Barb Shuler's Reviews > Scattered Ashes

For the love of all that is holy and fiery....

Wait before I get into this let me thank Annie Anderson and HEA Book Tours for allowing me a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by Annie Anderson and I can promise you it won't be the last. Not even a chance of that happening.

I love paranormal reads. Period. One of my favorites and I've read many wonderful books but this one, Scattered Ashes is different than anything I have read to date. That's saying a lot. In a special new love for the Phoenix. It's not only a mythological creature but one that pulls your attention in. And pair that new found love with a wicked part of me that the wraiths hold and we've got a match made in fire. And I'm sorry but a big ass, hunky man who has to watch the woman he loves but can't touch cause she hates his guts... dynamite!

When we meet Aurelia she is not a happy little damsel in distress. No. Not even close. Girlfriend is one shady, twitchy, trigger happy woman. Ha! Can't blame her though. Know the saying, "fire hot, fire burn"? If you don't, learn it. And Rhys... poor misunderstood, judge man has his work cut out for him. As her warrior he is bonded to Aurelia. Should be a match made in heaven. Two hot tempered warriors fighting side by side.... but it's far from that.

Their past is keeping them apart. But when danger approaches Rhys is there to "save the day". Thing is... Our sweet, feisty little hottie doesn't need much help. And If she did, she'd not admit it. She hates him. He loves her. It's a slow building hurricane that as it grows gets more and more hearty. Aurelia takes them to a "safe house" in the mountains. Her friend Evan (who I frigging love, cause she is bad-ass) has her dad’s place ready when they get there. They are not there alone though. The king of wraiths, aka Evan's dad is there with his minions are hiding out as well.

Thing is it seems the she-bitch, I mean Queen of the Phoenix's is on a mission to use her minions to take out both Ari and Rhys. Bitch should know better than that. It’s not that easy. With her gift of foresight she gets a really good idea of what is going to happen…. but things never go quite as hoped. So when Ari is taken by the queen and held captive for days on end she’s a bit pissy when she wakes up. Seems she doesn’t like being caged anymore than anyone else. Ari gets herself out of dodge just in time to see Rhys, Evan and the gang there to save her. Oops. She took all the fun out of it. Dang stubborn woman.

You think it ends there? Then you would be wrong. The real fight starts then. A game of cat and mouse of the supernatural proportions. Seems while she was captive the queen found a way to push aside the one gift keeping the she beast of of Aurelia’s head. So now it’s a mental fight for her as the others fight to defeat the physical threat that surrounds them. Defeat is not an option. In order to stave off anymore unnecessary killings, saving not only the phoenix's but the wraiths as well. Freedom comes at a cost that they are all willing to put their lives on the line for. But is it too late for them? You will have to see for yourself.