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The Chosen #2
Blessed
Eliana Shay is an ordinary college girl with an extraordinary birthright. When handsome professor, Aiden Klemenson, sees her, he singles her out as a potential Chosen of the benevolent gods of Creation. He tries to convince Eliana that she is born to do the work of the gods—something unique and powerful. But Eliana’s past doesn’t allow her to have the trust she needs—in Aiden’s gods and the man himself.
Aiden must employ all of his considerable charm to break through her defenses, while trying to keep their relationship strictly platonic. A difficult task when the lush and curvy Eliana’s obvious desire and seductive aura shreds his self-control. Despite his best efforts, desire burns between them with an enchantment all its own.
The gods of Destruction will stop at nothing to keep Eliana from becoming a powerful force against evil. Cunning and deceitful, they send demons and magical serial killers to exterminate her before she can become a Creation god's Chosen hand on earth. In order to survive, Eliana will have to learn to have faith in her own strength and the warrior who stole her heart.
This title is previously published and has been extensively revised and lengthened in content.
Aiden must employ all of his considerable charm to break through her defenses, while trying to keep their relationship strictly platonic. A difficult task when the lush and curvy Eliana’s obvious desire and seductive aura shreds his self-control. Despite his best efforts, desire burns between them with an enchantment all its own.
The gods of Destruction will stop at nothing to keep Eliana from becoming a powerful force against evil. Cunning and deceitful, they send demons and magical serial killers to exterminate her before she can become a Creation god's Chosen hand on earth. In order to survive, Eliana will have to learn to have faith in her own strength and the warrior who stole her heart.
This title is previously published and has been extensively revised and lengthened in content.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2011
About the author
Ann Mayburn
95 books1,973 followersAnn is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead(though she will deny to her children that it ever happened).
From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.
Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.
From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.
Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 4, 2011
HOT
FOR
TEACHER......
Absolutely LOVED this book. I was lucky enough to recieve a pdf file from Ms. Mayburn to read and review.
Eliana is the typical college girl. Rushing to class, part time job, quirky roommate, and a huge crush on her new hot professor. What Eliana does'nt know is that she's special, in line to become a Chosen of the Gods. Gods that Eliana herself is'nt sure she believes in. Being raised by two atheist parents, she can't help but to question.
Aiden (aka Mr. Klemenson) recongnizes one of his own almost immediately, for he too is a Chosen. What he was'nt counting on was his pull towards her. He has to focus, do his job as her Mentor, while keeping his hormones and heart in check.
Eliana is a great female lead. Ms. Mayburn kept her youthful without becoming childish. She's both strong and soft, a force to be reckoned with. I love that Ms. Mayburn developed the sexual tension right out the gate, the forbidden aspect of it and the threats such tension could generate.
I appreciated all the popculture references while maintaining the seriousness of the storyline. I especially liked the fact that Crissy (Eliana's roommate)noted her mom teaching a Zumba class on the weekend. Kept the book modern without becoming cheesy.
The sex scenes in this book are off the charts. HOT without coming across as raunchy. Very sensual and engaging but very raw and primal at the same time.
This book also has a great supporting cast. Crissy is a delight, Devon and his mother raise questions, and Jack (Aiden's best friend) was very close to steeling the entire show as he became a stronger presence in the storyline. I absolutely loved his character, his humor. Just perfect. I hope he continues to be a large part of this series.
Overall, this was a fantastic beginning to a series. whose possibilities are endless. Simply delicious. Brava.
FOR
TEACHER......
Absolutely LOVED this book. I was lucky enough to recieve a pdf file from Ms. Mayburn to read and review.
Eliana is the typical college girl. Rushing to class, part time job, quirky roommate, and a huge crush on her new hot professor. What Eliana does'nt know is that she's special, in line to become a Chosen of the Gods. Gods that Eliana herself is'nt sure she believes in. Being raised by two atheist parents, she can't help but to question.
Aiden (aka Mr. Klemenson) recongnizes one of his own almost immediately, for he too is a Chosen. What he was'nt counting on was his pull towards her. He has to focus, do his job as her Mentor, while keeping his hormones and heart in check.
Eliana is a great female lead. Ms. Mayburn kept her youthful without becoming childish. She's both strong and soft, a force to be reckoned with. I love that Ms. Mayburn developed the sexual tension right out the gate, the forbidden aspect of it and the threats such tension could generate.
I appreciated all the popculture references while maintaining the seriousness of the storyline. I especially liked the fact that Crissy (Eliana's roommate)noted her mom teaching a Zumba class on the weekend. Kept the book modern without becoming cheesy.
The sex scenes in this book are off the charts. HOT without coming across as raunchy. Very sensual and engaging but very raw and primal at the same time.
This book also has a great supporting cast. Crissy is a delight, Devon and his mother raise questions, and Jack (Aiden's best friend) was very close to steeling the entire show as he became a stronger presence in the storyline. I absolutely loved his character, his humor. Just perfect. I hope he continues to be a large part of this series.
Overall, this was a fantastic beginning to a series. whose possibilities are endless. Simply delicious. Brava.
May 17, 2011
This is the first in Mayburn's new Chosen By The Gods series. A little slow to start out but it revs up nicely to be a sexy paranormal romance. While not your typical "monsters" tale, it features the Chosen, humans who are selected by the various gods of Creation and Destruction and enhanced to serve their gods' needs in the human realm and in the war of good versus evil. It has a good story line with many possibilities for future books in the series.
The female lead, Eliana, is a 20 yr old college junior at a university where magic is also taught which is new to her since she grew up and lived in a "dry" or magic and religion free town.
Aiden, the gorgeous male lead, is the youngest High Priest of Oden in the country who just received his doctorate last year and is one of Eliana's professors.
Things heat up and sparks fly when Aiden first sees Eliana in his class and is tasked by Odin with mentoring Eliana who is totally out of her element since her parents are atheists. On a scale of 1-4 on the sexy scale this is a 2.5 with a very sensual pond scene and then some "getting busy" up against a Hummer.
While the ending was a little abrupt and the story left many unexplored relationships and situations, it left me wanting more, to know what comes next, to explore the possible relationships and problems hinted at - all in a good way. With a lot more "meat" this could make a nice basis for full length print novel. Can't wait to read her sequel, "Dance of the Gods", coming soon.
The female lead, Eliana, is a 20 yr old college junior at a university where magic is also taught which is new to her since she grew up and lived in a "dry" or magic and religion free town.
Aiden, the gorgeous male lead, is the youngest High Priest of Oden in the country who just received his doctorate last year and is one of Eliana's professors.
Things heat up and sparks fly when Aiden first sees Eliana in his class and is tasked by Odin with mentoring Eliana who is totally out of her element since her parents are atheists. On a scale of 1-4 on the sexy scale this is a 2.5 with a very sensual pond scene and then some "getting busy" up against a Hummer.
While the ending was a little abrupt and the story left many unexplored relationships and situations, it left me wanting more, to know what comes next, to explore the possible relationships and problems hinted at - all in a good way. With a lot more "meat" this could make a nice basis for full length print novel. Can't wait to read her sequel, "Dance of the Gods", coming soon.
July 10, 2011
I love this world Ann Mayburn has created. It’s American freedom of religion on steroids. Business is good for the gods, considering in this alternate reality, it’s hip to be a priestess. Temples and temple districts abound. Religion collides with religion collides with religion. Name any god or goddess from your mythology textbooks, and in this world, you can find one of their disciples within spitting distance.
The fun twist is that our heroine, Eliana, is the daughter of strict atheists who have no tolerance for the mystical, magical world of which they live on the fringes. Eliana is exposed to the ways of the worshipful world because she’s a scholarship student attending school in D.C., quite the hub of god-worshiping activity.
Our dear heroine is very inexperienced in the ways of magic and mysticism. Which is a bit of a problem, considering she is marked as a potential Chosen of the good forces of Creation; someone who will become the hand of a god on Earth, if one of the gods decide she’s worthy. And if the dark forces of the gods of Destruction don’t get their hands on her first.
This is one of those stories that, for me, clarifies that giant step between a four star read and a five star read. Often, I have my hands on a story that’s great. I deeply enjoy everything about it. But I hedge about going up one level to a five star rating. Then I feel guilty about not doing so because the story was really good.
But then something like Blessed comes along and clarifies it all for me. As I’ve said a million times now, I’ve never been a big reader of fantasies or paranormal stories. They often leave me desiring something more. I don’t know why. I’m sure it’s just the way my brain works.
This right here could be the story that converts me once and for all; because I was hooked like a fish, ladies and gents. Couldn’t get enough of Eliana and *swoon* Aiden. And the rest of the characters. And the awesome storyline. I adored everything and everyone instantly. I considered calling off from work so I could stay home and read. I ignored important writing schedules to keep reading. I was like a crack addict looking for the next fix. And I was irritated when the story ended. Not over anything in the story. Just because it was over.
Thank the gods that I found out this is a series. Now I just have to wait impatiently for the next book. Go. Read this book. NOW. I command you.
--Joey, The One Hundred Romances Project
The fun twist is that our heroine, Eliana, is the daughter of strict atheists who have no tolerance for the mystical, magical world of which they live on the fringes. Eliana is exposed to the ways of the worshipful world because she’s a scholarship student attending school in D.C., quite the hub of god-worshiping activity.
Our dear heroine is very inexperienced in the ways of magic and mysticism. Which is a bit of a problem, considering she is marked as a potential Chosen of the good forces of Creation; someone who will become the hand of a god on Earth, if one of the gods decide she’s worthy. And if the dark forces of the gods of Destruction don’t get their hands on her first.
This is one of those stories that, for me, clarifies that giant step between a four star read and a five star read. Often, I have my hands on a story that’s great. I deeply enjoy everything about it. But I hedge about going up one level to a five star rating. Then I feel guilty about not doing so because the story was really good.
But then something like Blessed comes along and clarifies it all for me. As I’ve said a million times now, I’ve never been a big reader of fantasies or paranormal stories. They often leave me desiring something more. I don’t know why. I’m sure it’s just the way my brain works.
This right here could be the story that converts me once and for all; because I was hooked like a fish, ladies and gents. Couldn’t get enough of Eliana and *swoon* Aiden. And the rest of the characters. And the awesome storyline. I adored everything and everyone instantly. I considered calling off from work so I could stay home and read. I ignored important writing schedules to keep reading. I was like a crack addict looking for the next fix. And I was irritated when the story ended. Not over anything in the story. Just because it was over.
Thank the gods that I found out this is a series. Now I just have to wait impatiently for the next book. Go. Read this book. NOW. I command you.
--Joey, The One Hundred Romances Project
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2011
This book was fab-u-lous!! Finally, a book with a strong heroine!! No whining, pouting or crazy breakdowns. I say take this off your to-read shelve and READ IT. If it’s not on your to-read list, skip that whole process and purchase this book!
Blessed was soooo refreshing……I devoured this book. As a reader with a major obsession for PNR books, I can get bored with the victim turned to heroine. NO VICTIM HERE. Eliana, the heroine from the beginning, is witty, confident, smoking’ sexy hot, brave, hot-tempered and ends up so much more by the end of her journey. She makes an excellent heroine for this world of Gods and Goddesses.
Ann Mayburn, the frickin’ awesome author, creates a world where the 60’s were encountered with a religious revolution. This revolution brought Gods, Goddesses and magic to America’s culture. A small group of people on earth serve the Gods and Goddesses. This elite group is called the “Chosen”.
Eliana is a new-to-public-college student, raised by atheist and knows next to nothing about Gods, Goddesses or magic. She has a lot to learn when Professor Aiden Klemenson, her Modern Mythology teacher, informs her she is to be one of the “Chosen”.
Aiden is kind, devoted, just as smokin’ sexy hot as Eliana and a becomes rock for Eliana. Aiden is a Chosen for Odin and is to be Eliana’s mentor until she becomes a Chosen. The chemistry and sexual energy between the two make the mentoring difficult. Note to reader: Oh man, Eliana + Aiden = Shivers and wet panties!
Aiden and other supporting characters have their hands full trying to keep Chosen of Eris, Goddess of War and Destruction, from getting their creepy and brutal hands on Eliana. If Eliana becomes a Chosen, it will be a major inconvenience for the Destruction side.
The supporting characters in this book are phenomenal. They all are written to “support” the story, and if any were taken out the story would be less. Yes, even the evil-doers from the Destruction side.
I hold up a pint of ale to the author Ann!! Thanks for the opportunity to read Blessed free of charge and trust me to review your creation. I can’t wait to devour the upcoming novella in this series, which comes out on June 20th, 2001 titled “Dance if the Gods”. Namaste all! Ok now seriously go read this book......you won't regret it.
Blessed was soooo refreshing……I devoured this book. As a reader with a major obsession for PNR books, I can get bored with the victim turned to heroine. NO VICTIM HERE. Eliana, the heroine from the beginning, is witty, confident, smoking’ sexy hot, brave, hot-tempered and ends up so much more by the end of her journey. She makes an excellent heroine for this world of Gods and Goddesses.
Ann Mayburn, the frickin’ awesome author, creates a world where the 60’s were encountered with a religious revolution. This revolution brought Gods, Goddesses and magic to America’s culture. A small group of people on earth serve the Gods and Goddesses. This elite group is called the “Chosen”.
Eliana is a new-to-public-college student, raised by atheist and knows next to nothing about Gods, Goddesses or magic. She has a lot to learn when Professor Aiden Klemenson, her Modern Mythology teacher, informs her she is to be one of the “Chosen”.
Aiden is kind, devoted, just as smokin’ sexy hot as Eliana and a becomes rock for Eliana. Aiden is a Chosen for Odin and is to be Eliana’s mentor until she becomes a Chosen. The chemistry and sexual energy between the two make the mentoring difficult. Note to reader: Oh man, Eliana + Aiden = Shivers and wet panties!
Aiden and other supporting characters have their hands full trying to keep Chosen of Eris, Goddess of War and Destruction, from getting their creepy and brutal hands on Eliana. If Eliana becomes a Chosen, it will be a major inconvenience for the Destruction side.
The supporting characters in this book are phenomenal. They all are written to “support” the story, and if any were taken out the story would be less. Yes, even the evil-doers from the Destruction side.
I hold up a pint of ale to the author Ann!! Thanks for the opportunity to read Blessed free of charge and trust me to review your creation. I can’t wait to devour the upcoming novella in this series, which comes out on June 20th, 2001 titled “Dance if the Gods”. Namaste all! Ok now seriously go read this book......you won't regret it.
January 31, 2014
The world of the Chosen is rife with Magic and Mystery, Mythology and Legend, Creation, Destruction, Passion and Love. Yeah, I kinda love this world!
I have a real soft spot for stories based on ancient myths. I love delving into the history and the Chosen draws all the pantheons of the Gods together in one new world. The Greeks, Romans, Celts, Nordic, African, Egyptian... all the Gods from everywhere, so what a base Miss Mayburn has to choose from in creating her stories.
Blessed had me from page one. I felt an immediate connection to Eliana. I generally don't like young 20's heroines (Eliana is a college student) but Ellie is mature, funny and snarky. She is a wonderful combination of emotional innocence and inner fire. This poor girl gets some sh*t thrown at her that would make your head spin and she doesn't whine and wail, she accepts with an open mind, pulls up her big girl panties and moves on.
The men who enter her life: Aiden, Jack and Devon are hot, hunky heroes, with a tremendous responsibility to both society and their Gods. Aiden and Elaina were great together, but I loved the addition of the other males, not as love interests, but as protectors and secondary characters. I can tell you I am totally stoked to read Devon's story in Dreamer! I can't wait to see what kind of girl will win his heart.
Blessed was a fast paced read that kept you turning the pages. There was a new danger around every corner and enough hot love scenes to make your panties melt. I was dying to get to the end... but didn't want the ride to be over.
I highly reccomend Blessed to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance.
I have a real soft spot for stories based on ancient myths. I love delving into the history and the Chosen draws all the pantheons of the Gods together in one new world. The Greeks, Romans, Celts, Nordic, African, Egyptian... all the Gods from everywhere, so what a base Miss Mayburn has to choose from in creating her stories.
Blessed had me from page one. I felt an immediate connection to Eliana. I generally don't like young 20's heroines (Eliana is a college student) but Ellie is mature, funny and snarky. She is a wonderful combination of emotional innocence and inner fire. This poor girl gets some sh*t thrown at her that would make your head spin and she doesn't whine and wail, she accepts with an open mind, pulls up her big girl panties and moves on.
The men who enter her life: Aiden, Jack and Devon are hot, hunky heroes, with a tremendous responsibility to both society and their Gods. Aiden and Elaina were great together, but I loved the addition of the other males, not as love interests, but as protectors and secondary characters. I can tell you I am totally stoked to read Devon's story in Dreamer! I can't wait to see what kind of girl will win his heart.
Blessed was a fast paced read that kept you turning the pages. There was a new danger around every corner and enough hot love scenes to make your panties melt. I was dying to get to the end... but didn't want the ride to be over.
I highly reccomend Blessed to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance.
June 7, 2011
I would like to recommend to everyone to read this book.. it is provocative and entertaining all in the same breath.. Once i started to read it i didn't want to stop. It took me 2 days to read it since i had to work.. The aspect of other gods was interesting to me. It was like reading something from Greek mythology. I am still pretty new to this genre.. If i could find more books like this one i would be set. The characters were set in such a way that you can't help but love them. And best of all the bad guys get what they deserve. Blessed is something i would definitely read again
June 28, 2011
It was amazing!!!
May 29, 2021
Be warned
The editing got worse and worse throughout the book, irritating me so much I had to really force myself to finish reading it. The story wasn't bad, the world building very creative, but the gushing prose got to be a bit much at times. Not at all what I expected after the previous book in the series.
The editing got worse and worse throughout the book, irritating me so much I had to really force myself to finish reading it. The story wasn't bad, the world building very creative, but the gushing prose got to be a bit much at times. Not at all what I expected after the previous book in the series.
January 11, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway :)
Okay, on with my review. This book had a great mixture of all the things I like - namely humor, a fantasy aspect, action and steamy love making between hot, loving characters.
Also, this book deals with a world that is much like the opposite of our own. In this world mostly everyone is magical and worships one of many types of Gods and Goddesses from various cultures such as Odin, Freya, Eris, Isis - just to name a few. I found this very interesting and found myself wanting to brush up on what I had learned about them in high school.
The main character, Eliana Shay, was raised in an Athiest upbringing and her parents were strict even though Eliana tried her best to keep an open mind she was "lectured all her life about how evil organized religion was" and her parents don't necessarily agree with their daughter going to a university with magical students, having a Witch for a roommate and not going to a Private Athiest University like they wanted but they relent if she promises to call them and never join any clubs and such that they fear would brain wash her.
At the University many things happen to Eliana, she is told that she is a potential Chosen of the benevolent gods of Creation (the good guys) and The gods of Destruction (very bad, sadistic guys) also want her, and if they can't have her they don't want the good guys to have her either. If that means hurting her or killing her, so be it. With the help of sexy professor Aiden Klemenson as her mentor, she learns to embrace her newly discovered powers and choose for herself.
I really enjoyed that the cover model on the edition that I received looked just as the main character was described - curvy and voluptuous with light tan skin, half Greek and half African-American. It really irks me when a character is described with certain characteristics like short curly brown hair for example and the girl on the cover has long straight blonde hair. So whoever chose to stick to the description of the main character, I thank you.
The supporting characters were spot on as well, I loved her roommate Chrissy and Aiden's friend Jack. They were a great break from all the action and suspense that was going on in the main focus of the story.
I don't want to give too much away, spoilers ruin everything for me. I think that if someone's review is going to tell me the entirety of the book what is the point of reading the book myself. But I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a strong female protagonist with a sense of humor, an interesting book that deals with discovering that you are part of a larger power and sometimes choosing what is best for yourself. I plan to give the author's other novels a try after reading Blessed.
Happy reading, everyone!
Okay, on with my review. This book had a great mixture of all the things I like - namely humor, a fantasy aspect, action and steamy love making between hot, loving characters.
Also, this book deals with a world that is much like the opposite of our own. In this world mostly everyone is magical and worships one of many types of Gods and Goddesses from various cultures such as Odin, Freya, Eris, Isis - just to name a few. I found this very interesting and found myself wanting to brush up on what I had learned about them in high school.
The main character, Eliana Shay, was raised in an Athiest upbringing and her parents were strict even though Eliana tried her best to keep an open mind she was "lectured all her life about how evil organized religion was" and her parents don't necessarily agree with their daughter going to a university with magical students, having a Witch for a roommate and not going to a Private Athiest University like they wanted but they relent if she promises to call them and never join any clubs and such that they fear would brain wash her.
At the University many things happen to Eliana, she is told that she is a potential Chosen of the benevolent gods of Creation (the good guys) and The gods of Destruction (very bad, sadistic guys) also want her, and if they can't have her they don't want the good guys to have her either. If that means hurting her or killing her, so be it. With the help of sexy professor Aiden Klemenson as her mentor, she learns to embrace her newly discovered powers and choose for herself.
I really enjoyed that the cover model on the edition that I received looked just as the main character was described - curvy and voluptuous with light tan skin, half Greek and half African-American. It really irks me when a character is described with certain characteristics like short curly brown hair for example and the girl on the cover has long straight blonde hair. So whoever chose to stick to the description of the main character, I thank you.
The supporting characters were spot on as well, I loved her roommate Chrissy and Aiden's friend Jack. They were a great break from all the action and suspense that was going on in the main focus of the story.
I don't want to give too much away, spoilers ruin everything for me. I think that if someone's review is going to tell me the entirety of the book what is the point of reading the book myself. But I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a strong female protagonist with a sense of humor, an interesting book that deals with discovering that you are part of a larger power and sometimes choosing what is best for yourself. I plan to give the author's other novels a try after reading Blessed.
Happy reading, everyone!
