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What she doesn't know could get them all killed.

Loti Dupree's healing powers could change the nature of life itself, and she doesn't even know it. But 500-year-old vampire Wolf Arrighi does. He's been living outside the boundaries of his own kind, seeking her for centuries, and when their worlds finally collide, the passion ignited between them is more than either bargained for.

Together, their powers become something entirely new--and entirely dangerous. The sudden surge of elemental magic attracts an ancient evil hell-bent on nothing less than the utter destruction of humankind. And they've just handed him the key. One by one, the people they love become casualties, and Loti and Wolf are in a desperate race against time to fight an epic battle that could cost them not just their lives, but their very souls.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2012

134 people are currently reading
927 people want to read

About the author

Melissa Lummis

34 books405 followers
Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy author Melissa Lummis lives in the mountains of Virginia with her husband and two kids, who are her support system and constant inspiration.

When she’s not manifesting with the moon or mixing up magic, you can find her cloistered in her Yurt diving into her fantasy world to craft heart-stopping and heart-warming adventures for her characters.

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5 stars
76 (29%)
4 stars
73 (28%)
3 stars
66 (25%)
2 stars
27 (10%)
1 star
15 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda.
Author 2 books5 followers
October 29, 2012
This is a fantastic debut from Author Melissa Lummis! The storyline is unique and you can tell that the author poured her heart into this book. The emotional scenes are spot-on. I felt the joy, heartache, and love right along with the characters. I felt that the story built up to a nice climax and definitely didn't disappoint in the action department. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to be released. I'm a fan for life.
Profile Image for Jen Rattie.
107 reviews10 followers
December 11, 2012
I was blown away by this book. Completely not what I expected and its a fantastic tale. :)
Profile Image for Chris.
654 reviews18 followers
May 7, 2013
Melissa Lummis has done a fabulous job in her debut novel. This book does not disappoint! The character creation is well done and well thought out. The story itself is wonderful. I loved how she has joined the differing cultures from the yoga aspect on through to the vampires.

I don't want to give away anything in the story because it truly is a must read. But character wise, we have Loti who seems so broken at first. She lost her husband and is basically falling apart. We have her best friend Rachel who has been very supportive during this horrible time in Loti's life. And we have Wolf, a Vampire! Yes I said a Vampire, but he is so different from all the other Vampires and no he doesn't sparkle.

The cast of this book is full, we have Vampires, Healers, Witches, and other paranormal creatures. I loved how Melissa Lummis combined all of these with the normal ashram type lifestyle. I thought it was such a unique way of bringing together such different creatures. I for one cannot wait to read more from this talented Author and this series in particular.

I must tell you now though, if you have children they won't be eating dinner on time, and you won't be going to bed at an acceptable time because you will be far too busy being sucked into an entirely new and unique world. One which I for one didn't really want to see end. 5 stars for this beautiful work and I can't wait to see more from this very talented author.

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
Profile Image for Pam.
916 reviews44 followers
April 30, 2013
Loti lost her husband around a year ago and yet she still hasn't let go. As one person tells her she needs to grieve because she really hasn't. The night before she is to leave on a spiritual retreat with her best friend she is attacked by a nightmare. She and her friend soon find they need help as Loti is begins to have psychic attacks from an unknown source. Loti also faces a growing attraction to a vampire who is trying to help her solve the mystery of who is after her, why and what she is. Loti will have to let go of the past to have a future.

At first I didn't think I was going to like this book much. I was so wrong. I really enjoyed this book. Loti is really so broken at first. She has suffered a loss and doesn't want to let go and move on. She feels guilty when she notices Wolf the vampire. Then she learns that not only is she not safe but that there may be more to her than she knew. I love reading about Wolf and Loti coming together. The author made it a great love story. This book is so much more than that. You have great friendships like Loti and Rachel. They are their for each other and hey with what Rachel can do to stain clothes sure would come in handy. Then you have a whole cast of other characters like vampires, witches, healers and so much more. They all seem to be from different eras and you get to see them blend together to make a fantastic story. This book has spirituality, action, love, loss, mystery, paranormal creatures and so much more. I was pleasantly surprised on how much I ended up enjoying this book.
51 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2020
Is this a spin-off? So much is left out...and Loti is annoyingly melodramatic.

I spent so much time asking questions to myself...like, are they in the future sometime? The present? Another world entirely? How does Loti know about vampires and such, other than her encounter in college? Does the whole world know? We know her mom is an addict, her little brother, and I believe her dad, died..but when? Why? Also, what's a healer, exactly? There's the obvious definition, but what are the specifics for this book? In some ways all of these things are unimportant, but with little tidbits mentioned here and there, and then so much left out, it gets confusing. I also didn't really care for Loti too much. She had panic attacks and threw temper tantrums over everything.. Sure, she's had a rough life, but without much of an explanation given, it was annoying. SHE was annoying...and kind of rude. Then there's the part with Wolf.. He tells Loti he "NEVER lures women under false pretenses". Yet, a few chapters before he did exactly that in the woods to a new mother who was camping with her baby and friends/family. He even got aroused in the process...but why? What did that do for the story, aside from make me lose respect for him, anyway? I'm sure a lot of people will love this book, but it's not for me. I feel like I'm missing so much about her life and background that it's hard to follow. Not liking her doesn't help, either.
Profile Image for Romina.
94 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2013
Loti Dupree is grieving for her husband. She feels she can never love or feel anything again.
She decides to take a break from her everyday life and go on a spiritual retreat with her best friend.
This retreat will take her on a journey of discovery full of mystical beings and power unlike she ever knew possible.
I like a book that challenges me to learn. Throughout this book I found myself going off and researching the unfamiliar terminology.
At first I thought this book was just going to be about spiritualism and nothing more but the introduction of mystical beings and magic brought a surprising twist and I found myself enjoying the parts I didn’t really understand.
Although a book about finding your true self there is a beautiful love story surrounding it.
The idea you could find enlightened vampires is new but also fun to read. It challenges your perception of how a vampire should be.
The characters in this story although strange fit really well together and create a story that flows so well you feel you are there with them.
Although some of the dialogue was unfamiliar to me I didn’t feel overwhelmed in any way. I liked that it brought a new vocabulary for me to learn.
The term ‘never judge a book by its cover’ is essential to this book. This is an intriguing story giving the paranormal on whole new destination. I would definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Theresa.
29 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2012
There really is something alluring about vampires...and a little scary. In the paranormal genre we get accustomed to all the common "truths" we have grown up with about witches, vampires, healers, shapeshifters, and werewolves. These are tested and twisted when Lummis introduces us to a mythical new life form that will intrigue the reader.

Lummis takes some liberties when she introduces a pack of enlightened vampires, working toward the spiritual growth and enlightenment of the world alongside hippies, a guru and yoginis. Amazingly, it works. You can feel the caring and connection they have with each other and for good. This close knit group of vampires, witches and healers work to save the world form a demented mind older than all of them.

Enlightened is a well written story with surprises around every turn. I was up late three nights in a row reading until my eyes could not be propped open. If you are a paranormal genre reader you will enjoy this story immensely and, I imagine, the sequels she promises to deliver.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. These opinions are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Lisa Markson.
217 reviews35 followers
November 2, 2012
Enlightened


Lisa's review of
Enlightened
By Melissa Lummis

I received a copy of Enlightened by Melissa Lummis in exchange for an honest review. This was the debut novel by the author and she does not disappoint this reader. I enjoyed the development of her characters as a reader you were able to follow along the story line with ease. Each and every character helped to increase the dramatics of Loti's story. It was hard to put the book down in which to deal with real life day to day activities. So my sons dinner was late mommy was reading. I look forward to reading more in the series to to see what happens next. I especially enjoyed the beginning where Melissa incorporated some of Gandi sayings. It showed that she took the time and effort to research some quotes that helped to give substance to her book. Thank you for allowing me to read your first book and cant wait for more. I highly highly recommend this book by Melissa Lummis.
Profile Image for Niki.
230 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2012
I received a copy of this book for a honest opinion.

What a good debut book, this writer takes paranormal into a whole other direction, when you like paranormal, vampires, hippies, yoga, witches name it all combined into a whole new world. Well in my eyes, a book hard to let go off.

It is about Loti whose husband died and she thinks her whole life ends too. Read yourself how she picks up her life and even falls in love again. In her race to find out who she is up against you will meet many interesting characters, I loved to read how Loti and Wolf felt in love. I'll keep a close eye other books, I'm a fan for sure!
Well done Melisa Lummis!!!
Profile Image for Crystal.
266 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2013
I must say that Enlightened was refreshing. It is a good combination of paranormal, love, mystery and intrigue. I liked how the story had multiple character points of view.
Walking along with Loti as she faces her husbands death and finding comfort in a vampire was an intense journey. Melissa wrote the story beautifully. Loti going on her vision quest and discovering she is a walking myth was an eye opener. Melissa's attention to detail made the story pop and that much more enjoyable. I cant wait to see what happens in the next install of the Love and Light Series.
Profile Image for Amber.
251 reviews33 followers
November 21, 2012
This new author did not disappoint. There are many characters to wrap your head around. Each one adding to this captivating story. Loti's journey hooks your attention and reels you in. Melissa Lummis has taken paranormal into an entirely new fresh direction. Can't wait to see where this series and Loti take us next.



I received a Free copy of this book from Promotional Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rae Ryans.
Author 8 books176 followers
July 3, 2013
a beautifully created world of supernatural and magical beings blended with Buddhist philosophy. The mixture of self discovery, healing, and love was written in a touching way that had my eyes stinging. I look forward to reading more of this series and the intriguing character development.

kudos on the show. I think I felt every tingle and heart pounding, suspense filled moment!
Profile Image for Carrie.
20 reviews
January 13, 2013
Enlightened is a well written book! After a tragic loss, the main character is unsure of herself and leaves her home to find "enlightenment". She discovers her true self in this powerful paranormal story. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to. It was hard to put this story down. It had the right mix of romance, mystery, drama and suspense!
Profile Image for Anita Harris.
100 reviews5 followers
July 26, 2015
I think this was a wounderful & well wrote book. It enlightend me on many of the Eastern Religions. ( because I chose to look up words in the book & do intense study on some of them) while not being overly preachy. One of the best books I've read in a long time. If you want to read this book, I got it free in Love Potion # 11. Namatse!
Profile Image for Tina.
746 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2014
Melissa Lummis has done a beautiful job on this. I was completely enthralled in this beautiful tale go love and light. I can't wait to read more in this series. The characters are simply put amazing the details go this story just awe struck me.
Profile Image for Jess.
116 reviews7 followers
June 17, 2020
I didn’t hate it but i didn’t exactly like it either.

It kept me reading until the very end, begrudgingly, but with no interest in continuing with the series. First, I’m usually never a fan of using third person POV and this book was no different, it felt clunky and awkward at times. I feel like this type of writing allows for very shallow character development. Also there were way too many characters to keep track of. The phrase “felt it in my solar plexus” was used like 10 times.

Let me preface this by saying I love romance and have read countless other paranormal romance books, I also enjoy tropes if they’re done in a fun and fresh way. In the vein of Bella Swan, the. female protagonist is the stereotypical helpless, trembling woman who needs a man to complete her. Not to mention I didn’t find out a single characteristic of hers until page 233 when it was stated she had blonde hair. The love-at-first sight/soul bonded thing felt contrived from the start and the sex scenes made me cringe with secondhand embarrassment. The only saving grace was that Wolf is dreamy. Bottom line: skip it.
218 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2020
Only 2-1/2 Stars for me, sorry to say

As much as I'd to give it an "OK", 3-Star rating, it just wouldn't be fair to all the better books that I've given 3 Stars. Those other 3 Star books had some good and some not so good qualities. This book didn't quite reach that standard for me.

I didn't care for the majority of the characters...especially the main characters. The World Building was insufficient--too many questions. There was also no background on the various societies of supernaturals. The Magic was confusing and basically unexplained. And don't get me started on the primary romance, because it's not a very good one.

The World itself, and some of the magic, has some potential. And maybe the next book is better....but I'm just not interested enough to find out.
Profile Image for Fiona.
297 reviews6 followers
June 7, 2017
Beautifully written!
I found this book hidden away in the docs, what luck.

Wow, vampires, witches, shapeshifters, fae and more. My head is buzzing from this paranormal/supernatural high. I'm totally in love with the concept of this story, it is truly beautiful to imagine such a pure being as the light walker. I'm in awe of Melissa as an author for the depth of feeling behind the words.

The characters are so well written I want the majority for bezzie mates. The scenes are written in a way that you can truly picture said scene, was not a fan of almost drowning ;-).

Melissa I'm sorry it took me so long to read because this is one review that is worth more than five stars.

This is a must read now!!
Profile Image for Sue Brooks.
465 reviews8 followers
April 14, 2020
I love reading about Vampires and Witches -- but this book is on a totally different type level. Don't get me wrong -- IT IS GOOD!! -- but it is nothing like I have ever read before.

Loti Dupree has been told by her grandfather that she was different from others and should not tell anyone. When Loti met Wolf Arrighi (a 500 year old vampire), she felt electrical vibs that she couldn't explain. I don't write spoilers -- so I will leave it with the fact that you need to read this to find out what happens.

When you finish Book 1 of this series, you will want to jump right in and read Book 2!!!
202 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2021
Good book- some spoilers for Little Flame series

After reading the Little Flame series, I checked out more of Ms. Lummis' books. This one was ok, longer than those of the other series, and had some of the same cast.


We meet another fabled Light Walker bonding to a vampire, but this one doesn't end as tragically. Wolf is a butthead for most of the book, but does ok in the end. The Hera saves her guy & makes no compromises.

One last thought: will someone please kill Modore? Please?

8/10 unicorns 🦄 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Recommend to buy or borrow.
67 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2020
Ok story.

Definitely needs more background or explanation of who and what the main characters are. There's just a lot missing that could really enhance the whole thing and make it more fulfilling to read. I will be skipping the sequels, I like the story line but just not enough character development keep my interest through more than one book.

The nitpicking/pet peeve stuff.... dived instead of dove, all through the book. Also not entirely sure the author knows where the solar plexus resides, causing a moment of disconnect each time you read it.
Profile Image for shallow.
12 reviews
April 21, 2021
A bit confusing

This was a good read, the author is a talented writer, but until page 75 I had no idea what the heck was happening. Even after that I felt confused constantly. I felt like there were too many components and the important ones (like description of characters or relationships) were barely brushed over. I did enjoy it though and do plan to read the rest of the series.
144 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2021
I liked it

I was surprised at how much I liked this book,. I especially liked how much research went into the storyline. The characters we likeable and though,supernatural, they were real and charming.
53 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2020
a different take on the supernatural community, refreshing
974 reviews
April 6, 2020
Great read

This was a great read. I am really enjoying this story. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
6 reviews
April 25, 2020
Good story!

Loved this book! The story kept my interest all the way through, the editing was good, and I am on my way to get the next book.
18 reviews
July 20, 2020
A Good Read

The author managed to breath fresh light into a market of vampire love tales. That's difficult to do. I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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