What do you think?
Rate this book
Stranger Things #1
All Wounds
It's said that when opportunity knocks on your door, you have only one chance to take it.
No one said what you're supposed to do when it kicks it.
All Rebecca MacDonnell wants to do is get through high school with grades good enough to win a prestigious scholarship so that she can finally leave her miserable life behind. One evening, after a particularly bad day, she finds out that people other than her aging grandmother need her help, and desperately so.
Well, not “people,” exactly. Vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts, goblins, and other things thought only imaginary all need help sometime, and Rebecca was born with the unique ability to heal ethereal beings. She is about to turn seventeen, the age at which her talent will manifest in its entirety, and become a true Healer…if she lives through the event. A war between various ethereal factions is brewing, and Healers are a valuable commodity to any side. Those who wish to harness Rebecca’s manifesting healing powers for their own purposes must get to her before her seventeenth birthday.
Only two vampires and a rogue werewolf stand between Rebecca and those determined to make her serve them, and the fact that Rebecca has no clue what she's doing doesn't exactly help matters.
Neither does being seriously attracted to more than one of those just trying to protect her.
For a soon-to-be seventeen-year-old Healer-in-training, that's a lot to handle.
Especially on top of her homework.
No one said what you're supposed to do when it kicks it.
All Rebecca MacDonnell wants to do is get through high school with grades good enough to win a prestigious scholarship so that she can finally leave her miserable life behind. One evening, after a particularly bad day, she finds out that people other than her aging grandmother need her help, and desperately so.
Well, not “people,” exactly. Vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts, goblins, and other things thought only imaginary all need help sometime, and Rebecca was born with the unique ability to heal ethereal beings. She is about to turn seventeen, the age at which her talent will manifest in its entirety, and become a true Healer…if she lives through the event. A war between various ethereal factions is brewing, and Healers are a valuable commodity to any side. Those who wish to harness Rebecca’s manifesting healing powers for their own purposes must get to her before her seventeenth birthday.
Only two vampires and a rogue werewolf stand between Rebecca and those determined to make her serve them, and the fact that Rebecca has no clue what she's doing doesn't exactly help matters.
Neither does being seriously attracted to more than one of those just trying to protect her.
For a soon-to-be seventeen-year-old Healer-in-training, that's a lot to handle.
Especially on top of her homework.
First published October 11, 2011
3 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Dina James
11 books74 followers
BOOK PIRACY SUCKS! If you want me to be able to continue writing the stories you want to read, please support creativity and do not illegally download (torrent/fileshare) my work. E-piracy hurts!
If you're my "friend" here (or anywhere) and I find out you're a pirate (and believe me, I eventually find out somehow!), remember one thing: friends and REAL FANS DO NOT STEAL FROM THE AUTHORS THEY CLAIM TO LOVE.
/soapbox
It really isn't any wonder to her Momma that Dina has loved chronicling the paranormal - writing about vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons and various other creatures that you don't want to meet in a dark alley - since junior high school. Her mother still has Dina’s first book - a self-published story done in crayon in the second grade about a unicorn - somewhere in a drawer, which will no doubt be used as a form of blackmail when Dina’s first novel comes out. (Probably to force Dina to edit all the “bad words” out of her manuscript, because her Momma raised her to know better.)
Dina has a novel or ten on her hard drive. Er…on the horizon. She lives in exile on the Oregon Coast with her husband, five cats (she can explain) and a dog. She is currently hard at work writing the next novel in a developing Young Adult series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 31, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me reading from beginning to end.
The characters are fantastic! Rebecca is young and inexperienced girl, who has to put up with crap from people at her school and taking care of an ailing grandma. When she learns she's a healer and all those creepy paranormal things are real, she handled it pretty well considering. I might have crumbled. I loved how healers in this book are neutral not on anyone's side and willing to help all who come to her assistance. You don't see that often. I'm kind of excited to see how her character grows in the next book.
Now on to the other characters. Billy. OMG this wolf-man is just awesome. I love how protective of Rebecca he is and his cute nickname he has for her, Bit. He's like a big teddy bear, only wolf, who has this appetite that will leave any reader rummaging through the cupboards looking for whatever is available to snack on. If I could eat like he does and not put on a gazillion pounds, it would be heaven lol.
