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Dawn Of A New Life
From all outward appearances Fennella Rose Beaudoin, Ella for short, is a regular person. She works the night shift at a call center, lives in an unremarkable San Diego apartment, loves takeout and is a bit of a loner. But the life Ella’s been living is a lie. The problem is she doesn’t know it. After surviving a near death experience, Ella finds herself entangled with Bron, a seductively handsome stranger, in a supernatural world she can’t remember. Ella must confront her past in order to navigate this mysterious existence and determine what’s worth fighting for. The sun has set on the world Ella thought she knew. This is the dawn of her new life. This book is intended for mature audiences.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2019
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 2, 2021
‘Dawn of a New Life’ is the second book written by Ashley Finley, and the first in her ‘Variant’ series. From the summary available to us prior to its April 19th release on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited, it appears at first that Fennella ‘Ella’ Rose, is your average woman with an average life. Unbeknown to both her and the reader, it is soon discovered that it is anything but average.
Surviving a near-death experience, Ella then encounters a strange woman who she’d been sure had been following her around. Waking up to find this woman at the foot of her bed, Ella’s questions and fears mount up rather than being answered and her anxieties calmed. Just when she thought she’d managed to shirk off this supernatural stranger, she’s “knocked out”, falling into blissful darkness.
Waking up in a place that feels and resembles a spa getaway retreat, Ella begins her new life, one of many, within the Ravenwood community. A community full of people such as herself, only less powerful. Though none of them unequal to her in any way. In this community, many truths are revealed to Ella albeit slowly for her own good, as to the many questions that only seem to be mounting up with each answer she is given. She soon learns the truth about who she is, what she has, how she must learn to control her once dormant abilities, her parentage but most importantly, her anem carem, Bron.
There is much yet that Ella has to discover about herself, her human variant species, about her many lives and how she can control who she would fully awaken to be once the time has come for her. Contending with many barriers along the way, this would not be as simple or as quick as Ella would’ve originally liked it to have been. The path to the person she was meant to and has always destined to be will not be a smooth one, but then again, the bad does always come before something truly great, and Ella is surely destined for greatness.
‘Dawn of a New Life’ is an excellent introduction into what promises to be an interesting series full of many plot twists and holes, unexpected moments and times you’ll be screaming at the page in delight, shock and pleasant horror at the journey Ella and the others are set to go on from where we leave them at the end of this first book.
If you’re looking for a read that is both light on sweet romance and heavier on blood-boiling passion, yet encompasses both mystery, suspense and the new creative twist on the paranormal world, then this is the book for you. It might take a book, or two or three to get to the end of their journey, but this is a series worth investing both your time and your money in.
Ella and Bron promise to keep you entertained and on your toes with their story spanning more than a millennia, so join them on their journey to see how their story ends, or perhaps continues on forever. Who knows? Watch this space. Or rather, space and time.
Download ‘Dawn of a New Life’, and join the Variants today!
Surviving a near-death experience, Ella then encounters a strange woman who she’d been sure had been following her around. Waking up to find this woman at the foot of her bed, Ella’s questions and fears mount up rather than being answered and her anxieties calmed. Just when she thought she’d managed to shirk off this supernatural stranger, she’s “knocked out”, falling into blissful darkness.
Waking up in a place that feels and resembles a spa getaway retreat, Ella begins her new life, one of many, within the Ravenwood community. A community full of people such as herself, only less powerful. Though none of them unequal to her in any way. In this community, many truths are revealed to Ella albeit slowly for her own good, as to the many questions that only seem to be mounting up with each answer she is given. She soon learns the truth about who she is, what she has, how she must learn to control her once dormant abilities, her parentage but most importantly, her anem carem, Bron.
There is much yet that Ella has to discover about herself, her human variant species, about her many lives and how she can control who she would fully awaken to be once the time has come for her. Contending with many barriers along the way, this would not be as simple or as quick as Ella would’ve originally liked it to have been. The path to the person she was meant to and has always destined to be will not be a smooth one, but then again, the bad does always come before something truly great, and Ella is surely destined for greatness.
‘Dawn of a New Life’ is an excellent introduction into what promises to be an interesting series full of many plot twists and holes, unexpected moments and times you’ll be screaming at the page in delight, shock and pleasant horror at the journey Ella and the others are set to go on from where we leave them at the end of this first book.
If you’re looking for a read that is both light on sweet romance and heavier on blood-boiling passion, yet encompasses both mystery, suspense and the new creative twist on the paranormal world, then this is the book for you. It might take a book, or two or three to get to the end of their journey, but this is a series worth investing both your time and your money in.
Ella and Bron promise to keep you entertained and on your toes with their story spanning more than a millennia, so join them on their journey to see how their story ends, or perhaps continues on forever. Who knows? Watch this space. Or rather, space and time.
Download ‘Dawn of a New Life’, and join the Variants today!
July 11, 2019
Stunning
Words cannot express how much I loved this book! Give me a good soul mate love for the ages any day and the relationship between Bron and Ella is everything I want in a good love story and more. Wrap it all up in an epic world of Variants whose memories span across the ages and this is a seriously compelling opener for this series. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Words cannot express how much I loved this book! Give me a good soul mate love for the ages any day and the relationship between Bron and Ella is everything I want in a good love story and more. Wrap it all up in an epic world of Variants whose memories span across the ages and this is a seriously compelling opener for this series. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
July 6, 2019
I loved this! The world felt epic and huge, as if a hundred stories and lives could easily fit within it. The characters were likable and relatable, and I was rooting for them hardcore just a few chapters in. It took a few pages to move past Ella’s past and be rewarded with the big reveal, but, looking back, I loved seeing her evolution starting from the mundane of those brief pages. It captured perfectly our everyday lives and the fantasy of stepping into a world where we’re special, vital, and loved. I’d truly rate it a 4.5–docking half a point for nonstandard dialogue tags and a few errors—but nitpicking is silly when you’re immersed in an epic world full of dynamic characters, an exciting, satisfying plot, and a heart-warming love story with a wicked kick of heat. Really, a fantastic introduction to a fascinating world. Now, I’m just greedy for book two!
April 20, 2019
Fantastic novel. It was a great blend of the supernatural, steamy romance, and amazing descriptions it was an awesome book and I can't wait for the next.
December 6, 2020
My Rating 3.5 stars!
So I want to preface by saying I really did love this story! It was definitely exciting to go along Ella's journey with her as she learned about her past and who she was! I love the concept of being Variant and all that entails! So many exciting options and room for development as the story continues!
That being said, I always strive to be honest in my reviews no matter what, and there were defintiely a few things that gave me issues fully submerging myself into the story. First and foremost, and I know my editor's eye probably is just so used to looking out for these things, but I found the prose itself and the punctuation to be lacking in some places. I know that there will always be issues that slip past editors! But that was one thing I continued to notice throughout the story.
The second thing was the relationship between Bron and Ella. And again, let me preface by saying I really did love their characters! But I felt that there needed to be a bit more of a pull on both ends (or even a longer realization period) to help the reader understand that they're soul mates. Even though they are, the relationship just felt very fast and escalated to me? Like one minute she isn't willing to accept anything they're telling her after basically abducting her, and the next, they're having sex. (Which don't get me wrong, I'm ALL FOR the smut) But it just didn't flow plot wise for me.
But overall, I did enjoy the story! And I know others might have different opinions, as we are all entitled to. :)
So I want to preface by saying I really did love this story! It was definitely exciting to go along Ella's journey with her as she learned about her past and who she was! I love the concept of being Variant and all that entails! So many exciting options and room for development as the story continues!
That being said, I always strive to be honest in my reviews no matter what, and there were defintiely a few things that gave me issues fully submerging myself into the story. First and foremost, and I know my editor's eye probably is just so used to looking out for these things, but I found the prose itself and the punctuation to be lacking in some places. I know that there will always be issues that slip past editors! But that was one thing I continued to notice throughout the story.
The second thing was the relationship between Bron and Ella. And again, let me preface by saying I really did love their characters! But I felt that there needed to be a bit more of a pull on both ends (or even a longer realization period) to help the reader understand that they're soul mates. Even though they are, the relationship just felt very fast and escalated to me? Like one minute she isn't willing to accept anything they're telling her after basically abducting her, and the next, they're having sex. (Which don't get me wrong, I'm ALL FOR the smut) But it just didn't flow plot wise for me.
But overall, I did enjoy the story! And I know others might have different opinions, as we are all entitled to. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2019
@ashleyfinleywriter has fulfilled her mission to 'write captivating stories that combine adventure, science fiction, romance and erotica'; stories that 'thrill her readers and create a world they'll want to return to page after page.' No sentence, idea or event was wasted in this whirlwind tale of intrigue, action and untapped abilities. I like the 'low fantasy' vibe - the 'real' world is in the forefront, while the incredible truth beyond it is merely a thread that only a select few have the privilege of accessing. Many fantasy/sci-fi books scare me off by being too large and intricate, with too much world building for my liking. Not this one. It provides the perfect balance of all the aforementioned aspects.
Although a slightly slower burn may have added to the spark of Ella and Bron's sexy, soulful romance, I must say this was a wild, addictive read and I can't wait for the sequel - Finley has an incredible imagination and writing skill to match. One to watch!
#book13of2019 #dawnofanewlife #supportindieauthors #localauthor #nikkimoyes #indieauthors
Although a slightly slower burn may have added to the spark of Ella and Bron's sexy, soulful romance, I must say this was a wild, addictive read and I can't wait for the sequel - Finley has an incredible imagination and writing skill to match. One to watch!
#book13of2019 #dawnofanewlife #supportindieauthors #localauthor #nikkimoyes #indieauthors
June 22, 2021
4.4 out of 5
This is a romance with fantasy elements. Fennella Rose Beaudoin is attacked outside of her apartment and she goes on the run. While in Hawaii she encounters a strange woman who says she knows Fennella from a past life and she is a Variant, a special kind of human with superhuman abilities. She is part of a group of Variants who believe all life, non-variant, and variant, matters. The Separatists don't.
What I liked:
This book is steamy! I would say 4 out of 5 in the steam factor. I definitely enjoyed that. They were well written. The worldbuilding is ok, but this is a short book so while I would have loved a bit more here, I realize it is primarily romance-driven. It does set up the series nicely, and the ending was satisfying while leaving enough questions unanswered that piqued my interest for a second installment.
What I didn't like
The formatting. The italics are not easy to read. Someone with learning disability would have trouble with it. The author can just create a break and the reader will find their way between times just fine. There were a few noticeable editing issues. Some of the sentence structures were a bit difficult. But it wasn't enough to be annoying, just noticeable.
Overall
I think it's a good first book in a series. A quick entertaining read that romance and fantasy readers will really enjoy. I definitely recommend it.
This is a romance with fantasy elements. Fennella Rose Beaudoin is attacked outside of her apartment and she goes on the run. While in Hawaii she encounters a strange woman who says she knows Fennella from a past life and she is a Variant, a special kind of human with superhuman abilities. She is part of a group of Variants who believe all life, non-variant, and variant, matters. The Separatists don't.
What I liked:
This book is steamy! I would say 4 out of 5 in the steam factor. I definitely enjoyed that. They were well written. The worldbuilding is ok, but this is a short book so while I would have loved a bit more here, I realize it is primarily romance-driven. It does set up the series nicely, and the ending was satisfying while leaving enough questions unanswered that piqued my interest for a second installment.
What I didn't like
The formatting. The italics are not easy to read. Someone with learning disability would have trouble with it. The author can just create a break and the reader will find their way between times just fine. There were a few noticeable editing issues. Some of the sentence structures were a bit difficult. But it wasn't enough to be annoying, just noticeable.
Overall
I think it's a good first book in a series. A quick entertaining read that romance and fantasy readers will really enjoy. I definitely recommend it.
November 21, 2019
A highly enjoyable story that brings together romance, the paranormal, reincarnation, and more
Ella has fled from her normal life after being attacked. It takes a strange woman finding her and bringing her to a small community in the Pacific Northwest before she begins to understand what really happened that day. And that it’s nothing compared to what Ella doesn’t remember.
It starts with a slow rediscovery of who she really is, which takes a big leap when she rediscovers Bron, someone for whom the term “soul mate” seems an understatement. From there events really take off as the stakes get higher. And the memories, abilities, and everything that go with them come back to Ella.
The result is a story that brings together romance, the paranormal, reincarnation, and a potentially epic battle brewing between factions within this new world Ella has been introduced to. It was a highly enjoyable story with even more promising adventures to come.
Ella has fled from her normal life after being attacked. It takes a strange woman finding her and bringing her to a small community in the Pacific Northwest before she begins to understand what really happened that day. And that it’s nothing compared to what Ella doesn’t remember.
It starts with a slow rediscovery of who she really is, which takes a big leap when she rediscovers Bron, someone for whom the term “soul mate” seems an understatement. From there events really take off as the stakes get higher. And the memories, abilities, and everything that go with them come back to Ella.
The result is a story that brings together romance, the paranormal, reincarnation, and a potentially epic battle brewing between factions within this new world Ella has been introduced to. It was a highly enjoyable story with even more promising adventures to come.
May 10, 2020
An interesting premise with possibilities
After a frightening experience causes Ella to find herself introduced to a whole new world of soul mates and strange powers, and it changes her life completely. The idea is great and could have worked very well. The character development of both Ella, and the group of people from her past, including Bron though, never quite happened and so the story stalled even if the writer displays a nice style.
The problem stemmed from too much telling rather than showing us. This caused problems with the pace because it extended to the scenes of intimacy after Bron comes into the picture, and Ella’s relationship with the peripheral cast, The telling breaks any connection to the characters, it doesn’t allow any tension or sensuality between the lovers and consequently slows the pace right down. I found myself hurrying through sections.
Overall there is a certain something but a little tightening is needed.
After a frightening experience causes Ella to find herself introduced to a whole new world of soul mates and strange powers, and it changes her life completely. The idea is great and could have worked very well. The character development of both Ella, and the group of people from her past, including Bron though, never quite happened and so the story stalled even if the writer displays a nice style.
The problem stemmed from too much telling rather than showing us. This caused problems with the pace because it extended to the scenes of intimacy after Bron comes into the picture, and Ella’s relationship with the peripheral cast, The telling breaks any connection to the characters, it doesn’t allow any tension or sensuality between the lovers and consequently slows the pace right down. I found myself hurrying through sections.
Overall there is a certain something but a little tightening is needed.
December 10, 2020
Such a unique story!
*True rating 3.5*
I loved the creativity and uniqueness of this story, it's not a concept I've read before and it made me have to see what happens next. I loved the steamy romance and mystery around Ella's past. I loved that I truly had no clue what she was and neither did she, we discovered it together. I started to really fall for some of the characters (I mean, Bron...hello!), but I'd love to get to know even more from them.
Overall, this is a concept and story that is worth diving into. Enjoy the ride!
*True rating 3.5*
I loved the creativity and uniqueness of this story, it's not a concept I've read before and it made me have to see what happens next. I loved the steamy romance and mystery around Ella's past. I loved that I truly had no clue what she was and neither did she, we discovered it together. I started to really fall for some of the characters (I mean, Bron...hello!), but I'd love to get to know even more from them.
Overall, this is a concept and story that is worth diving into. Enjoy the ride!
May 26, 2020
The story was great! The reincarnation and memory aspects added a unique quality to the story and was done so well! I liked reading about Ella's transformation into the person she has always been and the development of her powers. Bron and Ella's instant connection was a little weird at first but once the story progressed, the soul mate aspect and recovering of past memories helped make it real and enjoyable. I will definitely read the next book.
July 19, 2020
There aren't enough words to describe how wonderful this book is! I'm so happy to know there will be more books. I love the characters - Ella, Bron, Jenn, and Mo. I like how Ella struggled to adjust. It shows how human she is despite being a Variant. Ella and Bron's romance is to die for! Dare I say #couplegoals! This is a great start to introduce us to the story, world, and characters. I highly recommend this book! Excuse me while I wait - impatiently - for the next book.
June 1, 2020
Ella Rose is healing from a horrible attack and trying to find herself. What she didn’t know is she is part of a special group with powers and has lived a hundred lifetimes.
This was an enjoyable book with an interesting premise. I got it to support a fellow author and enjoyed what I read.
This was an enjoyable book with an interesting premise. I got it to support a fellow author and enjoyed what I read.
August 28, 2022
Outstanding world building, fresh characters, steamy romance. What more could you want? Can't wait for the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews