Review: Dark Return (Seeker #2) by Taryn Browning

 
I am pleased to be able to participate in author, Taryn Browning’s blog tour for the latest book in the Seeker series, Dark Return.

Tour host: Supagurl Tours

 Author: Taryn Browning

Title: Dark return

Series: Seeker #2

Genre: Young adult

Purchase: Amazon, kindle

Synopsis:

Janie Grey is dedicated to hunting the undead, an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors and generations of powerful Seekers before her. Then, there's Kai. He's like no one she's ever met - cocky, fast, skillful, infuriating and gorgeous. Not only has he become a valuable asset in her fight against the growing population of the vampire/demon hybrid known as Daychildren...

She's unwittingly fallen for him.

Just when Janie thinks she's learned everything there is to know about Kai's mysterious past, there's a newcomer to Baltimore. Someone who will do anything to make sure Janie loses Kai forever.

Darkness returns in Nov, 2012...

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

Dark Return is the second book in the Seeker series by Taryn Browning and continues on where Dark Seeker left off.

Seeker Janie Grey is back in this action packed thrill ride as determined as ever to rid the streets of Baltimore of the Daychildren (Vampire/Demon hybrids) in this installment she has Kai by her side to assist but they certainly have their work cut out for them with a new threat.

Head honcho Taveres has appointed someone who played a big part in Kai’s past as the new leader of the Baltimore Daychildren and when Kai tries to deal with the situation alone, strain begins to appear in the budding relationship between him and Janie.

I thoroughly enjoy this series, the pacing flows well and the plot is really enjoyable; my only problem with Dark Return was the lack of relationship progression between Janie and Kai, I would have loved more interaction between them; I felt each scene they were in together was intense or forced, there was also a huge reveal in the first book which was only touched upon in the sequel, I would have liked this aspect to have been dealt with differently.

I like Janie as a main character, she is strong and sarcastic and definitely knows how to kick-butt; she wasn’t as impulsive in this book which I quite liked. Kai is great but I felt he made a few rash decisions and the secondary characters each play an important role; I wasn’t a big fan of the imprinting storyline with Matt in the first book but I didn’t mind it in the sequel as it wasn’t a big focus.

I really like the spin Ms. Browning has given to the undead as well as the Seekers who hunt them, it is unique and the tidbits of history we are given keeps it all quite interesting.

Dark Return was a great sequel, I literally breezed through this; it was quite a short book and it finished on a cliff-hanger, although not a major one. Taryn Browning’s writing flows well and kept me riveted throughout.

Overall, if you enjoy your YA Paranormal filled with action, drama, mystery and a nice budding romance then the Seeker is for you.

About the author: Taryn Browning writes novels for young adults. She's also an avid reader and dreamer with a crazy imagination. Her debut urban fantasy is Dark Seeker. The sequel, Dark Return, will be available Nov, 2012. You can also check out the prequel novella, Dark Beauty. Her newest paranormal romance, Whispering Hills, and urban fantasy, Emanare, were also released this year. 

Taryn graduated with a BS in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a MS in Reading from Hood College. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, music, movies, and the beach. Some of her favorite TV shows growing up included Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed and Angel. For as long as she can remember she's loved all things fantastical, paranormal and magical.

Visit her at www.tarynbrowning.com. Follow her on her blog www.yafictionauthor.blogspot.com, on twitter (@TarynBrowning), and facebook (Dark Seeker & Taryn Browning).

Giveaway:

Author, Taryn Browning is offering one (1) winner an e-copy of her book Dark Return.

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Blog Tour - Guest Post and Review 'Whispering Hills' by Taryn Browning

I am so excited to be participating in Taryn Browning’s Whispering Hills tour hosted by SupaGurl Books.

Author: Taryn Browning

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: eBook

Publisher: Self

Amazon: Whispering Hills

Source: E-book from SupaGurlBooks Tour

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others.  Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead.  She hears his every sinister thought.  But she can’t tell anyone.  No one would believe her.  Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle.  Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret.  He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met.  Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine.  And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago. 

Website -- Facebook -- Twitter

Guest Post

'Dark Seeker VS Whispering Hills'

Both books are dear to my heart. I love both heroines. Janie (Dark Seeker) and Alexis (Whispering Hills) are strong teenagers dealing with the obstacles of being part of the paranormal world while taking on the more mundane responsibilities of being high school students. Janie was born into a life of hunting vampires, while Alexis was thrust into it by events beyond her control. Plus, both girls find themselves attracted to guys with complicated pasts and dark secrets.

Alexis wasn't born with her ability to hear the random decisions others make, so she struggles with her "gift," doing her best to fit in when the only people who seem to relate to her have their own otherworldly abilities. Janie, on the other hand, knows exactly what kind of monster she's dealing with. She's been through years of training and has no trouble kicking butt -- until she's faced with a new type of hybrid vampire with dangerous characteristics and abilities unlike the "traditional" vampire she was born to hunt.

Dark Seeker is set in the city of Baltimore, where the high crime rate masks the deaths of countless humans at the hands of the deadly demon-vampire hybrid known as Daychildren. Janie patrols the Baltimore streets, hunting down Daychildren and protecting the citizens of Baltimore, until the threat leaves the city and her suburban high school becomes the target. Janie is forced to enlist the support of an inner-city vampire gang and an incredibly hot "Daychild" with human traits, to stop the Daychildren from following through with their plan.

Whispering Hills takes place in the suburban town of Whispering Hills, Virginia. The crime rate is pretty non-existent until a high school student goes missing. Alexis can hear the killers every decision, including the decision to throw the girl's dead body in Whispering Lake. Unable to tell anyone what she knows, she is forced to rely on the school outcast to find out who committed the murder and stop him from harming anyone else. She comes to realize the killer is untouchable, a ghost back to settle an old score. Even the new guy she's falling for has his own ghostly secret. Alexis has a connection to the dead that runs deeper than she could ever imagine. There is so much more going on in the small town of Whispering Hills than murder. The truth may explain why she can hear people's thoughts, but the truth could also get her killed.

Thank you so much, Sharon, for having me on your blog to talk about Dark Seeker vs. Whispering Hills. I've had so much fun! :)

About the Author

Taryn Browning writes young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. Her debut novel, DARK SEEKER, is available on Amazon and B&N.  The sequel, DARK RETURN, comes out in late, 2012.

Taryn  graduated with a BS in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a MS in Reading from Hood College. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two young sons and their dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, music, movies, and the beach.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Taryn Browning's Dark Seeker novel so I was quite excited to get hold of and participate in her Whispering Hills blog tour.

Alexis Forbes has the unique ability to hear the thoughts of others, but its a gift that can be quite sporadic. When she starts hearing a callous murderer thinking of his victim she begins to wonder who the sociopath could possibly be and unable to inform the authorities she relies on the school outcast, Summer to help her find the killer.

When new student Chance Whitehead arrives in Whispering Hills he is instantly drawn to Alexis for reasons she is yet to understand. She is curious about him and why she can’t hear his thoughts. Chance was certainly a mystery, his interactions in the early stages of the book with his uncle had me intrigued -  I was really keen to find out what he was so secretive about.

As the story progresses, we learn about who is behind the murder and the connection Alexis shares with this person, trying to stop him proves to be quite difficult so seeing them work out a resolution was interesting (I won’t reveal any details to avoid spoilers).

I liked Alexis and Chance as characters and as a couple, the only thing which put me off with them was their relationship moving at an unrealistic pace, I generally enjoy a slow build-up between a h/h rather than it being too much too soon. In saying this, I am quite eager to see how their relationship will pan out and if it is at all possible.

Each of the secondary characters were thought out well, Summer was absolutely wonderful! I was intrigued by her past and of her witchy abilities, she was fascinating and believable. I also liked the relationship Alexis shared with her sister Brooke, it was a sweet and open bond that I enjoyed reading about. Gabriel I was torn about, I loved him but hated him at the same time, I really felt for him and the grudge he had held on to for so long.

Whispering Hills has an edgy, dark feel to it; I am impressed by its originality. I was so eager to find out the mystery of the Whitehead boys and their history and I must admit it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting.

I haven’t read many ghostly YA books and the premise I found to be fascinating, Whispering Hills has an engaging and intriguing plot with so many exciting twists and turns, the characters were each likeable and the world building was strong. I also enjoy Taryn Browning’s descriptive and entertaining writing.

All in all, a great start to this new series.

Follow the rest of the blog tour HERE