A Review for Whispering Hills (Whispering Hills #1) by Taryn Browning

Posted by Melanie 
Release Date: March 19th, 2012

Finished Date: January 17th 2013

Publishers: Self-Published 
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle 

Pages: 306 
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

 Life and death, love and hate, friends and enemies...

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead.

She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago.

The Review: Yet another awesome book from Taryn Browning!

The synopsis tells it like it is, Alexis can hear peoples thoughts, not at will but for as long as she can remember, which left her feeling like an outcast even though she still has friends, the only person she ever trusted with her secret was her sister. That all changes the day Chance starts at her school, for she can’t hear him, which draws her to him like a moth to a flame. But with his arrival comes another, an unknown source and by his thoughts – a dangerous killer! She has never seen the owner of these thoughts but she feels his presence which disturbs her. Then a girl goes missing and she knows, she knows this girl is dead and her whereabouts all thanks to the thoughts of an unknown man…. And by the sounds of it…she’s next! Alexis is forced to open up about her gift to the towns resident witches daughter who may just know a thing or two about who & what Alexis is dealing with… but is Alexis ready for the truth to be revealed and the twisting of fate that brings together an unlikely set of events.

I really enjoyed this, everything about it. The storyline was great and not something I read a lot of so it makes a nice change. If you had asked me what I thought I was going to get at the onset of this book, it would definitely be wrong because this was one plot I didn’t see coming. Alexis was a sweet character, I liked her vulnerability, her need to keep up appearances and the way she went on with her life in the beginning but her character really starts to emerge as the story goes on and she makes the discoveries and finds love with Chance. They were just lovely together, I loved their connection to begin with but when we got the answers to everything – I LOVED their connection all the more.

I liked the whole set up, it was mysterious and suspenseful, a real page turner. I really liked the supernatural element and would have been perfectly happy if the book took on a ‘mind reader solves murder’ scenario but it wasn’t, for there are a couple of twists and turns along the way which kept my curiosity piqued throughout and kept it going because things only really start to make sense towards the end when the pieces start slotting into place leading to a big reveal that I didn’t see coming. I like where it went, and also where it could go, so I look forward to the sequel. I also have to say that I have read all of Taryn’s books now and I’m equally impressed with each, the writing, the stories, the characters, the pacing……just great, enjoyable reads and I will definitely be watching for more of her works.

A Review for Emanare (Destined #1) by Taryn Browning

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: July 23rd, 2012

Finished Date: January 2nd, 2013

Publishers: Self-Published
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle

Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Samantha Campbell is born into an extraordinary family of females. Only she is different from her ancestors... 

Sam wakes in a Baltimore bar missing memories of her college life. Now the target of a demonic presence, she learns she is a weapon designed by evil to destroy her family’s divine fate. The demon royalty will do anything to ensure Sam’s loyalty to their cause. But Sam is tough. She refuses to give in without a fight and partners with a secret group of students to regain her memories and rewrite her destiny.

The Review: Samantha Campbell comes to in a bar full of people not able to remember having arrived or the nights events…. She feels a familiar presence behind her and a huge man attempts to remove her from the club claiming to be her boyfriend, but is he? How would she know? Even though he feels familiar, she doesn’t remember him but he seems to know her so she goes with him… once outside though, things start to become more confusing as another man- dark in every way - shows up knowing her and she feels compelled to go with him…. Then a pitbull with familiar eyes turns up and she’s had enough! They start fighting and she makes a break for it and nearly gets run over by a taxi but is rescued by a ‘familiar eyed’ half naked man who knows her but guess what? She has no recollection of him either… after a frantic phone call to her friends for rescue, she discovers that apart from the dark man outside of the club, everyone is who they say they are – the huge man – Evrik is actually her boyfriend and her half naked rescuer is her best friend Chase – so why on earth can she not remember them? One thing is for sure, someone has been messing with her mind and all leads point to the mysterious dark stranger who keeps appearing out of nowhere to tempt Sam into his arms, which Sam feels very compelled to do… thing is her best friend has professed his love for her too and she already has a boyfriend even though she can’t remember him…. With three men in her life her emotions and memories are tangled more than ever but which can she trust, who does she really love? and why would someone want to tamper with her memory? What Sam is about to discover is going to change everything she believes in, even about herself.

This book was really lovely to read, it brought a new angle to its subject (which I will let you discover) and really lifted the genre for me. It had a certain uniqueness in some ways too and I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much. I loved the different kinds of supernaturals, we have the usual kind but then we have a new kind in Evrik and I like what that brings to the story and how they all co-exist together. The characters are all great especially the main three, Sam, Chase & Evrik…. I really connected with them and for all I usually hate love triangles, this wasn’t so bad and done well. To be honest I really was routing for Chase even though he isn’t her boyfriend but I’m a sucker for best friend who becomes the boyfriend, even still - Evrik was an amazing person too so I’d be happy for her to be with either overall. The whole set of characters had a great rapport with each other though and jelled really well together, even the bad guys had a certain allure that made them appealing in the way that left you wanting to know more about them.

The storyline was very intriguing, when someone loses their memory it’s a clean slate so as Sam was learning about some aspects of her life, so were we, so we were experiencing it along with her which meant we weren’t always getting an internal monologue about her thoughts but reading of actual events as she remembered things at opportune moments and I liked that because they came about when needed and relating to what she needed to know in the story. As they begin to unravel what has happened to Sam we are introduced to their supernatural world and learn what and who are the players, where they stand in the scheme of things and it was really good, I like the idea and where it could go. I particularly loved the revelations at the end show-down, they are the best kind of secrets to me and has left me dying for book two. This is the start of a series that has potential in spades and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next. 

Blog Tour for Dark Return (Seeker #2) by Taryn Browning; Review + Giveaway

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: November 1st, 2012

Finished Date: January 3rd, 2013

Publishers: Self-Published
Source: For Review 

Format: Kindle

Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Janie Grey is dedicated to hunting the undead, an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors and generations of powerful Seekers before her. Then, there's Kai. He's like no one she's ever met - cocky, fast, skillful, infuriating and gorgeous. Not only has he become a valuable asset in her fight against the growing population of the vampire/demon hybrid known as Daychildren...

She's unwittingly fallen for him. 

Just when Janie thinks she's learned everything there is to know about Kai's mysterious past, there's a newcomer to Baltimore. Someone who will do anything to make sure Janie loses Kai forever. 

Darkness returns in Fall, 2012...

Dark Return is the 2nd novel in the Seeker series. Find out what happens before the return in Dark Seeker (Seeker, #1) and Dark Beauty (Seeker, #0.5).

The Review: Dark Return is a great sequel to Dark Seeker, at first I had 2nd book anxiety because most of them are ‘break up’ books and in the first chapter we find Kai secretly meeting his ex Leah, so I was really nervous going into this. I loved Kai & Janie together and I would be mega p’d if some daychild swooped in and broke them up! I’m not going to tell you whether my anxiety was warranted but know this….. his ex is back and she wants Kai back! At any cost!

So yeah, I really enjoyed this. I love Janie & Kai’s characters, their relationship and even the banter between them. I love a snarky kick ass female lead and Janie has that in spades but I felt this book focussed a lot more on Kai, as we get to know him and his past a whole lot better and in more ways than one. I really liked this insight into Kai, I think he was quite romanticised in book one but in this we start to get a picture of just how dark he actually was through flashbacks to key events in his ‘daychild’ life. That brought out a different side to him and maybe took a bit of his shine as a ‘good guy’ plus what happens in the first chapter did make me question his motives all of the way through.
The story line is good, since the last book and the demise of the previous daychild leader, Taveres is worried because a good few of his creations were wiped out, so he sends his best and his best just happens to be connected to Kai in a big way. Taveres knows what he’s doing by using Leah for this job and it will become very apparent throughout the book just why he chose her and by introducing her, you automatically bring strife to Kai & Janie because yes, Kai is still keeping his past from her which is always going to lead to doubt & uncertainty plus considering the HUGE secret he kept from her in book one, trust will definitely be an issue. Therefore Leah’s arrival/interference gives the danger a more personal feel this time because Leah will do anything to get her way and when you give a person with ‘issues’ power, expect them to be unpredictable. I can’t say a great deal about the plot, I liked where it went, Leah brought a certain type of danger to the plot that I didn’t realise would be so good, I loved what she was willing to do to get her own way and I liked that Kai’s flashbacks tied her into the story so well, as well as shining some new light on him. The pacing was good and it was everything I hoped it would be and that includes the budding relationship between Janie’s Mother & mentor, it’s nice to see the adults get in on the action too, once in a while. I must say though, I totally did not see that ending coming….. maybe I should have because of course there is no low to which she will stoop but one things for sure… Janie is going to kick her ass!!

Author Bio: 

Taryn Browning writes novels for young adults. She's also an avid reader and dreamer with a crazy imagination. 

Her debut urban fantasy is Dark Seeker. The sequel, Dark Return, will be available Nov, 2012. You can also check out the prequel novella, Dark Beauty. 

Her newest paranormal romance, Whispering Hills, and urban fantasy, Emanare, were also released this year. 

Taryn graduated with a BS in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a MS in Reading from Hood College. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, music, movies, and the beach. Some of her favorite TV shows growing up included Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed and Angel. 

For as long as she can remember she's loved all things fantastical, paranormal and magical.

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A Review for Dark Seeker (Dark Seeker #1) by Taryn Browning

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie 
Published Date: October 3rd, 2011
Finished Date: November 6th, 2011
Publishers: Orchard
Source: For Review
Format: Kindle

The Blurb from Goodreads: For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

The Review: Janie Grey is a typical 17 year old high school student . . .Well that is when she’s not out kicking vampire ass!! For Janie is a Seeker, a Demon/vampire slayer whose skills are passed down the family line with links to the Cherokee, she has been trained for this, it is her life and she accepts it. Until one night when going about her duties she finds herself in a spot of bother and a mysterious boy steps in to help her out. The boy, Kai is everything she has been taught to fear, he is one of them, she knows it and knows what she must do but for some reason she can’t because for all he is one of them . . . he isn’t. As he keeps popping up and getting involved in her business she is strangely drawn to him but is Kai all he appears to be? And what skeletons does he have in his closet? And if that’s not enough Baltimore becomes the centre of a struggle between two rival gangs of vampires determined to raise their numbers for supremacy against the other, with Janie being the only line of defence. . . Oh, and did I fail to mention the imprinting of a teenage boy? Oh yeah, Janie has got her work cut out for her.

I really liked this book! Actually I may love it a little bit; I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The characters are great . . . Janie is great, just trying to get on with her business and her world is turned upside down, she is brave, she is fierce and funny. Kai is adorable, I knew from the first scene with them together I was going to love him and I do. I love when a boy and girl come together and they resist each other but you just know they’re totally falling for each other, it gets my heart pounding and my emotions all a flutter. Then you have a little complication and hey, I’m a sucker for these books, they’re like chocolate . . . can never get enough. We get a slightly different take on the Vampires which are good, it was a little confusing at the beginning but I got the gist of it easily. 

I like the idea of opposing sides of vampires with different origins that both think they’re better than each other. The book is wrapped up nicely but left with things that could unfold in a sequel and I’m hoping we’re going to get to know more about the organisation behind the seekers, more from Abram and Janie’s Mother and of course more from Janie and Kai. 

An excellent start to a new series and any follow ups will definitely getting put onto my ‘to be read’ list. If you’re after a nice easy read with a bit of paranormal teen romance then this is for you.  Go buy it!