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ohhahv's review
3.0
Writing style is distinct and well done compared to other authors I’ve been reading lately. It’s a welcome change. Enjoyed the story but overall it dragged on and became less interesting. Will check out other works by this author when I have the chance!
devansbooklife's review
4.0
Hot, sexy, alpha male. Check. Danger. Check. Interesting fast paced read. Check. I enjoyed this.
sparkles77's review
5.0
transcending darnkness
I loved this book. It was steamy with a great storyline. It was emotional and engrossing and I will be looking into more reads from this author.
I loved this book. It was steamy with a great storyline. It was emotional and engrossing and I will be looking into more reads from this author.
frenchpressbookworm's review
5.0
4.5 stars
No joke this has been sitting on my kindle since it came out. Why had I not picked it up before? The world that is painted in this one is crazy! I loved it. I loved how over the top and beautiful Killian was. I loved the action throughout the whole story. And that ending ugh I died! Such a fun read. Dark and kinda twisted but fun none the less!
No joke this has been sitting on my kindle since it came out. Why had I not picked it up before? The world that is painted in this one is crazy! I loved it. I loved how over the top and beautiful Killian was. I loved the action throughout the whole story. And that ending ugh I died! Such a fun read. Dark and kinda twisted but fun none the less!
caseroo7's review
4.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Transcending Darkness is actually the second book that I have read from Airicka Phoenix, but it was nothing like the first book that I had read by her. This book is a standalone story and it was one that I would probably not recommend for everyone. Though there is plenty to love here, there are a few things that might be triggers for some who have issues with darker themes of violence and sex. I will say that I really enjoyed this book though, and it was one that I couldn't put down.
After losing her mother and father, Juliette Romero was left with a huge debt to pay and a sister to look after. She worked herself to the bone with three jobs, just to hope she could come up with enough. But when she finds herself unable to pay the debt she owes, she must do the unthinkable and agrees to sell herself in order to protect her sister. So when she winds up with Killian "The Scarlett Wolf" McClary, she knows that he isn't a good man, even if he is the lesser of two evils. Killian and Juliette find themselves drawn to one another despite the circumstances, though they both know that what they are feeling is the last thing that they should. Killian can't afford to be a weak man, yet he finds that the more he gets to know of Juliette, the more he wants her in his life. So when Killian makes Juliette a deal to help her out in exchange for more time together, he knows that her saying yes could be his downfall. But when Killian's past suddenly reappears, he knows that he would do whatever it takes to look out for Juliette, even knowing that he could lose everything in the process.
I really liked these two together. I thought that they were great for each other and I felt the chemistry between them right away. They were super hot together, and I really enjoyed seeing them build upon their attraction. Juliette didn't agree with Killian's choices and what he did as far as business went, yet she stood by him and her feelings for him. I liked that she supported him, even when she didn't agree with everything. She did try to get him to change some things and to think about things more than he usually did though, and I think that she was really great for him because of that. Killian tried to say he had no soul and that he was such a bad man, yet he also had a code that he lived by and it was an honorable one. He didn't agree with women and children being hurt, and he did his best to avoid allowing harm to come to them. For so long he tried to push Juliette away and keep her at arm's length, yet it was clear that he wanted anything but. I loved how protective he was of her and it was clear just how much he cared about her.
I will say that this book would have been a five star book for me had there been a few things done differently. I thought that this book was too long, and things seemed to be too drawn out at times. I wish that they author had shortened a few things, as I did find myself skimming at times and not missing much. I think that about a quarter of this book could have easily been shortened or deleted without missing much. I also didn't care for how things started to go towards the end. I can't really go into much detail without spoiling anything, but I thought that a few things that happened in regards to Killian were not only out of character but were also really irritating. His actions didn't ring true for me, and I didn't like how he handled some of the situations he found himself in. I think that this was a good story though, and I was invested from the start. I would recommend it to those looking for some steam, suspense, and a good story about love and overcoming some really huge obstacles. I will definitely look for more from Airicka Phoenix in the future, and I think her books are worth looking into in case you aren't already familiar with her stories.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
Transcending Darkness is actually the second book that I have read from Airicka Phoenix, but it was nothing like the first book that I had read by her. This book is a standalone story and it was one that I would probably not recommend for everyone. Though there is plenty to love here, there are a few things that might be triggers for some who have issues with darker themes of violence and sex. I will say that I really enjoyed this book though, and it was one that I couldn't put down.
After losing her mother and father, Juliette Romero was left with a huge debt to pay and a sister to look after. She worked herself to the bone with three jobs, just to hope she could come up with enough. But when she finds herself unable to pay the debt she owes, she must do the unthinkable and agrees to sell herself in order to protect her sister. So when she winds up with Killian "The Scarlett Wolf" McClary, she knows that he isn't a good man, even if he is the lesser of two evils. Killian and Juliette find themselves drawn to one another despite the circumstances, though they both know that what they are feeling is the last thing that they should. Killian can't afford to be a weak man, yet he finds that the more he gets to know of Juliette, the more he wants her in his life. So when Killian makes Juliette a deal to help her out in exchange for more time together, he knows that her saying yes could be his downfall. But when Killian's past suddenly reappears, he knows that he would do whatever it takes to look out for Juliette, even knowing that he could lose everything in the process.
I really liked these two together. I thought that they were great for each other and I felt the chemistry between them right away. They were super hot together, and I really enjoyed seeing them build upon their attraction. Juliette didn't agree with Killian's choices and what he did as far as business went, yet she stood by him and her feelings for him. I liked that she supported him, even when she didn't agree with everything. She did try to get him to change some things and to think about things more than he usually did though, and I think that she was really great for him because of that. Killian tried to say he had no soul and that he was such a bad man, yet he also had a code that he lived by and it was an honorable one. He didn't agree with women and children being hurt, and he did his best to avoid allowing harm to come to them. For so long he tried to push Juliette away and keep her at arm's length, yet it was clear that he wanted anything but. I loved how protective he was of her and it was clear just how much he cared about her.
I will say that this book would have been a five star book for me had there been a few things done differently. I thought that this book was too long, and things seemed to be too drawn out at times. I wish that they author had shortened a few things, as I did find myself skimming at times and not missing much. I think that about a quarter of this book could have easily been shortened or deleted without missing much. I also didn't care for how things started to go towards the end. I can't really go into much detail without spoiling anything, but I thought that a few things that happened in regards to Killian were not only out of character but were also really irritating. His actions didn't ring true for me, and I didn't like how he handled some of the situations he found himself in. I think that this was a good story though, and I was invested from the start. I would recommend it to those looking for some steam, suspense, and a good story about love and overcoming some really huge obstacles. I will definitely look for more from Airicka Phoenix in the future, and I think her books are worth looking into in case you aren't already familiar with her stories.
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
chrissy3562's review
5.0
Transcending Darkness is a book that takes you to the darker side of life and hooks you from the beginning. The title is so fitting because this book is such a dark book, but it is all about fighting to get out of that darkness. Our heroine (Juliette) is in debt to a loan shark because of her father, and your heart breaks for how hard she is working to pay off the debt. It is because of that loan that she meets the hero (Killian). Their story isn't an easy one, but it is a compelling one. The phrase Dark and Twisty is the perfect description for how I felt while reading this book. I had trouble putting this book down, and it's length wreaked havoc on my sleeping schedule. There were a few places I thought the book was wrapping up, only to look down at my Kindle and see that I wasn't close to the end. After completing Transcending Darkness, the story stayed with me. I give it a solid 4.5 stars and am looking forward to more from Airicka Phoenix.
sonja_ahrb's review
5.0
I didn't even need to read the whole synopsis of Transcending Darkness before I decided I wanted to read it! It just immediately grabbed my attention and sounded so much like my kind of book that I couldn't help but be excited for it every time I saw it! I don't think I built Transcending Darkness up in my mind, but if I did, it wouldn't have made a difference because I wasn't disappointed at all and it was even better than I thought it would be!
When I first started reading this book, I was a little worried that I wouldn't think Juliette was a strong heroine because the last heroine I read about was a very strong character and I thought that I might not like or be able to appreciate Juliette as much as I normally would have. It turned out all my worrying was for nothing though because I absolutely LOVED Juliette and she is incredibly strong! I loved her passion, her feistiness, how she's not afraid to stand up to Killian or fight for him, but I loved how good and light she is most of all. Juliette is wonderful heroine - she's just wonderful period!
Killian might have made me angry and want to shake him sometimes, but that couldn't and didn't stop me from loving him. He can be a real jerk sometimes, but for the most part, he's so caring, protective, patient, and sweet. He completely took my heart, broke it, made it ache, and melted it. I have no doubts that while he might drive a little crazy, you won't be to stop yourself for falling for him like Juliette and I did. Killian is such an excellent hero and oh, I just looooooooved him!!
Transcending Darkness is a long, beautiful, heartbreaking story full of mystery, danger, secrets, sweetness, and love. It made me laugh a lot, made me cry, made me absolutely heartsick when it wasn't breaking my heart, but it also fixed my heart, squeezed it - in the good way - and made me silly happy. It made my blood race, my heart pound, and had me on the edge of my seat. It's not always an easy book to read but I really did enjoy it most of the time. It was an amazing read and I very much loved it!!
Transcending Darkness is told from Killian and Juliette's POV, they do get their well-deserved HEA, and it is a standalone, but I really hope that Ms. Phoenix writes about Juliette's sister, Vi, because I totally loved her!!
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
When I first started reading this book, I was a little worried that I wouldn't think Juliette was a strong heroine because the last heroine I read about was a very strong character and I thought that I might not like or be able to appreciate Juliette as much as I normally would have. It turned out all my worrying was for nothing though because I absolutely LOVED Juliette and she is incredibly strong! I loved her passion, her feistiness, how she's not afraid to stand up to Killian or fight for him, but I loved how good and light she is most of all. Juliette is wonderful heroine - she's just wonderful period!
Killian might have made me angry and want to shake him sometimes, but that couldn't and didn't stop me from loving him. He can be a real jerk sometimes, but for the most part, he's so caring, protective, patient, and sweet. He completely took my heart, broke it, made it ache, and melted it. I have no doubts that while he might drive a little crazy, you won't be to stop yourself for falling for him like Juliette and I did. Killian is such an excellent hero and oh, I just looooooooved him!!
Transcending Darkness is a long, beautiful, heartbreaking story full of mystery, danger, secrets, sweetness, and love. It made me laugh a lot, made me cry, made me absolutely heartsick when it wasn't breaking my heart, but it also fixed my heart, squeezed it - in the good way - and made me silly happy. It made my blood race, my heart pound, and had me on the edge of my seat. It's not always an easy book to read but I really did enjoy it most of the time. It was an amazing read and I very much loved it!!
Transcending Darkness is told from Killian and Juliette's POV, they do get their well-deserved HEA, and it is a standalone, but I really hope that Ms. Phoenix writes about Juliette's sister, Vi, because I totally loved her!!
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
violetsbookjar's review
5.0
Airicka if you are reading this... just know that I really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really LOVE your writing style and AMAZING books.
sexyvixenreader's review
5.0
Holy Hell this book is freaking good. This stand alone is perfect, it balances all the ingredients to give it a flavor that keeps you wanting more, suspense, love, sex and just a damn good story. If her other books are this good then I have found another author to stalk.