August 31, 2011
We've been called, and He has blessed. - Willie Aames
it is back to school for Eliana Shay. as she enters her second year of college, she meets new friends and falls for handsome Professor Aiden Klemenson. little does Eliana realize that her life hangs by a thread as the forces of Creation and Destruction wage a battle against the other and the prize is her head.
i love mythology and i try to read any stories about it that i can get my hands on. when i started reading this book, i had no idea what i was getting into. from the get-go, it was different and as the pages unfolded, i knew that i have never read anything like this before.
this paranormal romance deviates from the usual vampires, lycantrophes and other shapeshifters that seem staple to the genre. what author Ann Mayburn presents is a world of gods, goddesses and their Chosen human agents that is undeniably original and unexpectedly steamy!
Eliana is smart, funny and very sensual. though she lives in a society where magic abounds and is surrounded by it, she barely has any knowledge of its inner workings. everything changes when Aiden, her Professor in Modern Mythology, explains to her that she has been Chosen and Aiden would be her Mentor. as she learns more about the forces of Creation and Destruction, Eliana falls deeper for Aiden and vice versa. when sparks fly between them and their passions collide, these two are quite a pair!
aside from the paranormal and romantic aspect of this book, there is humor and suspense. there is a bit of violence as well which some readers may find disturbing but i think it was integral to the plot.
overall, i find this first book in the Chosen by the Gods series well written and thought of. not only is it unique but also fun and hot in all the right places!
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
it is back to school for Eliana Shay. as she enters her second year of college, she meets new friends and falls for handsome Professor Aiden Klemenson. little does Eliana realize that her life hangs by a thread as the forces of Creation and Destruction wage a battle against the other and the prize is her head.
i love mythology and i try to read any stories about it that i can get my hands on. when i started reading this book, i had no idea what i was getting into. from the get-go, it was different and as the pages unfolded, i knew that i have never read anything like this before.
this paranormal romance deviates from the usual vampires, lycantrophes and other shapeshifters that seem staple to the genre. what author Ann Mayburn presents is a world of gods, goddesses and their Chosen human agents that is undeniably original and unexpectedly steamy!
Eliana is smart, funny and very sensual. though she lives in a society where magic abounds and is surrounded by it, she barely has any knowledge of its inner workings. everything changes when Aiden, her Professor in Modern Mythology, explains to her that she has been Chosen and Aiden would be her Mentor. as she learns more about the forces of Creation and Destruction, Eliana falls deeper for Aiden and vice versa. when sparks fly between them and their passions collide, these two are quite a pair!
aside from the paranormal and romantic aspect of this book, there is humor and suspense. there is a bit of violence as well which some readers may find disturbing but i think it was integral to the plot.
overall, i find this first book in the Chosen by the Gods series well written and thought of. not only is it unique but also fun and hot in all the right places!
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
May 2, 2011
AUTHOR: Author Ann Mayburn is a classy writer with style and knows how to draw you in as you sit on the edge of your seat trying to anticipate what will happen next.
SYNOPSIS -
The Chosen start out as mortals. If they prove their worth they become immortal, “chosen” by a god or a goddess to serve the common good; that of the mortal world. Eliana is in college and knows nothing of the world of the “Chosen”. She is a student in Professor Aiden Klemenson’s class. He is one of the Chosen and is drawn to her aura. Aiden faces the conflict of having her as student in his class. The conflict of having been assigned as a mentor to help her become a Chosen and the fact that he falls in love with her. There are also evil gods and goddesses. Many attempts are made on Eliana’s life as a evil goddess realizes that if Eliana becomes a Chosen, she will possess strong powers and abilities in combating against evil. The author leaves you with Aiden and Devon, both Chosen immortals, falling for Elaina. Jealousy ensues. Which will Eliana choose? Read the second book in the series to find out.
PASSION SCALE: Of the following five options: 1) NOT very descriptive and requires imagination' 2) WILL make you wiggle a little) 3) WISH it was me; 4) OH BODY, whew; 5) EROTICA and well over the top
****** This book gets TWO for "WILL make you wiggle a little. Passion was okay but sizzled down because of Aiden's “neediness for Eliana”. Who wants a whiner.*****
FAVORITE PART: Devon’s reaction to Eliana when he went through the process of putting the tracking spell on her.
LEAST FAVORITE PART: Aiden became a whiny man after he fell in love.
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Gods/Goddesses. Magic. Good battling against evil. Campus life in a contemporary setting. Chosen Immortals
This book gets THREE Stars. The book captures your attention. There is plenty of action. Some situations appear to be incompletely written causing me to have to use my imagination to fill in the blanks before the author takes you to the next segment.
SYNOPSIS -
The Chosen start out as mortals. If they prove their worth they become immortal, “chosen” by a god or a goddess to serve the common good; that of the mortal world. Eliana is in college and knows nothing of the world of the “Chosen”. She is a student in Professor Aiden Klemenson’s class. He is one of the Chosen and is drawn to her aura. Aiden faces the conflict of having her as student in his class. The conflict of having been assigned as a mentor to help her become a Chosen and the fact that he falls in love with her. There are also evil gods and goddesses. Many attempts are made on Eliana’s life as a evil goddess realizes that if Eliana becomes a Chosen, she will possess strong powers and abilities in combating against evil. The author leaves you with Aiden and Devon, both Chosen immortals, falling for Elaina. Jealousy ensues. Which will Eliana choose? Read the second book in the series to find out.
PASSION SCALE: Of the following five options: 1) NOT very descriptive and requires imagination' 2) WILL make you wiggle a little) 3) WISH it was me; 4) OH BODY, whew; 5) EROTICA and well over the top
****** This book gets TWO for "WILL make you wiggle a little. Passion was okay but sizzled down because of Aiden's “neediness for Eliana”. Who wants a whiner.*****
FAVORITE PART: Devon’s reaction to Eliana when he went through the process of putting the tracking spell on her.
LEAST FAVORITE PART: Aiden became a whiny man after he fell in love.
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Gods/Goddesses. Magic. Good battling against evil. Campus life in a contemporary setting. Chosen Immortals
This book gets THREE Stars. The book captures your attention. There is plenty of action. Some situations appear to be incompletely written causing me to have to use my imagination to fill in the blanks before the author takes you to the next segment.
January 24, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Let me preface this review with a confession. I am not a fan of paranormal but I am a huge fan of Ann Mayburn so I figured I would give Blessed a try. I should have known that Ms. Mayburn wouldn’t let me down. Blessed was a very enjoyable read and I am so glad that I branched out.
Blessed tells the story of Eliana, a college student, who is human. She is being considered as a Chosen One for the gods in order to help them in the human realm in the fight of good versus evil. Her sexy, hot professor Aiden has been selected to be her mentor during this transition.
Aiden and Eliana work together against some dangerous threats in order to prepare Eliana to be Chosen. In the meantime, the two are unable to fight their attraction and begin a relationship. It is their growing relationship that was the highlight of the book for me because it transcended the paranormal genre and was the heart of Blessed.
Now it did take me a bit to get pulled into the story because I had some initial difficulty in following the lore of the Chosen universe. But once I wrapped my brain around it and the relationship between Eliana and Aiden took off, then I was hooked.
I loved that Eliana wasn’t a damsel in distress but instead was an intelligent, strong, determined woman. She needed Aiden to teach her but once taught, she was able to take care of herself. Ms. Mayburn wrote Eliana so that she acted and spoke age appropriately.
I did feel the book’s ending was a bit abrupt. Given the amazing way Ms. Mayburn had built up the tension leading to the final showdown with the evil Chosen was so strong, the ending was a bit anticlimactic.
We were introduced to a lot of different characters in Blessed and hopefully we will get to see more of them in further books. I especially want to meet the woman who is willing to take on and tame Devon. The epilogue hints that Devon’s story is next and I can’t wait.
Let me preface this review with a confession. I am not a fan of paranormal but I am a huge fan of Ann Mayburn so I figured I would give Blessed a try. I should have known that Ms. Mayburn wouldn’t let me down. Blessed was a very enjoyable read and I am so glad that I branched out.
Blessed tells the story of Eliana, a college student, who is human. She is being considered as a Chosen One for the gods in order to help them in the human realm in the fight of good versus evil. Her sexy, hot professor Aiden has been selected to be her mentor during this transition.
Aiden and Eliana work together against some dangerous threats in order to prepare Eliana to be Chosen. In the meantime, the two are unable to fight their attraction and begin a relationship. It is their growing relationship that was the highlight of the book for me because it transcended the paranormal genre and was the heart of Blessed.
Now it did take me a bit to get pulled into the story because I had some initial difficulty in following the lore of the Chosen universe. But once I wrapped my brain around it and the relationship between Eliana and Aiden took off, then I was hooked.
I loved that Eliana wasn’t a damsel in distress but instead was an intelligent, strong, determined woman. She needed Aiden to teach her but once taught, she was able to take care of herself. Ms. Mayburn wrote Eliana so that she acted and spoke age appropriately.
I did feel the book’s ending was a bit abrupt. Given the amazing way Ms. Mayburn had built up the tension leading to the final showdown with the evil Chosen was so strong, the ending was a bit anticlimactic.
We were introduced to a lot of different characters in Blessed and hopefully we will get to see more of them in further books. I especially want to meet the woman who is willing to take on and tame Devon. The epilogue hints that Devon’s story is next and I can’t wait.
February 5, 2014
The second book in The Chosen series is an intriguing and fascinating paranormal romance with unique elements.
Ordinary college girl, Elaina Shay is singled by Professor Aiden Klemenson as a chosen for the benevolent gods of Creation. Because of her past Elaina doesn’t have the trust needs in Aiden himself or his gods. Aiden has been assigned by his god as her mentor, but his task is made difficult by not only her past, but the attraction between them that he has to ignore and the gods of Destruction are trying to recruit or stop her. Elaina will have to have to learn to have faith in her own strength and the warrior who has stolen her heart, if she wants to survive.
This steady to fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps reader on their toes with lots of suspense, action, romance and drama. The author brings the story to life with vivid imagery and details and enchanting characters that are easily related to and leave the reading wanting to know more. The story captures the imagination and makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story.
The attraction between Elaina and Aiden explodes from the pages and the sex scenes are red hot and leave the reader scorched. The author conveys the emotions, passion and personalities of the characters with such vibrancy that the reader feels as if they know them personally. Elaina is a fascinating young woman whose strength and courage give her presence that stands out and grabs the heart of the readers.
The author has created a riveting and exciting alternate verse involving the different pantheons of gods that has unique elements that give it a refreshingly original and modern feel that is very entertaining. This wonderful captivating world has lots of impressive characters that draw the reader deeper into the story and I can’t wait to read more in this mesmerizing series.
Ordinary college girl, Elaina Shay is singled by Professor Aiden Klemenson as a chosen for the benevolent gods of Creation. Because of her past Elaina doesn’t have the trust needs in Aiden himself or his gods. Aiden has been assigned by his god as her mentor, but his task is made difficult by not only her past, but the attraction between them that he has to ignore and the gods of Destruction are trying to recruit or stop her. Elaina will have to have to learn to have faith in her own strength and the warrior who has stolen her heart, if she wants to survive.
This steady to fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps reader on their toes with lots of suspense, action, romance and drama. The author brings the story to life with vivid imagery and details and enchanting characters that are easily related to and leave the reading wanting to know more. The story captures the imagination and makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story.
The attraction between Elaina and Aiden explodes from the pages and the sex scenes are red hot and leave the reader scorched. The author conveys the emotions, passion and personalities of the characters with such vibrancy that the reader feels as if they know them personally. Elaina is a fascinating young woman whose strength and courage give her presence that stands out and grabs the heart of the readers.
The author has created a riveting and exciting alternate verse involving the different pantheons of gods that has unique elements that give it a refreshingly original and modern feel that is very entertaining. This wonderful captivating world has lots of impressive characters that draw the reader deeper into the story and I can’t wait to read more in this mesmerizing series.
January 7, 2014
This book takes place in the same world as Cursed. Where Cursed was a Cinderella type story this is more of a coming of age story. Eliana is a strong young woman whose choices are going to determine her future. The prophets say that if she chooses well she will be a force to reckon with. The minions of the gods of Destruction want to keep that from happening. Fortunately Eliana has friends that will help her stay alive long enough to make her decisions. This is a fun sexy romp with a terrific cast of secondary characters. This book will make you laugh and sigh and think.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I honestly loved this book.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I honestly loved this book.
January 31, 2016
Holy Fucking Hell!!
Why did I not read this when it first came out? Holy moly! This book was freaking phenomenal, a five-star rating hands down! While it may be one of Ann Mayburns earlier books, it is still a really great read. Character development, world building, story line..... All there. If you've never read Ann before you definitely must read this book.
Why did I not read this when it first came out? Holy moly! This book was freaking phenomenal, a five-star rating hands down! While it may be one of Ann Mayburns earlier books, it is still a really great read. Character development, world building, story line..... All there. If you've never read Ann before you definitely must read this book.
August 16, 2011
There were a couple of loose ends that didn't tie up and questions that weren't answered. However, it was another fantastic God/ Goddess themed romance and I'll recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different.
June 11, 2011
Review to come
November 3, 2011
Great read, but the ending was abrupt, without solving pending questions.
December 16, 2011
AMAZING!! My review for this book will be located at Happily Ever After Reviews :)
January 7, 2012
4.5 stars
Slow to start but continued to get better as the story unfolded. Looking forward to the next book.
Slow to start but continued to get better as the story unfolded. Looking forward to the next book.
January 27, 2014
This is the second book of Ann's I've read and it was great. I couldn't put it down. Love the world she has built with this series. I look forward to reading more of her books.
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