Syd is a master vampire and Rebecca trainer/mentor. Lets just say I'm very interested to see where this character goes. Robin is Rebecca's friend who is there to help her in situations that she might need. Ryan is pretty cool too.
All in all a great book and I look forward to the next one to come. You can bet I will be keeping my eye out for it.
The characters are fantastic! Rebecca is young and inexperienced girl, who has to put up with crap from people at her school and taking care of an ailing grandma. When she learns she's a healer and all those creepy paranormal things are real, she handled it pretty well considering. I might have crumbled. I loved how healers in this book are neutral not on anyone's side and willing to help all who come to her assistance. You don't see that often. I'm kind of excited to see how her character grows in the next book.
Now on to the other characters. Billy. OMG this wolf-man is just awesome. I love how protective of Rebecca he is and his cute nickname he has for her, Bit. He's like a big teddy bear, only wolf, who has this appetite that will leave any reader rummaging through the cupboards looking for whatever is available to snack on. If I could eat like he does and not put on a gazillion pounds, it would be heaven lol.
Syd is a master vampire and Rebecca trainer/mentor. Lets just say I'm very interested to see where this character goes. Robin is Rebecca's friend who is there to help her in situations that she might need. Ryan is pretty cool too.
All in all a great book and I look forward to the next one to come. You can bet I will be keeping my eye out for it.
January 21, 2012
This novel actually started as a short story in The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire. It was my favorite in the anthology because it really had potential to be just a little different from all the other science fiction fantasy offerings already out there. This novel did not disappoint. The first 3 chapters are the short story and then the story picks up as Rebecca finds out that on her 17th birthday she is to inherit the family role of being a healer of the supernatural as was her mother and grandmother before her. Now it is up to the Master Vampire Syd to give her, her training and protection. In addition to Syd as a protector there is an Anubis, named Billy, he is a man-wolf. Her first patient, Ryan, also a fellow classmate in high school,needs to be treated because he has been turned “vampire” and also been bitten by a Hellhound. Rebecca is in need of protection until her 17th birthday because the demons want to steal her powers to be. The story has some action, romance and some really terrific characters. I am defiantly looking forward to the next book.
October 23, 2011
Leaving the Principals office with her best and only friend Robin after receiving their first ever detention, Rebecca thinks she sees a goblin type dude and wonders if she has the same disorder as her Nana, a mental disorder - dementia. Ryan, the schools top bad boy, helps Rebecca but his help is known around school to come at a cost. Ryan had caught Rebecca's attention in the principals office and now in detention... or had she caught his attention? Rebecca is worried about her Nana and needs to get home as she takes more care of her than Nana of Rebecca. But that night when Ryan is brought to her door bloody and unconscious Rebecca's world will change as she learns of strange supernatural creatures and beings and what she is or the females in her family are....healers of the Ethereal. Suddenly Nana is her old self with Syd and Ryan there, Rebecca learns secrets of her family her Nana tried to keep her from, but with a war coming to the Ethereal again, Rebecca's healing help is needed, and she has to learn quick. Oh, and there is school too!
Oh My! I don't know where to start. So, I'm going to get the gushing done first... LOVED this book. Quick moving and fun! Really. Loved Ryan, LOoOoOVED Syd! He is mine, no one else can have him. And Billy! Oooohhh, he can come fix my car and make his den in the garage anytime.
Okay, curious? Well, yeah.
This is a Young Adult book, and I think it is wonderful for all ages to read. There is no major love scenes or alcohol or anything to the point where I would think the parent should read this book first and decide. I would definitely hand it over with out another thought.
The characters... Ahhh... Okay, so as you can tell I fell hard for Syd. Yes. I did. I tried my darnedest to do as Master Sydney told Rebecca in the beginning. That sometimes an Acolyte takes the wrong meaning from what a Master Vampire does and feelings grow that are not reciprocated. Dina's amazing writing had me fighting my emotions, along with the characters', through out the whole book. Amazingly well done Dina. I love how she put that thought into my mind and I tried so hard to follow it, just like he told his Acolyte to do. But, I will admit I failed miserably. I fell in love. *sigh*
Okay, on with the review. We have Ryan which I was wanting more of the mystery here, and I did get. I love how I was left wanting to know more with the important part he played. And we got the big man Billy! Oh, he is the best friend anyone could ask for and he sleeps curled up on the floor in his protective family loving way. Oh these are not the only characters, but the ones we spend most of our time with. Amazingly well done as they are all so different and fit in this story so well.
Our main girl, Rebecca. This is a girl who has a full life of caring for her Nana and worrying about school and home. What Rebecca learns explains why she is the way she is, and opens her up to evolve to so much more for her birthday so close. But others want what she is becoming and will do just about anything to get it. Rebecca really grows as a character from the beginning to the end of this book. You will see.
When I started reading this one I didn't want to stop. Dina had me wanting more constantly keeping the pages turning. I came up with questions and she would answer them, leading me sometimes to more in depth questions which would be answered as well. This book took on action as we went into the Etheral to face down the demons. Oh, and Billy's car! AMAZING he has the car I soooo want, and when you see here in the Ethereal. Ha! Love it.
The world here is so magical. The whole idea of the Healers and their history. And all the magical creatures we see. I just enjoyed all the magic here. The story of Rebecca coming into her own is wonderful. I love the healer birth. We learn some of the stories each character has as it slips right in the story at prefect times and even have a few little morsels to make us hungry for the next book as well. Nothing to leave us starving, just looking forward to the next meal.
I will be purchasing a print copy of this one to keep on the shelves and go back to in the future. And I WILL be looking for the next book. And maybe keeping an eye out for Syd. ;)
Oh My! I don't know where to start. So, I'm going to get the gushing done first... LOVED this book. Quick moving and fun! Really. Loved Ryan, LOoOoOVED Syd! He is mine, no one else can have him. And Billy! Oooohhh, he can come fix my car and make his den in the garage anytime.
Okay, curious? Well, yeah.
This is a Young Adult book, and I think it is wonderful for all ages to read. There is no major love scenes or alcohol or anything to the point where I would think the parent should read this book first and decide. I would definitely hand it over with out another thought.
The characters... Ahhh... Okay, so as you can tell I fell hard for Syd. Yes. I did. I tried my darnedest to do as Master Sydney told Rebecca in the beginning. That sometimes an Acolyte takes the wrong meaning from what a Master Vampire does and feelings grow that are not reciprocated. Dina's amazing writing had me fighting my emotions, along with the characters', through out the whole book. Amazingly well done Dina. I love how she put that thought into my mind and I tried so hard to follow it, just like he told his Acolyte to do. But, I will admit I failed miserably. I fell in love. *sigh*
Okay, on with the review. We have Ryan which I was wanting more of the mystery here, and I did get. I love how I was left wanting to know more with the important part he played. And we got the big man Billy! Oh, he is the best friend anyone could ask for and he sleeps curled up on the floor in his protective family loving way. Oh these are not the only characters, but the ones we spend most of our time with. Amazingly well done as they are all so different and fit in this story so well.
Our main girl, Rebecca. This is a girl who has a full life of caring for her Nana and worrying about school and home. What Rebecca learns explains why she is the way she is, and opens her up to evolve to so much more for her birthday so close. But others want what she is becoming and will do just about anything to get it. Rebecca really grows as a character from the beginning to the end of this book. You will see.
When I started reading this one I didn't want to stop. Dina had me wanting more constantly keeping the pages turning. I came up with questions and she would answer them, leading me sometimes to more in depth questions which would be answered as well. This book took on action as we went into the Etheral to face down the demons. Oh, and Billy's car! AMAZING he has the car I soooo want, and when you see here in the Ethereal. Ha! Love it.
The world here is so magical. The whole idea of the Healers and their history. And all the magical creatures we see. I just enjoyed all the magic here. The story of Rebecca coming into her own is wonderful. I love the healer birth. We learn some of the stories each character has as it slips right in the story at prefect times and even have a few little morsels to make us hungry for the next book as well. Nothing to leave us starving, just looking forward to the next meal.
I will be purchasing a print copy of this one to keep on the shelves and go back to in the future. And I WILL be looking for the next book. And maybe keeping an eye out for Syd. ;)
December 25, 2011
A LASR 'BEST BOOK'!
Originally posted at http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
Doesn't every teenager want to think they're special? To think that something big and amazing is in written in the stars for them? And if they are fanciful, maybe even something supernatural? Rebecca, who is the outcast of her school...that one girl that almost nobody likes, finds out just how special she is. Literally overnight, after an exceedingly lousy day, she learns that the world is, in fact, populated with vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts and any manner of other supernatural beings that you can think of. And the kicker is that she is some super powerful healer of all of these beings.
I started this book during a brief break from my work, during a week of insanely chaotic early deadlines, where time is short and days are long. My intention was only to read a few pages and get back to work. Then I started this book and had a difficult time putting it down. Luckily, I work from home with no boss looking over my shoulder, so the remainder of the evening was spent with my eReader propped in front of my keyboard. The book snagged me from page one and kept me hooked right up to the last page.
The beginning puts us in the principal's office where, completely out of character, Rebecca and her one friend, are getting in trouble and being assigned detention. We also get to see the “bad boy” of the school, Ryan, start taking an interest in her – much to Rebecca's shock. Later that night Ryan shows up at her door, unconscious, and in the arms of a drop dead gorgeous vampire. From that point on, we get to meet demons, werewolves (or Anubi), hellhounds and garden faeries, among other things. The description that Ms. James gives of some of these creatures is unique and interesting. From the vampire's eyes to the hellhounds, the author brought a new and fun twist to the genre – something not easily done in the over-saturated paranormal market.
If I had to choose a favorite character from the book, it would probably be Billy, Rebecca's resident bodyguard, and an Anubi. Billy is absolutely hilarious throughout the book, bringing some fun to the story and many laugh out loud moments. He is fond of Rebecca, and treats her like a kid sister, when he's not eating or going on about his mustang. When Billy first makes an appearance, Rebecca compares him to a football player (with lots of brawn), and from that moment on the stereotypes kept rolling through my head with Billy. All of the main characters, though, stole my heart. Especially the hot, mysterious vampire, Sydney. His aloof, yet caring and compassionate reserve made me want to know more about him and once I did, he made me melt.
The character development of this book, with so many different characters as well as different races, is very well done. Throughout the book, the author shows us how the different races interact with each other, what makes them different from each other and gives them each their own personalities. Even a couple of the secondary, little seen characters are very memorable.
Well written, with compelling characters and non-stop action, this is one book that's not to be missed. I can't wait for the second book in this series and it's definitely going on my watch list. If you enjoy this genre, I would definitely check this one out.
Originally posted at http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...
Doesn't every teenager want to think they're special? To think that something big and amazing is in written in the stars for them? And if they are fanciful, maybe even something supernatural? Rebecca, who is the outcast of her school...that one girl that almost nobody likes, finds out just how special she is. Literally overnight, after an exceedingly lousy day, she learns that the world is, in fact, populated with vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts and any manner of other supernatural beings that you can think of. And the kicker is that she is some super powerful healer of all of these beings.
I started this book during a brief break from my work, during a week of insanely chaotic early deadlines, where time is short and days are long. My intention was only to read a few pages and get back to work. Then I started this book and had a difficult time putting it down. Luckily, I work from home with no boss looking over my shoulder, so the remainder of the evening was spent with my eReader propped in front of my keyboard. The book snagged me from page one and kept me hooked right up to the last page.
The beginning puts us in the principal's office where, completely out of character, Rebecca and her one friend, are getting in trouble and being assigned detention. We also get to see the “bad boy” of the school, Ryan, start taking an interest in her – much to Rebecca's shock. Later that night Ryan shows up at her door, unconscious, and in the arms of a drop dead gorgeous vampire. From that point on, we get to meet demons, werewolves (or Anubi), hellhounds and garden faeries, among other things. The description that Ms. James gives of some of these creatures is unique and interesting. From the vampire's eyes to the hellhounds, the author brought a new and fun twist to the genre – something not easily done in the over-saturated paranormal market.
If I had to choose a favorite character from the book, it would probably be Billy, Rebecca's resident bodyguard, and an Anubi. Billy is absolutely hilarious throughout the book, bringing some fun to the story and many laugh out loud moments. He is fond of Rebecca, and treats her like a kid sister, when he's not eating or going on about his mustang. When Billy first makes an appearance, Rebecca compares him to a football player (with lots of brawn), and from that moment on the stereotypes kept rolling through my head with Billy. All of the main characters, though, stole my heart. Especially the hot, mysterious vampire, Sydney. His aloof, yet caring and compassionate reserve made me want to know more about him and once I did, he made me melt.
The character development of this book, with so many different characters as well as different races, is very well done. Throughout the book, the author shows us how the different races interact with each other, what makes them different from each other and gives them each their own personalities. Even a couple of the secondary, little seen characters are very memorable.
Well written, with compelling characters and non-stop action, this is one book that's not to be missed. I can't wait for the second book in this series and it's definitely going on my watch list. If you enjoy this genre, I would definitely check this one out.
October 27, 2011
Vampires, and man-wolves, and hellhounds, oh MY!
Rebecca MacDonnell’s plate is full. On one hand, she leads a typical high school life, complete with snotty “it” girls, a bad boy hottie, and the day to day stresses of just trying to get by. On the other, she’s a caregiver for her “Nana”, who’s memory loss has progressed from simply misplacing keys, to leaving the stove on, or getting lost on walks. The last thing Rebecca expects is to find a classmate, bleeding and dying, being dragged through her door in the middle of the night by a master vampire, after being attacked by hellhounds, to seek the help of her Nana, their healer!
One of the things I really enjoyed with this book was the twist Dina created. Just when I “thought” I knew what I was getting into, I was wrong. Rebecca doesn’t discover a world of paranormal creatures who expect her to pick sides and fight their battles with them. She discovers her gifts, as the next in a line of ethereal healers. Her strength isn’t in fighting, but in staying impartial and offering aid to those who ARE fighting.
Had the hellhound who bit **** tonight been in need himself, we would not have denied him assistance. He would have been treated and sheltered just the same, right at the side of the one he harmed, with no further hostility between them.
So… could YOU do that?? Shelter and heal the good AND the not-so-good? That’s a decision Rebecca is forced to make. Her power will mature on her 17th birthday, if she can make it that long. It seems that having the benefit of their very own, captive, healer is the goal of quite a few unsavory ethereals. The days leading up to that occasion are filled with demons attacking from bathroom stalls and the introduction of one of my favorite side characters in recent memory, Billy. For those of you who are Southern Vampire Mystery fans, think Bubba, with more hair and the appetite of a small military battalion.
We’re getting our family bonding and learning from Nana, our fast-paced action and a lot of comic relief with Billy, so that leaves Syd, the master vampire. Yeah… he’s the dreamy one who warns Rebecca not to fall for him, and of course she does. He’s the master of his clan, but gets guilted and coerced into offering apprenticeship to Rebecca for her healer training. Syd is quick-witted and snarky, but genuinely wants the best for Rebecca. Being able to hear her thoughts is the catalyst for quite a bit of their fun banter.
The original, short story version of this (what was roughly the first three chapters) is in The Eternal Kiss: 13 Tales of Blood and Desire. I was so excited when I realized it was being reworked and extended into a full novel. I really loved the characters, the storyline is different and fun to read, and the action/comedy/romance balance is just about perfect. I say just about, because I could always read more Syd, lol. Luckily, we’ll be getting more Syd, and the rest of the gang, in book 2 of the Stranger Things series, Time Heals. I have theories about this next book. When you all read All Wounds (and that should be soon, or… now, even) let me know, cause I NEED to share!!
originally posted on my website: http://wp.me/pOeF4-gf
Rebecca MacDonnell’s plate is full. On one hand, she leads a typical high school life, complete with snotty “it” girls, a bad boy hottie, and the day to day stresses of just trying to get by. On the other, she’s a caregiver for her “Nana”, who’s memory loss has progressed from simply misplacing keys, to leaving the stove on, or getting lost on walks. The last thing Rebecca expects is to find a classmate, bleeding and dying, being dragged through her door in the middle of the night by a master vampire, after being attacked by hellhounds, to seek the help of her Nana, their healer!
One of the things I really enjoyed with this book was the twist Dina created. Just when I “thought” I knew what I was getting into, I was wrong. Rebecca doesn’t discover a world of paranormal creatures who expect her to pick sides and fight their battles with them. She discovers her gifts, as the next in a line of ethereal healers. Her strength isn’t in fighting, but in staying impartial and offering aid to those who ARE fighting.
Had the hellhound who bit **** tonight been in need himself, we would not have denied him assistance. He would have been treated and sheltered just the same, right at the side of the one he harmed, with no further hostility between them.
So… could YOU do that?? Shelter and heal the good AND the not-so-good? That’s a decision Rebecca is forced to make. Her power will mature on her 17th birthday, if she can make it that long. It seems that having the benefit of their very own, captive, healer is the goal of quite a few unsavory ethereals. The days leading up to that occasion are filled with demons attacking from bathroom stalls and the introduction of one of my favorite side characters in recent memory, Billy. For those of you who are Southern Vampire Mystery fans, think Bubba, with more hair and the appetite of a small military battalion.
We’re getting our family bonding and learning from Nana, our fast-paced action and a lot of comic relief with Billy, so that leaves Syd, the master vampire. Yeah… he’s the dreamy one who warns Rebecca not to fall for him, and of course she does. He’s the master of his clan, but gets guilted and coerced into offering apprenticeship to Rebecca for her healer training. Syd is quick-witted and snarky, but genuinely wants the best for Rebecca. Being able to hear her thoughts is the catalyst for quite a bit of their fun banter.
The original, short story version of this (what was roughly the first three chapters) is in The Eternal Kiss: 13 Tales of Blood and Desire. I was so excited when I realized it was being reworked and extended into a full novel. I really loved the characters, the storyline is different and fun to read, and the action/comedy/romance balance is just about perfect. I say just about, because I could always read more Syd, lol. Luckily, we’ll be getting more Syd, and the rest of the gang, in book 2 of the Stranger Things series, Time Heals. I have theories about this next book. When you all read All Wounds (and that should be soon, or… now, even) let me know, cause I NEED to share!!
originally posted on my website: http://wp.me/pOeF4-gf
October 24, 2011
All Wounds is a great start to a new YA series by Dina James. Now I don't read a lot of YA books, but once in a while something will catch my eye and I will read it. All Wounds was one of those books and what I liked most about it is that it starts off with the reader learning about the main Rebecca MacDonnell. She's a teen with a lot of responsibility on her shoulders as she takes care of her ailing grandmother that has dementia. Her social life is zero and she doesn't feel as if she is special at all. Her once boring life changes overnight as she learns the truth about her family and that her birthday is a day of importance. Once she turns 17 she will become a powerful healer in the paranormal world and until then she is in danger. Others come to her aid to protect her and this is when the book gets fun as we get the opportunity to meet some awesome characters.
One of the 1st characters that Rebecca meets is Sydney, a vampire that has agreed to help her learn her powers of healing. He is a good friend to her grandmother and a master vampire. He and Rebecca get very close and he warns her that their relationship cannot be more than what it is. Let's just say it's very hard for Rebecca to not fall for him and vice versa. Heck I even fell for him as well. My buddy Melissa and I were discussing how much we loved his character one day and I gotta hand it to Dina James for writing such a great one. He's so great that I've added him to my Book Boyfriend list under the Cougar category. Another character that I loved was Billy. He is Rebecca's bodyguard and a werewolf. He brings comedy to the story even in serious situations. Both of these character care deeply about Rebecca and encourage her to believe in herself. She needs the support of those around her more than ever to face whatever comes next.
My favorite part of the book is when Rebecca realizes that she is special and that she has the ability to help others. She's not just some girl that people call names at school. She's a girl that loves her grandmother and is learning more about herself everyday. And now she has others that are looking out for her. I'm looking forward to reading more of book 2 in the series Time Heals to see how much Rebecca's power will grow. There is something truly special about her that has been hinted at throughout All Wounds and I'm looking forward to finding out.
One of the 1st characters that Rebecca meets is Sydney, a vampire that has agreed to help her learn her powers of healing. He is a good friend to her grandmother and a master vampire. He and Rebecca get very close and he warns her that their relationship cannot be more than what it is. Let's just say it's very hard for Rebecca to not fall for him and vice versa. Heck I even fell for him as well. My buddy Melissa and I were discussing how much we loved his character one day and I gotta hand it to Dina James for writing such a great one. He's so great that I've added him to my Book Boyfriend list under the Cougar category. Another character that I loved was Billy. He is Rebecca's bodyguard and a werewolf. He brings comedy to the story even in serious situations. Both of these character care deeply about Rebecca and encourage her to believe in herself. She needs the support of those around her more than ever to face whatever comes next.
