What do you think?
Rate this book
Soul Charmer #3
Lost Souls
Get out of Hell free card? Not for Callie Delgado, Gem City’s newest soul charmer. Sin and salvation collide in this gritty and action-packed urban fantasy.
Callie’s magic is finally her own. She and Derek dispatched Ford. They should have been able to breathe, but layers of sin run deep beneath Gem City. Another mob boss quickly rises, and his sights are firmly set on Callie—and her family.
Mobile soul rental shops begin to bite at the Soul Charmer’s business. His retribution is wicked, but the blowback threatens to crush Callie. If she can’t maintain the tenuous balance of souls in Gem City, more lives will be lost.
Only the more magic she uses, the more danger finds her. A break-in, pools of blood, and bare shelves at the Soul Charmer’s store force Callie to choose the fates of others. But which can she live with? Losing her city, her love, her family …or her very soul?
Callie’s magic is finally her own. She and Derek dispatched Ford. They should have been able to breathe, but layers of sin run deep beneath Gem City. Another mob boss quickly rises, and his sights are firmly set on Callie—and her family.
Mobile soul rental shops begin to bite at the Soul Charmer’s business. His retribution is wicked, but the blowback threatens to crush Callie. If she can’t maintain the tenuous balance of souls in Gem City, more lives will be lost.
Only the more magic she uses, the more danger finds her. A break-in, pools of blood, and bare shelves at the Soul Charmer’s store force Callie to choose the fates of others. But which can she live with? Losing her city, her love, her family …or her very soul?
Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2019
7 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Mueller
8 books321 followersChelsea Mueller writes gritty contemporary fantasy and thrillers for adults and teens. She founded the speculative fiction website Vampire Book Club and blogs about TV and romance novels for numerous websites.
She loves bad cover songs, good fight scenes*, and every soapy YA drama Netflix can put in her queue. Chelsea lives in Texas, and has been known to say y’all.
For the latest updates, join her email list at ChelseaMueller.com or follow @ChelseaVBC on Twitter and Instagram.
* Need tips for writing dynamic and realistic fight scenes? Check out Chelsea's Write Like a Fighter blog series where she puts her martial arts background to use for fellow authors.
She loves bad cover songs, good fight scenes*, and every soapy YA drama Netflix can put in her queue. Chelsea lives in Texas, and has been known to say y’all.
For the latest updates, join her email list at ChelseaMueller.com or follow @ChelseaVBC on Twitter and Instagram.
* Need tips for writing dynamic and realistic fight scenes? Check out Chelsea's Write Like a Fighter blog series where she puts her martial arts background to use for fellow authors.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 28, 2019
Another great ride in this third installment of the Soul Charmer series. If you are looking for a gritty new Urban Fantasy series, I heartily recommend you give this one a try. (But don’t start here…make sure you pick up Borrowed Souls first.)
This book picks up where the last one left off, with Callie desperately searching for Nate who has kidnapped her mother. The mission is especially pressing since the guy cut off some of her mom’s fingers and sent them as a warning. Callie needs to return the soul she ripped out of him or her mother will pay the price.
If that’s not weighing heavily enough, the Soul Charmer has disappeared. That might seem like a good thing, since he is most assuredly not a good dude, but without him, no one is attending the soul well. Plus, there is a new soul pusher in town AND someone has stolen some really bad souls, and Gem City needs Callie and Derek to keep the scales balanced.
The story moves well and I totally bought into the reasons why Callie had to do all the things she did. But what I love best about these books is how well Chelsea Mueller has drawn two flawed, yet essentially good characters, and made me believe in their need and love for one another. As I’ve said before, Derek is my favorite kind of hero. He’s muscle and he does bad things that most people cannot see beyond. But Callie doesn’t see a thug when she looks at him. She sees comfort, protection, and home. And so do I! (*swoon*) — I want MOAR of these two together.
The secondary characters are all love-to-hate. Like Callie’s mother and brother. Man, these two are both just awful. The other guys in the Soul Charmer crew. Nate. Pretty much everyone, except maybe Derek’s brother (and he’s still kind of a DB at times.)
Then, there’s the world-building. The entire concept of borrowing souls is so clever and original. And we dive a little deeper into the how’s and why’s of it all here, which is cool. But beyond that, I dig the vibe in general. In my head, Gem City is this dark, dirty, asphalt and dirty puddle kind of place–and it just adds such great ambiance to the story.
Mueller does a great job setting up the next installment of the series. I am excited to see where it goes next, though it’s getting harder and harder to see a scenario where Callie and Derek are ever going to get out. I’ll keep reading, though, to find out.
Rating: B+/A-
*ARC provided by author
This book picks up where the last one left off, with Callie desperately searching for Nate who has kidnapped her mother. The mission is especially pressing since the guy cut off some of her mom’s fingers and sent them as a warning. Callie needs to return the soul she ripped out of him or her mother will pay the price.
If that’s not weighing heavily enough, the Soul Charmer has disappeared. That might seem like a good thing, since he is most assuredly not a good dude, but without him, no one is attending the soul well. Plus, there is a new soul pusher in town AND someone has stolen some really bad souls, and Gem City needs Callie and Derek to keep the scales balanced.
The story moves well and I totally bought into the reasons why Callie had to do all the things she did. But what I love best about these books is how well Chelsea Mueller has drawn two flawed, yet essentially good characters, and made me believe in their need and love for one another. As I’ve said before, Derek is my favorite kind of hero. He’s muscle and he does bad things that most people cannot see beyond. But Callie doesn’t see a thug when she looks at him. She sees comfort, protection, and home. And so do I! (*swoon*) — I want MOAR of these two together.
The secondary characters are all love-to-hate. Like Callie’s mother and brother. Man, these two are both just awful. The other guys in the Soul Charmer crew. Nate. Pretty much everyone, except maybe Derek’s brother (and he’s still kind of a DB at times.)
Then, there’s the world-building. The entire concept of borrowing souls is so clever and original. And we dive a little deeper into the how’s and why’s of it all here, which is cool. But beyond that, I dig the vibe in general. In my head, Gem City is this dark, dirty, asphalt and dirty puddle kind of place–and it just adds such great ambiance to the story.
Mueller does a great job setting up the next installment of the series. I am excited to see where it goes next, though it’s getting harder and harder to see a scenario where Callie and Derek are ever going to get out. I’ll keep reading, though, to find out.
Rating: B+/A-
*ARC provided by author
February 26, 2019
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Callie Delgado is forced to take over the soul collecting business when the Soul Charmer disappears. While she had come to some of her powers, it’s not to her fullest potential just yet. With the Soul Charmer out of the picture, a fight for power will be at play. Someone is out to take all the business and Callie will have to step up and protect it. The question is will she be strong enough to do the job.
Callie takes a huge turn in her character development in this installment. Realizing there’s more to the soul collecting business, the more motivated she is to make things right. Callie truly takes control not only of her situation but the soul collecting business. I love seeing her step up to the role.
I admire her loyalty to her family though it’s the only thing that holds her back from doing what she’s supposed to do. It’s frustrating to see them treat her bad but I suppose she has Derek to keep her balanced. I love that he ’s the constant in her life. This guy is perfectly content letting Callie do her thing yet support her in every way. He’s hot to boot.
The story started out slow for me but it picked up at about thirty to forty percent in. After that, the twists and turns, and excitements pick up at a decent pace. There were some questions unanswered in the end but I’m assuming they will be revealed in the next installment. I’m excited to learn more if what Callie will do with her current predicament.
*ARC provided by author
Reviewed by Angela❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
January 10, 2019
Whew. Things have gotten steadily more intense for Callie since she was first introduced to the Soul Charmer and they're definitely not slowing down in this book. However, Callie seems up for the challenge. She might be a little unsure about herself at times, but having someone like Derek in her corner, cheering her on (metaphorically, of course. The guy's a little too stoic and brooding for any actual cheering to take place, methinks.) and BELIEVING in her has helped keep her going.
Plus, when the chips are down, a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do, amirite?
Even if that means going down a path she'd never imagined herself taking before.
That said, Callie is growing nicely into her powers. And by nicely, I mean she hasn't killed herself with them yet. Considering how her "mentor" mentors her, that's pretty impressive in itself. Be that as it may, circumstances keep testing her and she continues to find new facets to what she can do with the magic simmering inside her.
I kinda love Callie and Derek's relationship, btw. He's 100% in her corner and he's not afraid to growl that at anyone who crosses their path. Considering the things they're forced to do to protect themselves and the ones they love, that means the world to Callie. Also, Derek sees the wisdom in letting Callie do her thing when situations call for it, even though it means she might be in danger. Callie has the ability to protect herself and Derek trusts her enough to do just that. *heart eyes*
Gem City is dangerous and deadly and all sorts of other things and I'm enjoying my time here. Souls, a little bloodshed, and some darkly intricate plots have made this series a blast so far. I'm ready to see where the future takes Callie and Derek!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Plus, when the chips are down, a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do, amirite?
Even if that means going down a path she'd never imagined herself taking before.
That said, Callie is growing nicely into her powers. And by nicely, I mean she hasn't killed herself with them yet. Considering how her "mentor" mentors her, that's pretty impressive in itself. Be that as it may, circumstances keep testing her and she continues to find new facets to what she can do with the magic simmering inside her.
I kinda love Callie and Derek's relationship, btw. He's 100% in her corner and he's not afraid to growl that at anyone who crosses their path. Considering the things they're forced to do to protect themselves and the ones they love, that means the world to Callie. Also, Derek sees the wisdom in letting Callie do her thing when situations call for it, even though it means she might be in danger. Callie has the ability to protect herself and Derek trusts her enough to do just that. *heart eyes*
Gem City is dangerous and deadly and all sorts of other things and I'm enjoying my time here. Souls, a little bloodshed, and some darkly intricate plots have made this series a blast so far. I'm ready to see where the future takes Callie and Derek!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
January 2, 2019
Mueller knows her stuff. Fans of Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts will love the Soul Charmer series. This is a dark and gritty UF with a not quite anti-heroine but not quite heroine either.
Lost Souls picks right up where Rogue Souls left us—so this isn’t a stand alone. There are some twists and turns, namely one I can’t divulge...bc spoilers. Mueller wraps up one plot point but leaves us, yet again, with another major bomb drop (not a big cliffhanger but sets up book 4) at the end.
One thing that does kind of get on my nerves is Callie’s guilt over crap her family does and the guilt trip she lets them lay on her—which got her into all this mess to begin with. I’m ready to see her grow and take charge and throw this “family first” bs back at Josh and Zara.
I do love the relationship Callie has built with Derek. He’s good for her and I think will be the catalyst for Callie realizing (hopefully) her family are nothing but soul sucking ne’er do wells (since I’m not cursing on a GR review...). But while there are some on page smexy scenes, they’re short. This isn’t a series with lots of romance time—but enough to keep it interesting.
Many thanks to Ms Mueller for a review copy! Great way to start my new year!
Lost Souls picks right up where Rogue Souls left us—so this isn’t a stand alone. There are some twists and turns, namely one I can’t divulge...bc spoilers. Mueller wraps up one plot point but leaves us, yet again, with another major bomb drop (not a big cliffhanger but sets up book 4) at the end.
One thing that does kind of get on my nerves is Callie’s guilt over crap her family does and the guilt trip she lets them lay on her—which got her into all this mess to begin with. I’m ready to see her grow and take charge and throw this “family first” bs back at Josh and Zara.
I do love the relationship Callie has built with Derek. He’s good for her and I think will be the catalyst for Callie realizing (hopefully) her family are nothing but soul sucking ne’er do wells (since I’m not cursing on a GR review...). But while there are some on page smexy scenes, they’re short. This isn’t a series with lots of romance time—but enough to keep it interesting.
Many thanks to Ms Mueller for a review copy! Great way to start my new year!
March 4, 2019
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2019/02/review...
Lost Souls is the third book in Chelsea Mueller’s Soul Charmer series, a dark, gritty urban fantasy where rented souls are used when someone wants to do bad things and wants to negate the damage done to their own souls. Callie Delgado is our heroine and she’s gone through quite a transformation. She’s gone from a frightened woman working as a cook in a nursing home out to save her brother from Gem City’s scariest drug dealer to working for the Soul Charmer and trying to get a handle on her newfound abilities. Her lover, the Soul Charmer’s enforcer Derek, remains her only real ally.
At the end of the previous installment one of Callie’s enemies sends her a message and the chopped off fingers of someone close to her. Which means she’s desperate to figure out a way to get her loved one back. When Lost Souls opens she’s working her contacts around town, trying every angle she knows to get information on Nate’s whereabouts. All she wants is to give him back the soul she took from him and get Zara back.
But things can always get worse. Right in the middle of Callie’s family crisis, the Soul Charmer goes missing and none of his employees have any idea what might have happened or how to find him. All they know are some of the darkest souls in the store have gone missing and a new soul rental business has popped up out of nowhere. As the only one with real soul magic, Callie is the logical choice to step in and take the lead. And she so does.
I really enjoy this world. It has this grittiness to it that I like in my urban fantasy. Callie continues to evolve and grow as a character and seems to be truly embracing her magic. The once skittish, worried young woman willing to do anything to save her brother, has kind of morphed into a powerful, more confident person who uses her instincts make decisions in tough situations and isn’t so worried about which side of the those decisions fall on.
Of course she has Derek as her muscle and a strong shoulder to lean on when she needs it. I love his character and I love that this author hasn’t played around and tugged on her readers heartstrings about whether they will or won’t be a couple. There is plenty of angst and conflict outside their relationship thank you very much, no need to throw in more.
I like where Callie is headed. I feel like her step into the Soul Charmer’s shoes foretells the future of the series. I only wish she would set some more boundaries with her brother and mother. They treat her like shit and she lets them. I get that the motto she lives by is “family first”, but I hate how they talk to her.
All in all, this was another satisfying addition in this series. I’m looking forward to what comes next.
Final Grade- B
Favorite Quote:
“Where you go, I go. That’s the deal, doll.”
Lost Souls is the third book in Chelsea Mueller’s Soul Charmer series, a dark, gritty urban fantasy where rented souls are used when someone wants to do bad things and wants to negate the damage done to their own souls. Callie Delgado is our heroine and she’s gone through quite a transformation. She’s gone from a frightened woman working as a cook in a nursing home out to save her brother from Gem City’s scariest drug dealer to working for the Soul Charmer and trying to get a handle on her newfound abilities. Her lover, the Soul Charmer’s enforcer Derek, remains her only real ally.
At the end of the previous installment one of Callie’s enemies sends her a message and the chopped off fingers of someone close to her. Which means she’s desperate to figure out a way to get her loved one back. When Lost Souls opens she’s working her contacts around town, trying every angle she knows to get information on Nate’s whereabouts. All she wants is to give him back the soul she took from him and get Zara back.
But things can always get worse. Right in the middle of Callie’s family crisis, the Soul Charmer goes missing and none of his employees have any idea what might have happened or how to find him. All they know are some of the darkest souls in the store have gone missing and a new soul rental business has popped up out of nowhere. As the only one with real soul magic, Callie is the logical choice to step in and take the lead. And she so does.
I really enjoy this world. It has this grittiness to it that I like in my urban fantasy. Callie continues to evolve and grow as a character and seems to be truly embracing her magic. The once skittish, worried young woman willing to do anything to save her brother, has kind of morphed into a powerful, more confident person who uses her instincts make decisions in tough situations and isn’t so worried about which side of the those decisions fall on.
Of course she has Derek as her muscle and a strong shoulder to lean on when she needs it. I love his character and I love that this author hasn’t played around and tugged on her readers heartstrings about whether they will or won’t be a couple. There is plenty of angst and conflict outside their relationship thank you very much, no need to throw in more.
I like where Callie is headed. I feel like her step into the Soul Charmer’s shoes foretells the future of the series. I only wish she would set some more boundaries with her brother and mother. They treat her like shit and she lets them. I get that the motto she lives by is “family first”, but I hate how they talk to her.
All in all, this was another satisfying addition in this series. I’m looking forward to what comes next.
Final Grade- B
Favorite Quote:
“Where you go, I go. That’s the deal, doll.”
February 22, 2019
Dark, gritty urban fantasy is my favorite thing to read. When I heard about the first book in this series, I was so stoked! I loved that it was different, not your normal vampires/werewolves/etc. (Not that there is anything wrong with that, I love plenty of those books!)
This book is full of spoilers and I don’t want to give anything away. If you are new to the Soul Charmer series…in Gem City, your can rent souls when you want to go out and do bad things so it doesn’t stain your own soul and you can still rise to heaven when you die. Callie Delgado is just a regular girl trying to make her way in Gem City when her brother gets in deep with a drug dealer and Callie is forced into making a deal with the devil to bail him out. Callie always puts family first no matter what. She starts for the Soul Charmer and meets the very gruff enforcer Derek. Murder, mayhem, and sexy times ensue.
Now on to Lost Souls, at the end of the last book you know that someone close to Callie is missing and she knows who is responsible. In trying their best to locate this person, Callie and Derek discover someone new is renting out souls in Gem City. There are seriously so many things I could say but I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone! Callie is starting to understand how to use her magic in this book and it’s awesome to see. She’s starting to realize that she always puts family first but they never put her first. I love that you really see Callie grow in this book, she is learning to take care of herself and the people of Gem City, with Derek always by her side. I love the romance between Callie and Derek, he is always there for her, never letting her down or putting her down like her family does.
If you haven’t read the first two books in the Soul Charmer series, Borrowed Souls and Rogue Souls, go read them now! The world building is fantastic, the romance is sweet and sexy, and Callie is becoming a true badass!
This book is full of spoilers and I don’t want to give anything away. If you are new to the Soul Charmer series…in Gem City, your can rent souls when you want to go out and do bad things so it doesn’t stain your own soul and you can still rise to heaven when you die. Callie Delgado is just a regular girl trying to make her way in Gem City when her brother gets in deep with a drug dealer and Callie is forced into making a deal with the devil to bail him out. Callie always puts family first no matter what. She starts for the Soul Charmer and meets the very gruff enforcer Derek. Murder, mayhem, and sexy times ensue.
Now on to Lost Souls, at the end of the last book you know that someone close to Callie is missing and she knows who is responsible. In trying their best to locate this person, Callie and Derek discover someone new is renting out souls in Gem City. There are seriously so many things I could say but I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone! Callie is starting to understand how to use her magic in this book and it’s awesome to see. She’s starting to realize that she always puts family first but they never put her first. I love that you really see Callie grow in this book, she is learning to take care of herself and the people of Gem City, with Derek always by her side. I love the romance between Callie and Derek, he is always there for her, never letting her down or putting her down like her family does.
If you haven’t read the first two books in the Soul Charmer series, Borrowed Souls and Rogue Souls, go read them now! The world building is fantastic, the romance is sweet and sexy, and Callie is becoming a true badass!
February 25, 2019
Lost Souls is the third book in the Soul Charmer series by Chelsea Mueller and it starts a day or two after the events in Rogue Souls.
I’ve been a big fan of the Soul Charmer series so far, the world building is interesting, the main character is likable and there’s a mystery love interest. All those elements continue with the third installment but something was missing for me this time around. I found myself skipping large parts of Lost Souls and I think it’s because I don’t like Callie’s family. So the chapters dealing with them I skimmed heavily.
I enjoyed the parts with Callie, Derek, and the Soul Charmer. I really enjoyed the last few chapters of the book dealing with Nate but there was a slow start and the middle of the book dragged for me. I’m glad I stuck with it because like I said the ending as was great and has me hanging on to see what the next book brings. I just hope the next adventure is as exciting as the first two books in the series. Most series have that one book that’s slower and I feel like Lost Souls is that book for the Soul Charmer series.
I really liked getting more info on the soul well at the church and more about the soul mythology Mueller has used to build this world. I’m hoping we get even more in the next book. I feel like the readers are riding shotgun with Callie as she figures this soul magic stuff out.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on magic in an urban fantasy series check out Chelsea Mueller’s Soul Charmer series, starting with the first book, Borrowed Souls.
My Rating: C+ Liked It, but I had issues
January 26, 2021
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
"Sin can drag a soul down just as the lack of it can raise one up."
Lost Souls is the third installment in author Chelsea Mueller's Soul Charmer series. If you've read Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series, you will likely enjoy this series as well. Lost Souls picks right up where Rogue Souls left off. 24-year old Callie Delgado lives in Gem City. A place where you can rent a soul for a night to do whatever you want to do without being judged. Escaping judgment is what keeps the Soul Charmer in business. Callie just happens to be apprentice to the man. Callie has a lot on her plate in this installment.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
"Sin can drag a soul down just as the lack of it can raise one up."
Lost Souls is the third installment in author Chelsea Mueller's Soul Charmer series. If you've read Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series, you will likely enjoy this series as well. Lost Souls picks right up where Rogue Souls left off. 24-year old Callie Delgado lives in Gem City. A place where you can rent a soul for a night to do whatever you want to do without being judged. Escaping judgment is what keeps the Soul Charmer in business. Callie just happens to be apprentice to the man. Callie has a lot on her plate in this installment.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 17, 2019
Callie, Derek, and the Soul Charmer never disappoint!
November 29, 2025
Great series! The Soul Charmer is still missing and Callie is trying to fill in and keep things from going sideways. Callie’s abilities are growing and Nate is still around making Callie very uneasy. There is a new soul renting company – Anonymous Souls and they are causing trouble from Callie and the Soul Charmer business. They need to get to the bottom of who is in charge of this new group because they are stealing souls from the Soul Charmer. Great ending to this story!
February 25, 2019
I’d heard good things about the first two books in this series, so I jumped on the chance to review this book, the third in the Soul Charmer series. I’d already purchased the other books, which meant there was nothing to stop me from binge reading the books back to back in a few days! This is some delightfully fun urban fantasy, and while dark and gritty isn’t usually my go-to, Ms. Mueller really sold me on her world and characters. As the third book in series, this can’t be read as a standalone, and there are definitely spoilers for the earlier books in this review!
Where we last left off, though the mobster Ford is now permanently out of the picture, Callie’s mom, Zara, had been kidnapped by one of the big bad guys. We pick up with Callie, understandably, a ball of nerves, running herself ragged trying to hunt down the man responsible. New developments leave them flailing, perpetually one step behind, and it’s also becoming clear that someone else is now trying to edge in on the Soul Charmer’s territory, again. If the plot sounds similar to the last book, well, it is. It seems like everyone in Gem City wants to be in the soul renting business – except Callie and Derek. What will they have to go through to protect themselves and those they love?
Three books in, and I still love Callie! Callie is really growing into her power, or at least she’s more capable of keeping herself from turning into a human torch.She continues to come into her own with each book, and one of my favorite parts of this book was her slow realization that while she’s always been there for her family, the sentiment isn’t necessarily returned – especially in contrast to Derek, who always puts her first. Even though he tends toward the silent, over-protective type, he’s able to recognize when Callie is able to – or needs to – do dangerous things on her own, and that she’s capable of deciding that for herself. Their relationship keeps growing as well, though, like the last book, I wanted a little more romance. And like the last book, I think that’s mainly because it was just so action-packed that there was never enough time for Callie and Derek to just be themselves together. We also get to see more of Callie’s brother Josh and Derek’s brother Henry, and suffice it to say that both have important parts in the story, as well as doing some growth themselves. The world building just gets better and better, with the mechanics of soul renting and the source of the souls further explored. And, thankfully, while the book ends with a bang, it’s not another cliff-hanger.
Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this, and I am very excited to see where the next book takes Callie and Derek!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“She’d been living an above-board life. Now she ripped souls out of people, doled out the equivalent of celestial cheat codes, and had done enough bad shit to earn her twenty to life. Not exactly an upward trajectory.”
Where we last left off, though the mobster Ford is now permanently out of the picture, Callie’s mom, Zara, had been kidnapped by one of the big bad guys. We pick up with Callie, understandably, a ball of nerves, running herself ragged trying to hunt down the man responsible. New developments leave them flailing, perpetually one step behind, and it’s also becoming clear that someone else is now trying to edge in on the Soul Charmer’s territory, again. If the plot sounds similar to the last book, well, it is. It seems like everyone in Gem City wants to be in the soul renting business – except Callie and Derek. What will they have to go through to protect themselves and those they love?
“I’m not worried about Heaven, Derek. I’m worried about here.”
He tightened his arms around her. “I’m good. I’ve got you.”
“I need to keep you.” Why did honesty always catch in her throat?
“Not going anywhere, doll. Unless you want to book it, and then we go together.”
Three books in, and I still love Callie! Callie is really growing into her power, or at least she’s more capable of keeping herself from turning into a human torch.She continues to come into her own with each book, and one of my favorite parts of this book was her slow realization that while she’s always been there for her family, the sentiment isn’t necessarily returned – especially in contrast to Derek, who always puts her first. Even though he tends toward the silent, over-protective type, he’s able to recognize when Callie is able to – or needs to – do dangerous things on her own, and that she’s capable of deciding that for herself. Their relationship keeps growing as well, though, like the last book, I wanted a little more romance. And like the last book, I think that’s mainly because it was just so action-packed that there was never enough time for Callie and Derek to just be themselves together. We also get to see more of Callie’s brother Josh and Derek’s brother Henry, and suffice it to say that both have important parts in the story, as well as doing some growth themselves. The world building just gets better and better, with the mechanics of soul renting and the source of the souls further explored. And, thankfully, while the book ends with a bang, it’s not another cliff-hanger.
Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this, and I am very excited to see where the next book takes Callie and Derek!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 9, 2019
I really do love the way Mueller writes. Heavy on the subtleties of body language and that kind of thing. Always disappointed to reach the end of the book. Specially when it's a cliffhanger.
But yeah, good story. Happy for the development, relationships wise and magical abilities.
But yeah, good story. Happy for the development, relationships wise and magical abilities.
May 27, 2024
This is an action packed book with a storyline that maintains your interests and characters that are interesting enough to pull you into the plot and not question if it is possible. A great storyline.
June 26, 2020
This story was infinitely better than book 2, also there were fewer spelling errors.
July 14, 2024
I absolutely adore this series! The MMC is one of the most wonderful men in books. Not toxic, protects the FMC and just loves her.
September 25, 2024
I love the series. Best book boyfriend 💗💗💗
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews