Eyes of Autumn

The Marcel Experience #2

by Cynthia H. Wise

Recurring dreams have plagued Katie Hammond since childhood, forcing her to keep an open mind to the paranormal. But when Katie is compelled to follow a forest path during her trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, she stumbles into a forgotten life—one she’s not sure she wants to remember—and an enthralling man who shouldn’t exist. At the end of the path is Marcus Hillyerd, a man with a secret and golden eyes. He comes face-to-face with the only woman he’s ever loved. The only problem—she doesn’t remember him. Then evil from Marcus’s past emerges and attempts to destroy everything he holds sacred. Needing reinforcement, Marcus calls upon Marcel Enterprises, his network of paranormal beings dedicated to helping victims of corruption. Together, they must risk their lives to keep Katie safe and protect the empire that took Marcus more than a century to build.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Ghosts

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2016

Reviews

[Cheryl La Pa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
What a gem of book! I am so glad that I read Eyes of Autumn. It is beautifully written, refreshingly different and absolutely riveting. I loved every minute of it!

The past entwines with the present as Katie is drawn to Hillyerd Estate and its previous inhabitants, and is determined to uncover the reasons for her recurring dreams about it. The author perfectly captured the old-world charm of Hillyerd Estate and painted a detailed picture of it with its secret tunnels, locked rooms and tragic history.

I was drawn into the Katie’s life and was totally intrigued by Marcus and his paranormal employees at Marcel Enterprises. The story unravels gradually, revealing secrets and twists along the way, which kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the end. There is so much more to the story than it seems, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

I have not read the first book in the series, and did not have any trouble following the characters or the storyline. Though now I want to read Portrait of Rage while I wait for the next book to come out.

Highly recommended!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have dreams and nightmares. Sometimes we have the same one more than once, are they our minds working out a puzzle or could they be something more? Katie has had recurring dreams as long as she can remember; dreams of a time and place she never knew, until a strange force pulls her down a forest path bringing her to the place and the man she has seen every night.

Marcus Hillyerd is model-rugged and handsome, his eyes are like glowing golden embers and he has a secret, a long-kept secret and it involves his heart and Katie. Will the Hillyerd Estate he is re-inheriting reveal the secrets he hides? Will Katie discover the meaning of her dreams? Together will they share both the truths of the past and hopes for the future or are the secrets of Hillyerd Estate to remain as dark as the passages and tunnels that run throughout its walls? There is evil in the air and Marcus must call on supernatural warriors who fight for those in need.

Hang on for this one! EYES OF AUTUMN by Cynthia H. Wise blossoms into a rose at full bloom, complete with its painful thorns. Ms. Wise has painted a portrait of two people caught up in time and in each other’s souls who stand little chance of finding their HEA if evil has its way. Beautifully told, the atmosphere of the estate feels rich with history, the intrigue of Katie and Marcus’ past and present is fascinating as it unfolds. Wonderful characters round out a delightfully rich read that kept me turning pages with glee.

Whether you believe in soulmates or not, Cynthia H. Wise makes the premise both intriguing completely entertaining!

I received this copy from Cynthia H. Wise in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: BookLogix; 2 edition (October 17, 2016)
Publication Date: October 17, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[P Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from net gallery for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the book; it had a unique narrative which captivated my attention from the beginning and held it until the end.

Katie is a secretary and works for Mr Kleggs legal firm but he gives her the creeps. He keeps making sexual advances and she knows there's something shady going on; especially since she found out he records client/lawyer meetings.

Katie is running an errand when she bumps into Marcus. She's left breathless by the gorgeous man with piercing, glowing, amber eyes. Her body responds to him - probably the aftermath of her dry spell no doubt! Or is it?

Everything goes downhill when Mr Klegg not only propositions her but forces himself upon her. She kicks him in his jewels and gives him a piece of her mind but before leaving his office, she takes the disc which recorded what just transpired between them.

Katie takes a vacation to the Blue Ridge Mountains with her friend Angie. Katie directs Angie down a forest path, to a hidden door but how did she know it was there? They settle down for a picnic when a voice startles them: it's Marcus and the surrounding estate including the garden belongs to him.

As Marcus takes the two ladies on a tour of the manor, Katie has flashbacks - but what does it mean? She's drawn to Marcus, but why does she keep him at a distance? What's holding her back?

Marcus is mysterious and his eyes literally glow - what is he? What's he hiding?

There's lots of suspense and mystery surrounding Katie's flashbacks which was exciting yet intriguing. I loved the chemistry between Katie and Marcus: it was intense and gave me goosebumps. I liked Marcus: he was patient yet understanding but never arrogant or pushy. My heart broke for Marcus: when Katie kept pushing him away. I understood her fear but didn't understand why she was taking out the anger she felt towards Nathan on Marcus. I found it amusing when she got nervous and started talking with a Scottish accent.

The book had a nice steady flow but towards the end it felt rushed. Several characters gave me the creeps but Marcus's team was an intriguing bunch. This book has it all: suspense, mystery, romance, shapeshifters, and ghosts. I loved the fact that there was never a dull moment. I liked Cynthia's writing style and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes of Autumn by Cynthia H. Wise is the second book in the Marcel Experience.

I haven't read the first one but it didn't seem like you had to read the first one which was excellent I could just jump into Eyes of Autumn.

I was a little nervous to read this at first because I haven't read a book by this author before but the beautiful cover and intriguing book blurb drew me in.

Overall, I was pleasantly suprised.

It took a few chapters for me to get into Eyes of Autumn but after awhile I was enthralled. The pacing seemed a bit off, it had a slow start but the end seemed a tad rushed. Wise has a truly beautiful writing style, I really got into it especially intense Marcus. I truly enjoyed this blend of genres!

Katie has been plagued by supernatural happenings and strange, recurring dreams her entire life. She has done her best to ignore it and works as a secretary at a legal firm. Katie soon finds out her boss isn't only a creepy perv but up to something shady as well.

After being attacked by her boss and escaping, she steals something from her boss and goes on a getaway to Blue Ridge Mountain with her friend.

But oddly enough, Blue Ridge seems oddly familiar to her and it leads her to encounter Marcus who is not who he seems.

Marcus seems to know her though and Katie doesn't seem to remember their past, except in fragments from her dreams

A highly recommended read!

*This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you BookLogix and Cynthia H. Wise for this amazing read!*

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

There may be a few reasons why I wasn't a fan of this book. It could be that by breaking my own rule about reading books in a series in order that this book never had a chance... but I dunno it feels like a larger failure than just not knowing the story and characters from book 1.
Eyes of Autumn, book 2 in The Marcel Experience is told primarily from the perspective of Katie. She is a new character, not from book 1 and is quite likeable at first. In fact most things are quite likeable about this book for the first 30%-40%. It reads like a nice little romance with a paranormal ghost story and a bit of future action alluded to but not come to fruition yet. Could almost be a Nora Roberts stand-alone book at first (with one major exception--the tactic to have a characters voice change significantly during our ghost story moments drove me insane, it felt unnecessary and like a gimmick).

But then at about the halfway mark things go all wrong.
Suddenly there is a chapter that reads like it's from the thriller genre. I don't mean just had things happen in it that are a bit horrific; no, no, I mean it was like the writing completely changed. If I didn't know any better I'd say another author wrote it or someone with multiple personalities. That's how much it doesn't fit in with the rest of the book. And things just go downwards from here.
We get overwhelmed from the four-ish important characters in the first half of the book to about 20 all at once (okay it was probably like 8 but it felt like a lot all at once). It appears that some of these 'new' characters are from book 1 and it's briefly mentioned what happened between them in book 1 but very little detail is given, and honestly it's not really relevant to the rest of the story anyways.
From our thriller moment with way more characters forward things just progress further into the void that is where paranormal romances go to be forgotten. The paranormal stuff ramps up about 100 times from our little, cute ghost story in the first half. Suddenly there are all kinds of paranormal 'people', magic, and clans. It felt very abrupt to me and overwhelming.

Overall I think that there is a cute ghosty love story in this book, but it's really too bad that it gets bogged down by too much plot all at once. It's funny because what is the original plot in the first half of the book is more or less irrelevant for the last half. The only important thing is that it brought a character into the mix.
Between feeling very disconnected and chapters that felt like I had jumped into another story I just didn't enjoy the last 50% at all. I do hope that Cynthia H. Wise finds a way to temper her desire to shove a lot of stuff into a book and step over the genre barrier so abruptly. You can have a lovely little romance with a murder and suspense story that feel like the same story. I know I've read ones that are brilliantly put together. I hope that this is something that Wise can work on as the book is actually great and the writing is pretty good for the first section (the entire reason it gets two stars is because of the first half of the book being quite enjoyable).
Needless to say I won't be carrying on with this series, nor will I be looking to read book 1.
But again, I can't help but have doubts that by breaking my own rule (don't read books out of order in a series) that I sabotaged the series and books. So if you think it sounds really fun then maybe give it a try but read book 1 first. I think it would help.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review. Don't believe me? Check out the other books I've had eARCs for that I gave great reviews to. I always give my opinion whether good or bad. ;)

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about Eyes of Autumn at first. As I began reading, I was somewhat underwhelmed. The plot seemed a little dull and the writing a bit clumsy. But I'm very glad that I kept reading - my interest and the plot intrigue grew with each chapter and development.

Eyes of Autumn is the second book in a series - The Marcel Experience. I have not read the first book (Portrait of Rage), but it didn't feel like I had missed anything critical to my enjoyment and understanding of the story. Part romance, part paranormal mystery, the plot moves at a brisk pace. Legal assistant Katie Hammond meets an intriguingly handsome man on the same day she quits her job. She and her best friend Angie take advantage of the opportunity to get away to Angie's family cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When the ladies run into Marcus - the aforementioned intriguingly handsome man - there, the recent past, the distant past, and the future rapidly intersect and entwine.

It took me a little while to really buy into the relationship between Katie and Marcus but, once I did, everything kind of fell into place. I 'm pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up enjoying Eyes of Autumn and I will be eagerly waiting to read what happens next.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read this author, and I didn’t read the first one in the series before reading this book. As with most of the books I’ve read lately, thank goodness, I wasn’t lost by not having read the previous one; I need to pay better attention about whether or not the book I’m getting is the first in a series. The description of the book drew me in, and at first I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. It started out slow, and I was afraid I was going to lose interest. However, once the action started, the book did move along at a good pace. And, normally, I don’t like books that jump back and forth to different time periods, but the author did a really good job of not letting it interfere in the movement of the book. I really liked the character of Kate, and found her a great character. For some reason, it took me a little while to like Marcus, but once I did, I was captivated by their romance. I will have to go back and read the first one, and I’m intrigued enough to get the next book. This is a well-written, excellent book. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and BookLogix/Victory Editing for the e-copy of the book. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful paranormal novel with just about any twist you can imagine. You might think this would be confusing but Ms. Cynthia H. Wise writes a beautiful book. I didn't read book one of the series (The Marcel Experience) but I figured out pretty quickly what happened. (I've already downloaded it to enjoy). Starting off with past life lovers reconnecting, you also have shapeshifters, ghosts, clairvoyants , werewolves and vampires. So well written the story flows with two strong lead characters that keep everything tied together and moving.A must read for the paranormal fan.

[Rinou · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5
J’ai aimé que l’héroïne n’accepte pas tout pour argent comptant, et qu’on voit bien les sentiments évoluer. Mais il y a un mélange de suspense et de fantasy, avec réincarnation, changeformes, sorciers, fantômes... qui pourrait être sympa, mais il y a trop peu d’explications.

avis complet https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I read the book description of ‘Eyes of Autumn’ I knew I wanted to read this book as fast as I could. I love Paranormal Romance novels and this one sounded really exciting and different. Although this book is the second one in the series, it can be read without reading the first book, and that’s what I did.

‘Eyes of Autumn’ really was a great read. After a view slow chapters this book really started to grab my attention and I didn’t want to stop reading. Since I didn’t read the first book in the series, I was really afraid I wouldn’t be able to understand everything about this book. But I soon realized that I didn’t have any trouble understanding this book and the characters. Reading this book made me curious about the first book though.

The main characters in this book were nice and intriguing. I loved reading about their life and the way they handled things. I especially loved Katie’s character. She was really strong and she really didn’t give up easily. Whatever life threw at here, she managed to keep going. I loved that about her. Katie definitely was a strong and brave character.

But there were some moments I didn’t particularly like. For example there were a view times in this book I wanted more explanations to what was going on. And although the romance between Katie and Marcus was nice, it felt like only a little part of this book. I did expect a little more romance.
These things frustrated me a little, but in the end the good parts of this book really made up for it and I found myself unable to stop reading.

‘Eyes of Autumn’ really was a surprising book to me. This book is so much more than just one genre. It had a little bit of everything. Romance, Mystery, Action.. You name it and this book had it. I really enjoyed reading this book!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

***spoiler alert***

I started this book and then put it down for a day, and when I picked up my Kindle to see what I should read, I had completely forgotten I had already started a book - not a great start to a book when you can't remember anything. That being said, I had only read the very first chapters and the book was only in the process of being set up. After picking up the book again, and reading a few more chapters, I decided it was worthwhile giving the book another chance (and not simply returning it to my to-be-read pile). I must say I am very, very glad I gave this book a chance as it really picks up after a while and becomes quite enjoyable. Now you might wonder, after I've said that the book is quite enjoyable, why I've only given it 3 stars. That's because when I rate books I rate them as a book in and of itself, and then rate it stacked against others of it's kind, and then as a tie-breaker to work out rating - whether I'd read the book again. In this case it's a pretty decent book (although I hate the abrupt non ending*) but it is a fairly typical concept, and I probably won't read this again, although I am interested in checking out the other titles in the series.
*Now don't get me wrong, I know the book as ended the it was so that nothing was revealed for the next book but there was no definitive 'ending' for the main couple, and they never really have that defining 'couple' moment.

***spoiler ahead***

I know they sleep together and become mates but they never truly have that 'what the future holds' conversation. I don't know, the book just seems incomplete somehow.

[Megan | A Page to Turn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eyes of Autumn was a slow burn for about the first 100 pages or so for me... but then it started heating up and didn't stop until the very end! The mysteries surrounding Katie and the Hillyerd property kept me intrigued enough to keep me reading when things continued to be slow. It gradually built into a story that by the time I was hooked, I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what would happen, and how these two souls would connect.

My favorite part about this book is that it was set in Georgia, my home state. Specifically the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are special to me and part of who I am personally. That is what drew me to this book in the first place - and the promise of a good mystery, wrapped up in some supernatural dreams. Katie and Marcus, the focus of the story, are very well developed and their connection is obvious, without being insta-love. I truly enjoyed all the secondary characters and creatures as well.

This was my first book by Cynthia, and I really enjoyed her style of writing in general. She has an ease about her, and she does dialogue really well between characters. I just wish some of the earlier chapters were a tad more concise, and a little more developed. This is apparently a second book in a series, but I felt no need to read a book prior to it - I definitely believe this can be read as as standalone.

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this book in return for my honest opinion.

This was the second book in a series, I did not read the first book, but I don't think it hampered my reading of this book. It was a slow starting book; but as I read, I found the characters more interesting and storyline more intriguing. I really enjoyed the character of Katie and it was because of my interest in this character that I found myself reading, I had to find out what happened. I feel that sometimes the story or characters reactions seemed disjointed with the storyline but overall it was a good read. I loved the setting of the book, most of all, so scenic and wonderfully described, almost felt like I could smell the fresh air.

It was an enjoyable book, not a great book and I'm not sure I honestly would read the next book in the series but I did enjoy this as a standalone book.

[Melinda Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book and both positive and negative aspects. I enjoyed reading about Katie’s life and how her past was intertwined with Marcus'. The plot itself has lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing. I especially enjoyed learning the secrets of the Hillyerd estate as revealed throughout Katie's recurring nightmares and her visions of the past. Despite this, the book did start out very slowly before picking up.

Now, onto the characters. I didn't really like either Marcus or Katie; both were quite annoying especially Marcus. Also, Marcus' personality was overbearing.

Overall, this was a read with quite a good plot but the romance and characters let it down.

[Devin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was something else. I think up until a certain chapter it held promise and was actually building to what I thought would be an interesting ending, but then the author threw a dozen or so characters and plot twists that had you spinning. I went from (in the beginning) thinking this book was one thing and then it went into being a paranormal something, that then turned into something else entirely. I also just have to say, the main character Katie's Scottish accent that she just developed from a past life was beyond obnoxious. I forced myself to finish this book just so I could move on.

[Lauren Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus’s heart lurched when he entered the sitting room and saw the portrait of a young woman. Her sea-green eyes captured his and seemed to caress him. They were eyes that became stormy blue with passion and sparked green fire with teasing mischief—eyes that had haunted him for over a century. They were Katie’s eyes.

There are so many genres bundled up into this one fictional story, a reader can surely find at least one thing to connect with. Romantic interest runs somewhat high in this novel between Marcus and Katie, soulmates who have been parted by a secret past rumored around the town of Blue Ridge. Suspense and mystery also run rampant within these pages, a killer is on the loose and a very large estate has several tales to tell. And—if readers didn’t think that was enough, a paranormal element clings to the essence of the story, making it even more eventful. Wise really throws in some twists and never-ending new players to form an interesting, but yet mysterious read—one that may just captivate until the very end.

Katie quits her job after her boss makes unwanted advances toward her, but before she leaves him on his knees in pain—she finds a tape, their whole interaction recorded. She briefly runs into a man with amber eyes earlier within the day, this man is familiar to her—but her work crisis becomes her main focus…that is until the man asks her to lunch after the interaction with her boss. After taking off with the tape as evidence of sexual assault, she and a friend go to a secluded getaway cabin in Blue Ridge for a much needed vacation. No nasty, clingy bosses. No sexy strangers who demand lunch and practically kidnap you. Just Katie and her best friend and roommate, Angie. Upon Katie’s better judgement, she brushes off her suspicion of someone tailing them after Angie tells her that she is being paranoid. Katie and Angie arrive at the cabin, only to find that Katie is still being drawn to a large and rumored haunted estate. It’s in her nightmares, visions, waking moments—there is a powerful force at work here. Through further investigation and a very relaxing picnic, the man who Katie has been trying to get out of her head, suddenly appears like fate has driven them together…or maybe this is a second chance at finding her soulmate? After these visions and nightmares, Katie feels like she has always known this man, Marcus—but as another man in a previous life. Feeling crazy and somewhat still paranoid, will these three find out the secrets within the mysterious estate? What about that feeling of constantly being watched that Katie continues to have? Could someone have an agenda to hurt either of them—even to possibly kill them? And then…what is Marcus hiding about his past?

Wise has a decent story-line with good character development. Some of the characters could have been explained a bit more, but the reader will get a general idea of the majors in the story. The pace is really fast, which may cause some confusion or allow the reader to feel a bit of a loss in plot, especially since there are so many genre clashes. There were a few grammatical and spelling errors here and there, but these may have been cleaned up since an advanced reader copy was provided. If you are a reader of paranormal romance and suspense or mystery, you may be interested in this book. This is the second installment in the series; however, readers are able to read this story as a standalone without needing information previously mentioned in the first book.

A copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by Chick Lit Plus, but this in no way affects our honest opinion of the book or the review that has been written.

[♥ WishfulMiss ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the supernatural twist the author gives the readers regarding shifters. It was unique and gritty and definitely memorable. This story had a little bit of everything, romance, action, mystery, suspense - it even throws in some good old fashion ghosts and magic.

The mystery surrounding Katie and the cryptic Marcus was also really engaging. And I really enjoyed the side characters (although towards the end there were so many new names and faces that I couldn't keep them all straight.) They added to the story line and definitely kept my interest piqued.

What lost me a little was the vague reactions of Katie during situations that (for this reader) warranted some excess of emotion. For example, Katie starts experiences déjà vu moments She finds out she is the reincarnated lover of Marcus and she asks one question, he answers and she just accepts it. There was no struggle to understand, she just accepts it and is able to move on like that wasn't confusing, scary, out of her comfort zone? Katie doesn't even react to Nathan's confession, which I'd already guessed but still, she acknowledges that it was true and she remembers the event but there was not recrimination, no tears, just "yeah that's what happened, I remember now," and then she moves own??

The only time I see any real emotion is when Angie visits her in the kitchen with Silvano. I was really sucked into that whole scene. It was raw and intense and it was the first time we get to see Katie reacting like a normal 25 year old. I wish we would have gotten more of that emotion, I think it would have helped me connect more with her.

I loved the ending, there was so much going on, it was fast paced, action packed, and just fed my curiosity to know more. More about Marcus, more about his team, more about the villain. Just more. It had to be my favorite part of the book, and that is saying a lot since typically I don't like these types of endings. It ends on a cliffhanger But the story held it's own up to the very end and I was totally immersed in it.

So 4 stars for the unique shifter theory and for the action/mystery plot. Three stars for the romance/heat. I felt the romance was second to the main plot, which isn't bad but as an avid romance reader, I guess I had higher expectations? Just my opinion - I still really enjoyed this one.

*** ARC provided for an honest review ***

[RR · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had me feeling all kinds of things, unfortunately though, not a lot of the feelings were good ones. At first, I was hooked and really intrigued by the characters and their funny and romantic interactions. After a while though, I felt like the plot was not well thought through. There were no real twists to the plot of general mystery because everything was kind of presented on a silver platter, if you know what I mean.

The plot and general characters and happenings had a lot of potential but it wasn't fully used. Major plot strings were loosely vowed together, but mostly they were just coming my way with a huge cut. And at some point I was asking myself, why is this happening and what purposed does this new character/ event have?

Maybe I am too harsh on the book here, but I also thought that most of the characters were not emotional at all, even at very dire and dark times. Or what I felt should have been dire times of need and general sadness, but I won't spoil anything here ;) Overall, I can say that there were a lot of interesting characters that I enjoyed.

Some very important characters were introduced very late. This and other abrupt additions of plot strings and background stories gave me an impression of a very rushed last third of the book. There were a lot of interesting developments between different groups of people but it was not described with great detail. This made me contemplate the importance of those sequences.

The writing was easy and fast to read and made for a very pleasant reading experience. Though I have to mention here that there are choice words within the novel. The only thing that put me off was the occasional sprinkle of a mixture of lustful fantasies about characters and rude language that, for me, seemed unnatural in the flow of the story.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, but I would suggest to give it a go. My opinion does not have to be yours.

[Erika Messer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I love books that have a background of places like Scotland or Ireland and even Britain and this fit the bill perfectly. Katie is a wonderful and strong heroine who makes mistakes as she is trying to find herself. She fights back against a man who attempts to sexually intimidate her but it also leads her to be mistrustful of Marcus Hilyerd, the man who wants her and wants to be there for her. I love Marcus' character because he is mysterious and of course his sprawling estate in Georgia and the mystery surrounding the past and what happened there really adds a new layer to this book. Although he recognizes Katie from his past, she does not know him. But Katie has a gift for seeing things - seeing things that have happened in the past. She sees the murder of a woman but doesn't know the details so it becomes a dual effort to figure out the secrets that Hillyerd Estate holds. I thought that would be the end of the paranormal experience in the book ... until we meet Marcel Enterprises - a mixture of paranormal people with a lot of different abilities. They are able to assist Marcus in figuring out what happened. So the paranormal theme runs pretty deep in this book but it's not the usual vampires or werewolves - it's nice to see a new take on the paranormal aspect. Overall I was impressed with this book and although I thought it started out a bit slow, it really became a page-turner for me and I couldn't wait to find out the end result of the mystery. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a teeny bit of the paranormal mixed in with secrets, lies and past vs present. Does contain adult language and sexual scenes so not a book for young adults or kids. But definitely something to check out :)

***I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.***

[Les Romantiques · Rating 3 out of 5]

Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher

2,5/5

Second volume in The Marcel Experience series. We follow Katie, forced to resign to flee her boss’ indecent proposition, who’s helping Marcus, newly met, while he renovates the house he’s just inherited. He’s going to help her discover the meaning of the recurring nightmare she’s been having since she was a kid, and protect her from an unknown danger.

First I had trouble with the style in the beginning of the novel. There are lots of dialogues with few descriptions for two or three chapters and it was an uneasy read. Fortunately the style changed after that to become more usual.

Between Katie and Marcus the attraction is immediate, and I liked that she hesitates as she learns more on the how and the why instead of accepting that without questioning anything. That frustrates Marcus a bit but he stays patient and understanding. We can see their feelings evolving, especially Marcus’ who must get used to a resistance he didn’t expect.

There are a lot of things happening in this novel. There’s a mix of suspense and fantasy, with reincarnation, shape-shifters, wizards, ghosts… That could be good but there aren’t much explanation, especially in the first part where most of the time we only have innuendoes. So I thought it was a bit frustrating at times.

The secondary characters are endearing and interesting, and I wanted to see them more. The big battle is finally quite fast, but most of all if at the end of the novel the couple’s story seems achieved the general plot almost ends with a cliffhanger.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole, this is a delicious bit of escapism and thoroughly enjoyable. And I think tha the best way to get the most out of the story is just to go with the revelations and not pick apart the history of the relationship between Marcus and Katie too much. The one thing which I really had an issue with? The "Scottish" accent. Whilst I understand what the author was trying to do, it was a bit jarring seeing it expressed on the page in the manner it was. Don't understand what I mean? Read the book. I think you'll get it when you get to the point it commenced.

That aside, the underlying plot was decent, and the cast of "bad guys" had just the right amount of ick factor for me.

I haven't read book 1 in the series, but I didn't think that affected my overall enjoyment of this one, and I would read more in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Andrea Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.eyes

It’s not often that I receive a paranormal romance I love as much as I loved this one! The story was developed, the characters were intriguing, and the promise of more to come left me salivating.

I was captivated by the concept. Being a lover of paranormal, I’ve seen it all. Werewolves, vampires, demons–they are played out. Eyes of Autumn is refreshing. I mean, a group of mercenary-like bad a**es with a hodgepodge of abilities? How can any paranormal lover not enjoy the change of flavor?

While this book is the second, you’ll be fine without reading the first as well; however, I think I’ll be reading it anyway because I enjoyed book two. There is plenty of explanation without being bogged down by too much summary.

Marcus is sweet and mysterious, fierce but loving. Katie is an odd bird with her combo characteristics. (I can’t say much more without giving away the plot’s secrets. Just know she’s almost a mixture of two characters.) I did get a little tired of her dialect, but again, it’s part of this strange dichotomy.

There were a number of characters added in a short time near the end, most of which I expect to have novels all their own. Just read and enjoy without letting the names overload you.

4.5 Stars

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes of autumn by Cynthia H Wise is a romance and sci-fi and fantasy read.
Recurring dreams have plagued Katie Hammond since childhood, forcing her to keep an open mind to the paranormal. But when Katie is compelled to follow a forest path during her trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, she stumbles into a forgotten life—one she’s not sure she wants to remember—and an enthralling man who shouldn’t exist. At the end of the path is Marcus Hillyerd, a man with a secret and golden eyes. He comes face-to-face with the only woman he’s ever loved. The only problem—she doesn’t remember him.
Then evil from Marcus’s past emerges and attempts to destroy everything he holds sacred. Needing reinforcement, Marcus calls upon Marcel Enterprises, his network of paranormal beings dedicated to helping victims of corruption. Together, they must risk their lives to keep Katie safe and protect the empire that took Marcus more than a century to build.
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Loved how Marcus and Katie were with each other. Couldn't put it down. Didn't like kreggs at all. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

[Stacey Schneller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first story that I have read by this author and man did she ever did an excellent job on this. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books. This is not my last book. 

This was a dark adventurous story that I enjoyed getting into. There are also surprises as well as a few twists and turns as well which kept me turning the pages. 

I fell in love with Marcus he was that type of character that I like. Katie I wasn’t to sure about at first but ended liking her by the end of the story. 

This was a well written story plot had some good twists I would definitely recommend this book to sifi book lovers. 

I voluntarily received an ARC to give an honest review. 

[W.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating
5 out of 5 Hearts

Great writing skills!! Very Enjoyable!!

Cynthia H. Wise is a new to me author. I am so thankful to my friend for recommending this book to me. I haven't read the first book in the series yet, but I plan on it. Seemed like the first book does not need to be read first. I enjoyed the presentation.

Very well written, easy to follow... so enthralling, it was hard to put down, I would have devoured it all in one sitting, if life permitted.

What I liked the most about this read is the little glimpses into Marcus's character. "Who and What is Marcus?"  Those questions kept my curiosity peaked and the pages flipping.

Katie and Marcus are amazing characters, personable, believable, strong, intelligent, and Sexy!

The world is dark, adventurous, dangerous turns, full of twisted surprises, and infused with a beautiful romance at the core.

I would definitely recommend this book to others.

[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy
I enjoy reading books with a supernatural twist, so I happily started Eyes of Autumn. I was very intrigued right off the bat. Some of the work plot with Katie left me a little disinterested, but once her and friend Angie got to the Blue Ridge Mountains, it started to pick up for me. A lot of plot twists and eyebrow raises ensued. I was always very curious about where the story would take us next. However, there were a few times where I felt disconnected. Both with Katie and Angie – sometimes something would happen where I felt their reaction didn’t match the situation. Times where both women didn’t seem fazed at something that I thought would be quite startling. The second half of the book was a little harder for me to get into, but it was still interesting to read on a whole.
3.5 stars

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Erin
A love story knowing no limits of time. A story filled with reincarnation, shifters, mystery, heartbreak, and passionate romance.
While the dialogue was difficult to immerse myself in at times, the story was captivating. I read a quite a bit of PNR but this was my first shifter book and I really enjoyed it. I found the world created by Wise to be rich with intriguing characters. Mystery and action woven throughout created even more depth to the story. I didn't realize this book was part of a series and while I had no problem reading this as a standalone, I would love to read the book prior to this one and look forward to reading more to come.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is the second book in a series, I hadn't read the first one before picking up Eyes of Autumn. Despite that, I quickly caught on and was enveloped in the world Wise has created. The book took a few chapters to really get going and find it's pacing, but once it did, I couldn't put the book down!

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel had some humorous aspects to it; and I really ended up liking Marcus Hillyerd. Getting the history and background of the house was quite interesting. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tamara]

DNF just because I could not connect with the story. Don't let this stop you though from checking out this series - it just was not for me.