Tag: Emigh Cannaday

The Scarlet Tanager (Annika Brisby: Book 3) by Emigh Cannaday

The Scarlet Tanager: Fantasy Paranormal Romance (The Annika Brisby Series Book 3) by [Cannaday, Emigh]

Publisher: Silver Poplar Press

Date of publication: August 17th, 2016

Series: The Annika Brisby Series

The Flame and the Arrow – Book 1 (review here)

The Silver Thread – Book 2 (review here)

The Scarlet Tanager – Book 3

Where to find it: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

“You’re part samodiva. I knew that when I met you. It’s in your blood to be distracted by beauty…and pleasure.” He turned to face her, taking in every sensuous curve of her female form. “You seem to have forgotten that it’s in my blood as well. Whatever shall I do to remind you?” 

Scandal. Blackmail. Obsession. It’s just another day if you’re a Marinossian. When Annika disappears without a trace, Talvi launches the hunt for his most infuriating rival yet–a doppelgänger. His only clues about the mysterious shapeshifter are from a government he’s increasingly at odds with. In exchange for access to their resources, he does the unthinkable and reveals Annika’s true nature. Time is short, but the list of names Talvi can trust keeps getting shorter. 

Back home at the family’s country estate, his brother Finn is blindsided when the missing redhead turns up covered head to toe with vampire bites and no recollection of how it happened. While his mother tends to her physical wounds, Finn’s given the task of restoring her memory…and he just can’t resist showing her his version of the truth. But playing mind games is like playing roulette–and someone’s luck is about to run out. 

You’ll enjoy this edgy & dark blend of New Adult Romantic Fantasy and Paranormal Gothic Romance if you’re a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton, Kresley Cole, Donna Grant, Charlaine Harris, Karen Marie Moning, Jeanine Frost, J.R. Ward, Sarah J. Maas and Lynsay Sands.

My review:

I was so excited when Emigh asked me to review The Scarlet Tanager. I loved The Flame and The Arrow and The Silver Arrow, so I knew that I would like The Scarlet Tanager. And oh boy, I wasn’t disappointed.

The book starts where The Silver Arrow ended, with Annika in the car with Stephan, a doppelgänger, after being kidnapped. There is a close encounter with a police officer, and when the chapter ends, they are on their way to Prague. Reasons unknown but it couldn’t be good. I was scared for Annika during this chapter because I didn’t know what was going to happen to her. The unknown in books scares me.

Back in London, Merriweather Narayanaswamy is called into the London embassy. She is demoted from her position in the embassy. Merriweather screwed up a lot of things. She failed to research Stephan’s, her PA, background. He then morphed into her and stole Talvi’s records, and that was how Stephan got a hold of Annika.

Things further go downhill for her when Talvi and Chivanni discover that Annika is missing. When he finds out that Merriweather was responsible for Stephan kidnapping Annika, he had his revenge. It involves a tied up, drunk elf, and a ton of sex toys. After this, Talvi is mentioned and sometimes makes an appearance during the book, but the focus goes to Annika.

What happened to Annika at the “farm” was disturbing. She was fortunate that Pavlo discovered who she was and let Konstantine know that he had found her. Pavlo cleaned her up, well the best that he could without wanting to drain her blood and waited for Konstantine and Yuri to arrive.

Speaking of Yuri, I can’t stand her. She is spoiled, selfish, and plays mind games with everyone. I didn’t like her in Book 1, was relieved that she wasn’t mentioned in Book 2 but Book 3, I wanted to stake her. She was plain nasty to everyone, including Konstantine, who for some odd reason loves her. Or does he? I have a feeling that for some reason, he is stringing her along. Just a feeling I get.

Konstantine and Yuri bring Annika to Yuri’s parents to be nursed back to health. Annika suffers physical and mental scars from her time at the farm. Asbjorn was tricked by Sloan (his daughter) to kiss Annika’s neck all better, and she stabbed him with a fork in the face. Yeah, ouch. She also has lost all her memory of Talvi.

Which brings us to Finn. Oh, Finn, why did you do what you did? I mean, I understand WHY but still, it was wrong. Paris was supposed to be a one-time thing!!! As Asbjorn said, Finn traded one addiction for another. That addiction happened to be Annika.

