{REVIEW} THE CHARMED SOULS (THE CHARMED TRILOGY #2) by CHRISTINE WENRICK

Series: The Charmed Trilogy #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Red Tree House Publishing
Publication Date: 11/22/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 365

Olivia Ann Greyson is a Charmer, a Dhampir with the power to lure the supernatural world’s most dangerous of creatures – and she’s in an impossible situation. She must leave behind Caleb Wolfe, the strong, protective vampire she has fallen madly in love with, in order to learn how to protect herself from the vampires, shifters and demons that will be drawn to her for the rest of her life.

Human Guardian, Alec Lambert, has been assigned to see to Olivia’s training by the organization he belongs to, which is known simply as The Brethren. He takes Olivia to the group’s stronghold in the mountainous regions of Alberta, Canada, where she discovers the answers to her family’s painful past and the extent to which those hunting her will go to capture her. But she also uncovers many secrets and even more questions about this mysterious group she has trusted to protect her – secrets that will have her fighting to get back to the man she left behind.

. . . but will it be too late?

 

With a battle between Good vs. Evil and a swoon-worthy romance, The Charmed Souls is a great continuation of The Charmed Trilogy.

I have to admit, I was a little worried about picking up The Charmed Souls. Second books in a series are always tricky, even more so when the heroine and her leading man are separated, as Olivia and Caleb were at the end of book one. Because of that separation, although mostly necessary, it did take me a bit to warm up to this book. I understand that Olivia was doing what she melt she must, but I'm a romantic at heart. She and Caleb are a great couple and I wanted them back together. Pronto. But Olivia isn't away just for the sake of adding angst to the story. While she is with the Brethren, she is learning more about their world, and training to protect herself. That in itself was great because I love to see a proactive heroine.

However... Caleb can't stay away for long and once they are reunited, this book became fantastic. Yes, the entire story is an interesting and cool take on vampires, but the heart of this series is the love between Caleb and Olivia. It is sweet, exhilarating, and intense. I have to say, the author turned up the steam factor and I was one super-happy reader. It was romantic, erotic, and left me fanning myself. Wow. I will never look at a piano bench the same way again.

The Charmed Souls deals with a lot of revelations about Olivia's family, with a big surprise on that front, and about the Daywalkers like Caleb and Jax. I thought I was sick and tired of them, but I love Wenrick's take on vampires. There's also the secondary relationship issues between Jax and Gemma, two characters I adore and hope find happiness, with one another.

The Charmed Souls was surprising and sexy, and I ended up having a great time reading it. It wrapped up really well, leaving me satisfied on all fronts. But then...the epilogue. I'm scared! It set the story up for a great final book, The Charmed Fates.


Favorite Quotes:


    Caleb silenced me by fisting his hand into my hair and dragging my lips over his. He kissed me hard, literally taking full possession of my mouth as if he dared anyone or anything to come between us at that moment. And, like a private dance between two people, he coaxed, caressed, and eased me until I fell under his lead, taking his pleasure like a man who had been starved for three long months.  ~39%


And the music was amazing, ultra-clear and sharp, like being in the middle of a live orchestra under a cloudless night sky. The notes became alive, three-dimensional, and part of the energy around me in a way I had never experienced before--from the inside out. I wanted to hold on to the feeling, commit it to memory so it would be there for me in the future.  ~ 52%


 

The Charmed Trilogy 

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My Review of The Charmed

You can purchase The Charmed and The Charmed Souls at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

About the author:
Christine is the author of The Charmed Trilogy. She lives in the scenic Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking, camping and photographing many of the wonderful places that served as inspiration for her novels. Her biggest reward in life is any given day when one of her books connects with a reader, because she herself is such a lover of reading.
You can connect with Christine at GoodReads.