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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read
Description: Madison Allcott marries a man who loves her. When she realizes her true feelings for him, he dies under mysterious circumstances leaving her in control of a vast financial empire some would kill for. Then she meets a man who flames the fires of her soul. Galen Beaumont has searched for a woman to share his eternity with since his first wife's death years before. He finds Madison, by chance, and they embark on a journey through the darker side of life while falling madly in love with each other. Will one man's eyes of darkness keep them apart while trying to steal her fortune? Will they learn love hurts in more ways than one?
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2005
eBookwise Release Date: February 2006

43 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [193 KB]
Words: 42771
Reading time: 122-171 min.

"Ms. Poff's LOVE HURTS is emotional, heartwrenching romance at it's best. You'll cry along with our heroine, hurt with our hero, and smile when they admit their love for one another. All in all, LOVE HURTS is a must read." Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today

"I read this story from the beginning to the end without stopping. The suspense moves smoothly due good descriptions of characters. The noble vampire I quickly liked, after he was trapped to be a pet. I respected his need to feel loved by free will. A couple deeply in love they share a powerful need for sex and the enemy character is strong. I recommend this book to all readers of erotic romance vampire tales. This is a great book from a great author." Mado@MayReviews.com

"Love Hurts by Christy Poff is the third book in the Eyes of Darkness series, but can be read alone. The connection between Galen and Madison is strong, immediate, and exceedingly passionate. Galen is a strong and charismatic man, and he's determined to protect Madison; with a little help from her husband?s ghost, which is an interesting addition to the plot. Madison is ahead of her time, more like a 21st century woman. She has a depth to her character that is well written, but I got a little hung up on Galen's back-story. There was quite a bit about his transition into a vampire that I felt was not totally necessary. Overall, I enjoyed Love Hurts and will check out Books 1 and 2." Reviewed by Delia, JoyfullyReviewed

"Christy Poff writes a tale that basically reinforces what we've heard about vampires in the past. It was hard to imagine a heroine who accepts the knowledge her would be suitor is a vampyr with such ease. Something that bothered me through the entire story is the easy acceptance of whatever Galen wanted to do to or with her. For a woman who was so forceful when dealing with scoundrels, it just didn't fit she wouldn't question some of the changes that were happening in her life. Galen's history, however, added something extra and fascinating to Love Hurts. This is a respectable story, with some stirring love scenes I'm sure readers will find more than titillating." Reviewed by: Rachelle, Fallen Angel Reviews

Prologue

Paris, France, 1409

Galen Beaumont hurried home to the huge manor house his family owned on the outskirts of Paris. The day before his wedding to Simone Jourdain, he had finished some last minute errands before the grand ball his mother insisted on hosting.

The time drew near for him to dress for the occasion and his manservant waited patiently for him to finish his bath so he could help him. Galen hated affairs like this and truly did not look forward to the wedding and reception the next day, though he could not wait to marry Simone, a phenomenal beauty.

"Monsieur Galen, your father wants to speak with you as soon as possible."

"Merci, Henri."

Galen knew what the elder Beaumont wanted to discuss and he smiled. At nineteen years of age, he would become the owner of a financial empire including a shipping company, banking, manufacturing and other industries--all because of his upcoming nuptials. The perfect thing about it all was the company ran itself, his father being extremely successful. Another aspect to his fortune pleased him more--his father planned to remain active in the family business, allowing Galen and Simone to get settled into their new lives. Galen knew how his father schemed and allowed the man his fun.

At nineteen, Galen Beaumont had long been sought after in society circles. The gala balls during the season had many a Parisian mother pushing their daughters on him in hopes of their girls becoming Madame Beaumont. He'd met Simone the summer before, became instantly smitten with her. This pleased both families due to the financial windfall the marriage would bring, only Galen and Simone found one huge difference with this alliance aside from others of the day. They truly loved each other.

After their marriage, they traveled the world making deals and acquisitions while Galen's father ran the companies from his office at home. The empire became huge, all those involved extremely happy and well off.

Galen loved Simone, their marriage and life together perfect, except for one thing. For years, they tried to have a family. He wanted an heir to inherit the family fortune. Every time Simone became pregnant, she would miscarry. The physical problem eluded the physicians and angered her. She wanted children--his children.

"Galen," she would apologize, "God does not wish me to have children."

Galen calmed her and quietly looked into legally taking on a ward. He found a young man named Etienne Marsden and after checking his background--he didn't want any dead relatives appearing suddenly--he took Etienne on and began his education.

Over twenty years, Galen and Etienne built the family fortune considerably while becoming, in their own ways, the corporate raiders of their time. No matter what they involved themselves in, it turned a profit. The thrill of the chase excited him but paled when it came to his wife.

Simone became pregnant in 1429 at an age considered extremely old to be having her first baby. Galen worried but she calmed him and took to her bed for the duration. The pregnancy progressed normally and with it, the hopes of having their family--finally.

"You are even more radiant than the day we met, m'lady," he told her near the end of her term.

"My husband always knows the right thing to say."

"I've always spoken my heart to you."

"I know. You've never lied to me."

"I haven't," he assured her.

"I would have known, dearest Galen."

By sunset, Simone had died. With weeks to go, she went into premature labor and both she and their baby--the son she'd wanted to give him--had been lost to him.

Their passing sent Galen into an emotional tailspin. He refused to let anyone attend her in order to prepare her for the funeral. When he finally passed out from sheer exhaustion, her maids took care of her, his manservant seeing to his Lord.

Galen went through the motions as a priest read the services. His wife and son joined other members of the Beaumont family in the crypt located behind the altar of the family's private chapel. Galen remained long after her entombment, unable to pull himself away.

Etienne finally coaxed him into leaving the crypt and helped him to his room. He looked at the bed they had shared for twenty years and swore he would never set foot in the room again. His manservant set him up in the apartment across the hall and Galen remained true to his word. This happened in July but within a month's time, Galen's life went from bad to worse.

While Etienne kept the businesses running and successful, Galen fell deeper into depression. He'd taken to the bottle and became reclusive, though his ward kept his benefactor's situation quiet.

A few weeks after Simone's death, Galen left the manor with a bottle in hand. He stumbled into the gardens, falling onto one of the stone benches. He drank more, his head spinning.