Cover Image: Destiny

Destiny

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This is book 1 in a new fantasy, paranormal series, The Academy. The author has created a good world/setting for the story but I didn't like some of the characters. 25 year old Jamie is returning to her home town after a bad day at work. She hopes to find old friends to connect with. A very fast read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Jamie is looking for something, but she’s not sure what. After sleeping with her boss, and falling in love he dumps her. Jamie goes home. When trying to mend fences with the people she hurt when leaving so suddenly she meets Wren. But who is Wren to her?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

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Jamie returns home after a her work life breaks down and her boyfriend ghosts her. She never expected that walking back into her old life would feel as comfortable as it does, nor does she expect to feel an instant connection with local park ranger Wren. As she settles in and tries to reconnect with old friends, the town is beset by a series of animal attacks that draw her and Wren closer together when her ex suddenly shows up, claiming to have changed, Jamie doesn't really knw what do to.

The writing flowed beautifully throughout the novel - the pacing was good, but I really don't know what to think about some of Jamie's choices - especially with regards to restarting a poisonous relationship from her past. Up until that point, I was happily involved in the story, but once the old relationship rekindled, I was ready to put the book down. The ending is a bit ambiguous and hints towards the next novel in the series.

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This story is about Jamie who grew up in the mountain areas, where she lost his elder brother by the attack of a wild animal wolf, and the absence of her brother she never filled in her life even she grows up. A small town belonging left her city at the age of 18 and gave her career a new direction and now she works at a top Biotech company.

Everything was on track in her life but something happened between Jamie and her boss cum lover that changed Jamie's life, Lost her job and boyfriend with whom she was in a relationship for the last five long years.

Now she was forced to go back to her hometown where she wasn't in contact with anyone for the last seven years now back to the same place she had to restart her life.

Jamie had to face everything she left, her old friend, And then she meets a new guy named Wren and Jamie fell for him. Wren has some of his secrets that you'll find out about while reading the story.

Meanwhile, some mysterious killings attacked by wolves are happening in the city just like Jamie's brother died.

I’m really curious to continue this story in the following books, where we’re definitely going to be finding out more about the magical aspect of this story. The premises were very interesting.

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Jamie’s life has imploded. At 25 she has quit her job and is moving out of the city and back to the small town where she is from. Jamie had slept with her boss, Liam, and found herself in a position change once they were caught and despite this position being what she had ultimately wanted in life she hated it.

Drawn back home Jamie meets Wren who works with her father as a forest ranger. As Jamie, quite quickly, puts her life back to how it was before she had left without warning seven years ago, she seems to keep bumping into Wren whenever she needs help.

We learn a bit of Jamie’s life before she left as she rekindles friendships with those she has ignored for seven years. Her best friend, Tollen, has a daughter and it is a shock when she tells Jamie that Mark, Jamie’s ex long-term boyfriend, is the father. The two have been dancing around each other since Tollen had her child and Jamie helps the two start to get together.

Only a few days after Jamie arrives home does her boss, Liam, come after her and insist on trying to make things right. Jamie is now stuck as she truly fell for Liam but she also feels an irresistible attraction to Wren. She sleeps with Wren when she goes over for a friendly dinner and then once more runs away. Instead she chooses to rekindle her relationship with Liam and they start over again.

It is only the last 25% of this book that we are introduced to the fantasy of this novel. There have been attacks in this small mountain town that have claimed the lives of several tourists. The locals are worried but not overly so as often tourists are under cautious about being in the woods. When Jamie has been helping look for others, or simply taking hikes, she keeps seeing wolves in the woods who seem familiar to her in ways she doesn’t understand. But once she finally gets information out of Wren about what exactly is going on she finds out that due to long ago settlers and a magic lady there are wolves in this land. There is a prophecy about the white wolf, Jamie, being bound to the heir of the youngest brother from one of the clans, Wren. The Eldest Brother is going to try and kill Jamie because of this prophecy where evil will be banished once Wren and Jamie are bound together. Jamie is then injured by the Eldest Brother that evening and ends up at The Academy, a school that has been set up to house these wolves, but does not die or change as is supposed to happen. The last bit of the book has Jamie rebelling against this idea of her prophecy and finding out that her father is not her father. Finally she decides to start over with Wren in the seven months they have before they have to be bound together. No mention of how Liam is going to fit into this.

Overall, I found this book to be a bit confusing. If my summary of this very short, only 190 pages, book is anything to show. I like the idea of what Larsen was trying to accomplish but I think there was too much to try and put into such a small word count. Not only did it feel rushed in parts but the ending just hits you without much resolution for anything. I understand that much of this will probably be resolved in the next book in the series but it just feels like we stopped a chapter and more should be coming.

As far as too much first we start with Jamie’s three love interests. Mark quickly is ruled out as he has no feelings for Jamie anymore but he is still looming for much of the story. Wren is overbearing and possessive in a not very pleasant way and Liam, for all his manners and tone, feels slimy. Really you don’t feel a connection to any of these love interests and it just takes your attention away from what could be a very interesting fantasy aspect. Then the magic itself seems to be very rushed in an explanation. It is covered in a very small portion of the book and is almost information overload when you finally get to that part of the story.

The last reason for a three star rating is because Jamie seems to be a bunch of contradictions. She never wanted to be a part of her home town again when she left at 18. Now at 25 she is drawn back but almost immediately hates being there because of the gossip and feelings of small town life. She is a stubborn woman who ‘takes what she wants’ but she also cries almost at the drop of a hat in the story, as soon as she gets into her car she starts to cry, not the best way to show a stubborn go getter. She hates Liam because he ghosted her once they were found out but almost as soon as she meets with him she wants him again. She has not control over her libido and sleeps with all these men at the drop of a hat.

The story was interesting and kept my attention, probably because it was so short, but it also left me more confused than satisfied. I think I will pick up the second in this series only if the next one is either very cheap and I am feeling like a quick read.

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It took me a while to get into this book. It is more new adult that I normally read. Jamie has come full circle and is back home. The trials are many with her being pulled in two directions. The ending was a surprise but made sense. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and freely leave this honest review.

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If I had to sum this book up in one word it would be...frustrating.

I really struggled with this almost from the beginning. At first I was intrigued. What had gone so wrong that Jamie was leaving her dream job?
But once this was explained I struggled to connect or even like Jamie. She’d left her home town, parents, friends and boyfriend of 5 years without a backwards glance. Ignoring all attempts to contact her. I understand (or I tried to) her wanting a fresh start but to ignore lifelong friends and her boyfriend who had done nothing wrong?

The more I read the less I liked Jamie. She’s selfish and honestly not too bright.

I mean seriously the first time we see her hike

‘I’m so lost in thought that I trip and face-plant in the dirt. Shit. My hands sting from sliding in the dirt and my knee throbs from impact with a rock.’

Okay accidents happen.

Then the next time she hikes

‘In my haste to get back, I step on a rock wrong and roll my ankle, bad. I let out a cry and fall to the ground.’

Only this time it’s getting dark, she’s no signal and didn’t tell anyone where she was going.

There’s no shortage of examples of her stupidity but this is one that stood out.

‘I pull my phone out of my pocket and check it. Sure enough, his number is there, under W in my contacts. How did he get through my Touch ID?’

Seriously how did he get through her Touch ID?
She was passed out drunk.

Anyway Jamie being selfish and stupid weren’t my only issues.
Wren was written as to appear mysterious but it was driving me nuts. One decent conversation between them was all I asked. What happened all those years ago?

The story was far too long for the content and if I hadn’t requested this book I would never have finished it.

It ends on a cliffhanger of sorts I suppose. But I feel like I know exactly how this series is going to go. There’s been no surprises so far and nothing to suggest there will be.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.

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At 18, Jamie feels smothered and flees her home town. She cuts all ties to her life and friends in order to make a fresh start.

Seven years later, with her career and relationship is in tatters Jamie realizes that the world is not as she hoped. She ultimately decides to return home and face those she left behind.
Wren is a ruggedly handsome park ranger, who happens to met Jaime at the local Coffee shop. She feels an immediate magnetic connection to him but yet he seems stand-offish.
Strange thing start to happen in the surrounding forest and Jamie soon realizes that the town and townsfolk are hiding a secret and she might be involved in the solution.

This book is a wonderful yet suspenseful paranormal shifter romance. The love triangle is complicated. Jamie is attracted to two men - Liam, the one who hurt her before and Wren, the mysterious park ranger with who she has this magnetic bond. I don’t mind having such tortuous relationships, but I have to say that I had some conflicting feelings in regards to how easily Jamie flip flops between Liam and Wren.

Another fantastic thing in this book is the small town setting with the description of the surrounding areas. I absolutely adore this and was captivated by the descriptive narrative of the trails and snow capped mountains framing the town.

This fast paced story is filled with mystery, secrets and suspense. I am looking forward to reading book 2 of this series ...

I recieved an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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DD Larsen is back with a brand new series! I adored her books and couldnt get over this new one. The first book in the series and it is very captivating! Shifters, a very cute and charming love story and love triangle, an intriguing prophecy and tons of mysteries! It have a bit of a twilight vibe but very engaging and provocative. I can't wait for Book 2!⁣

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. I loved the writing style how it was a smooth story that had wonderful character development. The mysterious elements in the plot and the secrets woven in really added to my enjoyment. If you love a book full of strong friendships, secrets, love, family ties, Steam and magical elements I highly suggest picking this one up.

I was immediately sucked into Destiny and quickly devoured this page turner. In Destiny we follow Jamie as she leaves a big city, her job and a man she thought she loved to return to her hometown. The only problem is when she left she never turned back. Jamie knows she will have to face her best friend and ex boyfriend who she didn't give an explanation to when she left. Jamie is loving being back and is questioning why she stayed away for so long. She lands a part time job and becomes interested in the mysterious man named Wren who she has an electric connection to. Stange things start happening in the forest again that brings up memories of her brothers tragic accident, but Wren always seems to pop up and save her just in time.

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