Happy Fourth of July! I have a bang up book for you all today: A Cursed Embrace (Weird Girls #2) by Cecy Robson. Cecy's series is on my short list of favorite Urban Fantasy books. I recently read and loved the first book Sealed with a Curse, (see my review here). I think that the second book was even better than the first! I have the privilege of being the final stop on Cecy's A Cursed Embraced Tour. I have a review and a giveaway for you all today. First let me tell you about Cecy:
Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is an author with Penguin's SIGNET ECLIPSE. She attributes her passion for story-telling back to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Her dad unwittingly encouraged Cecy's creativity by kissing her goodnight wearing vampire fangs. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing her Urban Fantasy Romance Series, Weird Girls, in May 2009. THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella and SEALED WITH A CURSE are now available. The second novel in The Weird Girls Series, A CURSED EMBRACE, released on July 2, 2013. Find Cecy on her website, Facebook, Twitter andGoodreads.
Here is my review:
A Cursed Embrace (Wird Girls #2) by Cecy Robson.
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twenty-something girls—with one tiny exception: They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird…
After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.
To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters. Paperback, 368 pages Published July 2nd 2013 by Signet Source: Publisher for an honest review.
Four and a half stars: An action packed book with plenty of sizzle!
Celia and her sisters are hoping to settle in and get to know their new boyfriends a bit better after their near death experience at the hands of the the infected vampires. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. Strange deaths are occurring, and Taran is having nightmarish dreams involving demons. Celia is also having troubles with Aric. He is hot and cold, and it is driving her crazy. Celia worries that he will break her heart since he is a pureblood werewolf and expected to mate with a pureblood. Yet she loses her heart to him anyway. Can the sisters and the werewolves get to the bottom of the demon infestation? Will Celia suffer a broken heart?
What I Liked:
- This book is smoking hot! It is even better than the first as it has plenty of action, a smoking hot romance, terrifying and grotesque demons and lots of danger, plus an ornery old lady who lives next door who is quick to curse and flip the bird. If you are looking for a sizzling and exciting new UF series, you should be reading The Weird Girls!
- Let's talk about the romance..... the heat turns up between Aric and Celia this time around! For all of you who enjoy heated passion and lots of sexy time this will satiate your appetite. I thought all the love scenes were well written, just the right amount of heat without straying into the too much info territory. You can read this and savor it and not blush with embarrassment while you read it! I am all for books with just the right balance with the sex scenes. I must warn you, though, that while there are plenty of sinful moments, the romance isn't without its bumps in the road. It isn't all smooth sailing and it is frustrating at times. Expect tension and heat with this one.
- I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know the Wird sisters and their hot werewolf boyfriends. I love that each sister brings her own unique powers and talents to the fight. For instance, Celia can transform into a tigress and shift underground. Taran can go nuclear and blast enemies with tremendous powers and she can also alter memories. Shayna can take any wooden or metal object and transform it into a deadly sharp weapon, even a small harmless toothpick. Esme, the softhearted sister, can heal and as well as use her force. The werewolf boyfriends also are a bit unique. I think that Gemini is the bomb. He is a dual werewolf who can split in two, meaning his wolf can split from his human. How cool is that? If you are tired of the same old same old when it comes to paranormal entities you definitely need to check out this series as it is original and fresh! It has deadly vampires, demons, witches and lots of were-creatures as well as the unique Wird girls.
- I am enjoying watching Celia grow. As the oldest sister, she has always been the protective one. She has never been lucky in love, and in fact, she has only had one sexual partner. She is extremely nervous and hesitant when it comes to opening her heart to Aric. I love that she is scared when it comes to her first intimate encounter with Aric. She might be a strong fighter, but she definitely has her doubts and insecurities. Slowly, she is learning to overcome her fears. She is showing growth and I expect that she will continue to find her way.
- I was happy to see that Dan and Bren had bigger roles in this one. There is always something about a geeky guy that gets me every time, and Dan does it in this one. I love that he doesn't possess an ounce of supernatural power and he wears glasses, yet he is smart and educated on all things supernatural. I loved the scene where he showed the witch how it was done. I hope that he continues to have a big presence in the next book because his character is great!
- I like that there is plenty of comedic between all the action. Celia and the sisters know how to snark and they make me laugh. I particularly enjoy the confrontations with their nosy, old lady neighbor who is always telling the girls they are whores and flipping them off. I wish that there were more scenes with the curmudgeonly lady. There wasn't as much male posturing in this book between Misha and Aric, but there are a few entertaining moments when the two face off.
And The Not So Much:
- I am still struggling to completely understand the weres. This book incorporates all types of were animals from wolves, raccoons, bears and lions. I want to fully grasp how they come to be and all their characteristics and powers. One important theme is purebloods and made weres. Is there any difference in their abilities based on whether they are pure or made?
- I wanted to know why the other three wolves, Koda, Liam and Gemini, are not chastised for their relationships with the Wird girls like Aric. Are they not purebloods as well? Does the pureblood standard only apply to those purebloods in leadership positions?
- Even though I enjoyed the development of the romantic relationship between Celia and Aric, I also hated it. I can't go into details, but it frustrated me that Aric wouldn't take a stand and follow his heart, consequences be damned. I have a feeling this will be an ongoing theme, but my fingers are crossed that it will work out as it should.
A Cursed Embrace is a sizzling sequel that surpasses its predecessor. This book is packed full of danger and heat. I love that this series continues to surprise me with its fresh take on paranormal creatures. If you are tired of the typical vamps and werewolves, give this series a try. It is unique and fresh! I love that it has plenty of snark and humor thrown in for comedic relief. If you are on the hunt for a hot new UF series, do yourself a favor and get these books!
Favorite Quotations:
"And because having an eighty-plus woman catching me in a major tongue-hockey moment wasn't humiliating enough, my lovely sister Taran came to the rescue.
"Well, you know what they say, 'Save water---shower with a werewolf.'"
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Cecy is offering a signed copy of A Cursed Embrace to one lucky winner. This contest is open to U.S. residents only. (International peeps you might want to check some of The Cursed Embraced Tour stops for an International chance). To enter read the Contest Policies and fill out the Rafflecopter. Be sure to check out the prequel The Weird Girls and book one: Sealed with a Curse. This is a fabulous series that you don't want to miss. The third book, Cursed by Destiny, releases January 2014 so the wait isn't terribly long.
A big thanks to Cecy for sponsoring the giveaway today!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
