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Phoenix Rising #1
Phoenix Rising
Hex Phoenix, entrepreneur and businessman, arrives in New Orleans to conduct business assisted by his long-time lover, Urbain Fortier. Life would be easy except for one small someone wants to kidnap Hex. Why? Not because of who he is, but because of what he is, the mythical Phoenix.
After escaping his enemies, resurrecting as Conleth Feu d'Oiseaux, and reuniting with Urbain, he is now being hunted by the RIRA. The beautiful Giuliana is also searching for Conleth for reasons of her own. With danger and jealousy surrounding him, Conleth finds once again that being the Phoenix is not an easy life.
After escaping his enemies, resurrecting as Conleth Feu d'Oiseaux, and reuniting with Urbain, he is now being hunted by the RIRA. The beautiful Giuliana is also searching for Conleth for reasons of her own. With danger and jealousy surrounding him, Conleth finds once again that being the Phoenix is not an easy life.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2012
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Edward Kendrick
213 books207 followersBorn and bred Cleveland, I earned a degree in technical theater, later switched to costuming, and headed to NYC. Finally seeing the futility of trying to become rich and famous in the Big Apple, I joined VISTA—Volunteers in Service to America—ending up in Chicago for three years. Then it was on to Denver, where I put down roots and worked as a costume designer until I retired in 2007.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an online fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished, no matter the genre or content. Since then I've been writing for publication. My first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely 'romantic'. More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal as well.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an online fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished, no matter the genre or content. Since then I've been writing for publication. My first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely 'romantic'. More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal as well.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 20, 2012
I liked this interesting take on an immortal’s life, one that is fairly unusual. Looking at the Phoenix, who can rise from his own ashes to start a new life, and making him a man who travels through the centuries is an idea I find fascinating. The story starts about 500 years ago when he finds his lover, not that he admits it initially. Following the two of them across the centuries was both interesting and suspenseful. They sure don’t make life easy on themselves!
Urbain is the constant in the story. While the Phoenix changes names with every new incarnation, Urbain stays the same, made immortal by the Phoenix’s tears when they first meet in ???. While he knows he is in love, his lover’s lack of fidelity causes him a lot of pain. I really hated that part but, in the end, what can you do when you love someone more than your own life?
The Phoenix, who starts as Durand, then he changes to Hex and finally to Conleth, is not exactly a warm and fuzzy character. I guess seeing what he has over centuries of life may toughen up anyone, but the sheer level of trust and loyalty he gets from Urbain should really have clued him in earlier. The excuse of ‘I can’t help myself’ and ‘I was jealous’ wears really thin by the end of the story and Edward Kendrick did a great job of keeping me in suspense until almost the last page.
Love across centuries isn’t easy – but not because boredom sets in, not with these two! Instead, it takes the man who can turn into a fiery bird that long to understand what is going on. Better late than never, I guess, and the story Edward Kendrick weaves in the meantime was entertaining, suspenseful and mysterious enough to keep me fascinated. If you like paranormal, or should I say, mythical creatures, if you enjoy a mystery and feud that span centuries and if extremely hot bedroom scenes that aren’t limited to the bedroom are your thing, you will probably enjoy this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Silver Publishing for the purpose of a review on QMO Books.
Urbain is the constant in the story. While the Phoenix changes names with every new incarnation, Urbain stays the same, made immortal by the Phoenix’s tears when they first meet in ???. While he knows he is in love, his lover’s lack of fidelity causes him a lot of pain. I really hated that part but, in the end, what can you do when you love someone more than your own life?
The Phoenix, who starts as Durand, then he changes to Hex and finally to Conleth, is not exactly a warm and fuzzy character. I guess seeing what he has over centuries of life may toughen up anyone, but the sheer level of trust and loyalty he gets from Urbain should really have clued him in earlier. The excuse of ‘I can’t help myself’ and ‘I was jealous’ wears really thin by the end of the story and Edward Kendrick did a great job of keeping me in suspense until almost the last page.
Love across centuries isn’t easy – but not because boredom sets in, not with these two! Instead, it takes the man who can turn into a fiery bird that long to understand what is going on. Better late than never, I guess, and the story Edward Kendrick weaves in the meantime was entertaining, suspenseful and mysterious enough to keep me fascinated. If you like paranormal, or should I say, mythical creatures, if you enjoy a mystery and feud that span centuries and if extremely hot bedroom scenes that aren’t limited to the bedroom are your thing, you will probably enjoy this book.
NOTE: This book was provided by Silver Publishing for the purpose of a review on QMO Books.
April 20, 2012
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
I guess that I was expecting a lot from this book and so turned the last page disappointed. Hex Phoenix has been the mythical phoenix for over seven thousand years now. He should technically go up in flames and be reborn every five hundred years but some things got in the way. He met his lover, Urbain, hundreds of years ago when he was going under the name Durand. Urbain was mortally wounded and was dying in Durand's arms when his tears fell on Urbain both healing him and making him immortal. A local priest saw the "miracle" and linked it to the myth of the phoenix after Durand was burned to death and the phoenix arose. The priest's family has been trying to capture him since then to get some of his tears. In his present day incarnation as Hex, he is in New Orleans to open another branch of his vast company. Hex, Urbain and their trusted bodyguard, Gregory, find the family already waiting for them in New Orleans. The only person that knew that Hex was moving his business was an old friend in France so the team fake Hex's death and he returns as Conleth this time. The company now belongs to Urbain and Conleth becomes Urbain's personal assistant. Only Gregory, Urbain and Conleth know of the phoenix's true identity for security purposes. Unfortunately, Conleth was in a mess of trouble just as he died and the phoenix took over his body. The book is pretty much just one big chase after the phoenix along with some hot d/s sex between Hex/Conleth and Urbain. What I have a hard time swallowing about the story is if all it took to throw the family of the priest off was faking Hex's death, why didn't they do it a couple hundred years ago? The problem with Conleth and the RIRA really did not have much to do with the phoenix. That problem came from Hex being dropped into the wrong body at the wrong time. The chase or adventure theme of the story wasn't very action oriented but more mundane. There were some interesting plot twists especially at the end. The story flowed well but just fell short on the action. Mr. Kendrick has definitely written much better books but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as this is the first book in a series.
I guess that I was expecting a lot from this book and so turned the last page disappointed. Hex Phoenix has been the mythical phoenix for over seven thousand years now. He should technically go up in flames and be reborn every five hundred years but some things got in the way. He met his lover, Urbain, hundreds of years ago when he was going under the name Durand. Urbain was mortally wounded and was dying in Durand's arms when his tears fell on Urbain both healing him and making him immortal. A local priest saw the "miracle" and linked it to the myth of the phoenix after Durand was burned to death and the phoenix arose. The priest's family has been trying to capture him since then to get some of his tears. In his present day incarnation as Hex, he is in New Orleans to open another branch of his vast company. Hex, Urbain and their trusted bodyguard, Gregory, find the family already waiting for them in New Orleans. The only person that knew that Hex was moving his business was an old friend in France so the team fake Hex's death and he returns as Conleth this time. The company now belongs to Urbain and Conleth becomes Urbain's personal assistant. Only Gregory, Urbain and Conleth know of the phoenix's true identity for security purposes. Unfortunately, Conleth was in a mess of trouble just as he died and the phoenix took over his body. The book is pretty much just one big chase after the phoenix along with some hot d/s sex between Hex/Conleth and Urbain. What I have a hard time swallowing about the story is if all it took to throw the family of the priest off was faking Hex's death, why didn't they do it a couple hundred years ago? The problem with Conleth and the RIRA really did not have much to do with the phoenix. That problem came from Hex being dropped into the wrong body at the wrong time. The chase or adventure theme of the story wasn't very action oriented but more mundane. There were some interesting plot twists especially at the end. The story flowed well but just fell short on the action. Mr. Kendrick has definitely written much better books but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as this is the first book in a series.
May 20, 2013
The myth of phoenix is fascinating , that his tears can make man immortal is better . I didn't loved the character of Hex/Con ,too prepotent and arrogant where Urbain is caring and loving .Also, I'm one jealous person and I don't are fond for betrayals so this story makes me just a bit frustrated . The plot is very interesting and exciting but I think there are too stories in the storyline. So this book is a sweet/bitter read.
September 28, 2013
This was ok. I think I'd give it a 2.5 stars if I were able. The story idea was intriguing, and the plot could have been suspenseful and compelling and romantic, but it fell short in all of those areas. The characters didn't engage me, particularly the MC. We didn't get enough of his feelings to make him feel fleshed out, and I didn't like the way he treated his lover, Bain.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews