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Para-Ops #2
Chosen by Fate
Don't miss out on NationalÌýBestselling Author Virna DePaul's intriguing Para-Ops world!Ìý
"Incredibly well-written, different, andÌýhot." --NYT Bestseller Larissa Ioneâ€�
"DePaul is amazing! Chosen by Blood is a unique,Ìýhot, spellbinding treat for all paranormal romance fans. I can't wait for theÌýnext book in the series!" --NYT Bestseller Author Lori Foster
"A gripping tale!...DePaul creates the perfectÌýblend of danger, intrigue, and romance. You won't be able to put this bookÌýdown!" --NYT Bestseller Brenda Novak
Overview of Chosen By
Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O'Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith-a ghost with no memory of her human existence, who cannot experience touch without pain. ÌýNo wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so her time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her to learn her human identity, and experience one night with Caleb...
More Ìý
"If you have not yet started this [Para-Ops]Ìýseries...you are really missing out." Ìý--The Book Reading Gals
"Readers who love Lara Adrian, JR Ward willÌýlove this new Para-Ops series -- this author is a rising star."Ìý--SueÌýGrimshaw (Romance At Random) on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ
Try Virna's novels if you love True Blood, Supernatural and heart-pounding thrillers!Ìý Read the other books in the Para-Ops 

ChosenÌýBy Blood (Book 1)â€�
Chosen By Sin (Book 3)
Virna's other
**If you enjoy sexy paranormals, try the paranormalÌýnovella,Ìý A Vampire's Salvation. "I only have one request--when is theÌýnext installment due?" **To try a contemporary romance with humor andÌýheat, Joyfully Reviewed had this to say aboutÌý This Magic Ìý"[B]eautifully written...an unforgettable hit."Ìý **The contemporary novella,Ìý Wild For Him, isÌý"well written...and steamy!" **And if you enjoy hot cops, try Virna's super sexy erotic romancesÌýunder the name Ava Meyers (The Red-Hot Cops Series)
"Incredibly well-written, different, andÌýhot." --NYT Bestseller Larissa Ioneâ€�
"DePaul is amazing! Chosen by Blood is a unique,Ìýhot, spellbinding treat for all paranormal romance fans. I can't wait for theÌýnext book in the series!" --NYT Bestseller Author Lori Foster
"A gripping tale!...DePaul creates the perfectÌýblend of danger, intrigue, and romance. You won't be able to put this bookÌýdown!" --NYT Bestseller Brenda Novak
Overview of Chosen By
Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O'Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith-a ghost with no memory of her human existence, who cannot experience touch without pain. ÌýNo wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so her time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her to learn her human identity, and experience one night with Caleb...
More Ìý
"If you have not yet started this [Para-Ops]Ìýseries...you are really missing out." Ìý--The Book Reading Gals
"Readers who love Lara Adrian, JR Ward willÌýlove this new Para-Ops series -- this author is a rising star."Ìý--SueÌýGrimshaw (Romance At Random) on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ
Try Virna's novels if you love True Blood, Supernatural and heart-pounding thrillers!Ìý Read the other books in the Para-Ops 

ChosenÌýBy Blood (Book 1)â€�
Chosen By Sin (Book 3)
Virna's other
**If you enjoy sexy paranormals, try the paranormalÌýnovella,Ìý A Vampire's Salvation. "I only have one request--when is theÌýnext installment due?" **To try a contemporary romance with humor andÌýheat, Joyfully Reviewed had this to say aboutÌý This Magic Ìý"[B]eautifully written...an unforgettable hit."Ìý **The contemporary novella,Ìý Wild For Him, isÌý"well written...and steamy!" **And if you enjoy hot cops, try Virna's super sexy erotic romancesÌýunder the name Ava Meyers (The Red-Hot Cops Series)
302 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2011
12 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Virna DePaul
127Ìýbooks979ÌýfollowersA former prosecutor, Virna DePaul writes "heat, heart, & HEA" for Harlequin and Random House. She is also a bestselling Indie author, with Bedding The Wrong Brother being a top 100 contemporary romance on Amazon with over 150 5* reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 27, 2021
Chosen by Fate
by Virna DePaul can be classified as an urban fantasy or a supernatural suspense or a paranormal romantic suspense novel. The author brings together vampires, weres, wraiths, a human shaman, or much more in this story taking place five years after a war between humans and Otherborn; humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA.
Caleb O’Flare is a human shaman with healing powers and psychic abilities, but he is unable to help Wraith, a ghost without a memory of who she was until ten years ago. Wraiths typically die by year 11 of this existence and can’t experience touch without pain. Both are members of a para-ops team formed by the FBI in the hopes of protecting the rights of both Otherborn and humans.
Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the main characters. The danger, intrigue, and romance didn’t live up to my expectations. There are the usual setbacks, misunderstandings, and lack of communication. The reveal of the feline case that they worked on was shocking as well as some of the cultural views. The ending didn’t fully satisfy me.
Overall, this book didn’t pull me into the story line and keep me engaged. It was easy for me to set the book aside. However, there are many readers who have thoroughly enjoyed it. If you think you might want to read it, check out some of those reviews.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Caleb O’Flare is a human shaman with healing powers and psychic abilities, but he is unable to help Wraith, a ghost without a memory of who she was until ten years ago. Wraiths typically die by year 11 of this existence and can’t experience touch without pain. Both are members of a para-ops team formed by the FBI in the hopes of protecting the rights of both Otherborn and humans.
Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the main characters. The danger, intrigue, and romance didn’t live up to my expectations. There are the usual setbacks, misunderstandings, and lack of communication. The reveal of the feline case that they worked on was shocking as well as some of the cultural views. The ending didn’t fully satisfy me.
Overall, this book didn’t pull me into the story line and keep me engaged. It was easy for me to set the book aside. However, there are many readers who have thoroughly enjoyed it. If you think you might want to read it, check out some of those reviews.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
October 17, 2011
Review posted:
Wraith is a ghost. She’s been “alive� for 10 years, and by the time she reaches year 11, she’ll be dead. At the start of the book she has no reason to really care about anything anymore, she has nothing to stay in existence for, she pushes people away who try to get close and she’s tried to kill herself many times � but deep down I think she’s scared. No wraith before her has made it past their 11th year, and while she’s scared of being in her last year, she doesn’t let herself expect to make it past that point. Having no memory of her human life, she’s driven to find out who she was before she became a wraith, and that was her reason for joining the Para-Ops team. She was promised help in trying to find information about her past so she can put the pieces together before her existence is over for good.
Caleb, another member of the Para-Ops team, is a healer and he uses his power and that of his ancestors to help heal people through his touch. He and Wraith have a hate/like/hate relationship. Caleb is drawn to her, but Wraith is just full of hate, mostly of herself and angst. I love angst as much as the next reader, but Wraith almost had too much of it. For every small moment of happiness she’d let herself have, she’d follow it up by saying something bitchy or snarky to people who were trying to be her friends. Of course it was her way of coping with knowing that she would be gone in a short amount of time, and by keeping this information to herself, none of her friends knew what she was going through.
Wraith can’t experience any touch without pain, so actually being with someone, or accepting something as simple as a hug from a friend causes her so much pain, she’s at the point where she thinks that all she deserves. Caleb sets out to prove her wrong, to show her that she is worthy of pleasure and ultimately worthy of so much more. As Wraith’s time gets closer to running out, her appearance is changing as well. As a wraith, she has white hair, blue tinted skin and can’t see colors. She slowly becomes more human, but this is a blessing and a curse. It just means she’s that much closer to being gone forever. But as she becomes more human, being touched doesn’t cause her much, if any, pain and for the first time in her existence as a wraith, she’s able to be with Caleb and know what true pleasure feels like.
“…You’re not crazy. You’ve dealt with more than anyone should have to, and you’ve done the best you can. And if you can’t catch it yourself, that’s admiration you hear in my voice, Wraith, not pity. I’m sorry you were betrayed, but you have the team now. You have me. I know that doesn’t mean much to you, but-�
Before he could finish his thought, she reached out and pulled him down on top of her again. “It means more than you can know,� she said.
As part of the Para-Ops team, they’re on an assignment to figure out who is drugging and raping female felines. Threads from Caleb’s past become a part of this mission and people he thought he could trust, at least initially, turn out to be right in the middle of the case. While the mission takes place throughout the entire book, it feels like it wraps up rather quickly and very neat at the end. I’m more interested in finding out who the Quorum members are (a very Anti-Otherborn, Pro–Human group). By books end, we know the supposed identity of a couple members, and seeing how this storyline plays out over the course of the series, will be interesting especially learning how different people within and connected to the Para-Ops team are also connected to others within the Quorum; it’ll make for great reveals once that happens.
While the suspense and build-up of the Quorum storyline is ongoing, the relationships make this story for me. I loved Caleb and Wraith together. There were times I wanted to strangle Wraith, but when she would finally let herself be a little vulnerable and open up not only with Caleb but with other members of the team, Dex and Lucy, the second the “moment� was over, she’d say or do something really hurtful trying to keep that shell around herself. Caleb eventually broke through it, but it took Wraith putting the pieces of her past together herself and dealing with that before she finally realized that she can and does feel love. It’s a long journey for her, but Caleb stays by her side and doesn’t let go.
There are few other supporting storylines going on throughout the book. I can’t wait to learn more about Dex and Lucy and who their HEAs will be, since it appears they won’t be that for each other. I’m also really interested in Zeph, Knox’s brother � who’s story we got in book 1, Chosen by Blood. Zeph is a double agent, and I really hope he gets his own book at some point. He straddles the line between good and bad, and he’s putting himself in a pretty dangerous situation, playing both sides.
I really enjoyed the latest edition to the Para-Ops series. It reads pretty light with the paranormal aspect, we have ghosts, healers, mages, weres, vamps…you name it in this story, but they really act as human as they possibly can. Their abilities come out and into play when they need them to, but this is really a series about people with “extra� powers trying to live their lives the best they can. I’m looking forward to Dex’s story next, the were who initially came off as a standoffish guy, but we get to see him soften a bit towards Lucy in this story and I want to know what secrets he’s keeping, and who ends up stealing his heart!
Wraith is a ghost. She’s been “alive� for 10 years, and by the time she reaches year 11, she’ll be dead. At the start of the book she has no reason to really care about anything anymore, she has nothing to stay in existence for, she pushes people away who try to get close and she’s tried to kill herself many times � but deep down I think she’s scared. No wraith before her has made it past their 11th year, and while she’s scared of being in her last year, she doesn’t let herself expect to make it past that point. Having no memory of her human life, she’s driven to find out who she was before she became a wraith, and that was her reason for joining the Para-Ops team. She was promised help in trying to find information about her past so she can put the pieces together before her existence is over for good.
Caleb, another member of the Para-Ops team, is a healer and he uses his power and that of his ancestors to help heal people through his touch. He and Wraith have a hate/like/hate relationship. Caleb is drawn to her, but Wraith is just full of hate, mostly of herself and angst. I love angst as much as the next reader, but Wraith almost had too much of it. For every small moment of happiness she’d let herself have, she’d follow it up by saying something bitchy or snarky to people who were trying to be her friends. Of course it was her way of coping with knowing that she would be gone in a short amount of time, and by keeping this information to herself, none of her friends knew what she was going through.
Wraith can’t experience any touch without pain, so actually being with someone, or accepting something as simple as a hug from a friend causes her so much pain, she’s at the point where she thinks that all she deserves. Caleb sets out to prove her wrong, to show her that she is worthy of pleasure and ultimately worthy of so much more. As Wraith’s time gets closer to running out, her appearance is changing as well. As a wraith, she has white hair, blue tinted skin and can’t see colors. She slowly becomes more human, but this is a blessing and a curse. It just means she’s that much closer to being gone forever. But as she becomes more human, being touched doesn’t cause her much, if any, pain and for the first time in her existence as a wraith, she’s able to be with Caleb and know what true pleasure feels like.
“…You’re not crazy. You’ve dealt with more than anyone should have to, and you’ve done the best you can. And if you can’t catch it yourself, that’s admiration you hear in my voice, Wraith, not pity. I’m sorry you were betrayed, but you have the team now. You have me. I know that doesn’t mean much to you, but-�
Before he could finish his thought, she reached out and pulled him down on top of her again. “It means more than you can know,� she said.
As part of the Para-Ops team, they’re on an assignment to figure out who is drugging and raping female felines. Threads from Caleb’s past become a part of this mission and people he thought he could trust, at least initially, turn out to be right in the middle of the case. While the mission takes place throughout the entire book, it feels like it wraps up rather quickly and very neat at the end. I’m more interested in finding out who the Quorum members are (a very Anti-Otherborn, Pro–Human group). By books end, we know the supposed identity of a couple members, and seeing how this storyline plays out over the course of the series, will be interesting especially learning how different people within and connected to the Para-Ops team are also connected to others within the Quorum; it’ll make for great reveals once that happens.
While the suspense and build-up of the Quorum storyline is ongoing, the relationships make this story for me. I loved Caleb and Wraith together. There were times I wanted to strangle Wraith, but when she would finally let herself be a little vulnerable and open up not only with Caleb but with other members of the team, Dex and Lucy, the second the “moment� was over, she’d say or do something really hurtful trying to keep that shell around herself. Caleb eventually broke through it, but it took Wraith putting the pieces of her past together herself and dealing with that before she finally realized that she can and does feel love. It’s a long journey for her, but Caleb stays by her side and doesn’t let go.
There are few other supporting storylines going on throughout the book. I can’t wait to learn more about Dex and Lucy and who their HEAs will be, since it appears they won’t be that for each other. I’m also really interested in Zeph, Knox’s brother � who’s story we got in book 1, Chosen by Blood. Zeph is a double agent, and I really hope he gets his own book at some point. He straddles the line between good and bad, and he’s putting himself in a pretty dangerous situation, playing both sides.
I really enjoyed the latest edition to the Para-Ops series. It reads pretty light with the paranormal aspect, we have ghosts, healers, mages, weres, vamps…you name it in this story, but they really act as human as they possibly can. Their abilities come out and into play when they need them to, but this is really a series about people with “extra� powers trying to live their lives the best they can. I’m looking forward to Dex’s story next, the were who initially came off as a standoffish guy, but we get to see him soften a bit towards Lucy in this story and I want to know what secrets he’s keeping, and who ends up stealing his heart!
October 22, 2011
This had been coming for a long time now, but especially since they'd returned from North Korea. Their mission had affected all of them, of course, but Wraith had come back different. Still prickly, but less mouthy. Less willing to react or to interact. Less....well, less Wraith. It was as if part of her died on that mission. As if the regeneration of her body looked complete but really wasn't.
Lately, everyone has noticed a change in Wraith. She’s always been moody and withdrawn, but now she’s spending a lot of time in her room alone and won’t tell anyone what’s wrong. Caleb knows that something changed for her in their last mission, but he can’t figure out what. He tries to get close to her, but all it does is drive her further away.
Wraith is faced with the horrible fact that she’s over ten years old. It’s a well kept secret that sometime between their tenth and eleventh birthday, wraiths die. This time permanently. Wraith doesn’t want to let anyone know what’s happening and has to deal with her feelings alone. She’s resigned to the end of her life, but is determined to spend a night or two with Caleb before she dies. But nothing is ever simple with those two, so the road to happiness doesn’t come easily.
After seeing Caleb and Wraith together in the first book, Chosen by Blood, I was really excited to get a book about them. They had sizzling tension between them and the beginnings of a very nice relationship conflict. As I began reading this book, I really enjoyed it. Wraith, with her bitterness and bitchiness, was always a little hard to warm up to, but it was easier to sink into her character once I got into her head. I still thought she was occasionally hard to take, but I enjoyed her for the most part.
Caleb and Wraith finally start to connect at Knox and Felicia’s wedding. Caleb has always been interested in Wraith, but he is not turned on by the thought of hurting his partner and struggles to push past that hurdle when he realizes that pain will be a major factor in any relationship they have. Wraith doesn’t care about that, she just wants to steal whatever time she has left. Of course, something pops up—a death mark on Caleb that only Wraith can see, to be exact—and Wraith changes her mind in an abrupt about face (to protect him, of course) and leaves Caleb. This is the start of a back and forth relationship between them that eventually drove me nuts.
I have no problem with setbacks and hurdles to overcome in a relationship, but I got really tired of Caleb and Wraith and the back and forth game they played with each other. What was the most surprising about it was that it was Caleb who was the worst offender. I had my money on Wraith and her moodiness. After a while I got tired of the repetitive nature of their conflict. They’d start to get together, but then someone or something would cause them to step back. Then they would circle around each other and start again. Rinse and repeat that and you have their relationship in a nutshell.
I liked getting to spend some time with Knox again and enjoyed seeing more information on some of the plot lines that were left open in Chosen by Blood. His POV sections did seem a little out of place, though. They didn’t flow smoothly with the present story and were just kind of plopped in to showcase developments that will probably be important to a future story. I was also intrigued by what we saw of Dex. He’s always been an interesting character, and I think we finally met his lady. Her self professed man issues seem like they’ll provide a nice conflict between them.
I won’t discuss the resolution of the feline rape plot so as not to spoil anything, but I do have to mention a few things about the felines as a whole. I feel rather horrified by what I learned about the feline race and their cultural views. The pressure and the expectations placed on their females made me sad. I can’t say much more than that, but I’m really not surprised by what was revealed.
I had a couple huge frustrations that dropped the book’s grade significantly. One will be in spoilers and one will not. The first thing is the death mark on Caleb. What was up with that? It was a big deal in the beginning, but that plotline never went anywhere. It was just there and then later it wasn’t. But it made NO sense. I have to conclude that it was included solely as a way to keep Wraith and Caleb from hooking up in the beginning like they planned to.
****DON’T READ THIS SPOILER UNLESS YOU WANT THE END SPOILED FOR YOU!****
I’m pissed off all over again just thinking about this.
Favorite Quote:
What did he want from her? Because she knew what she wanted. Yes, she wanted his body. There was no doubt about that. But secretly, she wanted everything that he'd been unconsciously offering her, too. She wanted him to ride up on his white horse and slay every dragon from her past and every one that was coming for her in her future.
*Review originally posted on *
February 23, 2012
The Para Ops team has been assigned to infiltrate the feline shifter community to find the person or persons responsible for the sudden surge of rapes of female felines.
With her history with felines Wraith didn't like this assignment as it is, but the fact that she can no longer deny the feelings she has for Caleb is what sent her fleeing the team.
Caleb has his own bad history with the felines he has to deal with but first he must retrieve Wraith and convince her he loves her and doesn't not want to cause her any more pain even if that means he can't touch her.
As with all wraiths, if they try and kill themselves to end their immortality then they come back wrong and they come back sensitive to touch, all types of touch from another causes them pain. This pain is something that Wraith use to thrive on. She allowed this type of treatment to happen to herself because she didn't care about herself must less anyone else, but that changed with Caleb O' Flare. She couldn't let herself take him down too, she knew her turning was happening and that her death was emanate. Like all wraiths, she is predetermined to die after her tenth year. So somehow she’d have to leave this sexy man alone so she didn't hurt him too. But that may be easier said than done.
This was an excellent addition to this series. I loved the first one with Knox and Felicia but I think this one was equally good. Wraith was a little rough around the edges but she kind of grows on you and Caleb’s love for her is amazing. You can’t help but feel all he feels for her, the love, heat and even his frustration.
It's entertaining from start to finish, you still have the underlining adjective of saving world and proving its worth saving to a god who thinks it’s a waste and they should wipe the slate and start over. Then the new conflict arises with the felines. I love the twist at end it was great..
I cannot wait for the next book. There was a little cliff hanger at the end with a small enuendo, so I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
**Athenna**
With her history with felines Wraith didn't like this assignment as it is, but the fact that she can no longer deny the feelings she has for Caleb is what sent her fleeing the team.
Caleb has his own bad history with the felines he has to deal with but first he must retrieve Wraith and convince her he loves her and doesn't not want to cause her any more pain even if that means he can't touch her.
As with all wraiths, if they try and kill themselves to end their immortality then they come back wrong and they come back sensitive to touch, all types of touch from another causes them pain. This pain is something that Wraith use to thrive on. She allowed this type of treatment to happen to herself because she didn't care about herself must less anyone else, but that changed with Caleb O' Flare. She couldn't let herself take him down too, she knew her turning was happening and that her death was emanate. Like all wraiths, she is predetermined to die after her tenth year. So somehow she’d have to leave this sexy man alone so she didn't hurt him too. But that may be easier said than done.
This was an excellent addition to this series. I loved the first one with Knox and Felicia but I think this one was equally good. Wraith was a little rough around the edges but she kind of grows on you and Caleb’s love for her is amazing. You can’t help but feel all he feels for her, the love, heat and even his frustration.
It's entertaining from start to finish, you still have the underlining adjective of saving world and proving its worth saving to a god who thinks it’s a waste and they should wipe the slate and start over. Then the new conflict arises with the felines. I love the twist at end it was great..
I cannot wait for the next book. There was a little cliff hanger at the end with a small enuendo, so I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
**Athenna**
August 26, 2011
This second in DePaul's
Para-Ops
series features Otherborns - weres, vamps, dharmires, felines, shapeshifters, mages and wraiths; a shaman; a special FBI mixed species team; a prophecy; a Quorum of humans who want to "strip [the Otherborn] of their civil rights"; a goddess who wants to wipe all species from the earth to start over again and a very unlikely romance. She adds some inventive differences to the mythos for several of her paranormal characters.
This was a new author and new series for me but DePaul did a good job of writing a story that can stand alone. I didn't feel lost not having read the first in the series. This story takes place several weeks after Caleb is recruited by the FBI for the first team of its kind, humans and Otherborn working together.
Caleb, half-Indian and half-Irish, is a shaman, former army medic, human lie detector and healer. He is also able "to communicate with his ancestors, hear the Great Song, and occasionally walk the Otherworld". He thinks Wraith is "a heinous bitch, yes, but one whose attitude and mouth was designed to hide something textured and complex" and he loved it when she returned his kiss. When he first met her he’d felt a sizzling arc of connection that had only intensified with time. She seems to have no use for him and pushes him away all the time.
Wraith knows she has less than a year to "live" even though she is a "dead human", a wraith � "No pulse. No blood. No body heat or need to eat... Female—and a whole lot of angry going on. Oh, and immortality". She has "bluish-hued skin [and] stark white hair". She only sees in black and white. She's also the "the oldest known wraith in America". She feels pain much more than when she was a live human. And now "a simple touch from someone else was painful". She can touch animals and shifters in animal form without pain and kids without much pain. And she changing... and changing much more quickly than she thought she would when the end was coming close. She knows Caleb wants her and she wants him as well but refuses to give into the desire. She's begun to crave his touch.
There is a lot of good chemistry between Caleb and Wraith. DePaul know hows to write a steamy hot sex scene some of which are not very graphic but still have impact.
I laughed a little, I cried a little. That's when I knew DePaul had me. Up until about three quarters through the book, the story was good, but a lot was going on and the story nor the characters had drawn me in. Then when I cried in the latter part of the book, I realized the characters had pulled me in, made me care about them.
I ended up enjoying the story and now want to go back and read the first book book in the series and the sequel to this one when it comes out. I think both paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans will like this book.
A free prequel novella to the first book in the series, Chosen By Blood: Wraith's Awakening can be found
Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
This has an HEA ending.
This was a new author and new series for me but DePaul did a good job of writing a story that can stand alone. I didn't feel lost not having read the first in the series. This story takes place several weeks after Caleb is recruited by the FBI for the first team of its kind, humans and Otherborn working together.
Caleb, half-Indian and half-Irish, is a shaman, former army medic, human lie detector and healer. He is also able "to communicate with his ancestors, hear the Great Song, and occasionally walk the Otherworld". He thinks Wraith is "a heinous bitch, yes, but one whose attitude and mouth was designed to hide something textured and complex" and he loved it when she returned his kiss. When he first met her he’d felt a sizzling arc of connection that had only intensified with time. She seems to have no use for him and pushes him away all the time.
Wraith knows she has less than a year to "live" even though she is a "dead human", a wraith � "No pulse. No blood. No body heat or need to eat... Female—and a whole lot of angry going on. Oh, and immortality". She has "bluish-hued skin [and] stark white hair". She only sees in black and white. She's also the "the oldest known wraith in America". She feels pain much more than when she was a live human. And now "a simple touch from someone else was painful". She can touch animals and shifters in animal form without pain and kids without much pain. And she changing... and changing much more quickly than she thought she would when the end was coming close. She knows Caleb wants her and she wants him as well but refuses to give into the desire. She's begun to crave his touch.
There is a lot of good chemistry between Caleb and Wraith. DePaul know hows to write a steamy hot sex scene some of which are not very graphic but still have impact.
I laughed a little, I cried a little. That's when I knew DePaul had me. Up until about three quarters through the book, the story was good, but a lot was going on and the story nor the characters had drawn me in. Then when I cried in the latter part of the book, I realized the characters had pulled me in, made me care about them.
I ended up enjoying the story and now want to go back and read the first book book in the series and the sequel to this one when it comes out. I think both paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans will like this book.
A free prequel novella to the first book in the series, Chosen By Blood: Wraith's Awakening can be found
Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
This has an HEA ending.
October 9, 2011
Chosen by Fate by Virna DePaul
Paranormal Romance � Oct. 4th, 2011
5 stars
This author has made a new fan! Not only does she create a vivid landscape of several paranormal beings to fascinate the most jaded reader, but she had developed fully fleshed characters. Normally I find secondary characters dilute the story, but this book I enjoyed them all so much I can’t wait for their stories.
Caleb is a healer that was recruited to work on the special FBI, Para-Ops teams. He and his teammates are assigned deadly paranormal missions. The latest almost killed him and one of his teammates named Wraith. Wraith and him have been playing a game of cat and mouse. He cares for Wraith but as a ghost, any human touch is painful to her. But Caleb is determined to find a way to create a relationship with her. But Caleb needs to work fast, because there is something he doesn’t know.
Wraith can’t remember her past, and she is approaching her tenth year. Although the rest of the paranormals and humans believe that ghosts are immortal, she and her fellow ghosts know the truth: around ten years old, they ‘die� and none of them knows why. Wraith wants to discover her real past and why she died, but to do so she must strike out on her own and quit the team. However, she finds herself dragged back when a string of feline rapes needs her particular connections and when she discovers that Caleb has the mark. Wraith loves Caleb but being near him is both a joy and a pain. But when she notices he carries the mark of death that only her kind can see, she resolves to prevent his death which must be related to their latest mission. But in doing so will she ever find out her past before it is too late?
This series has serious bite and is my newest addiction. The Para-Ops team is like a group of super heroes with real feeling and troubles. Wraith is a complex heroine whose guts and sacrifices make her very noble and endearing. I felt emotionally connected to her because she is doomed to die yet still puts the hero she loves first. Their romance is very charged and I found myself teary-eyed because Caleb does not realize Wraith is dying. The tension between them as Caleb is determined to care for Wraith and make her see they can have a relationship were bitter sweet. As a result, this story carried me to various highs and lows as I wondered how the author would resolve their star crossed dilemma so they could be finally be together. Curiously, the only thing that was a bit of disappointment was the ending which felt a bit anti-climatic.
Those who love JR Ward's vampire series should give this series a try. Tense, high octane and emotional, I loved these fully developed characters and can’t wait to read more!
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance � Oct. 4th, 2011
5 stars
This author has made a new fan! Not only does she create a vivid landscape of several paranormal beings to fascinate the most jaded reader, but she had developed fully fleshed characters. Normally I find secondary characters dilute the story, but this book I enjoyed them all so much I can’t wait for their stories.
Caleb is a healer that was recruited to work on the special FBI, Para-Ops teams. He and his teammates are assigned deadly paranormal missions. The latest almost killed him and one of his teammates named Wraith. Wraith and him have been playing a game of cat and mouse. He cares for Wraith but as a ghost, any human touch is painful to her. But Caleb is determined to find a way to create a relationship with her. But Caleb needs to work fast, because there is something he doesn’t know.
Wraith can’t remember her past, and she is approaching her tenth year. Although the rest of the paranormals and humans believe that ghosts are immortal, she and her fellow ghosts know the truth: around ten years old, they ‘die� and none of them knows why. Wraith wants to discover her real past and why she died, but to do so she must strike out on her own and quit the team. However, she finds herself dragged back when a string of feline rapes needs her particular connections and when she discovers that Caleb has the mark. Wraith loves Caleb but being near him is both a joy and a pain. But when she notices he carries the mark of death that only her kind can see, she resolves to prevent his death which must be related to their latest mission. But in doing so will she ever find out her past before it is too late?
This series has serious bite and is my newest addiction. The Para-Ops team is like a group of super heroes with real feeling and troubles. Wraith is a complex heroine whose guts and sacrifices make her very noble and endearing. I felt emotionally connected to her because she is doomed to die yet still puts the hero she loves first. Their romance is very charged and I found myself teary-eyed because Caleb does not realize Wraith is dying. The tension between them as Caleb is determined to care for Wraith and make her see they can have a relationship were bitter sweet. As a result, this story carried me to various highs and lows as I wondered how the author would resolve their star crossed dilemma so they could be finally be together. Curiously, the only thing that was a bit of disappointment was the ending which felt a bit anti-climatic.
Those who love JR Ward's vampire series should give this series a try. Tense, high octane and emotional, I loved these fully developed characters and can’t wait to read more!
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
October 21, 2011
My Review:
This book was much more romance based than the first book. While I loved that in the aspect that this is a gorgeous romance, I really missed the full team aspect of the first book. In fact, Knox & Felicia hardly even make an appearance in this book and the overall feel of the book suffered because of that, in my opinion.
What did work for this book, though, was the incredible romance between Wraith & Caleb...wow, it was sizzling!!
As a wraith, Wraith cannot be touched without pain, which makes a relationship really difficult, if not impossible. Add to that, Caleb is a healer. His whole goal in life is to help, NOT hurt. He mentally cannot handle the anguish of knowing that any touch he shares with Wraith hurts her, even if there is some pleasure too. Oh, and yes, there is the added difficulty that wraiths never live to see their 11th year, which means that Wraith is really dying. She is seeing all the signs that this is happening sooner rather than later so she is looking at her last chance to enjoy some time with Caleb.
Wraith is not an easy person. She has built up these walls around her over the last 10 years of her life that are incredibly hard to penetrate, but Caleb is just the guy for the job. He is so persistent and caring with her. It's really gorgeous the way that he handles her, both physically and mentally. He is such an amazing guy. I definitely fell in love with his character!! It's a beautiful, emotional love story and I really truly enjoyed it!
In this book, the team is dealing with a threat towards the felines where the females are being drugged and raped. Because Knox & Felicia just got married, they are not participating in this mission. That leaves the other four: Wraith, Caleb, Dex, & Lucy to carry out the mission. The nature of the mission means that they aren't really working as a group much. As a reader, what you see instead is a lot of alone time between Wraith & Caleb and then to a lesser degree, Dex & Lucy. I enjoyed those moments, but missed the team dynamic in this book. There is a really interesting side story between Dex & Lucy and it will be interesting to see how much that story comes into play in the next book which is about Dex.
While I missed some of the aspects that were so good about the first novel, this is still an amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!! It absolutely would have scored a solid "A" for me (instead of the A- that I gave it) until the final 10 pages of the book, when the conclusion just seemed a little lacking or too easy and there was a clue that this team is dissolving even further...such a disappointment to me.
This book was much more romance based than the first book. While I loved that in the aspect that this is a gorgeous romance, I really missed the full team aspect of the first book. In fact, Knox & Felicia hardly even make an appearance in this book and the overall feel of the book suffered because of that, in my opinion.
What did work for this book, though, was the incredible romance between Wraith & Caleb...wow, it was sizzling!!
As a wraith, Wraith cannot be touched without pain, which makes a relationship really difficult, if not impossible. Add to that, Caleb is a healer. His whole goal in life is to help, NOT hurt. He mentally cannot handle the anguish of knowing that any touch he shares with Wraith hurts her, even if there is some pleasure too. Oh, and yes, there is the added difficulty that wraiths never live to see their 11th year, which means that Wraith is really dying. She is seeing all the signs that this is happening sooner rather than later so she is looking at her last chance to enjoy some time with Caleb.
Wraith is not an easy person. She has built up these walls around her over the last 10 years of her life that are incredibly hard to penetrate, but Caleb is just the guy for the job. He is so persistent and caring with her. It's really gorgeous the way that he handles her, both physically and mentally. He is such an amazing guy. I definitely fell in love with his character!! It's a beautiful, emotional love story and I really truly enjoyed it!
In this book, the team is dealing with a threat towards the felines where the females are being drugged and raped. Because Knox & Felicia just got married, they are not participating in this mission. That leaves the other four: Wraith, Caleb, Dex, & Lucy to carry out the mission. The nature of the mission means that they aren't really working as a group much. As a reader, what you see instead is a lot of alone time between Wraith & Caleb and then to a lesser degree, Dex & Lucy. I enjoyed those moments, but missed the team dynamic in this book. There is a really interesting side story between Dex & Lucy and it will be interesting to see how much that story comes into play in the next book which is about Dex.
While I missed some of the aspects that were so good about the first novel, this is still an amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!! It absolutely would have scored a solid "A" for me (instead of the A- that I gave it) until the final 10 pages of the book, when the conclusion just seemed a little lacking or too easy and there was a clue that this team is dissolving even further...such a disappointment to me.
July 11, 2014
After returning from Korea with the para-ops team, Wraith isolates herself from everyone else. Though she has always been moody and standoffish this increases. Wraith knows that her undead life is running short. Finally, she decides to be proactive and demands to know who she was but with three felines being raped, Wraith's needs are put on the back burner. Though Wraith agrees to work on the rapes, she cannot ignore the changes to her body. Suddenly, she is becoming more human and it's no longer painful to be touched. Still the pain of who she was haunts her and though she manages to hide it all from the team, she cannot hide it from Caleb.
For a paranormal romance, DePaul crams Chosen by Fate with a lot of world building, mystery and spirituality. The Goddess Essenia is still very much considering the annihilation of every single living creature and as Mahone works to stop it, the weight of the responsibility is beginning to wear on him. There is a secret organization that is attempting to end the peace between the humans and the Otherborn. Even the Para-Ops team who is trying desperately to bring about a balance is struggling with their own issues. For all of the things happening in the book, it never feels confused.
Chosen by Fate's largest problem is that DePaul piles fail upon fail into the story and absolutely none of it is necessary. It's so bad that I almost don't know where to begin.
Caleb is the main love interest in this story and he is half Indian and Half Irish. This makes the relationship between Caleb and Wraith subversive because inter-racial relationships aren't often portrayed in this genre. What ever gains DePaul made in this regard were lost when she made Caleb a drunk. He even snarks when Mahone finds him in a bar, "Didn't you do your intel? I'm half-Indian and half-Irish. You had to know the chances of finding me shit-faced was esp ... est ... extremely high." Of course he's an alcoholic, everyone knows that if you're Irish or Native you cannot control your drinking. Yes, I'm rolling my eyes.
Then we have the problems with GLBT portrayal. The problem begins with the felines who are bisexual, which is explained by their high sex drive. Felines are also promiscuous because if they don't have sex, they experience pain. Yes, promiscuous bisexual beings which is justified by story reasons. Further problematic is that one apparently needs "training in the art of feminine love." Feel free to dish out the side eye.
For a paranormal romance, DePaul crams Chosen by Fate with a lot of world building, mystery and spirituality. The Goddess Essenia is still very much considering the annihilation of every single living creature and as Mahone works to stop it, the weight of the responsibility is beginning to wear on him. There is a secret organization that is attempting to end the peace between the humans and the Otherborn. Even the Para-Ops team who is trying desperately to bring about a balance is struggling with their own issues. For all of the things happening in the book, it never feels confused.
Chosen by Fate's largest problem is that DePaul piles fail upon fail into the story and absolutely none of it is necessary. It's so bad that I almost don't know where to begin.
Caleb is the main love interest in this story and he is half Indian and Half Irish. This makes the relationship between Caleb and Wraith subversive because inter-racial relationships aren't often portrayed in this genre. What ever gains DePaul made in this regard were lost when she made Caleb a drunk. He even snarks when Mahone finds him in a bar, "Didn't you do your intel? I'm half-Indian and half-Irish. You had to know the chances of finding me shit-faced was esp ... est ... extremely high." Of course he's an alcoholic, everyone knows that if you're Irish or Native you cannot control your drinking. Yes, I'm rolling my eyes.
Then we have the problems with GLBT portrayal. The problem begins with the felines who are bisexual, which is explained by their high sex drive. Felines are also promiscuous because if they don't have sex, they experience pain. Yes, promiscuous bisexual beings which is justified by story reasons. Further problematic is that one apparently needs "training in the art of feminine love." Feel free to dish out the side eye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2011
I loved the tension that Wraith and Caleb brought to Chosen by Blood. Readers could easily see the chemistry and connection between these two characters. I was very eager to see how their book would flesh out. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Wraith’s character is heartbreaking on so many levels. She’s dead, she has no memory of who she was when she was living, touch pains her, but all of her other sensations are severely lacking. Then the icing on that cake ALL wraiths die again between their tenth and eleventh year. So of course the moment Wraith finds herself with a job she feels passionately about, team members that she cares about and a team that cares about her in return, her days are now numbered. I think anyone can understand her general negativity with all of that piled up on her. To top it all off she wants something that she knows she can’t have, Caleb O’Flare her sexy Shaman healer teammate.
Caleb wants Wraith. He knows that to give into those wants is to cause her excruciating pain through touch. How can you cause harm to someone you care about? Caleb can’t. He is on the other hand willing to do almost anything to give her pleasure. I loved this double edged sword that was their relationship. Touch her and cause her pain, don’t touch her and cause pain to ones self. Just when Caleb gives in to his desires for Wraith someone from his past reenters his life claiming to need his and the Para-Ops teams help. Wraith does not want another mission, she wants to find out all the details of her pre-wraith past. It was part of her agreement to join the Para-Ops team.
Chosen by Fate is a page turner. There is a ton of action between the current mission, the tension between Caleb and Wraith and the ultimatums that the Goddess Essenia keeps issuing. The team is so new that they are still having some trust issues. Everyone has their secrets. I would not attempt to read the Para-Ops series out of order. The reader would miss so much of the tension that makes up Caleb and Wraith’s story. I was also pleased with the fact that Knox and Felicia got page time in Chosen by Fate. I was left with some questions about them and I’m glad that some light was shed on those. The readers also learn more about exactly what is going on with Zeph, Knnox’s brother. The problems that the Quorum is causing Otherborn’s is still causing major amounts of trouble for the Para-Ops team and the world in general.
Caleb wants Wraith. He knows that to give into those wants is to cause her excruciating pain through touch. How can you cause harm to someone you care about? Caleb can’t. He is on the other hand willing to do almost anything to give her pleasure. I loved this double edged sword that was their relationship. Touch her and cause her pain, don’t touch her and cause pain to ones self. Just when Caleb gives in to his desires for Wraith someone from his past reenters his life claiming to need his and the Para-Ops teams help. Wraith does not want another mission, she wants to find out all the details of her pre-wraith past. It was part of her agreement to join the Para-Ops team.
Chosen by Fate is a page turner. There is a ton of action between the current mission, the tension between Caleb and Wraith and the ultimatums that the Goddess Essenia keeps issuing. The team is so new that they are still having some trust issues. Everyone has their secrets. I would not attempt to read the Para-Ops series out of order. The reader would miss so much of the tension that makes up Caleb and Wraith’s story. I was also pleased with the fact that Knox and Felicia got page time in Chosen by Fate. I was left with some questions about them and I’m glad that some light was shed on those. The readers also learn more about exactly what is going on with Zeph, Knnox’s brother. The problems that the Quorum is causing Otherborn’s is still causing major amounts of trouble for the Para-Ops team and the world in general.
February 5, 2012
I picked up this book not realizing it was the second in this series, I was planning on getting the first book and reading them in order but I ran out of books to read and this one sounded interesting. I'm not quite sure how much of the first book got ruined by not reading them in order but I'm not sure I care. I loved the characters and the story line, this isn't the most original plot but the characters are. The story and what involves Wraith I think is pretty original but the rest of the supernatural that are involved in this book are pretty run of the mill for there species. But Wraith's story and her affliction are unique at least for me. I find this best summed up as a tale of forgiveness, redemption, and the ability to let go of past transgressions. This is one of the first paranormal romances that I've read that could be said to have a moral to the story, that being said it doesn't distract from the book at all.
January 28, 2012
I like this one alot but for some reason am having a really hard time reviewing it...
Great tension building between the leads and it is lucky for Wraith that Caleb is persistent and perceptive both, I thought that DePaul pulled the promising world building together and that the romance worked much better than the one in the first book, also her ensemble is really 'gel'ing.
The next book? Chosen by Sin will be Dex's book, yay!
There's a free Wraith prequel eshort which can be downloaded from DePaul's site or Smashwords, "Wraith's Awakening"
And her next book is Dex's story Chosen by Sin (out jan 2012)
Great tension building between the leads and it is lucky for Wraith that Caleb is persistent and perceptive both, I thought that DePaul pulled the promising world building together and that the romance worked much better than the one in the first book, also her ensemble is really 'gel'ing.
The next book? Chosen by Sin will be Dex's book, yay!
There's a free Wraith prequel eshort which can be downloaded from DePaul's site or Smashwords, "Wraith's Awakening"
And her next book is Dex's story Chosen by Sin (out jan 2012)
January 16, 2012
Another good one..wraith is not altogether likable which only makes you like her more..the writers approach to romance is spot on love is raw and messy thats why i like these books her charachters are paranormal and yet you still connect with them
October 21, 2011
Great read! I really enjoyed this one. Looking forward to Dex's book!
October 20, 2011
Paranormal romance at its best. Caleb and Wraith rock!!
October 16, 2011
Excellent!
December 14, 2011
Review to follow shortly
February 25, 2012
I gotta say, I'm loving this series!
Read
March 1, 2012Like this series. Good book. Fast read. Did not want to put it down.
June 15, 2012
I spent this whole book going OMG! OMG! OMG! Every page, every storyline...one twist after another! I love a book that keeps you guessing! 4.5 stars! So glad I have #3!
September 1, 2018
Caleb is human but finds himself attracted to Wraith who is a wraith, not human-soon to expire from this world. To say their situation is unusual or difficult is an understatement. They tackled many obstacles in very creative ways trying to find a solution that will please both of them. I found this storyline very creative and enjoyed the book immensely. The many twists and turns in the plot continued to peak my interest and I found this to be a fast story to read. Enjoyable book to read!
March 25, 2019
Didn't realize that this was book 2 in the series. Some books that are part of s series, can be read out if order with no problems understanding what is going on. This book is not like that. I may try the first book, but really the story was hard to get into.
January 22, 2020
Read these awhile ago. Comments and review to follow.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
You can find me over on Facebook at My Open Book at the Dragonfly. Come over and say hello.
April 9, 2025
The heroine's life, or rather, her death, has been pretty straight forward. She's a Wraith. She's accepted this fact, even kept the name for herself to avoid any confusion. She woke up 10 years ago with no memories of her previous life or who she was before she died. A wraith is a dead woman. She sees no colours, she can't be touched else she suffers pain and on her 11th birthday she will turn human and die. But the heroine's life in particular has been wrought with more pain and suffering than usual. She's remembers the torture she experienced at the hands of a mad man. She remembers surrendering to the sexual desires of a sadist just to experience a tiny portion of pleasure along with the pain. She has a right to be surly and standoffish and she truly takes that to heart. She is mean at times and cruel when it comes to shutting down anyone's attempt to emotionally bond with her. She's only with the Para-Team because of the reward at the end of the battle, in her case, the discovery of who she was before. But she's running out of time. She's already been betrayed once by those she thought would keep their word, she doesn't have time to wait to see if they do it again. T
he hero, a kind man with complete selflessness and devotion to those he calls his friends, has been attracted to the ice queen for some time. Despite the fact that she's technically dead, she burns with life. He can see the pain and the suffering hidden behind that cold mask and it's always been a tight rope he must walk to balance pity with compassion. Now, seeing her in the arms of a man, knowing the pain she must feel at the touch, he makes his move and, in his jealousy, changes the game forever. The heroine doesn't understand why she's suddenly decided to entertain the notion of sleeping with the hero after all this time. Perhaps it's his vow to make her feel pleasure, not pain. Perhaps it's her last chance to hope for such a thing before her time is up. Whatever the reason, she feels her walls begin to crack and with every passing day, the hero works his way past her defenses more and more. Their relationship is hard, made harder by her lack of faith in herself and her lack of trust in others. If ever 2 people could be more cursed in love, the hero and heroine fit the bill. Lost in the experience of happiness and fear for the future, they try desperately to understand what does and can exist between them. With a woman cursed to die and the man determined to see her live.
This book had a lot of angst and turmoil but it was presented with a graceful way that made me relate to these characters and their suffering rather than pity them. The heroine was a tortured soul and considering everything she's been through in her 10 year 'life', it's totally understandable. I just couldn't imagine how she even managed to stay sane after it all. She couldn't be touched without a horrible pain. In her loneliness and desperation for some connection to another person, she once took a sadist as a lover. Whipped, beaten and horrible scarred, she once welcomed the agony in place of the cold and emptiness. She couldn't see in colour, she doesn't eat or sleep and she's immortal...well, until her 11th birthday when she will die. She is presented as a cold and dismissive person and as such, she is very hard to like. She puts everyone at a distance and any attempt they make to change that, she is quick to put them in their place. But she's couldn't with the hero. Her desire for him as a good and kind man makes it hard for her to push him away. She made a great attempt at it though. The hero just wanted her too much to be turned away. He had his own demons, what with the guilt over his friend’s murder and his general pressure to save everyone. He was good for the heroine but it took him sometime to figure out he needed to be himself instead of what he thought he should be. He was jealous of anyone who took liberties with her and he was willing to go to hell and back for the chance to help her. I thought their romance was horribly problematic and very strained as a happy outcome often looked doubtful but I was enjoying the ride. The plotline? Meh. But the characters? Yay.
he hero, a kind man with complete selflessness and devotion to those he calls his friends, has been attracted to the ice queen for some time. Despite the fact that she's technically dead, she burns with life. He can see the pain and the suffering hidden behind that cold mask and it's always been a tight rope he must walk to balance pity with compassion. Now, seeing her in the arms of a man, knowing the pain she must feel at the touch, he makes his move and, in his jealousy, changes the game forever. The heroine doesn't understand why she's suddenly decided to entertain the notion of sleeping with the hero after all this time. Perhaps it's his vow to make her feel pleasure, not pain. Perhaps it's her last chance to hope for such a thing before her time is up. Whatever the reason, she feels her walls begin to crack and with every passing day, the hero works his way past her defenses more and more. Their relationship is hard, made harder by her lack of faith in herself and her lack of trust in others. If ever 2 people could be more cursed in love, the hero and heroine fit the bill. Lost in the experience of happiness and fear for the future, they try desperately to understand what does and can exist between them. With a woman cursed to die and the man determined to see her live.
This book had a lot of angst and turmoil but it was presented with a graceful way that made me relate to these characters and their suffering rather than pity them. The heroine was a tortured soul and considering everything she's been through in her 10 year 'life', it's totally understandable. I just couldn't imagine how she even managed to stay sane after it all. She couldn't be touched without a horrible pain. In her loneliness and desperation for some connection to another person, she once took a sadist as a lover. Whipped, beaten and horrible scarred, she once welcomed the agony in place of the cold and emptiness. She couldn't see in colour, she doesn't eat or sleep and she's immortal...well, until her 11th birthday when she will die. She is presented as a cold and dismissive person and as such, she is very hard to like. She puts everyone at a distance and any attempt they make to change that, she is quick to put them in their place. But she's couldn't with the hero. Her desire for him as a good and kind man makes it hard for her to push him away. She made a great attempt at it though. The hero just wanted her too much to be turned away. He had his own demons, what with the guilt over his friend’s murder and his general pressure to save everyone. He was good for the heroine but it took him sometime to figure out he needed to be himself instead of what he thought he should be. He was jealous of anyone who took liberties with her and he was willing to go to hell and back for the chance to help her. I thought their romance was horribly problematic and very strained as a happy outcome often looked doubtful but I was enjoying the ride. The plotline? Meh. But the characters? Yay.
October 5, 2011
Rated 4.5 on the blog.
Virna DePaul delivers another fabulous story complete with intricate plot line, unique and dynamic characters, and action with an air of suspense that keeps you highly engaged!
The Para-Ops team is composed of six primary team members -- and one director, pulled together for their talents. In book one, the spotlight fell on a human hostage negotiator and a dharmire, half-human, half-vampire clan leader. In book two, the spotlight shifts to concentrate on the relationship between the sexy, human shaman, Caleb O'Flare and Wraith, a wraith -- meaning she is technically dead.
Working as part of the team meant to help bring the Otherborn (weres, vamps, shapshifters, mages, wraiths) and humans to a civil understanding, team members, Caleb and Wraith, soon find a deep connection and attraction with one another. It started in book one, and comes to a head in book two, as Wraith finds herself a target of an attack, is battling against the increasing ticking of the clock on her inevitable -- and very final -- death, all while the team works to find the person(s) behind attacks on the females of the feline race, which could ultimately destroy all the good the government sanctioned Para-Ops team has worked so hard to create so far.
I am always amazed by the very intricate, complex, yet very easy to follow, plot -- and sub plot -- lines that Virna delivers. Obviously carefully thought out and articulated, Virna knows how to keep the reader highly engaged from start to finish! Complete with twists-and-turns and an air of suspense and mystery, I was always guessing what was going to happen next -- and was usually wrong to an extent. :) To add to the suspense, the book ends with a little cliffy that has me wanting the next book, Chosen by Sin, now!!
The characters -- where do I even begin? In Chosen by Fate, heroine Wraith becomes the character that really jumps off the page, additionally pulling sympathy -- and tears -- from the reader. Virna has given the wraith race an unique combination of paranormal aspects: on top of physically looking different (white hair, cloudy eyes), wraith's also feel pain anytime another person touches their skin, and have no past nor future. They don't remember who they were before their "death" and die their final death between the transitioning tenth and eleventh years.
Wraith, herself, is one heroine that struggles with not knowing who she was prior to becoming a wraith, and as she nears her final end, becomes obsessed with finding out. There's only one thing that can keep her mind in the present and long for something she desperately wants: Caleb. Yet, what makes Wraith herself, has also made her feel as though she's unworthy of any love and affection, which keeps her running from Caleb as well as the Para-Ops team. Only when she allows herself the passionate touch and kiss of Caleb does Wraith start to wonder if fighting to live might be worth it.
With that being said, I should also point out that Virna does a fabulous job at pulling real world issues into her stories and characters, which makes her urban fantasy settings and paranormal creatures seem more tangible. From higher powers, government sanctions, prejudice, judgment, to other external conflicts and personal internal conflicts, you definitely get a feel for a sense of reality in a fictional creation.
While readers can technically start in on the series with Chosen by Fate and not feel lost, I highly recommend that you start with Chosen by Blood to get a very solid feeling of the characters and what/why the Para-Ops mission started. However, no matter where you start, I'm sure you will enjoy the each of the books just as much as I have!
Chosen by Fate immediately pulled me in and made it very hard to momentarily set the book down. It's gripping with its life-like conflicts, highly engaging with its action and suspense, and is anything but flat with its dynamic and dimensional characters.
Virna DePaul delivers another fabulous story complete with intricate plot line, unique and dynamic characters, and action with an air of suspense that keeps you highly engaged!
The Para-Ops team is composed of six primary team members -- and one director, pulled together for their talents. In book one, the spotlight fell on a human hostage negotiator and a dharmire, half-human, half-vampire clan leader. In book two, the spotlight shifts to concentrate on the relationship between the sexy, human shaman, Caleb O'Flare and Wraith, a wraith -- meaning she is technically dead.
Working as part of the team meant to help bring the Otherborn (weres, vamps, shapshifters, mages, wraiths) and humans to a civil understanding, team members, Caleb and Wraith, soon find a deep connection and attraction with one another. It started in book one, and comes to a head in book two, as Wraith finds herself a target of an attack, is battling against the increasing ticking of the clock on her inevitable -- and very final -- death, all while the team works to find the person(s) behind attacks on the females of the feline race, which could ultimately destroy all the good the government sanctioned Para-Ops team has worked so hard to create so far.
I am always amazed by the very intricate, complex, yet very easy to follow, plot -- and sub plot -- lines that Virna delivers. Obviously carefully thought out and articulated, Virna knows how to keep the reader highly engaged from start to finish! Complete with twists-and-turns and an air of suspense and mystery, I was always guessing what was going to happen next -- and was usually wrong to an extent. :) To add to the suspense, the book ends with a little cliffy that has me wanting the next book, Chosen by Sin, now!!
The characters -- where do I even begin? In Chosen by Fate, heroine Wraith becomes the character that really jumps off the page, additionally pulling sympathy -- and tears -- from the reader. Virna has given the wraith race an unique combination of paranormal aspects: on top of physically looking different (white hair, cloudy eyes), wraith's also feel pain anytime another person touches their skin, and have no past nor future. They don't remember who they were before their "death" and die their final death between the transitioning tenth and eleventh years.
Wraith, herself, is one heroine that struggles with not knowing who she was prior to becoming a wraith, and as she nears her final end, becomes obsessed with finding out. There's only one thing that can keep her mind in the present and long for something she desperately wants: Caleb. Yet, what makes Wraith herself, has also made her feel as though she's unworthy of any love and affection, which keeps her running from Caleb as well as the Para-Ops team. Only when she allows herself the passionate touch and kiss of Caleb does Wraith start to wonder if fighting to live might be worth it.
With that being said, I should also point out that Virna does a fabulous job at pulling real world issues into her stories and characters, which makes her urban fantasy settings and paranormal creatures seem more tangible. From higher powers, government sanctions, prejudice, judgment, to other external conflicts and personal internal conflicts, you definitely get a feel for a sense of reality in a fictional creation.
While readers can technically start in on the series with Chosen by Fate and not feel lost, I highly recommend that you start with Chosen by Blood to get a very solid feeling of the characters and what/why the Para-Ops mission started. However, no matter where you start, I'm sure you will enjoy the each of the books just as much as I have!
Chosen by Fate immediately pulled me in and made it very hard to momentarily set the book down. It's gripping with its life-like conflicts, highly engaging with its action and suspense, and is anything but flat with its dynamic and dimensional characters.
November 28, 2011
Chosen by Fate, Para-ops #2, by Virna DePaul
Grade: B+
“He made her want things. Silly things. Things that could never be hers. A little house with a vegetable garden in the back. Nights cuddled up close to a fire drinking wine and playing strip poker.�
We are introduced to Wraith and Caleb O’Flare in Chosen by Blood, the first book in Virna DePaul’s Para-ops series, and like most people I immediately fell in love with them both and couldn’t wait for this book to come out. Wraith has been dead for ten years now and as a wraith she has no memory of her past, is immortal and feels pain when touched. Now that she has past her tenth dead year like all wraiths she is slowly gaining back her humanity and this is causing her to slowly die. With her impending death looming over her and no chance of finding out who she was before she died Wraith starts to take chances and one of those chances is acting on the red hot sexual chemistry she has with Caleb.
Caleb is determined finally act on his feelings with Wraith but he fears causing her any pain. As the two work on a case together regarding feline females and sex clubs they find themselves opening up and truly discovering who the other person is both inside and out. As they become closer Caleb finds his obsession with Wraith turning into so much more and her refuses to let her die now that they have finally acted on their feelings. Caleb must now convience Wraith to not only fight for her own future but also the future they might have together.
Wraith is one of the most heartbreaking characters that I have ever read. She has so much pain and loneliness surrounding her that I just found myself becoming obsessed with her getting a happy ending. I mostly wanted her to find some peace because she tried so hard to be a good person but was so broken that when she tried it never worked out. Wraith is by far one of my all time favorite female characters because she has been through so much and she so afraid of being hurt but she still manages to let people in and care for her.
The only problem that I had with this book was the first one hundred and fifty pages are Wraith and Caleb going back and forth about acting on their attraction or not. They constantly are fighting and getting so close and then one of them opens their mouth and pisses off the other. After a while it’s gets annoying especially because they have been doing this for two books now. When they finally do act on their feelings and get to their mission over half the book is gone. I think this part could have been sped up and not dragged out for so long.
When we finally get around to the very important mission the group is working on the book gets even better. I found that I couldn’t put the book down for the last one hundred pages because it go so good. If the whole book had been like this it would have been amazing and I’m hoping the next book focuses more on the mission aspect and not so much on the romance. I’m not sure who’s book is next but the lead up possibilities are endless. I really want to get Lucy’s story next after reading about her and seeing more of her personality.
Chosen by Fate was better for me personally then Chosen by Blood and both were really good. I would read Chosen by Blood before this book or else you will be very confused and miss key pieces to Wraith and Caleb’s relationship. I think this is going to be an excellent must read
series and I can’t wait to see what Mrs. DePaul has in store for us next.
Grade: B+
“He made her want things. Silly things. Things that could never be hers. A little house with a vegetable garden in the back. Nights cuddled up close to a fire drinking wine and playing strip poker.�
We are introduced to Wraith and Caleb O’Flare in Chosen by Blood, the first book in Virna DePaul’s Para-ops series, and like most people I immediately fell in love with them both and couldn’t wait for this book to come out. Wraith has been dead for ten years now and as a wraith she has no memory of her past, is immortal and feels pain when touched. Now that she has past her tenth dead year like all wraiths she is slowly gaining back her humanity and this is causing her to slowly die. With her impending death looming over her and no chance of finding out who she was before she died Wraith starts to take chances and one of those chances is acting on the red hot sexual chemistry she has with Caleb.
Caleb is determined finally act on his feelings with Wraith but he fears causing her any pain. As the two work on a case together regarding feline females and sex clubs they find themselves opening up and truly discovering who the other person is both inside and out. As they become closer Caleb finds his obsession with Wraith turning into so much more and her refuses to let her die now that they have finally acted on their feelings. Caleb must now convience Wraith to not only fight for her own future but also the future they might have together.
Wraith is one of the most heartbreaking characters that I have ever read. She has so much pain and loneliness surrounding her that I just found myself becoming obsessed with her getting a happy ending. I mostly wanted her to find some peace because she tried so hard to be a good person but was so broken that when she tried it never worked out. Wraith is by far one of my all time favorite female characters because she has been through so much and she so afraid of being hurt but she still manages to let people in and care for her.
The only problem that I had with this book was the first one hundred and fifty pages are Wraith and Caleb going back and forth about acting on their attraction or not. They constantly are fighting and getting so close and then one of them opens their mouth and pisses off the other. After a while it’s gets annoying especially because they have been doing this for two books now. When they finally do act on their feelings and get to their mission over half the book is gone. I think this part could have been sped up and not dragged out for so long.
When we finally get around to the very important mission the group is working on the book gets even better. I found that I couldn’t put the book down for the last one hundred pages because it go so good. If the whole book had been like this it would have been amazing and I’m hoping the next book focuses more on the mission aspect and not so much on the romance. I’m not sure who’s book is next but the lead up possibilities are endless. I really want to get Lucy’s story next after reading about her and seeing more of her personality.
Chosen by Fate was better for me personally then Chosen by Blood and both were really good. I would read Chosen by Blood before this book or else you will be very confused and miss key pieces to Wraith and Caleb’s relationship. I think this is going to be an excellent must read
series and I can’t wait to see what Mrs. DePaul has in store for us next.
April 22, 2015
I have no idea how to review this book, but I'll try.
Okay, this is the second book in a series and I had a few problems with the first one . Mainly the cheating. Now, in this book I have a few issues. I was enjoying the book even though Caleb and Wraith had way to many of those 'let's get busy..no, we can't get busy' moments. And I had a few times when I really didn't like Wraith. Her bitchy-ness was a little over the top a couple of times when she really had no reason to be. Caleb is half-Native American and half-Irish which automatically makes him . And don't get me started on Wilma, who really had no importance in the story. What confused me was
The last 1/3 of the book just confused the hell out of me.
First, the whole rape/felines thing was just wrong. Crying rape should never be used as a plot point.
Second, Wraith is essential dead. For all intents and purposes, right? She doesn't eat or drink. Doesn't use the restroom. Doesn't sleep. Now, my question is ? I also hated the fact that we never really got the story of her time as a wraith. She was with Ramsey until Cole saved her. Why did he have to save her? It sounded like she didn't mind her time with him. Then after Cole she was taken by the mage. Where did he take her? What experiments did he preform on her? How'd she get free? And does it bother anyone that Caleb is essentially a necrophiliac? She loves to remind him that she's dead. Just wondering.
Third, this kinda goes with the second issue. WTF was up with her figuring out her past? To have .
Fourth, why did Mahone even send them to L.A. to take this case? They spent like, one day actually working the case. And what really got me was
Anyway, after all that, I will be reading the next book because simply, Dex. Love him. Love me some dark, brooding, alpha were. There's nothing better.
Of course, this is just my opinion and I encourage you to read it yourself, because it might come across as totally different for you.
Okay, this is the second book in a series and I had a few problems with the first one . Mainly the cheating. Now, in this book I have a few issues. I was enjoying the book even though Caleb and Wraith had way to many of those 'let's get busy..no, we can't get busy' moments. And I had a few times when I really didn't like Wraith. Her bitchy-ness was a little over the top a couple of times when she really had no reason to be. Caleb is half-Native American and half-Irish which automatically makes him . And don't get me started on Wilma, who really had no importance in the story. What confused me was
The last 1/3 of the book just confused the hell out of me.
First, the whole rape/felines thing was just wrong. Crying rape should never be used as a plot point.
Second, Wraith is essential dead. For all intents and purposes, right? She doesn't eat or drink. Doesn't use the restroom. Doesn't sleep. Now, my question is ? I also hated the fact that we never really got the story of her time as a wraith. She was with Ramsey until Cole saved her. Why did he have to save her? It sounded like she didn't mind her time with him. Then after Cole she was taken by the mage. Where did he take her? What experiments did he preform on her? How'd she get free? And does it bother anyone that Caleb is essentially a necrophiliac? She loves to remind him that she's dead. Just wondering.
Third, this kinda goes with the second issue. WTF was up with her figuring out her past? To have .
Fourth, why did Mahone even send them to L.A. to take this case? They spent like, one day actually working the case. And what really got me was
Anyway, after all that, I will be reading the next book because simply, Dex. Love him. Love me some dark, brooding, alpha were. There's nothing better.
Of course, this is just my opinion and I encourage you to read it yourself, because it might come across as totally different for you.
October 1, 2011
Caleb may be one of the human members of the Para-Ops teams, but that doesn't mean he isn't without his own set of powerful skills. His psychic and healing powers are unparalleled, but none of that can help him where it matters most to his heart. He'd give anything to help Wraith, a "living" ghost who only experiences pain with touch. No wraith has lived past ten years, and her time is quickly coming up. Once this would have been a blessing to finally have relief from the constant pain, even if it did mean a final death. But now, Caleb has given her something to live for, and now she will hold onto her "unlife" as hard as she can.
I'll be honest that I was a little skeptical about how meaningful the relationship between Wraith and Caleb could really be. In the previous book Wraith came across as a bitter, waspish, harpy that was extremely quick to temper. To be honest, I don't blame her for acting like that, considering the constant pain she is in, but it still wouldn't really be conducive to a lasting relationship. However, in Chosen by Fate we see that this harsh exterior is just a facade to protect herself. She's made herself so hard in order to keep everyone out so she doesn't get hurt any worse than countless times she has in the past. Not only does she have the isolation and pain of being an untouchable wraith, but she also has an extremely scarred past from several betrayals. So, when Caleb starts breaking down those walls, you see just how right the two of them are together. Of course now that Wraith finally seems to have a reason to want to live, she doesn't have much time left. This makes every moment seem so much more precious and important, and really made me feel for her.
Caleb has his own scars, and honestly seems like a glutton for punishment. I mean what man chooses a woman who is as likely to shoot him as kiss him? Yet, this also shows a perseverance most wouldn't have in that despite how impossible it seemed, he still fought tooth and nail for Wraith to prove to her that she did care for him, as well as deserved to be save. That right there sums Caleb up in a nutshell. He wanted to be her white knight, and what drove him the most was his own guilt for his own actions in the past. Both Caleb and Wraith went through a whole lot of character growth in this book, which I felt was handled quite well.
I'm really enjoying the romances in this series, but the continuing development of the overall plot is what really makes this series stand out. While most of the focus is on the current couple, the Para-Ops team still gets plenty of focus as well as the other side plots that cause the serious tensions between the races. I really cannot wait until the next installment to see where the latest development at the end of Chosen by Fate will lead. So, if you enjoy paranormal romances that aren't only focused on the romance, but on a well planned out plot as well, then you will definitely enjoy this series. I enjoyed Chosen by Fate even more than the previous installment, and I cannot wait to see what's in store next!
I'll be honest that I was a little skeptical about how meaningful the relationship between Wraith and Caleb could really be. In the previous book Wraith came across as a bitter, waspish, harpy that was extremely quick to temper. To be honest, I don't blame her for acting like that, considering the constant pain she is in, but it still wouldn't really be conducive to a lasting relationship. However, in Chosen by Fate we see that this harsh exterior is just a facade to protect herself. She's made herself so hard in order to keep everyone out so she doesn't get hurt any worse than countless times she has in the past. Not only does she have the isolation and pain of being an untouchable wraith, but she also has an extremely scarred past from several betrayals. So, when Caleb starts breaking down those walls, you see just how right the two of them are together. Of course now that Wraith finally seems to have a reason to want to live, she doesn't have much time left. This makes every moment seem so much more precious and important, and really made me feel for her.
Caleb has his own scars, and honestly seems like a glutton for punishment. I mean what man chooses a woman who is as likely to shoot him as kiss him? Yet, this also shows a perseverance most wouldn't have in that despite how impossible it seemed, he still fought tooth and nail for Wraith to prove to her that she did care for him, as well as deserved to be save. That right there sums Caleb up in a nutshell. He wanted to be her white knight, and what drove him the most was his own guilt for his own actions in the past. Both Caleb and Wraith went through a whole lot of character growth in this book, which I felt was handled quite well.
I'm really enjoying the romances in this series, but the continuing development of the overall plot is what really makes this series stand out. While most of the focus is on the current couple, the Para-Ops team still gets plenty of focus as well as the other side plots that cause the serious tensions between the races. I really cannot wait until the next installment to see where the latest development at the end of Chosen by Fate will lead. So, if you enjoy paranormal romances that aren't only focused on the romance, but on a well planned out plot as well, then you will definitely enjoy this series. I enjoyed Chosen by Fate even more than the previous installment, and I cannot wait to see what's in store next!
July 30, 2014
Caleb O’Flare is a human Shaman who is now part of a special team that includes a vampire, a mage, a werewolf and even a wraith. Caleb knows he can hold his own with any of the members of his team, but one member seriously throws him off. Not because of what she is, but because he has wanted her since they became team members.
Wraith is a person who was brought back from the dead with no memory of who she was, how she died or anything. Circumstances have made Wraith become a hard ass woman ready to fight. Softness is weakness in this new world and yet there is one person Wraith would love to show some softness to � Caleb. Lately, Wraith has learned she is on a tight deadline if she ever wants to have a chance with Caleb.
Caleb has no idea why Wraith decided to give him a chance, but he isn’t going to let her change her mind. And yet that is exactly what happens. All the team members have been promised something from the government in order to get them on the team. Wraith demands hers and then leaves when it’s withheld yet again and told she must do another mission before finding out. Time is not on Wraith’s side to find her answers. When Caleb comes to her, she not only agrees to do the mission with him, but also finds that the passion between them is not going to allow itself to be ignored. The mission begins as one thing and ends up being something very different concerning an underground problem one shifter sect is having and how they are taking care of it. Finding the answer and solving the mission is one thing, but when Caleb learns about Wraith’s problem will he be able to find her answers in time to save her and let them explore the love they have just found?
Once cranky and sexy Wraith finds out that a human Shaman can be the answer to her prayers in Chosen By Fate. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to forgive Caleb for his past acts against the team but decided to give him a chance since I loved Wraith. Wraith has had to learn the hard way how to handle herself in this new post war world she finds herself in. Out of all the team members, I would have thought these two would have had the least chance in finding love and I would have been totally wrong. Seeing Wraith and Caleb fight together and with each other told me that passion would be the least I could expect between them. I loved watching as Caleb and Wraith searched for not only the answers for their mission, but the answers they needed to find a way to have the love that had sprung up between them. I really had a hard time putting their story down even when I had to go to sleep. Chosen By Fate takes passion on a roller coaster ride with highs of passion and lows of danger ending with a love that will probably last even longer than forever.
Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed
Link:
Wraith is a person who was brought back from the dead with no memory of who she was, how she died or anything. Circumstances have made Wraith become a hard ass woman ready to fight. Softness is weakness in this new world and yet there is one person Wraith would love to show some softness to � Caleb. Lately, Wraith has learned she is on a tight deadline if she ever wants to have a chance with Caleb.
Caleb has no idea why Wraith decided to give him a chance, but he isn’t going to let her change her mind. And yet that is exactly what happens. All the team members have been promised something from the government in order to get them on the team. Wraith demands hers and then leaves when it’s withheld yet again and told she must do another mission before finding out. Time is not on Wraith’s side to find her answers. When Caleb comes to her, she not only agrees to do the mission with him, but also finds that the passion between them is not going to allow itself to be ignored. The mission begins as one thing and ends up being something very different concerning an underground problem one shifter sect is having and how they are taking care of it. Finding the answer and solving the mission is one thing, but when Caleb learns about Wraith’s problem will he be able to find her answers in time to save her and let them explore the love they have just found?
Once cranky and sexy Wraith finds out that a human Shaman can be the answer to her prayers in Chosen By Fate. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to forgive Caleb for his past acts against the team but decided to give him a chance since I loved Wraith. Wraith has had to learn the hard way how to handle herself in this new post war world she finds herself in. Out of all the team members, I would have thought these two would have had the least chance in finding love and I would have been totally wrong. Seeing Wraith and Caleb fight together and with each other told me that passion would be the least I could expect between them. I loved watching as Caleb and Wraith searched for not only the answers for their mission, but the answers they needed to find a way to have the love that had sprung up between them. I really had a hard time putting their story down even when I had to go to sleep. Chosen By Fate takes passion on a roller coaster ride with highs of passion and lows of danger ending with a love that will probably last even longer than forever.
Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed
Link:
April 5, 2012
Wraith has a secret. She was about to die. It was a closely guarded secret that no wraith had ever lived until it's 11th birthday and her 10th had already passed. Her time was running out. There was only a few things that she wanted before she died. She wanted to know who she was and Caleb O'Flare.
Caleb O'Flare had joined the Para-Op's team in order to clear his name. It was thought that he was responsible for killing his friend and he was bound and determined to find out who was really behind it. When the Felines - he's friend's race - started being attacked he knew that solving the issue would lead to some of the answers that he was looking for.
In Chosen by Fate the relationship between Caleb and Wraith heats up. Because Virna Depaul is a great author, she had laid the groundwork for their relationship in Chosen by Blood and I was anxious to see how she was going to work it out. I mean, how were they supposed to get together if the simplest of touches caused Wraith pain? Not to worry though because Virna found a way around it by throwing us a few of her trademark curve balls to keep us on our toes.
Caleb and Wrath gave off some mega sparks but those sparks never really created a fire for me. I consider that both a good thing and a... less than good thing. It was good because DePaul stuck to her guns about touch causing Wraith pain. That lead us down a BDSM path which was an idea that I really liked. It was based in "reality" and worked amazingly well within both the world that she created as well as the storyline. It was less good because I wanted more sex LOL! Virna can write one hell of a love scene when she sets her mind to it!
I'm not too happy with who the Biggest Bad is. I like the Quorum as the villains. The Quorum are impersonal. They're just a bunch of bigots. This new puppet master however has the ability to devastate one of the team members. All that I can say (without spoilers) is that Virna has created a villain that I already HATE WITH A PASSION. I love it when an author evokes such a response from me.
All in All this was a great addition to the series. I was happy to see Caleb and Wraith get closure to their issues as well as their HEA. I hope to see more of them in future books.
On a different note...
Dex!!!!!! OMG the scenes that had Dex in they have me sooooo wanting more of him. I can't wait to read his book!
HOT DAMN! This book ended with a real cliffhanger!
Caleb O'Flare had joined the Para-Op's team in order to clear his name. It was thought that he was responsible for killing his friend and he was bound and determined to find out who was really behind it. When the Felines - he's friend's race - started being attacked he knew that solving the issue would lead to some of the answers that he was looking for.
In Chosen by Fate the relationship between Caleb and Wraith heats up. Because Virna Depaul is a great author, she had laid the groundwork for their relationship in Chosen by Blood and I was anxious to see how she was going to work it out. I mean, how were they supposed to get together if the simplest of touches caused Wraith pain? Not to worry though because Virna found a way around it by throwing us a few of her trademark curve balls to keep us on our toes.
Caleb and Wrath gave off some mega sparks but those sparks never really created a fire for me. I consider that both a good thing and a... less than good thing. It was good because DePaul stuck to her guns about touch causing Wraith pain. That lead us down a BDSM path which was an idea that I really liked. It was based in "reality" and worked amazingly well within both the world that she created as well as the storyline. It was less good because I wanted more sex LOL! Virna can write one hell of a love scene when she sets her mind to it!
I'm not too happy with who the Biggest Bad is. I like the Quorum as the villains. The Quorum are impersonal. They're just a bunch of bigots. This new puppet master however has the ability to devastate one of the team members. All that I can say (without spoilers) is that Virna has created a villain that I already HATE WITH A PASSION. I love it when an author evokes such a response from me.
All in All this was a great addition to the series. I was happy to see Caleb and Wraith get closure to their issues as well as their HEA. I hope to see more of them in future books.
On a different note...
Dex!!!!!! OMG the scenes that had Dex in they have me sooooo wanting more of him. I can't wait to read his book!
HOT DAMN! This book ended with a real cliffhanger!
October 5, 2011
After reading book 1 in the Para-Ops series Chosen By Blood, I wanted to pull at the hair on my head. Why you ask? It's because I wanted to read book 2 Chosen By Fate right away and I knew it was going to be a long and agonizing wait for me. The main characters Wraith and Caleb O'Flare have this AMAZING tension in the 1st book and when I saw that book 2 was their story I couldn't wait to read more about them.
Virna DePaul does not disappoint with the continuation of this series as we get the opportunity to get to know these characters better. Wraith is one very complex character because she is dead and can't remember her previous life or what caused her death. If she does not figure out the reason of her new existence as a wraith, then she ceases to exist. What she does know is that she only has a short time before this will happen and she wants to give in to her attraction to Caleb and be with him. I love how these 2 characters pretend to not be attracted to one another when everyone around them can tell that they want each other bad. Like rip your clothes off bad! They are one smoldering couple and their scenes together are hot. Whether they are threatening to kill each other or ripping off each others clothes, it's all good and I was one happy woman while reading this book. They would do anything for one another even if that means pushing the other away to keep that person from getting heartbroken. We all know that love is worth fighting for, and these two do a lot of fighting to get what they want.
There are several backstories going on at the same that include the other members of the team. Since they are all investigating what is going on with the Feline community, we get to see what else is going on with Knox and Felicia and Dex and Lucy. The one thing that I like most about this group of characters is that they have each others back and that is what being a team is all about. They may not always agree with one another, but will support each other to the end. I like the direction this series is taking and can't wait for book 3 to learn more about Dex and his past. Until then, I'll probably re-read the 1st 2 books. They are that good people!
Virna DePaul does not disappoint with the continuation of this series as we get the opportunity to get to know these characters better. Wraith is one very complex character because she is dead and can't remember her previous life or what caused her death. If she does not figure out the reason of her new existence as a wraith, then she ceases to exist. What she does know is that she only has a short time before this will happen and she wants to give in to her attraction to Caleb and be with him. I love how these 2 characters pretend to not be attracted to one another when everyone around them can tell that they want each other bad. Like rip your clothes off bad! They are one smoldering couple and their scenes together are hot. Whether they are threatening to kill each other or ripping off each others clothes, it's all good and I was one happy woman while reading this book. They would do anything for one another even if that means pushing the other away to keep that person from getting heartbroken. We all know that love is worth fighting for, and these two do a lot of fighting to get what they want.
There are several backstories going on at the same that include the other members of the team. Since they are all investigating what is going on with the Feline community, we get to see what else is going on with Knox and Felicia and Dex and Lucy. The one thing that I like most about this group of characters is that they have each others back and that is what being a team is all about. They may not always agree with one another, but will support each other to the end. I like the direction this series is taking and can't wait for book 3 to learn more about Dex and his past. Until then, I'll probably re-read the 1st 2 books. They are that good people!
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