Souls Unchained by C.C. Wood

Rhys Carey spent centuries evading the clutches of his twisted brother, unable to trust anyone. He longs for a home and for the love that he could not have while his brother lived. Now that his twin is dead, he's bound with a different set of chains, those of isolation and self-loathing, and they are impossible to escape.

Savannah Baker is unbearably lonely. Her abilities as an empath have trapped her in a small life, with only a single friend to call her own. She dreams of so much more but holds no hope that she will attain her deepest desires.

When Rhys moves in across the street, the attraction between them blossoms into something more — a love neither of them believed they could have.

Yet unbeknownst to Rhys, darkness stalks him, waiting for the opportunity to strike. The evil that shadows his every move will use whatever means necessary to ensnare Rhys, even kill the woman he can no longer live without.

Now that these two lost souls have finally found each other, they are in a battle for survival. And for love.

Author Note: Though this is the second book in the Blood & Bone series, it can be read as a standalone. Rhys was a secondary character in the Bitten series, so if you enjoy this book and you have not read that series, you should check it out!

Book 2
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Rhys

I had no idea what I was doing as I steered the SUV into the parking lot at Zilker Park. The botanical gardens were beautiful. I discovered them my second week in Austin and came here regularly. So regularly that the attendant, Joe, greeted me by name when I pulled up to pay the entry fee.

Savannah was watching me with open curiosity as I parked. "Do you come here often?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Once or twice a week."

She looked around. "What is this place? I've lived in Austin for years and I've never been here."

"It's a botanical garden."

"It's so pretty," she murmured.

As we got out of the car, I noted that clouds were gathering in the sky. I hoped the rain would hold off for a bit so I could show her my favorite spot. I wanted to reach for her hand, but I suppressed the urge. I should be keeping my distance from her, not trying to pull her closer. I shouldn't have even brought her here, but once I spoke to her again and saw the gentle warmth in her dark eyes, I found myself inviting her to join me.

First, we walked through the Butterfly Garden, admiring the flowers and the beautiful wings of the butterflies that skimmed from bloom to bloom. Then I led her to my favorite area in the garden. Lush green trees and grasses lined the stone path that led to the koi pond.

Savannah sighed when she saw it. "This is so peaceful," she murmured. "And beautiful."

I knew she would see it as I did. Beauty and peace in a busy world. A place to breathe.

"I try to find peace where I can," I replied. "There is so little of it in this world."

Her head turned toward me. "I don't agree with that."

Surprised, I met her gaze. "You don't agree?" I asked in confusion.

"That there's very little peace in this world," she clarified. "I think there is plenty of peace, even in the middle of a busy city. You just have to be willing to experience it."

"How do you mean?" I asked. Savannah often said and did things that made me wonder how she saw the world. Her perception was so different than mine.

"Peace isn't always found. Sometimes, we have to make our own."

"That doesn't make sense," I disagreed.

She laughed and shook her head. "Don't be so literal, Rhys. It's possible to be peaceful in the midst of chaos. You only have to look for your opportunity. Like my garden. We live in a crowded area. Lots of homes and people everywhere. Yet I feel my calmest when I'm working there. I find serenity there because that's where I want to find it. That's where I look for it."

Strangely, her reasoning made a great deal of sense. I'd never looked for tranquility wherever I could find it because, until Cornelius died, I hadn't believed it existed. I was still learning how to relax, but I doubted I would ever stop looking over my shoulder.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
Two battered souls, each looking for something they fear they cannot have. Love. An empath whose abilities limit her interaction with humans and others. A soul-eater who was created by a master who wanted power then enslaved by his twin.

Rhys wants to love, but his fear of harming those around him, of stealing their essence in order to survive, causes him to be standoffish around others. As an empath, Savannah does her best to block the feelings of others, but in large crowds she can't control the flow of information and it causes her a great deal of pain.

With otherworldly forces coming into play, both Rhys and Savannah must learn to trust in order to learn to love.

I liked this book, but I got bogged down in the details at times and the flow seemed a bit forced at times. Will I read book three? Yes. It’s that good.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆☆
Oh... Such a good book. I absolutely loved this book. Both Rhys and Savannah were fabulous. They were both dealing with a lifetime of loneliness because of what they could do, both aching for someone that could understand them and their abilities. In each other, they found that perfect extraordinary ordinary.

I loved that Van called Rhys 'stupid hot' because he made her stupid because he was so hot. It made me laugh because it is something I would totally say. She was so relatable and likable. Satchel, her cat, was awesome in all her prissiness.

Ava, a secondary character, played a big role and we also get a little taste of what I'm assuming will be her book, the next in the series. I can't wait for that one as we already started to see the sparks flying between her and the man she connects with.

Rhys dealing with the man he was forced to become was so sad, but like I said Van is the perfect complement for him and helps him learn how to overcome the feelings he has. She helps him see that he is not the monster he believes he is.

Seriously can't wait for the next story in this series!

Also Available in the Blood & Bone Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Blood & Bone post.

Born and raised in Texas, C.C. Wood writes saucy paranormal and contemporary romances featuring strong, sassy women and the men that love them. If you ever meet C.C. in person, keep in mind that many of her characters are based on people she knows, so anything you say or do is likely to end up in a book one day.

A self-professed hermit, C.C. loves to stay home, where she reads, writes, cooks, and watches TV. She can usually be found drinking coffee or wine as she spends time with her hubby, daughter, and two beagles.

Connect with C.C.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Souls Unchained (Blood & Bone #2) by C.C. Wood to read and review.

Blood & Bone by C.C. Wood

Chloe MacArthur has finally found her mate but he's the one wolf she can't have.

To save her heart from further pain, she leaves the pack that she's come to consider her family. Unfortunately, unfinished business leads her back to her childhood home and straight into a deadly game with shifters that will do anything to prevent her from learning the truth.

Ian Lachlan is in mourning. Nearly two years ago, he lost his mate but, thanks to Chloe, he's finally living again. When he wanted to give up and die, she saved him.

Now, Chloe is the one who needs help and Lachlan plans to return the favor. Intent on protecting her from her enemies, he follows Chloe and soon discovers that he wants far more from her than friendship. He wants everything she has to give.

But can either of them let go of the past long enough to reach for their future?

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
The grief of losing a mate is overwhelming and all consuming, not only to the surviving spouse but to their friends and family as well.

For Chloe, watching Lachlan fade away after losing his wife, it was devastating. Lachlan is her mate. A lucky few have two mates during their lifetime, but she knows that Lachlan isn't in the mindset to entertain the idea of loving someone else.

Knowing that leaving is the only way to move on with her life and to find answers regarding her parents’ deaths, she changes packs and goes home. Only to find that the pack she left is entirely different than the one she comes home too.

When Lachlan shows up unannounced, Chloe believes that he's only there because of her grandmother and not because he cares for her.

When the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place, Lachlan has to make a decision: hold on to the past or take a chance on the future.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I liked that things weren't always easy, things didn't just line up perfectly for the couple, but they had to deal with heartache and loss and other emotions before they finally made it into each other's arms in the capacity they were meant to.

Once I got into this story, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting because of all the little twists and turns and trying to figure out where things were going to end up.

I will say that I didn't even know that there was another series that this one spun off from until I sat down to write my review, but you bet I'll be picking it up. I really enjoyed the way there was a great plot along with characters that had depth and grew throughout the story, along with a little bit of sexiness too.

A native Texan, C.C. grew up either reading or playing the piano. Years later, she’s still not grown up and doing the same things. Since the voices in her head never shut up, C.C. decided to share their crazy stories and started writing books.

Now that she has a baby girl at home, C.C.’s non-writing time is usually spent cleaning up poopy diapers or feeding the poop machine. Sometimes she teaches piano, cooks, or spends time bugging her hubby and two beagles.

Connect with C.C.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Blood & Bone (Blood & Bone #1) by C.C. Wood to read and review.