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Rise for Me
Vampire and warlock, Roman Lee, spent centuries alone as ringmaster of the carnival. After befriending and healing a scarred, young woman, Roman realizes Mariah is his mate. He waits for her, but when she departs from his life, his torture knows no bounds. Now he's risen, unforgiving and angry, forced from his grave by the one woman who captured his heart, but will another secret and the call of his mate change everything?
The steady call of Roman's blood and the promise of peace brings Mariah Stone home to the carnival and the vampire she left behind. He ignores her until she forces him from the grave with her blood. His anger crushes her already broken spirit, but she is determined to win Roman's forgiveness and free him from their bond. Denied passion leads them down a path of magic and desire, while a devastating secret threatens eternal love.
The steady call of Roman's blood and the promise of peace brings Mariah Stone home to the carnival and the vampire she left behind. He ignores her until she forces him from the grave with her blood. His anger crushes her already broken spirit, but she is determined to win Roman's forgiveness and free him from their bond. Denied passion leads them down a path of magic and desire, while a devastating secret threatens eternal love.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2021
13 people want to read
About the author
Kristal Dawn Harris
49 books348 followersKristal Dawn Harris is a multiple award-winning, RONE nominated, American romance author. She has been married for 32 years and has two children. Kristal finished a degree from Miami University in Accounting Technology, but quickly realized she preferred words over numbers. She is an avid reader and, in particular, loves darker paranormal romance.
FROM THE AUTHOR
I like it hot, so expect graphic intimacy along with a great story. Sometimes, I ride the darker edge...lol, and I tend to story tell at a fast pace. My books are designed for adult romance readers who like naughty, sexy, alpha heroes, and my books come in different lengths.
FROM THE AUTHOR
I like it hot, so expect graphic intimacy along with a great story. Sometimes, I ride the darker edge...lol, and I tend to story tell at a fast pace. My books are designed for adult romance readers who like naughty, sexy, alpha heroes, and my books come in different lengths.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 10, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: I was very intrigued by the premise, but I felt that the book was rushed in order to be a novella. I wanted more interactions between the MC’s, buildup, and angst!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The story was well-written and well-paced. It was told from the MC’s dual POV. I liked the setting of a carnival very much. I wanted more.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I was very intrigued by the H. Would’ve loved to have learned more about his past. As for the h, her behavior was understandable given that she was so young! I hated that she felt she had to keep her condition a secret.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: I loved how the h finally demanded that her man rise.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Paranormal vampire second chance romance
* What did you think about the ending?: I thought it was fitting and very sweet.
* What is your impression of the author?: Lots of talent!
I received a complimentary ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
* How did the book make you feel?: I was very intrigued by the premise, but I felt that the book was rushed in order to be a novella. I wanted more interactions between the MC’s, buildup, and angst!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The story was well-written and well-paced. It was told from the MC’s dual POV. I liked the setting of a carnival very much. I wanted more.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I was very intrigued by the H. Would’ve loved to have learned more about his past. As for the h, her behavior was understandable given that she was so young! I hated that she felt she had to keep her condition a secret.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: I loved how the h finally demanded that her man rise.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Paranormal vampire second chance romance
* What did you think about the ending?: I thought it was fitting and very sweet.
* What is your impression of the author?: Lots of talent!
I received a complimentary ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
Vampires. Modern-day gypsies. Two people destined for love. Rise for Me is the perfect blend of paranormal and romance, with a mix of vampires and darkness. I loved everything about this novella. It was perfectly paced, the details really pulled me into the story, and the stakes were high.
Kristal Dawn Harris excels at making exciting, sexy, and swoon-worthy heros. It was far too easy to love both Mariah and Roman, and effortless to immerse myself in the world the author created. If you love paranormal stories with a bit of darkness, you’ll love this novella like I did.
Kristal Dawn Harris excels at making exciting, sexy, and swoon-worthy heros. It was far too easy to love both Mariah and Roman, and effortless to immerse myself in the world the author created. If you love paranormal stories with a bit of darkness, you’ll love this novella like I did.
January 24, 2021
I voluntarily read an arc of this book for an honest review. This book is really good. It’s a quick read that was perfect for an afternoon by the fire. Even though I read it quickly though doesn’t mean it wasn’t fleshed out. It was very well done and a had all the feels. I liked the characters very much and would love to read more from this author.
January 30, 2021
Thank you to the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the advanced reader copy
I’m not going to lie, the cover of this novella was the first thing that caught my eye. For one, his eyes are bright green so I figured it would have to be something fantasy or paranormal which is right up my alley.
When I started reading this book I was a bit confused. The reader is thrown into an already established plot, which is referred to in the summary. So, I started out a bit confused but as the story progressed, plot points were explained and I started to have a better sense as to what’s going on. Although had I read the entire summary I probably would have been less confused. I read the first three words, “vampire and warlock,” and was immediately ready to start reading so I didn’t bother reading the rest (I haven’t seen vampires and warlocks paired that often so I was excited to see how it went).
I really liked that Harris gave Mariah a “difference” as often times our main characters are these flawless people in perfect health. While Roman does “assist” in these matters, I did appreciate it for the time being as I think it’s important for us to see different representations in books. In the future I’d like to see the mc keep the hardship, disability, or whatever it may be; however, I understand it was a driving factor for the plot of this story.
While the characters have their backgrounds, which are touched on, we don’t really get an in-depth look into them as this is a short novella. It’s hard for any author to delve deep into character development and backgrounds with such a short amount of space so I’m not really surprised and it doesn’t affect my view of the book. We did get to see our characters interact a decent amount and I really liked them together. I would’ve loved to see more of this but, again, with such a small book it’s hard to fit a ton in.
This story had the fated mate trope as the driving factor for this book. I’ve always been a big fan of this in fantasy and paranormal books as they’re always so interesting. However, normally there is more conflict between the characters when this trope is used and the way Roman talked about it at the beginning made me think it was going to be a bigger problem but ultimately it wasn’t the driving issue. Most of the problems throughout the novella are fixed rather quickly and they aren’t really touched on again.
Ultimately I did like reading it but would have preferred it as a longer book as I think there could have been more time to develop the problems and relationships. I’d be interested in seeing if Harris has longer books so I could see how she develops characters with not so much constraint. If you’re looking for a quick, this only took me about an hour to read, paranormal romance you would probably like this book.
I’m not going to lie, the cover of this novella was the first thing that caught my eye. For one, his eyes are bright green so I figured it would have to be something fantasy or paranormal which is right up my alley.
When I started reading this book I was a bit confused. The reader is thrown into an already established plot, which is referred to in the summary. So, I started out a bit confused but as the story progressed, plot points were explained and I started to have a better sense as to what’s going on. Although had I read the entire summary I probably would have been less confused. I read the first three words, “vampire and warlock,” and was immediately ready to start reading so I didn’t bother reading the rest (I haven’t seen vampires and warlocks paired that often so I was excited to see how it went).
I really liked that Harris gave Mariah a “difference” as often times our main characters are these flawless people in perfect health. While Roman does “assist” in these matters, I did appreciate it for the time being as I think it’s important for us to see different representations in books. In the future I’d like to see the mc keep the hardship, disability, or whatever it may be; however, I understand it was a driving factor for the plot of this story.
While the characters have their backgrounds, which are touched on, we don’t really get an in-depth look into them as this is a short novella. It’s hard for any author to delve deep into character development and backgrounds with such a short amount of space so I’m not really surprised and it doesn’t affect my view of the book. We did get to see our characters interact a decent amount and I really liked them together. I would’ve loved to see more of this but, again, with such a small book it’s hard to fit a ton in.
This story had the fated mate trope as the driving factor for this book. I’ve always been a big fan of this in fantasy and paranormal books as they’re always so interesting. However, normally there is more conflict between the characters when this trope is used and the way Roman talked about it at the beginning made me think it was going to be a bigger problem but ultimately it wasn’t the driving issue. Most of the problems throughout the novella are fixed rather quickly and they aren’t really touched on again.
Ultimately I did like reading it but would have preferred it as a longer book as I think there could have been more time to develop the problems and relationships. I’d be interested in seeing if Harris has longer books so I could see how she develops characters with not so much constraint. If you’re looking for a quick, this only took me about an hour to read, paranormal romance you would probably like this book.
January 24, 2021
Not My Cup Of Cocoa
Before reading this review, bear in mind it is only the opinion of this one reviewer. You may have a completely different reading experience from me.
Rise For Me covers all the bases for lovers of vampire and fated mate paranormal romances. I suspect Harris’ steamy paranormal romance will delight many readers. However, I did not personally enjoy the read.
The Opening
Roman and Mariah are quickly established as sympathetic characters in the prologue and first two chapters. Roman by his protective actions and Mariah through an intriguing opening hook. It’s obvious from the start what the story is all about.
Personally, I felt that Roman’s “what I need” was too blatant in the prologue. It could have been delivered with more subtlety. Mariah was better introduced. However, what I most disliked was the fact that Roman didn’t specifically think of Mariah in the prologue.
It is explicitly stated in the prologue that Roman has nobody, that “this woman didn’t exist”. Then we begin chapter one to discover that this woman most certainly does exist and he knows her well. That threw me a little.
It might have been better if Roman had specifically thought of Mariah and named her as he carved the block of wood. Maybe Harris thought that was implied by the description while carving. However, having not yet met Mariah, it was not at all how I interpreted it on my first read through.
The Characters
Mariah is quickly established as a sympathetic character due to the recalled events of her childhood and her current condition. Her concern for Roman and continuing care for her parents despite events make her an easy protagonist to invest in.
She is a very appealing character. However, Mariah’s background and interests are not well developed. It’s briefly mentioned that she went to college, worked in IT, and owned an apartment in Boston. That’s about it.
None of the later imagery makes use of her background to describe events or objects. Not a single computer is seen despite their importance in her life. Computers are not important to the plot, so she doesn’t go near one.
We don’t learn if she’s a complete innocent or dated widely in college. We don’t know if she has any interests beyond the plot. We only know the few details necessary to move the story forward.
Roman is a very appealing protagonist. He is protective of both his people and Mariah, which makes him likable. It’s clear from the prologue he’s not the kind of vampire who slaughters innocents.
However, his status as a warlock could have been introduced more organically through him casting a spell or reading a grimoire rather than simply by being stated in the text.
The Plot
This story follows the fated mate trope common to paranormal romance. For this simple reason, many paranormal romance fans will love it. However, fated mate stories usually bring in some major obstacles to the romance to add conflict.
For example, the story may follow a rejected mate form where one of the predestined partners refuses to accept their destiny. Alternatively, when one of the fated mates is human, said human refuses to accept the validity of a magically determined relationship.
In my opinion, Harris does not provide adequate conflict. Mariah is completely accepting of the fated mate concept. Roman does resist and his resistance provides the main source of conflict. But all it takes is seeing or touching Mariah for his resistance to crumble.
There are no big last-minute surprises to make their relationship impossible. Yes, things happen. But every obstacle raised is quickly brushed away as if the end results are inevitable.
I had plausibility concerns with some events as the story progressed. For example, it is implied Mariah is seriously ill, yet she’s able to enjoy vigorous dancing and other strenuous activities without any problems. And the general acceptance of all parties at the end of the story? It was all wrapped up too neatly for me.
The Setting
The magic system Harris creates is really interesting. Unlike many vampire creation tropes, this universe employs a complex system to make new vampires. It involves more than a simple bite or exchange of blood. All the magic in this book is intriguing.
It is mentioned in chapter one that the story is set in the small town of Caro, Nebraska. This exact same statement is provided again in the middle of the book. Except for these two told statements, nothing is really shown.
Also, the fact that this is a small town called Caro is not reinforced in the opening chapters through the eyes of either protagonist. After Mariah’s walk home in chapter one, neither protagonist wanders around the town, glances at the Welcome to Caro – Population 1,002 sign, or speaks about the town at all.
Nothing really exists in this world between the carnival ground and the Victorian house. Contrast this with Twilight where we see the whole town of Forks through Bella’s eyes in the first three or four chapters as she contrasts it with where she came from — a tiny hamlet in the middle of Washington State where it rains more than it shines.
Alternatively, consider The Vampire Diaries, where we practically get a historic walking tour of the small town of Mystic Falls before anything major happens. Or Vampire Academy, where we gain an intimate knowledge of a college campus that is only used for the opening chapters. Basically, there is not enough large scale setting. I was never fully immersed in Mariah’s world.
A few more minor points. I was unclear whether the Haunted House was a permanent part of this town or it was some kind of mobile fixture. The description suggests it’s permanent, but it seems weird that a building like this would be left to rot for most of the time until Roman needs it.
Small things disturbed my suspension of disbelief, such as the guitar pulled from a dusty case that needed no strings replacing or tuning. When we came to the final chapter and then the epilogue, I didn’t have a clue where we were. We may have still been in Caro, we could have been in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, or we may have been elsewhere.
In retrospect, I presume we were still in Caro, but I’m not sure. I mean, it’s a carnival. Carnivals move. Or did they just stay in that one town for months?
The Prose
Harris’ prose is clear and engaging. I didn’t note any major issues and everything is well-formatted.
Occasionally, the author should be more careful with word choices. For example, a threat is not “bribery” (Ch. 7) it is “blackmail”. But generally, appropriate words were used to describe everything.
My Opinion
I must stress that this is only the opinion of a single reviewer. Please read other reviews before considering whether to buy this book or not. There are many elements in this story to recommend it to paranormal romance readers. The characters are appealing, the magic system is interesting, and the story follows a popular trope.
However, it was not my cup of cocoa. For me, there was simply not enough conflict and the setting was not immersive enough. I rate it three out of five.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Before reading this review, bear in mind it is only the opinion of this one reviewer. You may have a completely different reading experience from me.
Rise For Me covers all the bases for lovers of vampire and fated mate paranormal romances. I suspect Harris’ steamy paranormal romance will delight many readers. However, I did not personally enjoy the read.
The Opening
Roman and Mariah are quickly established as sympathetic characters in the prologue and first two chapters. Roman by his protective actions and Mariah through an intriguing opening hook. It’s obvious from the start what the story is all about.
Personally, I felt that Roman’s “what I need” was too blatant in the prologue. It could have been delivered with more subtlety. Mariah was better introduced. However, what I most disliked was the fact that Roman didn’t specifically think of Mariah in the prologue.
It is explicitly stated in the prologue that Roman has nobody, that “this woman didn’t exist”. Then we begin chapter one to discover that this woman most certainly does exist and he knows her well. That threw me a little.
It might have been better if Roman had specifically thought of Mariah and named her as he carved the block of wood. Maybe Harris thought that was implied by the description while carving. However, having not yet met Mariah, it was not at all how I interpreted it on my first read through.
The Characters
Mariah is quickly established as a sympathetic character due to the recalled events of her childhood and her current condition. Her concern for Roman and continuing care for her parents despite events make her an easy protagonist to invest in.
She is a very appealing character. However, Mariah’s background and interests are not well developed. It’s briefly mentioned that she went to college, worked in IT, and owned an apartment in Boston. That’s about it.
None of the later imagery makes use of her background to describe events or objects. Not a single computer is seen despite their importance in her life. Computers are not important to the plot, so she doesn’t go near one.
We don’t learn if she’s a complete innocent or dated widely in college. We don’t know if she has any interests beyond the plot. We only know the few details necessary to move the story forward.
Roman is a very appealing protagonist. He is protective of both his people and Mariah, which makes him likable. It’s clear from the prologue he’s not the kind of vampire who slaughters innocents.
However, his status as a warlock could have been introduced more organically through him casting a spell or reading a grimoire rather than simply by being stated in the text.
The Plot
This story follows the fated mate trope common to paranormal romance. For this simple reason, many paranormal romance fans will love it. However, fated mate stories usually bring in some major obstacles to the romance to add conflict.
For example, the story may follow a rejected mate form where one of the predestined partners refuses to accept their destiny. Alternatively, when one of the fated mates is human, said human refuses to accept the validity of a magically determined relationship.
In my opinion, Harris does not provide adequate conflict. Mariah is completely accepting of the fated mate concept. Roman does resist and his resistance provides the main source of conflict. But all it takes is seeing or touching Mariah for his resistance to crumble.
There are no big last-minute surprises to make their relationship impossible. Yes, things happen. But every obstacle raised is quickly brushed away as if the end results are inevitable.
I had plausibility concerns with some events as the story progressed. For example, it is implied Mariah is seriously ill, yet she’s able to enjoy vigorous dancing and other strenuous activities without any problems. And the general acceptance of all parties at the end of the story? It was all wrapped up too neatly for me.
The Setting
The magic system Harris creates is really interesting. Unlike many vampire creation tropes, this universe employs a complex system to make new vampires. It involves more than a simple bite or exchange of blood. All the magic in this book is intriguing.
It is mentioned in chapter one that the story is set in the small town of Caro, Nebraska. This exact same statement is provided again in the middle of the book. Except for these two told statements, nothing is really shown.
Also, the fact that this is a small town called Caro is not reinforced in the opening chapters through the eyes of either protagonist. After Mariah’s walk home in chapter one, neither protagonist wanders around the town, glances at the Welcome to Caro – Population 1,002 sign, or speaks about the town at all.
Nothing really exists in this world between the carnival ground and the Victorian house. Contrast this with Twilight where we see the whole town of Forks through Bella’s eyes in the first three or four chapters as she contrasts it with where she came from — a tiny hamlet in the middle of Washington State where it rains more than it shines.
Alternatively, consider The Vampire Diaries, where we practically get a historic walking tour of the small town of Mystic Falls before anything major happens. Or Vampire Academy, where we gain an intimate knowledge of a college campus that is only used for the opening chapters. Basically, there is not enough large scale setting. I was never fully immersed in Mariah’s world.
A few more minor points. I was unclear whether the Haunted House was a permanent part of this town or it was some kind of mobile fixture. The description suggests it’s permanent, but it seems weird that a building like this would be left to rot for most of the time until Roman needs it.
Small things disturbed my suspension of disbelief, such as the guitar pulled from a dusty case that needed no strings replacing or tuning. When we came to the final chapter and then the epilogue, I didn’t have a clue where we were. We may have still been in Caro, we could have been in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, or we may have been elsewhere.
In retrospect, I presume we were still in Caro, but I’m not sure. I mean, it’s a carnival. Carnivals move. Or did they just stay in that one town for months?
The Prose
Harris’ prose is clear and engaging. I didn’t note any major issues and everything is well-formatted.
Occasionally, the author should be more careful with word choices. For example, a threat is not “bribery” (Ch. 7) it is “blackmail”. But generally, appropriate words were used to describe everything.
My Opinion
I must stress that this is only the opinion of a single reviewer. Please read other reviews before considering whether to buy this book or not. There are many elements in this story to recommend it to paranormal romance readers. The characters are appealing, the magic system is interesting, and the story follows a popular trope.
However, it was not my cup of cocoa. For me, there was simply not enough conflict and the setting was not immersive enough. I rate it three out of five.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2021
Roman had waited two hundred years for his mate and when he met Mariah as a young child he was surprised just how open minded she was and how accepting of his lifestyle in the carnival. When Mariah had grown up though they were drawn apart and deeply hurt Roman had gone to ground, wanting to bury himself with his agony. But now Mariah is back and determined that her short last time in this world will be with the only man she has ever loved.
I found this to be an interesting and well structured paranormal and magic-based story. Roman and various Romany witches from his carnival had healed Mariah with magic and Roman himself was a vampire, so there was plenty of interesting elements to the paranormal aspect to this story. I also really enjoyed that while there was a long and complicated history between Mariah and Roman they didn’t simply glance at each other again and jump straight into bed. There was weight, anger and hurt on both sides from their history and the author gave them both plenty of time and pages to sorting this out.
The main draw-back to this story I feel was that the author probably tried to fit too many various sub-plots into this story for the short length. I really felt that had one or even two of the main elements been removed the story could have had far better tension and cohesion and not felt so crammed together to my mind. Roman’s vampire side, the Gypsy magic, the carnival and Mariah’s father’s history, along with Mariah growing up into a woman and her birth-mark – all these elements were good but they crowded together to the point where it felt a little to me like we were constantly jumping around from one to the other. There was also the repairing of Mariah and Roman’s relationship and their eventual intimate scenes. Had just a few of these elements been removed I really feel the author could have explored what remained in more depth and I feel the story would have been far richer for it.
That said, there is a mammoth amount of plot to this story and the pace is cracking. The pace doesn’t let up and I read the whole story in one sitting because I simply couldn’t stop. I was deeply intrigued as to how Mariah and Roman would patch up their relationship and Roman was lost and emotionally hurt enough that I really wanted to see him happy. While the sex between Roman and Mariah is explicit and intense it’s a fairly minor part along with the other plotlines and so I feel that readers looking for a primarily erotic story might not feel this is a strong enough element for their tastes. But readers looking for a paranormal story with plenty of plot should find this really suits their tastes.
A good and interesting read and one I enjoyed.
I found this to be an interesting and well structured paranormal and magic-based story. Roman and various Romany witches from his carnival had healed Mariah with magic and Roman himself was a vampire, so there was plenty of interesting elements to the paranormal aspect to this story. I also really enjoyed that while there was a long and complicated history between Mariah and Roman they didn’t simply glance at each other again and jump straight into bed. There was weight, anger and hurt on both sides from their history and the author gave them both plenty of time and pages to sorting this out.
The main draw-back to this story I feel was that the author probably tried to fit too many various sub-plots into this story for the short length. I really felt that had one or even two of the main elements been removed the story could have had far better tension and cohesion and not felt so crammed together to my mind. Roman’s vampire side, the Gypsy magic, the carnival and Mariah’s father’s history, along with Mariah growing up into a woman and her birth-mark – all these elements were good but they crowded together to the point where it felt a little to me like we were constantly jumping around from one to the other. There was also the repairing of Mariah and Roman’s relationship and their eventual intimate scenes. Had just a few of these elements been removed I really feel the author could have explored what remained in more depth and I feel the story would have been far richer for it.
That said, there is a mammoth amount of plot to this story and the pace is cracking. The pace doesn’t let up and I read the whole story in one sitting because I simply couldn’t stop. I was deeply intrigued as to how Mariah and Roman would patch up their relationship and Roman was lost and emotionally hurt enough that I really wanted to see him happy. While the sex between Roman and Mariah is explicit and intense it’s a fairly minor part along with the other plotlines and so I feel that readers looking for a primarily erotic story might not feel this is a strong enough element for their tastes. But readers looking for a paranormal story with plenty of plot should find this really suits their tastes.
A good and interesting read and one I enjoyed.
January 5, 2021
Oh My Goodness, Kristal Dawn Harris has done it again! Another wonderfully sensual, ethereal love story filled with Vampires, Witches, and all things mystical! This book has a great mixture of my favorite kinds of romance tropes: paranormal, enemies to lovers, dominant bossy alpha males, and sassy females.
From the beginning, you feel this story wrap around your heartstrings and not let go. There is so much angst, longing, regret, pride, pain, passion, and satiation in these pages. Kristal Dawn Harris has wrote this in such a way that you feel everything. Her descriptions of everything leave you there feeling at once hollow and yet filled because of the dance of souls between these two destined lovers.
You ache because they ache. You feel because they feel. In all my years of being a reader, I have yet to find many authors who has been this able to convey feelings and emotions in such a way that you yourself feel as though you are one with them. Kristal Dawn Harris hits the mark every time. I have read many of her books as she is a new author that I found last year and I have never been disappointed. Her books and her words are like fine wine, they only get better with time.
Mariah and Roman together are just explosive; two souls that were melded together only to have been torn apart again. If you wish to experience loss and then the redemption of souls then this is the book for you. Gripping, it is absolutely gripping and I love how once you have gorged yourself on the story (because, believe me, you will) it stays with you long after the book has been finished. Honestly, I can see this turning into a series all on it's own.
In a world full of hacks, pretenders, and duplicators; see here that you have the real thing. Kristal Dawn Harris' stories are incomparable.
From the beginning, you feel this story wrap around your heartstrings and not let go. There is so much angst, longing, regret, pride, pain, passion, and satiation in these pages. Kristal Dawn Harris has wrote this in such a way that you feel everything. Her descriptions of everything leave you there feeling at once hollow and yet filled because of the dance of souls between these two destined lovers.
You ache because they ache. You feel because they feel. In all my years of being a reader, I have yet to find many authors who has been this able to convey feelings and emotions in such a way that you yourself feel as though you are one with them. Kristal Dawn Harris hits the mark every time. I have read many of her books as she is a new author that I found last year and I have never been disappointed. Her books and her words are like fine wine, they only get better with time.
Mariah and Roman together are just explosive; two souls that were melded together only to have been torn apart again. If you wish to experience loss and then the redemption of souls then this is the book for you. Gripping, it is absolutely gripping and I love how once you have gorged yourself on the story (because, believe me, you will) it stays with you long after the book has been finished. Honestly, I can see this turning into a series all on it's own.
In a world full of hacks, pretenders, and duplicators; see here that you have the real thing. Kristal Dawn Harris' stories are incomparable.
February 11, 2021
Let me start off by saying that paranormal romance is not my usual cup of tea, especially when dealing with vampires. However, I do love well-written paranormal fiction, and Rise for Me thankfully manages to fall into this category.
At only 78 pages, Rise for Me is incredibly easy to digest. It can be difficult to judge whether or not a quick read will flesh out its characters, but Harris manages to make her two leads interesting and mysterious. The “summoning an undead lover” hook is fresh and unique. I wanted to know how that worked and understand the motivations behind it.
Harris’ writing is full of detailed descriptions, which help me immerse myself into the story. Given that I’m not a fan of vampire romance, this is no small feat. Yes, I found myself wanting to see their romance blossom, when usually I’d be rolling my eyes and waiting for something more interesting to happen. It also helps that the story takes place in the dark at a carnival, which is creepy. I adore anything remotely creepy.
I also loved the attention to detail given to Romani culture and Roman’s willingness to include those who have been outcast by society into his home. It wasn’t too preachy or “afterschool special,” and it inspired me to look deeper into the history of the Romani people. Usually, only the Magic School Bus gets me to do stuff like that.
I agree with another reviewer about the sub-elements. I feel this should have been fleshed out into a full-length novel with the amount of details and backstories. It can be a bit jarring at times due to the many elements included such as Mariah’s relationship with her father, the Romani magic, the time jump, etc. These are all well-thought-out plot points, but I feel they’re also better suited for a novel instead of a novella.
Overall, Harris has a clear talent for creating fleshed out worlds, characters, and arcs in the paranormal romance genre, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
At only 78 pages, Rise for Me is incredibly easy to digest. It can be difficult to judge whether or not a quick read will flesh out its characters, but Harris manages to make her two leads interesting and mysterious. The “summoning an undead lover” hook is fresh and unique. I wanted to know how that worked and understand the motivations behind it.
Harris’ writing is full of detailed descriptions, which help me immerse myself into the story. Given that I’m not a fan of vampire romance, this is no small feat. Yes, I found myself wanting to see their romance blossom, when usually I’d be rolling my eyes and waiting for something more interesting to happen. It also helps that the story takes place in the dark at a carnival, which is creepy. I adore anything remotely creepy.
I also loved the attention to detail given to Romani culture and Roman’s willingness to include those who have been outcast by society into his home. It wasn’t too preachy or “afterschool special,” and it inspired me to look deeper into the history of the Romani people. Usually, only the Magic School Bus gets me to do stuff like that.
I agree with another reviewer about the sub-elements. I feel this should have been fleshed out into a full-length novel with the amount of details and backstories. It can be a bit jarring at times due to the many elements included such as Mariah’s relationship with her father, the Romani magic, the time jump, etc. These are all well-thought-out plot points, but I feel they’re also better suited for a novel instead of a novella.
Overall, Harris has a clear talent for creating fleshed out worlds, characters, and arcs in the paranormal romance genre, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
January 24, 2021
I enjoyed this novella focused on the relationship between a vampire and his mate. Roman is a vampire and warlock who owns the carnival. Mariah is his mate, but she left him at a young age only to return later in life, ill and close to death. She's determined to gain his forgiveness and release him from their bond thinking he could find love again. Roman healed her once before which only adds to Mariah's guilt. The story is filled with the angst of lovers denied. I liked the history behind Mariah and the reason she made the decisions she made. I also liked that there was history between these two and Roman wasn't so quick to forgive. The setting is unique and since it's a novella, it's entirely about the dynamic of this couple. The sex scenes are hot, but not overly done. Descriptive and full of longing, paranormal readers, especially vampire lovers, will devour this HEA tale and be left satisfied with a smile on their face.
I received an ARC copy, but this in no way affects my review.
I received an ARC copy, but this in no way affects my review.
January 13, 2021
My review of the book Rise for Me.
This is a Mild mannered Vampire Tale
Mariah Stone was born with a horrendous birthmark on her face. She was constantly ridiculed for it. As she grew older and feeling more alone she finds solice in a Gypsy carnival. There she meets the Ringmaster Roman Lee who happens to be a vampire. Roman realizes that Mariah is his mate. So begins the tale of the lost loves. This is a HEA.
This is an advanced review copy that I received for no cost and and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a Mild mannered Vampire Tale
Mariah Stone was born with a horrendous birthmark on her face. She was constantly ridiculed for it. As she grew older and feeling more alone she finds solice in a Gypsy carnival. There she meets the Ringmaster Roman Lee who happens to be a vampire. Roman realizes that Mariah is his mate. So begins the tale of the lost loves. This is a HEA.
This is an advanced review copy that I received for no cost and and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2021
This is a hot vampire vs love mate. He’s still in love with her, she has come back to make things right. She regrets her choices and knows he’s the one. But she’s not going to be able to fulfill her desires. She has come to say goodbye. He’s brooding and barely comes above ground, she requests that he rise for her. What will happen if he does rise for her? What is her secret? Find out by reading this book, it’s a short story that will be hard to put down!! I received an advance copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
February 4, 2021
Well this is the first time I am reading one of Kristal Dawn’s work and I must say I enjoyed it very much. It’s a complete different experience but I liked it. First I kept getting distracted and keep forgetting that I even had this book in my Library but once I Started reading couldn’t put it down. I liked the style Of her writing it kept me interested till the end. I also liked the characters actually all of them specially Roman Lee. I am glad I chose this book and would be looking forward to read more book writing by Kristal.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
January 21, 2021
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
Some books are good. Some are great. Some are excellent. This book is from the 'excellent' category. I loved the writing style. Although it was just 61 pages, it was informative. This book is highly recommended for vampire and warlock lovers.
Some books are good. Some are great. Some are excellent. This book is from the 'excellent' category. I loved the writing style. Although it was just 61 pages, it was informative. This book is highly recommended for vampire and warlock lovers.
January 19, 2021
What a wonderful book. Both vampire and warlock lovers will love this book. I am new to the author however, I am impressed with the flow and edge of the seat integrity of this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2021
A quick read very romantic story. Loved the development of the characters and descriptions of locations. Felt there could have been more making the book longer. A happy ending which I love.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 27, 2021
Meh, it's not bad, but it tried to do too much in too few pages. The characters gave me whiplash with their changing agendas and emotions and the happy-ending felt forced. But the writing is pretty good and it had an interesting idea.
January 15, 2021
I enjoyed this book. The storyline was captivating. I loved the characters. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2021
I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series. I was confused and perplexed. I couldn't get into the story. However, the characters were good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 21, 2021
A great paranormal love story. The start was unexpected but the journey to a happy ever after had just the right amount of angst for me. Nice!
January 25, 2021
Two broken souls find solace in each other. This was a beautiful tale of grief, longing, and acceptance, and I happy when Mariah and Roman found their HEA.
January 25, 2021
As a young child, Maria Stone faced ridicule and bullying over an accident of nature. In an act of kindness, Roman Lee a Gypsy as well as a vampire, saved her from a lifetime of abuse and pain. This simple act forged a bond between them—one neither was able to forget. Then, suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, Mariah returns to him, determined to die in his arms—the man she has loved all her life. One problem: she must convince Roman of her feelings and her love.
Though much to short--we wanted this story to go on forever--Rise for Me is a love story readers will not soon forget. Two deserving people, torn apart by hate and a cultural bias as old as Biblical times, join together, healing each other of past and current wounds. This one’s a winner!!
On a scale of 1-5, Rise for Me deserves a 6.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Though much to short--we wanted this story to go on forever--Rise for Me is a love story readers will not soon forget. Two deserving people, torn apart by hate and a cultural bias as old as Biblical times, join together, healing each other of past and current wounds. This one’s a winner!!
On a scale of 1-5, Rise for Me deserves a 6.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
February 22, 2021
The book started with a good pace. A very fun, mysterious and interesting plot. Also to read about our main character and How guys mess up and how society fuck up our thinking of feeling content.
The book even gripped me into it till 5th chapter.
But pretty soon the book started getting boring and slow paced. It felt like only the 1st 5 chapters were supposed to get you hooked enough to read through the other chapters.
The book obviously had a pretty good plot though and even very strong world buliding. Stable in their own way. Fun in their own nature. But it felt like I can just skip some chapters and still not miss the gist or any specific detail to the end of it.
Also being a 21st century woman the girl nature and decision making skill with her poor choice of taking actions make me wanna stop but the guy character kept me going. His admiration and determination is what I looked forward while reading this book
• Character development- 3☆
• Story Plot- 3☆
• Side characters- 2.5☆
• Flow of the story- 2☆
So overall- 3☆
The book even gripped me into it till 5th chapter.
But pretty soon the book started getting boring and slow paced. It felt like only the 1st 5 chapters were supposed to get you hooked enough to read through the other chapters.
The book obviously had a pretty good plot though and even very strong world buliding. Stable in their own way. Fun in their own nature. But it felt like I can just skip some chapters and still not miss the gist or any specific detail to the end of it.
Also being a 21st century woman the girl nature and decision making skill with her poor choice of taking actions make me wanna stop but the guy character kept me going. His admiration and determination is what I looked forward while reading this book
• Character development- 3☆
• Story Plot- 3☆
• Side characters- 2.5☆
• Flow of the story- 2☆
So overall- 3☆
February 27, 2021
“Rise for Me” is another masterpiece by Kristal Dawn Harris. I’m a huge fan of her vampire romances and this book didn’t disappoint. This is a fresh twist on the Romani Vampire legend in that Roman our swoon-worthy hero has already met his mate and their relationship fell apart. He’s not pining over one he has never met but angry at the choices made by his true love. Roman’s complex situation and his soul-crushing decision to put his love’s best interests first make this book an emotional rollercoaster. Readers will be delighted by the sumptuous descriptions of the carnival and swooning over Roman only to get hit by a MAC truck of “the feels”. Oh yeah, grab the tissues for this one.
Mariah has grown up visiting the carnival each time it is in town. Due to a congenital condition, her only friends were the workers of the carnival who saw past her looks to see the golden-hearted girl inside. She became part of the carnival family before she knew how deep Roman’s feelings went for her. However, Roman is not a creep and allowed her a chance to grow up with all its experiences. He never forced the mating issue and lived to regret it. Despite the tension, I really liked Mariah and understood her point-of-view. She wasn’t a plastic doll who would follow Roman anywhere or a warrior princess determined to have the last word. She was a realistic portrayal of a modern woman with the strength and independence of someone I could relate to. What won me over is in this book, the paranormal characters have the complex nature of real people.
Overall, I highly recommend Rise for Me…with a box of tissues on the side.
Mariah has grown up visiting the carnival each time it is in town. Due to a congenital condition, her only friends were the workers of the carnival who saw past her looks to see the golden-hearted girl inside. She became part of the carnival family before she knew how deep Roman’s feelings went for her. However, Roman is not a creep and allowed her a chance to grow up with all its experiences. He never forced the mating issue and lived to regret it. Despite the tension, I really liked Mariah and understood her point-of-view. She wasn’t a plastic doll who would follow Roman anywhere or a warrior princess determined to have the last word. She was a realistic portrayal of a modern woman with the strength and independence of someone I could relate to. What won me over is in this book, the paranormal characters have the complex nature of real people.
Overall, I highly recommend Rise for Me…with a box of tissues on the side.
January 29, 2021
🤗There are many kinds of books, but often you have to choose a certain part of life in order to understand it. Have you ever wondered if you should read something with some amazing scenes, the best stuff I met a book recently named "Rise for Me"
🤗For this story, the title is fully appropriate. It's appealing, I like the cover. The author has used plain and straightforward words and allows the readers to communicate what the author tries to.
🤗You let the story wrap around your heart and don't let go from the beginning. These pages contain a great deal of grief, longing, remorse, pride, sadness, zeal and fulfilment. Kristal Dawn Harris wrote this to help you know it all. Her explanations of everything leave you feeling empty but still filled by the soul dance between these two destined lovers.
🤗The two souls that were never merged together to be broken apart again are just explosive together. This is the book for you if you want to witness loss and then soul rebirth. Thrilling is totally interesting, and I like how you stay with you long after the book is over until you've got yourself plot.
🤗This book is surely a marvellous reading. In comparison, the vocabulary and words seemed usual and a normal reading was worthwhile.
🤗For this story, the title is fully appropriate. It's appealing, I like the cover. The author has used plain and straightforward words and allows the readers to communicate what the author tries to.
🤗You let the story wrap around your heart and don't let go from the beginning. These pages contain a great deal of grief, longing, remorse, pride, sadness, zeal and fulfilment. Kristal Dawn Harris wrote this to help you know it all. Her explanations of everything leave you feeling empty but still filled by the soul dance between these two destined lovers.
🤗The two souls that were never merged together to be broken apart again are just explosive together. This is the book for you if you want to witness loss and then soul rebirth. Thrilling is totally interesting, and I like how you stay with you long after the book is over until you've got yourself plot.
🤗This book is surely a marvellous reading. In comparison, the vocabulary and words seemed usual and a normal reading was worthwhile.
March 4, 2021
The story follows Roman the head of the group of gypsies and also a vampire. He found the other half of his soul, only for her to run away from him. A few years later Mariah, the other half of his soul comes back and tries to convince him that he is exactly what she needs.
The story is sweet, the chemistry is hot, the world building is so much fun that it is criminal to make this such a short story. This is not your typical vampire and finding his soul story with the usual tropes of vampires and their other half of their souls. It could have been more too with action or adventure or maybe a little bit of suspense and a lot of angst. This story though focuses on a sweet little reunion romance.
Read this for the:
hot sexy vampire
the knows-what-she-wants human
the world building of the vampires and the powers in these two characters
the secondary characters
the sweet reunion and acceptance
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is sweet, the chemistry is hot, the world building is so much fun that it is criminal to make this such a short story. This is not your typical vampire and finding his soul story with the usual tropes of vampires and their other half of their souls. It could have been more too with action or adventure or maybe a little bit of suspense and a lot of angst. This story though focuses on a sweet little reunion romance.
Read this for the:
hot sexy vampire
the knows-what-she-wants human
the world building of the vampires and the powers in these two characters
the secondary characters
the sweet reunion and acceptance
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
February 14, 2021Mariah returns to her childhood home with secrets. She has cancer and is dying. She has one wish. To die in the arms of the man she loves but abandoned years before. He doesn’t know the reason she left and has been angry with her the entire time.
Mariah was different as a child and spent many hours at the visiting carnival that visited her town. She felt comfortable there as no one saw her imperfections. She had many years of enjoyment and acceptance by these people. But, her dad didn’t want her around “those” people.
Roman is Romani and a vampire. He has given himself to Mariah more than she understands. He takes care of the gypsy family he has accrued. No one is turned away. It is his family.
This is their story of love, unselfishness, forgiving, and giving with no expectations.
It is a quick read that I highly recommend. Can’t wait for more.
I voluntarily reviewed an a Reader copy of this book.
Mariah was different as a child and spent many hours at the visiting carnival that visited her town. She felt comfortable there as no one saw her imperfections. She had many years of enjoyment and acceptance by these people. But, her dad didn’t want her around “those” people.
Roman is Romani and a vampire. He has given himself to Mariah more than she understands. He takes care of the gypsy family he has accrued. No one is turned away. It is his family.
This is their story of love, unselfishness, forgiving, and giving with no expectations.
It is a quick read that I highly recommend. Can’t wait for more.
I voluntarily reviewed an a Reader copy of this book.
February 9, 2021
I received this an advance copy of this book and am leaving my review voluntarily.
I am a big sucker for Vampire novels i just think this was lacking a bit more backstory. I felt for Mariah having to watch someone I love go thru what she was going thru personally. However they did they not have Roman, lucky Mariah :) I did enjoy the storyline and plot of this story. I just felt it would’ve been a little better told from each of their POVs and so we could’ve felt more connected to these characters. I felt it jump around quickly but I was still able to keep up. I would love to know more about these character and get fully invested in them. Still enjoyed the read and will read more of her work!
I am a big sucker for Vampire novels i just think this was lacking a bit more backstory. I felt for Mariah having to watch someone I love go thru what she was going thru personally. However they did they not have Roman, lucky Mariah :) I did enjoy the storyline and plot of this story. I just felt it would’ve been a little better told from each of their POVs and so we could’ve felt more connected to these characters. I felt it jump around quickly but I was still able to keep up. I would love to know more about these character and get fully invested in them. Still enjoyed the read and will read more of her work!
March 13, 2021
Rise for Me is the first book from Kristal Dawn Harris that I have read. I very much enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of vampire romances. I was not disappointed by any means with this book.
Mariah and Roman needed to fix their relationship after all the past anger and hurt. This book will send you on an emotional rollercoaster as this destine couple make their was through the pain, anger, and regrets. I love the characters because they seem like real people. You can’t forget the secondary characters, they were well developed. Roman’s parents were my favorite. The carnival background was unique and imaginative.
I will definitely reading more from this author in the future.
Mariah and Roman needed to fix their relationship after all the past anger and hurt. This book will send you on an emotional rollercoaster as this destine couple make their was through the pain, anger, and regrets. I love the characters because they seem like real people. You can’t forget the secondary characters, they were well developed. Roman’s parents were my favorite. The carnival background was unique and imaginative.
I will definitely reading more from this author in the future.
February 15, 2021
Firstly I was surprised by how much story this author was able to get into less than 100 pages. The story flowed nicely and didn't seem rushed. Characters were quickly well established and there was just enough held back for it to be a real page turner. This is a sweet but passionate tale of two true soul mates who need to heal their future, forgive their past and ultimately seal their fate. Life, love, and magic make this an exciting and gripping supernatural/paranormal read.
I received an advance reader copy for free, this is my honest review and opinion.
I received an advance reader copy for free, this is my honest review and opinion.
February 1, 2021
This brief story details the unfolding relationship between Roman, a vampire, and Maria, a child who grew up around Roman's circus.
Although the story unfolded well enough, it didn't provide enough depth to really connect with the characters and their struggles.
A sweet but short love story that's worth a read, but don't ask too much of it.
Note: I was provided with a review copy of this book free of charge, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although the story unfolded well enough, it didn't provide enough depth to really connect with the characters and their struggles.
A sweet but short love story that's worth a read, but don't ask too much of it.
Note: I was provided with a review copy of this book free of charge, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
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