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Gothic, seeimingly-doomed love meets a curse that one one lady won't let stand in the way of her happily ever after. *swoon*

I really did enjoy this one. Dark and moody with plenty of hints of danger and despair. Well, the despair wasn't really hinted at. It was pretty much hanging out for everyone to see. If they knew where to look.

Annnnnyway. Isabel and Rukh don't have it easy. Between the rumors circulating about his previous wives and the meddling of his family, it looks like Isabel is the next to be offered up as a sacrifice to the dark secret the Hayle family is hiding in the manor. Except it turns out Isabel isn't one to sit idly by and let bad things happen to her. She fights back. WITH KNOWLEDGE.

I appreciate that in a lady.

Highly enjoyable with just the right amount of Gothic intrigue to keep me excited to turn the page and see what was going to happen next. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

The stars are for how quickly I got the book out.

But really, this book sucked! I've read a lot of books in my time, and I love most of em. Heck, I can even appreciate a cheesy Checkout line Romance novel (like in the grocery store, those cheesy ones by the checkout stand), but this thing made me want to burn it.

The story is so silly, and I was actually annoyed with Isabel that she was so damn needy. I get that it's supernatural and all, but seriously, could she have looked any more stupid? The romantic scenes were sorta creepy in a way and kinda gross.

Go read something like The Juliet Spell or the Love At Stake novels. Or if you like paranormal stories with a REAL STORY behind them, check out Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Vampire books. All of those authors are much better than this piece of poop.

I knew immediately I wanted to read this. Aside from the gorgeous cover, the synopsis really drew my attention. As did the Samhain warning. Then I went and read more about it over at the author's blog and saw that it involved Bluebeard...and I just sort of spazzed a little bit. The novel lived up to my expectations (and the warning XD).

Isabel is hands down one of my favorite romance heroines. When a girl's mindset has her thinking "She would dress herself, suitably impress her mother with her new station and then rid the world of one incubus, named Bluebeard." (pg. 50, pdf) after learning her husband's family's deep dark secret (and being sex'ed up all night long) you have to love the girl. She doesn't spend time moping or bemoaning her fate. There are problems in her marriage, but she was determined to find some way to fix them. To put it succinctly--she puts her fear to good use by using it to galvanize her to fix things.

Rukh (pronounced 'rook') is very, very alpha male. He mentions, more than once, that he has trouble keeping his 'beast' under control as a rule and now with Isabel he seems to have almost no control whatsoever. As the reader we know why, but it takes him a little longer to catch on. I do kind of wonder at his way of showing Isabel affection, since he does more harm then good by being with her, but Isabel isn't entirely blameless. She pushes against the safety restrictions he places upon her and when he erects new ones she pushes even harder.

Rukh's family, with the exception of his nephew Christopher, are possibly the most selfish, egocentric people I've ever read about in anything and why he wants to help them at all was beyond me. I can only blame blood sings stronger then rational thinking. They also use underhanded means and like to keep secrets. Unfortunately Isabel's family isn't much better, so they are matched in that.

Passion and affection are evident in everything either of them do. Even when circumstances are so tense that I was worried for their sanity, they didn't give up. Isabel's strong will and practical nature was really what saved them in the end I think. Bluebeard, in here he is a wife-killing incubus, not a wife-killing pirate, was pretty much as depraved as they come. May he rot in whatever hell he deserves.

My only question was in regards to Christopher and Sheila. Without spoiling anything, I did not understand his need to protect her. Was it just plain old male chivalry? He was obviously a good fellow, he proved that half a dozen times, but he was bound and determined (to the point of suicide) to save Sheila and I didn't understand why.

In the end, Drake gave me a mighty fine re-imagining of the Bluebeard legend and more than that an enthralling romance as well.

Lord Rukh Hayle is everything that Lady Isabel Colven does not seek in a husband. He is mysterious, dangerous, and rumored to have killed his two former wives. Her body and heart disagree the moment he touches her. Will her lust for him allow her to see past the exterior and recognize the truth?

The Raven inside Rukh immediately recognizes its mate in Isabel and compels him to make her his in every way. Now he must protect her from a family curse that has claimed the others before her, and in order to do that, he must make some difficult decisions. Can he sacrifice the one thing he longs for in order to keep her safe?

The Forbidden Chamber by Ella Drake is an extraordinary tale filled with lust and danger. This is the first time I have read a shape-shifter story that was not wolf-related and I have to say I was not disappointed. The bond between Rukh and Isabel is consuming and passionate. The family curse was a good twist and I loved that Isabel was featured as having a key role in securing a future for Rukh and herself. Overall The Forbidden Chamber is definitely a must-read.

Gianna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This was a gothic paranormal historical. The start of the story feels a little "fast forward" if you know what I mean. Instead of showing the hero/heroine meeting for the first time, you are right in the middle of a dance they are engaged in at a house party given by the hero. I gotta say that the hero sounds slightly creepy at the very beginning of the story - not molester creepy, just Bella Lugosi "good evening" creepy. I found that it all added to the cool gothic feel and he grew on me after a bit. The hero, we come to find out, is the Alpha in a pack of black bird shifters. Their immortality and shifter status is tied to a centuries old "deal w/ a devil" or more accurately, a deal with a demon. This was an interesting take on the bluebeard legend & was a very well done gothic. I feel like the author was a fan of The IT Crowd because the door to the chamber that the wives must never open is a red door - and for fans of that TV show that was one of the episodes - The Red Door. I kept picturing the character Richmond in my mind. :)