#Book Review — Smoke in her Eyes (The Wanderer #2) by Anna Belfrage #timeslip #paranormal #romance @abelfrageauthor

Smoke in her Eyes

(The Wanderer #2)

By Anna Belfrage

Six months ago, Helle Madsen would have described herself as normal. Now she no longer knows if that terms applies, not after her entire life has been turned upside down by the reappearance of not one, but two, men from her very, very distant past. 

Helle Madsen never believed in mumbo-jumbo stuff like reincarnation—until she came face to face with Jason Morris, a man who purportedly had spent fifty lives looking for her. Coping with being reunited with the lover from her ancient past was one thing. Having Sam Woolf, her vindictive nemesis from that same ancient past join the party was a bit too much. Suddenly, Helle finds herself the reluctant heroine of a far-flung, time-transcending epic story, one in which pain and loss seem to play a very big part. 

This time round, Jason and Helle are determined to make it to the happily ever after. Unfortunately, Sam Woolf will stop at nothing to crush them. That ride into the golden sunset seems awfully far away at times…

“We have to talk about Sam Woolf…”

But not yet. Not when Jason is so critically ill in hospital. Jason is her Wanderer, her heart, her life and he is like this because she had chosen him over Prince of Kolchis three thousand years ago.

Helle had died in his arms. Prince of Kolchis had killed her, and in return, Jason had slain him. But even so, it was the Prince that had ultimately won. Life without Helle was no life at all. For the past three thousand years, Jason had searched for his love. Death to life then back to death again in an endless cycle of reincarnation. So many lives, so many experiences, and so many memories, but never had he been close enough to catch even a glimpse of his beloved. To look into her face, to hear her whisper his name, to draw her into his embrace… The years of sacrifice had been worth it. This time he would not lose her. This time they would have the life that had been cruelly snatched from them all those years ago.

Sam Woolf (Prince of Kolchis) has not forgotten, nor has he forgiven. Helle was meant to be his. She was promised to him. Obsessed beyond reason, he will do whatever it takes to remove Jason from the picture. He has the resources, and the ability to do so, and this time, he will be victorious. This time, the Wanderer will die and Helle… Well, she would soon come around to his way of thinking.

How can you love when you are afraid? Woolf shot him. He shot Jason in the head in front of her, and he has threatened her family. Woolf wanted her to choose, and she had. She had chosen Jason, but Woolf would not accept that. Helle knew that Woolf would never give up until Jason was dead, and she was his. Not this time. Not in this life. Helle would not let Woolf torture and abuse her again. If Jason died... If Woolf succeeded… No, Helle would not even acknowledge that thought. She would be brave. She would face whatever Woolf decided to throw at her. If she did not, then she would lose Jason and that thought was beyond comprehension. She and Jason would be victorious. They would defeat Woolf. They had to…

Mesmerising, evocative and utterly enthralling. Smoke in her Eyes (The Wanderer #2) by Anna Belfrage is an epic love story that spans three millennia.

When a book makes your heart flutter and tears drip heedlessly down your face, you know that you are in the hands of not just an accomplished author, but one that is a master in her craft. Time stood still as I lost myself in this masterpiece of a story. I was dazzled, not only by Belfrage’s incredibly compelling narrative but her ability to wring every type of emotion from her readers. Belfrage takes her readers on what can only be called an emotional rollercoaster. As Helle and Jason’s struggle to preserve their love and indeed their lives, Woolf is waiting in the shadows and systematically tightening the noose around their necks. Fabulous storytelling.

Our two brave and star-crossed lovers fight simply to love each other, marry and perhaps one day have children is heartbreakingly tragic. Instead of enjoying their long-awaited reunion, Jason and Helle are being watched and hunted by the one man in this world who unfortunately does have the power to destroy them both. They can trust no one, for Woolf can possess people, command their souls, and has other skills that one might consider demonic. Such trauma would put a strain on any relationship, and it certainly does Jason and Helle’s.

I don’t want to call it a love triangle as Woolf doesn’t love Helle, he wants to own her, but for the sake of not finding a better description, I will call it that. This triangle becomes something that resembles a square. Helle, Jason and Woolf are not the only ones in this constant cycle of rebirth. Juliet is as well, and she has been in love with Jason for countless centuries. Helle may well be the reason Jason draws breath, but he loves Juliet, and he struggles to balance these two very different women in his life. The dynamics in Helle and Jason’s relationship shifts because of Juliet. Jason feels responsible for Juliet, and he has no choice but to orbit Juliet’s sun for a while. She needs him, and he cannot abandon her. Helle’s response to this, her own sense of desertion by the one man who swore would never leave her side, was utterly heart-rending. Her grief at the thought that their relationship might be over causes her to take some very foolish and rash decisions, and it was almost as if the threat of losing Jason’s love outweighed any danger Woolf might place in her way. It was an interesting journey that Helle goes on in this book and one that was absolutely irresistible.

Desperation has driven Woolf to new heights of madness. His power is immense, and his obsession with Helle drives him deeper into the darkness. Woolf is truly despicable and yet it is his story, his fixation, that really drives the narrative forward. Kudos, Ms Belfrage, for giving us such a desperate and deplorable villain!

Belfrage continues to give her readers a tantalising glimpse into the many lives that Jason experiences and because he, unlike, Helle, remembers everything, he has what I would call an ancient soul. I think when Helle has doubts about Jason’s love, she forgets how much he has suffered because of his passionate devotion. In each life, Jason searched for her. He searched for three thousand years. Even thinking about that makes my heart flutter!

I cannot praise this book enough. Without a doubt, The Wanderer Series by Anna Belfrage is the most exciting and enchanting series that I have read this year. I cannot wait to get my hands on Book #3.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

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Smoke in her Eyes

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Anna Belfrage

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17^th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14^th century England.  She has recently released the first in a new series, The Wanderer. This time, she steps out of her normal historical context and A Torch in His Heart is with a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense with paranormal and time-slip ingredients.

Find out more about Anna by visiting her website, or herAmazon page.