What is an untameable rake to do after being cursed to suffer a fate unknown to man; to experience solitude in the deepest sense of the word? Watch and wait.
As a silent observer in a world he is no longer part of, Rykel Deveau has entertained himself by becoming engrossed in the lives of the living. Society has changed in two hundred years—more importantly, women have changed.
Now, over two centuries later, Rykel finds himself forced to share his living quarters with the most unusual female he has ever come across, sensual artist, Danica Lovel. Between the woman's hideous tattered bathrobe and unsightly pink slippers, he should be appalled, yet bizarrely, he finds himself strongly drawn to her. He wants her. The problem is, she has no idea he exists.
Excerpt
Rykel cringed as he watched Danica waver on unsteady feet. One slip and what little life he had left would end. God only knew what awaited him beyond this! Could there be a worse fate than what he was living now? According to Madelyn’s mother there was, and she hadn’t been bluffing about the curse. At the thought, he couldn’t bear to look any longer; it was as if he were facing a firing squad. Only when he turned away did he hear the legs of the chair scraping against the wooden floor. He glanced back to see Danica sitting again, pawing through the small bag which held her cosmetics. A wave of relief washed over him.
It did not take long for her to apply her makeup; she was appealing enough without it he thought, eyeing her from the corner of the room. She possessed a simple beauty rare among women. The pink hue in her cheeks required no enhancement, the darkness of her hair contrasted nicely with the pale color of her blue eyes and the dimples that appeared when she smiled could only be described as heartwarming. He had never studied her this closely before but now he couldn’t help but notice how truly remarkable she was. He frowned…what the devil was wrong with him? He’d spent an entire year looking at her without noticing such detail. Damn her conversation with Erica for tying his gut in knots! She defended him, his name, his honor and on top of it with the ferocity of a lioness guarding her cub. No one had ever done such a thing for him, not even women who had proclaimed their undying love for him.
“Look at you,” he heard her whisper as she stared at herself in the mirror. “No amount of makeup will fix the damage on the inside, but at least no one can see it.”
Halfheartedly smiling, she stood to return the mirror to the wall. Rykel got to his feet, trepidation filling him once more. Again, she wavered. With her small stature, she could barely reach the nail and just when her toes arched as high as possible, she wobbled. He glanced down. A small cylinder tube had escaped from her bag and had rolled just behind her toes. He clenched his fists.
Dear God, don’t let her slip.
As the thought fleeted through his mind, she staggered. Rykel leaped to steady her, knowing his actions were fruitless.
The mirror slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the sharp corner of the dressing table. With a loud clatter, it splintered in several directions, shards of glass scattering everywhere.
Goodbye Danica Love.
Professional Reviews
Simply Romance Review
Rykel Deveau has lived in a mirror for over two hundred years that has been passed down from generation to generation of gypsy women. The current owner, Danica Lovel, knows of her gypsy heritage but she would rather think of it as stories told to her by her fanciful grandmother. Along with the mirror Rykel's journal has also been passed down. Danica has memorized the journal and based her sculptures on the very vivid descriptions Rykel left about each of the many women he bedded. When Dani breaks the mirror and a strange man is standing in her bedroom telling her he is Rykel and he will escort her to the gallery showing of her work being presented by her former lover, does she finally believe in her gypsy heritage and can she wish him to stay?
Reflections was utterly charming and romantic. I floated along on this tale of courage, self discovery, and love. Rykel was the charming and honorable hero who still came to the rescue of a lady in distress. Danica was the talented lady in distress after suffering from a broken heart that still refused to mend six months later. Ms. Raines' characters were wonderfully written and their story made you fall in love with them. This was my first time reading a novel by this refreshing author that I plan to read many more.
Once Upon A Romance Review
Rykel Deveau has been trapped inside a hand mirror for over two hundred years. Formerly a bit of a womanizer, he was cursed by a gypsy girl’s mother and put into the mirror. He was told that if the mirror ever broke, he would suffer a fate worse than eternal imprisonment. Thankfully, he discovered he can wander around the house like a ghost, unseen, but seeing all.
Danica Lovel, the current homeowner, is a sculptor whose heart was broken by the premiere gallery owner in Manhatten. Her muse of inspiration is the private journal of a man named Rykel Deveau. While getting ready for a gala featuring some of her sculptures, she wishes Rykel was really alive. When she accidentally drops and breaks the mirror, Rykel really is alive. She thinks her gypsy blood made her wish come true. Can she handle the truth and accept Rykel today? Will he even be interested in staying?
This short story is filled with so much emotion and events, it’s as multi-colored as a prism in the light. I loved how each vibrant character and event reminded me of another color of the rainbow. Rynne Raines puts a lot of heart into a short story. The passion of her characters is wonderful to read. A very enjoyable story.
Robyn
The Long and Short of It
I think everyone’s got a little bit of the superstitious inside them. Black cats, Samhain, and of course, one of the most well known bits of superstition: breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck. But in Rynne Raines’ Reflections, I discovered mirrors a-breaking might not be nearly as bad as one thinks (except of course for needing a brand new mirror…).
Danica Lovel is our lovely heroine, a pretty little sculptor who is also a little beat up emotionally thanks to her jerk of an ex, Marc Montgomery, the same man who unfortunately owns the galleries where her work is shown. And since that ex happens to have Jessica, his new busty fiancée, heartbroken Danica is…well heartbroken!
Enter Rykel Deveau, the very delicious English rogue who lives in Danica’s mirror and whose journal is the inspiration behind Danica’s sexy sculptures. Thanks to a handy little curse, he is trapped in the mirror, able to only leave it by dividing himself from his thoughts and floating around Danica’s house like a ghost. It doesn’t take long before Danica accidentally frees our handsome Rykel by…you guessed it, breaking his mirror, and the fun begins, including two very stubborn people falling in love (along with having some smokin’ sex, yowza!).
Ms. Raines creates a sweet love story that had me smiling from the start. Not only is Rykel a true example of a historical rogue, Danica is adorably vivacious. And Erica with her boa…oh, she just leaves you giggling. The story is short but I was still drawn in as Rykel helps Danica rediscover her femininity and totally burns Marc the cheater the way only a classy Englishman can. I can guarantee you’ll be grinning when the two of them realize how just strong their chemistry is and the way they finally come together…ah, a true romance. Ms. Raines did a beautiful job and one of the few stories I believe that truly understands the meaning of a HEA – Happily Ever After.
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