The Gentle Beast

Reviewer: Kathe Robin, Romantic Times

In 1499 in a Roman cistern, artist Dominico Paolo Constantine Castiglione curses God and the angels for the losses of everyone he cherishes. To his shock, a beautiful angel appears and informs him that he will turn into a statue for the next five centuries to atone for his blasphemy. At the dawning of the new millennium, a virgin’s tears will awaken him from his enforced slumber and Dominico must find his family’s last living descendent. He then must guide the lad onto the right path in order to save humanity. If he fails, Dominico will turn to stone for eternity.In 1999, visiting American Dr. Honoria Fitzhugh falls into a hidden Roman cistern and finds Renaissance artifacts including a statue that probably is the first model of Michaelangelo’s David. With the cooperation of the Italian government, the Portland assistant art curator unveils her find. However, Honor’s elation turns to grief when the tests prove that the statue consists of an unknown material, but is definitely not made of stone. Her subsequent tears turn the statue into a human and she agrees to help Dominico find his relative. As they work together, her beloved “statue” falls off the pedestal, only to be replaced by a deep love that seems to have no future or past.

Award winning Colleen Shannon’s latest tale, HEAVEN’S ROGUE, is a magical blending of elements from several sub-genres into a wonderful story. Honor is an intriguing character whose childhood leads her to obsess over her work until “David” enters her life. Dominico is a great protagonist whose fifteenth century philosophy towards women makes him seem as if he truly traveled through time. The story line works because Ms. Shannon simply knows how to tell a superb tale that will garner her more acclaim.

Reader: Jennifer Everitt

.0 out of 5 stars Great romantic tale, -By A Customer, July 4, 1999

I think this is the first book of Colleen Shannon that I’ve read and came to love. I’ve recently re-read it–because I forgot the plot since it’s been so long–and still I find the story warm to the heart. As one of the reasons why stories are told, this book contains morals and messages that should be taken seriously by everybody who comes to read this. This is one of the reasons why I love to read a lot of books. And one of the reasons why I can’t give it less than 5 stars.
-Library Thing

A very heart-warming story indeed and a very well composed one.
-TsumNaBara, Feb 22, 2013