After a rogue werewolf attack triggers her latent powers as the Selected, Sydney Sedrick is reluctantly dragged into a war of vampires and werewolves, both battling for total species domination. Each try to use her as their pawn and are willing to use any force necessary to gain control of her special gifts. For her protection, Sydney is armed with only her grandmother’s journal and Blake, the sexy werewolf who insists they are meant to be together.
In order to succeed, Sydney must embrace her destiny and join the battle to protect both sides from genocide. Caught between two very different worlds, belonging to neither, Sydney is forced to risk it all, or lose everything and everyone she holds dear.
At age ten, Mandi Casey bought her first paranormal romance. Since then, she’s been bitten with a passion for vampires, werewolves, life-mates, and all matters relating to love and romantic stories of success against all odds. Her writing style draws the reader in with emotionally charged connections, conflict, adventure, and dark, snarky humor.
When she’s not writing, Mandi enjoys Frisbee golfing and researching and writing about urban paranormal romance.
She is a member of Rockin’ Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Savvy Authors.
This is an excellent book by first time author Mandi Casey. I found the pace fast and the story interesting. I recommend this book for all age groups. Marian
The story starts with Sydney Sedrick locking up her store and being bitten by a rogue werewolf. The bite triggers her latent 'Selected' genes.... genes she didn't know she had! It transpires that she comes from a long line of 'Selected' beings which are humans who are tasked with helping to keep the peace between werewolves and vampires. The problem with that is that she didn't know they existed either!!!
Sydney has moved from Chicago to live with her maternal Aunt Judith and to run the family store. When she gets home, she tells Aunt Judith about the bite and she appears to take the news in her stride. She makes a poultice for Sydney to apply to the bite mark and gives her the journal of Grandma Maria (Judith’s mother) and urges her to read it as soon as she can. From the journal, Sydney learns what she is and what her grandmother was. She soon meets Blake, who is the son of the leader of the local werewolf pack. Despite her attraction to him, she decides it’s best to keep a ‘professional’ distance. This isn’t made any easier by the fact that he has been designated her werewolf protector by his father Morris, or that Blake wants her to stay at his father’s den until the rogue is caught. And when she meets her sister Brianna’s new boyfriend Michael who just happens to be Blake’s cousin, and therefore another werewolf, keeping a distance becomes almost impossible. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she also has to meet with Kieran, the head of the local vampire coven who also demands that she lives with him until the rogue werewolf can be caught. Throw into the mix the fact that Sydney decides to keep the whole ‘Selected’, werewolves and vampire existence from Brianna and that she suspects Aunt Judith may be a witch, Sydney quickly realises that her life will never be the same again and that she will forever be walking a tightrope between the werewolves and vampires. And just when she starts to get her head around all of that, she discovers that demons exist as well!!
I really enjoyed reading about how Sydney develops as a character and her interactions with other characters in the book. There are twists and turns and learning curves aplenty and if the sequel is as good as this, I will thoroughly enjoy reading it.
I loved the premise behind this book, I found it very interesting. I like vampire stories, and I like werewolf stories, especially when the vampires don't sparkle. However, I wanted to slap Sydney more than I wanted to cheer her on about anything. It was obvious that she was trying to be strong, but she came off more stubborn, and it was totally frustrating. Stubborn does not equal strong at all. I feel that it was her life to lead, as she saw fit, and she could have totally given Blake a chance, and probably should have. For me, the book may have been better with either no romance, or Sydney being a bit less stubborn.
I was kind of disappointed in this very simple story. I felt that Sydney accepted the whole there are vampires and werewolves in the world and you are destined to be involved with both societies. Heck she was attacked by a werewolf and brushed it off like it was nothing and so did her aunt. WTH?
There was just too much going on and little of it was handled properly. The whole thing came across as convoluted and mismatched. I liked the concept but the execution fell short. Though I liked Blake (werewolf) and even Kieran (vampire), I won't be continuing the series.
I was kind of disappointed. The writing was very simplistic. Characters acted & spoke as if they were teenagers instead of adults. Story was very convoluted & didn't make sense at times. There were a lot of spelling mistakes. For example, the word for the natural phenomenon is "lightning" not "lightening" and the word for opponent is "adversary" not "advisory." The premise was actually interesting & had a lot of potential but I won't be reading the rest of this series.
I was really caught up in Sydney tale of her bizarre life as the chosen one. Chosen for what, she wasn't clear and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Vampires, werewolves, and others.... It could get only better. Welcome to her world!!
I enjoyed Sydney's character so, so much. There were minor faults, if you really wanted to pick...grammar and wrong use of words. Bit of an anti climax with the build up to the main event. Put that aside and this is a really fantastic book. Very individual, lots of twists and plots going on. What really got me hooked where the characters. Absolutely brilliant, you pretty much ave everything in there along the way. Dysfunction, insecurity, love, I could go on but you get the picture. I though the writing style was contemporary with a clever and ofter emotional charge. Overall I'm glad the opportunity arose to read it, can't wait to start the next one. It ended on a real cliffhanger!
Astounding. The way the author weaves the plot leaves the reader breathless. Surprises pop out with every turn of the page.
The imagery used by the author is colorful and unique. It makes her fantasy world even more interesting. The love story between Blake and Sydney is so sweet, it makes the reader smile and giggle. Being pursued by a werewolf is really something.
Flames: 2
I was provided a copy of the book by BTS eMag for the purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review—all conclusions are my own responsibility.
I enjoyed this book, I think it has a lot of potential. However, there are many many loose ends at the end of the book.And some aspects while not elaborated on in the book, are quite predictable. I was able to finish it in one sitting, because I did find myself very involved in the story. I have just purchased Book 2 and I cannot wait to start it!
An excellent start to a fun series. Sydney is tough, but vulnerable and the world Casey has constructed has an established mythos I look forward to learning more about. I'm eager to read the next book!
Truly enjoyed this book...When I was halfway through the book, I bought book 2...and that's saying something. Can't wait to see What Sydney gets into next.