epilogue had me shedding a tear when the family all came together.
Adult Advisory:
Cover:5 stars
December 14, 2022
The kind of love everyone strives to receive.
I love historical romance and the insatiable appetite's of the men. The love and respect they show to the ones they care about and the way they woo the women they love. I love the highland areas, with the castles and villages. I would have loved to have lived there in that era. Thank you for making me smile and cry at times wishing I had the same kind of love.
I love historical romance and the insatiable appetite's of the men. The love and respect they show to the ones they care about and the way they woo the women they love. I love the highland areas, with the castles and villages. I would have loved to have lived there in that era. Thank you for making me smile and cry at times wishing I had the same kind of love.
October 27, 2023
Did not finish. Content warning: the female lead is an involuntary sex worker. Active depictions of nonconsensual sex acts and dissociation. Would I have liked to know more about the male lead’s mysterious healing power? Sure. Am I going to wade through a whole book about human trafficking to get there? Absolutely not.
September 23, 2022
Hidden love
This was a truly interesting story that you really can't explain. It's difently a fantasy story of love. But it takes a long time to find it. The story is for mature readers .
This was a truly interesting story that you really can't explain. It's difently a fantasy story of love. But it takes a long time to find it. The story is for mature readers .
September 28, 2022
Great story!
This isn’t my usual sorta book. I almost didn’t read it but decided to give it a shot and am glad I did. Very nicely-written, the characters were highly engaging and the conflict kept the storyline moving forward. It was overtly sensual so be forewarned.
This isn’t my usual sorta book. I almost didn’t read it but decided to give it a shot and am glad I did. Very nicely-written, the characters were highly engaging and the conflict kept the storyline moving forward. It was overtly sensual so be forewarned.
April 16, 2025
This was an interesting plot but, prudish as it may sound, there was maybe too much sex? It got a little relentless after awhile. But it was a nice change of pace for me and I appreciated the way the author dealt with the heroine's reality.
Read
May 28, 2020If you like hot sex, this is your ticket.
September 17, 2022
An epic and beautifully written story, the characters and plot well woven with a passionate and enduring happy ending.
October 20, 2022
DNF'd. Couldn't finish this. I felt bad for the heroine but there was no concrete details or reason why I should care about the FMC/MMC. Didn't have a good hook.
November 24, 2023
Love Conquers All
You cannot put this one down! Magical healing powers, intense passion, conspiracies…this book has it all!
Author Brisbin delivers a soul-satisfying read!
You cannot put this one down! Magical healing powers, intense passion, conspiracies…this book has it all!
Author Brisbin delivers a soul-satisfying read!
November 26, 2011
Mistress of the Storm by Terri Brisbin is a scorching romance! Emotionally riveting and powerfully passionate, this book is a fantastic read!
Isabel has been mistreated by her step father, Sigurd, for many years now. So long as Isabel obeys him, he agrees to keep her sister Thora safe. With Thora’s safety and happiness the most important thing to her, Isabel has willingly accepted her role as Sigurd’s whore to give her body to any man he chooses. One night, he offers her to Duncan of Skye in order to convince him to become a part of Sigurd’s evil plans for power. They spend a passionate night together, but Duncan realizes that will not be enough.
Now Duncan has arranged for them to spend one month together. Isabel seems to ease the quiet uncertainty within Duncan and he cannot understand why. She does not know it yet, but Duncan is gifted with a special healing ability. A blessing that is slowly killing him and causing him immense pain but shockingly Isabel’s presence is easing that pain. If Duncan’s life is coming to an end, he knows he must spend every last minute with Isabel...and before his time is up, ensure Isabel is safe from her evil stepfather forever.
The biggest question with this novel is whether or not you can come to love Isabel. It is not a secret that her evil stepfather forces her to use her body for his gain and she has become a shell of a person because of it. She has such a low opinion of herself that you come to feel very sorry for her. She only measures her worth by how enjoyable the next man thought she was in bed. With all that being said, I found myself going in the complete opposite direction and discovering Isabel is a remarkable character. You see her struggle with the person she used to be, the person she’s become and the person she wants to be for Duncan. She is such an emotionally driven character that you come to understand and appreciate her even more.
Duncan of course is different from the other crude men of his time. He has the tough exterior that makes him unbeatable to those who wish to challenge him, yet sensitive enough to be the shoulder Isabel needs to lean on. He sees something more in Isabel than just her beauty and that is what makes him a unique and worthy hero. He is the goodness in a terribly cruel world and you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with that.
Mistress of the Storm begins with two people who are overwhelmingly attracted to each other and act on those emotions. It’s more about seeking pleasure than seeking a relationship at first, but it really just adds to the drama of their relationship. Their attraction begins to develop into something more after time. Brisbin writes incredibly intoxicating and beautifully expressive love scenes. They are absolutely spell binding, which was a good thing since they take up about half of the book! But of course, there’s always more behind the passion. This story will take you on many twists and turns along the way. I spent plenty of time wondering what was going to happen next and how the whole story was going to conclude. Terri Brisbin weaves and interest and compelling story line that shocks you, yet impresses you with it's overall entertainment value.
There are some minor flaws...extremely minor in my opinion. The ending wrapped up far too quickly. This is my first Brisbin novel and the third (and last) of the Storm Series, so fans who are familiar with the back story may have been very pleased with this ending. I felt the villain was defeated far too easily, but even so, that minor little thing did not affect my overall enjoyment of the story. Mistress of the Storm is a sizzling, emotional romance, that will keep you up for hours desperate to finish. I loved it, I enjoyed it and I highly recommend it!
Overall Rating: 5/5
Heat Level: 5/5
Lisa Jo @ Once Upon A Chapter
Isabel has been mistreated by her step father, Sigurd, for many years now. So long as Isabel obeys him, he agrees to keep her sister Thora safe. With Thora’s safety and happiness the most important thing to her, Isabel has willingly accepted her role as Sigurd’s whore to give her body to any man he chooses. One night, he offers her to Duncan of Skye in order to convince him to become a part of Sigurd’s evil plans for power. They spend a passionate night together, but Duncan realizes that will not be enough.
Now Duncan has arranged for them to spend one month together. Isabel seems to ease the quiet uncertainty within Duncan and he cannot understand why. She does not know it yet, but Duncan is gifted with a special healing ability. A blessing that is slowly killing him and causing him immense pain but shockingly Isabel’s presence is easing that pain. If Duncan’s life is coming to an end, he knows he must spend every last minute with Isabel...and before his time is up, ensure Isabel is safe from her evil stepfather forever.
The biggest question with this novel is whether or not you can come to love Isabel. It is not a secret that her evil stepfather forces her to use her body for his gain and she has become a shell of a person because of it. She has such a low opinion of herself that you come to feel very sorry for her. She only measures her worth by how enjoyable the next man thought she was in bed. With all that being said, I found myself going in the complete opposite direction and discovering Isabel is a remarkable character. You see her struggle with the person she used to be, the person she’s become and the person she wants to be for Duncan. She is such an emotionally driven character that you come to understand and appreciate her even more.
Duncan of course is different from the other crude men of his time. He has the tough exterior that makes him unbeatable to those who wish to challenge him, yet sensitive enough to be the shoulder Isabel needs to lean on. He sees something more in Isabel than just her beauty and that is what makes him a unique and worthy hero. He is the goodness in a terribly cruel world and you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with that.
Mistress of the Storm begins with two people who are overwhelmingly attracted to each other and act on those emotions. It’s more about seeking pleasure than seeking a relationship at first, but it really just adds to the drama of their relationship. Their attraction begins to develop into something more after time. Brisbin writes incredibly intoxicating and beautifully expressive love scenes. They are absolutely spell binding, which was a good thing since they take up about half of the book! But of course, there’s always more behind the passion. This story will take you on many twists and turns along the way. I spent plenty of time wondering what was going to happen next and how the whole story was going to conclude. Terri Brisbin weaves and interest and compelling story line that shocks you, yet impresses you with it's overall entertainment value.
