Caitlin DeDanann’s life is a hot mess. Recently dumped. Overworked. Burned out. Her upcoming time off is the one thing that has gotten her through all of it. Until her boss ruins it by sending her on yet another assignment. What she thinks is just a routine investigation turns out to be so much more.
Vampire Evariste Gage Arsceneaux has spent over three hundred years riddled with guilt. Guilt over losing his wife. Guilt over a curse that doomed his family. Guilt over being turned into an immortal. Evariste throws himself into the one thing that can provide a much-needed distraction from suffocating work.
Reunited over an unwelcomed business proposition, Evariste stares in disbelief into the unique eyes of his long-deceased wife. Knowing their time together is short, he uses their professional relationship and delicious Louisiana cuisine to keep her close to him, hoping to spark the memory of their love. The uncovering of long-lost secrets and the resurgence of ancient evil vampires set on killing them both forces Caitlin and Evariste to work together to not only save themselves, but everything they have ever loved.
Caterina is a storyteller and adventurer. She is passionate about history, music, romance, old languages, legend, and travel. She regularly intertwines these subjects in her writing. While she is a fan of all history, her historical interests are primarily in the Ancient Mediterranean, Early Europe (Middle Ages through the Renaissance), Al-Andalus, Berber History, Islamic Civilization, and Cultural Heritage.
She loves cappuccino, Greek coffee, and a good glass of wine. Storytelling and transmitting tradition through food fascinates her. When on the road, one can find her exploring restaurants, bakeries, and food-related businesses in addition to local sites. Her Instagram showcases some of her favorite culinary discoveries.
When not traveling or working, Caterina finds time to sing classical music, act, write, paint, make soutache jewelry, and fence. She is always up for trying something new, so the list of hobbies is ever-expanding. A self-proclaimed social media junkie, she enjoys meeting new folks and networking.
If you would like to contact her or learn more about her and future works, you can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and at https://caterinanovelliere.com.
Cailtlin DeDanann is counting down the time until she can leave for her vacation. She is less than thrilled to have to add work to her vacation and it doesn't help that Evariste Gage Arsceneaux is avoiding her at all costs. That is until Evariste gets a look at Caitlin and begins to wonder if Caitlin is his long dead wife reincarnated. With a threat surrounding them Caitlin wants answers, can she trust Evariste.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The story has some past present moments which gave clarity to Evariste's past. I thought the chemistry between Caitlin and Evariste was full of charismatic banter, you are pulled in when these two are on the page with one another. I would read more from this author for sure.
If you enjoy fast paced fantasy romance, House of Arsceneaux is for you! Novelliere, not only,creates a complex world of modern fantasy and romance, they also weave Creole and Cajun Culture, ancient history, American history, Celtic mythology, and time travel into the love story of Caitlin and Gage that, literally, lasts centuries. This Author truly deserves the recognition of the amount of research and time that went into the background of this story. The beginning is, again, a fast paced look at the present day rekindled relationship between the main characters, but through the use of flashbacks and, literal, FLASH BACKS (in time,) we are able to unravel the love story that is House of Arsceneaux! The ending is a bit slower, but this is completely due to the plot stings that needed to be tied up and put together bring everything to its HEA. (YES, spoiler, ITS HEA!) For me, there was some confusing aspects but nothing that I couldn’t figure out while reading. (Meaning there’s some flashbacks that aren’t quite read as flashbacks and then aspects of the characters that are explained after an even or action that confused me, but I will say, keep reading, it’s all sorted out shortly.) Spice… there’s some spice. Like just the perfect amount! Not on every page, but enough to represent a couple in love, and a lot of lust. For the characters, Caitlin, you badass girl boss!!!! Gage… keep your enemies close, but your wife closer, she will protect you. There are many side characters that offer so much fun and life to the story. Gage’s sisters made me laugh out loud and just the jolly group of them were all around by the end. My only real “complaint” is… how the heck do I pronounce most of those Cajun and Creole words?! I would have definitely benefitted from a “Pronunciation for Dummies” at the beginning. That being said… I did receive an ARC copy so I do not know what the final copy has, so I apologize in advance if I spoke to soon.
All around, a fun book with fun characters, definitely worth the read.
3.5 stars I have said it before, but I do love a good dark paranormal romantic story and House of Arsceneaux fits that bill. This gritty vampire romance tale is part of the Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures series. Add in Catarina’s cleverly woven threads with time travel, past and present, back and forth and you get extra elements that tease and delights the senses. With secrets, vampires, a curse, immortals, fated mates and legends/gods it is a supernatural reader’s delight. With guilt, remorse, pain, suffering, longing, lust, love and ghosts from the past, ancient evil enemies and prophecies just to name a few it has everything that makes it a good story with its dark undertone. It is an action-packed original story and an intriguing read. It is told through adventure, history and memories. Caterina’s passion makes the story a vivid picture and she has thrown in a little twist and turn along the way. There is a lot going on and it did take me a while to settle in to the story and to get to know the complex characters that you will either love or you will love to hate. His world turned upside down in the worst ways. Becoming involved in a business proposition he doesn’t want he comes face to face with his past. This read will have lovers of romance, history and the supernatural delving in. I did like this story. I want to read more of Caterina’s work and see more of the other characters.
Fantastic story that gave me what I love about vampire romance...intriguing story, vampires, healers, glamour, secrets, danger, time present and past, and with a romance that never died with twists and turns along the way...the story of Evariste and Caitlin had me from page 1.
There has always been a connection between Evariste and Caitlin, but in this day and age, Caitlin had no idea what was to become of her and her connection to Evariste until she was head of a project when other clients were interested in buying Evariste's business.
Evariste wanted nothing to do with anyone buying him out until he finally meets Caitlin for the first time. The connection between them, Evariste knew that Caitlin was from his past many years ago of someone he loved dearly but could not save.
When strange visions and dreams come into play with many questions, will Evariste and Caitlin be safe knowing danger and evil are coming and when Caitlin finds out the truth in everything she thought she knew, will she be able to trust again....
The story read’s almost as if it was to grab the attention of young adults. I tried connecting with the narrative and dialogue of the characters, but it reads to bubbly. The book seems more of the entertainment about the vampires. I’m not sure if the characters missions worked the plot of the story. The story lost the connection with me as far as to get lost for awhile. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is so much to love about this book. If you’re a lover of the soulmates and reincarnation tropes and ancient curses to be broken, here is a story that can’t be missed. A protective hero with touch her and 💀vibes who still enjoys the simple quiet things in life. A heroine who starts out with a full brain and yet can’t ignore the pull of her heart as she continues grows in strength and power… Caitlin and Evariste are the perfect pair.
The one heads up for this book is: some of these characters go by many names and it occasionally, especially in the introductory parts, took a bit of brain power to sort out who was who. Once the character’s names were sorted it was a fun story with lots of moving parts, twists, well written romantic scenes, and of course a satisfying ending.
This fantasy romance is fast paced and one you are sure to enjoy, especially if you love a book about vampires and fated mates. It did take me a little while to get into the book, I kind of felt like the beginning drug a little, but once I did it was game over. I loved the characters and the storyline, not to mention how it keeps you guessing until the very end.
Ugh 🙄 I stupidly started this in Goodreads and then the app crashed after I was halfway done typing up my review.
I wanna start this by saying that I have always struggled with stories that have a time travel element to them. In the past, I made a concerted effort to steer clear of the stories, since I knew going in that I was not the target audience. But, then I fell in love with Outlander and had no problems at all understanding the entire plot of Avengers Endgame so I’ve had my eye on a few time travel books. when given the chance to read and review a time travel book with vampires through Romance Me With Books, I jumped on it. But maybe I shouldn’t have because most of my issues with the House of Arsceneaux can be tied directly to the time travel aspect of it.
All that being said, here’s my review. ⚠️ there will be SPOILERS⚠️
Rating: 2/5 Spice: 1/5
Characters: I had trouble connecting with Caitlin in the beginning. I thought she was brash and incredibly unprofessional. First impressions aside, I did grow to enjoy her loyalty and strength later. Evariste was intriguing and suave. I enjoyed him no matter which timeline. Or time period? Alcee was a joy to read, he was snarky and fun.
Plot: Again I don’t think this book was for me but I think the plot was convoluted. As if the story, or stories within the book were stacked on top of each other rather than blended. I found myself disconnected from Caitlin and Evariste’s past selves. I didn’t know them, which then made me disinterested in their story. I also think the chapter length made it hard for me to fully immerse into the story. At times the chapters were short and choppy. and then there’s this whole stretch, where we were in ancient Rome, that the chapters seemed long but that could be from being in the Rome time period for too long? It took me a while to get through that section of the book even though I knew it was important to tell the story of when they’re feud with his grandfather began. also I’m not sure that I ever got a full answer on the curse or whatever magic there was that limited Caitlin’s powers. Because in the end, she was just summoning powerful beings like it was nothing. Honestly maybe I think the story just try to do too much. or maybe it was me.
Since I typically only recommend books that I absolutely loved, I might not recommend this. It was interesting enough for me to continue and finish the book but I spent a lot of it confused and wanting answers to questions that likely got answered, but I missed it from being confused. If someone asked me specifically for a vampire story that features time travel then I’ll recommend this one because maybe this is what they’re looking for, but only then because this one was not for me.
“House of Arsceneaux” is a fast-paced paranormal romance, steeped with ancient history, Celtic mythology, and intertwined with Creole/Cajun culture. The novel follows Caitlin DeDanann, an overworked acquisitions attorney as she gets pulled into a new work project just as she’s about to jet off to New Orleans for a week of vacay. Caitlin gets more than she bargained for when she learns that the elusive CEO she’s been flown in to investigate is none other than vamp Evariste Gage Arsceneaux - a familiar figure who she’s drawn to immediately. While Evariste comes to terms with the fact that Caitlin is his 300-year-old wife incarnate (unbeknownst to her!), dark forces come to play in the bayou of New Orleans, trying to force the pair apart again.
With the help of some friends (aka spiritual guides and a grandmother who’s actually a goddess), Caitlin begins remembering parts of her past and her life with Evariste. She also begins to come into her own powers - just in time for an epic battle between the lovers, their evil vamp enemies and the amassed army, determined to pull the two apart. (Don’t worry - Caitlin’s got some help from her Fae friends, along with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse…what could go wrong?)
I appreciated the amount of research that went into weaving past with present. The flashbacks and changes of names could have been more confusing but it was done with finesse and provided some important context to the history between the protagonists and antagonists in the story. With as many paranormal entities as this book had (vampires, witches, Celtic goddesses, Horsemen, Fae, etc.), it was done in a way that made sense, surprisingly.
This book was chock full of tropes: Second chance at love, fated mates, workplace romance, star-crossed lovers, time travel, touch her and die. I was there for it all! It also had just enough spice to convey the more intimate nature of Caitlin and Evariste’s relationship - and make the reader realize how their love and connection could survive a 300 year recess. The energy was palpable!
More than just “another vampire romance,” Novelliere’s novel has all the workings of a page-turning paranormal romance that spins modern and past NOLA culture, food, and happy endings into a gripping tale of long-lost love found, rekindled, and never to be messed with again.
[Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of House of Arsceneaux by Caterina Novelliere; I am providing a voluntary and honest review.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Mystery. Oh, where to begin. This is the first book I have read but the incredible Caterina Novelliere, and I can’t wait to read more. The cover was honestly what pulled me in, but the mystery filled synopsis made me want to know more. Primarily told from Caitlin, and Evariste’s perspectives multiple other characters sides are used in a seamless flow that fully immerses the reader into the building mystery. Caitlin DeDanann lives in Williamsburg Virginia and works for a top firm. Her boss Sean Watchous took her in and raised her after her parents died for her grandmother, who is still in England. Evariste Arsceneaux is the CEO of Lagniappe Shipping and Ag based in New Orleans Louisiana. According to his sister Allister he once was a much different man than he is now, once taking life in strides now only throws himself into fishing and working nothing else. After a bad run in with some high-profile clients (Dante and Rayne) at her local coffee shop Caitlin is not impressed with the men hiring her firm to buy Arsceneaux’s Company. With her upcoming vacation to New Orleans her boss was able to bribe her into doing the onsite investigation for Dante and Rayne. Early on you discover the level of the mystery when Sean is surprised Caitlin doesn’t recognize Dante and Rayne, from her memories not the morning coffee shop incident. Dante even mentions he shifted the cup to save her white blouse. Allister and Alcee were shocked when seeing Caitlin, and Alcee says seeing her picture is the only reason he offered a tour of the company to get her there. Allister takes the next step, forcing a meeting between Evariste and Caitlin. Familiarity fills Caitlin when meeting him, a sense of comfort when near him. Evariste, he knows she is long gone how is it possible after three hundred years she has returned. Will Caitlin ever figure out the cause of her familiarity and comfort towards Evariste? Can Evariste escape the ghosts of his past determined to bury him? The characters the author creates, and the mystery that fills every chapter keeps you on your toes guessing what will happen next. While the world around them is primarily reality based the author brings a level of otherworldliness to the details. I admit I am very excited for the next installment in this new series to learn more about this world and the characters bringing it to life.
Man oh man, are you in for a treat with this book! This book had a wonderful and interesting twist when it came to the whole story. I didn't want to put it down! I had to force myself to go to bed more than once, otherwise I would have stayed up all night reading. Again. Lol. I loved the way the author wrote this book. It's another take on Immortal Creatures and I just wanted more and more of it. Evariste (aka Gage) is a three hundred year old cursed immortal. His curse started when he lost his wife all those years ago and it's been plaguing him and his family who were cursed right along with him. He feels the guilt of it all every single day. He throws himself into work, cooking, and fishing. He loves his family and his company, but he doesn't know all the secrets and lies behind his own life. Caitlin (aka Cate) is on overload. She was recently dumped over a promotion. She is overworked and totally burnt out. Over all, her life is a big old mess right now. Looking forward to a much needed vacation to New Orleans has her hopeful for the much needed time off and away. But of course her boss throws her plans askew. He talks her into staying longer so she can check out a company while she's on her vacation. Just a small routine background investigation is all it's supposed to be. But with her luck and how her life is right now, of course it turns out to be way more than what it seemed. She's forced into the world of Gage's and his business. When they meet Gage can't believe his eyes. Or her eyes!! The uniqueness of them stops him in his tracks. He knows them. He can't help but be drawn to them and her. Can he trust what he sees? Keeping her close so that he can try to spark up some old memories, has him dangling an unwelcomed business proposition up in the air just to keep her around longer. Work won't keep his quilt at bay when he's starting into the eyes of his past. Grab this book NOW to read how this story turns out. I don't want to give anything away, but it's so good!!! You will not be disappointed at all by this read. Except maybe wanting more like I did! I can't wait for more from this author!
Caitlin DeDannan is a young woman who is in the prime of her life, but it isn’t all smooth sailing, so when she finds herself swamped with work, nursing a broken heart and burnt out, she finds herself looking forward to some time off to relax and escape it all. Evariste Gage Arsceneaux is a young man in appearance, but he is also a few hundred years older and a vampire, but since losing his wife, he has felt lost, she was the light in his life and without her there, he has thrown himself into work and building up the company he heads.
A couple of days before her well needed trip away, she is called into a meeting with her boss and two clients, this is where a bomb is dropped and she is asked to complete an investigation while she is away, she is not impressed in the slightest and makes it known, but in the end she reluctantly agrees. Evariste has always known that people would want to buy him out of his business and up until now, they have all backed off after the first no, however, the latest annoyance is not being dissuaded, to the point that they have managed to wrangle an inspection and he isn’t in the least impressed and intends to being anywhere but the premises throughout.
When Caitlin arrives at her destination, she is happy with how her visit starts, but as soon as she goes to carry out the inspection, the grumpy workaholic is nowhere to be found, however she is invited to meet him and this is where everything changes. Evaluate, despite his best efforts is forced to meet the investigator, however, as soon as he lays eyes on her, he is ecstatic, it is someone who he has been searching for and someone who could be the answer to his prayers, but can he convince her of all that, or will bring professional win out over the passion brewing between them?
This is a romantic suspense full of action, adventure, twists, turns and of course vampires where you are lead into a world of intrigue and passion and will not be able to put this book down until you have consumed it in its entirety.
If The Original’s and True Blood got together this would be the love child.
"House of Arsceneaux" encompasses everything I adore about paranormal romance. It has a little of this and a little of that… all topped with a good dose of Creole cuisine.
The story begins with Caitlin DeDanann who has found herself on the verge of a well-deserved vacation in the vibrant city of New Orleans. However, fate had other plans for her, as an unexpected work project pulled her in just moments before she could board her flight. Little did she know that this project would lead her down a path she never could have imagined. As Caitlin delved into her new task, she discovered that the CEO she was sent to investigate is none other than Evariste Gage Arsceneaux, a deeply alluring man who immediately captivates her. (Unbeknownst to Caitlin) there was a deeper connection between them….. one that spanned centuries…. Literally. While Evariste grappled with the astonishing realization that Caitlin is the reincarnation of his long-lost wife, dark forces conspired to tear them apart once again, threatening their newfound connection and the love that transcended time. As Caitlin and Evariste navigated the crazy currents of their shared past, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous game of fate. Together, they would face ancient secrets, battle sinister adversaries, and discover the true power of their love.
Although the story requires further editing and polishing to ensure a seamless reading experience. There was just some part I believe needed more description and some that had too much. But other than that I truly did enjoy the ride it brings you on. It possessed a distinct charm and uniqueness that I don’t encountered often in my reading journey.
The House of Arsceneaux is a romance about two souls who are trying to find each other after centuries apart, while also trying to defeat the forces that have kept them apart. The plot is interesting and unfolds more and more the deeper into the book you go.
The reason I gave this only three stars is because I did find that plot overwhelming and honestly couldn't keep up with who was who half the time. Characters go by different names - the male lead was sometimes Gage and sometimes Evariste, most of the supporting characters (of which there were many) switched up names during the book as well. As the book goes on you find that not everyone is who you think they are, and not to give any spoilers away, but even the protagonists don't even know who they are themselves. Along the way this morphs from a romance to a cursed vampire story to a historical adventure to a mythical adventure and back again. I think the author tried to do to much in the story and as a result it lost a lot of clarity. My other big sticking point, is that the two leads end up kissing literally within 5 minutes of meeting each other. Which could be okay in a lost souls finding each other again story if it was written in such a way that they 'couldn't resist the forces pulling them together but didn't understand what was happening' kinda way, but this didn't go into that kinda of character development and so it left me a little cold.
Like I mentioned above, the story was interesting and it was a good read, but the book could have been so much more if it scaled back on some of it's complexities.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The House of Arsceneaux is part of the Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures series. It is a vampire paranormal story that centers around the story of fated mates Caitlin and Evariste. All Caitlin wants to do is go on holiday, but her boss has other plans for her. He insists that she cut into her personal time for a meeting at a property that could mean a huge business deal. The owner is a no-show because he is not interested in selling the property. Caitlin meets Evariste, the owner of the property, at a dinner party being given by his sister and he immediately believes that she is the reincarnation of his late wife. She has no recollection of her past, but he insists that she is his soul mate that he was separated from centuries ago. Evariste encourages Caitlin to travel back in the past with him so that he can show her that they were indeed soul mates that were hopelessly in love. Caitlin is uncertain if she should trust him but if she does not then she risks losing out on the possibility of being reunited with her one true love. I loved the overall love story of Caitlin and Evariste and how it is a testament to true love overcoming being torn apart by time and distance. The characters were ones that I felt a connection to, and I found myself rooting for them to be together after being separated years ago. This was a great read full of action, suspense, danger, drama, secrets, lies, vampires, and love through the centuries.
What a complex and unique novel. This is the love story of Caitlin and Evariste(Gage) that has spanned centuries. Caitlin, in present day, is a strong and very independent woman. She works for her guardian Sean, as an investigator for corporate takeovers. Evariste is a lonely and grouchy business man who prefers fishing to dealing with people. Caitlin has unique characteristics, red hair and purple eyes, that makes the close circle of Evariste's believe she is his returned dead wife. This book includes several supporting characters who play a major role in the lives of the main characters. How deep a role they play is revealed as you go deeper into the book and in time. All the characters are fun and stand out. The villains you will love to hate and keep wondering what they are up to. This book has vampires, goddesses, magic and a little something extra. The reader is taken to many locations and different time periods. Some are flashback memories and some are time travel. If you enjoy this kind of supernatural omiverse, you will enjoy this book. Make sure to read it undisturbed, there is a lot going on. I love that the author included a language glossary for the appropriate and authentic utterances, in the beginning of the book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love a good vampire love story so when I read about this book, I was excited to read it. The book did not disappoint.
Caitlin has been counting down the minutes to her well deserved vacation, that is until her boss gives her a last minute job that will cut into her personal time. She has to go to a property and scope it out for her clients who are potential buyers of the company. The owner of the company, Evariste, has no interest in selling his company and skips the meeting with Caitlin but after his sister blindsides him with her as a dinner guest, he is all of a sudden for Caitlin snooping around.
Evariste thinks that Caitlin is his dead wife reincarnated based on her unique colored eyes matching hers exactly. Caitlin remembers nothing of her past life, if she is even the wife. Evariste tries to get her to remember by traveling back into the past. He tries to get her to trust him and fall back in love with him. They were fated mates after all. Can Caitlin trust him? With danger lurking around the corner, she really has no choice but to trust Evariste.
I love Caitlin’s character. She is stubborn, sassy and will say almost anything even if it’s not the best idea. The only downfall about this book is that at times I found it was confusing to keep track of if you were in the past or present. As time goes on, it’s easier to know where, or should I say when, you are.
This was a really good paranormal romance. It was a very unique story which I haven't read before. It was full of danger, twists and turns, Romance, curses to break and a love hopefully to be renewed. The author's attention to detail really brought this story to life. The connection between Caitlin and Evariste. The attraction and chemistry between them is instant and hard to fight against. Evariste realises that Caitlin is his wife who was murdered hundreds of year before. In his eyes she has returned to him, to break the curse over his family. However the snag is Caitlin remembers nothing. She knows she is attracted to Evariste but she doesn't understand why. As secrets begin to unravel and they spend time together Evariste hopes she will remember who is was and what she means to him. But things aren't straight forward for them. Secrets are revealed by Caitlins family that has her questioning things, and with a danger lurking in the dark wanting nothing more than to separate Evariste and Caitlin again do they stand any chance of rekindling their love and saving themselves. I loved this story. I really couldn't put it down. I was so lost and invested in their lives that every struggle felt like my own. Amazing read.
The story of Caitlin and Gage was amazing! At first, I thought it was simply a modern vampire romance, I loved their development, the instant attraction, the tension, all of it. But then, it switches to like a mates/vampire romance novel, which grabbed my attention even more. THEN it shifted again to a reincarnation/fated mates/vampire romance story and I just couldn’t put it down. There was so much depth to the story and plot developments that by the end, I felt like I was reading a different book! I loved Caitlins personality, she’s witty, shocking, bold, and I love when she puts the men in their place. Gage was also an amazing balance for her, his undeniable love and devotion was so sweet, I’m a sucker for the ‘he fell first” trope. Then you throw in the other characters, Sean, Allister, Dante (😍), families, etc. and you have a seriously well balances group of individuals. This book is written in third person, which I don’t read a whole lot of, so it took some getting used to. With that being said, I felt like the story was a bit choppy and that it jumped around a few times so it was sometimes hard to grasp what all was going on. Once I got into that last 3rd of the book, it became easier to follow and by the end, I actually enjoyed the jumps. If it’s possible, I would suggest easing the reader into the jumps rather than just going all in. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the story, the characters, the descriptions, the use of different languages to add depth, all of it! I received an ARC for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
This is an enjoyable and engaging paranormal romance which kept me hooked throughout. Caitlin DeDanann’s life is falling apart, she’s overworked, burned out and recently dumped, and then her boss ruins her vacation by sending her on another assignment. Meanwhile, Vampire Evariste Gage Arsceneaux has thrown himself into work as a much needed distraction from his guilt at loosing his wife, over three hundred years ago. When Caitlin and Evariste meet through business, Evariste is in disbelief as he stares into her unique eyes, the eyes of his long-deceased wife. Reunited at last, the immortal knows he must make use of the short amount of time they have together to remind Caitlin of their love. However, there are many obstacles against the couple having a second chance at love, including spiteful ghosts from the past. Caitlin and Evariste are wonderfully detailed characters and their connection comes across in the narrative. However, the main characters go by different names depending on the century, which can be slightly confusing especially to begin with. The unique storyline and gripping plot kept me happily turning the pages.
House of Arsceneaux is the first book in the Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures series by Caterina Novelliere. Caitlin was supposed to be on vacation, but a last-minute demand from her boss has her mixing some business in amongst her vacation time. She isn’t too happy about it, but there is a huge ‘business deal’ at stake- plus she isn’t given much choice on the matter. Little does she know that her trip to New Orleans is about to turn her world upside down- changing everything she thought she knew- about pretty much everything. This story is about fated mates, soul mates reconnecting after centuries apart. It is about the power of love and fighting the forces that wish to keep you apart. This is an original paranormal second chance romance with vampires, the supernatural, drama, adventure, secrets, agendas, ancient evil, danger, intrigue, mystery, and fate. I have to be honest and say that the author pretty much had me hooked from the moment I saw ‘vampire’ in the blurb and really enjoyed their take on vampire lore. Looking forward to devouring the rest of the series. Happy reading…
House of Arsceneaux: A Vampire Paranormal Romance Novel is the first book in the Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures series. I was not sure what to expect, but I was intrigued by the title. Set in Louisiana, we meet Vampire Evariste Gage Arsceneaux, who is drawn to Caitlin DeDanann, sent to Louisiana as an investigator. Evariste knows Caitlin or recognizes her soul as his lost love. Will he be able to convince Caitlin that they are connected? This has a great setting, interesting characters, and lots to enjoy. Though a bit convoluted at points, this is an overall entertaining read. Also, the author hits a lot of territory with this one book. There is paranormal, romance, vampires, historical fiction, suspense, and more. I enjoyed the characters though I had to jot notes of current versus past names for some of the characters to keep track of everyone. I look forward to seeing what the author does next with this series. I assume there is a lot of background here to help move the series forward. If you are interested in an interesting read with some twists and turns, I recommend checking out this book.
House of Arsceneaux (Servants of Morrigan: Immortal Creatures) by Caterina Novelliere. Such a fun vampire, paranormal, ancient history romance. This is the story of Gage and Caitlin who has been in love for centuries! Caitlin and Gage time travel in this book and its a little hard to keep up with the different versions but I still really enjoyed this book. Caitlin in present day is so very strong and really tough. She works for Sean as an investigator for Corporate takeovers. She is flown to New Orleans to invesigate vampire Evariste aka Gage who is a grouch who prefers fishing to people. She realizes that she is magnetically pulled toward Evariste and can't figure out why. Evariste realizes that they were married in a previous life. While they are realizing they were meant to be a couple every thing in the World comes to tear them apart. With the help of friends they try to keep their relationship intact but with all the outside forces it difficult. This is a medium spicy paranormal romance that will keep you flipping pages late in the night. Pay attention to names because they do change throughout the story.
Loved Loved Loved this book. This is the first book I have read from this author and I will be reading more for sure. She has a way of writing that brings you right into the characters and keeps you there.
Fate can be a cruel beast at times and these characters prove it.
Everiste (Gage to his family and friends) is a man/vampire that will not sell his company to anyone, although they try their hardest to get him too. He’s a successful business man with a penchant for fishing and being away from people. He’s stubborn and very protective of those he loves.
Caitlin (Cate) (Cher) is planning on vacation when her boss strong arms her into a working holiday. She is to investigate Everiste’s company for new clients wanting to buy it. The one problem is that he will not meet with her and keeps disappearing until his sister gets involved.
There is so much going on behind the scenes that we learn as we read. I ended up reading this book in one day as I couldn’t put it down. The things that are revealed will keep you reading and excited and pained all at the same time.
Caitlin DeDanann is a woman full of ambition. She loves her job but is looking forward to a good break from it. Her boss has other ideas that include adding on a week of work to her vacation. And as much as she hates to do it, she does. Little does she know that the past is about to catch up with her. When she is drawn to a strange chef, she finds out that they have a shared history. As it all start rushing back to her, they find out that there is a more to their past lives than they originally thought. Can they find a way to beat the curse that was laid on them centuries ago? Or are they doomed to be lost to each other again??
This is my first time reading this author and now I feel like I need to read more of their stories! The story drew me in very quickly with all the little hints as to what was going to happen. And just as I thought I had it figured out, there was MORE! It was a good read, quick paced and fun. I enjoyed the characters and how she wasn't a damsel in distress that needed to be rescued. I look forward to more from this world that the author has written.
So this book drew me in fairly easily and I was enjoying the story until I encountered some tone issues with the writing. The biggest thing that bothered me were the POV changes initially. There were no breaks in the text to indicate the changes and I would get confused at whose point of view I was reading from. I did notice that this improved as the story progressed and I didn’t have to reread passages again to make sure I was following along correctly.
Now regarding the plot - I enjoyed it. I was feeling kinda meh at the beginning as I felt like the story was lacking substance but as Gage and Caitlin became more involved so did the plot. It was a straight info dump at some points and a bit overwhelming but manageable. Without being too spoilery - I found it refreshing reading about time travel, cursed bloodlines and fated loved. I think the story is a good one and I’d definitely read the sequel if one is written. However, I do think this story needs some more editing as it’s still rough around the edges.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A completely stellar steamy monster infused time period piece. I have to say reading House of Arsceneaux took me on a reading trip that I haven’t been on in a little bit of time.
I’ve always loved the idea of fated mates but the way this story was expertly crafted made me that much more in love with the idea. Reading of the love between Cate and Gage will have you pining after the idea that such a notion could truly exist. The idea of finding and loving your soulmate across different plains of time.
I’m usually not one to be a fan of time jumps, however - the time periods were not only executed but intermingled with grace and finesse that didn’t cause you an ounce of whiplash getting through the sorted tale. From elaborate yet completely realistic magical mystical creatures intertwined with everyday life. This beautiful tale will take you on a twisted heart wrenching journey in hopes that the fates will once again align for these star crossed lovers. I enjoyed every bit of this story and look forward to more works from this brilliant author.
This was a fascinating story that manages to take a modern woman and drag her into times past. Evariste and Caitlin are fated mates who were once married before murder separated them. Forced to live for centuries waiting again for her, Gage is amazed by her similarities and her differences. This is an emotional story of magic, time travel, past lives, powerful beings, vengeance, revenge and existing until he sees those eyes again. The character development of the two mains is so intense and simply jaw dropping with how they change when the past merges. Fighting for a future and the past steers this story through heartbreak and a determination that can split the seams of reality. I thoroughly enjoyed every major twist and turn that had my head spinning with disbelief. A truly grateful reader here who almost didn't take a chance on this book.. I am so glad I dived right in and lost my own heart in the process.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This vampire fantasy romance has something in it for every fantasy lover, dark with just the right balance of spice, love, loss, family relationships, historical details and time travel, the author has really included so many different elements that you could be forgiven for thinking that the story could be overwhelmed by this. However that is very much not the case. The story is fast paced, but it’s well written and just keeps you hooked. The characters are well developed and we are given sufficient back story for Gage so that we are not left guessing about the events in his past. The chemistry between Gage and Caitlin is palpable and I was completely invested in there relationship and very much rooting for them. The side characters all add something to the story and none of them felt superfluous. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author. My thanks to the author, the publisher and to BookSirens for gifting me this book. I am leaving this review of my own volition.
I had mixed feelings about the House of Arsceneaux. I loved the romance between Gage and Caitlin. I liked watching them fall in love and learn about the past they shared. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the past and the setting in New Orleans. In a way this book is multiple love stories in one. Overall, I enjoyed the first half but it was a little bit slow paced for me. I was confused about what was happening but that is expected when the main character is also in the dark. However, when we started to get answers I had problems with the world building. There were a lot of elements to this world, including paranormal creatures, deities, time travel. It felt like a little bit too much to me and I never really felt like I understood the world. At the same time I wished the book had been shorter. I think keeping the world simpler would have made the story more enjoyable. I recommend this book for readers who are interested in romance with fantasy and paranormal elements combined. Great for fans of Fallen by Lauren Kate!
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this title!