Four-Letter Words

Haven #8

by Gabrielle Evans

[Siren Everlasting Classic Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, vampires, werewolves, sex toys, HEA] Zasha Gershwin lives a rigidly controlled life. He doesn’t see anything wrong with being prepared and organized, and he certainly doesn’t have time for such frivolous things as love. He cares for Thane, and he’s certainly attracted to the witch, but that’s just how the mating bond works. While his mate may not remember their previous life together, Thane Braddock has no trouble recalling every moment, right up to their tragic end. Now, he has a second chance to make everything right. Unfortunately, he’s making all new mistakes this time around. Evil lurks to the west, spreading its shadow across the desert, and the races hover on the verge of war. When the Braddocks are called to answer the rising threat, Thane and Zasha’s turbulent relationship will be pushed to its breaking point. Can they rekindle the old flame before it’s too late? Or is history destined to repeat itself? ** A Siren Erotic Romance

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Witches, Magic, Gay

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2013

About the author

Gabrielle Evans grew up in a small town in southern Oklahoma. We’re talking one red light that may or may not work depending on the day of the week. She married her high school sweetheart and the rest is pretty much history. They have two very active boys and one high-strung wiener dog that keeps her constantly on the go. For now, Gabrielle parks her car in north-central Texas, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Come chat with me on my new Yahoo Group!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gabriel...

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

(1)erotic romance author

Reviews

[Becky Condit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book #8 in the Haven series which is a spin-off of the Moonlight Breed series. I will definitely follow where ever Ms. Evans decides to lead us with this story. I absolutely loved the storyline and the characters. Her transition from one book to the next is perfect; she definitely keeps track of all of her characters and what’s going on with them. Her secondary characters from the Moonlight Breed series have been broken off into this wonderful series that takes us on a journey battling evil witches, kidnapped children and shifters. She weaved this intricate plot and storyline and put it into the most wonderful little stories that kept me engaged from the first page to the last. You always want to read the next in both the Moonlight and Haven series because you want to know what’s going to happen next. The Braddock brothers’ dialog when they were mentally returned to little boys and Raven’s solution when they went to rescue the children was hilarious. I read it twice; it just struck me as so funny. And Raven! That vampire definitely needs his own story, that guy is too funny. I would love for her to write a book featuring nothing but his antics and shenanigans. I loved his character from the very first time he was featured in the Moonlight Breed. This spin-off is brilliant. I liked it quite a bit. The only bump in the road was the POV shifts of the two lead characters were not clearly stated/marked, so it was confusing at times to read a POV shift of one character and then another without being given the heads up as to whose view we were reading. That was minor and did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. It was an enjoyable read.

Kiwi's 5 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... on June 11, 2013

[Phaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

With these two, Thane and Zasha, I kept getting the sense that they’re working against each other, instead of with or for (even though the latter is what they justify it as). And they don’t seem to actually see the other person, only their own image of how they are supposed to be, and then they treat the other person according to that image to manipulate them into whatever they feel is best. They don’t really listen, there’s no openness, no trust, no communication.

Thane is in love with Zasha’s previous incarnation and never pauses to notice the current man. And Zasha is so self-sufficient that he tries to manage everything for both of them. He does not even need anyone else for sex, it seems.
So when Thane teases (or tortures, really) Zasha sexually, it does not strike me as something to enhance the pleasure, as Thane claims, but rather as simply mean.

They’re simply not nice to one another. I like nice.

They do fix this eventually but I still ended up not liking them terribly much. Things turn mushy rather than emotionally compelling, as far as I am concerned.

Also, in the past several volumes the sex started to overtake just a tad, coming up more than necessary for the story. This is definitely the case here. At the very least the final scene was entirely irrelevant to anything.

Then there’s also the fact that yet again a big part of the conflict is related to one of the protagonist’s control issues. This is the fourth book in a row with this premise. It is getting old.

To top it all off, by the end we have this vague threat hanging over everyone. This is completely not a good mood on which to end the series. I assume the author planned to write more, but it’s been over a year since this last one came out, so I am not holding my breath. How sad.

[Hc · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was enjoyable at times, it was also... confusing to me. More like there was a story flow issue for me. Some of the fights these two have just didn't make sense.. more like book filler. Like fighting over Zasha feeding from Thane becomes a big issue.. mostly on Zasha's part. How he can't know that the mating bond will prevent him from going to far and harming his mate just made him as a character seem LESS.

Then when we get to the big fight scene... Here's what bothered me the most but I THOUGHT that as long as Infinity mates weren't beheaded there wasn't much that could actually kill them, something about the magic that binds them. I may be mis-remembering the wrong couple from a previous book (one MC, part witch part shifter, refused to claim his mate because of some curse? and in the end ended up claiming anyways by mistake.. but claimed in the witch way not shifter way.. which actually kept them from truly dying) Kieran is stabbed and actually dies. It takes him a while to come back (or it feels like!) and Nix is telling Link to trust in his bond and have faith, almost like, if he doesn't, then his mate really WILL be gone. So my question would be, If I didn't mis-remember this scenario (too much) then WHY wouldn't Link already know that Kieran wasn't truly dead?

I also didn't like Torren's new development.. It's a good twist but I just don't LIKE the IDEA at all! From all appearances there's no redemption to be had.. How to reconcile that with how Torren is going to end up feeling towards this development (per our new future seer, Nix)

[Crissy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Thane and Zasha's story. It's definitely at the top of my favorites in this series. Their story is one of push and pull and it's so very good. I love that it's not easy for Thane and Zasha. They have to work at their relationship. They are opposites in every sense of the word. Where Zasha is a overprotective control freak, Thane is laid back and confident. They are a perfect match and so very hot together.

I was excited to get to the evil circle of witches storyline. It is exciting and on the edge of your seat writing a lot of the time. And the twist...I didn't know whether to be shocked or jump up and yell "I knew it!" When in all reality it took me by complete surprise. Evans has a way of lulling readers into a safe zone and then dropping a bomb...I loved every second of it.

This story also has a lot of information, new characters join the cast, and there's even a heartbreaking moment where I teared up. I don't want to give away anything in this review(what fun would that be?), but a lot of questions from previous books are answered and the story arc twist is a game changer.

I cannot WAIT to see what happens next. I highly recommend this book.

[~SexyBookWorm~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...it was alright. It was hard to concentrate on the mc couple at times because there was so much background noise going on. I also feel like the blurb didn't really match up with the actual book itself.
Not my favorite Haven book.

I also don't care for the fact that the future seeing bother is named Nix. They could have given him another N name so it wouldn't be exactly like the Immortals after Dark series Nix character.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zasha Gershwin lives a rigidly controlled life. He doesn’t see anything wrong with being prepared and organized, and he certainly doesn’t have time for such frivolous things as love. He cares for Thane, and he’s certainly attracted to the witch, but that’s just how the mating bond works.
While his mate may not remember their previous life together, Thane Braddock has no trouble recalling every moment, right up to their tragic end. Now, he has a second chance to make everything right. Unfortunately, he’s making all new mistakes this time around.
Evil lurks to the west, spreading its shadow across the desert, and the races hover on the verge of war. When the Braddocks are called to answer the rising threat, Thane and Zasha’s turbulent relationship will be pushed to its breaking point. Can they rekindle the old flame before it’s too late? Or is history destined to repeat itself?

Four-Letter Words is the eighth installment to the Haven series by author Gabrielle Evans. This book is everything, I as a reader, would want in a story to keep me glued to the pages and wanting more. Ms. Evans is a master storyteller, and she proves it in this book.
Emotionally charged from the get-go, I was hanging on to the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. Four-Letter Words is a rollercoaster ride that I never wanted to end. I laughed, cried, and screamed at the screen, wanting the characters to find love and have their happy ending.
Zasha Aleric Gershwin is a vampire and more than a bit jaded. He believes in destined mates, just not the concept of love. Brave, loyal, fearless, and one of the most complicated men I have read lately, Zasha has such heart and soul that sometimes he gets in his own way. His need for control and organization sometimes messes him up, too, because he over thinks everything.
His mate, Thane, is an infamous Braddock witch, but unlike his brothers, he is a bit frail when we first meet him. It’s to be expected, however, since he was being held captive by an insane vampire. There is an inner strength to him, though, and he won’t allow his body’s limitations to stop him from getting what he wants. He clearly remembers the past life he and Zasha had together, and he knows, given the chance, they can have that again. This sure knowledge sees him through a lot in this book.
I loved the angst in this book, the emotional connection, and the engaging storyline. I have not been this drawn to a novel in a very long time. The twists and turns in this book are heartbreakingly beautiful. Be sure to have a few tissues on hand while you’re reading.
If you’re looking for an emotional rollercoaster ride that pulls you into the story and won’t let go, Four-Letter Words is the book to pick up.


5 Stars and a Stardust Recommended Read

[multitaskingmomma · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were simply too many things going on that distracted my focus on the main story. I wish it were more, but I can honestly say now that I wish there had been less.

For Four-Letter Words (Haven, #8) by Gabrielle Evans, Zasha Gershwin lives a rigidly controlled life. He doesn’t see anything wrong with being prepared and organized, and he certainly doesn’t have time for such frivolous things as love. He cares for Thane, and he’s certainly attracted to the witch, but that’s just how the mating bond works.

While his mate may not remember their previous life together, Thane Braddock has no trouble recalling every moment, right up to their tragic end. Now, he has a second chance to make everything right. Unfortunately, he’s making all new mistakes this time around.

Evil lurks to the west, spreading its shadow across the desert, and the races hover on the verge of war. When the Braddocks are called to answer the rising threat, Thane and Zasha’s turbulent relationship will be pushed to its breaking point. Can they rekindle the old flame before it’s too late? Or is history destined to repeat itself?

There were simply too many things going on that distracted my focus on the main story:

1. The constant flit from one life to another when they remembered their past lives were just too much for me to endure.

2. Yes, I have read the other Haven Series books, but I still had to go back and go through some of them, especially #7, before I could continue reading.

3. The introduction of more characters made me think that this may be another endless series with no ending.

I could state more here, but basically, these are the three top most things that bothered me.

There is one redeeming incident that made me laugh and is the main reason why I gave this an additional .5 stars from the original 1.0 stars, that was when the witches brothers started acting like kids, pre-adolescent kids, who were not only complete idiots, but childish as well. Unfortunately, for this one time when I did smile and read on, the rest of the time I just flitted over the book, just to finish it.

And no, the addition of a lot of sex scenes did nothing for me. At All.


Purchase Link

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Gabrielle Evans' Haven series, which ties in with her Moonlight Breed series. Although you do have fated mates who make you feel "complete", this pairing (or tripling in some cases) is not a guarantee of happiness. Mates might be matched, but their personal baggage can cause serious problems including hatred between mates.

Having said that, this book is a great example of personal baggage and expectations getting in the way. Gabrielle Evans' characters are likeable, flawed, and like the rest of us, their choices have a serious impact on their happiness. I won't say too much, since I don’t want to give any spoilers, but watching Zasha as he struggles to compromise and Thane as he learns to balance his memories against the man Zasha is, made me really love the characters.

Although you could read this book as a standalone, I would definitely suggest reading the Haven series before reading this book, mostly for the extra back story that adds nuances to the book that reading it as a standalone doesn't give. Gabrielle Evans is definitely learning and growing as an author and I look forward to reading her future releases.

[blub · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb sounds a bit more sinister than the book actually is and Zasha isn't as jaded about love as I thought he would be. A good addition to the installment, there's a bit of a battle scene, more Braddock relations are retrieved, and a twist involving Torren that throws everything into a loop.

There was some great little scenes that I loved and that amused the crap out of me. Raven and the Braddock's gave quite a bit of comical relief and I found myself wanting more (esp. when they had to travel through the mountains).

[Ericka Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5** One if my favorite in this series!!

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

HATE Zasha. He's the reason why I couldn't like this story.

Loving Nix!

Yes, I am a sucker and I will continue to read this series, even though in my opinion it's going downhill.

[DaCon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2016 Re-read: 3.5 stars