“It was the blood! The blood was somehow doing this to me!”
Olivia Ann Greyson is a Charmer, a Dhampir with the power to lure the supernatural world’s most dangerous creatures—and she’s in an impossible situation. She must leave behind Caleb Wolfe, the strong, protective vampire she has fallen madly in love with, in order to learn how to protect herself from the vampires, shifters and demons that will be drawn to her for the rest of her life.
Human Guardian, Alec Lambert, has been assigned to see to Olivia’s training by the organization he belongs to, which is known simply as The Brethren. He takes Olivia to the group’s stronghold in the mountainous regions of Alberta, Canada, where she discovers the answers to her family’s painful past and the extent to which those hunting her will go to capture her. But she also uncovers many secrets and even more questions about this mysterious group she has trusted to protect her—secrets that will have her fighting to get back to the man she left behind.
Christine is the author of The Charmed Trilogy. She lives in the scenic Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking, camping and photographing many of the wonderful places that served as inspiration for her novels. Her biggest reward in life is any given day when one of her books connects with a reader, because she herself is such a lover of reading.
Olivia has left Caleb on his own to realize that their love is true, not something he feels because she is a Charmed. While Caleb is figuring this out, Olivia goes with the Brethern to learn and train her special skills. While training Olivia finds out the true story of her family, including that she has a family member still alive.
Olivia returns to Caleb, after he comes for her. Alec, Olivia’s guardian must accompany her to be sure she is kept safe. Alec and Gemma start having feelings and a relationship starts. This causes Jax, the matriarch of the coven to hide his hurt feelings over Gemma leaving the house to live at the condo in the city. Olivia pushes both Jax and Gemma to discuss their feelings in hope of a happy ending for them both.
The Charmed Soul is book two of the Charmed Series. Many times in a series the follow-up nooks do not live up to the original book, in this series that is not the truth. If anything this book was better then the first book. The story of Olivia continued as if it never ended, picking up right where book one took off.
I loved how the piano from the first book (incredibly hot scene) was included with another incredibly hot scene. The love and attraction Olivia and Caleb felt for each other was portrayed as so intense and personal that at times I felt myself blushing or feeling like I should look away.
At the end of the first book I was hoping that the follow up book would have more of Jax and Gemma’s story and Christine did not let me down. Finding out more of their history, both together and before they knew each other, only made me want their happy ever after more. And I was not disappointed . The last page of the story has left me craving the next book in the series. The Charmed series in a set of books I most definitely will read over and over again. I cannot wait until book 3 will be available.
I was really excited when I received The Charmed Souls from Christine and I actually put the book that I was currently reading down to start reading this one instead. And I am kind of happy I did because.....
I think i´m inlove! It was that good! It took me about three days for me to finish this one since I had big problems putting it down lol. The story was well thought trough and there was always action so it never felt slow. Evry page counted and was needed. In some books I have read I just feel like some pages as mostly just to fill it up so the story gets longer but not in this one. Evry word I read was pure joy. This second book had such a strong story that really takes hold of you and I really felt for the characters. Olivia: OMG! Things are really working against her even more in Charmed Souls and I can´t even imagine what I would do if I were to be in her shoes. I can not say too much without spoilers but I can say that some of the things she goes through where she thought she would be safe are thing that most people can´t handle.
Alec: He is obnoxios in book one but I promise you that you will grow to like him in book two =) He really is the best (almost) and hottest bodyguard Olivia could get! I love him and he really "grew up" in the end of the book.
Caleb: There are not even words! *Sigh*
There were a lot of surprises thrown at you during the book and that was a big part of why I loved it so much. This is starting to look like it could belong in my Top 5 of best series. It´s really a series in my taste. So, if you have not figured it yet: Go and pick it up!
The followup to Christine Wenrick's debut book, The Charmed (which I recently reviewed) is even more engaging than its predecessor due in part to having already established the main characters and most, if not all their backgrounds. This left more time to focus on the storyline and the conflict at hand.
One major concern when reading a series is that the consistency of the characters will be lost from one book to the next but that is not the case in The Charmed Souls. Each character continues to grow and come into their own without losing what essentially made them who they are in the first place. Very reassuring when reading this book and preparing for the third in the series.
Olivia is still stubborn, but she's also grown up more, if that's possible. She was figuratively dropped on her head right into the middle of a paranormal mess and rather than spending an obscene amount of time whimpering, whining and complaining, she has stepped up and stood her ground as best as she could. And even though she misses Caleb, who she is convinced is the love of her life, she continues to learn about her past, her abilities and how to protect herself from harm so that she is not a burden on anyone. Very admirable indeed.
Caleb is still somewhat of a mystery to readers, partly due to the fact that The Charmed Souls, like its predecessor, is told from Olivia's point of view. This makes Caleb appear even more mysterious, brooding and overall appealing to readers.
The Charmed Souls is shrouded in more mystery than the first book but thankfully doesn't waste too much time before revealing some major secrets about Olivia's family, the Brethren and even Caleb. Cleverly revealed towards the end of The Charmed Souls, the secrets serve, in my opinion to keep the reader interested enough to await the third book in the series which isn't due for release until March 2013 *sobs*
The heat and intensity of Caleb and Olivia's relationship hasn't dimmed a bit since The Charmed first brought them together. If anything, their relationship is hotter and more confident now that both Caleb and Olivia know their love is real. There are some very tender scenes between the two and provides an emotional balance to the story.
It's not all about Caleb and Oliva though. Alec, Gemma and Jax also have some page time in The Charmed Souls that reveals a little more about these otherwise background characters. Their scenes help push the story forward and give the reader a break from Caleb and Oliva's relationship.
While The Charmed, the first book in the series, inevitably draws comparisons to Stephenie Meyer's mega popular Twilight series, Christine Wenrick's books are a completely, one hundred percent adult series that just happens to be told in first person.
The Charmed Souls effortlessly picks up where The Charmed left off and keeps the adventure alive. Olivia now knows about the paranormal world around her, she is a part of it and though she fears for the lives of Caleb, Alec and the rest of her adopted family, she isn't going to stand back and let the enemy triumph and take what she loves most in her new world.
Fans of paranormal romance looking for something a little different should pick up book one (The Charmed) before reading The Charmed Souls in order to avoid being lost or missing out on the foundations of each character. The third book isn't due out until next year so that's plenty of time for readers to get caught up with this first person, adult paranormal romance.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review first appeared on Parajunkee's View. In this sequel to The Charmed, Olivia finds her self living with her guardians and neck deep in the Brethren’s world. She works with Alec and the others to train and strengthen not only her body but her gifts. I really enjoyed this book. Like really enjoyed it! I loved seeing more of Alec and her guardians. They are all full of swagger and sarcasm. Olivia very much “finds herself ” during her time with the Brethren. She learns her limits, and some very hard facts about herself and her parents. She matures and learns that saying ‘everything is ok’ doesn’t mean that it is indeed, ok. The pacing was great and there was enough going on at the Oracle (the Brethren’s homebase) to keep me engaged. There was definitly something strange going on there. I couldn’t figure out why, Alec’s uncle, Reese was such a butthead to Olivia. I loved meeting all of the new characters that the author introduces in this book. Olivia and Caleb spend at least the first half of the book separated. It is hard on Olivia and also, it was hard for me, as a reader. I felt a definite lack of spark from Olivia and this separation was the cause of it. Once she and Caleb start interacting again the book takes off. Caleb is still that sexy, growly, heart throb we know and love. But my heart belongs to Alec. The writer introduces a plot element that had me fearing for his life at one point. I just kept thinking…”there is no way this is going to play out with out him dying. No way.” Some very heart stopping moments for me during this book. The steam was literally rolling off of my kindle once Olivia and Caleb reunite. It was hot. Really, really hot. Umm was that a spoiler? Ahh I am having so much trouble writing this review. I want to tell you everything. Everything. It’s so hard to keep my mouth shut. Jax and Gemma. Jax and Gemma, what to say about them without giving too much away? Well, let’s see Jax is still the gentle giant that we grew to love. He has some really great tender moments. Gemma, wasn’t in this book as much as I wanted her to be. She was kind of sorting her self out. It really was a book about character growth. Once again the author builds a beautiful landscape for her characters to play in. The Oracle grounds sound breathtaking and I could easily visualize them. The final action scene was Ah-maz-ing. It was an epic battle. The first book was so action packed that I was missing those scenes when reading this book. While we do get some action while Olivia is training it was no where near as intense as the first book. Until we get to the big show down. Then it was hold on to your seats!!! Davin aka the big bad was a lurking threat in this book. I know that the author is holding out the goods on us. Olivia needed this lesser but still intense throwdown to happen to show her that she is ready. Is this book a little bit of a set up for the next one? Yes, but that was ok. Because EVERYTHING in this book needed to happen as it did. I can see the bigger picture coming together and it is going to be out of this world!
This cover is one of my all time favorite covers!! I just love it and I especially love that the necklace (or one similar to it) has a big part in the story. I am a HUGE fan of Christine Wenrick and of this series. It has quickly become one of my favorites and Caleb and Olivia are definitely one of my favorite couples. The Charmed Souls made me fall even more in love with their characters. Caleb *sigh*
After the way The Charmed ended, I was so excited to jump back into this unique world created by Christine. I couldn't wait to start reading. The state of Caleb and Olivia's relationship at the end of that book had me biting my nails in hopes that Christine would put me out of my misery with The Charmed Souls and give these two the HEA they so deserved and that I wanted for them so much!! Although she made me a little nervous, Christine delivered on not only a great HEA but a fun, entertaining, romantic, sexy read.
I thought that this book started out a little slow but I think that was only because I was anxiously waiting for Caleb and Olivia to get back together. lol They are such a great couple and are so much fun to read. I just loved when Caleb came for her. So Good!! After the slow start the story quickly picked up and I found myself absorbed in it. There were definitely some nail~biting moments along with laughter, love, friendship, heartache and of course some SMOKING HOT sex scenes!! ;) The scene with Caleb and Olivia at the piano when he is trying to show her what the music feels like to him~is one of the HOTTEST SEXIEST scenes that I have read!! The piano sex with them seems to be a theme in the series!! lol :)
I thought it was so ironic that the one place where Olivia was supposed to be the safest was the place that she wound up getting hurt the most both physically and emotionally. I loved the secondary characters so much~Gideon, Alec, Fin and Maya, Kane, Lucas and of course Jax and Gemma. Oh..Jax and Gemma!! I was a little confused at first as to why Jax didn't realize or say anything about his connection to Olivia but then later on in the book it was explained. I never saw that coming at all!! Sneaky little author!! lol I loved reading about how Olivia's "gift" affected those around her~her gift was such a unique twist to the story. I loved how her and Caleb's relationship grew stronger in this book~the closeness they shared and the fun they had together. Caleb was so caring and protective of Olivia~he would do anything for her and the same of her for him. I just love couples like that. Olivia definitely put Caleb through the wringer!! lol Trouble in one form or another always seemed to find her.
Just a great read with lovable characters that I couldn't get enough of! I am so looking forward to reading The Charmed Fates. Great addition to the series that will definitely be a reread.
***ARC provided by Christine Wenrick~Thank you so much!!
In this second installment of The Charmed series, we pick up where we left off in the first book. Olivia decides it best to know exactly how to control her new powers and wants to prove to both herself and everyone else that has doubts, that Caleb loves her not for her Charmer abilities but because of her. She throws herself into training her training and becomes closer to her guardians there to protect her. She is quickly advised to keep a little distance between her and the other guardians because her Charmer gifts make other people drawn to her. Not just the men but women. (Not necessarily in a sexual way with the women.) She also is given the gift of knowing more about her parents and their past. It turns out that someone close to her is actually related to her and she that makes all the difference from feeling completely alone with not family to having something to live for.
There are some points in the story that had me cringing because of what she was put through. Oh and can I say, I think she should be with Alec. The way he protects her any way he can and how guilty he feels when he wasn’t there to protect her from an incident that no women should ever have to encounter. He clearly feels strongly towards Olivia. I guess in the end it all worked out but I can still dream!
This second installment upped the ante and left me wanting to re-read the book all over again. I can’t wait to see what the third book in this series has in store for me!
If you haven't read this series yet, than you need to get started. This was a great continuance to the story! I loved how it gave a little more backround for Olivia and the twists in the second book are very interesting, to say the least. I love when a book can totally catch me off guard and throw a really good spin in there. I was definitely not expecting what happened at one point in the story. Very good twist indeed lol. There were more characters involved with Olivia in this book, and I loved all of them, well except the ones against her. But Phin. Maya, Lucas, Kane, Gideon, and Joseph are pretty awesome, maybe she'll have a new series for The Brethren, hint hint. lol I look forward to the next book, the Epilogue has really piqued my interest and I think it is going to great!
There will be a giveaway at the bittenbyparanormalromance.com blog on November 22 thru November 26. One lucky winner will receive a cupon for a free ebook. The winner will be able to choose for a free copy of The Charmed or The Charmed Souls. Good Luck!!
So at the end of The Charmed book one, I was left feeling like my heart had been ripped out and I was really looking forward to what Book 2 of The Charmed Series would have in store for us. Christine gripped us in Book 1 from the start and boy oh boy did she do it again with Book 2.
I was so engrossed with my reading on my commute that I missed my stop by not only one but two stops! I had to get off and go back to the right stop, all I can say is thank goodness for Flexi Time and also that on this particular morning I was going in early so I totally blamed it on the 5.30 start not the book when I arrived! I could think about nothing but finding out what happened for most of the day then and couldn’t wait for my break so that I could start all over again.
I absolutely devoured this book; I read it in just over a day and stayed up late into the night to finish it. I just could not put it down. Ok I know that I haven’t finished book three yet (my review will be coming of that too) but so far book 2 is my favourite. Which normally doesn’t happen to me with a trilogy, but I absolutely adored The Charmed Souls and I am so thankful that I have gotten a chance to read this fabulous series.
Fair warning, I have tried to write this review without spoilers, but to do so you would simply get a review with ‘I LOVED it’ and that really wouldn’t be very enticing would it? So there will have to be some spoilers for anyone that has not read book 1 and I apologise for this; Book 2 of The Charmed Series can be read as a stand alone book, but as with any series, it will make it a richer read if you start with Book 1.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Christine Wenrick!) This book is the second book in the ‘Charmed’ Trilogy, and kicks off a few days after the end of book 1 – ‘The Charmed’. **Warning – some unavoidable spoilers for book 1** Olivia has agreed to go with Alec and the Brethren following the end of ‘The Charmed’, and they have taken her to a hotel (The Oracle), on a consecrated site where the Brethren stay and train, and vampires will be unable to track her.
Olivia is still in love with Caleb, and their separation makes her unhappy. Alec continues to try and convince her that Caleb will have forgotten her, and that he never really loved her, but Olivia is sure that he is wrong.
Davin is still searching for her though, and turns up just outside of the consecrated grounds, trying to get to her, and threatening to harm Caleb if Olivia doesn’t go with him.
Davin isn’t the only threat though, when it seems that at least one of the brethren means her harm. Will Olivia and Caleb find their way back to each other? What do the Brethren intend to do with her? And will Olivia ever be truly safe from persecution, when so many people want to use her for their own devices?
I really enjoyed this book, and it was a great sequel to ‘The Charmed’, no second book syndrome here you’ll be pleased to know!
I really felt for Olivia during this book. Not only was she being kept away from Caleb who she loved, but she was also being followed by Davin, and wasn’t being well treated by every member of the Brethren either. It was nice that Olivia got to learn more about her family though, and exactly who her parents were. There was even a surprise for Olivia in the form of her maternal grandfather, who she had never expected to meet.
Olivia and Caleb when we eventually find them back together are hot, and even more loving towards each other than they were in the first book. It’s also great to see that time apart has only strengthened their love for one another, and that even with Olivia’s ‘Charmer’ powers, they are committed to each other, and don’t stray. There’s also plenty of beautiful scenes between them which aren’t purely focused on their intimate relationship, which is nice.
The storyline was great. I totally didn’t guess the twist and turns that this book took, and I was really impressed with the new ideas that the author had come up with in regards to vampires, dhampires, and their relationships with humans. It was also nice to see a relationship where the female was feisty enough to stand up to her vampire partner, and didn’t let him step in to protect her all the time.
Once again this book was beautifully written and a joy to read, and I was really happy that it had an ending! Even though this is the middle book of the trilogy, the book had a beginning, a middle, and an end, with no nasty cliff-hanger, but still plenty to make me want to read the next book. Well done to the author for that!
Overall; a beautifully written book, and a great second instalment in the trilogy. 8.25 out of 10.
I'm actually torn about this rating. I'd say either 3.5 or 4 I'll have to come back to it >.<
Olivia's Dhampir nature gives her the power to lure the supernatural's most dangerous creatures, known to others as a Charmer. But now, she must face leaving behind the vampire she loves, Caleb, in order for her to learn to protect herself from these creatures. During her stay in the mountainous regions of Alberta, Canada, Olivia will discover the answers to her family's secrets, as well as the ones from the mysterious group she has entrusted her life with, The Brethren.
Ah, this was a lot better than book one, in my opinion. Though it's not as action packed, it still very intriguing. I especially loved the interactions with Alec, Phin, Kane, and Lucas. Kane had to be my absolute favorite with Lucas and Alec coming in close second. Olivia has a lot of readjusting to do in this book, dealing with her abilities as a Charmer--which isn't easy considering every male in the vicinity, with a simple touch, just wants more and more, and more!--as well as having to strength train for her own protection. Not only that, she's also dealing with the seperation of her vampire lover, Caleb Wolfe. Convinced that what he felt for her was real and not a side effect of her gift, she reluctantly leaves him to prove that what he felt for her was real.
Given that there is no Caleb Wolfe for a good portion of this book, there isn't much romance. Although I sense a triangle coming on. And I really hope that there isn't one, even though it seems inevitable. I really like Alec, and I was fond of Caleb, so I really didn't want to choose. Olivia does make it clear she's still very much in love with Caleb, but it seems that everyone is determined to keep them apart. And all the while, Davin is still after her, hoping to lure her out of The Brethren's sacred ground by threatening the Coven she's come to love.
One of the things I didn't like about this book was that it was somewhat slow, the writing makes up for it in that it's very light and you flow right on through it, howowever. I do realize that it was critical for Olivia to learn about her past as well as train so she'd be stronger to face the creatures that would always be drawn to her, so this doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. Definitely looking forward to book three :)
*A copy of the book was provided by the author for review purposes*
The Charmed is a surprisingly intimate book. Told in first person, the story unfolds very slowly. The reader has both time and space to create mental pictures, but isn’t left feeling like the story is dragging. Every detail is deliberate. There is action. There is blood. There is sex. There is emotion—a lot of emotion and it sucks you in. When I look ahead to see if my favorite character’s names appear, if I’m worried about them, then I know I’m hooked. Yeah, I looked ahead. Wenrick’s characters are likeable. Heroine Olivia Ann Greyson, from whose perspective the story is told, is a graduate student finishing advanced degees in both music composition and performance. I especially liked that music played an important role in the story and wasn’t downplayed as simple set-dressing. Her love-interest Caleb Wolfe also has personal passions that show up to shape the flow of the story and are integral to a very significant action scene. Debut author Christine Wenrick takes advantage of traditional vampire and paranormal folklore to create her tale. Like Stephenie Meyer’s “good” vampires, Wenrick’s “Daywalkers” intentionally don’t attack humans for blood, but they do drink it. I think I actually liked Wenrick’s treatment of their reasons and methods better than those of the Twilight cast. One of my disappointments was an insufficiently explained connection. When Olivia and Caleb meet up at the beginning of the book, it’s apparent that they’ve met each other before the reader arrives on the scene. That first meeting is given a cursory once over, but never explained in the same detail that typifies the rest of the book. That’s disappointing because the story surrounding that first meeting seems to have a lot to do with who Caleb is…something I hope will be addressed before the trilogy resolves. The Charmed Souls, the second book in the Charmed Trilogy is shorter and better than the first. It also must be read in order. Without the sequencing, everything that has been set-up in book one would lose its significance. Everything, the action, the romance, it’s all escalated. Olivia’s music becomes very significant to her relationship with Caleb. Additionally, new connections are made and small details that the reader glances over in the first book become significant in this volume. Being a new author, Wenrick’s novels seemed to lack some of the polish of a more experienced writer, but she shows a finesse and attention to her plotlines that leads me to believe she will only improve with successive attempts. I’m very much looking forward to reading the third installments of the trilogy.
The Charmed Souls is book two of The Charmed Trilogy by Christine Wenrick. In this continuation, we find that Olivia has left Caleb to prove not only to herself but to Caleb and others that their love is real and not just an illusion brought on by her Charmer skills. In separating herself from Caleb she decides to go with her Guardian – Alec, to the Brethren, the group she is told and believes is sworn to protect her. In the mountains of Canada, on sacred ground, at the Brethren’s stronghold, she will train, learn how to use her new found talents and give Caleb the space he needs. On this sacred ground she can not be sensed by any vampires and is completely protected, as vampires can not step on sacred ground. Olivia makes some good friends with those sworn to protect her, and even with those that can give her answers to her past. But her time with The Brethren does not go quickly nor smoothly and soon Olivia is second guessing her choices. As secrets unfold, Olivia learns that the ones chosen to protect her may not all be there exactly for her well being.
I found this book to be heart breaking in that I did not want Olivia away from Caleb nor anywhere near Alec at first. While I understood why she was where she was and what she was trying to do, I found that my heart wanted her with Caleb – where she truly belonged. This part of their story I believe was needed so that they both would know if their love was real and true. But I found it very sad at times. I loved the secondary characters that were sworn to protect Olivia. Guardian Lucas Rayner is a wonderful, foul mouthed golden boy that I fell for right away. Hunter Phin Daniels is warm and caring best friend to Alec that you can’t help but want to know more about. And then there is Kane, a very naughty shape-shifter that I truly believe no woman could resist, at least I know that I couldn’t. I also found it very heart warming that Olivia made a true friend in Maya Brunetti, an Empath, that you can tell will be a life long friend to her. I loved the fact that Olivia made real friends with true relationships and in the end I even started to like Alec, and that he accepted the fact that the love between Olivia and Caleb was real and not a byproduct of her Charmer skills. When Olivia does return home to Caleb – I must say it was gut-wrenching to see what Gemma put Jax through. But in the end – I must say that I was extremely happy with the outcome of those two. Looking forward to reading the third and final book in this series
Caleb is returning with a broken heart, his love was not enough to hold Olivia where he needs her the most, beside him. Now that things have begun will she be returning to him? Can he convince her that she is his true and only love? If it is possible I enjoyed Caleb more in this book than book one. Caleb character was fun in book one, he is furiously loyal, and moving in this book, he touched me. Olivia has her own issues, discovering the truth of her past, her new abilities, and she still has that pesky crazed Vampire chasing her. Olivia has evolved into her character nicely from my stand point. I enjoyed she was able to hold her ground against Caleb and the others. I think Ms. Wenrick did an amazing job, showing us Caleb and Olivia’s growth in the roles they play.
