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Caitlyn O’Connell #1
Shattered Souls
When her mentor is brutally murdered by a supernatural force, an alcoholic former cop turns to her past lovers—her ex-partner and a powerful sorcerer—to help her hunt down a demon terrorizing Memphis.
Caitlyn O’Connell had it all: a career with the Memphis PD, a passionate marriage, and the satisfaction that her work made a difference in the world. But she also had a secret, a supernatural “gift” that cost her everything. Now she scrapes by as a private investigator, taking cases the cops won’t touch and counting down the minutes until happy hour. But when Sam Pierce, her former partner and estranged ex-husband, comes to her for help with a bizarre murder case, Cait can’t say no. And not just because Sam is still as irresistibly sexy as he was on the day they met. Something sinister—and demonic—is terrorizing Memphis, leaving a bloody trail of bodies and clues only Cait can read. Together she and Sam will venture into a dark world of magic and unholy terror, hunting a killer who will lead them to the brink of reality as they know it—and back into the thrall of their stormy past. Steamy and suspenseful, Shattered Souls is the pulse-quickening new offering from romance author Delilah Devlin.
Caitlyn O’Connell had it all: a career with the Memphis PD, a passionate marriage, and the satisfaction that her work made a difference in the world. But she also had a secret, a supernatural “gift” that cost her everything. Now she scrapes by as a private investigator, taking cases the cops won’t touch and counting down the minutes until happy hour. But when Sam Pierce, her former partner and estranged ex-husband, comes to her for help with a bizarre murder case, Cait can’t say no. And not just because Sam is still as irresistibly sexy as he was on the day they met. Something sinister—and demonic—is terrorizing Memphis, leaving a bloody trail of bodies and clues only Cait can read. Together she and Sam will venture into a dark world of magic and unholy terror, hunting a killer who will lead them to the brink of reality as they know it—and back into the thrall of their stormy past. Steamy and suspenseful, Shattered Souls is the pulse-quickening new offering from romance author Delilah Devlin.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2013
171 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
Delilah Devlin
349 books1,204 followersDelilah Devlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. Whether creating dark, erotically-charged paranormal worlds or richly descriptive westerns that ring with authenticity, Delilah Devlin “pens in uncharted territory that will leave the readers breathless and hungering for more…” www.DelilahDevlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
April 30, 2013
Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog
“Shattered Souls shocked me with its exhilarating story line and its magical world of Witches, Wraiths and Demons. Ms. Devlin wrote an intriguing urban fantasy with just the right balance of romance, nail-biting scenes and well-developed characters. She really got me hooked from the beginning until the end.” ~Under The Covers
Shattered Souls shocked me with its exhilarating story line and its magical world of Witches, Wraiths and Demons. Ms. Devlin wrote an intriguing urban fantasy with just the right balance of romance, nail-biting scenes and well-developed characters. She really got me hooked from the beginning until the end.
Caitlynn O’Connell AKA Cait is an ex-cop and now a private investigator. Due to her alcohol problem, she had lost her job and her husband. She lost everything due to attempts to forget her past and the voices in her head. Yes, she hears voices in her head. I just love how Ms Devlin touches alcoholism and what can drive people to it. In this case, Cait is trying to drown out what she is, a witch.
Unfortunately, it is not something she had accepted, hence her escape to drinking. Cait’s family background of witches and the “other worldly” beings around this life makes this novel dark and mysterious. And let me tell you, there are some scenes that scared the heck out of me. I swear there was scary music playing as I read certain scenes. Cait is an intriguing character and I wanted to know more about her, her background and what she can do. I have a feeling her character will even grow stronger by the next book.
Cait’s ex-husband and ex partner, Sam Pierce makes this book light and seems to give Cait’s dark story hope. When he contacts Cait to help him on an “unsual” case, you automatically see he has strong feelings for her. The detail of their break up was not discussed in detail
but you get the jist of it. I found myself cheering them on to get back together. Sam is a sexy, classy, cop and his alpha-ness just shines when danger or another man gets near Cait. I love it when the hero get jealous, possessive but then backs off for trust. Talk about jealousy, there
is another man that I thought was super hot. This guy is someone from Cait’s distant past and boy he is just sin incarnate. His name is Morin and hear me now, he is claimed.=P Though he was in this book a good amount of time, part of what he is and what place he will have on
Cait’s future is not very clear. I can tell you one thing; they definitely had a scorching hot past.
Overall, this book was amazing in the mystery, romance, suspense and story line. The ending is more a teaser than a cliffhanger. It left me re-reading the last sentences making sure I understood what I read. I’m still a bit puzzled but I’m dying to know. Shattered Souls has made it to my Top Read of the year. I have no doubt the second installment will do the same.
*Review copy provided by publisher
*Buddy read with Janet*
“Shattered Souls shocked me with its exhilarating story line and its magical world of Witches, Wraiths and Demons. Ms. Devlin wrote an intriguing urban fantasy with just the right balance of romance, nail-biting scenes and well-developed characters. She really got me hooked from the beginning until the end.” ~Under The Covers
Shattered Souls shocked me with its exhilarating story line and its magical world of Witches, Wraiths and Demons. Ms. Devlin wrote an intriguing urban fantasy with just the right balance of romance, nail-biting scenes and well-developed characters. She really got me hooked from the beginning until the end.
Caitlynn O’Connell AKA Cait is an ex-cop and now a private investigator. Due to her alcohol problem, she had lost her job and her husband. She lost everything due to attempts to forget her past and the voices in her head. Yes, she hears voices in her head. I just love how Ms Devlin touches alcoholism and what can drive people to it. In this case, Cait is trying to drown out what she is, a witch.
Unfortunately, it is not something she had accepted, hence her escape to drinking. Cait’s family background of witches and the “other worldly” beings around this life makes this novel dark and mysterious. And let me tell you, there are some scenes that scared the heck out of me. I swear there was scary music playing as I read certain scenes. Cait is an intriguing character and I wanted to know more about her, her background and what she can do. I have a feeling her character will even grow stronger by the next book.
Cait’s ex-husband and ex partner, Sam Pierce makes this book light and seems to give Cait’s dark story hope. When he contacts Cait to help him on an “unsual” case, you automatically see he has strong feelings for her. The detail of their break up was not discussed in detail
but you get the jist of it. I found myself cheering them on to get back together. Sam is a sexy, classy, cop and his alpha-ness just shines when danger or another man gets near Cait. I love it when the hero get jealous, possessive but then backs off for trust. Talk about jealousy, there
is another man that I thought was super hot. This guy is someone from Cait’s distant past and boy he is just sin incarnate. His name is Morin and hear me now, he is claimed.=P Though he was in this book a good amount of time, part of what he is and what place he will have on
Cait’s future is not very clear. I can tell you one thing; they definitely had a scorching hot past.
Overall, this book was amazing in the mystery, romance, suspense and story line. The ending is more a teaser than a cliffhanger. It left me re-reading the last sentences making sure I understood what I read. I’m still a bit puzzled but I’m dying to know. Shattered Souls has made it to my Top Read of the year. I have no doubt the second installment will do the same.
*Review copy provided by publisher
*Buddy read with Janet*
February 1, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. I was hoping for some very good paranormal fiction, but in the end it just didn't work for me. I probably would have liked this book a lot more if it wasn't for the sex. The sex is well written, and it isn't clichéd...but in my opinion it just didn't belong in this book. It didn't add all that much to the story and in one instance I thought to myself, 'I probably wouldn't feel up for a roll in the hay so soon after my mentor was murdered'...but maybe that's just me.
There are some good things in Shattered Souls but I found it hard going.
There are some good things in Shattered Souls but I found it hard going.
May 9, 2020
Interesting an easy read alot going on with the ex husband Sam and the death of her mother.
February 24, 2013
After finishing this, I realized I'm probably not the target audience for Shattered Souls. Yes, I'm of a certain age. Yes, I'm of the female sex. Two things which might seem to be the only qualities necessary to be a member of the target audience for this particular book or even this author. I guess I just want more from a PNR than just a couple of supernatural elements and a lot of sex. Really, this is all my fault; I knew better going in, but I just couldn't help myself. I really should not read PNRs anymore. I like the paranormal parts, but the romance I can do without.
Okay, let's get to the nitty-gritty: the sex. I'm sorry, but when I read the sex scenes in this book, I could literally hear the cheesy “bow chicka wow wow” music, see the harsh lighting, and the jerky camera movements of a porn movie. The way Cait and Sam behaved during sex, the way they kept changing positions, it just didn't feel like two real people having real sex. It was artificial and thus not sexy at all. Plus, whenever Cait got wet, it either dripped down her thighs or was so plentiful that Sam could detect it through her jeans. Now, thanks to some research, I realize that some woman suffer from excessive lubrication. However, it's actually not something that's desirable: it's distracting, it's messy (and, yes, I know sex can be messy, but this is like can-only-have-sex-in-the-bathtub messy), and the excess fluid actually reduces pleasure for both parties in that women lose out on vaginal stimulation and men lose out on that “tight” sensation. Most women actually seek medical help for this problem. Being so wet it runs down your legs like urine is not desirable and it's far from sexy. You might think this is an absurd or even gross point to bring up, but when I was reading, I was utterly distracted when I came across mention of this condition in Cait (and it comes up three times, if I remember correctly). It brought me right out of the story. So not only were the sex scenes not sexy and occasionally perturbing, they were long. I mean, dragging on to the point that I ended up flipping past them. One scene required nine and a half pages! The other three scenes were nearly as long. Oy. And for such a short book, the fact that there are four long sex scenes in it, taking up at least a quarter of the story, doesn't bode well for a deep, involved, or engaging plot. Which it wasn't.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what the whole point of the book was. There's some stuff about demons and magic, and the prerequisite family drama involving secrets and betrayal--frankly, all fairly standard stuff for this genre with no unique twist or take on the subject. Basically, it came across as just an excuse to string together the sex scenes, like those thin plots they give to porno movies so people can feel less guilty about watching them because, hey, it's more than just sex, there's a real story here! Thin, flimsy, and not at all compelling, the story is pretty lackluster. I didn't feel any real sense of danger, mystery, or excitement while I was reading the book and even when the action ramped up or the characters were supposedly in danger, I never once felt a corresponding increase in my pulse or interest level, or sensed that the characters were in any real peril.
Oh, and that whole 'We're divorced, but we both are still in love with each other, and we still have hot monkey sex, and, oh boy, we're getting back together at the end of the book to live happily ever after!' trope is so freaking tiresome! Is it like some kind of law that if you have a male and female protagonist, you have to use this template?
You know, if I had to sum up Shattered Souls in one word, the one that keeps coming to mind is “beige.” Other possibilities are “generic,” “lightweight,” and “forgettable,” all of which perfectly describe the overriding sensation I get whenever I go back over the book in my memory: absolutely nothing stands out. Not the characters, not the story, not even the setting. It all blends together into one bland blur.
Okay, let's get to the nitty-gritty: the sex. I'm sorry, but when I read the sex scenes in this book, I could literally hear the cheesy “bow chicka wow wow” music, see the harsh lighting, and the jerky camera movements of a porn movie. The way Cait and Sam behaved during sex, the way they kept changing positions, it just didn't feel like two real people having real sex. It was artificial and thus not sexy at all. Plus, whenever Cait got wet, it either dripped down her thighs or was so plentiful that Sam could detect it through her jeans. Now, thanks to some research, I realize that some woman suffer from excessive lubrication. However, it's actually not something that's desirable: it's distracting, it's messy (and, yes, I know sex can be messy, but this is like can-only-have-sex-in-the-bathtub messy), and the excess fluid actually reduces pleasure for both parties in that women lose out on vaginal stimulation and men lose out on that “tight” sensation. Most women actually seek medical help for this problem. Being so wet it runs down your legs like urine is not desirable and it's far from sexy. You might think this is an absurd or even gross point to bring up, but when I was reading, I was utterly distracted when I came across mention of this condition in Cait (and it comes up three times, if I remember correctly). It brought me right out of the story. So not only were the sex scenes not sexy and occasionally perturbing, they were long. I mean, dragging on to the point that I ended up flipping past them. One scene required nine and a half pages! The other three scenes were nearly as long. Oy. And for such a short book, the fact that there are four long sex scenes in it, taking up at least a quarter of the story, doesn't bode well for a deep, involved, or engaging plot. Which it wasn't.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what the whole point of the book was. There's some stuff about demons and magic, and the prerequisite family drama involving secrets and betrayal--frankly, all fairly standard stuff for this genre with no unique twist or take on the subject. Basically, it came across as just an excuse to string together the sex scenes, like those thin plots they give to porno movies so people can feel less guilty about watching them because, hey, it's more than just sex, there's a real story here! Thin, flimsy, and not at all compelling, the story is pretty lackluster. I didn't feel any real sense of danger, mystery, or excitement while I was reading the book and even when the action ramped up or the characters were supposedly in danger, I never once felt a corresponding increase in my pulse or interest level, or sensed that the characters were in any real peril.
Oh, and that whole 'We're divorced, but we both are still in love with each other, and we still have hot monkey sex, and, oh boy, we're getting back together at the end of the book to live happily ever after!' trope is so freaking tiresome! Is it like some kind of law that if you have a male and female protagonist, you have to use this template?
You know, if I had to sum up Shattered Souls in one word, the one that keeps coming to mind is “beige.” Other possibilities are “generic,” “lightweight,” and “forgettable,” all of which perfectly describe the overriding sensation I get whenever I go back over the book in my memory: absolutely nothing stands out. Not the characters, not the story, not even the setting. It all blends together into one bland blur.
August 28, 2015
I probably should've looked up the author before buying this book, but then I like to be surprised.
In short? Two stars for being moderately well-written, good sex scenes, rare good general scenes (Jason, the cemetery scene) and sheer potential.
The setup of the book was intriguing. An ex-cop, ex-wife that is an alcoholic, because she hears voices and can't cope...
This has potential! Or so I thought...
Sadly, the potential wasn't used in the least. The ex-cop drama was only there in connection with her ex-husband Sam, which all had the purpose to lead to many extensive sex scenes.
The sex scenes were more than readable though and after the second (or third?) one I started to to skip them anyway.
The thing that really disappointed me?
The handling of the alcohol and magic part. To be an alcoholic has consequences. Deep, scaring consequences from ranging of loss of job, to loss of friend and families to physical and emotional dependence.
Loss of job? Glossed over.
Loss of friends? Not mentioned.
Loss of family? Sam is there the entire time. They have sex almost immediately.
Physical consequences? Were not mentioned until they visited Morin and he gave her the magical instant solution without being asked. Voila!
Emotional? Mentioned here and there, that she "craves" it. Then dropped like a hot stone. Her craving for Sam seems far stronger, more important and vivid. Which is funny, after all didn't she destroy her marriage for the alcohol?
And the magic part... It was there. Only one really couldn't feel the "pressure" of the voices that let her turn to the bottle. I can't remember one instant in the book when the voices seemed to overwhelmingly to bother her.
With more and more pages, the voices as reason to drink felt like an excuse, like so much else with the character.
Ah, yes, the main character, Caitlynn. Bitchy, secretive and blames everything but herself for the alcohol - until the moment when she can self-pity herself.
Sam, who was her husband? Seems to actually know nothing about her, besides satisfying her in bed.
And then there was the side story with Morin. In the middle of the book his part in the plot was more than obvious, but the characters were still guessing. No problem. What really annoyed me though, was the story about the past with Cait.
Am I the only one pitying this man? Not that he had sex, no. But it still seemed as if the author didn't bother to give him any feelings beyond those strictly necessary as a plot device.
Geli
In short? Two stars for being moderately well-written, good sex scenes, rare good general scenes (Jason, the cemetery scene) and sheer potential.
The setup of the book was intriguing. An ex-cop, ex-wife that is an alcoholic, because she hears voices and can't cope...
This has potential! Or so I thought...
Sadly, the potential wasn't used in the least. The ex-cop drama was only there in connection with her ex-husband Sam, which all had the purpose to lead to many extensive sex scenes.
The sex scenes were more than readable though and after the second (or third?) one I started to to skip them anyway.
The thing that really disappointed me?
The handling of the alcohol and magic part. To be an alcoholic has consequences. Deep, scaring consequences from ranging of loss of job, to loss of friend and families to physical and emotional dependence.
Loss of job? Glossed over.
Loss of friends? Not mentioned.
Loss of family? Sam is there the entire time. They have sex almost immediately.
Physical consequences? Were not mentioned until they visited Morin and he gave her the magical instant solution without being asked. Voila!
Emotional? Mentioned here and there, that she "craves" it. Then dropped like a hot stone. Her craving for Sam seems far stronger, more important and vivid. Which is funny, after all didn't she destroy her marriage for the alcohol?
And the magic part... It was there. Only one really couldn't feel the "pressure" of the voices that let her turn to the bottle. I can't remember one instant in the book when the voices seemed to overwhelmingly to bother her.
With more and more pages, the voices as reason to drink felt like an excuse, like so much else with the character.
Ah, yes, the main character, Caitlynn. Bitchy, secretive and blames everything but herself for the alcohol - until the moment when she can self-pity herself.
Sam, who was her husband? Seems to actually know nothing about her, besides satisfying her in bed.
And then there was the side story with Morin. In the middle of the book his part in the plot was more than obvious, but the characters were still guessing. No problem. What really annoyed me though, was the story about the past with Cait.
Am I the only one pitying this man? Not that he had sex, no. But it still seemed as if the author didn't bother to give him any feelings beyond those strictly necessary as a plot device.
Geli
January 31, 2013
This book cast a spell on me while reading it. I've never had more interruptions while trying to read and during each one all I could think about is getting back to it because I have to know what happens next. That feeling stayed through out the whole book.
I have never been a big reader of "Urban Fantasy" which is what I keep seeing this called so I went to look up what it actually meant. I found the following "Urban fantasy focuses on an issue outside of a romantic relationship between two characters. Paranormal romance focuses on a romantic relationship between two characters and how outside forces affect that relationship." Seemed like a fine line to me. Do I think if the H/h romance was removed would the plot still stand as a viable storyline? My answer - I wouldn't want it without all the hot scenes that were between Caitlyn O’Connell who comes from a long line of witches but has refused to practice her craft since her mother's death and Sam Pierce, her former partner with the Memphis Police Department and also her ex-husband.
Caitlyn has tried to live a normal life - one free of witchcraft. She joined the police force and eventually married her partner. But she was never honest with him about who she was and where she came from and he sensed this and to dull the spirits she always heard she drank alot. This caused the demise of her marriage. When a mysterious circumstances murder happens Sam pulls her out of a drunken stupor to come and try and help figure out what happened in that hotel room. I must say there were some chilling moments in there on figuring out where the body was.
When Caitlyn left the police force she joined up with a PI named Jason and it seems there current clients case is connected with Sam's murder.
There are plenty of dark creepy things that happen in this book. The graveyard scene was down right spooky but the author also incorporates plenty of humor even during the scary times. The supporting characters in the book were also so intriguing each one weaving you into there supernatural lives.
This was an addicting read and cannot wait to see what future evils Caitlyn and Sam have to battle along with each other :)
I have never been a big reader of "Urban Fantasy" which is what I keep seeing this called so I went to look up what it actually meant. I found the following "Urban fantasy focuses on an issue outside of a romantic relationship between two characters. Paranormal romance focuses on a romantic relationship between two characters and how outside forces affect that relationship." Seemed like a fine line to me. Do I think if the H/h romance was removed would the plot still stand as a viable storyline? My answer - I wouldn't want it without all the hot scenes that were between Caitlyn O’Connell who comes from a long line of witches but has refused to practice her craft since her mother's death and Sam Pierce, her former partner with the Memphis Police Department and also her ex-husband.
Caitlyn has tried to live a normal life - one free of witchcraft. She joined the police force and eventually married her partner. But she was never honest with him about who she was and where she came from and he sensed this and to dull the spirits she always heard she drank alot. This caused the demise of her marriage. When a mysterious circumstances murder happens Sam pulls her out of a drunken stupor to come and try and help figure out what happened in that hotel room. I must say there were some chilling moments in there on figuring out where the body was.
When Caitlyn left the police force she joined up with a PI named Jason and it seems there current clients case is connected with Sam's murder.
There are plenty of dark creepy things that happen in this book. The graveyard scene was down right spooky but the author also incorporates plenty of humor even during the scary times. The supporting characters in the book were also so intriguing each one weaving you into there supernatural lives.
This was an addicting read and cannot wait to see what future evils Caitlyn and Sam have to battle along with each other :)
March 23, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romantic Paranormal Thriller
Reading Level: Adult (lots of explicit sex and sexual language)
Recommended for: Fans of Paranormal Romance, paranormal romantic thrillers, urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: alcohol abuse, murder, sex between 17-year-old girl and adult man
My Thoughts: I hadn't realized when I selected this book that it would be considered romance, since it was under thrillers, but reading the synopsis made me realize my assumptions were incomplete; so I was, needless to say, a bit uncertain when I started reading it.
Truth to tell, I enjoyed the story, but had to skip huge swathes of nothing but sex. I'm not a prude, but it felt really gratuitous to me. I would have enjoyed the mystery and thriller aspects of the story more if the sex parts had been more fade-to-black in nature, rather than explicit. I was also annoyed by Cait's constant thoughts of sex: “oh, he's bruising my arm, that gets me hot; oh, he's growling at me and looking angry, that gets me hot; oh, he's being gentlemanly, that gets me hot.” Yuck. So that's why it's rated the way it is. If you like sexy paranormal thrillers, urban fantasy with lots of sex, romantic paranormal thrillers, then you'll really like this book, which is the first in a proposed series. Me? Nah, I won't be continuing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: When her mentor is brutally murdered by a supernatural force, an alcoholic former cop turns to her past lovers—her ex-partner and a powerful sorcerer—to help her hunt down a demon terrorizing Memphis.
Caitlyn O’Connell had it all: a career with the Memphis PD, a passionate marriage, and the satisfaction that her work made a difference in the world. But she also had a secret, a supernatural “gift” that cost her everything. Now she scrapes by as a private investigator, taking cases the cops won’t touch and counting down the minutes until happy hour. But when Sam Pierce, her former partner and estranged ex-husband, comes to her for help with a bizarre murder case, Cait can’t say no. And not just because Sam is still as irresistibly sexy as he was on the day they met. Something sinister—and demonic—is terrorizing Memphis, leaving a bloody trail of bodies and clues only Cait can read. Together she and Sam will venture into a dark world of magic and unholy terror, hunting a killer who will lead them to the brink of reality as they know it—and back into the thrall of their stormy past.
Reading Level: Adult (lots of explicit sex and sexual language)
Recommended for: Fans of Paranormal Romance, paranormal romantic thrillers, urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: alcohol abuse, murder, sex between 17-year-old girl and adult man
My Thoughts: I hadn't realized when I selected this book that it would be considered romance, since it was under thrillers, but reading the synopsis made me realize my assumptions were incomplete; so I was, needless to say, a bit uncertain when I started reading it.
Truth to tell, I enjoyed the story, but had to skip huge swathes of nothing but sex. I'm not a prude, but it felt really gratuitous to me. I would have enjoyed the mystery and thriller aspects of the story more if the sex parts had been more fade-to-black in nature, rather than explicit. I was also annoyed by Cait's constant thoughts of sex: “oh, he's bruising my arm, that gets me hot; oh, he's growling at me and looking angry, that gets me hot; oh, he's being gentlemanly, that gets me hot.” Yuck. So that's why it's rated the way it is. If you like sexy paranormal thrillers, urban fantasy with lots of sex, romantic paranormal thrillers, then you'll really like this book, which is the first in a proposed series. Me? Nah, I won't be continuing.Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: When her mentor is brutally murdered by a supernatural force, an alcoholic former cop turns to her past lovers—her ex-partner and a powerful sorcerer—to help her hunt down a demon terrorizing Memphis.
Caitlyn O’Connell had it all: a career with the Memphis PD, a passionate marriage, and the satisfaction that her work made a difference in the world. But she also had a secret, a supernatural “gift” that cost her everything. Now she scrapes by as a private investigator, taking cases the cops won’t touch and counting down the minutes until happy hour. But when Sam Pierce, her former partner and estranged ex-husband, comes to her for help with a bizarre murder case, Cait can’t say no. And not just because Sam is still as irresistibly sexy as he was on the day they met. Something sinister—and demonic—is terrorizing Memphis, leaving a bloody trail of bodies and clues only Cait can read. Together she and Sam will venture into a dark world of magic and unholy terror, hunting a killer who will lead them to the brink of reality as they know it—and back into the thrall of their stormy past.
February 9, 2013
I don’t even know where to start with this review, so I’ll just jump right into it…. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Shattered Souls was a riveting, suspenseful romance story that had titillating elements from the hereafter. The amount of details that Delilah Devlin incorporated into the story, made me feel like I was there, experiencing the adventures. A few of the scene were so vividly described, that I felt a chill crawl over my skin.
Shattered Souls has it all…..Demons, ghosts, wraiths. And who do we have to battle all these evil beings, a witch! How scrumptious.
Caitlyn(Cait) O’Connell as know her whole life she was a witch, same as her mom, but it was a destiny she refused to accept. Instead she became a cop just like her father. The voices in her head had a different idea and plagued her continually. To help drown out the voices, Cait drank, heavily. This caused her to lose her job and her marriage. No one knew of Cait’s family heritage, not even her ex-husband, Sam Pierce, who happens to also be her ex-partner on the police force.
Shattered Souls starts with Sam waking up a hung-over Cait, telling her he needs her help investigating an unusual case. As Cait and Sam look over the crime scene, she knows immediately that they are dealing with something supernatural.
As the investigating gets on its way, Cait and Sam not only have to deal with the mystical, they also still have to deal with their feeling for each other. Cait understands that she needs to embrace her powers and accepts her destiny if she wants to solve this case. As Cait opens up to Sam about her past, Sam sees another side to his wife and the world she grew up in, a world he never believed even existed. Needless to say, he becomes a believer and Cait’s biggest supporter.
This is a brilliant beginning of what I think will be a wonderful series. I can’t wait to see what kind of sinister evil Sam and Cait will battle in the next book.
Shattered Souls was a riveting, suspenseful romance story that had titillating elements from the hereafter. The amount of details that Delilah Devlin incorporated into the story, made me feel like I was there, experiencing the adventures. A few of the scene were so vividly described, that I felt a chill crawl over my skin.
Shattered Souls has it all…..Demons, ghosts, wraiths. And who do we have to battle all these evil beings, a witch! How scrumptious.
Caitlyn(Cait) O’Connell as know her whole life she was a witch, same as her mom, but it was a destiny she refused to accept. Instead she became a cop just like her father. The voices in her head had a different idea and plagued her continually. To help drown out the voices, Cait drank, heavily. This caused her to lose her job and her marriage. No one knew of Cait’s family heritage, not even her ex-husband, Sam Pierce, who happens to also be her ex-partner on the police force.
Shattered Souls starts with Sam waking up a hung-over Cait, telling her he needs her help investigating an unusual case. As Cait and Sam look over the crime scene, she knows immediately that they are dealing with something supernatural.
As the investigating gets on its way, Cait and Sam not only have to deal with the mystical, they also still have to deal with their feeling for each other. Cait understands that she needs to embrace her powers and accepts her destiny if she wants to solve this case. As Cait opens up to Sam about her past, Sam sees another side to his wife and the world she grew up in, a world he never believed even existed. Needless to say, he becomes a believer and Cait’s biggest supporter.
This is a brilliant beginning of what I think will be a wonderful series. I can’t wait to see what kind of sinister evil Sam and Cait will battle in the next book.
May 12, 2015
The Shattered Souls was full of action, erotica and romance. It is a good book for under 300 pages to read. Some parts were rushed and other parts had very good detail. I would recommend this book to others. I will definitely be looking forward to the second book Lost Souls.
January 21, 2019
Listened (mostly) to the audio version of this book. I give the narration a solid 4 stars, but the overall story a shaky 3.5. I had various issues with the book and the more I think about it, the lower I want to rate this book.
There were parts of the book I dragged on and although the synopsis and storyline idea were intersting - I felt the author is/was trying to push too many things together. I understand that it was not only necessary for the story but also for the series plot - but still felt like too many things going on and not enough pages/writing to work it all in successfully.
Another issue was the amount of sex scenes thrown in. I'm all for a good erotic scene or two - but this felt more like random page filler than something that was being used to grow the relationship between the female MC and her love interest. Was this supposed to be a supernatural thriller or a divorcee version of 50 Shades of Grey? LOL!
Another dislike was how the MC's use of magic was used. At first, I thought it had a lot of potential. By the end, I felt it was handled poorly. For instance, in the beginning, there was such emphasis on the voices in the MC's head but by the end of the story it just felt like it was just something used now and again as a fall back or filler.
The MC's alcohol usage/abuse was also not realistically portrayed. If we are to believe she's an extremely heavy drinker and has been for awhile, I don't see her suddenly sobering up for the case without other consequence aside from a craving now and again.
I do appreciate that the main character is seriously flawed but worry that the character development and growth will fall short in the long run.
Right now both the character and the series have a lot of potential, but they also walk the line of becoming too dramatic, tedious, and poorly "managed." Will give the 2nd book a shot but in all honesty, I don't have high expectations at this point.
There were parts of the book I dragged on and although the synopsis and storyline idea were intersting - I felt the author is/was trying to push too many things together. I understand that it was not only necessary for the story but also for the series plot - but still felt like too many things going on and not enough pages/writing to work it all in successfully.
Another issue was the amount of sex scenes thrown in. I'm all for a good erotic scene or two - but this felt more like random page filler than something that was being used to grow the relationship between the female MC and her love interest. Was this supposed to be a supernatural thriller or a divorcee version of 50 Shades of Grey? LOL!
Another dislike was how the MC's use of magic was used. At first, I thought it had a lot of potential. By the end, I felt it was handled poorly. For instance, in the beginning, there was such emphasis on the voices in the MC's head but by the end of the story it just felt like it was just something used now and again as a fall back or filler.
The MC's alcohol usage/abuse was also not realistically portrayed. If we are to believe she's an extremely heavy drinker and has been for awhile, I don't see her suddenly sobering up for the case without other consequence aside from a craving now and again.
I do appreciate that the main character is seriously flawed but worry that the character development and growth will fall short in the long run.
Right now both the character and the series have a lot of potential, but they also walk the line of becoming too dramatic, tedious, and poorly "managed." Will give the 2nd book a shot but in all honesty, I don't have high expectations at this point.
November 20, 2020
Not bad. Paranormal story quite interesting but with some plot holes. For the romance part - I understand that H and h had quite a baggage of disappointment, lack of trust, her drinking problem which ruined their relationship and marriage, so they having sex just in space of few hours since their first interaction seems not really consistent.
July 25, 2018
I really don't know where to start with this one. I guess putting everything in bullet points will have to do. None of them contain spoilers so much as structure discussion.
*The plot was weak and inconsistent. I don't know if that's mostly just due to the constant generic sex scenes that are threaded through the book or actual weakness.
*It's obvious that this author didn't do more than rudimentary research on a lot of things. For some reason, a lot of this concerned the work of private investigators versus police. I'm not exactly super knowledgeable about such things myself, but I felt that there were definitely places where civilian characters skirted if not fully crossed the line as far as legality.
*Male protagonist is a pushy, aggressive, jealous jerk that I just can't imagine anyone really wanting to date, much less marry, divorce, and have sex like rabbits with like the female protagonist does.
*There is way too much telling instead of showing when it comes to characters. Stuff surrounding the female protagonist suffers the most from this, as she's supposedly a fighter (mentioned by character, not shown) with the skills to be a police officer. What do we see instead? A woman who just allows her jerk of an ex to push her around while thinking about sex with the timing of a thirteen year old boy that just figured out what he has. Not to mention all of the hype surrounding being an alcoholic for years. She drinks so heavily that forgetting what she did the night before isn't that concerning, but when she stops BECAUSE THE JERK TELLS HER TO, there's no withdrawal symptoms or anything, just wistfully wanting a drink. Oh, wait, there is one case of throwing up, but hangovers are a thing.
*Honestly, both main female and male protagonists think about sex more often than the actual plot. More words are taken up to describe the male protagonist's body and how much they want to jump each other than actual reaction to the situations at hand. It makes the pacing suffer really, really badly.
*Wow, that main male protagonist really took the whole learning all these life-shattering secrets about his ex-wife in stride! (It must be all the sex.)
*There's a side male character that is a really weak third wheel. Seriously, he and the female protagonist slept together ONCE over a decade ago, but I guess that's enough to throw the male protagonist into ridiculous jealous spats every time he comes up that. Of course, the female protagonist things is romantic or something. Ugh.
*Said side male character's story sounded better than the one I was reading. I wish I could read that one instead.
I could probably fill this out more and include examples, but that would mean going through it again. One full read-through is enough, thank you. Now, I'm not saying that the writer lacks potential, either. Most of the above points are rookie mistakes and, hey, I've been there. I would just suggest that anyone expecting a fully realized story pass on this one and maybe give the author a shot later.
*The plot was weak and inconsistent. I don't know if that's mostly just due to the constant generic sex scenes that are threaded through the book or actual weakness.
*It's obvious that this author didn't do more than rudimentary research on a lot of things. For some reason, a lot of this concerned the work of private investigators versus police. I'm not exactly super knowledgeable about such things myself, but I felt that there were definitely places where civilian characters skirted if not fully crossed the line as far as legality.
*Male protagonist is a pushy, aggressive, jealous jerk that I just can't imagine anyone really wanting to date, much less marry, divorce, and have sex like rabbits with like the female protagonist does.
*There is way too much telling instead of showing when it comes to characters. Stuff surrounding the female protagonist suffers the most from this, as she's supposedly a fighter (mentioned by character, not shown) with the skills to be a police officer. What do we see instead? A woman who just allows her jerk of an ex to push her around while thinking about sex with the timing of a thirteen year old boy that just figured out what he has. Not to mention all of the hype surrounding being an alcoholic for years. She drinks so heavily that forgetting what she did the night before isn't that concerning, but when she stops BECAUSE THE JERK TELLS HER TO, there's no withdrawal symptoms or anything, just wistfully wanting a drink. Oh, wait, there is one case of throwing up, but hangovers are a thing.
*Honestly, both main female and male protagonists think about sex more often than the actual plot. More words are taken up to describe the male protagonist's body and how much they want to jump each other than actual reaction to the situations at hand. It makes the pacing suffer really, really badly.
*Wow, that main male protagonist really took the whole learning all these life-shattering secrets about his ex-wife in stride! (It must be all the sex.)
*There's a side male character that is a really weak third wheel. Seriously, he and the female protagonist slept together ONCE over a decade ago, but I guess that's enough to throw the male protagonist into ridiculous jealous spats every time he comes up that. Of course, the female protagonist things is romantic or something. Ugh.
*Said side male character's story sounded better than the one I was reading. I wish I could read that one instead.
I could probably fill this out more and include examples, but that would mean going through it again. One full read-through is enough, thank you. Now, I'm not saying that the writer lacks potential, either. Most of the above points are rookie mistakes and, hey, I've been there. I would just suggest that anyone expecting a fully realized story pass on this one and maybe give the author a shot later.
September 24, 2013
First Thought:
I already knew that Delilah Devlin could write toe curling sex scenes in her romance books. Now I know that Devlin can craft an excellent Urban Fantasy tale as well.
The Story:
Shattered Souls is about Caitlyn (Cait) O’Connell, a washed up ex-cop that’s now a P.I. Cait lost her job on the force because of her drinking problem which also lead to her divorce from her husband/partner, Sam Pierce. But no one would believe Cait if she told them the reason she drinks is to drown out the voices she hears. And not in a “I’m crazy” way. Cait has a connection to magic and the dead. She has a track record for solving the “Full Moon” cases.
The Characters:
Devlin has written some well developed characters in her UF world. Cait is a 33 year old (which I LOVE that we have a heroine in her 30s) P.I. with a cop background but what makes her interesting is her childhood history. Cait’s mother was into magic and so was Cait until her mother died.
Sam is Cait’s ex-husband of 2 years and her ex-partner for a little longer than that. Sam is a little older than Cait (late 30s) and is a ex-marine. Sam is a true alpha male and sexy as hell. The two really care for each other and have you rooting for them to give their relationship a second chance.
The Narration:
Natalie Ross knocks the narration out of the park. It took me a few chapters to realize the reason I thought the narrator’s voice sounded familiar to me is because she narrates the last half of the Fever series and Iced. Since those are the only audios I’ve listened to that’s narrated by Ross I didn’t know how she did males voices (she partners with Phil Gigante for that series where he does the male voices) and I’ve got to say she nailed the male voices. Since the Shattered Souls is set in Memphis, TN the southern accents needs to be believable for me since I’m from the South (only about 2 hours away from Memphis, TN to be exact) and since Ross is a Texan she does the southern accents well.
Final Thought:
Reaching for the 2nd book, Lost Souls on audio NOW.
I already knew that Delilah Devlin could write toe curling sex scenes in her romance books. Now I know that Devlin can craft an excellent Urban Fantasy tale as well.
The Story:
Shattered Souls is about Caitlyn (Cait) O’Connell, a washed up ex-cop that’s now a P.I. Cait lost her job on the force because of her drinking problem which also lead to her divorce from her husband/partner, Sam Pierce. But no one would believe Cait if she told them the reason she drinks is to drown out the voices she hears. And not in a “I’m crazy” way. Cait has a connection to magic and the dead. She has a track record for solving the “Full Moon” cases.
The Characters:
Devlin has written some well developed characters in her UF world. Cait is a 33 year old (which I LOVE that we have a heroine in her 30s) P.I. with a cop background but what makes her interesting is her childhood history. Cait’s mother was into magic and so was Cait until her mother died.
Sam is Cait’s ex-husband of 2 years and her ex-partner for a little longer than that. Sam is a little older than Cait (late 30s) and is a ex-marine. Sam is a true alpha male and sexy as hell. The two really care for each other and have you rooting for them to give their relationship a second chance.
The Narration:
Natalie Ross knocks the narration out of the park. It took me a few chapters to realize the reason I thought the narrator’s voice sounded familiar to me is because she narrates the last half of the Fever series and Iced. Since those are the only audios I’ve listened to that’s narrated by Ross I didn’t know how she did males voices (she partners with Phil Gigante for that series where he does the male voices) and I’ve got to say she nailed the male voices. Since the Shattered Souls is set in Memphis, TN the southern accents needs to be believable for me since I’m from the South (only about 2 hours away from Memphis, TN to be exact) and since Ross is a Texan she does the southern accents well.
Final Thought:
Reaching for the 2nd book, Lost Souls on audio NOW.
January 26, 2013
4 1/2 stars!
“Shattered Souls” by Delilah Devlin is the first book in the delicious ‘Caitlyn O’Connell’ series featuring an ex-policewoman turned private investigator. Caitlyn (Cait) has suppressed many of the events and challenges from her past but she unwillingly discovers that the flame between her and her ex-husband, former partner Sam Pierce, still burns brightly. The horrific murder of her mentor draws Cait into a hunt for a non-human entity which is threatening to wreak havoc on Memphis as it grows in power. Cait learns that there is more to her current associate, Jason Crawford, than she previously realized and that the powers that she has rejected for so long may need to be embraced if she and those she cares about will survive her quest for justice.
This is an intriguing paranormal tale that combines romantic suspense with a mesmerizing tale of otherworldly beings. The vivid image of the anomalous clue in the mirror is spine-chilling and the description of the subsequent investigation is filled with sprinkled with unexpected developments. The Memphis police department may have to take on new consultants regularly given its connection to eerie phenomena but fortunately there are those who are willing to step up and this feisty heroine is one of them. I like that she is flawed yet has people around her to see that she can be so much more than she believes. The gradual reveal of the backgrounds of a couple of the men in Cait’s life is fascinating and I look forward to learning more about her capabilities as well as their roles in helping her grow. A couple of the scenes remind me of a certain movie about psychic phenomena and I suspect that Cait’s life is going to get progressively more complicated since the voices in her head are not only multiplying but are also developing personalities and demands. An enjoyable read, can’t wait to read more!
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
“Shattered Souls” by Delilah Devlin is the first book in the delicious ‘Caitlyn O’Connell’ series featuring an ex-policewoman turned private investigator. Caitlyn (Cait) has suppressed many of the events and challenges from her past but she unwillingly discovers that the flame between her and her ex-husband, former partner Sam Pierce, still burns brightly. The horrific murder of her mentor draws Cait into a hunt for a non-human entity which is threatening to wreak havoc on Memphis as it grows in power. Cait learns that there is more to her current associate, Jason Crawford, than she previously realized and that the powers that she has rejected for so long may need to be embraced if she and those she cares about will survive her quest for justice.
This is an intriguing paranormal tale that combines romantic suspense with a mesmerizing tale of otherworldly beings. The vivid image of the anomalous clue in the mirror is spine-chilling and the description of the subsequent investigation is filled with sprinkled with unexpected developments. The Memphis police department may have to take on new consultants regularly given its connection to eerie phenomena but fortunately there are those who are willing to step up and this feisty heroine is one of them. I like that she is flawed yet has people around her to see that she can be so much more than she believes. The gradual reveal of the backgrounds of a couple of the men in Cait’s life is fascinating and I look forward to learning more about her capabilities as well as their roles in helping her grow. A couple of the scenes remind me of a certain movie about psychic phenomena and I suspect that Cait’s life is going to get progressively more complicated since the voices in her head are not only multiplying but are also developing personalities and demands. An enjoyable read, can’t wait to read more!
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2013
This urban fantasy was as hot as its Memphis setting. Main character Caitlyn O'Connell is the daughter of a witch and a cop. After the death's of her parents she decided to give up magic and follow her father's footsteps into the police force. But magic isn't so easily set aside. Cait drinks to mute the voices she can't help hearing. Her alcohol use cost her her job and her marriage.
Now her ex-husband Sam Pierce has come to her because there is a case that might involve her. Her former partner has disappeared from a blood-soaked hotel room. He doesn't want to get involved with her again. Between the alcohol and the secrets she was determined to keep from him, he has lost his trust in her. However, the attraction (and the love) isn't so easy to lose.
The missing person case soon becomes a murder case and has some paranormal elements that force Cait to go back to the magic she tried to leave behind her. With Sam along to see this world he didn't know about, Cait and Sam have to depend on each other to solve the case. At first they both believe that they will be able to walk away when the case is over. They are wrong.
This was an intense, emotional story with lots of hot love scenes and a really creep villain. Urban fantasy fans will enjoy it very much.
Now her ex-husband Sam Pierce has come to her because there is a case that might involve her. Her former partner has disappeared from a blood-soaked hotel room. He doesn't want to get involved with her again. Between the alcohol and the secrets she was determined to keep from him, he has lost his trust in her. However, the attraction (and the love) isn't so easy to lose.
The missing person case soon becomes a murder case and has some paranormal elements that force Cait to go back to the magic she tried to leave behind her. With Sam along to see this world he didn't know about, Cait and Sam have to depend on each other to solve the case. At first they both believe that they will be able to walk away when the case is over. They are wrong.
This was an intense, emotional story with lots of hot love scenes and a really creep villain. Urban fantasy fans will enjoy it very much.
March 3, 2013
This is the first book I have read by this author and what a great start!
Cait lives in a bottle to stop the voices. She was a cop and a wife but, the secrets she
holds close to herself ruined it all!
Sam her ex husband and partner shows up at her door and literally throws her in the shower, he needs her help and he needs her SOBER.
Now she needs to embrace her “gift” to solve the murder of her mentor and friend!
Can I just say that this book was SMOKING HOT.... The sexual tension between Cait and Sam is something that I know I would be happy to experience.
This story is fast paced, sexy, and full of the paranormal I need to love a story! The ending was perfect all big questions answered and the new question left you thinking and waiting for the next book.
It was a great beginning to what I am sure will be a sexy paranormal favorite series of mine.
I will defiantly be looking for more of her work.
If you love paranormal stories with STEAM then this is a book for you.
I was given book from author for an honest review.
Cait lives in a bottle to stop the voices. She was a cop and a wife but, the secrets she
holds close to herself ruined it all!
Sam her ex husband and partner shows up at her door and literally throws her in the shower, he needs her help and he needs her SOBER.
Now she needs to embrace her “gift” to solve the murder of her mentor and friend!
Can I just say that this book was SMOKING HOT.... The sexual tension between Cait and Sam is something that I know I would be happy to experience.
This story is fast paced, sexy, and full of the paranormal I need to love a story! The ending was perfect all big questions answered and the new question left you thinking and waiting for the next book.
It was a great beginning to what I am sure will be a sexy paranormal favorite series of mine.
I will defiantly be looking for more of her work.
If you love paranormal stories with STEAM then this is a book for you.
I was given book from author for an honest review.
August 17, 2015
This is one book filled with suspense that is bound to mesmerize the reader. The clear description of the crime scene right at the start of the book is spine chilling. Every twist and turn is unexpected.
July 12, 2017
Not Bad
3.5
Rating: Hard R
Sexuality M/F
Audience Adult 18+
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sub Genre: Mystery Detective
Language: R
Violence: Mild
This book I read and listened to for free as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. The narration was stellar and I think Natalie Ross performance is what made this an almost four star book for me. The sex is what actually pulled my rating down as it seemed as the every time the character Cait and Sam were in the same room they were on each other. I was just glad I wasn't one of the kidnapped victims as they sex of the characters postponed my release. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me back track to the beginning.
The book centers around Caitlyn a washed up alcoholic ex cop turned private eye. She is a drunk, and has an ex husband Sam Pierce a police detective in Memphis TN. I don't know why Cait is a drunk but I suspect it is self medication, as Cait has magic, and she can't handle the stuff she sees and knows. Well Cait and Sam have been divorced for two years and they are thrust together because weird murders and missing co eds hit Memphis. They hunt up the murderer and co eds and have lots of sex. Sam discovers that he really never knew Cait as she had secrets; a ton load. There really wasn't any romance but a ton load of bedsport; it was well written bedsport. The characters were like able and I do like a good mystery with magic; but I felt rushed through the book. I think some sexual tension would have been better than all the sack time, as the premise and characters were solidly written.
For a quick and sexually charged paranormal read I would recommend this book.
3.5
Rating: Hard R
Sexuality M/F
Audience Adult 18+
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sub Genre: Mystery Detective
Language: R
Violence: Mild
This book I read and listened to for free as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. The narration was stellar and I think Natalie Ross performance is what made this an almost four star book for me. The sex is what actually pulled my rating down as it seemed as the every time the character Cait and Sam were in the same room they were on each other. I was just glad I wasn't one of the kidnapped victims as they sex of the characters postponed my release. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me back track to the beginning.
The book centers around Caitlyn a washed up alcoholic ex cop turned private eye. She is a drunk, and has an ex husband Sam Pierce a police detective in Memphis TN. I don't know why Cait is a drunk but I suspect it is self medication, as Cait has magic, and she can't handle the stuff she sees and knows. Well Cait and Sam have been divorced for two years and they are thrust together because weird murders and missing co eds hit Memphis. They hunt up the murderer and co eds and have lots of sex. Sam discovers that he really never knew Cait as she had secrets; a ton load. There really wasn't any romance but a ton load of bedsport; it was well written bedsport. The characters were like able and I do like a good mystery with magic; but I felt rushed through the book. I think some sexual tension would have been better than all the sack time, as the premise and characters were solidly written.
For a quick and sexually charged paranormal read I would recommend this book.
January 23, 2022
3.75 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 3 - 4 Stars
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 7/10
h = 7/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = n/a
F = 7/10
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No
If Comedy... Type? n/a
Genuinely Funny
Cringe Inducing
Just No!
Angst Level? Moderate
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
3 Stars for me!
Internal Monolog? Light
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 25%
How much of the story? 10%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 7/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The H asks the h for help with a murder investigation. They used to be married and she has some other-worldly skills that may be needed.
The Romance... A rekindled lusty romance between the MCs. The H learns that he wasn't a great husband as he only got to know the h on a surface level while they were married.
The drama explosion... The final battle with the bad entity.
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Normal
Was it OTT? Ni
Separation involved? No
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Properly
Final Notes... Fun story with a suspension of belief. The h likes to play games with the H a bit too much... mostly for fun but still a bit overboard.
HEA or HFN? HFN
My rating range of this story... 3 - 4 Stars
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 7/10
h = 7/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = n/a
F = 7/10
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No
If Comedy... Type? n/a
Genuinely Funny
Cringe Inducing
Just No!
Angst Level? Moderate
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
3 Stars for me!
Internal Monolog? Light
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 25%
How much of the story? 10%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 7/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... The H asks the h for help with a murder investigation. They used to be married and she has some other-worldly skills that may be needed.
The Romance... A rekindled lusty romance between the MCs. The H learns that he wasn't a great husband as he only got to know the h on a surface level while they were married.
The drama explosion... The final battle with the bad entity.
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Normal
Was it OTT? Ni
Separation involved? No
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Properly
Final Notes... Fun story with a suspension of belief. The h likes to play games with the H a bit too much... mostly for fun but still a bit overboard.
HEA or HFN? HFN
July 11, 2017
Cait has a connection to the world of magic, her mother being a witch and all. She hears voices of wraiths, and drowns them with alcohol.
Sam, her ex-husband, needs her help on a murder case, so he sobers her up, and they begin to pursue the supernatural murderer, a demon. She has to see her old lover, Morin, who can help her figure out how to trap the demon.
I like Cait's strength, but not her secrecy, because she needs to let Sam into her world for him to trust her. He sees he knew very little about her when they were married, but is also willing to be open to all he hears and sees.
With help from Jason, whom Cait works with in their PI agency, they find out where three girls are being held for the demon to try to become immortal. Moron helps Cait become strong enough to defeat the demon, but has his own agenda as well. Tante Celeste is a very cool character too.
Great story, interesting characters, and nice romance, as well as crime solving with a magical twist.
Sam, her ex-husband, needs her help on a murder case, so he sobers her up, and they begin to pursue the supernatural murderer, a demon. She has to see her old lover, Morin, who can help her figure out how to trap the demon.
I like Cait's strength, but not her secrecy, because she needs to let Sam into her world for him to trust her. He sees he knew very little about her when they were married, but is also willing to be open to all he hears and sees.
With help from Jason, whom Cait works with in their PI agency, they find out where three girls are being held for the demon to try to become immortal. Moron helps Cait become strong enough to defeat the demon, but has his own agenda as well. Tante Celeste is a very cool character too.
Great story, interesting characters, and nice romance, as well as crime solving with a magical twist.
August 16, 2018
Great Intro to a Series
The story was great, exciting without being "can't sleep without the lights on" scary. It is a great story hinting at different ways the characters can proceed. A local dig unearths a body never meant to be found and the local PD needs their disgraced former officer to do the magic that only she brings to the department. Her ex-partner/ex-husband has to keep her sober and focused. The question is can he handle what she has to reveal to solve the case. (She shows him a missing body in a mirror.)
As anyone that has seen my reviews before knows, I don't like detailed sex scenes, but I managed to by-pass them and stay to the end.
The story was great, exciting without being "can't sleep without the lights on" scary. It is a great story hinting at different ways the characters can proceed. A local dig unearths a body never meant to be found and the local PD needs their disgraced former officer to do the magic that only she brings to the department. Her ex-partner/ex-husband has to keep her sober and focused. The question is can he handle what she has to reveal to solve the case. (She shows him a missing body in a mirror.)
As anyone that has seen my reviews before knows, I don't like detailed sex scenes, but I managed to by-pass them and stay to the end.
July 27, 2017
I just couldn't finish this book. The writing itself was good, but I didn't care for the storyline. It felt very cookie cutter. I also thought the romantic scenes were thrown in as an after thought. Why would you want to get busy with your ex after finding the dead body of a good friend and mentor? Don't get me wrong, I like a little something hot and steamy to be in a book but it needs to happen in an appropriate place and not jump around. One minute the heroine is throwing up due to a hangover and the next minute, she's kissing her ex. Eew. I actually thought this might be erotica with a paranormal backstory thrown in. Not for me.
October 29, 2020
I was hoping that it might turn out be a good paranormal book, but it just didn't click with me.
Sure there were some interesting dynamics, like wraiths and ghosts, mages and witches and all, but the plot, the heroine, and everyone in the book just seemed too shallow for my taste, and way too many and long cheesy and very graphical sex scenes in such a short book. The author needs to decide if she's writing an erotica or paranormal/detective novel. Because throughout the book, it seemed she confused what genre she was writing. Could've given more stars if the author explained occult terms instead of sex scenes.
Sure there were some interesting dynamics, like wraiths and ghosts, mages and witches and all, but the plot, the heroine, and everyone in the book just seemed too shallow for my taste, and way too many and long cheesy and very graphical sex scenes in such a short book. The author needs to decide if she's writing an erotica or paranormal/detective novel. Because throughout the book, it seemed she confused what genre she was writing. Could've given more stars if the author explained occult terms instead of sex scenes.
July 21, 2018
Shattered Souls
Cait and her ex-husband detective Sam, do battle against a wraith and a nasty old daemon with the help of her Aunt and warlock mentor. Hindered by the police department but aided by Cait’s boss, she and Sam explore their complicated not so ex relationship.
Definitely one for 17+, as there are some explicit scenes. A deliciously dark romp with good characters, spooky happenings and a spark of humour. A good start to the series.
Cait and her ex-husband detective Sam, do battle against a wraith and a nasty old daemon with the help of her Aunt and warlock mentor. Hindered by the police department but aided by Cait’s boss, she and Sam explore their complicated not so ex relationship.
Definitely one for 17+, as there are some explicit scenes. A deliciously dark romp with good characters, spooky happenings and a spark of humour. A good start to the series.
August 15, 2018
Real page turner, stayed up all night!
Omg. I really loved this book. A great combination of likeable characters, a awesome story that revolves around acceptance, redemption and love as well as some seriously hot, hot scenes. I stayed up all night listening. Thoroughly recommend this brilliant book to lovers of really good fiction. A must for fantasy book lovers. Wish I could give it more than five stars, I'm getting book 2 as soon as I finish this review.
Omg. I really loved this book. A great combination of likeable characters, a awesome story that revolves around acceptance, redemption and love as well as some seriously hot, hot scenes. I stayed up all night listening. Thoroughly recommend this brilliant book to lovers of really good fiction. A must for fantasy book lovers. Wish I could give it more than five stars, I'm getting book 2 as soon as I finish this review.
February 11, 2020
I was also expecting to like this book and as I read it, I was certain it was going to get better. However, I truly felt with the sex scenes (which didn't add to the story at all) that it should have been between the pages of a brown paper cover since the title should have been shocking to go along with the sex. Too bad it had potential but perhaps the author felt that the story needed sex to make it interesting.
July 9, 2018
Amazing
I never write reviews. Usually you like a book, 5 stars, don't like it 2 stars. Then you really don't like it , I just delete it as if not ever there. This book. This was a good one. One you can't put down, and if you have to you can't wait to get back to it. I never tell the contents of a good book. Just pick it and read.
I never write reviews. Usually you like a book, 5 stars, don't like it 2 stars. Then you really don't like it , I just delete it as if not ever there. This book. This was a good one. One you can't put down, and if you have to you can't wait to get back to it. I never tell the contents of a good book. Just pick it and read.
February 15, 2019
Review
Fellow readers, I'm not into witchcraft and spells and all of that stuff however I came by this book in an odd place where my attention was assured. After reading for a half hour it was time to go and I was hooked. At home with my trusty kindle it was easy to find and finish. What a fun read.
Fellow readers, I'm not into witchcraft and spells and all of that stuff however I came by this book in an odd place where my attention was assured. After reading for a half hour it was time to go and I was hooked. At home with my trusty kindle it was easy to find and finish. What a fun read.
February 19, 2019
I really found this book interesting. There were many elements to the story that appealed to me, romance, mystery, and a fantasy/witchcraft. I've always felt there were 'other' things out there and that people have 'powers' for different things. It was blended into the story well enough to really make it believable. The characters were good and the end left me wondering. Great easy read.
October 28, 2017
Lots of energy
Good book but not for youngsters. Explicit sexual content. I liked the energy in this book. It has an easy rhythm that keeps interest up. I will read more of Miss Cate.
Good book but not for youngsters. Explicit sexual content. I liked the energy in this book. It has an easy rhythm that keeps interest up. I will read more of Miss Cate.
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