There are some minor flaws...extremely minor in my opinion. The ending wrapped up far too quickly. This is my first Brisbin novel and the third (and last) of the Storm Series, so fans who are familiar with the back story may have been very pleased with this ending. I felt the villain was defeated far too easily, but even so, that minor little thing did not affect my overall enjoyment of the story. Mistress of the Storm is a sizzling, emotional romance, that will keep you up for hours desperate to finish. I loved it, I enjoyed it and I highly recommend it!
Overall Rating: 5/5
Heat Level: 5/5
Lisa Jo @ Once Upon A Chapter
August 8, 2012
3.5
Hooray for a new AND intriguing plot. Boo for the exact same ending (laughing, spinning in a circle, etc.) and repetition of an entire section (the Sith's retelling of the past). As I stated in my reviews for the first two books you should expect a good bit of sex and be prepared because it's rarely tender. You also shouldn't expect a lighthearted, sweet story. These books are sad, brutal, heartbreaking and painful. My assumption is that the author wanted these books to be more historically credible and intense than your average historical romance. Mission accomplished. This isn't anyone's fairytale. There are moments of redemption and salvation and characters who are damaged (and they all are) grow, change and even mend. Each story ends with a happily ever after, but I'm not sure that a HEA, especially one this artificial, negates all the agony.
In this book the hero, Duncan, is a healer. Like his brothers he has a mysteriously gifted power that often seems more like a curse. The painful after-effects of Duncan's healing gift are excruciating but for Duncan what's worse is that he feels nothing, no emotion, no pain, no fear or joy and this empty feeling has been getting worse and lasting longer. He also 'suffers' the shared consequence his brothers' endure which is that his gift requires continual physical release, sometimes endlessly, with untold numbers of women. After he sees the heroine, Isabel he makes his interests and demand very clear and he's bedding her within minutes.
Isabel is a harlot and is manipulated by her stepfather (Sigrud) whose ambition and iron fist dictate Isabel's life and profession. Ever since her mother's death Isabel lives in fear of punishment if she doesn't do her stepfathers bidding. She is well trained on how to be accommodating and in pleasuring the men of Sigrud's choosing. Sigrud uses Isabel to spy on her forced lovers and whatever information she gathers he uses against the men to coerce their fealty for his aspirations for power. Whether it's nasty words, mistreatment, physical assault or rape, Isabel has been abused enough that she's learned her place and has been disappointed too many times by broken promises to hope to fight against it. She is a truly heartbreaking heroine.
Because Isabel is a "whore" and it's not of her own choosing she is easy to sympathize with. So much so that when Duncan treats her like a whore or I should say when Isabel acts like a whore rather than suffer disappointment or punishment, you actually hate him for it. He's doing it for her benefit, so he says, but it's deplorable and in those moments it's unforgivable. Duncan is the most likeable of the heroes because he is sweet, tender and caring almost instantly but there are these glaring moments when you hate him and you hate these books because of those moments. Good or bad, that is for you to determine.
There is much more to say about this book but if you've made it this far in the trilogy you should just read for yourself. I think it's worth it if you found something redeeming about the other books. I did and this one is way more emotional and troubling. I guess if you're sadistic it's satisfying. I'm not satisfied and I'm not scarred but I'm sad that they had so much pain and pollution. My only other issue is why (or how?) in the heck are Harald and Godrod in this book? Is it simply a repetitious use of names (WHY on earth?) or are these the same characters from the other books? Again why and more importantly how since all these stories are supposed to be happening simultaneously?
Hooray for a new AND intriguing plot. Boo for the exact same ending (laughing, spinning in a circle, etc.) and repetition of an entire section (the Sith's retelling of the past). As I stated in my reviews for the first two books you should expect a good bit of sex and be prepared because it's rarely tender. You also shouldn't expect a lighthearted, sweet story. These books are sad, brutal, heartbreaking and painful. My assumption is that the author wanted these books to be more historically credible and intense than your average historical romance. Mission accomplished. This isn't anyone's fairytale. There are moments of redemption and salvation and characters who are damaged (and they all are) grow, change and even mend. Each story ends with a happily ever after, but I'm not sure that a HEA, especially one this artificial, negates all the agony.
In this book the hero, Duncan, is a healer. Like his brothers he has a mysteriously gifted power that often seems more like a curse. The painful after-effects of Duncan's healing gift are excruciating but for Duncan what's worse is that he feels nothing, no emotion, no pain, no fear or joy and this empty feeling has been getting worse and lasting longer. He also 'suffers' the shared consequence his brothers' endure which is that his gift requires continual physical release, sometimes endlessly, with untold numbers of women. After he sees the heroine, Isabel he makes his interests and demand very clear and he's bedding her within minutes.
Isabel is a harlot and is manipulated by her stepfather (Sigrud) whose ambition and iron fist dictate Isabel's life and profession. Ever since her mother's death Isabel lives in fear of punishment if she doesn't do her stepfathers bidding. She is well trained on how to be accommodating and in pleasuring the men of Sigrud's choosing. Sigrud uses Isabel to spy on her forced lovers and whatever information she gathers he uses against the men to coerce their fealty for his aspirations for power. Whether it's nasty words, mistreatment, physical assault or rape, Isabel has been abused enough that she's learned her place and has been disappointed too many times by broken promises to hope to fight against it. She is a truly heartbreaking heroine.
Because Isabel is a "whore" and it's not of her own choosing she is easy to sympathize with. So much so that when Duncan treats her like a whore or I should say when Isabel acts like a whore rather than suffer disappointment or punishment, you actually hate him for it. He's doing it for her benefit, so he says, but it's deplorable and in those moments it's unforgivable. Duncan is the most likeable of the heroes because he is sweet, tender and caring almost instantly but there are these glaring moments when you hate him and you hate these books because of those moments. Good or bad, that is for you to determine.
There is much more to say about this book but if you've made it this far in the trilogy you should just read for yourself. I think it's worth it if you found something redeeming about the other books. I did and this one is way more emotional and troubling. I guess if you're sadistic it's satisfying. I'm not satisfied and I'm not scarred but I'm sad that they had so much pain and pollution. My only other issue is why (or how?) in the heck are Harald and Godrod in this book? Is it simply a repetitious use of names (WHY on earth?) or are these the same characters from the other books? Again why and more importantly how since all these stories are supposed to be happening simultaneously?
August 1, 2011
MISTRESS OF THE STORM by Terri Brisbin is a delightful historical romance with paranormal
twist. It is a powerful medieval paranormal romance set in 1098AD Isle of Skye. It is well written with depth and details.The characters will steal your heart as they are locked together by fate and fantasy.Isabel has been pimped out by her stepfather.Duncan is a healer who is willing to lose her life for the power of love. This story has good vs evil,a curse,coveting of power,secrets,deception,pimping of a stepdaughter,lies,romance,sensuality,passion,love,malevolent,a healer,finding the truth,fate,fantasy find,ing your real family,learning to trust and finding true love. This is a powerful story with bold sensuality and emotions. A struggle of good vs evil on the Isle of Skye.If you enjoy a paranormal with your historical romance and bold sensuality than you will enjoy "Mistress Of The Storm". A great read from beginning to end.This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher.Details can be found at Brava Kensington Publishing Corp. and My Book Addiction Reviews.
twist. It is a powerful medieval paranormal romance set in 1098AD Isle of Skye. It is well written with depth and details.The characters will steal your heart as they are locked together by fate and fantasy.Isabel has been pimped out by her stepfather.Duncan is a healer who is willing to lose her life for the power of love. This story has good vs evil,a curse,coveting of power,secrets,deception,pimping of a stepdaughter,lies,romance,sensuality,passion,love,malevolent,a healer,finding the truth,fate,fantasy find,ing your real family,learning to trust and finding true love. This is a powerful story with bold sensuality and emotions. A struggle of good vs evil on the Isle of Skye.If you enjoy a paranormal with your historical romance and bold sensuality than you will enjoy "Mistress Of The Storm". A great read from beginning to end.This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher.Details can be found at Brava Kensington Publishing Corp. and My Book Addiction Reviews.
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September 5, 2011What do you get from a three time RITA finalist who writes historical romance? Well, amazing historical romance! Brisbin’s Mistress of the Storm is part of the Storm Trilogy. There are other books in the series, so if you are one for reading from book one, be sure to start at the beginning with Storm of Passion.This book is the third in the series. The story revolves around brothers who have a magical gift, a curse that in order to break it has to have a woman announce their love for them. This story follows Duncan and Isabel. Isabel must save her sister from her step-father’s power hungry cause and Duncan is the only one who can help her. What Isabel doesn’t count on is falling in love with Duncan. Duncan has his own battles to face, will he choose her over his destiny? You will just have to find out. Brisbin will keep you turning those pages to find out and because it’s a series, my suggestion would be to read it from the beginning. From the historical setting, to the marvelous characters, those who enjoy reading historical romance will find this a treat.
December 16, 2014
Scozia, 1098 - La vita di Duncan, guaritore della Fortezza di Duntulm, è oscurata da una maledizione assai particolare: all'avvicinarsi della luna piena viene colto da una smania sessuale irresistibile, a cui seguono giorni di acuta sofferenza. Le donne che gli scaldano il letto sono tante, e tuttavia quando fa l'amore con Isabel si accorge subito che lei è diversa. E dal momento che, unica fra tutte, sembra in grado di dargli sollievo, Duncan la sceglie come sua concubina per il mese successivo. Ma quanto più il suo corpo sembra guarire, tanto più la sua anima si smarrisce nelle spire della voluttà
"Sensuale Maledizione" terzo e ultimo capitolo della serie Storm di Terri Brisbin, questa serie si differenzia dalla precedente produzione della Brisbin per la presenza dell'elemento paranormale, visto che i tre fratelli protagonisti possiedono diversi poteri e per il livello di sensualità molto alto. Se siete abituati alla Brisbin piuttosto casta sarete sorpresi dalla carnalità e dal numero di scene d'amore presenti in questi romanzi.
"Sensuale Maledizione" terzo e ultimo capitolo della serie Storm di Terri Brisbin, questa serie si differenzia dalla precedente produzione della Brisbin per la presenza dell'elemento paranormale, visto che i tre fratelli protagonisti possiedono diversi poteri e per il livello di sensualità molto alto. Se siete abituati alla Brisbin piuttosto casta sarete sorpresi dalla carnalità e dal numero di scene d'amore presenti in questi romanzi.
September 21, 2011
A historical romance that is heart wrenching and beautifully written.
Mistress of the Storm is Isabel, a woman forced to endure abuse in many forms for the sake of love. It is a different kind of love that can save her, one that draws her like nothing else.
Duncan takes this historical romance and adds a paranormal twist; more can’t be said without spoiling the plot line so you will just have to pick up the book to find out. He is drawn to Isabel just as strongly as she is to him; she gives comfort when he thought he would suffer alone for the rest of his days. For what she brings him he loves her for, but he also loves her for the woman he sees buried deep within her that no one can touch. Because of this he will do anything for her, at great cost to him.
Despite being the third book in the Storm series you can pick it up and read as if it was a stand-alone. Brisbin shows her talent by making you feel what her characters feel. A wonderful read!
Mistress of the Storm is Isabel, a woman forced to endure abuse in many forms for the sake of love. It is a different kind of love that can save her, one that draws her like nothing else.
Duncan takes this historical romance and adds a paranormal twist; more can’t be said without spoiling the plot line so you will just have to pick up the book to find out. He is drawn to Isabel just as strongly as she is to him; she gives comfort when he thought he would suffer alone for the rest of his days. For what she brings him he loves her for, but he also loves her for the woman he sees buried deep within her that no one can touch. Because of this he will do anything for her, at great cost to him.
Despite being the third book in the Storm series you can pick it up and read as if it was a stand-alone. Brisbin shows her talent by making you feel what her characters feel. A wonderful read!
October 26, 2011
I really liked this book. It is about Duncan and all his sexiy healer self. He is half Sith Half Human and he falls in love with the whore of the town who's farther controlls her and she lets him just to save her sister Thora. stupid stupid girl. doesn't she know that her father wouldn't really hurt her sister bc she is really his daughter, you aren't!
Anyways, He loves Isabel so much but he thinks he is going to die this full moon and he wants her soul to be the last person he heels, before he dies. Well he buy Thora from their father to marry him and buys Isabel to be Thora's slave. Isabel doesn't see that he isn't really going to consumate the marriagebc he couldn't tell her so she runs away to kill herself.
but all ends well :-) you must read!
Anyways, He loves Isabel so much but he thinks he is going to die this full moon and he wants her soul to be the last person he heels, before he dies. Well he buy Thora from their father to marry him and buys Isabel to be Thora's slave. Isabel doesn't see that he isn't really going to consumate the marriagebc he couldn't tell her so she runs away to kill herself.
but all ends well :-) you must read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2017
I was very surprised with this book. I only read part of a page at the library, then got the book. It is full of suspense, a little paranormal or a magic sense.
A very quick read, didn't realize it is a series until now when I find it on Goodreads. So now I will have to read the first 2 books in the series and maybe some more books by this author.
Storyline is about a step-father that treats his step-daughter terrible and his daughter in a higher regard. But Isabel knows what she has to do to keep her sister safe and then there is someone that is watching out for Isabel and then there are some twists to the story that are good and keep you interested in the rest of the story.
Would recommend this story. very good.
A very quick read, didn't realize it is a series until now when I find it on Goodreads. So now I will have to read the first 2 books in the series and maybe some more books by this author.
Storyline is about a step-father that treats his step-daughter terrible and his daughter in a higher regard. But Isabel knows what she has to do to keep her sister safe and then there is someone that is watching out for Isabel and then there are some twists to the story that are good and keep you interested in the rest of the story.
Would recommend this story. very good.
October 12, 2016
I like the base story of the trilogy . I do not like the way the women all come across as tramps. Used by men to break their spirit. Most of the male characters come across as jerks, even the main hero. You can be suspicious and kind at the same time. Eventually the men let down their guard enough to see the truth of the woman's plight. Considering the fact that the men need to bring the women to their side in order to save themselves (granted unknown to the hero) the way they act toward women is telling.
The story has vast elements of interest for the time period it was written. I would recommend it on that alone. The sex comes across as more coarse than stirring or intimate.
The story has vast elements of interest for the time period it was written. I would recommend it on that alone. The sex comes across as more coarse than stirring or intimate.
July 11, 2011
This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were unusual and engaging, the story packed with emotional and sexual tension. It's a kind of medieval 'Pretty Woman'.
The only downside for me was the ending but it didn't detract from the total enjoyment.
If you like prim and perfect heroines, then perhaps this isn't the story for you. But if you like unusual flawed characters who blossom as the story develops, then you'll enjoy this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were unusual and engaging, the story packed with emotional and sexual tension. It's a kind of medieval 'Pretty Woman'.
The only downside for me was the ending but it didn't detract from the total enjoyment.
If you like prim and perfect heroines, then perhaps this isn't the story for you. But if you like unusual flawed characters who blossom as the story develops, then you'll enjoy this story.
April 8, 2012
It really pains me to give this a 2 star rating because I'm a huge fan of Terri Brisbin and I usually love her books. This one just didn't do it for me. It has been a long time since I read the first two books in the series so maybe the time passed was just too long. I found it ridiculous that he would get angry with her if she behaved like a whore, yet that is what she was forced to be by her step-father and all she knew. I found myself skimming over most of the book just to find out what happened in the end.
July 23, 2011
Another great edition to the series. I'm sad that this is the last book. I really enjoyed reading all of them, which is surprising because I was not that into historical romance until I read the first in the series, A Storm of Passion. Terri Brisbin's combination of erotica mixed with historical and paranormal elements is a combination I have come to love. I'm happy to add her to my favorite authors list.
May 23, 2013
I got to listen to Terri recently at conference and found that she and her humor delightful.
This book is HOT! She takes the reader into the minds of her characters in a way that lets you share and sympathize, and the resolution is not at all what you expect!
I couldn't put it down!
This book is HOT! She takes the reader into the minds of her characters in a way that lets you share and sympathize, and the resolution is not at all what you expect!
I couldn't put it down!
November 13, 2012
most dramatic one of the series
August 13, 2011
3 1/2 stars.
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