Pure Jonel ~ Confessions of a Bibliophile: Asylums for Magical Threats

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Shadow of Temptation by Jessie Donovan

Title: Shadow of Temptation
Series: Asylum for Magical Threats # 2.5
Author: Jessie Donovan
Published: May 26/14
Length: 131pgs
Format: ecopy
Genre: paranormal romance
Shelf: review
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

An undercover agent about to crack…

Two years of living a double-life has taken a toll on Sabrina Ono, but if she plays her cards right, her assignment should be finished within the week. However, just as she starts planning her final moves, a man she once called friend shows up wanting revenge.

A man with an unusual power…

Jorge Salazar is a Shadow-Shifter. After being forced to work for a sociopath for nine months, he strikes a deal to escape, but there’s a price for his freedom—he must capture the leader of a Feiru terrorist group and turn him in. Unfortunately, the only person who can help him succeed is the woman who not only betrayed his biggest secret, but also broke his heart.

As the pair work against the clock to bring down the terrorist group and save another group of innocents from dying, an unexpected attraction builds. Will Sabrina and Jorge’s secrets be too much to overcome, or will their feelings be able to heal past wrongs?

My Review:

Donovan’s upbeat and fast acting writing style draws you in to this novella right from the first page. There is a dark undercurrent to the entire story. It not only highlights the plot and action of the story, but also draws you towards the main characters and how they view themselves. Donovan’s use of acronyms and agents speaking in code really make you feel like you’re in the middle of a secret op.

Donovan’s characters are so inviting that you feel as if you’re part of their lives. Both the recurring characters and the new ones spark your interest as well as your compassion, and sometimes your ire. I also appreciate how they are more than human, but strive to be themselves. Family and friends are intensely important to everyone, and Donovan makes you feel like you belong. And I mean, honestly, how can you not love a cameo from Neena?

Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series. I loved getting to know the characters better, as well as DEFEND. This is a phenomenal read for anyone who enjoys the supernatural but wants a bit of a different take on the subject.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Frozen Desires by Jessie Donovan

Title: Frozen Desires

Series: Asylums for Magical Threats #2

Author: Jessie Donovan

Published: February 24th 2014

Length: 281pgs

Format: ebook

Genre: Paranormal romance

Shelf: review

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Camilla Melini is a high-ranking soldier with an organization fighting to free elemental magic users. Her latest assignment is to find one of the legendary elemental Four Talents, and she’s determined to get in and out of Mexico as quickly as possible to avoid running into the man who nearly destroyed her life. But when the dangerous man from her past finds her, Cam must work with Marco Alvarez, a man she’d dismissed as a playboy, to prevent the the powerful magic of the Talents from falling into the wrong hands. She never expected the charming playboy to be a cunning warrior worthy of her heart...

Marco Alvarez is sent to Mexico with two goals—to watch Cam’s back and to investigate a series of arson fires targeting former AMT prison employees. But when a shadow-shifter shows up looking for Cam, Marco decides he needs to stick close to her to help her mission succeed. As he gets to know the strong-willed woman, he’s torn between telling her the truth of his elemental magic and keeping the others who share his secret safe. But when Cam sacrifices herself to save her colleagues, Marco must expose the secret of his elemental magic or risk losing the only woman who can match both his passion and his strength.

My Review:

Donovan’s done it again with this one! She had me captivated from the first page and didn’t let me go.

Donovan tells an extremely unique and captivating tale in this instalment of her series. She had me completely enthralled throughout. Her one of a kind storytelling and fluid writing allow the reader to easily immerse themselves in the story. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout, dying to know what would happen next. Her unique take on the paranormal combined with a top notch storyline made this novel impossible to put down. Her in-depth and visual descriptions brought the world to life, creating a well-rounded experience for the reader.

I absolutely loved getting to know the main character in this novel on a more personal basis in this novel. It was quite intriguing to see her as more than just a soldier. Her male counterpart was intriguing as well. I loved the Alpha male who was willing to accept and nurture the strength and alpha-ness in his female counterpart. Getting to know more about the main character in the secondary storyline was brilliant as well. She is a one of a kind character that I can only hope we get to see more of in the future. The supporting cast was brilliant as well. Each of these individuals could stand as a main character in their own story, but didn’t overshadow anything or anyone in this tale.

Donovan’s clear, concise writing combined with her vividly visual descriptions and fantastic storytelling combine to create a tale that you won’t soon forget. I was left with only one question at the end of the book. When can I have the next one?

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