There were so many different facets of Who She Was that I appreciated. I'm feeling listy so I'm going to just go ahead and change things up for this review a bit. Oh, Who She Was, how I enjoyed thee, let me LIST the ways...

1. 1) The relationships.

Of course I will start with the most obvious example of this. Charlie and Trevor. Stormy Smith somehow blended two of my favorite contemporary romance themes, hate to love and best friends to romantic love, into some kind of hybrid with Charlie and Trevor in Who She Was. I loved that there was so much history between the two, and they already a kind of intimacy, but at the same time, after so much time had passed since they were last close, paired with growing up and dealing with all the curve balls life has thrown their way over the years, they were also like strangers coming together for the first time. I'm sure that you yourself have experienced that strange phenomenon of running into someone you used to be very close with when you were younger after a long time has passed. They're the same in a sense, but also this completely different person with new quirks, beliefs, issues, etc. that make them someone new too. I really enjoyed watching them get to know each other again, along with seeing clips from their past and seeing how much they have grown and changed and were still changing along the way.

Okay, so with the obvious out of the way, I also have to mention my appreciation for the side characters as well. I really dislike when characters simply exist to make the main characters shine even more. That was not something that happened in this story. Darcy and Sam were so great. I liked that they were important to this story in their own right, and they each also had their own little story going on in the background. They were growing and shining right along with the main characters. And bringing important and fresh perspectives along the way.

Lastly for this column, I would like to point out how very well done the hard relationships were done as well. The unhealthy ones that people struggle with throughout life. I feel like sometimes the severity of these relationships are muted in books like this where you expect the budding romance to be the main focus, and many times these other relationships are merely scratched at the surface to further the romantic plot. I appreciated the time taken to analyze these relationships in this story. The consequences, the burden, the way they can shape the person you are and are becoming. They are important too, and their voice was loud and clear.

2) The music.

Music, to me, has always been an important thing in my life. And not because I play it. I learned hot cross buns on the recorder and heart and soul on the piano, but I never quite made it into the musician category. Music is important to me for the sheer fact that it moves me. It has been forever linked with the way I feel. I have a huge appreciation for it, and my tastes are eclectic. So many times you can tell my mood simply by what I am playing in the moment. I have music that speaks to my rage on a bad day, music to soothe when I am feeling chill, music to amp me up and get me in that party kind of mood, etc. And music is linked to so many memories throughout my life. I vividly remember learning to roller-skate with my Walkman (yes, I am that old) to Billy Idol's Mony, Mony. I remember doing the Macarena, Hustle, and Electric slide at my middle school dances, all be it terribly because I have no rhythm but it has never stopped a gal from trying and having fun. Brown-eyed Girl is reminds me of summer nights grades 1-4 and the dad garage band that would play this song every year literally out of a garage during our block party. First concert to first kiss, so many amazing things have been imprinted in my brain to the sound of an unforgettable melody. So, yes, the music being such a core part of this story, and so very important to the characters, it was moving to me. I loved the way they sometimes communicated best with each other through their music. And ultimately, I really respected the way that they choose to define what the music meant to them and how they'd like it to fit in their lives.

3) Location, location, location.

The author's personal connection to the setting of the story was apparent in this story. The passionate way she describes the place with such detail really enchants you. I love that you can have that very real connection with this story too. Like this is a place you can visit and see what the characters have seen, and maybe even feel what they were feeling about this place too. I can honestly say that Stormy Smith has successfully added another destination on my personal list of places I would like to visit one day, Des Moines, Iowa. So thank you for that, Stormy.

4) Giving a voice to a taboo subject.

I don't want to be all spoilery here, so unfortunately I can't really talk much about this particular subject. BUT it is a reality. And I really respect the author for having this element in her story. One thing I truly believe in this life, is there are no taboo issues. That's not to say there aren't issues that require some extra thought and care, but I don't truly believe any subject should be kept quiet or not discussed. Discussion is a good thing. Even the difficult topics, my god ESPECIALLY those. THINK about these things, LEARN about these things, TALK about these things PLEASE. Maybe if we can do that more, some of these things would happen just a little less.  So, thank you, Stormy. Thank you for including this in your story. Thank you for taking such care and consideration with a difficult subject that many people shy away from.

So yeah, those are a few of the things I really liked about Who She Was. I did struggle a bit towards the end of the story when I felt like some of the things the characters were doing seemed uncharacteristically profound for them. I get that they were growing as people and learning, but it felt a little like them being suddenly hit with this deep wisdom beyond their years, rather than more steadily paced realizations, or maybe wo many huge breakthroughs didn't kind of seem to happen so close together that could have made it seem a little less out of character. It almost felt too neatly wrapped for me. I would have loved to see these characters maybe keep a few things unresolved, or rather just not resolved yet. I didn't think there was a need to have it all so prettily packaged at the end. But the flash forward at the very end was pretty gosh darn sweet and I was happy for that addition to the story. All in all this was a very enjoyable read, and I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Bound by Duty (book 1) is FREE: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Duty-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00M2B5EBA

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This is one of my favorite series and a must read for Paranormal Romance fans! Get them while they're hot people!

Amelia has magic but can’t control it and doesn’t understand it. Amelia’s brother is Cole who she completely trusts and depends on. But he does lie a lot. Micah comes to train, assist, and encourage Amelia. Micah has feelings for for Amelia’s best friend Bethany, Amelia is also an Elder and the last of her kind. Amelia wants some time to be normal and leaves her father to go to college. There she met Aidan at a party and flirts with him but it can’t go anywhere as Amelia has been engaged since birth to the evil queen of the Immortals son that she doesn’t even know.

well this book was pretty good but there was to many lies that had been told and Amelia didn’t even know what or who she was that can’t be good. The characters were pretty good I felt for poor Aidan and how Amelia lead him on to some degree and Amelia took all her frustration out on Aidan. I also thought this dragged in places.

I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.

*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Amelia and Aidan have been searching for more Mages, AniMages, and Hunters among the world for over a month. Now, they return to a log cabin Micah has given them to be their home for rest for a few months. It feels awkward to have a place to call their own, but Aidan and Amelia are determined to make it their own. Especially for Christmas, the holiday where they both can share the love they feel for their friends and family.

Kristin James is the narrator that has become the voices of all the characters in this series. She started with the first audio book, followed through and has finished with this novella. The voices and enthusiasm of all characters is present as it has been with each book. I'm thrilled to hear the accents once again and the voice of all the characters.

This is a short novella, so I'm going to do a short review to not give anything away.

Oh young love. *sigh* They are still getting to spend their exploratory time together. Loving in the flirting and teasing ways. They are so in love. They are soul mates.

Christmas is a time to remember those you love, and Aidan is a strong influence for Amelia to experience Christmas to the fullest extent. Neither have had a true, happy Christmas with loved ones and traditional celebrating. They think on those they love, every ornament having a meaning when placed on the tree. Everyone is enjoying their holiday, sharing love with so many people. They are all spreading the love and cheer. This is the love that all should feel at the holidays.

Listening to these two together, in love, and enjoying every minute has made me smile the whole time. I enjoyed their excitement. Through all the smiling I even had a moment where I started to tear up. It's such a heart filled moment. So much love in these characters and after all they've been through, they get to enjoy it.

We do get a quick glimpse at Amelia being an Elder, Amelia's power is a beacon for all mages. Aidan worries that all who come seeking her will have good intentions.

This story feels like the concluding ending that we should have. It ties in the roles Amelia and Aidan and others come to rest at.

*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Amelia has locked herself away inside her mind. It's all she can do to keep the Keeper from harming anyone she loves. Aidan is determined to get her back to herself, even with the terrible news of what happened in the battle at Cresthaven. The whole group of friends have many heartaches to overcome, but they will need to and work together to stop Queen Julia and free all the mages to live as they should. Once Amelia learns about the magic she carries in her, she will have to make a choice to do what she wants or what is needed.

Kristin is always a treat for me to listen to. Her favorite voice for me, Bethany and her sweet southern accent. And oh, the strong personality for Bethany that pops with the accent. lol. And Micah's accent. I love it! This is a great cast that Kristin makes fun to listen to and easy to differentiate the characters as they speak. The different characters personalities and attitudes ever present in their voices. Male and females are all different in accent, tone, and feels as we listen. Oh! When two sing a song, we get both voices! The harmony of the two together. I love when we get these little extras that makes the story feel more alive with the characters.

I was so relieved to get back to Amelia and Aidan's world. Amelia was left in a bit of a secluded spot and I wanted to know if she gets out along with if they figure out Aidan is her special person. In the beginning, I was surprised that Amelia and Aidan seem to know they are the prophesied couple. It almost seemed as no one knew who her 'man' would be and that he'd have to be found at the end of Bound by Spells. But, we get back into the story here, where a few of the characters are left in moments of pain; physical or emotional.

In the beginning everything is tough and people are sad or scared and hurting in some way. We start to see a small flicker of light spark when trying to find a way of helping Amelia. Having Amelia moving among the people would influence moral, giving a solid, positive direction to things. But things don't happen as hoped and Amelia feels she's a curse more than a prophecy that the people need. It's sad and some huge mountains for the characters to figuratively climb to overcome.

Not only do we journey through the prophecy of what's to come of Amelia and Aidan, but we also get to the root of Amelia's Keeper power mystery. Amelia has grown! I was worried going in that the book would fall flat for getting us through Amelia's Keeper powers. Yet we get something a little different other than her finding a way to work with what she has. I enjoyed this. She's come into her own with help from someone we didn't expect. She finally faces the magic and love that she's been scared of for so long. We even end with a fight that's not as deadly as it could have been. It moves quick and keeps us listening yet with Amelia and Aidan in the place they are now, it doesn't need to be bloody. It's more than that.

I really liked this ending!

A wonderful YA read of letting yourself love and accept who you are. Even when in battles, it doesn't always have to end ugly. There are options and choices in life that you get to pick from even if it doesn't seem that way. You need to accept and live by your choices.

I love the feel of the theme in this story. How Amelia is bound by what was set in motion, through prophecy, for her. But in the ending, all learn they are not bound by others but that they are bound by their choices in life. It felt like it really hit to the heart for me.