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Rating: 
Summary: Passions Blood-Wonderful!
Review: As a big fan of Cherif Fortin for starters and his partner Lynn Sanders, how could I not enjoy this book? The artwork is amazing and so lifelike as you read through the hot, passionate story of the love between Emric and Leanna. I laughed, I cried, I felt the stab of the sword as Emric fights in his battles and Leanna is forced to wait for her love. A must for any romance reader, a big must for any fan of Cherif and Lynn's artwork as well. WOW!
Rating:
Summary: WELL WORTH THE WAIT
Review: I have loved books since childhood. All books and all topics. As I grew older and moved on to more adult themes, I began to miss having the illustrations that we all had as children to guide us on our way through the story...until now.The other night for the first time in quite a long time, I actually sat down with a book and lost myself to the magic that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders created for us. Not only is this book beautifully written with words that cause your heart to beat faster when you sense the danger that Prince Emric is walking into, but the artwork shows us the full range of human emotions. From beginning to end, each and every picture that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders gave to us tells a story of it's own. From the beautiful, young Lady Leanna, to the proud Prince Emric, to the bold and brash Prince Bran. You can see the passion, feel the love, the anger, the despair, the disbelief, the rage and the fear in each and every piece of art. And as we read further we shed tears over on old soldier, Captain Aelfric, who breathed his last in order to protect his prince and consequently we share the grief with Prince Emric. As this wonderful tale comes to a close, each and everyone of us waits with bated breath for the Lady Leanna to finally understand what true love really is. It is the Passions Blood of our very existence.
Rating:
Summary: WELL WORTH THE WAIT
Review: I have loved books since childhood. All books and all topics. As I grew older and moved on to more adult themes, I began to miss having the illustrations that we all had as children to guide us on our way through the story...until now. The other night for the first time in quite a long time, I actually sat down with a book and lost myself to the magic that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders created for us. Not only is this book beautifully written with words that cause your heart to beat faster when you sense the danger that Prince Emric is walking into, but the artwork shows us the full range of human emotions. From beginning to end, each and every picture that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders gave to us tells a story of it's own. From the beautiful, young Lady Leanna, to the proud Prince Emric, to the bold and brash Prince Bran. You can see the passion, feel the love, the anger, the despair, the disbelief, the rage and the fear in each and every piece of art. And as we read further we shed tears over on old soldier, Captain Aelfric, who breathed his last in order to protect his prince and consequently we share the grief with Prince Emric. As this wonderful tale comes to a close, each and everyone of us waits with bated breath for the Lady Leanna to finally understand what true love really is. It is the Passions Blood of our very existence.
Rating:
Summary: The vanguard for a new category in book illustration
Review: Passion's Blood is the vanguard for a new category in book illustration. A well-written first effort, the choice of language, use of illuminated letters to highlight paragraphs, page layout, and breathtaking 35 full color photographic oils all combine to enhance the feel of a medieval adult fairy tale. The story offers all the timeless elements of good drama and romance: love, passion, sex, doubt, filial betrayal, greed, war, suspense, murder. This unique combination of text and visual beauty results from the joint artistic and literary talents of the book's illustrators, who are also the authors - Cherif Fortin (also the model for the book's hero) and Lynn Sanders. Whether or not you are a romance reader is beside the point, although Passion's Blood is definitely a standard-setting entry into a new sub-genre in the romance field. In the hands of Fortin and Sanders (today's internationally recognized master of photographic oils), Passion's Blood becomes a gift book and necessary addition to any collection of modern art/photography, positioning it as a crossover book with enormous appeal to a wide variety of readers. Even more, it is a superb example of 20th century interpretation of a 600-year old painting technique perfected by such masters as Jan van Eyck (Arnolfini's Bride), that was almost lost after the advent of color film for cameras. As the first in a four-book series, Passion's Blood is a collector's item - either by standards of romance readers or art aficionados - and the series should become a must-have for both sets of bibliophiles.
Rating: 
Summary: An Innovative Work of Art
Review: The first illustrated romance novel is sure to entertain lovers of medieval and fantasy reading. The writing is a bit more graphic than I usually like, but conveys the realism of medieval war, while the pictures are magical in quality. Ms. Sanders and Mr. Fortin are each a class act and this carefully crafted production is proof. If you enjoyed those wonderful illustrated children's novels of Merlin and other magical characters as I did, this book may fullfill your adult wishes for adventure, with gorgeous visual entertainment as an added bonus.
I am looking forward to the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Very Impressive
Review: The Illustrations in this book are beautiful and the story is good as well. This is a large departure from what I normally like and read. A perfect addition to any personal romance book library.
Rating:
Summary: The Magic of Fortin and Sanders
Review: This is an amazing book, a lush and intoxicating picture book for grown-ups. The art photographs which magically blend painting and photography are fabulous. The poses are varied and unusual, and some illustrations veer more toward paintings while some look more like photographs. They are endlessly fascinating to look at since the blending of the two mediums gives such richness and depth. The story is somewhat abbreviated since it is a novella, and it sort of drops us abruptly into a battle and then a love scene, but I liked the story as well. I am a die-hard romance fan and medieval junkie, so this hit the spot for me. Since Cherif Fortin worked as a knight/stuntman for the performing dinner theater, Medieval Times, he has walked his talk and it shows in the narrative and illustrations. He knows how to ride a horse and fight with a sword, and his knowledge of the era is apparent.
He is more than just a pretty face and has worked as a cover model, illustrator and writer. He and Lynn Sanders make a wonderful team, and I admire them both for creating their dreams so we can all share in their beauty. I recently had the opportunity to talk with them at the Romantic Times Convention Book Fair in Kansas City where they were promoting the new book they illustrated (ELLIE AND THE ELVEN KING by Helen Rosburg). They were both very nice and seemed to have an easy and affectionate relationship with each other. Despite the fact that Cherif is drop-dead gorgeous, he was friendly to everyone and seemed unaffected by his looks. I truly hope that they create more wonderful books like this one, particularly with Cherif as the hero. Their unique and beautiful look at the world is greatly appreciated by this reader.
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