Book Title: Choices of Fate
Author: S. Simone Chavous
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 06/14/2013
Series: Fate Series, Book 1
Hosted by: Lookin' for a Bookin'
Synopsis
On her own since the day she turned eighteen and left the group home where she grew up, twenty-five year old Alexa Ryan has made a comfortable life for herself. She has a great job, the perfect apartment, every material possession a girl her age could desire. Unfortunately, she also has an unusual condition that has forced her to keep everyone at a distance.
Ethan Kellar has spent his entire life running from destiny. When he was just a boy, a powerful seer prophesied his role in events that would determine the outcome of the secret war his people had been fighting for centuries. A role he was determined not to accept, leading him to avoid letting anyone get too close, until the night Alexa fell into his arms.
Drawn to her in a way that he has never experienced, Ethan decides to take the ultimate risk by trusting Alexa and revealing to her all that he truly is. Thinking she is an ordinary woman, he believes that she could be his key to preventing the prophecy from being fulfilled and allowing him to live the life he has always wanted, one that he chooses. Having been so consumed with the desire to determine the course of his own life he wants no less for Alexa and knows he must tell her everything, give her a choice. Before that happens they surrender to the intense physical attraction between them and he realizes too late that in trying so hard to change his fate, he may have set the events of the prophecy in motion.
In that moment, Ethan makes the most difficult decision of his life and does the only thing he can to save Alexa. He walks away.
Consumed by grief, Alexa falls into a deep depression until she learns that her brief encounter with love resulted in a child and somehow finds the strength to put herself back together for the sake of her baby Chloe.
Nearly two years after Ethan walked out Chloe develops an unexplained illness that sends Alexa in search of anything that can help. Her pursuit leads her back to Ethan and thrusts her into his dark and mysterious world, unlocking the secrets of her past and revealing threats to their future. Together, Alexa and Ethan fight to protect Chloe and their love, but there is one battle Ethan fights alone as he struggles to choose his own path and avoid the choices of fate.
Excerpt
“I am sorry, Alexa. Please understand this is incredibly difficult for me.” He leaned in and placed his forehead against hers. “I want you so badly right now, in this moment, but I want you forever more. That is why we must wait.”
Well, shit. Hearing that just made her want him even more. Maybe it was all just a line of bullshit, some kind of reverse psychology to get her in bed, but it was working.
Forgetting her embarrassment she leaned her face up and pressed her mouth against his yet again, then pulled away and said, “Please, Ethan,” another kiss, “please, I want to be with you tonight.”
Before she could blink he was over the center console kissing her fervently as he pressed his knee between her legs sending a jolt of arousal through her.
And just like that he pulled back, hovering over her and looking into her eyes while she panted with desire.
“Alexa, I cannot come up with you tonight.” Her expression became one of hurt and confusion, until he continued, “But, I am going to make you cum with my mouth, I must taste you.”
His words and the hunger in his eyes were almost enough to send her over the edge.
And then he crushed his mouth against hers, sliding his tongue inside as a promise of what was to come when he moved between her legs.
Song Playlist
- Ai Du - Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder (this is the song playing the first time Alexa and Ethan danced)
- Glory Box - Portishead
- Magic - Cobie Caillat
- Feelin' Love - Paula cole
- Dream A Little Dream of Me - The Mamas & The Papas - (song Alexa sings Chloe to sleep with)
- I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
- Over You - Miranda Lambert
- The Only Exception - Paramore
- What if You - Joshua Radin
- Come Away With Me - Nora Jones
- Canon in D Major - Pachelbel (wedding song)
Review ~ 3.5 Stars
*This review contains spoilers*
Choices of Fate is a modern romance that incorporates various paranormal elements, including vampires, witches, and seers that all have varying abilities.
Our main character is Alexa, who we learn can read people's minds. The book starts with her at a specialist's office with her baby, Chloe, who has been crying almost non-stop and refusing to eat for the past two weeks. Previous doctors have been unable to determine what's wrong, so Alexa has been referred to this specialist. As she's at the doctor's office, she daydreams back to her brief two-day fling with Chloe's father, who she hasn't seen since the night Chloe was conceived.
I like how the author interweaved the story this way, giving us bits of information at a time about Ethan, our male main character. Ethan and Alexa met at a bar one night, and their connection is instantaneous. And for some reason, Alexa is unable to read Ethan's mind. Little do we know, Ethan has a secret of his own, one that will change Alexa's life.
Alexa and Ethan go on an impromptu date to the zoo following their meeting at the bar. When he drives Alexa home, she invites him to spend the night even though they just met. Ethan declines, partly because of his secret, which we find out is linked to a prophecy he has been running from his whole life.
The next morning, Ethan takes Alexa for breakfast, where their feelings for another are more fast and furious than before. Both already feel like they are meant for one another, even after only meeting less than a day ago. I don't like insta-love unless there's an unexplained driving force, and we find out later what that force is. They get to know each other, and Alexa confesses to Ethan that she is a virgin. I usually don't like twenty-something virgins because that is so unrealistic to me in our day and age. However, given Alexa's ability to read minds, including those of horny guys that only want sex and are mentally critiquing you sexually the whole time you're with them, I can understand why she is a virgin.
This leads to a full day of hot, steamy sex, at the end of which, Ethan's carnal vampire desires overwhelm him and he bites Alexa. Once he tastes her blood, he discovers that she is the woman from his prophecy, the one he has been running from. He immediately puts her to sleep using his powers and leaves, still afraid of the consequences of the prophecy.
Alexa is distraught when she finds Ethan left her, along with his goodbye letter saying they should never see each other again. She searches for Ethan, basically becoming a stalker, but she never finds him. Weeks later, she finds out she is pregnant.
Alexa and Ethan don't meet again until Chloe is about 9 months old, almost a year and a half later. The story takes off after that, but I don't want to give any more away. I will say that there is way more steamy romance.
Choices of Fate was an interesting story, but there were many grammar and spelling errors that take away from the story. But even with those errors, Choices of Fate is still worth the read.
~Nikki N.
About the author...
S. Simone Chavous spent seven years as a tax accountant before deciding to pursue her true passion as an author. Choices of Fate, the first book in the Fate Trilogy, is her debut novel. She lives in northern Indiana with her boyfriend, two beautiful daughters and their rambunctious vizsla, Lily.
Fun Author Facts
- I have a bright blue Harley Davidson Sportster
- I've been skydiving
- My birth name, before I was adopted, was Rosalinda
- I used to show dogs, ranging from Pomeranians to Great Danes and currently own a Vizsla
- I have never broken any bones, despite being a bit of a daredevil
- When I was in 3rd grade, some 5th grade boys dared me to throw an egg out of the school bus window on our way back from the science Olympiad, it hit a car and I got 3 days of detention
- I have been shocked with a police taser, twice
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Thanks for sharing Choices of Fate and the awesome giveaway. This sounds like a great book. evamillien at gmail dot com
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