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Serenity #1
Secrets
It is said that the truth will set you free, but for Leah it kills.
Leah always knew she was different. From her extreme light sensitivity, to her ability to read people by their auric scent, she kept these differences secret.
Not even Mia, Leah's mother, knew the fullness of her daughter's differences, but she held even greater secrets to Leah's past - the truth about her father and Leah's conception.
With the escape of an old foe, Mia is too late to reveal to her daughter the thrush before Judith can exact her revenge in a wash of blood and death.
Thrown into a world unheard of, Leah discovers that she is not alone in keeping her secrets. That there are people from her parent's past who would die to protect her. If only she knew why.
Raine, placed as her protector, hides deadly secrets of his own. Drawn to each other, Leah and Raine must uncover the truth before one or both are killed.
Leah always knew she was different. From her extreme light sensitivity, to her ability to read people by their auric scent, she kept these differences secret.
Not even Mia, Leah's mother, knew the fullness of her daughter's differences, but she held even greater secrets to Leah's past - the truth about her father and Leah's conception.
With the escape of an old foe, Mia is too late to reveal to her daughter the thrush before Judith can exact her revenge in a wash of blood and death.
Thrown into a world unheard of, Leah discovers that she is not alone in keeping her secrets. That there are people from her parent's past who would die to protect her. If only she knew why.
Raine, placed as her protector, hides deadly secrets of his own. Drawn to each other, Leah and Raine must uncover the truth before one or both are killed.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2012
2 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 9, 2023
I got this book at a con, along with 2 other books published by the same publishing company, Jumpmaster Press. This book started out so strong. The first 70-90 pages I loved. But then the plot changed so much and you basically figured out who the dad was and a bunch of other stuff happened. The romance is fast-burn which I don't like. I get what the author was going for but it went by too fast for my personal taste. If the author just kept with the pace and the vibe it had in the beginning I would have rated it a 5 or 4 stars. I'm sad that it ended like this. Bye.
July 30, 2012
I found this novel to be incredibly entertaining. The main character Leah, really has to go through a lot in a very short period of time. She discovers that there are more than just humans in the world. She also experiences both the loss and gain of family members and friends.
Leah and her mother are very close, she does not know who her father is and they both work and run a local store together. Both her and her mother have extra sensitive senses. Leah has the ability to hear really well, her sense of smell is very sensitive and she can see people's auras. Her mother tells her that there are dangerous people in the area and that she has to be very cautious. When the formidable characters do show up, Leah's world turns upside down.
Because of Leah's extra sensitive abilities she is thrown right into the middle of a battle. She has a really strong personality that reminded me of Sookie Stackhouse. She puts herself right into the middle of things and fights along side everybody else. From broken bones to getting shot, Leah really is one tough cookie.
This book is part of the New Adult promos in which the main character is of college age, but still discovering who they are. It does contain some sexual scenes, they are short and only 2. The love interest is very swoon worthy and I thought they were perfect together. I loved seeing their interactions and he always seemed to know the right thing to say and protective but not smothering.
If you have been interested in reading New Adult but have yet to pick up a title I recommend this one, it was amazing! I hope this series will be along one, it's one I would stick with for years.
Leah and her mother are very close, she does not know who her father is and they both work and run a local store together. Both her and her mother have extra sensitive senses. Leah has the ability to hear really well, her sense of smell is very sensitive and she can see people's auras. Her mother tells her that there are dangerous people in the area and that she has to be very cautious. When the formidable characters do show up, Leah's world turns upside down.
Because of Leah's extra sensitive abilities she is thrown right into the middle of a battle. She has a really strong personality that reminded me of Sookie Stackhouse. She puts herself right into the middle of things and fights along side everybody else. From broken bones to getting shot, Leah really is one tough cookie.
This book is part of the New Adult promos in which the main character is of college age, but still discovering who they are. It does contain some sexual scenes, they are short and only 2. The love interest is very swoon worthy and I thought they were perfect together. I loved seeing their interactions and he always seemed to know the right thing to say and protective but not smothering.
If you have been interested in reading New Adult but have yet to pick up a title I recommend this one, it was amazing! I hope this series will be along one, it's one I would stick with for years.
December 2, 2012
In the end, I decided this book did deserve 3.5 STARS
First off, let me get this out of the way. There are A LOT of errors in this book. They are incredibly FRUSTRATING and DISTRACTING because you will find yourself pausing to make sure you didn't miss something. There are missing words, misspelled words, tense agreement issues and at times, character mix ups (though this one doesn't occur like the others, just a few times during dialogue and you'll have to stop and think "that doesn't sound like it was being said by the right character").
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S A REALLY GOOD STORY, IF YOU CAN PUSH THROUGH ALL THE EDITING SNAFUS. I usually can't get past really aweful editing but I tried really hard because this story was interesting and found I was glad I won the battle. This would have been 4 stars had someone taken the time to really edit and fix the issues.
Leah is a really great character albeit a little too selfless at times which borders on stupidity I understand what the author is doing with her character and it's admirable but sometimes, justice should be dealt out fairly too. Leah is extremely tough while also being very compassionate and aware of others. What Michael, Dane and Mark did to her was ABSOLUTELY UNFORGIVABLE! which is why I found it so difficult to accept her defense of them at the end.
Raine. I like Raine more than I thought I would. He and Leah really fit together being that they're both uniquie creatures. I truly thought Leah was going to be a wolf or animal half breed of some sort given her impressive senses but I was wrong (and a little suprised by what she actually is because part of it felt like it should have dawned on me and the other part of me was just going, "huh, guess that makes sense" and accepting it). Raine is also unique with more than one paranormal anomaly in his gene pool. His abilities blend better than Leah's which is why he hasn't been killed yet. He's genuinely a good guy. And I could even get on board with Leah and Raine's insta-love because of how mating works with wolves. Otherwise, their relationship would have bothered me more than it did (and it did bother me a little, but I got over it).
Kale and Drew were GREAT CHARACTERS! I absolutely love these two and hope there will be a lot more of them in book 2. Drew is firey, loyal and fierce. This girl knows how to stand up for herself and her best friend. She is Kale's perfect match. Kale is a great guy with a fun loving, arrogant attitude who doesn't commit when it comes to women. He kinda thinks of himself as irresistable to women- but, in and endearing way. So, when he gets unexpectedly stuck with Drew, it's the perfect offset of personalities.
There really isn't a dull moment in the story. There is a lot of action, mystery, tragedy and eventually romance. It has a little of everything. I admit that I was getting frustrated at the beginning when Leah kept being put off regarding the truth about herself and the danger she was in. I remember thinking at one point that it was being a little too dragged out and to just get on with it. Once the truth is out, the book moves fairly quickly from one action to the next.
It will be interesting to see what revenge Dane and Mark will dream up in the next book, how Donovan will try to use Leah for her blood (or maybe, he'll prove me wrong and just protect her without ulterior motives- but that almost never happens), if Raif will succeed in getting his hands on Leah and turning her over to the mysterious vampire boss he works for or keep her to himself. Everyone wants Leah for something - mostly her blood- and it'll be interesting to see how well she is defended or capable of defending herself in the next book.
I sincerely hope the next book is edited better because the story would be much better with some serious refinement.
First off, let me get this out of the way. There are A LOT of errors in this book. They are incredibly FRUSTRATING and DISTRACTING because you will find yourself pausing to make sure you didn't miss something. There are missing words, misspelled words, tense agreement issues and at times, character mix ups (though this one doesn't occur like the others, just a few times during dialogue and you'll have to stop and think "that doesn't sound like it was being said by the right character").
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S A REALLY GOOD STORY, IF YOU CAN PUSH THROUGH ALL THE EDITING SNAFUS. I usually can't get past really aweful editing but I tried really hard because this story was interesting and found I was glad I won the battle. This would have been 4 stars had someone taken the time to really edit and fix the issues.
Leah is a really great character albeit a little too selfless at times which borders on stupidity I understand what the author is doing with her character and it's admirable but sometimes, justice should be dealt out fairly too. Leah is extremely tough while also being very compassionate and aware of others. What Michael, Dane and Mark did to her was ABSOLUTELY UNFORGIVABLE! which is why I found it so difficult to accept her defense of them at the end.
Raine. I like Raine more than I thought I would. He and Leah really fit together being that they're both uniquie creatures. I truly thought Leah was going to be a wolf or animal half breed of some sort given her impressive senses but I was wrong (and a little suprised by what she actually is because part of it felt like it should have dawned on me and the other part of me was just going, "huh, guess that makes sense" and accepting it). Raine is also unique with more than one paranormal anomaly in his gene pool. His abilities blend better than Leah's which is why he hasn't been killed yet. He's genuinely a good guy. And I could even get on board with Leah and Raine's insta-love because of how mating works with wolves. Otherwise, their relationship would have bothered me more than it did (and it did bother me a little, but I got over it).
Kale and Drew were GREAT CHARACTERS! I absolutely love these two and hope there will be a lot more of them in book 2. Drew is firey, loyal and fierce. This girl knows how to stand up for herself and her best friend. She is Kale's perfect match. Kale is a great guy with a fun loving, arrogant attitude who doesn't commit when it comes to women. He kinda thinks of himself as irresistable to women- but, in and endearing way. So, when he gets unexpectedly stuck with Drew, it's the perfect offset of personalities.
There really isn't a dull moment in the story. There is a lot of action, mystery, tragedy and eventually romance. It has a little of everything. I admit that I was getting frustrated at the beginning when Leah kept being put off regarding the truth about herself and the danger she was in. I remember thinking at one point that it was being a little too dragged out and to just get on with it. Once the truth is out, the book moves fairly quickly from one action to the next.
It will be interesting to see what revenge Dane and Mark will dream up in the next book, how Donovan will try to use Leah for her blood (or maybe, he'll prove me wrong and just protect her without ulterior motives- but that almost never happens), if Raif will succeed in getting his hands on Leah and turning her over to the mysterious vampire boss he works for or keep her to himself. Everyone wants Leah for something - mostly her blood- and it'll be interesting to see how well she is defended or capable of defending herself in the next book.
I sincerely hope the next book is edited better because the story would be much better with some serious refinement.
August 24, 2012
“Secrets” si distingue dalla massa di altri libri che si trovano in giro, perché in un certo senso è un ibrido. Innanzitutto la protagonista non è una ragazzina, ma una ragazza di 22 anni, si uniscono mondi diversi in cui il paranormale la fa da padrone e si accumula la tensione del mistero in modo esponenziale finché tutti i segreti non vengono a galla. Sicuramente l’intreccio di base è già stato visto, non c’è nulla di troppo rivoluzionario ma in un certo senso tutto assume un gusto diverso per la bravura della Kirby.
Si dice che la verità rende liberi, ma per Leah uccide.
Leah ha sempre saputo di essere diversa, dalle sua ipersensibilità alla luce, alla sue straordinarie percezioni olfattive che le permettono di leggere le emozioni dal profumo dell’aurea, ma ha sempre cercato di mantenerle segrete.
Persino sua madre Mia non conosce appieno la sua diversità. La madre nasconde anche lei dei segreti sul passato di Leah, sul padre e sul suo concepimento.
Quando fa la sua comparsa un vecchio nemico Mia non ha tempo per rivelare la verità alla figlia prima che Judith possa scatenare la sua vendetta in un bagno di sangue e morte.
Gettata in un mondo di cui non conosce niente Leah scopre che non è sola nel suo mantenere dei segreti e che ci sono delle persone dal passato dei suoi genitori pronte a morire per lei.
Raine a cui è stato assegnato il ruolo di suo protettore ha segreti pericolosi anche lui. Attratti l’uno dall’altro Leah e Raine devono scoprire la verità prima che entrambi vengano uccisi.
E ora eccoci con il mio commento. Il libro non è particolarmente lungo e ci ho messo poco a entrare nella storia. La Kirby che scrive in prima persona dal punto di vista di Leah è molto particolare soprattutto per Leah che è una ragazza in gamba, indipendente, che lavora nel negozio della madre e che deve fare i conti tutti i giorni con la scomparsa del padre. La sua vita è piena di segreti ma questo non significa che lei sia debole anzi. Anche gettata in uno dei momenti più terribili del libro lei mantiene il suo sangue freddo e riesce a conservare la lucidità mentale che le serve per trovare il colpevole e aiutare le persone che le sono accanto. Avendo 22 anni poi non è la classica ragazzina stupida, le sue scelte sono consapevoli e anche quando agisce lo fa con cognizione di causa, sa scegliere cosa è giusto e cosa è sbagliato ma è pronta per sacrificarsi per chi ama.
Il caleidoscopio di personaggi secondari è vario e molto intenso e ne voglio citare solo Drew che come ho scritto alla scrittrice è il mio preferito perché è uno spirito libero, è una che non ti manda a dire niente, è una amica leale, fedele e sincera, pronta a farsi in quattro per Leah senza chiedere niente, senza farsi domande ma buttandosi a capofitto nelle situazioni con la forza di un uragano e proprio questa la rende un’amica unica.
Raine naturalmente è super hot, protettivo ma è capace di ascoltare le idee di Leah e tirarsi indietro al momento opportuno, quando in effetti è il ragazzo ideale, capace di affiancare davvero la ragazza anche nei momenti in cui vorrebbe nasconderla.
David poi è un altro dei miei personaggi preferiti, anche se avevo capito da subito il suo ruolo, mi sono davvero emozionata quando finalmente ha rivelato la verità.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una macchina super veloce. Di chi è? Leggete e scopritelo.
Leggete “Secrets” è un libro meraviglioso in cui si uniscono più generi, la verità è un’arma potentissima e i personaggi sono strafighi.