My favorite part of the book is when Rebecca realizes that she is special and that she has the ability to help others. She's not just some girl that people call names at school. She's a girl that loves her grandmother and is learning more about herself everyday. And now she has others that are looking out for her. I'm looking forward to reading more of book 2 in the series Time Heals to see how much Rebecca's power will grow. There is something truly special about her that has been hinted at throughout All Wounds and I'm looking forward to finding out.
December 31, 2011
Not a review as much as a few notes. I saw a promo for this on Ilona's blog some months ago and made a note to read it and then forgot about it. Happily my new habit is to send the Amazon free sample to my Kindle when I see a book I want to check out. As I'd finished this year's reading challenge I was deleting books from my kindle last night and came across it.
At 1am planning to just to check out the sample and add it to next year's list I started reading ... 4 hours later I was awww-ing at the stupidly cute ending.
This is a great book, her first in this series with very vividly painted characters. Billy, "I'm a Man-wolf not a wolfman" had me in stitches. Rebecca was an interesting heroine - who perhaps grew just a little too much for one book over a very short period of time but ... it made for a satisfying read.
My only real gripe was - and this is huge spoiler so I wouldn't read it unless you've finished the book ...
I recommend it - it's different. It gets 4.5 stars but as it's a first book I'm marking up not down.
At 1am planning to just to check out the sample and add it to next year's list I started reading ... 4 hours later I was awww-ing at the stupidly cute ending.
This is a great book, her first in this series with very vividly painted characters. Billy, "I'm a Man-wolf not a wolfman" had me in stitches. Rebecca was an interesting heroine - who perhaps grew just a little too much for one book over a very short period of time but ... it made for a satisfying read.
My only real gripe was - and this is huge spoiler so I wouldn't read it unless you've finished the book ...
I recommend it - it's different. It gets 4.5 stars but as it's a first book I'm marking up not down.
August 19, 2012
Just to clarify. I rarely rate books. If I do it will be four stars if I really liked it, I reserve the five stars for exceptional, life changing books.
This was very enjoyable and I wish there had been books like this when I was a teenager. Reading it as an adult when it's aimed at young people didn't make it any less enjoyable though. It reminded me how it felt to be one of the "geeks" at school and being excluded for being "weird". It's proof that Dina got it just right, this kind of self diminishing attitude that teenagers can have.
It makes it even more fun to watch her find her path, find her place, and discover this whole new world around her. The characters are loveable, almost a bit too much. Even the big villain turns out to be almost likeable, good or bad I don't know, I always liked very dark and scary villains even as a kid so I was a little dissapointed by this.
The story is really gripping and I didn't want to put the book down, which I would say is a very good start.
This was very enjoyable and I wish there had been books like this when I was a teenager. Reading it as an adult when it's aimed at young people didn't make it any less enjoyable though. It reminded me how it felt to be one of the "geeks" at school and being excluded for being "weird". It's proof that Dina got it just right, this kind of self diminishing attitude that teenagers can have.
It makes it even more fun to watch her find her path, find her place, and discover this whole new world around her. The characters are loveable, almost a bit too much. Even the big villain turns out to be almost likeable, good or bad I don't know, I always liked very dark and scary villains even as a kid so I was a little dissapointed by this.
The story is really gripping and I didn't want to put the book down, which I would say is a very good start.
November 9, 2011
I got to say I enjoyed this beginning series novel. I can't quite place it as more of a YA urban fantasy or paranormal romance, but it does have both elements. I like how the characters were introduced and developed in the story. Though the novel's ending did seem to speed up (perhaps more details of the realm needed). I feel like more will be said about them in the future, especially about the complicated feelings between Rebecca, Sydney, and Ryan. Along with more information on the healer and ethereal world guidelines to come (world-building). Also there are questions that need to be discussed: Billy's exile reasons, the hellhound's worries, and the once-mentioned characters of Kyle and Aymi. Is this Kyle the same one from Dina James's other short stories? Still some intriguing questions that will hopefully be answered in the next volume, Time Heals. I'll be looking forward to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2012
I liked the story line of this book, something different with a young girl named Rebecca who has no idea that on her seventeen birthday she will come into her powers as a healer and seer. Her Nanna was protecting her by keeping her hidden but unfortunately the secret is out. A typical day at high school turns out to be fraught with peril, not only is she faced with demons and hell-hounds, but Billy an outcast werewolf informs her that he is her bodyguard and has been sent to protect her. Put a former classmate turned vampire into the mix, supernatural beings turning up for healing at all hours of the night, a master vampire who is about to become her tutor and things just got interesting. Will Rebecca survive long enough to come into her powers and will the misfit group of supernaturals be enough to keep the demons at bay. I look forward to more adventures with Rebecca and her crew.
April 9, 2012
*MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*
I wasn't sure about this book when I read the blurb/synopsis but I had some extra money and bought a couple of books and just decided what the hell? And bought it... And MANNNNNN am I glad I did!!! I read this book and just couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Rebecca the strong heroine and her protective bodyguards. Syd. What can I say about him that would do him justice? I felt pretty much everything Rebecca felt towards him so I was pretty pissed off too to learn he was feeding off Rebecca not because he wanted to but because he was told to. Billy just made me laugh all the time. My favourite part though was when he smashed the mirror after Rebecca, Syd and the other Healers came back from the Demon Lair. This book was an amazing read which I finished too early! Cannot wait to read more and Dina James will definitely be on my Author Watch List!
I wasn't sure about this book when I read the blurb/synopsis but I had some extra money and bought a couple of books and just decided what the hell? And bought it... And MANNNNNN am I glad I did!!! I read this book and just couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Rebecca the strong heroine and her protective bodyguards. Syd. What can I say about him that would do him justice? I felt pretty much everything Rebecca felt towards him so I was pretty pissed off too to learn he was feeding off Rebecca not because he wanted to but because he was told to. Billy just made me laugh all the time. My favourite part though was when he smashed the mirror after Rebecca, Syd and the other Healers came back from the Demon Lair. This book was an amazing read which I finished too early! Cannot wait to read more and Dina James will definitely be on my Author Watch List!
August 6, 2016
Rebecca thinks she is just a normal teenage girl trying to get through high school while taking care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer's. Then one night a wounded vampire shows up at her door and she discovers she is a Healer. A descendant of Panacea whose destiny is to care for injured otherworldly creatures. She is about to turn seventeen, the age when her powers fully manifest, and her grandmother became ill before she even began her training. If that's not bad enough there is an otherworldly war brewing and there are those who wish to kidnap her and use her powers for their own purposes. A very original concept. A story girls and boys will enjoy.
November 16, 2011
This book began in a typical high school setting, but quickly changed focus and was a pleasant surprise. Although the main character, Rebecca doesn't know about her heritage, she is not an idiot when she finds out, and really tries to understand what is going on. I also didn't expect how quickly the action starts and the interesting concept of a healer's role in the supernatural realms. Great start to a new YA series.
December 24, 2011
I read some of this in Eternal Kiss. I was so happy when I found out it was going to be a full-length novel! I can't wait to read this.
I've been looking for this, but I can't seem to find it at the stores though.
I've been looking for this, but I can't seem to find it at the stores though.
January 13, 2012
I absolutly loved this book and i hope there is another book after this one this book is so good i finished it in one day and just couldnt put this book doneI received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
August 30, 2014
I want to thank Dina James so much for lending me her copy of the book. It was just as good as I thought it would be. I flew through the book in two days, it had all of the components of a good paranormal romance. I hope to find the second one and read that one very soon.
November 5, 2011
Amazing book!Can't wait for the next one:)
November 22, 2011
Review will be posted on NRR!
September 17, 2014
Great book! Loved it
May 8, 2013
It must have been good because I read it in three days, although it didn't leave much of an impression on me afterwards.
October 27, 2015
3.5/5. I have mixed feelings about this one. Overall, I really liked it, but I found the end somewhat disappointing.
July 26, 2012
i loved it!!!!!!!
August 25, 2013
What a great little gem!!! Full review soon!!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews