Never Again (Wizards of Nevermore, #1)

Aug 08, 2011 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, contemporary, crime-police-mystery-private-invest, curse, demons, dragons, gods, magic-mystical-ability, necromancy, read-2011, romance, series

I usually don’t bother summarizing the plot in my reviews because I find it rather tedious and awkward, but I have to point something out about the back cover. To me, the back cover blurb reads like Lucinda is kind of sassy and spunky but is in a bind and needs her ex-brother-in-law’s help. It gives the impression that there is more action than there actually is by mentioning all the people out to get Lucy. The book didn’t read that way to me at all.

For one, Lucy is not spunky. She’s been throug...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Shauni rated it 3 of 5 stars

Never Again is the first book in a fun series by Michele Bardsley. Based in the Texas town of Nevermore it tells the story of the town's Guardian Gray Calhoun and a Rackmore Witch Lucinda Rackmore.

Nevermore is a town in trouble, it's a place that holds the goddess fountain and holds true power. It was founded in the 1800's and has been a dragon town since its founding. A Calhoun has always been it's guardian. The mundanes who choose to live there, live there only on the guardian's sufferance. I...more Never Again is the first book in a fun series by Michele Bardsley. Based in the Texas town of Nevermore it tells the story of the town's Guardian Gray Calhoun and a Rackmore Witch Lucinda Rackmore.

Nevermore is a town in trouble, it's a place that holds the goddess fountain and holds true power. It was founded in the 1800's and has been a dragon town since its founding. A Calhoun has always been it's guardian. The mundanes who choose to live there, live there only on the guardian's sufferance. I liked this little town and am more than half inclined to get myself to Texas and try and find it..

Gray Calhoun, at a young age he had everything. He was in love with his beautiful, sexy Rackmore wife, he had advanced far in his career in Wizard politics and he came from a strong dragon family. UNTIL, the word on the Rackmores was out.. They had earned their wealth 500 years earlier by dealing with a demon and now.. well the truth is out and the Rackmore's will loose everything. Gray vows to stand beside the wife he loves.. only she has other plans. Kerren was what we would call an evil.. well witch.. yeah that's not what we call it and she had already made a deal with Kahl, the Rackmore's favorite demon. All she had to do was deliver to him the heart of a dragon. On that fateful day when the Rackmore's lost all, she led Gray to his death and offered his heart to Kahl. Only Gray didn't die.. he survived.. a changed man. For ten long years he hid first during recovery then as the guardian of Nevermore.. doing only what needed to be done.

Lucinda Rackmore, younger sister to the ever loverly Kerren. Left to find her own way after the suicide of her father, death of her mother and her sister's escape into hell. Struggling to survive she thought she had found love and became the lover of a powerful man.. of the Raven House.. only he too was out to betray her. Desperate she escapes but has been cursed. Now not only can she never hold on to any money.. the sentence of the council to the Rackmore's she can not use her power without incurring horrendous pain. At the end of her hope she comes to Nevermore.. asking Gray to marry her of all things.. like that worked out well the last time he married a Rackmore sister.

Gray and Lucy must somehow find a way to join forces, together they are set upon a journey to save Nevermore. Someone is trying to weaken the magic and free Kahl. Driven to make his miniscule magic into something he can use. A secret force, ready to kill anyone in his way. Even those he loves. Determined to someday rule Nevermore because surely, he would do a better job than Gray Calhoun. Hiding in plane site he works his evil plans.. finally reaching out the the one man who holds Lucy's curse.

Like I said in the beginning this was a fun book.. It had shades of darkness, you know that there is something out there. Those things that go bump in the night. Ready to destroy all that is good and true. And yet it is balanced by strong characters, a wonderful cast of secondary characters that I am sure Ms Bardsley has plans for. If you are looking for a worthwhile book, something to enjoy as you wind your ways through the dog days of summer.. then this is most definitely a book for you.

Shauni

For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy (less)

like · see review

Oct 21, 2011 Sobia rated it 4 of 5 stars

it's been a while since I've read any of MB's books, so I have to admit, I was pretty happily surprised to see how good 'Never again' was...And now I'm kicking myself for leaving this in the TBR pile for so long!

Good story, greater set up, I loved, loved how this started out. I could feel the heroines desperation, and i just wanted to tell her everything would be okay....while simultaneously grilling her about her back story...it's just that gripping, that I couldn't help wanting to know...well...more

like · see review

Aug 28, 2011 Jane Stewart rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

2 ½ stars. This was not engaging and entertaining. Too much telling, not enough showing. Not a good style for me.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
There were at least nine times that the author wrote the back story on a character (his parents, relatives, past). Those felt like newspaper articles. I had trouble concentrating and being interested in what was written. I had trouble remembering or caring about all those names and details. It might have been better for a character to say some of that through conver...more 2 ½ stars. This was not engaging and entertaining. Too much telling, not enough showing. Not a good style for me.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
There were at least nine times that the author wrote the back story on a character (his parents, relatives, past). Those felt like newspaper articles. I had trouble concentrating and being interested in what was written. I had trouble remembering or caring about all those names and details. It might have been better for a character to say some of that through conversation. I don’t object to having back stories. I’m fine with it in other books. It’s just that in this book it affected me negatively somehow. Other telling not showing problems were: one bad guy kills another bad guy which was told by a magic spirit to Anthony. I didn’t know why or how the killing happened. There were two other killings where I needed more details, especially the motivations. Why and how Gray survived his wife and a demon trying to kill him was not explained. It was like some goddess or power jumps in to fix things.

Some of the events were not well thought out. For example, someone wants a magic item to help him get magic power which he does not have. The item is in a safe with magic spells protecting it. I didn’t understand how he could easily go to the safe and retrieve the item. A few other times I thought why is someone doing that?

My reaction at the halfway point was I’m not enjoying this. But the last 30 pages were good. I enjoyed the descriptions of how two curses were broken. One character felt “Snap Snick” several times throughout her body as a curse was leaving. That was good. But other uses of magic were not shown. They were told, for example a power saved him, or he did a spell.

THE RELATIONSHIP:
Lucy asks Gray for help, but he pushes her away. Shortly after that he feels guilty and a strong desire to help her. So he turns his life around. He becomes sociable and helpful to the townspeople. He begins to do his job which he had neglected for many years. He is physically drawn to her and wants to keep her safe. It was too sudden. There was “no relationship development.” And, all of a sudden she knows she loves him. It felt like a warp speed time jump. They were apart, then all of a sudden they were an item.

STORY BRIEF:
Most of the characters have magic abilities. They live among humans. Ten years ago Gray married Kerren. She delivered him to a demon in return for wealth and power. She and the demon were in process of killing him, but some other power allowed him to survive and return to his life. Kerren stayed in the demon world. Gray has lived as a recluse ever since. He is supposed to be in charge of the town Nevermore, protecting it from bad influences and settling disputes, but he hasn’t been doing his job.

Lucy is Kerren’s sister. Lucy was impoverished due to a family curse. She stayed with Franco who supported her. But he turned mean, tortured her, and placed his own curse on her. She ran away. The story begins with Lucy going to Gray asking Gray to marry her which will protect her from Franco. Gray tells her to “go the hell away.”

Someone is collecting magic items, planning to do an evil deal with a demon. This deal may involve hurting Gray and/or Lucy.

DATA:
Story length: 290 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 10. Setting: probably current day small town Nevermore, Texas. Copyright: 2011. Genre: paranormal romance.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Book Binge Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, paranormal, signet

Gray Calhoun was betrayed by his wife 10 years ago. His life changed dramatically and he’s kind of been hiding away in Nevermore, Texas. Though he is the town’s Guardian he hasn’t been doing such a bang-up job. When Lucinda Rackmore, the sister of his former wife, shows up on his doorstep he’ s more than happy to send her on her merry way. He gets a bit of a guilty feeling for sending her off in the pouring rain and decides that the least he could do was drive her to the bus station and buy her...more Gray Calhoun was betrayed by his wife 10 years ago. His life changed dramatically and he’s kind of been hiding away in Nevermore, Texas. Though he is the town’s Guardian he hasn’t been doing such a bang-up job. When Lucinda Rackmore, the sister of his former wife, shows up on his doorstep he’ s more than happy to send her on her merry way. He gets a bit of a guilty feeling for sending her off in the pouring rain and decides that the least he could do was drive her to the bus station and buy her a bus ticket to wherever she was going next.

He doesn’t manage to find her right away though and when he does he finds her she’s magically trying to save the life of someone she hardly knows. And here he thought that all of the Rackmore family was uncaring. The problem with Lucy trying to use magic is that she’s cursed. Whenever she uses her specific type of magic she makes herself horribly sick. Gray attempts to help heal her by dreamwalking with her and during that time the two seem to form a bond with each other.

But the town of Nevermore has a whole slew of things happening that are far worse than Lucy and Gray, but it seems the two of them are smack dab in it and they’re really the only ones who can get the town and themselves out of danger.

This was a great first installment in what seems like it will be a thoroughly entertaining series. The town of Nevermore was quite intriguing. The town loyalty, the many different types of magics that the residents possessed, the non-magical folks called Mundanes...all of this thrown together to make a wonderful little hotbed of stories just waiting to be told. There were quite a few secondary characters as we got to know the townsfolk of Nevermore and they matched up quite nicely with my experience with small town residents. Everyone knows everyone else’s business before you can say boo but there was also the fierce protectiveness of each other that I loved.

Now the romance between Gray and Lucy was pretty good as it went along but it was really quite hard for me to believe Gray’s change of heart toward Lucy that was so quick. His previous wife had specifically married him in order to sacrifice him on altar for her demon lover. You don’t get over that kind of thing easily. Gray really hadn’t worked through it all in his head and it had been 10 years! Yes, he felt guilty about sending Lucy away initially but he quickly fell for her. I had a hard time reconciling that in my head but in the end it worked.

My only other niggle, besides the sudden romance initiation, was that there were a few things that were brought up to us as readers during the course of the story that we then heard nothing about after. I can only hope that we’ll hear more about these things in further books but it would have been nice to have it wrapped up in the book it was mentioned in. But maybe that’s just me. :)

I’m very much looking forward to the next book in this series, Now or Never, when it releases.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.(less)

like · see review

May 24, 2011 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

I got this book because the synopsis sounded interesting, but it was an impulsive buy because I didn’t know anything about the author or the book. I was pleasantly surprised because it turned out to be quite an interesting book.

Grey is a powerful wizard that has been betrayed by his wife, and I’m not talking about cheating, I’m talking about sacrificing him to a demon (and also cheating on him with said demon…). Fast forward ten years later and Grey...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

I got this book because the synopsis sounded interesting, but it was an impulsive buy because I didn’t know anything about the author or the book. I was pleasantly surprised because it turned out to be quite an interesting book.

Grey is a powerful wizard that has been betrayed by his wife, and I’m not talking about cheating, I’m talking about sacrificing him to a demon (and also cheating on him with said demon…). Fast forward ten years later and Grey is now living like a recluse who wants to be left alone.

On the other hand we have Lucinda, she is the little sister of Grey’s wife, and is in real trouble. Her last hope is Grey, but when she asks him for help he adamantly refuses. Obviously Grey feels guilty and decides to help her but this might prove to be very difficult since Lucinda’s problems are bigger than they seem.

This book is an urban fantasy with a small town setting. It has the interesting premise of wizards and witches live among humans in a peaceful and harmonic way. The magic world has a slightly different set of rules and laws, but it doesn’t get in the way of regular humans. Now, to me the book lacked a bit on the epic-feel that I usually get from urban fantasy. The world-building was very interesting and fairly complex, but it wasn’t big on the action and the dark evil threat was missing. The book read more like a small-town romance with a suspenseful plot but with a magic twist. I liked it, but it wasn’t what I’m used to and it might throw you a bit if you are an urban fantasy fan.

I liked Lucy a lot. She was very spoiled when she was younger but due to a series of unfortunate events, and a curse that runs through her family, she had to mature a lot. She doesn't dwell on her misery and is just trying to survive. She was likeable, but was more like a regular contemporary romance heroine than an urban fantasy kick-ass one. Since I don’t particularly like kick-ass heroines I was perfectly fine with it.

Grey was also likeable. He had his heart broken and it took him some time to get over the betrayal. He was bitter and cranky. When Lucy asks for his help he realizes that he was being a selfish bastard. He was neglecting the town and his responsibilities towards it, as well as alienating his friends. It was nice to see how his character developed. What I didn't like was that he goes from hating Lucy to loving her in a matter of days. Overall the romantic aspect of the book was disappointing. There wasn’t really any conflict or any emotional struggle. Grey goes from grumpy wizard to protective alpha-male in the blink of an eye, and Lucy goes from independent witch to damsel in distress and perfect housewife even faster.

The secondary characters were as interesting as the main couple. Because this is a book set in a small town you know that we are going to get a lot of quirky characters. There is the sheriff who is obviously going to be the hero of the next book. There is the crazy evil woman who runs the dinner. There are farmers, a lot of gossipers, and everything else you might expect from a small town.

I liked the book. I think this series has a lot of potential, and judging by the little sneak peek that we get of the second book I think it will just get better and better. As I said is not your regular urban fantasy, but it was appealing. And I’m curious to see what’s coming next. If you are in the mood for a quick read, if you like books set in small towns and if you like wizards, witches and magic spells, then you should definitely check it out.

Don't forget to visit my blog! http://romance-around-the-corner.blogspot.com/(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Never Again by Michelle Bardsley
Paranormal Romance- March 1st, 2011
4 stars

Lucinda Rackmore is witch from the House of the Raven. She is on the run and looking for help. Lucy has finally journeyed to the magical town of Nevermore. It is here she hopes to ask her ex-brother-in-law and wizard, Gray Calhoun to marry her so that she can be under his protection. However, he still has a grudge against her family since her sister betrayed him and literally took him to hell and back. So she isn't surpris...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 21, 2012 Visionary rated it 4 of 5 stars

First foray with Michele Bardsley -

Mm, I must confess that I like the premise of the story. Quite different from the other paranormals out there. In a way it has that weak Harry Potter feel - in that you have your wizards/witches and then you have your non-magicals.

However unlike Harry Potter, the mundanes (as the non-magicals are called) know OF the wizards and witches, they are the natural order of business in the world.

Nevermore is like any small little town. People know one another, the...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2011 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

My thoughts:
What a light and easy read. I read it in no time at all, and I do like books like that. Sometimes you just need them.

Lucy was a woman who had made some bad choices. But she didn't know better and she is pretty damaged cos of that creep Bernard. But she was nice and tough. Then there is Gray who is messed up too because of the whole sacrifice thing. Still he slowly becomes himself again and he is one great guy. Now these two together, sure they fell in lust and love pretty fast, but I...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 18, 2012 MåїÐÂ»-(¯`v´¯)-» rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-romance-hot-stuff, books-of-2012, fave-books-of-2012, favorite-series, favorites, own-it-have-read-it, wizards-and-witches

This was a very sweet story! It was my first book by Michele Bardsley and also my first book about witches and wizards being the main characters!! I have to say I was completely blown away with not just the story but also by the characters and the WHOLE idea of wizards and witches and magic in politics! It was something very unique......and I LOVE DIFFERENT...so of course I fell in love! LOL ;p

Never Again begins (in the past) with the introduction to Gray, the sexy wizard and our hero, getting b...more This was a very sweet story! It was my first book by Michele Bardsley and also my first book about witches and wizards being the main characters!! I have to say I was completely blown away with not just the story but also by the characters and the WHOLE idea of wizards and witches and magic in politics! It was something very unique......and I LOVE DIFFERENT...so of course I fell in love! LOL ;p

Never Again begins (in the past) with the introduction to Gray, the sexy wizard and our hero, getting betrayed by his own wife...yeah one hell of a way to start a book but it was amazing!!! Gray finds out that his wife, Kerren, married him so she could sacrifice him to the demon lord Kahl, and therefore gain more power and stay wealthy. Everything he believed to be love turned out to be false...and Gray was left broken.

Present day, Gray is living in his hometown of Nevermore all alone...due to his wife’s betrayal, he became a hard and closed off man. He is the guardian of Nevermore but hasn’t been paying attention to what’s happening around him...and due to this a great evil has come to Nevermore. This is where Lucy, Kerren's younger sister, comes in. She comes to ask Gray for his help because her ex-lover was trying to kill her. Lucy has thaumaturgy, which is a powerful magic that creates and gives life, however because she ran away from her ex, he bound her magic with a demon spell. Gray is her last hope and through this help, they both save Nevermore and learn the true meaning of love.

I really liked Lucy, and I liked Gray, too. Their romance was sweet and very touching. At first they don’t believe in each other especially after what Lucy’s sister did to Gray...but through the course of the story they learn to accept the feelings they have for each other. Although, the romance was a little fast paced....it no way at all made the story seem unrealistic. I loved every part of it!! I was glad they got over their fears and obstacles and eventually found comfort...in each other! Lucy was a great heroine...she was strong (in all the sense), strong-willed, strong-minded, funny, innocent and a very compassionate young woman. I loved her character and her personality. Gray was no different....obviously he was HOT...LOL ;p But he was also a very strong main character that you can’t help but connect to! They were both amazing characters....I just hope I get to see more of them in the upcoming books!

I also loved the secondary characters, Ember, Happy, Ant, Taylor, Trent..etc!!! They were all a very nice touch and some of them were just hilarious! I had a lot of fun reading their POV’s...which was another different thing about this book...all the different POVs we get to experience!! I just hope some of them get their own books!! =) I would love to know more about them!!

Overall, Never Again was a very engaging book and I was very happy I read it! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great way to pass their time!! It was well worth the read....and I can’t wait to read the next installment, Now or Never!! I am also looking forward to Ant and Happy’s story.....that was one powerful couple and I am literally dying to read more about them!! Ms. Bardsley you did a fantastic job getting me hooked to your work! THUMBS UP TO YOU! ;)(less)

like · see review

Mar 31, 2011 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, paranormal-romance

I didn't even realize that Bardsley had come out with a new series until I saw it on a friend's shelf. I love her other series so I knew this one would be decent. But in actuality it turned out to be a great first book to a series!

I love the concept of this whole world of witches and wizards and the different houses of magic. I thought the town of Nevermore was pretty cute too! Gray was an interesting hero, he was definitely of the "tortured" variety. In the beginning he was desolate, hurt, broo...more

like · see review

Jun 15, 2011 Amanda Ryan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let’s be real, here. This cover is pretty smokin’. That’s what drew me to this book in the first place. I hadn’t read anything by Michele Bardsley before, so I figured I’d give her a go.

Never Again opens with the story of Gray Calhoun and the ultimate betrayal by the love of his life. His wife tries to sacrifice him to a demon in order to become a demon herself. But Gray, a very powerful wizard, manages to survive, effectively ruining his wife’s spell and banishing her to a life as a half demon...more Let’s be real, here. This cover is pretty smokin’. That’s what drew me to this book in the first place. I hadn’t read anything by Michele Bardsley before, so I figured I’d give her a go.

Never Again opens with the story of Gray Calhoun and the ultimate betrayal by the love of his life. His wife tries to sacrifice him to a demon in order to become a demon herself. But Gray, a very powerful wizard, manages to survive, effectively ruining his wife’s spell and banishing her to a life as a half demon. Fast forward ten years and Gray, now the indifferent Guardian of his town Nevermore, finds the sister of his ex-wife standing on his doorstep begging for his help. What’s he do? He tosses the byatch out on the street. Duh. Can’t say I blame him. But Gray Calhoun is, at heart, a decent human being, and comes to realize how heartless he was. So he goes to collect her.

Lucinda Rackmore is a wanted woman – she’s a witch with a rare power, a power that has been bound by her psychopath boyfriend/benefactor. Lucy escaped from his clutches and he wants her back under his thumb. So Lucy enters Nevermore with the hope of finding any sort of protection. Unfortunately for her, she stumbles in at the same time some seriously weird shite is going down. People are dying, portals are opening where they shouldn’t be, and magic seems to be dangerously out of balance.

Lucy and Gray partner up to tackle the town’s problems, and Gray ultimately offers to marry her so he can fully protect her with the understanding that it is a business arrangement. *cue rolling of the eyes* Of course, business turns to pleasure, and they end up falling for each other.

First thing’s first, Bardsley is epic at creating this kick ass world of hers. I’m really digging the hierarchy of magicians and the different houses, etc. There’s a lot of potential here for some seriously kick ass stories. Unfortunately, though, Never More fell a bit short for me otherwise. I liked both Gray and Lucy as characters, but it moved too fast for me to believe. I mean c’mon – Lucy’s sister brutally tried to destroy the man. Then Gray, upon seeing Lucy at her most vulnerable, falls for her instantly. I didn’t buy it. I wanted to, but it was forced.

Bardsley also kept you guessing up to the end as to who, exactly, the bad guy in Nevermore was. Kind of cool. The supporting characters were rich. I can definitely see them in future Wizards of Nevermore books. Can I just say, though…Happy? As a name for a girl? Really? That fell into the Renesmee file for me. So cheesy.

What I liked about this book: the world building, and the history of magic and how it’s used

What I didn’t like: Love story was forced.

Rating: C+

Romance: 2/5 Raunch: 3/5(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 18, 2011 Ally rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2011, paranormal-romance

Small spoiler in quotes!

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans, and where witch Lucy Rackmore is in trouble. Ever since her former lover snuffed out her magical abilities, everyone in town is looking to settle a score with her family. And Lucy's only hope for survival may be her ex-brother-in-law-whom her sister betrayed and nearly killed.
I read a review for this somewhere, I’m not quite sure where. Possibly Smexy Books or Fiction Vix...more Small spoiler in quotes!

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans, and where witch Lucy Rackmore is in trouble. Ever since her former lover snuffed out her magical abilities, everyone in town is looking to settle a score with her family. And Lucy's only hope for survival may be her ex-brother-in-law-whom her sister betrayed and nearly killed.
I read a review for this somewhere, I’m not quite sure where. Possibly Smexy Books or Fiction Vixen but I’m not 100% sure, anyway the review was great and I really wanted to read Never Again and the ebook has been patiently waiting for me on my list until I caved and bought my kindle and wanted to read something on it, and Never Again was my choice.

Never Again, is truly a brilliant and addictive read! I really couldn’t put it down, it has a really great introduction to the book that draws the reader in, the rest of the book continues in the same manner to keep the reader absorbed and entertained by the story and I seriously had zero problems with this book! I loved the main characters, Lucy and Grey they both went into the situation in very different ways but the outcome for both of them was the same which I really loved! Grey is extremely damaged and changed after his ex wife tried to kill him and betrayed him, he doesn’t have really have anything to do with the outside world so when Lucy comes asking him for help it also comes as a wakeup call for Grey to notice what’s happening in his town and the outside world.
There are two storylines going on in Never Again, there’s Lucy’s problem and what’s happening in Grey’s town. Both storylines are great and happily they eventually intertwine. Never Again is a combination of a paranormal romance with a romantic suspense which I truly enjoyed. I never worked out who the bad guy was at all which was really great for me. Although I really loved the main characters I also really enjoyed the secondary characters and can’t wait to read more about these people and see where this series goes.

Favourite Quotes:
“I hereby relinquish the name of my father’s lineage and take that of my husband’s, which I will henceforth honor and use as my own.” She snorted. “Well, so much for woman’s rights. I think the magical need to update their paperwork.”

Gray frowned. “That didn’t happen when I signed the certificate with Kerren.” “Well, maybe you had the wrong kind of paper,” huffed Arlene. “You damned sure had the wrong kind of wife.”

“Stay,” she murmured. “I’m cold.” “You want to use me for a blanket?”

Overall, I really enjoyed Never Again and think it’s worth checking out, for paranormal fans and everyone else too.(less)

like · see review

Mar 25, 2011 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, z-read-in-2011

I read this author's Broken Heart Town series and I was expecting a funny & breezy read. I was pleasantly surprised when this book turned out to be more serious.

Our hero, Gray has been betrayed by his wife Kerren (not only did she cheat on him, but was willing to sacrifice him to satisfy her lover, the demon), and has spent the last ten years as a hermit, not doing his duty as a Guardian. He should be taking care of the town Nevermore, but things got pretty bad, before he rejoined the living...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 05, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Never Again is the first book in the Wizards of Nevermore series by Michele Bardsley and a Paranormal Romance from Signet Eclipse.

Book Blurb:

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans. Small towns like Nevermore are vanishing in America - and in this case, that could be the work of a freelancing witch...

Cursed and Double Cursed

Lucinda Rackmore never would have been caught dead in a town like Nevermore. Of course, that was before the ‘grea...more

like · see review

Mar 04, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr

Lucinda Rackmore is desperate for help which is the only reason she finds herself standing on her ex-brother in-law’s porch begging for his protection. Lucinda is on the run from her lover, Bernard Franco who has bound her powers and has outcast and cursed her. She can’t think of a single other person to help her than Gray Calhoun. But Gray was betrayed by Lucinda’s sister, Kerren in the worst way possible.

In this world, both Magicals and Mundanes (those without magic) populate this world. There...more Lucinda Rackmore is desperate for help which is the only reason she finds herself standing on her ex-brother in-law’s porch begging for his protection. Lucinda is on the run from her lover, Bernard Franco who has bound her powers and has outcast and cursed her. She can’t think of a single other person to help her than Gray Calhoun. But Gray was betrayed by Lucinda’s sister, Kerren in the worst way possible.

In this world, both Magicals and Mundanes (those without magic) populate this world. There are five Houses in which Magicals can belong to – Dragons Sharks, Ravens, Hawks and Wolves. Gray Calhoun belongs to the House of Dragons. When his wife, Kerren kills him (she made a deal with a demon), he goes into the depths of Hell, but eventually comes out alive. As the reader, you do not know right away how he survives or changes because of that betrayal.

Now Gray is living in Nevermore, a town in Texas. He is the head Guardian of this Dragon town, in charge of everyone magical. But he is very bitter over events in his past, and has basically let the town down over the years, choosing to be a recluse. When Lucinda shows up at his door, all he can think about is his hatred for his former wife, and slams the door in her face. But he knows Lucinda is a Rackmore, and the Rackmores are outcasts in the wizard world. He knows she is in danger walking the streets, and his guilty conscience makes him go after her.

Things are won’t be as simple as giving her protection and some money. Lucinda is being pursued by Bernard, and another is out to gain the power of a Guardian in a most evil way.

Never Again is the first book in the new Wizards of Nevermore series by Michele Bardsley. What really intrigued me in this book is the town of Nevermore. It is a small, poor farming town in Texas, yet full of people with magical abilities (to varying degrees). The Calhouns have always been Guardians there although in recent years Gray has slacked on his duties. We don’t just meet Gray and Lucinda but many of the town residents. This town and its people are far from perfect and it creates a nice dynamic in the book. People die, evil things happen – this book has a very dark tone to it which I really liked. It has a small town feel, and although a lot of people have magical abilities, that doesn’t necessarily take precedence in the book. There is the mention of demons and gremlins, but it is not overloaded with the paranormal aspect. It is more about betrayals, and the judgments passed upon others and how they are perceived. The town residents really take center stage in this one. Michele Bardsley introduces us to many people, and gives us the time to get to know them.

I was less fulfilled in the romance department. Gray starts off with such hatred from Lucinda and her family due to the betrayal from Lucinda’s sister (Gray’s former wife). He wants nothing to do with Lucinda. But all too soon he falls for her. Yes, he realizes she is not the same person as her sister, but her sister was such pure evil, I just think he accepts Lucinda too easily. I would have liked to see him keep his surly tone with a her little longer or even some mistrust throughout the book. But they very quickly become a couple and with no further conflict between them. It all fell into place too perfectly for them.

The villain had me guessing until the end. There are some nice twists and Michele Bardsley doesn’t give you all the information up front. She really gives us a very full, rich world with lots left to explore.

I think we have only tipped the iceberg with the amount of evil left to bring into play. I definitely look forward to Now or Never, coming out next.

Rating: B(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, dramatic-traumatic, magical, paranormal, read-in-2011, a-frequent-rereads

This is the best Michele Bardsley book I've read to date. Her Broken Heart, OK books are relatively lighthearted fun (I read them when I'm in the mood for mindless), but this book really shows the breadth of skill Ms. Bardsley had. This book is not light-hearted, but it is amazing. When I finished this book my first thought was 'I really loved that book!'

The characters are well planned and written, the emotions are easily conveyed, you can really feel Lucy's despair and hope, Gray was uber sexy...more

like · see review

Feb 07, 2011 Heather Long rated it 5 of 5 stars

Michele Bardsley steps out of Broken Heart, Oklahoma and
into Nevermore, Texas and I for one hope she comes back to
Nevermore, again and again. I adored Gray and Lucy and the
entire town of Nevermore. It begins as this blurry chalk
painting, dark and diminishing and grows increasingly
vibrant with every page. The darkness that slides along the
underbelly of Nevermore is balanced by the darkness swirling
within the town's guardian Gray.

Gray and Lucy are tortured souls desperately in need of each
other a...more

like · see review

Mar 12, 2011 Ruby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, fantasy

This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

This was my first Michele Bardsley and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Never Again caught my eye because it features one of my favorite tropes--and one that you don't see that often. I love the ex-brother-in-law as the hero. Think Jennifer Crusie's Crazy for You, and Clare Cross' Double Trouble. The other attractive element was the small-town setting. I'm a small-town dweller myself, and though I love the armchair traveling bo...more This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

This was my first Michele Bardsley and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Never Again caught my eye because it features one of my favorite tropes--and one that you don't see that often. I love the ex-brother-in-law as the hero. Think Jennifer Crusie's Crazy for You, and Clare Cross' Double Trouble. The other attractive element was the small-town setting. I'm a small-town dweller myself, and though I love the armchair traveling books allow me, sometimes I like a little something closer to home. I should say, though, that Nevermore has a population far below my town's. Plus, it's in Texas. I'm pretty sure small-town Texas is different from small-town Southern California. So maybe "closer to home" isn't an accurate description after all.
Never Again begins with Gray, the hero, eager to get home to his wife, whom he loves deeply. His homecoming is very different from the one he planned. Instead of connubial bliss, he finds betrayal. Gray learns that Kerren married him so she could sacrifice him to a demon, and therefore gain more power. Kerren has been unfaithful in all ways--and Gray, whose feelings were genuine--discovers that every aspect of their relationship was false.
Flash forward to the present, where the story really takes place. Kerren's betrayal hasn't killed Gray (er, obviously), but it turned him into a hermit. He retreated to his hometown of Nevermore to subsist--not to live. In the meantime, the Rackmore family, including Kerren's father, mother and sister, is reviled by the magical community because of Kerren's actions. Lucy, Kerren's younger sister, survived by becoming the mistress of a man she thought she loved, only to discover that she was essentially his slave, and one of many women he "kept." And for defying him, Lucy has had her powerful thaumaturgy bound. She's forced to flee for her life. It's a terrible time to be a Rackmore, though, so that's how Lucy ends up on her ex-brother-in-law's doorstep, pleading for his help. He's her last hope. No one else will help a Rackmore.
Lucy's arrival in Nevermore sets off a chain of events that have been brewing for some time, events that have nothing to do with her. Gray, believably scarred by Kerren's betrayal, has retreated from the world. During his absence, Nevermore has deteriorated. He's been about as lax a Guardian as you can get, and the town has suffered as a result. What Gray doesn't know if that he, too, is set to suffer for his laxity. There's someone in the town who thinks they'd make a better Guardian--and the only way to replace Gray is to kill him.
I liked Lucy, and I liked Gray, too. My only complaint would be that the events of the novel happen lickety-split, so we have too little time to get to know them. I also wanted Gray to have a bigger Ah ha! moment about the whole Guardianship thing. I kept thinking of the people in the town and feeling for them. Overall, I'd say pace was the biggest problem here. There's interesting stuff going on, and the fast pace works for the plot, but not for the romance. Gray and Lucy have believable tension, but the leap from attraction to Love (yes, it's capitalized on purpose) is too swift. Two such damaged people wouldn't open up to each other so easily. At least, I doubt they would. Actually, pretty much everything happens at a fast and furious pace in Never Again. Lucy decides to clean up Gray's house and a visitor stops by at an opportune moment. Then, one phone tree later, a bunch of people come over to help out.
Despite any problems with pacing, I am looking forward to the next installment in the series. I'd like to see the restoration of the town as it happens. In particular, I'm looking forward to Ant and Happy's story which, as I understand it, will be in the third book. I'm also interested in the world-building, in a world where there's a magical elite. To be honest, I'm more interested in how magic fits into national politics, etc, than I am in the magic itself. I will be haunting Michele Bardsley's site for updates on Never Say Never. Nevermore is a town worth revisiting.(less)

like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

It took me a little bit to discover this newest series by Michele Bardsley. As an avid reader of her Broken Heart series and erotica novels, I'm a little mad at myself it took me so long to pick up this newest series. But man oh man am I excited that I can now said I've started it. Her Broken Heart series is extremely light hearted with great characters and the Wizards of Nevermore series is going to be just as good except with a little more dirt and grit under the hood. Gray is a tortured soul...more

like · see review

Sep 09, 2011 Jenny rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, supernatural

This book could have been a lot better but it wasn't edited very well - if I'm picking up on errors something is wrong.
Overall the plot was really good - but the characters where annoying. There was no real development of the relationship between Luce and Gary. There should have been a lot more anguish between the two - but there was nothing they just looked into each other’s eyes and it was love, or in this case they fucked once and it was love
And speaking of sex – it was badly written. We pret...more

like · see review

Nov 19, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-michele-bardsley, fantasy-magic, fiction, mystery-suspense, read-in-2011, romance

I love Michele Bardsley. Her Broken Heart series is one of my favorites. So when I heard about this new series featuring wizards, I eagerly snatched it up. And I was not disappointed. Right off the bat I knew I would like Lucy and her never-quit attitude. Even when she is beaten and down she finds a way to move on. And Grey, the dormant dragon is her perfect match. I was surprised by the twists and turns that the story took too that threw me off who the real bad guy was. This is a series I look...more

like · see review

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

Die Hexe Lucinda Rackmore ist auf der Flucht vor ihrem Ex, der sie mit einem bösartigen Fluch belegt hat. In ihrer Verzweiflung wendet sie sich an ihren Schwager, den mächtigen Magier Gray Calhourn. Gray ist aber auf die ganze Familie Rackmore nicht gut zu sprechen, schließlich hat Lucindas Schwester Kerren ihm das Herz gebrochen und wollte ihn töten.

Dieser Fantasy-Roman hätte für seine originellen Einfälle eigentlich einen Stern mehr verdient, aber mich haben die völlig unpassenden und unlogis...more

like · see review

Sep 18, 2012 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-lovers-book-club, paranormal-romance, romance, read-2012

This book has an interesting beginning, a moderately satisfying ending, and a long, saggy, boring middle. The set-up for the story is intriguing, and the world building is at least mildly interesting. Unfortunately, there are just too many characters to wade through, and the romance feels like an afterthought.

At the beginning of the novel, it seems like there will be plenty of interesting conflict between the main characters. Lucinda is a former pampered rich kid worn down by a family curse, a v...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, kindlepurchase2012, 4-25-wine-glasses

Read for Fun
Overall Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.50
Character Rating 4.00

First Thought when finished: I would love to visit Nevermore but I am more interested in exactly how much more evil there is to unbury there!

What I Loved: Oddly enough I really loved the mystery in Never Again. I have been on a mystery/thriller kick and while this is a romance--the mystery was intriguing and I didn't figure it out till about the time the characters did. I love when that happens while reading! It really pulls me...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Anna's Herding Cats! rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bardsley-michele, 2012, need-review

A while back I read Michele Bardsley's Broken Heart Vampires and figured this would be a similar light, cheeky series. Yeah, whew, not so much. Never Again was a much more serious, gritty read about a small Texas town that's falling apart right along with their absentee Guardian, Gray Calhoun. Be prepared for a good information overload. There's a LOT of the "Billy Joe's wife's sister used to run the feed shop and her brother used to date Sally who's kid is living out in California and that's wh...more A while back I read Michele Bardsley's Broken Heart Vampires and figured this would be a similar light, cheeky series. Yeah, whew, not so much. Never Again was a much more serious, gritty read about a small Texas town that's falling apart right along with their absentee Guardian, Gray Calhoun. Be prepared for a good information overload. There's a LOT of the "Billy Joe's wife's sister used to run the feed shop and her brother used to date Sally who's kid is living out in California and that's why the bookstore is closed now" eye crossing kind of information. Very small town gossipy stuff where you don't really know anyone involved or care all that much. Yesh. But it did get across the way small towns feel with everyone knowing everything about everyone. Since it was the first book in the series there's also a good bit of background information right at the start on how the world of witches and wizards was organized that had my head spinning. But once you get past these little bits it's easy to get lost in the world and enjoy the story. You just have to stick it out for a little while.

Gray and Lucy Rackmore are quite the pair of tortured souls. What they've gone through just grips your heart. They'd both been hurt badly by others and deserve so much better. I may hate the name but I loved Lucy. This is a woman who has been beaten down and is desperate. She's lost everything, no one will help her or is even kind to her. and she's still a kind woman and will risk her life to try and save another. She's a wonderful heroine and I just wanted to reach in and hug her. Gray was a little rough at the start and pretty much an ass turning his back on Lucy just like everyone else. He's been selfish and a recluse for years as his town falls apart and evil tries to take over. He had a great come to Jesus kinda moment after turning Lucy away and finally snaps out of it and starts trying to put everything to right again. He's pretty great once he stops wallowing and a hero you can look up to. I loved getting to watch Gray and Lucy start to heal and their relationship grow from one of need/convenience to something real.

One of the things I thought was fantastic was the villain and figuring out who they were. I love not being able to figure it all out until the very end and Bardsley did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing. I'd be certain I knew who it was one moment and the next I couldn't see them as the villain at all. Loved it! While Never Again wasn't at all what I was expecting I thoroughly enjoyed the read and wish I already had book 2 on hand.

Originally posted at Herding Cats & Burning Soup
(less)

like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 STARS

This was a darker novel than I expected form this particular author. What novels of Ms. Bardsley’s that I have read are usually light fluffy and funny. “Never Again” had much darker themes and was truly an interesting and absorbing read.

Magic is the norm and magical people are quite common. Be sure to read the very beginning of the novel, which explains all about the origins of the Magicals and the Mundanes.

Lucy has come to Nevermore Texas to meet with her ex -brother-in-law Gray and...more 4.5 STARS

This was a darker novel than I expected form this particular author. What novels of Ms. Bardsley’s that I have read are usually light fluffy and funny. “Never Again” had much darker themes and was truly an interesting and absorbing read.

Magic is the norm and magical people are quite common. Be sure to read the very beginning of the novel, which explains all about the origins of the Magicals and the Mundanes.

Lucy has come to Nevermore Texas to meet with her ex -brother-in-law Gray and to ask him to marry her. Gray sends her away with no help. You see she is running from a curse her ex-lover has put on her and needs Gray’s strength as a Wizard to protect her. Gray was once married to Lucy’s sister Kerren and killed by her. Yes, you heard correctly, Kerren brought him to Hell and killed him. Now he spends his days miserable and alone. He is the Guardian Wizard for this town in Texas, yet he is derelict in his duties. However, certain harsh truths are soon put forward to Gray and he goes searching for Lucy to give her a little help and here the real story starts.

The characters you are supposed to like and empathize with are written so that is exactly what you do. The characters that you are supposed to dislike are written with the same depth. No nuance is skipped. Once you start the book, you are quickly sucked into the story and the murders that start taking place. Ms Bardsley has a fine time having us try to figure out just who is behind all the bad things happening and I was a little surprised to find out who it was.

You can see quite clearly that this is a novel meant to set us up for the rest of the series, so you do get a lot of information on secondary and tertiary characters. Especially the Sheriff about whom the next book is all about.
If I have any complaints it would be that the very ending is a little simplistic and it almost felt like Ms Bardsley couldn't figure out how exactly to end the book. Even though it feels like a due ex machine ending – it won me over and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

(less)

like · see review

May 24, 2011 Barbara ★ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzcover-rainbow, first-in-series, paranormal-witches-wizards, paranormal-warriors-guardians, h-h-abused-tortured, h-h-disfigured-handicapped, paranormal-demons, paranormal-dragons, paranormal-magic, set-in-usa-texas, read-2011

This is the first book I've read by Michele Bardsley and I absolutely loved it! Gray Calhoun is hardly your typical hero - he's been killed and resurrected by magic; he's been brutally dumped by his wife whom he loved dearly; he's been hiding from life for 10 years; and he's about to get his HEA but it won't come easily. Lucinda Rackmore is one of those heroines you wish you knew in real life. She's a beautiful person on the inside (and the outside too); she's been used and abused by a man looki...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 23, 2011 Nisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, magical, exotic-or-novel-setting, revenge, western, frenemies

4.5 stars, to be accurate.

I've been hearing amazing things about this book, but I wasn't able to get a hold of it until last week. Genre-wise, it is a mix of fantasy/supernatural/western romance. Seriously! The H/h are a Dragon Wizard and something-or-another witch. They deal with supernatural occurrences and beings. And they live in a small town in Texas.

The basic set-up is Gray Calhoun, the Dragon Wizard guy, was betrayed and sent to hell (literally) by his wife. 10 years later, he's alive (th...more 4.5 stars, to be accurate.

I've been hearing amazing things about this book, but I wasn't able to get a hold of it until last week. Genre-wise, it is a mix of fantasy/supernatural/western romance. Seriously! The H/h are a Dragon Wizard and something-or-another witch. They deal with supernatural occurrences and beings. And they live in a small town in Texas.

The basic set-up is Gray Calhoun, the Dragon Wizard guy, was betrayed and sent to hell (literally) by his wife. 10 years later, he's alive (though not really living) and has his ex-wife's younger sister at his doorstep, asking him to marry her, for protection, of course. Lucy, aka. Lucinda, is on the run from her abusive evil wizard lover. Not really knowing who to turn to (since her family lost it's prominent social standing once it became apparent that they consorted with a demon), she resorts to Gray in Nevermore. The story continues its focus on the people and events at Nevermore that are more than what they seem. There's a diabolical villain who wants to overthrow Gray, who happens to be a functioning member of the Nevermore population. As well as other action plots and what-not. In the end, there's a confrontation with the evil ex-boyfriend and everyone lives happily ever after... with the promise of more books about Nevermore and their encounters with evil.

Gray is a sweetheart. The man, despite his abused heart, is a really good guy. And for a hero, he's pretty flawed. For one, he's messy, to the point of grossness ("smells like socks and bologna"). He's one of those men who NEEDS to get married. You know what I mean, the affectionate men who crave to love and take care of someone else. It was sheer bad luck that he got involved with Lucy's older sister. Lucy is also a nice character. Also damaged, she has a very skewed sense of the world, or at least of herself. She's a kind-hearted person who has survived unspeakable things. I guess that's the most I got from her character. They fall in love (lust) quickly and it takes up most of the book. At least it was hot.

The action part was both abrupt and abbreviated. In fact, I felt like it was inadequate to explain or resolve the dire situations that most of the book built up on. For example, (view spoiler)

My favorite part of the book was the secondary characters. There was Taylor, the sheriff. We get a long-winded background on many of the other characters through him because Gray is to *cough*busy*cough* to do so. Trent, a high schooler didn't do much, but he was very likeable. I started warming up to Ren (mostly for his name), but ... he was kinda crazy. I adored Ant (19), and Happy (16), for that matter. They came out of nowhere but their psuedo romance was absolutely cute. Not a real romance yet, but it was so cute to see Ant try to deal with his attraction toward Happy. This may have actually been the kicker. I loved it so much.

Overall, it's a very enjoyable book. I think many people will love it. But be warned, there is more romance and sex scenes that I had expected. If you abhor stuff like that, you may want to skip this. But if you want to read a light-hearted genre-melding fantasy/PNR, this is perfect for you.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2011 Jo (My House of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

What first attracted me to this book was the cover. Yes, I'm shallow, and I can admit it. Then I read the back cover -- wizards, dragons, magical beings; okay, I'm pleasantly intrigued! I've never been a big fan of fantasy, but stick some magic in a small town and apparently I cannot look away. (See On The Edge by Ilona Andrews.)

The initial issue between Gray and Lucy is that they're ex-in-laws, and Gray was wronged -- horribly wronged -- by Lucy's sister, so to say Lucy showing up at his door...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Never Again
avg rating	preview: Never Again Goodreads rating: 3.95 (622 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8272997-never-again?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347780662l/8272997.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8272997-never-again?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Never Again by Michele Bardsley[/url]

Never Again (Wizards of Nevermore #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Michele Bardsley

Books by Michele Bardsley

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Never Again