The supporting characters just added more richness to this awesomely written trilogy. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the first book. There are few shocker moments as well as a cliff hanger of sorts. It diffidently had me gasping, “Oh Crap!”Ms. Wenrick I just knew you were going to bring this character into the plot at some point. All I can say is let the blood fall where it may.*grins*
The plot line is a true work of art; there is never a low point where you have to struggle to keep up. The chapters flow smoothly. Ms. Wenrick’s descriptions of the scenes are well plotted out as well as visual
My. Oh. My, I can hardly contain myself… I just finished The Charmed Soul by Christine Wenrick it is a continuation of a brilliantly well written trilogy. I have to admit that I just can’t get enough of these characters.
I did not know what to expect with this being the second book of The Charmed Trilogy and the way the first book left off. We all know how many series tend to weaken a bit as they go on. That DID NOT happen here. It continued to hold strong, it’s actually my favorite so far! A definite must read for paranormal romance fans, I do recommend reading the series in order. Even though this can be read as a stand-alone (it was very well written), you’ll miss out on a great build between Olivia and Caleb :)
Olivia is now training, strengthening herself and her powers so she can defend herself and not need to rely on another for sole protection. She’s discovered many things about herself and what she is truly capable of. She’s also discovered her weaknesses and has learned to accept her vampire side. Some shocking secrets are uncovered and Olivia (finally) finds herself where she belongs.
Caleb is still one hot alpha vampire that can make any woman drool. He’s extremely overprotective of those he holds dear and will not let anything stop him from protecting them. He has come a long way from book 1 in the series and I admire him more and more as the series progresses.
I’m VERY excited to get my hands on the next book in the series. I want to see how Caleb and Olivia are continuing their new relationship and know if there’s any actual progress between Jax and Gemme. I adore all of Christine’s characters, bravo!
Finished book two in a day, couldn't put it down! I am more and more impressed with this author and her series as I continue reading it. In book two Olivia finds herself at The Oracle, a Brethren training compound. Her time at The Oracle is filled with tragedy, longing, and a will to succeed at defending herself so she can return to the vampire she loves. But The Oracle is full of mysteries, and her trainers and guardians are not what they seem. Hidden from Caleb and the rest of their coven, Olivia learns to cope with her new gift with the support of her guardian, Alec, but something sinister is happening at The Oracle, will Alec and Olivia have the courage to discover the darkness within the secretive organization?
I love love LOVE Olivia and Caleb, their love story is touching, but not overly gushy and sentimental. The supporting characters were fun and intriguing, and the plot, while a bit predictable, was well executed.
As a feminist and sexual assault advocate I was relieved that the author didn't "victim-blame" Olivia for the incident with Jude, despite the elders seeing it as her fault. She had a great support system, and I thought the process of healing was empowering and very realistic.
If you like your protagonist sassy, yet easy-going, and willing to battle to find herself this is for you.
If you like your hero devoted, tender, with a bit of over-protective sod thrown in the mix, Caleb will make your heart soar!
Steaminess scale: 3.5 out of 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I couldn’t wait to read this book. I wanted to find out what would happen between Olivia and Caleb, and I wasn’t disappointed. Christine Wenrick took me on a journey with many different twists and turns, up’s and downs.
Yet again, this book was full of intrigue; there were more characters that appeared on the pages as Olivia started her journey, learning about herself and her new talents. I was driven on to read by the developing storyline. I became captivated by Olivia and found myself hoping that she would be reunited with her love soon, and yet, found that it was delayed. I loved the story that developed and don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to give too much away for other readers.
The plot to the story is very strong. I was taken on a roller coaster ride; I was laughing and then crying, and wishing I could get my hands on a couple of the characters, so I could beat them up!! I am not ashamed to admit that I cried. I haven’t had a storyline effect me as much for a long time.
The unwinding tale has you gripped, and yet again, the book leaves you on a really big cliff-hanger. I eagerly await the next book. Well done Christine Wenrick, a wonderful instalment to a powerful series.
Disclosure: This book was given to Bex 'n' Books for free in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
My Rating 4.5 We pick up in this book right where the first one ended, with Olivia leaving Caleb to go live and train with The Brethren. Olivia wants to be sure that the feelings Caleb has for her are true and not a spell from her being Charmed. Caleb knew even before she left him that he truly loved her and wanted nothing more in life than to be with her. For three long months, Olivia is away with Alec, her Guardian, training and becoming strong to protect herself from all the evil vampires. With the bond that Caleb and Olivia share, they are still able to feel each other over time and distance but Olivia is not sure if it is one sided on her part. Olivia soon learns that the evil that is after her is not stickily vampires, but something much closer to home. True love cannot be kept apart, Caleb and Olivia prove that to everyone around them but when others from the past start to creep back in, is anyone safe? I look forward to reading the third and final book in this trilogy, hopefully we will learn more about the new relationships and partnerships that were starting to form in this book.
The Charmed Souls is the second installment in The Charmed Trilogy by Christine Wenrick. The Charmed Souls picks up roughly a week after the ending of The Charmed. Olivia is no longer in Seattle, but in the Cascade Mountains with her guardian Alec and the Brethren.
I have a feeling this series is going to be popular,(I know I'll be recommending it) so for those who haven't read The Charmed yet, I'll be careful not to give too much away.
Olivia has been through more than her share of horror. Being brought into a world she never believe existed, falling for someone she is forbidden to be with, finding out that she's far from ordinary and fighting for her life and the lives of the ones she loves. She's been hurt and has had enough. In The Charmed Souls Olivia trains herself to be able to defend herself. We get to see Olivia kick some butt and discover her inner strength and gifts.
The ending was great! It'll leave you begging for the next book. I know I am. The final installment in the series, The Charmed Fates, will be released on March 1st. I can't wait!
Picking up where the first book in The Charmed Trilogy left off, this intense story continues with a fierce and rapid pace. The heart ache of leaving Caleb behind, Olivia takes off for defense training against the supernatural creatures that are out to harm her. From the very beginning, her sorrow of leaving behind the man she loves is painstakingly felt, as she pours all of herself in to making herself stronger against her enemies. But when secrets are discovered, Olivia finds herself in a fight for her own life and for Caleb. With even more mystery and action, this second book in the series is brilliantly written, leaving readers eager for what’s in store next!
We pick up where The Charmed left off. Olivia's just arrived at the hunters base where she will not only be safe from vampires but will learn how to protect herself. Her hope is to learn to not only use her power as defense but also learn to fight vampires hand to hand so that she can go back to Caleb. That is, if he still remembers her after their time apart.
I really enjoyed this story. I can't wait until the next book comes out although I will be sad to see the story end. I've fallen in love with all the characters.
Second in The Charmed trilogy, Olivia has to leave her love, vampire Caleb in order train with The Brethren to protect herself from the vampires and other creatures that are drawn to her special powers. Taken to one of The Brethren's compounds, Olivia learns secrets about her past as well as the organization and has to fight to be reunited with Caleb and determine if what he feels for her is real or an effect of her "Charmer"attractions. More action than the first book, this one keeps the monentum going and is a good set up for the third.
I was so excited when I got this second book in The Charmed series. I really couldn't put it down. I was taken into the story watching it as I read. It kept me wanting more. The love and protectiveness between Olivia and Caleb is priceless. Loved all the twists and turns this series has to offer. I recommend this series to all that love a good paranormal romance with a twist.
I liked this sequel to the first book. I continue to admire and like Olivia. Her journey in this novel was just as captivating and I enjoyed watching her mature and strengthen in her character, even with the bumps in the road. I look forward to then final novel in this trilogy.
LOVED this book - what a terrific series. The characters are well developed adults. The romance/sex is HOT. The Brethren is mysterious and fascinating. Can't wait for #3!