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Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12)
Dark Secret Bk 12 - Carpathians Dark
Author: Christine Feehan
Rafael De La Cruz has spent centuries hunting vampires with his brothers, and with each passing year his capacity to feel emotions has grown weaker and weaker until finally there's barely been a memory left-until only sheer willpower keeps him from turning into the very abomination he hunts. But it'll take more than will to keep him away from th...  more »
ISBN: 47993
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 383
Rating:
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 11

4.5 stars, based on 11 ratings
Publisher: Penguin
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 164 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
It took me a while to get into this one. I'm not a big fan of Feehan's writing style -- I find it pretty ponderous and repetitive -- but I like the idea of her storylines so I stuck with the book and it did get better about 1/3 of the way into it. Overall, it was okay but not great, but then I've heard that this isn't the best of the Dark series (which I've been reading here and there out of order as I come across them), so I'm taking that as a pretty good sign. I wish the author would develope a sense of humor, though! I don't think any of these characters ever attempted a single joke! A little levity to break up all the melodrama would be good!
reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is when her series has started to go bad. Book is unoriginal!
katzen0466 avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Wasn't sure I was going to like the 'western' theme, but some interesting details were revealed and Colby is quite a strong woman. Rafael is a bit more chauvanistic than previous Carpathian males, but is yummy by the end. And the two personalities mesh nicely.
vwbernie avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 157 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
It was a good story about Rafael and did give some insight to the Dragonseeker clan but I didn't enjoy it as well as her other books. He is a bit dominating for my taste.
TwoLittleMonkeys avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 103 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A very intense and emotional story. I love this whole series!
Read All 65 Book Reviews of "Dark Secret Carpathians Dark Bk 12"

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dchicanagurl avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 9 more book reviews
I have yet to read a book of Christine Feehans that i don't like. Dark secret was no exception. loved it.
reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 113 more book reviews
This one would have been stuck on three stars if not for the awesome climax, probably the best so far in this series!

In this installment, Feehan finally addresses what we have all been wondering about... what if the strong, domineering, alpha male didn't care if the woman wanted to be his lifemate? Rafael De La Cruz, answers that question in spades. He is an ancient, super powerful and used to getting his way - always and without complaint. If there is any question, he just takes what he wants. That is how he handles the woman he discovers is his lifemate. It is of little consequence what she might want. If she disagrees - and she does - he compels her and takes it anyway. It makes him a very hard character to like but kudos goes to Feehan for exploring the side of the Carpathian male we all know is there.

Colby is the perfect foil for this plot-line. She is independent, incredibly headstrong - she has to be, as she has had the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings and running a ranch since she was seventeen years old. She is responsible yet loving and fiercely protective of her life and family. So, when Rafael enters the picture, demanding she submit to him, turn her siblings over to his care and follow him to his home country of Brazil, one can imagine the response. It results in great reading but not necessarily enjoyable reading. Rafael's character is never given enough depth to overcome our disdain of his actions. He never just sits down and explains things to Colby so she is able to understand and accept everything that is pummeling her world. The reader becomes as infuriated as Colby with this confusion, keeping those stars from climbing despite the great writing.

Things take a drastic turn for the better, however, as the climax hits. It comes out of nowhere and, again, explores an area that we often wonder about concerning those almost indestructible males but have never really experienced to this extreme (notice how hard I'm trying not to spoil?!?) It was the perfect twist needed to bring redemption to Rafael and acceptance to the reader.

*The steam factor in this book is high and somewhat uncomfortable. It is also hard to skip and keep the thread of the plot consistant.*
chrisee75 avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 48 more book reviews
Rafael and Colby...

I loved Colby in this one! She is a strong heroine that has fought for years to keep her ranch and brother and sister together. Very admirable! Then along comes tall, dark, and steamy Rafael from Brazil wanting to take her family away...say the magic Carpathian ritual and it's over. Maybe after reading twelve books in this series, I have become a little bitter at the men feeling like the women owe them this right. I don't know...

All and all if you follow this series, you can't leave this one out. If you do not follow this series, don't start with this one first.
owingsreader avatar reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 6 more book reviews
This book tells the story of Rafael de la Cruz and Colby Jansen, a mismatched pair who struggle with their relationship after Rafael, a Carpathian, binds them together in the manner of his people. Colby is a rancher, a tomboy, looking after her two younger siblings and struggling to keep her ranch afloat when Rafael barges into her life and up-ends everything, helping her out financially and saving her ranch but also introducing her to a world of vampires, Carpathians, and Dragonseekers that terrifies her. They have quite a struggle to get along, these two, and I admit theirs is my least favorite romance of the series. Rafael is too domineering jerk and Colby is all over the place, weepy one minute, rebellious the next. She's a bit of a dim-wit and appears incapable of thinking even five minutes ahead about the consequences of any action she takes. I had a hard time caring about her and Rafael the way I cared about Lara and Nicholas in "Dark Curse" or Natalya and Vikirnoff in "Dark Demon", one of my favorite of the "Dark" series, where you can actually see the couples slowly falling in love.

On the plus side, Christine Feehan explores the world around the Carpathians more deeply and has some interesting bits of history and back-story, and the climax of the book is excitingly written, with a really scary villain and some imaginative underground battles. If you like the "Dark" series then "Dark Secret" contains information you will want to know, even if the romance is, in my opinion, not the most satisfying of the series.
reviewed Dark Secret (Carpathians (Dark), Bk 12) on + 145 more book reviews
good book


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