A Cursed Embrace

Weird Girls #2

by Cecy Robson

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twentysomething girls—with one tiny They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird.…

After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.

To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fantasy, Magic

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2013

About the author

Cecy Robson is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author.

As an immigrant of El Salvador with proud Nahua Pipil indigenous heritage, Cecy worked as a registered nurse for twenty-three years and is honored to have received multiple accolades for her writing. In her free time, Cecy creates magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure.

You can find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.

Connect with Cecy online at www.cecyrobson.com

Reviews

[Melliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My ENglish review

As I loved the first volume, I was eager to read the second one. And I must say that I’m not disappointed! It’s a new story full of action and suspense.

We find our sisters shortly after the end of the first volume while returning to their regular lives. Did I say ordinary? Yes, but well as normal as they know it. Our three heroines spin the perfect love and Celia envies somewhat that, as she doesn’t have any news from Aric for over a week. However, Misha is quite persistent and it is difficult for her to understand what is happening. But Aric has also many worries as the ancients don’t accept their relationship as he is the pack leader. But after a week without any news, our wolf returns to her with the best intentions. This is good news for our tigress. But happiness does not last long, especially when a band of demons appears, kills and slaughters humans they can find. But more than that, they seem to have an incomprehensible plan, and it will be up to our sisters, to understand with all their resources what it is happening.

I loved this new novel. Cecy Robson manages to take us into her world after a few pages and it is always very difficult to come out. Vampires, demons, werewolves and our dear sisters mingle to make an explosive mixture. Our heroines have also evolved a lot since the first book and it is a pleasure to see them happy and fulfilled with their companions. We see that they love each other deeply and they would do anything to protect themselves. However, our heart is broken for Celia, for whom love is never easy. She still hopes for the best but like in real life, nothing is ever easy for her. We understand Aric even if we do not like it, but we also understand this young woman and we can not help ourselves but blame the werewolf who hurts her constantly. Misha is also still there and I admit that he is also a wonderful character. He always brings a different touch to the story and I was looking forward to his appearances to find out what he would do. Taran, Shayna and Emme are always more entertaining. Their natures are so different and it allows us to see a whole range of the most interesting passages. Taran and Shayna are impulsive and direct, but they are always very funny, especially in their interactions with their neighbors. Regarding Emme, I must say that I’m always a little surprised by her innocence and calm after everything she has been through.

The plot is also very fascinating. We try to understand what’s going on with all these demons … especially when other creatures mingle with the story. We have some questions and I admit that there are many things that I did not see coming, but not at all. This is a very difficult story for Celia and I’m curious to see what will happen to her now, as to her sisters. I’m more than impatient to discover the third book to find out what happen next. If you have not tried this series, I highly recommend it to you. You will be blown away by the first pages and you’ll be able to discover a world full of creatures of all kinds.

[Iris Hunter (InstagramREADS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With only 40 pages to go! I could almost cry. Does this book really has to end? Maybe I should just stop reading so it never ends... And there it is the END. After pulling an all nighter, it is time to give my red eyes some rest... Wow what an emotional roller coaster. 5+ stars. You will never find a series better than this. Cecy you rock!,

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has quickly become one of my favorites! It has everything you could want in a series, great action, humor, emotion and love. Although, the love part does not come easy for miss Celia as predator it takes a strong man to handle her. Now finally she thinks she has found a man that can be her everything in Aric, but fate may have other plans.

This book is more of an emotional journey for Celia then the previous book; she runs the full gauntlet of emotions causing the read to feel those emotions with her. I know I did, I even misted up a few times because the emotion was so strong. That is one thing you can count on with Cecy Robson she knows how to pull you in and make you feel what the characters feel. This book is in turn joyous and heartbreaking. For those action fans don’t you worry your pretty little heads, there is still plenty of action to be had as the sisters and the werewolves face their most lethal foe yet. This time they fear they may not all walk away as more and more lives are lost fighting demons that are set on extinguishing all supernatural races. For the first time all supernaturals will have to work together to protect not only their lives but to keep from going extinct.

This was one of my favorite books so far this year! Miss Robson can certainly spin a tale that will make you want to keep coming back for more. I know I can’t wait for the third book in this series, especially after that ending!

Rating: 5

*copy provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat

A Cursed Embrace is the second book in the Weird Girls series by Cecy Robson.

My biggest fear after reading a great book is that the author won’t be able to deliver a following installment as good or better than said book. After reading Sealed With A Curse (first book) that was what I was thinking and fearing, but I’m happy to inform you there is nothing to fear, Cecy Robson has done it again with A Cursed Embrace.

A Cursed Embrace starts days after the events in Sealed With A Curse, with the Wird sisters trying to get back to their routines. After moving to Lake Tahoe they are finally having a break, a break that ends sooner than they have expected when they find a dead wereraccoon on their doorstep.
Somebody or something is killing humans in a very gruesome way, demons are being summoned and very-creepy-baby-demons are at large.
Aric and his pack have been investigating these incidents, but after the wereraccoon incident Celia and her sisters get involved in the investigation. They are stronger together than apart, at least that was what they thought, before they knew what was waiting for them.

This is one of those reviews in which I would love to just write OMG, OMG, OMG, you need to read this book, but I know you will want more from me to convince you than just saying that, so let me give you 10 reasons why you should buy/read this book as soon as you finish reading this post.

10 Reasons Why You Should Read A Cursed Embrace

1. When on page 4 you have already laughed out loud twice you know you have a winner.
2. All the characters are unique, have very different personalities and characteristics but at the same time they all complement and balance each other perfectly.
3. The guys in this book/series are Hot-Hot Panties in a Twist Hot.
4. The sexual tension and smexy times will steam the pages or short out your reader.
5. The characters not only grow page after page but they also show us sides we didn’t know nor did we expect.
6. The Wird sisters (Celia, Taran, Shayna, and Emme) are so great you are going to do voodoo on Mrs. Mancuso for her to sell you her house, so you can move next door to them.
7. The monsters in this installment are so creepy you will need to start sleeping with the light on or find a good therapist.
8. Cecy Robson is not happy with only taking us on a roller coaster of emotions, not at all (she’s evil), she also put us through the wringer and leaves us with a broken heart and a serious case of “I Need Next Book Now” (Cursed By Destiny, January 7th, 2014)
9. Evil Author aka Cecy Robson gives us in one page a twist in the story that stomps on our hearts and in the next page she gives us hope and a high feeling of happiness and wellbeing, showing us once again what a talented (twisted) author she is.
10. You know that feeling, after reading a great book, when you say “damn this author is evil because she/he went all the way and did this or that to the characters I love”; then you start to analyze what just happened and realized the author took a risk, one that masterfully works in the story, then you feel like grinning non stop because the author was able to awaken in you feelings you were not expecting, then you rush to contact said author to tell her/him “she/he is evil but great”; that’s the feeling you will have after you have finish A Cursed Embrace, I also call that feeling “The Stalking The Author Syndrome”.

[Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Finally, Aric and Celia get together. They're now dating, it's all romantic and hot, but he's actually not supposed to be dating her as she's not a pure blood werewolf like he is. She's other and that's against what the werewolf elders want for Aric. So their relationship isn't accepted beyond close friends.

This book was interesting due to the threat of demons, both adult and baby. Yeah, evil baby demons running around killing people. I liked that plot and all the action it generated. It also made sense who their enemy was behind this, a very realistic enemy in terms of this world.

Th ending sucked. Didn't see that coming after all the words spouted about it never happening. Misha is still around and trying to entice Celia into his vampire pants. It's not a love triangle because it's always been evident which way Celia feels, but I do enjoy Misha's attempts.

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 3 out of 5]

The werewolf guy annoys me to no end.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that really shredded me, for lack of better terminology. There are just some books that you read, howl, bawl and cry over. Then go back and re-read passages, go back and re-read the book before it, and then finally re-read the entire book again. These are books I named my blog after; I basically walk around in book hangover from them. Hi, my name is Kristin and I’m a total book geek over this series and especially this book…

I absolutely fell in love with the Weird Girls series by Cecy Robson last year. The first book in the series, Sealed with a Curse, was such a winning debut for Ms. Robson that I was a little fearful of the dreaded “sophomore slump” that accompanies some second books in a series. I can unequivocally (yes, I did have to look that word up) say that this book, A Cursed Embrace, at least for me, blows the first book out of the water, throws it down the hill, ties it up on the railroad tracks, waits for the train to go by, and then beats the ever-loving socks off the first book. Okay, I over-exaggerate. But I actually LOVED Embrace better than Sealed!! Here’s why…

Characters

Let me start with the supporting characters first. I love living, err, reading about these sisters! I love Taran and her “I’m sex on a stick walking” -vibe she gives off. Who wears high heels to track bad guys in the woods?? Shayna is the tomboy little sister that might have picked up a opossum on the way home from school and wanted to keep it as a pet because it was “fluffy and white”. Emme is just so gosh darn cute and you know she’ll grow up to be an elementary school teacher. Seriously, I know these girls – these characters are plenty fleshed out.

And then there is Celia, one of my favorite tortured heroines of all time. She’s been cursed to live with a tigress inside her that she can shapeshift into. But her strong, fierce personality leaks out and scares off any potential friends or suitors of the human variety. On the other side, to the supernatural Were community, she just isn’t good enough to be dating their potential leader. Her and her sisters are considered freaks. This affects Celia the worst out of all the sisters because if there’s any race that could relate to her, it’s the were community. Either way, she’s been alone for a long time. She’s spent her years looking out for her younger sisters without regard to her dating needs.

Aric, the object of her affection, is the alpha of all alphas (at least that’s what I think). He happens to be one of the few pure-blood weres left in the world. Unfortunately for him, the elders get cranky when he dates non-pure bloods and they really blow a gasket when he takes an interest in Celia. Aric is young, cocky, extremely alpha, and he is truly possessive and protective of what he deems is his. He’s one of the few who can handle and respect Celia’s strength.

But there is another who respects and wants Celia. Misha is the master vampire living in the Tahoe area whom Celia has helped in the past. Of course he’s hot. Of course he’s always there to protect Celia when she needs help and to get under Aric’s fur…. skin, whatever.

To say that there’s a love triangle in this book is not entirely accurate. Celia knows who she wants. And she makes it clear to everyone involved on several occasions. I’d ruin the story if I discussed the non-triangle further (I’m such a tease, no?)

Story

Ms. Robson has written my personal favorite type of book: an urban fantasy with romance that is weighted 50/50 for each. The urban fantasy genre, for me, is mystery, conflict, action, with a bit of supernatural gore thrown in for good measure. But you have GOT to have good writing to make sure the reader understands what the author is trying to convey in the scene. Bad writing, and this all ends up a hot mess of confusion. Ms. Robson does an excellent job writing these scenes and putting the reader right there in the action and all the emotions.

Speaking of emotions… it’s in the romance half of the story that my soul was utterly ripped to pieces. I’ve read emotional love stories before; heck, I cried for a few of the Brothers in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. But something about this story really gets to me. If I comment any more than that, I might be giving something away so I’ll just shut up now. I’ll just say that I absolutely loved the ending (as a reader) and I don’t think you can get a better last sentence for a book than what Ms. Robson wrote.

Ms. Robson, you ROCK! A Cursed Embrace is definitely on my list of Best/Favorite Reads of 2013, if not at the top.

Yup, I kind of liked this book.

Review appears on My ParaHangover

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Cursed Embraced is non-stop action, nail biting, gut wrenching, heart-breakingly awesome! Ms. Robson had gone above and beyond my expectations and impressed me yet again with her the wits skill in keeping me at the edge of my seat." ~Under the Covers

Lake Tahoe, again is not a safe place to be in. There have been murders and missing persons. Of course Celia and her sisters are yet again in the midst of chaos. I have to tell you that this experience gets really personal. The Weird sisters really take a beating emotionally, physically and none of them will get out of this unscathed.

Celia is as strong as ever not only emotionally but magically. She and her inner tigress have evolved quite a bit in their strength. I have loved her from the beginning of this series and my love for her is even stronger after reading this book. I have not seen her make a wrong or stupid decision yet. I do consider her as one of the top kickass heroines I’ve read about. Unlike the hero, Aric, a local shifter who is also royalty (royal pain in my ass) and a protector of humanity doesn’t believe it as much. Well, I’m not quite sure what it is, but Aric has this alpha male, very protective vibe going on. He is way over protective over Celia but at the end of each day, he’s the one Celia ends up protecting. I’m sorry, but sometimes he can be so cute and sexy but he can be as blind as a bat. I wish he can just see Celia for what a kick ass chick she really is. Now, Misha, a sexy vamp also at the top of the food chain has the hots for Ceel. Here’s a man who knows how to handle a heroine who is ultimately strong. He accepts Celia for every part of her being. Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure where this love triangle will take them but I assure you this particular book has heart break written all over it.

As you know that this series is of the Urban Fantasy genre and UFs are known for their cliff hangers. Well, A Cursed Embrace does not leave you so much with a cliff hanger but Celia will end a chapter of her life and begin a new one. It does end with you questioning the author though. Questions like: Ms. Robson, what have you done? Where are you going with this? Who will Celia end up with? And Who is Ms. Mancuso? Okay the last question is a bit silly but this old hag has to be someone important in disguise of an annoying old neighbor. She just cracks me up.

Along with Ms. Mancuso, the secondary characters make this series awesome. Celia’s sisters are a riot. Their different characteristics, foul mouths and continued banters is just so addicting you’ll want to keep reading just to find out what comment comes out of their mouths next. They also have grown physically, emotionally and magically. But what amazes me is their continual support for each other. You will feel their triumphs and heart breaks. Yup, the heartbreaks are quite a doozy. Aric’s crew, the shifters, of course is just as great and they were in this book quite a bit. I’m not complaining one bit but I do wish the Misha and his crew had the same page time. Ms. Robson ended this book as if we might get more of them (crossing fingers) in Cursed by Moon. A down side to reading an ARC is that you have to wait longer than everyone else. This book left me heartbroken that waiting for the next book is going to be a b*tch, but I will pay my dues. Ms. Robson’s work is worth the wait.

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I thought the first one was fantastic? This sequel blew the first one out of the water. It delivered both action and romance that left me reeling from the impact. Ms. Robson knows how to write a follow-up transition book in a series. I laughed, I cried, I bit my nails, and I did it all over again while being in awe of the paranormal world that the author created. The ending that left things wide open is still consuming me.

In this follow-up (which must be read in order by the by), Celia and her sisters are enjoying their time with their wolves between work assignments even as they recognize that life is still pretty complicated. Taran is having nightmares about demons coming for her and Aric is under high pressure from the Elders to stick to his own kind. He tells Celia that she is everything to him and they'll always be together, but she can't bring herself to believe it.

Then people start disappearing and dying. Demons pop up. Rogue vampires and weres are seen about as they wreck mayhem. The wolves have a new deadly assignment that they don't want the Wird Sisters to help with. The Were Elders and their people definitely don't want the girls involved. But Celia has no plans to sit it out on the sidelines where Aric's safety is concerned. Along with her sisters, her friends and Misha with his crowd, they all join to help fight the new evil that has emerged.

In the end, fighting evil proves deadly and its still not enough for the Elders to change their stance about Aric and Celia. With her heartbreaking, Celia makes a hard decision.

The plot, pace, character development, romance and just the whole package were amazing. Other than the torture my poor heart endured along with Aric and Celia, I had no disappointment in this book. The humor, the sisterly camaraderie, the awesome friends, and oh boy yes, the passion between Aric and Celia was just something else. Celia has her limitations and her flaws, but she is also loving, loyal, strong and passionate. She's a perfect heroine. I love her as a narrator and seeing the others and all the action through her eyes. I felt everything she felt and this story ran the gamut. I can't wait to grab up the next book in the series.

Those who enjoy spicy Urban Fantasy need to try this series.

[Μαρία Γεωργοπούλου · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s what I’m talking about! The best kind of urban fantasy! I was thrilled when I read the first book of the series and now that I read the second I have to say one thing. AMAZING! Yes, it’s easy to say now that this series is becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy series. What’s not to like? This book has it all. Non-stop action from page one until the last, great female characters, very hot male characters, very well written world-building, romance, humor and drama! I’m telling you this book is simply great!

The story continues from where the previous ends. But now their world became more dangerous and no one is safe. Celia and her sisters now are trying to help their werewolves boyfriends to find and kill demons but the danger is far more great than they think. Shayna, Taran and Emme are happy (even Taran after a while) with their boyfriends and it’s easy to see that all of them belong together. Celia and Aric finally trying for a relationship but nothing is easy with the two of them. I won’t say anything because it would be a spoiler but I have to say that there is passion, despair, betrayal and pain. I really cried while reading certain scenes in this book!

I don’t have to say that I absolutely love all the sisters!! They are so different but their love for each other is epic. They would do anything for each other and they don’t put anyone before them. Humor, bravery and compassion are some of their qualities and in this book we can see them to embrace their loved ones and it’s obvious that their relationships are more than serious.

Aric is giving me a hard time in this book unfortunately! Although it’s obvious that he loves Celia, he’s treating her like a casual fling and he hurts her more than once with his dedication to the Elders and what they think pure.

Do you think that I forgot Misha? Of course not! He is here, in the background, ready to make his move or ready for Aric’s mistake. And yes, he finds his opportunity. Now, we can wait for what the future will bring. One think if for sure. Misha really wants Celia also and he’s not going to let her go easily!

The plot was even better than the first book and I have to admit that I couldn’t put this book down! That good!! I totally recommend it to all the fans of this genre!!

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

A CURSED EMBRACE put my emotions through their paces; first I experienced joy over Celia solving her Aric/Misha crisis, then frustration when the latter crashed & burned, followed by grief over what befell the Wird sisters, and finished off the spectrum with bewilderment because of the ending. I love novels that are able to get this kind of a reaction out of readers, and boy did Cecy Robson and Renée Chambliss ever get one out of me!

The WEIRD GIRLS universe offers tons of original twists on everyday paranormal lore which is a huge draw for genre fiction bookworms. It’s the little things that make all the difference such as a gold allergy instead of a silver one, and exceptions to the rules like Gemini. I enjoyed the nature of this installment’s plot more than its predecessor, although I did find that too much emphasis was placed on the romance.

The four sisters continued to make names for themselves as characters, especially Celia, and I liked that each of the individual couples got some exposure as well. However, I wasn’t thrilled with the eldest Wird’s temper tantrum as a result of her mate making the only call available to him given the circumstances. It was selfish, and lasted longer than necessary, albeit admittedly he could have went about it differently too.

Renée Chambliss delivered another spellbinding performance, and complain as I may about Celia’s outbursts, these particular scenes allowed the narrator to show her mettle by giving these emotionally charged scenes her all. Perhaps she even over-acted them, and is partially to blame for my main beef with this audio. Regardless, I enjoyed Chambliss’ rendition, and am kinda bummed that I’ll have to switch to reading after book 3.

A CURSED EMBRACE was just a hair’s breadth away from Urban Fantasy perfection! ~4.5 Stars

[Angela Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clink here to..


A Cursed Embraced is non-stop action, nail biting, gut wrenching, heart-breakingly awesome! Ms. Robson had gone above and beyond my expectations and impressed me yet again with her the wits and skill in keeping me at the edge of my seat.

Lake Tahoe, again is not a safe place to be in. There have been murders and missing persons. Of course Celia and her sisters are yet again in the midst of chaos. I have to tell you that this experience gets really personal. The Weird sisters really take a beating emotionally, physically and none of them will get out of this unscathed.

Celia is as strong as ever not only emotionally but magically. She and her inner tigress have evolved quite a bit in their strength. I have loved her from the beginning of this series and my love for her is even stronger after reading this book. I have not seen her make a wrong or stupid decision yet. I do consider her as one of the top kickass heroines I’ve read about. Unlike the hero, Aric, a local shifter who is also royalty (royal pain in my ass) and a protector of humanity doesn’t believe it as much. Well, I’m not quite sure what it is, but Aric has this alpha male, very protective vibe going on. He is way over protective over Celia but at the end of each day, he’s the one Celia ends up protecting. I’m sorry, but sometimes he can be so cute and sexy but he can be as blind as a bat. I wish he can just see Celia for what a kick ass chick she really is. Now, Misha, a sexy vamp also at the top of the food chain has the hots for Ceel. Here’s a man who knows how to handle a heroine who is ultimately strong. He accepts Celia for every part of her being. Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure where this love triangle will take them but I assure you this particular book has heart break written all over it.

As you know that this series is of the Urban Fantasy genre and UFs are known for their cliff hangers. Well, A Cursed Embrace does not leave you so much with a cliff hanger but Celia will end a chapter of her life and begin a new one. It does end with you questioning the author though. Questions like: Ms. Robson, what have you done? Where are you going with this? Who will Celia end up with? And Who is Ms. Mancuso? Okay the last question is a bit silly but this old hag has to be someone important in disguise of an annoying old neighbor. She just cracks me up.

Along with Ms. Mancuso, the secondary characters make this series awesome. Celia’s sisters are a riot. Their different characteristics, foul mouths and continued banters is just so addicting you’ll want to keep reading just to find out what comment comes out of their mouths next. They also have grown physically, emotionally and magically. But what amazes me is their continual support for each other. You will feel their triumphs and heart breaks. Yup, the heartbreaks are quite a doozy. Aric’s crew, the shifters, of course is just as great and they were in this book quite a bit. I’m not complaining one bit but I do wish the Misha and his crew had the same page time. Ms. Robson ended this book as if we might get more of them (crossing fingers) in Cursed by Moon. A down side to reading an ARC is that you have to wait longer than everyone else. This book left me heartbroken that waiting for the next book is going to be a b*tch, but I will pay my dues. Ms. Robson’s work is worth the wait.

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having defeated their enemy and saved Misha and his family things should be settling down for Celia and her sisters, especially since they have started to get so close with werewolf alpha Aric and some of his warriors. Unfortunately nothing is ever simple for the girls and Aric's pack is determined to keep him and Celia apart. As if the pack politics weren't enough for them to deal with bodies start piling up as an unknown enemy starts chowing down on both humans and weres. Evidence points to the vampires but Celia knows that Misha can't be involved and is determined to uncover what is really going on. When it becomes clear that Celia and her sisters all have targets painted on their backs they realise they are in for the fight of their lives and even though they have both the weres and the vampires at their backs they might not be strong enough to survive.

I really enjoyed the previous stories in the Weird Girls series but A Cursed Embrace surpassed all of my expectations and completely blew Sealed with a Curse out of the water. This is quickly turning into one of my favourite urban fantasy series and I can't wait to see where Cecy Robson takes things next. These books really do have everything I look for in a good story - great characters, fabulous banter and a family bond that always comes first, humour, action and plenty of hot guys to drool over! A Cursed Embrace took me on an emotional roller coaster that left me reeling at the end, I felt everything right alongside Celia - her joy, happiness and love followed by her shock, horror and despair. Everything that she went through happened to me too and it's not often that I feel so connected to a character I that want to cry her tears for her.

Celia is a fighter, she has spent years protecting her sisters and she will do anything to keep them safe no matter what it costs her personally. She always puts everyone else first but has never really had anyone who was there to look out for her, as the oldest she took responsibility for the others and although they appreciate everything she has done for them it would be nice for someone to look out for her for a change. That is one of the things I loved most about Aric, the way he stands up for her and has her back no matter what anyone else says. I'll admit that meant I was disappointed with his actions later in the book, I understand why he did what he did but that doesn't mean it hurt me any less when he did it. I don't want to say too much here for fear of spoiling the story for you but I know what I'm hoping for as the series continues and I'll definitely be waiting for Aric to redeem himself!

A Cursed Embrace had me hooked from the very first page, the plot was fantastic, their enemies were creepy and horrifying and I had my heart in my mouth several times in absolute terror about what was about to happen. By the time I reached the end I felt like I'd been through the emotional equivalent of my washing machine spin cycle, I had been through every single possible emotion (some more than once) and I was left reeling at the end of it. The end of the book made me gasp out loud and I don't know how I'm going to survive the wait for the next book! If you haven't come across this series then I really can't recommend it highly enough, I would suggest reading the books in order though because you'd miss out on some important character development if you started part way through. Cecy Robson has now become one of my auto buy authors and I will be devouring anything else she publishes the second I can get my hands on it!

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a fact I point out very often, but it bears repeating: good urban fantasy is hard to find. And here’s something I don’t point out often enough: Cecy Robson writes good urban fantasy. In many ways, A Cursed Embrace is a better book than its predecessor, and extremely significant for the series as a whole.

The sisters Celia, Shayna, Emme and Taran stunned me with their growth, the complexity of their relationships, their fierceness and strength, but also their emotional vulnerability, dedication and willingness to make sacrifices. Taran in particular exposed her softer side, and while she remained the same loudmouth on the outside, I understood and liked her much better.

It seems that Celia’s were boyfriend, Aric, developed a strong case of ericnortmaneosis*, and I’m terrified that it might be terminal. The symptoms are as follows: uber hotness, alpha status, strong aversion to healthy communication, high-handedness, and worst of all, existence under pressure to marry someone other than our heroine. I was Aric’s biggest fan in Sealed with a Curse, perhaps because he and Celia appeared to be on the same side, but in A Cursed Embrace, I felt that there was Aric’s side and Celia’s side, and I was decidedly Team Celia throughout.

He has his moments, though, our Aric. Left to his own devices, he is a swoon-worthy hero if there ever was one. But when he brings his pack into the equation, things go very wrong very fast. In some ways, I wish he could be more like Misha – Celia’s vampire friend – self-serving and completely independent. But then he wouldn’t be Aric, would he?

Plot-wise, A Cursed Embrace is extremely well thought out. Robson found the perfect balance between an engaging plot and character development. This book is incredibly emotional, yes, and the second part is heartbreaking, but we’re also given an excellent mystery and a villain that is sure to make you tremble with fear.

A Cursed Embrace ends in the middle of a worst possible emotional moment for Celia and it ripped my heart right out. I don’t appreciate cliffhangers, but I was too busy being devastated to get really angry about it. If you like urban fantasy at all, I guarantee you’re going to love this series. As for me, I’m going to sit here all depressed until the next book comes out. Join me, it’s true that misery loves company.

*named after Eric Northman, first known terminal patient

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars: An action packed book with plenty of sizzle!

Celia and her sisters are hoping to settle in and get to know their new boyfriends a bit better after their near death experience at the hands of the the infected vampires. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. Strange deaths are occurring, and Taran is having nightmarish dreams involving demons. Celia is also having troubles with Aric. He is hot and cold, and it is driving her crazy. Celia worries that he will break her heart since he is a pureblood werewolf and expected to mate with a pureblood. Yet she loses her heart to him anyway. Can the sisters and the werewolves get to the bottom of the demon infestation? Will Celia suffer a broken heart?
What I Liked:
*This book is smoking hot! It is even better than the first as it has plenty of action, a smoking hot romance, terrifying and grotesque demons and lots of danger, plus an ornery old lady who lives next door who is quick to curse and flip the bird. If you are looking for a sizzling and exciting new UF series, you should be reading The Weird Girls!
*Let's talk about the romance..... the heat turns up between Aric and Celia this time around! For all of you who enjoy heated passion and lots of sexy time this will satiate your appetite. I thought all the love scenes were well written, just the right amount of heat without straying into the too much info territory. You can read this and savor it and not blush with embarrassment while you read it! I am all for books with just the right balance with the sex scenes. I must warn you, though, that while there are plenty of sinful moments, the romance isn't without its bumps in the road. It isn't all smooth sailing and it is frustrating at times. Expect tension and heat with this one.
*I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know the Wird sisters and their hot werewolf boyfriends. I love that each sister brings her own unique powers and talents to the fight. For instance, Celia can transform into a tigress and shift underground. Taran can go nuclear and blast enemies with tremendous powers and she can also alter memories. Shayna can take any wooden or metal object and transform it into a deadly sharp weapon, even a small harmless toothpick. Esme, the softhearted sister, can heal and as well as use her force. The werewolf boyfriends also are a bit unique. I think that Gemini is the bomb. He is a dual werewolf who can split in two, meaning his wolf can split from his human. How cool is that? If you are tired of the same old same old when it comes to paranormal entities you definitely need to check out this series as it is original and fresh! It has deadly vampires, demons, witches and lots of were-creatures as well as the unique Wird girls.
*I am enjoying watching Celia grow. As the oldest sister, she has always been the protective one. She has never been lucky in love, and in fact, she has only had one sexual partner. She is extremely nervous and hesitant when it comes to opening her heart to Aric. I love that she is scared when it comes to her first intimate encounter with Aric. She might be a strong fighter, but she definitely has her doubts and insecurities. Slowly, she is learning to overcome her fears. She is showing growth and I expect that she will continue to find her way.
*I was happy to see that Dan and Bren had bigger roles in this one. There is always something about a geeky guy that gets me every time, and Dan does it in this one. I love that he doesn't possess an ounce of supernatural power and he wears glasses, yet he is smart and educated on all things supernatural. I loved the scene where he showed the witch how it was done. I hope that he continues to have a big presence in the next book because his character is great!
*I like that there is plenty of comedic between all the action. Celia and the sisters know how to snark and they make me laugh. I particularly enjoy the confrontations with their nosy, old lady neighbor who is always telling the girls they are whores and flipping them off. I wish that there were more scenes with the curmudgeonly lady. There wasn't as much male posturing in this book between Misha and Aric, but there are a few entertaining moments when the two face off.
And The Not So Much:
*I am still struggling to completely understand the weres. This book incorporates all types of were animals from wolves, raccoons, bears and lions. I want to fully grasp how they come to be and all their characteristics and powers. One important theme is purebloods and made weres. Is there any difference in their abilities based on whether they are pure or made?
*I wanted to know why the other three wolves, Koda, Liam and Gemini, are not chastised for their relationships with the Wird girls like Aric. Are they not purebloods as well? Does the pureblood standard only apply to those purebloods in leadership positions?
*Even though I enjoyed the development of the romantic relationship between Celia and Aric, I also hated it. I can't go into details, but it frustrated me that Aric wouldn't take a stand and follow his heart, consequences be damned. I have a feeling this will be an ongoing theme, but my fingers are crossed that it will work out as it should.

A Cursed Embrace is a sizzling sequel that surpasses its predecessor. This book is packed full of danger and heat. I love that this series continues to surprise me with its fresh take on paranormal creatures. If you are tired of the typical vamps and werewolves, give this series a try. It is unique and fresh! I love that it has plenty of snark and humor thrown in for comedic relief. If you are on the hunt for a hot new UF series, do yourself a favor and get these books!

Favorite Quotations:
"And because having an eighty-plus woman catching me in a major tongue-hockey moment wasn't humiliating enough, my lovely sister Taran came to the rescue.
"Well, you know what they say, 'Save water---shower with a werewolf.'"

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Barb Shuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart stopping! That's what this book was. The drama, the love, the lust it all takes off in a 747 in the beginning, crash lands and goes up in flames. but then, all hell breaks loose, literally and it fires the 747 back up.

What was sparked as a friendship, awkward at times between the girls and their wolves is starting to sizzle and cement itself into the heart throbbing love it was meant to. Things are edgy due tot he deaths that surround the Tahoe area and various other places through the US. mean and Woman are disappearing. Bodies of mutilated men are showing up. Eaten. Marked. Gross, but it is what they have to deal with right?

Aric, Celia, Shayna, Koda, Tarn, Gemini, Emme and Liam are all living in the girls house. It's now home. Wolves are pack animals after all. Misha, being Misha, the tall dark and handsome vampire master is indebted to Celia for saving his life, yet again so he has one of his vampires go to Celia's when learns a dead were is on her doorstep. No, like dude fell through her door when she opened it. (laughs hard) What a good start tot eh morning, right? Yeah no. Their wolves show up along side Paul, the wereracoon alpha. Wereracoons... I'm dying. I love it.

This story in itself is a continuation of the first book but it takes on a whole new level of "WTF?" and made me go from laughing, to pissed, mainly at Aric, to crying. The level of WTF... again, my God, it's just EPIC.

Seems alongside the weres, the vampires and the Wird girls there are also Demons running around, eating, raping every woman they can snatch up and being evil. Not only do they just leave the bodies of the evil endeavors everywhere. The escalation of the deaths, the packs all hunting for the culprits once they figure out what is going on spins them in all directions at once.

Aric is attacked, mauled and left to fend for himself full of gold bullets. Emme and Liam are attacked outside of the club by a horde of vampires. The deaths keep coming and the elders think Aric is 'distracted'. No shit, really?

Aric, as a leader is in over his head at times. As they all are. the elders, especially Anara (asshole will suffice as a name) are up Aric's ass and not in a pleasant way for his interactions with Celia. Seems that, even if she doesn't know it at the time, they are mated. Even his wolves, his warriors know it. They can feel it. So as things escalate with the deaths, the fighting his frustrations, her anger they all come to a head.

Finally, with the help of Danny they are able to figure out a way to summon the demon who they think is the leader to them. That little trick almost worked. But as the girls are leaving "The Den", the weres hidden compound they are attacked by a horde of demons. Big, small, nasty little fuckers. Celia, Shayna and Emme are taken. Taran barely manages to get away. The girls were shot with special spelled bullets that took their powers from them. When Celia wakes up from blacking out they are in Ohio.. (laughs) who knew Ohio was Demon central.

The only thing Celia can do is think of Misha and concentrate on the sign she sees before her to the old prison. It is over flowing with vampires, weres, demons spawn and pregnant women. the girls are shoved into a cell in death row. I was like... erm... (snorts)Celia and her sisters devise a plan to save themselves. Using what little power Emme and Shayna have left they make it out of the prison. They are at the wall and ready to run when the demons grab them up. They meet the big nasty. He gets his children to take them back inside. In order to break Celia he orders his minions to take Shayna to be food for his children. Leaving a werebear to break her other ways.

Celia stabs him in the eye, knocking him out for a bit and is able to dig the bullets out of hers and Emme's body. Of course the idiots at the door think their pain and screams are from the werebear. But they learned when they were killed. As they are escaping the Calvary comes in. Blasts catch the hordes off center and the world erupts in fights. Snarls, growls and punches.

The demon master (asshole) is taken down. With lots of fighting and lots of pains. The wolves set off to find Shayna... they do and it's not good. Her body is so badly hurt Emme can't heal her. Koda is distraught. Out of his mind so he bites her and runs off with her. Celia goes into shock and when she truly wakes again she is in her bed, Aric at her side. Even if that wont last.

Time passes and we are at Shayna and Koda's wedding. What will happen at the full moon? Will she shift? Who knows. She's alive that's what is important. At the wedding Celia and Aric confess their love to each other and acknowledge they can't be together. Celia tells him to remember she loves him no matter what happens next.

What happens next... Misha shows up and whisks her away from the wedding. The only thing keeping Aric in control is his wolves grab him....

Not sure I like this but Misha so far seems to be okay with her. We will see.

This book is EPIC. I swear. Action packed to the gills, and then some. I am so ready to dive into the other. (runs off to do that)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

A Cursed Embrace is the second book in Cecy Robson’s Weird Girls series. The sisters are back and awesome and the men are back and yummy. Throw in some extra-amazing-really-unexpected twists, dashes of humor and an equally interesting and gruesome story and you have a very entertaining (and sometimes shocking) installment.

The book starts off shortly after book one, finding the sisters in love and happy. Well, all but Celia, our main heroine. Her ‘interest’ has pretty much disappeared leaving her confused as to what exactly is going on. But things aren’t mostly roses for long. Suddenly, demons appear (demons!) and really dead humans (*shudder*) are found. Top that off with some very naughty werewolves (and not the good kind of naughty) and you have the basis for the main plot of this second book. The story sucks you in right from the get-go and holy crap, the last bit of unrelenting with a mix of heart breaking emotion and heart stopping action. Finally, when you think you’ve survived the book, it just dumps you hard at the end, leaving you already craving book three. I absolutely could not put this book down.

I find the sisters have settled more into their personalities in this installment. Shayna is not as bothersome with her ‘dudes’. Emme is still the most ‘innocent’ but she’s showing a stronger side which I really liked. And in the opposite corner, we see Taran’s more sensitive/insecure side which was also a nice treat. And finally we have Celia. She is still a very strong and likable character but I wish she weren’t so ‘woe is me’ at times. You can make a reader feel for a character without having to constantly remind us that she is not travelling an easy road. That being said, her insecurities are completely understandable and I truly did feel her heart while reading so I am not rating this book down thanks to her attitude. It’s more of a tiny annoyance for me as opposed to a real bother.

