Storm of Visions

This is a Paranormal Romance Novel. It has a fresh approach to the genre basics. I really enjoyed the world building. The main characters are Jacqueline Vargha and Caleb D'Angelo. Jacqueline's adoptive mom is Zusane. Jacqueline is a Seer working at a vineyard at the opening of the book. Caleb is Zusane's bodyguard and has been working for Zusane since he was little.

In the beginning Jacqueline seemed to be a walking contradiction which was a little annoying. that being said, it was explained really well later in the book so I didn't have a problem with it after finishing. Jacqueline and Caleb have known each other for all there lives (just about). Caleb grew up working for her mom, so she was pretty much off limits. You can imagine how show more well that went. As a result of their past relationship Jacqueline doesn't really want much to do with Caleb when he shows up on her doorstep. It's almost predictable that my favorite character was Caleb, but I loved him just about from the start. He has the Italian bodyguard thing going for him. He never hid his feelings for Jacqueline and only left the first time because her mom (his boss) asked him to let her finish college. He was willing to do anything for her.

It was interesting to read about Jacqueline getting her visions. They were so real and well written. I can't think of any scenes that I didn't like. The writing was strong and smooth. Like I said before I liked the world building. The character dialog was believable. There were a few parts that I reread to make sure I understood it completely but that wasn't because I had to, it was because I wanted to. I was engulfed in the story completely and found some of the dialog made me laugh.
Example:
"Then I want to talk about what happened two years ago between us."
No way, mister. She rolled to the other side of the mattress and swung her feet off the bed. "You go ahead. I'll just go into the bathroom and shut the door."

I plan to continue the series. I don't normally recommend a series until I've read more than one so that I can see how consistent the series is. So we'll see how the next one goes. show less

Storm of Visions
3 Stars
Synopsis:
The Chosen are men and women destined to use their powers for either good or evil. Jacqueline Vargha has always rejected her gift but now that Caleb D'Angelo has forced his way into her life, she can no longer deny her destiny.

Review:
An intelligent premise and an intricately constructed world. Nevertheless, it was difficult to get into the story and I eventually read it on my second attempt.

The beginning is very appealing and pulls you right in but the plot starts to lag once the Chosen Ones get together. It eventually picks up just past the middle and the ending is action packed. One of the most entertaining aspects is the sabotage subplot, which has enough red herrings to keep you guessing right up show more until the end. The paranormal elements are subtly woven into the characterization and the fact that each member of the Chosen Ones has their own unique ability is compelling.

Where Storm of Visions falls completely flat is with the romance, perhaps due to the fact that a large portion of the book is dedicated to world building rather than developing the relationship between the leads. In any case, Jacqueline and Caleb do have chemistry but this fails to compensate for their inability to make me care about them as a couple They both come off as cold and unfeeling, and it took too long for their backstory to be revealed (I might have liked them better if it had been forthcoming earlier). Jacqueline in particular is immature and annoying, and she does a sudden and inexplicable about face in terms of her feelings for Caleb that left me completely unconvinced.

The secondary characters fare a little better, and I am particularly interested in Samuel and Isabelle’s connection and in finding out the role of the “dead man” in subsequent books.

In sum, the writing is good and the underlying themes are interesting enough for me to continue reading the series. show less

The Chosen series by Christina Dodd is good. How good? I read the first four in four days.

The contemporary concept is completely original in this world of cookie cutter paranormal romances. I liked it! The heroes, while not exactly normal like you and me, deal with some fairly normal issues not just pertaining to the paranormal world. How often do we see the hero overcome their doubts, get the girl and save the day? All the damn time. But is that real? Not to me. Floored, I read how the characters fight not only bad guys but themselves as well as they struggle to save the day. I loved it and you will too!

I picked up this book at a used book store and went into it not really knowing anything about the author or her previous series. I felt the concept was interesting, the seven chosen ones fulfilling their destiny fighting evil. I was a little annoyed by Jacqueline's attitude. She had nothing but negative things to say about her adoptive mother. I think kids have to reach a point in their lives where they stop blaming everything on their parents and take responsibility for how their life is going.

I have the second book in the series waiting for me. I will probably read it to see how the story progresses. An entertaining read, but not a great one.

Jacqueline is the adopted daughter of the world famous glamour girl Zusanne and has spent her life resenting that her mother seems to love her whirlwind lifestyle more than the daughter she kept leaving behind. Not only that but Jacqueline resents the fact that Zusanne only took her in because Jacqueline is a "Chosen One", a seer who is destined to fight against the evil of the world.

Living in California Jacqueline is convinced she has left everything of her past behind, including Zusanne's bodyguard and Jacqueline's former instructor and lover, Caleb. But now is the time that the new 7 Chosen are to gather in NYC and Zusanne and Caleb are insistent that Jacqueline take her place along with them, whether she wants to or not.

"Storm of show more Visions" is the start of a new series for this author and as such this book has a lot of world building and character introduction which sometimes make for a drawn out read. However, she does a good job of keeping the plot going with lots of action worked in and around the introductions. My favorite part, and favorite character I think from the story, was the small bit told from the point of view of Aaron, one of the other Chosen. Neither Jacqueline nor Caleb had personalities I could identify with or like very much. Caleb was certainly one of those muy macho types who is a bit of a know it all. I couldn't help feeling that his attraction to Jacqueline was completely born of his loyalty (bordering on obsession) for Zusanne. Jacqueline swung from feeling contempt for all those most important in her life to absolute guilt and we never seemed to actually see who she is, except from the small part at the beginning in the vineyard.

This was an interesting enough beginning and set up for a new series and the story did move along quickly, but ultimately I don't think it is one that I'll continue on with. I think that perhaps Aaron's story is next, and I did like his small part, but I have a feeling that should I pick it up, I may not like him afterward. show less

At first this book was a little on the confusing to "This is slightly dumb side", but then it started picking up more and I came to really enjoy this book. I'm a big fan of Christina Dodd so when I was at the "This is slightly dumb" stage I was a little upset. I like how this series takes place many years after the darkness chosen series, and how the Wilder's besides Alexandr was mention from time to time. Fortunately the book pick up and in the end I quite enjoyed it.

Knowing that she is suppose to be some great psychic and that she is expected to become part of the ‘Chosen Ones’ didn’t mean that Jacqueline Vargha had to like it. She had had enough of (her mother) Zusanes control, so she ran away from it until Zusane sent her top body guard (Caleb D’Angelo) to bring her back. Loving Jacqueline had not been easy for Caleb. First his loyalty to Zusane was all that stopped him. Now going back to her, loving her the way he wanted to would have to be on mutual terms. Meeting the newest of the ‘Chosen Ones’ and finding out that they were in danger would only complicate the relationship, if there was one at all.

Book 1 ….. All about the set up. As a romance this one fell a little short, mostly show more straight to it, down and dirty sex, even though it was called love making . The relationship had already started, I didn’t feel the connection to the love affair, even with the memory flashbacks - is was a pre-existing condition. There were a lot of characters introduced, the larger concept of the ‘Chosen’ vs. the ‘Others’ and all of their gifts. The main characters didn’t stand out to me (maybe that was because the book was all about the set up). Christina Dodd is a new author for me, so I am interested in reading another (maybe book 2 of ‘The Chosen Ones’ series), just to see if it is the writers style or because it is just about the set up for the rest of the series. show less