North of Need (Hearts of the Anemoi, Book One)

Delightful!

Warm hearted book that is a little mystical. Highly recommended.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Winter Wonderlust!!

With the start of this new series Laura Kaye delivers once again with an erotic emotional journey, that pulls you in and keeps you there. Megan Snow is broken, an emotional wreck, trying to deal with the death of her beloved husband. Escaping to their cabin, she plans on spending the anniversary of his death - thinking of him, missing him, wondering when it will get easier. When it seems like it won't and she will never recover - her cries of agony call to him. Summon him to her... Her despair calling forth a Snow God. Not just any Snow God - a beautifully, delicious and ripped Snow God - Owen Winters.
What ensues from the moment that the snow storm which is Owen breezes in - is pure poetry. Wonderfully written and emotionally provoking. I fell in love with Owen right along with Megan. His childlike ways and innocence is truly delightful. I couldn't put this book down and look forward to journey this series will take us on. Completely different story - which was refreshing and wonderfully new....

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't Put the Book Down! A Must Read!

You will fall in love with this book right from the beginning! The romance is incredibly deep and beautiful. So different from any other paranormal romance book I have ever read! Definitely deserves to be read again and again!

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

4.5! FROSTY THE SNOWMAN FINDS LOVE! A MUST READ! NORTH OF NEED BY LAURA KAYE....

NORTH OF NEED (HEARTS OF ANEMOI) by Laura Kaye is an exciting fantasy romance set in the Appalachian Mountains. It is the first in a new series Hearts of Anemoi. It is the story of Megan Snow,a young widow of two years and Owen Winters,immortial,one of the four Greek Anemoi,and a snowman. It has Christmas magic,snowman,death of a husband,grief, global warming,environmental issues,romance,love,hot sex,second chances,the four Greek Anemoi(Wind Gods),snow,ice,wind(especially the North Wind),and a bit of magic. This is a faced paced story where Frosty the Snowman meets the widow Megan Snow.It is a fun,but serious story that is heartfelt and full of life's unexpected twists and turns,such as an unexpected pregnancy and a chance at second love.A must read for any paranormal,fantasy,romance, readers who enjoy a fast story that will have you turning pages from the beginning to the end. "North of Need" is a wonderful fantasy Christmas story where if "you only believe" anything can happen.Received for review from the publisher.Details can be found at Entangled Publishing and My Book Addiction Reviews.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful story

I can only describe this book as beautiful. I had it in my library for months and kept delaying reading because of its mystical, supernatural feel. I bought it because I like all of Laura Kaye's books and the good reviews, but I honestly did not have high expectations. I was so wrong. The book is so beautifully written and radiates so much emotion that all supernatural events feel real. The love story is compelling and the characters are relatable and engaging. It is the kind of book that leaves you content and with a sense of peace after you read it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!!

Owen is so hot!!! Don't we wish we could all find a guy like Owen!! This is another book by Laura that I could not put down. This is a definite re-read for me as are all of Laura Kaye's books!! I can't wait for the next book in the series!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

From page one, I was captivated by this story teller and her cha

From page one, I was captivated by this story teller and her characters. I felt each tear Megan shed and each shout of laughter she gave, and I fell in love with Owen, the Snow God right along with her. Once again Ms. Kaye brings her characters to life on the page and sucks you into their story. You will be anxious for her next edition of the series! Well done, Ms. Kaye, Very well done.
Jan Meredith

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Magic of a snowman...so romantic!

My Review:
Now this is a book that I can get behind. I truly loved this book with it's sense of magic and whimsy for two people that have had enough heartache to last a lifetime. This is the romance between Megan Snow and Owen Winters. Megan lost her husband two years ago in a tragic car accident and her life has been filled with grief ever since. They had a mountain cabin where they spent every Christmas and she has maintained that tradition to honor his memory. Owen is a Snow God, who was betrayed and has since lived his life in a virtual void of unhappiness.

In a rush of grief, Megan goes on a snowman making frenzy. As she realizes that she has made a whole family: man, woman, and child, the grief overwhelms her that she will never have that and she finds herself clinging to the snowman crying. The next morning, Owen shows up at her door and it soon becomes apparent that he is the snowman.

To give you a little insight as to why I love this book so much, let me share a tiny excerpt:
"John Snow," he said.

"Wait. Are you telling me-"

"The Snows were the product between a winter god and a human. Generations ago. He wasn't aware of it. In life."

"John was a god?" Boy, he must've gotten a kick out of that! "Don't let it go to your head, mister," she called out to the room. Megan's face warmed under Owen's adoring gaze.

"John wasn't a god. But his lineage caught the pantheon's attention. When his soul pleaded for assistance, we couldn't ignore blooded kin."

"And he wanted-"

"Happiness. For you. That's all he needs to find peace."

Megan gasped. Her eyes stung. Oh, John.

So, you can see why I love this book right? It's about Christmas magic and about the Snow family who are related to the gods. You did know my last name is Snow, right?? hehe!

But honestly, this is just one of those books that is fun and magical and full of whimsy. Owen is an amazing hero. If only it were so simple as to build a snowman to get a guy like this. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It would be perfect to read during the next snowstorm or through the holiday season curled up under a warm quilt.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OMG You Have to give this author a TRY

Wow I did not expect this story line. It was awesome. It had the feel good factor that you get when you know real love transends all things...even death. I love the God of winter factor. Gods always have that cocky attitude that makes you smile as you read but makes you want to slap them at the same time. I fell in Love with Owen and Megan made my heart ache. So can not wait for the next story. This is a must read!!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A snowy setting, mythology & character driven plot made a believer out of me!

Admittedly, I am not the romance lover that some of my fellow dolls are, but I was urged by a certain friend (and publicist extraordinaire) to give it a try. I did and guess what..I liked it!

Laura Kaye is an author that takes the all too familiar feeling of loneliness, something that is very relevant to this time of year and that many people can relate with, and blends it with unique concepts and her own fresh spin on mythology to create something new and exciting!

More than just a great idea, this author is able to pen fantastic emotions in her characters that will make even the coolest heart melt. When I find an author, no matter the genre, that is able to write a story with strong world-building and characters that make a reader feel for them and empathize with their struggles.I always return for seconds:). But, don't take my word for it.discover for yourself!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enchanting paranormal romance, perfect winter read!

The legend of Frosty the Snowman meets contemporary paranormal romance in Laura Kaye's enchanting new book, North of Need.

I very much enjoyed this book. Megan is a lonely woman, grieving over her deceased husband and spending the holidays secluded in her grief in her cabin in the snow. One day, she builds a snowman family, and as she cries into the snowman wearing her husband's clothes, magic is released. Owen Winters is a god of sorts. He is a winter god, one of the Anemoi. After heartbreak of his own, Owen had spent centuries in elemental form, in seclusion. When a descendent (Megan's former husband) asks the gods to help his wife, Owen is put to the task of making Megan happy and being there for her. When Megan creates her snowman, magic turns that snowman into Owen. In order for Owen to join the human world permanently, Megan must love and choose him, before winter is over. The elemental gods do not co-operate, and Owen has only days to get to know Megan, help her overcome grief, and get her to fall in love again before Owen leaves the human world for good.

The magic combined with legend in this book creates a very sweet and emotional read. Both Owen and Megan are lonely people, and despite coming from very different worlds, they have a lot in common. Owen is very tender with Megan, he is considerate and I was very impressed with how well he handled being in human form. He is not a perfect character, he is not always upfront with Megan, but his hesitancy to reveal his true nature is understandable. I also like Megan's character, although she really does hold on tight to her grief. I really like how the relationship between Megan and Owen develops, they build a friendship, they have fun, and they allow themselves to enjoy their chemistry.

The paranormal elements in North of Need are quite unique and interesting. The concept of the "Anemoi," the elemental gods is both fun and different. North of Need puts a basic structure to the supernatural world, and some of these other elemental gods characters sound very interesting as well. I really liked Owen's powers, as a god of winter, he controls the snow and lives in winter storms.

North of Need is a fabulous winter read, it is a book that you want to read while curled up the the fire. North of Need is a very sweet romance with steamy attraction between the characters, powerful paranormal gods, and a bit of legend mixed in. Paranormal readers, if you are looking for a good book to read, I recommend picking up North of Need.

*I received this book for review*

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's the second anniversary of her late husbands death. Megan i

It's the second anniversary of her late husbands death. Megan is still grieving over the lost and that took place one Christmas evening two years ago. Owen's been sent down from the Gods to answer a plea from her late husband. He has until the snow melts (4 days) to get her to fall in love with him, otherwise he will melt like the snow.

This was a sweet fairytale romance but it was way to instant for me. Considering that Megan has 4 days to get over her late husband, move on and fall in love with a complete stranger in the limited amount of time was too much for me. I believe in insta-attraction but not insta-love.

Regardless, I still found the story to be entertaining. I'm a fan of the authors writing style. She doesn't bore the readers with a lot of inner dialogue and she keeps the story moving at a steady pace. Which for me, is what helped me enjoy the story and get over the 4 day progression.

good book

Read this book because I really enjoyed her others and this did not dissapoint. This one was different due to paranormal aspect but I enjoyed just as much as her other books.

Great book

This was a fantastic story. I look forward to reading the next book.

North of Need is the first book in Laura Kaye's Hearts of the An

North of Need is the first book in Laura Kaye's Hearts of the Anemoi series and I absolutely adored it. It's a fun, charming read with a very sweet romance. The main characters, Megan and Owen, have been through tremendous losses during their lives and ohmigod will your heart ache for them. This could have easily been a very dark and depressing tale but Kaye added so many light hearted, joyful moments as these two start to heal and really live life that they balanced out the tears and heartache perfectly. There's no violence, grit or real suspense involved but Kaye did manage to get my adrenalin surging a couple times and had me antsy and sitting on the edge of my seat there at the end going nonononoOMG(ha)no!! The writing flows smoothly, the relationship is believable and entertaining plus you get to learn how to make an igloo. Pretty damn kick-ass.

I loved Owen and Megan as a couple. They're sweet and playful together. The sex scenes were steaming hot and so emotionally charged. The relationship does move quickly but is written so well it seems like they've known each other forever. It's been a long time since I've met a hero as sweet and endearing as Owen. He's incredibly charming and has an enthusiasm for life that is cute as all get out and will totally win you over. I kept finding myself smiling from ear to ear over him and his love for junk food, ice cream, playing in the snow. There's an almost childlike innocence about him that's just too damn cute. And Megan? Megan just about broke my heart as she struggled to survive the grief of losing her husband and the guilt of being happy and enjoying another man. Her inner turmoil and struggle was very nicely written and it was so moving to see her living life again. I loved getting to see her smile and joke, play around and just have a good time with Owen.

“What?"
Her breathing stuttered at the thought of tasting the sweet cream off his skin. "Nothing."
"No, tell me." He stepped closer.
She shook her head. "Why mint and peach?"
He quirked a crooked smile. "Mint for fresh breath, peach because it's breakfast. You know, fruit."
"I don't think peach ice cream counts as fruit."
"What's that right there?" He pointed to the hunks of frozen orange buried in the mounds of ice cream overflowing his bowl.
"Peach, but--"
"Nuh uh. No but. It's peach. Case closed." He lifted the bowl and took a big bite.

I mean, really, how could you not love him?!! North of Need is one of my favorite reads so far this year. Owen and Megan are characters that will stick with you long after you've finished reading their journey and are easily ones you'll want to visit over and over again. Book two of the series, West of Want, just came out this week and I'm very much looking forward to finding out about Zephyros who sounds like he's a bit of a badass and a little edgier than Owen. Can't wait for my copy to get here!

I enjoyed this story but sometimes felt that something was missi

I enjoyed this story but sometimes felt that something was missing. I think the story line could have been flushed out. I do want to read the next one in the series. All the characters were very likable and the idea of the story was very good. How the author put into the story true facts made you stop and think.

Wonderful Winter Wonderland....

I am a huge fan of this authoer - and was anxious to read North of Need. While it isn't my normal genre of reading - I knew this author would not disappoint. Again - as with her previous book "Hearts In Darkness" I completely fell in love with this different and fresh storyline. It is a wonderful read for a chilly weekend... Megan is one of my absolute favorite characters in a book... And Owen - ummmm - yeah - YUM is an understatement! He made me want to play in the snow, build snowmen, and eat delicious snow cones. Among other wildly erotic things!

Highly Recommend! Anxiously awaiting the next book in this series...

it was good

It was an okay read. no surprises!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Will leave you wanting an Owen of your own!

This is a book I'm going to be thinking about for days with a small smile on my face. I'm utterly entranced with Owen and I'll never look at my snowman collection again without thinking of him. I'm not the best at reviews, but Megan's transformation from grieving widow to a woman in love was beautifully done and absolutely believable (well, for those of us who believe in the possibility of snow gods in the first place!) ;-) This is one I'll reach for again, when I need something uplifting that will leave me with a smile on my face.

Another Winner from Laura Kaye!

My Thoughts:
Alright, my one sided love affair with Laura Kaye's leading men is well known, as is my serious case of hero worship with the author herself. She's warm, funny, and incredibly smart; and she hasn't served me with papers regarding my stalkerish tendencies.

Anywho, I love her and I adore her writing. I pre-ordered my paperback of North of Need back in October for its November 1st release - my birthday is on November 3rd, and decided it was a sign from the gods that it was meant to be mine - That and I have loved everything else she's written, so it was time to make room on my shelves. I have read it a total of 4 times since I bought it.That Man keeps quirking an eyebrow at me and saying "You read that one already, didn't you?". I merely scowl at him (don't worry, he's used to it) and scathingly say "Yeah, SO?"

NoN brings us to present day Maryland on Christmas Eve. Young widow Megan Snow is struggling to deal with guilt and grief after the sudden death of her beloved husband two years ago. With a little divine intervention and a freak snow storm, Megan learns to let go and find a little magic, which brings us to....Owen Winters. Owen is a snow god, one of the Anemoi, and this is his second chance too. With Megan, he learns to feel and love again, after centuries of being in elemental form. The pair are on a wild ride of with fun, laughter, hot sex, and visceral emotions that tug at your heart strings. I'm talking ugly cry, y'all.

Now, as you know, we don't get a whole lot of cold weather down here, so one of my favorite parts of NoN is the description of snow - it's so vivid its practically tactile and I love that. That same quality also applies to the emotions of the main characters. I find that to be true in all throughout Miz Kaye's writing, whether it's a widow and a snow god, two strangers in an defunct elevator or the vampire next door - there is so much heart in there. It just feels so real. There is also plenty of fun and humor threaded all throughout.

And since this our After Dark section, we can talk about sexy. H.O.T. Owen is sweet, hot, and very attentive. It's warm enough in the Deep South, lady! My temperature ratcheted up quite a bit, but don't mistake my use of hot for raunchy. It's tastefully done which in my opinion makes it even hotter. North of Need is a must have, guys and dolls.