Wicked Fate

Wicked Luck #2

by Shannon Maynard

How can Ava Starr's dream come true be Dax Miller's worst nightmare?

Ava's mother always told her to be careful what she wished for. From the moment Ava woke up on Lamarai Island, she wanted nothing more than to find Preston. But now that she has, her heart is caught in a fierce game of tug-of-war. In a place where danger lurks around every tree, she must quickly figure out who she can trust, and who is out to destroy her dream of a happy ever after.

Dax's plan to capture Ava's heart was all falling into place. That is, until Ava's past showed up on the island in the form of a tall, dark, and handsome pilot named Preston, leaving Dax to wonder if he's inherited Ava's wicked luck. Preston is determined to pick up his relationship with Ava where they left off before a plane crash separated them, but Dax will stop at nothing to fight for the girl of his dreams and discover the truth behind the mysterious pilot.

But Dax isn't the only one troubled by the surprise appearance of Preston and his flight crew. The new visitors to the island have caused Dax's stepsister, Roxy, to develop a bad case of sibling rivalry, as well as managed to attract the unwanted attention of a vicious tribe of cannibals. Now Dax must figure out a way to keep his new tribe of misfits safe, while Ava is left to make the most important decision of her life. Will they succeed, or will fate decide for them?

Wicked Fate is the heart-pounding sequel to Wicked Luck, a new adult adventure romance series.

Genres: Romance

Paperback

First published August 25, 2015

About the author

Shannon L. Maynard lives in Colorado with her five girls and a boxer named Lucky. When she's not working, writing, or reading she can be found driving kids to soccer, folding mountains of pink laundry, or eating her weight in chocolate. Other addictions include shoe shopping, reading YA, and Australian and British accents (which may be partly to blame for her massive crush on Thor). If she had one wish it would be for more hours in the day to spend enjoying all of the above. Okay, everything except the laundry.
Shannon studied art and criminology before getting a license in cosmetology, but eventually wound up an expert daydreamer; a skill that occasionally leads to getting lost while driving, but has been a huge asset to her love for writing. WICKED LUCK and WICKED FATE are the first two book in the Wicked Luck Trilogy.

Reviews

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As everybody knows by now, my favorite genre is YA Paranormal, but I have a tendency from time-to-time to venture out of my comfort zone and give other books a try.

Well, this book picked up right where the cliffhanger to Wicked Luck left off. I was so desperately in need of reading this book, because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. After reading Chapter One, that's where my attention was lost. I didn't like the way Ava kept going back and forth between her love for Dax and her love for Preston. I also didn't like the part where the guys kept trying to constantly win her love either. Of course, it is the typical male way. It just seemed so slow throughout that time, that is until we reach about Chapter Twenty-five, it really started picking up again and really captured my attention, because I read those last Ten Chapters in like an hour because I just HAD to know if they were going to finally all get their wish and leave the island....but HAHA, I am not going to tell you. Thought I would tell you huh? Well, I fooled you!! You must go purchase the book and read it for yourselves.

I am giving this book only a four book rating because I lost the interest during the middle of the book, because I am an action type girl and not much on the 'I love this guy' and yet 'I love this guy'. So pick up your copy of this book because your opinion will be different from mine.

Clean Teen Publishing provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only as part of a Blog Tour. No remuneration was exchanged.

[Kitkat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like how this book treated female character. Ava was treated like a toy two boys were fighting over. Some scenes were really cute and loving but dam at the end them fighting like children. I was kind of disgusting. I hated it. I hated that they were discussing that they didn't want to have sex with her so she can still be a virgin. I thought that was gross and none of their business. I honestly loved Dax but he became foolish and ignorant. He didn't see how dirty he was playing to mess with Preston. Also how they fought over her was so dumb. I thought it was stupid and I think I'm done reading this series. I barely got through it. I am done with this book.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! And an even better cover-I love the colours!-and an even better book! So much happens, and it was just a fantastic sequel!

[☆ Naomi ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I'm not real sure about this rating yet, but I've decided to go for 3.5, close to 4 stars out of five. It's been quite a while since I read the first book in the series, wicked luck and I actually really liked that one. It liked how Wicked fate picked up right where the first book had left off but I got a little annoyed because Ava was going back and forth between her two guys the entire time and she couldn't seem to make a decision. Of course I understand where her hardships are coming from, one of them is the guy she was in love with before she met the other and then there is her savor who keeps an eye on her and gets her through the rough weeks on the island and who she develops feelings for. It's quite a messed up situation. Preston and Dax continue to fight over her like she is some prize that has to be won and that kind of frustrated me, like they were drooling all over her. But in the end they both loved her and wanted what was best for her. I think that she made the right choice by the end of the story, though I did feel sorry for the other guy of course, especially because of what happened to him.

The covers of the books are extremely pretty, which is the main reason why I picked up the books in the first place. The story is really good, something new and refreshing, something I never read before and I really enjoyed it. The characters were really nice and even though the story got a bit slow and nothing seemed to happen and a sudden point, there were always new things to discover and I'm so happy I gave these books a try. With it's 243 pages it's not too huge and it's actually a perfect book if you want something to read over one or two days. Shannon brought the story to a very nice ending, though the last page confused the hell out of me. I was like...Wait...Is there going to be another book or is this it? I'll never know what happens next? If you want to find out if our characters make it off the island alive you'll have to read the series yourself and it's definitely worth the time.

[☆Joycedale☆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 57%
I didn't think it could get worse but then both guys propose and she accepts both?? The whiplash with their story is too much. I decided to read some reviews to see if it gets better and found out it ends in another cliffhanger. Couldn't find a 3rd book so I looked up the author. The last update she gave on book 3 is that it would be released in spring of 17, that was 2 yrs ago! There's no point in reading anymore if I never get a conclusion.

[Rachel Fortin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got three fourths through but couldn't finish. Then back and forth love triangle was getting old. So much repetition.

[Leah Nova (Bookish Harpist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Oh. My. Gosh. This is the sequel to Wicked Luck, which I reviewed a few days ago. Wicked Luck ends in a dramatic cliffhanger, and Wicked Fate picks up right in the middle of the action.

There’s so much to talk about, so I’ll start with what I loved about this book. I loved the romance of it all. In Wicked Luck, in terms of vying for Ava’s affection, it was Dax against Ava’s memory of Preston. Now, it’s Dax against Preston, head on. It’s this love triangle that makes up most of the conflict of the novel, as both guys love her, and it’s up to Ava to choose who she wants to be with. There are amazing scenes with both guys taking her on island dates, and, as the co-pilot Kirk keeps mentioning, reminds me of The Bachelorette, where all that’s missing is a rose to give to the chosen guy. To be honest, as the truth comes to light, it might even be hard to choose a guy to side with. (Team Dax? Team Preston? It’s a hard choice!!!) Once again, the narrative is spot on, and you can clearly imagine the events of the novel in your head as if you were there. There’s also more drama with the tribes, which is exactly what I had been hoping for. We get a backstory on how they came to live on the island, and their beliefs come to light and spark the climax of the novel.
Now, when it comes to things I didn’t like, it was mainly a few characterization issues and continuity problems, the latter of which may be fixed in the editing process before the release. In terms of continuity, there was a scene in which Dax asked Ava what she loved about Preston and about past dates they went on, all of which were things that Dax should have known from Ava’s diary. Maybe he just wanted to hear it from her mouth, which would make sense in the context of the scene. When it comes to characterization, I wish we could have gotten to know Anna more. In both books, she’s just a side character who doesn’t say much, and somehow comes to have an important, but still minor role in the grand scheme of things. Also, Roxy, Ava’s sister, could have been fleshed out more. We get to see that she’s bitter and angry that she’s lost everything while Ava seems to have everything better, leading to a huge case of sibling rivalry between the two, but we don’t really get to see much of her after her dramatic exit, and by then it’s too late to get into her head much. Bummer.

That being said, Wicked Fate comes out later this month, on August 25th, and you can preorder it on Amazon! Also, at the time of posting, Wicked Luck is free on amazon, so if I were you I’d make my way over to Amazon right now and snatch up your free kindle copy. I highly recommend this series, and now I’m desperately hoping for another book, because, as I said earlier, this ends in a cliffhanger, and I’m still on edge after reading that ending! As stated in my review of Wicked Luck, this is a book that anyone could love. There’s a love triangle, plenty of action, tragedy, and plenty of revelations throughout the entire book. While the first book may have been lacking in excitement and conflict, this book is full of it. If you want to read a unique romance, Wicked Luck and Wicked Fate are the books for you.

[Leah Nova (Bookish Harpist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Oh. My. Gosh. This is the sequel to Wicked Luck, which I reviewed a few days ago. Wicked Luck ends in a dramatic cliffhanger, and Wicked Fate picks up right in the middle of the action.

There’s so much to talk about, so I’ll start with what I loved about this book. I loved the romance of it all. In Wicked Luck, in terms of vying for Ava’s affection, it was Dax against Ava’s memory of Preston. Now, it’s Dax against Preston, head on. It’s this love triangle that makes up most of the conflict of the novel, as both guys love her, and it’s up to Ava to choose who she wants to be with. There are amazing scenes with both guys taking her on island dates, and, as the co-pilot Kirk keeps mentioning, reminds me of The Bachelorette, where all that’s missing is a rose to give to the chosen guy. To be honest, as the truth comes to light, it might even be hard to choose a guy to side with. (Team Dax? Team Preston? It’s a hard choice!!!) Once again, the narrative is spot on, and you can clearly imagine the events of the novel in your head as if you were there. There’s also more drama with the tribes, which is exactly what I had been hoping for. We get a backstory on how they came to live on the island, and their beliefs come to light and spark the climax of the novel.
Now, when it comes to things I didn’t like, it was mainly a few characterization issues and continuity problems, the latter of which may be fixed in the editing process before the release. In terms of continuity, there was a scene in which Dax asked Ava what she loved about Preston and about past dates they went on, all of which were things that Dax should have known from Ava’s diary. Maybe he just wanted to hear it from her mouth, which would make sense in the context of the scene. When it comes to characterization, I wish we could have gotten to know Anna more. In both books, she’s just a side character who doesn’t say much, and somehow comes to have an important, but still minor role in the grand scheme of things. Also, Roxy, Ava’s sister, could have been fleshed out more. We get to see that she’s bitter and angry that she’s lost everything while Ava seems to have everything better, leading to a huge case of sibling rivalry between the two, but we don’t really get to see much of her after her dramatic exit, and by then it’s too late to get into her head much. Bummer.

That being said, Wicked Fate comes out later this month, on August 25th, and you can preorder it on Amazon! Also, at the time of posting, Wicked Luck is free on amazon, so if I were you I’d make my way over to Amazon right now and snatch up your free kindle copy. I highly recommend this series, and now I’m desperately hoping for another book, because, as I said earlier, this ends in a cliffhanger, and I’m still on edge after reading that ending! As stated in my review of Wicked Luck, this is a book that anyone could love. There’s a love triangle, plenty of action, tragedy, and plenty of revelations throughout the entire book. While the first book may have been lacking in excitement and conflict, this book is full of it. If you want to read a unique romance, Wicked Luck and Wicked Fate are the books for you.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman finds herself deserted on a tropical island with the two men she's fallen in love with during her life. Add two opposing cannibal tribes and a jealous woman from the past, and this is a guaranteed thriller to keep one glued to the edge of the seat most of the way through.

I have to admit that I didn't read the first book in this series. That was a mistake. The first page starts right where the other book leaves off--the main character jumping off of a cliff, splashing into the ocean and finding herself in one man's arms. It took a couple of chapters to put the background pieces together, which really pulled from the tension. But as said, that was my own fault.

This is a story with action, danger, layers of intrigue, betrayal, tons of romance and one or two secret waterfalls. Three characters take center stage (Ava, Dax and Preston), switching each chapter between each ones point of view. This was well done and never jarring nor confusing. It allows a deep look into each character's thoughts. At least, for Ava and Dax. Preston, for some reason, remained a bit superficial.

Although there are several very unexpected twists and turns which keep the tension very high, much of the middle of the novel is spent on the romance triangle. This was an odd situation and more frustrating than grabbing. The understanding the two male characters reach was frustrating, but Ava's attitude was simply irritating. It, unfortunately, made her hard to like and less and less sympathetic as time went on.

Surrounding this romance, there are very grabbing and tense action scenes. The ever present danger of cannibals, arrows and raids in the dark, add thrilling moments which really lure into the pages.

Summed up, this was an interesting, intriguing and, for the most part, grabbing read with a lovely, exotic setting. The scenes pull in with the descriptions which make the entire island come to life, and the danger hangs like an ever present fog. Fans of suspense and love triangles are sure to enjoy every minute.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pulled into this book right away even though I didn't get the chance to read the first book. I enjoy Shannon's writing so this won't be the last book I read by her. I wish I had been able to read the first book because that is always ideal but I didn't get lost like I have with other books. Technically you can read it without reading the first but I suggest you read both. Sometimes life gets in the way which is what happened this time since I had planned on reading both but sadly I wasn't able to.

I'm under the impression that this book started up where it left off in the previous one. I am also assuming this book continues because of the way this second book ended. It did leave me wanting more which is what I'm thinking people thought when they finished the first book. I have to admit that I wasn't too crazy about Ava. Most of the time I wanted to slap her because she was a bit wishy washy when it came to Preston and Dax. I have to confess that this is the oddest love triangle I've ever encountered because the two guys got along with each other. Ava never really seemed to know what she wanted so she'd bounce back and forth between the two guys so I wouldn't have been surprised if they fought.

This book did make me curious about why someone was out to kill Ava. I would wig out too if I saw people that I thought were dead. I assume it was brought up in the previous book but Ava's bad luck was mentioned. Her luck can't be too bad. Okay it isn't great that she crash landed on a island with cannibals but she did meet Dax and did survive the crash. I'd call that more good luck than bad luck. This is an interesting story with characters that just might surprise you since you'd expect them to act a different way. I look forward to reading more books by Shannon. She has officially been added to the list of authors whose books I eagerly look for and read.

Got ARC because I was part of the Wicked Fate Tour.

http://www.ficgal.com/book-club/wicke...

[Brittany | BookRamblings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book so when i heard the sequel had been released i grabbed it immediately. I was even more hooked when i saw the amazing cover.

And while the character development starts where we left off and continues at the perfect place, i found myself getting increasingly annoyed, not with Ava's inability to choose between her two men, but the way she plays them both. I understand that she was in love with them both but it felt like she changed her mind as soon as she was with the other guy every time and i felt myself getting annoyed with it. Despite this i persevered and found myself able to look past it and enjoy the plot that Shannon has continued to develop. The other characters were a great addition to the story line and the pace moved along well.

As we neared towards the end the author seemed to be tying some of the loose ends together, minus one large one that i wanted her to involve in the plot. Just as i had come to appreciate the lovely ending, the loose end i wanted to be brought up was... as a cliff hanger. This left me feeling like the author was continuing the plot where she could have just left it. As i have been sat here thinking about the book i do realize that this means another loaded addition to the series but i am still iffy on the chosen ending.

So my 3 starts are for the great characters and plot but 2 were deducted for the few disappointments since the first book. I would recommend this sequel as i am aware this is my personal view of a few of the events withing the book and i do think the authors writing style is captivating despite the few annoyances i picked up on in the sequel due to my high expectations after finishing the first book in the series. Happy reading :)

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As everybody knows by now, my favorite genre is YA Paranormal, but I have a tendency from time-to-time to venture out of my comfort zone and give other books a try.

Well, this book picked up right where the cliffhanger to Wicked Luck left off. I was so desperately in need of reading this book, because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. After reading Chapter One, that's where my attention was lost. I didn't like the way Ava kept going back and forth between her love for Dax and her love for Preston. I also didn't like the part where the guys kept trying to constantly win her love either. Of course, it is the typical male way. It just seemed so slow throughout that time, that is until we reach about Chapter Twenty-five, it really started picking up again and really captured my attention, because I read those last Ten Chapters in like an hour because I just HAD to know if they were going to finally all get their wish and leave the island....but HAHA, I am not going to tell you. Thought I would tell you huh? Well, I fooled you!! You must go purchase the book and read it for yourselves.

I am giving this book only a four book rating because I lost the interest during the middle of the book, because I am an action type girl and not much on the 'I love this guy' and yet 'I love this guy'. So pick up your copy of this book because your opinion will be different from mine.

Clean Teen Publishing provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only as part of a Blog Tour. No remuneration was exchanged.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a little bit more interesting than Wicked Luck, but I'll still say that I liked WL better. I definitely liked the twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all. It made the whole being stranded in an island full of cannibals that much intense.

While it was annoying to read about Ava's back and forth wishy washy feelings between Dax and Preston, and the annoying Roxy just being a bother, the whole read was worth it in the last few chapters because that's where all the action and good things happened. Dax and Ava and Preston go all out, and in the end, they decide to stay in the island when they could left on the boat raft. I guess Lamarai island won over their hearts, either that or they somehow developed some case of stockholm syndrome. My guess is on the beauty of the island and the freedom.

The ending was left in a cliffhanger. I guess I was hoping that it was going to end there with Dax and Ava and their tribe living their HEA there, but noo, the bad guys who want Ava dead suddenly show up on a boat and as soon as they step foot on the island, the story ends. Like I was literally screaming. I wanted the story to end there... but I also can't get enough of Dax and Ava, so I'm glad that there will another book, maybe we'll see them leave the island and still get their HEA.

[Maribel Platypire Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review."""

I don't know where to start with this book because it was so fantastic. Shannon L. Maynard really knows how to draw a reader into the story by answering questions from the previous book, but she also knows how to keep us wanting more by leaving us with more questions at the end of this book. There was heartbreak, and plenty of drama, but we knew from the previous book that drama was basically a given.

Preston is not one of my favorite characters. It's very hard for me to switch my mentality about a character once my mind is made up. I tried to though, for him, because he is sweet and charming. But at the end of the day, he is not high on my list of favorite characters. Neither is Ava, if I'm being completely honest. She is learning how to stick up for herself, but at times I feel like she doesn't know her own mind and feelings. Even though she did figure that out by the end, by then it almost doesn't even matter because of the way things in the story played out.

The end of the book is certainly another cliffhanger, and I didn't expect anything less than that. I look forward to reading the third book in this series whenever it becomes available. I give Wicked Fate 4/5 Platypires.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!! Such a good sequel to book one in this clean (but still romantic) YA series!! Shannon's prose & descriptions & characters/plot who are constantly surprising us kept making me think that this would make a great & very visually beautiful movie.

I loved how it picked up right where book one left off- no annoying recaps telling the entire first book over again. Ava's love for & deciding between both Preston & Dax got a little annoying to me & the guys both seemed overly perfect with trying to win her over yet not being jealous - I liked the Bachelorette references because that's sometimes how I felt about what was happening.

Things really pick up in the last 1/3rd of the book & I enjoyed the end the most & will be excited to read book 3 when it is released. Even though I was expecting another cliffhanger, & almost figured it out, the very very end still surprised me!! Nice job, Shannon!

[Dorian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Fate is the second installment of the series. this installment delivers the same emotional roller coaster as the first one. Ava is caught in a romantic triangle with Dax and Preston. I found myself nervous because I didn't know who she would choose and at the same time I was sad because someone would be hurt. Ave makes her choice but fate tragically steps in. I don't want to give anything away but I was completely blown away. This book left me emotionally spent. I had such a connection with the characters because they come right off the page. Despite the emotional tug of war, I had so much fun reading this book. I laughed and cried. It was a great series.

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indecisive

In the second book the indecisiveness of the lead character was a little annoying and took to much time out of deepening the story but you have to take into account she was home schooled, sequestered away from have a social or even a friend. The attention she was granted from two leading men had to be flattering. Surprise ending, what will happen next?

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wicked Fate began right where Wicked Luck ended. While I did enjoy the book, I was frustrated with Ava's continuing flightiness. The decision between Dax and Preston is difficult for her, but she makes rash decision upon rash decision. Wait or make a final decision already.

The ending leaves you ready for the next book.

[Amber Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I would recommend this series to everyone. Very suspenseful. Leaves you on the edge of your seat. Can't wait for the next book.

[S. Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book sappish ending.

Loved this book. Up until the climax and ending. What a waste of a good story. So much potential lost to a horrid ending.