Finally, after weeks of hunting down another Eternal Flame, the team can feel one...but the revelations that come from this encounter put Bea into a spin! See, she has a huge problem with commitment, the forever kind of commitment, because, well, forever IS a long time.... and what she learns about the Flame, shoot, bombshell! I love the determination of Bea, even though she's riddled with uncertainty and guilt, it's a real fear. She has been through so much the past 10 years, so much she's tried to "forget" but it keeps coming back to bite her in the rear. Her magic is all over the place, strong, unpredictable... watching her come to terms with it, accepting it, understanding it, well shoot! Awesome! There is much to love about this book and series, much to love and want to gush about, but I'll try, operative word TRY to contain myself....
I love how these two authors carry me through the story, like I'm riding a wave, the excitement ramped up with each book, each book cresting higher and higher and just before I think it's going to explode into a tsunami, they ease off, calming the waters once more. And that ending??? Flip, flop, flap, I was STUNNED!!!! They take the characters and elevate them, illuminating them brightly, irradiating them with awesomeness! My goodness, ALL the characters delve deeply into my heart, taking up permanent residence....Eva, Bea's doggie, is coolness on four legs and good golly is she a special doggie! I adore Ernie, the lengths he goes through internally, the warmth he exudes for Bea, only make me want to hug him. And Yanni, no nonsense Yanni, a second mum come grandma to Bea, is totally unflappable, love her to bits. And my word, Lestat is so cool, assassin vamp or not! And that's how I in deep, I'm in awe at how these authors give depth to all their characters, a unique identity to all.
I absolutely love the twists, the not knowing where I'm going to land, like Ernie and Yanni, OMG was THAT scene hilarious!!!! Yeah, you need to read it but I promise you'll be in fits of laughter! This book is chock a block action, first the encounter with Adele, another guardian of a Flame, then the ummmm ... Ernie and Yanni thing, then the internal turmoil Bea is facing, you know, "find the flame, find out what her heart wants" etc. Just as I was settling in comfortably, yes, you guessed it, they put up smoke screen after smoke screen, and by the time I got clear, it took another turn, one of a mysterious disappearance of a cup and a book.... titillating, teasing, they have a knack for turning the innocuous, the unassuming into a mind spinning, throw me off scent "I didn't see that coming!" until they DO reveal whodunnit and I'm gobsmacked!
Geez is Fraser a hunk and a half! Patient, considerate, caring, protective, helpful, fierce, strong, unobtrusive and oh so gorgeous to boot! He's just so.... nice! How many guys leave a bag full of known "remedies" after HIS girl has a girls night out with a note "To help with your hangovers"? Yes, he's definitely IT in a man! And he's definitely having a major effect on Bea, the slow burn is ready to combust. That dinner date was...sumptuous... Gosh do I enjoy the banter between them, sharp, witty, tantalising. She sure has come a long way since returning to Witchlight Cove, she's grown, she puts others before herself now, no more running away (her go to mode), now she is all in, all in to help Maddie, all in to try develop a relationship with Ernie, even dabbling in a bit of matchmaking, all in to make new friends. Like she has with Nour. The more I read of her, the more I love her.
There are such poignant heartfelt moments in this book, Maddie thinking she'd never find love, Bea's unbearable guilt that had her running away, the fear of letting someone in. Also there was a jaw dropped, hair raising scene when she recounts her "experience" with her grandmother, well shoot, there was a vice around my heart! Oh lordie was that intense! And horrifying! And I'll mention the ending again... JUST OMG!!! I think this is probably the best book in the series for me.... awesome, amazing, astonishing!