cover image Awaiting the Moon

Awaiting the Moon

Donna Simpson, . . Berkley Sensation, $6.99 (360pp) ISBN 978-0-425-20849-6

Set in 1795, the atmospheric first book in Simpson's new paranormal romance series serves up gothic suspense and explicit sex among denizens of a German castle. One moonlit evening, as Englishwoman Elizabeth Stanwycke approaches Wolfram Castle, home of the sullen girl whom she's been hired to tutor, Elizabeth sees a nude blond woman run across the highway, pursued into the snowy woods by a hooded horseman. Her efforts to help are stymied by her companion and mentor, Frau Katrina Liebner, who warns against questioning the many secrets at the castle, which include insanity, mysterious deaths and rumor of werewolves. Desperate for work because of a scandal in her background, Elizabeth assumes her duties without complaint but is unable to restrain her curiosity. Soon she's entangled with the intimidating master of the house, Nikolas von Wolfram. Simpson (Absentee Heart ) peoples the castle with distinctive characters, though at times they act carelessly or foolishly (e.g., the hero fails to tie up a murderer before leaving him alone) in order to keep tension high. (Feb.)