Now the boys. We see a bit more of Liam’s personality this time around and I LOVE him! He just tells it like it is and it’s freaking hilarious. We finally get an explanation behind Gemini’s odd behavior towards Taran (his assumptions made me laugh out loud!) and Koda is still just adorable. And yes, we still want to both hump and hurt Aric simultaneously. By the end of the book Cecy manages to makes us both hate him and pity him – and let me tell you, that is quite the feat. And let’s not forget Misha. I didn’t know how much of a role he would play in this book and turns out it’s a decent amount. Things are left at a place where you feel Misha will be even more important in the next book and I am very curious to see how Cecy makes things work out for him and everyone else.

I mentioned that this book is one awesome ride but there is one part in particular that was truly outstanding, and that would be the very beginning of chapter 32. Ho-ly Shit! (Yes, it does not deserve a ‘holy crap’, it deserves an all out ‘holy shit’! I was just about to ball my eyes out at the first two paragraphs then suddenly I found myself wanting to throw the book across the room. I was beyond shocked at what happened. That twist was bloody brilliant and Cecy wrote it to perfection.

There are a few moments in this book where you are reminded of just how close the sisters are. Those were some of the funniest and most visual scenes. Cecy has a fabulous sense of humor and it’s in scenes like these where it truly shines. Very visual funny scenes that remind us how close of a unit the sister are.

Overall, if you can’t already tell, I absolutely loved this book. Cecy has such an enjoyable writing style and her voice is very well suited for this genre. A spot on mix of strong characters, action, romance, humor and spunk, A Cursed Embrace is a fine example of how urban fantasy should read. Fans of urban fantasy absolutely do not want to pass this one up.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking LOVE this series. Robson has once again blown me away with the greatness that is her writing. The characters she creates and the world they live in is just...well I really don’t' think I have words great enough to convey how wonderful they are. How engaging, funny, flawed, real and totally kick ass.

I have eagerly (and not so patiently) been awaiting the arrive of this book since finishing the first, Sealed With a Curse months ago. Sealed With a Curse blew me away and I was really hoping that this one would too and that it wouldn't suffer from the dreaded second book syndrome so many second books in series do and this one totally rocked it. I should never have doubted Robson, NEVER, this girl can seriously write and captivate an audience with her witty character's (Shayna and her “dudes” crack me up every single time!), fast paced plot, swoon worthy male leads and her unparalleled character dialogue.

I should have known better than trying to start this in the middle of the day when I had other things to do because as soon as I picked this up thinking I would just read a “couple of pages”, those couple of pages turned into chapters and those chapters turned into half the book and then half the book turned into..well you get the idea. Needless to say, nothing got done until I completely devoured this. And devoured it I did.

I absolutely love the secondary characters as much as the primary. Some of the best moments in this book are between the sisters and their vile neighbor Mrs. Mancuso. Who would have thought a woman in her eighties with an affinity to give people the bird would be so hilarious? I seriously was dying reading the scenes with her in it. Taran and Mancuso were just so dang funny, at one point I think I had tears streaking down my face I laughed so hard. I could vividly picture it all in my head.

And that is the thing, this whole book is like that, so crisp in detail the characters feel real to me and I care about them all deeply. Who would have thought I would be in love with wolves or a nerd or even a vamp? But I am. In fact, I love them all the more after reading this. Aric was just...wow, just wow. I truly love him in every way but I have to admit, I still adore Misha, how could I not?

Celia opened up so much more in this installment and it was so nice to see and to watch her character grow not only in physical strength but emotional as well. She really is one tough chick. The ending just about broke my heart, in fact I think it did break my heart. Felt everything Celia felt, her loss, her love, her despair and then later, her strength and her courage.

I don't know where this series will go from here but I know that where ever it goes I will follow because I am in love. In love with it all and I want more, lots more.

[Silver James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cursed Embrace is the latest novel in Ms. Robson's Weird Girls series. Celia Wird and her three sisters--Shayna, Taran, and Emme--are...different. Each has magical power but they aren't really accepted by the magical community in and around Lake Tahoe. The girls (they're in their twenties) are involved with men in the local werewolf pack. Celia is also on the local master vampire's radar and has been put under his protection. That's a very brief overview. This is one of those series that it's best to start at the beginning and follow through.

Okay. This book made me angry. REALLY angry. Like making-the-sleeping-cat-in-my-lap-freak-out-and-hiss angry. I should explain, because I'm angry on many levels. I NEVER (okay seldom) skip to the back of the book. For some reason, I did this time because I was looking to see when the next in the series would be available (planning book budgets and all that). Intrigued by the teaser, I started reading. A bit worried by the information hinted at in the teaser, I flipped back a few pages in the "real" book. My first thought? Oh hell no! She did not go there!!! (She being the author.) I got mad. In fact, I was so pissed off, I stopped reading for a day. I was approximately 2/3 of the way through the book and I stopped reading it. I stayed mad. I debated whether I would finish the book and whether I would read the next one. Then I became curious. I wanted to see what justification the author provided for doing what she did to the characters. So I started reading where I left off. Oh Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! With each page I turned, I got angrier. I was mad at Ms. Robson. I was mad at Celia. I was mad at Misha (the vampire), and I was freaking furious with Aric (the local Alpha and Celia's love interest). I was tears-in-my-eyes, can't-breathe angry.

Damn. Very few books have affected me that way. Here I am, enjoying the hell out of the story and Ms. Robson's irreverent snark-filled voice, and bam! This tidal wave of seething emotion slammed into me. Would I have been as angry if I'd simply read the book in order? Probably. Okay, maybe not quite as frothing-at-the-mouth but I would have been pissed. Really pissed. At the author. At Celia and Aric and Misha and the whole damn world in which they live.

I don't believe in spoilers so you'll have to read the book for yourself. I highly recommend that you do. And yeah, when the next one comes out, I'll be first in line. I'm a glutton for punishment like that.

[Vilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from Backchatting Books

Short Review – just read it!

Long Review – in case the short review wasn’t long enough, here is a little more detail. Celia Wird and her sisters just saved their town and it is time to do it all over again. The story starts oddly enough with an exploding wereraccoon which is a pretty clear sign that things are getting weird again. Demons are in town and supes are killing each other.

I really love our little tigress, Celia, even though she vacillated between bad-ass warrior chick and emotionally vulnerable waif. Robson handles these facets of Celia’s personality well. I know that the focus of the book was supposed to be Celia and Aric but the bond she has with her sisters trumped it. The other sisters have clearly found happiness with their werewolf boyfriends (even though one can’t seem to grasp the ‘come hither’ signals very well) but life has never been that easy for Celia. Aric has been getting clear signals from his superiors to abandon Celia and marry a werewolf. Communication is not his strong point so time and time again he callously hurts Celia’s feelings. He can’t however bear the thought of her with anyone else. Misha pops up every so often to remind Celia how hot he is and that he will do practically anything for her. I wish we had a bit more time with him as he and the naughty Catholic school girl vamps bring a much needed lighter touch.

We run the full gamut of emotions in this novel even though Celia’s relationship is the most heart-breaking. This novel is darker than the others and with demon children clawing their way out of their host mother’s stomach. The fight scenes are quite gory and you just know Celia is going to get hideously injured and covered in goo, pus, blood etc before she gets even. I like that there are limits to the girls' crazy skills and the only way they can defeat the baddies is if they operate as a team. The cliff-hanger irritated me because we stopped at the good bit.

You really need to read the books in order so you can see just how much Celia has evolved as a character and Aric in pre-emotional constipation mode.

[Fangdangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second installment of the Weird Girls series! A CURSED EMBRACE turns up the heat on the relationships and on the evil beings seeking our heroines. Believe it or not, the nasties in this book are even more vile and creepy than the first one. And, although the slick wit and action that I loved in the first book are still very much a staple of this awesome follow-up, I felt a level of emotion reading A CURSED EMBRACE that I was unprepared for; which is truly the sign not only of a great read but also of a great writer. I am in awe of this series and cannot begin to state how excited I am for next book, A CURSED BY DESTINY, to come out. Thank you Cecy Robson!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It started where the first book left off. You got to see more of the sisters and there wolf men. The story was full of action and romance. I love it when the good guys kick evil butt! I guess toward the end of the book my stomach started to turn. I'm not a huge fan of triangles and for the first time I was pulling for a wolf and not a vampire. I hope someone grows a pair and fixes this. (Sigh) I love the characters and this is my new favorite series. I'm looking forward to the next book. I can't wait to see what happens!!

[Cheryl La Pa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and will definitely be reading the next book, though the plot was fairly obvious and felt more like a subplot to Celia and Aric's romance. I love that Celia is not perfect or over confident and I really felt for her during the emotionally tough times. It was funny, touching and heart-breaking with plenty of action though I would have like a little more character development with her sisters and other secondary characters. Looking forward to seeing more of Mischa in the next book.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 4.5-5

*Full Review*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...


*Blog Stop June 10, 2013* *Recvd via NetGalley 04/12/2013* Expected publication: July 2nd 2013 by Signet

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending killed me.
This series is freakin' awesome!
Now I need more Wird Sisters! How can I handle waiting to January?

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial thoughts: Cecy Robson you have some serious explaining to do?!!! My heart wasn't ready for that ending! #willneedsometimetorecover

Originally reviewed on Romancing the Dark Side:

Cecy Robson tore my heart out and then slowly put it back into place with this book!

The Weird Girls series continues with more action, suspense and raw emotion in A Cursed Embrace! Celia Wird and her sisters are doing their best to maintain some normalcy in their lives, after their brush with death while saving Misha and his vampire family. Things seem to be going well until a dead were-racoon appears on their doorstep and they soon learn about a string of gory murders that are possibly linked to demons, from Aric and his pack’s investigation. To find the killer, Celia and her sisters team up with Aric and his pack, but as they get closer to solving the case they discover a more sinister force is at work, one that threatens to destroy everything Celia holds dear, including her chance at love.

I didn’t think Ms. Robson could make me love her characters any more but she proved me wrong with A Cursed Embrace! The story focuses more on character development this time around and it’s great to see Celia’s growth and her vulnerability, especially when it comes to Aric. The tension of the forbidden romance between Celia and Aric is still thick in the air when the story begins, but the truth behind their strong connection is revealed as events unfold. There are times when I was frustrated with Ceilia’s lack of confidence when it comes to Aric and his secretive ways but I was rooting for them the entire time. We see more interaction and romance between these two in this book and while I’ll always want more when it comes to their story, Ms. Robson delivers on the sexy!

A Cursed Embrace has a darker tone than its predecessor, but the sprinkling of humor by the characters brings a lighter feel, adding great balance to the story. Cecy Robson has a way of drawing you into her world with her fluid writing style and emotional storytelling, it’s hard not to become invested in her character’s lives. She’s crafted not one but four strong heroines, each with a distinct personality and given each sister an equally charming love interest.

The relationships between the Wird sisters are stronger than ever and I love that each new couple gets a little bit of ”screen-time” in this installment. This series is full of yummy alphas and we get a little more insight into each leading man: Aric is still the brooding, stubborn alpha, Liam is the fun and outspoken one, Koda is the sensible protective type and Gemini’s standoffish ways are slowly being challenged by Celia’s sister Taran. As the main leading man in this book, Aric has always been a favorite of mine, but there are times throughout the book where I fell in love with him and then hated him for his behavior towards Celia. I won’t go on in an effort to avoid spoilers, but needless to say I was an emotional wreck while reading!

My review wouldn’t be complete if I failed to mention my second favorite leading man in this series, the smooth talking master vampire, Misha. It was a pleasant surprise to see more of him, I can’t get enough of his character and am happy to see his role in this series is growing. Everyone that has read my reviews knows I’m a huge opponent of love triangles but this one between Aric, Celia and Misha is so brilliantly executed I enjoy watching it unfold!

I can go on about how much I love this book and the entire series but I’ll let the book speak for itself. A Cursed Embrace is an emotional, thrill ride that will keep you turning the pages and maybe even want to fling your book/ereader across the room at times (yes, it’s that kind of book!). My heart needed a little mending after reading this book and yet I’m anxiously awaiting my next emotional ride with the fierce Wird sisters. Cecy Robson is a phenomenal talent who knows just how to deliver a story filled with suspense, action, humor and romance…leaving you craving for more!

*ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tahoe Adventure! A CURSED EMBRACE Review and a REALLY Great Giveaway
Original Post at Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust

http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspo...

Book provided by publisher for fair and honest review. No remuneration was exchanged for the review and all opinions expressed herein are my own unless otherwise noted.
Review is part of Cecy's World Wide Cyber Tour!

It seems to me that many books I read reminds me of a classic or a couple of classics. I think that is probably because some themes are so prevalent. Prevalence indicates to me that theses themes are important to the human condition in one way or another. They bear exploration on fiction not only because we're entertained by them, but because of their importance.

In a novel with romance like Cecy Robson's A CURSED EMBRACE, I often find themes from Romeo and Juliet: usually both "star-crossed" lovers, and intense and deep love not making a difference in whether the conditions are right for them to be together. There is also an important element of family and group belonging.

A CURSED embraced is the Third entry and second novel in the Weird Girls series about four supernatural sisters (Celia, Shayna, Taran and Emme) who were given unique powers as the result of a curse gone awry. Each of the fours sisters is in a relationship with a Werewolf. I love the close family relationship between the sisters. I have to say, Cecy has the most amazing imagination of Supernatural beings -- one of the werewolves is a double were who can divide himself in half.

She also uses great description of Lake Tahoe; and her graphic description of Death Valley will insure I never, ever go there willingly. She does a great job expressing how it could feel to have another animal inside you and be so completely different from that other beings. It makes Celia a very sympathetic, but not wimpy character.

A CURSED EMBRACE, has some romance and the heat that goes with, a little comic relief, and tons of action and suspense. Cecy has also thought of some really good ways for beings to fight. She puts some in twists that I certainly did not see coming; when those hit, I thought it was easy to feel the impact they would have on the characters. This is an enjoyable story, it's not "rainbows and kittens" all the way, but I felt positive after reading it. Celia makes some tough decisions, and I thought her personal growth was amazing.

The story is told from the point of view, past tense, of Celia Wird, the oldest sister. She is a tigress shifter and can also shift through solid objects. She's pretty well developed, considers herself a freak, the girl who doesn't feel worthy of friends, responsible, puts her own needs last. Her sisters are somewhat developed but are not fleshed out as much. Some of their antics are amusing.

Celia's love interest is Aric, a purebred werewolf and an Alpha. I didn't feel a lot of unusual characteristics for him -- he is an Alpha. For Alphas their sense of duty goes beyond the expression of personal characteristics.

I feel this book is best read as part of the series, and in order. But, since it is only the second book, it's easy to catch up. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A CURSED EMBRACE. I don't give stars or use other scales. If you like Urban Fantasy with a romantic component and a fresh perspective, you will be likely to enjoy this. Indeed, you might have a tough time putting it down!

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was one heck of a kicking second book to a series! Wowza! I love Aric. Love all the Weres. Love the sisters! Action packed and romance too. Always flipping pages to learn something new.

***FULL REVIEW***
Celia is trying to keep her sisters calm when a pussy wereraccoon dies on their doorstep and Taran has been having nightmares of demons. Both werewolves and vampires want to help Celia and her sisters. Celia and her sisters are "protected" by two supernatural enemies - a strong werewolf pack and a powerful vampire clan. A week ago things started to heat with the kiss between Celia and Aric, then he bolted and hasn't called. When Aric returns he brings news of a case he's now on, where human men are being killed around town. What they find with the men...could connect all things together. There is a new group forming and the leader has it's eyes on the magically cursed sisters. However, Celia tries to fight her feelings for Aric while their relationship blooms into something she never suspected she would have. But, Aric being a Pureblood and leader could cause new bumps for them. Celia and her sisters work with Aric to solve the case, hoping to prove she's not a distraction from his duties to the Elders. But, the case could be more than the girls can handle with what the creatures are known to do.

Cecy starts off hitting strong with current happenings and complications for the Wird sisters. And never lets up! The first three pages had me snagged in it's net, and I DID NOT want to get out. By the end of first chapter - Hook, Line, Sinker. I was a goner. A book I didn't want to stop. One heck of a kicking second book to a series! Wowza!

I love Aric, love all the Weres. Love the Sisters! My heart beat for Celia and Aric. I so love them and want them to be together. And Taran! Oh Taran. She has her own issues with her pick of the litter. And eventually we find out why. *giggle* Perfect. And Taran with her nightmares. They are terrible, and scare her for her families safety. In this romance, we learn of the sisters possible destinies with them men they have chosen.

Now, in the end. The story of the deaths was completed. But there was something in Celia's relationship ending that left me... unsettled. I know why we end this way. I accept it. But, I wanted more. I wanted the next book to try and ease my heart a tad. I can't wait for Cursed By Destiny to come! January 2014 can't come fast enough.

The story! Wow. I was flipping pages to keep up with the demon case, the men murdered around town, and wondering on the tie to the dead wereraccoon on their doorstep. Action packed! I know the boys want to girls to stay safe and not in the midst of terrible actions, but dang... Those girls are kick butt! The girls are amazing as a group. These girls have their limits, but as a team, they can be dangerous. Cecy is not afraid to get down and dirty with her girls in some brutal action with her romance. Balances the scales of love and action beautifully.

When I read romance, this is what I want with it. Everything in one neat package, and Cecy has the perfect recipe!

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecy Robson's A Cursed Embrace takes the Wird sisters to higher levels and it is extraordinary! This was a delightful, fast-paced read that held me rigid. I am so looking forward to where this series will take Celia and her sisters.

The novel opens up to Celia and her sisters finding a dead were-raccoon on their doorstep. And it turns out he had been watching them, or Celia really. This was the same guy Celia saw hanging out near her trashcan in the last book, but now the guy's dead and things are about to get complicated.

Demons are running around Tahoe. Demon babies as well. There are some rules regarding demons here, one being that they cannot remain on earth for very long. Minutes really. But for some reason these babies are hanging around a lot longer than that. Add to that that people are going missing, some are dying and you have a real big mess on your hands.

Celia and her sisters want to help out their wolfy boyfriends, and reluctantly Aric allows it. Since he knows Celia will do what she wants either way, at least this way he can protect her better.

Cecy really takes readers for a ride with this one! So many emotions are jerked to the front when reading this that I am still left reeling with the after events. Celia and Aric finally give into their passions in this one! Not necessarily a spoiler, because their relationship becomes a big part of the storyline. Not in the paranormal romance sort of way, but just that contented sigh that maybe things will be all right for Celia. Of course, try to remember that this is more urban fantasy and it's only book 2! With that in mind I wasn't at all surprised by what happens next, but I was surprised by the way it happened.

Cecy's sisters love life are doing well, too. Taran has finally learned why Gemini acts so distant and she works to correct it in her bold way. I enjoy seeing some of Celia's sisters and their happiness, but then it just really makes you feel for Celia since her relationship begins to fill with nothing by woes.

That's when Misha comes back into the picture. Well, he does pop in every now and then and tries to win Celia's affections, but she was already with Aric at the time, so she tried to let him go. But Misha is just as Alpha male as Aric and doesn't let that stop him from pursuing her. While nothing really happens on that front right away, you can tell it will be in the very near future. We also learn about the animosity between Misha and Aric.

Overall this was a very enjoyable and fast paced read. I loved every minute of it, even when parts weren't too happy, I was still eating up the pages. And the ending, ooooh my goodness! Cecy had me going for a minute there! Nicely done, Cecy!! Loved how you twisted that little bit! There was definitely some interesting developments in that ending and I cannot wait to read the next book, Cursed by Destiny come January!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good but so emotional! I feel wrung out and tortured from the rollercoaster ride I was put through reading it. Which by the way is the sign of a really great book, it puts you through the ringer but you just can't put it down! I swear I cried so much reading it and my heart broke so much.
I'm hoping Cecy doesn't completely break my heart and that she finds a way in her next book for Celia and Arik to be together. I mean they truly love each other and are mates, they need to be together for real. I hope the Elders will realise how cruel they are separating them and ordering Arik away from her.
I really hope Celia doesn't do anything stupid in the next book. I know some who have read an arc of this have been really angry at Arik for letting the Elders dictate to him but he's been raised to be loyal to the pack, uphold his responsibilities and do as he's told, it's not something he can break easily and Celia understands it as she's always been responsible for her sisters. I can also understand Celia's insecurities as it's something I really relate to her over. She can't believe what the others tell her about how much Arik loves her but it's so obvious in the story.
Misha is really irritating me, he wasn't in the book much but when he was he just annoyed me. I don't believe he truly cares for Celia the way he makes out to or he'd be happy for her and realise she's in love, true love, with Arik and stop trying to get between them. He has to know it hurts Celia when he uses her to hurt Arik and well in my mind that's what he's doing. The only reason he really wants Celia is because of her power and because she's Arik's.
On the other hand I'm really happy for Celia's sisters. I wish things could be as simple and accepted for Arik and Celia as they are for her sisters and his warriors. I have to say, out of the elders I'm most disappointed in Martin, he raised Arik after Arik's father died and he lost his mate as well, barely surviving her death, he's been through the loss of his mate and still he refuses Arik the right to be with Celia. He has to know how it's killing Arik and still he keeps them apart. My hope is that if they can't accept Celia based on her honestly being Arik's mate, she'll prove how powerful she is and they'll allow it for mercenary reasons as I'm sure a child of Arik and Celia's would be powerful and an asset to the pack.
Now, aside from wanting Arik and Celia together, I also hope that Danny and Bren will find their soul mates and even if he is annoying me this book, I want Misha to meet his soul mate as he'll at least leave Celia alone then!
Can't wait for the next book and I really hope it will put me out of my misery where Celia and Arik are concerned! Come on Arik, ditch your unwanted bride at the altar and tell the elders you're going Lone wolf if they won't let him be with Celia!