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courtofmeows's review
4.0
Destiny is the first book where our protagonist Jamie finds out who she really is and what she means to a new community. She moves back to her hometown after several years and starts to put her life back together only to run into part of her past. Add in a bad guy that is trying to kill her and you get a total page turner and one that I easily fell in love with.
I assumed this book would have more spice to it but was let down when I realized it is a fade to black type of book. I still love the book and will be getting the next book in the series for my next read.
I assumed this book would have more spice to it but was let down when I realized it is a fade to black type of book. I still love the book and will be getting the next book in the series for my next read.
gallaghergirlreads's review
3.0
The story follows Jamie who moves home after a failed career move and also a failed relationship. While there, she feels the pull to be closer to the forest and she also meets the mysterious Wren, whom she also feels a pull to be closer to. Meanwhile, there have been wolves spotted around town and eventually Jamie finds out that it will be harder than she thinks to avoid her destiny!
Fantasy, mystery, romance, family secrets, and shape shifting wolves - this book pulled me in from the very beginning!
It honestly took me back to my Twilight reading days! Destiny was a fast and easy read. I read it within the span of two days and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!
crolovr's review
4.0
Destiny is a fast read with shape shifting wolves, romance and a Prophecy. Jamie has a tough decision. Should she stay with her exboss/boyfriend Liam and have a normal life or should she go with Wren who she has an electric attraction? The book ends with a cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read book 2. I can see this book as a movie.
_mkarys's review
4.0
*insert fanning gif here* Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Destiny is the first book in the paranormal romance series, The Academy. I enjoyed this book so much! Since the first pages, I could picture the setting and events as if I were watching a movie. Indeed, if this were a movie it would be one of those beautiful and addicting romances I could see myself finding on TV and ending up completely obsessed two hours later.
The protagonist is Jamie, who returns to her hometown after running away from a disastrous relationship and a job that was suffocating her. The mountains of Accalia, Colorado, were calling her back, and she heeded their call. Back at home, she finds her old friends, with whom she’d lost touch for the past seven years. While she works in sorting the mess in her life and rebuilding those relationships, she meets Wren, a handsome and mysterious ranger to whom she feels inexplicably attracted to. It’s immediately understandable that something’s up with Wren, and Jamie finds herself drawn to him even though her mind is telling her he’s dangerous.
What I loved most about this book was the small-town atmosphere I breathed in while reading and the mystery surrounding the deaths in the woods. (And of course, the romance element, but I’ll talk more about that later.) Accalia seems like the sort of place I would love to live in—minus the attacks on hikers, obviously. I also enjoyed the characters. Mark and Tollen were my favorites among the secondary characters. I could be friends with people like them. Liam, Jamie’s most recent ex, was also an interesting character because he confuses me. My instinct tells me not to trust him, but he makes it difficult not to like him. Compared to Wren, he feels really normal, but is he? I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers.
Wren, and by extent his relationship with Jamie, deserves his own paragraph. What sparks between Jamie and Wren is far from insta-love, but there’s certainly an instant attraction that drives them closer. It’s evident than it’s not normal human attraction, because there’s this pull that Jamie cannot explain. I really loved the (hot!) chemistry between them, although there were several instances where Wren’s attitude grated on my nerves. There were moments I loved his intensity, but others he was broody almost to the point of being rude, like walking away from her without saying a word. I do feel like this impression will change once we’ll get to know him better in the following books. Jamie has an interesting dynamic with Wren that I’m curious to see, but she’s got a good thing with Liam, though again, I don’t fully trust his intentions. (Personally I’d go more for a Mark, who is kind and caring and really sweet.)
I’m really curious to continue this story in the following books, where we’re definitely going to be finding out more about the magical aspect of this story. The premises were very interesting.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
Destiny is the first book in the paranormal romance series, The Academy. I enjoyed this book so much! Since the first pages, I could picture the setting and events as if I were watching a movie. Indeed, if this were a movie it would be one of those beautiful and addicting romances I could see myself finding on TV and ending up completely obsessed two hours later.
The protagonist is Jamie, who returns to her hometown after running away from a disastrous relationship and a job that was suffocating her. The mountains of Accalia, Colorado, were calling her back, and she heeded their call. Back at home, she finds her old friends, with whom she’d lost touch for the past seven years. While she works in sorting the mess in her life and rebuilding those relationships, she meets Wren, a handsome and mysterious ranger to whom she feels inexplicably attracted to. It’s immediately understandable that something’s up with Wren, and Jamie finds herself drawn to him even though her mind is telling her he’s dangerous.
What I loved most about this book was the small-town atmosphere I breathed in while reading and the mystery surrounding the deaths in the woods. (And of course, the romance element, but I’ll talk more about that later.) Accalia seems like the sort of place I would love to live in—minus the attacks on hikers, obviously. I also enjoyed the characters. Mark and Tollen were my favorites among the secondary characters. I could be friends with people like them. Liam, Jamie’s most recent ex, was also an interesting character because he confuses me. My instinct tells me not to trust him, but he makes it difficult not to like him. Compared to Wren, he feels really normal, but is he? I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers.
Wren, and by extent his relationship with Jamie, deserves his own paragraph. What sparks between Jamie and Wren is far from insta-love, but there’s certainly an instant attraction that drives them closer. It’s evident than it’s not normal human attraction, because there’s this pull that Jamie cannot explain. I really loved the (hot!) chemistry between them, although there were several instances where Wren’s attitude grated on my nerves. There were moments I loved his intensity, but others he was broody almost to the point of being rude, like walking away from her without saying a word. I do feel like this impression will change once we’ll get to know him better in the following books. Jamie has an interesting dynamic with Wren that I’m curious to see, but she’s got a good thing with Liam, though again, I don’t fully trust his intentions. (Personally I’d go more for a Mark, who is kind and caring and really sweet.)
I’m really curious to continue this story in the following books, where we’re definitely going to be finding out more about the magical aspect of this story. The premises were very interesting.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
_ckarys's review
4.0
I’d forgotten how much I love a good shifter romance, but DESTINY was a wonderful reminder!
The story follows Jamie, a young woman who returns to her home town in Colorado after a failed career move and the end of a relationship. Here, as she rekindles old friendships and tries to find order in her life again, she has a fated encounter with Wren, a mysterious, handsome ranger who always seems to be around at exactly the right time. There is more to Wren than meets the eye, however. He seems to be connected to a wolf residing in the forest and as time passes, Jamie finds it harder and harder to resist her attraction to him, even if something tells her that he may be dangerous. Is Wren dangerous? Is there more behind these strange happenings? Well…you’ll have to read the book to find out!
The small town setting is one I especially enjoy, maybe because I myself come from a small town…that is nothing like the ones I love in the movies. The sense of community, the often rural scenery that is linked to them, the wilderness and mystery they harbor…I just love it, even if I see it in movies more than I do in books. Maybe falling in love with the town of Accalia will change that!
Of course, being this a romance fantasy, I must talk to you about the romance…and I have conflicting feelings about it. On the one side, I loved the way the relationship develops. I know insta-love is a controversial trope, but I find I don’t mind it much when there’s solid ground to base it upon. I felt like this was the case with Wren and Jamie’s story. Feeling instantly attracted to someone is natural, and the added supernatural element enriched the feeling. The reader can easily guess that there is something “other” going on between them, and it made the unfolding of the relationship all the more enticing. Add that their interaction were often sweat-inducing, you definitely have my attention. However, I wasn’t always the biggest fan of Wren’s behavior. The possessive/obsessive, intense alpha attitude didn’t always sit well with me and I often hoped Jamie would just slap him or walk away. He wasn’t always helped by the fact there are other men that could easily veer my attention…like the handsome and normal-but-are-you-really Liam, Jamie’s ex boyfriend. We shall see where D.D. Larsen decides to take me with the next books!
I highly recommend this book to fans of supernatural romance and fantasy. Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book to review!
morebooksforever's review
4.0
I love a good small town shifter story. I also love a good alpha and a mystery man and this story has all the above. The instant off the charts attraction between Jamie and Wren is fire! I thought the story was great and I really cant wait to dive deeper into what is going on. With danger lurking around every corner Jamie doesn’t know which way to go. This is a quick read that has you wanting more. I cant wait for the next book
under_the_aurora_borealis's review
4.0
DESTINY - D D Larsen
★★★★☆
At 18, Jamie feels smothered and flees her home town. She cuts all ties to her life and friends in order to make a fresh start.
Seven years later, with her career and relationship is in tatters Jamie realizes that the world is not as she hoped. She ultimately decides to return home and face those she left behind.
Wren is a ruggedly handsome park ranger, who happens to met Jaime at the local Coffee shop. She feels an immediate magnetic connection to him but yet he seems stand-offish.
Strange thing start to happen in the surrounding forest and Jamie soon realizes that the town and townsfolk are hiding a secret and she might be involved in the solution.
This book is a wonderful yet suspenseful paranormal shifter romance. The love triangle is complicated. Jamie is attracted to two men - Liam, the one who hurt her before and Wren, the mysterious park ranger with who she has this magnetic bond. I don’t mind having such tortuous relationships, but I have to say that I had some conflicting feelings in regards to how easily Jamie flip flops between Liam and Wren.
Another fantastic thing in this book is the small town setting with the description of the surrounding areas. I absolutely adore this and was captivated by the descriptive narrative of the trails and snow capped mountains framing the town.
This fast paced story is filled with mystery, secrets and suspense. I am looking forward to reading book 2 of this series ...
I recieved an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
★★★★☆
At 18, Jamie feels smothered and flees her home town. She cuts all ties to her life and friends in order to make a fresh start.
Seven years later, with her career and relationship is in tatters Jamie realizes that the world is not as she hoped. She ultimately decides to return home and face those she left behind.
Wren is a ruggedly handsome park ranger, who happens to met Jaime at the local Coffee shop. She feels an immediate magnetic connection to him but yet he seems stand-offish.
Strange thing start to happen in the surrounding forest and Jamie soon realizes that the town and townsfolk are hiding a secret and she might be involved in the solution.
This book is a wonderful yet suspenseful paranormal shifter romance. The love triangle is complicated. Jamie is attracted to two men - Liam, the one who hurt her before and Wren, the mysterious park ranger with who she has this magnetic bond. I don’t mind having such tortuous relationships, but I have to say that I had some conflicting feelings in regards to how easily Jamie flip flops between Liam and Wren.
Another fantastic thing in this book is the small town setting with the description of the surrounding areas. I absolutely adore this and was captivated by the descriptive narrative of the trails and snow capped mountains framing the town.
This fast paced story is filled with mystery, secrets and suspense. I am looking forward to reading book 2 of this series ...
I recieved an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
pawstoodream's review
5.0
✨DESTINY✨
Author @d.d.larsen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What a book. I had no idea what to expect but never expected to fall for this story. A mix of fantasy, romance and suspense.
The numerous turns your subjected too is worth it.
Jamie Carter comes back home after leaving a high paying job. Once back! Stuff happens, truth are said and past friendships are back.
I loved the vibe of the story and the ending got me gob smacked. I want to know more I need to know.
The ending came from left field I never imagined that!
I do highly recommend this series.
#destiny #theacademyseries
#katerockbooktours
#bookstagram #ereader
mussergirl's review
4.0
This book is a good shape-shifter break from heavier reading material. The character development is good, and the writing style flows well. Sometimes how characters talk doesn't seem like real life. I feel like if I said some of the things that the characters did, I'd be interrupted before I had a chance to finish.
A good story, but it ends on a cliff-hanger, so have the next book ready if you're enjoying it.
Thank you to Booksirens for this ARC.
A good story, but it ends on a cliff-hanger, so have the next book ready if you're enjoying it.
Thank you to Booksirens for this ARC.