What do you think?
Rate this book
Absent Shadows Trilogy #1
Destiny
indieBRAG Medallion Honoree & Awesome Indies Approved
Destiny: 'The predetermined or inevitable path a person must follow'
When nineteen year-old Lili McIntyre decides to trade in her California summer for a mid-winter visit to Australia, it's in hope of finding inspiration and direction in the country where her father was born.
But when she arrives in Melbourne, the first thing she finds is the last thing she's looking for--a brooding man who makes her heart race every time she sees him.
Against her better judgement, Lili finds herself drawn into a relationship that tests her very beliefs about life, reality and fantasy. But the real test is how to follow her destiny as she faces some of the hardest decisions of her life.
Using a modern theme (vampires & ghosts in urban Melbourne), the author tells an old fashioned love story that you won't want to put down, even when you've finished the last page.
Destiny: 'The predetermined or inevitable path a person must follow'
When nineteen year-old Lili McIntyre decides to trade in her California summer for a mid-winter visit to Australia, it's in hope of finding inspiration and direction in the country where her father was born.
But when she arrives in Melbourne, the first thing she finds is the last thing she's looking for--a brooding man who makes her heart race every time she sees him.
Against her better judgement, Lili finds herself drawn into a relationship that tests her very beliefs about life, reality and fantasy. But the real test is how to follow her destiny as she faces some of the hardest decisions of her life.
Using a modern theme (vampires & ghosts in urban Melbourne), the author tells an old fashioned love story that you won't want to put down, even when you've finished the last page.
- GenresParanormalYoung Adult
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2014
About the author
S.M. Spencer
15 books429 followersAt the age of five S M Spencer's life changed when she was plonked onto a black & white pony for a photograph. From that day on all she wanted was a horse. She spent the next eleven years writing stories about the horses she pretended to ride through the rolling hills of coastal California until she got a job and bought her first horse at the age of sixteen.
In the 1980's her life changed again when her employer offered her a role Australia. This was the beginning of an adventure of which she has never tired.
Still living in Australia she now writes from the semi-rural home she shares with her husband, horses, cats and dogs--not to mention the mob of kangaroos that share the paddocks with the horses from time to time.
Her current series, Romancing the Californian Cowboys, is contemporary romance with just a touch of spice, lots of horses, and both Australian and American characters.
Her second series is the Copperhead Creek Australian Romance series. This is light contemporary/rural romance as well as a murder mystery in book six, set within the Golden Triangle outside Melbourne. All books can be read as stand-alone titles.
The first series she wrote is a YA paranormal romance trilogy, Absent Shadows, which is set mostly in Australia.
Follow S M Spencer on FaceBook (S M Spencer - Author) or twitter (@SMSpencerAuthor)
In the 1980's her life changed again when her employer offered her a role Australia. This was the beginning of an adventure of which she has never tired.
Still living in Australia she now writes from the semi-rural home she shares with her husband, horses, cats and dogs--not to mention the mob of kangaroos that share the paddocks with the horses from time to time.
Her current series, Romancing the Californian Cowboys, is contemporary romance with just a touch of spice, lots of horses, and both Australian and American characters.
Her second series is the Copperhead Creek Australian Romance series. This is light contemporary/rural romance as well as a murder mystery in book six, set within the Golden Triangle outside Melbourne. All books can be read as stand-alone titles.
The first series she wrote is a YA paranormal romance trilogy, Absent Shadows, which is set mostly in Australia.
Follow S M Spencer on FaceBook (S M Spencer - Author) or twitter (@SMSpencerAuthor)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 9, 2015
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. It does not affect my opinion of this book.
A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree.
Lili McIntyre takes a mid-winter vacation to stay with her family in Melbourne, Australia. Lili is hoping to discover herself, define her life goals and find inspiration on her journey of discovery. It is in Melbourne that Lili meets Sam, a young, strong, brooding dark-haired male whom she instantly takes a strong liking.
Then the paranormal step in and brings with it danger and possible death. Lili and Sam must together with their friends fight the others who are intent upon destroying the world or at the very least create irreparable havoc and chaos. In the midst of all this, Lili finds her soulmate.
“I stepped back, wiped my face, and put on a brave smile. I stood there, perfectly still, wanting to capture this moment in my memory so I could recall it over and over – to last me until I returned. … us being together was right – that it was my destiny, and nothing could keep us apart.”
A strong well written book. Based on the strength of the characters and well developed plot, the book is very appealing to young adults and adults. Destiny is light reading with a plot and characters that will captivate and engross you. You will not want to put the book down as Ms. Spencer provides twists and moments that will send chills up and down your spine.
Ms. Spencer has a knack for writing in a captivating style by providing vivid and rich details that the reader has no recourse but to become engrossed in the book. It is an excellent book and one I can see will gain in popularity with young audiences and those who love paranormal romance.
Attention to detail is one of Ms. Spencer’s strong points - there were no grammatical errors or typos.
WordsAPlenty highly recommends this book and gives it a 5 star rating.
To purchase this book go to http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Absent-...
A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree.
Lili McIntyre takes a mid-winter vacation to stay with her family in Melbourne, Australia. Lili is hoping to discover herself, define her life goals and find inspiration on her journey of discovery. It is in Melbourne that Lili meets Sam, a young, strong, brooding dark-haired male whom she instantly takes a strong liking.
Then the paranormal step in and brings with it danger and possible death. Lili and Sam must together with their friends fight the others who are intent upon destroying the world or at the very least create irreparable havoc and chaos. In the midst of all this, Lili finds her soulmate.
“I stepped back, wiped my face, and put on a brave smile. I stood there, perfectly still, wanting to capture this moment in my memory so I could recall it over and over – to last me until I returned. … us being together was right – that it was my destiny, and nothing could keep us apart.”
A strong well written book. Based on the strength of the characters and well developed plot, the book is very appealing to young adults and adults. Destiny is light reading with a plot and characters that will captivate and engross you. You will not want to put the book down as Ms. Spencer provides twists and moments that will send chills up and down your spine.
Ms. Spencer has a knack for writing in a captivating style by providing vivid and rich details that the reader has no recourse but to become engrossed in the book. It is an excellent book and one I can see will gain in popularity with young audiences and those who love paranormal romance.
Attention to detail is one of Ms. Spencer’s strong points - there were no grammatical errors or typos.
WordsAPlenty highly recommends this book and gives it a 5 star rating.
To purchase this book go to http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Absent-...
April 6, 2015
To start with, I liked this story as a whole. I enjoyed the different take on what goes bump in the night basically a form of vampire. I also liked most of the side characters because they breathed life into the story which leads me to my issue with the MC. She seemed very flat to me almost inhuman in her responses and actions. She just wasn't very compelling to me.
In the beginning of the story our heroine does say her dad died and since then she hasn't been the same. However, I think since it's been a few years she would be a bit more lively. She just seems like a shell, even as the story progresses she remains on the same even keel. It's understandable that type of trauma would effect you for your life, but it made it very hard to connect with her as a character.
Like I said, I think the story itself is well written and worth a read. I think some readers, like myself, may have a hard time trying to connect with the story because of Lili though.
My Rating:3.5 stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
In the beginning of the story our heroine does say her dad died and since then she hasn't been the same. However, I think since it's been a few years she would be a bit more lively. She just seems like a shell, even as the story progresses she remains on the same even keel. It's understandable that type of trauma would effect you for your life, but it made it very hard to connect with her as a character.
Like I said, I think the story itself is well written and worth a read. I think some readers, like myself, may have a hard time trying to connect with the story because of Lili though.
My Rating:3.5 stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2015
We are proud to announce that DESTINY: ABSENT SHADOWS TRILOGY by S.M. Spencer is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
May 1, 2015
Destiny is the first book in the Absent Shadows Trilogy but works well as a standalone book in its own right. Nineteen-year-old Lili leaves California to sort her head out and decide what she wants to do with her life ... does she want to marry David or not? Does she want to continue on with the college course that she has no interest in, just to please her mom? A winter break to Australia to stay with her Aunt seems like the best thing to give Lili some much-needed space. On the flight out, she meets Claire and they become fast friends, and by a great coincidence live not too far away from one another. Claire has a boyfriend, Tom, and when she takes Lili to meet him and his friend, Sam, Lili has eyes only for Sam. Soon, she finds her life taking a track she could never have guessed at, and her eyes are opened to a whole new world. This is a gentle YA Paranormal drama/romance that keeps a subtle amount of pressure throughout the read. The writing contains very few errors, and I felt the author did a good job with the mixture of Aussie/English words and phrases, versus the American/English colloquialisms. As a British reader, it all felt authentic to me. The character development is done well, and I felt engaged with both Lili and the story as a whole. This was an easy and enjoyable read. I highly recommend Destiny to lovers of YA Paranormal Romance, with a good amount of tension built into the drama. A strong four stars from me.
April 23, 2015
This is a YA paranormal romance set in Melbourne, Australia and is the first book of a series.
Lili has taken a break and travelled to Australia with the hope of discovering herself and what she wants from her life. On the plane she makes friends with a girl called Claire who offers to show her around Melbourne. Claire takes Lili to a market and it's there that she meets Sam, a dark haired, handsome man who works on the market stall. For reasons that she can't explain, Lili feels instantly drawn to him. She soon discovers that Sam is not quite what he seems to be on the surface.
I enjoyed the romance between Lili and Sam, it was sweet and believable. The secondary characters were well fleshed out, and likeable. There was a scene involving a buried gun which I'm dying to know more about, but it wasn't expanded upon in this book. Perhaps it will be in the sequel. The story built to an incident which was supposed to be climactic, but for me it kind of fizzled out to nothing. That said, this was a well written book that held my interest throughout, and I will go on to read the next two books in the series.
Lili has taken a break and travelled to Australia with the hope of discovering herself and what she wants from her life. On the plane she makes friends with a girl called Claire who offers to show her around Melbourne. Claire takes Lili to a market and it's there that she meets Sam, a dark haired, handsome man who works on the market stall. For reasons that she can't explain, Lili feels instantly drawn to him. She soon discovers that Sam is not quite what he seems to be on the surface.
I enjoyed the romance between Lili and Sam, it was sweet and believable. The secondary characters were well fleshed out, and likeable. There was a scene involving a buried gun which I'm dying to know more about, but it wasn't expanded upon in this book. Perhaps it will be in the sequel. The story built to an incident which was supposed to be climactic, but for me it kind of fizzled out to nothing. That said, this was a well written book that held my interest throughout, and I will go on to read the next two books in the series.
May 17, 2015
Lili goes to live in Australia with her aunt for a while. On the plane ride over, she befriends a girl her age called Claire who introduces her to two guys called Tom and Sam. As she gets to know Sam better, Lili discovers his secret and her destiny. Well written, with engaging characters, it was easy to get into and hard to put down. The book description doesn't give much away but I enjoyed the book. I would definitely recommend it.
March 27, 2015
Good twist one vampire story for sure. I love the modern vampires being able to live among us common people. This book kept me wanting to read more the whole time. I had a busy day today on a day off and I read this book every chance I got. Love it! Can't wait for book 2. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
June 18, 2015
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to begin with what worked well for me in this novel before I get to some (hopefully) constructive criticisms.
First, I really liked the premise of this novel, and really enjoyed the first couple of chapters. They made me want to keep going. I mean, vampires AND ghosts AND crystals with power AND a turf war!? You had me at vampires, really. Then you added in some ghost flavor. I'm always a sucker for ghost flavor. These two concepts alone, vampires and ghosts together in one novel, could have been epic. So, kudos for the very imaginative novel idea. I really enjoyed the scene where Lili meets Sam. It was intriguing. Consider the suspension built. But then, somewhere along the way, you lost me. Utterly.
Not to harp on Lili, but my goodness her character seriously has some growing up to do. She's supposed to be in college, has just avoided a marriage proposal, and is now trying to "find herself" in Australia, where her father was born (he died -- that's not a spoiler). However, she comes across as a small, frightened child. That would have been fine if she had developed from that point, but she doesn't. She remains this fragile, whimpering thing who must rely on her new vampire boyfriend for strength. Oh, and she wants to be a ghost whisperer. That little tidbit gets kind of thrown in there without any explanation (kind of like it just did in this blog post -- it's unsettling, right?). And I tried, so very hard, to ignore the rather dull dialogue coming from Lili.
Most of the other characters remain undeveloped as well -- there's Claire (her new gal pal who drinks a lot, is a major flirt, and makes bad decisions), Sam (her new vampire boyfriend who broods and sulks one moment and is super into her the next), Tom (Claire's man and Sam's friend who apparently really likes to kill things), Erranase (the vampire who turned Sam and Tom), Deb (Lili's aunt who is gone a lot), Michael and Crystal (dhampirs -- Google it if you don't know what that is -- who have no distinguishing characteristics), Elizabeth (Sam's sister who is a ghost that died quite young and who can read people's thoughts), and a few other fringe characters (more vampires and ghosts). One character, a ghost named Rachel, was really quite creepy. I wish more had been done with that character and I'm hoping that her story line plays out in book two because as it is she just feels like a character who came, could have been important but wasn't, and then vanished.
Speaking of things that came, could have been important but weren't, and then vanished, let's talk about the climax of this novel. So, throughout, the tension is building between one group (Sam, Tom, Erranase, Michael and Crystal, and, by extension, Lili) and another group (older vamps who used to be friends with Erranase) who are trying to take over Sam's and Tom's territory. Turf war, anyone? That scene could have been huge! Unfortunately, once this tension comes to a head, our main character, Lili, is side stage. She can't hear or clearly see any of the action. So neither can we. Why would you do that?! Then, rather than get a blow-by-blow full of lots of description and action, we have to hear about what happened through Elizabeth (ghost who can read minds). Needless to say this "climax" flatlined. I kept hoping that there would be more explanation later, but I never got it.
There were a few other things that really bothered me. One, crystals and diamond shapes exist in this novel's world as powerful entities, but that is never fully explained. Somewhere around the 50% mark, they just show up, and we as readers have to accept their existence and their power. Two, the dialogue is not always believable. Especially between Lili and Sam, it often feels stilted, forced, inauthentic, and childish. Three, I hope Australian slang and colloquialisms do not bother you, but I occasionally had a hard time getting around them. Every time I bumped into one, it threw me out of the novel's atmosphere and back into my world. That was frustrating. Four, there were other unbelievable parts aside from the dialogue. For instance, Lili and Sam could have had an instant connection, sure, but they fall in head-over-heels LOVE in a matter of weeks. Right. Also, (back to the Rachel thing) Lili digs up a gun at Rachel's request. The police get involved, and at the end of the novel we see in a newspaper headline that there will be a trial, but Lili is heading back to California like this is a non-issue. The Australian authorities wouldn't let her leave. She would have to be involved in some way in the proceedings of that court case. I hope that gets addressed in the next book.
I really wanted to like this novel, and I did like the first couple of chapters. In fact, I was hanging in there until about half-way through and then things fell apart. For these reasons I am only able to give 2.5 stars.
I would like to begin with what worked well for me in this novel before I get to some (hopefully) constructive criticisms.
First, I really liked the premise of this novel, and really enjoyed the first couple of chapters. They made me want to keep going. I mean, vampires AND ghosts AND crystals with power AND a turf war!? You had me at vampires, really. Then you added in some ghost flavor. I'm always a sucker for ghost flavor. These two concepts alone, vampires and ghosts together in one novel, could have been epic. So, kudos for the very imaginative novel idea. I really enjoyed the scene where Lili meets Sam. It was intriguing. Consider the suspension built. But then, somewhere along the way, you lost me. Utterly.
Not to harp on Lili, but my goodness her character seriously has some growing up to do. She's supposed to be in college, has just avoided a marriage proposal, and is now trying to "find herself" in Australia, where her father was born (he died -- that's not a spoiler). However, she comes across as a small, frightened child. That would have been fine if she had developed from that point, but she doesn't. She remains this fragile, whimpering thing who must rely on her new vampire boyfriend for strength. Oh, and she wants to be a ghost whisperer. That little tidbit gets kind of thrown in there without any explanation (kind of like it just did in this blog post -- it's unsettling, right?). And I tried, so very hard, to ignore the rather dull dialogue coming from Lili.
Most of the other characters remain undeveloped as well -- there's Claire (her new gal pal who drinks a lot, is a major flirt, and makes bad decisions), Sam (her new vampire boyfriend who broods and sulks one moment and is super into her the next), Tom (Claire's man and Sam's friend who apparently really likes to kill things), Erranase (the vampire who turned Sam and Tom), Deb (Lili's aunt who is gone a lot), Michael and Crystal (dhampirs -- Google it if you don't know what that is -- who have no distinguishing characteristics), Elizabeth (Sam's sister who is a ghost that died quite young and who can read people's thoughts), and a few other fringe characters (more vampires and ghosts). One character, a ghost named Rachel, was really quite creepy. I wish more had been done with that character and I'm hoping that her story line plays out in book two because as it is she just feels like a character who came, could have been important but wasn't, and then vanished.
Speaking of things that came, could have been important but weren't, and then vanished, let's talk about the climax of this novel. So, throughout, the tension is building between one group (Sam, Tom, Erranase, Michael and Crystal, and, by extension, Lili) and another group (older vamps who used to be friends with Erranase) who are trying to take over Sam's and Tom's territory. Turf war, anyone? That scene could have been huge! Unfortunately, once this tension comes to a head, our main character, Lili, is side stage. She can't hear or clearly see any of the action. So neither can we. Why would you do that?! Then, rather than get a blow-by-blow full of lots of description and action, we have to hear about what happened through Elizabeth (ghost who can read minds). Needless to say this "climax" flatlined. I kept hoping that there would be more explanation later, but I never got it.
There were a few other things that really bothered me. One, crystals and diamond shapes exist in this novel's world as powerful entities, but that is never fully explained. Somewhere around the 50% mark, they just show up, and we as readers have to accept their existence and their power. Two, the dialogue is not always believable. Especially between Lili and Sam, it often feels stilted, forced, inauthentic, and childish. Three, I hope Australian slang and colloquialisms do not bother you, but I occasionally had a hard time getting around them. Every time I bumped into one, it threw me out of the novel's atmosphere and back into my world. That was frustrating. Four, there were other unbelievable parts aside from the dialogue. For instance, Lili and Sam could have had an instant connection, sure, but they fall in head-over-heels LOVE in a matter of weeks. Right. Also, (back to the Rachel thing) Lili digs up a gun at Rachel's request. The police get involved, and at the end of the novel we see in a newspaper headline that there will be a trial, but Lili is heading back to California like this is a non-issue. The Australian authorities wouldn't let her leave. She would have to be involved in some way in the proceedings of that court case. I hope that gets addressed in the next book.
I really wanted to like this novel, and I did like the first couple of chapters. In fact, I was hanging in there until about half-way through and then things fell apart. For these reasons I am only able to give 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include DESTINY (Absent Shadows Trilogy #1) by S M SPENCER in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
AIBA Book of the Day: 7 June, 2021: 194/42128
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):
"Lili McIntyre just ended a difficult relationship and is now on a much-needed summer vacation to Melbourne, Australia for a few months. Her aunt Debs welcomes her Down Under and provides her with a chance to clear her head. On the plane, Lili meets Claire, and that new friendship introduces her to more than she dreamed of. Though Claire doesn't know it, her new boyfriend, Tom, has an enormous secret. The oblivious Claire introduces Lili to Sam, Tom's close friend. As a natural double-date, Sam and Lili find themselves thrown together and soon discover a growing attraction.
Soon, Lili discovers why Sam and Tom behave so strangely. They are vampires! Suddenly a world of the supernatural opens up to Lili and her heart will lead her to help Sam keep his secret identity and defend the city from conflicts begun in ages past.
Destiny is an enjoyable book with a fun take on the vampire genre, full of characters created with affection and care. Lili’s struggle to determine her future and the pressures from home struck a chord with me. She feels the urgency to decide her future and move forward, although the hugeness of the decision overwhelms her.
The American/Australian crossover made me wonder through the tale about the author’s origins, but I think I know. Some telling word choice clued me in. I loved hearing about life in Melbourne and all the interesting trips the characters took nearby. Though some of Melbourne's history appears in the book, I would have like to learn more.
I appreciated the potential for the tale to discuss the subject of abuse. I think that young women, especially, need reinforcement that abuse is real, encouragement that they don't have to endure it, and illustrations of what it really looks like. Plenty of speakers and nonfiction writers share about abuse, but tales of people enduring and overcoming it reach us in a different, sometimes more personal way.
Lili wonders through the tale why she isn't scared that Sam is a vampire. I know why: it's because none of the vampires in this book are the slightest bit scary. Romance and good looks trump blood-drinking. Any slip of the teeth is slight and polite to the extent that Claire never once discovers their identity. Even the scenes that should be thrilling and terrifying lose their teeth because of the detached and passive way the author describes them. My take is that the trouble lies in the author's unwillingness to make the characters suffer. She loves them too much. Any problem is short and quickly resolved without the pain that blood-drinking romantic interests should pose.
Aside from the pressured calm of the tale, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the second book in the trilogy to find the answers to the problems that Lili hasn't solved yet."
AIBA Book of the Day: 7 June, 2021: 194/42128
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):
"Lili McIntyre just ended a difficult relationship and is now on a much-needed summer vacation to Melbourne, Australia for a few months. Her aunt Debs welcomes her Down Under and provides her with a chance to clear her head. On the plane, Lili meets Claire, and that new friendship introduces her to more than she dreamed of. Though Claire doesn't know it, her new boyfriend, Tom, has an enormous secret. The oblivious Claire introduces Lili to Sam, Tom's close friend. As a natural double-date, Sam and Lili find themselves thrown together and soon discover a growing attraction.
Soon, Lili discovers why Sam and Tom behave so strangely. They are vampires! Suddenly a world of the supernatural opens up to Lili and her heart will lead her to help Sam keep his secret identity and defend the city from conflicts begun in ages past.
Destiny is an enjoyable book with a fun take on the vampire genre, full of characters created with affection and care. Lili’s struggle to determine her future and the pressures from home struck a chord with me. She feels the urgency to decide her future and move forward, although the hugeness of the decision overwhelms her.
The American/Australian crossover made me wonder through the tale about the author’s origins, but I think I know. Some telling word choice clued me in. I loved hearing about life in Melbourne and all the interesting trips the characters took nearby. Though some of Melbourne's history appears in the book, I would have like to learn more.
I appreciated the potential for the tale to discuss the subject of abuse. I think that young women, especially, need reinforcement that abuse is real, encouragement that they don't have to endure it, and illustrations of what it really looks like. Plenty of speakers and nonfiction writers share about abuse, but tales of people enduring and overcoming it reach us in a different, sometimes more personal way.
Lili wonders through the tale why she isn't scared that Sam is a vampire. I know why: it's because none of the vampires in this book are the slightest bit scary. Romance and good looks trump blood-drinking. Any slip of the teeth is slight and polite to the extent that Claire never once discovers their identity. Even the scenes that should be thrilling and terrifying lose their teeth because of the detached and passive way the author describes them. My take is that the trouble lies in the author's unwillingness to make the characters suffer. She loves them too much. Any problem is short and quickly resolved without the pain that blood-drinking romantic interests should pose.
Aside from the pressured calm of the tale, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the second book in the trilogy to find the answers to the problems that Lili hasn't solved yet."
November 7, 2015
Destiny: Absent Shadows by S M Spencer is a wonderfully fresh and new take on a love story story about humans and vampires.
Lili McIntyre needs to get away from a controlling boyfriend and her classes as school in the States, so she decides to take a break from it all and visit her deceased father's birthplace of Australia. He father's sister lives in Australia and welcomes Lili for the two short months that Lili will be staying in the land down under.
Everything starts out great for Lili and her new-found friend, Claire, who introduces Lili to Sam. Sam is a mysterious sort and Lili is not sure what he is hiding. She finds out soon enough that Sam is a vampire and that Claire's beau is also one, too. From this, the story takes an interesting turn and the two couples go on an adventure that will change all of their lives.
With the backdrop of vampires, ghosts and fighting evil, Lili and Sam become soulmates. But, when Lili has to return to the States, what will become of her and Sam? No spoilers here, you have to read the book to find out.
Ms. Spencer has done an impressive job of weaving a familiar story of love between humans and vampires. The characters were well-developed and the writing was exemplary. The plot and story line is new and fresh and will definitely resonate with young adult readers.
Lili McIntyre needs to get away from a controlling boyfriend and her classes as school in the States, so she decides to take a break from it all and visit her deceased father's birthplace of Australia. He father's sister lives in Australia and welcomes Lili for the two short months that Lili will be staying in the land down under.
Everything starts out great for Lili and her new-found friend, Claire, who introduces Lili to Sam. Sam is a mysterious sort and Lili is not sure what he is hiding. She finds out soon enough that Sam is a vampire and that Claire's beau is also one, too. From this, the story takes an interesting turn and the two couples go on an adventure that will change all of their lives.
With the backdrop of vampires, ghosts and fighting evil, Lili and Sam become soulmates. But, when Lili has to return to the States, what will become of her and Sam? No spoilers here, you have to read the book to find out.
Ms. Spencer has done an impressive job of weaving a familiar story of love between humans and vampires. The characters were well-developed and the writing was exemplary. The plot and story line is new and fresh and will definitely resonate with young adult readers.
May 27, 2016
I don't know if I've ever liked a heroine so much in a vampire book as I liked Lili. She's sweet and cutely rambly, but also brave. I don't read a ton of vampire books, mostly by choice, because the girls that fall in love with these guys tend to be too weak and swoony.
Lili is an American who goes to stay with her aunt in Australia for two months, trying to run away from her problems with her ex. One the plane she meets Claire who befriends her, determined to make her stay in AU a fun one. Its through Claire that she meets Sam, the uber hot vampire. This is where the story uses a bit of cliche. Sam is all broody, destined to live a life alone - until he meets Lili.
I'll leave the rest of the story a mystery since you really should read this book. My favorite part was seeing Sam come to life, from the glum loner - to the sweet man who will do anything to protect Lili. Throw in the fact that he can talk to ghosts, one of which is his little sister, and you have a character that is intriguing and crush worthy.
All in all, this was a really good read, and that says something since it's outside my normal genres. Definitely worth the time and money I spent on it.
Lili is an American who goes to stay with her aunt in Australia for two months, trying to run away from her problems with her ex. One the plane she meets Claire who befriends her, determined to make her stay in AU a fun one. Its through Claire that she meets Sam, the uber hot vampire. This is where the story uses a bit of cliche. Sam is all broody, destined to live a life alone - until he meets Lili.
I'll leave the rest of the story a mystery since you really should read this book. My favorite part was seeing Sam come to life, from the glum loner - to the sweet man who will do anything to protect Lili. Throw in the fact that he can talk to ghosts, one of which is his little sister, and you have a character that is intriguing and crush worthy.
All in all, this was a really good read, and that says something since it's outside my normal genres. Definitely worth the time and money I spent on it.
January 26, 2016
Clean romance, interesting concept, a bit dream-like and airy. Lili, with an i doesn't know what to do with her life, and so she goes to Australia and dates the hottest vampire around. They have... nothing in common, but for some reason they mystically connect and can't help themselves. Also, his eyes are like black holes that suck her in. Who can resist that?
I wish there had been more conflict, that they had reasons to be together or be apart, or a compulsion either way. He was just a hot guy who happened to be a vampire, and she found out his identity before she became particularly attached to him which to an ordinary girl would probably put off some red flags.
It was a fun story overall.
I wish there had been more conflict, that they had reasons to be together or be apart, or a compulsion either way. He was just a hot guy who happened to be a vampire, and she found out his identity before she became particularly attached to him which to an ordinary girl would probably put off some red flags.
It was a fun story overall.
September 14, 2015
Lili is a teenage girl, trying to figure out her future and what she wants to do with her life. She goes on a trip to Australia to her aunts house for the summer. She meets Claire on the plane and they become friends. Claire introduces Lili to her friends Sam and Tom. Lili likes Sam but doesn't realise he has a big secret. I was put off vampire stories with Twilight, but this is a great story and I liked it. It was well written and I liked the main characters.
November 9, 2015
A must read for fans of YA paranormal romance!
I loved it! Great story, great characters, great writing. What more can I say? I'm about to start reading Book 2!
I loved it! Great story, great characters, great writing. What more can I say? I'm about to start reading Book 2!
January 21, 2018
Destiny
This is not a book genre that I would normally read but SM Spencer creates such delightful and intriguing characters that I thought I would try it and am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the rest of the series!
This is not a book genre that I would normally read but SM Spencer creates such delightful and intriguing characters that I thought I would try it and am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the rest of the series!
December 9, 2018
Interesting
This is an interesting story. There was danger yet the main character, Sam was never actually in danger. It was different but the romance was slow and sweet and I look forward to seeing how the story continues.
This is an interesting story. There was danger yet the main character, Sam was never actually in danger. It was different but the romance was slow and sweet and I look forward to seeing how the story continues.
June 22, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fun twist on the young adult paranormal genre. Spencer offers up young love, vampires, ghosts, action, excitement, and much more.
Lili is a fun main character who jumps into this new world she's discovered with both feet. As anyone who recently exited a serious relationship, she goes back and forth regarding her feelings for Sam, who has his own reservations about the emotions she stirs in him.
Overall I enjoyed the book and was left anxious to know what would happen in the rest of the series. I enjoy when romance is mixed with paranormal, it gives the genre a refreshing take (even though it's taken on a genre of its own now) and gives readers more than just another drama filled romance book.
Very well written and definitely left me wanting more. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, I'd recommend the Absent Shadows Trilogy.
A fun twist on the young adult paranormal genre. Spencer offers up young love, vampires, ghosts, action, excitement, and much more.
Lili is a fun main character who jumps into this new world she's discovered with both feet. As anyone who recently exited a serious relationship, she goes back and forth regarding her feelings for Sam, who has his own reservations about the emotions she stirs in him.
Overall I enjoyed the book and was left anxious to know what would happen in the rest of the series. I enjoy when romance is mixed with paranormal, it gives the genre a refreshing take (even though it's taken on a genre of its own now) and gives readers more than just another drama filled romance book.
Very well written and definitely left me wanting more. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, I'd recommend the Absent Shadows Trilogy.
February 29, 2016
Pleasant read
Girl meets vampire. Vampire tells girl he's a vampire in a long lengthy conversation. Romance ensures. No conflict. No stakes until 50% of the way through the novel.
The major conflict didn't even involve the main character. That was the novel's major disappointment. The secondary characters spent chapter after chapter plotting to overcome the villain, and then the protagonist just watched from the sidelines.
Anticlimactic. Flat plot arc.
No growth of character. Characters hang out and say lovey-dovey things to each other. But there's not even any steamy moments.
Just a pleasant story.
Clean read.
Girl meets vampire. Vampire tells girl he's a vampire in a long lengthy conversation. Romance ensures. No conflict. No stakes until 50% of the way through the novel.
The major conflict didn't even involve the main character. That was the novel's major disappointment. The secondary characters spent chapter after chapter plotting to overcome the villain, and then the protagonist just watched from the sidelines.
Anticlimactic. Flat plot arc.
No growth of character. Characters hang out and say lovey-dovey things to each other. But there's not even any steamy moments.
Just a pleasant story.
Clean read.
December 7, 2015
Dear readers: please note, the Absent Shadows trilogy is a Young Adult paranormal romance. If this was a movie it would be rated PG.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews