Review: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Origin

(Lux #4)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal

Source: Purchased

~Synopsis~

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

~Review~

Oh Daemon Black. Is it possible to fall even more in love with this guy? I didn’t think it was and then I read Origin. This is the fourth installment in the Lux Series and shit is getting real people.  If you haven’t read the first 3 books, there may be some spoilers but there are no Origin spoilers in this review.

The ending to Opal was insane and I was chomping at the bit to start Origin because the ending scene between Katy and Daemon was heart-wrenching. Katy is put through some serious stuff and it’s a lot to handle mentally. Daemon will do ANYTHING to protect her and get her back. I love his devotion and he has come a long way from the dick he was in the beginning. He knows Daedalus wants him and Katy together and he gives himself up to see her again. This is Daemon so you know he’s got a plan and he won’t go down without a fight. He just needs to get to Kat first. When Daemon gets to Kat, they are put through the ringer and learn firsthand what Dawson and Bethany suffered. Why is Daedalus so concerned about having Kat and Daemon together? It’s a doosy and you won’t believe what kind of plans they have cooked up. Let’s just say that the title, Origin has a significant meaning to this book.

“Daemon Black could be as prickly as a hedgehog having a really bad day, but underneath all that spindly armor, he was sweet, protective, and incredibly selfless.”

Luc, Paris, Dee, Ash, Andrew, Dawson, Bethany and Matthew are back and they won’t let Daemon take on Daedalus by himself. A new character, Archer, is also introduced and he becomes a pertinent ally to the team. He is definitely a mystery but one I would very much like to get to know a little better. I think Dee feels the same way.  Anyways, I’m getting sidetracked by his awesomeness. I have never really been a big fan of Ash and Andrew but they are starting to grow on me and I think Ash really respects Kat despite her prickly attitude towards her. The fact that they are willing to risk their lives says a lot about her and Andrew.

I was floored with the romance between Kat and Daemon in this one and it just keeps getting  swoonier. The love that Daemon has for Kat is so palpable and vice versa. There were so many sweet and tender moments and I have to say that if Daemon loves you, you’re one lucky person because he will fight to the end of the earth for you. He proves this not only with Kat but also with his friends and family. There were some significant moments between Kat and Daemon and I think readers will be very happy.

“His kisses really did have the power to change lives.”

I actually thought this book started out a bit slow but then per JLA style, absolute chaos and awesomeness ensued. So many unbelievable things happen and I was left reeling more than a time or two. The close it got to the end, the more I kept saying, “What? Wait, WHAT?!” The ending left me on my knees begging JLA and the publishers to get Opposition out NOW because, HOLY CRAP, I need to know what is going to happen. Also, dual POV? Heck yeah! Enough said.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

~IPOD Picks~

“Broken” by Seether ft. Amy Lee

“Iridescent” by Linkin Park

“Between the Raindrops” by Lifehouse ft. Natasha Bedingfield

ARC Review: Keep You From Harm by Debra Doxer

Keep You From Harm

(Remedy, Volume 1)

Author: Debra Doxer

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: September 25, 2013

Genre: Paranormal Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC via ATOMR Tours

~Synopsis~

Secrets… 

They weigh you down. I’ve kept a secret all my life. It’s my mother’s secret, too. I inherited it from her along with a unique ability that only we possess. She’s gone now, another victim of addiction. If her death isn’t enough to bring me to my knees, her betrayal flays me to the bone. Because the secret my mother and I have been keeping is just one of many she’d kept. She never told me I have an older brother. And now he’s here, eager to be my guardian.

There is no one else. So I move across the country to live with this stranger, my brother. But experience has taught me that most situations are temporary and forming attachments only leads to hurt in the end. That’s why I’m determined to keep to myself in this new place, struggling to seem aloof while I’m quietly breaking apart. 

Then I meet Lucas…

His magnetism is hard to resist, and most girls at school aren’t resisting. I don’t fall so easily though, especially not for guys who use their good looks as a weapon. From the start, our interactions are tense and volatile. I know it’s because I’m denying the unwelcome desire that grips me when he’s near. I think he feels it, too. He looks at me with an intensity that threatens to unhinge my resolve. Soon he’s trying to break through the walls that past hurts have built. 

But I’m not what I appear to be, and it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with him. At least that’s what I tell myself. Until a terrible act of violence reveals that Lucas has a secret, too. It’s a secret that links us together and ties us to an evil history I could never have imagined.

~Review~

I love mixing in a good paranormal romance every once and a while on top of all the NA and Contemporaries that I read. Keep You From Harm was definitely a good choice. I really liked the mix between the paranormal element and the contemporary romance side. Neither genre overshadowed the other and I really liked the way the paranormal element was incorporated into the story.

Raielle is a senior in high school and after her mother dies, she is sent from San Diego to New York to live with her older brother Kyle, who she didn't even know existed until her mother's death. She is instantly connected Lucas and feels drawn to him but she quickly denies it. Raielle carries a secret that her mother warned her can be dangerous if people know about it so she keeps everyone at arm’s length. However, Lucas feels the connection too and he won't give up so easy. He wants to be with Raielle and he'll do anything to convince her it's meant to be. However, shocking discoveries and tragedy may take the decision out of their hands.

Raielle is smart, confident and can stand on her own. She sticks to herself and doesn't really get close to people but she also isn't a push over either. I loved the way she held her own and how strong she was considering everything she had been through. While she had a tough upbringing and she was used to taking care of herself, she still loved her mother and losing her was tough. I think it was even harder on her because she had such conflicting emotions about her mom. She loved her but she was angry to find out that her mom had kept so many secrets from her. I could tell Raielle was really guarded so I liked seeing her open up a bit to her brother and his family as well as her new friends, Miles, Gwen and of course Lucas. I loved how well she held herself together and played it cool with her emotions when she was dealing with Lucas.

"Emotions are dangerous. So are expectations."

I liked Lucas but I also felt like he was more moody than a girl on PMS. He seriously ran so hot and cold that it was ridiculous. He felt this connection to Raielle too and he made sure she gave him a chance and then he turned around acted like a dick. I felt like Lucas really grew as a character and redeemed himself. Clearly he messed up and he knew it. He worked extra hard to prove himself to Raielle and he definitely showed how much he cared for her. Lucas also had a lot going on in his life and when we find out the personal issues he faces, it's sheds some insight into why he is a bit emotionally messed up. He is a loyal and loving big brother and I really liked that about him. He would do anything to protect his brother.

This book also had some really great side characters and I especially liked Miles, Gwen, and Kyle. Miles is Raielle's neighbor and the first friend she makes. He is a really good guy and he instantly connects with her. He is also Lucas' best friend and he looks out for both of them as they build their relationship. Gwen isn't one of the popular girls but Raielle has never cared about that and they instantly connect as friends. Gwen helps her open up a little bit and she encourages her to give Lucas a shot. However, when Lucas pulls a few dick moves, she is totally there for Ray. Kyle is Raielle's brother and I loved that he truly wanted to get to know her and be a big brother. He knows she hasn't had the greatest life and he wants her to feel like she is loved and has family. I never doubted his intentions with her. While I didn't particularly dislike Chloe, Kyle's wife, I did feel like she judged Raielle and didn't really take the time to get to know her. She assumed Raielle is messed up because of her childhood even though Ray does nothing but prove her wrong.

Raielle holds a secret power that she shared with her mother and was told never to tell anyone. While it is a special gift, it can also be dangerous and people would use her to exploit it. Upon her mother's death, she learns that her mom kept so many secrets from her and I was torn for her because it was obvious that it hurt her deeply. She will never have the chance to confront her mother about the secrets or find all the answers she is looking for. I know keeping this secret and having no one  to share in the burden with was tough for her so I was glad that Lucas discovered her secret and that he ended up being someone she could trust to confide in. As their relationship grew and they fell even more for each other, it was obvious that he would do anything to protect her. He definitely proved his feelings for her and I definitely became a fan of his. Raielle is truly a good person and she makes a huge sacrifice that was heart wrenching. The only way she knows how to change things is to find her real father and I loved that Lucas was willing to drop everything to help her. While the ending wasn't a huge cliffhanger, it definitely left things hanging in the air and I'm desperate to know how it's all going to play out. I guess I'll have to wait for book 2!

Overall, I really enjoyed Keep You From Harm a lot and found it very intriguing from beginning to end. It is well written with a nicely developed plot that flowed really well. I was constantly intrigued by Raielle and wanted to know more about her secret. Even though we learn about her abilities early on, there is still so much to learn about it and I loved how the author incorporated it into the story. I haven't read another paranormal romance quite like this one and I am definitely hooked to this series.

~IPOD Picks~

“Heart Attack” by Demi Lavato

“Every Breath” by Boyce Avenue

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About the Author

Debra Doxer has always loved to write. She also loves to read, often finishing several books a week. Debra works as a writer in the network and software security field. For fun, she writes fiction novels.
Debra lives with her family outside of Boston and is currently working on her next book.

Author social media links/website, etc.:
Blog - http://www.debradoxer.blogspot.com
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/debradoxer

*An eARC was provided to me by the author and ATOMR tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.*

Review: Catalyst by Jennifer Snyder

Catalyst

Author: Jennifer Snyder

Publication Date: May 1, 2013

Genre: New Adult/Paranormal Romance

~Synopsis~

Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…

After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.

But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.

~Review~

When it comes to paranormal books, magic is probably my favorite type. When I read the synopsis for Catalyst, I was instantly intrigued because it had the new adult feel with the paranormal added in and I like the idea of mixing the two. Most paranormal books I read are young adult, so I liked to see a new adult paranormal come into play.

However, I had mixed feelings about this book. It started out strong and I was definitely hooked and intrigued but at about 20%, it started to fizzle out. Scenes that needed more development were lacking while scenes that weren't really necessary had way too much detail. It also jumped around a lot and felt a bit dis-jointed and that made it hard for me to really dig in. Then at about 75%, it jumped back into action and had my attention. 

Addison is 18 and just found out she inherited an old beach house from her mother who gave her up for adoption when she was born. She goes to spend the summer in the small town to decide what she wants to do with the house. While there she meets Kace and she is instantly attracted to him and feels this connection. She learns that she has "elemental magick" and that Kace is her other half.

I liked Addison and thought she was a strong female lead. She adapts quickly to this crazy new information that she learns and she embraces the possibilities. She wants to know who she is and where she came from and I admired her for that. I also loved her chemistry with a Kace and it really showed on the pages. They ignited passion in each other. While Addison is a strong character, I see so much growth potential for her as the series progresses.

I also liked Kace and Callie though their characters aren't really developed much yet. Kace seems genuine and really into Addison. I don't sense any ulterior motives from him. He is as drawn to Addison as she is to him because of the magick but he really wants to know her too. Callie seems sweet and friendly and really welcomes Addison into their group. Adam is the one I'm not sure about yet. He is kind of intense and I can't tell whether he is good or bad yet. Theo is another character that I'm not sure about either. He is perceived as a bad guy but doesn't really play a big role in the book. However he has a pivotal role in the end so I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of him.

Overall, I like the idea behind the plot and I think there is a lot of potential. I'm really hoping the future books will have a little more character development and the story will flow more smoothly. This book really had me in the beginning and the end but the middle made it very difficult to really immerse in.

*An e-copy of this book was provided to me by the author and Little Red Reading Hood for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Thanks Jennifer & Laura!

Blog Tour: Fevered Souls by S.K. Falls~ Review & Giveaway

Today, I have the blog tour for Fevered Souls by S.K. Falls, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours, on the blog. I have a review & giveaway to share with you.

To follow the rest of the tour, click on the tour banner above.

Fevered Souls
Volume 1

Author: S.K. Falls

Publication Date: August 5, 2013

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

~Synopsis~

After I left for college, I thought I’d never see Eden again. But I found myself headed back four years later, destitute and unable to find a job anywhere else. Still, I was adamant nothing would keep me there for long.

Then I met the intoxicating Dax Allard. Copper-colored eyes, skin that emanated an exceptional heat, and a host of strange talents… It wasn't long before I was drunk on him.

But Dax’s past was darker than mine, teeming with ancient secrets. Falling for him could cost me my life.

I had two choices: walk away or deal with the perilous consequences.

It was no choice at all.

~Review~

Fevered Souls is an interesting book. I like the idea of a new adult paranormal because most paranormal romances I have read are young adult and most new adult novels I read are contemporary so the mix of the 2 genres intrigued me. However, I felt like I was a little disappointed. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't exceptional either. For me, it was an average read.

Cara returns to her hometown, Eden, after graduating college in Chicago and unable to find employment. She interviews for a job with Dax Allard Enterprises, where she meets the mysterious Dax Allard. She feels this instant electric connection with Dax and ends up entering the strange world  of demons where her life changes and danger is always around the corner.

I didn't have any problems with the characters in this book but I didn't feel any real connections with them. Cara was likable but mediocre and I am struggling to really find words to describe her because there just isn't anything unique about her. She didn't really change or grow through out the book. I found her to be too impressionable and trusting. She lets herself get caught up in Dax and falls for him way too quickly. She also really pushes her friendship with James when clearly he wants more from her. She is also seems so clueless when it comes to Victorine. Dax is your typical deadly demon who becomes sweet and protective of his human mate. He was predictable but I did like the way he really tried to do the right thing with Cara despite her continued advances and denial. 

I'm not sure I cared for the instant attraction between Dax and Cara because he didn't really give her a reason to feel that way about him. Aside from being really good looking, they hadn't interacted enough for Cara to be so worried and attached to him. They know each other for 2 days and they are professing their  undying love. Even though I understand there is a mystical connection because he is a demon, I still felt like it was a little too unbelievable. Especially when he is like "If you're with me, I might end up killing you," and she's like "It's okay, I still want to be with you." What? I couldn't really jump on board with that. I also felt like the relationship and love got even more unbelievable as the story went on. It just moved WAY too fast for me even with the paranormal element in there.

Despite my lack of interest in the characters and my issues with the insta-love, I did find the writing to be well done and the plot to be somewhat unique for a book about demons. This was demon versus demon instead of demons versus angels and I liked that. The different types of demons and their plan for control was an interesting storyline. 

 

 

A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, I enjoy alternately hitting up the outlet malls and historic graveyards in Charleston, SC where I live and imbibe coffee. My husband and two small children seem not to mind when I hastily scribble novel lines on stray limbs in the absence of notepads.

Since no writer’s biography is complete without mention of her menagerie of animals, you should know I have one dog that doubles as a footstool, a second that functions as a vacuum cleaner, and a cat that ensures I never forget that my hands are, first and foremost, for pouring cat food.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.skfalls.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7023689.S_K_Falls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorskfalls

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skfallssc

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and Xpresso Book Tours for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Thanks S.K. and Giselle!

Blog Tour: Identified by Faith A. Rice-Mills~ Review & Giveaway

I am excited today to have the blog tour for Barbie World by Heidi Acosta, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours, on the blog today. I have a review and giveaway to share with you all!

To follow the rest of the tour, click on the tour banner above.

Identified

The Maya Price Story

Author: Faith A. Rice-Mills

Publication Date: December 3, 2012

~Synopsis~

Maya Price is a typical eighteen-year-old girl without many worries. Her biggest problems include getting ready to leave her hometown for college, figuring out how to avoid her ever-so-strange stepmother and trying to muddle though her feelings for her best friend, Pete. Yet, one of her last nights in her hometown, she and Pete are in a car accident. A stranger pulls Maya from the accident, leaving Pete behind, and takes her out of this world and into another dimension. Maya soon discovers that she has been taken to a dimension called Leets by a group of people that call themselves shifters. 

Shifters are of mixed human and onyx blood and have various abilities. These shifters are able to travel between dimensions, control the four elements (fire, earth, wind, water) and the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste). Their leader, Victoria, informs Maya that she, too, is a shifter and that she must choose to join them or risk being sought out by their greatest enemy, a shifter named Leonas. Maya joins Victoria and her ragtag group of rebel shifters at a training camp called Level One. he is teamed up with a group of seven other shifters, including a streetsmart girl named Luz, who is especially adept at controlling fire, her twin sister Espy, and a nervous boy named Lamar, who can manipulate sound better than any other shifter. 

Together, Maya’s team trains for the battles that will soon be inevitable. However, Maya soon learns that her purpose is not to just move the earth or send water flying into the air. There are rumors of a hidden prophecy and that the prophecy mentions Maya by name. Supposedly, the prophecy says that Maya will one day have to choose a side and will be essential in bringing her chosen ally to power...

~Prelude~

I signed up for the blog tour for Identified because I thought the synopsis was interesting and I like changing up my reads a bit. Normally, I read a lot of new adult and contemporary romance so I liked the idea of reading something out of the norm. This was an excellent choice for that.

~Review~

Identified was a very interesting read. It started out really slow for me and I had some trouble getting into it. However, once I was able to get into the storyline, it became very intriguing and I found myself wanting to know more.

Maya Price is an average 18 year old girl, or so it seems. She just graduated high school and is preparing to enter college when she is suddenly taken from her world to another dimension know as Leets. Maya is a shifter, half human/half Letian, which means she can travel between the two dimensions.  Maya learns of a prophecy that mentions her and decides she must search for the prophecy to defeat Leonas, bring peace to Leets and protect her loved ones. Along with her friends and team, she goes in search of the prophecy. However, not everything is as it seems. Lives are endangered and everything will be changed.

This book was written in the third person but it is Maya’s story so she is the primary character involved. I liked Maya as a main character. She wasn’t too whiny and she was super smart. She was very powerful and I liked that she caught on quickly when introduced to her powers. She cares deeply for her friends and family and will do anything to protect them. Leaving her family and Pete behind was extremely hard for her but she knew it was the best way to protect them. My heart broke a little when she said goodbye to Pete.

This book was definitely more about plot development than character development but it worked for me. Normally, I’m all about the characters but there were so many different characters in this book and the plot was super intricate so it definitely shined more. It was a little slow at first but when they started training to hone in their powers and begin searching for the prophecy, it got a lot more interesting. As the plot moved forward, there were chapters that jumped ahead to the future with journal entries looking back on the present. They were very ominous and suspenseful, hinting at things that hadn’t happened yet but not giving enough information to give anything away. That definitely intrigued me and made me want to keep reading. Of course, this is a series so while my apetite was wetted, it still isn’t satisfied.

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book. I was nervous in the beginning since I struggled to delve into it but it finally grabbed my attention and really held it to the end. The writing was really well done and I loved the way the author wove in journal entries, letters and testimonies into the present plot that was occurring. While it didn’t leave on a major cliffhanger, there are definitely questions that were left unanswered and I know I will continue to the end because I really need to know what happens.

AUTHOR BIO

Faith A. Rice-Mills is the author of Identified: The Maya Price Story and a handful of short stories.  She moonlights as a Spanish teacher,  but has wanted to be a writer since she wrote the poem “The Jackowhipp’s Wail” as an eight-year-old.  Her writer’s spirit resides somewhere between Narnia and Mount Doom, but her physical body lives in Texas with her family.  Besides writing, she loves reading (and will take recommendations!), yoga, coloring with her daughter, and watching Parks and Recreation with her husband.  She dislikes snakes, the word “literally,” and teaching double object pronouns in Spanish.  She is currently working on Burdened, the second book in The Maya Price Story series and is writing whatever short story she has to get out of her brain.

LINKS:

Website: http://writesofwoman.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6621559.Faith_A_Rice_Mills

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmills514

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*An e-copy of this book was provided to me for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.*

Novella Arc-Review: Darkyn's Mate by Lizzy Ford

Darkyn's Mate 

Rhyn Eternal #3

Author: Lizzy Ford

Publication Date: July 3, 2013

~Synopsis~

Caught between Fate and the Dark One ...

Stuck in Hell, human-Deidre struggles to hold onto her hope that she can change the course of events that landed her as the mate of Darkyn, the Dark One. The chances of her leaving Hell plummet when the Dark One takes a drastic step to ensure he never loses his latest possession and blood binds her in an ancient rite from the time-before-time. In doing so, he is forced to share his power with her. Rather than despair, she begins to see that she has unexpectedly found her place in the world: protecting innocent souls from the bloodlust of the demon she's forever bound to.

Rather than accept her place at his side docilely, she begins to use her newfound influence to help those she cares about, including Gabriel, the former lover she's not yet ready to let go of, even knowing she'll never leave Hell.

~Review~

Novella's are ususally hit or miss for me. Since they are so short, sometimes it can be hard to connect with the characters in such a short time or really get involved with the story which is what I need to really enjoy a book. However, Darkyn's Mate is different because I know these characters and I know the story.

Darkyn's mate is human Deidre's side of what happened with her during Deidre's death. They are both pivotal characters to the plot of this story so I loved the way Lizzy wrote this novella so we know what happened with human Deidre and Darkyn. We also got to see another side of Darkyn since he is so prevalent in the story. While there is no mistaking that he is pure evil and really shows no compassion, I think he is as close to caring as he can be with Deidre. He is more honest with her than any other immortal or deity has been and he has bonded with her in the highest way that he can.

Deidre is scared and who can blame her. I mean she has basically been forced to marry the devil, turned into an immortal sex demon and has no choice but to spend an eternity in hell. She is pure and innocent and the only pure soul in hell. She quickly realizes that this along with being Darkyn's mate does give her some power. She is always looking for the silver lining and while the situation is dire, she still manages to find it and that is what I love about her. While she questions her feelings for Darkyn and Gabriel, she knows the immortal laws and she begins to accept them and look for ways to use them for good.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novella. I was very curious how things were going for human Deidre while reading Deidre's Death and I love her so I was happy to get a look into the events from her perspective. I can't wait for The Underworld to see what happens since there was a little cliffhanger ending.

*An e-arc of this book was provided to me by the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and unbiased*

Arc Review: Deidre's Death by Lizzy Ford

Deidre's Death

Author: Lizzy Ford

Publication Date: June 30, 2013

~Synopsis~

Two women caught in a struggle between Death and the Dark One …

Gabriel – Death – is winning the ground war against demons in the mortal realm. But a rebellion is brewing among his army of grim reapers in the underworld he still can’t access. Worse, just when he thinks he knows where his heart belongs, he discovers there are two Deidres: the human he started to fall in love with and the deity whose love-hate relationship with him spanned hundreds of thousands of years. What he doesn’t know: the two Deidres made a deal that will send one of their souls to the underworld by the end of the week.

Deity-Deidre expects nothing but smooth sailing in her future. Until the Dark One strips her powers on her way out of Hell, leaving her a vulnerable human, reeling under the influence of human emotions, which deities do not possess. The deal she made with human-Deidre suddenly seems impossible to win. For the first time in her existence, she understands what Gabriel felt at her mercy for the eons they were together. She doesn’t know how to win the trust of the man she’s always loved – or even if she can.

~Prelude~

I absolutely adore Lizzy Ford and her writing style. I have read all of her books and she is a writing machine I just can’t keep up with. The Rhyn Trilogy was so awesome and I couldn’t have been happier to find out she was going to make a spin-off series in the form of The Rhyn Eternal series. Gabriel’s Hope was one of my favorite out of all the Rhyn books so Deidre’s Death was worth the wait!

~Review~

With the way Gabriel's Hope ended, I had to know what was going to happen with Past-Death Deidre and Human Deidre. I love human Deidre and the relationship that she built with Gabriel in the first book so I was super nervous for what would happen between them in this book.

In Gabriel’s hope, Human Deidre becomes Gabriel’s mate but he is reluctant to trust her because of his dealings and the relationship he had with Past Death Deidre. When he finally starts to open up, Deidre makes a decision that changes everything. The effects of that decision are the prevalent point of the plot in Deidre’s Death.

Past Death Deidre is back and she is ready to win Gabriel’s heart. She has made a death with Human Deidre and Darkyn that can have major consequences if she doesn’t win the deal. Immediately Gabriel can tell that she is different but she doesn’t have the courage to tell Gabriel what she did to Human Deidre or the deal they made. When he finds out what she did, he is angry, and has conflicting emotions about the situation.

"Only the Dark One can raise someone from the dead"

I love Gabriel! He is so compassionate and a really decent guy. He can’t help but love Past Death Deidre, even though she has put him through a lot over the centuries. He has so many conflicting emotions when it comes to her. He can see that she is different now but it is going to take time for him to be able to trust her and love her again. Gabriel is dealing with a lot of issues surrounding his work and the last thing he needs is drama with Deidre. Unfortunately, that is exactly what he gets.

I love Human Deidre and am not really a fan of Past Death Deidre. She is so cold and manipulative whereas the other Deidre is kind and selfless. In the beginning, I was a little disappointed with the deal that was made between the two and what happened with Human Deidre because I loved her and Gabriel together. However, as the book went on, I could see that everything that had happened had changed Past Death Deidre and that a lot of the things she did were because she loved Gabriel. I definitely felt differently about her by the end of the book. Also, considering what happened to Human Deidre, I am very curious to see how everything is going to play out.

"She'd never let him touch her like that before, but she found his touch calming."

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and as always, the writing is wonderful and the plot is always intriguing. I never quite know where Lizzy is going to take things and I like that. She always leaves me wanting more in the end but doesn’t hang me over a cliff either. It is a beautiful in between. I can’t wait to start reading Darkyn’s Mate and see what is going to happen.