Buona lettura guys!
Sul mio blog trovare l'intervista con la scrittrice Dawn Kirby e la recensione completa!
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
Si dice che la verità rende liberi, ma per Leah uccide.
Leah ha sempre saputo di essere diversa, dalle sua ipersensibilità alla luce, alla sue straordinarie percezioni olfattive che le permettono di leggere le emozioni dal profumo dell’aurea, ma ha sempre cercato di mantenerle segrete.
Persino sua madre Mia non conosce appieno la sua diversità. La madre nasconde anche lei dei segreti sul passato di Leah, sul padre e sul suo concepimento.
Quando fa la sua comparsa un vecchio nemico Mia non ha tempo per rivelare la verità alla figlia prima che Judith possa scatenare la sua vendetta in un bagno di sangue e morte.
Gettata in un mondo di cui non conosce niente Leah scopre che non è sola nel suo mantenere dei segreti e che ci sono delle persone dal passato dei suoi genitori pronte a morire per lei.
Raine a cui è stato assegnato il ruolo di suo protettore ha segreti pericolosi anche lui. Attratti l’uno dall’altro Leah e Raine devono scoprire la verità prima che entrambi vengano uccisi.
E ora eccoci con il mio commento. Il libro non è particolarmente lungo e ci ho messo poco a entrare nella storia. La Kirby che scrive in prima persona dal punto di vista di Leah è molto particolare soprattutto per Leah che è una ragazza in gamba, indipendente, che lavora nel negozio della madre e che deve fare i conti tutti i giorni con la scomparsa del padre. La sua vita è piena di segreti ma questo non significa che lei sia debole anzi. Anche gettata in uno dei momenti più terribili del libro lei mantiene il suo sangue freddo e riesce a conservare la lucidità mentale che le serve per trovare il colpevole e aiutare le persone che le sono accanto. Avendo 22 anni poi non è la classica ragazzina stupida, le sue scelte sono consapevoli e anche quando agisce lo fa con cognizione di causa, sa scegliere cosa è giusto e cosa è sbagliato ma è pronta per sacrificarsi per chi ama.
Il caleidoscopio di personaggi secondari è vario e molto intenso e ne voglio citare solo Drew che come ho scritto alla scrittrice è il mio preferito perché è uno spirito libero, è una che non ti manda a dire niente, è una amica leale, fedele e sincera, pronta a farsi in quattro per Leah senza chiedere niente, senza farsi domande ma buttandosi a capofitto nelle situazioni con la forza di un uragano e proprio questa la rende un’amica unica.
Raine naturalmente è super hot, protettivo ma è capace di ascoltare le idee di Leah e tirarsi indietro al momento opportuno, quando in effetti è il ragazzo ideale, capace di affiancare davvero la ragazza anche nei momenti in cui vorrebbe nasconderla.
David poi è un altro dei miei personaggi preferiti, anche se avevo capito da subito il suo ruolo, mi sono davvero emozionata quando finalmente ha rivelato la verità.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una macchina super veloce. Di chi è? Leggete e scopritelo.
Leggete “Secrets” è un libro meraviglioso in cui si uniscono più generi, la verità è un’arma potentissima e i personaggi sono strafighi.
Buona lettura guys!
Sul mio blog trovare l'intervista con la scrittrice Dawn Kirby e la recensione completa!
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
June 5, 2014
2.5 stars, rounding up to 3. Had the editing been better, a solid 3.5 stars read.
*I was lucky enough to receive a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was offered or accepted. *
The storyline for this book was enjoyable and completely refreshing as the main character readily accepts what she's told. The explanation is that her mother subtly prepared her to accept any kind of news, including the paranormal kind, but it was very refreshing to have a young, bright, capable woman readily accept what she's told. She takes a moment to process it and then accepts it. How could she not given that she has unique capabilities herself that seem otherworldly?
Leah did frustrate me at some points, especially when it comes to one of her attackers. I can understand the desire not to see more bloodshed, but her decision is stupid and leaves a huge vulnerability that will come to haunt her in the future. *SPOILER ALERT*For one who can read auras and tell what kind of person she is looking at, this move was extremely idiotic.*END SPOILER*. David also frustrated me, but it was understandable, too. He found peace in knowing that Leah was an adult and didn't truly need him, so I understand his decision. I think my favorite characters were Kale & Drew. Happy and straightforward, both used to getting their way, I hope to read more of these two and see the sparks fly!
The romances are lovely and I enjoyed seeing how they react to one another, even if it is an insta-love, with declarations of devotion occurring after a mere few days of knowing one another. I found this acceptable, however, because both were waiting for THE ONE and it was a heck of a few days with trauma and turmoil extremely abundant.
Sigh. And now the bad: This book suffers from an extreme lack of editing. There were only a few pages that I did not make a mark on the page with my pen. (I am a very active reader and often take notes as I read. I will also correct punctuation, grammar, word choice, etc as I read. I blame my background as a former English teacher!) Copious misuse and abuse of the semi-colon, lack of punctuation in other sentences, misuse of homonyms such as "too" and "to" and "conscious" versus "conscience", random capitalization, lack of consistency in how a character phrases something with inflections that do not match the personality as described, and formatting issues such as random spacing run rampant throughout this book and were distracting to this reader. I found myself correcting and editing this book while reading as if this were one of my proofreading projects. Nearly every page needed corrections! I found the errors distracting to say the least and consistently knocking me out of reader zone, taking away my enjoyment of the story as it unfolded.
If you can read past those errors, I think you will enjoy this paranormal tale. If you haven't read many books that feature dhampirs, you'll enjoy this take on it and the descriptions of Leah's incredible sense of smell and aura reading. I loved the scents associated with each kind of person and thought they were well-thought and appropriate to the character the author was describing.
The book does leave off with the hint at more, the story unfinished. However, it is not a cliffhanger. There is a resolution for this initial part of the story, although now there is a new threat with new leadership that should be coming in the next books.
Overall: An enjoyable story with characters that are likable for the most part. Severe lack of editing, however, distracts the reader and lowers enjoyability.
*I was lucky enough to receive a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was offered or accepted. *
The storyline for this book was enjoyable and completely refreshing as the main character readily accepts what she's told. The explanation is that her mother subtly prepared her to accept any kind of news, including the paranormal kind, but it was very refreshing to have a young, bright, capable woman readily accept what she's told. She takes a moment to process it and then accepts it. How could she not given that she has unique capabilities herself that seem otherworldly?
Leah did frustrate me at some points, especially when it comes to one of her attackers. I can understand the desire not to see more bloodshed, but her decision is stupid and leaves a huge vulnerability that will come to haunt her in the future. *SPOILER ALERT*For one who can read auras and tell what kind of person she is looking at, this move was extremely idiotic.*END SPOILER*. David also frustrated me, but it was understandable, too. He found peace in knowing that Leah was an adult and didn't truly need him, so I understand his decision. I think my favorite characters were Kale & Drew. Happy and straightforward, both used to getting their way, I hope to read more of these two and see the sparks fly!
The romances are lovely and I enjoyed seeing how they react to one another, even if it is an insta-love, with declarations of devotion occurring after a mere few days of knowing one another. I found this acceptable, however, because both were waiting for THE ONE and it was a heck of a few days with trauma and turmoil extremely abundant.
Sigh. And now the bad: This book suffers from an extreme lack of editing. There were only a few pages that I did not make a mark on the page with my pen. (I am a very active reader and often take notes as I read. I will also correct punctuation, grammar, word choice, etc as I read. I blame my background as a former English teacher!) Copious misuse and abuse of the semi-colon, lack of punctuation in other sentences, misuse of homonyms such as "too" and "to" and "conscious" versus "conscience", random capitalization, lack of consistency in how a character phrases something with inflections that do not match the personality as described, and formatting issues such as random spacing run rampant throughout this book and were distracting to this reader. I found myself correcting and editing this book while reading as if this were one of my proofreading projects. Nearly every page needed corrections! I found the errors distracting to say the least and consistently knocking me out of reader zone, taking away my enjoyment of the story as it unfolded.
If you can read past those errors, I think you will enjoy this paranormal tale. If you haven't read many books that feature dhampirs, you'll enjoy this take on it and the descriptions of Leah's incredible sense of smell and aura reading. I loved the scents associated with each kind of person and thought they were well-thought and appropriate to the character the author was describing.
The book does leave off with the hint at more, the story unfinished. However, it is not a cliffhanger. There is a resolution for this initial part of the story, although now there is a new threat with new leadership that should be coming in the next books.
Overall: An enjoyable story with characters that are likable for the most part. Severe lack of editing, however, distracts the reader and lowers enjoyability.
August 16, 2012
As a reader I try to live by the saying "don't judge a book by its cover", and without wanting to sound too cliche' this is definitely a book that should not be judged that way; so readers and bloggers do not be deceived!
Having seen it I confess I became a little reticent, and the wise words of the old saying began to become just a nagging voice at the back of my head. However I was far too intrigued by the secrecy of the synopsis to let this book go, so I decided to plough ahead and keep an open mind. And you know what? I am so glad that I did!
Secrets by Dawn Kirby truly and very pleasantly surprised me in more than one way!
As per most books, Dawn Kirby's Secrets started by introducing me to Leah and hinting at the mysteries that ruled her life. She has extraordinarily developed senses but not a clue as to why and how. When she presses her only parent for information, her mother reveals nothing and delays any explanation to a later date. Untold danger was hinted at straight from the beginning and like many characters Leah doesn't take it entirely seriously; and neither did I, expecting that it would be a while before she was in any true immediate danger.
Dawn Kirby though had other plans. She hit Leah's life very early and hard into the story. The pace quickly picked up as dramatic events, realities and secrets gave Leah a rude awakening to what was truly going on.
But hers aren't the only secrets Dawn Kirby is talking about. Leah not only has to uncover and come to terms with her own, but also those of others with particular regards to Raine; a boy who smells like the rain in a storm and who's hidden truths are about to further disrupt her already torn world.
Learning the truth about Leah and her past, and then watching her absorb the new information, whilst juggling her feelings for Raine and the reality these secrets have thrown her into, was gripping and had me quickly turning the digital pages of this debut novel. Despite the elements of paranormal romance and twist upon twist, what I enjoyed the most was how Dawn Kirby faced Leah with very real events and feelings, that do not require a magical element to be experienced.
The way in which she struck grief, pain, shock, love, joy and happiness into Leah's story was different and refreshing. Although at times she was a little naive of the extent of the cruelties of her new reality, Leah was a very kind and selfless character; and I really felt for her where her journey got shaken and stirred by the mind of the clever author.
With a steady pace, that speeded up when needed, and an easy going and simple style of writing, this was a very nice beginning to a new series for Dawn Kirby.
For someone who's life is one big secret and who's existence itself is an unexplained mystery, Leah was ironically a very honest and frank character, and I look forward to the sequel to her story.
Readers should be aware that this book is a New Adult genre (18-26) and does contain some adult content.
Having seen it I confess I became a little reticent, and the wise words of the old saying began to become just a nagging voice at the back of my head. However I was far too intrigued by the secrecy of the synopsis to let this book go, so I decided to plough ahead and keep an open mind. And you know what? I am so glad that I did!
Secrets by Dawn Kirby truly and very pleasantly surprised me in more than one way!
As per most books, Dawn Kirby's Secrets started by introducing me to Leah and hinting at the mysteries that ruled her life. She has extraordinarily developed senses but not a clue as to why and how. When she presses her only parent for information, her mother reveals nothing and delays any explanation to a later date. Untold danger was hinted at straight from the beginning and like many characters Leah doesn't take it entirely seriously; and neither did I, expecting that it would be a while before she was in any true immediate danger.
Dawn Kirby though had other plans. She hit Leah's life very early and hard into the story. The pace quickly picked up as dramatic events, realities and secrets gave Leah a rude awakening to what was truly going on.
But hers aren't the only secrets Dawn Kirby is talking about. Leah not only has to uncover and come to terms with her own, but also those of others with particular regards to Raine; a boy who smells like the rain in a storm and who's hidden truths are about to further disrupt her already torn world.
Learning the truth about Leah and her past, and then watching her absorb the new information, whilst juggling her feelings for Raine and the reality these secrets have thrown her into, was gripping and had me quickly turning the digital pages of this debut novel. Despite the elements of paranormal romance and twist upon twist, what I enjoyed the most was how Dawn Kirby faced Leah with very real events and feelings, that do not require a magical element to be experienced.
The way in which she struck grief, pain, shock, love, joy and happiness into Leah's story was different and refreshing. Although at times she was a little naive of the extent of the cruelties of her new reality, Leah was a very kind and selfless character; and I really felt for her where her journey got shaken and stirred by the mind of the clever author.
With a steady pace, that speeded up when needed, and an easy going and simple style of writing, this was a very nice beginning to a new series for Dawn Kirby.
For someone who's life is one big secret and who's existence itself is an unexplained mystery, Leah was ironically a very honest and frank character, and I look forward to the sequel to her story.
Readers should be aware that this book is a New Adult genre (18-26) and does contain some adult content.
August 3, 2012
Cover Thoughts-
It is one I'm not used to. To be honest my blog is focused all around young adult novels and the cover seems a little bit misleading. There is a couple erotic scenes but I do believe the book is appropriate for teens. Also if the boy on the cover is Raine then he looks nothing like I pictured.
First Thought-
Secrets. :) Every good book holds a secret and this one holds plenty! I can't wait to read about the romance, adventure, and of course the maze of secrets.
What I liked-
I usually don't read alot of adult novels or ya know books for mature audiences *wink wink*. I decided to give this tour a try and I am sincerely glad I did. From the start you are captivated by Leah's special talents. All of her senses are magnified and she has no idea why. It's just her and her mother because her father died years ago. Recently her mother is extremely tense with worry. Every year about this time the accountant David comes to look at financial business but Leah has her suspicions. Now with her heightened senses she figures out the secrets but she is already too late. There was not a single scene or page that bored me. There is plenty of action, plenty of the paranormal, and plenty of action just like I love! I read it all in one day. But it was the ending that really blew me away. It is a very beautifully written novel that adds some of its own ideas to the paranormal world. I seriously can't wait where Leah and Raine take there romance and how Leah will survive constantly being wanted by the vampire world. My favorite scene in the whole book is the one where Kale challenges Mark for leadership of the pack. It is very suspenseful and full aggressive werewolf power. Serenity may be the name of the series but the book was far from peace and serenity. It was a roller coaster full of adventure and of course secrets.
What I disliked-
Really I didn't dislike a single thing. The story went exactly how I could want it. I do wish there was a bit more romance going on and a little less action. It sucks when Leah is constantly being hunted down and almost torn to pieces. Leah just needs a scalding hot shower and a hot cup of coffee to calm her and that almost reminds me of well... me. Except I don't have the ability to find extreme heat comforting. I wonder if there are any secrets left for the series though? So many were exposed its hard to keep em coming.
Overall Readability-
An absolute must read. If your into paranormal romance I strongly recommend this book. It's like a mash-up of Twilight and Shiver if you read young adult books. Secrets is a book you will get caught up in and forget about the outside world. I lost track of time easily and enjoyed every second of it.
My Final Thought-
Poor Leah can't catch a break! I hope her and Raine both make it out of this mess okay.
5 out of 5 Haunted Roses
It is one I'm not used to. To be honest my blog is focused all around young adult novels and the cover seems a little bit misleading. There is a couple erotic scenes but I do believe the book is appropriate for teens. Also if the boy on the cover is Raine then he looks nothing like I pictured.
First Thought-
Secrets. :) Every good book holds a secret and this one holds plenty! I can't wait to read about the romance, adventure, and of course the maze of secrets.
What I liked-
I usually don't read alot of adult novels or ya know books for mature audiences *wink wink*. I decided to give this tour a try and I am sincerely glad I did. From the start you are captivated by Leah's special talents. All of her senses are magnified and she has no idea why. It's just her and her mother because her father died years ago. Recently her mother is extremely tense with worry. Every year about this time the accountant David comes to look at financial business but Leah has her suspicions. Now with her heightened senses she figures out the secrets but she is already too late. There was not a single scene or page that bored me. There is plenty of action, plenty of the paranormal, and plenty of action just like I love! I read it all in one day. But it was the ending that really blew me away. It is a very beautifully written novel that adds some of its own ideas to the paranormal world. I seriously can't wait where Leah and Raine take there romance and how Leah will survive constantly being wanted by the vampire world. My favorite scene in the whole book is the one where Kale challenges Mark for leadership of the pack. It is very suspenseful and full aggressive werewolf power. Serenity may be the name of the series but the book was far from peace and serenity. It was a roller coaster full of adventure and of course secrets.
What I disliked-
Really I didn't dislike a single thing. The story went exactly how I could want it. I do wish there was a bit more romance going on and a little less action. It sucks when Leah is constantly being hunted down and almost torn to pieces. Leah just needs a scalding hot shower and a hot cup of coffee to calm her and that almost reminds me of well... me. Except I don't have the ability to find extreme heat comforting. I wonder if there are any secrets left for the series though? So many were exposed its hard to keep em coming.
Overall Readability-
An absolute must read. If your into paranormal romance I strongly recommend this book. It's like a mash-up of Twilight and Shiver if you read young adult books. Secrets is a book you will get caught up in and forget about the outside world. I lost track of time easily and enjoyed every second of it.
My Final Thought-
Poor Leah can't catch a break! I hope her and Raine both make it out of this mess okay.
5 out of 5 Haunted Roses
August 9, 2012
A gem for fans of the supernatural fantasy genre, whilst bringing something new to the table. Secrets has everything you could want and more besides!
Cover
This cover does not represent this book. This is a YA with some adult scenes but nothing like the erotica the cover suggests, and is so much better for it. Don't judge a book by its cover has never seemed more correct a statement!
Review
This new offering on the teen/adult supernatural fantasy genre will be a real treat for fans of the genre. I can seen teenage readers of series such as Twilight, True Blood and the House of the Night who have now grown up loving Secrets for its similar themes of romance mixed with secrets, danger and adventure - just like me.
Leah is the extraordinary protagonist who has supernatural powers coming out of her ears. Super hearing, being able to view people auroras, smell their personality (yes I do mean smell) and withstanding, and enjoying extreme heat at times seem like a little too much. But her weaknesses balance her out to be a character I grew to love through-out the book. Fans of supernatural and fantasy fiction will recognise the signs of different fictional races common within the genre, which I really enjoyed. Yet Leah's predicament in my reading experience still presenting something unique.
Discovering Leah's secrets as the book progresses became an really enjoyable read for me. With my habit of reading more than one book at a time, it was great to have to read only two sentences to be absorbed back into narrative. With dramatic and shocking scenes holding a serious tone, the personalities and relationships growing between characters provided light release, delivering the romantic domestic scenes I really enjoy.
I did feel like more than a few of the events throughout the book were rather rushed, in particular the romantic developments between characters. Alongside this, the constant addition of characters, often with similar names, sometimes required some hard concentration to keep up with (yes I am speaking to you David, Donovan and Declan). The enemies were often just as numerous and their intertwining motivations becoming clear eventually.
Despite my mixed feelings about the character developments and rushed narrative, I truly enjoyed going to bed every night to just read a bit more before I went to sleep. The writing style is effortless to read providing much needed escapism into another world where vampires, werewolves and everything else in-between exists.
My main gripe about the book however is its price. With £6 for the Kindle version and over £15 for the print, I hope its not out-priced for the YA audience, because I don't think any parent would by this book for their child with this cover! Having said that I will be seeking out a copy of the second book in the series, but maybe in sale!
On the bloggy I gave this 7/10
Cover
This cover does not represent this book. This is a YA with some adult scenes but nothing like the erotica the cover suggests, and is so much better for it. Don't judge a book by its cover has never seemed more correct a statement!
Review
This new offering on the teen/adult supernatural fantasy genre will be a real treat for fans of the genre. I can seen teenage readers of series such as Twilight, True Blood and the House of the Night who have now grown up loving Secrets for its similar themes of romance mixed with secrets, danger and adventure - just like me.
Leah is the extraordinary protagonist who has supernatural powers coming out of her ears. Super hearing, being able to view people auroras, smell their personality (yes I do mean smell) and withstanding, and enjoying extreme heat at times seem like a little too much. But her weaknesses balance her out to be a character I grew to love through-out the book. Fans of supernatural and fantasy fiction will recognise the signs of different fictional races common within the genre, which I really enjoyed. Yet Leah's predicament in my reading experience still presenting something unique.
Discovering Leah's secrets as the book progresses became an really enjoyable read for me. With my habit of reading more than one book at a time, it was great to have to read only two sentences to be absorbed back into narrative. With dramatic and shocking scenes holding a serious tone, the personalities and relationships growing between characters provided light release, delivering the romantic domestic scenes I really enjoy.
I did feel like more than a few of the events throughout the book were rather rushed, in particular the romantic developments between characters. Alongside this, the constant addition of characters, often with similar names, sometimes required some hard concentration to keep up with (yes I am speaking to you David, Donovan and Declan). The enemies were often just as numerous and their intertwining motivations becoming clear eventually.
Despite my mixed feelings about the character developments and rushed narrative, I truly enjoyed going to bed every night to just read a bit more before I went to sleep. The writing style is effortless to read providing much needed escapism into another world where vampires, werewolves and everything else in-between exists.
My main gripe about the book however is its price. With £6 for the Kindle version and over £15 for the print, I hope its not out-priced for the YA audience, because I don't think any parent would by this book for their child with this cover! Having said that I will be seeking out a copy of the second book in the series, but maybe in sale!
On the bloggy I gave this 7/10
August 17, 2012
I just want to give Illuminated Tours a HUGE THANK YOU for allowing me to be on this tour. Without them I would have never known about this book. Secrets is one of those books that needs more air time. I have to tell you I love my wolves and vampires so when I started to read a found that they were in this book I was jumping for joy. Secrets is a great title for this book to because there are so many secrets it is hard to keep up with them. At every turn I was like no way why would they do that.
Leah is a recent graduate from college working at her mothers store. She is happy and content but there is just one thing nagging Leah. She really wants to know who her father is. Her mother Mia keeps it a secret from her and Leah really just wants some answers. She knows she is different from others because she has these super senses and she can feel and taste things normal new adults can't.
Leah will soon find out that secrets have been kept from her and she will be in danger very soon. See her mother Mia forgot to tell her things or maybe she just thought it was not the right time but when the secrets come out Leah is in danger and must flee. When she does she meets Raine at the safe house she is staying. Raine is instantly enthralled by Leah and they begin building a friendship that will turn into a romance. But Raine has secrets to and he does not want them to get out. He really does care for Leah but he thinks his secrets will destroy what they just built up.
Raine helps Leah come to terms with her special powers and helps her accept them for what they are. Raine will protect Leah at any cost from the werewolves that want her dead. Raine will risk it all to protect the girl he loves. This is a NEW ADULT read meaning it is for 18 years and older. I really loved Secrets and I need the second book ASAP because the ending had me throwing the book across the room because I needed more! Dawn you did an excellent job on Secrets and congrats on the series!
Leah is a recent graduate from college working at her mothers store. She is happy and content but there is just one thing nagging Leah. She really wants to know who her father is. Her mother Mia keeps it a secret from her and Leah really just wants some answers. She knows she is different from others because she has these super senses and she can feel and taste things normal new adults can't.
Leah will soon find out that secrets have been kept from her and she will be in danger very soon. See her mother Mia forgot to tell her things or maybe she just thought it was not the right time but when the secrets come out Leah is in danger and must flee. When she does she meets Raine at the safe house she is staying. Raine is instantly enthralled by Leah and they begin building a friendship that will turn into a romance. But Raine has secrets to and he does not want them to get out. He really does care for Leah but he thinks his secrets will destroy what they just built up.
Raine helps Leah come to terms with her special powers and helps her accept them for what they are. Raine will protect Leah at any cost from the werewolves that want her dead. Raine will risk it all to protect the girl he loves. This is a NEW ADULT read meaning it is for 18 years and older. I really loved Secrets and I need the second book ASAP because the ending had me throwing the book across the room because I needed more! Dawn you did an excellent job on Secrets and congrats on the series!
July 1, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review.
I really enjoyed the story even though when Leah found out secrets it seemed kind of corny. If I found out a huge secret like the one Leah did I probably would be freaking out and not taking it so calmly.
When I first started reading this book I was like okay this is a different paranormal than I have read before no problem, but it was only a slight different in some aspects of paranormal.
Leah is not normal, but she doesn't let her not being normal take away from being a strong person. Her I will call them talents as I believe that is what they are. Are very different, and special. She is independent and takes things head on. She is very strong and will give up her life to save those she loves. Which is amazing. I love the way she can tell a good guy from a bad guy. That would come in handy for many of us I believe.
I love her best friend Drew, anytime Drew was in the picture I was finding myself laughing as she is a hot mess, with a whole lot of attitude. I loved it.
We get to meet a lot of different characters within this story, Raine who is just awww and you can tell something has to happen between him and Leah. His brother Kale who is the opposite of Raine David, Delcan who I LOVED his accent.
So many characters but they each have their own personality and traits which I enjoyed.
There are fighting scenes within the story but nothing that I would consider too graphic, but for those that are sensitive just beware.
There is not a cliff-hanger per se but you will want to have book number two as soon as possible I know I do. I want to read more about the characters, and what is going to happen now that Leah's secret is out. Who is this mysterious guy behind the scenes? This author did a great job with telling us a story that kept me engaged.
I really enjoyed the story even though when Leah found out secrets it seemed kind of corny. If I found out a huge secret like the one Leah did I probably would be freaking out and not taking it so calmly.
When I first started reading this book I was like okay this is a different paranormal than I have read before no problem, but it was only a slight different in some aspects of paranormal.
Leah is not normal, but she doesn't let her not being normal take away from being a strong person. Her I will call them talents as I believe that is what they are. Are very different, and special. She is independent and takes things head on. She is very strong and will give up her life to save those she loves. Which is amazing. I love the way she can tell a good guy from a bad guy. That would come in handy for many of us I believe.
I love her best friend Drew, anytime Drew was in the picture I was finding myself laughing as she is a hot mess, with a whole lot of attitude. I loved it.
We get to meet a lot of different characters within this story, Raine who is just awww and you can tell something has to happen between him and Leah. His brother Kale who is the opposite of Raine David, Delcan who I LOVED his accent.
So many characters but they each have their own personality and traits which I enjoyed.
There are fighting scenes within the story but nothing that I would consider too graphic, but for those that are sensitive just beware.
There is not a cliff-hanger per se but you will want to have book number two as soon as possible I know I do. I want to read more about the characters, and what is going to happen now that Leah's secret is out. Who is this mysterious guy behind the scenes? This author did a great job with telling us a story that kept me engaged.
August 14, 2012
The Storyline…
This book was amazing! It is definitely my second favorite book. I was never bored and I was gripping the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. I was going to read this book over vacation, but then I started it and couldn’t stop. I was supposed to be packing since I was leaving the next day. It was that good. I love how the author wasn’t afraid to die off characters. Even characters that I didn’t want to die. I would have liked to have seen Raine’s point of view. It would have been awesome to see his thoughts.
The Characters…
Leah was amazing. Also such a strong female lead character. She never backed down and saved lives. She never gave up or let anyone break her. I probably wouldn’t have been able to be as strong as her. She is always so positive. Raine was… amazing. He is my new book boyfriend. I fell in love with him along with Leah. Also he is HOT! I loved that he smelled like storms. Leah and i love that smell. It was pretty cool to have somethings in common with her that made it seem so real. Kale is such a playboy and hilarious. I just loved him. May is so sweet. I wish she was my grandmother. The characters were well developed and felt so real. The whole book did.
In Conclusion…
The book was perfectly balanced between action and romance. The romance didn’t smother the story and the action wasn’t too much. I wasn’t overwhelmed. The ending was so good and such an amazing cliffhanger. I’m now dying to read the next book. I can’t wait to read it and see what is in store for Leah and Raine. If your a fan of vampires and werewolves you will love this book!
August 13, 2012
This was sucha delight to read! Right from the first page the author Dawn Kirby had me hooked. For those who have read it you'll know what I mean when I say the opening scene is rather intense and for those of you who haven't had the pleaure of reading Secrets yet you'll just have to go buy it to find out what I'm talking about.
I really liked how Dawn Kirby wrote Secrets because the whole novel was full of twist and turns as more and more things came to to light and more facts were revealed about Leah and her family. I loved that about the book because it kept me interested. There was always something new that kept me wanting to read more and more.
The characters were also really well contrived and I really liked Leah for the most part but sometimes she got on my nerves a little but thats a good thing. I love when authors give characters traits that evoke feelings you would get for real people. Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the descriptive way that Dawn Kirby created the whole book.
All in all this was a great book from a new and emerging talent in the writing world. I really enjoyed reading Leah's story and I would have no problem recommending this book to anyone who is a fan of YA romance with a supernatural twist in it. I do have to warn you though that this book is for the older YA readers because of some more mature scenes and subject matter.
For me the book provided a great escape while I was at the cottage this past weekend. If you're looking for a book that will suck you in, this might just be one that you have to check out!
*I recieved a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE and HONEST review.
I really liked how Dawn Kirby wrote Secrets because the whole novel was full of twist and turns as more and more things came to to light and more facts were revealed about Leah and her family. I loved that about the book because it kept me interested. There was always something new that kept me wanting to read more and more.
The characters were also really well contrived and I really liked Leah for the most part but sometimes she got on my nerves a little but thats a good thing. I love when authors give characters traits that evoke feelings you would get for real people. Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the descriptive way that Dawn Kirby created the whole book.
All in all this was a great book from a new and emerging talent in the writing world. I really enjoyed reading Leah's story and I would have no problem recommending this book to anyone who is a fan of YA romance with a supernatural twist in it. I do have to warn you though that this book is for the older YA readers because of some more mature scenes and subject matter.
For me the book provided a great escape while I was at the cottage this past weekend. If you're looking for a book that will suck you in, this might just be one that you have to check out!
*I recieved a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE and HONEST review.
May 29, 2014
The Good
•Promising start to the series.
•Very likable and well written protagonist.
The Bad
•Repetitive.
The Gif
As soon as I started this book, I was immediately drawn into the world of Leah. The mystery begins on the very first page. It was easy to bond with the main character, and I feel like Dawn Kirby did such a fantastic job at writing her. To me, this was a very character driven story. It made me love it even more. Raine and Leah were an interesting pair. They share a lot on different levels, and I think that's what makes their romance so believable. Though, it was a bit reminiscent of Twilight.
My one fault with the story is that it was so long. Parts of it seemed to drag by while others seemed too rushed and glossed over. One issue I had with the length was that certain passages felt repetitive. I found myself just glimpsing over those parts in an effort to wade through the story and follow the twists and turns.
Secrets was an enjoyable read. It blended a lot of what I enjoy, and I found myself savoring it as I raced through the book. Dawn Kirby uses the twists of her story to spin a web that you have no regrets about getting trapped in. I'm already curious to see where this story goes.
Paranormal romance fans will easily get lost in the pages of Secrets. Even with the minor problems that I had, I would encourage others to read this engaging story.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to RBTL and Dawn Kirby.
•Promising start to the series.
•Very likable and well written protagonist.
The Bad
•Repetitive.
The Gif
As soon as I started this book, I was immediately drawn into the world of Leah. The mystery begins on the very first page. It was easy to bond with the main character, and I feel like Dawn Kirby did such a fantastic job at writing her. To me, this was a very character driven story. It made me love it even more. Raine and Leah were an interesting pair. They share a lot on different levels, and I think that's what makes their romance so believable. Though, it was a bit reminiscent of Twilight.
My one fault with the story is that it was so long. Parts of it seemed to drag by while others seemed too rushed and glossed over. One issue I had with the length was that certain passages felt repetitive. I found myself just glimpsing over those parts in an effort to wade through the story and follow the twists and turns.
Secrets was an enjoyable read. It blended a lot of what I enjoy, and I found myself savoring it as I raced through the book. Dawn Kirby uses the twists of her story to spin a web that you have no regrets about getting trapped in. I'm already curious to see where this story goes.
Paranormal romance fans will easily get lost in the pages of Secrets. Even with the minor problems that I had, I would encourage others to read this engaging story.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to RBTL and Dawn Kirby.
May 8, 2014
Series: Serenity #1
Category /Genre: Paranormal Romance
Received from: Dawn Kirby (in exchange for an honest review)
Tour by: Read Between the Lines
Recommended for: 18+ due to violence and sexual content
Grammar/editing: C – average writing, probably self-edited
This is book one in the Serenity Series and the will need to be read in order. This does not end in a cliff-hanger, but you will want the next book ASAP; I know I do!
Haven’t we all felt as though the people around us were keeping secrets at one time or another, especially when we were young adults? For Leah, the secrets her mother has kept have helped to keep them safe, but when their safety is finally compromised anyway, will knowing the secrets make a difference? Was her mother right to have these secrets for so long?
I loved this story. It was great wondering how Leah had all of these traits of a vampire without being one. After all vampires are just stories, right? I know, for myself, I kept asking, “What is she?” I thought the pace of the story was perfectly measured from beginning to end, but especially enjoyed the edge-of-the-seat speed engendered during the climaxes. There were a few tears, but there was some laugh-out-loud moments as well. Ms. Kirby does snarky very well!
Ms. Kirby is a consummate story-teller. I look forward to reading more of her stories.
Category /Genre: Paranormal Romance
Received from: Dawn Kirby (in exchange for an honest review)
Tour by: Read Between the Lines
Recommended for: 18+ due to violence and sexual content
Grammar/editing: C – average writing, probably self-edited
This is book one in the Serenity Series and the will need to be read in order. This does not end in a cliff-hanger, but you will want the next book ASAP; I know I do!
Haven’t we all felt as though the people around us were keeping secrets at one time or another, especially when we were young adults? For Leah, the secrets her mother has kept have helped to keep them safe, but when their safety is finally compromised anyway, will knowing the secrets make a difference? Was her mother right to have these secrets for so long?
I loved this story. It was great wondering how Leah had all of these traits of a vampire without being one. After all vampires are just stories, right? I know, for myself, I kept asking, “What is she?” I thought the pace of the story was perfectly measured from beginning to end, but especially enjoyed the edge-of-the-seat speed engendered during the climaxes. There were a few tears, but there was some laugh-out-loud moments as well. Ms. Kirby does snarky very well!
Ms. Kirby is a consummate story-teller. I look forward to reading more of her stories.
June 28, 2014
In Secrets, the first book in the Serenity series, Dawn Kirby unveils what could be an exciting urban fantasy story which is a good choice for all fans of the genre.
I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I was unsure which paranormal elements Secrets would contain - yes, even though the main character has an aversion to light, super-sonic hearing and a talent for observing auras. However, I also think that the paranormal fiction market is currently a popular one and is flooded with books, so the vampire/shapeshifter mix in Secrets did not help Dawn Kirby to differentiate this from other novels in the genre.
The romance between Leah and Raine appears contrived, rather than natural and I had a difficult time believing the strength of their bond.
Leah is an interesting character to follow throughout this story; she handles her talents well and is not shaken by the strange identities of her new housemates, but we see her suffering and grief and understand her need for revenge.
I liked this story but currently have no plans to continue with the series, although I think its strong female characters, hot men and mystery will appeal to others.
I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I was unsure which paranormal elements Secrets would contain - yes, even though the main character has an aversion to light, super-sonic hearing and a talent for observing auras. However, I also think that the paranormal fiction market is currently a popular one and is flooded with books, so the vampire/shapeshifter mix in Secrets did not help Dawn Kirby to differentiate this from other novels in the genre.
The romance between Leah and Raine appears contrived, rather than natural and I had a difficult time believing the strength of their bond.
Leah is an interesting character to follow throughout this story; she handles her talents well and is not shaken by the strange identities of her new housemates, but we see her suffering and grief and understand her need for revenge.
I liked this story but currently have no plans to continue with the series, although I think its strong female characters, hot men and mystery will appeal to others.
August 24, 2012
Secrets was full of surprises! This is a story that has vampires and werewolves both good and bad.
Dawn Kirby is a master story teller. I didn't want to put the book down and the few times that I did, I hurried back to it. I would explain better but I truly feel that the secrets and surprises are best left for you to figure out on your own. The plot has a lot of mystery (many secrets), some romance, and action. Lots of action!
I will say that there are some adult moments in the book so be warned! There aren't many but if you don't like that than maybe you should sit this one out. Just know that if you do, you'll miss an awesome story.
I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. After reading the last chapter, I really, really can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. I honestly feel that this is a must read for those who read this genre. If you like paranormal books, vampires, or werewolves, you should read this. It was great!
Dawn Kirby is a master story teller. I didn't want to put the book down and the few times that I did, I hurried back to it. I would explain better but I truly feel that the secrets and surprises are best left for you to figure out on your own. The plot has a lot of mystery (many secrets), some romance, and action. Lots of action!
I will say that there are some adult moments in the book so be warned! There aren't many but if you don't like that than maybe you should sit this one out. Just know that if you do, you'll miss an awesome story.
I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. After reading the last chapter, I really, really can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. I honestly feel that this is a must read for those who read this genre. If you like paranormal books, vampires, or werewolves, you should read this. It was great!
March 6, 2014
Secrets (Serenity, #1) by Dawn Kirby
Leah always felt a bit different than others. She has an extreme sensitivity to light and a very keen sense of smell. She doesn't know the secrets her Mother holds from her but soon she is about to uncover the truth.
Never knowing anything about her father Leah turns to her Mother(Mia)for answers. When an enemy of Mia's (Judith) shows up things turn dangerous. She meets Raine there is a mutual attraction, but he as well holds secrets of his own. Soon it comes to life or death for Leah.
A well written, nail-biting, page turner. Leah is very likable. The cast of characters all have their own qualities and traits (I liked). Some of the people are very likable, others are not. The story line was fantastic with twists, turns and secrets. I highly recommend to those who enjoy fantasy & supernatural. I don't do spoilers so I will stop here. I look forward to reading more by Dawn Kirby.
Leah always felt a bit different than others. She has an extreme sensitivity to light and a very keen sense of smell. She doesn't know the secrets her Mother holds from her but soon she is about to uncover the truth.
Never knowing anything about her father Leah turns to her Mother(Mia)for answers. When an enemy of Mia's (Judith) shows up things turn dangerous. She meets Raine there is a mutual attraction, but he as well holds secrets of his own. Soon it comes to life or death for Leah.
A well written, nail-biting, page turner. Leah is very likable. The cast of characters all have their own qualities and traits (I liked). Some of the people are very likable, others are not. The story line was fantastic with twists, turns and secrets. I highly recommend to those who enjoy fantasy & supernatural. I don't do spoilers so I will stop here. I look forward to reading more by Dawn Kirby.
November 4, 2012
Well now, if the cover doesn't get your attention the book surely will. Dawn Kirby introduces us to Leah, a girl on the brink of discovering she isn't as alone in the world as she thought she was. Leah is one hell of a strong character with quite a few secrets in her past and future. Then enters Raine, a man with some secrets of his own and I can only say dear Leah meets her match with this hottie.
Dawn provides us with plenty of hot scenes, adventure, and killing suspense. Please make sure you have some tissues handy cause there's a scene or two where you'll need them.
I can't wait for the next in this hot series.
Haven
Dawn provides us with plenty of hot scenes, adventure, and killing suspense. Please make sure you have some tissues handy cause there's a scene or two where you'll need them.
I can't wait for the next in this hot series.
Haven
February 13, 2013
I'll admit, when I saw the cover I was really expecting chick lit...but I gave it a shot. Wow, was I surprised! the book is great! Dawn weaves a tale that drags you in and will not let you go. As the title states, everyone has a Secret and just when you think you know what is going on, more secrets take you in a different direction. You will sympathize with the characters, be immersed in the settings, and find yourself wanting to get in on the action. A very good debut from a talented author. Keep an eye out for this one!
R. Kyle Hannah
Author of
TIME ASSASSINS
and
TO AID AND PROTECT
R. Kyle Hannah
Author of
TIME ASSASSINS
and
TO AID AND PROTECT
May 11, 2014
Overall I give this book 3 stars. There were some slight editing issues, but I could easily overlook them as the story kept moving. I was as irritated as Leah to find out her secret for the first part of the book. This is a good read, with romance, a little steaminess, sadness, and lots of blood and action. Leah is a strong character, who took a big beating through out the book emotionally and physically. If you like paranormal reads give this one a shot.
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