During the time of the rise of the Templars, knights ignored warnings to remain away from the tunnels, thinking they would find treasures untold. Instead, they unearthed a scroll dictating the earthly locations to the gates of hell. Cursed for their defiance, the Templars became immortal, charged with defending Earth from attacks of Azazel's demons. Each time they kill a demon, darkness takes over a piece of their soul until all that remains is a being who does Azazel's will. The only cure for their curse is the arrival and bond of a seraph-a woman with Nephilim blood.

Merrick du Loire is one such ancient Templar knight whose soul is weighted by years of demonic darkness. After a lengthy fight, he enters a sanctuary, expecting to find a guardian of a heavenly relic. Instead, he finds Anne MacPherson, a Templar scholar and seraph, although she's clueless to her angelic origins. As she becomes involved in the sanctuary of the Templars, she must locate the one who bears her mark on his body. But after overhearing an archangel foretell the death of the one who bears her mark, should she reveal that bond to the knight, Anne swears to never tell the one to whom she belongs. Because after days at Merrick's side, she's fallen hard for the sensual, noble knight and perhaps if she doesn't swear her oath to him, he might live another day.

Immortal Hope is the first book in The Curse of the Templars series.

I'm always on the lookout for a new, exciting, original series. An exacting reader, I've become a bit cynical to find a story that has it all: adventure, suspense, romance, the chivalry of yesteryear, the contemporary feel of today, religious conspiracies and end-time prophecies. To top it all off, it must be written well with a voice that enthralls the reader to turn that page. I found such a story in Immortal Hope. It wasn't too long into the story that I had to run to my computer to ascertain this story was part of a series, because even before a third of the tale had been told I knew I wanted more than just this one book.

From the start, the banter and tension between Merrick and Anne was at once amusing, arousing and scintillating. The backdrop of Merrick's world held sorrow and intrigue...and the promise of rest. Whenever I'd read of one knight's poor behavior, I'd at once reconcile the darkness within, instantly feeling sympathy for their centuries of battle and hoping for the end to their soul-wrenching fate. Merrick and Anne might have found their happily ever after, but it's certainly not a happy ending...only a pause. For the battle still rages on, and so, I hope, will this new series.

Reviewed by: Bella