Bruja (Alpha Girl Book 4)

http://functioninginsanity.blogspot.com/2015/05/bruja-alpha-girls-novel-with-new-pov-to.html
I received and ARC from the publisher, Ink Monster, and NetGalley for my thoughts. Mostly just advance copies because they’ve been pre-ordered on my the store account since October 2014.

Jumping right in, Bruja is the fourth book in the Alpha Girl series, my review of the previous book Alpha Divided can be seen here. As such there are spoilers for the first three books ahead, it’s unavoidable, so be warned. If you haven’t read these books yet, what is wrong with you? You should totally go right now and marathon these books. Just saying I adore them! Now if you are caught up, or like to be spoiled, let’s discuss Bruja.

We pick up pretty much where Alpha Divided left off. Unlike the previous books we don’t follow Tessa’s POV, but instead her cousin Claudia De Santos. She did some not so good things previously with the best of intentions and now she has some making up to do for herself and others. Her old cover has splintered between those still with Luciana and her dark magic ways and the few like herself who have chosen to fight with the wolves. War is coming either way but the wolves need help to counter Luciana’s dark magic. The best theory thus far lies in ancient magic. Magic Claudia must go on a journey to find what has been lost for ages. She must travel to Peru and search for what the Inca mages left behind. Of course she’ll need a guide there to help her and keep her safe, Lucas, a wolf who gets under her skin. Top it all off with your former arranged fiancé to be us still lingering around wanting what he was promised and you have a whole lot of interesting and amazing story.

So I admit not being in Tessa’s head was a bit weird for me at first. Seeing how someone outside the wolf community sees and interprets Tessa and Dastien together was interesting. Claudia has a lot going on both around her and inside. She is torn up with the feels for her past decisions and all that hangs on her in the future. She has a lot to process. She’s only ever known coven life and now she’s thrust into a new world. I liked being there for the ride. The way she reacted to things around her, the wolves, the bond between mates, and her own feelings of jealousy and such about that. I liked her moments of weakness and uncertainty, but even more I liked that she mostly made rational decisions based on thinking things out. That’s hard to find sometimes with the right emotional connection.

Let’s not neglect to mention the new wolf in the story, a whole pack really, but one in particular. Lucas. He and Claudia have a connection of sorts from the start and it’s so cute the way they play off one another. He is sweet and gentle with her not pushing her to talk more than she is willing. It seems to be a trait of many wolves. Where can I find one? Even with everything going on and staying focused on task, romance and attraction can still find you when you least expect it.

I liked the journey the story takes you on. We are sent to a new country to follow Claudia as she searches for a way to save so many. She has a lot on her plate but she is also traveling for the first time and seeing a new location, somewhere exotic like Peru, through the eyes of someone like that makes me want to pack my bags and book a trip. Especially if there will be a pack of hunky wolves there to protect and guide me. Just saying HUGE perk. With the quest, the adventure, the peril, the action, I got a total Indiana Jones vibe going from this. I don’t want to give away too much and ruin the story.

In case it's unclear I give Bruja, like the other books in the series, 5 Stars! I implore you all to check out this series if you haven't done so already. I am stoked for the next installment and want it to be October so I can have it. Ink Monster has also released the cover to the next book for us to salivate over. Check it out, Alpha Unleashed.
RATING: 5 Stars

This series keeps me glued to my chair every time I pick up the latest book just because the characters are always up against impossible odds. As the fourth book in the Alpha Girl series, Ms. Erin has solidified the core group of people that carry the overall story arc on their shoulders. Tessa is usually the main protagonist but in this story, her cousin, Claudia, is the heroine who has to find the ingredients to fight the next phase of the war against the evil witch, Luciana.

Luciana is a first class villain. She does not have any scenes in Bruja but her vile and dangerous influence is felt throughout the novel. Her machinations have resulted in a threat to Claudia’s brother and it’s a race against time to save his life. Talk about pressure! And, it’s the impetus for the heroine to swallow all her doubts and fears and embark on a journey to Peru that will change her life.

The scary thing is that she has to rely on a mysterious werewolf who doesn’t talk much. She really had to find the courage within herself to venture so far from home. It’s a huge responsibility, and, because Ms. Erin told this story in first person point of view, I was in Claudia’s head the whole time. I really felt for her. So much pain, fear, worries and eventually, here’s the good part, hope. It’s the promise of hope that gives her the will and determination to see this through.

Another story twist I liked was when she met Marcus. Talk about swoon-worthy. He was the last thing Claudia expected but based on the relationship with Tessa and Dastien that I’ve read about in the previous three books, I had a good idea what was about to happen. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving heroine; Claudia deserved to be loved for who she was, not what she could do and what she could offer. I really had no idea to what extent her powers were, or the lengths the villains would go to get what they wanted, so, not only was the heroine shocked, so was I. There were so many narrow escapes in this novel, my eyes were dry from staring wide-eyed for too many chapters in a row. Was she ever going to catch a break? Was another person she cared for going to die? It was questions like these that guaranteed my reading this novel until the exciting conclusion. It was very exciting, dangerous and the writing captured the very essence of all that turbulent emotion.

I’d have to say that Bruja has a happy for now ending because this isn’t over. There’s a ginormous battle coming in the next book in September and everything that Claudia learned in this story is going to be applied somehow in the next. I can’t wait, I’m excited and September can’t come fast enough. This series has been a pleasure to read from the get go and Ms. Erin has yet to lose her edge. The writing is as sharp and vibrant as in the very first book. I’m such a fan. I hope other paranormal romance readers discover this series too. It’s a winner.

originally posted at long and short reviews

Claudia is a great character, trapped between the witches and the werewolves. Through her cousin--the main character of the rest of the Alpha Girl series--Claudia comes to realize she can maybe be free of the coven that Luciana has turned to evil. Somehow she has to break the spell that binds her powers to Luciana, giving Luciana the power to summon demons. To do this, Claudia travels to South America chasing a rumor.

Now, all this is great. What was not so great was the soulmate aspect of this book. She meets and loves her soulmate forever and ever, all in this one book, which seems so fast. It suffers in comparison to the other books where her cousin had so much time to adjust to the concept of soulmates and to decide for herself what she wanted to do. It's the space that makes the difference, and anything that has only one book to play out during will seem rushed, but it's a trope I dislike and one I was happy to see "fixed" in the earlier books.

Still, this is a book you want to read if you like this series and/or if you like Claudia. I'm looking forward to more and more in this series.

(Provided by publisher)

The first part was pretty slow. I kept putting it down after reading a few pages. Finally, when Claudia made it to Peru things started to pick up. I love when characters in books travel to different countries. I've never been outside of the US, so it's nice to see a different part of the world, if only through a book.

At first I didn't like Claudia's character, but as the book went on, she was more sure of herself. She really figured out who she was by the end. I just love Lucas. He's my new book boyfriend.

I can't wait for the next book. Things are getting crazy with Luciana. I really hope they take her out.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

Bruja was another installment in the Alpha girl series, and a small step off the beaten path. Where the first three books center around Tessa, this one goes to her cousin Claudia. Claudia and her twin brother Raphael, are left at the hands of Luciana at a young age. Luciana is an evil coven witch that tries to drain Claudia of her power. Once they defect from the coven the ties that bind her to Luciana are unbreakable and she tries to find a way. I felt this part of the story was beautifully done, and very engrossing. I enjoyed the storyline and plot as she travels across the world to her mate, Luca Reyes. His fierce protectiveness of her, and furthering the story to help Claudia find something that will save them all. Great series! Five stars of entertainment!

As much as I enjoy the special school setting, it was exciting to get out of there and visit somewhere I’ve never been: Peru! In Bruja, we’re in Tessa’s cousin Claudia’s head as she heads to South America to find the long lost white mages. She needs their magic to help her coven as well as the wolves who have joined forces with them. Then when Luciana raises a demon and it bites her twin brother, it’s a race against the clock as Claudia flies out, hikes mountains, trudges through forest, and faces black mages all to find the magic and cure she needs.

I really liked Bruja! I couldn’t put it down! It’s not particularly fast paced and exciting, but it always held my interest. My only (minor) complaint is that everything felt too easy. Claudia is a very powerful witch, which is why she’s the one on this quest, so she can basically use magic to do whatever she needs done. She just says a few rhyming lines, and POOF, done. This took away some of the excitement, since you know it’s all going to work out. But I did like seeing what Claudia could do after just being told that she’s powerful for the last couple of books.

Of course, there is also a romance in Bruja. Claudia has actually been promised to this jerkwad, Matt, from another coven. There’s no love there at all, and he just wants her for her powers (much like her aunt). But when Claudia arrives in Peru, she’s immediately drawn to a sexy wolf named Lucas! I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what happens next. ?

Bruja wasn’t another great installment to this series. It looks like everything is on track for the stray coven members and wolves to fight back against Luciana when the time comes. The ending also left me wanting another Claudia book! Or maybe even a novella about Claudia and Lucas’ travels when all of this is over!

I like this series. It's paranormal with your typical witch vampire, fey and wolves in the mix for power. Claudia continues the fight started in the previous books, now with the help of her werewolf mate. Fast moving, well written this story keeps your interest and has you looking forward to the next book in the series.

I like this series. It's paranormal with your typical witch vampire, fey and wolves in the mix for power. Claudia continues the fight started in the previous books, now with the help of her werewolf mate. Fast moving, well written this story keeps your interest and has you looking forward to the next book in the series.