West of Want

Sep 05, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would like to suggest that "Women's Fantasy" become a new genre, because that's exactly what you get with Kaye's second book, West of Want in her Hearts of the Anemoi series. The hero, Zephyros, god of the West Wind and Spring, and his human heroine, Ella steamed up the atmosphere even more than he himself could; boat accident and all! Which is why Zeph ultimately sticks around once he regretfully figures out that Ella's sailboat fell victim to his wind storm tantrum at sea. Yep, he can heal h...more I would like to suggest that "Women's Fantasy" become a new genre, because that's exactly what you get with Kaye's second book, West of Want in her Hearts of the Anemoi series. The hero, Zephyros, god of the West Wind and Spring, and his human heroine, Ella steamed up the atmosphere even more than he himself could; boat accident and all! Which is why Zeph ultimately sticks around once he regretfully figures out that Ella's sailboat fell victim to his wind storm tantrum at sea. Yep, he can heal her and that's exactly what he intends to do, once he properly introduces his gorgeous human form to her. (Not a bad way to wake up, finding a seriously hot guy waiting for you). Okay, so it's a little far fetched and after only a short time, their "insta-love" was pretty convenient, but since this IS a fantasy, and let's face it, all paranormal is, just go with it because it's oh, so HOT!

Right off the bat however, our happy couple discover they have another problem and he is, Eurus, Zeph's estranged brother and god of the East Wind. He is seriously dead set on breaking any happiness Zeph has found and Zeph realizes quickly, Ella isn't safe. (Not good news for the newly infatuated love birds). Fortunately, he can protect her against his brother's maliciousness but his own fears of betrayal that have been branded on his soul is an entirely different obstacle he must overcome.

This is well written story about two vulnerable, heart-broken characters and although it's somewhat predictable, Kaye's male protagonist is a sensitive hero who has been abandoned and deceived by everyone he has ever loved. Admittedly, I typically prefer alpha males but Zeph's vulerability and brokenness made me want to root for him. His gentle, sensitive side, made me swoon even more once he proved he wasn't afraid to kick a little tail when needed. Ella is a multifaceted character with a heartbreaking past of her own as her parents died when she was relatively young, her ex-husband betrayed her, and her twin brother, who was also her best friend, is recently deceased. Because of her tragic life and finding herself alone with no one, you just couldn't help but want things to work out for her, too. Both characters were full of depth, personality, and passion. They have been wronged in the past and trust isn't easy for either of them and they must overcome their fears yet learn to trust each other in order to find love.

As this story comes to an end there is an array of twists and turns and even a few surprises along with an epilogue that is wonderfully fulfilling. So, bottom line, if you love a good paranormal/fantasy filled with tons of steamy scenes AND a self depricating, yet charming and even chivalrous beta-hero, you will be extremely happy you picked up this book! Kaye has produced another winner in her Hearts of the Anemoi series, (which are also stand alones), and I for one am glad she's not quite finished.

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Oct 13, 2012 Bookie | The BookChick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star-read, pnr, magic-or-paranormal, hist-myth-elements

I loved the mythological corollaries. Ella and Zeph were interesting and the story was paced well. Although I enjoyed North of Need more, this was a good story.

The only point of the story that I didn't care was the excessive use of 'Jesus' as an expletive replacement. 19 in all throughout the story. It was off-putting because of repetitive use.

Overall, a quick and easy read.

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Mar 16, 2013 Lyndi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring..."

That shit made me snort out loud. I'm sorry, but it's just so pretentious sounding. I'll still read it, though.

And now that I've read it... I liked it, but I'm kind of embarrassed that I liked it. You know what I mean?

Zephyros (not a name that rolls off the mental tongue for me) is a good character. He's a good person. Maybe a little too good? He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him entirely too vulnerable to his younger...more "Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring..."

That shit made me snort out loud. I'm sorry, but it's just so pretentious sounding. I'll still read it, though.

And now that I've read it... I liked it, but I'm kind of embarrassed that I liked it. You know what I mean?

Zephyros (not a name that rolls off the mental tongue for me) is a good character. He's a good person. Maybe a little too good? He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him entirely too vulnerable to his younger brother's evil doings. Little brother, by the way - totally evil and disturbingly vile.

Ella was, in a word, refreshing. She was the victim of repeated loss and instead of holding onto the anguish like Zeph did, she basically decided to start fresh and live. I think her reaction to Zeph being a god was brilliant. No denials, no hysterics, no anger. I found myself thinking "Hell yeah, that's what I'd say!" So, I really enjoyed her banter with Zeph.

The romance was absolutely insta-love. But just this once, I was really okay with it. It was also really corny, but too sweet and tender to be annoying. I hope that makes sense. As I reading it, I was like "I shouldn't be enjoying this cheesy dialogue, but awwww!" It surprised me to find that I enjoyed it, but it's not like I was gonna stop reading because I liked it.

Oh! And is it weird that Laura Kaye will use a ton of different euphemisms for "penis" and "vagina", but still uses the word "balls"? I feel like "balls" is on par with "vagina", and definitely with "penis". Am I weird? Maybe.

My nitpicking continues with a continuity moment, where Zeph has to look around for a blanket after magically materializing clothes for himself. Even later, he materializes a blanket, so why couldn't he in the beginning? I got so hung up on that, I almost made a status update before realizing I shouldn't care that much. But apparently I care enough to write a whole paragraph about it in my review. MOVING ON...

I don't really have anything else to say, actually. I feel like I keep using the words "enjoyed" and "liked" because I don't want to say that I "loved" a book. I love Harry Potter and Cat & Bones. But I like and enjoy a lot of books that are crap compared to this one, so what's a word that would fall somewhere between "like" and "love"? That's how I feel about this book.(less)

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Dec 24, 2012 Aurian Booklover rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ella is doing the sad job of dispensing her twin brother’s Marcus ashes while on their sailing boat, True Blue, when a sudden storm surprises her. She is swept overboard, one of her arms not working anymore, still clutching the urn. Will she die here, in Chesapeake Bay? Her twin was only 30 when he died suddenly, and left her his sole heir. Their parents died when they were 20, and he was all she had left. Especially after her husband left her when she was diagnosed barren, for her best friend w...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

This Dual Review was originally posted on Book Lovers Inc

Marlene: North of Need was one of those utterly marvelous stories that comes along once in a “blue moon”, a story that was absolutely magical. When West of Want came out, I was hoping for another fantastic experience, but unfortunately the lightning wasn’t captured in the bottle the second time around. West of Want is pretty good, but it just isn’t up to the high bar set by North of Need.

Stella: *sighs* Yes, I pretty much agree Marlene. Fo...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WEST OF WANT (Hearts of the Anemoi #2) by Laura Kaye

WEST OF WANT is the second novel (July 2012 release) in Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi series. Based loosely on Greek and Roman Mythology, the Anemoi are the gods of the directional winds-North (Boreas), East (Euros), South (Chrysander) and West (Zephyros) and connected to the seasons. Like many families, the gods do not always get along, and sometimes the infighting becomes terrifying and fatal. West of Want is a modern day fantasy and Zeph...more WEST OF WANT (Hearts of the Anemoi #2) by Laura Kaye

WEST OF WANT is the second novel (July 2012 release) in Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi series. Based loosely on Greek and Roman Mythology, the Anemoi are the gods of the directional winds-North (Boreas), East (Euros), South (Chrysander) and West (Zephyros) and connected to the seasons. Like many families, the gods do not always get along, and sometimes the infighting becomes terrifying and fatal. West of Want is a modern day fantasy and Zephyros storyline.

Zephyros Mauritius is the god of the west-wind: Master of the west wind: Supreme god of spring and the god of life and renewal. But Zephyros has lived many millennia knowing the pain of betrayal. And the pain deepens with the knowledge that the betrayal comes with a familiar face. Emotional and sensitive, Zeph’s anger boils until the storm he has created will prove near-fatal for a beautiful human female.

Ella (Maracella) Raines has lost her twin brother Marcus to a stroke. Despondent since her divorce and now grieving the loss of her brother, Ella boards their sailboat to say a final goodbye to Marcus. But a sudden storm capsizes the boat and sends Ella into the uncontrolled waters of Chesapeake Bay. Injured and dying, Ella wakes to find herself in the hospital with unimaginable pain and the vision of a god-like man in her room. Soon, all of her fantasies will come true.

Ella also has been betrayed, by the man she once loved, but she is quick to accept Zeph’s mythical story surrounding the Anemoi and their powers. With Zeph’s ability to heal, Ella makes a quick recovery, but using his magical powers on a human comes at a painful price and one that he will suffer at the hands of his own father. Daddy-dearest will have to face the wrath of the gods in due time.

As brothers go, the men remain close, but there is always an exception to every family. Eurus, the supreme god of the east wind and the god of misfortune, has always suffered the indignity of his father’s rejection. Growing up with belief that you are evil, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as he interjects his disregard for human life and the loves of his brother, whenever possible. And now that Zeph has finally found true love, Eurus will make it his primary objective to take everything that is good from his brother. But in the end, it will be a father’s responsibility to temper the evil that he created when he rejected one of his own.

The sexual chemistry between Zeph and Ella is palpable and passionate. Zeph wears his emotions close to the surface and you can almost feel the love and desire as it curls between the pages. But once again, Eurus’ hatred for his brother’s happiness will end in tragedy and a trip to the Underworld will reveal a family connection that no one had seen coming.

WEST OF WANT is a fascinating look at the mythical gods from Greek mythology. There is some humor ‘poofing’ through the story, but there is also heartbreak and loss. The disfunctional family attributes are reminiscent of many modern day families, but with a paranormal twist and one that may bring you to tears. The sexual energy is steamy bordering on erotic, but the love of a man for a woman, will melt your heart. In the end, this is a romantic love story with a HEA. Another great storyline from Laura Kaye.

Copy supplied by publisher

see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com(less)

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Jul 21, 2012 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

I truly enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I read North of Need so my knowledge on the mythos was a little rusty, but I liked all the lore. It added a bit of depth to what some would consider a traditional romance novel.

I liked Zeph better than I liked Owen. Maybe it's cause of the snow. I'm not a winter girl! Zephyros had so much... more to him, I think. And tbh, I thought all the "he's" were typos when referring to Hy. I was so wrong! But ya know, it's really ridic to think that immort...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ORIGINAL POST: WEST OF WANT, Mars Comes in Like a Lion

West of Want
Hearts of the Anemoi, Book Two
Laura Kaye
Paperback 400 pages, e-book
7/10/12 Entangled Publishing
Received via publisher with no expectation other than a fair review. No remuneration exchanged and, except as noted all opinions are my own.

Betrayal is all he's ever known, but in her, he'll find a love strong enough to be trusted...
When Marcella Raines' twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting th

...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Tamara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can't believe I can only give West of Want 5 stars it deserves 10 at least! Laura Kaye has 3 series that I love. Every time a new book comes out I think "It will be good, probably great, but it can't possibly be as good as the first one" With West of Want I was sure this would be the case, because frankly North of Need is one of my all time favorite novels...however, Laura proved me wrong again!

West of Want takes us deeper into the mythology of the Anemoi, a unique and fascinating take on Gree...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Tishia (Paranormal Opinion) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

West of Want is the second book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series by Laura Kaye. I love the names of these books and how they relate to the Gods. It's very creative. In this book, we have Zephyros – who is the God of the West Wind. Because of his past, he has been hurt and doesn't trust easily. He meets Ella by accidentally injuring her and then saving her life. The guilt is initially why he chooses to stay and watch over her, but he is quickly drawn to her and can't leave.

Ella has been betray...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Rhianna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Take the keys to the Anemoi kingdom and dive in!

Zephros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, hasn't been very fortunate in his relationships. As one of the Anemoi he's responsible for bringing his season but he finds himself eternally in conflict with his brother Eurus of the East. When his broken heart drives him to a tempest—literally—his actions bring harm to a human woman that will have lasting consequences for both.

Marcella Raines had known loss of her own. Grieving for the los...more Take the keys to the Anemoi kingdom and dive in!

Zephros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, hasn't been very fortunate in his relationships. As one of the Anemoi he's responsible for bringing his season but he finds himself eternally in conflict with his brother Eurus of the East. When his broken heart drives him to a tempest—literally—his actions bring harm to a human woman that will have lasting consequences for both.

Marcella Raines had known loss of her own. Grieving for the loss of her twin brother she finds herself caught in a storm that both damages her beloved sailboat and leaves her badly injured. Waking in the hospital to find a mysterious male nurse waiting at her bedside she soon discovers the truth behind the storm. Yet, even as she's drawn to Zeph, Ella quickly learns that loving the God of the West Wind comes with a very dangerous enemy willing to do anything to bring him pain. If Zeph wants to return Ella's love he will have to confront his past hurts, learn to trust, and most of all, know when love is worth any sacrifice.

NORTH OF NEED, the first book in the series, is one of my favorite books and a very difficult one to follow. Right away I realized that WEST OF WANT can't compare—and I mean that in a neutral way—because they're very different stories. There's an isolated feel to the latter that makes the story highly centered on the hero and heroine without much outside influence, it's cozy (so to speak). But with WEST OF WANT the world of the Anemoi is cracked wide open within a few chapters. It serves well to provide the conflict for Zeph and Ella, while introducing future heroes and insight into just how the Anemoi factor into the modern world. Eurus is one heck of a villain, he literally made my skin crawl. Meanwhile, Chrysander's introduction is going to make the wait for SOUTH OF SURRENDER very difficult! If you love the vast mythological world of Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series you will love WEST OF WANT.

As a hero, Zeph is a little tough to love but he is utterly relatable if you've ever had your heart broken. His flaws are the very human trust issues one would expect from a man who's gone through what he has. Ella, on the other hand, is the perfect foil for Zeph. She's quick to trust and her indomitable spirit is endearing. Though their chemistry is mostly shown through their scintillating love scenes, I found their pairing enjoyable. Kaye also manages to throw in a terrific twist for their HEA that romance fans are sure to find satisfying.

While it might sound like I didn't love it as much as it's predecessor, I truly loved WEST OF WANT, just for different reasons. One has an almost stand-alone quality, the other promises to give it a series-strong run. If you love Greek mythology in your romances look no further! This is one not to be missed.

***ARC received via publisher.(less)

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Jul 06, 2012 Kate added it · review of another edition

WEST OF WANT, by Laura Kaye is the second book in the paranormal romance series, Hearts of the Anemoi, focusing on the mythology of the Anemoi gods. The first book in the series hooked me so I was excited to dive right in to the second.

This book focused on Zephyros, the god of the West Wind and Spring, he accidently puts an innocent human woman in danger and finds himself drawn to her. The relationship between this couple was fast moving but sweet. The gods in this series (at least so far) have...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
I really enjoy this series. I think writing about the elemental gods is completely creative and innovative. This book is about Zephyros, the god of Spring and the west wind. He's been in a bit of a funk thanks to his brother Eurus who keeps messing with his love life. As a result, he's been throwing a few tantrums, which in the human realm means storms.

Ella is sailing in the Chesapeake Bay to spread her twin brother's ashes after his sudden death. The day starts out gorgeous, but Ella...more My Review:
I really enjoy this series. I think writing about the elemental gods is completely creative and innovative. This book is about Zephyros, the god of Spring and the west wind. He's been in a bit of a funk thanks to his brother Eurus who keeps messing with his love life. As a result, he's been throwing a few tantrums, which in the human realm means storms.

Ella is sailing in the Chesapeake Bay to spread her twin brother's ashes after his sudden death. The day starts out gorgeous, but Ella soon finds herself caught up in one of Zeph's storms and only, thanks to his last minute efforts to save her, does she even survive. Unfortunately, she is really hurt, but she's had a few really bad years and doesn't have any friends or family to help her anymore. Zeph can't leave her on her own, because he's to blame for her being in this position and the story flows from there.

Like I said, I really like the premise behind these stories. I like the mix of mythology and love getting to watch all the family members of the gods interact. (I cannot wait for Chrys' story!) I like how, for the most part, these guys have each other's backs even when things are going badly.

I really loved that this particular book took place in the Chesapeake Bay and Annapolis area. Laura's love of that area really shines through. It was neat to have the inclusion of the sailing aspect too especially with Zeph's influence on the wind. The book read well and was really interesting.

What didn't work for me though were the characters and this is entirely a personal thing for me. Zeph is a beta and very emotional...almost to the point where it began to get on my nerves. I like my heroes a little more stoic and alpha. Like I said, this is a personal thing. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book even though I wasn't a fan of his character, per se. It did affect my overall rating of the book though. I probably wouldn't read this one again, although I might just for the glimpses of Chrys. Did I mention I'm excited for his book, South of Surrender (coming out in December)?(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-paranormal, gods-angels-demons, read-2012

I really liked this book. I love how the gods interact and what their different abilities are. Zeph and Ella were a wonderful couple. They had both been through painful heartbreak and had trust issues and perhaps that's why they worked so well together.

I thought Zeph's history was really interesting. From the last book, I thought he was going to be angrier or more bitter than he actually was. He was more of a lonely lost soul type. I liked him but not as much as Owen from North of Need who I fo...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-romance, mythologhy-base, sexy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting:
Chesapeake Bay; True Blue sailboat; home overlooking the bay; hospital; gods’ home

Theme:
Love; the power of love; betrayal and overcoming betrayal

Character:
Anemoi – gods of the seasons and nature

Marcella ‘Ella’ Raines – twin to Marcus, betrayed by her husband when she was found to be infertile, grief stricken at the loss of her husband, her fertility, and most especially her brother. A life long sailor, and at a crossroads, she is looking for direction.

Zephyros Martius, the Supreme God of...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Shonna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Now alone in the world, Ella decides to release her brother’s ashes into the sea while aboard the boat they shared, the True Blue. Despite her years of experience, the unexpected storm rages around the boat and plunges her into the icy waters. Fighting for every breath, Ella’s downward spiral in life has left her with a heavy heart of pain and betrayal. Yet with a strong determination she refuses to not give in, but to go forward and not let sorrow drag her down like an iron anchor.
Zephyros, God...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge-2012, review-on-blog, paranormal-romance

With her believable characters, touching romances, and sizzling heat, Laura Kaye continues be a favorite author of mine. I can always count on Ms Kaye’s books for a touching romance story that I fully enjoy. West of Want is the second book in The Hearts of Anemoi series, and I am an official fan of this paranormal/mythological romance series.

The setting and background of this series is intriguing. The Anemoi are based in mythology and bring the paranormal/fantasy element into the series. The Ane...more With her believable characters, touching romances, and sizzling heat, Laura Kaye continues be a favorite author of mine. I can always count on Ms Kaye’s books for a touching romance story that I fully enjoy. West of Want is the second book in The Hearts of Anemoi series, and I am an official fan of this paranormal/mythological romance series.

The setting and background of this series is intriguing. The Anemoi are based in mythology and bring the paranormal/fantasy element into the series. The Anemoi are part of Greek mythology, but they are not part of the main pantheon (Zeus, Hera, etc). With being lesser-known myths (at least to me), the anemoi are refreshingly different for a paranormal series, and well-written, unique characters are not always easy to find.

The male protagonist in West of Want is Zephyros, the God of the West Wind and of Spring. Zephyros has been betrayed throughout his whole life and he struggles with the burdens of his emotional scars and hurts. His brother, Eurus, the God of the West Wind, adds to Zeph’s misery by blaming Zephyros for his own hurts. When the story begins, Zephyros is at an all time low, he can’t take much more hurt, and unwittingly places Ella in danger with his emotional outburst that results in a heavy storm. Feeling guilty that he caused a human harm, Zephyros determines to help and heal Ella, but he is drawn to this woman and the thought of leaving her is unsettling.

Ella is a woman who has her own hurts. She was betrayed herself and she is grieving the loss of her brother. When Zephyros comes into her life, Ella is also at a low point in her life. Even though the pair have completely different lives and upbringings, they understand each other’s hurts. When Ella learns who Zephyros truly is, she is surprised, but she handles the situation well. This couples biggest challenge is trust, both are hesitant to open up. They go through some difficult back and forth feelings and when Zeph’s brother decides to make trouble, their relationship may be decidedly over before it even really begins.

Zephyros and Ella’s relationship has plenty of obstacles, but they are a couple that belong together. I enjoyed their story and was happily surprised by the ending. West of Want reinforced for me why I love Laura Kaye’s writing so much, her romances are believable. Even with mythology and paranormal beings, the characters have realistic flaws and idiosyncrasies that are easy to identify with and understand.

In West of Want, readers learn more about the Anemoi and their role in mythology. A few other Anemoi make appearances, and I really enjoyed getting to know more of these characters. I am already a big fan of Chrysander and am looking forward to his book (hint hint Ms Kaye!)
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Mar 21, 2013 Pat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, always-worth-re-reading, fantasy, chick-lit, naughty-bits, paranormal, romance, series, series-r-us

The sophomore installment for the series confirms my opinion that this series is secretly a dream/fantasy series that is so corny they're sweet. These not so run of the mill immortals are multipurpose directional and elemental Gods whose petty infighting seems to be the impetus for each of the stories. Conflicts here are romantic in nature so there aren't big battles in the series to date.

Zephyros, God of Spring & Master of the West Wind was attending such an intense pity party that he caus...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Michelle ☕Ndayeni☕ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, gods-and-goddesses, mythology, read-in-2013, challenges-2013, challenges-2013-tachance

After the relatively lighthearted and fun romance in North of Need the series takes a more serious and emotional turn in this book. As if all the grief and angst that Zephyros and Ella are feeling because of their individual situations isn't enough, we also get the more sinister threat posed by Zeph's brother Eulus who seems to have made it his mission to destroy Zephyros and anyone he holds dear.

When we first see Ella, she is saying a final goodbye to her twin brother Marcus as she scatters his...more After the relatively lighthearted and fun romance in North of Need the series takes a more serious and emotional turn in this book. As if all the grief and angst that Zephyros and Ella are feeling because of their individual situations isn't enough, we also get the more sinister threat posed by Zeph's brother Eulus who seems to have made it his mission to destroy Zephyros and anyone he holds dear.

When we first see Ella, she is saying a final goodbye to her twin brother Marcus as she scatters his ashes in Chesapeake Bay in an area where they had both loved sailing their ship True Blue. She gets caught in a storm that Zephyros has created from his grief and rage after another run-in with Eulus, and she only survives because he notices her fading lifeforce in time and rescues her. Besides the death of her twin, Ella is also still recovering from the collapse of her marriage, and it's reasonably fair to say that she's at the lowest point in her young life so far. She isn't giving in to despair however, and even though she's allowing herself time to grieve for all she's lost, she's also starting to make plans for the future, to discover who she really is and what she really wants to do. She's looking forward, and yet her past has certainly affected her for she is afraid to trust it when something good happens to her, and is afraid to trust that her feelings for Zephyros, and his for her, could be true. It's notable that she has the courage to take that risk and give it a chance to work between them, even though I think she maybe does so a little too readily.

Zephyros has Ella beat hands down on the lack of trust front, for he has been tricked and betrayed so many times by almost anyone and everyone that he's ever let himself care for or about to the point that he really has almost completely given in to despair. He rescues and subsequently heals Ella out of a sense of duty since she was hurt because of him, but he resists and mistrusts the attraction between them and scrutinizes and questions everything that happens or that is said, looking for hidden agendas or double meanings. In short, he is so used to being betrayed that he expects it, and looks for it even when he's given no real indication that Ella is toying with him, and indeed frequently has evidence to the contrary. I would have liked to see him be just a little more willing to trust the evidence of his own eyes and more willing to give Ella the benefit of the doubt instead of always jumping to the worst conclusion possible, even if it's understandable why he does. He does eventually decide to take charge and quit being the victim of Eulus's cruelty, but the decision comes a little too late perhaps.

Overall I loved the story of Zephyros and Ella's finding one another and learning to trust again, and I would have been totally fine with the story if it had been left at that. Certainly they had enough issues of their own to cause the needed conflict in the story without the need for outside threats. While Eulus's persecution of Zephyros is certainly integral to the person that Zephyros has become, and it was likely inevitable that he wouldn't refrain from causing problems for Zeph with Ella, a part of me really wishes he had, for I found the evil that Eulus represents to be somewhat discordant with the tone of the rest of the book and an interference in Zeph and Ella's story that I'm not entirely sure was needed. Could their story have reached the same sort of satisfactory conclusion without it? Perhaps, but I'll admit that it probably would have been somewhat lacking since some of the elements that make the ultimate solutions really interesting would have been missing.

A great story, and one that I'd definitely recommend to fans of paranormal romances, particularly ones featuring mythological themes. The way that Kaye incorporates and blends different mythologies here is quite fascinating and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in future volumes of this series. A solid 4 stars to this one.(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Niina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-challenge, absolute-favorites, absolutely-beautiful, fun-and-witty, giddy-kind-of-good, hot, romantic-and-great, whoa-loved-it

Ella has lost it all, her parents, her husband- cheating bastard - and her brother, releasing his ashes into the sea while on board their sailing boat True Blue a storm hits, even while a great sailor she can't fight the storm and as she hits the frigid water her world goes black and she believes this is it.

Zephyros, the God of the West Wind, is storming about his nephew's happiness, while he never has had any, only betrayal and disappointment, but just before it's too late he realizes his actio...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the Laura Kaye I love! This book brings me back to the passion of Hearts in Darkness and the fantasy of North of Need, all wrapped up in one neat little package. Book 2 in the Hearts of the Anemoi series introduces us the the God of the West, Zeph. (I have to admit I find the name Zeph quite sexy and will refer to him as that.) As typical of the ancient Gods he feels he has something to prove, and he is amazingly gorgeous and wonderful. Ella is strong, resilient, and unafraid to make the...more This is the Laura Kaye I love! This book brings me back to the passion of Hearts in Darkness and the fantasy of North of Need, all wrapped up in one neat little package. Book 2 in the Hearts of the Anemoi series introduces us the the God of the West, Zeph. (I have to admit I find the name Zeph quite sexy and will refer to him as that.) As typical of the ancient Gods he feels he has something to prove, and he is amazingly gorgeous and wonderful. Ella is strong, resilient, and unafraid to make the right, but not always easy, decisions. The fact that they are both tormented and hurt, wanting and needful, is essential to the story. And No one seems to have the upper hand. Well, maybe Eurus.

Even lost in all the fantasy the story always seems believable. The amazing descriptions of the Chesapeake Bay and eastern Maryland coast were essential to the feel of the book. And didn't disappoint. In fact the whole book was filled with vivid descriptions and writing that just captivated me. The characters were multidimensional and dripping with emotion. The fact that "Gods" were dealing with betrayal, death, and family turmoil just brought all the magic home.

I really liked the fact that Owen had an essential part in the story. (Those of you familiar with the series will know who Owen is) A lot of time in these romance "series" the characters are very different from book to book and don't reaper. Having Owen as a central player in the action and family was a touch I appreciated.

As usual the formula was there. Anemoi comes into the human realm and meets and falls in love with a mortal women. Mortal women accepts who he is, and his magic, and they try to build a relationship. The difference add some degree of difficulty. In this case it adds a lot of difficulty, and the ending was not the usual happily ever after. I was shocked. In a pleasant way. The conclusion of their love story was different, and emotional, and if I say much more I might give away too many secrets.

Laura Kay hit a home run with this book. She just cemented her place as one of my favorite authors in the romance genre and highlighted how versatile she is. If you read one paranormal romance this year, make it West of Want!!!(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Kelly % Books-n-Kisses rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3 1/2 stars
After almost losing her own life Ella finds herself face to face with a stranger. A stranger that she is drawn to beyond explanation. But Ella is a little gun shy she has been hurt in the past. Trusted blindly and been burned. So how can she learn to put her full trust into someone she just met?

Zephyros suffered betrayal and loss many times in his very, very long life. So when he learns that he is the cause in almost killing a innocent human he does what ever it takes to protect her...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Missy Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As in the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, the hero in this one is HOT. He is everything a God of the West Wind should be. But he is also weary of all the betrayal he has dealt with, most at the hands of his evil brother.
I think the use of a third party made a HUGE difference in this book in comparison to book one. I also liked the heroine in this one more. Ella had a good head on her shoulders and wasn't afraid of the emotional turmoil she was dealing with. She was much stronger t...more

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Oct 21, 2012 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stories about gods are hot and West of Want is just that. Just like North of Need, Kaye sucks you into their godly world and holds you there until you finish the book.

I will say that I was surprised with the story line that Kaye presented. I was expecting something along the lines of the first book in the series but I was pleasantly surprised when more drama and action was added.

As for the characters, the problems that they both face made each character multidimensional.

I loved Zeph. He just...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-giveaway, 2012-read, favorites

I was given this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and I loved it and I can't wait to get the others in.

I would like to suggest that "Women's Fantasy" become a new genre, because that's exactly what you get with Kaye's second book, West of Want in her Hearts of the Anemoi series. The hero, Zephyros, god of the West Wind and Spring, and his human heroine, Ella steamed up the atmosphere even more than he himself could; boat accident and all! Which is why Zeph ultimately sticks around once he regretfull...more I was given this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and I loved it and I can't wait to get the others in.

I would like to suggest that "Women's Fantasy" become a new genre, because that's exactly what you get with Kaye's second book, West of Want in her Hearts of the Anemoi series. The hero, Zephyros, god of the West Wind and Spring, and his human heroine, Ella steamed up the atmosphere even more than he himself could; boat accident and all! Which is why Zeph ultimately sticks around once he regretfully figures out that Ella's sailboat fell victim to his wind storm tantrum at sea. Yep, he can heal her and that's exactly what he intends to do, once he properly introduces his gorgeous human form to her. (Not a bad way to wake up, finding a seriously hot guy waiting for you). Okay, so it's a little far fetched and after only a short time, their "insta-love" was pretty convenient, but since this IS a fantasy, and let's face it, all paranormal is, just go with it because it's oh, so HOT!

Right off the bat however, our happy couple discover they have another problem and he is, Eurus, Zeph's estranged brother and god of the East Wind. He is seriously dead set on breaking any happiness Zeph has found and Zeph realizes quickly, Ella isn't safe. (Not good news for the newly infatuated love birds). Fortunately, he can protect her against his brother's maliciousness but his own fears of betrayal that have been branded on his soul is an entirely different obstacle he must overcome.

This is well written story about two vulnerable, heart-broken characters and although it's somewhat predictable, Kaye's male protagonist is a sensitive hero who has been abandoned and deceived by everyone he has ever loved. Admittedly, I typically prefer alpha males but Zeph's vulerability and brokenness made me want to root for him. His gentle, sensitive side, made me swoon even more once he proved he wasn't afraid to kick a little tail when needed. Ella is a multifaceted character with a heartbreaking past of her own as her parents died when she was relatively young, her ex-husband betrayed her, and her twin brother, who was also her best friend, is recently deceased. Because of her tragic life and finding herself alone with no one, you just couldn't help but want things to work out for her, too. Both characters were full of depth, personality, and passion. They have been wronged in the past and trust isn't easy for either of them and they must overcome their fears yet learn to trust each other in order to find love. (less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Charon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, paranormal-romance

3.5 stars

I had a hard time getting into this book, and mainly because I could barely be able to stand Zephyrous' character. Yes, I understand his harsh background of numerous past betrayal, loss and rejection. Still, his self-deprecation, doubts and hesitation to move forward pissed me off more often than not. I started enjoying the book almost half-way into it, when Zeph finally decided to grow some backbones.

I liked that we got to know more about Anemoi gods, and rather excited to have Chrysa...more

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Jul 07, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: july-2012-hotp, reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

Hearts of the Anemoi is a new paranormal romance series built around seasonal mythology (gods of winter, spring etc). It’s a great springboard for a series, sadly, WEST OF WANT was a really sub par paranormal romance that included just about everything that I dislike about the genre.

The two lead characters are completely flat and two dimensional. They don’t have personalities or even really distinguishing characteristics. They were each burned by love i...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Angela the Fair ~Lusty Lace~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

Ms. Kaye surprised me with this brilliant love story. Though I missed North of Need, I feel like I did not miss a thing. This book is well written with full background details and well developed characters. I actually was doubtful at first but as circumstances as they are, I took a chance. I’m glad I did as now I have another series and author to follow.

Ms. Kaye starts out the book with a bit of suspense that kept me turning the pages nonstop. An...more
Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

Ms. Kaye surprised me with this brilliant love story. Though I missed North of Need, I feel like I did not miss a thing. This book is well written with full background details and well developed characters. I actually was doubtful at first but as circumstances as they are, I took a chance. I’m glad I did as now I have another series and author to follow.

Ms. Kaye starts out the book with a bit of suspense that kept me turning the pages nonstop. And the ongoing story of love, betrayal, family drama with the background of Greek mythology kept me interested throughout the book.

Zephyros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind Guardian of Spring and one if the four Cardinal Anemoi had nothing but heart ache in the past but not without doubt that a few were brought on by his jealous brother Eurus, Supreme God of the East Wind and Harbinger of Misfortune. And yes, he can bring misfortune among other things. After another heart ache, Zeph took his frustrations out by storming through the seas. Unfortunately, he was not by himself and unintentionally bumps into a 32 feet True Blue. An encounter that will change him forever.

Marcella Raines is not without a painful past. She had recently lost her twin brother and a failed marriage before that. But hands down to this heroine, she’s not one to fold over to hardship. In the midst of chaos, her response was "Is that all you got? Well, fuck you. Fuck you and the cloud you blew in on!..." and after all that chaos she still got up for more.

Zeph was a very emotional hero, though he’s a powerful God, he’s not one to maintain his emotions and this just got him in all kinds of trouble. He's not my favorite hero but he is perfect for Ella. Because of their similar past, they complimented and understood each other. And Zeph's instant attraction and obsession with Ella was definitely romantic. But what I love most was the interaction of all the Gods in this book. Their interactions were full of drama as expected from the Greek Gods. Overall, the romance was great, H/h were great, sub-characters were great and story was great. Another great read.

*Review copy provided by publisher
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Nov 27, 2012 Mariana Bezerra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bought2012, format-epub, magic, read-blog, gods, entangled, read-a-thon, paranormal-romance

After I finished North of Need and discovered I actually enjoyed these Gods, it was really easy to just jump on the next book and follow on these great fantasy series. Owen was a lower level God, but Zephyros is actually one of the cardinal and for that reason his life is more complicated and he needs to follow a few more rules.

One day after another disastrous situation where he met an older affair and became a bit frustrated with his life and how his always alone.

The thing is he’s not a bastard...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Jessica ♡~ Book&Coffee Lover ~♡ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, own

Hell yeah.. Laura Kaye has done it again!!

Oh my Gods book #2 in 'Hearts of the Anemoi' series was just A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
It was so hard to put this book down, so I just stayed up untill 4am to finish it..

Can I get a cleansing by Zephyros :) Some touching & feeling all in the name of removing a bad mark off course :) Ooohhhh for the love of gods.. his hands all over my body..*dreaming away* Uhumm right back to why I loved this book.

Absolutely loved how we get to learn more and more about the Ane...more

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West of Want (Hearts of the Anemoi #2)

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