Tuesday, May 14, 2013

ARC Review: Forever


Forever (The World of Nightwalkers #2)

by  

Blurb:

 After being brought back from death, police officer Jackson Waverly receives the shock of his life: he has become host to a Bodywalker, a spirit that is reborn in flesh and blood, and part of a proud, ancient race that uses its extraordinary gifts to battle dark, evil forces. Jackson’s spirit is a powerful one—none other than the Egyptian pharaoh Menes, who longs to reunite with his eternal love, the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut.

While Menes is obsessed with finding the perfect vessel for his queen, Jackson cannot stop thinking about Dr. Marissa Anderson, the gorgeous precinct shrink who keeps pushing him to confront his grief over the loss of his K-9 partner. But what Marissa really arouses most in Jackson is intense desire, which is exactly what Menes is looking for. To fight a great enemy, pharaoh and queen must join; but to host Hatshepsut, Marissa will first have to die. Fate has given Jackson a profound choice: save Marissa from Menes’ plan or keep an entire species from the brink of extinction.

Review:

Whoa what a rush! The second book in the World of the Nightwalkers series, Forever, takes us on a wild journey of two people destined to be together and the changes that come to them as their souls become joined with another.  Ms. Frank’s work never ceases to amaze me with the wild trips she takes us on through her very vivid and sometimes odd imagination.  The Nightwalkers have always held an intense interest for me, through several different series now, and it is my hope that one day all the series will be joined in some way. But for now we are just focusing on the new wonder that is the Bodywalker breed.  If you read my previous review you’ll know I was waiting anxiously for this book because we’d seen so much of Jackson in the last book.  Well my wait, and yours, is over.
Forever picks up three weeks after the end of Forbidden, with Jackson and Menes’s Blending almost complete.   It has taken a while, but Jackson has come to accept his new life, and the addition of the ancient Egyptian king in his body.  He’s still trying to come to terms with all this new life will cost him though.  Knowing he’s going to have to give up his home, career, and friends, he’s clinging to the last of his existence with all his might.  But the one thing he is determined not to have to give up is Marissa.  Menes has also become very attached to her and the idea that she is the perfect match for his long awaited wife and Queen. Marissa however is no closer to them than she was weeks ago; even though they have given her notice that their coming to take her for their own.  But when circumstances force Jackson to share the truth of his new existence with Marissa, she has to face a terrible choice.  Fleeing for their lives, Marissa and Jackson travel to the new seat of power for the Bodywalkers Politic rulers in New Mexico, whether she likes it or not.  But as the bond between them grows, Marissa can’t deny the appeal of the chance to be with Jackson/Menes forever and rule by his side… all she has to do is die.
Jackson/Menes and Marissa are really too hot for words.  Whether they are together or just thinking about each other the passion between them is palpable.  Jackson has changed a bit, becoming even more of a dominant male and Marissa finds she likes this new side of him.  Her problem is that her emotions are so invested in him that separating her physical and emotional desires is becoming harder and harder for her. Marissa fights the pull, but the magnetism of Jackson, now holding the even more powerfully dominant Menes, is impossible.  When they finally come together there’s no containing the fire and they have to face the fact that they really are meant to be together.
There were also some interesting twists and turns in the overall plot that kept things very interesting.  The side story about Leo was disturbing but it gives us a glimpse into the inner strength that Leo has depended on to help him care for his two younger friends for many years. There was also the entrance of a new villain; one that I fear will cause a lot of trouble for the Bodywalkers.  I have my suspicions about where Ms. Frank is going with this, but it’s purely my own take so I’ll let you read it yourself and develop your own theories.  I’m hoping though that the next book in the series, Forsaken, will be Leo’s book, but there is no info to be found yet so we won’t know for a while, sadly.
If you haven’t read the first in this series I will have to recommend you read it first or you will be very lost, but be that as it may, Forever is a great addition to any library. Marissa and Jackson are one of those couples that you are rooting for from the beginning, obviously meant for each other as their strengths and weakness complement each other perfectly.  Asking for the ultimate sacrifice from Marissa brings out the deepest protective instincts within Jackson and makes their sensual connection even more intriguing to see. I cannot wait for more of this series and to see how Jacquelyn maneuvers the new villain and brings a hero to defeat him.  I will say that seeing the sadistic natures of some of the Templars was a little disturbing to read in detail, but I can see how that was needed to show the true depths of the depravity the Politic Bodywalkers are truly facing. Another shining star and certainly a welcome addition to my personal library.  Give me more please Jackie!

Rating: 4 stars

Rose Rating: 


*eARC provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. No compensation was provided for this review.

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