Review: Beautifully Written Paranormal Romance - Highly Recommended
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Christine Wenrick!)This book is the second book in the `Charmed' Trilogy, and kicks off a few days after the end of book 1 - `The Charmed'. **Warning - some unavoidable spoilers for book 1**Olivia has agreed to go with Alec and the Brethren following the end of `The Charmed', and they have taken her to a hotel (The Oracle), on a consecrated site where the Brethren stay and train, and vampires will be unable to track her.Olivia is still in love with Caleb, and their separation makes her unhappy. Alec continues to try and convince her that Caleb will have forgotten her, and that he never really loved her, but Olivia is sure that he is wrong.Davin is still searching for her though, and turns up just outside of the consecrated grounds, trying to get to her, and threatening to harm Caleb if Olivia doesn't go with him.Davin isn't the only threat though, when it seems that at least  one of the brethren means her harm.Will Olivia and Caleb find their way back to each other? What do the Brethren intend to do with her? And will Olivia ever be truly safe from persecution, when so many people want to use her for their own devices?I really enjoyed this book, and it was a great sequel to `The Charmed', no second book syndrome here you'll be pleased to know!I really felt for Olivia during this book. Not only was she being kept away from Caleb who she loved, but she was also being followed by Davin, and wasn't being well treated by every member of the Brethren either.It was nice that Olivia got to learn more about her family though, and exactly who her parents were. There was even a surprise for Olivia in the form of her maternal grandfather, who she had never expected to meet.Olivia and Caleb when we eventually find them back together are hot, and even more loving towards each other than they were in the first book. It's also great to see that time apart has only strengthened their love for one another, and that even with Olivia's `Charmer' powers, they are committed to each other, and don't stray. There's also plenty of beautiful scenes between them which aren't purely focused on their intimate relationship, which is nice.The storyline was great. I totally didn't guess the twist and turns that this book took, and I was really impressed with the new ideas that the author had come up with in regards to vampires, dhampires, and their relationships with humans. It was also nice to see a relationship where the female was feisty enough to stand up to her vampire partner, and didn't let him step in to protect her all the time.Once again this book was beautifully written and a joy to read, and I was really happy that it had an ending! Even though this is the middle book of the trilogy, the book had a beginning, a middle, and an end, with no nasty cliff-hanger, but still plenty to make me want to read the next book. Well done to the author for that!Overall; a beautifully written book, and a great second instalment in the trilogy.8.25 out of 10.