sweet story. I loved Lucien's character, as well as Olivia's and Lucien's family. Although I understood Sanatha' motherly instincts, need for protection, and strength in many situations, I found her character not so heart warming or endearing.

If I had to pick a favorite part of the story it would be christmas with Lucien's family, They all gave so much, made sacrafices, and stood together to help support Lucien and his new love
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"Samantha ... She was the light, and I had been drinking the dark for so very long."

The first time Lucien Demarco sets his eyes on Samantha Sutton, he's blinded by her vibrance, her stunning allure that is so full of life, which is something he lost a long time ago. Her spirit literally glows and yet she's been through so much, too much, which leaves an emptiness in her heart that urges her to push everyone she loves away.

He, initially attracted to her tantalizing scent, catches himself caring for and sympathizing with her and her domestic conflicts—and it isn't just the empath in him that's causing this. He is the exact opposite of Sam, the exact opposite of what she needs, but is affected by her in ways he cannot comprehend: a corner of darkness propelled by a beam of light, and an ignition of touch. He can't get involved, not with a prospect so human; having escaped the clutches of a powerful, gang-like network of vampires and fled to Detroit, where he thought he was finally free, he realizes what danger he puts himself and his new "family" in, when long-due vengeance came knocking on his door. And yet the stir in his body and soul is compelling enough for him to wander away from all rational thought.

Sam and Ollie are the only people who have been able to trigger any type of emotion in him—at least the only people he's encountered in what seems like an eternity. They renew him. They become him. And with that acknowledgment, he knows he cannot survive without them or ever turn back.

The emotional intensity of this book is so, so powerful. Not only the contemporary-set romance and the steamy chemistry between Sam and Luce, but also the highs and lows of family and self-sacrifice—all of it was a turbulent ride. As Lucien relearns the mess—and utter beauty—of humanity through his beloved Sutton girls, he discovers that although they are his dire weakness, they will save him—and he, them—in the end... and they will forever free each other as well.

The characters, while good together, are not very developed individually. Sam is distant and completely two-dimensional. She's incredibly likable—kind, sensitive, gorgeous—but just seems a little too perfect, which I found unpalatable. Fortunately, Forever Freed is narrated by Lucien, who is as flawed as Samantha is faultless; unfortunately, his first-person male perspective is stiff (he is centuries old, after all), overexposed, and irritatingly bleak. I feel he wasn't as sexy and alpha of a vampire hero as he should've been in this story.

The high-action and precarious plot make up for the flat characters, however. I enjoyed the suspense immensely, including the hot love scenes tucked in between. This book is full of untold secrets, vampire gore, and the implications of overcoming temptation in the name of love; a fresh twist on vampire romance!

Pros: Smoldering chemistry between Samantha and Lucien! // Loved Samantha's character // Ollie is adorable // Vampires aren't sparkly and omnipotent // Very realistic and raw portrayal of bloodlust and supernatural danger

Cons: Strange, uncomfortable narration // Stylistically nothing impressive (no specific quotes that stood out to me)

Verdict: While Forever Freed's characters are a bit flimsy and the narration slightly off-key, the acute, powerful storyline and the complexity of Samantha and Lucien's relationship really reverberated with me. Laura Kaye brings us an untraditional paranormal romance with a crucial slant on love and humanity, as well as on the compassion and sheer vulnerability you hold for the one person who has the power to bring you back to life.

Rating: 8 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): An engaging read; highly recommended.

Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Romancing the Book, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Laura!). ( )

So to begin, I would like to say that this book is a little bit on the difficult side to get into. The beginning doesn't just grab your attention like some other books too. And while I did try to figure out why it didn't grab my attention, I really could not figure out a legitimate reason why. The writing isn't bad, and the characters aren't confusing, it just didn't seem to jump out at me. Although it might be that I didn't really identify with Lucien, who the entire story is told from.

I have to say that I did enjoy the fact that Lucien is not your everyday main character, even though I think that might have played a role in why it took longer for me to get into the book. He's kind of a tortured soul, he doesn't really like who he is, but at the same time can't help that he has the desires that come along with being a vampire. He has a really terrible past so he is pretty isolated to start off with, another reason why I think it took longer to get into his character.

And in the beginning, the beginning of the relationship to be more specifically, you as the reader really get the sense that Lucien is more stalker than anything else. Now I think I have a lot of problems with characters who kind of fall in love with the object of the obsession, it often comes off a little bit on the creepy side for me, but this relationship was able to move a beyond that initial creepy vibe.

I do have to say that in the end the romance is worth it, and honest the book is more about romance than anything else. Sure there is a plot behind it all, but if you don't get into the romance then I don't think you will be able to get into the book. But if you are a person that enjoys romance, I think this will be a good book for you to read, especially since it has the unique factor of being told from the male point of view and not from the female.

Overall I think the book is an okay read, especially if you are just in it for the romance. If you are going to look at the book critically however I think you are going to find a couple of things that might nag at you. I felt like there were certain things, plot elements, that are brought up and not addressed within the book or are wrapped up in a way that didn't feel organic. I felt like while there was romance the was some issue with getting to know the characters. And I think my biggest issue is that I think because the book took so long to get started it ended up having a rushed feeling at the end. ( )

Lucien Demarco has hated his vampire life for over 100 years. His family was murdered and he was turned (then abandoned by his maker), but he’s been wrecked with the guilt of his wife and daughter’s death all those years.

When he meets a little Olivia at the local hospital and she doesn’t shy away from him, instead looking him in the eye and smiling at him, he’s amused. On his next visit to the hospital, when he meets a woman, Samantha, whose happiness calls to him, he’s intrigued and thinking of drinking from her to absorb her happiness. But when he discovers the little girl is the daughter of the woman he craves, Lucien soon learns there are much better things to crave.

Lucien is a heartbreaking character. He hates killing humans who don’t deserve it to feed, so he goes weeks without feeding. He’s one of those people that will continually “pick the scab” just so he can feel the pain. He’s so full of self-loathing and despair, which makes your heart break for him because you can tell he’s truly a good person at his core.

However, once he makes the decision to move forward with a relationship with Samantha and Olivia, you can see his wonderful human traits come out. He wants to make sure both his girls feel loved, never want for anything and always feel safe. He knows keeping his vampirism secret is a huge breach in trust, which eats at him, but it seems life keeps getting in the way of him telling his secret.

Samantha and Olivia (or Ollie as she’s called) were wonderful characters and balanced out Lucien. They were both full of life and looked past what was on the outside to see the core of a person. Without needing to be told or asked, they always managed to give Lucien exactly what he needed and made him let himself go back to the man he was always supposed to be.

That’s not to say they don’t have some drama in their relationship. The last 100 pages were full of drama with some bad vampires trying to destroy Lucien’s happiness, but in the end love conquers all!

Wonderfully written with an amazing cast of characters. This was definitely not like any other vampire story I’ve read. It will pull at your heartstrings and having you reaching for a tissue.

Reviewed by Shannon
Review copy provided by The Wild Rose Press

http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2011/11/review-forever-freed-by-laura-kaye.htm... ( )

Author: Laura Kaye

Synopsis: A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation—talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…

Our Review [Provided by Michelle McMichael]:

Forever Freed is a paranormal romance told in first person from the hero, Lucien's, point of view. At the start of the book Lucien is the epitome of the angsty/broody vamp, I enjoyed the insight into his thoughts as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his family and his inability to save them. When Lucien meets Olivia he is amazed by how easily she accepts his presence and shows no instinctual fear of him. Her innocence touches Lucien and he can't help but want to protect her. Samantha enters Luciens life around the same time but leaves him with an overwhelming urge to consume her. Lucien attempts to insert himself into her life but he doesn't expect to discover Olivia's place in her life.
Lucien undergoes a huge transformation from broody vamp to protector and lover but it's not an easy journey. I really enjoyed the fact that yes it's a love story but it's also so much more, there's a little bit of everything in here. I'm a little disappointed that it's a stand alone. There are a few unanswered questions especially when it comes to Lucien and his bloodline. Olivia was a delightful addition to the story and I really enjoyed her interactions with Lucien.

LITERAL ADDICTION Paranormal Book Club's guest reviewer gives Forever Freed 4 Skulls, and says that there is a lot of promise in the book. ( )