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The Order #2
Bittersweet Magic
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2013
18 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Nina Croft
88 books1,095 followersGrowing up in the cold, wet, north of England, Nina Croft spent a lot of time dreaming of faraway sunnier places and ponies. When she discovered both, along with a whole load of other things, could be found between the covers of a book, her life changed forever.
Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.
Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies—sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.
Nina's writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction
If you'd like to find out about new releases then sign up for my Newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.
Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies—sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.
Nina's writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction
If you'd like to find out about new releases then sign up for my Newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 16, 2013
Five hundred years ago Roz had her life saved by a demon called Asmodai. She has been indebted to him ever since. It hasn't been to bad she has done the task he ask of her and now he ask her to do a final task. She must go undercover as a nun and find a key. What should have been an easy task becomes harder when the convent is attacked by demons and the key is taken. Now she has ended up in the one place she was told to stay away from The Order. She was told they would kill her if they knew about her. Still hiding in her disguise as a nun she is finding it hard to keep acting like one. Especially around the vampire Piers. Piers is an ancient vampire who has to find out what she knows. He doesn't know what she is for sure only that she is different. As things heat up between them they both may have to find a way stop an ancient evil from rising up. It may cost them both more than they know.
Roz thinks she is a witch. Her mother was one and her father left when she was a child. She is tough, strong and will do anything to save others she cares about. She also has a sense of humor that shows up at different times. Piers is a sexy vampire who you wouldn't mind letting him sink his teeth into you. He has a hard job to do but he will make any sacrifice to save others. He is not sure of Roz and it drives him crazy.
Packed full of demons, vampires, werewolves and so much more this was a pleasure to read. It never lagged and kept an amazing pace all the way through the book. There is plenty of action as the search for the key goes and you find it is more than an ordinary key. I loved all the action in this book and it surprised me more than a few times. You never really know for sure what Roz is till the end and she really doesn't know either. That was a nice surprise. The author does a great job keeping you wondering about many things. I love all the sexual tension between Roz and Piers. They both want each other but something keeps coming between them. I liked getting to know both of them. If you love paranormal books this one will sure to please you.
Roz thinks she is a witch. Her mother was one and her father left when she was a child. She is tough, strong and will do anything to save others she cares about. She also has a sense of humor that shows up at different times. Piers is a sexy vampire who you wouldn't mind letting him sink his teeth into you. He has a hard job to do but he will make any sacrifice to save others. He is not sure of Roz and it drives him crazy.
Packed full of demons, vampires, werewolves and so much more this was a pleasure to read. It never lagged and kept an amazing pace all the way through the book. There is plenty of action as the search for the key goes and you find it is more than an ordinary key. I loved all the action in this book and it surprised me more than a few times. You never really know for sure what Roz is till the end and she really doesn't know either. That was a nice surprise. The author does a great job keeping you wondering about many things. I love all the sexual tension between Roz and Piers. They both want each other but something keeps coming between them. I liked getting to know both of them. If you love paranormal books this one will sure to please you.
November 13, 2013
Really enjoyed this one. Read my review @ No Book Left Behind
I will no longer be hosting my reviews in Goodreads. All books I have personally reviewed will be linked back to my blog on BookLikes for all of you to see! :)
I will no longer be hosting my reviews in Goodreads. All books I have personally reviewed will be linked back to my blog on BookLikes for all of you to see! :)
November 25, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Bittersweet Magic is the second book in Nina Croft’s Order series. The Order referred to in this series is “The Order of the Shadow Accords” and it’s administered by the vampires. I find the concept of vampire peacekeepers to be only the beginning of throwing genre stereotypes into a blender and hitting the puree setting, but that’s part of what makes this series so much fun.
At the end of Bittersweet Blood (utterly marvelous), the Order office on Earth is in a bit of a pickle regarding the maintenance of the Accords between the Fae and the Demons. The whole purpose of the Shadow Accords is to keep the Fae and the Demons from using the Earth as a battleground, because the Fae are paranoid about the Demons invading the Faelands. The Demons really don’t care who comes to visit the Abyss. This isn’t because the Demons are necessarily evil, it’s because the Demons really aren’t paranoid that way.
The problem with the Accords is that the number two vampire in the Order, Christian Roth, has just married a half-Fae, half-Demon named Tara who can move between the Faelands and anywhere else she wants whenever she wants. Her mother and the Demon Asmodai were basically the Romeo and Juliet of the Fae/Demon War. She’s not supposed to even exist, and the Fae are mostly pretending she doesn't, even though the Fae King is her uncle.
Don’t you just love family feuds?
In Bittersweet Magic, the Demon Asmodai needs to steal a magic Key from a convent. It’s not just any old key, it’s a key that will allow someone to move between the planes of existence, including opening the portals to the Faelands. Of course, he was supposed to have destroyed it at the end of the War. But he didn’t.
Asmodai has a witch on retainer. Rosamund sold Asmodai her service over five centuries ago in return for performing thirteen tasks. Roz is a Seeker; she finds things by magic. Finding the Key is supposed to be her last job. All she has to do is pretend to be a nun until she can steal the key.
Until some seriously awful monsters kill all the other nuns except one scared young woman and Roz and steal the Key right out from under her hidden nose. And tell them to deliver a message to the head of The Order.
The one group that Asmodai has told Roz she should never visit, because they will kill her the moment she identifies herself and what she is. Except that Roz doesn’t really know what she is.
She only knows she’s seriously sick of pretending to be a nun. And that Piers Lamont, Head of the Order office in London, is the damn hottest thing on two legs she’s ever seen, whatever HE is.
At least she’ll die happy. Unless the damn demon has been lying to her all along. Which he SO has. Even more fun, he’s been lying to The Order, too.
Escape Rating B+: Like Bittersweet Blood, Bittersweet Magic is also a story about a woman who has been lied to about who and what she is discovering the truth of her identity and about the reality of the world she belongs in.
Roz is a witch. Among other things. But she has to own it, and the truth of her heritage has quite a lot of bitter mixed in with the sweet. Her mother was burned as a witch, and only calling on Asmodai saved Roz from a similar fate.
Her mother expected Roz’ father to save them. Which does bring up the question about who Roz’ father really is. The reveal on that particular secret is something that Asmodai seems to have been savoring for a few centuries, and it’s a doozy.
The Demon does turn out to be one of the good guys. More or less.
Because Asmodai has kept Roz isolated for all of her long life, Roz has no idea who she can trust. She does figure out that the Order are not the bad guys that Asmodai has made them out to be, but she isn’t quite sure what they are, either. She’s used to being on her own, and they’re used to keeping everyone in the dark.
Piers Lamont is too busy keeping secrets of his own. At first, he’s still fooled by Roz’ disguise as a nun. Once he gets past that, he’s caught up in trying to protect a woman who just doesn’t need his protection, and in keeping secrets of his own.
That Key that Roz was supposed to steal is the only thing keeping a really big EVIL from destroying the Earth. It’s an EVIL Goddess that still wants Piers back, even after he imprisoned her for 1,000 years. Talk about carrying a torch!
Piers has just figured out he wants Roz, even if he doesn’t think he knows what love is. There’s no triangle like an eternal triangle.
This series is just too much fun not to jump on board for the ride. And it’s totally addictive, like chocolate!
Bittersweet Magic is the second book in Nina Croft’s Order series. The Order referred to in this series is “The Order of the Shadow Accords” and it’s administered by the vampires. I find the concept of vampire peacekeepers to be only the beginning of throwing genre stereotypes into a blender and hitting the puree setting, but that’s part of what makes this series so much fun.
At the end of Bittersweet Blood (utterly marvelous), the Order office on Earth is in a bit of a pickle regarding the maintenance of the Accords between the Fae and the Demons. The whole purpose of the Shadow Accords is to keep the Fae and the Demons from using the Earth as a battleground, because the Fae are paranoid about the Demons invading the Faelands. The Demons really don’t care who comes to visit the Abyss. This isn’t because the Demons are necessarily evil, it’s because the Demons really aren’t paranoid that way.
The problem with the Accords is that the number two vampire in the Order, Christian Roth, has just married a half-Fae, half-Demon named Tara who can move between the Faelands and anywhere else she wants whenever she wants. Her mother and the Demon Asmodai were basically the Romeo and Juliet of the Fae/Demon War. She’s not supposed to even exist, and the Fae are mostly pretending she doesn't, even though the Fae King is her uncle.
Don’t you just love family feuds?
In Bittersweet Magic, the Demon Asmodai needs to steal a magic Key from a convent. It’s not just any old key, it’s a key that will allow someone to move between the planes of existence, including opening the portals to the Faelands. Of course, he was supposed to have destroyed it at the end of the War. But he didn’t.
Asmodai has a witch on retainer. Rosamund sold Asmodai her service over five centuries ago in return for performing thirteen tasks. Roz is a Seeker; she finds things by magic. Finding the Key is supposed to be her last job. All she has to do is pretend to be a nun until she can steal the key.
Until some seriously awful monsters kill all the other nuns except one scared young woman and Roz and steal the Key right out from under her hidden nose. And tell them to deliver a message to the head of The Order.
The one group that Asmodai has told Roz she should never visit, because they will kill her the moment she identifies herself and what she is. Except that Roz doesn’t really know what she is.
She only knows she’s seriously sick of pretending to be a nun. And that Piers Lamont, Head of the Order office in London, is the damn hottest thing on two legs she’s ever seen, whatever HE is.
At least she’ll die happy. Unless the damn demon has been lying to her all along. Which he SO has. Even more fun, he’s been lying to The Order, too.
Escape Rating B+: Like Bittersweet Blood, Bittersweet Magic is also a story about a woman who has been lied to about who and what she is discovering the truth of her identity and about the reality of the world she belongs in.
Roz is a witch. Among other things. But she has to own it, and the truth of her heritage has quite a lot of bitter mixed in with the sweet. Her mother was burned as a witch, and only calling on Asmodai saved Roz from a similar fate.
Her mother expected Roz’ father to save them. Which does bring up the question about who Roz’ father really is. The reveal on that particular secret is something that Asmodai seems to have been savoring for a few centuries, and it’s a doozy.
The Demon does turn out to be one of the good guys. More or less.
Because Asmodai has kept Roz isolated for all of her long life, Roz has no idea who she can trust. She does figure out that the Order are not the bad guys that Asmodai has made them out to be, but she isn’t quite sure what they are, either. She’s used to being on her own, and they’re used to keeping everyone in the dark.
Piers Lamont is too busy keeping secrets of his own. At first, he’s still fooled by Roz’ disguise as a nun. Once he gets past that, he’s caught up in trying to protect a woman who just doesn’t need his protection, and in keeping secrets of his own.
That Key that Roz was supposed to steal is the only thing keeping a really big EVIL from destroying the Earth. It’s an EVIL Goddess that still wants Piers back, even after he imprisoned her for 1,000 years. Talk about carrying a torch!
Piers has just figured out he wants Roz, even if he doesn’t think he knows what love is. There’s no triangle like an eternal triangle.
This series is just too much fun not to jump on board for the ride. And it’s totally addictive, like chocolate!
November 11, 2013
The second novel in The Order series is an intriguing read with demons, fae and vampires.
Roz has been indebted to a demon for the last 500 years and all she has to free herself is complete one last task. She must find a key that has been hidden inside a convent. It becomes a lot more complicated when vampires and demons attack the convent. Piers, head of The Order and an ancient vampire, and when Roz comes to him for help, he decides he has to know what secrets she’s hiding.
The author has created a fascinating paranormal world that is full of action, suspense and romance. The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly from one scene to the next with lots of interesting surprises that the readers never see coming. All the characters are bewitching with lots of charisma that draws the readers deeper into the story and leaving them wanting to know more. The vivid imagery painted by the author ensures that the reader becomes part of the story from beginning to end.
Piers and Roz’s attraction to each other is hot and combustible, but they find things getting in their way, when they do finally get together the heat radiates off the pages singeing the readers.
I haven’t read the first one in this series yet, but I will be remedying that as I found this one to be entertaining with lots of great characters, even some of the bad guys. The author does a great job of giving the reader enough information about the previous book without going into too much detail. I can’t wait to for the future books in the story.
Roz has been indebted to a demon for the last 500 years and all she has to free herself is complete one last task. She must find a key that has been hidden inside a convent. It becomes a lot more complicated when vampires and demons attack the convent. Piers, head of The Order and an ancient vampire, and when Roz comes to him for help, he decides he has to know what secrets she’s hiding.
The author has created a fascinating paranormal world that is full of action, suspense and romance. The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly from one scene to the next with lots of interesting surprises that the readers never see coming. All the characters are bewitching with lots of charisma that draws the readers deeper into the story and leaving them wanting to know more. The vivid imagery painted by the author ensures that the reader becomes part of the story from beginning to end.
Piers and Roz’s attraction to each other is hot and combustible, but they find things getting in their way, when they do finally get together the heat radiates off the pages singeing the readers.
I haven’t read the first one in this series yet, but I will be remedying that as I found this one to be entertaining with lots of great characters, even some of the bad guys. The author does a great job of giving the reader enough information about the previous book without going into too much detail. I can’t wait to for the future books in the story.
November 28, 2013
Disclaimer: ARC was kindly provided by the publisher for an honest review.
It takes a skilled author to tell a captivating paranormal these days and Nina Croft is just such a storyteller. I believe more than the word “vampire” is required to impress contemporary readers of the well established paranormal/urban fantasy genre and Croft’s Bittersweet Magic is just that story. Bittersweet Magic is set in a world where vampires, werewolves, demons and the fae exist in hiding, though for how long is unclear.
I recently discovered Nina Croft’s work and was captivated by her sci-fi/romance The Descartes Legacy. Despite suffering from some “paranormal fatigue” (my diagnosis – likely from over exposure) I decided that reading something new by this talented author was worth it. Bittersweet Magic is not the first in this series but it reads well as a standalone. What I will say is that I was intrigued enough by the characters in Bittersweet Magic that I would recommend going back and reading Bittersweet Blood the first in the series if for no other reason than to enjoy Nina’s superior world building and likable characters, even her bad guys are compelling.
To read this review in its entirety please see Penny Dreadful Books and Reviews.
It takes a skilled author to tell a captivating paranormal these days and Nina Croft is just such a storyteller. I believe more than the word “vampire” is required to impress contemporary readers of the well established paranormal/urban fantasy genre and Croft’s Bittersweet Magic is just that story. Bittersweet Magic is set in a world where vampires, werewolves, demons and the fae exist in hiding, though for how long is unclear.
I recently discovered Nina Croft’s work and was captivated by her sci-fi/romance The Descartes Legacy. Despite suffering from some “paranormal fatigue” (my diagnosis – likely from over exposure) I decided that reading something new by this talented author was worth it. Bittersweet Magic is not the first in this series but it reads well as a standalone. What I will say is that I was intrigued enough by the characters in Bittersweet Magic that I would recommend going back and reading Bittersweet Blood the first in the series if for no other reason than to enjoy Nina’s superior world building and likable characters, even her bad guys are compelling.
To read this review in its entirety please see Penny Dreadful Books and Reviews.
July 23, 2017
I kind of have mixed feelings for this book. While it was indeed a very good read, I felt at a loss since going in, I did not realize that it was a book 2 in a series. Readers who have not read book 1, as I, will still be able to follow along, but....there is that sort of feeling of loss, like there are big secrets in the book that everyone but you knows about, a few holes. So I highly recommend picking up book 1, Bittersweet Blood, before even beginning Bittersweet Magic.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, loveable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, loveable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
December 24, 2018
I received this in a set from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was the first in the series about a secret organization that protects the world. We have a girl who has lived a very sheltered life and is looking to break some rules. She wants to learn about her past and has found just the man to help her or should I say vampire. I did enjoy the world the author introduced us to and I cannot wait for to start the next one.
Book 2, 3 and 3.25: This is a review for the remaining books in the series. I did enjoy the read. It has taken me a very long time to finish just because I receive so many books all the time. This series deals with vampires, demons, and angels. It is an interesting take and definitely tells us not to make judgements based on spiecies. I thought it was very well done.
Book 2, 3 and 3.25: This is a review for the remaining books in the series. I did enjoy the read. It has taken me a very long time to finish just because I receive so many books all the time. This series deals with vampires, demons, and angels. It is an interesting take and definitely tells us not to make judgements based on spiecies. I thought it was very well done.
November 28, 2017
Very good
I love Roz. She doesn't take crap from anyone. She's a Witch, but what else is she? Read it and find out.
I love Roz. She doesn't take crap from anyone. She's a Witch, but what else is she? Read it and find out.
December 31, 2017
I don’t know why I do this to myself.
February 12, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Some surprising plot twists, ah, Roz, a heroine in spite of yourself. Good characters. Looking forward to next in series.
October 27, 2017
This book definitely falls into the category of guilty pleasure. I’m not sure that it is truly an amazing book, but I had such fun reading it.
Roz, our main character, is some kind of immortal, but she doesn’t know what. In fact, she doesn’t know much about her past at all. She has been indebted to a demon, Asmodai (great demon name, by the way), for 500 years. Five hundred years ago, she agreed to perform 13 unspecified tasks whenever he asks her, in return for her life, and the deaths of the villagers who burned her mother at the stake as a witch and who were all set to burn her, too.
The story opens with Asmodai calling in his 13th and final favor - that Roz find a specific key hidden in a monastery. So Roz goes under cover as a very unlikely nun, in order to find it. Only she gets there too late, witnessing the murders of most of the nuns, and the stealing of the key by a shadowy figure followed by demon dogs. This leads her on a chase for the key, and to Piers’ door. Piers, though Roz doesn’t know it, is a vampire. And Head of the Order of the Shadow Accords (established to keep demons, humans, and elves in line), whom Roz has been taught by Asmodai to fear.
Roz is naive, even though she’s been around for 500 years. She’s also brave, clever, determined, and isolationist. She avoids getting close to others because Asmodai has warned her not to trust anyone, and because she regularly has to change lives (she never grows older). I enjoyed her discovery of her past. Asmodai is enigmatic, kind of mysterious, but what I really liked about his character is that even though he’s a demon, he is motivated in part by concerns familiar to humans. That is to say, he is not pure evil. He is a manipulative, cunning liar, and not much concerned for the welfare of others, but he’s more of an unscrupulous good guy than an unalloyed bad guy. This makes him more complex, and his contributions to the story at times amusing. Piers is ever so amusing, and I really enjoyed his pursuit of Roz, and Roz’s resistance to him.
As the second book in a series, I had surprisingly little trouble entering into the world. The worldbuilding was solid enough that it was easy to pick up some of the back story, and to understand what was going on.
While there’s nothing really remarkable about the world, the characters, or the plot, I found this to be a highly entertaining and enjoyable novel. I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in two days. I’ll definitely be back for more. Recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy a light, fun, paranormal romance/urban fantasy.
Read-alikes
If you're into modern-day paranormal romances/urban fantasies with supernatural heroines and vampires heroes (and villains) you'll probably enjoy:
If you like the love-hate relationship (at the beginning, anyway) between Roz and Piers, and again, vampires as shadowy, enigmatic love interests, you might also like:
For a touch of heaven and hell in your paranormal romantic urban fantasy, try:
Lastly, Darkfever is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy that takes place in Ireland, with a human heroine who gets involved with all sorts of fae, demons, and mythical creatures in the fight for humankind after hell breaks loose on earth.
*e-ARC provided by NetGalley
Roz, our main character, is some kind of immortal, but she doesn’t know what. In fact, she doesn’t know much about her past at all. She has been indebted to a demon, Asmodai (great demon name, by the way), for 500 years. Five hundred years ago, she agreed to perform 13 unspecified tasks whenever he asks her, in return for her life, and the deaths of the villagers who burned her mother at the stake as a witch and who were all set to burn her, too.
The story opens with Asmodai calling in his 13th and final favor - that Roz find a specific key hidden in a monastery. So Roz goes under cover as a very unlikely nun, in order to find it. Only she gets there too late, witnessing the murders of most of the nuns, and the stealing of the key by a shadowy figure followed by demon dogs. This leads her on a chase for the key, and to Piers’ door. Piers, though Roz doesn’t know it, is a vampire. And Head of the Order of the Shadow Accords (established to keep demons, humans, and elves in line), whom Roz has been taught by Asmodai to fear.
Roz is naive, even though she’s been around for 500 years. She’s also brave, clever, determined, and isolationist. She avoids getting close to others because Asmodai has warned her not to trust anyone, and because she regularly has to change lives (she never grows older). I enjoyed her discovery of her past. Asmodai is enigmatic, kind of mysterious, but what I really liked about his character is that even though he’s a demon, he is motivated in part by concerns familiar to humans. That is to say, he is not pure evil. He is a manipulative, cunning liar, and not much concerned for the welfare of others, but he’s more of an unscrupulous good guy than an unalloyed bad guy. This makes him more complex, and his contributions to the story at times amusing. Piers is ever so amusing, and I really enjoyed his pursuit of Roz, and Roz’s resistance to him.
As the second book in a series, I had surprisingly little trouble entering into the world. The worldbuilding was solid enough that it was easy to pick up some of the back story, and to understand what was going on.
While there’s nothing really remarkable about the world, the characters, or the plot, I found this to be a highly entertaining and enjoyable novel. I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in two days. I’ll definitely be back for more. Recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy a light, fun, paranormal romance/urban fantasy.
Read-alikes
If you're into modern-day paranormal romances/urban fantasies with supernatural heroines and vampires heroes (and villains) you'll probably enjoy:
If you like the love-hate relationship (at the beginning, anyway) between Roz and Piers, and again, vampires as shadowy, enigmatic love interests, you might also like:
For a touch of heaven and hell in your paranormal romantic urban fantasy, try:
Lastly, Darkfever is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy that takes place in Ireland, with a human heroine who gets involved with all sorts of fae, demons, and mythical creatures in the fight for humankind after hell breaks loose on earth.
*e-ARC provided by NetGalley
January 29, 2016
Really good story that had me hooked from the beginning.
Roz is 500 years old and is indebted to the demon, Asmodai, for saving her life and killing those who killed her mother and were about to kill her. Her mother had healed people all her life, and they repaid her by killing her. Roz has to do 13 tasks. For the last task, she has to take a key located in a convent. She goes under overs, but a vampire, Jack, takes it first. Jack marks a real nun and tells her to give Piers a message. Rob goes with the nun to Piers. It turns out she and Piers are extremely attracted to each other. Piers is 2,000 years old(?). However, he doesn't suspect that she is with the nun only to complete her own agenda. The policeman, Ryan, goes to her with a missing persons case. She uses her gift for finding things to find the girl. It turns out that Jack had kidnapped her to suck her blood. She goes and saves the girl and takes the key. She gives it to Ryan to hide. She heals the victim's mind. But Jack finds out that she has the key and kidnaps the nun and Ryan. She had planned to kill herself and Jack along with destroying the key, but Piers stops her in time. Jack is Piers' maker. Piers was the once lover of the demon goddess. Jack is in love with the demon goddess and serves her. The evil demon goddess takes the key and leaves. They kill Jack. Roz and Piers has sex. The nun loses her previous beliefs of God. Not explicitly stated, but the nun and Ryan get together. Because of their knowledge, they also now work for the Order, which polices the supernatural creatures, most specifically demons and Fae. It turns out that Roz is half Fae. She meets her father, who didn't abandon her. He actually loves her. He was imprisoned during the wars and therefore wasn't able to rescue her or her mother. He is the brother of the king of the Fae. Asmodai releases her from her bondage to him. When they first met, Asmodai had taken Roz's among the flames and screams of the villagers who had killed her mother. He had saved her because he had known she was half-Fae. When they cannot find a way to kill the evil demon goddess since she has the key to go between worlds, Piers sacrifices himself. He knows that the evil demon goddess wants him back as a lover. The key gives the weirder power to go between worlds. The Fae cannot enter the Abyss. The demons cannot enter the Faelands. The evil demon goddess has been murdering a lot of humans. Piers has one last night with Roz and goes with the evil demon. He gets the key. The key is given to Roz's father for safekeeping. When Roz finds out what Piers did, she uses her tears and has Asmodai take her to the Abyss. She challenges the evil demon to a one on one match. You cannot kill a demon without killing everyone who carries her brand. When Piers gave himself to her, he took her brand. The only way to not kill Piers and still kill the evil demon is in a one on one match. There is a part of Roz locked away because it would trigger people to come kill her. During the match where Roz is losing, her father comes and releases that lock. Beforehand, he had kicked Asmodai to leave the room. Otherwise, he would die. When the lock is released. She starts to glow. The evil demon goddess is turned into a pile of ashes. It turns out that she is an angel. She is technically a quarter angel. This is where she gets her healing powers from. Her mother's powers were weak. But from the moment she was born, she was powerful. The had to keep running from the Angels until Roz was old enough to lock away her power and mute it. The Angels don't like their blood diluted. They had killed Roz's grandfather, a fallen angel, and her grandmother. Her mother had survived. Roz's father had met her mother because he was the assassin sent to kill her. But she was the purest soul he had ever met and had fallen in love with her immediately. He had lied and told the Angels she was dead. Now that Roz has used her powers, the Angels would have felt it and would know that she is alive and would want to kill her. The story ends with Roz and Piers saying they love each other. He promises to protect her from the Angels.
Roz is 500 years old and is indebted to the demon, Asmodai, for saving her life and killing those who killed her mother and were about to kill her. Her mother had healed people all her life, and they repaid her by killing her. Roz has to do 13 tasks. For the last task, she has to take a key located in a convent. She goes under overs, but a vampire, Jack, takes it first. Jack marks a real nun and tells her to give Piers a message. Rob goes with the nun to Piers. It turns out she and Piers are extremely attracted to each other. Piers is 2,000 years old(?). However, he doesn't suspect that she is with the nun only to complete her own agenda. The policeman, Ryan, goes to her with a missing persons case. She uses her gift for finding things to find the girl. It turns out that Jack had kidnapped her to suck her blood. She goes and saves the girl and takes the key. She gives it to Ryan to hide. She heals the victim's mind. But Jack finds out that she has the key and kidnaps the nun and Ryan. She had planned to kill herself and Jack along with destroying the key, but Piers stops her in time. Jack is Piers' maker. Piers was the once lover of the demon goddess. Jack is in love with the demon goddess and serves her. The evil demon goddess takes the key and leaves. They kill Jack. Roz and Piers has sex. The nun loses her previous beliefs of God. Not explicitly stated, but the nun and Ryan get together. Because of their knowledge, they also now work for the Order, which polices the supernatural creatures, most specifically demons and Fae. It turns out that Roz is half Fae. She meets her father, who didn't abandon her. He actually loves her. He was imprisoned during the wars and therefore wasn't able to rescue her or her mother. He is the brother of the king of the Fae. Asmodai releases her from her bondage to him. When they first met, Asmodai had taken Roz's among the flames and screams of the villagers who had killed her mother. He had saved her because he had known she was half-Fae. When they cannot find a way to kill the evil demon goddess since she has the key to go between worlds, Piers sacrifices himself. He knows that the evil demon goddess wants him back as a lover. The key gives the weirder power to go between worlds. The Fae cannot enter the Abyss. The demons cannot enter the Faelands. The evil demon goddess has been murdering a lot of humans. Piers has one last night with Roz and goes with the evil demon. He gets the key. The key is given to Roz's father for safekeeping. When Roz finds out what Piers did, she uses her tears and has Asmodai take her to the Abyss. She challenges the evil demon to a one on one match. You cannot kill a demon without killing everyone who carries her brand. When Piers gave himself to her, he took her brand. The only way to not kill Piers and still kill the evil demon is in a one on one match. There is a part of Roz locked away because it would trigger people to come kill her. During the match where Roz is losing, her father comes and releases that lock. Beforehand, he had kicked Asmodai to leave the room. Otherwise, he would die. When the lock is released. She starts to glow. The evil demon goddess is turned into a pile of ashes. It turns out that she is an angel. She is technically a quarter angel. This is where she gets her healing powers from. Her mother's powers were weak. But from the moment she was born, she was powerful. The had to keep running from the Angels until Roz was old enough to lock away her power and mute it. The Angels don't like their blood diluted. They had killed Roz's grandfather, a fallen angel, and her grandmother. Her mother had survived. Roz's father had met her mother because he was the assassin sent to kill her. But she was the purest soul he had ever met and had fallen in love with her immediately. He had lied and told the Angels she was dead. Now that Roz has used her powers, the Angels would have felt it and would know that she is alive and would want to kill her. The story ends with Roz and Piers saying they love each other. He promises to protect her from the Angels.
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Kindle Edition, 300 pages
Published November 11th 2013 by Entangled
ASIN B00FCQQ1PU
edition language English
http://bittersweet.ninacroft.com/bitt...URL
series The Order #2
other editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
After 500 years Roz is one step from ending her servitude to the Demon Asmodai, but of course with Roz nothing is ever simple and her last task proves that in spades!
This second book was so much easier for me to get into than the first , Roz finds herself donning a nun’s habit when she locates the whereabouts of the key that Asmodai has given her the task to find. This is not her first time in disguise but she loathes the fact that not only does she have to wear a hideous getup, complete with headpiece, she also has to appear to be meek which is so not in character!
While pursuing her retrieval of the key from the convent Roz unluckily waits a day too late and is beaten to her prize by what appear to be some really nasty demons and their master who slaughters the entire group of sisters save one Sister Maria who is left defiled but alive with strict instructions to go to London and give a message to Piers Lamont.
Piers turns out to be the head of the Order of The Shadow Accord, an organization that Roz has been warned by Asmodai to stay away from or suffer being put to death simply because she is not fully human.
This is a book of revelations for the reader as well as Roz as all unfolds we learn more of not only her background than she has ever been privy to in all her centuries but also that most of the facts she has been using as guidelines to live her life by are lies.
Roz finds herself caught up in a supernatural war that will wipe out humanity unless she and her new allies find a way to stop it from happening. A pulse pounding, suspenseful page turner that all who enjoy vampires, fae, witches and demons will get lost in easily until the very last page!,
Kindle Edition, 300 pages
Published November 11th 2013 by Entangled
ASIN B00FCQQ1PU
edition language English
http://bittersweet.ninacroft.com/bitt...URL
series The Order #2
other editions (1)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
My Thoughts
After 500 years Roz is one step from ending her servitude to the Demon Asmodai, but of course with Roz nothing is ever simple and her last task proves that in spades!
This second book was so much easier for me to get into than the first , Roz finds herself donning a nun’s habit when she locates the whereabouts of the key that Asmodai has given her the task to find. This is not her first time in disguise but she loathes the fact that not only does she have to wear a hideous getup, complete with headpiece, she also has to appear to be meek which is so not in character!
While pursuing her retrieval of the key from the convent Roz unluckily waits a day too late and is beaten to her prize by what appear to be some really nasty demons and their master who slaughters the entire group of sisters save one Sister Maria who is left defiled but alive with strict instructions to go to London and give a message to Piers Lamont.
Piers turns out to be the head of the Order of The Shadow Accord, an organization that Roz has been warned by Asmodai to stay away from or suffer being put to death simply because she is not fully human.
This is a book of revelations for the reader as well as Roz as all unfolds we learn more of not only her background than she has ever been privy to in all her centuries but also that most of the facts she has been using as guidelines to live her life by are lies.
Roz finds herself caught up in a supernatural war that will wipe out humanity unless she and her new allies find a way to stop it from happening. A pulse pounding, suspenseful page turner that all who enjoy vampires, fae, witches and demons will get lost in easily until the very last page!,
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
January 1, 2014
Just what I needed!!! My favorite types of books and Ms Croft has a great series (and world!). Quick read, too! Full review coming!!
Updated 1/1/2014:
Second books in a series are toughies; so many expectations, a world to continue building to keep readers interested, and you have to introduce a couple that readers want to invest their time in. Ms. Croft did indeed deliver a hot paranormal romance with a side of mystery. She managed to stay highly original in her world building and tight in her writing. Her supporting characters are again stupendous and I needed to know more about everyone! Yeah, I kind of liked this book…
Roz (short for Rosamund) isn’t entirely sure what she is but she’s been on the earth for a long time. She was “rescued” from being burned at the stake as a witch by Asmodai but at the price of having to do 13 tasks for him. She’s almost done and on her last task when she runs into complications in the form of Piers Lamont and the Order of the Shadow Accords. It doesn’t help that she’s been told very little about the supernatural world but does know she needs to steer clear of the Order.
Roz, for all her years, is resourceful, smart, slightly jagged around the edges, but is definitely a heroine I could get behind. I almost likened her to some of my favorite leading male characters, those guys who are cranky and closed off but always end up doing the good, soft-hearted thing in the end. Kind of like John Wayne in “True Grit”, but without all the stories about his life (okay, my limb is shaky, work with me here). Either way, she could have ended up a total wanker from all the years of servitude, torture, and such but she really is kind of cool, calm, and has a good heart. It’s about time she got a HEA.
I met Piers in Bittersweet Blood and he almost stole the scene from Christian (who is the hero in that story). He literally strolled into the room in all his leather-clad, rock-star hotness, tried to pick up Tara (our previous heroine), and left. He was not the nicest guy. So I was really curious how Ms. Croft was going to win me over to his side. Turns out his backstory is quite “colorful”, as in the color blood red. I thought this is where Ms. Croft’s world building really shined. His story is very unique, gave his character a ton of depth, and made it very easy for me to “fall” for him.
There were so many other places that Ms. Croft took us that I just wanted to know more about: the Faelands, the Abyss, the Crooked Hat. I actually came into the story hoping it would have more of Christian and Tara because to me, it seemed like Tara’s story wasn’t quite finished at the end of Bittersweet Blood. But Piers distracted me so I got over it.
I’m getting long winded with my reviews again so let me sum this up… awesome supporting characters in Ryan, the cop, and Sister Maria, the nun. The story flew by with no lulls and Ms. Croft managed to jam a ton of story in just 300 pages without leaving anything out (except specific Tara and Christian follow-up). And the last 25% of the book surprised me and held me captive. I actually just got done re-reading those pages – still loving it!
Now, where’s book three?
Review appears on
Updated 1/1/2014:
Second books in a series are toughies; so many expectations, a world to continue building to keep readers interested, and you have to introduce a couple that readers want to invest their time in. Ms. Croft did indeed deliver a hot paranormal romance with a side of mystery. She managed to stay highly original in her world building and tight in her writing. Her supporting characters are again stupendous and I needed to know more about everyone! Yeah, I kind of liked this book…
Roz (short for Rosamund) isn’t entirely sure what she is but she’s been on the earth for a long time. She was “rescued” from being burned at the stake as a witch by Asmodai but at the price of having to do 13 tasks for him. She’s almost done and on her last task when she runs into complications in the form of Piers Lamont and the Order of the Shadow Accords. It doesn’t help that she’s been told very little about the supernatural world but does know she needs to steer clear of the Order.
Roz, for all her years, is resourceful, smart, slightly jagged around the edges, but is definitely a heroine I could get behind. I almost likened her to some of my favorite leading male characters, those guys who are cranky and closed off but always end up doing the good, soft-hearted thing in the end. Kind of like John Wayne in “True Grit”, but without all the stories about his life (okay, my limb is shaky, work with me here). Either way, she could have ended up a total wanker from all the years of servitude, torture, and such but she really is kind of cool, calm, and has a good heart. It’s about time she got a HEA.
I met Piers in Bittersweet Blood and he almost stole the scene from Christian (who is the hero in that story). He literally strolled into the room in all his leather-clad, rock-star hotness, tried to pick up Tara (our previous heroine), and left. He was not the nicest guy. So I was really curious how Ms. Croft was going to win me over to his side. Turns out his backstory is quite “colorful”, as in the color blood red. I thought this is where Ms. Croft’s world building really shined. His story is very unique, gave his character a ton of depth, and made it very easy for me to “fall” for him.
There were so many other places that Ms. Croft took us that I just wanted to know more about: the Faelands, the Abyss, the Crooked Hat. I actually came into the story hoping it would have more of Christian and Tara because to me, it seemed like Tara’s story wasn’t quite finished at the end of Bittersweet Blood. But Piers distracted me so I got over it.
I’m getting long winded with my reviews again so let me sum this up… awesome supporting characters in Ryan, the cop, and Sister Maria, the nun. The story flew by with no lulls and Ms. Croft managed to jam a ton of story in just 300 pages without leaving anything out (except specific Tara and Christian follow-up). And the last 25% of the book surprised me and held me captive. I actually just got done re-reading those pages – still loving it!
Now, where’s book three?
Review appears on
June 15, 2014
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control…or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
~~~~
REVIEW: BITTERSWEET MAGIC is the second instalment in Nina Croft’s adult, contemporary The Order paranormal/fantasy series. This is Piers and Roz’s story. Although it is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.
Piers is one of the oldest living vampires and head of the regulating vampire body, known as The Order of the Shadow Accords, that polices the supernaturals of the world; and Roz is ‘not quite human’. Indebted to the demon Asmodai for the past five hundred years, Roz is tasked to perform one final job before being released from her obligations- to find The Key-a key that will open the portal between the worlds.
Told from third person POV, the storyline follows Roz as she is targeted by several supernatural factions on her adventure in search for The Key. Not only does the Key open the door to other realms but it will free one of the most powerful demons the supernatural world have ever known. Enter Piers-the vampire with whom Roz will fall in love but not before said powerful demon makes him an offer he can’t refuse-Piers will sacrifice himself to save the world.
The relationship between Roz and Piers is slow to build. As Roz endeavors to discover the truth about her heritage and the missing Key, Piers will take advantage of Roz’s special blood on more than one occasion. Believing he is mesmerizing Roz, Piers will continue to feed from the woman all the while she is well aware of what is going on. The sex scenes are sensual and seductive; there is a true feeling of love between the vampire and his mate. But Roz has a secret buried deep within her mind and her heart, and it will take someone from her past to bring that knowledge and power to the present.
The secondary characters play a pivotal role including former head of The Order and vampire Christian Roth, and his mate Tara, whom we met in the first storyline Bittersweet Blood. We will be reintroduced to Ryan-a close friend of Roz- a human and police detective, who will become the liaison between the human and supernatural world.
BITTERSWEET MAGIC is an enchanting and fascinating storyline that was slow to build and quick to resolve. The previous storyline characters are colorful, add emotion and history, and brought a sense of continuity to the series. The reader is pulled into a story about love and understanding; betrayal and sacrifice; power and control. Nina Croft has the ability to blend present day with the fantasy of the supernatural making you believe that anything is possible.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control…or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
~~~~
REVIEW: BITTERSWEET MAGIC is the second instalment in Nina Croft’s adult, contemporary The Order paranormal/fantasy series. This is Piers and Roz’s story. Although it is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.
Piers is one of the oldest living vampires and head of the regulating vampire body, known as The Order of the Shadow Accords, that polices the supernaturals of the world; and Roz is ‘not quite human’. Indebted to the demon Asmodai for the past five hundred years, Roz is tasked to perform one final job before being released from her obligations- to find The Key-a key that will open the portal between the worlds.
Told from third person POV, the storyline follows Roz as she is targeted by several supernatural factions on her adventure in search for The Key. Not only does the Key open the door to other realms but it will free one of the most powerful demons the supernatural world have ever known. Enter Piers-the vampire with whom Roz will fall in love but not before said powerful demon makes him an offer he can’t refuse-Piers will sacrifice himself to save the world.
The relationship between Roz and Piers is slow to build. As Roz endeavors to discover the truth about her heritage and the missing Key, Piers will take advantage of Roz’s special blood on more than one occasion. Believing he is mesmerizing Roz, Piers will continue to feed from the woman all the while she is well aware of what is going on. The sex scenes are sensual and seductive; there is a true feeling of love between the vampire and his mate. But Roz has a secret buried deep within her mind and her heart, and it will take someone from her past to bring that knowledge and power to the present.
The secondary characters play a pivotal role including former head of The Order and vampire Christian Roth, and his mate Tara, whom we met in the first storyline Bittersweet Blood. We will be reintroduced to Ryan-a close friend of Roz- a human and police detective, who will become the liaison between the human and supernatural world.
BITTERSWEET MAGIC is an enchanting and fascinating storyline that was slow to build and quick to resolve. The previous storyline characters are colorful, add emotion and history, and brought a sense of continuity to the series. The reader is pulled into a story about love and understanding; betrayal and sacrifice; power and control. Nina Croft has the ability to blend present day with the fantasy of the supernatural making you believe that anything is possible.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
November 13, 2013
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
Review:
All I can say is that people have been keeping some very big secrets from Roz...
I loved this book, I loved Roz and her spunk and I loved Piers, that sexy brooding vampire.
The premise, the story and the Authors writing style kept me engrossed and not wanting to put the book down. Now, for my OCD friends who have to read books in order, this is the second book; for the rest of us you will not be lost at all by reading this book before the other. The characters from the first book are in the second book and you get information about what happened in the first book. This was a well rounded story with secrets, action, suspense, lots of paranormal beings, drama, romance and some good old fun sex.
Roz has been working for a demon, Asmodai for 500 years as a seeker because she asked for him to rescue her when she was about to me burnt at the stake for witchcraft. This is lucky number 13, her last job for Asmodai. Roz must go undercover in a convent to find a key, right before she finds the key a Vampire and demons kill everyone in the convent except Roz and Sister Maria. Roz hopes by taking Maria to Piers Lamont (who they need to give a message to from the Vampire who killed everyone) that she will be able to track the key and obtain her freedom from Asmodai. I am sure what Roz did not count on was Piers and that instant chemistry between them. Come to kind out the key should have been destroyed long ago and now a demon is rising who would use the key to start a war and enslave humans. As everyone is trying to find the key, Roz is trying to piece together who/what she is and falling for Piers. I really loved these two characters together, they don't want to fall but cannot help it and then they both try to sacrifice themselves for each other and others. Now, not wanting to give away some surprises at the end...but there is some great moments for Roz and her father and an exciting scene when she finds out what is locked away inside her and what she is.
Was sad for this story to end, I think Roz and Piers going on adventures would be an excellent series...
4 stars
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
Review:
All I can say is that people have been keeping some very big secrets from Roz...
I loved this book, I loved Roz and her spunk and I loved Piers, that sexy brooding vampire.
The premise, the story and the Authors writing style kept me engrossed and not wanting to put the book down. Now, for my OCD friends who have to read books in order, this is the second book; for the rest of us you will not be lost at all by reading this book before the other. The characters from the first book are in the second book and you get information about what happened in the first book. This was a well rounded story with secrets, action, suspense, lots of paranormal beings, drama, romance and some good old fun sex.
Roz has been working for a demon, Asmodai for 500 years as a seeker because she asked for him to rescue her when she was about to me burnt at the stake for witchcraft. This is lucky number 13, her last job for Asmodai. Roz must go undercover in a convent to find a key, right before she finds the key a Vampire and demons kill everyone in the convent except Roz and Sister Maria. Roz hopes by taking Maria to Piers Lamont (who they need to give a message to from the Vampire who killed everyone) that she will be able to track the key and obtain her freedom from Asmodai. I am sure what Roz did not count on was Piers and that instant chemistry between them. Come to kind out the key should have been destroyed long ago and now a demon is rising who would use the key to start a war and enslave humans. As everyone is trying to find the key, Roz is trying to piece together who/what she is and falling for Piers. I really loved these two characters together, they don't want to fall but cannot help it and then they both try to sacrifice themselves for each other and others. Now, not wanting to give away some surprises at the end...but there is some great moments for Roz and her father and an exciting scene when she finds out what is locked away inside her and what she is.
Was sad for this story to end, I think Roz and Piers going on adventures would be an excellent series...
4 stars
November 17, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
As I’ve been waiting for BITTERSWEET MAGIC since about three minutes after I finished BITTERSWEET BLOOD, the first book in The Order series, I think we can easily say I was pretty excited to read this book. Luckily, even though I had a few issues with BITTERSWEET MAGIC, it lived up to my expectations for it, and I was completely enthralled by Roz and Piers, and now I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Roz is the exact opposite of a heroine than Tara, from BITTERSWEET BLOOD. Where Tara was naive and sheltered, Roz has nothing of that- she’s quite tough and has no problem lying through her teeth to get what she wants. I suppose that’s what happens when you’ve been around for four or five centuries, though. I admired Roz’s loyalty and fierce protectiveness towards those who got into a sticky situation because of her- if she had been able to just leave them to their own devices, I would have thought less of her as a character.
Then we have Piers- bad boy extraordinaire! However, my biggest complaint is related to him. Twice he took blood from Roz without her permission. Now, obviously vampires do this in books all the time- but I think it bothered me because it was our heroine. It just seemed like an unnecessary invasion on Piers’ part, and it rubbed me the wrong way. But otherwise, we find out more about Piers’ history, and while he’s almost as scary as he was in book one, we also see a bit of a softer side to him where Roz is concerned. The two of them together have great chemistry, and there is minimal agonizing over the relationship (oh I want him but he’s so bad, etc etc) which I appreciated.
I would have liked to see more world building, since there is so much going on that I’d love to get an idea of what else inhabits the world of The Order series, especially since a fourth dimension- heaven- was just introduced in BITTERSWEET MAGIC, rather casually, without much explanation. We did get more history about the demon and fae wars and why they’re so at odds with each other, which was interesting but just left me wanting more!
All in all, BITTERSWEET MAGIC gave me exactly what I expected (and wanted). With Roz and Piers, we get some super sexy moments, plus there’s action and mystery all set in an interesting world. And now, with two spectacular books in The Order series, I’m wondering who’s up next? Caleb, the werewolf head of The Order’s security? Graham, Piers’ assistant? So long as there’s another book, I’ll be happy!
Sexual content: Sex scenes
As I’ve been waiting for BITTERSWEET MAGIC since about three minutes after I finished BITTERSWEET BLOOD, the first book in The Order series, I think we can easily say I was pretty excited to read this book. Luckily, even though I had a few issues with BITTERSWEET MAGIC, it lived up to my expectations for it, and I was completely enthralled by Roz and Piers, and now I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Roz is the exact opposite of a heroine than Tara, from BITTERSWEET BLOOD. Where Tara was naive and sheltered, Roz has nothing of that- she’s quite tough and has no problem lying through her teeth to get what she wants. I suppose that’s what happens when you’ve been around for four or five centuries, though. I admired Roz’s loyalty and fierce protectiveness towards those who got into a sticky situation because of her- if she had been able to just leave them to their own devices, I would have thought less of her as a character.
Then we have Piers- bad boy extraordinaire! However, my biggest complaint is related to him. Twice he took blood from Roz without her permission. Now, obviously vampires do this in books all the time- but I think it bothered me because it was our heroine. It just seemed like an unnecessary invasion on Piers’ part, and it rubbed me the wrong way. But otherwise, we find out more about Piers’ history, and while he’s almost as scary as he was in book one, we also see a bit of a softer side to him where Roz is concerned. The two of them together have great chemistry, and there is minimal agonizing over the relationship (oh I want him but he’s so bad, etc etc) which I appreciated.
I would have liked to see more world building, since there is so much going on that I’d love to get an idea of what else inhabits the world of The Order series, especially since a fourth dimension- heaven- was just introduced in BITTERSWEET MAGIC, rather casually, without much explanation. We did get more history about the demon and fae wars and why they’re so at odds with each other, which was interesting but just left me wanting more!
All in all, BITTERSWEET MAGIC gave me exactly what I expected (and wanted). With Roz and Piers, we get some super sexy moments, plus there’s action and mystery all set in an interesting world. And now, with two spectacular books in The Order series, I’m wondering who’s up next? Caleb, the werewolf head of The Order’s security? Graham, Piers’ assistant? So long as there’s another book, I’ll be happy!
Sexual content: Sex scenes
November 13, 2013
What would you do if you were indebted to a demon for 500 years. Just complete 13 tasks than freedom and now you are down to the last one. You are a seeker but you have to pretend to be a nun,seriously. Roz now she is really not nun material but freedom is so close and ironically it is a key ha ha key to freedom. But while she is there and just abut to retrieve it someone else or should say something else wants it too. Wham bam thank you mam and there goes the key and poof there goes the nuns all gone except for Maria. She is used as a messenger with it on her back. When the coast is clear Roz comes out helps Maria and off to find the one the message needs to go to. Piers is now who they seek, thanks to bad guy Jack. But he belongs to The Order of Shadow Accords-the ones who keep order and warned she had been to stay away from them. Decisions, decisions but freedom would be oh so sweet. I would say now is when the good stuff begins,adventure filled with drama. Where she goes sister Maria wants to stay close by feels safer with her. Her perception of herself is not even close to what others see or come to know when they can even get past a inch of the wall she has around herself. She goes back to give Piers so info and has pretended he has mesmerized her and now has tasted something oh so sweet yum yum. Addiction she will turn out to be for him oh yeah. As time goes on half truths become whole truths,lies she was told concerning herself are also brought to light and she is actually one powerfull dynamite woman. Of curse there is for sure always things you hear when eavesdropping that can trigger emotional reactions it is about you and someone is in trouble ho ho ho for their lies. Now his guy Piers isn't just a guy and thinks she means more to him than he at first realizes. If you happen to be the bad guys in all of this you are so in trouble and say bye bye you won't be around for much longer. Roz and Piers hook up and if at all honest with herself bye bye won't be in her vocabulary for him. He is fine double fine. As she discovers she is more than just a seeker things go form good to all right it is crackin' now. Things just keep rollin on and it was so intriguing to find out just how special Roz was. Turns out Piers is one special guy also and when he loves he loves. Really did enjoying following all the action all the way to the end. When I finally reached the end so wanted more. This author has the style that would have you coming back for more. Received a arc for a honest review.
November 26, 2013
Review posted on my blog, Becky on Books.
I haven’t had a chance to read book one in this series yet–but after finishing this one, I’m definitely going to. You don’t have to have read the first one (Bittersweet Blood) in order for this one to make sense, but it definitely would help–and heads up, you’ll definitely want to read it once you get a taste. Roz, our heroine, is new to the universe contained in the books as well–technically, she’s been a part of it for roughly five hundred years, yet was mostly kept isolated for reasons that are later explained–so readers unfamiliar with The Order and the rules of this particular universe can learn them right along with her.
Still, though, you–like Roz–will definitely feel like the odd man out at times, with most of the other characters sharing inside information that you lack. However–this can all be quickly remedied, by reading book one first! ;)
Even going into this novel blind, it drew me in immediately. I wanted to figure out what was going on right along with Roz, and Piers intrigued me just as much as he did her. Those two had some fantastic chemistry, and every time they shared a scene you could feel the heat. I loved that Roz was a very capable heroine, and absolutely adored the scenes where she gave just as good as she got with Piers. The ones where she resisted his ability to mesmerize, yet let him think that he had succeeded? Priceless. And he so needed that come down!
There’s an excellent cast of characters in this book, which means a wealth of opportunities for future books. Besides our hero and heroine–a thousands-year-old vampire and a possible witch–we have warlocks, werewolves, demons, shapeshifters, and fey. Even the two mortal characters here–Ryan and Maria, a police detective and nun–are well fleshed-out and interesting; I hope we see more from them in future books too.
The one and only complaint I have about this novel is that the end was a tad bit on the rushed side–I did like how everything was resolved; all the pieces came together nicely–but it all happened very, very quickly.
If you like paranormal reads with drama and sexy romance, this is definitely one series you’ll want to try.
Rating: A-
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t had a chance to read book one in this series yet–but after finishing this one, I’m definitely going to. You don’t have to have read the first one (Bittersweet Blood) in order for this one to make sense, but it definitely would help–and heads up, you’ll definitely want to read it once you get a taste. Roz, our heroine, is new to the universe contained in the books as well–technically, she’s been a part of it for roughly five hundred years, yet was mostly kept isolated for reasons that are later explained–so readers unfamiliar with The Order and the rules of this particular universe can learn them right along with her.
Still, though, you–like Roz–will definitely feel like the odd man out at times, with most of the other characters sharing inside information that you lack. However–this can all be quickly remedied, by reading book one first! ;)
Even going into this novel blind, it drew me in immediately. I wanted to figure out what was going on right along with Roz, and Piers intrigued me just as much as he did her. Those two had some fantastic chemistry, and every time they shared a scene you could feel the heat. I loved that Roz was a very capable heroine, and absolutely adored the scenes where she gave just as good as she got with Piers. The ones where she resisted his ability to mesmerize, yet let him think that he had succeeded? Priceless. And he so needed that come down!
There’s an excellent cast of characters in this book, which means a wealth of opportunities for future books. Besides our hero and heroine–a thousands-year-old vampire and a possible witch–we have warlocks, werewolves, demons, shapeshifters, and fey. Even the two mortal characters here–Ryan and Maria, a police detective and nun–are well fleshed-out and interesting; I hope we see more from them in future books too.
The one and only complaint I have about this novel is that the end was a tad bit on the rushed side–I did like how everything was resolved; all the pieces came together nicely–but it all happened very, very quickly.
If you like paranormal reads with drama and sexy romance, this is definitely one series you’ll want to try.
Rating: A-
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2013
It's official. I'm in love with the awesomeness that is Nina Croft. And, just as a head's up, I'm going to be interviewing her sometime in the near future (she's agreed to the interview, I just have to send her the questions), and there will be a review on another one of her books in a few days.
Now, as to the book itself, it's the second in a series (sigh - when will I learn to pay attention to see if there are others ahead of the book I'm reading?), but it didn't matter. I got the hang of the book, and I'm assuming that the first book dealt with Christian/Tara.
Roz dealt with some pretty crappy things before she got taken in by Asmodai. She had to watched her mother burned at the stake and was next in line, had Asmodai not pulled her out of there and made a deal with her. She's got special abilities to find things, and her current (and theoretically last) mission for Asmodai is to find a mysterious Key that's hidden at a convent. Unfortunately, someone else is after the Key and slaughters the nuns. She rescues the sole survivor of the massacre (who was left alive to carry a message) and escorts her to the one Sister Maria needs to deliver the message to, hero Piers.
Piers. Yum. Wowser. There are too many perfect words for such a lucious man. Alpha, yes. A**hat, no. Sex on a stick is he, and a vampire who wears leather pants to boot. Can I have him, Ms. Croft?
The sparks are very apparent from the very first second Roz & Piers meet, even though he thinks she's a nun (yeah right - and she has the pink vibrator to prove she's no innocent miss). There's a lot of squabbling and hiding truths from one another. And of course sex. There's explosive sex when they finally have it, though Ms. Croft draaaagggsssss the sexual tension out for so much of the book, I was about ready to pop when they finally did. Erm, maybe that's too much information.
Anyway, fantabulous book, I want more of this Order series, and highly recommend it without any reservations at all. Please, get this book, support Ms. Croft so she never has an excuse not to write!
Thank you Entangled, NetGalley, and Ms. Nina Awesome-Sauce Croft!
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now, as to the book itself, it's the second in a series (sigh - when will I learn to pay attention to see if there are others ahead of the book I'm reading?), but it didn't matter. I got the hang of the book, and I'm assuming that the first book dealt with Christian/Tara.
Roz dealt with some pretty crappy things before she got taken in by Asmodai. She had to watched her mother burned at the stake and was next in line, had Asmodai not pulled her out of there and made a deal with her. She's got special abilities to find things, and her current (and theoretically last) mission for Asmodai is to find a mysterious Key that's hidden at a convent. Unfortunately, someone else is after the Key and slaughters the nuns. She rescues the sole survivor of the massacre (who was left alive to carry a message) and escorts her to the one Sister Maria needs to deliver the message to, hero Piers.
Piers. Yum. Wowser. There are too many perfect words for such a lucious man. Alpha, yes. A**hat, no. Sex on a stick is he, and a vampire who wears leather pants to boot. Can I have him, Ms. Croft?
The sparks are very apparent from the very first second Roz & Piers meet, even though he thinks she's a nun (yeah right - and she has the pink vibrator to prove she's no innocent miss). There's a lot of squabbling and hiding truths from one another. And of course sex. There's explosive sex when they finally have it, though Ms. Croft draaaagggsssss the sexual tension out for so much of the book, I was about ready to pop when they finally did. Erm, maybe that's too much information.
Anyway, fantabulous book, I want more of this Order series, and highly recommend it without any reservations at all. Please, get this book, support Ms. Croft so she never has an excuse not to write!
Thank you Entangled, NetGalley, and Ms. Nina Awesome-Sauce Croft!
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
Ok look, this review will be a bit spoilery and it is going to be ranty because I am raging inside. This book made me so angry I almost couldn't finish it. I'll say upfront, the plotting is a bit rushed, but the writing is fine. I have no problem with the quality of the writing or editing. What I have a problem with is the asshole, raping 'hero' and love based on nothing at all.
Some will argue that there was no penis/vagina penetration, so there was no rape. But the man TWICE brought her to orgasim without her consent, in a situation when she couldn't refuse, and then thought he wiped her memory of it so she wouldn't even know. That's fucking sexual assault and how dare anyone, Nina Croft I'm talking to you, pass that off as the basis for fucking love!
Now, let's talk about that love, yeah? He's a smug, sexually harassing asshat to her from the moment they meet. Then she's panting and all but begging him to take her while thinking about how she couldn't control her body. Sorry, show women at least enough respect to presume we can control ourselves like adults. And what was she attracted to? What? He was not appealing. And somehow, despite his frankly revolting attitude they fall in love. I felt no chemistry, even outside of how horrid he was. The love was ridiculous and completely unbelievable. It was also morally objectionable, need I remind you of the lack of consent, but we'll set that aside.
I was seriously angry about the H/h relations in this book. But I also have to complain about the twist at the end of the book that was beyond the pale. As if the baddy would give up all her hard earned plans for that. Again, give women a little respect and show them to have at least one ambition beyond a freakin' godly dicking! And the too stupid to live, i'm gonna run off to the rescue with no plan and then have a miraculous deus ex machina save at the last second? Please, get outta here with that crap.
I won this book and I always appreciate a free read. But I wish I hadn't. i wish it had gone to someone who would have liked it more...or at least been less enraged by it.
Some will argue that there was no penis/vagina penetration, so there was no rape. But the man TWICE brought her to orgasim without her consent, in a situation when she couldn't refuse, and then thought he wiped her memory of it so she wouldn't even know. That's fucking sexual assault and how dare anyone, Nina Croft I'm talking to you, pass that off as the basis for fucking love!
Now, let's talk about that love, yeah? He's a smug, sexually harassing asshat to her from the moment they meet. Then she's panting and all but begging him to take her while thinking about how she couldn't control her body. Sorry, show women at least enough respect to presume we can control ourselves like adults. And what was she attracted to? What? He was not appealing. And somehow, despite his frankly revolting attitude they fall in love. I felt no chemistry, even outside of how horrid he was. The love was ridiculous and completely unbelievable. It was also morally objectionable, need I remind you of the lack of consent, but we'll set that aside.
I was seriously angry about the H/h relations in this book. But I also have to complain about the twist at the end of the book that was beyond the pale. As if the baddy would give up all her hard earned plans for that. Again, give women a little respect and show them to have at least one ambition beyond a freakin' godly dicking! And the too stupid to live, i'm gonna run off to the rescue with no plan and then have a miraculous deus ex machina save at the last second? Please, get outta here with that crap.
I won this book and I always appreciate a free read. But I wish I hadn't. i wish it had gone to someone who would have liked it more...or at least been less enraged by it.
November 12, 2013
Bittersweet Magic Nina Croft
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.
I loved Nina's Bittersweet Blood so was really pleased to get this book for review. Once again we meet the delicious Christian and the mysterious Piers. This time they've become entangled with Roz, who's on the search for a key for the Demon Asmodai to whom she owes a debt. This last task will free her after five hundred years of service. Sounds simple...but of course its not. She joins a nunnery to get close, but another demon beats her to the key. She takes the surviving nun from the attack with her on the search for the man who took it. Sister Maria was tasked by the demon who took the key with getting a message to Piers, head of The Order. Roz hopes that will give her a clue of where to find the demon and the key. As usual nothing is a simple as it seems, and there's some fast moving dangers, some searing, sensual sex scenes and lots of magic flying around.
I like Roz, she wanted her freedom after all that while, and yet still thought about what was the right thing to do – not just right for her but right for others. There was some mystery about what she was, her mother was burned as a witch but was a simple healer, and Roz has some healing but in a magical way. She doesn't know why she has that ability or exactly what she is. Piers, he seemed so aloof in the last book, but one glance (and smell) of Roz and he was hooked. Gave his colleagues some fun to tease him with. As before a great cast of characters, some humour, lots of danger, plenty of spicy sensuality, and a cracking ending all wrapped up in a love story. Great book, and really well worth the money. It's priced at £3.52/$5.69 for 242 pages, and well written with plots that tie up and no unanswered questions. I hate books that open a plot and leave it unfinished, Nina always ensures all her content is relevant and there are no unnecessary and unfinished plots.
NB: ARC supplied via publisher
Stars: five, really enjoyed this book.
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.
I loved Nina's Bittersweet Blood so was really pleased to get this book for review. Once again we meet the delicious Christian and the mysterious Piers. This time they've become entangled with Roz, who's on the search for a key for the Demon Asmodai to whom she owes a debt. This last task will free her after five hundred years of service. Sounds simple...but of course its not. She joins a nunnery to get close, but another demon beats her to the key. She takes the surviving nun from the attack with her on the search for the man who took it. Sister Maria was tasked by the demon who took the key with getting a message to Piers, head of The Order. Roz hopes that will give her a clue of where to find the demon and the key. As usual nothing is a simple as it seems, and there's some fast moving dangers, some searing, sensual sex scenes and lots of magic flying around.
I like Roz, she wanted her freedom after all that while, and yet still thought about what was the right thing to do – not just right for her but right for others. There was some mystery about what she was, her mother was burned as a witch but was a simple healer, and Roz has some healing but in a magical way. She doesn't know why she has that ability or exactly what she is. Piers, he seemed so aloof in the last book, but one glance (and smell) of Roz and he was hooked. Gave his colleagues some fun to tease him with. As before a great cast of characters, some humour, lots of danger, plenty of spicy sensuality, and a cracking ending all wrapped up in a love story. Great book, and really well worth the money. It's priced at £3.52/$5.69 for 242 pages, and well written with plots that tie up and no unanswered questions. I hate books that open a plot and leave it unfinished, Nina always ensures all her content is relevant and there are no unnecessary and unfinished plots.
NB: ARC supplied via publisher
Stars: five, really enjoyed this book.
November 19, 2013
Bittersweet Magic Review
I kind of have mixed feelings for this book. While it was indeed a very good read, I felt at a loss since going in, I did not realize that it was a book 2 in a series. Readers who have not read book 1, as I, will still be able to follow along, but....there is that sort of feeling of loss, like there are big secrets in the book that everyone but you knows about, a few holes. So I highly recommend picking up book 1, Bittersweet Blood, before even beginning Bittersweet Magic.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, loveable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
I kind of have mixed feelings for this book. While it was indeed a very good read, I felt at a loss since going in, I did not realize that it was a book 2 in a series. Readers who have not read book 1, as I, will still be able to follow along, but....there is that sort of feeling of loss, like there are big secrets in the book that everyone but you knows about, a few holes. So I highly recommend picking up book 1, Bittersweet Blood, before even beginning Bittersweet Magic.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, loveable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
December 15, 2013
This review and more can be seen at http://gothicmoms.blogspot.com/
I kind of have mixed feelings for this book. While it was indeed a very good read, I felt at a loss since going in, I did not realize that it was a book 2 in a series. Readers who have not read book 1, as I, will still be able to follow along, but....there is that sort of feeling of loss, like there are big secrets in the book that everyone but you knows about, a few holes. So I highly recommend picking up book 1, Bittersweet Blood, before even beginning Bittersweet Magic.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, lovable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
I kind of have mixed feelings for this book. While it was indeed a very good read, I felt at a loss since going in, I did not realize that it was a book 2 in a series. Readers who have not read book 1, as I, will still be able to follow along, but....there is that sort of feeling of loss, like there are big secrets in the book that everyone but you knows about, a few holes. So I highly recommend picking up book 1, Bittersweet Blood, before even beginning Bittersweet Magic.
Nina Croft delivers a great story! Making remembers think again of the victims of the Salem Witch trials; did all the victims just lay down and accept their fate, or did some take matters into their own hands? Rosumand Fairfax was the latter. Having prayed to a God who refuses to answer while watching her Mother be burned alive, with her turn being next, Roz directs her prayers in the opposite direction and is answered by the demon, Asmodai. All she has to do in exchange for her life and vengeance is complete thirteen tasks, never imagining that it would take her five hundred years to do so. And after five hundred long years, it is the final task in which she truly begins to live and the blinders are taken off of her eyes to the world she has always been a part of, and afraid of. Her mission of finding a simple key bring her to a vampire's arms, a father thought to have abandoned her and the truth of who, and what, she truly is.
Readers will love the characters of this story; Maria, a nun who's blinders of the real world are devastatingly snatched off, Asmodai, a demon with a peculiar set of morals, Roz, though it took her 500 years to realize you can't always trust a demon, is feisty, witty, lovable heroine. Readers looking for a good, fun, short read with fangs, will truly enjoy this book. A little slow paced for my tastes, and could have done with a lot more action, it was a very well written story with an intriguing plot.
November 14, 2013
ARC provided for an honest review
5 Stars!
Great book! And great series… at least that’s my impression. Bittersweet Magic is the actually the first book I’ve read in The Order Series and by Nina Croft in general.
Now I can honestly say she became one of my favorite authors with just this one book!
The world she builds for The Order is modern yet very interesting, new, and fabulous. It reminds me a bit of Larissa Ione’s Demonica and Lords of Deliverance world. And I mean this in a good way! I love Larissa Ione’s books. However Nina Croft’s world is no cheap copy. It has its own charm and a lot of new aspects which make the whole setting of the book extremely interesting and pleasurable. There are so many races… Vampires, Demons, Fae, Werewolves, Witches, of course humans and some I will not tell you about because it would ruin the ending for you ;)
The characters are well developed and they instantly caught me in their story and I had to know what happens next all the time. I couldn’t put the book down.
Roz is a tough woman… at least that’s what she herself believes. Others around her see her more caring side a lot more than Roz herself. In my opinion this is something that is very hard to express for an author… a character that lies to herself about what she wants or is. Most of the time it’s not really believable and I get the impression the author does it just to make the character more likable to the reader… you know what I mean, try to give the character flaws where there actually are none.
However, Nina does this amazingly well! I loved Roz and I really believed she thought about herself that way… okay, I’m rambling here and it’s a bit confusing even for me. I hope you know what I’m trying to say ;)
Piers is a very old vampire and acts like one. He is dominant, arrogant, sexy, and always gets what he wants… women. Of course now he wants Roz.
5 Stars!
Great book! And great series… at least that’s my impression. Bittersweet Magic is the actually the first book I’ve read in The Order Series and by Nina Croft in general.
Now I can honestly say she became one of my favorite authors with just this one book!
The world she builds for The Order is modern yet very interesting, new, and fabulous. It reminds me a bit of Larissa Ione’s Demonica and Lords of Deliverance world. And I mean this in a good way! I love Larissa Ione’s books. However Nina Croft’s world is no cheap copy. It has its own charm and a lot of new aspects which make the whole setting of the book extremely interesting and pleasurable. There are so many races… Vampires, Demons, Fae, Werewolves, Witches, of course humans and some I will not tell you about because it would ruin the ending for you ;)
The characters are well developed and they instantly caught me in their story and I had to know what happens next all the time. I couldn’t put the book down.
Roz is a tough woman… at least that’s what she herself believes. Others around her see her more caring side a lot more than Roz herself. In my opinion this is something that is very hard to express for an author… a character that lies to herself about what she wants or is. Most of the time it’s not really believable and I get the impression the author does it just to make the character more likable to the reader… you know what I mean, try to give the character flaws where there actually are none.
However, Nina does this amazingly well! I loved Roz and I really believed she thought about herself that way… okay, I’m rambling here and it’s a bit confusing even for me. I hope you know what I’m trying to say ;)
Piers is a very old vampire and acts like one. He is dominant, arrogant, sexy, and always gets what he wants… women. Of course now he wants Roz.
December 11, 2013
** Review written for an originally posted on my blog, Book Bliss.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review as part of a blog tour**
Review: 5 stars
General:Just like all her other books this one is fantastic! Filled with hot scenes, a dramatic plot and wonderful writing I just love this series as much as the last. Please note this is the second book but enough is recapped and not back tracked on that it is easy to read without book 1. For me Nina Croft signifies wonderfully crafted worlds and hot as hell men. Bittersweet Magic delivered both. The book has everything from a myriad of paranormals, needed humor and character interactions that jump off the page. I can’t say I’m as in love with Piers as I was with the hero of Daughter of the Dragon Princess, but he was sure a good second.
I think the best part of this book for me is I personally felt the lines between good and evil were blurry. The Order is an amazing group. I never quite was sure if I should love them or hate them since they essentially enslaved Roz, rather than just being the good guys and saving her from her impending death. I can’t wait to get the first in the series and see what I may have missed!
Characters: Roz- Roz is tough, smart and full of quips. Which is to be expected when you realize just what she went through – before and after the Order picked her up.The most entertaining element of Roz was that she was one giant front, and the lies were believable. She had me laughing plenty and her attraction and chemistry with Piers was hot as heck.
Piers- Piers is everything an alpha vampire should be- ancient, well mannered, ruthless, arrogant and absolutely sexy as hell. i enjoyed how he was the go-getter in the book and loved the leather pants!! He oozed sex appeal and sex and even when he was dealing with Roz at her snarkiest he gave it right back.
Review: 5 stars
General:Just like all her other books this one is fantastic! Filled with hot scenes, a dramatic plot and wonderful writing I just love this series as much as the last. Please note this is the second book but enough is recapped and not back tracked on that it is easy to read without book 1. For me Nina Croft signifies wonderfully crafted worlds and hot as hell men. Bittersweet Magic delivered both. The book has everything from a myriad of paranormals, needed humor and character interactions that jump off the page. I can’t say I’m as in love with Piers as I was with the hero of Daughter of the Dragon Princess, but he was sure a good second.
I think the best part of this book for me is I personally felt the lines between good and evil were blurry. The Order is an amazing group. I never quite was sure if I should love them or hate them since they essentially enslaved Roz, rather than just being the good guys and saving her from her impending death. I can’t wait to get the first in the series and see what I may have missed!
Characters: Roz- Roz is tough, smart and full of quips. Which is to be expected when you realize just what she went through – before and after the Order picked her up.The most entertaining element of Roz was that she was one giant front, and the lies were believable. She had me laughing plenty and her attraction and chemistry with Piers was hot as heck.
Piers- Piers is everything an alpha vampire should be- ancient, well mannered, ruthless, arrogant and absolutely sexy as hell. i enjoyed how he was the go-getter in the book and loved the leather pants!! He oozed sex appeal and sex and even when he was dealing with Roz at her snarkiest he gave it right back.
November 21, 2013
After liking BITTERSWEET BLOOD so much I was a little worried I wouldn't like BITTERSWEET MAGIC but I worried for nothing. Roz has been in service to Asmodai for five hundred years, ever since she watched her mother burn and begged for help. She has no idea what she is but she keeps a low profile while she completes her tasks to finally gain her freedom. Her final task does not go as planned and she ends up in the company of those that Asmodai has warned her would kill her if they every knew what she was.
Roz is quite the character. She has a great head on her shoulders, she is kick ass and she can hold her own against Piers. Roz had me cracking up many times with her whole nun persona. She has no problem convincing people to see what she wants them to see and I found it highly entertaining. We originally meet Piers in BITTERSWEET BLOOD and he definitely is not that likeable. That all changes in BITTERSWEET MAGIC. He turns out to be a loyal guy that fights for what he cares about. We watch him change right before our eyes as he falls for Roz. They really fit each other well. I have one complaint, there wasn't a lot of world building going on. The story revolved mostly around the characters and I would have liked to see more of the world they live in. I wont spoil who Roz ends up being but know that it is super cool and I loved when Asmodai realized he could have been in deep shit if she would have unleashed herself before she did.
Book 3 should be extremely interesting as we follow Asmodai and his lady match. I am not sure what the final showdown will be all about but I do know that the order is stacking up to have quite a team of supernatural powerhouses to kick butt for their side.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Roz is quite the character. She has a great head on her shoulders, she is kick ass and she can hold her own against Piers. Roz had me cracking up many times with her whole nun persona. She has no problem convincing people to see what she wants them to see and I found it highly entertaining. We originally meet Piers in BITTERSWEET BLOOD and he definitely is not that likeable. That all changes in BITTERSWEET MAGIC. He turns out to be a loyal guy that fights for what he cares about. We watch him change right before our eyes as he falls for Roz. They really fit each other well. I have one complaint, there wasn't a lot of world building going on. The story revolved mostly around the characters and I would have liked to see more of the world they live in. I wont spoil who Roz ends up being but know that it is super cool and I loved when Asmodai realized he could have been in deep shit if she would have unleashed herself before she did.
Book 3 should be extremely interesting as we follow Asmodai and his lady match. I am not sure what the final showdown will be all about but I do know that the order is stacking up to have quite a team of supernatural powerhouses to kick butt for their side.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow – this was one shockingly good read! From start to finish, I couldn’t get the story out of my head. Hot vampires, steamy scenes, one really tough chick main character, and some sigh worthy romance make this a must read for paranormal fans out there.
Admittedly, I have not read book 1 of this series (something that I mean to remedy in the near future), but it did not impact my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. This book begins with Roz, an immortal “seeker” (with some bonus powers) who is in service to a demon for a number of tasks. Her character was a refreshingly crass and honest take on your typical heroines. She, of course, probably wouldn’t see herself as one, but she’s the good guy in all of this. To complete the very last of her tasks tying her to the demon, she must go collect a key from a very secluded convent. Cue the undercover nun music – but don’t worry, it wasn’t nearly as hokey as it sounds. While staking out the key, a vampire and his demon henchmen end up slaughtering most of the convent and tasking a nun with delivering a message to Piers, leader of “The Order.”
Piers was absolute perfection. The absolutely unforgiving vampire leader of The Order, he has a history of seducing innocents and pretty much being a womanizer. When Roz stumbles into his life with a nun in tow, everything changes. While not a love at first sight moment, it eventually escalates to fireworks and near heart-attack level desire. The romance and denial of that romance made for a truly wonderful read. They are both prone to enormous acts of self-sacrifice which results in a coupling filled with some high stakes fights with even bigger rewards.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re at all into paranormal reads – check this one out!
Wow – this was one shockingly good read! From start to finish, I couldn’t get the story out of my head. Hot vampires, steamy scenes, one really tough chick main character, and some sigh worthy romance make this a must read for paranormal fans out there.
Admittedly, I have not read book 1 of this series (something that I mean to remedy in the near future), but it did not impact my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. This book begins with Roz, an immortal “seeker” (with some bonus powers) who is in service to a demon for a number of tasks. Her character was a refreshingly crass and honest take on your typical heroines. She, of course, probably wouldn’t see herself as one, but she’s the good guy in all of this. To complete the very last of her tasks tying her to the demon, she must go collect a key from a very secluded convent. Cue the undercover nun music – but don’t worry, it wasn’t nearly as hokey as it sounds. While staking out the key, a vampire and his demon henchmen end up slaughtering most of the convent and tasking a nun with delivering a message to Piers, leader of “The Order.”
Piers was absolute perfection. The absolutely unforgiving vampire leader of The Order, he has a history of seducing innocents and pretty much being a womanizer. When Roz stumbles into his life with a nun in tow, everything changes. While not a love at first sight moment, it eventually escalates to fireworks and near heart-attack level desire. The romance and denial of that romance made for a truly wonderful read. They are both prone to enormous acts of self-sacrifice which results in a coupling filled with some high stakes fights with even bigger rewards.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re at all into paranormal reads – check this one out!
August 26, 2016
This is the first story that I’ve read by Nina Croft, and I will definitely be reading more. It is a wonderful adventure with non-stop action, and some heated scenes. I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters, and found myself laughing out-loud quite often. If you like a lot of action between vampires, fae, and demons, then this is a must read.
Roz is almost finished paying her debt to the demon Asmodai. Her final task is to find the key that was hidden in a church centuries ago. But when a demon gets his hands on it before her it changes all of her plans and pushes her freedom further out of sight. She has never let herself get close to anyone, but when she meets the rude and obnoxious vampire who may be her only help to gaining possession of the key, she gives some serious thought to changing that rule.
Piers is an ancient vampire who is also the Head of the Order. The secret organization was formed to keep peace between the worlds of the demon and the fae with the first duty being the destruction of the Key. When Roz shows up at his door he knows she’s hiding something from him. There is something about her that has him very intrigued, and he plans to learn what she’s hiding and have her in his bed. Piers decides the only way to get the answers he wants is to mesmerize her, but what he didn’t know was that no one can control her mind.
While Roz and Piers try to regain the key to protect the world from destruction they find out things about Roz that she never knew. Memories from her past begin to surface, and what she finds out is not what she expected. Time is running out, and if they cannot destroy the key soon all the worlds will be no more.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Roz is almost finished paying her debt to the demon Asmodai. Her final task is to find the key that was hidden in a church centuries ago. But when a demon gets his hands on it before her it changes all of her plans and pushes her freedom further out of sight. She has never let herself get close to anyone, but when she meets the rude and obnoxious vampire who may be her only help to gaining possession of the key, she gives some serious thought to changing that rule.
Piers is an ancient vampire who is also the Head of the Order. The secret organization was formed to keep peace between the worlds of the demon and the fae with the first duty being the destruction of the Key. When Roz shows up at his door he knows she’s hiding something from him. There is something about her that has him very intrigued, and he plans to learn what she’s hiding and have her in his bed. Piers decides the only way to get the answers he wants is to mesmerize her, but what he didn’t know was that no one can control her mind.
While Roz and Piers try to regain the key to protect the world from destruction they find out things about Roz that she never knew. Memories from her past begin to surface, and what she finds out is not what she expected. Time is running out, and if they cannot destroy the key soon all the worlds will be no more.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2013
This book was an addictive paranormal romance/mystery with vampires, fae, demons, angels and more! It captured me from the very beginning until the very end! I loved it!
Roz is enslaved by a Demon she bore herself to in exchange to keep her life. She is on her final task. However this task may be tricky. She needs to dress and act like a Nun, which shouldn't be too hard, right?! haha okay.
Anyways, things arise and she and a nun need to go find Piers Lamont. There is attraction between these two immediately. Can she get out of this situation, can she get the key, get her freedom or will something else happen instead?
Piers is a vampire and is very interested in Roz the moment she and another nun enter his building. Something is off about this one though. She smells like a Fae to him. He is suspicious, wants to draw her blood.. but can't. He for once in his life would want more than just a simple F***. Can he get close to her, find out her secrets and let her know who he is?
This book is filled with mystery,excitement,loss, pain, love, findings and more! The characters are wonderfully written. You find yourself enchanted with this story and not able to put the book down until you finish it!
I loved all the characters and will most definitely have to read book 1 now. I am eager to read about Christian/Tara's story!
If you love mystery, romance, vampires, werewolves, fae, angels, demons /supernatural beings then you will absolutely love this book! Well done and I will definitely be reading more books from this author!
I received a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Roz is enslaved by a Demon she bore herself to in exchange to keep her life. She is on her final task. However this task may be tricky. She needs to dress and act like a Nun, which shouldn't be too hard, right?! haha okay.
Anyways, things arise and she and a nun need to go find Piers Lamont. There is attraction between these two immediately. Can she get out of this situation, can she get the key, get her freedom or will something else happen instead?
Piers is a vampire and is very interested in Roz the moment she and another nun enter his building. Something is off about this one though. She smells like a Fae to him. He is suspicious, wants to draw her blood.. but can't. He for once in his life would want more than just a simple F***. Can he get close to her, find out her secrets and let her know who he is?
This book is filled with mystery,excitement,loss, pain, love, findings and more! The characters are wonderfully written. You find yourself enchanted with this story and not able to put the book down until you finish it!
I loved all the characters and will most definitely have to read book 1 now. I am eager to read about Christian/Tara's story!
If you love mystery, romance, vampires, werewolves, fae, angels, demons /supernatural beings then you will absolutely love this book! Well done and I will definitely be reading more books from this author!
I received a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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