REVIEW by Eryn: What Lies Within Us by Kiki Howell (@KikiHowell7 , @RJBags19)

After receiving a letter from an aunt she never knew existed, Kyna Hughes travels to Ireland only to find out that her whole life has been a series of well-orchestrated lies. Suddenly, this poor girl from the foothills of the Alleghany Mountains is thrust into a life of not only the wealthy and affluent, but of dark magic and secret societies. As Kyna learns of the magic hidden inside her, purposefully stunted as she grew up for her protection, she must now battle mystical hauntings which are the result of curses while getting a crash course in utilizing her powers. Kidnappings and satanic weddings become her daily events as she struggles not to lose her heart to one of two men—a former Navy SEAL hired to protect her or a wizard hired to train her. Soon she will realize just how true it is that “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

 

 

 

 

What Lies Within Us
by Kiki Howell

Series:
n/a

Genre:
Paranormal Romance

Publisher:
Independent

Publication Date:
November 1, 2014

Finding out you have been living a lie for the majority of your life is never an easy thing. That is the reality that faces Kyna as she travels to Ireland to meet the long lost relative she never knew. She is confronted with a world of eccentricity, richness, and magic when she arrives at the elaborate home of her aunt, Saoirse O’Riagain. The one thing that Kyna finds warm and inviting in the vast manor and cold Irish landscape comes in the form of Aedan Dunne, an ex-Navy SEAL working as the head of Saoirse’s security. Where Aedan represents safety for Kyna, she also fights a burning and unabated passion for Darcaryn, the mysterious warlock who will help Kyna to understand and tame the power growing within her.

From the start Kiki Howell grasps the reader’s attention with a story that combines intrigue and enchantment. Though there are times when I want to reach through the pages to shake Kyna by the throat in frustration, the fact that Howell has that power in her writing should be a statement in itself. Romance blossoms in the dark corners of Saoirse O’Riagain’s manor, where Kyna must choose between the safety that Aedan offers and the power Darcaryn represents.

As a quick and entertaining read, I would bring this book to the beach, or, cuddle up with it in front of the fireplace. On a scale of 1 to 5 (five being OMG this is AWESOME), I would rate this read as a 3. It did not WOW me, but it did hold my attention.

The review copy of What Lies Within Us was supplied by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ABOUT AUTHOR KIKI HOWELL
Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

“After a long break having my boys, I finally just had to write again. And, as soon as I gave the stories the space, they entered it. It’s both awesome and humbling to find the words in my mind become characters on a page and create their lives.”

She has now had over forty stories published between eleven different publishers. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. Please look around. Although, a bit of caution, most of her stories tend to hang out on the graphically sexy side of town.

In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. She’s also had three flash fiction stories win writing contests. In the fall of 2013, her novel, Hidden Salem, made the Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers Lists in Paranormal, Suspense and Ghosts; and in the fall of 2014, her novel. What Lies Within Us, made the Amazon Top 100 Best Sellers Lists in Gothic Fiction and Occult Horror.

Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, baking or knitting.

AUTHOR LINKS