My dying sister vanished in the middle of the night.
Usually, Megan called to me before dawn, but sunshine pooled on the bare wood floor beneath the window when I woke.
My heart leapt into my throat. She’s dead. After months of fighting, Megan finally…I hadn’t felt it though. Wouldn’t I know if the only person I ever loved—
I stumbled out of bed, tangling in my blankets, then raced to her … tangling in my blankets, then raced to her room. Empty. The sheets were folded aside. She must be close. I moved down the hall toward our shared bathroom. The door stood open, but Megan wasn’t there.
Backtracking, I checked the living room with its slouchy couches, and the kitchen with its worn countertops. No Megan. I pushed through the French doors out onto our balcony.
The music district of Crescent City, a night owl’s paradise, lay still in the soft morning light. Megan’s flowers overflowed their boxes, spilling riotous colors down the wrought iron rail. I stood alone, a gentle breeze lifted a lock of my hair, and tears stung my eyes. Megan was gone.
The police assumed she left of her own free will—there was no evidence of a break-in or struggle. “Maybe she was done fighting and couldn’t tell you,” the detective said, his brown eyes sympathetic.
“You didn’t know her, she would never give up.”
“Often when people go missing, the loved ones they leave behind come to realize,” he paused and took a breath, “that they didn’t know them as well as they thought. Everyone has secrets, Darling,” his voice drawled over my name.
“Megan could barely walk,” I ground out. “Somebody must have taken her.”
“But who would kidnap a dying young woman? How did they leave no evidence? Why didn’t you hear them?” He asked. I didn’t have any answers.
It didn’t make sense. Nothing did anymore.
Strange, exhilarating dreams began haunting my nights. A new hunger, an unquenchable thirst that felt almost…dangerous…ruled my days.
Scared and alone, I couldn’t imagine the dark secrets my hunger hid. They’d been lost for so long—locked away, buried by time, and twisted by whispered lies—but when Megan was stolen everything began to unravel…
Before it did, before I saw the dead rise, witnessed vampires feed, or visited the warlocks’ library, before I held a life at the edge of my lips, I was just Darling Price—a musician like so many others in this vibrant city. I struggled to pay bills, practiced with my band, and grieved for my missing sister. I was innocent and naive.
I’d barely even been kissed.
**Beware: This series is for adults who enjoy steamy paranormal romance with strong urban fantasy vibes and who don’t mind a few f-bombs.**
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Not usually a PRN reader, but I loved this action packed Emily Reed story about a succubus just beginning to learn of her powers in a world ending time! Looks like a great series, Reed has a uniquely engaging style and it’s revealed in Lost Secret (Kiss Chronicles Book 1) with panache!
this was a new choice for me and I have to say I loved it! it has a totally different vibe from whats being written at the moment and to me its really welcome.
We join the main character on her journey to discover what she is, for all those years she believed that she was odd and had feelings that no one else was experiencing. she finds out that people are not who they say are and starts looking at them differently. I felt that this was fast-paced with a good rhythm and cant wait for the second book.
Another amazing story by Emily in which characters pull you in and take you for an emotional roller coaster that has you turning pages until you’re shocked to find yourself at the end. I’m stoked for book 2 and can’t wait to see what happens next with Darling!
Lost Secret – a review by Rosemary Kenny
Megan and Darling are close friends and bandmates in Crescent City – until Megan sickens and then dies, overwhelming Darling with a huge sense of loss.
Weird events follow a visit to a local cemetery, with her remaining band mates, Michael and Emmanuel. As she returns home with her psychiatrist Dr Issa Tor and the latter’s chauffeur/bodyguard, Basil after a gig, they’re attacked by participants in a zombie run and only saved by the appearance of Megan… who’s supposedly dead!
As events become even more alternately strange and erotic, what will Darling discover about loved ones and strangers, whom she seems to connect ever more intensely with?
Author Emily Reed’s wonderful imagination and superior craftsmanship are all too evident in Lost Secret, Book 3 in her outstanding Kiss Chronicles series. Grab a copy today and the rest of Emily Reed’s The Kiss Chronicles series… they’re much too good to miss!
After her friend went missing, Darling’s life changed. She doesn’t know if her friend is alive – she was dying and then just not seen again – and she lives with a sort of emptiness inside her.
Darling soon learns she lives in a world completely different from the one she thought she knew. People start biting and killing each other in rampages all over the city, and zombies and vampires are actually real!
This book took me a little while to get into, but I am so glad I continued reading as I ending up really enjoying the characters and the story. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, especially after reading that ending!
I enjoyed this fantasy book by the author. This is the first book that I have read by this author. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the author. I received a copy of the book by the author and this is my voluntary review.
This book was interesting. It took me a little bit to get into it and then at the end it really took off and got exciting. All the twists and turns that happened really made it hard to put down. I will be excited to see what happens next
I loved it….it kept me on the edge of my seat from the start to the finish….and can’t wait to continue the journey with the next book in the series. I love Emily in other writing styles also…one of my favorite. Highly recommend this book if you are not for the faint of heart…
What a fantastic, original story! I am a huge fan of romance and urban fiction so was really excited to review this book! And the story was exceptional – I read this within 24 hours!
The main character Darling is introduced having lost her best friend, while trying to navigate romance and the zombie apocalypse. The story develops quickly as Darling begins to figure out who her enemies and friends are, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. The story ends and leaves you wanting more and I am excited to see how the next one begins!
This is quite a different kind of book than the previous by this author. Also was quite a new genre for me. And I have to say it did not disappoint. Book was a page turner which kept me guessing all the way to the end, following the twists and turns and ending in a bit of a cliffhanger. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Although it took me a bit to get into the story, once it picked up it was very fast paced with a lot happening. After that I didn’t want to put it down as I needed to know what was going on. This urban fantasy story has your vampires, zombies, warlocks and more. As it ends with a cliffhanger, I’m impatiently waiting on book 2 and look forward to what is to come.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.
This book was a fantasy readers dream come true!!!
Such an amazing plot. I seriously loved the setting, the characters and oh my the world building was so amazing I can’t wait for book 2 and my mind is whirling with the possibilities or the next story.
I can’t wait to find out more about Darling, I am intrigued by religious Vampires I totally wasn’t expecting that and oh the Wizards now they have many secrets to tell and well now I can’t forget the end there that was a shocker…
I have been waiting on this first book in the new and different series by Emily and I was not disappointed! This book took the reader on twists and turns. It was based in the time of zombies and vampires and witches. It totally surprised me as I have read all Emily’s other books and this one is totally different. I loved how different the writing style and story were from her other books. Don’t get me wrong, I will continue to read all her other books but she has grabbed my attention with this book and I can’t wait for the next in the series. It was an awesome book and kept my attention throughout. If you love fantasy set when there are zombies, vampires and witches, you will absolutely love every word of this book! Great Job Emily!
I’ll read anything by Emily Reed (AKA Emily Kimelman), she never disappoints me. This book was a different genre than I normally read but I still enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next book. Who would have thought there would be “real” zombies in a zombie parade!! Even with all the zombies, werewolves, vampires and witches; the book has humor. My favorite line from Darling, the main character, is “The world has gone mad. Making me normal.”
I honestly didn’t know whether or not I’d like this book. I’m a die hard fan of Emily’s Sidney Rye series, but let’s face it, the genre is like apples and oranges.
I loved the story! It was excellent. The characters and the world building were en point, and even though it ended on a cliffhanger (which I normally hate), it was interesting enough to ensure I’ll be continuing the story.
I was provided with an ARC by the author for my honest review.
So I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on this book by Emily Reed and it did not disappoint!!! This book is an urban fantasy lovers dream! It has a touch of everything. Vampires, witches, warlocks, shifters, zombies. What more could you ask for?! I’ve been having fun trying to figure out what Darling is and I have a few ideas but no spoilers here! I enjoyed the flow of the storyline as it enhances the world building and creates depth to the characters. Each detail like a tiny morsel of sweet, delicious
crumbs littering the way as I devoured them all piece by piece. I’m looking forward to so much more in this series! I adore her other work as Emily Kimelman. But I love Emily’s writing style so it crosses over for me no matter the genre.
Darling Price is musician in a city of secrets that is on the brink of disaster and her best friend and anchor has disappeared. Emily Reed has written a great story with a tough, troubled lead, a zombie plague, just enough sizzle to keep it all interesting and some well-timed dark humor. This story has all of the best elements from all of her other amazing series. The pace is smooth, the action is fast …… and the chemistry is hot.
Lost Secret kept me guessing throughout the book, wondering what kind of other-world entity the main character, Darling, would discover herself to be, and what powers she held. Living her life as a musician that feels like she’s lost her musical gift since her sister-friend disappeared, Darling is surrounded by people that all say they have her best interests at heart, but she knows they all want something from her. What she is not sure of exactly.
As a zombie apocalypse unfolds, Darling is sought by Vampires, Warlocks, and other creatures, all the while a battle for life rages, bringing out magic and mayhem.
As Lost Secret unfolds, the various story threads and characters become clearer. As the first in a new series this book will leave questions and leave you wanting the next in the series to arrive quickly.
Well this was a new side of Emily Kimelman (as Emily Reed) that I didn’t see coming. An Urban Fantasy romance with a Zombie Apocalypse, Vampires, Warlocks and a Who Knows What I Am. I received this as an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and it started out with a female violin player mourning her best friend/foster sister/ lead singer who had “left her without a goodby” whatever that meant. I loved this from the start even though I had no clue where it was going. The characters were doing things that I couldn’t figure out whether they were real, figments of imagination or role players such as the Zombie Walk. Well as the story goes on things become a bit clearer but you (or should I say I) cannot really sure but I am definitely intrigued. This book ends in a cliff hanger, which I was aware of before I began and now I’m at the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. Come on don’t leave me hanging! Bring it! Please. I’m ready for the next world!
This is a great start to a first book. I did have a slow start but once I got everyone in place it was a good flow. This book has a few new twist in it that I wasn’t expecting. I am still not sure how I like Darlings friend Megan. They are a bit to codependent to me. I love Dimitri he is your hot vampire boyfriend for sure. There are a few other guys that have you saying hummm maybe she will go a different way by the end. Cliff hanger for sure. What is Darling? What does everyone keep not telling her? Are we going to see Dr. Tor again soon? Emmanuel?????? Can’t wait till the next book to find out more.