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El Corazon #1
Scintilla
How far is too far to go to save someone you love?
Brandon Lynch is magical. He’s a scintilla, wielder of electricity and is in love with a werewolf—or maybe he’d just in love with the idea of loving a werewolf?
Raul Fierro is a werewolf and knows he loves Brandon. He’s made a promise to always protect Brandon and will carry out that promise at all costs.
When Brandon and Raul go head to head with human traffickers, Brandon’s morals are stretched to their limits. Will Raul keeping his promise tear them apart?
Brandon Lynch is magical. He’s a scintilla, wielder of electricity and is in love with a werewolf—or maybe he’d just in love with the idea of loving a werewolf?
Raul Fierro is a werewolf and knows he loves Brandon. He’s made a promise to always protect Brandon and will carry out that promise at all costs.
When Brandon and Raul go head to head with human traffickers, Brandon’s morals are stretched to their limits. Will Raul keeping his promise tear them apart?
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 11, 2020
This was one fantastic, grab-you-by-the-feels, amazing, incredible, intense, fast paced, action packed, smoking hot, gritty, gripping, exciting, nail biting, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, and totally awesome start to an intriguing new series. It had me hooked from the very first page, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
March 4, 2020
Electrifying! A sexy new thriller that captured my attention from the first page! I loved it! I really enjoyed the characters and the concept. I loved the suspense it kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end.
March 20, 2022
What do you get when you serendipitously put a magical electricity-wielding, off-key singing, computer nerd with a powerful werewolf alpha dom bounty hunter/sex worker? A whole lotta testosterone-pheromonal high voltage sexy time with an unquenchable desire for more, please.
Elizabeth Noble has written another edge-of-your-seat mystery/romance that makes it difficult to stop reading until the last page. Her passion for writing is felt as the protagonists, Brandon and Raul, begin an unintentional relationship which grows throughout the story. The book is well-written, well-paced, has ridiculously crazy drama and a happy-ever-after end. I loved Brandon and Raul as well as Raul's wonderfully eccentric family and friends. I hope we see these guys in more adventures.
My heart pitter-pats when I find authors with an unquenchable passion for writing. I'm looking forward to reading more of this writer's work.
Elizabeth Noble has written another edge-of-your-seat mystery/romance that makes it difficult to stop reading until the last page. Her passion for writing is felt as the protagonists, Brandon and Raul, begin an unintentional relationship which grows throughout the story. The book is well-written, well-paced, has ridiculously crazy drama and a happy-ever-after end. I loved Brandon and Raul as well as Raul's wonderfully eccentric family and friends. I hope we see these guys in more adventures.
My heart pitter-pats when I find authors with an unquenchable passion for writing. I'm looking forward to reading more of this writer's work.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 12, 2020I've been mulling this one around, trying to figure out what exactly about it put me off. All I've really come up with is: ya basic.
The writing isn't great. The premise is goofy. I was fine with how it started, but then as the characters spiral off into this manhunt with the undercover idea...it just stretched my suspension of disbelief until it snapped. There just wasn't enough there to pull me in. Scintilla didn't feel special or amazing or even surprising. It just kind of happened in front of me until it didn't.
The writing isn't great. The premise is goofy. I was fine with how it started, but then as the characters spiral off into this manhunt with the undercover idea...it just stretched my suspension of disbelief until it snapped. There just wasn't enough there to pull me in. Scintilla didn't feel special or amazing or even surprising. It just kind of happened in front of me until it didn't.
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March 21, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/15/2022)! 🎁
November 25, 2020
SCINTILLA is the first book in the El Corazon series and we enter a world where supernaturals exist alongside 'normal' humans. As well as Werewolves, you have Scintillas (who can control electricity) and Prisms (who can reflect light), Jinnis, Leprachauns, as well as others that are only mentioned in passing.
Being the first book in the series, I was expecting gaps in the world-building. This is absolutely normal and stops the book from just becoming an info-dump. Hopefully, I will learn more about that world and the people who inhabit it in later books.
This is definitely romantic suspense with the story including child trafficking, which is never a 'nice' story to tell. Scintilla doesn't go into too much detail though, just enough that you can understand why Brandon and Raul do what they do.
The sex scenes are steamy but I'll be honest here, my eyes glazed over a bit when they started talking about electricity fields etc. I don't think my brain could cope with figuring out their positions as well as something else! I loved the unique take on it though!
I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this book and think the series has started off with a bang. Absolutely recommended and I can't wait to read more in this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Being the first book in the series, I was expecting gaps in the world-building. This is absolutely normal and stops the book from just becoming an info-dump. Hopefully, I will learn more about that world and the people who inhabit it in later books.
This is definitely romantic suspense with the story including child trafficking, which is never a 'nice' story to tell. Scintilla doesn't go into too much detail though, just enough that you can understand why Brandon and Raul do what they do.
The sex scenes are steamy but I'll be honest here, my eyes glazed over a bit when they started talking about electricity fields etc. I don't think my brain could cope with figuring out their positions as well as something else! I loved the unique take on it though!
I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this book and think the series has started off with a bang. Absolutely recommended and I can't wait to read more in this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
August 29, 2021
Brandon is cute, shy, and needs to learn the words to “Born to be Wild”! Because he has a unique power, he works for his father’s business Seafind. Raul is a bounty hunter/werewolf, who also works in his family’s business, El Corazon. I believe this story did a good job of showing how trauma affect a person causing them to flounder in their relationship. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
January 28, 2021
Definitely different
I really enjoy fantasy books where they introduce more than one type of species. This book had many different kinds in the world. It was an interesting world to fall into. Also as annoying as it can sometimes feel when MCs don’t just hop together for their HEA. I believe this story did a good job of showing how trauma affect a person causing them to flounder in their relationship. Having someone like Yaya to give you a push certainly doesn’t hurt.
I really enjoy fantasy books where they introduce more than one type of species. This book had many different kinds in the world. It was an interesting world to fall into. Also as annoying as it can sometimes feel when MCs don’t just hop together for their HEA. I believe this story did a good job of showing how trauma affect a person causing them to flounder in their relationship. Having someone like Yaya to give you a push certainly doesn’t hurt.
April 17, 2022
great story
Love the characters and the story line. Great imagination and images of the people and places. Wanting to read another story now
Love the characters and the story line. Great imagination and images of the people and places. Wanting to read another story now
March 10, 2020
Brandon Lynch is cute, shy, and needs to learn the words to “Born to be Wild”! Because he has a unique power, he works for his father’s business Seafind. But Brandon doesn’t feel loved or cared for by his family.
Raul Fierro is a bounty hunter/werewolf, who also works in his families business, El Corazon. Raul is a gruff, strong werewolf but he can also be thoughtful and caring. Opposite of Brandon, Raul comes from a very loving family. Raul’s only downfall is a certain centaur!
On Brandon’s excursion to El Corazon, a friendship develops between him and Raul. But with Raul’s profession in the family business, he feels it can’t be anything more. Even after Brandon goes home they remain in contact and then Brandon calls a halt to contacting Raul. Raul tries to accept Brandon’s decision to not contacting him anymore but his feelings are hurt. Then Raul along with his friends find themselves in a dangerous situation.
Elizabeth Noble creates a unique story with “Scintilla” and presents an entertaining start to the new series “El Corazon”. There’s sweet and humorous moments between Brandon, Raul and various secondary characters. But the plot is not without danger, suspense, load’s of action with some gory scenes where werewolves are concerned. There’s also the element of surprise that comes with Brandon finding out the truth about family.
Noble does an extraordinary job in character building. Natalia Antonia Pilar Varela Fierro is Raul’s Grandmother, she’s very sweet but packs a punch in her own way. Tadeo Ochoa is Raul’s cousin and best friend; Fahim Boulos is an effrit jinni; Sally O’Shea is a leprechaun; and Gisele Sandoval is a lawyer. There’s quite an assortment of magical and likable characters along with some evil ones too.
“El Corazon” held my interest and was an enjoyable read. This has great potential for a continuing series and I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Noble creates with the next installment.
Raul Fierro is a bounty hunter/werewolf, who also works in his families business, El Corazon. Raul is a gruff, strong werewolf but he can also be thoughtful and caring. Opposite of Brandon, Raul comes from a very loving family. Raul’s only downfall is a certain centaur!
