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Key #1
A Touch of Darkness
Cassie's working for a tightwad boss at a pretentious NYC diner, dealing with paralyzing pain that doctors can't diagnose, and trying to hide her hands that glow purple whenever she ...well, whenever.
So, when a mysterious stranger walks out of her dreams and into her life to spout some nonsense about her being a mythical creature, she chalks it up to one more crazy thing to add to her it's-a-crappy-life list. Yet, when the stranger's predictions start to come true, she discovers a world that could shake up her humdrum existence
So, when a mysterious stranger walks out of her dreams and into her life to spout some nonsense about her being a mythical creature, she chalks it up to one more crazy thing to add to her it's-a-crappy-life list. Yet, when the stranger's predictions start to come true, she discovers a world that could shake up her humdrum existence
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2013
7 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Tina Moss
16 books284 followersTina Moss is a USA Today Bestselling Author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and sci-fi romance. She lives in NYC with a supportive husband and corgi Bear, though both the males hog the bed and refuse to share the covers. Her corgi Chuck now lives in her heart. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching cheesy horror flicks, and traveling. As a 5’1″ Shotokan black belt, she firmly believes that fierce things come in small packages.
Be sure to follow Tina across social media for the latest on book releases, sales, and fun at smarturl.it/tinamosslinks
Be sure to follow Tina across social media for the latest on book releases, sales, and fun at smarturl.it/tinamosslinks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 2, 2013
My Rating: ★★★★
A Touch of Darkness was a thrilling and well-crafted debut novel for Tina Moss and Yelena Casale. The world they created was vivid and unique and shed an interesting light on the world of angels and demons. There was no black and white in the world they lived in but varying degrees of gray. And that gray is where Cassie, our heroine of the story, lives. Cassie discovers the unknown details of her past when fate thrusts Gabe, a fallen angel, into her life. As Gabe helps Cassie uncover her past and choose the right path for her future--and the fate of humanity--they grow closer until passion flares between them, becoming red hot. But sadly the forces of evil and good work to tear the couple apart until Cassie is left with THE. ONLY. choice she can make to save her future and the life of one she loves.
I really enjoyed A Touch of Darkness which was definitely an unexpected gem since I am not a fan of urban fantasy. The authors did an outstanding job pulling the reader into the story and then took them on a full throttle ride, complete with several twists and turns. The introduction of Rafe *sigh*...love a good-bad-boy* and the Angelic Council added a depth to the story that was intriguing because you just never knew what the motives were for either. Cassie was strong but sensitive and the choice that she made at the end of the story broke my heart in one respect but I totally cheered for her in another. Her choice was the absolute best choice for this story. However, I feel that her choice will have severe ramifications in other stories.
So, the long and the short of my review is that this A Touch of Darkness captivated and interested me from page one to "the end." I definitely look forward to seeing what the authors do with the series...and Zoey.
Ratings Detail:
Rating for female protagonist: 4★
Rating for secondary characters: 4★
Plot Viability: 4★
General Storyline: 4★
Story Ending: 4★
Ease of Reading: 4★
Overall rating: 4★
For more of my reviews visit The BookChick Blog
VERY GOOD: The characteristics of a 4 star book include: a great story; I loved the characters; and there was an interesting plot and unique story elements; there may have been a few odd things kept the story from being amazing. I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.My Thoughts:
A Touch of Darkness was a thrilling and well-crafted debut novel for Tina Moss and Yelena Casale. The world they created was vivid and unique and shed an interesting light on the world of angels and demons. There was no black and white in the world they lived in but varying degrees of gray. And that gray is where Cassie, our heroine of the story, lives. Cassie discovers the unknown details of her past when fate thrusts Gabe, a fallen angel, into her life. As Gabe helps Cassie uncover her past and choose the right path for her future--and the fate of humanity--they grow closer until passion flares between them, becoming red hot. But sadly the forces of evil and good work to tear the couple apart until Cassie is left with THE. ONLY. choice she can make to save her future and the life of one she loves.
I really enjoyed A Touch of Darkness which was definitely an unexpected gem since I am not a fan of urban fantasy. The authors did an outstanding job pulling the reader into the story and then took them on a full throttle ride, complete with several twists and turns. The introduction of Rafe *sigh*...love a good-bad-boy* and the Angelic Council added a depth to the story that was intriguing because you just never knew what the motives were for either. Cassie was strong but sensitive and the choice that she made at the end of the story broke my heart in one respect but I totally cheered for her in another. Her choice was the absolute best choice for this story. However, I feel that her choice will have severe ramifications in other stories.
So, the long and the short of my review is that this A Touch of Darkness captivated and interested me from page one to "the end." I definitely look forward to seeing what the authors do with the series...and Zoey.
Ratings Detail:
Rating for female protagonist: 4★
Rating for secondary characters: 4★
Plot Viability: 4★
General Storyline: 4★
Story Ending: 4★
Ease of Reading: 4★
Overall rating: 4★
For more of my reviews visit The BookChick Blog
October 17, 2013
Ask any writing friend who knows me and they will tell you that I am picky, picky, picky about my urban fantasies (well, any book in general, but this genre even more so). Paranormal Romances are my thing because of the … well, the romance. So when I switch over to Urban Fantasy, the story, characters, and writing needs to be spot-on in order to keep my attention.
AND THIS BOOK DID JUST THAT! :D
Wow! Ok, so Cassie has a huge problem–her hands glow purple whenever she becomes emotionally stressed. And to make matters worse, whenever the purple-glow comes about, she also experiences debilitating pain. So when A TOUCH OF DARKNESS opens, we’re immediately drawn into the mystery of why this happens to Cassie.
Then we meet Gabe.
Gabe comes to the city from another realm in search of Cassie … and he can help Cassie find the answers she seeks. But there’s one problem–Gabe isn’t from this world, so he has NO idea how to socialize with women of this world. So you I’m sure you can imagine the delicious tension that happens between these two upon their first meeting.
Yelena and Tina have given us a new, unique urban fantasy world with vibrant settings, worldbuilding, true-to-life character personalities, and intense conflict and tension. I’m definitely excited to get my hands on the next book in the Key series. :)
AND THIS BOOK DID JUST THAT! :D
Wow! Ok, so Cassie has a huge problem–her hands glow purple whenever she becomes emotionally stressed. And to make matters worse, whenever the purple-glow comes about, she also experiences debilitating pain. So when A TOUCH OF DARKNESS opens, we’re immediately drawn into the mystery of why this happens to Cassie.
Then we meet Gabe.
Gabe comes to the city from another realm in search of Cassie … and he can help Cassie find the answers she seeks. But there’s one problem–Gabe isn’t from this world, so he has NO idea how to socialize with women of this world. So you I’m sure you can imagine the delicious tension that happens between these two upon their first meeting.
Yelena and Tina have given us a new, unique urban fantasy world with vibrant settings, worldbuilding, true-to-life character personalities, and intense conflict and tension. I’m definitely excited to get my hands on the next book in the Key series. :)
September 17, 2013
I'm overall skeptical about angel books, but I have to say, this one was pretty awesome. I loved Cassie's dark humor and self-deprecating ways, and just felt like her character was perfectly developed in a sense that the paranormal elements didn't feel forced. I'm a New York girl, so I really enjoyed that the book started off in NYC.
Overall, I thought the writing was strong. I finished the book in one sitting, so the plot was definitely fast-paced and compelling.
This is the first in a series, so I will definitely be giving book 2 a go.
Overall, I thought the writing was strong. I finished the book in one sitting, so the plot was definitely fast-paced and compelling.
This is the first in a series, so I will definitely be giving book 2 a go.
April 14, 2015
This book had an interesting premise, but it didn’t live up to the potential the way I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad. It’s ok in that the plot makes sense and the world building is consistent. I had multiple issues, though, ranging from predictability to a lackluster romance and a heroine I had serious problems with.
Cassie has always believed herself to be human, but she can’t ignore the paralyzing headaches and the strange purple glow that comes from her hands more and more often these days. Things get even stranger when the sexy man from her dreams shows up at the diner where she works. This man, Gabe, has answers she thought she would never get. He is a fallen angel and she is a Key, part fallen, part demon. She is about to hit a pivotal age where she will come into her powers. Now demons and angels alike want to bring her to their side to shape the future of the world. This, as she and Gabe fall into a romance that neither can ignore.
Problem number one: Cassie. She is not the sharpest tool in the shed. She makes incredibly stupid choices, putting herself in danger and sometimes losing sight of the big picture. I felt no depth to her character: what makes her who she is. Her parents are dead. She has a crappy job and she has glow-y hands. But who is she? I don’t know, but worse, I don’t care. This makes a buy-in to the romance pretty tough.
The romance itself didn’t inspire much feeling either. That’s because I found no basis or foundation of feelings between these two. There was a little sexual tension at the beginning, but no pining or reflection or longing or… anything, really. Plus, Gabe wasn’t any more developed than Cassie. He fell because he was arrogant and now he has to protect Cassie. That’s it. No windows to the soul or flashbacks or anecdotes. Nope. He just fell. And he doesn’t want to be human.
The whole thing was kind of superficial. Every single supporting character was one-note. They were completely undeveloped, simply props for the plot progression. There were also red herrings, like Gabe’s ex-girlfriend angel and Cassie’s months of “training.” There just aren’t very many “why’s” answered across the board, and I really didn’t even care enough to ask the question.
There’s a tiny twist at the end, but overall, it wasn’t enough to earn points with me. It just felt out of left field. I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t a win for me.
Rating: C/C-
*ARC provided by author for review
Cassie has always believed herself to be human, but she can’t ignore the paralyzing headaches and the strange purple glow that comes from her hands more and more often these days. Things get even stranger when the sexy man from her dreams shows up at the diner where she works. This man, Gabe, has answers she thought she would never get. He is a fallen angel and she is a Key, part fallen, part demon. She is about to hit a pivotal age where she will come into her powers. Now demons and angels alike want to bring her to their side to shape the future of the world. This, as she and Gabe fall into a romance that neither can ignore.
Problem number one: Cassie. She is not the sharpest tool in the shed. She makes incredibly stupid choices, putting herself in danger and sometimes losing sight of the big picture. I felt no depth to her character: what makes her who she is. Her parents are dead. She has a crappy job and she has glow-y hands. But who is she? I don’t know, but worse, I don’t care. This makes a buy-in to the romance pretty tough.
The romance itself didn’t inspire much feeling either. That’s because I found no basis or foundation of feelings between these two. There was a little sexual tension at the beginning, but no pining or reflection or longing or… anything, really. Plus, Gabe wasn’t any more developed than Cassie. He fell because he was arrogant and now he has to protect Cassie. That’s it. No windows to the soul or flashbacks or anecdotes. Nope. He just fell. And he doesn’t want to be human.
The whole thing was kind of superficial. Every single supporting character was one-note. They were completely undeveloped, simply props for the plot progression. There were also red herrings, like Gabe’s ex-girlfriend angel and Cassie’s months of “training.” There just aren’t very many “why’s” answered across the board, and I really didn’t even care enough to ask the question.
There’s a tiny twist at the end, but overall, it wasn’t enough to earn points with me. It just felt out of left field. I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t a win for me.
Rating: C/C-
*ARC provided by author for review
November 15, 2013
So this is proof that a good idea also requires good execution. A better writer (or editor) could have made this a much better book. I selected it because one of my groups is reading it. I stayed with it because it was a fast read & the idea was solid, but the writing was terrible and the editing even worse (even, misused words - peak instead of peek). But the authors do deserve credit for a solid premise and simple but solid plot.
February 26, 2015
Review of A Touch of Darkness by Yelena Casale and Tina Moss
I got the book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock in exchange for an honest review.
A Touch of Darkness is a standalone that talks about a young woman named Cassiel. Cassie has been through a lot since she lost her parents when she was seven. Freak, doesn’t even begin to describe her. Purple smog surrounding her, strong headaches and the appearance of evil shadows that come out of her are part of her daily life. However, things get worse as her 27th birthday approach. A powerful demon wants to use her powers, the angelic council wants her death, a fallen angel wants to charm her and another fallen already stole her heart. How can she choose a side when there are so many half-truths out there that are trying to tempt her?
I loved Cassie. In fact, I was pretty amazed at how well she took the news about the identity of her real parents. However, I thought that she shouldn’t have been that understanding when it comes to other things. I think she did her best to make things go smoothly for Gabe, her guardian fallen angel. Sure, she got him in a couple of dangerous situations that involved a pretty amazing amount of demons and their minions that pretty much torture him and almost took away the leftovers of her sanity. However, her little rebel attitude was justified after everything that she went through. Gabe’s character was so full of self-doubt when it comes to his feelings. He wanted redemption and in so many occasions he tried to convince himself that was the reason why he felt so protective when it came to Cassie. I seriously wanted to slap some sense into him. His silence was doing nothing more than confuse the poor woman. In fact, I think she was even more confused with his hot and then cold attitude. Nonetheless, his possessiveness and jealously were pretty cute. I must confess, though, that the character that stole my heart was Rafe, a fallen angel and acquaintance of Gabe. He was charming, mysterious, handsome, arrogant but with an excellent sense of humor. I couldn’t help but laugh everything he rubbed Gabe’s feathers the wrong way or joke about the lives of the fallen ones. What I really hated was the indifference of the angels. They were supposed to be kind and warm and inspire hope. However, the ones in this book were too indifferent even when they give an order. That just made it more difficult for me when it comes to picture them.
There were a few grammar mistakes when it comes to the Spanish expressions. However, in my humble opinion, the book was an interesting paranormal novel that presents a not so fresh but quite unique picture of the dimensions and mythical creatures that surround the human world. I recommend this quick read for teens and young adults that love a light mix of romance, comedy, fantasy and action.
3.5 fangs
I got the book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock in exchange for an honest review.
A Touch of Darkness is a standalone that talks about a young woman named Cassiel. Cassie has been through a lot since she lost her parents when she was seven. Freak, doesn’t even begin to describe her. Purple smog surrounding her, strong headaches and the appearance of evil shadows that come out of her are part of her daily life. However, things get worse as her 27th birthday approach. A powerful demon wants to use her powers, the angelic council wants her death, a fallen angel wants to charm her and another fallen already stole her heart. How can she choose a side when there are so many half-truths out there that are trying to tempt her?
I loved Cassie. In fact, I was pretty amazed at how well she took the news about the identity of her real parents. However, I thought that she shouldn’t have been that understanding when it comes to other things. I think she did her best to make things go smoothly for Gabe, her guardian fallen angel. Sure, she got him in a couple of dangerous situations that involved a pretty amazing amount of demons and their minions that pretty much torture him and almost took away the leftovers of her sanity. However, her little rebel attitude was justified after everything that she went through. Gabe’s character was so full of self-doubt when it comes to his feelings. He wanted redemption and in so many occasions he tried to convince himself that was the reason why he felt so protective when it came to Cassie. I seriously wanted to slap some sense into him. His silence was doing nothing more than confuse the poor woman. In fact, I think she was even more confused with his hot and then cold attitude. Nonetheless, his possessiveness and jealously were pretty cute. I must confess, though, that the character that stole my heart was Rafe, a fallen angel and acquaintance of Gabe. He was charming, mysterious, handsome, arrogant but with an excellent sense of humor. I couldn’t help but laugh everything he rubbed Gabe’s feathers the wrong way or joke about the lives of the fallen ones. What I really hated was the indifference of the angels. They were supposed to be kind and warm and inspire hope. However, the ones in this book were too indifferent even when they give an order. That just made it more difficult for me when it comes to picture them.
There were a few grammar mistakes when it comes to the Spanish expressions. However, in my humble opinion, the book was an interesting paranormal novel that presents a not so fresh but quite unique picture of the dimensions and mythical creatures that surround the human world. I recommend this quick read for teens and young adults that love a light mix of romance, comedy, fantasy and action.
3.5 fangs
March 4, 2015
3.5 stars
Yelena Casale and Tina Moss have given us an enjoyable pararnormal, urban-fantasy read that allows us to take a deeper look into the unknown and what-ifs.
Cassie
She watched her parents die. Now she is trying to make sense of her life and the peculiar features that it carries. She is changing, daily, and has no idea the reasons why. She just wants to be a typical young lady with friends and a future.
Zoey
Zoey and Cassie are best friends. They share most everything in their lives, including the mystery that envelopes Cassie. Zoey does everything she can to support Cassie and help in unraveling the mystery that surrounds the changes she is encountering.
Gabe
The man in the shadows. He’s on a mission, and he’s not happy about it. Because of a poor decision he is now tasked with being Cassie’s guardian. He is not prepared for the direction this venture will take him, but will do all he can to insure that he is restored to his rightful place.
The tone of the story is set from the beginning, time is of the essence. There are many unknowns that must be investigated in order to fully understand the lives of our main characters. Gabe is learning about the differences in being an angel and a human. Cassie is intent on discovering what makes her different. We have the opportunity to watch as the dangers and mysteries that surround them are made known and their impact felt. The twists and turns that occur bring us closer to answers and realities that are beyond this world. Lining all of these mysteries is a connection between Gabe and Cassie that cannot be ignored.
I love to have the opportunity to read paranormal books. The authors have written an intriguing story with likable characters and an interesting story line. I initially had so many questions that frustrated me. But, continuing to read the story, these were answered slowly and methodically. The relationship that developed between Gabe and Cassie added excitement and a larger draw to the story. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read.
Yelena Casale and Tina Moss have given us an enjoyable pararnormal, urban-fantasy read that allows us to take a deeper look into the unknown and what-ifs.
Cassie
She watched her parents die. Now she is trying to make sense of her life and the peculiar features that it carries. She is changing, daily, and has no idea the reasons why. She just wants to be a typical young lady with friends and a future.
Zoey
Zoey and Cassie are best friends. They share most everything in their lives, including the mystery that envelopes Cassie. Zoey does everything she can to support Cassie and help in unraveling the mystery that surrounds the changes she is encountering.
Gabe
The man in the shadows. He’s on a mission, and he’s not happy about it. Because of a poor decision he is now tasked with being Cassie’s guardian. He is not prepared for the direction this venture will take him, but will do all he can to insure that he is restored to his rightful place.
The tone of the story is set from the beginning, time is of the essence. There are many unknowns that must be investigated in order to fully understand the lives of our main characters. Gabe is learning about the differences in being an angel and a human. Cassie is intent on discovering what makes her different. We have the opportunity to watch as the dangers and mysteries that surround them are made known and their impact felt. The twists and turns that occur bring us closer to answers and realities that are beyond this world. Lining all of these mysteries is a connection between Gabe and Cassie that cannot be ignored.
I love to have the opportunity to read paranormal books. The authors have written an intriguing story with likable characters and an interesting story line. I initially had so many questions that frustrated me. But, continuing to read the story, these were answered slowly and methodically. The relationship that developed between Gabe and Cassie added excitement and a larger draw to the story. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read.
December 2, 2013
Well now fallen angles, demons and a human... As expected you have an action pack book. I like the way it opens with the tarot card reader because it leaves you with an eerie feeling. Right away it captivates and intrigues the reader with the unknown of what's happening to Cassie. Then you have a sexy, confident and self possessed stranger that turns out to be a fallen angel... Need I say more. With all the good there must be an evil and this one ends up hitting close to home for Cassie.
Cassie and Gabe are great together. The slow process of Gabe becoming more human was done nicely we get to really see the transformation even though he keeps saying, "Damn" because he knows it too. Let's not forget the steamy scenes, very nice. Cassie was also a great main character she was strong, sassy and witty. The bickering between Cassie and Gabe was nicely done. During the whole time that I was reading I was really hoping they would stay together.
The depiction of darkness (evil) and the light (good) was great especially when it comes to the possessions and the way everyone is incorporated with the humans. This was another classic tale of good vs evil but this time it seems like they're both on the same side when it comes to Cassie. Ugh! I couldn't stand Ariel for her to be from the light was just astonishing since she seems so evil. The book really puts the angels in another light.
This was a fast pace book taking you from action to romance then back to action. It was a great new take on fallen angels and their offspring. I liked the twist and turns that the book takes especially at the end. My only thing was that there was mention about many powers but we only get to see the one of her brining beings to the earth plane. Her hands glowed but we didn't get to see any other powers and I would have liked that. Overall though it was a good and interesting read I highly recommend it.
Cassie and Gabe are great together. The slow process of Gabe becoming more human was done nicely we get to really see the transformation even though he keeps saying, "Damn" because he knows it too. Let's not forget the steamy scenes, very nice. Cassie was also a great main character she was strong, sassy and witty. The bickering between Cassie and Gabe was nicely done. During the whole time that I was reading I was really hoping they would stay together.
The depiction of darkness (evil) and the light (good) was great especially when it comes to the possessions and the way everyone is incorporated with the humans. This was another classic tale of good vs evil but this time it seems like they're both on the same side when it comes to Cassie. Ugh! I couldn't stand Ariel for her to be from the light was just astonishing since she seems so evil. The book really puts the angels in another light.
This was a fast pace book taking you from action to romance then back to action. It was a great new take on fallen angels and their offspring. I liked the twist and turns that the book takes especially at the end. My only thing was that there was mention about many powers but we only get to see the one of her brining beings to the earth plane. Her hands glowed but we didn't get to see any other powers and I would have liked that. Overall though it was a good and interesting read I highly recommend it.
March 25, 2014
A Touch of Darkness, Key 1, Tina Moss and Yelena Casale
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I love paranormal romance, but have had problems with Angelic ones. Some, such as Nalini Singh I love, can't praise enough, but others I've found just don't cut it for me. Sadly this is one of those...Not everyone likes everything, the sample sounded fun, but I found while reading that the romance angle just wasn't really feeling right to me, and I was waiting for the story to develop more. It felt like a YA almost with the fallen angels/prophecy connection – that seems to crop up a lot in YA :) and though I enjoy some in that genre, with Cassie being older I was hoping for more, and that this was going to have a stronger story line. It felt almost superficial to me, that I was expecting developments that just weren’t there. Somehow it seemed anti climactic when the big reveal and battles were reached.
As always this is just My view and doesn't mean you wont enjoy this book. Its well written, its just that the story failed to pull me in, and I didn't connect with the characters. I have to feel I’m there in the story with them, have to care about what happens to them but I just didn't. I read thoroughly to 60% then skim read to see what happened so maybe I missed something essential, but I felt I’d given enough time to decide that this story wasn't one I’d love. Doesn't mean I’ll not be happy to try something else by the authors – I’ve found before that though I love some of an authors stories that doesn't mean I’ll love all of them. Of course the fact we have readers with so many different needs means books will always fit some people and not others, regardless of how good the actual writing style is. That was perfect here, its just the way the story played out that didn't work well for me. It's priced at £1.86 for 258 pages.
Stars: Two and a half, a good book but just not my style of story.
ARC received via Netgalley .
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I love paranormal romance, but have had problems with Angelic ones. Some, such as Nalini Singh I love, can't praise enough, but others I've found just don't cut it for me. Sadly this is one of those...Not everyone likes everything, the sample sounded fun, but I found while reading that the romance angle just wasn't really feeling right to me, and I was waiting for the story to develop more. It felt like a YA almost with the fallen angels/prophecy connection – that seems to crop up a lot in YA :) and though I enjoy some in that genre, with Cassie being older I was hoping for more, and that this was going to have a stronger story line. It felt almost superficial to me, that I was expecting developments that just weren’t there. Somehow it seemed anti climactic when the big reveal and battles were reached.
As always this is just My view and doesn't mean you wont enjoy this book. Its well written, its just that the story failed to pull me in, and I didn't connect with the characters. I have to feel I’m there in the story with them, have to care about what happens to them but I just didn't. I read thoroughly to 60% then skim read to see what happened so maybe I missed something essential, but I felt I’d given enough time to decide that this story wasn't one I’d love. Doesn't mean I’ll not be happy to try something else by the authors – I’ve found before that though I love some of an authors stories that doesn't mean I’ll love all of them. Of course the fact we have readers with so many different needs means books will always fit some people and not others, regardless of how good the actual writing style is. That was perfect here, its just the way the story played out that didn't work well for me. It's priced at £1.86 for 258 pages.
Stars: Two and a half, a good book but just not my style of story.
ARC received via Netgalley .
November 1, 2013
A well crafted Paranormal Romance with a few surprises. I picked this up expecting your typical Paranormal Romance tropes: A woman who finds out she's "special." An "other" love interest to swoon over. A love triangle that makes you wonder why on earth the woman would even consider one of the two.
You won't find that here.
Well, you'll find them, but, without spoiling anything, the authors did a great job of breaking your classic "woman must choose" trope in a new and interesting way.
Cassie is a sympathetic character, it's hard not to root for her through her trials. She's had a hard life, but she's not bitter...much. Faced with circumstances that would have most folks wearing a straight jacket and gnawing crayons in a padded room, Cassie comes through admirably. Only once did I find myself rooting for a demon to eat her, and that's saying something, as I liked the demons in this book. They're dark and scheming and in many ways more interesting than almost all the other supporting cast.
As I said above, the love triangle interests actually come across as viable options. So often, you find love triangles where option A is a Harvard graduate CEO who speaks fourteen languages and adopts kittens and puppies during his spare time when he's not building housing for the homeless. Option B is a mentally ill heroin addict who sells organs (occasionally his own) on the black market. How could the Heroine possibly choose?
Not son in AToD. You know who to root for. You know who to root against. You could even imagine Cassie choosing option B in the love triangle.
Well done, and I expect we'll see a few more people getting a touch of darkness.
You won't find that here.
Well, you'll find them, but, without spoiling anything, the authors did a great job of breaking your classic "woman must choose" trope in a new and interesting way.
Cassie is a sympathetic character, it's hard not to root for her through her trials. She's had a hard life, but she's not bitter...much. Faced with circumstances that would have most folks wearing a straight jacket and gnawing crayons in a padded room, Cassie comes through admirably. Only once did I find myself rooting for a demon to eat her, and that's saying something, as I liked the demons in this book. They're dark and scheming and in many ways more interesting than almost all the other supporting cast.
As I said above, the love triangle interests actually come across as viable options. So often, you find love triangles where option A is a Harvard graduate CEO who speaks fourteen languages and adopts kittens and puppies during his spare time when he's not building housing for the homeless. Option B is a mentally ill heroin addict who sells organs (occasionally his own) on the black market. How could the Heroine possibly choose?
Not son in AToD. You know who to root for. You know who to root against. You could even imagine Cassie choosing option B in the love triangle.
Well done, and I expect we'll see a few more people getting a touch of darkness.
May 8, 2014
The first book in this new paranormal urban fantasy series is a mesmerizing and intriguing read. Cassie has paralyzing pain and abilities that no one can explain. So when a mysterious stranger straight out of her dreams spouts nonsense, she chalks it up as another thing to add to her crazy life list, but when the predictions start coming true her humdrum existence gets shaken to the core.
The steady to fast paced plot keeps readers shivering in anticipation as demons and angels try to control the key. The authors bring the story to life with well written scenes and details that bring the story to life and tension builds throughout as the danger and the persuasion techniques escalate. The characters are strong and compelling, easily related to and grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning.
The attraction between Cassie and Gabe radiates heat from every page and the sex scenes are hot and steamy but the romance sort of takes a backseat to the drama and suspense of the situation that Cassie finds herself in and while falling for Gabe is just what her heart does how can she choose when being pulled in a bunch of different directions, and then Gabe himself wants redemption, so that means he would be going home, wouldn’t he?
The authors have created a fascinating world of angels, fallen angels and demons with some unique elements and surprising twists. The reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as the drama unfolds and more characters get involved inspiring more curiosity. While the story dragged a little in a couple of places, it was not enough to take away from the drama and suspense and kept my attention to the very end. I was quite surprised with the major twist at the end and I can’t wait to read the next book.
The steady to fast paced plot keeps readers shivering in anticipation as demons and angels try to control the key. The authors bring the story to life with well written scenes and details that bring the story to life and tension builds throughout as the danger and the persuasion techniques escalate. The characters are strong and compelling, easily related to and grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning.
The attraction between Cassie and Gabe radiates heat from every page and the sex scenes are hot and steamy but the romance sort of takes a backseat to the drama and suspense of the situation that Cassie finds herself in and while falling for Gabe is just what her heart does how can she choose when being pulled in a bunch of different directions, and then Gabe himself wants redemption, so that means he would be going home, wouldn’t he?
The authors have created a fascinating world of angels, fallen angels and demons with some unique elements and surprising twists. The reader can’t help but get caught up in the story as the drama unfolds and more characters get involved inspiring more curiosity. While the story dragged a little in a couple of places, it was not enough to take away from the drama and suspense and kept my attention to the very end. I was quite surprised with the major twist at the end and I can’t wait to read the next book.
March 29, 2015
I really liked this one!! Great story, fantastic characters, and an interesting story line. And yes, I normally don't do angels and demons, but I loved them in here. There's some crazy things going on for poor Cassie and she not only has to figure what's going on, but who to trust, and how to save her life and the rest of the world. Oh boy right!
So, Cassie seems normal, except she had a very tragic past and some weird headaches that almost debilitate her, and some odd intuitions. You see, Cassie knew he was adopted, but she loved them whole heartedly. Then, they died horribly, in front of her. And after all these years, she finally finds out who her birth parents are, and does that present a whole new set of problems when those doors open. You see, Cassie must make a lot of choices. She must not only choose sides between the demons and angels, but that decision will affect the whole world.
Gabe is some kind of crazy. LOL You know, he's an angel, and they are not human. They don't think like a human. The don't act like a human. So, when he falls, must follow the rules of Earth and humans. This is over whelming and quite nutty. He made me giggle. And Rafe, well let's jut say I love him too!!
The writing was well done and very easy to follow. I loved how the ending totally surprised me, because I wasn't expecting THAT!! I was definitely intrigued and the plot line kept me turning the pages. And I have a feeling things are only going to get more complicated from here on out. I look forward to more and what's to come! 4.5 PAWS! :)
So, Cassie seems normal, except she had a very tragic past and some weird headaches that almost debilitate her, and some odd intuitions. You see, Cassie knew he was adopted, but she loved them whole heartedly. Then, they died horribly, in front of her. And after all these years, she finally finds out who her birth parents are, and does that present a whole new set of problems when those doors open. You see, Cassie must make a lot of choices. She must not only choose sides between the demons and angels, but that decision will affect the whole world.
Gabe is some kind of crazy. LOL You know, he's an angel, and they are not human. They don't think like a human. The don't act like a human. So, when he falls, must follow the rules of Earth and humans. This is over whelming and quite nutty. He made me giggle. And Rafe, well let's jut say I love him too!!
The writing was well done and very easy to follow. I loved how the ending totally surprised me, because I wasn't expecting THAT!! I was definitely intrigued and the plot line kept me turning the pages. And I have a feeling things are only going to get more complicated from here on out. I look forward to more and what's to come! 4.5 PAWS! :)
March 26, 2014
NOTE: THIS BOOK HAS TWO LISTINGS (I hate that, get it together Goodreads)
This book gives a whole new view of fallen angels, demons and angels. Not much of which is religious but holds to the basic knowledge of these beings.
The angels/demons are pretty much the same but the author's opinion of angels suffers from a dislike of religion a bit I felt but nothing to really get concerned about as a reader, demons are silver tongued bad guys for the most part but fallen angels are pretty much normal humans with a bit of added powers to help them out and are basically good but quite a bit flawed (hence the fallen part). I did find it interesting that the most evil character in the book was human.
Gabe and Cassie were a great couple but while I enjoyed the interaction it seemed a bit drawn out as did the plot but it was a great and original story and since it is book 1 in the series I can overlook minor things since the overarching story was good.
On the less than good side the author had to remove IQ points from our heroine and make her a bit TSTL a time or two to move the plot along and that always reads poorly to me since it conflicts with basic common sense.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the story, could have been better but overall it is a solid 4 Stars and I can see the lineup for the next book already and think it might be better than this one. This is a keeper with a great and unexpected ending you don't see coming.
This book gives a whole new view of fallen angels, demons and angels. Not much of which is religious but holds to the basic knowledge of these beings.
The angels/demons are pretty much the same but the author's opinion of angels suffers from a dislike of religion a bit I felt but nothing to really get concerned about as a reader, demons are silver tongued bad guys for the most part but fallen angels are pretty much normal humans with a bit of added powers to help them out and are basically good but quite a bit flawed (hence the fallen part). I did find it interesting that the most evil character in the book was human.
Gabe and Cassie were a great couple but while I enjoyed the interaction it seemed a bit drawn out as did the plot but it was a great and original story and since it is book 1 in the series I can overlook minor things since the overarching story was good.
On the less than good side the author had to remove IQ points from our heroine and make her a bit TSTL a time or two to move the plot along and that always reads poorly to me since it conflicts with basic common sense.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the story, could have been better but overall it is a solid 4 Stars and I can see the lineup for the next book already and think it might be better than this one. This is a keeper with a great and unexpected ending you don't see coming.
March 26, 2014
NOTE: THIS BOOK HAS TWO LISTINGS (I hate that, get it together Goodreads)
This book gives a whole new view of fallen angels, demons and angels. Not much of which is religious but holds to the basic knowledge of these beings.
The angels/demons are pretty much the same but the author's opinion of angels suffers from a dislike of religion a bit I felt but nothing to really get concerned about as a reader, demons are silver tongued bad guys for the most part but fallen angels are pretty much normal humans with a bit of added powers to help them out and are basically good but quite a bit flawed (hence the fallen part). I did find it interesting that the most evil character in the book was human.
Gabe and Cassie were a great couple but while I enjoyed the interaction it seemed a bit drawn out as did the plot but it was a great and original story and since it is book 1 in the series I can overlook minor things since the overarching story was good.
On the less than good side the author had to remove IQ points from our heroine and make her a bit TSTL a time or two to move the plot along and that always reads poorly to me since it conflicts with basic common sense.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the story, could have been better but overall it is a solid 4 Stars and I can see the lineup for the next book already and think it might be better than this one. This is a keeper with a great and unexpected ending you don't see coming.
This book gives a whole new view of fallen angels, demons and angels. Not much of which is religious but holds to the basic knowledge of these beings.
The angels/demons are pretty much the same but the author's opinion of angels suffers from a dislike of religion a bit I felt but nothing to really get concerned about as a reader, demons are silver tongued bad guys for the most part but fallen angels are pretty much normal humans with a bit of added powers to help them out and are basically good but quite a bit flawed (hence the fallen part). I did find it interesting that the most evil character in the book was human.
Gabe and Cassie were a great couple but while I enjoyed the interaction it seemed a bit drawn out as did the plot but it was a great and original story and since it is book 1 in the series I can overlook minor things since the overarching story was good.
On the less than good side the author had to remove IQ points from our heroine and make her a bit TSTL a time or two to move the plot along and that always reads poorly to me since it conflicts with basic common sense.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the story, could have been better but overall it is a solid 4 Stars and I can see the lineup for the next book already and think it might be better than this one. This is a keeper with a great and unexpected ending you don't see coming.
March 2, 2015
I was given a free copy of A Touch of Darkness for an honest review.
From the first page I felt connected to the heroine, Cassie. The book opens at a psychic where Cassie is trying to find answers to her debilitating headaches, and the reason she sometimes glows purple. She’s been having dreams of a man she’s never met, and shortly thereafter, she meets Gabe.
Now I must say for the first 6 or so chapters I really didn’t like Gabe. A fallen angel with a serious chip on his shoulder, and an inexplicable hatred of being called ‘young one’ which came across as being a bit petty.
I persevered and am glad I did, because he redeems himself later on, and he's oh, so dreamy. The story is action packed and I really enjoyed the fact that I’ve been to all the places the story takes place, the descriptions are done well, and the world building is excellent.
Now on to a couple of things that bothered me. For some reason both characters spoke to themselves, “out loud.” This is fine as a character trait, but it was overdone, and both the hero and heroine were given this trait. There were a couple of editing errors as well. And it really bothered me that Cassie felt the need to go out and party, and had packed accordingly, when she’s running and hiding for her life. This seemed a tad unrealistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed Gabe and Cassie’s story. Their budding attraction is done well, and is believable (and hot), I look forward to reading more from these authors.
From the first page I felt connected to the heroine, Cassie. The book opens at a psychic where Cassie is trying to find answers to her debilitating headaches, and the reason she sometimes glows purple. She’s been having dreams of a man she’s never met, and shortly thereafter, she meets Gabe.
Now I must say for the first 6 or so chapters I really didn’t like Gabe. A fallen angel with a serious chip on his shoulder, and an inexplicable hatred of being called ‘young one’ which came across as being a bit petty.
I persevered and am glad I did, because he redeems himself later on, and he's oh, so dreamy. The story is action packed and I really enjoyed the fact that I’ve been to all the places the story takes place, the descriptions are done well, and the world building is excellent.
Now on to a couple of things that bothered me. For some reason both characters spoke to themselves, “out loud.” This is fine as a character trait, but it was overdone, and both the hero and heroine were given this trait. There were a couple of editing errors as well. And it really bothered me that Cassie felt the need to go out and party, and had packed accordingly, when she’s running and hiding for her life. This seemed a tad unrealistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed Gabe and Cassie’s story. Their budding attraction is done well, and is believable (and hot), I look forward to reading more from these authors.
April 30, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a mix between a fallen angel love story and an epic good versus evil showdown. There’s a slightly heavier emphasis on the action, but still a pretty good amount of romance (and steamy scenes).
Cassie works at a diner, works pretty hard to avoid going clubbing with her BFF, Zoey, and happens to suffer from catastrophic headaches that end in purple light pushing out of her body. After a psychic calls her the devil, she figures she’s pretty much screwed. Gabe is a fallen angel assigned to protect Cassie at all costs. In order to get back into the “Light” he has to search for his own redemption. After a sort of shaky start, the two of them find a hesitant alliance while Cassie learns about her birth parents.
Since this was the first installment to a series, there was a lot of character introduction and world building that went on. The writing style was easy and addictive. I loved Rafe and his band of fallen brothers, Zoey and her awesome best friend attitude, and even the unexpected angels and demons. Overall, this universe was beautifully built and interesting enough to warrant many more books. Are there more keys? Is Cassie alone? What happens after a Cassie and Gabe are not under constant attack? Will we see more from Rafe and Zoey? I’m eager for book 2!
This book was a mix between a fallen angel love story and an epic good versus evil showdown. There’s a slightly heavier emphasis on the action, but still a pretty good amount of romance (and steamy scenes).
Cassie works at a diner, works pretty hard to avoid going clubbing with her BFF, Zoey, and happens to suffer from catastrophic headaches that end in purple light pushing out of her body. After a psychic calls her the devil, she figures she’s pretty much screwed. Gabe is a fallen angel assigned to protect Cassie at all costs. In order to get back into the “Light” he has to search for his own redemption. After a sort of shaky start, the two of them find a hesitant alliance while Cassie learns about her birth parents.
Since this was the first installment to a series, there was a lot of character introduction and world building that went on. The writing style was easy and addictive. I loved Rafe and his band of fallen brothers, Zoey and her awesome best friend attitude, and even the unexpected angels and demons. Overall, this universe was beautifully built and interesting enough to warrant many more books. Are there more keys? Is Cassie alone? What happens after a Cassie and Gabe are not under constant attack? Will we see more from Rafe and Zoey? I’m eager for book 2!
July 14, 2014
I finally got a chance to read A Touch of Darkness (woohoo)
I’m one of those people who like a big block of time to read a big blog of pages. If I can’t commit to at least 5-10 chapters I’m disappointed; which is why I also read a lot of short stories and non-fiction; for those times I only have an hours or so. But this morning, I at last got to AToD, and I finished it this evening… yep, that’s right, in one sitting!
So that probably tells you a lot, but if it doesn’t let me elaborate. It was a great read, utterly engaging with a main character I totally supported, trusted and loved as well as a supporting cast of good and bad guys… and several in between guys that I still don’t know how I feel about, which is great!
Tina & Yelena have created a really well balanced storyline with enough fantasy/magic to feed my love of the supernatural, but what I really loved it how the interplay of magic, Christianity (in the forma of angels and demons) and reality mixed.
I’ll refrain from saying too much more for fear of giving away some of the storyline, but will finish with, a) I WILL re-read this in the future & b) I WILL be reading more by these two very talented authors
I’m one of those people who like a big block of time to read a big blog of pages. If I can’t commit to at least 5-10 chapters I’m disappointed; which is why I also read a lot of short stories and non-fiction; for those times I only have an hours or so. But this morning, I at last got to AToD, and I finished it this evening… yep, that’s right, in one sitting!
So that probably tells you a lot, but if it doesn’t let me elaborate. It was a great read, utterly engaging with a main character I totally supported, trusted and loved as well as a supporting cast of good and bad guys… and several in between guys that I still don’t know how I feel about, which is great!
Tina & Yelena have created a really well balanced storyline with enough fantasy/magic to feed my love of the supernatural, but what I really loved it how the interplay of magic, Christianity (in the forma of angels and demons) and reality mixed.
I’ll refrain from saying too much more for fear of giving away some of the storyline, but will finish with, a) I WILL re-read this in the future & b) I WILL be reading more by these two very talented authors
August 27, 2015
Cassie is having a harder time controlling her mysterious headaches and the purple glow that radiates from her hands at times. She tries to live a normal life working and spending time with her best friend. One day at work a mysterious customer approaches her and she then finds him following her around the city. She doesn't want to believe his explanation for her issues but runs out of options. Gabe is aiming for redemption and protecting Cassie is the key. Her choice will impact everything. They both feel a connection but have to focus on getting her protection and guidance before it is too late. Cassie makes some unexpected decisions as does Gabe and I am interested in seeing it all play out. There are some very interesting supporting characters who it will be interesting to see again. I enjoyed the story and the fact that the characters and their motivations are a little murky so it makes for a more interesting story. I would have liked to see more focus on the romance part of the storyline.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
March 28, 2015
This is a 3.5 rounded to 4. I enjoyed this but I did not love it. Had a good story line and an interesting world. It was really dark, which I liked but somehow it didn't feel quite filled out enough for me. There were a few moments where the heroine slipped into TSTL (to stupid to live) category and she annoyed me but I see how they were plot propelling points. I also struggle with the whole heaven and hell thing in books sometimes. This is just a personal feeling though, not a critical view and saying that I did feel a sense at the end that I wanted to find out what happens next. If you like dark fantasy with an emphasis on angels and demons then this could well be for you.
October 31, 2013
This novel is True Blood meets Immortal Instruments, only so much better. I couldn't get past some of the quirkiness of True Blood and Immortal Instruments was far too slow to hold my attention properly. But this blew them both away in those arenas.
A Touch of Darkness rockets you along a pulse-pounding story and sucks you into the characters. You'll want to cheer for Cassie's fiesty spirit and loyalty and you'll come to love Gabe and all his wonderful flaws.
I highly recommend this for fans of adult paranormal novels who don't mind a bit of graphic material.
A Touch of Darkness rockets you along a pulse-pounding story and sucks you into the characters. You'll want to cheer for Cassie's fiesty spirit and loyalty and you'll come to love Gabe and all his wonderful flaws.
I highly recommend this for fans of adult paranormal novels who don't mind a bit of graphic material.
March 14, 2015
I've had mixed feelings about this novel, it took me about 50pages to get into it. The editing was awful and the story was a bit jagged. There were moments when I rocked along, and then it would lull into moment when it fell flat.
The main character was OK, and the angel that comes to her rescue is pretty much the same. I guess that rather sums up the book. It was OK, but I'm sure plenty of people didn't make it to the end.
Overall? Ambivalent.
Courtesy of NetGALLEY
The main character was OK, and the angel that comes to her rescue is pretty much the same. I guess that rather sums up the book. It was OK, but I'm sure plenty of people didn't make it to the end.
Overall? Ambivalent.
Courtesy of NetGALLEY
April 14, 2015
It was great book but with too much subplot written in one book. Takes away the focus from the main characters, as expected the first book in the series. Overall a good book, and look forward to the next book.
ARC given by netgalley
ARC given by netgalley
December 1, 2013
Loved it! Review forthcoming.:)
April 28, 2015
I would have liked to read more from gabe's POV however the story as a whole still drew me in from the get go.
January 3, 2014
Enjoyed it. Review forthcoming...
October 5, 2017
I read this as part of the Fire and Fantasy box set, and all told it was a good book.
Things I liked/loved:
First, I loved the side characters (especially Zoey and Albert) and how they all had their own motivations. None of them were there just to support the main plot.
Second, I liked both Cassie and Gabe, and they felt real. Gabe was a bit of a jerk, but some of that was explained by him being a newly fallen angel. Also, she was a bit stupid, but, well, who isn't?
Third, I absolutely loved the final choice. It was not what I expected and I give major kudos to authors who surprise me.
On to the bad:
Okay, I can deal with the whole concept of leap days being important and Cassie "turning" seven because of the whole leap day thing, even though she's really 28. That's fine. My issue? It's pretty much stated that her parents died on her seventh birthday.
She didn't have a seventh birthday. She CAN'T have had a seventh birthday, it's physically impossible - she would've had 4/8/12/etc.. In fact, the whole plot hinges on the fact that her twenty-eighth birthday IS her seventh birthday!
So...how did they die on her seventh?
Yeah.
Starting at four stars as a solid book I enjoyed, it gains one for surprising me in an awesome way and loses one for a giant plot hole. So we're back to four stars.
Things I liked/loved:
First, I loved the side characters (especially Zoey and Albert) and how they all had their own motivations. None of them were there just to support the main plot.
Second, I liked both Cassie and Gabe, and they felt real. Gabe was a bit of a jerk, but some of that was explained by him being a newly fallen angel. Also, she was a bit stupid, but, well, who isn't?
Third, I absolutely loved the final choice. It was not what I expected and I give major kudos to authors who surprise me.
On to the bad:
Okay, I can deal with the whole concept of leap days being important and Cassie "turning" seven because of the whole leap day thing, even though she's really 28. That's fine. My issue? It's pretty much stated that her parents died on her seventh birthday.
She didn't have a seventh birthday. She CAN'T have had a seventh birthday, it's physically impossible - she would've had 4/8/12/etc.. In fact, the whole plot hinges on the fact that her twenty-eighth birthday IS her seventh birthday!
So...how did they die on her seventh?
Yeah.
Starting at four stars as a solid book I enjoyed, it gains one for surprising me in an awesome way and loses one for a giant plot hole. So we're back to four stars.
May 11, 2017
Cassie leads a weird life. She suffers from debilitating headaches, has really odd dreams and sometimes, her hands glow purple. This does not endear her to her boss at a crappy diner job...but she feels blessed to have a loyal best friend, and a cat to cuddle at night.
Always searching for answers, she tries everything from doctors to fortune tellers...with no success.
Cassie's life changes when she meets Gabe, a weird, yet handsome diner patron who also turns out to be a fallen angel. Successfully protecting Cassie from all sorts of paranormal badness will end his exile from the light. Gabe's task is difficult. Cassie is a Key capable of shifting the supernatural balance of power. Angels, demons and fallen all want to possess or destroy her to further their own agendas.
Not much character development or in depth world building. We never understand why Gabe fell. We really don't understand what a Key can do. What happened to Cassie's biological mother, et cetera, et cetera. The last third of the book dragged a bit...not sure that it added much to plot development.
Always searching for answers, she tries everything from doctors to fortune tellers...with no success.
Cassie's life changes when she meets Gabe, a weird, yet handsome diner patron who also turns out to be a fallen angel. Successfully protecting Cassie from all sorts of paranormal badness will end his exile from the light. Gabe's task is difficult. Cassie is a Key capable of shifting the supernatural balance of power. Angels, demons and fallen all want to possess or destroy her to further their own agendas.
Not much character development or in depth world building. We never understand why Gabe fell. We really don't understand what a Key can do. What happened to Cassie's biological mother, et cetera, et cetera. The last third of the book dragged a bit...not sure that it added much to plot development.
September 3, 2020
I skimmed most of this book and I wont be a continual reader of this series. I like paranormal romance books - vampires, dragons, shifters and angels etc. However when it gets into angles and daemons it all gets a bit too much good vs bad, prophecy's and ultimately a bit too religious. Its like the TV series Supernatural starts off okay, then just gets really weird and should have been stopped earlier or they needed to take another path.
November 11, 2017
This is a book from the collection Fire and Fantasy. Didn't like it, boring, couldn't hold my attention. Waist of my time! Read at your own risk.
May 5, 2015
I was provided this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The premiere installment of the new Key series opens with Cassie Durrett desperate to discover the origins and meaning behind the mysterious purple glow radiating from her hands. Debilitating headaches and enigmatic dreams also plague Cassie and she’s eager for answers. When a formidable stranger crosses her path, the answers he provides are fantastic and overwhelming. With newfound self-awareness, Cassie is forced to endure a crash course of supernatural proportions; a course that’s careening towards a dire decision.
I love the promise in starting a new series. Sometimes, however, promise quickly turns to half-hearted hope when you realize the start-up falls short. The first half of this book is remarkably lackluster. All of the tired clichés of paranormal are present; an awkward heroine who feels inadequate in contrast to her vivacious blonde friend, a mysterious male stranger with a ‘spicy’ scent who immediately feels protective of our heroine, and a bar scene that places our heroine in grave danger. I contemplated submitted a ‘did not finish’ review, but felt that would be unfair, so I endured. While I can’t exactly say I’m delighted I continued, I don’t consider completing the book to have been a waste and maybe even an investment.
One of my major criticisms of the book is that I didn’t like Cassie. She alternates between awkward and overly confident and seems forever contradictory. She makes poor decisions at times, and while this is often a hallmark of an overly-inquisitive main character, in the case of her Las Vegas adventure, it just seems immature and petulant for a woman approaching 28-years-old. Plus, a personal annoyance of mine is when an author cannot describe an appealing outfit, and Cassie is a bad dresser. The romance between Gabe and Cassie doesn’t receive enough build up. Their first kiss comes almost out of nowhere and there is little romantic tension between the two. And, really, I’m not sure exactly what Gabe finds endearing about Cassie other than the fact that he is her guardian and innately protective.
Halfway through, the novel hits its stride. The plot gains steam and interesting characters emerge. For instance, though he’s definitely the typical rebellious, arrogant playboy, Rafe’s character is promising. There was far more sizzle between he and Cassie than Cassie and Gabe. I would be interested in future developments with this character. There are some highly imaginative sequences, especially of the violent variety, that elevate this novel. Redeeming the book further are the many unanswered questions presented but not answered in this first installment. I’m sure future books will be full of interesting discovery.
Not every series has a fantastic first book. Occasionally it takes time to warm to characters and their circumstances. While I’m undecided whether I will read forthcoming books in the Key series, I’m considering it. Currently the publisher is offering a free download of the sequel novella, and I’ve downloaded it, so if that’s any indication …
Reviewed for http://www.ismellsheep.com/
The premiere installment of the new Key series opens with Cassie Durrett desperate to discover the origins and meaning behind the mysterious purple glow radiating from her hands. Debilitating headaches and enigmatic dreams also plague Cassie and she’s eager for answers. When a formidable stranger crosses her path, the answers he provides are fantastic and overwhelming. With newfound self-awareness, Cassie is forced to endure a crash course of supernatural proportions; a course that’s careening towards a dire decision.
I love the promise in starting a new series. Sometimes, however, promise quickly turns to half-hearted hope when you realize the start-up falls short. The first half of this book is remarkably lackluster. All of the tired clichés of paranormal are present; an awkward heroine who feels inadequate in contrast to her vivacious blonde friend, a mysterious male stranger with a ‘spicy’ scent who immediately feels protective of our heroine, and a bar scene that places our heroine in grave danger. I contemplated submitted a ‘did not finish’ review, but felt that would be unfair, so I endured. While I can’t exactly say I’m delighted I continued, I don’t consider completing the book to have been a waste and maybe even an investment.
One of my major criticisms of the book is that I didn’t like Cassie. She alternates between awkward and overly confident and seems forever contradictory. She makes poor decisions at times, and while this is often a hallmark of an overly-inquisitive main character, in the case of her Las Vegas adventure, it just seems immature and petulant for a woman approaching 28-years-old. Plus, a personal annoyance of mine is when an author cannot describe an appealing outfit, and Cassie is a bad dresser. The romance between Gabe and Cassie doesn’t receive enough build up. Their first kiss comes almost out of nowhere and there is little romantic tension between the two. And, really, I’m not sure exactly what Gabe finds endearing about Cassie other than the fact that he is her guardian and innately protective.
Halfway through, the novel hits its stride. The plot gains steam and interesting characters emerge. For instance, though he’s definitely the typical rebellious, arrogant playboy, Rafe’s character is promising. There was far more sizzle between he and Cassie than Cassie and Gabe. I would be interested in future developments with this character. There are some highly imaginative sequences, especially of the violent variety, that elevate this novel. Redeeming the book further are the many unanswered questions presented but not answered in this first installment. I’m sure future books will be full of interesting discovery.
Not every series has a fantastic first book. Occasionally it takes time to warm to characters and their circumstances. While I’m undecided whether I will read forthcoming books in the Key series, I’m considering it. Currently the publisher is offering a free download of the sequel novella, and I’ve downloaded it, so if that’s any indication …
Reviewed for http://www.ismellsheep.com/
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