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The Senses #1
Jump
Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN13 1230000026566.
Book One of the Senses:
A band of extraordinary warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. Collectively, they are known as the 'Senses'.
Centuries of loyalty
His code of honor was respected without question, until he consumed the blood of an enemy in exchange for a mortal woman to be set free from certain slavery.
He can't forget her
Despite knowing, he will be imprisoned and put to death if caught, Balen, a fierce Senses Tracker, returns to Toronto to find the mortal woman, Danielle, he left behind two years ago. Haunted with memories of the torture they endured in the hands of a Senses enemy, Balen's determination to see her again, drives him to risk everything. But when he does, a new enemy comes into play, one he can't defeat.
To conquer the wrath of fear
Determined to find some sort of peace after her abduction, Danielle finds solace in painting a man from her nocturnal unconsciousness. When he comes knocking on her door, her world is shattered and Danielle must face her worst fears in order to survive what is coming after them. It won't stop. It can't. For the ancient spell has no compassion.
A journey of tenacious desire that refuses to fade even though that is what will destroy them. Because--in order for Danielle to live, first she must die.
Book One of the Senses:
A band of extraordinary warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. Collectively, they are known as the 'Senses'.
Centuries of loyalty
His code of honor was respected without question, until he consumed the blood of an enemy in exchange for a mortal woman to be set free from certain slavery.
He can't forget her
Despite knowing, he will be imprisoned and put to death if caught, Balen, a fierce Senses Tracker, returns to Toronto to find the mortal woman, Danielle, he left behind two years ago. Haunted with memories of the torture they endured in the hands of a Senses enemy, Balen's determination to see her again, drives him to risk everything. But when he does, a new enemy comes into play, one he can't defeat.
To conquer the wrath of fear
Determined to find some sort of peace after her abduction, Danielle finds solace in painting a man from her nocturnal unconsciousness. When he comes knocking on her door, her world is shattered and Danielle must face her worst fears in order to survive what is coming after them. It won't stop. It can't. For the ancient spell has no compassion.
A journey of tenacious desire that refuses to fade even though that is what will destroy them. Because--in order for Danielle to live, first she must die.
328 pages, ebook
First published November 19, 2011
13 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 1, 2013
WHOA!
This book is a wonderful mixture of the perfect paranormal, sci-fi, drama/suspense/romance read.
I could not put this book down. To say I was engaged with this read would be an understatement.
The beginning kinda had me like "Mmmm where is this going?"
The prologue was kinda brutal so I was like..
Then from chapters 2-6 my emotions were everywhere..
From:
To:
Then:
And there I go to:
And back again.
I must say that although I love the dynamic between Balen & Danielle I really wish we were given more "outlets" for their all consuming passionate love. I was missing that. Though we do get 2 very sweet & semi erotic ones. I was jonesing for a bit more with these two. But no worries, their story & the story surrounding them keeps you more than interested.
Then things begin to really unfold. You're given the back story in degrees that flow well within the present tense. So this allows things to move along without confusion or dragging the story along. Lots of action & secondary characters that for some reason, you become attached to very quickly without understanding why, cos they don't really do anything OTT grand to make you take notice of them. But they're presence is not lost on you. I loved every single character in this book. All of them are fleshed out well & have layers to their personality that allows them to stand out. Their interesting. I love the descriptions of the different life forms you will see here as well. Very vivid. I love the way everything unfolds. I saw it as if I were watching it on the screen.
Danielle
I must say this about her cos this type of heroine is practically non existent now days... And I fear it's cos many authors don't know how to write this kind of balance when it comes to a lead heroine. I love her cos she is the perfect balance. We see & are told about all the horrific things she has endured & of course what brings her & Balen together in the first place. What I love about Danielle's character is that she doesn't linger or dwell for too long in uncertainty, fear, or the past. She knows when to take a step back to consider things but not to the degree or expense that she doesn't know when to throw caution to the wind & follow her heart. She's very sensible but care free at the same time. She's a contradiction but in the best kind of way. That's what I love the most about her character.
Balen I just love this guy. How can you not? Selfless, strong,firm in his stance & beliefs. No compromising his character. But oh so LOVING, sexy, endearing & funny. *sighs* You'll see. Although there were moments when I was like... "You call her "Little one" one more time & I will pop you!" He didn't listen LOL!
There are a few down right shocking, heartbreaking, angry moments here. A few where I was like...
Leading me to Shocked Ville
And a round trip ticket to Ticked off Ville
You get a few LOL moments & oh sweet endearing, heart fluttering ones as well. Kilter.... His book is next. That's all I'm gonna say.
This was a very different, surprisingly enjoyable read for me. I would recommend it. And if you're like me, becoming a bit disenchanted with all of these cliff hanger trilogies lurking about, that just don't quite deliver after a long drawn out wait, don't worry. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or series but I do know the 1st 3 books are out and can be read as stand alones. So Happy Reading. I'm off to get lost in book 2 Kilter's story
This book is a wonderful mixture of the perfect paranormal, sci-fi, drama/suspense/romance read.
I could not put this book down. To say I was engaged with this read would be an understatement.
The beginning kinda had me like "Mmmm where is this going?"
The prologue was kinda brutal so I was like..
Then from chapters 2-6 my emotions were everywhere..
From:
To:
Then:
And there I go to:
And back again.
I must say that although I love the dynamic between Balen & Danielle I really wish we were given more "outlets" for their all consuming passionate love. I was missing that. Though we do get 2 very sweet & semi erotic ones. I was jonesing for a bit more with these two. But no worries, their story & the story surrounding them keeps you more than interested.
Then things begin to really unfold. You're given the back story in degrees that flow well within the present tense. So this allows things to move along without confusion or dragging the story along. Lots of action & secondary characters that for some reason, you become attached to very quickly without understanding why, cos they don't really do anything OTT grand to make you take notice of them. But they're presence is not lost on you. I loved every single character in this book. All of them are fleshed out well & have layers to their personality that allows them to stand out. Their interesting. I love the descriptions of the different life forms you will see here as well. Very vivid. I love the way everything unfolds. I saw it as if I were watching it on the screen.
Danielle
I must say this about her cos this type of heroine is practically non existent now days... And I fear it's cos many authors don't know how to write this kind of balance when it comes to a lead heroine. I love her cos she is the perfect balance. We see & are told about all the horrific things she has endured & of course what brings her & Balen together in the first place. What I love about Danielle's character is that she doesn't linger or dwell for too long in uncertainty, fear, or the past. She knows when to take a step back to consider things but not to the degree or expense that she doesn't know when to throw caution to the wind & follow her heart. She's very sensible but care free at the same time. She's a contradiction but in the best kind of way. That's what I love the most about her character.
Balen I just love this guy. How can you not? Selfless, strong,firm in his stance & beliefs. No compromising his character. But oh so LOVING, sexy, endearing & funny. *sighs* You'll see. Although there were moments when I was like... "You call her "Little one" one more time & I will pop you!" He didn't listen LOL!
There are a few down right shocking, heartbreaking, angry moments here. A few where I was like...
Leading me to Shocked Ville
And a round trip ticket to Ticked off Ville
You get a few LOL moments & oh sweet endearing, heart fluttering ones as well. Kilter.... His book is next. That's all I'm gonna say.
This was a very different, surprisingly enjoyable read for me. I would recommend it. And if you're like me, becoming a bit disenchanted with all of these cliff hanger trilogies lurking about, that just don't quite deliver after a long drawn out wait, don't worry. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or series but I do know the 1st 3 books are out and can be read as stand alones. So Happy Reading. I'm off to get lost in book 2 Kilter's story
September 17, 2013
OH-MY-EFFING- VAMPIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay now that I had my squeal moment I can't say enough about this book and the series as a whole. Holy effing vampires this book started off with a bang and ended with a bang and I needed more so I bought the rest of the series and man when I tell you you need to take two days out of your life to read these books because Cindy Paterson you are BRILLIANT!
In Jump we get to meet Balen and Danielle. Balen is a sense who protects humans from the bad vampires. He has risked everything for a human Danielle. Balen is such a stand up guy who is loving and protecting and willing to go the extra mile. So when he helps Danielle out and saves her he is surprised that he has feelings for her. He can't seem to get her out of his mind so he goes back to check on her and finds himself wanting no needing to be with her.
Danielle has survived kidnapping, torture, and been rescued by someone she does not know. She has no memory of what happened but she has these flashes and as she sees the flashes and draws them she wonders what happened. Then one day her drams becomes her reality and the man of her dreams comes walking through her door. Danielle is not sure what to do but she knows this she wants him and needs to be near him.
Danger is lurking around the corner and Balen will do anything and everything to save Danielle. Will they survive or will they be separated...........................
Okay now that I had my squeal moment I can't say enough about this book and the series as a whole. Holy effing vampires this book started off with a bang and ended with a bang and I needed more so I bought the rest of the series and man when I tell you you need to take two days out of your life to read these books because Cindy Paterson you are BRILLIANT!
In Jump we get to meet Balen and Danielle. Balen is a sense who protects humans from the bad vampires. He has risked everything for a human Danielle. Balen is such a stand up guy who is loving and protecting and willing to go the extra mile. So when he helps Danielle out and saves her he is surprised that he has feelings for her. He can't seem to get her out of his mind so he goes back to check on her and finds himself wanting no needing to be with her.
Danielle has survived kidnapping, torture, and been rescued by someone she does not know. She has no memory of what happened but she has these flashes and as she sees the flashes and draws them she wonders what happened. Then one day her drams becomes her reality and the man of her dreams comes walking through her door. Danielle is not sure what to do but she knows this she wants him and needs to be near him.
Danger is lurking around the corner and Balen will do anything and everything to save Danielle. Will they survive or will they be separated...........................
March 26, 2015
Enjoyed this immensely. Felt good digging into a PNR book thats equal romance and equal paranormal.
Can't see the comparison of the author's current writing to this one though. She's more modernized now but this was by no means archaic...
Gonna dive right into the next one..
Can't see the comparison of the author's current writing to this one though. She's more modernized now but this was by no means archaic...
Gonna dive right into the next one..
May 8, 2013
Whooooooo... Wow. What... wow. I'll get there give a moment or two thanks. This is a 4.5 really there was only one thing that bothered me but i will get to that later in characters, and its really a personal philosophy thing
So song choice, song choice.... hmmm... "My Love" by Sia, right off the bat, this would relate to their relationship. And I think i might want to pick another "I Need your Love" by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding. Bam. Two songs you can check out that I - ME, BECCA, not the author or anyone else, has thought would relate to this book. So lets talk about this book shall we?
Kay first thoughts: Powerful. Super powerful. I fell in love with the characters, and i truly believed their love within, well pretty much from the moment they met. A lot times i take awhile to warm to insta-love because well i just do. Anyways this was different, they were so raw, passionate, and real that i couldn't just couldn't not believe it. The characters, the romance, the plot, the few sex scenes all were pretty much amazing.
Plot: Jeez, there is NOTHING i love more than a good romance story with some good action, and i am not talking about sex, i am talking adventure, fighting, kidnapping, all the good stuff you know? Again the best way i could describe the feelings in this book, the emotions is RAW, just bleeding heart, crying til your eyes fall out, loving until you think you might burst RAW. I loved almost every single moment of it. At the end i just knew that there was going to be a HEA so i wasn't too concerned about some things so it took of the edge, and the pain you know? Well anyways i will go in more depth...well sort of..not really no spoilers here kids, not unless its hidden and i had a problem with something. Anyways moving on. The paranormals in this book were interesting and all but vampires and a different definition of wraiths, and healers, everything was pretty new and interesting, granted at the beginning i was a bit like, what? and then i realized there was a glossary at the beginning...hehe opps but it doesn't explain Senses until later, just keep with it you will know, if you don't start picking it up for yourself throughout the book. So anyways the pacing, was amazing, keeps you wanting more, but at the same time wanting to walk away because i have a good feeling if you get as involved as i was, your emotions will be running high. Plot was amazing and i loved it, kept me interested and going. There is a lot of romance, and a lot of action.
This isn't just a story about JUST Danielle and Balen, there are a lot of characters to love, and another story that we got a lot of, and i hope continues in the next book as well was Delara and Waleron
Characters: *This was told in 3rd person, mostly Danielle and Balen but not completely*
Danielle: She was an interesting MC. she was a huge mix of strong and weak only in the physical sense though. Danielle was tortured for two days two years beforehand when this story starts, what i love is that she actually holds the scars from it, both mental and physical, though she can't remember what happened, until later in the book, she still has things that bother her...but bother is to tame of a word, that set her off. I know this makes me seem like a horrible, crazy, evil person but I loved that she was still bothered by this these things because in normal, real life you don't normally walk un-scarred from that kind of shit. And I was never upset about that. When i said the physically weak thing, all i meant was that at times she is willing to throw punches around, but at the same time she does step back and allow others to fight when she would not be of any help so i totally respect her for trying then knowing when to get the hell out of the way. She is one smart cookie. Most of the times. This is what bothered me she was so resistant to loving Balen but only after they started to get somewhat more involved, but it was SO contradictory to how she was feeling at the beginning of the book, and i understand she had the bond but i feel like that wasn't effect their minds at all, it was just completely a physical spell, they had to be close to one another or they would die, slowly and painfully. After awhile i was like seriously girl, stop it. Love him if you don't i will take him because he was amazing. Anyways i still really liked Danielle for the most part and she was a good MC.
Balen: I loved him. He was coarse, crass, and kind of an ass. He was very demanding, and very possessive. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to fight for it, unless he knew it would just push her farther away, so he was one smart cookie, who loved more than at times i thought Danielle deserved. He... God he was so passionate. It was in everything he did for her, in everything he said to her. I don't think i had as many swoon moments in a book for awhile, like this kid did me in. His words were like poetry, and made me want to go into the book and jump him myself. There are a bunch of quotes of his in my statuses if you want to check those out but here are two or so that are all time favorites:
“Are you listening to me? I would sell my soul to the devil to take back what happened to you. I can’t let anyone hurt you again. I can’t. When I think of harm befalling you, I become . . . hell, I can’t help but be controlling.” He moved closer. “I want you to be safe again, little one. Promise me you’ll stay safe when I’m gone.”
“I want you,” Balen said. “I need you so bad that I feel as if my insides will dissolve into a thousand particles if I can’t have you.”
Oh just one more!
"She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. “I give it six months.” Balen chuckled and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Eternity.”"
Kay so if that isn't enough to convince you Balen is awesome, well take my word for it, he is.
Kay so other MCs...well sort of...
Delara: I loved her she was sassy, and fun, but my god my heart bled for her most the time. I wanted her to have love, that love that she craved....i hope there will always be more of her, and in a way i want the next to be her, but i also really want to be someone else named Kliter who is a totally ass that i am sure has a heart of gold under all that crude behavior...anyways loved Delara
Waleron is as an ass and needs to figure his shit out. I hated him most of the time, but i didn't understand why everyone thought he was so cold... well i do because he acted in like it... didn't really show much emotion but the things he did for them, i mean would have to be blind not to see that he cares, he really does care.
So that ending. Wow. I figured it would have a HEA and it did, so really i wasn't too concerned about the end, everything would work out i was sure of it. And i am super eager to start the next one so if you want to know, yes, HELL yes i will be continuing this series this one was amazing and i am sure the next will be as well. Check this book out. Sooo good.
So if you enjoyed this review, and you have either a)read this book already and looking for something else, or b) going to read this whole series then want something afterwards you can check out more indie authors on my blog....yeah at least i am talking about it now at the end, and no there aren't any hidden, or added things in from this post to the one on my blog because that is annoying you came here for a review that thats what you got. So here is the link if you feel like checking it out. we appreciate you, have a good day. http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
So song choice, song choice.... hmmm... "My Love" by Sia, right off the bat, this would relate to their relationship. And I think i might want to pick another "I Need your Love" by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding. Bam. Two songs you can check out that I - ME, BECCA, not the author or anyone else, has thought would relate to this book. So lets talk about this book shall we?
Kay first thoughts: Powerful. Super powerful. I fell in love with the characters, and i truly believed their love within, well pretty much from the moment they met. A lot times i take awhile to warm to insta-love because well i just do. Anyways this was different, they were so raw, passionate, and real that i couldn't just couldn't not believe it. The characters, the romance, the plot, the few sex scenes all were pretty much amazing.
Plot: Jeez, there is NOTHING i love more than a good romance story with some good action, and i am not talking about sex, i am talking adventure, fighting, kidnapping, all the good stuff you know? Again the best way i could describe the feelings in this book, the emotions is RAW, just bleeding heart, crying til your eyes fall out, loving until you think you might burst RAW. I loved almost every single moment of it. At the end i just knew that there was going to be a HEA so i wasn't too concerned about some things so it took of the edge, and the pain you know? Well anyways i will go in more depth...well sort of..not really no spoilers here kids, not unless its hidden and i had a problem with something. Anyways moving on. The paranormals in this book were interesting and all but vampires and a different definition of wraiths, and healers, everything was pretty new and interesting, granted at the beginning i was a bit like, what? and then i realized there was a glossary at the beginning...hehe opps but it doesn't explain Senses until later, just keep with it you will know, if you don't start picking it up for yourself throughout the book. So anyways the pacing, was amazing, keeps you wanting more, but at the same time wanting to walk away because i have a good feeling if you get as involved as i was, your emotions will be running high. Plot was amazing and i loved it, kept me interested and going. There is a lot of romance, and a lot of action.
This isn't just a story about JUST Danielle and Balen, there are a lot of characters to love, and another story that we got a lot of, and i hope continues in the next book as well was Delara and Waleron
Characters: *This was told in 3rd person, mostly Danielle and Balen but not completely*
Danielle: She was an interesting MC. she was a huge mix of strong and weak only in the physical sense though. Danielle was tortured for two days two years beforehand when this story starts, what i love is that she actually holds the scars from it, both mental and physical, though she can't remember what happened, until later in the book, she still has things that bother her...but bother is to tame of a word, that set her off. I know this makes me seem like a horrible, crazy, evil person but I loved that she was still bothered by this these things because in normal, real life you don't normally walk un-scarred from that kind of shit. And I was never upset about that. When i said the physically weak thing, all i meant was that at times she is willing to throw punches around, but at the same time she does step back and allow others to fight when she would not be of any help so i totally respect her for trying then knowing when to get the hell out of the way. She is one smart cookie. Most of the times. This is what bothered me she was so resistant to loving Balen but only after they started to get somewhat more involved, but it was SO contradictory to how she was feeling at the beginning of the book, and i understand she had the bond but i feel like that wasn't effect their minds at all, it was just completely a physical spell, they had to be close to one another or they would die, slowly and painfully. After awhile i was like seriously girl, stop it. Love him if you don't i will take him because he was amazing. Anyways i still really liked Danielle for the most part and she was a good MC.
Balen: I loved him. He was coarse, crass, and kind of an ass. He was very demanding, and very possessive. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to fight for it, unless he knew it would just push her farther away, so he was one smart cookie, who loved more than at times i thought Danielle deserved. He... God he was so passionate. It was in everything he did for her, in everything he said to her. I don't think i had as many swoon moments in a book for awhile, like this kid did me in. His words were like poetry, and made me want to go into the book and jump him myself. There are a bunch of quotes of his in my statuses if you want to check those out but here are two or so that are all time favorites:
“Are you listening to me? I would sell my soul to the devil to take back what happened to you. I can’t let anyone hurt you again. I can’t. When I think of harm befalling you, I become . . . hell, I can’t help but be controlling.” He moved closer. “I want you to be safe again, little one. Promise me you’ll stay safe when I’m gone.”
“I want you,” Balen said. “I need you so bad that I feel as if my insides will dissolve into a thousand particles if I can’t have you.”
Oh just one more!
"She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. “I give it six months.” Balen chuckled and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Eternity.”"
Kay so if that isn't enough to convince you Balen is awesome, well take my word for it, he is.
Kay so other MCs...well sort of...
Delara: I loved her she was sassy, and fun, but my god my heart bled for her most the time. I wanted her to have love, that love that she craved....i hope there will always be more of her, and in a way i want the next to be her, but i also really want to be someone else named Kliter who is a totally ass that i am sure has a heart of gold under all that crude behavior...anyways loved Delara
Waleron is as an ass and needs to figure his shit out. I hated him most of the time, but i didn't understand why everyone thought he was so cold... well i do because he acted in like it... didn't really show much emotion but the things he did for them, i mean would have to be blind not to see that he cares, he really does care.
So that ending. Wow. I figured it would have a HEA and it did, so really i wasn't too concerned about the end, everything would work out i was sure of it. And i am super eager to start the next one so if you want to know, yes, HELL yes i will be continuing this series this one was amazing and i am sure the next will be as well. Check this book out. Sooo good.
So if you enjoyed this review, and you have either a)read this book already and looking for something else, or b) going to read this whole series then want something afterwards you can check out more indie authors on my blog....yeah at least i am talking about it now at the end, and no there aren't any hidden, or added things in from this post to the one on my blog because that is annoying you came here for a review that thats what you got. So here is the link if you feel like checking it out. we appreciate you, have a good day. http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
July 10, 2012
This is an exciting start to a new paranormal series. I'm so glad this was a Kindle freebie, or else I may have never discovered this gem.
A group of warriors known as the “Senses” because of their individual special abilities based on senses. They protect humans while living unnoticed among them.
Balen is one of those warriors. For centuries his loyalty went unquestioned, until he drank the blood of a vicious vampire to save the life of a mortal woman. Now he's become the hunted. His warrior brothers are determined to bring him in dead or alive, though death is his mostly likely punishment. Only his skill as a Senses Tracker has kept him alive. That and staying away from the woman he once saved. Until now … because he can't forget her and he can't stay away from her any longer.
Danielle, a mortal woman trying to live her life despite the fear and anxiety dogging her heels ever since being rescued from her abduction and subsequent torture by a vicious vampire. She has no memory of her captivity, only her dreams of a man she doesn't know. Yet she senses he means safety and comfort. So she paints him, over and over again. Then one day he shows up at her gallery and turns her world upside down anew. She will have to face her fears to survive what is to come, but first her death may be necessary to finally be free.
I loved the world that Cindy Paterson created with her Senses warriors. The beginning packs a punch as we're thrust into Danielle's hell. Fast forward two years, and she's alive but not faring very well. She's caught up in her dreams and her paintings of the mystery man, and her best friend, Anstice has been acting strange ever since she saw those portraits. To make matters worse, Danielle may not have her memories about her abduction, but she's beginning to remember little things. This new development puts Anstice and her husband Keir on edge. They are hiding something from her, but what, and more importantly why? Danielle may seem broken on the inside, but after Balen shows up, she turns feisty and demands answers from everyone. Their hesitancy only spurs her on.
Balen, damn I loved him! Aside from being a warrior to be reckoned with and insanely hot, he always puts others before himself. I felt so torn for him, when those who should have known him best didn't trust him, and the guilt he was feeling for letting Danielle go through what she did. When they come together he's so tender and mindful of her fears. As an alpha male he's not one to submit, ever. But for her, he'd do it. He'd do anything to keep her feeling safe. I even loved that he called her “Little One” without a hint of sarcasm or making it sound demeaning.
She couldn't keep her feet from running even if she wanted to. She took off towards the house, pushed open the door and headed straight for the guest bedroom. She slammed right into Balen's hard chest and they both went crashing to the floor.
“Little one,” Balen said taking hold of her chin and staring up into her eyes. “Are you...”
Danielle lowered his head and kissed him.
The action and suspense really pick up when one of their own is attacked and kidnapped, and it seems on Danielle can save him, but in order to do that, she must face her worst fears, believe in Balen and she must do the unthinkable. Then there are the secondary characters. One in particular comes to mind, Kilter. He's a man you love to hate, or vice versa. I think his story is up next in the series and I'm bouncing with anticipation to see what's in store for him.
I highly recommend this book if you love strong warriors, meddling, supernatural entities, a sprinkling of humor and an exciting plot. Well done Ms Paterson.
Keep an eye out for the second book in the series - "STEP". It should be out soon.
March 23, 2013
What a rush. This novel grabs you from the get go and never lets go. You are constantly on the edge of your seat with all of the twists and turns that Patterson throws at you. And she keeps you on the edge of your seat with the good kind of suspense. There’s never a moment where you’re wondering what’s going on based on lack of detail or background information. The suspense is built into a very solid storyline that keeps you hooked so deep that you couldn’t get out, even if you wanted to. And trust me, you won’t want to.
Throughout the novel Patterson employs very clear and detailed descriptions that are true to life and that flow with the storyline. Everything in this novel is very vivid, but in a realistic way. Even though this is a supernatural story, it never becomes over-the-top or cartoon-like. Patterson also works some very unique interactions and relationships between supernatural species, and between those species and humans. It all just seems so real.
Everyone in this novel is very well developed to suit a specific purpose or personality. They are all such distinct people that you can’t help but identify with at least a couple of them, if not all of them in some little way. I also love that her paranormal characters are ‘human.’ Sure they have supernatural abilities, but they also look, act, talk, and feel like a human does. Because of this, the story doesn’t seem farfetched at all. You can really see this all happening in your own neighbourhood because you’d never know that your neighbours aren’t actually human. The characters that Patterson developed for this phenomenal story are the kind who will stay with you forever.
This story was a much bigger rush than I’d expected when I first picked it up. I couldn’t put it down at all. I also really appreciate the fact that this novel can stand on its own. Everything is completed within the parameters of the novel itself. That said, I really can’t wait to grab the sequel and dive into it.
Please note that I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Throughout the novel Patterson employs very clear and detailed descriptions that are true to life and that flow with the storyline. Everything in this novel is very vivid, but in a realistic way. Even though this is a supernatural story, it never becomes over-the-top or cartoon-like. Patterson also works some very unique interactions and relationships between supernatural species, and between those species and humans. It all just seems so real.
Everyone in this novel is very well developed to suit a specific purpose or personality. They are all such distinct people that you can’t help but identify with at least a couple of them, if not all of them in some little way. I also love that her paranormal characters are ‘human.’ Sure they have supernatural abilities, but they also look, act, talk, and feel like a human does. Because of this, the story doesn’t seem farfetched at all. You can really see this all happening in your own neighbourhood because you’d never know that your neighbours aren’t actually human. The characters that Patterson developed for this phenomenal story are the kind who will stay with you forever.
This story was a much bigger rush than I’d expected when I first picked it up. I couldn’t put it down at all. I also really appreciate the fact that this novel can stand on its own. Everything is completed within the parameters of the novel itself. That said, I really can’t wait to grab the sequel and dive into it.
Please note that I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2013
I don't know if I can finish this. Please someone tell me it gets better. I am at 53%.
I like some of it. I guess mainly when Danielle is not around. What a pain in the ass. She was okay until after Waleron woke her from her deep sleep and everyone tried explaining things to her. The worst...when there was a fight in the house and they were being attached, she wouldn't let Balen take her safety until he 'talked' to her. Are you kidding....then Balen says in his head (while still trying to escape from attack)..."He loved that about her— honest, blunt, and even when her world was crashing around her, she still had common sense. Yeah, he sure as shit liked this woman." Well..I don't like her. Common sense. Whats the definition in this book? And..she complains that he treats her like a little kid...WELL...she acts like one. She talks back and rebels. He wants her to go inside for her safety and she goes further down the dark alley, just because she doesn't like to be ordered around. So what if he won't explain. Its 3 in the morning. Idiot. I guess she is like this because of her past..which could be understandable but doesn't mean I have to like her.
And..I feel a little bit like there is some hack to it. I love all the character's quirks in
Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series, especially the Valkyries (making demons eat objects, pet bat that hangs on your shoulder). But the Pez quirk and Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume quirk just seem silly and out of place. Oh...and the sign on the bedroom door "Hot Women Enter". I don't even think immature frat boys would have that sign.
I might skip and read on to the next, just because I kind of like Delara.
I like some of it. I guess mainly when Danielle is not around. What a pain in the ass. She was okay until after Waleron woke her from her deep sleep and everyone tried explaining things to her. The worst...when there was a fight in the house and they were being attached, she wouldn't let Balen take her safety until he 'talked' to her. Are you kidding....then Balen says in his head (while still trying to escape from attack)..."He loved that about her— honest, blunt, and even when her world was crashing around her, she still had common sense. Yeah, he sure as shit liked this woman." Well..I don't like her. Common sense. Whats the definition in this book? And..she complains that he treats her like a little kid...WELL...she acts like one. She talks back and rebels. He wants her to go inside for her safety and she goes further down the dark alley, just because she doesn't like to be ordered around. So what if he won't explain. Its 3 in the morning. Idiot. I guess she is like this because of her past..which could be understandable but doesn't mean I have to like her.
And..I feel a little bit like there is some hack to it. I love all the character's quirks in
Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series, especially the Valkyries (making demons eat objects, pet bat that hangs on your shoulder). But the Pez quirk and Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume quirk just seem silly and out of place. Oh...and the sign on the bedroom door "Hot Women Enter". I don't even think immature frat boys would have that sign.
I might skip and read on to the next, just because I kind of like Delara.
March 13, 2013
I wasn't entirely sure what I expected when I picked up this book. I read the blurb and I liked the sound of it. Of course, with limited time to read, it took me a while to get to it. Late at night, I was messing around on my kindle and figured I would read a couple pages to see how it was written. Well... I stayed up till four in the morning reading the book.
Honestly, I couldn't put it down. It flipping grabbed my attention and just wouldn't let go. The characters are well-developed and the dialog was smooth. Definitely a pleasant surprise, to say the least.
I loved Balen and Danielle together. He's one of those possessive, alpha males that knows how to handle his lady with delicate care, which she needs. Lord, the lady a bit of rough time in the beginning, with due cause of course.
The secondary characters are really something else as well. They are all well fleshed out with backstories of their own that you're anxious to learn more about. After finishing book one, immediately, I picked up book two. I had to know what would happen with the next hero and heroine in Step.
Full review posted here [Insert Clever Quip Here]
Honestly, I couldn't put it down. It flipping grabbed my attention and just wouldn't let go. The characters are well-developed and the dialog was smooth. Definitely a pleasant surprise, to say the least.
I loved Balen and Danielle together. He's one of those possessive, alpha males that knows how to handle his lady with delicate care, which she needs. Lord, the lady a bit of rough time in the beginning, with due cause of course.
The secondary characters are really something else as well. They are all well fleshed out with backstories of their own that you're anxious to learn more about. After finishing book one, immediately, I picked up book two. I had to know what would happen with the next hero and heroine in Step.
Full review posted here [Insert Clever Quip Here]
May 30, 2012
Having read over 150 books in less than 10 months, I must say this one hits pretty high on my list of ones to rave about! Not only are the characters believable, but they have depth in which I wish most real people would have. In reading Jump I almost forgot that the characters were fictional. If you want passion, tragedy, pain, love, and every emotion that you think you could possibly feel reading a book this is the one for you. The ups and downs of Danielle and Balen are ones for the record. I have felt pulling at my heart but not like this. The turmoil between the two makes you yell out as you read. I think I scared a few of my kids while reading this...lol! The other characters have perfect roles in the story. I could easily close my eyes and see everything fall right into place. Thank you Ms Paterson for an amazing read....can't wait for Step!!!!
December 5, 2012
4.5 STARS
OMG, what a crazy ride. The writing was amazing! I loved how she made you feel for the characters.
Danielle did get on my nerves, a lot. But I guess I am so used to the female charaters being so dependent and easy going but she fought Balen on EVERYTHING. My God, it seemed like everything he said to her... she fought him on.
All the characters were very strong and I enjoyed them (except Kilter, but I am sure he would have grown on me). Balen was my fav combo... dark hair with green eyes. Yumm!
The sex was pretty steamy. There was some action. Not much swearing. A great story, with an interesting concept.I might read the next book, but I have a feeling it's going to focus on Kilter and he annoys the shit out of me.
OMG, what a crazy ride. The writing was amazing! I loved how she made you feel for the characters.
Danielle did get on my nerves, a lot. But I guess I am so used to the female charaters being so dependent and easy going but she fought Balen on EVERYTHING. My God, it seemed like everything he said to her... she fought him on.
All the characters were very strong and I enjoyed them (except Kilter, but I am sure he would have grown on me). Balen was my fav combo... dark hair with green eyes. Yumm!
The sex was pretty steamy. There was some action. Not much swearing. A great story, with an interesting concept.I might read the next book, but I have a feeling it's going to focus on Kilter and he annoys the shit out of me.
May 23, 2013
Sometimes heroes need to be scary!
If the mundane world understood what kind of heroes protected them from evil, they'd quake with terror. I happen to appreciate intimidating heroes, who should have a better chance at defeating evil monsters.
The immortal Wraiths and Senses work together to protect our world from dark fiends in the form of Vampires, Long Necks, GQs, Lilacs, CWOs, and other dangerous pests. Powerful Wraiths live in realm apart from Earth, leaving Senses do the dirty work to seek out and destroy evil on the planet. Unfortunately Senses' law forbids telling humans about their existence.
This creates problems for Balen, who has fallen in love with a mortal. The trouble started when he got captured and tortured by a powerful vampire. He could handle pain and threats--until the vampire captured a human. He grew to admire Danielle's strength and courage and soon fell in love. Determined to save her from becoming the vampire's slave, he drank the vampire's blood in a bargain that might cost Balen his life.
According to law, a Senses who drinks vampire's blood must die or be placed into Rest (a coma-like state where a Senses relives his worst memories until the sentence is complete). After Balen drank the vampire's blood, he spent the next two years hiding from his Talde (a Senses family) and purged the poison from his system. It worked. Now he's ready to face the council and accept his punishment. He deserves the worst sentence but feels compelled to see Danielle one last time.
When Danielle was rescued from the clutches of the vampire, her memory was wiped clean. That doesn't mean she's okay. In fact she's terrified by fleeting glimpses of her ordeal, can't let a man touch her, and she's plagued by dreams of an eerie man with vivid green eyes. As an artist, she's fascinated by the image and paints his portrait over and over, never satisfied with the result. As a woman she's drawn to the strength and compassion of the beautiful man.
Unknown to Balen and Danielle, someone cast a spell over them. They are bonded for life. If Balen goes away, Danielle falls deathly ill. If he dies or is placed into Rest, Danielle will undoubtedly die. They must fight for Balen's freedom to save Danielle's life, but they need Balen's Talde to help. Should Danielle risk her life and sanity for the man she loves and join him in a life she doesn't fathom? Can she submit to a commitment for eternity? She's always run from love before. Now love, loyalty, and strength of character might be the best weapons in their fight against evil.
This is a complex and gripping story that introduces a new realm of immortals into the age old battle of good versus evil. The saga will seize the imagination of new readers and sweep them into the intense drama. These heroes are not typical comic-book characters, they are gritty, flawed, and downright scary--the kind of people we should hope to have on our side. Get started on the series today.
If the mundane world understood what kind of heroes protected them from evil, they'd quake with terror. I happen to appreciate intimidating heroes, who should have a better chance at defeating evil monsters.
The immortal Wraiths and Senses work together to protect our world from dark fiends in the form of Vampires, Long Necks, GQs, Lilacs, CWOs, and other dangerous pests. Powerful Wraiths live in realm apart from Earth, leaving Senses do the dirty work to seek out and destroy evil on the planet. Unfortunately Senses' law forbids telling humans about their existence.
This creates problems for Balen, who has fallen in love with a mortal. The trouble started when he got captured and tortured by a powerful vampire. He could handle pain and threats--until the vampire captured a human. He grew to admire Danielle's strength and courage and soon fell in love. Determined to save her from becoming the vampire's slave, he drank the vampire's blood in a bargain that might cost Balen his life.
According to law, a Senses who drinks vampire's blood must die or be placed into Rest (a coma-like state where a Senses relives his worst memories until the sentence is complete). After Balen drank the vampire's blood, he spent the next two years hiding from his Talde (a Senses family) and purged the poison from his system. It worked. Now he's ready to face the council and accept his punishment. He deserves the worst sentence but feels compelled to see Danielle one last time.
When Danielle was rescued from the clutches of the vampire, her memory was wiped clean. That doesn't mean she's okay. In fact she's terrified by fleeting glimpses of her ordeal, can't let a man touch her, and she's plagued by dreams of an eerie man with vivid green eyes. As an artist, she's fascinated by the image and paints his portrait over and over, never satisfied with the result. As a woman she's drawn to the strength and compassion of the beautiful man.
Unknown to Balen and Danielle, someone cast a spell over them. They are bonded for life. If Balen goes away, Danielle falls deathly ill. If he dies or is placed into Rest, Danielle will undoubtedly die. They must fight for Balen's freedom to save Danielle's life, but they need Balen's Talde to help. Should Danielle risk her life and sanity for the man she loves and join him in a life she doesn't fathom? Can she submit to a commitment for eternity? She's always run from love before. Now love, loyalty, and strength of character might be the best weapons in their fight against evil.
This is a complex and gripping story that introduces a new realm of immortals into the age old battle of good versus evil. The saga will seize the imagination of new readers and sweep them into the intense drama. These heroes are not typical comic-book characters, they are gritty, flawed, and downright scary--the kind of people we should hope to have on our side. Get started on the series today.
April 27, 2014
2 stars is actually pushing it. No clue how it got ratings in the 4's. I really had to push myself to finish this. To sum it up, imagine if a teen got a hold of the Demonica series, including the Lords of Deliverance, and then the Dark Hunter series and tried to write a spin-off combining them for a school assignment due in a month. That was the depth and maturity level. The world this story is set in is hectic, and not in an intense way, in a makes-no-sense way. No cohesion. Just all over the place. Story line as well as the characters. No real flow. The plot and characters were flimsy, especially Danielle, the female lead. She pitches a fit because her love interest orders her to run. FOR HER LIFE. But she is not going to let a man tell her what to do. Oh, not happening, so in the midst of explosions and all hell breaking loose from pissed off Gods, people fighting for her, she's going to stand her ground and demands an explanation. Beyond stupid. And yet she's so flippin' whiny. Yes, she was tortured and caged. Got it. It's mention about a thousand times. But she spends the whole story stumbling and crumbling over and over it and it gets unnerving. Worse female protagonist I have read this year. The author seemed to be trying for snark and witty style of Ione or possibly Ward, but wasn't even close. I saw one review actually compare this to BDB - yeeaah.... uh no. Seriously, no. Just a bunch of characters all fighting for the same cause but all temperamental, pathetically unreasonable, and all sporting attitudes for no other reason than that's who they are. Can't recommend this one.
April 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I generally like a good supernatural book, and this one put many of those beings on the same pages. I enjoyed meeting a new group of super naturals, the Senses. They each have a unique ability depending on the type of "senses" they are. They have a scar that is an extension of themselves that they can call forward in times of need, this was a nice addition as well. Not only did each character have a distinctive personality, so did their scar.
That was not the only thing that kept my interest in this book however, as it also contains many other elements such as torture, both physical and emotional, a deep love story, and bonds that have been broken by choices that did not seem like choices at the time but as the only decision to make.
It did have a few moments of lull but I felt that these were easily over come by my intrigue for the characters and what would happen for them next. I began to feel strong emotions for them, and any book that can do that is a good book for me. I anxiously purchased the second book and enjoyed it even more!
That was not the only thing that kept my interest in this book however, as it also contains many other elements such as torture, both physical and emotional, a deep love story, and bonds that have been broken by choices that did not seem like choices at the time but as the only decision to make.
It did have a few moments of lull but I felt that these were easily over come by my intrigue for the characters and what would happen for them next. I began to feel strong emotions for them, and any book that can do that is a good book for me. I anxiously purchased the second book and enjoyed it even more!
November 6, 2013
The cover is deceiving. Vampires, gods, goddesses, witches and more. This story had great suspense, romance, and action. Danielle, female lead, who has a traumatic past but can’t remember, and for good reason. The green-eyed man who haunts her dreams for two years, thinking she is going crazy, the only thing keeping her sane is her best friend Anstice. The world around her is not what is seems and now she is right in the middle of trouble, but no one will tell her the truth. Balen, the conflicted male, trying to do what’s right, but we all know that men never do the right thing right off the bat. Trying for two years to stay away from Danielle but in the end the need to see her wins and all is lost. He can’t stay away, and that only puts her in more danger.
The chemistry between them is hot and frustrating. Even together they can’t get it right. I liked that you never really know who is good, who is bad, and everyone is deceiving. The author has started off a series with much action and suspense that you can’t wait to pick up the next one. Enjoy!
The chemistry between them is hot and frustrating. Even together they can’t get it right. I liked that you never really know who is good, who is bad, and everyone is deceiving. The author has started off a series with much action and suspense that you can’t wait to pick up the next one. Enjoy!
September 19, 2013
Given by the author for an honest review,as part of the Jump Blog Tour
What a tornado of events..If there is one phrase to describe the book,that would be it..
I have to say the beginning didn't have me hooked..But,as the story kept going,I was literally hanging by the words..I couldn't read fast enough to see what would happen next..And that doesn't happen very often..
Danielle and Balen,Keir and Anstice,Walleron and Delara and Kilter are such amazing characters..They have so many layers that you don't know what they'll do or say next..Or what they've done in the past...
It's a really great story in the fantasy/paranormal/vampire-ish world..
I can't wait to read the next book of the series..It is THAT good..
Unpredictable.Seriously Fast n Furious.Leaves you hanging for more Senses
What a tornado of events..If there is one phrase to describe the book,that would be it..
I have to say the beginning didn't have me hooked..But,as the story kept going,I was literally hanging by the words..I couldn't read fast enough to see what would happen next..And that doesn't happen very often..
Danielle and Balen,Keir and Anstice,Walleron and Delara and Kilter are such amazing characters..They have so many layers that you don't know what they'll do or say next..Or what they've done in the past...
It's a really great story in the fantasy/paranormal/vampire-ish world..
I can't wait to read the next book of the series..It is THAT good..
Unpredictable.Seriously Fast n Furious.Leaves you hanging for more Senses
February 11, 2013
Cindy gave me these books so I can catch up with the series before I edit her third one, Fall.
I didn't intend to review, but wow. I really enjoyed this book and the second one is even better.
It's a paranormal romance--the Senses are people whose purpose is to protect mankind. There are witches and Wraiths and Vampires (they do not sparkle), but the groups and abilities are explained and I was never overwhelmed.
There's more storylines than just the hero and heroines and they make the novel larger in a way. More like an epic paranormal instead of a concentrated romance.
This is a romance, but there's not much sex. There's action and suspense so you don't even miss it. ;)
I didn't intend to review, but wow. I really enjoyed this book and the second one is even better.
It's a paranormal romance--the Senses are people whose purpose is to protect mankind. There are witches and Wraiths and Vampires (they do not sparkle), but the groups and abilities are explained and I was never overwhelmed.
There's more storylines than just the hero and heroines and they make the novel larger in a way. More like an epic paranormal instead of a concentrated romance.
This is a romance, but there's not much sex. There's action and suspense so you don't even miss it. ;)
January 10, 2013
Loved it! This is such a fresh idea. It was wonderful to read and learn about the senses. I loved watching the relationship between Balen and Danielle grow. I love how he is a strong warrior and not afraid of anyone, but is so tender and caring to Danielle. You feel their pain for each other and your heart breaks with them. You also get swept into their joy. It is a fantastic book and I can't wait to read book #2! I'm officially hooked on this series and will eagerly read any of Cindy Paterson's stories. She makes it seem effortless to transport you into this world she has created!
May 6, 2012
I really liked this book. I felt in the beginning that I was actually reading like book 2 of the series or something, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the book. I am FASCINATED with Waleron and Delara and I'm hopeful that the next book is either about them or Kilter and the girl from the compound, Rayne (although she was so emaciated I hope that is rectified or else he'll break her! :)). Anyway, Kudos Ms. Paterson! Keep 'em coming! :)
January 14, 2014
Cindy Paterson also goes by the name of Nashoda Rose. Having just finished Torn from You and With You I wanted to read something else and compare writing styles.
Two very different stories - Jump is paranormal but I enjoyed it although not as much as Torn From You and With You. Strong writing and good plot and I will definitely read her other books.
Two very different stories - Jump is paranormal but I enjoyed it although not as much as Torn From You and With You. Strong writing and good plot and I will definitely read her other books.
January 29, 2014
I loved this book. A very different take on the paranormal, not your run of the mill vampire/werewolf type of story. Not that there are no vamps, just different. I will be buying the next in the series.
This is a Paranormal Adult Romance. Not too hot & heavy but there is some good stuff! There is definitely some situations that could set off some triggers but everything was well written.
This is a Paranormal Adult Romance. Not too hot & heavy but there is some good stuff! There is definitely some situations that could set off some triggers but everything was well written.
August 3, 2012
This is not my normal genre AT ALL. I thought it would be something I could read when I got bored but wouldn't get hooked. I was so wrong. There were times it was a bit overboard with the feelings and but I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
April 26, 2012
Loved everything about this book! Can't wait for the next one!
June 4, 2012
Awesome read. I was captivated through out the entire book. I have not read a book this good in a very long time.
August 3, 2012
I loved this book I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in this series .A must read for the paranormal lovers out there .
March 17, 2014
What a unique world Cindy Paterson has created!
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
May 4, 2012
I couldnt stop reading it. Would have liked to read keir and anstice story first.
September 21, 2013
Two years ago, Danielle disappeared for a few days. She doesn't remember what happened to her, but she's haunted by a man in her dreams with green eyes. She paints him in her art gallery over and over again but each time she paints him his eyes hold sadness, there's never a painting that she does where he's smiling or happy. Her friend Anstice doesn't know what to make of it and refuses to look at the paintings that she keeps painting.
Little does Danielle know she was captured and tortured by a powerful vampire and the man she keeps painting Balen was also held prisoner there. Danielle has no idea what goes on around her, a world filled with wraiths, witches, vampires, and a group called Senses. Her would is about to be torn apart when Balen returns unable to stay away from Toronto without making sure she's doing alright. But Balen can't stay away, he's drawn to her the second he sees her again and she feels the same way.
But Balen broke the law while in captivity and knows he must pay the price. Unable to stay away from her, but knowing he most go, Balen returns to the other Senses that he left two years ago to face sentencing. Sentenced to Rest and exile, Balen boards a plane to leave. What he doesn't expect is that he's bonded to Danielle and the further he is away from her the more pain she is in. Waleron, the leader of the Senses has no choice but to turn the plane around and bring him back even though it's a sure death sentence.
Danielle finds herself immersed in a magical world she never knew existed. Wanting to run away but unable to not only because of her feelings toward Balen and the bond they share she is forced to follow him halfway across the globe to Spain. But in order to survive, Danielle must first die and become a Senses question is will she do it and bond herself to Balen for eternity?
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first thing that drew me in was the cover not only of this book but of all the books in this series, next was the synopsis which I figured would fit my preferred reads, lastly was the beginning of this story. While I did enjoy this story, I just felt that the spell bond between Danielle and Balen was more like the beginning of a relationship versus a spell that makes them bonded together. For two people who are suppose to be bonded together by magic they seemed to fight a whole lot and she's even able to turn her back on him. I don't know exactly what to feel on the one hand I liked this story and the characters on the other I just felt like more should have been done with the two main characters in this story. For that reason I must give this book 3.5 stars. This book may be for you, but it just didn't do it for me.
***Review copy provided by author in exchange for a honest review***
Little does Danielle know she was captured and tortured by a powerful vampire and the man she keeps painting Balen was also held prisoner there. Danielle has no idea what goes on around her, a world filled with wraiths, witches, vampires, and a group called Senses. Her would is about to be torn apart when Balen returns unable to stay away from Toronto without making sure she's doing alright. But Balen can't stay away, he's drawn to her the second he sees her again and she feels the same way.
But Balen broke the law while in captivity and knows he must pay the price. Unable to stay away from her, but knowing he most go, Balen returns to the other Senses that he left two years ago to face sentencing. Sentenced to Rest and exile, Balen boards a plane to leave. What he doesn't expect is that he's bonded to Danielle and the further he is away from her the more pain she is in. Waleron, the leader of the Senses has no choice but to turn the plane around and bring him back even though it's a sure death sentence.
Danielle finds herself immersed in a magical world she never knew existed. Wanting to run away but unable to not only because of her feelings toward Balen and the bond they share she is forced to follow him halfway across the globe to Spain. But in order to survive, Danielle must first die and become a Senses question is will she do it and bond herself to Balen for eternity?
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first thing that drew me in was the cover not only of this book but of all the books in this series, next was the synopsis which I figured would fit my preferred reads, lastly was the beginning of this story. While I did enjoy this story, I just felt that the spell bond between Danielle and Balen was more like the beginning of a relationship versus a spell that makes them bonded together. For two people who are suppose to be bonded together by magic they seemed to fight a whole lot and she's even able to turn her back on him. I don't know exactly what to feel on the one hand I liked this story and the characters on the other I just felt like more should have been done with the two main characters in this story. For that reason I must give this book 3.5 stars. This book may be for you, but it just didn't do it for me.
***Review copy provided by author in exchange for a honest review***
September 21, 2013
Wraiths, Senses (and their Scars), Vampires, Witches, CWOs, and tons of otherworldly creatures! What more could you ask for? I was a little taken aback at the very beginning – which is a list of supernatural creatures and their definitions. However, as soon as I started reading the first chapter, I got over my initial shock as I was tossed into the familiar scene of a vampire and his victim. I admit, I wondered what on Earth Balen had agreed to at the end of the first chapter. Then – POOF! – we’re with Danielle, two years later, and she’s trying to put her life back together, but her dreams are haunted by a green-eyed man. Danielle’s character is quick to anger, but she doesn’t hold grudges. She also speaks her mind and doesn’t balk at telling someone just was she’s thinking – and she does it all with flare, fire and spunk (especially when a man orders her to do, or not do something)! I immediately liked her!
The supernatural bits were interesting. My favorite part was the Scars that the Senses have; I would have liked to see that aspect in more scenes. The hierarchy of the supernaturals was neat as well – with the Wraiths and Senses working together to keep the CWOs (vampires and the like) in check. The backstory of how it all came about was slowly revealed throughout the story, which avoided heavy info dumping.
Now to the juicy, steamy scenes! I don’t read a lot of novels with hot-and-heavy romance scenes. I didn’t find these over the top or intrusive to the rest of the story. In fact, I think the author did a great job at depicting the longing Danielle and Balen felt for one another, as well as demonstrating the loving relationships of the other characters. I would best describe it as almost like an adult take on The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.
There were parts that became repetitive, like the brooding bits when Danielle whined about her reasons for protecting herself from falling in love and whether she should Jump (hence the title!), and when Balen moaned about whether he was worthy of Danielle and whether his fellow warriors would ever forgive his betrayal. The reiteration was unnecessary at times.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading Jump and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the story. I would like to see where the story goes next!
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Appropriate for ages 17 & up.
***I received a free copy of Jump from the author through Book Enthusiast Promotions in exchange for an honest review.***
The supernatural bits were interesting. My favorite part was the Scars that the Senses have; I would have liked to see that aspect in more scenes. The hierarchy of the supernaturals was neat as well – with the Wraiths and Senses working together to keep the CWOs (vampires and the like) in check. The backstory of how it all came about was slowly revealed throughout the story, which avoided heavy info dumping.
Now to the juicy, steamy scenes! I don’t read a lot of novels with hot-and-heavy romance scenes. I didn’t find these over the top or intrusive to the rest of the story. In fact, I think the author did a great job at depicting the longing Danielle and Balen felt for one another, as well as demonstrating the loving relationships of the other characters. I would best describe it as almost like an adult take on The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.
There were parts that became repetitive, like the brooding bits when Danielle whined about her reasons for protecting herself from falling in love and whether she should Jump (hence the title!), and when Balen moaned about whether he was worthy of Danielle and whether his fellow warriors would ever forgive his betrayal. The reiteration was unnecessary at times.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading Jump and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the story. I would like to see where the story goes next!
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Appropriate for ages 17 & up.
***I received a free copy of Jump from the author through Book Enthusiast Promotions in exchange for an honest review.***
September 17, 2013
Originally published at Rookie Romance.
Immediately I found myself absorbed in the story, that prologue drew me in and set off a flurry of questions in my mind. I had to know what the hell was going on!
So from there, we flash forward two years and Danielle has no memory of her abduction. She dreams about a man with green eyes who makes her feel safe and protected, but has no real memories. She's frustrated and angry that she can't move on, but she also can't ignore it. I could feel her confusion and sense of helplessness.
I thought Danielle was a great heroine to focus on. She's always been free spirited, but fear holds her back now which makes her angry and frustrated. But she's very strong, and isn't broken by what she's been through. I loved her bluntness, and I could understand all the emotions she felt.
Then there's Balen *swoon*. He's domineering and sexy, and very protective of Danielle. He's tried to stay away from her, to keep her safe but he can't help but be drawn to her again. He's had to make extremely difficult decisions in the past, and is filled with guilt.
Danielle and Balen are physically drawn together, but also develop a passionate and intense love that you just know will last all eternity. They've not got an easy ride to a HEA but they deserve it after all they went through together.
I thought this was a very original take on paranormal romance, and once I started wrapping my head around the different creatures and characters, I was thoroughly immersed in their world.
I liked that this isn't just Balen and Danielle's story, we get glimpses into other characters' lives and tastes of what is to come. I'm particularly interested in seeing what will happen between Waleron and Delara in future books!
This kind of reminded me of Gena Showalter's Lord of the Underworld series, which I love. It has the sexy, alpha warriors, but they each have very clear and individual personalities. Then of course, there's their strong and capable women!
Jump had sexual tension in bucket loads and I loved the chemistry and love between Balen and Danielle. I can't wait to dive into the next book and lose myself all over again in the world of the Senses!
*I received a copy of the book, for my honest review. Thank you!
Immediately I found myself absorbed in the story, that prologue drew me in and set off a flurry of questions in my mind. I had to know what the hell was going on!
So from there, we flash forward two years and Danielle has no memory of her abduction. She dreams about a man with green eyes who makes her feel safe and protected, but has no real memories. She's frustrated and angry that she can't move on, but she also can't ignore it. I could feel her confusion and sense of helplessness.
I thought Danielle was a great heroine to focus on. She's always been free spirited, but fear holds her back now which makes her angry and frustrated. But she's very strong, and isn't broken by what she's been through. I loved her bluntness, and I could understand all the emotions she felt.
Then there's Balen *swoon*. He's domineering and sexy, and very protective of Danielle. He's tried to stay away from her, to keep her safe but he can't help but be drawn to her again. He's had to make extremely difficult decisions in the past, and is filled with guilt.
Danielle and Balen are physically drawn together, but also develop a passionate and intense love that you just know will last all eternity. They've not got an easy ride to a HEA but they deserve it after all they went through together.
I thought this was a very original take on paranormal romance, and once I started wrapping my head around the different creatures and characters, I was thoroughly immersed in their world.
I liked that this isn't just Balen and Danielle's story, we get glimpses into other characters' lives and tastes of what is to come. I'm particularly interested in seeing what will happen between Waleron and Delara in future books!
This kind of reminded me of Gena Showalter's Lord of the Underworld series, which I love. It has the sexy, alpha warriors, but they each have very clear and individual personalities. Then of course, there's their strong and capable women!
Jump had sexual tension in bucket loads and I loved the chemistry and love between Balen and Danielle. I can't wait to dive into the next book and lose myself all over again in the world of the Senses!
*I received a copy of the book, for my honest review. Thank you!
October 5, 2013
3.5 stars!
The first part of this book completely sucks you into the story. With the way the writing is done, you are left wondering what exactly was going on. And more than that, what had happened in the past? I kept turning the pages in hopes of finding out what was really going on, but I felt a little let down when we were finally shown what was going on.
Danielle’s character was written very well. You could almost feel the confusion that she had to deal with on a daily basis. That shows the writers ability to make emotions come off the page. But I felt like after we discovered what was going on with her, her character felt lacking. Balen was a mystery from the beginning and even at the end of the story he still felt like a mystery to me.
The middle part of this story felt very confusing to me. There were times where it felt like there was an information overload that was happening, and everyone who knows me knows that I get confused with a lot of stuff thrown at me at once. While the author did throw in characters that had the “bad guy” attitude, they weren’t really around enough that it made a huge effect on the story.
The ending? Oh I loved it. It was fabulous; the drama, murder, suspense, everything seemed to come together quite nicely. The ending seemed to fly by for me but I think that’s because I was so engrossed in what was going on in the story, I didn’t want it to end!
Overall, I completely enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book. Some of the characters that were in the story though, I think could have not been added. That way there isn’t a large number of people you have to remember, and remember what powers they have.
There are more books in the series and I do believe that I shall check them out in the future.
The first part of this book completely sucks you into the story. With the way the writing is done, you are left wondering what exactly was going on. And more than that, what had happened in the past? I kept turning the pages in hopes of finding out what was really going on, but I felt a little let down when we were finally shown what was going on.
Danielle’s character was written very well. You could almost feel the confusion that she had to deal with on a daily basis. That shows the writers ability to make emotions come off the page. But I felt like after we discovered what was going on with her, her character felt lacking. Balen was a mystery from the beginning and even at the end of the story he still felt like a mystery to me.
The middle part of this story felt very confusing to me. There were times where it felt like there was an information overload that was happening, and everyone who knows me knows that I get confused with a lot of stuff thrown at me at once. While the author did throw in characters that had the “bad guy” attitude, they weren’t really around enough that it made a huge effect on the story.
The ending? Oh I loved it. It was fabulous; the drama, murder, suspense, everything seemed to come together quite nicely. The ending seemed to fly by for me but I think that’s because I was so engrossed in what was going on in the story, I didn’t want it to end!
Overall, I completely enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book. Some of the characters that were in the story though, I think could have not been added. That way there isn’t a large number of people you have to remember, and remember what powers they have.
There are more books in the series and I do believe that I shall check them out in the future.
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