Review: Destined to Love by Jourdyn Kelly

Destined to Love 
by Jourdyn Kelly
Publication Date: May 2nd, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 316
Purchase your copy today: 
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: Anala Geil has finally fulfilled her destiny to become the Leader of the Society of Hunters – 600 years AFTER she thought all Cursed Ones were gone. So far; she is a Cursed Hunter, has fallen in love with a fellow Hunter, had another Hunter turned, and lost Thomas - the one she had feelings for so long ago. She’s doing great. 

The challenges that Ana and her Hunters must face now will either tear them apart, or bring them closer. But what will Ana do when she is forced to make the most difficult decisions of her long life? 

Will she be able to hold on to the humanity she feels is perilously close to shattering?

My Thoughts: Another incredible ending by Jourdyn Kelly!! I just love this series, the author does such a great job keeping you constantly entertained and on your toes. This book becomes an emotional roller coaster with its ups and downs; including death of loved ones and lots of close calls. Sam and Anala are amazing together, I can't get enough of their smokey chemistry. Sam is always there for Anala and the struggles she continues to have to go through but also knows when to give her the space she needs. The little group of hunters is joined by a new character, Sara, who has a hard time adjusting as the outsider. 

At the end of Destined to Kill I wasn't sure how Zach would handle the knew change of being cursed. Throughout the book he constantly struggles with his humanity while Anala does what she can to help. Still on the hunt for Thomas, the cursed from Anala's past who turned Zach and many others, the gang runs into constant trouble. 

I cannot wait to see what happens next for Anala and the gang after traveling all the way to England. The group discovered similar killings all over the world that lead them to believe there must be more cursed, vampires, and if there are cursed there are hunters. For the first time in 600 years Anala returns to her home land in search of answers and discovers much more than she expected. Thank goodness I don't need to wait to see what happens next!! Destined to Meet released this October and is currently on my kindle waiting to be read. Such an entertaining fantasy read!

Review: Destined to Kill by Jourdyn Kelly

Destined to Kill
by Jourdyn Kelly
Publication Date: May 21st, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 376
Purchase your copy today:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: Immortality. Humans would sell their soul for it. Immortals would steal souls to keep it. Infinite life is too seductive and powerful to resist. But, immortality is more like a bad drug habit than a gift. Immortals can't give it up because after living for so long, they don't know how to face death. You see, living forever isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you have your pros, but it's the cons that can make an Immortal wish for a death that will never come.

Anala Geil is a Hunter. She is bound by the rules of the Society. The rules are few, but they are strong. What happens when circumstances force her to break them all?

My Thoughts: Such a great plot, it grabbed me from the very beginning!!  Anala grows up in a society who hunt "cursed", or vampires, and after an unexpected accident she is left changed forever. After 600 years without vampires, except for Anala, a new group begins to form out of nowhere leaving Anala no other option than to bring together a group of hunters to train. I loved the main character, Anala, a vampire struggling with her humanity who hunts other vampires. She has such a strong personality and doesn't take crap from anyone! I actually ended up having a dream last night about the book, which never happens, where I was Anala out hunting, that's how much this book stuck with me! (or maybe I was just really tired after reading?) 

I love reading a book about vampires where the author gives you a new explanation for how vampires came into existence. For me it always gives the story that little extra, whenever there is a history to the plot, I just eat it up! I could not stop reading, each character the author created has such a unique and, for the most part, like-able personality! Almost making you want to be apart of the group of hunters. Jourdyn Kelly, the author, leaves you hanging at the end with a cliff hanger leaving you wanting more!! Luckily Destined to Love the second book in the series is already out and ready for me to read!! 

Review: Death's Dilemma by Candice Burnett

Death's Dilemma (Book 2 Death has a Daughter Series)
by Candice Burnett
Publication: August 31st, 2014
Pages: 195
Purchase your copy:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis: Cendall, history’s first female Grim Reaper, has had one hell of a year. She has gone from the top of her class to the realm’s biggest traitor. Working with the enemy, Cendall finds herself enrolled in a human high school, protecting a soul she was originally supposed to collect. 

With her powers building and feelings for a particular enemy growing stronger, Cendall must learn to control herself and navigate her emotions as the threats against her and her assignment escalate. As she begins to come to terms with the fact that a master Demon is hot on their trail, an old friend brings to light that a bounty has been placed on her head, and she is the most wanted individual in the realm. 

Faced with the impossible task of defending herself and the soul she has grown to care for, Cendall must make a choice she never wanted to make and confront death’s greatest dilemma. 

My Thoughts: Ahhh! I just love this series and all the characters, Candice Burnett did an amazing job following up Death has a Daughter (DHAD)!!!  This series has such a unique plot for a fantasy series with a strong female lead, its hard not to get excited while reading.  The ending to this book was non stop entertainment with one surprise twist after the next that I honestly never saw coming!! 

Deaths Dilemma begins soon after DHAD,  book one, ends with the interesting discovery of Cendall's suppressed powers. Cendall is now working with the guardian angels as Lacie's main bodyguard alongside the dreamy and distracting Trevor.  With Cendall never leaving Lacie's side the girls become as close as ever, a best girlfriend Cendall never thought she would have. After sharing a passionate kiss and saving Trevor's life in DHAD, Cendall has a hard time keeping a clear head. Between keeping Lacie safe, keeping a clear head with Trevor and looking for answers to her newly discovered powers Cendall has a lot on her plate and things are about to pile up even higher. 

This series just keeps you on your toes with surprise endings to each book you would never expect. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, hopefully we don't have too long to wait, too see what Candice Burnett has in store for us next. Candice Burnett has me completely captivated with this plot and in love with every character I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good fantasy book!

Review: Souls (Grimnirs Book 2) by Ednah Walters

Souls (Grimnirs Book 2)
by Ednah Walters
Publication Date: September 29th, 2014

WARNING: This is CORA'S story: This book may be considered NA (new adult) because it contains some swearing, violence and sex scenes: Suitable for ages 17 and up. A Clean Version will also be available on Amazon.

Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Cora Jemison knows what it’s like to date a soul reaper. There are no Friday

night movies, no school dances, and no stolen kisses between classes. It totally sucks! What makes it even worse, souls pop up when she least expects it. The last one is not her fault, but it all adds up to zero quality time with her super hot, scythe-carrying boyfriend, Echo.

Since Cora was etched with special runes by an evil Immortal, she understands why souls are drawn to her. She makes the best of it by helping souls find closure while Echo escorts them to the realm of the dead. Perfect partners, until a dark soul visits Cora in the dead of the night and Echo decides her soul-helping days are over.

Cora can either listen to Echo or follow her instincts. To make matters worse, other reapers start stalking her, demanding she hand over the soul. Even her Valkyrie friends think she’s gone too far. But something sinister is coming their way, and the soul is the key to saving her town, her friends, and her relationship with Echo. Can she convince Echo to see things her way before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: From the second I started this series I fell in love with all the characters and the obstacles they continue to overcome. Ednah Walters has me absolutely captivated in this world of Norse Mythology.  The idea for a book is like nothing I have read before and I have loved every second of the Runes series and spin-off Grimnirs series. 

I just love Cora and Echo together, when he is first introduced in Grimnirs its hard not to fall for this bad boy who has let Cora into his heart. Echo continues to have a hard time watching Cora help souls because of the toll it takes on her body but he understands it is something she needs to do for herself since discovering she was immortal. Then a dark souls and old friend of Echo's, Dev, starts following Cora around asking for help, at first Echo is completely against the idea of helping him until Dev saves Cora from another evil soul trying to poses her body. 

Like the rest of this series I absolutely loves this book and could not put it down for a second!! Ednah always leaves me wanting to know what happens next with her epic endings, I have no patience, luckily the fourth book in The Runes Series, Witches, releases this December! Thank Goodness!!

AUTHOR BIO:  EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, was released

March 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com.

Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series and there are currently three other books published in this series.  SOULS (Grimnir book 2 a side story to the RUNES series) and WITCHES book 4 will release 2014.  Read more about this series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com.

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011.  It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published five more books in this series. She's presently working on book seven. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.

AUTHOR LINKS

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 B&N Author / Smashwords / Kobo

BOOK LINKS

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Review: Midnight Kiss (A Collection of Four New Adult Paranormal Romances)

Midnight Kiss (A Collection of Four New Adult Paranormal Romances) 
by Sarra Cannon, Juliana Haygert, Alyssa Rose Ivy, Jennifer Snyder
Publication: October 1st, 2014
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Buy a copy today:
Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Synopsis: This Halloween, prepare to be haunted by a kiss…

Midnight Kiss is a limited edition collection of four BRAND NEW, NEVER RELEASED novellas, all set in New Orleans on Halloween night.

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Sarra Cannon
From the outside, Becca Goldberg looks like any normal freshman girl at Tulane, but she’s been keeping a terrible secret. She’s really Allison Moore—a young witch from Peachville hiding out from an evil coven of witches known as the Order of Shadows. She thinks she is safe until an unexpected accident occurs. Now, she only has until midnight on Halloween until her identity is discovered.

She must turn to the hottest, most elusive guy on campus for help. Will he help save her? Or will her life come crashing down around her after midnight?

THE MIDNIGHT TEST by Juliana Haygert
Being the weakest witch of her generation, nineteen-year-old Hazel is convinced she’s supposed to live a normal, human life—except for the occasional ghost hunting. When Hazel moves to New Orleans, the most powerful witch coven in the world grants her a chance to join them, but only if she passes a dangerous test on Halloween night. Everything is going fine until mysterious Sean steps in Hazel’s way, putting her entire test at risk.

Will she be able to ace the test and keep them both alive at the same time?

SEDUCTION’S KISS by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Never agree to a road trip to New Orleans with your roommate. At least not when your roommate is dragging you along while she reconnects with an ex boyfriend. Possible consequences of failing to take my advice:

1) Unknowingly going out with a vampire stripper.
2) Getting kidnapped by said vampire’s nest mates.
3) Falling head over heels for your winged hero.

Believe it or not number 3 is the worst one, especially when no one believes you that he exists.

KISS OF AWAKENING by Jennifer Snyder
With one kiss, everything will change…

When a mysterious letter arrives from her estranged mother, twenty-one year old Kenna Blake and her best friend, Bree, make a trip to New Orleans hoping for a little Halloween fun and to get away. The mystifying Crescent City has something else in store for her though.

Cryptic messages, a hot tour guide, and a new sense Kenna can’t seem to explain are just the beginning of this eye opening trip. Will Kenna accept what awakens with in her or will she crumble under its reality?

My Thoughts: Loved this collection paranormal novellas what a great group of authors to put into one book. I loved that each story had the Midnight Cauldron in New Orleans on Halloween incorporated to tie them together. I definitely downloaded the books tied to each story. Each story was uniquely amazing and addicting! I definitely recommend this book as a must read this October to get you in the Halloween mood. 

The story I loved the most was Seductions Kiss by Alyssa Rose Ivy. Ever since I read The Crescent Chronicles I have loved Owen, don't get me wrong Levi is great but I have been hoping for more story on Owen.  I am so glad we get a little piece into his life and I really hope there will be more for Daisy and Owen in the near future. Loved this short story just wish there was more of Owen! 

I also really enjoyed was After Midnight, Allison and John are hard not to love. I was so happy to read the very end definitely making me giddy!! I want to know more about this world and hope there will be more of Allison and John to come!

Now don't get me wrong I have only great things to say about each story even if I picked my favorites. Each story grabbed me in it's own way and I cannot wait to read more by each author!!

King Tomb (Forever Evermore Book 3)

King Tomb (Forever Evermore Book 3)
by Scarlett Dawn
Publication Date: October 8th, 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance, New Adult Fantasy
Pre-order your copy:
Amazon / iBookstore / Kobo

Synopsis: From Scarlett Dawn comes the stunning, sexy, sensual, surprising, spell-binding conclusion to the bestselling first Forever Evermore trilogy.

Queen Shifter, Lily Ruckler, has found solace in brutal warfare. Her bloodied fists and bared fangs fill the holes left in her memory, the blank spaces that leave her soul aching and empty. Her only pleasure is in blood; her only salvation is the relationship she has with her infant child, the baby of unknown origins who brings her solace and stability.

When Elder Harcourt summons Lily and her protector Antonio back to the United States, Lily thinks nothing unusual about the change of location. But a standard reconnaissance mission leaves her trapped inside King Zeller’s private quarters, and at his mercy. Surprise attraction rapidly turns to a battle of wills and an intense power struggle that leaves no clear victor but plenty of resentment.

They are not allowed to nurse their wounds. In order to win the war against the Commoners, the King Vampire and Queen Shifter must work together. It should be easy. The war is turning, the battle is deadly, and both Lily and Ezra love the cold cleanliness of combat. But their chance meeting has led to more than an unlikely alliance. Secrets have a way of surfacing, especially on a torn-up battlefield, and Lily and Ezra are about to re-learn all they cannot remember. If they can’t control their emotions and responses, it will be to their own ruin and the destruction of everything around them.

Synopsis and Review of
King Hall (Book 1) / King Cave (book 2)

My Thoughts: There is just no going back after reading Scarlett Dawn's work; she is a magician when it comes to writing. I honestly have a hard time explaining how amazing this series is, the range of emotions I experienced reading this book went from empathy to loathing to extreme joy to extremely heated to laugh out loud surprised back to extreme joy to I need more about these amazing characters I have fallen in love with.  I currently am in the middle of a book hangover, I read this book in 24 hours because once I started there was no stopping. I feel like if I pick up another book right now that nothing can compare to the amazingness of what I just read, of course I am being a little over dramatic right now but that is what this story does to you. I would definitely say, for me, this is on my list of top 5 favorite fantasy series I think everyone should read. 

After the heartbreaking ending to King Cave I was distraught having to wait for King Tomb to come out, eating up every little surprise excerpt Scarlett Dawn posted to get me by while I waited. Thank goodness this book jumps right in to the juicy goodness of Lily and Ezra's forgotten love affair. I was able to fall in love all over again with their relationship, even if it starts out a bit rocky to say the least. I loved reading as they both slowly began to put the pieces together and that moment when Lily sees Ezra holding Isa was to die for. Everything was perfectly put together keeping me on my toes the whole time, and unable to stop reading. Another great part is the surprise love affair that left me shocked and uncontrollably laughing out loud with my husband looking at me like I was crazy. Amazing job by Scarlet Dawn I could not have asked for more out of this story, I just hope that throughout the rest of the Forever Evermore Series these characters I have grown to love will continue to make an appearance. The next book Chosen Thief, Book 4 in the Forever Evermore Series is expected to release Mach 8th, 2015.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, which include King Hall and King Cave. She lives in the Midwest, where she loves to 'people watch' and daydream. She adores her music loud and her fries covered in cheese. She is drawn to all things quirky and off-beat. She believes there are no boundaries for an imaginative soul. Her love of the written word started at an early age, when her grandmother would take her to bookstores every weekend. Dreams came alive within the books she found there, and now, she is thrilled to share her stories with others who have fallen under the spell of taking fantastical journeys. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Found (The Crescent Chronicles #3)

Alyssa Rose Ivy Website

Book Details: Written by Bestselling New Adult and Young Adult author Alyssa Rose Ivy. Published July 16th, 2013. 234 Pages. You can purchase a hard copy or digital copy at Smashwords /
Amazon

Synopsis of Found: At the conclusion of Focus you discover that Toby, Allie's ex-boyfriend, is the heir to the Blackwells, Levi's family rivals, and has taken her friend Jess as hostage until Allie agrees to come back to him. Levi is upset to discover that he was not Allie's first Pteron. Allie is upset that her friend is being held hostage, Levi tells her he has people watching to make sure nothing happens to Jess until they can go save her. Letting Allie go to the Blackwells is not an option. Trying to keep things normal Levi and the guys take Allie and Hailey to a paranormal New Year's Eve party to celebrate, where Allie runs into Toby. Toby tells her he can't believe Levi is keeping her in the dark and not telling her what she is. Allie already had a feeling that her dating two Pterons was not a coincidence and goes to visit Levi's mother to try and find out more. Levi's mother is not sure why but says if anyone knows it would be Lev's grandmother who lives a couple hours outside town and that she can set up a time to go visit her soon. 

Levi knows that Allie is up to something, first meeting with his mother and now his grandmother, and decides to tag along for the ride. Allie is not sure she made the right choice by talking to his grandmother since she is one feisty old lady. Levi's grandmother tells everyone that her and Allie will be going to visit her seamstress when really she takes her to an older studio to discuss what Allie really came to visit her for. Allie discovers that written in Pteron history there have been women known as the Enchantress. The Enchantress is like a Pteron heir magnet and whom ever she chooses to accept the family ring from will become the next King. Levi's grandmother thinks that since Levi tricked her into taking the family ring he somehow tainted to bond between them which is why the Toby is still after her.

The Winter Ball has arrived with Allie by Levi's side, they are both enjoying themselves until another possible heir to the thrown shows up to request his dance with Allie, which has to be granted based on Pteron tradition. Allie can feel a weird pull towards him and he to her which just upset both Allie and Levi. After the dance Toby shows up to request his dance, where Allie starts to feel faint. Both Allie and Levi has been experiencing extreme of jealousy and a need to be with each other which is causing Allie to become ill due to the bond not being done correctly. While at the Ball Toby's grandfather threatens to dispose of Jess and also tells her he knows where her mother lives.  

Allie can't wait any longer to go save Jess and sneaks away from Levi and her guards to travel to New York, where Jess is being held. Once she gets Jess out of trouble she goes with Toby knowing that is the only way to protect her family and friends without Toby's grandfather going after someone else. While with Toby she blacks out and starts to get very sick, this is the longest she has been away from Levi and the tainted bond is killing her. Toby still cares for Allie and calls Levi to come help, together they take her to a witch who tells them how to break the bond. During the process of breaking the bond both have tears steaming down their face, they love each other so much. An attack breaks out shortly after they break the bond with Toby saving everyone and Allie still choosing Levi, always Levi.

My Thoughts: I loved this series!! I could not put any of the books down and ended up finishing all three plus the novella over the weekend!! Great story different idea for a plot with the shifters originating from birds and having large angel like wings.  The way the author ends the second book, Focus, was very surprising; I could not believe that Allie's ex, Toby, was the Blackwell heir!! Levi and Allie are adorable, I love when the guy has to fight for what he wants instead of the girls just fawning over them. Allie definitely keeps Levi on his toes throughout the story but you can tell that she loves him beyond belief and she gives him a hard time when needed.  Levi continues to prove to Allie over and over how much he loves her even if she second guesses him occasionally.  

Quit the drama between all the heirs to the thrown when they show up at the winter ball to dance with Allie. Very entertaining, also I loved all the girly descriptions of the dresses that Allie wears for each event. Then you find out that since Levi didn't do the mate bond right when he tricked Allie in the first book, the two get sick from the tainted bond and have to find a way to fix it before things gets worse. I loved Levi's grandma she was a great addition to the already great group of characters. I feel terrible for Toby by the end of the story and really hope things work out for him in the spin off series. It all ends at the coronation when Levi takes over as King; I just wanted the story to keep going for Allie, Levi and the gang!!! I will be reading the spin off series The Empire Chronicles Book 1, Soar, next.  Overall a very entertaining read!!