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Fire Ballad #2
Carousel
Across the US, six girls are found murdered and tied to a carousel horse.
The victims are chosen. The girls are warned with a simple postcard, each with a photo of the intended location of their death… and of themselves, post-mortem.
Authorities continue to investigate the macabre, foreshadowed killings. When Wynn Rush receives a card foretelling her own death, she turns to Cole Mathison for help in finding the maniac behind the murders.
Eva joins them in a search that leads to a cryptic message in a sinister old fairy tale.
Someone is out to prove his worth.
And magic cannot find him.
The victims are chosen. The girls are warned with a simple postcard, each with a photo of the intended location of their death… and of themselves, post-mortem.
Authorities continue to investigate the macabre, foreshadowed killings. When Wynn Rush receives a card foretelling her own death, she turns to Cole Mathison for help in finding the maniac behind the murders.
Eva joins them in a search that leads to a cryptic message in a sinister old fairy tale.
Someone is out to prove his worth.
And magic cannot find him.
- GenresParanormal Romance
First published February 7, 2014
About the author
Kimberly Adams
21 books272 followersKimberly Adams writes stories of love, destiny, and the power of meant to be.
Her novels move through contemporary romance, past lives, time travel, historical fiction, psychological suspense, and the fated ways people find their way back to one another. Her long-running ROAM Series has carried readers through love, loss, fate, and second chances for more than a decade.
Her books also include the Movie Series, the Fire Ballad trilogy, the First & Last duet, and standalone novels About Her and Chat.
Whether a story unfolds across a lifetime, another era, or somewhere beyond the boundaries of the ordinary, Kimberly writes about the connections that change us and the journeys that lead us home.
Because there is love in every journey.
Her novels move through contemporary romance, past lives, time travel, historical fiction, psychological suspense, and the fated ways people find their way back to one another. Her long-running ROAM Series has carried readers through love, loss, fate, and second chances for more than a decade.
Her books also include the Movie Series, the Fire Ballad trilogy, the First & Last duet, and standalone novels About Her and Chat.
Whether a story unfolds across a lifetime, another era, or somewhere beyond the boundaries of the ordinary, Kimberly writes about the connections that change us and the journeys that lead us home.
Because there is love in every journey.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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March 4, 2014
Carousel is book two in a fantastic series of suspense, magic, surprise and romance. You are literally on the edge until the very end of the book wanting to know how things are going to end, or how they are going to go forward. I literally stayed up late (knowing my early alarm was coming) just so I could finish the book in a day. There is no point where you want to put it down. So many women can probably relate to Wynn in this story, being shy and feeling unexceptional. But as in most of these cases, Wynn is very wrong about who she is, and who is going to see her for the beauty that she is inside and out. If you don't fall in love with Cole in this story....you weren't paying attention. His southern drawl and blunt attitude can make any woman swoon.
Kimberly Stedronsky has a way to grabbing her audience and keeping them on pins and needles just dying to know where the story will go. She weaves you into a world that is ever changing, and ever growing. I suggest you start with her Roam series...and all of the characters and their personalities will be revealed there. The Fire Ballad series, while a change from the Roam series, keeps you in love with the characters as they move through new stages of their lives.
Kimberly Stedronsky has a way to grabbing her audience and keeping them on pins and needles just dying to know where the story will go. She weaves you into a world that is ever changing, and ever growing. I suggest you start with her Roam series...and all of the characters and their personalities will be revealed there. The Fire Ballad series, while a change from the Roam series, keeps you in love with the characters as they move through new stages of their lives.
February 28, 2015
Amazing! Can I rate a book 10 out of 5? Because this one gets that rating. I love that we've gotten a totally different perspective of the last book in the Roam series. Wynn was present but not an active player in all the drama. I loved getting to know the extremely shy and compassionate young woman who is Violet and Logan's first born. I liked learning the effects of bringing Violet back from the past to a family she doesn't know and how it affects them all. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Wynn and Cole together (he kinda is her brother but not really) but everything just worked. I love the last 2 books of the Roam series as they were told from POVs other than Roam and West. Hearing the story told from ANOTHER point of view and adding additional mythology has just made the story even better. I am loving the Fire Ballad series. It is showing every action in the Roam series has consequences. Magic with a price. I'll enjoy seeing the characters run into some of the creatures that were let out of the dungeon. It just keeps getting better and better. Can't wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2014
Wynn rocks! ohh and so does Cole. Who would have thought the two together would work beautifully.
This book did not disappoint in any way. If you are a Roam freak like I am, you will get a fix with this book. In here, you see Rush and his protectiveness, you get a glimpse of him at his worse and best. Eva is still Eva but I have to admit, I loved seeing her jealous.
I will definitely be keeping this book in my kobo to stay forever with Roam.
This book did not disappoint in any way. If you are a Roam freak like I am, you will get a fix with this book. In here, you see Rush and his protectiveness, you get a glimpse of him at his worse and best. Eva is still Eva but I have to admit, I loved seeing her jealous.
I will definitely be keeping this book in my kobo to stay forever with Roam.
March 4, 2014
I have always believed that angels live among us. It could be the person who stops you from accidentally walking into traffic. Or is it the person who offers comfort, sympathy and compassion to someone in grief? Or maybe it's the person who performs acts of kindness anonymously? But are there other kinds? Ones who don't show those good tendencies? What would or could they do? While reading Kimberly Stedronsky's newest book, I definitely gave them a lot of thought.
Sweet, kind and generous, Wynn Rush, daughter of Logan and Violet, tried to help others in any way she could, putting herself last. Painfully shy, she never felt like she fit in with the rest of her peers, even though she had tried in her younger years. Maybe it just wasn't in the cards for her to be part of all the activities other teenagers experienced. Besides since their return from Icepond, a lot of new responsibilities had been placed on her young shoulders and there was no extra time for anything else. As always, her first love and loyalty would always be to her family. Then potential tragedy struck. A photo showing her future death by the Carousel Killer was delivered to her home. She couldn't ask her family for help because that would put them in danger. Only one person could be her ally in ferreting out the killer before the photo came true, Cole Mathison.
Locating facts, spinning theories, and researching legends, they would peel back every layer to find the killer, but assistance to her endeavor was not the only thing Wynn finds with Cole. Love comes barreling in during the investigation to take her completely off guard. Can she convince Cole she loves him while saving herself from a horrendous death, even if she is immortal and will live again? And after it's all over, will she be able to keep her true love or will past grievances and misconceptions tear them apart?
Handsome, muscular, and immortal, Cole Mathison has fought his share of ghosts, demons and the supernatural, but Wynn's request for his help and protection to help find the Carousel Killer was the hardest gig he had ever had. With each new discovery they are pulled closed together and he finds himself drawn to her. Despite every reason he knows he shouldn't, he finds himself falling in love, but he doesn't feel like he deserves her. Only when they are together he finds peace from his own demons for the first time. Can he let her go when the crisis is over or will he ignore his logical brain and hang on to her forever?
With so many twists and turns intertwined with the excellent character development and intriguing plot, this story was a joy to read. Turning the pages quickly because I was so enthralled in the action of the story, I felt as if I was there helping them figure out the reasons for the murders and encouraging their fledgling love. Mystery, suspense, intrigue, action and roller coaster emotions made this a very entertaining story. Intense interaction with the secondary characters, including some from the Roam series, provided an excellent addition to this story.
I would recommend this book for all readers of romance and paranormal.
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
5/5 stars Could they solve the mystery and find love before she died?
Sweet, kind and generous, Wynn Rush, daughter of Logan and Violet, tried to help others in any way she could, putting herself last. Painfully shy, she never felt like she fit in with the rest of her peers, even though she had tried in her younger years. Maybe it just wasn't in the cards for her to be part of all the activities other teenagers experienced. Besides since their return from Icepond, a lot of new responsibilities had been placed on her young shoulders and there was no extra time for anything else. As always, her first love and loyalty would always be to her family. Then potential tragedy struck. A photo showing her future death by the Carousel Killer was delivered to her home. She couldn't ask her family for help because that would put them in danger. Only one person could be her ally in ferreting out the killer before the photo came true, Cole Mathison.
Locating facts, spinning theories, and researching legends, they would peel back every layer to find the killer, but assistance to her endeavor was not the only thing Wynn finds with Cole. Love comes barreling in during the investigation to take her completely off guard. Can she convince Cole she loves him while saving herself from a horrendous death, even if she is immortal and will live again? And after it's all over, will she be able to keep her true love or will past grievances and misconceptions tear them apart?
Handsome, muscular, and immortal, Cole Mathison has fought his share of ghosts, demons and the supernatural, but Wynn's request for his help and protection to help find the Carousel Killer was the hardest gig he had ever had. With each new discovery they are pulled closed together and he finds himself drawn to her. Despite every reason he knows he shouldn't, he finds himself falling in love, but he doesn't feel like he deserves her. Only when they are together he finds peace from his own demons for the first time. Can he let her go when the crisis is over or will he ignore his logical brain and hang on to her forever?
With so many twists and turns intertwined with the excellent character development and intriguing plot, this story was a joy to read. Turning the pages quickly because I was so enthralled in the action of the story, I felt as if I was there helping them figure out the reasons for the murders and encouraging their fledgling love. Mystery, suspense, intrigue, action and roller coaster emotions made this a very entertaining story. Intense interaction with the secondary characters, including some from the Roam series, provided an excellent addition to this story.
I would recommend this book for all readers of romance and paranormal.
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
5/5 stars Could they solve the mystery and find love before she died?
January 2, 2014
Carousel is the 2nd installment of the Fire Ballad series.
Wynn Rush is an immortal who has received a picture of herself dead. There is a serial killer out there, and it looks like Wynn will be his next victim.
Cole Mathison is an immortal who has tried to help those who need help specializing in the paranormal mysteries.
Wynn who is trying to deal with a mother who can’t remember who she is, along with taking care of her younger sister, and trying her best to keep all of her emotions hidden from her father, needs to seek help and the only person she can think of is Cole Mathison.
When Wynn shows Cole why she is need of his help, he is more than happy to help her, to keep her safe. Wynn is the typical shy girl, one who thinks her looks are ordinary, she doesn’t feel as if she is anything special at all, and she wants to one day ask for her immortality to be taken away. Cole can’t help but want to make sure nothing happens to Wynn, including her giving up her immortality before she understands that everything she thinks she can’t experience being an immortal can just be that much better.
While Wynn has her first encounter with what is hunting her, she soon realizes that things just aren’t what they seem. While her attraction to Cole is immediate, Cole is fighting his feelings for her.
When Wynn’s true destiny is revealed, will be able to handle all that comes with it, or will the evil that is hunting her take her destiny away from her before she can do anything about it? And will Wynn unleash a monster without realizing what it is that she has done?
This is another great read from Kimberly Stedronsky, she has the ability to bring out such great characters that you can’t help but fall in love with them, root for them, and wish the very best for each and every one.
We get to read so much more of her Roam characters in this book, but that only makes me want more and more. Wynn is feeling like she is alone, her father loves her, but the person she has always looked to for answers doesn’t remember her at all. Cole doesn’t feel like he deserves her love, he feels as if she is too pure for a person like him. But their destinies are intertwined and they need each other more than they realize.
I fell in love with Cole in Eighth Note, and this book just proved that he is such a great book boyfriend. Wynn is just the type of character that all girls feel like when they were teenagers (at least that’s how I felt). We get to see more of Eva and her and her wild antics, but that is what makes her so endearing to me. Along with getting more West, Roam, Logan, and Violet this was a great book for me.
I received an ARC for an honest review
Wynn Rush is an immortal who has received a picture of herself dead. There is a serial killer out there, and it looks like Wynn will be his next victim.
Cole Mathison is an immortal who has tried to help those who need help specializing in the paranormal mysteries.
Wynn who is trying to deal with a mother who can’t remember who she is, along with taking care of her younger sister, and trying her best to keep all of her emotions hidden from her father, needs to seek help and the only person she can think of is Cole Mathison.
When Wynn shows Cole why she is need of his help, he is more than happy to help her, to keep her safe. Wynn is the typical shy girl, one who thinks her looks are ordinary, she doesn’t feel as if she is anything special at all, and she wants to one day ask for her immortality to be taken away. Cole can’t help but want to make sure nothing happens to Wynn, including her giving up her immortality before she understands that everything she thinks she can’t experience being an immortal can just be that much better.
While Wynn has her first encounter with what is hunting her, she soon realizes that things just aren’t what they seem. While her attraction to Cole is immediate, Cole is fighting his feelings for her.
When Wynn’s true destiny is revealed, will be able to handle all that comes with it, or will the evil that is hunting her take her destiny away from her before she can do anything about it? And will Wynn unleash a monster without realizing what it is that she has done?
This is another great read from Kimberly Stedronsky, she has the ability to bring out such great characters that you can’t help but fall in love with them, root for them, and wish the very best for each and every one.
We get to read so much more of her Roam characters in this book, but that only makes me want more and more. Wynn is feeling like she is alone, her father loves her, but the person she has always looked to for answers doesn’t remember her at all. Cole doesn’t feel like he deserves her love, he feels as if she is too pure for a person like him. But their destinies are intertwined and they need each other more than they realize.
I fell in love with Cole in Eighth Note, and this book just proved that he is such a great book boyfriend. Wynn is just the type of character that all girls feel like when they were teenagers (at least that’s how I felt). We get to see more of Eva and her and her wild antics, but that is what makes her so endearing to me. Along with getting more West, Roam, Logan, and Violet this was a great book for me.
I received an ARC for an honest review
February 26, 2014
OMG! Can I start by saying how much I LOVE Kimberly Stedronsky, I do, I LOVE this author and her newest publication is simply amazing. So if you’ve read the first Fire Ballad book Eighth Note, then you know that this is a horror series. The main heroine in this book is Wynn Rush. (If you’ve read the Roam series, this is Logan’s oldest daughter. If you haven’t read the series you should!) Wynn has never felt like she belonged. She was an outcast at school and kept to herself. Ever since leaving Icepond after the battle, she has dedicated her life to caring for her mom and her little sister Rose. That is until she receives a post card with a picture of herself dead and tied to a carousel horse. There is a serial killer and he has set his sights on Wynn. She’s afraid to put her family in danger so she turns to Cole Mathison to keep her safe while they try to figure it all out.
“If you don’t want me, you can’t . . .hold. . .me like this. I can’t stand it.”
I have no idea where Kimberly gets her ideas, but her imagination amazes me. She weaves a tale that under normal circumstances I would say “oh please” but her writing is so magical that I believe every word. This story pulled me in and held on tight, not allowing me to put the book down until the very end. What am I saying; this is Kimberly I’m talking about so of course it’s not really the end! Not only is an incredibly well written story but it is full of “oh no she didn’t” moments with surprise twists and turns. I cannot say enough things about this book or this author. I HIGHLY recommend this book (and every other book she’s written) as a MUST READ!!! I give Carousel 5++ stars and at least 3 hands down the pants! I wait with bated breath for her next release.
“I never said I didn’t want you, I said I don’t deserve you.”
“If you don’t want me, you can’t . . .hold. . .me like this. I can’t stand it.”
I have no idea where Kimberly gets her ideas, but her imagination amazes me. She weaves a tale that under normal circumstances I would say “oh please” but her writing is so magical that I believe every word. This story pulled me in and held on tight, not allowing me to put the book down until the very end. What am I saying; this is Kimberly I’m talking about so of course it’s not really the end! Not only is an incredibly well written story but it is full of “oh no she didn’t” moments with surprise twists and turns. I cannot say enough things about this book or this author. I HIGHLY recommend this book (and every other book she’s written) as a MUST READ!!! I give Carousel 5++ stars and at least 3 hands down the pants! I wait with bated breath for her next release.
“I never said I didn’t want you, I said I don’t deserve you.”
September 27, 2013
Carousel is a phenomenal story. It is a spin off from the 'Roam' Series. So much imagination went into Carousel. Wynn Rush is a 19 year old young lady who has lived an innocent life. A serial killer is murdering young women and sends each victim a postcard with their photo depicting their death. When Wynn receives a postcard of her own death, she does not want to endanger her family so she seeks the help of Cole Mathison. Cole has helped out with Wynn's family before, in harrowing experiences. Wynn is shy and somewhat of a loner. She has never been in love before and is finds herself becoming attracted to Cole. Does he feel the same way towards her? This story just grabbed me from the first page through to the last. The author weaves in and out of events so smoothly and you never quite know what will happen next. I read the book non stop, stopping only to sleep. I loved it and couldn't wait to see how it all played out. And I wasn't disappointed. I want more!! There's more I want to say, that I loved, but I don't want to give away any spoilers.
I highly recommend reading the ROAM series first, as it will explain ALL of the characters backgrounds and will explain the story lines pertinent to Carousel. You will truly enjoy ALL the books in the series and will fall in love with the characters.
I highly recommend reading the ROAM series first, as it will explain ALL of the characters backgrounds and will explain the story lines pertinent to Carousel. You will truly enjoy ALL the books in the series and will fall in love with the characters.
January 15, 2014
It's no secret I'm a huge Kimberly Stedronsky fan. Her books are always well thought out & full of fantastic detail. She did not disappoint with Carousel.
Book #2 in the Fire Ballad series [highly recommend reading book one first, though not necessary to follow the story] shares the story of Wynn & Cole. It takes you to scary, magical places & never fails to continually surprise you. I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series & revisiting the magical realm of Icepond.
Book #2 in the Fire Ballad series [highly recommend reading book one first, though not necessary to follow the story] shares the story of Wynn & Cole. It takes you to scary, magical places & never fails to continually surprise you. I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series & revisiting the magical realm of Icepond.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews