Early Review - A Cursed Embrace by Cecy Robson and Giveaway - June 20, 2013

A Cursed Embrace
Author:  Cecy Robson
Series:  The Weird Girls 2
Publisher:  Signet, July 2, 2013
Format:  Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages
Price:  $7.99 (print)
ISBN:  9780451236364 (print)
Review Copy:  eARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twentysomething girls—with one tiny exception: They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird.…

After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.

To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters.

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My thoughts:

A Cursed Embrace picks up directly after the first book in the series, Sealed with a Curse. Cecy Robson pulls no punches when it comes to making life difficult for the Wird sisters. Evil is stalking them. At the same time the sisters' relationships with the werewolves are evolving. There is a lot on Celia's plate. She is the oldest of the sisters and has assumed the role as their very fierce protector. Celia also has a very soft and vulnerable side, which comes to play in the novel.

The Weird Girls series is Urban Fantasy Romance (UFR) and extremely well done UFR at that. There is romance but it does not overwhelm the story. Celia goes on an emotional roller coaster ride in A Cursed Embrace and I went right along with her. Her sisters also have romantic issues in the novel. The romances are poignant and moving throughout with some very highs and very lows. But A Cursed Embrace in not just about romance. It's full of suspense as Celia, her sisters and friends try to figure out what is going on, why this new evil seems to be focused on the Wird sisters, and how to defeat it, if possible. Ms. Robson ratchets up the tension throughout the story as she seamlessly weaves the loves and lives of the Wird sisters into an absorbing story about frightening evil. The characters don't just kick ass, they have lives too!

The pacing of the novel is terrific. There are some great action sequences, some gore, romance, some humor, and seriously awful bad guys. The ending was surprising but not entirely unexpected. Celia Wird is a fantastic UF heroine with heart.



Note:  You may read A Cursed Embrace as a standalone.


The Weird Girls Series

Sealed with a Curse
Weird Girls 1
Signet Eclipse, December 31, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.

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The Weird Girls
Signet Eclipse, December 4, 2012
eNovella

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird…

The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth—human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they’ve longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn’t an option.

Includes a preview of the first full-length novel in the Weird Girls series, Sealed with a Curse—as well as introductions to the Weird World, and a letter from the author.

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The Giveaway

What:  One commenter will win a signed copy of A Cursed Embrace plus a bookmark, a rack card, A CURSED EMBRACE magnet and lip balm, and a signed postcard from Cecy. US  ONLY

How:   Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on June 30, 2013. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.  Please note that if you win the A CURSED EMBRACE prize package on another blog, a different winner will be chosen to be fair to the other contestants.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change.*

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