Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga, #1)

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Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga #1)

by Courtney Cole (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 1,168 ratings · 176 reviews

Born a goddess. Controlled by the Fates. Can Macy's love for her soul mate survive the bonds of time... and death?

17-year old Macy Lockhart is as far from normal as any one girl can be. The problem is, she doesn’t know it yet.

After a bloodstone pendant is mysteriously left on her door, Macy’s life begins to change in ways she’d never dreamed. And while she will eventually...more

Paperback, 250 pages

Published April 21st 2011 by Lakehouse Press

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May 28, 2011 texxie-prufreads.blogspot.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you can make me cry, it's an automatic 4 stars right out the gate. :) I enjoyed the book as kind of a light read. That was until I hit about 80%. At that point, Ms. Cole broke my heart, had me grabbing for kleenex so as not to cry on my kindle. lol

I was thrown at first. The book starts out in present day with 17 year old Macy discovers that Derek, boyfriend of two years, was'nt worth the time. She has a best friend who is determined to see Macy through this tough time and to make sure she con...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-releases, fantasy

Rating: 4.5 Slices of Yummy Succulent Red Velvet Cake
Genre: Historical Romance

*Review*

Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole follows the story of Macy Lockhart, who was also, at one time during her many lives, Charmian handmaiden, confidant and advisor to Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. I absolutely loved Macy/Charmain's character. I loved the fact that the story surrounds Cleopatra and that Cole did a fantastic job intertwining history with fantasy. Not much is truly known about Cleopatra since the Romans...more Rating: 4.5 Slices of Yummy Succulent Red Velvet Cake
Genre: Historical Romance

*Review*

Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole follows the story of Macy Lockhart, who was also, at one time during her many lives, Charmian handmaiden, confidant and advisor to Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. I absolutely loved Macy/Charmain's character. I loved the fact that the story surrounds Cleopatra and that Cole did a fantastic job intertwining history with fantasy. Not much is truly known about Cleopatra since the Romans pretty much buried her history when they defeated the Egyptians and then Alexandria was lost to the sea. It's too bad because I truly believe that she was a remarkable woman who spoke nearly a dozen languages and fought hard for Egypt to have the best available to it's people.

Charmian is known as a Keeper, one of twelve. Macy is also a member of the Order of the Moirae or Fates. As a keeper, her sole mission in every life has been to protect and lead her charge, or Daedal, through the annals of time, gently guiding them into staying on the path decided by the Fates. Charmian is not allowed to change anything that might influence future events, or events that have already happened. However, if she dies in the past, it will cause a ripple effect that leads to giant tears in the fabric of time.

The three sisters of fate each have a designated responsibility: Clothos, the eldest spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the middle sister, measures the thread and decides how long a person shall live. The youngest Atropos, was the cutter and determines how a person will die. They literally control a persons destiny. Every person has a predetermined destiny and unfortunately there are those who have a more difficult journey in every life. These are called the Daedal; a catalyst, a complication, a change.

Every Last Kiss is also about love and the relationship between Charmian and Hasani, as well as Marc Antony and Cleopatra. It is about finding your soulmate across the ages, as well as a friend like Cleopatra who you are meant to find once again. It is also about a difficult choice Macy must make each and every time one of her charges is about ready to die.

I definitely recommend this to everyone who truly enjoys a good romance, with mystery and suspense thrown in as well. Although we all know Cleopatra's fate, the story was a nice getaway that puts you in Charmian's world as she is forced to once again live through a difficult period in her past life.

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Jul 07, 2011 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is something to be said about a book that takes you to such a level of book love that when you finish the final page you're left with a euphoric feeling of satisfaction laced with just a hint of loss, wanting to read more; all from the experience of the beautiful book world created by a masterful author.

Every Last Kiss is such a book.

In just a few short paragraphs I was captivated by this book. The imagery and emotion aptly woven into this book is so well done you can almost smell the ja...more

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May 12, 2011 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Young Adults & Adults

One word describes "Every Last Kiss" and that word is 'rich.' This story is a beautiful tale of renewal, fate, soul mates, and love. It is rich in history, myths, imagination, love and hope. I loved every letter that was woven into words, strung into sentences and magically entwined into poetry.

Macy Lockhart is reeling from heartbreak when she discovers her swine of an ex-boyfriend was caught knocking boots with the local school skank. After plotting and executing her revenge, she receives a gif...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Wakefield Mahon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: emerging-authors

What I thought would be a modern YA fantasy is actually an exotic journey to the pivotal moment in history before Egypt fell to the Romans. The immersion in the sights, the sounds, the emotions and the politics lend a strong sense of reality to this imaginative magical fantasy.

Author Courtney Cole clearly did her research on the era, but what really give substance to this novel is the characterization. All of the primary characters - and even some of the minor characters - are richly textured....more

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Oct 22, 2011 Branwen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, paranormal-romance

This book was absolutely without a doubt SO FREAKING INCREDIBLE! Okay, sorry...I'm calmer now. :) But seriously folks, this is definately one of my favorite young adult books that I've read this year. It starts out present day with Macey, a seventeen year old girl dealing with a lying, cheating boyfriend and then BAM we're transported back to Egypt in the time right before it was invaded by Rome. I've always been fascinated with Egypt and Cleopatra, and this book provided such lush descriptions...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Ashley Mayer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every Last Kiss is the story of Macy Lockhart, a keeper from a secret organization, who ends up reliving her life as a handmaiden to Cleopatra. Macy has to fix history so she can go back to her rightful time. With lots of things happening that change what is supposed to happen Macy is having a hard time keeping Cleopatra's histroy the way it's supposed to be. Not to mention the fact that she knows the terrible fate that awaits the love of her life Hasani. Macy must put history back together and...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lendable

Wowzers... this book makes me wish I lived in Cleopatra-era Egypt. The author makes you want to live it and breathe it.

The story is a great one... about power, love, eternal souls, Fate's keeper, and of course, secrets. If you find yourself not captured by this book (which I can't imagine)... the last page will do you in. The simple epilogue confirms some suspicions and eludes to who Macy/Charmian really is, leaving you tempted and yearning for the truth.

Then there is Hasani/Gavin... Talk abou...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

Normally, when I grab a 99 cent book on my kindle I have fairly low expectations. I expect to read something that is pretty good, but with a lack of polishing. I expect there to be few details and tons of spelling and grammar errors, and that is okay because I only paid 99 cents for the book. Well, I have to say that my previous theory about these ebooks has been blown out of the water with Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole. I absolutely loved it! It was such a wonderful book full of rich descrip...more Normally, when I grab a 99 cent book on my kindle I have fairly low expectations. I expect to read something that is pretty good, but with a lack of polishing. I expect there to be few details and tons of spelling and grammar errors, and that is okay because I only paid 99 cents for the book. Well, I have to say that my previous theory about these ebooks has been blown out of the water with Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole. I absolutely loved it! It was such a wonderful book full of rich descriptions that pulled me into the scenes of the book so that I could experience all aspects of the atmosphere, even the tastes and the smells of the world around the characters. I never felt as if I was being driven at high speed through the scenes of the book simply to push different plot lines through. Instead I was able to really entrench myself into the atmosphere as I read, and it helped me as a reader to feel a complete part of what was occurring. I felt Charmian's anxiety and sadness with a depth that I could not have done without the rich details offered by Cole through her magnificent writing.

This book takes us back in time to ancient Egypt in the final days of Cleopatra. Cleopatra and Mark Antony are major characters in this book, and there was potential for that to be a problem since they are so well known historical figures. However, Cole is able to give them personalities that never come across as contrived or cheesy in any way. They are sympathetic characters who are well described so that the events leading up to the end of the novel have more significance to me as a reader than they might have been otherwise. I found Cole's description of ancient Egypt to be fascinating and beautiful. There were a few details that made me drop everything for a bit so that I could do some research of my own to see what exactly might have been going on in Egypt at that time, and I think that that shows just how good Cole's writing is. It made me want to continue learning more on my own, and it takes a powerful book to do that.

I was a little concerned that when the story got pulled back to modern day California that it would hurt the rest of the book. However, that became interesting as it became clear that Macy was going to have to eventually find her soul mate in this life. That was fun to read, and it made me super excited to download the next book in the series. I'll admit that I'm still a bit confused about how exactly this whole life mission is meant to work out with the various priests and deity involved, but I'm sure when I reread this book (and I plan on it!) and continue reading in the series, things will become more clear to me. I kind of wish that there was a little more interaction between Hasani and Charmian that would show just how amazing their relationship was. It was obvious that there was deep love there, but as a reader I arrived on the scene after that love had already been formed and deepened. I wasn't able to see the growth of their relationship, and so I didn't feel the depth of feeling for the two of them that I think I could have. This really is only a minor complaint, though. I still loved their relationship a bunch! This was an excellent book, and it is one that I will highly recommend to my teenage daughters to read in the near future. It doesn't quite rise up to a five star rating for me because I'm picky about handing them out, but it came close -- probably more like 4.5 stars. I loved this book and can't wait to continue on with this series. Well done!(less)

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Nov 21, 2011 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was truly breath taking...one of the best that I've read in a while! What can I say, there are so many reasons to pick up and read this book! One, the story is original, not your typical YA paranormal book! More like YA Paranormal/ Historical Fiction, which is right down my alley! Strange enough I love reading YA Paranormal and Historical fiction romance novels...they are my favorites! So, with this book i found both genres in one! Two, the book is beautifully written. She grabs a hold...more

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May 07, 2012 Pasza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pleasure-reads

i was skeptical about this book at first, but the minute she started breaking CDs i knew i was gonna like Macy. It is really an interesting concept and Cole does an amazing job transporting you to a beautiful and wonderfully described ancient Egypt. Macy and Cleopatra are beautiful and strong female characters which i love and even when faced with their tragic fate and losing everything they love most, they find a way to stay strong in the face of it and do what is best for all. Dreamy male char...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Emmanuelle Grey rated it 5 of 5 stars

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In her previous life, Macy Lockhart was Queen Cleopatra's handmaiden Charmain...and a Keeper of Fate. Macy gets sent back to live Charmaine's life. Between being a lover and friend, she has a greater purpose. She is to watch her loved ones die and never interfere so as not to mess with history.

There's a lot of paranormal romances around, nowadays. Many vampires, even more werewolves, and even fairies. So when I read the blurb of Every Last Kiss, I k...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Jillian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-couple, favorites, snarky-hero-heroine, favorite-main-character, romance-awww, broken-hero

Cleopatra has always intrigued me and getting to read this author's perspective of who she could have been was very interesting and something that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love that this book acknowledged a lot of the ancient Egyptian customs. Reading about the banquets, clothing, makeup and palace life left me seriously jonesing to rewatch every Cleopatra movie I can get my hands on just to experience that world a little longer.
I found my heart breaking over the decisions that Charmian/Macy had...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

YA fiction.
When we first meet Macy, she is 17 years old and her biggest problem is that her ex cheated on her and she broke up with him and she is pretty torn up about it. Then she gets a gift that essential brings her the truth of herself and takes her back to Ancient Egypt where she is actually 30 year old Charmain, Cleopatra’s handmaiden, and her smallest problem is that she needs to make sure that Cleopatra commits her history-making suicide and that her soul mate dies on the battlefield. He...more YA fiction.
When we first meet Macy, she is 17 years old and her biggest problem is that her ex cheated on her and she broke up with him and she is pretty torn up about it. Then she gets a gift that essential brings her the truth of herself and takes her back to Ancient Egypt where she is actually 30 year old Charmain, Cleopatra’s handmaiden, and her smallest problem is that she needs to make sure that Cleopatra commits her history-making suicide and that her soul mate dies on the battlefield. Her biggest problem is that all of history and the Fates depends on her smallest problem.

The language is clearly teen speak which bothered me a bit. Even when we are in Charmain’s viewpoint, we still hear from her like she is 17. It was an intriguing storyline even though the language kept bothering me. Just because a book is written for teenagers, doesn’t mean it has to be written at a lower level. There was too much focus on looks, particularly Hasani, rather than on what could have advanced the story.

The relationship took some creative license with the story of Cleopatra to make her fit a worthy martyr and friend, and it even touched on some of the controversial parts of Cleopatra’s history although not all. But a lot of Cleopatra seems to ring true to the history we do have of her, that she was devoted to her people and would do many things for the sake of the people. The relationship between Hasani and Charmain was mature and I felt that the author could have done a better job at separating Macy from Charmain by means of language/writing so it was clear that it was a mature relationship.

I wish that it had been more advanced in language, character, and focus because I really was intrigued by the storyline. The idea of the Fates and reincarnation were interesting although I had wished that they had been woven more into the plot. The author did, however, a very good job of setting up the following novels by bringing in characters and giving vague information to Macy/Charmain on her importance to the future.

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May 28, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been reading so much YA lately, that I was honestly hesitant to begin another one. I clearly remember sighing when I opened the file on my iPad thinking "here I go again....another set of soul mates in an impossible situation...ho hum." by the time I finished the first page I realized just how wrong I was, and I was thrilled to be so! Courtney Cole didn't just merely toss out the standard formula for a YA romance, she strapped it to the side of a rocket and sent it on its way.

I've always b...more

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Apr 15, 2012 FicTalk Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-in-2012

Reviewed by Meg

I can’t honestly even remember what drew me to this book to begin with. Lately I’ve been avoiding any unfinished series as if they carry the plague and will kill me, but for some reason I picked this one up. Not sure why…but I’m glad I did.

Macy is happy in her life, even though her scum bag of a boyfriend cheated on her and left her hurting. She has a loving mother, two best friends who happily help her to enact her revenge on her cheating ex, and who are everything best friends s...more Reviewed by Meg

I can’t honestly even remember what drew me to this book to begin with. Lately I’ve been avoiding any unfinished series as if they carry the plague and will kill me, but for some reason I picked this one up. Not sure why…but I’m glad I did.

Macy is happy in her life, even though her scum bag of a boyfriend cheated on her and left her hurting. She has a loving mother, two best friends who happily help her to enact her revenge on her cheating ex, and who are everything best friends should be. Then, one day a package arrives for her, a package with an unbelievably priceless diamond that changes everything for her.

Immediately, she is assaulted by memories that span lifetimes, and the truth of her life and the reason for her existence is revealed to her. Macy is a Keeper, a soul that never moves on and helps guide the existence of someone of importance throughout history. The Daedal, the soul she’s destined to guide, has lived many famous lives, the most famous of which is the life of Cleopatra. Macy was Cleopatra’s handmaiden (and best friend) Charmian. As I mentioned before, her goal was to lead Cleopatra’s soul to make the right choices, which regretfully would always lead to hardship, sadness, and strife for the soul in Macy’s care. Originally, during Cleopatra’s reign, she had to guide the queen to making the decisions that ultimately led to the deaths of Marc Antony, Cleopatra’s lover and Hasani, which was Charmian’s lover. Macy had also been responsible for the tragic suicides of Cleopatra and Charmian. It seems like it’s a painful and tragic job to have, but one that Macy works hard to fulfill because even though these souls must suffer horribly, their decisions impact the world in only the most positive of ways.

Strangely enough though, Macy is normally not gifted the bloodstone diamond until after she’s met up with her Daedal, which 17 year old Macy has yet to encounter. Instead, this time the gift is given with the strange appearance of a dark robed man who claims Macy must be the one to change destiny this time, and in the blink of an eye, Macy finds herself back in the world of Cleopatra and Charmian, destined to repeat the pain of losing her lover Hasani. What Macy doesn’t realize is that there is more going on then the mere repetition of a life. There are events she’s destined to change, and events she must keep the same, and as history begins to morph around her, Macy finds herself wondering if she’ll ever escape the past and find her way back to present time again, and that if she does, how badly would her decisions change the future?

To be honest, when I started to read this I was a little put off. It had seemed as if the transition from present day to the past was entirely too abrupt. There are also questions that were never answered, such as why were the visions Macy saw when she first got the Bloodstone never addressed? But then, as I got further into the book and saw how cleverly the author twisted actual history and mythology to fit her story and make it believable as an item of legend and lore, I really started to enjoy the book.

Macy’s character at first is really bland, and then as she takes on the role of Charmian and she becomes this Egyptian handmaiden to Cleopatra, her character starts to come alive. Her personality develops into this enchanting lady who’s only love in the world is for that of her friends and her lover, Hasani. She cares for Cleopatra in such a way that transcends normal friendship. They are as sisters would be. And the way that the author writes about Marc Antony (who is one of my favorite historic figures) is really entertaining. I’ve always loved the stories of Marc Antony and Cleopatra and how they were truly in a relationship of love, not politics even though many say that is so. I love the story of Marc Antony committing suicide because he’d thought Cleopatra had already done so, and that when he learned otherwise, just before his death, he was taken to her where he died in her arms (there are like…50 different stories centering around the death of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, but this is the one my romantic heart chooses to believe). The characters of Cleopatra and Hasani (which is the one truly, completely fictional character within the book) are also unbelievably detailed and well thought out. Some how, the author manages to mingle in just the right amount of fiction into the historical lives of these characters to turn them into something personal, and relatable.

The plot is also really detailed and in depth, and once I was immersed into it, I couldn’t wait to see what would come next in the book. Over all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn’t wait to read the second in the series, Fated.(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Paradoxical rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list, books-otherwise

Every Last Kiss was a bit of a surprise read. Judging by the summary I expected the main character, Macy (or Charmian, as she was known in a past life), to be confused and lost. Certainly I didn't expect the composed, tragic character we got. And you know what? It worked. It more than worked, it was done well and the book was a pleasure to read, even knowing how the end would go.

What the summary doesn't tell you is that most of the book is set in Cleopatra's time, with only a few pages devoted...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know about y’all, but I love books that make me strive to learn more. The first time I read a book about “Templar’s” the next 15 books I read were directly related to them, (fiction or otherwise.) The same can be said about Al Capone, The Romanov Dynasty and Greek Mythology. Now… up until the point in which I devoured “Every Last Kiss” by Courtney Cole, I never gave this little “issue” (of mine) much credence. It is (like it or not) just something I do. I run across something I like and...more I don’t know about y’all, but I love books that make me strive to learn more. The first time I read a book about “Templar’s” the next 15 books I read were directly related to them, (fiction or otherwise.) The same can be said about Al Capone, The Romanov Dynasty and Greek Mythology. Now… up until the point in which I devoured “Every Last Kiss” by Courtney Cole, I never gave this little “issue” (of mine) much credence. It is (like it or not) just something I do. I run across something I like and I obsess about it. (*cough* Kindle – Obsessed) Anyways, after reading ”Every Last Kiss” however, I realized something much more important. It’s not the topic that originally enthralls me and makes me crazy for information…it’s the way it’s presented.

The fact of the matter is, I could have (please excuse the language) given two shits about Cleopatra and Marc Antony last month. Yes, they were powerful, yes the led Egypt, and yes Cleo had some bad ass eye make-up, but other than my school references and adoration for perfectly applied heavy black eye-liner I didn’t care. Luckily Courtney Cole, (with her captivating portrayal of ancient Egypt, and the people it involved) changed all of that.

Macy Lockhart is like every other 17 year old girl…or is she? Following what (at the moment) seemed to be a fairly traumatic break-up Macy does what any other girl her age would do, lash out and then bury her sorrows in a tub of ice cream, but before she can damn her pillows to hours worth of soggy tears something happens. She suddenly finds herself transported back 2,000 years and has the weight of the entire future laying in the palm of her slightly confused hands. Why? Because Macy Lockhart is actually Charmain, Cleopatra’s personal handmaiden, and more importantly…a Keeper of the Fates. With everything she has ever known suddenly being challenged Macy/Charmain finds herself in a bind. Does she listen to her head and continue the path she has always known and trusted, or listen to her heart and save the people she loves instead?

I LOVED this book, which, if you read yesterday’s review was a great relief to me. Cole not only wrote a book that tugged at your heartstrings and had you rooting for Team Cleopatra, (despite the inevitable outcome) but she managed to do it while gracefully incorporating a myriad of elements, (reincarnation, Egyptian history, Greek mythology.) The beginning (I’ll admit) was a tad rushed, (aka getting the bloodstone and transporting back in time) but once that finicky little plot hump was crossed what laid ahead was nothing but pure unadulterated guilty pleasure reading. There is no denying that the thought of “fixing history” (time warping) could have led to one catastrophic writing disaster after another, (think: time stamps from The Time Travelers Wife) but lucky for Cole, her choice to completely separate her lead into two very different figures paid off, and instead offered the reader a clean straightforward (no time stamp required) plot that taught and inspired all at the same time.

Basically, I was sucked in from page one.

If you like a good jaunt through history with a dash of OMG on the side, then this is definitely the book for you. (that means buy it.)

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: If you run into someone you were fairly certain was dead, chances are shit is about to hit the fan.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Myvampfiction added it

Reviewed by Megsly

*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*

I can’t honestly even remember what drew me to this book to begin with. Lately I’ve been avoiding any unfinished series as if they carry the plague and will kill me, but for some reason I picked this one up. Not sure why…but I’m glad I did.

Macy is happy in her life, even though her scum bag of a boyfriend cheated on her and left her hurting. She has a loving mother, two best friends who happily help her to enact her revenge on her cheating ex,...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Jenny added it

MY THOUGHTS
Every Last Kiss is an extraordinary story out of which rises a series of truly intriguing questions regarding fate versus free will, leaving us to question long after this first part of Macy's story is over if our actions would be the same as hers were we to find ourselves in her place. Macy, as a result of her job as Keeper for the Order of the Moirae, strongly believes that everything in our world is predestined and we merely operate under the illustion of free will when in actualit...more

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Aug 31, 2011 BookHookup rated it 4 of 5 stars

Macy Lockhart is an average 17-year-old living in California with her mom and dealing with a difficult breakup from her cheating boyfriend. Events unfold quickly and we are thrown back in time to the days of ancient Egypt. It is there where Macy, who is known as Charmian in this time, finds herself as the handmaiden and closest confidant to the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. More importantly, she is also one of 12 Keepers; Individuals placed strategically throughout time to ensure that fate unravels...more Macy Lockhart is an average 17-year-old living in California with her mom and dealing with a difficult breakup from her cheating boyfriend. Events unfold quickly and we are thrown back in time to the days of ancient Egypt. It is there where Macy, who is known as Charmian in this time, finds herself as the handmaiden and closest confidant to the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. More importantly, she is also one of 12 Keepers; Individuals placed strategically throughout time to ensure that fate unravels the way it was destined to be.

The author created an incredible historical backdrop, adding captivating details to this period in time and weaving in the few bits of knowledge we have today. From the beautiful descriptions of Alexandria, to the all-consuming love that Charmian and her finance, Hasani, share for one another, to the undercurrent of deceit and upcoming battle, this book overwhelms your emotions in every way possible and leaves you desperately wanting more. The characters are rich and vivid which is, in part, why it is so easy to get lost in this story.

The author weaves threads of love, friendship and commitment throughout the entire book and plays at your emotions at every turn. The relationship between Charmian and Hasani will make you smile, will leave you weak in the knees and will tear at your heartstrings. The bond between Charmian and Cleopatra is ultimately that of best friends who appreciate and love each other but find themselves in a very difficult situation.

Charmian carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has the power to change history as we know it. The reader is provided with this knowledge early on and we are constantly on the edge of our seats, both wanting her to change outcomes and hoping that she does not…quite often at the same time.

This book is about fate, about soul mates and about the difficult decision we make in life. But, ultimately, it’s about hope…the hope that everything that happens in life is truly for the greater good!(less)

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Jun 16, 2011 Monique rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing!

This is the first indie book that I have ever read and I must say, if this is an example of what they are like, I will be reading MANY more of them and in fact, I will be seeking more of them out today.

I can't say enough about this book. I don't usually even write reviews, but simply felt compelled to write one for this. It was just that good.

As other reviewers have stated, it starts out with a normal teenage girl (like many paranormal books do) but this author's storylin...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Wren Emerson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished reading Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole. Everything about this book, from the gorgeous cover to the amazing use of rich description in the text itself was a delight to the senses. It’s a story about love, destiny, and accepting responsibility- even when it hurts.

The story begins told from the POV of Macy, a teen with a cheating boyfriend. Her problems are relatable, her anger understandable. Her friends are supportive and there are are funny moments in the heartbreak. Then thing...more I just finished reading Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole. Everything about this book, from the gorgeous cover to the amazing use of rich description in the text itself was a delight to the senses. It’s a story about love, destiny, and accepting responsibility- even when it hurts.

The story begins told from the POV of Macy, a teen with a cheating boyfriend. Her problems are relatable, her anger understandable. Her friends are supportive and there are are funny moments in the heartbreak. Then things get weird for Macy.

She finds herself thrust backwards in time to ancient Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra. It’s a life she’s lived before and she has to come to terms with the fact that she’s now Charmian, a 39 year old personal servant to one of the most memorable rulers in history.

What makes this all more difficult is that she retains her memories of life in the present as well as her more intimate memories of how this life ends since she lived it. From both a historical and personal perspective, things don’t end well for her or her Queen.

The world building is well thought out. Macy’s position as a Keeper and her complicated role throughout time are explained clearly as well as those of Cleopatra. The description of Alexandria is descriptive and evoked a vivid mental picture. The smells are especially well described, including a particularly funny reference to a character smelling like a hamster.

There was a subplot that explored the romance between Charmian and her fiancée, Hasani, a general in Marc Antony’s army. It was engaging and had hints of the sexy time without being inappropriate for a YA audience. I couldn’t stop reading, hoping against hope that there was some way that Macy/Charmian could change things and give everyone they happily ever after I desperately wanted for them.

This novel stands alone with an ending that’s fitting and satisfying. There is room for a sequel if the author decides to go that direction. It’s a fun book and one that I’d recommend to others with an interest in stories about time travel, historical romance, and YA paranormal.

This review has been cross posted from my blog: http://wrenemerson.wordpress.com/2011...(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Every Last Kiss is such vastly wonderful concept of past lives and time travel that hits the ground at dead run and doesn't stop for anything at all. I've read a couple stories about past lives before but nothing on this scale and changed some of my opinions about it. Some stories with past lives are well such a jumbled mess that don't keep a consistent track of individual storylines and generally fall flat. Now time travel can be complex or simplistic in how they are achieved. I was really impr...more Every Last Kiss is such vastly wonderful concept of past lives and time travel that hits the ground at dead run and doesn't stop for anything at all. I've read a couple stories about past lives before but nothing on this scale and changed some of my opinions about it. Some stories with past lives are well such a jumbled mess that don't keep a consistent track of individual storylines and generally fall flat. Now time travel can be complex or simplistic in how they are achieved. I was really impressed with how the author handle time travel and past lives so cohesively making it very clear and easy to understand. Not many authors can do this so well either. Here are my thoughts:

Macy Lockhart is above and beyond your average teenager. She just found out that her boyfriend of two years cheated on her and is contemplating exacting revenge on him. She wants nothing to do with him any more but he can't seem to get the message thru his head. Macy has two unique features in her appearance vivid emerald green eyes and phoenix shaped birthmark on her right wrist. When Macy is confronted by mysterious man named Annen holding a bloodstone necklace her life will not ever be the same again. Macy sees herself as a woman named Charmain, who is a Keeper and her daedal is none other than Cleopatra, these are all of Macy's past lives memories. Macy is stunned by this knowledge yet doesn't know what to do about it either. Macy's Aegis is Ahmose tells her that she must keep to the path set by The Fates yet what Annen has told her has a ring of truth as well. Macy as Charmain needs to help Cleopatra stay the course even though the knowledge she has is a terrible burden for anyone to bare yet she must. She must watch those she loves meet their fate without question~Cleopatra, Marc Antony, and her beloved Hasani. She wonders how she ever forgot about Egypt that she loved. Charmain helps Cleopatra make her plans against Octavian arrival in Egypt. Annen knows things that Charmain does not yet needs to know about The Order of Moirae. The Order of Moirae is ancient that holds many secrets from the Keeper and Aegis. What is Annen's secret knowledge? Can Charmain/Macy prevent what is to come? What secrets does The Order of Moirae hiding? What is the phoenix significance? What is Ahmose hiding? What about the bloodstone? Your answers await you in Every Last Kiss.

Every Last Kiss is apart of a series that I will definitely be checking out in the future. I look forward to exploring more about Macy and her daedal too. I'm sure that I'm in for a treat.(less)

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Sep 12, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was surprised I actually found this book. I was browsing through the free kindle store and had to scroll down quite a ways to discover this one. Normally, I quit scrolling after a few minutes settling on a story, but that day, I just wasn't finding anything to read. Lucky for me because I would have never found "Every Last Kiss" and boy that would have been a shame.

This book is considered a prequel to "The Bloodstone Saga," but unlike most prequels, it is a decent length.

Macy is a 17 year ol...more I was surprised I actually found this book. I was browsing through the free kindle store and had to scroll down quite a ways to discover this one. Normally, I quit scrolling after a few minutes settling on a story, but that day, I just wasn't finding anything to read. Lucky for me because I would have never found "Every Last Kiss" and boy that would have been a shame.

This book is considered a prequel to "The Bloodstone Saga," but unlike most prequels, it is a decent length.

Macy is a 17 year old girl growing up in Pasadena, CA, who is going through a breakup with a cheating boyfriend, when she is visited by a mysterious priest who turns her world upside down. She discovers or should I say remembers that over the past 2000 years she has been known as what is called a "Keeper" who watches over one special person who impacts history throughout each lifetime. Her special person is Cleopatra and she is promptly sent back to that time. While she feels off about being sent back, her memories come back and she settles to right wrongs while still abiding to the past and not changing the future.

This story was a very interesting read and a refreshing concept compared to your usual YA themes. It moved at an excellent pace, held my interest and while the title would suggest differently, did not contain a lot of smut. While I generally like a bit of smut in a story, the absence in this one was a good thing. Don't get me wrong, the author has a beautiful love story within this book and there are scenes which imply sexual relations, but it's done in a classy way and doesn't distract from the overall premise of the story.

I definitely plan to continue on with the series. The descriptions in the book were excellent, almost as if the author had visited the lost city of Alexandria. The characterization was phenomenal to where you truly felt for all the main characters from Antony and Hasani to Charmian and Cleopatra.

Overall, it was really well done, especially for a YA novel. And for those of you anal people who like to criticize one missed punctuation point, you don't need to worry, the grammatical errors are almost non-existent and I believe I only came across maybe two typos.

4 stars! (less)

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Jun 30, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Every Last Kiss is the debut novel from author Courtney Cole, and the first in the Bloodstone Saga. It is a wonderful start, a haunting book that I just couldn't put down. It began with Macy, living in modern day Pasadena, California, fresh from a break up with her boyfriend. In the midst of teenage angst over that break up, she suddenly finds herself in ancient Egypt, the handmaiden and closet confident to Cleopatra herself. As the mysteries of who and what she is unfolds, Macy/Charmian are cau...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Cathy Garcia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at http://thewritingsonthe.blogspot.com/

Macy Lockhart is introduced as a regular teenager living her life in Pasadena, California. Just like any other teenager though, she has just had her heart broken by her cheating boyfriend. This was just the beginning of her problems though. When a stranger appears in her bedroom she is left stranded in a different time period; a time period where she is Charmian, Cleopatra's handmaiden. Trying to make sure that the events unfold as they a...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Emma (BelleBooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

This book centres around Macy Lockhart, a typical 17 year old girl who has just found out her boyfriend has been cheating on her! So she sets out to do what any girl in that situation would, destroy everything he has ever touched in her bedroom and leave it in a heap for him to find!

After a mysterious necklace turns up on her doorstep Macy is confused, it couldn't be from her cheating ex, so who is it from? Memories start flooding back to Macy, and finally she remembers. She is a Keeper, she is...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three stars: I enjoyed this book and recommend it with some reservations.
If you could change the course of time and alter destiny would you? Our heroine Macy/ Charmaine grapples with this monumental question. Macy is not a normal seventeen year old, she is a Keeper belonging to an ancient magical order known as the Moirae. Macy is destined to guide her ward, someone of great historical importance predetermined to change history. Unfortunately, people decided for historic greatness have shortened...more

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May 13, 2012 Shirley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: free-ebook-downloads

Sometimes freebies pay off, and this one definitely did. Even though this is a preview to Courtney Cole’s Bloodstone Saga, it isn’t lacking in anything. Absolutely noting.

Cole begins her tale where a lot of YA novels start. Macy is a typical teenager. She has a boyfriend who has broken her heart and she has a best friend who gives her love and support. That is pretty much where the similarities end. She soon finds out that nothing is as it seems and she has lived several lives before this one. T...more

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About Courtney Cole

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could.

She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds.

Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds).

Courtney lives in quiet subu...more

More about Courtney Cole...

Books by Courtney Cole

Confessions of an Alli Cat (The Cougar Chronicles, #1)

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy, #1)

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“What was it about relationships that made you feel so vulnerable? Oh, right. A relationship. In any relationship, you put yourself out there. You exposed all of your sensitive nerve endings and your heart and you just had to hope that you trusted the right person.” — 87 people liked it

“Time, it seemed, was not our enemy after all. It was just air and space and hours. Anything worth having was able to withstand it.” — 16 people liked it

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Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga #1)

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