Midnight Soul by Kristen Ashley Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, Newsletter
Series: Fantasyland #5
Also in this series: Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynasty, Fantastical, Broken Dove
Published by Indie on August 15th 2016
Genres: Romance, Fantasy
Goodreads
Against his will, Noctorno Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop, finds himself embroiled in magic, mayhem and parallel universes. Too late, he meets an amazing woman only to find she’s destined for his identical twin in another world.
And things aren’t going real great there.
Noc is recruited to help save that world.
What he doesn’t know is his destined love resides there.
Franka Drakkar wears a mask. A mask she never takes off to protect herself in a world of malice, intrigue and danger.
When Franka meets Noc and he discovers her secrets, convinced she carries a midnight soul, having shielded herself from forming bonds with anyone, she struggles with accepting his tenderness and care.
When Noc meets Franka, over wine and whiskey, her masks slips and Noc knows it’s her—only her—and he has to find a way to get her to come home with him.
And then make her want to stay.
I was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
MIDNIGHT SOUL is here! This amazing fantasy takes place in our world and a parallel universe where fantasies are true…but perhaps not all you would expect. MIDNIGHT SOUL is the highly anticipated finale to Kristen Ashley’s bestselling Fantasyland Series. Be sure you check out all of the stops on the tour and order the final novel in this amazing series today!
❝One night months ago, I sat down to wine and whiskey with a beautiful woman and by the time I watched her walk out of that room, she had me wrapped around her finger.❞
The magical conclusion to the ‘Fantasy Land’ series, ‘Midnight Soul’ is a slow burn romance that that will have you laughing, crying and begging for more.
No matter when you finished reading ‘Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)’, you will not be lost nor confused with this next book in the series, starring Franka and Noc. Because Kristen Ashley does a fabulous job reviewing the events of all previous books, without making you feel like you are reading a review of the previous books.
Coming to the rescue of a world that is under threat of the wicked, Noc finds more than he bargains for. He meets Franka. At first sight, he knows there’s more to her than her defenses, and he’s intrigued.
Noc is the perfect book boyfriend, the perfect male character, the perfect hero! He is patient, kind, thoughtful and a sexy alpha male! He knew the healing Franka needed and signed up to be her healer.
❝He was excellent company. Engaged. Amusing. Affectionate. Attentive. Thoughtful. Caring. And very much not hard to look at.❞
I love her inner struggle, not only can you see it, but you can feel it. She is fighting the urge to be the old Franka, stone cold and brutal with her tongue like a snipers rifle, honing in on her foe’s weaknesses. Because this Franka has feelings and is nice, kind and empathetic. Franka fears these feelings and changes. She doesn’t believe she deserves love or kindness from others. So she tries to push them away.
❝You should not be kind to me,❞
I whispered.
His expression changed.
It did not go wary.
It warmed with a gentleness that made it feel my insides were unravelling.
❝Franka,❞ he whispered back.
❝You should not be kind to me,❞ I repeated.
❝Babe—❞
❝I’ve done terrible things.❞
We are outsiders looking in as Franka transforms, and Noc breaks down her walls revealing the true Franka. Franka is smart, curious, and inherently funny! She had me rolling with laughter. Watching her experience new things and new languages was heart-warming and fun. Kind of like watching a toddler experiencing their world for the first time. There wasn’t anything about Franka I didn’t like. Her spunk made their banter fabulous, their discussions of their different languages, hilarious and it provided sparks to their relationship.
So, I said this was a slow burn, and I mean that! It takes a long time for them to kiss, let alone come together. But I appreciated that Ashley didn’t rush things between these two. She allowed for Franka to heal, and start over, before proceeding with a relationship.
My FAVORITE scene (aside from the Epilogue) was when Franka confronts her parents at about 25%. That was THE BEST PARAGRAPH EVER! It instantly made me think of ‘Rise Up’ by Andra Day. The strength that took for her to do it is beyond comprehension to me. Yet she did it and became stronger because of it!
I don’t think I can say it too many times, Kristen Ashley can write the heck out of an Epilogue! I know other fans will agree. And the Epilogue in this book, completely wrapped up this series into one beautiful package. Her Epilogues are like novella’s, stories unto themselves. The only problem with them is they make you want more, and when a series is ending, this is a bad thing!!
Well, crap! My goal was to write a shorter review. Seems I’ve failed. Suffice it say, I loved this book, this series, and these characters!
~Noc~
“I’m a member of a House, your House, may I remind you,” Franka’s father returned.
“You’re a monster,” Noc clipped.
The man turned his gaze to Noc. “And you’re a peasant who I’ve not given leave to speak to me.”
Noc opened his mouth but Frey got there before him.
“Are you unfamiliar with the Prince of Hawkvale?” he asked.
“I know of these secrets,” the asshole fired back, a sneer twisting his lips, “and this is not the heir to the throne of Hawkvale.” He indicated Noc with his arm. “This man is nothing.”
“This man saved you from slavery at the hands of Minerva and her minions,” Frey retorted. “This man has the ear of the Queen. The Princess. And The Drakkar. This man is twin to the heir of Hawkvale. This man is far from nothing.”
“You can pretty him up as much as you like, nephew, but his manner, his speech. He may look like a prince of our world, but he’s far from that. He’s simply common,” Franka’s father returned.
“Cease speaking,” Frey ordered.
“You are who you are, Frey, but I’m your uncle, your elder, and you never have leave to speak to me in that manner,” Franka’s father retorted.
“Cease…” Frey leaned forward and thundered, “speaking.”
“I—“
That was all the asshole got out before Frey was across the room with his hand wrapped around the guy’s throat, his feel lifted two feet from the ground, and he was slammed into a shelving unit so hard, all the bottles swayed and four crashed to the ground.
“I said…cease speaking,” Frey repeated through clenched teeth.
And Don’t Miss the First Books in the Fantasyland Series!
WILDEST DREAMS
THE GOLDEN DYNASTY
FANTASTICAL
Kristen Ashley’s MIDNIGHT SOUL Review & Excerpt Tour
August 10
Dirty Girl Romance – Review
Vilma’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Once Upon a Page – Review & Excerpt
Garden of REden – Review
Booklover4Life – Excerpt
August 11
After Dark Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Agents of Romance – Excerpt
Books&Junk – Review
Swept Away By Romance – Review & Excerpt
She Reads New Adult – Excerpt
Readers Retreats – Excerpt
August 12
Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
StuckInBooks – Review
Read more sleep less – Review
Under the Covers – Review & Excerpt
August 13
Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt
Meli’s Book Blog – Excerpt
The review loft – Review & Excerpt
Renee Entress’s Blog – Excerpt
Red Cheeks Reads – Review
Total Book Geek – Excerpt
August 14
The Book Bellas – Review
Gi’s Spot Reviews – Excerpt
The Heathers Blog – Excerpt
Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads – Review & Excerpt
Book Lovers Hangout – Excerpt
August 15
BLACK HEART REVIEWS – Review & Excerpt
Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review
Bambi Unbridled – Review & Excerpt
My Book Muse – Review
A Fortress of Books – Excerpt
Books to Breathe – Review & Excerpt
August 16
Evermore Books – Excerpt
KT Book Reviews – Review
Nicely Phrased – Review
Scandalicious Book Reviews – Review
Ramblings of a Bookworm – Excerpt
August 17
Lit. 4 Ladies – Review & Excerpt
Read-Love-Blog – Excerpt
Shameless Book Club – Review & Excerpt
The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Lucylicious Reads – Excerpt
Night Wolf Book Blog – Excerpt
August 18
Captain Reads A Lot – Excerpt
Confessions of 2 Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Rachel Reads Ravenously – Review & Excerpt
Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Excerpt
August 19
No BS Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Wicked Reads – Review & Excerpt
Random Book Muses – Review & Excerpt
Southern Vixens Book Obsessions – Excerpt
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt
August 20
Bookaholic Confessions – Review & Excerpt
Feeding My Addiction Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Paranormal Book Boyfriends – Excerpt
Three Girls and a Book Obsession – Review
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.
Nothing’s changed.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.
Thank you so much! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR