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Parched #1
Parched
Discover a delicious new vampire novel series that will leave you yearning for more... Parched, Book ONE, A Paranormal Romance.
"Baron Ford," he says and pauses to pick apart my expression, attempting to read how familiar I am with that name. I nod stiffly to give no indication I know exactly, who that is. I'm shocked to hear it in this setting, at this stage of my life, the one far away from Cambridge, Massachusetts over five years later."
Advertising Executive, Clarity Parker thought she would never see Baron Ford again. Five years ago, she fell in love with him on their magical first date and then poof--he literally vanished into thin air. That's why she's stunned to hear his name again. After all, five years have passed since that night, and now, to add intrigue to insult, he's requested that she be exclusively assigned to his multi-million dollar account.
Clarity makes every effort to avoid Baron Ford but when he finally catches up to her he issues a warning; things are not safe for her in the city anymore, especially since the strange fog has settled over Manhattan.
Before the foggy day is over Clarity's entire world will come crashing down. Everything about her life that she thought was true is a lie! And there's no time to question her soap opera star mother or business mogul father about it because Baron was right, her life is in danger, and so is his!
One thing's for sure, from this point on, the world as Clarity Parker knows it will never be the same.
"Baron Ford," he says and pauses to pick apart my expression, attempting to read how familiar I am with that name. I nod stiffly to give no indication I know exactly, who that is. I'm shocked to hear it in this setting, at this stage of my life, the one far away from Cambridge, Massachusetts over five years later."
Advertising Executive, Clarity Parker thought she would never see Baron Ford again. Five years ago, she fell in love with him on their magical first date and then poof--he literally vanished into thin air. That's why she's stunned to hear his name again. After all, five years have passed since that night, and now, to add intrigue to insult, he's requested that she be exclusively assigned to his multi-million dollar account.
Clarity makes every effort to avoid Baron Ford but when he finally catches up to her he issues a warning; things are not safe for her in the city anymore, especially since the strange fog has settled over Manhattan.
Before the foggy day is over Clarity's entire world will come crashing down. Everything about her life that she thought was true is a lie! And there's no time to question her soap opera star mother or business mogul father about it because Baron was right, her life is in danger, and so is his!
One thing's for sure, from this point on, the world as Clarity Parker knows it will never be the same.
225 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2011
797 people are currently reading
3268 people want to read
About the author
Z.L. Arkadie
103 books498 followersZ.L. Arkadie is stepping into a new era of emotionally rich, upmarket romance that sweeps you away and thrills your heart in the best possible way. Her upcoming stories promise the kind of passion, longing, and intensity that pull you out of the everyday and into something unforgettable. For readers who crave stories that ache, soar, and stay with you—this is where it begins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
July 26, 2016
I'll refrain from spoilers, but be warned. I'm not saying this was the worst book I've ever read, but I'm having a hard time remembering anything as unsatisfying as this book. The truly upsetting thing about the text is that it had the opportunity to be a very engaging story, unfortunately the writing style was awkward to the point of distraction.
I believe the description on the book indicates that readers a left "yearning" for more. If that is the case, it is only because the author rushed through the conclusion in the most fumbling and rushed manner possible. Truly disappointed with this book.
January 4, 2017
Okay, let's keep this short and sweet... 1.5 Stars
The concept is somewhat interesting, almost interesting enough to tempt me to read the next one, but almost isn't gonna cut it for me this year. The writing style lost Parched a star by itself and introducing hints of a really cool idea but then not revealing it because the character isn't ready to know it yet pisses me off. The only author(s) off the top of my head that I've found that can pull this off is Ilona Andrews and that's because they are unnaturally good at all of the things they do so probably best not to compare...
Sorry, sidetracked, this was supposed to be a short review...
The mood/setting of the book was decent and the male vamps/former vamps made for interesting love interests/characters so there is hope for future work by this author. If you are a hater of insta-love you should give this one a hard-pass, but in fantasy it works for me because I can buy into all of that fated stuff when I already know this isn't supposed to be a real life situation.
Finally, the ending lost this sucker another star all by itself. It's like the click-bait of the reading world. In a PNR series I either want the romance of the main characters spread out over the whole series, or I want it tied up in a bow by the end of the book so the next book can focus on the next set of characters. This did neither of those.
Overall this book just had too many strikes against it for me to rate it higher than a 1.5 but I'm rounding up to a 2.
The concept is somewhat interesting, almost interesting enough to tempt me to read the next one, but almost isn't gonna cut it for me this year. The writing style lost Parched a star by itself and introducing hints of a really cool idea but then not revealing it because the character isn't ready to know it yet pisses me off. The only author(s) off the top of my head that I've found that can pull this off is Ilona Andrews and that's because they are unnaturally good at all of the things they do so probably best not to compare...
Sorry, sidetracked, this was supposed to be a short review...
The mood/setting of the book was decent and the male vamps/former vamps made for interesting love interests/characters so there is hope for future work by this author. If you are a hater of insta-love you should give this one a hard-pass, but in fantasy it works for me because I can buy into all of that fated stuff when I already know this isn't supposed to be a real life situation.
Finally, the ending lost this sucker another star all by itself. It's like the click-bait of the reading world. In a PNR series I either want the romance of the main characters spread out over the whole series, or I want it tied up in a bow by the end of the book so the next book can focus on the next set of characters. This did neither of those.
Overall this book just had too many strikes against it for me to rate it higher than a 1.5 but I'm rounding up to a 2.
May 22, 2017
I'm sorry. I just can't do it. I love what this book could've been. But no. No Bueno. No sir.
The two MCs sit in the same room each night for like a month without talking, then talks one night and the next he takes her out and she falls in love LIKE RIGHT AWAY (with no smut?) and he disappears for five years? AND SHE'S STILL HUNG UP ON HIM!? AND THEY MADE LOVE DECLIRATIONS ON THE SECOND MEETING!?
Fuck this shit. I don't even care.
Jennymort OUT.
December 27, 2013
okay this book is really amazing!! I could never guess what was going to happen next and I was seriously surprised throughout the whole book. I even cried a bit. In one part it was like i could feel the emotions of a certain character named Clarity. I can only say wow and that I am definitely going to read the next book and so on of this series. I fell in love with Clarity and Baron. I give this book a 5 star rating and recommend it to everyone that loves to read about the supernatural life and hey even if you don't i think that this is a book that everyone would really love to delve into! :)
September 19, 2011
I would like to rate this book higher ... but the ending got to me. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. It really went out there and I appreciate a story that is different. I did have a hard time with the editing. There were a lot of missed words.
I did download the second book with this one and read them consecutively. The ending got to me on that one too. I do appreciate the writing in these books, even the endings to a certain degree. I like books that are written well but don't necessarily end well, but these just abruptly end with out an explanation as to why things had to end the way they did. I put so much into Clarity and Baron, and thought so much of their story ending in a good way and possibly even saving the world or the vampires or something magical and extreme coming from their union ... then there was that ending.
But I am thinking that there will be more books and maybe the point was to abruptly end them that way so that maybe readers can get closure in another book. I know I would definitely read any more of these books.
I did download the second book with this one and read them consecutively. The ending got to me on that one too. I do appreciate the writing in these books, even the endings to a certain degree. I like books that are written well but don't necessarily end well, but these just abruptly end with out an explanation as to why things had to end the way they did. I put so much into Clarity and Baron, and thought so much of their story ending in a good way and possibly even saving the world or the vampires or something magical and extreme coming from their union ... then there was that ending.
But I am thinking that there will be more books and maybe the point was to abruptly end them that way so that maybe readers can get closure in another book. I know I would definitely read any more of these books.
not-going-there
February 6, 2017Literally the fourth sentence:
Before I head out, I put on a light coat of Lancôme moisturizing cream topped off with red lipstick. I put on a black Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit and a pair of black Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane heels.*disappointed sigh* Oh... it's one of those. Like the overly excited person at a party that keeps reminding you of that one time they met a celebrity. Super not interested, thanks.
July 13, 2013
DF.. There were to many details about everything I don't care about all the clothes and makeup or what everyone looked like. Not for me.
March 27, 2019
I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure if I enjoyed it enough to read the next one. I think part of the problem was that I read it while sick and I kept getting confused as I tried to keep everything straight, so if you read it when clear-minded I expect that it's better.
January 25, 2014
This book.... *sighs* I had such high hopes for this book. Not only from the synopsis, but from reviews that I had seen for it (all of which were 4 or 5 star). Now maybe its just me, or maybe this is one of those books that "just isn't for everyone", but I feel seriously ripped off. And I found this book for free.
While the overall concept of this book was appealing, I found that overall, the story had very little "thought" or "feeling" to it, and the characters were all very one dimensional. These were characters that I just could not bring myself to care about. Will they live? Will they die? Will they fall in love? WHO CARES? And that my friends is a sign of a badly written novel.
It seems like the author took on too much at once, they are after all trying to balance vampires with... what exactly are they supposed to be? Angels?Other worldly beings? Super-humans... I don't even know. I do know that for someone claiming to not be a "snob".. Clarity was a freaking snob. After endless droning on about the designer clothes she had, even though she was not a snob (her words), when it came to purchasing some for herself, the only place she could think of was Saks .. and lets not forget her and her "sister" (that she had never met) spent a good two pages deciding what to order from a Burger King menu.. yeah. She's a snob. Sorry, but she is.
I did manage to make it to the end (there is that book masochism I was talking about in prior entries), but I will not be continuing any farther than that. I *had* downloaded The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), but after reading this novel....
Ok you know what I might have still tried to read it, if not for the blurb the author put at the end of this book stating "The main story picks up in Quenched (Parched Book 3). The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), is a shorter novella that tells what happens to the seventh's sisters life before she enters the main plot. Therefore, I skipped book two and inserted an excerpt from Quenched below."
Seriously? You can't even be bothered to include an excerpt from book 2? No thanks.
While the overall concept of this book was appealing, I found that overall, the story had very little "thought" or "feeling" to it, and the characters were all very one dimensional. These were characters that I just could not bring myself to care about. Will they live? Will they die? Will they fall in love? WHO CARES? And that my friends is a sign of a badly written novel.
It seems like the author took on too much at once, they are after all trying to balance vampires with... what exactly are they supposed to be? Angels?Other worldly beings? Super-humans... I don't even know. I do know that for someone claiming to not be a "snob".. Clarity was a freaking snob. After endless droning on about the designer clothes she had, even though she was not a snob (her words), when it came to purchasing some for herself, the only place she could think of was Saks .. and lets not forget her and her "sister" (that she had never met) spent a good two pages deciding what to order from a Burger King menu.. yeah. She's a snob. Sorry, but she is.
I did manage to make it to the end (there is that book masochism I was talking about in prior entries), but I will not be continuing any farther than that. I *had* downloaded The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), but after reading this novel....
Ok you know what I might have still tried to read it, if not for the blurb the author put at the end of this book stating "The main story picks up in Quenched (Parched Book 3). The Seventh Sister (Parched Book 2), is a shorter novella that tells what happens to the seventh's sisters life before she enters the main plot. Therefore, I skipped book two and inserted an excerpt from Quenched below."
Seriously? You can't even be bothered to include an excerpt from book 2? No thanks.
December 2, 2011
The characters and plot in this story is soooo good but why did it have to read like a journal? It must be a preference thing but would have been so much better had it read like an ordinary PNR book. O and let's not forget about the god awful grammatical and spelling errors! When I have to read something twice because it's spelled wrong is bad but when I have to read it three times over because of multiple mistakes it totally distracts me from the story. I like the storyline though and kindle price was good.
May 3, 2012
Took me a while to read this as I had other stuff that got in the way lol. But once I started the book I was so hooked and really liked the characters. The vampires are blood thirsty for Life Blood and you have the Enuians who are forceful people who take care of the vulnerable. I thought it was gonna be another Vampire style book, but it turned out to be a great insight into a new species.
January 17, 2015
Imma b honest n say Ii lost interest but I'm glad I started again
Want to read
December 28, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/11/2020)! 🎁
November 27, 2020
Different from what I was thinking
I'm still little confused but figure the remaining books will clear that up once I get to them. Clarity is one of seven sisters who each have a gift. She is aware of her ability but not that she has sisters or that there is a reason she has always felt different. When she meets Baron in college, she falls hard but it doesn't last. Five years later, he re-enters her life and that is when things really start to go crazy. Vampires, celestial beings, other worlds, and sisters to share a fate that she is just starting to learn about.
There are definitely some interesting concepts but also a little confusing and a whole lot of complicated. And I struggled a little with Clarity and Baron's relationship, and Fawn and Lario's. The family dynamics were strange too. No one could tell Clarity anything, yet they all seem to know more than her. Why is that?
I'm still little confused but figure the remaining books will clear that up once I get to them. Clarity is one of seven sisters who each have a gift. She is aware of her ability but not that she has sisters or that there is a reason she has always felt different. When she meets Baron in college, she falls hard but it doesn't last. Five years later, he re-enters her life and that is when things really start to go crazy. Vampires, celestial beings, other worlds, and sisters to share a fate that she is just starting to learn about.
There are definitely some interesting concepts but also a little confusing and a whole lot of complicated. And I struggled a little with Clarity and Baron's relationship, and Fawn and Lario's. The family dynamics were strange too. No one could tell Clarity anything, yet they all seem to know more than her. Why is that?
June 14, 2017
Wellllllllllll.. what to say?
-lets out a very, very long sigh-
I wanted to like the book. Really I did, but... I only finished it because I really hate not finishing a book.
Clarity Parker.. ... I'm so good at hating main characters i'm not even surprised by my dislike of her. She's boring, obnoxious, and flat.
AND.. If i'm good at hating a main character.. I'm even better at hating the fall in love over night shit. This is one of those rides and I couldn't jump on board. I just can't buy it. Even when a HEA isn't happening.. I can't do the meet, have a date, total mad love forever thing.. ..
Maybe Baron Ford's psycho vampire girlfriend should have eaten her. -shrugs- Just a suggestion.
-lets out a very, very long sigh-
I wanted to like the book. Really I did, but... I only finished it because I really hate not finishing a book.
Clarity Parker.. ... I'm so good at hating main characters i'm not even surprised by my dislike of her. She's boring, obnoxious, and flat.
AND.. If i'm good at hating a main character.. I'm even better at hating the fall in love over night shit. This is one of those rides and I couldn't jump on board. I just can't buy it. Even when a HEA isn't happening.. I can't do the meet, have a date, total mad love forever thing.. ..
Maybe Baron Ford's psycho vampire girlfriend should have eaten her. -shrugs- Just a suggestion.
December 29, 2018
I rounded up from a 3.5, mainly because the ending saved this book for me. I was soooo confused for most of the book but I just went with it. There was a lot going on and it seemed all at once.
I've had a complaint in other series that the heartbreak happens a LOT in the second book. Nope right at the end of this one. That hurt, I did like Baron and Clarity together. I'm a full on sucker for two otherworldly beings fighting to be together.
I did like Parched despite all above. I liked the beginning portion and ending of the book. Some parts along the way weren't bad too.
I've had a complaint in other series that the heartbreak happens a LOT in the second book. Nope right at the end of this one. That hurt, I did like Baron and Clarity together. I'm a full on sucker for two otherworldly beings fighting to be together.
I did like Parched despite all above. I liked the beginning portion and ending of the book. Some parts along the way weren't bad too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2019
Has anyone just swept you off your feet and left you breathless? That's what happened to clarity on her one date with Barron Ford. Then he disappeared for years.
Now she is working at her Dad's company and has worked her way to the top, but Baron is back. Her mother is warning her to stay away from him and everything around her is about to change.
She's been found. Yet by what or why she doesn't know. Can she trust Baron with her life and her heart?
Travel with Clarity as she finds out who she is and flow with her emotions as they threaten to drown you.
Now she is working at her Dad's company and has worked her way to the top, but Baron is back. Her mother is warning her to stay away from him and everything around her is about to change.
She's been found. Yet by what or why she doesn't know. Can she trust Baron with her life and her heart?
Travel with Clarity as she finds out who she is and flow with her emotions as they threaten to drown you.
September 11, 2023
This story gets 2.5 stars from me because I liked the concept but the writing style left a lot to be desired.
The MC was not my favorite. I think the males in the story were better thought out and described than the MC and her family. It’s a series, so I understand that all questions can’t be answered yet, but there are still questions that I think should have been answered here and currently see no reason for why it may be brought up in the future.
Debating if I’ll read the next books in the series.
The MC was not my favorite. I think the males in the story were better thought out and described than the MC and her family. It’s a series, so I understand that all questions can’t be answered yet, but there are still questions that I think should have been answered here and currently see no reason for why it may be brought up in the future.
Debating if I’ll read the next books in the series.
May 6, 2019
Bad storyline, characters, everything - just really bad
I’m usually very easy to please with books. But this was just terrible. It was very hard to even get through. Nothing made me want to keep reading.
Who just accepts all this crazy stuff and figures out powers on the first try, and loves someone she doesn’t know just because he loves her?? It’s all too much to just accept even for the sake of the story.
I’m usually very easy to please with books. But this was just terrible. It was very hard to even get through. Nothing made me want to keep reading.
Who just accepts all this crazy stuff and figures out powers on the first try, and loves someone she doesn’t know just because he loves her?? It’s all too much to just accept even for the sake of the story.
August 7, 2025
This book was so promising in the beginning. It caught my attention quickly, and I needed to know more but as I continued to read it the plot went everywhere…. I felt like it had GREAT potential but the story line ended up being scattered and the ending was rushed to an extreme. I honestly had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t live up to it. I hope the author tries another book because the ideas are amazing, just execution wasn’t done quite well.
July 15, 2017
I picked this up for free and got exactly what I paid for. I have to stop doing that.
Intriguing concept but poorly written and executed, resolving absolutely nothing. I'm curious enough to go read reviews for the rest of the series to see what happens, but not curious enough to subject myself to more of this.
Intriguing concept but poorly written and executed, resolving absolutely nothing. I'm curious enough to go read reviews for the rest of the series to see what happens, but not curious enough to subject myself to more of this.
August 14, 2018
Disorganized read.
Interesting plot, but the story is all over the place with little or no direction and nothing to indicate a scene changes. First person stream of conscious makes the heroine seem spastic and flaky. Would be so much better in 3rd person or with other characters thoughts.
Interesting plot, but the story is all over the place with little or no direction and nothing to indicate a scene changes. First person stream of conscious makes the heroine seem spastic and flaky. Would be so much better in 3rd person or with other characters thoughts.
October 12, 2020
Intriguing
I was intrigued by the introduction and decided to take the chance. I found it well edited and the character development flowed well. It bears saying that the story continues so you'll need to get the series. I enjoyed the storyline and look forward to reading the rest of the books.
I was intrigued by the introduction and decided to take the chance. I found it well edited and the character development flowed well. It bears saying that the story continues so you'll need to get the series. I enjoyed the storyline and look forward to reading the rest of the books.
December 12, 2016
Intriguing
It was really interesting as Clarity learned more about who and what she is. I cried with her, fell in love with her and questioned with her. Am looking forward to seeing how it all goes.
It was really interesting as Clarity learned more about who and what she is. I cried with her, fell in love with her and questioned with her. Am looking forward to seeing how it all goes.
July 31, 2017
While I hoped for the best, hoping doesn't make this a good book. It's dry, and would need a lot of reworking to make it good. While there is potential, the main character is annoying and the insta-love is so awful. I couldn't take it anymore.
August 16, 2017
Interesting
I forget why I picked this book but I wasn't disappointed. It's not like other vampire romances. There is no happy ending or do they end up with each other. But read and learn why it's a good read and meet the characters.
I forget why I picked this book but I wasn't disappointed. It's not like other vampire romances. There is no happy ending or do they end up with each other. But read and learn why it's a good read and meet the characters.
August 31, 2017
Brilliant
I totally loved reading this book finding out Clarity's different abilities one by one. Her love for Baron is her first love. How she finds her sisters and they fight'the evil'.
I totally loved reading this book finding out Clarity's different abilities one by one. Her love for Baron is her first love. How she finds her sisters and they fight'the evil'.
January 24, 2018
Quite entertaining book. The beginning was a bit tiring to read but as the story progressed, it became interesting. The plot was good and it was a good read for me but nothing extraordinary. It was intriguing and I liked it.
July 18, 2018
Quit after 1/4
Alice in wonderland, that I couldn't buy into. This story seems patonlly stupid, with an oblivious main character. It may improve -but it's not worth wasting my reading time to find out.
Alice in wonderland, that I couldn't buy into. This story seems patonlly stupid, with an oblivious main character. It may improve -but it's not worth wasting my reading time to find out.
September 12, 2018
Very intriguing
Thank you,
This book flowed like water through much mind carrying me to a distant place that captivated me , removing me from my reality with steady ease.
Thank you, I needed this break.
Thank you,
This book flowed like water through much mind carrying me to a distant place that captivated me , removing me from my reality with steady ease.
Thank you, I needed this break.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews