At last, she has it all. Everything she thought she’d never have. Acceptance. Friendship. Love. Parsley Walker is finally home. Allswell, the magical refuge for supernaturals, is all she’d imagined and more. She’s making friends. Learning not to hide her telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Learning not to fear. And, most importantly, planning a future free from that ever-present sense of foreboding with the vampire she loves. Her life, the life she was always meant for, is about to begin.
Then she gets the letter that turns her new world upside down.
Jesse Linwood has just made the most difficult decision of his life—to turn his back on the only girl he’s ever loved. Now he must return to his sire—the ancient, wicked vampire who lusts for Parsley’s blood—to eliminate the threat to her once and for all, even at the expense of his own life. Because love isn’t about the heart. Love is about the soul and how much of it you’re willing to lose.
This book includes erotic scenes and graphic violence.
Amanda Carney grew up barefoot and freckle-faced in the beautiful hills and valleys of rural Ohio. She resides there still with her husband, rambunctious beagles, and menagerie of beloved cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in one hand and a crochet hook in the other.
Book 2 in the First Fruits series, this follows immediately on from First Fruits, picking up right at that nasty cliffhanger and diving us straight back into the story.
Be aware that this review will contain spoilers for book 1.
With Jesse’s sadistic sire, Patrick, looming ever closer and danger now on their doorstep, it’s time for Jesse to make some tough decisions to protect the woman he loves. And the only way for him to truly do that is to hide her in the supernatural realm of Allswell, a safe haven for supernaturals. Hidden and mysterious, Allswell is completely off limits to vampires, which protects Parsley from Patrick, but it’s also the only place he can’t follow.
For Parsley, Allswell seems like heaven, but is that enough when she finally realises that living there means doing it without her man by her side? And with Jesse returning to Patrick’s lair, and his sire being even more psychopathic than ever, how far will he go in order to protect her?
Wow, this book was a rollercoaster ride. It had a really different feel to it, taking us out of the human world, and straight into fantasyland with Parsley experiencing an almost Disney-esque life in Allswell. It was a little sugary-sweet and slow moving, but it contributes meaningfully to the overall story and provides a nice contrast with the violence and depravity that is Patrick and his evil plans, which are downright disturbing!! I like the additional storylines that are introduced by showing us more of the supernatural world, including a whole new cast of characters who add humour, heart, and edginess to the story, and there are some great surprises along the way, with the story twisting and turning; and the drama, romance and supernatural politics all builds to a hugely exciting climax which is full of action, gore and violence, that kept me up and reading until 2am.
And Parsley and Jesse’s love story continues to shine throughout. They are still madly in love and committed to each other, and the conflict they face is all external to their relationship, which remains completely functional from start to finish. Their story progresses really nicely with a beautifully swoony happy ending.
The book ends at a good place, but there is definitely more story to be told, with a number of potential books set up so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Felix book up next… followed by Sib.
Still full of the romance, drama, violence and action that I loved about the first book, this one didn’t pack quite the same punch for me, but it was still a really enjoyable read that finished off Parsley and Jesse’s story, and expands the supernatural world, (hopefully) setting the scene for more from this series.
Author Amanda Carney continues the story of Jesse and Parsley in the second installment of the First Fruits series. After the mother of all cliffhangers from Second Coming's predecessor, I was left with such a feeling of dread, especially with such a tense ending.
After the "situation" is resolved from the aforementioned cliffhanger, Jesse realizes that Patrick's obsession with Parsley isn't something that's ever going to relent. He, along with Felix, come up with the plan to send Par to Allswell, a safe haven for supernaturals. Allswell is the only place that offers safety to Parsley, as the only being not allowed in are vampires. No vampires, no Patrick, perfect. Problem is, all's not well in Allswell, as Jesse doesn't explain that minor detail to Parsley, which adds some angst to an already tense predicament. But Jesse will do anything to protect Par, even if it means sending her to another dimension. Without him.
I loved how in this installment, Carney brought some more creativity to an already unique series by introducing a whole other dimension. Allswell was such an interesting and detailed place, and the inhabitants of this peaceful and picturesque dimension were just as rich and dimensional as the setting. Reminiscent of a fairytale, Allswell was so bright and fun and cheerful that it added such brightness and balanced out the darker elements of this tale. I'm not much for cutesy and fairytales, so I was super glad that Allswell didn't quite overshadow the darkness. Patrick, in all of his sadistic glory, was still around for much of the story. He's so incredibly creepy, so incredibly evil, and yet this series wouldn't be the same without him.
3.5, rounded up to 4. My only quibble with Second Coming is the relationship between Par and Jesse; now that the chase is over and they're together, they're almost borderline nauseating with their rainbows and kittens romance. I'm also not one for terms of endearment, especially "baby", and Jesse lays it on super thick. Like I said, minor personal quibble, and certainly nothing that would take away from the overall enjoyment of the story. Highly recommend this series, it's certainly something that would appeal to both paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans.
**Many thanks to Amanda Carney for providing a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
**2016 Cliterary Genius A to Z book challenge, letter S.
Do you ever read a book which sucked you in, moved you, kept you up at night? A book with grey heroes, obsessed villains, survivors and high stakes? First Fruits was one of those books and it ended with a cruel cliffhanger. This is what happens next :
1 Parsley and Girl Power My only problem with the first book was Par's passive nature. She had the gifts but didn't use them. Here, Par taps into her abilities and kicks ass. She refuses to back down, to run to safety or to cower in terror. Maybe its because she has something to fight for now, but Par emerged stronger in the sequel.
2 Patrick He made me uncomfortable in the first book, he was despicable in this one. Let me count the ways I hate you....But I still feel that we don't know everything we need to about Patrick. Patrick makes an impact, like well brewed espresso.
3 Jesse Jesse was a character who had a lot of baggage in the first part. He decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep Par safe. But will that be enough to stop Patrick?
4 Allswell The first book was set in the human world, Allswell is The Land of Fairy Tales. Par meets several interesting paranormal creatures here and the story gets new players. Changing settings at this point was a brave decision and I'm glad to say it paid off.
5 Action sequences Normally, I am indifferent to these as they seem predictable or distract from the actual story but Amanda Carney did something different here. Even as the fights or attacks go on in the background, you are connected to the characters emotionally. You see things from the perspective of different key players which made it infinitely more interesting. And fun. Its not just displays of strength or magical prowess, you see the characters strategize, manipulate and take swift decisions with lives at stake.
6 Sanctuary Should sanctuary be unconditional or offered with exceptions and restrictions? This was a question raised by Eshe and the way her character took a stand on the issue made me root for her.
Read it for the intense characters, the cool magical powers, the revelations, but most of all for Patrick. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I have a low, low tolerance for cute. So the fact that I finished this book despite a setting that makes Disneyland's Storybook Lane look like a crack den should tell you something about the strength of the characters and plot. After Jesse makes a desperate, heartbreaking move to keep Par safe, Par has to pick up the pieces of her life post-Patrick. Luckily, she meets a whole community of magical refugees that can empathize. She finds her way in her adopted homeland and even starts to unravel the mysteries of her past and the origin of her powers. But real life soon intrudes on her fantasy existence, and Patrick proves not so easily forgotten.
Sometimes the worldbuilding in this one felt more contrived than in book one, but if you love secret forests with glamorous fairies and adorable woodland creatures, this is the book for you! More importantly, Second Coming was an immensely satisfying conclusion to Jesse and Par's love story, and that alone is worth the price of admission.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Parsley finally has everything that she's ever wanted: friendship, love, and mutual acceptance. However, not all is as it seems in Allswell because vampires are not on the list of potential refugees. Faced with planning a future without Jesse or risking everything to be with him, she must choose between living a safe life or risk everything to reunite with Jesse. What will she do?
Second Coming picks up right where First Fruits left off. Carney brings us one action packed story that had me glued to the pages. Jesse's battle is torturous. It was absolutely heart wrenching to see him make tough choices so that he could ensure that Parsley would remain safe. His story allows us to see more into Patrick's terrifying mind. Getting a glimpse into what Patrick has put him through during his second lifetime gave me a better idea of how awful and manipulative Patrick truly is. It also makes me wonder how many of his "sons" are loyal because of his manipulation in the long run.
I really feel for Parsley, especially when she knows that all is not what it seems once she makes it to Allswell. I enjoyed seeing her enter this world and get to know the people there. I love that we had some chapters from the perspective of characters from Allswell so that we could get to know the town and its people a little better. It truly is a magical place that I wish I could visit. The characters are so bright and endearing that I found myself hoping that they would safely come out of the battle that was soon to come. Plus, this new environment allowed Parsley to find her footing, fully accept herself, and make new connections with like-minded souls.
I highly recommend this series if you are looking for an action packed paranormal novel. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story as well as the many characters that it features. Carney presents a series of complex characters, many of them relatable in different ways. I hope to see these characters again if the story continues in a third installment!
I thought book one, 'First Fruits', blew me away but I was wrong with that assessment. Book two, 'Second Coming' knocked it out of the ballpark. I absolutely loved it. The storyline was incredibly creative and descriptive. The way the story played out was full of epic battles that were awesome, action packed, mysterious and suspenseful. This book was a work of beauty, both scenic and as a whole. The hot and steamy romance was hubba hubba hot. The characters were an array of awesome beings and personalities. Jesse definitely battled his demons and actually became the ultimate bad-ass. Here I thought he was bad-ass in book one, but in this book- he surpassed my expectations. Par has become more beautiful than she was. Both emotionally and physically. She is such a strong woman. Her whole life was a crappy way of life by running and being invisible, but then she blossomed into a magical creature with an overwhelming gift of love and understanding. Felix was great. I actually loved his egotistical, arrogant personality. He was one of the few that truly understood the living hell both Jesse and Par dealt with. I'd definitely want him on my side. Eshe and Sib were fun. They each brought something unique to the fray. And Allswell is my ideal paradise. I would love to live in such a magical place. A definite must read series. I can't wait to read more. Highly recommended. The dedication to Mammaw was so beautifully written that it had me wishing I had known such an amazing woman who didn't take sh!t from anyone. Great job Amanda Carney, for bringing your imagination to life. You've been added to my list of favorite authors along with an addition to my favorite series.
Oh my wow! Ok so before you think about reading this book, you need to read the first one, First Fruits, because it will give you a better understanding of the storyline, characters and the dynamics.
In this book, Jesse takes Par to Allswell as safe place for supernatural beings to live without fear only Jesse don't tell Par that as a vampire he is not allowed there.
Par makes new friends and settles into her new home still believing that Jesse will return to be with her but then she gets a letter that changes everything and makes her realise that Jesse isn't coming.
While all this is going on, Jesse has returned home to Patrick and argh let me tell you I HATE him!!! Anyway he does something to Jesse that causes him to forget Par completely. This broke my heart.
Anyway, I don't want to give any more of the story away so do yourself a favor and read it like NOW!!! But.... be warned that you will laugh, cry and scream oh and you will definitely swoon at the end too :)
Ms Carney, you are a writing goddess and I can't wait to read more of your amazing stories.
The second book picks up where the first left off. Jesse and Parsley travel to Allswell, the only safe place for Parsley to hide where Patrick can't reach her. She thinks that she will be able to start a new life here with Jesse. However, Jesse has other plans and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means throwing himself at Patricks mercy.
I really enjoyed finding out about the new characters in Allswell and the place itself. It was good to see how Parsley interacted with them and fought for herself and the people she cares for later in the book.
Finished off with a nice little ending and I'm looking forward to the next one, where we get to know more about Felix.
One of my favorite duet series ever! I loved Parsley and Jesse's relationship and I couldn't put this down, wanting to know if they were going to end up together! Make sure you read First Fruits before this one since this is book 2 and the conclusion. First Fruits ends on a cliffhanger so you'll want to read this one right away! Amanda is an amazing author and the book is beautifully edited...I can't wait to read future works from her!
Second Coming is a phenomenal roller coaster ride that will leave your heart soaring and your expectations high. While I waited I tried walking through all of the possible stories scenarios I could come up with, and the real thing blew them all away! It was full of the signature heart and soul that we saw in First Fruits. Nothing could have prepared me for how epic this story is becoming, and I loved every second of it. Untamable characters that will turn your heart upside along with a fabulously imaginative plot gives you a wonderful new author to enjoy and look forward to many more spectacular and incredible books to come!
Parsley wants nothing more than to rest, regroup, and strengthen her resolve to love, to live, and to fight. While discovering many wondrous new people, she longs for the one person who sets her heart aflame and brings unending joy to her soul. The one person she can’t be with is fighting for them both with everything he has. Jesse wants nothing more than to fold Parlsey in his arms and never let her go, but the best thing he can do right now is to keep her hidden until he can strike back at the one who will hunt her down and take her from him. He can stand anything done to him, but he cannot stomach an ounce of that directed at her. Parsley fully intends to fight for what she wants, and right now, the most dangerous place to be is in her path.
At first, I was not sure how these two characters would meld together, but then once they were open and honest with the other, nothing could stop the storm of passion and longing for love that rages between them. Never being able to stand still long enough to feel, Parsley isn’t sure how to deal with the strong and strange emotions she feels for Jesse the more they meet and get to know each other. Jesse holds himself away from Parsley because whenever he lets go of his tightly held control, he will do all but devour her. He has wanted her since he first laid eyes on her, and this strange feeling only deepens the longer her gets to know her. Nothing in their world is as it seems, and once the veil falls from Parsley’s eyes, she will find that she knows exactly what she wants.
Amanda Carney has written a magnificently inspiring story that only continues to get better with each book. The meticulously beautiful characters will make you fall in love with them while the pulse-pounding plot will twist your heart into shreds. I could not get over just how good this book is! It is a fascinating and enthralling vampire tale that will hold you captive until the very end. Don’t skip this book for you may regret it later.
One word. Wow. I did not expect this ending! I did not think Parsley would actually get her happily ever after in the second book, but I was surprised! I was on the edge of my seat when I first started this book because I was frightened about how the readers would find Parsley. That ending in the first book had me literally shaking. Although the cliffhanger was cruel, it was a brilliantly clever move for the author to make. I also loved the introduction of the new dimension, Allswell, because it allowed room for new characters! The downside of this book was that Parsley and Jesse were barely together, which made me really upset lol. I was torn when Jesse lied to Parsley about joining her in Allswell because I couldn't imagine them apart. And the worst part was us readers being aware of the fact that he was lying to Parsley. But besides this detail, the book was exceptionally written and I'm glad that Parsley and Jesse finally got their fairytale ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a good continuation of book one but it just didn’t pull me in emotionally like the first book did. I do love the storyline and what the author was able to create. Met some more supporting characters that I wouldn’t mind learning more about. All and all glad I decided to read it
Again this story pulled you end but includes more action and battles. Main characters kept you rooting for them. Romance, well made characters, action, magic, supernaturals, terror and Happiness. Would have given it 5 stars but on the short side. Still a good read and hope there is a 3rd book to finish this story.
Great read with lot of action keeping me reading. There were some steamy parts but it doesn't overtake the plot. Some the close calls had me on the edge of my seat. Overall a great read.
I Really enjoyed this second book in the series and looking forward to reading the follow on. This was a bit different to the romances that i usually read but glad i purchased the second book. I would definatly recommend giving this book a go💕
A dark adventure with some light moments, endless spunk, some sarcasm, and a healthy dose of fun for your life. Well done and with a heroine like parsley and her hero Jesse it is a grand adventure. Look forward to the next book in the series.
There may be more flowers, pixies, and all things beauty this time around but don’t be fooled - one heck of a storm is brewing in Amanda Carney’s latest novel!
“It was the chance of a lifetime. The hope of a lifetime. A second coming.”
Second Coming is the second book in the First Fruits series and this continuation is even more magical and enthralling than the previous book. In Second Coming comes a fairytale land where there is a city that literally never sleeps and those creatures you have come to fear that go “bump in the night” are actually some pretty down to Earth people. We are painted an enchanting image of life beyond our current plane of existence that makes you never want to return to the real world once you have seen all that Allswell beholds. This time around we get to meet a few heroic new friends as well as brand new (and quite honestly, demented) enemies. This one was a roller coaster with just the right amount of loops, drops, and rises to keep me reading until the end but never wanting to get off the ride!
“It’s true we’re not barbaric people, but you should know that we can and will protect our own.”
***Possible spoilers - proceed with caution***
One of my favorite new characters in this book was Neville, the king of Allswell. Neville is strong, level-headed, and everything king should be. Plus, I’ve heard he has a real mean set of wings. He actually surprised me quite a bit! His personality was a little of a mystery to me for a while there and right when I though I knew the guy…I find out I didn’t really know him. Go figure!
Another new character I liked and felt had a pretty big role in this one was Sib. He’s pretty much a genius with a knack for inventing things and growing some amazing plants. And then he communicates with those plants. Dead serious. I’ve never read anything like him before and I loved it! I hope to read more about him in the next book. Heck, I hope to read more about all of these new characters - somehow these books have a way of making me love every one of the "good" guys!
All in all, this book was just fantastic in every sense of the word. There really needs to be more novel series like this one out there but that’s exactly what makes this one so much more special and unique. Without a doubt I will continue reading and cannot wait until the next book is released. This is an author to follow and fan for sure!
(Also, I am crossing my fingers that we get a spin-off for Felix. I think I'm officially in love with the guy along with the rest of the girls and I can't stand not knowing what he's up to. *Cough cough, hint hint* ) ;)
I was approached by the author to read and review the first and second book in the series . However the opinions expressed in this review are my own .
*************** SOME SPOILERS*****************************
After reading the first book I was super excited to read the second one from where the first book left off it left us on a huge cliff hanger Par and Jesse were running and hiding from Patrick with the help of Jesse's brother Felix who longed to help and reunite with his brother .Bane ,Patricks other creation who is truly evil had caught up with the three of them and was about to defile Par . The flow of this book and transition was smooth and I didn't feel a disconnect from the style of writing or the ideas as if the author had written both book one and two as one book and then split them into to books which is genius because what better way to hook a reader than a cliff hanger .
I was deliriously happy despite myself when Jesse disposed of Bane he was so annoying I couldn't stand how he bowed and scraped after Patrick obeying his every whim and how evil he was . When Jesse brought Par to Allswell (love the name of the enchanted sanctuary ) All is well was a very good name for it . After Jessed destroyed Bane I was sad to see Jesse had lied to Par saying they would be together Allswell is a place where all are welcome sanctuary from their worldly trouble as long as your not a vampire vampires are killed on sight . They pose to great a risk to the society within .I understand why Jesse had to lie to Par Patrick was coming after Par because Jesse disobeyed him and didn't bring Par to him to rink or eat or both lol. Patrick is a vampire who hunts others with special blood werewolves ,fairies ,shape shifters he bottles the special blood and ages it like wine ,its super creepy but a cool twist .As you can imagine Patrick wanted Par because she's telepathic and also has the power of telekinesis and special blood is supposed to taste better than normal blood.
I want to live in Allswell the last place I have wanted live that was fictional was Narnia and Narnia leaves some big shoes to fill once you have read about it . Allswell is filled with all sorts of creatures who seek sanctuary from the outside world the all live in cottages and there is no currency they barter and trade as forms of payment. My favorite thing about Allswell besides the description of all the shops and homemade goods is the fairy's ,the description's of the fairies wings were fascinating and inviting .
I loved the ending of this book because of the way all the loose ends were tied up and my question's and suspicions were answered . I was happy because the ending even though this book had some violence and some sad parts didn't end with me sobbing my eyes out I like happy endings even if the path there is bloody . My favorite character's in this book were Felix ,Eshe ,Par and Jane . I give this book 5 stars for its originality and flow .
I would like to thank the author profusely once again for giving me opportunity to read and review this book .Job well done !
( Source: I received this book directly from the Author Amanda Carney; In exchange for my opinion and Honest review. )
The Second Coming ( First Fruits #2 ) By Amanda Carney.
He sacrifices everything to make Parsley Walker safe. Allswel, home to the supernatural, refuge for the gifted. It's everything Parsley had imagined and more. Making friends fast and for the first time, to completely be herself. Not having to hide who she truly is or her gifts. All she has to do is wait for Two-Weeks for the vampire she loves Jesse to join her; for them to start their 'Safe happily ever after.'
The day Parsley receives a heart-shattering letter, is the day that marks significant changes to come.
Jesse has had to do the hardest thing he's ever had to do in his long existence. Turn his back on the one thing that makes him human again, the girl he truly loves.; The person who not only keeps the demons away but makes him feel life is worth living again. To keep her safe from his gifted blood crazed sire Patrick and his minions. The ancient Vampire lusts after Parsleys unique blood, hell bent on capturing her. Jesse makes a great sacrifice to save Parsely, even at the expense of his life. What's love without great sacrifice?
I am such a huge fan of Amanda Carneys writing. Her storytelling is flawless; she sucks you into this incredible world of the supernatural. I adore Parsley and Jesse's story, First Fruits, and Second Coming. Both superbly written, of Love, Need; Blood and sacrifice. All the characters have been built extremely well all solid with loveable personalities, you end up adoring each and every one of them, I know I did. Yes, even Partick and Bane, who carry a particular sorrow to them. Amanda introduces us to Allswel, and I completely fell in love, what a wonderous place. I can not gush enough how fantastic and brilliant this series is. I thoroughly recommend to read them!!! 5/5 Stars!
I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. This is the second book in the First Fruits Series, and after the cliff hanger in the first book i was extremely eager to read this book.
Second coming picks up exactly where First Fruits finishes; as the blurb explains Par finds she's truly at home, a place called Allswell. Allswell is a magical safe haven for all people with magical abilities, with the except of vampires, which is problematic considering that is exactly what Par's mate is.
I loved Jesse and Par in the first book, and there was no exception in this one. However i did want to throat punch Jesse when he decided to lie to Par about him not being able to go with her, i also wanted to throat punch him when he couldn't remember (although those were justifiable circumstances). I loved how Par found her inner strength in this book, it only made me love her more. The secondary characters; Felix, Sid and Eshe were all amazing, i especially loved how easily Eshe and Par bonded, Par really needed a good girl friend.
The only reason i didn't give Second Coming a 5 stars is the end result for Patrick, i wanted it to be so much more violent. Patrick is still the same psychopathic, narcissistic, evil vampire; i didn't think it was possible but i hate him even more than the first book.
All over i loved this book, it was well written, flowed well and was the perfect length. I am so grateful the author provided me with this series!!
I feel like no matter what I write, it will not be enough to describe this book. This book starts off where Book one ends, if you really need to read book 1 first.
In this book the confrontation with Bane is brought to a resolution.(Not going to spoil what happens) Par and Jesse head to Allswell a safe haven for the supernatural beings of the world as a last resort. Only problem is Jesse fails to mention that vampires are not welcome there, and that he wont be coming back after 2 weeks to stay with Par. Par innocently believes everything will go according to plan and meets some incredible people in her new home. Meanwhile Jesse is busy convincing Patrick that he cannot get to Par and paying for his affronts to Patrick...
Ms. Carney is incredibly talented in building a new world for these characters. Not everyone in this book is cut and dried good or bad, Jesse is a prime example. For me the characters in this book make me want more. I want to see what happens with HALO and FERN. I want to explore Eshe and Sib and see if Felix meets his match. There are so many captivating people who are willing to fight the evil, and reform the community to help more super naturals.
Aside from the characters, Ms. Carney has a way of describing things that makes you see it. I got interrupted during one of the battle scenes by my son, and I thought I was going to cry, my heart was racing and I was bouncing up and down( It was a very critical moment). I obsessed over what was going to happen for 5 hours!!! Its not often that happens to me in a book and it speaks very highly of Ms. Carney.
I will definitely be reading the rest of this series, and would recommend this to anyone who loves paranormal and action!
I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
*I received this ARC from the author in exchange for a honest review*
SECOND COMING by Amanda Carney
Parsley Walker has everything she's ever wanted. A new safe home in a magical place, new friendships, acceptance for who she is, and love. Par is planning a future with her vampire, that is free of anyone who would want to hurt her or her mate. For Par there is no sanctuary without Jesse, and all she has to do now is wait for his return. Then she receives a letter that devastates her, but not everything is as it seems.
Jesse Linwood did the hardest thing he's ever had to do, left behind the love of his life. With Parsley safe in Allswell, Jesse returns to his sire, the sadistic vampire who wants Parsley for her blood. He convinces Patrick that he will never get to her ever, and in return if he stops trying, he can have Jesse.
But things go wrong when Parsley receives a letter that turns her world upside down. She leaves Allswell and the safety behind, and now she is in great danger. Can Jesse's brother help him to see sense, in time to save his mate.
This is the second book in the First Fruit series, and what an incredible story. This author is so creative and imaginative, and she has a great eye for the details. Once again, the storyline was intriguing and entertaining, and had me gripped from start to finish. I loved the characters, they were really amazing, and we also get to meet a few more extra magical and wonderful creatures. This was just a fantastic book and I definitely recommend it, but it's best to read the books in order. I'm hoping to read about a few more of the Allswell characters in their own stories soon. I absolutely loved it.
I was gifted this book by the author for an honest review.
Oh wow what a story. Packed with action and magic. It picked up right where First Fruits left off. With vengeful justice, followed by heartbreaking betrayal.
Jesse knows his sire will never stop hunting Parsley. His only hope to keep her safe is to take her to Allswell. A sanctuary for the supernatural. However only one race is forbidden entry. His! Leaving Parsley there will protect her from Patrick. But in order to do so he will have to let her go. Sigh, it really tugged at my heart strings when Jesse let Parsley go.
Parsley is unaware that Vampires are forbidden in Allswell and thinks Jesse is coming back to her. Then one day a letter arrives informing her of his death. She knows in her heart it to be untrue and realises he lied to her and life in Allswell without the man she loves is no life. She promptly leaves in search of Jesse.
After leaving Parsley Jesse returns to Patrick where his mind is wiped and he forgets her. But Felix (you just have to love Felix) comes to the rescue.
From the moment Parsley leaves Allswell the story just explodes and pulls you into a world of fantasy, peaking with action, gore and violence. Then mellowing into a sweet romance.
I enjoyed reading about the other characters and hope there will be more books with them in it. We have not heard the last of Patrick but I am hoping Felix is next and the mark he has gone after to save is his mate.
I loved reading this. It was just perfect. This story kept me up till 3 am I just couldn't put it down.
Book 2 in the First Fruits series follows immediately from where First Fruits left off after that cliffhanger. I liked this second book even more than the first. It was suspenseful, action packed, heart-breaking and happy with many new magical characters.
Once the cliffhanger situation is resolved, Jesse realizes that Patrick's obsession with Parsley isn't ever going away and he'll stop at nothing to have her. Jesse and Felix come up with a plan to send Parsley to Allswell, a safe haven for supernaturals, with the expectation that he'll be there in a couple weeks after taking care of some business. Allswell appears to be a fairy tale land where everything is perfect and happy and all types of magical characters live in perfect harmony. It is that but they're also warriors determined to provide a safe haven away from evil like vampires. In fact, vampires are the only supernaturals not welcome in Allswell so Jesse must let Parsley go to keep her safe. Once Parsley realizes Jesse can never be part of her life in Allswell, she doesn't want that life if the man she loves isn't part of it so she leaves in search of him. That's when the suspense and action starts and you have to keep turning pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens with Parsley, Jesse, Felix and the all of the great new characters we meet in Alswell like Sib, Eshe and Neville. A great ending to Parsley and Jesse's love story but I'm very interested to find out what happens to the other characters!
*** I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.***
The First Fruits series is by far the best paranormal series that I have read in a long time. Second Coming picks up on a major cliffhanger from First Fruits. I highly recommend you read the series in order, and not skip the first book, or you'll be lost.
Perhaps what I love the most about this book, is Carney's ability to take Vampires, Fairies, Witches, shape shifters and other mythical creatures that have been written about for centuries, and make them her own. She breathes new life into this genre, and does so without being cheesy, juvenile or over the top erotic. I fell in love with the relationship between Par and Jesse. She is a strong heroine who doesn't cower in the corner, or spend time whining about about the difficult life she has lived. He is a man doing everything he can to protect the woman he loves, he has a terrible past, but is making every attempt to atone for his sins.
The character development never left me questioning the introduction of a new character, all of the players are crucial to the telling of this story. Also, the descriptive writing was on point, it made it very easy for me to visualize what I was reading.
In closing, if you are looking for a mature, well written paranormal romance, then sink your teeth into The First Fruits series, you won't be disappointed.
If you thought the first book was good, well this one just gets better. The story picks up right where the first part ended. Now with Bane out of the equation, Jesse realises that he can't really always protect Par. She need to be safe. Even if that means he has to separate himself from her. Hence Par lands up in Allswell. Allswell is as cheesy as it sounds. Everything is perfect and feels like it is straight out of some fairytale. Par is happy for once. She feels accepted. But only till she realises that Jesse lied to her and they won't ever be able to live together the fairytale.
I loved how the author brought around the transgression from the perfect and Cinderella like feel of the plot to the fast and sharp war scenario. Patrick is still a sadistic evil. Only this time around you will hate him more. The depravity of his tortures increase. Jesse was perfect. It's hard not to fall in love with him. Felix is just more fun. Special mention to how perfectly Par grows as a character. She ditches the damsel in distress act and decides to take her destiny in her own hands. The side characters like Eshe and the Neville are well developed and enjoyable. I hope there is another sequel because some questions have been left unanswered. A solid book. Pick up the series P.S - I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.