Review: Incarnate by Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Incarnate
Series: Spiritus, Book Three
Author: Dana Michelle Burnett
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook provided for review

I moved away from him, not wanting to be anywhere near him. I was hurt and angry. Ever since that first night in my room when he appeared to me, we had been moving toward this moment. Why couldn’t he see that?

To be in a love affair with a ghost is both a fantasy and a punishment for Becca. Always searching for balance between her deep love for Alastor and her desire for a normal life, a chaotic period of impulsiveness, death, and mourning have led her to the ultimate turning point. Can she and Alastor go against the laws of nature and cheat death to be together again? And at what price?

The amazing, much anticipated conclusion to the Spiritus Series, Incarnate highlights the magic, superstition, and tragedy of this hypnotic romantic epic that has entranced readers.

*sigh* I can’t believe it is over. I’m sad to see it go. Granted, this was a trilogy and not a longer series, but Becca and Alastor have grown on me in ways I can’t even explain. But I guess I’d better try, right?

The mutual obsession between Becca and Alastor has been a rollercoaster of a ride, to put it lightly. If you have never considered a love story between a ghost and living person, you should reconsider. Throughout this trilogy Dana Michelle Burnett has woven this story together so beautifully, you can’t help but root for them to make it. They aren’t your typical couple, but the two of them together are perfect.

In Incarnate we meet up with the couple after Becca has been released from the institution. And from the mouth of a stranger, she believes there could be hope for her and Alastor to be together in a more material and physical way. Can you believe it? It was almost too much for me to hope for!

This installation is told in two parts really. Present time, and then in love letters sent between Alastor and Becca during the war in 1862. Through the letters you get to see the depth of their love, their devotion, their determination to wait for each other. And from the previous two books, you know that Alastor’s life after coming home…well, it’s not exactly picture perfect. I’m not a historical fan usually, but the way these letters play out, it really tugged at my heartstrings.

I ended up reading this book in a day. I received a copy from Dana, but I also bought a print copy from Amazon for myself, because I just had to have it. I had to find out if Becca would succeed. Hell, I had to know how it was even supposed to happen! I felt like I nearly held my breath through the whole book, and I read it in a day.

Friends, if you want to read an atypical love story that crosses boundaries, breaks hearts, mends them back together and everything in between, then you must read the Spiritus series. Thank you to Dana for allowing me to review every book in the trilogy, I’ve loved this trip! 

And guess what, in a newsletter today Dana announced she is doing a giveaway for the whole series on her site!  Go enter now!!  At the time of this posting there is like 7 days left, so don't delay!

http://www.danamichelleburnett.com/1/post/2013/04/spiritus-series-flashback-and-giveaway-battle-of-chancellorville.html

Dana's Website

Dana on Twitter

Dana on Facebook

Dana on Pinterest

Previously Reviewed 

Spiritus

Haunted

Review: Incarnate by Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Incarnate
Series: Spiritus, Book Three
Author: Dana Michelle Burnett
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook provided for review

I moved away from him, not wanting to be anywhere near him. I was hurt and angry. Ever since that first night in my room when he appeared to me, we had been moving toward this moment. Why couldn’t he see that?

To be in a love affair with a ghost is both a fantasy and a punishment for Becca. Always searching for balance between her deep love for Alastor and her desire for a normal life, a chaotic period of impulsiveness, death, and mourning have led her to the ultimate turning point. Can she and Alastor go against the laws of nature and cheat death to be together again? And at what price?

The amazing, much anticipated conclusion to the Spiritus Series, Incarnate highlights the magic, superstition, and tragedy of this hypnotic romantic epic that has entranced readers.

*sigh* I can’t believe it is over. I’m sad to see it go. Granted, this was a trilogy and not a longer series, but Becca and Alastor have grown on me in ways I can’t even explain. But I guess I’d better try, right?

The mutual obsession between Becca and Alastor has been a rollercoaster of a ride, to put it lightly. If you have never considered a love story between a ghost and living person, you should reconsider. Throughout this trilogy Dana Michelle Burnett has woven this story together so beautifully, you can’t help but root for them to make it. They aren’t your typical couple, but the two of them together are perfect.

In Incarnate we meet up with the couple after Becca has been released from the institution. And from the mouth of a stranger, she believes there could be hope for her and Alastor to be together in a more material and physical way. Can you believe it? It was almost too much for me to hope for!

This installation is told in two parts really. Present time, and then in love letters sent between Alastor and Becca during the war in 1862. Through the letters you get to see the depth of their love, their devotion, their determination to wait for each other. And from the previous two books, you know that Alastor’s life after coming home…well, it’s not exactly picture perfect. I’m not a historical fan usually, but the way these letters play out, it really tugged at my heartstrings.

I ended up reading this book in a day. I received a copy from Dana, but I also bought a print copy from Amazon for myself, because I just had to have it. I had to find out if Becca would succeed. Hell, I had to know how it was even supposed to happen! I felt like I nearly held my breath through the whole book, and I read it in a day.

Friends, if you want to read an atypical love story that crosses boundaries, breaks hearts, mends them back together and everything in between, then you must read the Spiritus series. Thank you to Dana for allowing me to review every book in the trilogy, I’ve loved this trip! 

And guess what, in a newsletter today Dana announced she is doing a giveaway for the whole series on her site!  Go enter now!!  At the time of this posting there is like 7 days left, so don't delay!

http://www.danamichelleburnett.com/1/post/2013/04/spiritus-series-flashback-and-giveaway-battle-of-chancellorville.html

Dana's Website

Dana on Twitter

Dana on Facebook

Dana on Pinterest

Previously Reviewed 

Spiritus

Haunted

Review: Haunted by Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Haunted
Series: Spiritus Series, Book Two
Author: Dana Michelle Burnett
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Alastor came at me then, forcing me back against the wall. He was so solid that I could feel his weight against me. I could feel his frozen breath on my face....He ran his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and rested at the base of my throat. His blue eyes glittered dangerously.

Becca has accepted the horrors of her past life, and emerged with her ghostly love Alastor at her side. But her happiness is short lived when she realizes that balancing her past and present won't be easy...

Becca has already decided that it's Alastor that she loves, but now, as their uncommon relationship limits Becca's future, Alastor must decide if he's willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Becca's happiness....And will Becca's sanity survive?

I am so enthralled with this series.  In book one we met Becca, who just moved with her father to a new town to start over after the death of her mother.  Right away Becca makes a couple friends, and they have a séance.  This brings Alastor into the scene, and he is able to communicate with Becca.  And even more so, Becca is the reincarnation of his wife.  Book one, Spiritus, was very emotional and definitely a story not to miss out on.  I’m not going to spend my time re-reviewing that, you can check out that review at the link below. 

This is definitely one of the hardest reviews I will probably ever write!  It’s not because I didn’t like the book – I absolutely loved it.  But the blurb is kind of vague, and I don’t want to give away spoilers!  Ahhh!  What to do??

Hauntedstarts several years after Spiritus.  Becca is in some deep therapy sessions after a series of events leads her to a psychiatric hospital.  This story is told in flashbacks in her point of view, and current observations in her doctor’s point of view.  I think this was a fantastic way to handle this story.  It totally gave Becca the ability to fill in the blanks of what happened over the next few years, and also gave a really good view from an outsider.  Dana did a superb job of not retelling the story of book one, if you know what I mean?  I really think the beauty of this story really shows Dana’s talent and skill as an author, because one of her main characters, Alastor, is a ghost.  He is unable to interact with anything or anyone but Becca.  That is really limiting!  So I think that this set up of flash backs and observations kept the story flow very fresh and interesting.

Ok, let’s go character by character.  In with the new, we have Dr. Langdon.  In the beginning I get the impression that he is a very good doctor, but a bit…. Sigh, I don’t know, a bit bland with his work.  He’s not necessarily bored, but he hasn’t really had anything to challenge him in a bit.  He’s got the fire in him, the fire that got him into this field in the first place – he wants to help people.  But he is limited to short sessions with patients, and he sees a lot of the same things over and over.   But I like him.  I can see he has a heart, it just needs to be resparked.

And then Dr. Langdon meets Becca.  Becca is such a wonderful character, I can only imagine how much fun she has been to write.  She is now in her early twenties, and from the outside it appears as if she has had a bit of a mental snap.  But we know better, and we know she is not crazy at all.  She is just dealing with some very unusual circumstances and her true soul mate.  Becca definitely does not disappoint in Haunted.  She is fiery and intelligent, yet she is very dependent on Alastor.  She tries to do what is thought to be the best decision.  But her love for Alastor can not be changed, and it can not be hidden.  Well, at least not for long, right? Becca is just one of those characters I love to read about.  The girl has some major secrets going on. 

And then that brings us to Alastor.  I love him, I really really do.  If he was the ghost of my previous husband, I’d like to think I’d be making all of the same decisions as Becca.  But just like in Spiritus, Alastor is much the same as he was.  He has these grand overtures of love for Becca.  He says things that will buckle your knees and melt your heart, and he meansthem.  But there are these little glimpses of him where he is a bit temperamental.  I mean, sure, who wouldn’t be, stuck being invisible and intangible.  But sometimes he throws a bit of a fit!  And the man has a temper!  In both books I have found myself actually mad at Alastor, only to be back in love with him pages later.  Like I said in my previous review, Alastor definitely has the power to bring me to “Team Ghost”.

                “ … I knew it was Alastor that I would always love.  There was no denying it.  He was a part of me and always would be.”

Hauntedis every bit as emotional as Spiritus.  It revolves around love.  Real love, forced love, soul mate love, puppy love… every bit of love you could hope to find, its in there.  This story has once again brought out the tears.  There is one scene, something  that has happened at Alastor’s insistence…but it brought me to tears that he had to be on the sidelines and see this happen.  And oh, I wish I could tell you all about it.  I wish I could tell you how horrible I felt for everyone, whether they were aware of the situation or not, but that my heart shattered for Alastor.  And that is completely true, I just can’t tell you the “why” of it all. 

This book is absolutely wonderful.  In my opinion it is without a doubt a five star read.  You can read it on its own if you have to, but I highly recommend reading Spiritus first.  The first book really gives the background and builds the foundation.  And the third book, Incarnate, is scheduled to be released this fall. I have really high hopes for this one!! I have my fingers crossed!  If you have read this book, I would love to chat with you about it!  Please leave me comments, let me know what you thought.  Just no spoilers!! J

Dana's Website

Dana on Twitter

Dana on Facebook

Available for purchase at 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Previously Reviewed 

Spiritus

Review: Haunted by Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Haunted
Series: Spiritus Series, Book Two
Author: Dana Michelle Burnett
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Alastor came at me then, forcing me back against the wall. He was so solid that I could feel his weight against me. I could feel his frozen breath on my face....He ran his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and rested at the base of my throat. His blue eyes glittered dangerously.

Becca has accepted the horrors of her past life, and emerged with her ghostly love Alastor at her side. But her happiness is short lived when she realizes that balancing her past and present won't be easy...

Becca has already decided that it's Alastor that she loves, but now, as their uncommon relationship limits Becca's future, Alastor must decide if he's willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Becca's happiness....And will Becca's sanity survive?

I am so enthralled with this series.  In book one we met Becca, who just moved with her father to a new town to start over after the death of her mother.  Right away Becca makes a couple friends, and they have a séance.  This brings Alastor into the scene, and he is able to communicate with Becca.  And even more so, Becca is the reincarnation of his wife.  Book one, Spiritus, was very emotional and definitely a story not to miss out on.  I’m not going to spend my time re-reviewing that, you can check out that review at the link below. 

This is definitely one of the hardest reviews I will probably ever write!  It’s not because I didn’t like the book – I absolutely loved it.  But the blurb is kind of vague, and I don’t want to give away spoilers!  Ahhh!  What to do??

Haunted starts several years after Spiritus.  Becca is in some deep therapy sessions after a series of events leads her to a psychiatric hospital.  This story is told in flashbacks in her point of view, and current observations in her doctor’s point of view.  I think this was a fantastic way to handle this story.  It totally gave Becca the ability to fill in the blanks of what happened over the next few years, and also gave a really good view from an outsider.  Dana did a superb job of not retelling the story of book one, if you know what I mean?  I really think the beauty of this story really shows Dana’s talent and skill as an author, because one of her main characters, Alastor, is a ghost.  He is unable to interact with anything or anyone but Becca.  That is really limiting!  So I think that this set up of flash backs and observations kept the story flow very fresh and interesting.

Ok, let’s go character by character.  In with the new, we have Dr. Langdon.  In the beginning I get the impression that he is a very good doctor, but a bit…. Sigh, I don’t know, a bit bland with his work.  He’s not necessarily bored, but he hasn’t really had anything to challenge him in a bit.  He’s got the fire in him, the fire that got him into this field in the first place – he wants to help people.  But he is limited to short sessions with patients, and he sees a lot of the same things over and over.   But I like him.  I can see he has a heart, it just needs to be resparked.

And then Dr. Langdon meets Becca.  Becca is such a wonderful character, I can only imagine how much fun she has been to write.  She is now in her early twenties, and from the outside it appears as if she has had a bit of a mental snap.  But we know better, and we know she is not crazy at all.  She is just dealing with some very unusual circumstances and her true soul mate.  Becca definitely does not disappoint in Haunted.  She is fiery and intelligent, yet she is very dependent on Alastor.  She tries to do what is thought to be the best decision.  But her love for Alastor can not be changed, and it can not be hidden.  Well, at least not for long, right? Becca is just one of those characters I love to read about.  The girl has some major secrets going on. 

And then that brings us to Alastor.  I love him, I really really do.  If he was the ghost of my previous husband, I’d like to think I’d be making all of the same decisions as Becca.  But just like in Spiritus, Alastor is much the same as he was.  He has these grand overtures of love for Becca.  He says things that will buckle your knees and melt your heart, and he means them.  But there are these little glimpses of him where he is a bit temperamental.  I mean, sure, who wouldn’t be, stuck being invisible and intangible.  But sometimes he throws a bit of a fit!  And the man has a temper!  In both books I have found myself actually mad at Alastor, only to be back in love with him pages later.  Like I said in my previous review, Alastor definitely has the power to bring me to “Team Ghost”.

                “ … I knew it was Alastor that I would always love.  There was no denying it.  He was a part of me and always would be.”

Haunted is every bit as emotional as Spiritus.  It revolves around love.  Real love, forced love, soul mate love, puppy love… every bit of love you could hope to find, its in there.  This story has once again brought out the tears.  There is one scene, something  that has happened at Alastor’s insistence…but it brought me to tears that he had to be on the sidelines and see this happen.  And oh, I wish I could tell you all about it.  I wish I could tell you how horrible I felt for everyone, whether they were aware of the situation or not, but that my heart shattered for Alastor.  And that is completely true, I just can’t tell you the “why” of it all. 

This book is absolutely wonderful.  In my opinion it is without a doubt a five star read.  You can read it on its own if you have to, but I highly recommend reading Spiritus first.  The first book really gives the background and builds the foundation.  And the third book, Incarnate, is scheduled to be released this fall. I have really high hopes for this one!! I have my fingers crossed!  If you have read this book, I would love to chat with you about it!  Please leave me comments, let me know what you thought.  Just no spoilers!! J

Dana's Website

Dana on Twitter

Dana on Facebook

Available for purchase at 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Previously Reviewed 

Spiritus

Spiritus - Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Spiritus, a Paranormal Romance (Spiritus Series, Book #1)

Author: Dana Michelle Burnett

Format: Ebook provided by author for review. 

From Goodreads:

A love that refuses to die…

“As I watched him vanish into a soft mist that faded away, I knew that he was no ordinary spirit…I knew that he was a dangerous entity that could be in some corner of another realm planning his revenge, but I also knew that I was hopelessly in love with him.”

When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last.

Becca McAllister has always been different from other girls her age. Never part of the "in crowd", Becca never really fit in anywhere. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the small town of Corydon, Indiana, Becca didn't expect things to change.

But things do change when Becca accidentally makes contact with a one hundred and sixty year old ghost, Alastor Sinclair, that haunts the halls of her new home.

To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he was waited a century for--A second chance.

But the closer they get, the more Becca realizes that this isn't the first time she and Alastor have known each other. Worse still, is she the one responsible for his death so long ago? And if so, did he come back for love or revenge?

Ok folks, here ya go.  I am definitely adding this book to my favorites of 2011, and I absolutely can't wait for book 2.  Would it be wrong of me to want to email Dana every day to check when it will be released?  Ok, yes, that would be wrong - but that's how much I enjoyed this novel!

The story opens with teenage Becca and her dad driving to their new home, a house that's been in the family for generations.  There has been a tragic loss in the family, and they are trying to make it in a new place, a new life. 

Becca seems to be the average awkward teen, a bit shy and self-conscious. Alastor is a ghost, barely older than Becca, who died a century ago.  

My first chapter impression (as taken from my notes):  I love the attention to detail, right down to the doorknobs.  It really makes me feel as if this house, this town, is another character in the story.  Becca seems to be a teenager that you could easily relate to.  Her sadness and fears are conveyed so well, I feel great empathy for her. 

In the beginning of this book Becca is meeting all of her new classmates, and she makes some new friends.  One of them being the high school hottie, Jonah.  At first I was torn between Jonah and his beautiful good looks and Alastor.  But that all changed once Alastor started showing his deep and true emotions. 

"I have loved you in life and beyond"

*sigh*  Who doesn't dream of that kind of everlasting devotion?  I can tell you one thing, Alastor may have been dead for a century, but that man has some lines and moves that could make the toughest of girls swoon.  I was Team Vampire, then Team Wolf...this novel could nudge me to Team Ghost!

And speaking of ghosts... I was very nervous about this book when I received it for review.  How could a modern girl fall in love with a century old ghost? How could he love her back?  Dana Michelle Burnett effortlessly makes this a seamless transition.  There were times I could actually forget Alastor was a ghost.  But then those simple reminders would pop up, and you wonder "How is this going to work???"  I had to stay up late reading, I couldn't put the book down - I had to know. 

This book went by entirely too fast for me, I want it to go on and on.  The writing is beautiful, the scenery is gorgeous.  The emotions in the book... they are heartfelt and sometimes just heart wrenching.  They are strong.  And they will leave you hungry for the next book, I'm sure of that.  

Dana's Website

Dana on Twitter

Dana on Facebook

Available for purchase at 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords