| A world of images that are not real, a foreboding old mansion that is filled with magic tricks, a mysterious stranger who is as elusive as a ghost, and a mysterious place not on any map.
As she enters this prim and proper world, she is equipped with a cell phone that doesn't work, a scandalous half sweater and four-inch wedgies. She has wrecked her car, and needs help. She begins walking toward an old English mansion, and knocks on the door. A strange looking butler comes to the door. His name is Thorn and he resembles one of the characters in her book. With a tremble in her voice, she requests to use the telephone. Thorn looks at her strange clothes and then invites her into the parlor which could easily be mistaken for a mortuary. Dana has no idea that she has entered into her paper hero's world, and asks to speak to the person who resides there, but is told that he is in mourning.
Franz Staresini is his name, and he lives with a secret so terrifying, he must live his life in secret, making Dana wonder later if he is real, or a ghost. Franz is a lonely man with few friends and because of his unusual situation he must shun close relationships. When he sees Dana for the first time, he falls in love. He knows she is anxious to get back to her own world, but he wants to capture her-have her always to love. But how? He can't stand the thought of losing her, so he courts her the only way he can-with misty kisses and erotic dreams. He knows the day will ultimately come when he must reveal his secrets to her, but until then she must walk in the heroine's shoes, feel her pain, her joy, her laughter and her tears...until the last page is closed. |