*An eBook copy of this book was provided to me for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own, unbiased opinion.*

Arc Review: Winter Fire by Lizzy Ford

Winter Fire

The Witchling Series #3

Author: Lizzy Ford

Publication Date: June 21, 2013

~Synopsis~

With a Dark witching seeking revenge against him, Beck, the eighteen-year-old Master of Light, must find a way to protect those he loves, the witchlings – and his heart. His duty is further complicated by Morgan, a beautiful Fire witching with a secret that threatens to destroy the progress he’s made protecting the Light.

~Prelude~

Before I started blogging, I discovered The Witchling Series by Lizzy Ford. At that time, only the first 2 books, Dark Summer and Autumn Storm, were out. I immediately fell in love with this series. In the paranormal category, witches and magic are my favorite books to read and this series is the top of my list in that category. I was super excited to have a chance to read and review the third book, Winter Fire and Lizzy did not disappoint. Here are all the reasons why I loved this book!

~Review~

Winter Fire is Beck's story and I couldn't be happier that it is finally here. Decker and Summer's story was heart-wrenching and emotional and Lizzy is definitely not holding back on Beck. While we know most of Beck's problems from the first 2 books, they have been taken to a whole new level.

While Decker is the more passionate and intense twin, Beck is the carefree and lighter one. Beck makes a lot of poor decisions and he struggles with his duties as the Mater of Light. He has the potential and the goodness to handle the job but his personal problems tend to get in the way. Between his crazy psycho ex and the darkness threatening to take over, he has a lot on his hands. However, Winter Fire was all about Beck and I loved seeing him in a different light and getting to know him a lot better. He is much more complex than we have seen previously. He cares about all light witches and works so hard to protect them. He is truly passionate about his job and he would do anything to protect the people he cares about. When he meets Morgan, she is nothing like he expects and he finds himself in way over his head.

Morgan has the fire element and she is very passionate and feisty. She doesn't put up with any shit and she speaks her mind. She is immediately attracted to Beck and feels this unexplainable pull towards him. She wants to protect him and would do anything to help him. Morgan has experienced something terrible in the past and we still don’t know what “the incident” is but it is clearly something very traumatic that has caused her to be on guard and untrusting. It has also made her brother, Connor, very protective of her. However, something tells her to trust Beck and she finally lets him in. She has demons and all of her choices will determine whether she goes towards the light or the dark but one thing is clear; she is kind and caring and she will do anything to save her friends.

“If her father, Connor and Beck were accurate examples, then she began to think there was something off about witchling men.”

Morgan is nothing like the girls that Beck normally dates but he has this attraction to her from the moment they meet and he can’t get her out of his head. Morgan is very guarded and doesn't trust many people but something inside her pushes her towards Beck and tells her to trust him. Their elements complement each other and while Beck’s earth element settles Morgan’s emotions, her fire element ignites their passion and desire. When things get complicated and spiral out of control thanks to Dawn and her same old antics, Morgan must make a decision in order to save Beck, even if it means hurting him in the process. As is Lizzy’s fashion, this book ends with a Turner boy’s life being turned upside down and a heart-breaking cliffhanger that leaves you begging for more.

“You can’t save the world or prevent everything bad from happening. You can only really pick which battles you choose to fight.”

Lizzy is an incredible author and the writing in Winter Fire is just as good as the first 2 books. My favorite thing about these books is the maturity of the characters and the slight darkness in this series. It isn’t your average young adult paranormal and I absolutely love that. Plus, the setting is in Idaho and I am a born and raised Idaho girl so I love it! I can’t wait for the final book to see how the series will play out. 

~IPOD Picks~

"Forever and Almost Always" by Kate Voegele

"Use Somebody" by Boyce Avenue

"Lovely" by Sara Haze

About Lizzy Ford

Lizzy Ford is the author of over seventeen novels written for young adult and adult paranormal romance readers, to include the internationally bestselling Rhyn Trilogy, Witchling Trilogy and the War of Gods series. Considered a freak of nature by her peers for the ability to write and release a commercial quality novel in under a month, Lizzy has focused on keeping her readers happy by producing brilliant, gritty romances that remind people why true love is a trial worth enduring. 

Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, three dogs and a cat. 

*This eBook was provided to me by the author for an honest review. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own, unbiased opinions.*