Raven

by Dawn Gray

Ariana Breckham had always known her life was a little odd. Haunted by bloody secrets from her past, and frustrated by missing pieces of her childhood, Ariana is content to stick to a select group of friends and avoid crowds at all costs. When Ariana's best friend, Leanne, asks for help, she finds herself investigating the mysterious Michael Raven, owner of the town's newest hotspot, the Ravenloft. Ariana is about to find out just how much stranger life can get. Bombarded with images and memories of his past, can she save herself from falling for the handsome stranger in order to save her present? His life's quest had always been to reunite with his soulmate and to break the curse he had endured for 200 years, but all that changed the moment she stepped into his life. Torn between an undeniable need to possess her, and finding his lost love, Michael Raven embarks on a fight to not only save himself but to keep Ariana Breckham out of the clutches of a power stronger than he ever imagined. Will his heart be strong enough to withstand losing Ariana no matter what the outcome, be it by death, or duty to his soulmate?

Genres: Paranormal

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2008

About the author

From ghosts and ghouls to werewolves and vampires, there's nothing strange about growing up in New England. Mythology and legends tend to run wild in most parts of the Northeast, and when you're raised with it, you tend to draw on it for inspiration. Ghost stories have always been part of childhood, but what happens when those stories follow you around? You write about them of course. Dawn takes life in the mountains, and twists it into her own. Most recently doing so with "The Pack," a dive into the hidden world of a people not unlike us, who hold a secret... their relation to the legendary werewolves of old. This book series came along from a ten-episode season written for TV, and has taken on a life of it's own.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Lyon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book but there were many grammar errors that kind of annoyed me.

What I did like is that you dont know what Arianna actually is. Is she human, a vampire, or a witch? That question made me read till the end. However I felt that it jumped from one thing to the next but back again to the beginning. For example, near the end of the book Michael is shackled to a slab but then not but then back onto the slab. Some things didn't make sense.

It was a quick read and if you are into vampire romance stories to give it a shot as it does have potential.

[Thom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It's not my go-to genre, but it was good.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for a copy of this book for a review. It's a lovely vampire story who falls for a human... or is she? LOL yeah, I had to start with that. First, this is & it isn't your typical vampire story. Ariana has a very intense past, with some secrets, and when she meets vampire Micheal, she falls for him pretty hard, but he's whole point of existence is to find his long lost wife's soul, so he can end his curse-the curse which makes him a vampire... As this story progresses, you keep finding out secrets, and twists, and turns, and more little crazies. You never know exactly who someone is, and it's got a whole new twist on soulmates. Now, I am NOT a romance reader... I usually like it better when people are fighting, and throwing each other, and sword fights, and beaming magic balls. hahahahaha there is some actions in here, which I got excited for, but it's mostly a really good paranormal romance. I still feel like Michael is your typical broken vampire, BUT Ariana has a whole new fresh look on the human lover girl :)
3.5 paws for me (there is no half so I round up :) Go on and try this one out! :)

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! read it in 3 days couldnt put it down!

Michael and Ariana are right up there in the top romance couples! Michael is so bent on his love for his dead wife that he doesnt even see Ariana come in and steal his heart. (sigh) Talk about a swoon worthy book. I have added Michael to my list of book boyfriends. :-) LOL

This book is def. a must read! but it is not a YA. ;-) Lots of male female interactions.

This is not your typical vamp story. Ariana has a strange and long past. She meets Michael at a nightclub and falls hard for him. But... he is cursed and still in love with his wife from centuries ago. This book brings Soul Mates to a new and different level. :-)

I loved all the twists and turns throughout this book.
Dawn def. keeps you on your toes! I loved the action and the deception and of course the romance. I am hoping there is a sequel to this book!! :-)

[Jennifer Provost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book. It's a vampire story, which means that there are lots of things we already know (bloodsucking, no tanning, etc.) but the author mixes in enough twists that I don't feel like it's the same old unrequited love story rehashed for the 100th time. The story is engaging, with characters that are strong yet flawed. Also, the vamps in question act like modern Americans that live in the 21st century, not like throwbacks to the middle ages, which is refreshing. While I won't spoil the ending, it does not turn out the way you anticipate, and isn't that half the fun?

[Kristy McRae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not having much luck with kindle freebies so far....

There was a story seed here, that had some real potential. But once again, I just couldn't see my way clear of the abundance of spelling/grammar errors. There were also a couple of odd scene changes--the kind where you have to go back and re-read, because you're saying to yourself, "okay, how did we get HERE, when we were just THERE?" Also a scene at the end where a character is tied to a stone table for a potential sacrifice....then he's not....then he is again. A descendant of Houdini, maybe? I wanted to like this book. I actually did like the general premise. Too many stumbling blocks, though.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it was OK.

For some reason I kept mixing up the "wives" of the hero and whom he loved more, whom less and who killed who (or tried to as it turned out). But the idea is very interesting.

It feels like there there was something missing in the end - there was no conclusion (or at least a logical one), some of the story lines were left dangling which makes me wonder if there is another book about Raven and Ariana...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book....I liked the concept of this book and am looking forward to seeing where this will go....