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Born in Melbourne, I live on the Surf Coast, once referred to as the Shipwreck Coast. Before becoming a writer, I danced professionally. As a devoted reader, I then swapped my dance shoes for pen and laptop and embarked on a journey with my imagination as muse.
When creating Thornhill Trilogy, I extracted inspiration from Jane Eyre by imbuing Aidan Thornhill with some of Rochester’s brooding presence, and Clarissa Moone with Jane’s smart, calming nature, and love of drawing.
The idea for Take My Heart, arrived after learning of Shelley’s sad fate. Following the poet’s drowning, Lord Byron built a funeral pyre. As Shelley’s body burned, a friend reached into the flames and pulled out Shelley’s heart. That gruesome image of a torn heart informed the premise for this story, which to date is my favorite. The theme revolves around the haunting nature of obsessive love.
As a lover of the Gothic novel, I couldn’t resist making the Yorkshire Moors the birthplace of Blake Sinclair in Dark Descent into Desire. Before moving to London, he grew up in Raven Abbey, a Gothic castle surrounded by a whispering wood, the inspiration of which I drew from Radcliffe. Although he escapes to London where he becomes a successful tycoon, his shadowy past threatens his destiny. The story revolves around Sinclair’s obsession with an impoverished artist, Penelope Green, who goes to the heart and soul of this damaged and private man.
Reviewed by Rylanne Burdette for Readers' Favorite
Dark Descent into Desire by J. J. Sorel is a sizzling romance novel full of passion, lust, and eventual love between the mysterious Blake and the compassionate Penelope. Blake has a dark past that has affected him deeply; he doesn't date, and he never opens up about himself. Penelope is an aspiring artist who is getting ready to graduate. When the two meet at one of Penelope's art showings, sparks immediately fly, and Blake and Penelope embark on an intense journey together. However, Blake has some dark secrets that seem to be catching up with him, and these secrets could make him end up in prison and away from the love of his life.
I have been in such a strong mood for some great romance lately, and I thought that Dark Descent into Desire was a perfect read. It was the right mix of suspense and passion that had me hooked from the very beginning. Penelope was such a loving character toward Blake and really pushed him to become a better version of himself. The plot was very action-packed, and Blake's development was phenomenal to see. Dark Descent into Desire was so fast-paced and full of different twists that kept me on my toes. I would recommend this book to lovers of romance who are looking for something a bit darker than the average contemporary novel. J. J. Sorel did a great job of crafting this complex and exciting story, and I look forward to reading more works by this author!