The ending of the book was so sad for Talvi, Annika, and Finn. I cried more in those 3-4 chapters than I did throughout the entire book. There are a few other storylines that get wrapped up by the end of the book except for Yuri’s.

How many stars will I give The Scarlet Tanager? 5

Why? This was a heart wrenching but great read. Normally there is a lull after the second book (and I know I said this in the review for The Silver Thread) but this book just keeps on going. No lull at all!!!

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and some violence.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

The Silver Thread (Annika Brisby: Book 2) by Emigh Cannaday

The Silver Thread (Annika Brisby, #2)

Publisher: Black Feather Publishing

Date of publication: November 3rd, 2012

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fairies, Fae, Paranormal, Elves, Adult, Magic, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

Series: Annika Brisby

The Flame and The Arrow – Book 1 (review here)

The Silver Thread – Book 2

The Scarlet Tanager – Book 3 (review here)

The Darkest of Dreams—Book 4 (review here)

Song of the Samodiva—Book 5 (review here)

Purchase Links: Amazon | Audible

Goodreads Synopsis:

“You know, my parents didn’t give me much advice about relationships, but my mother told me that we should never go to bed upset with one another.” Talvi reached am arm out to invite Annika to curl up against his chest.

“Aww, that’s a sweet thing to say,” she said as she cozied up in the crook of his arm. “What did your dad tell you?”

“He said to make sure the sofa was comfortable, just in case.”

Talvi Marinossian has slain maenads and fought off vampire attacks, but nothing has prepared him for getting involved with one of these forbidden ‘Modern Girls’. When he finally tracks down Annika it’s obvious that she’s changed since her recent adventure in his homeland. It’s also clear that she’s not ready to embrace the next chapter in her life. He tries to persuade her to open up to him, but she finds it difficult since he won’t even explain how he earns a living, why he has a secret cell phone, or the reason he keeps another woman’s handkerchief in his pocket.

Instead of relying on Talvi to help her adjust, Annika delves into her music and her job, and it isn’t long before the new lovers find themselves completely out of sync with one another. Just when they start to find their rhythm, Talvi is called away on business and whisks Annika off to Paris for what is supposed to be a working vacation. But one bad decision leads to another, and the chaos that ensues may cost someone their life.

I can’t even begin to tell you guys how excited I was when Emigh approached me to review The Silver Thread. I was fangirl excited. I squeed like a young girl at a One Direction concert when I saw the email from her. I had reviewed The Flame and The Arrow and enjoyed reading them, so I had high expectations for this book.

I wasn’t disappointed.

The story begins with Talvi and Chivanni at Talvi’s family’s house. They are discussing trying to find Annika after she is pulled through the portal. Talvi is also mourning the loss of his sister, Yuri, well, what he considers a loss. Yuri was turned into a vampire by Konstantin.

After about 3 months of searching, Talvi finds Annika in Portland. She was living with her brother Charlie and his best friend, James. She had been depressed. The only thing she was doing was playing with her band, drinking, and going to bed. That’s it. When Talvi shows up, it’s like a switch has been thrown. She was thrown out of her depression.

This is where the book turned good. Instead of having an adventure, the author chose to examine Talvi and Annika’s relationship. Sure, they were married, but they were strangers. When they started living together, they found out that they were different. I hated that Annika came off as jealous for a few chapters.

Talvi was not good at communicating outside the bedroom. He never talked to Annika unless it was to be a smartass. I didn’t blame Annika when she starts questioning her relationship with Talvi.

I wished that Annika could figure out who she wanted. It drove me nuts when she was seesawing back and forth between Talvi and Finn. Her time with Finn in Paris was, interesting. I am glad the author went the way she did with the storyline.

The sex was as good in the first book. Just as toe-curling and just as hot!!!

I will say that I was a little disappointed that Yuri only made one appearance. Also that she seemed to change from the first book. I got very sad about that.

The ending was great, and I didn’t see the twist coming. It came out of the left field and left it wide open for a 3rd book.

I would recommend The Silver Threat to anyone over 21. There is graphic sex, violence, and language. There are also scenes of drug use.

If you enjoyed reading The Silver Thread, you will enjoy these books: