Divine Evil

Zusatztext “[Roberts] can make romance seem fresh and hopeful every time.”— Time “The undisputed queen of romance.”— New York Post   “A consistently entertaining writer.”— USA Today Informationen zum Autor Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred novels. Her Bantam titles include the recent reissues of Brazen Virtue, Hot Ice, and Sacred Sins. With over 200 million books in print, she is without a doubt the most celebrated writer of women's fiction today. Klappentext In this gripping novel of small-town scandal and sizzling passion! New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts tells the story of a renowned artist who confronts a mystery from her past-and finds that her family secrets have not been laid to rest. Famed sculptor Clare Kimball has commanded the attention of the New York art world! but troubling memories from childhood have drawn her home to Maryland! to the town where she grew up and where her father died so long ago in circumstances never really explained. Nothing much has changed in Emmitsboro-except Cameron Rafferty! the onetime high-school bad boy turned town sheriff. The only hint of Cam's wild nature is the light in his eyes when he looks at Clare. In Cam's strong arms Clare is seduced into falling in love-and into believing that her small-town world is safe. But within the dark woods of Emmitsboro! something evil is spreading its poisonous power. Now Clare must pay the price for digging up the secrets of the past . . . and confront an evil that may be unstoppable-because those who practice it believe it is divine. Leseprobe Chapter 1 The rite began an hour after sunset. The circle had been prepared long ago, a perfect nine feet, by the clearing of trees and young saplings. The ground had been sprinkled with consecrated earth. Clouds, dark and secretive, danced over the pale moon. Thirteen figures, in black cowls and cloaks, stood inside the protective circle. In the woods beyond, a lone owl began to scream, in lament or in sympathy. When the gong sounded, even he was silenced. For a moment, there was only the murmur of the wind through the early spring leaves. In the pit at the left side of the circle, the fire already smoldered. Soon the flames would rise up, called by that same wind or other forces. It was May Day Eve, the Sabbat of Roodmas. On this night of high spring, both celebration and sacrifice would be given for the fertility of crops and for the power of men. Two women dressed in red robes stepped into the circle. Their faces were not hooded and were very white, with a slash of scarlet over their lips. Like vampires who had already feasted. One, following the careful instructions she had been given, shed her robe and stood naked in the light of a dozen black candles, then draped herself over a raised slab of polished wood. She would be their altar of living flesh, the virgin on which they would worship. The fact that she was a prostitute and far from pure disturbed some of them. Others simply relished her lush curves and generously spread thighs. The high priest, having donned his mask of the Goat of Mendes, began to chant in bastardized Latin. When he had finished his recitation, he raised his arms high toward the inverted pentagram above the altar. A bell was rung to purify the air. From her hiding place in the brush, a young girl watched, her eyes wide with curiosity. There was a burning smell coming from the pit where flames crackled, sending sparks shooting high. Odd shapes had been carved in the trunks of the circling trees. The young girl began wondering where her father was. She had hidden in his car, giggling to herself at the trick she was playing on him. When she had followed him through the woods, she hadn't been afraid of the dark. She'd never been afraid. S...

Product details

• Authors: Nora Roberts
• Publisher: Bantam Books USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 22.03.2011
• EAN: 9780553386479
• ISBN: 978-0-553-38647-9
• No. of pages: 448
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 207 mm x 25 mm
• Subject: Fiction > Suspense > Crime fiction, thrillers, espionage