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The Chosen #1
Cursed
Locked in a demonic curse, Carmella Ramirez has almost lost the will to live. Once she was the star of the Ramirez Samba School and lived a charmed life. Now, thanks to an old enemy’s thirst for revenge, she's the school's reclusive seamstress and living in the dangerous ghetto of Rio de Janeiro. But that's the least of her problems. When the sun sets, a succubus overtakes Carmella’s body and uses her beauty to lure men to their death. As the corpses pile up, those controlling Carmella plan to sacrifice her to their demonic god and blame her for the killings.
Her only hope is Sean Kalmus—a world famous musician and warrior of the Celtic God of Music, Maponus. While in Brazil to work the carnival, Sam’s orders by Maponus to find and rescue Carmella turn into something more than they ever could have imagined when Carmella captures Sean’s heart.
With Sean's help, Carmella will have to call on her strength, his magic and their love to break herself free before she becomes known as Brazil's most notorious serial killer.
****this story was previously published under the title 'Dance of the Gods' and has been extensivly revised, expanded, and updated****
Her only hope is Sean Kalmus—a world famous musician and warrior of the Celtic God of Music, Maponus. While in Brazil to work the carnival, Sam’s orders by Maponus to find and rescue Carmella turn into something more than they ever could have imagined when Carmella captures Sean’s heart.
With Sean's help, Carmella will have to call on her strength, his magic and their love to break herself free before she becomes known as Brazil's most notorious serial killer.
****this story was previously published under the title 'Dance of the Gods' and has been extensivly revised, expanded, and updated****
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Ann Mayburn
95 books1,973 followersAnn is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead(though she will deny to her children that it ever happened).
From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.
Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.
From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.
Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 29, 2018
I generally like Ann Mayburn's books, but this one just didn't work for me. I enjoy paranormal, although demons and angels are not at top of my list. Nevertheless, the mix of cultures in this caught my eye.
It found it to be just okay. I liked Sean well enough, but Carmella just kind of annoyed me. I know I should feel sorry for everything she went through - but I just didn't care that much. It was decent, but I wouldn't go back for more.
It found it to be just okay. I liked Sean well enough, but Carmella just kind of annoyed me. I know I should feel sorry for everything she went through - but I just didn't care that much. It was decent, but I wouldn't go back for more.
February 3, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On one hand it has probably the best developed characters of any of this author's books. Plus a driving plot, with characters to invest in and villains to root against. Which equals a story that you are excited to see what happens in it, creating pacing that grips you and pulls you along to the end of the book.
On the other hand... the world building could have been better: there are elements to the world that are established but not explored (if that argument makes sense). It's, in essence, the first book in a new urban fantasy series and, as such, I wanted a bit more development of the things that were unique to the story world that made it differ from our own. I can't claim that I would know how to present this, but I would have liked a little more exploration of the concept of magic, the gods, Chosen, etc... that is specific to the setting.
Maybe I wanted the book to read more like a good urban fantasy and what I ended up with was a pleasant paranormal romance that had 'woo-woo' elements as the framework to hang a hea story on?
Also, though I do think the characters are decently developed, it bothered me immensely when the heroine just seems to flip a switch and go from being a victim and new to the world to accepting the threat, her role, and just jumping right on board with the hero's goals. I was cruising along, enjoying the characters and their interactions, then I had a big frown of confusion on my face. Once I was over that hiccup I did get back into the flow of the story, but it was jarring.
Finally, the book lacked a lot of the heat I have come to accept as part of Ms. Mayburn's writing style and found myself significantly disappointed by this fact. I'm not saying everything she writes has to have the tie-me-up/tie-me-down elements, but this was such a departure that I found myself less than engaged.
So, good that it had an interesting plot; bad that it lacked that touch of spice. Which is why I say I only 'liked it' and why I am hesitating to purchase the next book in the series. Without the edgy eroticism of her other books, Cursed sort of reads like a lot of other paranormal romances out there.
On one hand it has probably the best developed characters of any of this author's books. Plus a driving plot, with characters to invest in and villains to root against. Which equals a story that you are excited to see what happens in it, creating pacing that grips you and pulls you along to the end of the book.
On the other hand... the world building could have been better: there are elements to the world that are established but not explored (if that argument makes sense). It's, in essence, the first book in a new urban fantasy series and, as such, I wanted a bit more development of the things that were unique to the story world that made it differ from our own. I can't claim that I would know how to present this, but I would have liked a little more exploration of the concept of magic, the gods, Chosen, etc... that is specific to the setting.
Maybe I wanted the book to read more like a good urban fantasy and what I ended up with was a pleasant paranormal romance that had 'woo-woo' elements as the framework to hang a hea story on?
Also, though I do think the characters are decently developed, it bothered me immensely when the heroine just seems to flip a switch and go from being a victim and new to the world to accepting the threat, her role, and just jumping right on board with the hero's goals. I was cruising along, enjoying the characters and their interactions, then I had a big frown of confusion on my face. Once I was over that hiccup I did get back into the flow of the story, but it was jarring.
Finally, the book lacked a lot of the heat I have come to accept as part of Ms. Mayburn's writing style and found myself significantly disappointed by this fact. I'm not saying everything she writes has to have the tie-me-up/tie-me-down elements, but this was such a departure that I found myself less than engaged.
So, good that it had an interesting plot; bad that it lacked that touch of spice. Which is why I say I only 'liked it' and why I am hesitating to purchase the next book in the series. Without the edgy eroticism of her other books, Cursed sort of reads like a lot of other paranormal romances out there.
January 4, 2014
I have read several previous books by Ann Mayburn in the BDSM genre and I truly enjoy her voice. This was the first paranormal romance of hers I have read. It is a new series and a new world and let me tell you Ms. Mayburn knocked it out of the park!
I have a fondness for unusual paranormal romance. don't get me wrong, I love me some werewolves and Vamps, but the Paranormals that delve into ancient Gods and pantheons, and mythology really wind my clock. I love the mix of myth and fantasy, especially in a modern setting.
Cursed takes place mostly in a modern day Brazil. In a world where magic is commonplace, and champions of the Gods exist and are called the "Chosen."
I loved the characters in Cursed and would hope to see them in the upcoming books of the series, but I can't figure out who will be our next hero! I was rooting for Carmella throughout the story. I felt so sorry for her. And man, when she finally breaks her curse she is one kick ass heroine!
There were some truly touching moments in Cursed, when Carmella shared her "God's" gift with the poor women of her neighborhood.
In short: Well done Ann! I definitely look forward to more of the Chosen!
I have a fondness for unusual paranormal romance. don't get me wrong, I love me some werewolves and Vamps, but the Paranormals that delve into ancient Gods and pantheons, and mythology really wind my clock. I love the mix of myth and fantasy, especially in a modern setting.
Cursed takes place mostly in a modern day Brazil. In a world where magic is commonplace, and champions of the Gods exist and are called the "Chosen."
I loved the characters in Cursed and would hope to see them in the upcoming books of the series, but I can't figure out who will be our next hero! I was rooting for Carmella throughout the story. I felt so sorry for her. And man, when she finally breaks her curse she is one kick ass heroine!
There were some truly touching moments in Cursed, when Carmella shared her "God's" gift with the poor women of her neighborhood.
In short: Well done Ann! I definitely look forward to more of the Chosen!
September 13, 2016
What an exciting new paranormal world! Set in Rio shortly before Carnival, this story weaves the lore of the gods, dark magic, true love, and the power of music together to make an unputdownable read. Carmella is strong and while you do not see her strength immediately she is a very likable character from the get go. Sean is a hot Irish warrior and Chosen of his god. Together they have an immediate chemistry, but much stands between them and their HEA. I really liked the darkness that was part of this story. It made the story really come alive on the pages. I also adored the way that Rio and music were almost characters in and of themselves in this story. I knew this was book one in a series when I ready it and was very pleasantly surprised that it ends with the happy and no evil cliff hanger (not that those are not awesome from time to time). I am very much looking forward to where this series goes from here.
December 29, 2013
Despite the fact that Ann Mayburn has written over 30 books she is relatively new to me. A friend who knows I enjoy a good steamy read recommended her saying her work would parboil my eyes. She wasn’t wrong. So when the opportunity came for me to get an advanced copy of Ms. Mayburn’s new book Cursed for review I jumped on it. I LOVE the cover. I am not a big fan of horror and the first couple of chapters had me worried that this was going to be a horror story. It isn’t It is a good old fashioned Demonic possession story with Gods and music and dancing and of course some down and dirty sex. This is a good story with the possibility of becoming a great series. I am anxious to see where the author takes this.
March 27, 2014
Carmella is struggling with getting by, living her life in Rio, working at her fathers dance studio, trying to bring in some money and help her mother. But it´s hard. The current owner doesn´t want her teaching dance, he´s keeping her in the back as a seamstress and slave, and his cruel girlfriend isn´t making things better. And why is she having strange dreams of herself in a red dress?
Sean is a Chosen one, helping people in the fight against evil, when he gets assigned to help someone in need, who doesn´t even know she´s in peril.
Succubus, Gods, smutty fluff and paranormal action in the setting of the Carneval in Rio. Great start to a new series I want to read more from!
Sean is a Chosen one, helping people in the fight against evil, when he gets assigned to help someone in need, who doesn´t even know she´s in peril.
Succubus, Gods, smutty fluff and paranormal action in the setting of the Carneval in Rio. Great start to a new series I want to read more from!
February 22, 2016
A Spellbinding tale
From front to back this book kept me entranced. I couldn't put it down until I discovered how Carmella and Sean would overcome their predicament. Bravo once again dear author :) you've woven another captivating, spellbinding story that is sure to ensnare more readers.
From front to back this book kept me entranced. I couldn't put it down until I discovered how Carmella and Sean would overcome their predicament. Bravo once again dear author :) you've woven another captivating, spellbinding story that is sure to ensnare more readers.
March 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. Sean is my all time favorite character. Carmella is so sweet. I really enjoyed the different takes on religion in this story. Its not a Christian book or anything so don't think that. Its a must read for anyone who likes demons & sucubus w/a sexy dj
December 22, 2015
The story was a little slow in the beginning, but once you get into it, the book is actually pretty good. It was a little vulgar, but it's not like I haven't ran into that before. I think I may have seen a few typo errors, but they were minor.
August 31, 2016
Not my normal read but I find I am loving just about anything I pick up by Ann!
May 25, 2015
This is the first book by this author I've read & I couldn't put it down. Hot...HOT read
September 14, 2015
Quick and cute story. It was a little rushed and too convenient at times. I loved the fact that dancing, pagan gods and brown people were celebrated. I also enjoyed the dirty talk of course.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews