Dark Tide

Mated by Magic #3

by Stella Marie Alden

There’s a dangerous magic brewing in the South Pacific, and Maya O’Connor is certain it involves the handsome fire witch renting out her family’s private island. He’s dark, brooding, and sexy as sin. With a single touch, she knows he’s her perfect match.

Having suffered more than his fair share of heartbreak, Josh Fialko seems determined to destroy himself and everyone close to him. A fatal love match left him shattered beyond repair. Now, he wants nothing to do with mating, especially not with the feisty little water witch who’s intent on stealing his heart.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Magic

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2016

About the author

Amazon Best Seller Stella Marie Alden loves Zumba, yoga, watercolor painting, and all genres of romances.

Her first book, ‘How to Train Your Knight’, won Romance Writers of America coveted Molly and Show me the Sparks Contests, and placed in four others.
Truly remarkable, considering she’s only been writing for three years.

Growing up in Vermont, she loved to make up stories. Crayons fought each other over size and placement in their cardboard box and imaginary friends crowded the house. Her brother often complained. “Tell her no one’s here, Mother.".

Her career paths have varied. She’s been a librarian, a classical clarinetist wanna-be, recording studio engineer, broadcast electronics repairman, and now she architects software programs.

She lives in Bergen County, NJ with her life-long hero and their two cats. Her two girls are grown but ever supportive. You go Mom!

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could witchcraft be changing the weather patterns of Earth? Why would anyone want to bring the planet closer to total devastation? In a battle of wits, power and good versus evil, set sail for uncharted waters in the South Pacific as the world’s most powerful magic users face off against an unknown force determined to send them to Davy Jones’ locker and take control of the world, both the normal and the magically talented. Stella Marie Alden and Chantel Seabrook have brewed up any fabulous reading concoction for their readers in Dark Tide when two talents brave the forces of Mother Nature on steroids and the bond they try so desperately to ignore.

Josh Fialko is on a personal quest to self-destruct after a lifetime of bad decisions, loss and rebellion. Maya O’Connor, secretly one of the most powerful magic users ever is determined to prove to Josh that they are fated to be together, making each more powerful, and more importantly, blissfully happy and in love, but clearly, Josh hasn't gotten the memo or refuses to believe it.

Trust me, you have NOT read anything like this before! Certainly a passionate romance with sparks flying, enjoy a laugh or two, a few tears of frustration and sadness and enter a world of talents that is magnetic from start to finish. High on passion, action and turmoil, Stella Marie Alden and Chantel Seabrook are serving up their own personal brand of talent, great reading!

I received an ARC edition from Chantel Seabrook & Stella Marie Alden in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Mated by Magic - Book 3
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 169 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/14/2019)! 🎁

[SheReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Batman! I keep thinking these books can't get any better, any sexier, any more exciting. I'm continuously wrong on that point. This was my favorite and I say that every time. haha.

We all felt bad for Josh in the previous book. He went through hell with his wife, worse than hell. She was horrible. So it's understandable he's the way he is - a loner. He's distanced himself from his brothers emotionally and physically, going to a remote island off Australia that is run by a clan he's familiar with.

It's supposed to be a safe getaway where he could be on his own and away from the troubles that come with being a witch. Then Maya enters his life. He's drawn to her and it isn't long before he realizes why. But this isn't just a love story. A storm is brewing and it isn't a natural one. Someone out there is up to something and Maya and Josh find themselves right in the middle of it.

I read this book in a total of two sittings. It would have been one, but I'm a human being that needs sleep. I love how quickly these books come out because I'm not good at waiting, especially when I'm a little obsessed. I can't wait for more.

[♡♡~Cyborg-Scifi-Lover~♡♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

And again a great read. I can't wait for th next one to come.
I love the way these two authors write toghether.

** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. **

[Michele Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I offered to review this audiobook because I am such an an avid reader but also almost exclusively audio due to my schedule. Because of this, I can be critical of narrators. Especially when books have a single narrator required to speak with different voices for multiple characters. Most cannot do it without having some errors where they use the wrong 'voice' for the wrong character. I am a true believer in the fact that a bad narrator can destroy a great book and have turned away several books with good ratings because of just that. The narrator in this book did a great job, so I was able to listen to the book without issue.

Next is the story. I am not one to give a lot of specific story details since I feel you should read the story for that, and in this case, you won't be disappointed. This is book 3 in a great paranormal romance series, which has great characters and an interesting storyline that make you want to keep listening until the story is over. The intrigue, suspense, and romance found in books 1 & 2 continues in book 3. Now I am on to book 4!

I received a free review copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and this time it takes you all the way to Australia. Josh has retreated to a secluded island to nurse his grief. The last thing he needs is the spitfire Maya showing up on his doorstep awakening feelings he doesn't want to feel. Maya is a water witch and heir to her clan and doesn't like the complications Josh brings into her life. When a supernaturally powered storm strands them on the island, close quarters makes their attraction hard to resist. Knowing more of these storms could spell disaster for the world, they reluctantly team up to investigate and discover an even bigger plan at works involving an old enemy of the Fialko family. An epic battle involving all the clans has devastating consequences and explains the motives behind the storms. The road to Josh and Maya's HEA is not an easy one, but that's to be expected since fire and water don't mix. Sizzling romance, biblical magic displays, and plenty of action will keep you on the edge of your seat in this installment of the series.

[Keema Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this story really touched my soul. I really felt for Josh and Maya. They’re misconceptions about themselves and how others see them has done a number on them. I really didn’t think that this couple would have come together, but in true fashion Stella came through at the height of the plot. I must say I loved that Gregor finally got what was coming to him..I felt that His part in Dark Vortex was incomplete . I loved how it came together in Josh and Maya’s story.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, much better than book 1 in the series. While I genuinely like the story and series, and I'm kind of a fan of insta-whatever, I do feel like the development could have been deeper. It's one thing saying or thinking something, but it's the ACTION that portrays it. And overall, the stories don't really demonstrate that action. But I enjoyed the series and I'm glad I read them lol

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never know what I am going to get with books and audio but having listened to the previous two books in this series, I knew it would be good. The narrator does a good job of bringing the characters to life and making you live in the story. There's magic and spells and devastation and this undeniable attraction that makes it hard for Josh to ignore.

[Ninive Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. Josh is my favorite brother and this story is epic. Josh met his mate but he swear that he will never love again, but Maya is a water witch with bright red hair and a force that no one want to mess with. This story has action, adventure, steamy, romantic with a happily ever after.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the best brother

Josh has never been sure of his place in the world. The just needs a little more time to find his place. The heroine is stubborn and vulnerable, sometimes too much. Josh also has a tendency to whine too much.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review for honest review. This story is of jash of the fire lesco clan and after the death of his wife finding Maya of the water clan saving him and finding out who is messing with the weather. Mates awesome

[Carrie Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy was purchased as a set and they were excellent. I really couldn't put them down. Towards the end of this 3rd book I was struck at how much they reminded me of some witch trilogies written by Nora Roberts. That is a really good thing. I am hoping there are more of this series.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just found my favourite of this series. Yes I may be biased being an Australian but either way still my favourite I’m glad Josh came to his senses and worked out what he really wanted. And who couldn’t live the heroine in this story. Now just to find out about this cryptic last part.

[Kelly Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Josh was an asshole with very few redeeming qualities, but I liked Maya well enough.

[Cindy Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series.

[Cat- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four books total. Not a bad series of witches and warlocks falling in love with their powerful mates. A bit cheesy and predictable but a good read nonetheless

[Jennifer Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series. I’m loving it!

[Debra Johnson]

Purchase Amazon October 14, 2019

[Teresa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoever said Fire and Water dont mix

Jack wanted to be left alone, he was still getting over his the death of his cheating wife. Good thing he didn't mate with her. He was on his friends island when this girl comes up and touches him and they both know that with that much current between them could only mean one thing and Jack tells her right off the bat that he doesn't and isn't looking for a mate. That just makes Maya mad so she makes a big wave and covers him with it.
The chemistry between Jack and Maya is so hot you can roast marshmallows. They can't keep their hands off each other so they agree to be together but just call it sex with no strings. Then they try and figure out what's causing the strange weather and they both say its got to be magic. So they go investigate, but its more than what they think. Jack and Maya need to get the clan council involved but will they believe them before its to late? People will lose their lives. The whole clans must come together if their going to win. Then Maya over hears Jack telling one of his brothers that what's between them is just sex and it hurts her because its more than that for her and she was hoping it was starting to be for him to. After he says it he feels bad. Then they have to work together to catch the guy who started this whole thing and get the girl he kidnapped back. They try and get along and he saves her from making a bad choice. She has to go home because she is now clan leader. Jack knows that he loves Maya, but can he make the right decision and go to her and mate with on the solstice? Will Maya give him another chance after what he said and done to her? After he broke her heart? This book is a must read, I love these books by Channel Seabrook and Stella Marie Alden, I hope they are working on the next book!

[Berk Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I loved this story there were things about it which bothered me a little. I didn't think the characters were quite as well developed as in the prior two novels in this series, for example. But still if you love reading about witches and their powers, if you are not put off by a little entry into the realm of explicit sexual content, this is fun and good reading. The story, the actual plot and developed set of scenarios is more, in this book, about the love affair between Maya and Josh than about anything else. They have to go through some difficult moments in order to arrive at their mating. But they do get there as would be the expectation in starting the book. I think this is a fun series of books which any adult might enjoy. I enjoyed each of the stories separately and appreciated that they were stand alone stories in addition to be part of a series. I recommend the book for all ages above that of late teens. It has enough explicit sex in it that I do not believe this is a good book for tweens or high schoolers.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book in the Mated By Magic Series. I couldn't put it down and this is definately a must read. This whole series has been a refreshing read. Each story has been unique, even though the reader knows how the mating ritual is carried out, each one is still different and hot!!

Josh has cut himself off from his clan and has isolated himself on an island and withdrawn into himself. He is trying to get over a broken heart, from his cheating wife. The only positive thing, was that he never mated with her.

Along comes Maya, to drop off deliveries to the island. After a brief touch they both know they are destined mates. However, Josh pushes her away. They have to work together to overcome a threat and he has to work with his brothers and their mates. Will Josh overcome his broken heart to finally find happiness and love?

[Kimberly Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Thought that the story was electric and left it open for more. This series just keeps getting better. Love the audio books and love the narrator. I have both listened and read these and have loved both. I absolutely was heart broken with out giving anything away someone dies. It does give to the story but man it sucks. This book was a little more angsty than the others but it definitely had more story and grit to it thought. I liked how Maya didn’t put up with Josh’s crap. I am interested to see more of what this author has to offer.

[Soccergypsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. **

Oh, Josh... Although Jack had my heart in "Dark Vortex" you were in my peripheral. And you intrigued me more in "Dark Tremor" so much so I was anxiously awaiting "Dark Tide" with a school-girl giddiness that almost annoyed me. Yet you did not disappoint. Your self-awakening throughout this story heated my heart and warmed my being. Fire witch, indeed.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Tide was totally amazing. This series just keeps getting better and better.
I loved Maya she was strong and sweet and perfect for Josh even when he was being a total... if you know what I mean lol
The story was awesome and grabbed my attention from the first chapter. Once I started I couldn't put it down!
I will recommend this book for sure!

[Lynn Thinking out loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it. The way it ended left it wide open for so much more. I hope the authors keep them coming. I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Dee Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love conquers all.....

I really love reading paranormal books. This one was exciting and adventurous and I loved the characters. I couldn't put this book down. Thank you!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Tide

I wonder what's coming at them next. I'm so sad her dad died, I was hoping he would come thru unscathed in all this.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite in the series. Water power mixes with fire power.
Received an ARC for an honest review.