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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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!!

Dire (The Dire Wolves Chronicles)

Alyssa Rose Ivy Website

Book Details: Written by Bestselling New Adult and Young Adult author Alyssa Rose Ivy. Publication date September 15th, 2014. Check it out on Goodreads.
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happens to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves.

My thoughts: What an ending!!! I cannot believe everything that just happened, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! I could not set this book down and finished it in one day!! I was very excited that this story takes place in the same world as The Crescent Chronicle, I cannot wait to see how the books all tie together!! This world of the paranormal society that Alyssa Rose Ivy has created is so unique and one you feel you could jump right into. Again, she does an amazing job creating such addicting characters you can't help but feel connected to them.

Right away Gage and Mary Anne's relationship takes a steamy, heart pounding turn, leaving you excited for more. After that point though things get pretty scary and stressful for the two lead characters. Looking for help after an accident leads them into the arms of Hunter and his pack and it doesn't seem to get any easier from there, just one problem after the next! With that epic ending the author leaves you marveling what is in store for Mary Anne and Gage the next book, Dusk.

Death has a Daughter

Book Website

Book Details: Written by Candice Burnett. Published March 31st, 2014. 186 Pages. You can purchase a hard copy or digital copy at Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Official Synopsis: Cendall, history’s first female Grim Reaper, has until her eighteenth birthday to prove she’s worthy of the role. The only obstacle in her way are those pesky Guardian Angels who protect human souls, but Cendall is certain she can handle any Guardian who gets in her way. 

However, nothing could have prepared Cendall for Lacie—a soul that is protected by multiple Guardians, wanted by Demons, and, most startling of all, can see Cendall. 
Cendall uses every trick in the book to try and slip past Lacie’s Guardians and collect her soul, but a Demon interferes at the last moment. In the chaos, Cendall accidently saves Lacie’s soul, along with one of the injured Guardians. Realizing Cendall fears termination for her mistake, the Guardian blackmails her with an offer she can’t refuse: in exchange for his silence, Cendall must keep Lacie’s soul safe from the Demon, until he recovers from his injuries. Cendall agrees—with the intention of checking Lacie’s soul off her list, the instant the Guardian is healed. But as the three of them are forced to work together, Cendall begins to question why Lacie is wanted by the Demons and if her name actually belonged on Cendall’s list in the first place.

My Thoughts: Great story line with a kick ass leading lady!! I loved this story and I am so glad the second book, Death's Dilemma, comes out this month!  Such a unique idea for a fantasy book. Cendall is the first and only female reaper with a lot to prove. On her first assignment after graduation she runs into some surprising souls and even befriends one, which is completely against the rules. The more names she checks off her list of souls the more she starts to question the people making these lists. The chemistry between Cendall and Trevor, the hot off limits guardian, is pretty steamy and I cannot wait to see what happens next for them.  With a heart pumping ending and some surprising discoveries for Cendall, things are bound to get even more interesting after her reassignment. Love all the characters and their connections with each other! Counting down the days until the next one!

First & Forever

Alyssa Rose Ivy Website

Book Details: Written by Best Selling New Adult and Young Adult author Alyssa Rose Ivy. Expected Publication August 11th, 2014. 

Official Synopsis: Ever wonder what Levi was thinking in FLIGHT? Find out in the two Levi POV novellas FIRST & FOREVER. This combined edition includes both FIRST (previously released) and FOREVER, a brand new novella.This edition also includes the bonus short story: The Royal Wedding.

FIRST
Levi's got it all. He's a paranormal prince with more money and power than he knows what to do with, but something is missing—a mate. He only has until college graduation to find her. Allie's perfect but she wants nothing to do with him. When attraction becomes something more, will he take a chance and show her who he really is or will he lose everything?

FOREVER
Levi's almost out of time. Allie's the one, he knows it in every grain of his being, but how can he make her see it? Desperate to keep Allie safe and at his side, he takes the biggest risk of his life. Reckless or not there is nothing he wouldn't do to keep her with him... forever.

My Thoughts:  I love reading in the guys point of view! First & Forever are the perfect glimpse into the mind of Levi and his growing feelings for Allie. Watching him fall in love with Allie and taking a literal leap of faith with her, in more ways then one, just made me love this series even more. First & Forever match up with the first book in The Crescent Chronicles series, Flight. 

I definitely recommend reading the whole series to truly appreciate the story Alyssa created. Great little piece of Levi! It was hard to put down, even though I already knew the plot, I just couldn't stop reading Levi's POV.  Now that I have finished I just want to reread the series all over again so I can watch as Allie finally forgives Levi for some pretty big mistakes he makes for the name of love. 

Reading part of the wedding and the honeymoon in their POV just made me more antsy for the next book in The Empire Chronicles, Stay to be released in October!! This is such a great series and an amazing group of characters! Alyssa Rose Ivy created a world I would gladly jump right into! 

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!!