Heart's Flame: Paranormal Romance

Ann Gimpel

Feb 2016 · Ann Gimpel Books, LLC

About this ebook

 

Tumble into a world where magic won, but the price was high enough to annihilate almost everything—including love.

 

Life in a shifter bordello is all Keira has ever known. None of the magicians’ guilds wanted her because of her mixed blood, and they didn’t protest when the shifters bound her as an indentured hooker. Mired in hopelessness, she longs for more.

Barrett’s a full-blood magic wielder who operates a magician supply shop in what’s left of Seattle. No one is more surprised than him when the Sidhe leader commands him to extricate Keira from the shifters. She loves to while away time in his shop, but she always skitters away whenever he even thinks about approaching her. Too bad because she’s twenty shades of gorgeous.

Magic and intrigue throw Keira and Barrett together. but she has other priorities—like learning to control brand new magic she had no idea she possessed. Besides, once he spirits her away from the shifters, his job is done. Far better to keep his distance and allow her to seize the destiny she was born for.

Now if only he could believe that…

 

Ratings and reviews

I was given an ARC of Heart's Flame by Ann Gimpel in exchange for a honest review. This is a short story by Ann that is complete with an ending. With the wars going on between the different species and humans the Earth is in terrible shape. Keira works at Were Calls, the Bordello for Weres. Her mother worked, gave birth to her and died at Were Calls. When Keira turned 18 she began working there. She walks to Barrett's magician's shop as much as possible.. Keira is very attracted to Barrett and she dreams of Barrett. Ann has a way of bringing you into her story and makes you become part of the story. She is a 5 ***** story teller. Ann's description of the scenery and the characters brings the story to life for the reader. Will Keira ever attract Barrett? Is there a chance of them getting together? You will need to read the story to find out the answers. If you are looking for a quick read then get Heart's Flame by Ann Gimpel.

Her destiny is written. Seizing his love is everything. I wasn’t sure what to think when I first read the blurb for this one. A bordello? The heroine is a hooker? I mean that implies multiple sex partners. I had to ask myself how the heck was a romance going to play into all that? That being said I told myself, “come on it’s written by Ann Gimpel so it’s a shoe-in for being exceptional.” I’m happy to say I was absolutely correct.Heart’s Flame is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a war between the magic wielding denizens of Earth sparked a devastating reaction from the humans around them. Most, if not all of the humans are gone. Note I say “if not all” because there are no humans in this story. “The landscape is decimated and civilization is slowly recovering. However, the magical races no longer have humans to farm, clean up their cities or create and maintain what technology used to exist. Those left live in an uneasy peace. This is the world that Keira was born into.” Keira has grown up in a world where hybrids aren’t exactly wanted. She is supposedly a hybrid of werewolf descent with a smattering of magic thrown in of questionable origin. She can’t shift. So, her werewolf heritage isn’t of much more value. What magic she holds is weak and not worth mentioning. Her mother lived, worked and died in a bordello when Keira was just a babe. When none of the magic wielders would claim her at eighteen, Keira was left little choice other than indenturing. It’s not a glamorous life, nor is it particularly satisfying. If she could find a way out, she’d jump at the chance. What free time she’s allotted she spends browsing the magical shop owned by Barrett. Browsing is about all she does though. Resources are precious and she has none. Her fantasies are filled with the shop owner, but she just knows her fantasies have no basis in reality. Imagine her surprise when she’s told to prepare for a visit from Barrett in a Were only establishment. Barrett is several centuries old. He lived the war at the side of the leader of the Sidhe. Now everyone scrambles to make a living and exist in the world left behind. He owns a shop that provides herbs and magical notions to the magic wielders. For several years he’s watched Keira when she visits his shop. She intrigues him. She excites him. He craves her. Then he discovers she lives at the bordello. Enough said? Apparently, not. Shortly after his discovery, the Sidhe leader asks him to liberate her from the bordello, a mission that may give him what he wants for the short term but, forever seal his fate to never have her in the long run. Destiny has a plan for Keira. Things are going to be dicey and danger will dog their heels. Typical of an Ann Gimpel read you get action, adventure, romance and a good dash of magic. I couldn’t put Heart’s Flame down. If you like your shifters, fairies and fae I’m sure you’re going to love this quick read. *****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****

Another brill story

About the author

Ann Gimpel is a national bestselling author. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. Once upon a time, she nurtured clients, now she nurtures dark, gritty fantasy stories that push hard against reality. When she’s not writing, she’s in the backcountry getting down and dirty with her camera. She’s published over 50 books to date, with several more planned for 2018 and beyond. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and wolf hybrids round out her family.

Keep up with her at www.anngimpel.com or http://anngimpel.blogspot.com

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