Falling from grace never looked so tempting. With a new job cleaning up cells at an asylum, Keirah thinks her time with Noir is at an end. That all changes when she's called up to the fourth floor - a floor she's forbidden from due to the prisoners housed there - and finds him, caged and unassuming. He isn't supposed to be here. She isn't supposed to love him. But fate has brought them together again, and there isn't any arguing with fate. Both Reese and Andie are on the hunt to track down Keirah from Noir's clutches once more, but this time around, Keirah finds she doesn't want to be found. With a war brewing and Black Wing in danger by law enforcement and one persistent District Attorney, the duo is too distracted to ask themselves an important question: Was Keirah taken, or did she leave of her own free will? And if it's the latter, is she even worth saving?
Full disclosure: I am an acquired taste. I'm a typical blonde Orange County suburbanite who says 'like' more than necessary, laughs loud and probably obnoxiously, and loves to dance in the rain. I'm a 23 year old college graduate with more than a few tricks up my sleeve, and I also happen to be a pretty big Ducks fan. Oh, and I'm a writer. Like, for real.
Earlier this year I read the first book in the Dark Paradise trilogy, Awaken, and thoroughly enjoyed the book. It wasn’t perfect, but it left me super excited to see what else was to come. I promised myself I would read the next two books soon, but I found myself distracted by other books that I already owned. Then Heather C. Myers started to put some of her books on offer. Books two and three in the Dark Paradise trilogy were free for a short period of time and I knew had to hit the purchase button. How could I not? Thus, the books were sent to my Kindle. I knew it wouldn’t be long before I started reading them. What I did not expect was for the excitement to take such a strong hold – without realising what I was doing, I put aside my many other reads and started Catalyst. After a few hours, I was done.
When I read Awaken I labelled it my favourite read by the author, and this book has only added to how much I’m enjoying the trilogy. I stand by my statement that this is looking to be my favourite series by the author. Her Stranger series is a close second, and until I’ve read them both in full I cannot say for sure, yet this one seems to hit more of the right notes for me.
The Dark Paradise series is many things, a collection that may sound like too much. I found in the first book that all the combinations worked well together – heroes, villains, Greek mythology, angels, demons, vigilantes, and so on – yet I wanted things to be explained more. The second book does work to add more by way of explanation. Not as much as I had wished in regards to some of the aspects, but it did help to make things clearer. Moreover, we’re given new information that leaves us with more questions. Certain aspects of the story will leave you desperate for the next book, desperate for answers to the many unanswered questions. It’s a great set up, and my hopes are high for how it will end.
As with the first book, I found myself caring more about certain stories than others. We continue to follow our three main characters, watching as their world continues to expand. I admit that I wanted a bit more action. Some of the stories seemed to have less action than others, with some seeming to focus on giving information rather than adding pace to the story. Whilst it wasn’t the worst thing in the world, I was left wanting a little bit more. I had a lot of fun, yet it wasn’t the edge of your seat read I had been hoping for. I was desperate for action, for war to break out in this one. It looks as though such is to happen in the next book, yet certain parts of this story made this book feel a little bit too much like a filler read. It didn’t have quite the same pace as the first book, and it focused more on giving information than truly progressing events. That is not to say that things do not happen – quite a lot does occur – but it felt as though it was dragged out and wasn’t as substantial as the first book.
I will say, however, that there were a few places where a bit of editing was needed. There seemed to be some inconstancies with information exchanged, points where people would contradict prior knowledge. These were never overly large things, never things that ruined the overall story, but I did find myself doing a couple of double takes when people said certain things that did not seem to fit.
Overall, though, it was a lot of fun. I’m super excited to see how this all ends – and despite my better judgement I’m going to open up the third book and find out now.
Wow, what a let down. First of all, I'm pretty sure that this book was recently re-released because the cover here isn't the one that I have. That isn't really here nor there, though.
Just... WTF.
I know Noir is supposed to parallel the Joker. That's fine. But his relationship with Kierah in the last book seemed to be growing into something almost... normal, despite that fact. I got the impression that the author was choosing a different path for them than the traditionally toxic Harley/Joker dynamic. In Awaken he would have sacrificed his freedom to save her life. It was pure luck he wasn't caught.
And then here, he carves his initial into her face. So everyone can see that he "owns" her.
Nope.
I love a dark character. More than most people, probably. But abusive relationships are not sexy or interesting to me. They're sad. The worst part of it is that their relationship was what I liked most about Awaken. Now I'm just done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Catalyst is book two of The Dark Paradise Chronicles series and this story just gets better and better. The story started out slow but takes off into an action packed read filled with supernatural characters and a mystery that had me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The story flowed nicely and I look forward to reading the rest of this series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Catalyst is the second book in the Dark Paradise trilogy series. I don't recommend that you read this as a standalone book, or you will have a difficult time understanding the storyline. There is violence and sex so 18+. This installment continues the story of Onyx City and the battle between good and evil. It is interesting and worth reading.
Falling from grace never looked so tempting. With a new job cleaning up cells at Abby Asylum - Onyx City’s only asylum for the criminally insane - Keirah Shepherd thinks her time with Noir is at an end. That all changes when she's called up to the fourth floor - a floor she's forbidden from due to the prisoners housed there - and finds him, caged and unassuming. He isn't supposed to be here. She isn't supposed to love him. But fate has brought them together again, and there isn't any arguing with fate. Both Reese and Andie are on the hunt to track down Keirah from Noir's clutches once again, but this time around, Keirah finds she doesn't want to be found. With a war brewing and Black Wing in danger by law enforcement and one persistent District Attorney, the duo is too distracted to ask themselves an important question: Was Keirah taken, or did she leave of her own free will? Is she even worth saving? Catalyst is the second book in the darkly addicting Dark Paradise Chronicles that takes the action of Batman and the sensuality of Greek mythology and adds a sprinkle of romance to create a page-turning sequel you won't want to put down.
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story. Can't wait to read more of these. Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clearly I am the wrong demographic for these books. I was very meh about Awaken but went on to read Catalyst to see if things improved and I did not like this book. As far as I am concerned it just went from bad to worse. The whole Keirah and Noir thing really left a bad taste in my mouth. These are all 17 year old girls having sex with older men and what Keirah puts up with is basically abuse wrapped up in the name of love and its all okay - really? It worries me about the message this is sending to young women where actions like these are romantasized. Not sure I can read the last one.
What a dark and gripping book this is. Found it hard to put down as I wanted to know what happened next. The book delves more into the relationships of the couples but spends a lot of time on Noir & Keirah this is the dark bit the mind of a psychopath. Not something I would normally choose to read but with the gods involved and all the other goings on I was hooked. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At some point a continued reading with a skipping little parts. Book was frustrating in so many levels. Storyline didn't hold, character were quite meh and they didn't evelope. Plot was unconvincing.
Catalyst by Isadora Brown is book two in her Dark Paradise Trilogy. The author recommends that you read the first book in this series before diving into this book, and I have to say that after reading this book…I have to agree. It took me a while to get into the story as I worked to piece together the different characters and what was going on. This is a dark paranormal/fantasy novel and it has some truly engaging moments in it that helped fuel me forward in reading more. I found some of the darker characters to be the most engaging. I found myself drawn to them as I read and curious as to what they would do next. I found Noir and Keirah’s relationship to be truly interesting. It’s complex, strange, and in its own way…beautiful. Twisted…but beautiful. For me, this story is a bit slow moving. Maybe if I had read the first book, which I intend to go back and do, this book would be more smoothly paced, but as is I found that it moves slowly. Some of the situations and scenes I felt could have been left out as it, to me, drags the story down to a slower pace. Plus, I wanted more paranormal/fantasy element in this book from the beginning as well. As is, I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. I found the story to be enjoyable, but I wanted the pace to be a little faster to keep me thoroughly engaged in the story. When the storyline picks it up it is truly engaging and hard to put down. If you have read the first book in this series and enjoyed then I recommend that you pick this book up. I’m sure that you will enjoy. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Falling from grace never looked so tempting. With a new job cleaning up cells at Abby Asylum - Onyx City’s only asylum for the criminally insane - Keirah Shepherd thinks her time with Noir is at an end. That all changes when she's called up to the fourth floor - a floor she's forbidden from due to the prisoners housed there - and finds him, caged and unassuming. He isn't supposed to be here. She isn't supposed to love him. But fate has brought them together again, and there isn't any arguing with fate. Both Reese and Andie are on the hunt to track down Keirah from Noir's clutches once again, but this time around, Keirah finds she doesn't want to be found. With a war brewing and Black Wing in danger by law enforcement and one persistent District Attorney, the duo is too distracted to ask themselves an important question: Was Keirah taken, or did she leave of her own free will? Is she even worth saving? Catalyst is the second book in the darkly addicting Dark Paradise Chronicles that takes the action of Batman and the sensuality of Greek mythology and adds a sprinkle of romance to create a page-turning sequel you won't want to put down.
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story. Can't wait to read more of these. Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story continues with the three streams of the story building to an ending with several twists that set up te story nicely for the next (and final) book in the series. Keirah works in the asylum where Noir is cleaning floors but when she is called up to the floor she is not allowed t enter she sees him chained up there - she isn't supposed to love him but she does and so now fate has put them together again she is not going to argue with it. Reese and Andie are trying to track Keirah down to rescue her from Noir but this time she doesn't want to be found and nor does she want to be rescued. Black Wing is also in danger - the persistent DA is determined to find him and stop him. How will it all end?
Well there were a lot of developments with twists and turns in the story. It can be a little difficult to read as the three streams weave their way through the story but I'm sure in the final part of the series it will all come together and make complete sense. I liked the way it all connected back to various mythological streams whether they were Christian or Ancient Greek. Generally well written I just found some parts of the story a little hard to work out due to the different story-lines intersecting.
4.5 stars actually. * * So, I honestly do not care for Andie & Jack`s relationship... I`m not entirely sure why, but I`m just not invested in their love. I DO like Andie`s character though.. also, I want to run my own animal shelter!! * * I continue to ABSOLUTELY LIVE for Noir & Keirah and Reese & Ollo! Ugh! I just live for one hell of a baddie and a Greek God 😊 I did not see Noir being the catalyst. I was convinced that it would be one of the girls, but maybe one of them will be the sacrifice instead? Unless he counts as the sacrifice...? I do hope Noir and Keirah find each each other again. AND I hope that Reese and Ollo can finally ENJOY their time as boyfriend and girlfriend instead of just training all the damn time. P.S. I`m sorry for Reese`s loss of her family; I`ve lost quite a few members myself so I`ve been there. P.S.S. I REALLY hope Reese & Ollo make it out of this because they BOTH deserve some happiness, and love, and ... * ALSO!!!! MOTHERFUCKIN` HADES IS IN THE HOUSE * * OFF TO READ THE FINALE!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
ONE HIGH OCTANE JOURNEY!!! Lights out! Isadora blows this lil' fella out of the water, taking some low blows and wrapping 'em up. We have foes to fight, enemies to conquer and people to save, just another day in paradise. A churning vortex of nerve racking surprises, blows this baby into a tizzy, breaking it down, propelling it to life beautifully. Producing incredibly, well rounded scenario's that punch dead center with such exuberance and style, wielding the intensity and precision, blazing this gem together seamlessly. Bumbling through the trials and tribulations, sharp twists and sleek turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The characters and their personalities are authentic, intriguing and relatable. Solid individuals who balance out and play off one another brilliantly. The scenes are so graphically detailed to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly from each scenario without a hitch. Remarkable job Isadora, thanks for sharing this incredible jewel.
Andie Shepard has moved on from all the rumours and innuendo about her and the CEO (Jack) of her previous internship and is now doing an internship at another employer. However her new boss is illegally funding an act that could be detrimental to Black Wing so she needs to encounter Jack sooner than she would want.
Also Keirah has disappeared again and Noir has escaped - Andie suspects they are together but has no idea if she went willingly with him or not.
There seems to be a battle building and Andie seems to be in the middle of it all.
You need to read the first book in this series before reading this one. I thought this built onto the story very well and felt that I understood the characters a lot better by the end of this book. Definitely recommended by as I said you need to read the first book first.
Andie Shepard has a new internship where she does not have to deal with the gossip and rumors about her former CEO boss. But thing do not go as plan as she is once again in his path when Noir escapes and once again her sister disappears but some wonder if she left willingly.
Even her new job things are not what it seems as they seem to be doing illegal activities. Even her direct supervisor is someone from her past that she does not get along and afraid of.
Not realizing that everything is leading up to a war and that she in the middle. What will happen when things heat up? Who will in end up winning and will the sisters be force to battle each other?
This series gets trickier and more complex with every page. The girls are learning more about the roles they’re being asked to play and coming into their power. Reese may be the only one with “magical” abilities but Andie and Keirah are important in their own ways. This ends with one heck of a twist that makes me very curious to see what happens next. I just have to get this off my chest, though. It drove me batty in the first book, and doing it again just pushed me right over the edge. Reading scenes where Noir speaks is absolutely crazy-making to me. I couldn’t read most of his dialog because it pushed every button I have. I can’t explain my irrational hatred for it, I can only admit to it. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
Keirah, Andie and Reese all have compelling parts in this story. Keirsh has chosen Noir as her one true love. He kills people at random, robs banks relentlessly and hurts her for fun. But she likes it. She is rescued by the police and stolen again by Noir. They are a match made in....who knows?
Andie is in love with Jack but doesn't want to accept r. She finds out who he really is and they go back and forth regarding starting a relationship or not. She is kidnapped and of course he, as Black Wing, rescued her.
The most significant story is about Reese. She is training with Ollo, when a vision shows her what will happen to her family. Can she change the outcome?! What about her relationship with Ollo?? Who knows!! Read to find out.
Wow, the twists and turns that are throughout this story will keep you glued to your seat. I will put the book down and say I have some things to do only to pick it right back up and read more. It brings us more information on our merry band of characters that just leaves us in amazement. I love the mix of the Greek mythology characters, which I won’t name as it is all part of the mystery and suspense, and they add so much to the story. It truly is a story with mystery, suspense, drama and a side of romance. The story is well written and all of the characters are beautifully developed. This truly is a fantastic story and a must read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow, the twists and turns that are throughout this story will keep you glued to your seat. I will put the book down and say I have some things to do only to pick it right back up and read more. It brings us more information on our merry band of characters that just leaves us in amazement. I love the mix of the Greek mythology characters, which I won’t name as it is all part of the mystery and suspense, and they add so much to the story. It truly is a story with mystery, suspense, drama and a side of romance. The story is well written and all of the characters are beautifully developed. This truly is a fantastic story and a must read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story starts out with the typical day in the life of the girls Reese, Keirah, and Andie and then of course something happens. Keirah finds Noir and the nonstop action starts up again as the hunt begins again. Even with all this going on the girls still must pass their classes. It was fun and entertaining and hard to put down. The crazy and the mix of mythology and superhero shows up again as the story develops and the girls have to fight for what they want and believe in. The story starts out slow as it builds to the supernatural and the crazy and mystery of what is going to happen kept me guessing. Just a fun story that makes a great book 2 in this series that really reads like no other.
Keirah and Noir become true partners in crime with Keirah creating the persona of Bombshell. Arrested on her 2nd outing with Noir, Keirah is subjected to torture but does not give up Noir's location. An explosive fight caused by Noir's actions against Jarrett lead to the separation of the lovers and this time it is Keirah who rescues Noir.
Andie and Jack work out the reasons for them being apart after Andie is abducted by her ex. Black Wing swoops to the rescue and Andie is living back in Jacks mansion.
Reese and Ollo go on a camping/training trip and Reese's vision comes true.
Noir's sacrifice is the Catalyst needed to start the war.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As the struggle between good and evil continues, Andie is unaware of exactly what is happening around her. Angels, demons, vigilantes and another kidnapping certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Andie has switched companies where she is doing her internship to stay awake from Jack. Her new boss certainly seems as crooked as they come and plans to reveal Jack's secret.
Her sister has been kidnapped again, her mother throws her out and her closest friend's family has been murdered. With so much happening how is a teenager expected to continue on?
As this story unfolds we learn more about her friend Reese's secret and how she keeps turning up to help Andie ~
This is book 2 to this brilliant series it’s very emotional and I can’t wait to read book 3, the only thing is that it starts just a bit slow but it doesn’t take long to get going and when it does boy ohh boy you will be hooked but make sure you read book 1 Awaken so you know what’s going on. I’m not going to give any spoilers to this one so read the blurb and that will give you the gist to this story, this series is a bit dark but that’s the magnificence of Isadora Brown she knows how to write a bloody good series. This is a brilliant story/ series and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
The second installment in this series starts where the first left off. Noir is back in jail and Keirah is reeling from her time with him, but has he corrupted her? Reese is learning to utilize her powers and fighting her feelings for Ollo and meeting new people from his past. Andie is also dealing with secrets that Jack carries. The three young women's lives are all intertwined together in this war of angels vs demons and the catalyst moment that will start it is coming quick. Are they prepared for it and what it mean? It's a well written book that will leave you unable to set it down once you start. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.
Catalyst is darker than book 1 was, but it continues to have a great storyline and intriguing plot. Keirah thought her time with the Noir was over, but that was not to be. Fate brought them together again and this time they will stay together. The other girls have also found the men they love. Reese is training with Ollo and Andie waffles over whether or not she wants a relationship with Jack. I enjoyed the character development in the story and the chemistry between the girls and their men. This book is complex and the tension ramps up. A war is imminent and anything could be the catalyst...
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. This series of book's just keep getting better, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be about the women or the men. But I'm loving both and the relationships between each couple is so intense I can't decide which is my favourite just yet. I love Noir because I'm attracted to the dark side, but then again I love the other guy's too 😍😍 All of the women are beautiful strong women, with mind's of their own, which I think is a great characteristic in any woman. I can't wait to read the final book to see where it all ends, and if there will be an HEA for all of our couples, because I have a feeling that they can't all survive 😱😱
Not just the Title but Also this part of the Book is a Catalyst
After the revelation of who is the God, Angel, Excom, Satan and Demon, The story process in the speed as a catalyst had been added to a chemical reaction. Everyone knew that a war is going to happen but who or what will be the catalyst is disclosed at the end of the book with the cliffhanger. Loved to read about the love between Jack and Andie while Love and Trust between the couple Ollo and Reese.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First off, you need to read book one first. Otherwise this book will be beyond confusing. The book gets so in-depth and intense with the lives of three young women. The story will bounce between them and the three men in their lives. Angels, gods, goddesses and the human woman that may be able to save us. I just wish there was no waiting in between the books. It took me some time to catch back up when I started reading this one, but by the end I just wish the next book was ready.
What will be the catalyst that starts the war? Will the catalyst be the death of Reese, Keirah, or Andie, and their lover gets angry? No one know but several people have speculated. Some secondary characters are not we think they are and are working for evil. The three women will each suffer pain in this book but hopefully their lovers will protect them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review