She is his only hope. If only he wanted to be saved.
Alex is cured… sort of. After letting the mysterious Indra work her magic, the venom is gone but so is Alex’s ability to feel. He’s not dead, but he’s not really alive either. Numb inside, he turns his back on Sam and everyone else. The only person he’ll really listen to is his new master…
Sam’s angry and lost. Her destiny was to heal, but so far, all she’s done is hurt herself and others. When Alex chooses another woman’s healing over hers, Sam’s doubts and fears become the very thing that separate her from her true potential. Despite Sam’s broken heart, she is determined to make her magic work, no matter the cost. No price can be higher than the one she paid watching Alex walk away.
Sam will do whatever it takes. And she’ll never stop trying to change Alex’s mind—and his heart.
But Alex has his orders and he doesn’t care who they affect. Love hurts. But in this case, it just might kill…
Heather Hildenbrand lives in coastal Virginia where she writes paranormal and fantasy romance with strong-willed heroines and dark, grumpy heroes who’ll burn the world down for their mate. Her most frequent hobbies are cuddling with her giant goldendoodles, riding country roads on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, and avoiding killer slugs.
You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com.
Heather Hildenbrand’s ESPERANCE is a thrilling addition to the Heart Lines Series. The story takes place following book two, INHERITANCE. Alex Channing is healed but no longer has feelings. He leaves Sam. Samantha Knight is trying to learn how to use her powers. She is troubled by Alex’s change of behavior. This contemporary urban fantasy takes place in Half Moon.
Heather Hildenbrand continues to do a great job with her character development. I felt bad about what was happening to Alex. He was always leery of the price you pay when using magic. He does pay a price. I like Sam. She is becoming more and more like her old self prior to losing her memory. She is determined to learn her magic and help the werewolves and Alex. She is a strong and admiral heroine.
We find out some interesting about Breck Winters. I like the introduction of Koby. He teaches Sam some important things and helps support her. Indra is a fascinating antagonist. She is cunning and powerful.
The plot was well executed. A lot of thought-provoking events unfold in this story. I enjoyed the ending and look forward to the next book in the series, IMBALANCE. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
“I should never have agreed to let Indra heal you. You’re still infected, Alex. Different but not better.” - Sam
Indra healed Alex but at a price. The werewolf venom may be gone from his system, but in its place is a darkness that has left Alex numb and unable to feel emotion. Sam is initially hurt and confused by his indifference but comes to realise that something is wrong and vows to heal him and deal with Indra.
“No you’re not. But you will be. I’m going to take down your little goddess-girlfriend. And then I’m going to find a way to heal you for real this time. When I do, you’ll feel something. And I hope by then I still care whether it’s pleasure or pain.”
Sam is stunned to learn that her roommate Britney is secretly a Hunter who has been keeping an eye on her for Tara Godfrey. She has also been taking out the infected werewolves who were gunning for Sam without her being aware of their presence. In addition she meets with the board members of CHAS.
Alex confronts Indra over the way she healed him and comes to learn that she is the one who is infecting the werewolves.
“I was created in the likeness of Ea, unchanged and untouched by human time. I am here to be his hands. To strike down the aberration that is werewolf.”
Can Alex resist Indra’s powerful influence and warn Sam of the threat to her life and that of the werewolves?
Esperance is the third instalment of the Heart Lines series which sees Indra exposed as the one behind the werewolf attacks.
“She’s not like you Sam. She’s something else. Something older. She doesn’t just have the energy inside of her like you do. I have a feeling that whatever is inside her, it’s not interesting in healing anything.” - Cordelia Steppe
Indra, it seems, is possessed by the ocean god Ea who is intent on destroying werewolves. She is also the elemental witch, Sushna’s daughter. Luckily Sam is finally able to tap into her powers as a conflicted Alex struggles to fight Indra’s hold over him.
Britney and RJ continue to be entertaining secondary characters. It turns out that Breck is Sam’s brother which puts him at odds with Alex. Koby was a welcome addition to the series and proved to be a crucial factor in Sam understanding her powers. We also meet other members of CHAS, in particular Simon Brooks who Sam must now report to since Edie has been mysteriously reassigned elsewhere. I particularly liked the camaraderie between Sam and Cordelia.
Now that the lines have been drawn and the enemy has made themselves known, Sam knows that CHAS and the Hunters are out of their depth and it’s up to her to stop Indra. With Alex now in custody, Sam has a hell of a fight on her hands. I’m looking forward to the follow up book to see how it plays out.
I received an advanced free audible copy of Esperance that was narrated by Kelly Pruner who made it easy to differentiate between the different characters.
This book was a pretty big disappointment. I had high hopes for it after the improvements we saw in the second book but it just went back downhill with this one. It’s such a shame really, the idea is so interesting and has so much potential but is just poorly executed. And don’t get me started on the numerous typos, there were so many and it’s such a huge pet peeve of mine!
At the end of the previous book, Alex once again stops Sam from healing him. He somehow believed that the price she would pay to heal him would be too great, and like the noble and selfless (selfish) hero, he lets the wicked witch heal him instead. Big mistake!!!!
I knew as soon as I saw Indra in book 1, somethin' wasn't right with that woman. Now she's using Sam's man as a Hunter lap dog, and is totes coming on to him. Freaky disgusting freak...
So, the part that drove me crazy was the inner monologue of Alex. He's aware. He knows his own mind, and the difference between right and wrong. He was able to resist the advances of the disgusting hag that bound him. Yet he has no problem doing and saying nefarious things because nO FeELiNgS! What a crock. There is seemingly no compulsion to make him do the things he does, yet he does them anyway. Out of boredom? Because he doesn't care so F it? Really? And the dumbass still can't be honest to save his life! If he isn't like that subconsciously, then that was one heck of a spell! Kudos to the author for making me wish I could shank the hero, too!
I really enjoyed the book, even with how much I wanted to hurt Alex. I knew that wasn't "him", but meanwhile, I couldn't help but think that RJ was so much better boyfriend material than the currently brainwashed hero. Sad, but true.
As for Sam, she's coming into her powers. And along with it comes her self confidence. It's time she become the goddess she's meant to be, damn it!
Solid 4 even with minor errors because I liked it. On to the next in series!
Sam has a great fight ahead of her. She's not just fighting to learn her new found magic. She's now fighting with Alex too. She let him get healed by Indra instead of doing it herself for fear of hurting him. Now he's not himself and she blames herself. She's looking for a way to control the magic inside, help the wolves and help Alex all at once. Which is weighing heavily on her mind. She finds Sushna but the answers she gets just make things more confusing. In the end Kiwi and Miribel are the only ones that have a clue how to help her. With their help she has a chance to do what the Goddess has tasked her with. The only question is, will she lose herself and/or Alex in the process? With so much at stake she can't afford to make a mistake. Will she be able to keep it together long enough? You'll have to read on and find out. I loved the continuation of Sam's story and can't wait to read more. Hope you like it too.
Favorite Quote: “And until I knew whether you could handle it, I wasn’t going to be the one to bring you in. I didn’t want to expose you and put you in more danger.” I huffed out a breath, unable to help the eye roll. “Or,” I said pointedly, “You just didn’t have the balls to tell me the truth after all these years of lying to me.” Breck’s lips twitched and he rubbed his hands together thoughtfully. “Or that,” he said and some of my anger died off.
That was interesting. I didn't c it going like that with Alex. Sam needs 2 learn her magic asap 2 do what her future dictates. But someone is out 2 kill her and using wolves 2 do it. Who and why? Can she save Alex and them 2gether help take down who's doing this? A surprise comes that she least expected but can it help or hinder everything that destiny has in stored 4 her future? She needs 2 take things 1 step at a x and learn everything she can b4 its 2 late. I liked it and I was really surprised in a few spots.
I cannot believe the curse that Alex is living through. Rinse, wash, repeat. Not caring about a thing. Going through the motions. Then, there's Sam. Pining for the boy she loves. Trying to learn what she needs to in time to save those she loves - and those she doesn't even know exist. There are pawns, layers of secrecy, and a cameo from a Dirty Blood favorite. People are not who they claim to be. Book four cannot come out fast enough. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this book so much going on ~many answers revealed and I love Alex and Sam!!! Just hope defeating Ex together will be enough!!! It's going to be a rough road ahead for them, but will Love prevail? Only reading this series can answer that!! Definitely recommend this book and series, just start with book 1 and keep going, you will not regret it!!!!
Heather Hildenbrand is KILLIN’ IT with this series!! I love the love in these books. The family connections, the friendships and relationships- she spins a tangled web but one that is oh-so-enticing!! I’m having such a great time simply devouring these books!! I think there is a series before this but I’m not 100% sure. I’ll find out, though, because if there is, I’m reading that one next - even though it predates this one. Gotta go read the next one!! ❤️
If you enjoy paranormal romance this is the series for you. Sam Knight is a strong lovable lead trying to redeem bad boy Alex Channing by any means she can. She's more than willing to pay the price of her magic if she can just be with the man she loves but that's not what fate has in store.
Sam is learning about her powers and healing others but will It be enough to save the wolves. Sometimes the secret government agencies are their own worst enemies. They are not team players and do not think outside the box when it comes to solutions to the problem. Will Sam be able to save the people she cares about or will evil succeed.
WTF! This book had me all kinds of crazy. I legit almost had a panic attack a few times, I think the author is trying to make me lose my marbles. I can't say more because no spoilers but dang! This series is fabulous.
I just love The and Brittany bickering like brother and sister. Too bad Sam has to play parent..lol. The characters in this series is masterfully done. Between Aunt Kiwi and Mirabelle. Heather has a magical gift and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Glad things for Alex are finally looking up, kind of. I mean at least he isnt dying anymore. And the bomb that's dropped in this book is unexpected. We all knew he would play a part but didnt expect that.
Esperance a shady and dumbasses novel by Heather Hildenbrand. I really like this series but I gotta say from book 2 forward I feel like Oprah saying. You are shady!, he is shady!, everyone is shady! and Alex dear Alex why are you such a dumbass? like why? you would have avoided so much shiz if you just climbed down from your fake moral high ground and let Sam heal you but nooooooooo you had to stay perched on your damn fake moral high ground and boom you effed up with Indra and effing good for you for being a dumbass.
It was hard to read that Alex’s cure created a new sort of monster - one without emotion or compassion. The descriptions of Sam learning to use her healing skills were interesting. I strongly suspected who Breck was as soon as he was introduced in book 2, so it was nice to have it confirmed in this part of the storyline. I’m not a fan of Brooks the third.
First of all, I just want to say thank you to Heather Hildenbrand for giving me an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given, offered, or taken to alter the opinion.
I love that Esperance picks up right where the previous book left off because after I finished reading Inheritance I just needed to know what was going to happen next. We left off on a jaw dropping cliffhanger with Indra healing Alex of his werewolf poison and now he is no longer able to feel emotions. The pace of this series is slowed down a little in Esperance, making it my least favorite of the series so far. There was less action and the romance between Alex and Sam is absent in this book. Esperance instead choses to mainly focus on Sam (finally) figuring out her magic. A lot of questions were answered, but of course we are left with more questions following the end of the book. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
~~I received this in exchange for my honest opinion~~
OK... Where do I even begin? Esperance is heart stoppingly amazing. There were several times while reading this book that I swear I was having a heart attack. Esperance took a turn that I never saw coming. While I do not agree with what happened, I know that it had to happen that way. Everyone has to pay for their actions, even if it isn't want the readers want. Heather knows what she is doing when she is writing this book.
There is a new side to Alex that I don't think that I could have imagined. Sam is in for a battle, but who is going to be there to protect her? There is also a surprise that I didn't see coming.
Heather sure knows how to keep a reader interested in reading her books. I don't know why you haven't started this series yet, but you are missing out!!
Holy molasses!! This book was absolutely amazing! Wouldn't expect anything less from the wonderful Heather Hildenbrand!! Sam being on her quest to learn fully how to handle the magic brewing inside her to heal all the sick wolves finally pays off! She understands now what she must do and she works to curing the wolves and the one person she desperately wants back, Alex!!! So as she's works to do her healing she also realizes she has to stop a person she thought she knew that also has the ability of old magic. There's so much that happens in this book, that I can't explain without giving away the book. I can just say this is a must read! And I can't wait to read how the story unfolds, especially how this one ended. This one of my favorite series!!
I happily agrees to volunteer to read this book and this is my honest review!!!
Well Heather Hildenbrand has done it again! Way to keep everyone wanting more and more from this series. This book leaves off right where the last one left off with Alex being the Class A Ass and Sam moping over Alex being a jerk. Sam gets over Alex being a jerk quickly as she needs to find the way to heal these feral wolves so they will stop attacking her. Alex knows that something is wrong, but he won't ask anyone for help.... or is it because he can't ask for help? Indra ... not giving anything away as we all knew from Inheritance that something was off, but man I didn't see this coming. Nope... not giving anything else away on this. All I know is please tell me there is more Sam and Alex because I do not like how that ended with them. I do know I cannot wait to see where Sam's journey takes her as I feel may doors have been opened for Heather's Creativity. I cannot wait to see where it takes her in Imbalance!
Once again Heather leaves us on the seat of our pants as we read this one. We sit there hoping that Sam can save Alex and Alex will remember he loves Sam. We sit there hoping that his friends will forgive him for the things that he could not control.
You get yourself wrapped up in everyone's feelings and you find yourself needing some Kleenex because you love the idea of Sam and Alex and you want everything fixed. Hell you want to jump into the book and try to fix it.
All the way through the book you fight with yourself as to who's side you want to be on because you are fighting your own battle of right and wrong. Not knowing who you want to win.
Then you get towards the ending you start to cry and yell and then you get happy and sad. Your emotions are all over the place and once again and you just want the next book to come out.