The Enlightening by Adrianne James

Title: The Enlightening (Mackenzie Duncan Series #2)
Author: Adrianne James
Source: Publicist Request
Genre: New Adult Paranormal
Release Date: December 6, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Mackenzie Duncan found out that pack life wasn’t for her. Now she is running for the second time in the six months since she was bitten and turned into a Werewolf. But this time, she isn’t alone. This time, she has Geoff and Liam with her, two very hot Werewolves vying for her heart.

But her companions aren't her focus. The only thing she can focus on is getting far from her old pack and their murderous ways. Only, she doesn’t just want to run. She wants to warn every pack she can that their lives are in danger too. No one should be turned against their will like she was and no other pack should have to surrender to the ideas of a centuries old, power hungry woman.

Not only does Mackenzie have to deal with her crazy ex-pack leader sending people out to kill her, she has to keep both men at arm’s length (and that proves to be much more difficult than she thought), but she finds out more about her own life and heritage than she ever thought imaginable.

And suddenly, everything makes sense...

My review of Book One: The Tempering

The Enlightening picks up right on the heels of where The Tempering ended.  Mackenzie is on the run with Geoff and Liam (the perfect love triangle).  Now normally I'm not a huge fan of the triangle - but in this case all parties know what is going on - no one is hiding their feelings for each other, so it didn't really bother me.  While this is one of the driving points it is not the only one.  The main purpose of their journey is to find a place where they can live peacefully, and warn every pack they come across about Margaret's plans.

Sometimes their plan works well and other times it lands them in heaps of trouble.  I like how Adrianne James balanced the good packs against the bad packs, and even within each pack themselves at times.  Each one had their own little min-society with its own rules and guidelines and traditions.  As the trio pack hops, a lot is revealed and I can't give away too much of the story.  They run into old friends and people they thought lost with several very touching reuinions.

All three characters grow and change - both mentally and in their werewolf abilities.  I don't think a single one left the story the same person as when the entered.  I found this book to be much more of an adventure than book one which seemed to be more story and world building.  It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger - I was really super pissed at one of the guys - you'll know exactly who I mean once you read it.

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Review: The Tempering by Adrianne James

Title: The Tempering (Mackenzie Duncan #1)
Author: Adrianne James
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: September 13, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is deep, but she never thought any of it could be real. 

After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, has suddenly become super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can't possibly be normal. The myths she's studying aren't myths at all. Werewolves are real, and she's one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship. 

The hardest part of being a werewolf is to have no control and no memory of her time as a bloodthirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes, and she is actually able to remember bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn’t like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?

Mackenzie may know a lot about the mythology of werewolves, but she has no clue they actaully exist until she gets bitten and goes through the change herself.  Terrified of what she may do when she turns on the full moon, she runs.  When the female alpha of a very large pack finds her and invites her to stay with them so they can guide her through the transition, she jumps at the chance.  It doesn't hurt that the very cute and charming Geoff will be with her every step of the way either.  But something doesn't feel right, and when Mackenzie starts to figure a few things out, she realizes that things may be even worse than she first thought they were.

The Tempering got off the a bit of a slow start for me with Mackenzie really sinking into a moping phase.  I don't blame her for the emotion, it would suck to get changed the way she was, but it did seem to get a little repetitive.  Once she meets the other wolves, things change quickly and the story takes off running.  This was a big turning point in the momentum of the storyline and it was just far more interesting that the very beginning.

I really loved Mackenzie's character.  She's not ashamed of the fact that she isn't the perfect woman, and she doesn't let anyone talk down to her.  Her attitude was fantastic and once she got used to her new life, we see it come back with a little werewolf confidence to back it all up.  I wasn't a big fan of Geoff until near the end and I'm still reserving judgement until I see what they are up to in book two.  A pretty good start to a series, I'm not sure when book two will be out, but I'm going to keep an eye out for it.

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Book Promo: The Tempering by Adrianne James

The Tempering by Adrianne James
Publication date: September 13th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is deep, but she never thought any of it could be real.

After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, has suddenly become super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can’t possibly be normal. The myths she’s studying aren’t myths at all. Werewolves are real, and she’s one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship.

The hardest part of being a werewolf is to have no control and no memory of her time as a bloodthirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes, and she is actually able to remember bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn’t like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?

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AUTHOR BIO:

Growing up, Adrianne couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.

During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.

As a young adult and new adult author, Adrianne James has plans to bring stories of growing characters, a little romance, and perhaps a little magic and mythology down the line for her readers to enjoy.

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