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Anchored
Fierce, powerful and nearly immortal, Susannah March is a guardian, a winged protector charged with keeping Biloxi and its citizens safe. For decades she’s resisted taking a partner, a healer who would complement her weaknesses. Then Jason Delacourt shows up.
Jason is everything Susannah isn’t: young, impulsive, and unconcerned with rules. Susannah expects him to flake out within a week, but when a nest of vampires threatens her control of the city, Jason proves he’s stronger than he seems. As she fights to take back her territory, Susannah can’t deny that the healer has his uses—in more ways than one. What started out as irritation turns to lust, and then to something stronger. Susannah is used to risking her life, but risking her heart may be more than she can bear, even with the fate of her city at stake.
Jason is everything Susannah isn’t: young, impulsive, and unconcerned with rules. Susannah expects him to flake out within a week, but when a nest of vampires threatens her control of the city, Jason proves he’s stronger than he seems. As she fights to take back her territory, Susannah can’t deny that the healer has his uses—in more ways than one. What started out as irritation turns to lust, and then to something stronger. Susannah is used to risking her life, but risking her heart may be more than she can bear, even with the fate of her city at stake.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2013
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Larrieu
4 books20 followersA.J. Larrieu grew up in small-town Louisiana, where she spent her summers working in her family's bakery, exploring the swamps around her home and reading science fiction and fantasy novels under the covers. Twisted Miracles, the first book in her Shadowminds series, was a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart ® competition in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 4, 2013
Read the entire review on GraveTells, including Memorable Quotes and other Recommended Stories at http://gravetells.com/paranormal-roma...
This wasn't supposed to be a review book, just a quick "breather" read between other blog work. A.J. Larrieu, however, apparently had other plans for my past 12 hours when she penned her debut paranormal romance novella Anchored. Angels? Been there. Vamps? Both good and bad, done that! But the way Ms. Larrieu imagined her fictional universe breathes life and energy into a story even further supported by stellar characters with multi-faceted personalities. Little nuances kept me glued to my e-reader for solid chunks of time, as the plot smoothly transitioned from setting-the-scene to action to heart-racing conclusion. There is nothing boring about this novella and I was definitely not ready for it to end! These characters and this story could easily have filled the pages of a full-length novel and kept my rapt attention. Hell, I borrowed the book from the Kindle Prime library and wish I'd bought it outright! Totally worth the purchase.
I don't want to give too much away due to the short length of the book and the fun I had discovering the characters' backgrounds, so I'll just say that the main male protagonist, Jason, made me laugh, shiver, and really wish I had male friends like him, regardless of his former profession! This is not an alpha male, bowl-you-over hero who pushes his way around anything he doesn't get by consent. Jason is an easy-going man with spirit, good humor, some darn handy skills, and a straight-forward attractiveness that is hard to resist. Susannah, our angel heroine is just about everything I like in a strong female lead and nothing that I don't. Willful but not irresponsible, powerful but not abusive or stupid, respectful but not obeisant, and compassionate but not overly emotional If there were really a guardian angel watching over my city, Susannah is exactly the kind of warrior I'd want on the job. Together, they share an effortless bond that feels natural and right.
Kudos to A.J. Larrieu on setting such a high bar for her work on her first published novella. This is a story that should appeal to anyone with an soft spot for angels-doing-good and charming romantic suspense. The love scenes are all about classy heat and simmering connections, and radiate a lovely glow without straying into erotica territory. The action is well-grounded and just descriptive enough to keep you interested without being confusing. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series! Anchored is a GraveTells "must read"!
This wasn't supposed to be a review book, just a quick "breather" read between other blog work. A.J. Larrieu, however, apparently had other plans for my past 12 hours when she penned her debut paranormal romance novella Anchored. Angels? Been there. Vamps? Both good and bad, done that! But the way Ms. Larrieu imagined her fictional universe breathes life and energy into a story even further supported by stellar characters with multi-faceted personalities. Little nuances kept me glued to my e-reader for solid chunks of time, as the plot smoothly transitioned from setting-the-scene to action to heart-racing conclusion. There is nothing boring about this novella and I was definitely not ready for it to end! These characters and this story could easily have filled the pages of a full-length novel and kept my rapt attention. Hell, I borrowed the book from the Kindle Prime library and wish I'd bought it outright! Totally worth the purchase.
I don't want to give too much away due to the short length of the book and the fun I had discovering the characters' backgrounds, so I'll just say that the main male protagonist, Jason, made me laugh, shiver, and really wish I had male friends like him, regardless of his former profession! This is not an alpha male, bowl-you-over hero who pushes his way around anything he doesn't get by consent. Jason is an easy-going man with spirit, good humor, some darn handy skills, and a straight-forward attractiveness that is hard to resist. Susannah, our angel heroine is just about everything I like in a strong female lead and nothing that I don't. Willful but not irresponsible, powerful but not abusive or stupid, respectful but not obeisant, and compassionate but not overly emotional If there were really a guardian angel watching over my city, Susannah is exactly the kind of warrior I'd want on the job. Together, they share an effortless bond that feels natural and right.
Kudos to A.J. Larrieu on setting such a high bar for her work on her first published novella. This is a story that should appeal to anyone with an soft spot for angels-doing-good and charming romantic suspense. The love scenes are all about classy heat and simmering connections, and radiate a lovely glow without straying into erotica territory. The action is well-grounded and just descriptive enough to keep you interested without being confusing. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series! Anchored is a GraveTells "must read"!
May 4, 2013
**A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
ANCHORED was an unexpected treat of a novella. It’s a great take on the guardian angel mythology and it introduces us to a new world and heroine that left me wanting more.
Central to this story is the relationship between Susannah Marsh and Jason Delacourt. Susannah is a tough loner, strong and stubborn. She’s a guardian angel charged with protecting the citizens of Biloxi, Mississippi. Susannah likes to work alone but is forced to take on Jason as a partner. He’s a healer, someone who can heal with just a touch. And with a sketchy past of his own, he’s no angel. It’s this partnership that’s one of the more interesting aspects of this world created by Larrieu.
On one level, it’s an interesting worldbuilding element. Guardians are powerful but they need a healer to help them maintain their strength and energy as the city and its citizens can be draining on a guardian’s power. This is a new take on the angel mythology and it adds an interesting dynamic to Susannah and Jason’s budding relationship. Healers and guardians tend to have romantic relationships and it begs the question as to whether or not there is a magical element to their chemistry.
On a romantic level, the chemistry between Jason and Susannah is off the charts sexy. I loved the back and forth between the two and chuckled at Jason’s complete irreverence for Susannah. No intimidation at all. He ruffles her feathers, so to speak, and it’s fun to watch that happen.
My minor quibble with ANCHORED is that this relationship resolves a bit too quickly. I wish it had played out a little more, perhaps even resolving in the next book rather than at the end of the novella.
I know I’ve focused a lot on the relationship but the world itself is also interesting - angels anchored to cities, its citizens feeding the energy and strength of the guardians; vampires and, I assume, other supernatural creatures are kept in line by the guardians; the sultry Southern atmosphere of the setting – all these elements added up to a wonderful first introduction to a new world. There’s also some great action and a very cinematic scene where Susannah has to infiltrate a nest of vampires preying on humans in her city. My favorite image is of her sneaking into a hotel room, the heart of the nest, and a female victim who is tied and gagged, sees her. Susannah holds a finger up to her own lips to let the woman know to keep quiet and she then spreads her wings…there’s something eery about that image. The film version…definitely slo-mo, maybe John Woo directed?
It wasn’t until I had an impromptu Twitter conversation with the author that I learned that in the next book in the series, Susannah and Jason are side characters in a story that takes place in the same world. Color me intrigued. Though I think these two could definitely carry a full length, in fact, ANCHORED could have easily been a full length, I’m definitely curious to see who and what Larrieu has in store for us next.
If you’re interested in a new guardian angel mythology, an interesting world, and a sexy heroine and hero to sink your teeth into, pick up ANCHORED.
4.5 Stars!
This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
ANCHORED was an unexpected treat of a novella. It’s a great take on the guardian angel mythology and it introduces us to a new world and heroine that left me wanting more.
Central to this story is the relationship between Susannah Marsh and Jason Delacourt. Susannah is a tough loner, strong and stubborn. She’s a guardian angel charged with protecting the citizens of Biloxi, Mississippi. Susannah likes to work alone but is forced to take on Jason as a partner. He’s a healer, someone who can heal with just a touch. And with a sketchy past of his own, he’s no angel. It’s this partnership that’s one of the more interesting aspects of this world created by Larrieu.
On one level, it’s an interesting worldbuilding element. Guardians are powerful but they need a healer to help them maintain their strength and energy as the city and its citizens can be draining on a guardian’s power. This is a new take on the angel mythology and it adds an interesting dynamic to Susannah and Jason’s budding relationship. Healers and guardians tend to have romantic relationships and it begs the question as to whether or not there is a magical element to their chemistry.
On a romantic level, the chemistry between Jason and Susannah is off the charts sexy. I loved the back and forth between the two and chuckled at Jason’s complete irreverence for Susannah. No intimidation at all. He ruffles her feathers, so to speak, and it’s fun to watch that happen.
My minor quibble with ANCHORED is that this relationship resolves a bit too quickly. I wish it had played out a little more, perhaps even resolving in the next book rather than at the end of the novella.
I know I’ve focused a lot on the relationship but the world itself is also interesting - angels anchored to cities, its citizens feeding the energy and strength of the guardians; vampires and, I assume, other supernatural creatures are kept in line by the guardians; the sultry Southern atmosphere of the setting – all these elements added up to a wonderful first introduction to a new world. There’s also some great action and a very cinematic scene where Susannah has to infiltrate a nest of vampires preying on humans in her city. My favorite image is of her sneaking into a hotel room, the heart of the nest, and a female victim who is tied and gagged, sees her. Susannah holds a finger up to her own lips to let the woman know to keep quiet and she then spreads her wings…there’s something eery about that image. The film version…definitely slo-mo, maybe John Woo directed?
It wasn’t until I had an impromptu Twitter conversation with the author that I learned that in the next book in the series, Susannah and Jason are side characters in a story that takes place in the same world. Color me intrigued. Though I think these two could definitely carry a full length, in fact, ANCHORED could have easily been a full length, I’m definitely curious to see who and what Larrieu has in store for us next.
If you’re interested in a new guardian angel mythology, an interesting world, and a sexy heroine and hero to sink your teeth into, pick up ANCHORED.
4.5 Stars!
This review is courtesy of She-Wolf Reads.
April 23, 2013
Anchored , a short novella introducing A.J. Larrieu’s new series “Guardian” was a terrific read. The unique take on “angels” with their needed healer, in order to be the guardian/protector of a particular city, was very intriguing. Due to the shortness of a novella, the depth needed for the story and its characters, especially Susannah and Jason was very slight. A.J. writing style was wonderful, she was still able to give this story the foundation needed so you felt the apprehension in Susannah’s romantic connection to Jason and the dangers that she faced as protector along with the exceptional skills of Jason as the healer. The descriptive narrative of the story’s location had you feeling the sand and waves as Susannah walked the beach. Looking forward to the next installment in this series and hoping we see more of Susannah, Jason and Max in the future stories.
July 17, 2015
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This was a fun short story. I found this book when I was searching for books set in Biloxi MS. There are not many out there, but this one was a great fast short story that kept me interested throughout the entire book.
In fact I enjoyed it enough that I wish there was another 100 pages in this book. I am not very familiar with this author but I would continue reading anything that she puts out as I found the book exciting and a slightly different twist on the overdone vampire genre.
Yes there are vampires and like you I am semi sick of them, but at the same time this is not a vampire novel they just exist in this world.
Overall if you are looking for a fun, fast & fresh read I recommend reading this one.
This was a fun short story. I found this book when I was searching for books set in Biloxi MS. There are not many out there, but this one was a great fast short story that kept me interested throughout the entire book.
In fact I enjoyed it enough that I wish there was another 100 pages in this book. I am not very familiar with this author but I would continue reading anything that she puts out as I found the book exciting and a slightly different twist on the overdone vampire genre.
Yes there are vampires and like you I am semi sick of them, but at the same time this is not a vampire novel they just exist in this world.
Overall if you are looking for a fun, fast & fresh read I recommend reading this one.
April 10, 2013
A.J. Larrieu has created a very unique world of angels and vamps and other beings unlike anything I've read in the genre. The writing is so fluid and easy to read that I felt like I was watching a movie.
The story starts out a bit slow but after that it's non-stop entertainment and definitely some crazy heat between the heroine and hero. So in the end, the slow beginning seemed appropriate to somehow 'anchor' us into this new world.
I'm actually sad it was so short because I would have loved to get to know the main character more. She's one kick-ass, take no prisoners but still have empathy angel who does indeed have a vulnerable side when it comes to the hero. I would've loved to see that side develop more. Hopefully this is the start to a series because I'm intrigued!! And hooked!!
The story starts out a bit slow but after that it's non-stop entertainment and definitely some crazy heat between the heroine and hero. So in the end, the slow beginning seemed appropriate to somehow 'anchor' us into this new world.
I'm actually sad it was so short because I would have loved to get to know the main character more. She's one kick-ass, take no prisoners but still have empathy angel who does indeed have a vulnerable side when it comes to the hero. I would've loved to see that side develop more. Hopefully this is the start to a series because I'm intrigued!! And hooked!!
April 12, 2013
Urban fantasy written well is an endangered species. Or maybe a maturing species, since I'm not sure it was ever written well on a consistent basis. This is one of those urban fantasies that's good, that stands up to other good books in the broad-spectrum of the fantasy genre, that is not merely relying on "urban" to be relevant. Fun, perfectly paced, sexy, smart. And no cheesy dialogue. This cannot be emphasized enough. No. Cheesy. Dialogue.
You can tell by the description if this will interest you or not. I'm telling you it delivers.
I look forward to more from this author!
You can tell by the description if this will interest you or not. I'm telling you it delivers.
I look forward to more from this author!
April 11, 2014
This is a smart, sexy book, written with the lean, beautifully-stripped-back language of literary novels. That held-back emotion is perfect for Susannah, who is fierce in her role in this paranormal world, and doesn't let her emotions get in the way. Of course, Jason steps into that world and challenges it in his sexy, understated way. The chemistry between them is perfect (with some great, unexpected funny lines), and the story powers through to a page-flipping ending. I'm a huge, new fan of A.J. Larrieu!
March 16, 2013
Very quick little novella - just a brief glimpse into the world the author creates, which is fun but was also a bit confusing. The romance felt a little rushed, which I suspect is due to the length (I was done in 45 minutes or so). Would like to see this story expanded upon, the guardian angel being tied to a particular city could provide for a lot of variety!
Found this through Rachael Herron's Twitter.
Found this through Rachael Herron's Twitter.
March 16, 2013
This novella has some really great descriptions. I also thought the world was interesting and well fleshed out. The author also did a good job setting up the tension between Susannah and Jason.
April 14, 2013
ooh! A great find!
Really terrific writing, and a well-developed, unique supernatural world I'm eager to see more of!
Really terrific writing, and a well-developed, unique supernatural world I'm eager to see more of!
September 7, 2016
Excellent if you like supernatural romance. Sort of like angels meets Anita Blake. I hope there's a sequel!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews