Colee Firman

(I received this book free from the Author through Goodreads group [Shut Up And Read] {Read It & Reap} for my honest review)

5 Stars!!!!

What a story. It's not very often I read straight up romantic fiction, but, hell this was phenomenal! Once I started I couldn't but it down. ( Even on the bus, and I get sick when I read on the bus.)

At times I did want to crack some heads, just to knock some sense into both of them. It was like watching a very awkward dance, one involving a lot if missed timings and stepped on toes. Ducks, they where baby ducks.

The scars on both their hearts ( body) had my heart feels ripped to pieces and my head spinning. No one should have to go through what these two did. Having to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and start over, while tying to keep some type of sanity, messy. No wonder they bounced off one another like opposite magnets. To many glass walls, to much to lose.

I highly recommend this novel. It isn't just another one of your typical romantic fiction, it's so much more than that. The only way to truly understand, is to pick up this book and read it yourself.

Thank you [a:Colee Firman|6684066|Colee Firman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1355327668p2/6684066.jpg] for for giving me the opportunity to read this extraordinary novel.

Cheers.

-Emily

… (más)

I would like to thank author Colee Firman for granting me a copy of this e-book to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review. If I could I would rate this book at 4.5 stars, but I find myself balking at rounding it up to 5 stars - most likely because it is the first in a series and had to spend time setting up the storyline.

Sophie Hayden has spent the last ten years studying at Slatemore Academy. She's at the top of her class with a solid future ahead of her. In three weeks, she’ll graduate and move away from home—away from her controlling parents and spoiled siblings. A perfect plan—at least it was until Leo Emerik came crashing onto the scene.

When an incident with a classmate nearly costs Sophie everything—including her life, Leo swoops in and saves the day. Sophie’s ready to thank him and move on. Leo has other plans.

The minute Leo set his sights on Sophie she knew she was in trouble. With a simple smile and one glance, he can make her forget everything but him—it’s frightening. He’s the last thing she needs and the only thing she wants.

After crossing paths with Leo, a disaster with Sophie’s name on it seems to be –waiting around every corner. Somehow, Leo’s always there to bail her out. Everyone else can see the one thing she can’t—her bad fortune may all lead back to him.

*WARNING* CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT, ADULT LANGUAGE, SEXUALITY, VIOLENCE. MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AND/OR SENSITIVE READ--ERS.

This is clearly the start of another exciting series by Ms. Firman. In fact, it has a similar feel to some of the earlier books in her Unbinding Fate series. Not all that surprising given the fact that she's working with a young, female protagonist again, and there is at least one romance involved.

Sophie starts out as pretty much a pushover/whipping girl, all depending upon who she's dealing with. Both her parents are members of The Silver Tower, and Sophie is about to finish up her final year of training as well. She's top of her class, always does her homework on time, is class Valedictorian, and has a perfect attendance record for all eight years at the academy. You'd think with all that going for her she wouldn't simply act as the house slave for her siblings, but she does. After an 18 hour day she'll come home to a trashed kitchen and have yo spend hours cleaning it before she can prepare finer for everyone. No one seems to appreciate her. But all that is going to change.

Events take place that slowly make Sophie appreciate herself more, and in doing so she forces those around her to start to view her differently. It doesn't hurt that she is her grandparents' sole heir, and they were philanthropists. Not even her controlling father knows how much money they left her. Only Sophie and her trustee know just how much she's worth. But once word gets out that she is an heiress it becomes that much harder to trust anyone new without second-guessing their motives.

Leo comes into Sophie's world and the attraction is instant. But things aren't always what they seem, and in this case Sophie is trapped between her head and her heart. Those feelings only intensify when Leo rescues her from a gruesome death. And with each subsequent incident he gets that much closer to her, despite any reservations she might have when they're apart.

Luckily, Sophie does some serious growing up and maturing as the story unfolds. Though Leo may swoop in to rescue her, when one looks more closely it seems that each time Sophie is imperiled can also be traced back to Leo. Maybe it's all one scary coincidence, but then again, maybe it's not. While all this is going on Sophie manages to grow up enough that she straightens out her relationship with her siblings, begins to get out from under her father's control, and starts to take control of her own life. Whether or not Leo will continue to play a part of that life remains to be seen.

Her trustee is also a mystery to be solved. He has power and contacts that Sophie can only imagine. There is a history between his family and hers, but exactly what it is no one is saying. For a trustee he certainly seems to know an awful lot about her, at least as far as Sophie is concerned. But somehow that doesn't seem to bother her, even though she can't put her finger on why she trusts him so deeply.

Given all that's gone on its not surprising that Sophie finally reaches her breaking point, and with one decision everything is going to change. But will the changes be for the better or for the worse? And how many people will be impacted by those changes? I find the fact that this series is going to cross-over with Ms. Firman's prior series very exciting. With the next book coming out being from the Unbinding Fate series, I'm wondering just how much of Sophie and crew we'll see in that book, if anything. Appearance or not, I know I'm looking forward to the continuation of both series!… (más)

Reviewed from ebook

A fascinating paranormal mythology of two worlds in one; or is it? Colee Firman has created the history of a world that blends with our own seamlessly. Or so it seems for centuries, but there are always secrets. I enjoyed this book very much, unusual in many ways. The characters are very real even in this fantasy, perhaps because in appearance they are not so very different.

Imagine the excitement of waking up one morning in brilliant sunlight right beside a beach when you went to bed in what could be only described as the coldest spot on earth. Your entire estate and all the people you know are right there with you in the heat of summer. How can this be? It is one of the many secrets that unfold for Addison Sanders, Addy as she is known, granddaughter of the Overseer. There are three distinct groups: humans, Akori and Mesen, a sub-group of Akori.

The story itself, besides the history of the Akori, is very much involved with the lives of a group of young people from the estate...their interaction, their romances, their journey through a (very) long life. It's about connections, trust, friendship and loyalty; and always the mystery. But life is not all fun and games for Addy. She spends much of her time working in the huge library for her aged grandfather, and training in martial arts and weaponry. This book grabbed my interest fairly quickly and as changes begin, the action moves forward faster and faster until it's impossible to put down. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of this action-packed yet playful series.… (más)

If you have not read the first three books in thus wonderful series you need to STOP RIGHT NOW! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER - SPOILERS AHEAD. Because this is a series some of the mysteries and questions from earlier books will have been answered in subsequent books in the series.

Goodreads Blurb:

Something is coming. A dangerous foe is lurking in the shadows. Watching and whispering in the darkness. Searching for a way to unravel the greatest mystery they’ve ever known. Grasping for that one shred of proof that will spin centuries of rumors into the truth. It’s a threat that can’t be controlled or contained by the Akori’s powers—it will be the greatest enemy they’ve ever faced.

The humans.

When Addy discovers Tanner is in danger, thrusting him back into the life Oric stole from him—the life he was supposed to be living with her, is the only way to protect him. With the truth just under the surface of every lie she tells, Addy prepares herself to lose Tanner all over again to save him.

*WARNING* CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT, ADULT LANGUAGE, SEXUALITY, VIOLENCE. MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AND/OR SENSITIVE READERS.

Before I begin with the heaps of praise I just have to share that I am not a big fan of the new cover design. It is lacking the intrigue and mystery that the original covers exude. Cover change aside, the content remains excellent, drawing you back in from the very beginning.

Now, if you are still reading, here is why you most definitely want to continue with this wonderful series. The story resumes almost exactly where it stopped in book three. Addy, having defeated the evil Oric, sent the love of her life back to Tremain. Along the way she also destroyed the hurricane caused by Oric in an effort to protect all of the humans in Tremain and surrounding regions. Little did she know just how dangerous the repercussions of her act would be.

With the threat of Oric ended Addy finally has time to really focus on all that she has lost, and it almost kills her. She had already been forced to grow up far to quickly due to earlier events. Now, when she should be spending time with Tanner, her soul mate and secretly claimed mate, the two of them easing into leading the Akori in a time of peace, she must lead alone. As Addy discovers, part of being a good leader is being able to set aside personal issues and on the greater good. Those closest to her see her suffering, but aside from offering their love and support there is little they can do for her. Though she continues to lead her people in her role as Shepherdess, she is basically functioning almost entirely on autopilot. She also spends the majority of her time over in Tremain, caring for her brother Jax, as he is now trapped there due to his human side becoming dominant upon crossing back into Tremain. The very thing that helped Addy defeat Oric once and for all has caused her to possibly lose her brother for good. Addy refuses to accept that her brother is lost forever, especially after losing Tanner, so until she finds a way to get her brother back, she too is tied to Tremain. Only two things have kept Addy going so far; a single thread of hope that when Oric possessed Jax it didn't kill her brother's soul but simply displaced it or repressed it, and her complete dependence upon reflecting symbols to help mute the pain. As Preston has had some past experience relying on reflecting to mute the pain, he eventually convinces Addy that she will never really recover and begin moving forward again until she faces the raw emotions and comes to terms with them. Addy accepts Preston’s advice, demonstrating that she continues to mature.

Jax is completely catatonic for months, and then one day he responds to a piece of music that Addy is playing on the piano by walking over to stand by the piano. No matter how many more times she plays that same piece, it never evokes another response from him. Yet the fact that he responded to something gives Addy the hope that she so desperately needs, and she keeps trying different music in the hopes of getting another response. This leads to her discovery of a comic book/sheet music store while looking for something else to get a response from him, anything to prove that her brother is in there somewhere.

Over time Addy becomes friends with Parker, the owner of comic book/music the store. Eventually she reveals the whole story about the Akori, in part because it is so much easier to portal into his back room to dig through the old sheet music than it is to fight her way through the media circus camped outside the estate's gates 24/7, and because she finds herself needing a friend in Tremain. Parker is one of the only humans that Addy deals with, let alone befriends, to the point that he comes to the estate for Preston's meals on a regular basis. By sharing her burdens and entrusting a human with the knowledge of the Akori’s existence is she being immature, or is the choice a mature one? After all, there are humans that know of the existence of Akori and nothing bad has come from the selective exposure yet.

With Tanner gone from Greystone Addy struggles to find her way. And though she knows why by he wants to be in Tremain, she only shares part of his reasons for wanting to return to the human world. Addy spends much of her time in Greystone with Ryker, captain of one of the fight clubs. Their friendship continues to grow stronger, eventually becoming the catalyst for a series of situations, each worse than the one before, putting Ryker and others at risk.

Addy slowly begins to get her legs under her again, and shows a real increase in her maturity level. No longer does she think of her own needs first all the time, but instead focuses on making life better for all Akori. And though some changes are working better than others, she is determined to make even more changes for the betterment of all the Akori that aren't locked away in the old city for supporting Oric in his bid to take over. It just takes time to figure out how to get the impacted Akori to think the changes are their ideas.

Though Tanner plays a much smaller role in this book as an active participant, he informs so many of Addy's decisions that he is still actively involved in the storyline. We simply experience him through Addy's emotions and memories. And though he has no memories of Addy or the Akori thanks to Oric, it may just be that they are destined to be together no matter what challenges they face - including Tanner having his memories wiped. Even losing the memory of the only person to ever say, "I love you" to him. For once the pair unexpectedly run into each other in Parker's shop, their meeting will cause a chain reaction of vast proportions before all is said and done, bringing joy, pain, and everything in-between.

Once again Addy, Tanner, and the rest of the Akori are facing dangers from several different directions. The problem is, so far only a small handful know they are in any danger - and those that do know may find themselves unable to help themselves, let alone anyone else. Yet again Ms. Firman ends the book such a way that I am left desperately awaiting the next installment. I'm not sure I can handle these cliffhanger ends too many more times, however I am loath to consider their story ever coming to an end. I imagine that is one of the best ways I can praise a book - even if I suffer between each book I find myself unable to stay away, and literally counting the days until the next release! I may even offer to pay Ms. Firman to allow me to become a beta reader, or at least have access to the ARCs for future books, and then pray that she doesn't take out a restraining order for fan harassment! :-)… (más)