On Brandon’s excursion to El Corazon, a friendship develops between him and Raul. But with Raul’s profession in the family business, he feels it can’t be anything more. Even after Brandon goes home they remain in contact and then Brandon calls a halt to contacting Raul. Raul tries to accept Brandon’s decision to not contacting him anymore but his feelings are hurt. Then Raul along with his friends find themselves in a dangerous situation.
Elizabeth Noble creates a unique story with “Scintilla” and presents an entertaining start to the new series “El Corazon”. There’s sweet and humorous moments between Brandon, Raul and various secondary characters. But the plot is not without danger, suspense, load’s of action with some gory scenes where werewolves are concerned. There’s also the element of surprise that comes with Brandon finding out the truth about family.
Noble does an extraordinary job in character building. Natalia Antonia Pilar Varela Fierro is Raul’s Grandmother, she’s very sweet but packs a punch in her own way. Tadeo Ochoa is Raul’s cousin and best friend; Fahim Boulos is an effrit jinni; Sally O’Shea is a leprechaun; and Gisele Sandoval is a lawyer. There’s quite an assortment of magical and likable characters along with some evil ones too.
“El Corazon” held my interest and was an enjoyable read. This has great potential for a continuing series and I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Noble creates with the next installment.
April 11, 2020
I have to admit I enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated and that made me happy! It had me wrapped up in the mystery and needing to know what came next.
Brandon was a very interesting and unique character, being a Scintilla, and his skills with computers blew my mind (in a good way).
Raul was a character that I was expecting to not like as well as I did (which. once I started to get to know him, wasn't a surprise), though the double careers kinda annoyed me - it wasn't something that I could just ignore.
I can't wait to see if my favorite side characters - Raul’s cousin Tadeo Ochoa and his co-worker Fahim Boulos - get books of their own. I loved both of them and I need their stories!
Elizabeth Noble impressed me with some of her sex scenes because they were done so differently than I have ever read about and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from her soon.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Brandon was a very interesting and unique character, being a Scintilla, and his skills with computers blew my mind (in a good way).
Raul was a character that I was expecting to not like as well as I did (which. once I started to get to know him, wasn't a surprise), though the double careers kinda annoyed me - it wasn't something that I could just ignore.
I can't wait to see if my favorite side characters - Raul’s cousin Tadeo Ochoa and his co-worker Fahim Boulos - get books of their own. I loved both of them and I need their stories!
Elizabeth Noble impressed me with some of her sex scenes because they were done so differently than I have ever read about and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from her soon.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
May 29, 2020
A pleasant KU surprise from the new to me author.
Interesting plot, good writing though some things were incohesive but overall impression were favorable.
I liked both Brandon and Raul and, despite incohesive undercover operation, I have rooted for their success and was happy with the final results.
It's a PNR, so I can ignore some of the things that don't make much sense if I enjoy the plot. I did enjoy the story and will look up this author's backlist to confirm my first impression.
Interesting plot, good writing though some things were incohesive but overall impression were favorable.
I liked both Brandon and Raul and, despite incohesive undercover operation, I have rooted for their success and was happy with the final results.
It's a PNR, so I can ignore some of the things that don't make much sense if I enjoy the plot. I did enjoy the story and will look up this author's backlist to confirm my first impression.
January 12, 2022
I didn't know what a scintilla was until I read this book and was fascinated by the power this one had. Along with other paranormals such as werewolves we are taken on a fast paced intriguing emotional journey that I found quite tantalizing.
I'll definitely be looking for more of Elizabeth Nobles's books.
I'll definitely be looking for more of Elizabeth Nobles's books.
March 26, 2020
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
Brandon goes on vacation to fulfill his sexual fantasy with a werewolf Dom at the El Corazon adult entertainment club in Arizona. The werewolf he gets is Raul, grandson to the club owner and professional bounty hunter. One scene is not enough for either of them and a bond is struck. But Brandon is a scintilla, a magical human that wields electricity, and an expert with using electronics to glean information. Months later Brandon disappears and his father shows up to hire Raul to find him, leading everyone down a path filled with paranormals, human trafficking, and betrayal.
For me, this book is split in two with the first half being a bit awkward where some things are explained, and the second half where there is a lot of action and a better connection between the characters. The first love scene wasn't quite as hot as I would have liked, but that's just sex. They hang out for a week, having more sex, which is not shown. Too many sex scenes back to back can be boring, but skipping out on the time they spend together lessens the intimacy. The reader is told they emailed for months after, but that didn't make me feel attached to either of them. Then, the second half has the intimacy and connection I wanted--almost too much as it also actually distracted them from their own undercover operation. There are a plethora of kinks here, with the age gap, Raul being a hairy bear type, knotting, and Brandon basically being a violet wand. I did like that Raul is actually a wolf, it is always part of who he is and that is consistent.
The world-building was a bit haphazard. There are four classes of magical humans, so what are they? There are five types of jinn, but only effrit and sila are referenced. There is a leprechaun and a prism character, but neither are explored. Later, acoustic and aether paranormals are also mentioned. The only thing I know about werewolf culture is they are pansexual and matriarchal. Raul's family is also Latin, so that comes across the most. As the matriarch, Natty is a force to be reckoned with, and a welcome, loving presence. A jinni, Fahim, who is a business partner of Raul's cousin, Tad, is always there to lend of hand, but I don't know anything about him. At first I felt I missed something as a character named Janey was introduced; I had no idea who she was. She is described as a prism, and ends up being the police captain, but I have no idea what she or her lieutenant, Iva, whom Raul has known since grade school, actually look like. So, really, the world-building here is contained to Raul's family life and glimpses of his work as a bounty hunter. Things that need to be known are thrown in scene by scene. That's a shame since the plot is actually interesting. This is really just a fun, low angst for the subject matter adventure, with some steamy sex scenes, a bit of violence, and likeable lead characters. Expect that instead of urban fantasy and it'll be an enjoyable diversion.
Brandon goes on vacation to fulfill his sexual fantasy with a werewolf Dom at the El Corazon adult entertainment club in Arizona. The werewolf he gets is Raul, grandson to the club owner and professional bounty hunter. One scene is not enough for either of them and a bond is struck. But Brandon is a scintilla, a magical human that wields electricity, and an expert with using electronics to glean information. Months later Brandon disappears and his father shows up to hire Raul to find him, leading everyone down a path filled with paranormals, human trafficking, and betrayal.
For me, this book is split in two with the first half being a bit awkward where some things are explained, and the second half where there is a lot of action and a better connection between the characters. The first love scene wasn't quite as hot as I would have liked, but that's just sex. They hang out for a week, having more sex, which is not shown. Too many sex scenes back to back can be boring, but skipping out on the time they spend together lessens the intimacy. The reader is told they emailed for months after, but that didn't make me feel attached to either of them. Then, the second half has the intimacy and connection I wanted--almost too much as it also actually distracted them from their own undercover operation. There are a plethora of kinks here, with the age gap, Raul being a hairy bear type, knotting, and Brandon basically being a violet wand. I did like that Raul is actually a wolf, it is always part of who he is and that is consistent.
The world-building was a bit haphazard. There are four classes of magical humans, so what are they? There are five types of jinn, but only effrit and sila are referenced. There is a leprechaun and a prism character, but neither are explored. Later, acoustic and aether paranormals are also mentioned. The only thing I know about werewolf culture is they are pansexual and matriarchal. Raul's family is also Latin, so that comes across the most. As the matriarch, Natty is a force to be reckoned with, and a welcome, loving presence. A jinni, Fahim, who is a business partner of Raul's cousin, Tad, is always there to lend of hand, but I don't know anything about him. At first I felt I missed something as a character named Janey was introduced; I had no idea who she was. She is described as a prism, and ends up being the police captain, but I have no idea what she or her lieutenant, Iva, whom Raul has known since grade school, actually look like. So, really, the world-building here is contained to Raul's family life and glimpses of his work as a bounty hunter. Things that need to be known are thrown in scene by scene. That's a shame since the plot is actually interesting. This is really just a fun, low angst for the subject matter adventure, with some steamy sex scenes, a bit of violence, and likeable lead characters. Expect that instead of urban fantasy and it'll be an enjoyable diversion.
February 20, 2022
Jumps ahead
This definitely feels like a book that suffers from its blurb. The book description says how Raul loves Brandon and will do anything for him, even when going after a human trafficking ring puts them in danger. Meanwhile the book starts with the two just meeting for the first time......in the situation of essentially a legal brothel. It really doesn't match and sort of sets the whole thing off from the expected.
Raul and Brandon meet as Dom and client but things do change as they first become friends and maybe more, until Brandon goes missing. Raul finds Brandon but it sets the two on an unexpected path to stop those that kidnapped him and find the connection that brought it about. It is a difficult road that puts both men in danger and reveals hidden subjects from their past.
It was a bit hard to really get into the relationship in this book. Not because it started unconventionally, but because most of the growth happens off page. While the two meet in a transactional circumstance, they have an interest in a friendship and agree to keep talking even when they are apart. It would have been good to see this budding friendship start in the week they were together during Brandon's vacation, then perhaps to see some of Raul's emails, especially when they stopped getting responses. Instead, the story skips from when they start the friendship to several months later, simply saying they have been emailing for months and getting close. This takes away so much from the chemistry and any connection to the relationship. It was also a common thing to happen in the book. They would be working on the investigation and in the next paragraph it would say it had been three weeks and they were getting close, with no indication of what those weeks were like or what they found. Or it would have a statement of going out to dinner, but instead of reading about the dinner it would then be a week later and they would be contemplating if they should have made a move. It gave the information about what happened but took away from the connection to the events, which made the story a bit more dry than it should have been.
While this is definitely an intriguing introduction to a world of paranormal creatures in normal lives, and a powerful werewolf family with plenty of story potential, any stories would need some improvements from this to really catch my interest.
This definitely feels like a book that suffers from its blurb. The book description says how Raul loves Brandon and will do anything for him, even when going after a human trafficking ring puts them in danger. Meanwhile the book starts with the two just meeting for the first time......in the situation of essentially a legal brothel. It really doesn't match and sort of sets the whole thing off from the expected.
Raul and Brandon meet as Dom and client but things do change as they first become friends and maybe more, until Brandon goes missing. Raul finds Brandon but it sets the two on an unexpected path to stop those that kidnapped him and find the connection that brought it about. It is a difficult road that puts both men in danger and reveals hidden subjects from their past.
It was a bit hard to really get into the relationship in this book. Not because it started unconventionally, but because most of the growth happens off page. While the two meet in a transactional circumstance, they have an interest in a friendship and agree to keep talking even when they are apart. It would have been good to see this budding friendship start in the week they were together during Brandon's vacation, then perhaps to see some of Raul's emails, especially when they stopped getting responses. Instead, the story skips from when they start the friendship to several months later, simply saying they have been emailing for months and getting close. This takes away so much from the chemistry and any connection to the relationship. It was also a common thing to happen in the book. They would be working on the investigation and in the next paragraph it would say it had been three weeks and they were getting close, with no indication of what those weeks were like or what they found. Or it would have a statement of going out to dinner, but instead of reading about the dinner it would then be a week later and they would be contemplating if they should have made a move. It gave the information about what happened but took away from the connection to the events, which made the story a bit more dry than it should have been.
While this is definitely an intriguing introduction to a world of paranormal creatures in normal lives, and a powerful werewolf family with plenty of story potential, any stories would need some improvements from this to really catch my interest.
September 19, 2021
Fascinating mm fantasy book
I’ve read many books with werewolves in but never a scintilla, or someone who can manipulate electricity. This made it an interesting book for me. The relationship between the two men has a lot of ups and downs and problems but was very interesting to read. I enjoyed this book.
I’ve read many books with werewolves in but never a scintilla, or someone who can manipulate electricity. This made it an interesting book for me. The relationship between the two men has a lot of ups and downs and problems but was very interesting to read. I enjoyed this book.
August 1, 2022
A shocking story.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was an amazing idea to have a man with the ability to generate electricity. I loved the way their love blossomed through all the problems in their world. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this type of story.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was an amazing idea to have a man with the ability to generate electricity. I loved the way their love blossomed through all the problems in their world. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this type of story.
December 27, 2022
Magical Human and Werewolf Alpha
Elizabeth Noble creates a delightful MM adventure where a nerdy electrical creator finds his man in a furry dominant.
An enjoyable read!
Elizabeth Noble creates a delightful MM adventure where a nerdy electrical creator finds his man in a furry dominant.
An enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews