by Jolene Buchheit
Book 2, in The Charmed Trials Series
"Trial By Dreams"
Genre: Young Adult Greek-Inspired Urban Fantasy. 212 pages.
Genre: Young Adult Greek-Inspired Urban Fantasy. 212 pages.
Price: $3.99 ebook (at time of post)
Book Link: Click Here
- SYNOPSIS -
Julia and Vander thought their trial was over. But Demeter has only just begun wreaking havoc on their lives.
Julia finally accepted that her boyfriend is the son of a Siren and her family isn’t as normal as she once thought. But when she accidentally unlocks a power she didn’t know she had, her world dissolves into chaos once more. Now she is forced to uncover the truth about who she truly is, in order to triumph over their most important quest yet.
For Vander, the stakes have been raised as he seeks what was taken from him, torn between his need to protect Julia from Demeter and his focus on their second trial. What starts as a twisted journey across Iowa dissolves into recurring dreams that foreshadow a dark fate should they fail to work together.
As the fear of failure builds and time ticks away, Julia and Vander must learn to trust their instincts – and one another – before their reality spins into a nightmare that rips them apart.
Julia finally accepted that her boyfriend is the son of a Siren and her family isn’t as normal as she once thought. But when she accidentally unlocks a power she didn’t know she had, her world dissolves into chaos once more. Now she is forced to uncover the truth about who she truly is, in order to triumph over their most important quest yet.
For Vander, the stakes have been raised as he seeks what was taken from him, torn between his need to protect Julia from Demeter and his focus on their second trial. What starts as a twisted journey across Iowa dissolves into recurring dreams that foreshadow a dark fate should they fail to work together.
As the fear of failure builds and time ticks away, Julia and Vander must learn to trust their instincts – and one another – before their reality spins into a nightmare that rips them apart.
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My Rating: 
My Thoughts: Beware Dreams May Come True
Sequel to "Trial by Charm" this novel begins again right where the last novel left off. And yes I said again because our heroine discovered her power and it's a doozy! The trials the characters encounter in this novel eclipse the previous story and the ending is a surprise cliffhanger.
Finishing their trials when everything seemed against them, Julia and Vander, expected Demeter to be done with them, but the goddess is only just beginning. Fortunately one of Julia's powers has manifested, which the ability to reset time, that may possibly lend the couple an upper hand against Demeter. This time around Demeter attacks the couple by taking Vander's father and leading the on a riddle race to find him. Julia, Vander, their guides and friends ban together to decipher each clue and riddle to find Vander's father and defeat Demeter at her own game.
Overall, great follow up novel. Julia goes through soooo much more in this novel that I just want to give her a big hug. Seriously time and time again she is put through things that should break her, but with the love of Vander and her friends Julia pulls through stronger than before. The fact Julia has "weaknesses" like anxiety makes her more open and relatable to readers. Vander in this story wasn't as much of a a$$ since he was a bit distracted, but I must say he was a whole lot sweeter in this novel made me swoon once. I absolutely loved how involved Julia's friends, Lissy and Taylor, were in this novel, sure they were in peril every so often, but they are freakin hilarious. So if you are looking to continue in the series about a girl trying to out wit a vengeful goddess, you'll enjoy this sequel just get ready for that cliffhanger.
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EXCERPT
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“I’m selfish, Julia. If anyone understands the power of the mind to convince you things are real when they aren’t, it’s me.”
Ominous clouds fill his eyes before he looks down at his hands. For the first time, it dawns on me how little he has used his charm on this mission. It makes me feel ashamed for giving him such a hard time for all of the charming he has done in the past.
“I never thought about how my ability could affect others, until you asked me about it. I was just doing whatever was easiest for me, and hoping my skills would help me survive. But now I realize it isn’t my charms that I need, it’s you. You are what keeps me focused, and honestly, you are the only one who has challenged me to become a better person.”
I’ve been challenging him? It seems like being a part of his life has brought me through such amazing journeys that I’ve had no choice but to grow.
He takes a shaky breath and continues, “You’re the light in the darkness of my life, giving me something to cling to. When you get anxious, it is like my beacon of light becomes a mere candle flickering in the breeze, threatening to go out. Because of my own need for brightness, I reach out to stoke it back into a roaring flame.” He nudges my shoulder and winks. “And, boy, how it makes me happy when you roar.”
Memories of all the smartass things I’ve said to him in the past week make the corner of my mouth turn up. He uses his next words to steal my breath.
“I’m desperate to protect and save you from your anxieties, because I need you to protect and save me.”
Maintaining eye contact becomes difficult when my vision gets blurry. The tears in my eyes are different than the usual ones that fall. They aren’t carrying any sadness, just comfort and joy, like a Christmas carol has come to life on my face. I try to swipe them away with the back of my hand, but Vander stops me.
“Tears are powerful things. Sometimes they heal, not exactly like my mom’s do, but they have the power to make you feel better. Other times they help you celebrate when your happiness can’t be contained. And for me, they offer even more support, because water multiplies my powers, but tears impact them exponentially more, especially if they aren’t sadness tears.”
After my hands fall back into my lap, he reaches in his back pocket and takes out the flat vial that once held his mother’s tear he used to heal my ankle. Uncapping it, he holds it under my eye and collects the moisture from one side and then the other. Even though I’m not thrilled about crying, I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.
I clear my throat. “What power do you think my tears hold? I don’t even know how to use the power I know about.”
He replaces the cap and puts the vial back in his wallet. “If they are anything like the mighty hold you have on my heart, I believe they could heal the world of all its problems.”
Now Available ....
"Trial By Charm" (Book #1)- Click Here
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Price: $0.99 (at time of post)
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Jolene Buchheit
As a substitute teacher, Jolene spends her days in high school classrooms harvesting material for her Young Adult novels. She also uses it as an outlet for fangirling by showing upcoming book-to- movie trailers at the end of class, or discussing vital issues like whether Katniss should have picked Gale or Peeta. She is committed to helping Special Education teenagers become independent adults and helping them find a way to focus on the positive especially when life gets hard. At home, Jolene loves to cuddle with her husband, two kids, and three cats—sometimes all at once—while reading Young Adult books or repeatedly watching movies based on them.
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