Monday, July 21, 2014

Bundle Review: The Last Rising (Curse of the Phoenix #1) by Rachel Firasek




The Last Rising 
(Curse of the Phoenix #1) 

by 

Rachel Firasek
Pub September 6th 2011 
by Entangled Publishing 


After paying two millennia's penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn't how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. 

But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great...or that she'll end up back in his life for her next assignment. 

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she's the one-but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.


The Last Awakening

(Curse of the Phoenix #2)
Pub December 6th 2011 
by Entangled Publishing 


For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever. 

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free. 

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.


The Last Beginning
(Curse of the Phoenix #3)
Pub December 6th 2011
by Entangled Publishing 


Though she’s always hated being a phoenix, Sadie has to admit immortality has its advantages. She’s seen and done more in the last 150 years than she’d ever dreamed of, but she can’t get past the fact that Osiris has done nothing but manipulate her and her fellow phoenixes.
Or that, when her last incarnation as a phoenix comes to a fiery end, the fire slowly begins to consume her body.

Sun god Osiris is ashamed of his role as ruler of the Underworld, but he unless he can figure out how to save Sadie, that’s exactly where she’s going to end up. Permanently. Terrified he’s going to lose her, he takes her on a hunt for The Book of the Dead, which is the only way he knows he can save her—even if it means she’ll hate him forever.





The Way I See The Last Rising

Curse of the Phoenix was an interesting read that will have you turning the pages frantically. The only thing I wish is that it had been longer. I get that sometimes novellas are just right but sometimes I wish I could have gotten more. With The Last Rising (Curse of The Phoenix #1) I felt like it was too short making all things a bit to insta- everything ya know. The premise was great and the steam factor was off the charts. I loved the main characters right away and was so sad by the ending because I felt like it was a bit abrupt. This was a quick read that any one can sink their teeth into. Very enjoyable I just wanted a bit more. 



Ice was tired of the endless cycle she was determined to stop her penance once and for all. She and Osiris shared a painful past and she was hurt by her loss. Her experience with the sexy Turner was one of passion, loss, ecstasy, love, misunderstandings, and reshaping the future neither ever knew they could have. Turner was looking to settle down and something deep within kept pulling him towards Ice. Soon she would turn his world upside down. We find out why Ice became a Phoenix it was heartbreaking. Unfortunately we don’t know what happened with Turners ex she was a pretty huge pink elephant non issue ever. I would’ve liked just a bit more. All and all this was a very entertaining read that zips right by. 

My Rating
3.5 Airplane, Ice, Phoenix, Dreams, Kindergarden, Ice Cream, Chevrolet, Osiris, Isis, Set, Book of the Dead, Car Accident, Mortality, Love filled Stars!! For a sexy afternoon with a hearty mix of Egyptian mythology I highly recommend this book!



The Way I See The Last Awakening
Okay what can I say? The Last Awakening was okay, the main focus was Ari and Grey. Ari was the second Phoenix and Grey was Turner’s best friend. Ari was sent to save him and in doing so she discovered that she needed to return because even though she saved his life she knew his soul was in danger. I loved Ari’s character she was definitely a firecracker. She didn’t understand the immense power she held but she wanted to master it. She finds a way to get close to Grey and while struggling with her own demons she helped him sort out some of his. The two have a very strong connection right away Grey struggles with his feelings because he doesn’t think he is worthy of someone like Ari. We were able to revisit with Ice who was the original Phoenix as y’all know that is something I LOVE about books that are stand alone/part of a series. The steam factor was dimmed down and I think that had to do with Ari but it was definitely there. I really enjoyed Osiris’ role even though everyone dislikes him I don’t. I actually felt bad for him. Not once did he do anything that would warrant dislike in my eyes.

The author did a good job of keeping my attention but at the end of the day this was just okay. Maybe it was the dislike of the characters towards Osiris but I wasn’t in love. I spoke to this a bit earlier but again everything was soooooo insta one moment Grey is taking a double shot of whiskey and the next he’s professing his undying love. All of which happens within a week of meeting Ari. As for Ari it’s like she loved him all along. I’m an advocate for love at first sight and not fighting strong connections I actually find that super romantic and endearing, but I didn’t really feel it in this one. The love aspect was an “oh by the way”, it felt almost like an afterthought. I thought the ending was good we find out more about Ari, and Grey is able to let go of his past so that was nice.

My Rating
3.0 Portal, Ice Cream, Harry, Convenience Store, Jail, Hospital, Jack, Bartender, Apartment Locks, Voodoo, Spirits, Ice, Cabin, Knife, Osiris, Healing, Stitches, Enduring Love filled stars. For a quick and cute romance with a dab of Egyptian Mythology and a pinch of sexy check out this installment in the Curse of the Phoenix series.


The Way I See The Last Beginning
Yay!! Okay so I have my favorite in the series! Yep you guessed it! Its the Last Beginning. This final installment focuses on Osiris and Sadie the remaining Phoenix. I’d say the steamiest is the first but my favorite story line would have to be this final installment. I spoke about how sudden everything was in the first two and although things happen pretty quickly in this installment there was more build up. Osiris has always loved Sadie and we really feel it through his despair and willingness to do whatever it takes to have her by his side. Sadie fights her feelings towards Osiris throughout most of the novella because of his betrayal when they first met. Thankfully by the end everything gets figured out. 

The authors writing was engaging and will keep you turning the pages throughout. There weren’t any dull moments. Like I said this was my favorite I felt like the plot was more not to say the others were bad but this was by far my favorite. We were able to revisit all of the other main characters in past installments which I loved. This was an okay series that ended with a bang. I would've done some things differently but I’m not the author. I have to mention that everyones tastes are different and perhaps this just wasn’t my cup of tea. So if your curious then go for it! The price for the bundle is super cheap so you know you wont be forking out barrels of money, and hey this may become your next fav!

My Rating
4.0 Mining, Red Curls, Shotgun, Fire, Sirens, Gem, Phoenix, Abet, Destiny, Despair, Second Chance Love filled stars! I recommend this for those looking for a different paranormal romance with lots of HEA’s!





Purchase
✿ AmazonB&NEntangled 





About the Author
Rachel Firasek spends her days daydreaming of stories and her nights putting the ideas to ink. She has spent a dull life following the rules, meeting deadlines, and toeing the line, but in her made up worlds, she can let the wild side loose. Her wonderful husband and three children support her love of the written word and only ask for the occasional American Idol or Swamp People quality hour. She has a philosophy about love. It must devastate or it isn’t truly worth loving. She hopes that you all find your devastating love and cling to it with all your heart. After all, romance on the edge is better!

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1 comment:

  1. It looks good but I'm wondering about how she dies and then ends up back in his life.

    ReplyDelete

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