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Pierced #3
Pinked
Negotiating the relentless pull of the mate bond is tough.
Especially when one is still traumatized by memories of childhood sexual abuse and the other point blank refuses to acknowledge (out loud at least) that there is a mate bond at all.
While Pierce tries to deal with the aftereffects of her new and "unpierced" self, Lucas relives the week leading up to that fateful night when he was forced into doing the one thing he vowed he never would - inflict his disease on another human being.
As if he didn't hate himself enough already.
As she attempts to come to terms with the new her - the Pierce that is stronger, faster and less reliant on her former "dependencies" - she begins to settle into an unfamiliar, yet longed for, "normal" life with her newfound circle of family and friends. Pierce is finally able to do what her maker never could - embrace, accept and thrive from what she has become.
With Pierce's not-so-subtle help, Lucas comes face to face with the fact that maybe it's time for him to start coming to terms with this "affliction" too.
˃˃˃ But it is not going to be easy.Especially when they come into contact with another pack for the first time.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
6 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Mells
10 books301 followersI have had every job from an ice cream truck driver to chocolate factory worker to waiting tables in a Las Vegas casino.
I grew up in the Middle East (Abadan, Iran) and Spain (Fuengirola, Costa Del Sol) and finally ended up finishing High School in England (Weymouth, Dorset). I emigrated to the United States in 1990, and returned to school at the ripe old age of 28, where I obtained a BA and then two MA degrees – all in New York, NY. (Hunter College, NYU and Columbia, respectively)
I have traveled extensively, including a 3 month stay in India, but have settled in Las Vegas, NV of all places where I have been living for the last 7 years with my two “babies” Alabama Worley Mells and Persephone Jayne Mells. (Yes, I have been called the Crazy Cat Lady).
Oh, and although I do share a love of Trance music and reality T.V. with my main character, I can’t cook to save my life!
JCM
I grew up in the Middle East (Abadan, Iran) and Spain (Fuengirola, Costa Del Sol) and finally ended up finishing High School in England (Weymouth, Dorset). I emigrated to the United States in 1990, and returned to school at the ripe old age of 28, where I obtained a BA and then two MA degrees – all in New York, NY. (Hunter College, NYU and Columbia, respectively)
I have traveled extensively, including a 3 month stay in India, but have settled in Las Vegas, NV of all places where I have been living for the last 7 years with my two “babies” Alabama Worley Mells and Persephone Jayne Mells. (Yes, I have been called the Crazy Cat Lady).
Oh, and although I do share a love of Trance music and reality T.V. with my main character, I can’t cook to save my life!
JCM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 3, 2013
Take a pinch of Othello, throw in a heaping handful of Mildred Pierce and a big splash of Jack Kerouack. Serve with a blast of What It’s Like by Everlast. Stir well and serve with a side of desperate hope. Just read it. – Me.
These were my final words in my review of Pierced the first volume in J. C. Mells Pierced series. I raved and carried on about Pierced – it’s depth, storyline, amazing characters and creative twists. I loved it, and I hope you got a chance to love it too.
The second volume of the series, Pinked is out now, and it does not disappoint. J. C. reaches deep in Pinked, expanding upon an already fascinating character, reaching deeper into her psyche, and twisting her life beyond anything she ever imagined it could be. Pinked shows yet again that, though she may have lived through horrifying perversions, she still has an ability to not only survive, but to thrive in circumstances that would warp a weaker person’s soul.
Things are moving fast for Pierce, in ways she never would have expected. Life, family, tragedy, its all here with a vengeance. As if life wasn’t hard enough for Pierce, even her DNA has changed, as Lucas has been forced to change her in order to save her life. Now, Lucas looks back at what led up to Pierce’s change, and what it means not only for Pierce, but for himself and the rest of his extended family. Can Lucas learn to get past his self-hatred, his fear of his wolf and the need of those around him for him to step up and accept his place as Alpha?
The story cranks up fast, and blasts into a race against time. Action, adventure, mystery, fantasy, suspense, it is all here. Just as Pierced was, Pinked is wonderful and complete, with a raw brutality that sucks in the reader, keeping you on the edge of your seat and drawing you into a world so very like our own, and yet so very strange. Once again, you are in for a book of depth and character I haven’t seen since, well, since Pierced!
Highly recommended with a bullet!
These were my final words in my review of Pierced the first volume in J. C. Mells Pierced series. I raved and carried on about Pierced – it’s depth, storyline, amazing characters and creative twists. I loved it, and I hope you got a chance to love it too.
The second volume of the series, Pinked is out now, and it does not disappoint. J. C. reaches deep in Pinked, expanding upon an already fascinating character, reaching deeper into her psyche, and twisting her life beyond anything she ever imagined it could be. Pinked shows yet again that, though she may have lived through horrifying perversions, she still has an ability to not only survive, but to thrive in circumstances that would warp a weaker person’s soul.
Things are moving fast for Pierce, in ways she never would have expected. Life, family, tragedy, its all here with a vengeance. As if life wasn’t hard enough for Pierce, even her DNA has changed, as Lucas has been forced to change her in order to save her life. Now, Lucas looks back at what led up to Pierce’s change, and what it means not only for Pierce, but for himself and the rest of his extended family. Can Lucas learn to get past his self-hatred, his fear of his wolf and the need of those around him for him to step up and accept his place as Alpha?
The story cranks up fast, and blasts into a race against time. Action, adventure, mystery, fantasy, suspense, it is all here. Just as Pierced was, Pinked is wonderful and complete, with a raw brutality that sucks in the reader, keeping you on the edge of your seat and drawing you into a world so very like our own, and yet so very strange. Once again, you are in for a book of depth and character I haven’t seen since, well, since Pierced!
Highly recommended with a bullet!
March 23, 2017
YES! YES! YES! I love this book! Pinked is such a wild ride this is going to be a hard review to write. I just want to gush over everything but I can’t without doing spoilers so I’ll give it a shot.
My favorite character from the series is still Pierce but Lucas is coming in for a VERY close second. The whole story reads like peeling an onion, so many layers are revealed about each character. The story line starts with a bit of history from Lucas’ point a view that gives quite a ‘Oh I get it now’ feeling. The whole story reads like peeling an onion, so many layers are revealed about each character. While some revelation I rather expected there were others that blindsided me. There is so much that happens in this story but instead of getting lost in the details, the author does an excellent job of adding each layer. The interactions between all the characters is intricate and fascinating. While there are several laugh out loud moments, there are also some profoundly sad.
Two words of warning about reading Pinked. There is a confrontation towards the end of the book between Pierce and the antagonist of the book (nope I’m not going to tell you who) that some readers might bit a disturbing. The second – Author J.C. Mells is a bit sadistic in her detailed description of fried chicken. *DROOLS!* If you can walk away without immediately heading to your kitchen and whipping up a batch, you are a stronger reader than I am.
I know the minute this series ends I will go into severe withdrawals. Lucky for me, there’s a cliffhanger and for once I’m over the moon happy about it. If you haven’t had a chance to read this series, I highly recommended it. Get Pierced, get Escaped, then get Pinked!
I received this book from JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
BTW...This cover totally ROCKS!
Stars – 5
My favorite character from the series is still Pierce but Lucas is coming in for a VERY close second. The whole story reads like peeling an onion, so many layers are revealed about each character. The story line starts with a bit of history from Lucas’ point a view that gives quite a ‘Oh I get it now’ feeling. The whole story reads like peeling an onion, so many layers are revealed about each character. While some revelation I rather expected there were others that blindsided me. There is so much that happens in this story but instead of getting lost in the details, the author does an excellent job of adding each layer. The interactions between all the characters is intricate and fascinating. While there are several laugh out loud moments, there are also some profoundly sad.
Two words of warning about reading Pinked. There is a confrontation towards the end of the book between Pierce and the antagonist of the book (nope I’m not going to tell you who) that some readers might bit a disturbing. The second – Author J.C. Mells is a bit sadistic in her detailed description of fried chicken. *DROOLS!* If you can walk away without immediately heading to your kitchen and whipping up a batch, you are a stronger reader than I am.
I know the minute this series ends I will go into severe withdrawals. Lucky for me, there’s a cliffhanger and for once I’m over the moon happy about it. If you haven’t had a chance to read this series, I highly recommended it. Get Pierced, get Escaped, then get Pinked!
I received this book from JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
BTW...This cover totally ROCKS!
Stars – 5
June 28, 2015
So great and not a boring middle book. There were a ton of changes, especially what happened at the end of the last. I was laughing at some parts, especially a fight scene discussing piercings. I wanted to bash Pink's head in a few times for being dumb, and I loved how his stubbornness came to bite him. Loved it.
August 7, 2014
OMG!! I am completely SPEECHLESS!! JC Mells outdid herself with this one!!
July 6, 2015
Take a pinch of Othello, throw in a heaping handful of Mildred Pierce and a big splash of Jack Kerouack. Serve with a blast of What It’s Like by Everlast. Stir well and serve with a side of desperate hope. Just read it. – Me.
These were my final words in my review of Pierced the first volume in J. C. Mells Pierced series. I raved and carried on about Pierced – it’s depth, storyline, amazing characters and creative twists. I loved it, and I hope you got a chance to love it too.
The second volume of the series, Pinked is out now, and it does not disappoint. J. C. reaches deep in Pinked, expanding upon an already fascinating character, reaching deeper into her psyche, and twisting her life beyond anything she ever imagined it could be. Pinked shows yet again that, though she may have lived through horrifying perversions, she still has an ability to not only survive, but to thrive in circumstances that would warp a weaker person’s soul.
Things are moving fast for Pierce, in ways she never would have expected. Life, family, tragedy, its all here with a vengeance. As if life wasn’t hard enough for Pierce, even her DNA has changed, as Lucas has been forced to change her in order to save her life. Now, Lucas looks back at what led up to Pierce’s change, and what it means not only for Pierce, but for himself and the rest of his extended family. Can Lucas learn to get past his self-hatred, his fear of his wolf and the need of those around him for him to step up and accept his place as Alpha?
The story cranks up fast, and blasts into a race against time. Action, adventure, mystery, fantasy, suspense, it is all here. Just as Pierced was, Pinked is wonderful and complete, with a raw brutality that sucks in the reader, keeping you on the edge of your seat and drawing you into a world so very like our own, and yet so very strange. Once again, you are in for a book of depth and character I haven’t seen since, well, since Pierced!
Highly recommended with a bullet!
These were my final words in my review of Pierced the first volume in J. C. Mells Pierced series. I raved and carried on about Pierced – it’s depth, storyline, amazing characters and creative twists. I loved it, and I hope you got a chance to love it too.
The second volume of the series, Pinked is out now, and it does not disappoint. J. C. reaches deep in Pinked, expanding upon an already fascinating character, reaching deeper into her psyche, and twisting her life beyond anything she ever imagined it could be. Pinked shows yet again that, though she may have lived through horrifying perversions, she still has an ability to not only survive, but to thrive in circumstances that would warp a weaker person’s soul.
Things are moving fast for Pierce, in ways she never would have expected. Life, family, tragedy, its all here with a vengeance. As if life wasn’t hard enough for Pierce, even her DNA has changed, as Lucas has been forced to change her in order to save her life. Now, Lucas looks back at what led up to Pierce’s change, and what it means not only for Pierce, but for himself and the rest of his extended family. Can Lucas learn to get past his self-hatred, his fear of his wolf and the need of those around him for him to step up and accept his place as Alpha?
The story cranks up fast, and blasts into a race against time. Action, adventure, mystery, fantasy, suspense, it is all here. Just as Pierced was, Pinked is wonderful and complete, with a raw brutality that sucks in the reader, keeping you on the edge of your seat and drawing you into a world so very like our own, and yet so very strange. Once again, you are in for a book of depth and character I haven’t seen since, well, since Pierced!
Highly recommended with a bullet!
April 3, 2014
HUBBA HUBBA!!! Wow!!! Um...WOW!!!
I just, can't form the words that need to be said without giving away anything. Ok, let's just say that the anticipation is well worth the wait. Holy cow, did I say damn sexy yet?
Pierce is awesome, but Lucas (Pink) is just too damn tempting. Besides the romantic portion of this story, I really love the paranormal stuff going on too. How creative. I actually feel like a Residency may even exist. Yep, I'm hooked!
I just, can't form the words that need to be said without giving away anything. Ok, let's just say that the anticipation is well worth the wait. Holy cow, did I say damn sexy yet?
Pierce is awesome, but Lucas (Pink) is just too damn tempting. Besides the romantic portion of this story, I really love the paranormal stuff going on too. How creative. I actually feel like a Residency may even exist. Yep, I'm hooked!
September 26, 2013
To really understand Pinked I suggest reading Pierced and Escaped. Pierced is dark and gritty story told by Pierce herself and Escaped is the add-on novella telling the story from Oscar's point of view.
Although the first two are told through the eyes of individual characters I was surprised that Mells chose to do the same thing in this book. Instead of leading us straight into the story following on from book 1 the author takes us back to the beginning. So we get all the info and scenes from the first book frm Balak's point of view. The problem with that is the regurgitation of the same material, which was unique and obscure in Pierced but only mediocre in Pinked.
I know that this seems to be en-vogue in the YA and NA world of sub-genres at the moment. I have been critical of that type of storytelling before.I realise that more well-known YA/NA authors with huge fanbases are laying the groundwork with the fashionable variety, however in my personal opinion it doesn't usually work. They are in essence re-telling the same story over and over again and not offering the reader any new insights.
It was to the detriment of this book.
Now and again there were glimpses of the gritty, deep and unusual voice that was evident in the first two books. More so in second half of the book, specifically in the last 20 percent and the superb prologue/opening scene with the rabid wolf. I saw the spark that attracted myself as a reader in the first place.
With that said I know Mells can pack a wicked punch and she is an author I want to continue to see honing her craft. Sometimes you need to trust your own gut instinct and own your ideas, concepts and creativity. I very much hope the author starts to channel that inner Pierce and her multitude of brilliant inner characters a wee bit more.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.
Although the first two are told through the eyes of individual characters I was surprised that Mells chose to do the same thing in this book. Instead of leading us straight into the story following on from book 1 the author takes us back to the beginning. So we get all the info and scenes from the first book frm Balak's point of view. The problem with that is the regurgitation of the same material, which was unique and obscure in Pierced but only mediocre in Pinked.
I know that this seems to be en-vogue in the YA and NA world of sub-genres at the moment. I have been critical of that type of storytelling before.I realise that more well-known YA/NA authors with huge fanbases are laying the groundwork with the fashionable variety, however in my personal opinion it doesn't usually work. They are in essence re-telling the same story over and over again and not offering the reader any new insights.
It was to the detriment of this book.
Now and again there were glimpses of the gritty, deep and unusual voice that was evident in the first two books. More so in second half of the book, specifically in the last 20 percent and the superb prologue/opening scene with the rabid wolf. I saw the spark that attracted myself as a reader in the first place.
With that said I know Mells can pack a wicked punch and she is an author I want to continue to see honing her craft. Sometimes you need to trust your own gut instinct and own your ideas, concepts and creativity. I very much hope the author starts to channel that inner Pierce and her multitude of brilliant inner characters a wee bit more.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.
May 9, 2014
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
Keep them coming is all I have to say. Must read Pierced and Escaped before you read Pinked, but MAN OH MAN, you won't be sorry if you do. Great book and the ending, OMG shocked me. I was so glad I already had the 4th book ready to read...I immediately started in on it. I love the characters and the storeline is awesome. I will be so sad when I am done with the 4th book. GREAT SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be so sad when I am finished with this series. I just love the characters oh so much!!!
Keep them coming is all I have to say. Must read Pierced and Escaped before you read Pinked, but MAN OH MAN, you won't be sorry if you do. Great book and the ending, OMG shocked me. I was so glad I already had the 4th book ready to read...I immediately started in on it. I love the characters and the storeline is awesome. I will be so sad when I am done with the 4th book. GREAT SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be so sad when I am finished with this series. I just love the characters oh so much!!!
October 30, 2013
Loved this book, loved pink's pov and pierced. Story was action packed and paranormal to boot. If you love those combinations then you will love this series,also there is some crushing going on but you need to read it to know what you are in for. It was worth sleep deprivation and holding your breathe wondering what the hell is going to happen next, what ticks me is now I have to wait for the next one to come out grrrrrrrr. That one was for you (the Pierced girls)
April 20, 2014
GREAT! Love the ending. This series is worth the buy! Put it on your shelf. Support Indie authors.
July 7, 2014
Totally loving the Pierced series! Pinked is the 3rd book, and really develops the storyline and characters . Brilliant twists and turns throughout.
Gripping and exciting, this is a great read!
Gripping and exciting, this is a great read!
July 16, 2014
I absolutely love this series!! This is one series that has more twists with each book! I couldn't stop reading!! Can't wait to read the next one!!
September 13, 2013
this book was such a thrill just like the others in the series. I can't wait for the next one
August 28, 2017
Not sure how to review without giving things away. You seriously have to read this series to understand. Whilst Pierce is brilliant Lucas is far better..... he is just "sigh"......
Pierce is coming to terms with being un-pierced and the challenges that this means (read you will understand), Lucas is also ruminating and beating his chest. This is told in stages as he flashes backwards in his storyline.
There are no characters in this novel that don't belong there, they have all earned their space but it reads in layers which you carefully unwrap ...you really don't know what is going to come/happen next.
Pierce is coming to terms with being un-pierced and the challenges that this means (read you will understand), Lucas is also ruminating and beating his chest. This is told in stages as he flashes backwards in his storyline.
There are no characters in this novel that don't belong there, they have all earned their space but it reads in layers which you carefully unwrap ...you really don't know what is going to come/happen next.
November 28, 2022
New writer
Good storyline with lots of twists to keep you guessing. The characters fleshed out slowly but it's getting there quickly. I would recommend.
Good storyline with lots of twists to keep you guessing. The characters fleshed out slowly but it's getting there quickly. I would recommend.
May 30, 2020
Up through chapter 11 this is LITERALLY an exact sequence of events (starting from the time when Pink first meets Pierce behind the bar) as book 1! The only change is that it's Lucas point of view (Pink) rather than Pierce.
Seriously?! I was seriously screaming silently at J.C Mells! I love multiple POVs and having Pinks would be great.. BUT do it within the SAME BOOK! There was so much that was a complete WASTE! Literally reading THE SAME STORY as book 1! ugh!
That is why I rated this a 3 star! After finally reaching where book 1 ended, after a short stupid and drawn out area, it finally started to get good again!
I went from being on the edge of just saying the hell with this series to purchasing the next book (Perfect!)
I do see at the end of this one the author stated there was a book 6 (Kidnapped) but it's nowhere to be seen so I assume she ended the series after the next book? There is a novella that I am totally going to skip and it does say that book 6 brings up items from it? Who knows?
Seriously?! I was seriously screaming silently at J.C Mells! I love multiple POVs and having Pinks would be great.. BUT do it within the SAME BOOK! There was so much that was a complete WASTE! Literally reading THE SAME STORY as book 1! ugh!
That is why I rated this a 3 star! After finally reaching where book 1 ended, after a short stupid and drawn out area, it finally started to get good again!
I went from being on the edge of just saying the hell with this series to purchasing the next book (Perfect!)
I do see at the end of this one the author stated there was a book 6 (Kidnapped) but it's nowhere to be seen so I assume she ended the series after the next book? There is a novella that I am totally going to skip and it does say that book 6 brings up items from it? Who knows?
September 29, 2013
I thought the first book of this series was pretty amazing, but this second one kicked ass and took a whole slew of names in the process. As another commenter already said, the story unfolds like the peeling of an onion - in fantastic layers of tart yumminess. There is action, a wee bit of romance (in the making!) and some fantastically believable, lovable, if whacky, well-rounded characters.
The story started in the first book with some decent back telling, but more tidbits unfold as this book reaches the surprising ending (did not see that coming). There is not a single character created frivolously or without purpose. Every single character is necessary for the story to be told in its entirety. The "main characters" list is a bit larger than usual, but it really works well.
The character flaws that were SO apparent in the main character, Pierce, are wonderfully creative and realistic. Yet still completely horrifying because of the cause. I had a bit of a hard time liking Pierce because of her significant, sometimes violent, flaws. While I didn't understand the why of it much in the first book, in this second book, it all becomes so clear. Especially when(most of) those flaws aren't necessary anymore.
The other thing I really loved about this series is the cultural and era references. Not to mention the cooking thing either. Love the recipes too! The humor in how the author writes is very refreshing. Vinnie and V. and Velda and Mildred are forever favorite characters bantering back and forth as they do.
By the way, after I saw the title, "Pinked" and started to read, the storyline wasn't what I thought it would be. At all. Aces for the unexpected change of scenery, per se. Making it so much more interesting than the usual alternating chapters when story telling from multiple characters. I loved how the two story perspectives melded. One has to give a proper hat tip for cleverness when it is warranted.
I can happily say that I couldn't detect any "fluff" fillers in this book! I didn't skim anything but a few paragraphs at the beginning (which was necessary, but a repeat - you'll see). I'm loving this new (to me) author and am an instant huge fan! I will avidly inhale anything else J.C. Mells writes. Encore, encore!
If you are a paranormal fiction fan like I am, definitely pick up this series. Going on my fave series list for sure.
The story started in the first book with some decent back telling, but more tidbits unfold as this book reaches the surprising ending (did not see that coming). There is not a single character created frivolously or without purpose. Every single character is necessary for the story to be told in its entirety. The "main characters" list is a bit larger than usual, but it really works well.
The character flaws that were SO apparent in the main character, Pierce, are wonderfully creative and realistic. Yet still completely horrifying because of the cause. I had a bit of a hard time liking Pierce because of her significant, sometimes violent, flaws. While I didn't understand the why of it much in the first book, in this second book, it all becomes so clear. Especially when(most of) those flaws aren't necessary anymore.
The other thing I really loved about this series is the cultural and era references. Not to mention the cooking thing either. Love the recipes too! The humor in how the author writes is very refreshing. Vinnie and V. and Velda and Mildred are forever favorite characters bantering back and forth as they do.
By the way, after I saw the title, "Pinked" and started to read, the storyline wasn't what I thought it would be. At all. Aces for the unexpected change of scenery, per se. Making it so much more interesting than the usual alternating chapters when story telling from multiple characters. I loved how the two story perspectives melded. One has to give a proper hat tip for cleverness when it is warranted.
I can happily say that I couldn't detect any "fluff" fillers in this book! I didn't skim anything but a few paragraphs at the beginning (which was necessary, but a repeat - you'll see). I'm loving this new (to me) author and am an instant huge fan! I will avidly inhale anything else J.C. Mells writes. Encore, encore!
If you are a paranormal fiction fan like I am, definitely pick up this series. Going on my fave series list for sure.
October 2, 2013
4.5 Stars
After reading Pierced, the first book in this series, I was super keen to continue the story to see how Pierce has adapted to the changes. Her whole world has flipped upsidedown and she has been through so much that I wanted to know more. Part I of Pinked is (mostly) Lucas’ POV from the first book. It kind of skims over the first book and recaps most of the important parts that occurred. Part II is all new material and the POV’s change between Pierce and Lucas.
Pierce is still as strange as ever!! I think that is why I like her; she is not a normal kind of girl. She has been through so much but is still down to earth. Some of her mannerisms are a bit quirky, but other things that she does are exactly what a person would do under stress!! She still loves to cook, which I still don’t get, but she is level headed enough to try to bring her group together. The voices in her head have settled a little, which I think is a good thing. Pierce seems to attract trouble, and when she is off helping someone, she lands in some serious hot water.
I liked being in Lucas’ head! He is an unusual man, but has his reasons as to why he puts so much distance between himself and others. We learn more of his background in this book and it makes it easier to understand him. He is struggling with what he did at the end of Pierced but is slowly learning to accept it. He cares deeply for those around him and will do anything to protect them.
Even though the first part of the book was a recap, I still enjoyed the whole story. I like reading the same situations from different POV’s, it’s interesting to see how the other character perceives the same circumstances. The plot of this book takes a little bit of a turn from Vampires to Shifters and I quite enjoyed this twist. I liked the way that J.C. Mells wove the story; she is able to blend paranormal creatures into a plot that has a serious edge with a touch of humour. I was more captivated by the storyline of Pinked and I thought that the story flowed better too. The characters are likeable and easy to connect with as they are far from perfect. Again, the ending is a killer and I am looking forward to see where things go now.
I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Pierced, the first book in this series, I was super keen to continue the story to see how Pierce has adapted to the changes. Her whole world has flipped upsidedown and she has been through so much that I wanted to know more. Part I of Pinked is (mostly) Lucas’ POV from the first book. It kind of skims over the first book and recaps most of the important parts that occurred. Part II is all new material and the POV’s change between Pierce and Lucas.
Pierce is still as strange as ever!! I think that is why I like her; she is not a normal kind of girl. She has been through so much but is still down to earth. Some of her mannerisms are a bit quirky, but other things that she does are exactly what a person would do under stress!! She still loves to cook, which I still don’t get, but she is level headed enough to try to bring her group together. The voices in her head have settled a little, which I think is a good thing. Pierce seems to attract trouble, and when she is off helping someone, she lands in some serious hot water.
I liked being in Lucas’ head! He is an unusual man, but has his reasons as to why he puts so much distance between himself and others. We learn more of his background in this book and it makes it easier to understand him. He is struggling with what he did at the end of Pierced but is slowly learning to accept it. He cares deeply for those around him and will do anything to protect them.
Even though the first part of the book was a recap, I still enjoyed the whole story. I like reading the same situations from different POV’s, it’s interesting to see how the other character perceives the same circumstances. The plot of this book takes a little bit of a turn from Vampires to Shifters and I quite enjoyed this twist. I liked the way that J.C. Mells wove the story; she is able to blend paranormal creatures into a plot that has a serious edge with a touch of humour. I was more captivated by the storyline of Pinked and I thought that the story flowed better too. The characters are likeable and easy to connect with as they are far from perfect. Again, the ending is a killer and I am looking forward to see where things go now.
I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2013
OK, so to be honest it is going to be so hard to review this without any spoilers, but I will so try! The only thing I know for sure after reading this book is that I am for sure making fried chicken this weekend! LOL
As with the other books in the series, Pinked is thorough, deep, and heartfelt. I enjoyed the author's use of humor and wit, and found myself lost in the pages. I absolutely love the characters, with all their flaws and quirks.
So, Pinked was full of surprises! And although I was crushed by some plot twists, I understood why they occurred, and in no way did they affect how much I loved the story! Pierce is devastated, traumatized, with a personal situation. She has been transformed, and is adjusting to her new world. And now, she has a permanent shadow watching her every move. Still, the one watching her is only trying to ensure that she does not hurt herself or anyone else! But freedom brings a new set of challenges. Pierce spends time cooking for everyone. And with Lucas by her side, things are only going to get more interesting.
I loved this book, and cannot wait for more in the series! I think it is brilliant that so many of the reveals are unexpected! I laughed out loud through most of the book, and felt as though I was right there with the characters. I absolutely recommend it!
5 Stars, again
As with the other books in the series, Pinked is thorough, deep, and heartfelt. I enjoyed the author's use of humor and wit, and found myself lost in the pages. I absolutely love the characters, with all their flaws and quirks.
So, Pinked was full of surprises! And although I was crushed by some plot twists, I understood why they occurred, and in no way did they affect how much I loved the story! Pierce is devastated, traumatized, with a personal situation. She has been transformed, and is adjusting to her new world. And now, she has a permanent shadow watching her every move. Still, the one watching her is only trying to ensure that she does not hurt herself or anyone else! But freedom brings a new set of challenges. Pierce spends time cooking for everyone. And with Lucas by her side, things are only going to get more interesting.
I loved this book, and cannot wait for more in the series! I think it is brilliant that so many of the reveals are unexpected! I laughed out loud through most of the book, and felt as though I was right there with the characters. I absolutely recommend it!
5 Stars, again
August 31, 2014
First, if you haven't read PIERCED, do yourself a favor: buy it right now and read it! Then, immediately purchase ESCAPED and read it too. Although it is a novella, it adds so much depth to the story and characters, it is a "must read" for fans of this series. Then, and only then, buy PINKED and get ready to be taken on a journey that explores new facets of existing characters and introduces us to a slew of new characters that we either love or hate. There's really no middle ground here and no superfluous characters to waste our precious reading time or energy. Each character is artfully crafted and masterfully placed to drive the story forward at an ever-increasing pace that builds to maximum velocity before suddenly, and sadly, coming to a screeching halt that left me breathless and wanting MORE PLEASE!
Ms. Mells is a wonderful storyteller. Her characters are, in my humble opinion, what make this series a standout in the urban fantasy genre. Her stories are original yet familiar, making them easy to dive into, and then immediately get lost in, as we experience a new version of old mythos.
I have purposely stayed away from sharing plot or character details here so that anyone considering purchasing this series will have the same opportunity I did to discover all that is uniquely "Pierce" as well as her bevy of misfits. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.....
Ms. Mells is a wonderful storyteller. Her characters are, in my humble opinion, what make this series a standout in the urban fantasy genre. Her stories are original yet familiar, making them easy to dive into, and then immediately get lost in, as we experience a new version of old mythos.
I have purposely stayed away from sharing plot or character details here so that anyone considering purchasing this series will have the same opportunity I did to discover all that is uniquely "Pierce" as well as her bevy of misfits. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.....
September 22, 2013
‘Pinked’ is the second novel and third book in the Pierced series, following Pierce as she runs from her past and does everything in her power to keep ten-year-old Mia safe. Having learned of her heritage and now facing the future as a werewolf, Peirce’s journey is altered and Lucas Balak (aka Pink) must face up to his past and try to figure out his feelings for Peirce.
Okay, this book was just as amazing as the others, if not more so. At the start I was tearing my hair out because the story went back to Pink meeting Peirce, showing what happened from his POV. As good as it was to have his take on everything, I was dying to see what would happen next so the first third of the book had me ravenously turning pages as I was desperate for the story to catch up!
The twists and turns the story took were just as shocking as in the previous books and I was just as captivated the whole way through. The story is still very dark in places and the characters are really well developed so it's easy to care about them which makes for a massively captivating story with some extremely tense moments.
In short, I love this series and would highly recommend it to fans of urban fantasy. I can't wait to see what comes next after that amazing ending!
Okay, this book was just as amazing as the others, if not more so. At the start I was tearing my hair out because the story went back to Pink meeting Peirce, showing what happened from his POV. As good as it was to have his take on everything, I was dying to see what would happen next so the first third of the book had me ravenously turning pages as I was desperate for the story to catch up!
The twists and turns the story took were just as shocking as in the previous books and I was just as captivated the whole way through. The story is still very dark in places and the characters are really well developed so it's easy to care about them which makes for a massively captivating story with some extremely tense moments.
In short, I love this series and would highly recommend it to fans of urban fantasy. I can't wait to see what comes next after that amazing ending!
September 17, 2013
I will start with the positives. Ms. Mells is a good storyteller. The fact she made me a fan of anything to do with Vamps and Weres is quite a feat! I hope the next installment comes soon, as I hate the whole cliffhanger thing.
The negatives are the first third of the book being too long, rehashing much more than needed and again, the "pronoun thing" is wearing on me.
http://m.wikihow.com/Use-Pronouns-Cor....
This is a suggestion for those who are editing for Ms. Mells.
The misspellings of words or wrong versions of words (such as their for there) are a bit more forgivable to me. There are a few verb tense issues as well.
However, all that said, the story is imaginative with just enough twists, turns and surprises to keep me coming back for more. I do enjoy the characters, some being reminiscent of those in Lindsay Buroker's EE series. I won't spoil anything by comparing the individual characters, but I did notice a few similarities...with plenty of differences!
To sum up...Great storytelling with the need of a good editor. Thanks for writing these intriguing books as I enjoyed them very much!
The negatives are the first third of the book being too long, rehashing much more than needed and again, the "pronoun thing" is wearing on me.
http://m.wikihow.com/Use-Pronouns-Cor....
This is a suggestion for those who are editing for Ms. Mells.
The misspellings of words or wrong versions of words (such as their for there) are a bit more forgivable to me. There are a few verb tense issues as well.
However, all that said, the story is imaginative with just enough twists, turns and surprises to keep me coming back for more. I do enjoy the characters, some being reminiscent of those in Lindsay Buroker's EE series. I won't spoil anything by comparing the individual characters, but I did notice a few similarities...with plenty of differences!
To sum up...Great storytelling with the need of a good editor. Thanks for writing these intriguing books as I enjoyed them very much!
September 4, 2013
I love this book. I loved Pierced. (Read Pierced first!) I love getting to see everything from the "love interest's" point of view as well. (Yeah, those air quotes are for you, Pierce.) I love each and every character so much that I'm happy to sit around with them while they're just talking (read exposition-ing). I love what happens to Pierce and how she develops as a character. I love the range of cultural references. (Beowulf! Yes!) I love how alive and edgy the book is. I love how the plot does things that would get you kicked out of a respectable writers' group. (Because who really wants to be in a respectable writers' group, anyway?) I love how it keeps me reading...and reading...and reading. I love how all the earlier set-up in both other books pays off, time and again. I love how "the couple" gets together, not in the way you expect, but in a way that is perfect for them and who they are and what they've been through. I love the recipes. Oh, and I LOVE the plot twist thrown in at the end.
More, please!
More, please!
September 3, 2013
Ok, first of all I love the cover! Nice. Secondly, if you haven't read Pierced, do so now! It is really good and the first book in the series. Pinked is an awesome book. You get both Pierce and Lucas's point of view. I really liked getting to see how he sees things. In this installment of the Pierced series, a lot things go down. But of course I'm not gonna spoil it for everyone who hasn't read it. Just know that it is definitely worth reading and will leave you wanting more. I couldn't put it down and read it pretty quickly. Now I'm anxiously waiting for the next one! :)
August 10, 2014
I'm loving the Pierced series.
Pierce has had to be "changed" in order to save her life, when she eventually comes to terms with her new life she finds she is calmer and stronger mentally as well as physically.
She starts to tell the people around her what happened to her in the vampire compound and with what Dorian did to her.
Pierce and Lucas (pink) are finally accepting each other, they have this connection and through this connection Lucas saves Pierces life.
A brilliant read and can't wait to start reading book 4
Pierce has had to be "changed" in order to save her life, when she eventually comes to terms with her new life she finds she is calmer and stronger mentally as well as physically.
She starts to tell the people around her what happened to her in the vampire compound and with what Dorian did to her.
Pierce and Lucas (pink) are finally accepting each other, they have this connection and through this connection Lucas saves Pierces life.
A brilliant read and can't wait to start reading book 4
September 6, 2013
As soon as I finished Pierced(#1 in the Pierced. series), I was anxiously awaiting book #2. I, of course, was not disappointed!! I love this book just as much if not more than book #1. I have fallen in love with the characters, the storyline, and the overall way the book is written! I probably could write paragraphs of a positive review about this book, but I will leave you with a final thought of... "I really really really really can't wait for the next book! "
March 4, 2014
Just finished reading Pinked by J.C. Mells. I don't know if anyone has read this series but I have to say WOW..the second book was even better than the 1st and can't wait to see what happens in the third one coming out this week. The book provides dual POV and quickly recapped the previous books events from 'Pinks' POV. It was great to see these two characters evolve and grow with each other. And WOW...what an ending...so shocked my heart was thumping.
July 26, 2015
Great
This is a great book. This is my third in the series and I loved it. The characters are so strong the story line is fantastic. It has action, magic, werewolves, friendships,and love. I loved that when you are reading what the main character is cooking you find out how to make it and she cooks up some good food. Anyway I loved this book and highly recommend it get your copy and enjoy reading.
This is a great book. This is my third in the series and I loved it. The characters are so strong the story line is fantastic. It has action, magic, werewolves, friendships,and love. I loved that when you are reading what the main character is cooking you find out how to make it and she cooks up some good food. Anyway I loved this book and highly recommend it get your copy and enjoy reading.
September 17, 2013
The wild ride continues...along with some of the most colorful characters you'll ever meet. Mells is an author that flows fast and furious, and you want to read her that way. So I'm not going to spoil it with details. If you haven't read the first book, snap it up. And if you have and you're reading this, well, the saga continues. Like I said, it's a wild ride.
March 4, 2014
This book was excellent. I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars due to typos and grammatical errors ("brake" instead of "break," etc.) that were distracting. Otherwise I really loved the protagonist. She's seriously damaged but strong as hell, yet doesn't even know it. I love her character development throughout the series.
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