Adam Hartzler has always been an honorable immortal, but the fine line between right and wrong begins to blur when he is called to his true mate. If he does not find and claim her soon, he will lose his soul and humanity, transforming into a vile predator controlled by insatiable bloodlust, sentenced to a demonic and tortured eternity as a vampire. Adam sets out on a quest to hunt his mate and … mate and claim her before it is too late. His salvation relies on his destined mate’s surrender, but when she refuses to cooperate, Adam must set aside his morals and do what is needed to survive. Time’s slipping away with his control, and his territorial instincts refuse to let her go.
Annalise Snow awakens on a primitive farm removed from modern civilization and in fear of her life. Her captor is determined to keep her prisoner and believes he is somehow entitled to her future. But she will not surrender easily. When Adam asks for the ultimate sacrifice, she must decide if he lives or dies.
Passion and emotion collide in an explosive meeting of destined souls, but love is never a guarantee, especially when eternity begins with betrayal.
(A completely rewritten version of the 2010 published novel Called to Order by Lydia Michaels)
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If you are into paranormal romance – vampires in particular – as much as I am (I’m a vampire junkie) and are not blown away by this story, then you’ll need to do a re-read because you could not have been paying attention. When the honorable Adam Hartzler, an Amish Immortal, is called to his mate, Annalise Snow, he finds a foul-mouthed waitress/college student – the one who can save him from death or worse. Annalise, however, is not happy or convinced, and definitely doesn’t trust Adam or intend to give up modern conveniences. Thus, begins the journey of Adam and Annalise that totally wrecked me. These Immortals are living as Amish and follow the teachings and laws of The Order, who rule their kind. Adam must convince Anna that she is his destiny and gain her trust, but his complete trust in their traditions and God’s plan is nearly his and Anna’s ruin. There are so many intricate details told by Lydia Michaels, and she pulls the entire story together beautifully, as she always does. From Anna’s background, to Adam’s family members (especially his twin, Cain) and the family’s past, there is so much to grasp, and it’s all laid out to ensure your interest. So many twists and emotions, it was an intense read for me. I loved this story so much that I know I will definitely read it again and again. I really can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
Amish Vampire Romance?!
This was something entirely new for me, also a new author that I’ve come to love just from this audio/book right here!
The beginning of the story had me hooked, I was a bit nervous seeing other reviews about the ending but overall was an amazing and unique read for me! Definitely can’t wait for book two and continue reading from this author.
Holy vampires!! Wow
I received an audible version of this book and Wow…I was blown away. First, not only were they vampires, but they were Amish vampires…teehee!
The narrator, Lucinda Gainey, did a great job building the world and keeping me utterly entranced. I barely wanted to go to stop listening in order to go to sleep!
I really enjoyed this truly original vampire audible and can’t wait to listen to the next one!
I recieved an ALC for my honest review.
Original Sin, an Audiobook by Lydia Michaels is the unusual paranormal vampire story of Adam and Annalise. Wow….the premise of this story is ‘out there’!!! Adam is an Amish Vampire who MUST find his mate…enter Annalise. Well, he takes her! Therein lies the story!!!
I was a little concerned about the strong religious undertones in the first part of the story. But, it was all good!!!! I liked Adam…who has very strong beliefs and a great moral compass. Then, there’s Annalise, who wants what she wants!! Nevermind anything else. But, what does she really want?
Quite a fascinating story that was easy to become immersed in!!! These two characters were fabulous and the story line was certainly one-of-a-kind!!!
This story was narrated by Lucinda Gainey, who has an ethereal quality to her voice that lends itself well to this particular story!! Very enjoyable listen!!!
I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advance Reader Copy of this Audiobook.
Wow, what a story.
I really like vampire stuff, but I never read a book about them.
But I would have missed something, if I didn’t listen to this story.
Adam & Annalise – 2 species from different cultures are made for each other. But will Annalise believe Adam and spend her life with him?
The story is written in different POVs, not just Adam’s and Anna’s.
It’s interesting and I didn’t want to stop.
The author has written a brilliant, unique story that you have no choice but to devour. It’s a paranormal romance that is so much more. It’s one that I have read more than once and still don’t have the words for a proper review. You think you know what is going to happen, yet there are twists and some unexpected turns that make you want to turn pages, even after the story has ended. You will want more. I highly recommend this and cannot wait for the sequel to be released.
I will never be able to write a good review to give this book justice. What I will say, this book will knock off another in my top five favorite books of 2021 and replace it.
Adam, an immortal. Not a vampire.
“Living under the guise of an Amish sect allows them a certain level of privacy not found elsewhere.”
He’s been waiting on his calling. A dream that shows him his chosen mate. These immortal, it’s what they’re waiting on. To find that one female. That one women who wither shall cherish forever.
“Dreams were said to be a mystic vision sent by God, his way to call upon individuals and lead them to the destined mates.”
This does have religion on it. Being someone to detest’s religion, it didn’t bother me. This is not a clean romance. We have non/con somnophilia blood sucking/biting for starters.
This thing about these dreams? This calling to your mate? You have little time to find her and start the change to have her also become an immortal. Because if you wait to long, you become an unhinged, blood lust, murderous, vampire – and you will end up executed.
This is a journey of Adam who is desperate for his mate. Loves her with everything he possesses. But his mate? She’s a modern day independent woman.
“Asking his mate to sacrifice everything she trusted and knew, to follow him to a society of traditionalist.
She would lead a simple life, just a plain clothing, and forgo all modern technologies.
His journey suddenly seemed daunting and impossible. What modern female would sacrifice all that for a stranger.”
And boy does Annalise let him have it. Her character is so real and powerful. I’ve never read such a fictional character that I felt like was ME. Her every thought, word, and action felt like it was a decision I would do/say in that moment.
“Violated. Robbed. Stocked. Kidnapped. “
This is one hell of a journey of a woman who’s life have been turned upside down. Kidnapped. And told to submit to this stangers way of life.
-Oh and let me turn you into an immortal or my death will be in your hands kinda decision.-
Plot TWISTS. ANGST level HIGH. HEA with an opening to secondary characters getting their own books. I hope.
“You might want to start taking your multivitamin, because I plan to utterly exhausted over the next few centuries. “
5/5
Original Sin was a unique take on the vampire novel, and I loved it. Fated mates that must meet or dire consequences. Societal differences that separate the main characters. And all of this is on an urgent timeline that history has shown has dire consequences if not met. Woven all through is a family dynamic tied up in centuries-old tradition the reader can somewhat grasp because of how the author places them in her world. Brilliant, really, and I can’t wait to see how this Lydia Michaels continues to introduce us to this family of vampires!
Adam and Annalise’s story was a great twist on vampires and I loved every second of it. Adam was on a mission to find his one and only true love so when Annalise stepped on the scene it wasn’t as smooth sailing as our adorable vampire would have liked lol
Ok this is my first book by this author and it is a strong 3.5 stars for me. It is also my first paranormal with this sort of a twist. I love a paranormal where there are fated mates. Where one needs the other to keep their humanity or survive. Adam is our hero that knows his time is coming. He feels his soul and meets the other half of his soul. The issue is can he deal with the spirited waitress who has a mouth on her? Their road is rocky and they have a few twists and turns they need to overcome.
The storyline was very unique but it just fell a little short for me. I guess I was expecting something a little darker.
5 ORIGINAL SIN STARS!! Wow, I could not put this book down….it was so good. I loved the push and pull with lots of twist and turns. This was my first book by this author and I need more words.
Original Sin was an interesting read. It was a completely new take on vampires and fated mates. I’ve read a lot of vampire romances and this was something I’d never read before. It was also my first book by Lydia Michaels.
This fated mates romance told the story of Adam Hartzler and Annaliese. Adam is a vampire but like I said, this is different. His vampire community calls themselves “Immortals” and they live in their own community among the Amish. The immortals don’t dream. If they do, it’s because they’ve found their fated mate. When Adam dreams of Annaliese, he has to immediately set out to find her. He now only has a matter of time to find her and change her before he develops blood lust and has to hide from the sun as a vampire. Annaliese does not make it easy.
This was an extremely SLOW burn. Everything is slow until you are past the 50% mark. Once things get going, this book really gets good. The last half of the book just gets better and better as each chapter passed. I listened to this audiobook, narrated by Lucinda Gainey. Her narration was flawless with a regal nature to it that really fit with this particular story. The last few chapters seemed to set up the next book and they have me so excited to read book two. If this sounds good to you then I definitely recommend you read it. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
Original Sin is a different take on vampires than I’ve seen, which immediately caught my interest. And many parts of this first in The Order of Vampires series make for what promises to be an intriguing series. That said, I had some mixed feelings about this one. I like the idea of Anna not giving in and swooning all over Adam from the minute they meet, that even though she feels drawn to him, she’s skeptical and wants answers. It actually feels longer than it is before they fall into bed. The book is quite long, (longer than necessary in my opinion), so it seems longer than the few days it takes before this pair seals the deal. There is a lot of will she or won’t she even after the steamy fun, and the book really is wordy, which makes the pacing rather slow. Nevertheless, I liked the world created here, and I liked the premise and the characters. I also enjoyed the narration. Lucinda Gainey was new to me, but she did a great job with Anna, capturing that willful, determined streak. Honestly, this would have still been 4 stars if not for the twist toward the end. It was interesting, or would have been, but it just didn’t work for me. It felt out of place with everything that had happened between Adam and Anna, and if what happened was the plan from the beginning, I don’t understand the way things were before that twist. I know how it was explained, but there were still some things that didn’t mesh with the way it all happened. So, while this particular book may not be everything I hoped, I still enjoy Lydia Michaels’s writing and she certainly knows how to capture a reader with the steamy goodness. I would say if you’re looking for something a little different in vampire romance, and you like some sexy with your hearts and flowers, this one is worth checking out, and you just might find a new series in the process.
This book puts a completely new slant on the traditional vampire myth that we’re used to. In Original Sin, the immortals as they are known are hiding in plain sight as a god fearing Amish sect. With very little interaction with the outside world no one notices that they don’t seem to age and it’s almost a puritanical way of life with women having no rights at all and are seen as their husband’s property. Like in most paranormal books they have fated mates and when the calling hits or when they start dreaming of their mate they have a limited window in which to find them before they lose control and ultimately their souls and become full blown bloodthirsty vampires and go on a killing spree – think of a feral Gary Oldman in Dracula! When the calling is upon Adam he leaves his family’s farm and, following the scent of honeysuckle, sets of in search of his mate, Annalise. The trouble is Annalise is a modern day girl with the lifestyle to match. Does she really want to give everything up and live in what is basically the eighteenth century?
I enjoyed the premise of this story but I’m not too sure about the whole Amish scenario. The billionaire vampire thing has been done to death but something makes me think immortality can’t be all it’s cracked up to be if your life is the same dull routine day in day out and if you are a woman, it must be like an eternity in hell – personally I’d be begging someone to stake me just to escape! There has got to be some kind of happy medium. The actual love story between Adam and Anna itself was good but a part of me felt that Adam was just a bit too juvenile in his manner. I did like the cast of secondary characters and I am looking forward to the next book in the series which I think I’ll enjoy more.
OMG , what a unique and intriguing love story, I was not expecting a story like this but it blew me away and once started reading I couldn’t let go.
So amish and vampires, I’ve never thought of this combination but it defiantly work and I’m so happy I got to read this book because it just gives a different perspective of what vampires are about.
This book was just a rollercoaster of emotions. When Adam is called he never thought of finding a woman like Annalise. Someone that will turn his world and believes upside down. Adam has always follow the rules in his community, never questioning what the “Olders” rules were but after finding Anna and the few surprises along the way he must decide what he truly wants.
This book has the right amount of steam, drama, defiance and shocking revelations that will keep you on your toes. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I don’t even know what to say. This book has me all up in my emotions!!
Modern-day independent woman meets Amish Vampire. Makes for a pretty intense story with some seriously hot scenes. (I love me some Adam!!) It’s a one-of-a-kind read.
Lydia Michaels has created something truly unique. I love seeing the different ways authors describe vampires, but Amish? Who would have thought?? It’s the perfect cover. Absolutely brilliant!
A story of love and survival. It’s full of suspense and intrigue, love, and heartache. There are so many wonderful characters and I hope we get to read all of their stories.
This was my first book by Lydia Michaels and she’s officially become a favorite. I’ll definitely be reading more from her.
If you’re a fan of Paranormal Romance, then this is a MUST READ!! You won’t be disappointed.
TBH when I first started this book, my eyes rolled so hard b/c I thought I tripped and fell into a Christian read and that’s just not my thing. Sorry, not sorry.
But y’all this book was so freaking good!!!
The story line is so captivating and really takes you to another world.
Let’s see if I can do it justice.
Anna, she’s trying to get through life, working hard at school to become something big so she can get a better car and apartment. For now she’s working at the local bar and just chilling. She starts having weird dreams and ends up drawn, oh so drawn to a patron of the bar.
Adam, he’s something else. He’s an Amish Vampire. Yes you read that right. First for you? Yea first for me too. No sparkles and crazy city escapades, he’s living on the freaking prairie. He also starts having weird dreams and gets the permission to seek out his future destiny.
Anna is defiant. Adam lives by the rules. Anna has a big heart and wants to help. Adam wants her to be his and obedient.
This is not just about Anna and Adam. There is a big twist that you may start to guess at as things unravel. And it’s just not about their story. There is another side story that I need to know more about…ahem…Adam and Caine’s sister and the big boss man!!! HELLO!!!! Like I need that story yesterday.
This was my first time reading Lydia Michaels, I can’t say I will go and read her full back list but I can say I will be reading the rest of this series.
Thank you Valentine PR and Lydia Michaels for an Audio code. Although I prefer Dual POV narration, Lucinda Gainey performs this genre perfectly!!!! I can seriously listen to her reading any vamp novel I decide to indulge in.
Audio ARC received and I decided to leave an honest review.
What a whirlwind of a story. I haven’t had my mind changes about characters so many times before. And what a unique vampire story! I loved it. I had conflicting emotions all the way through. That made the journey that much more fun. At first I didn’t like Adam. He was an entitled male and he was taking Annalise from the life she knew because of his peoples beliefs. Then expects her to submit to his way of life, forgetting all she knows and cares about. I would have told him to take a hike. And that’s why I loved Annalise. She was strong and stubborn. She definitely kept Adam on his toes. This is a story that I think all couples need to learn. It’s about comprising. Adam had a hard time with this because of what his community has taught. And don’t even get my started on some of the people in that community. I loved how at the end I loved Adam and Annalise together. Their journey I felt. There are a few major twists thrown in that had me shocked. And I definitely want to continue on in the series. I have to know what happens next! A must read/listen for paranormal fans. This narrator was the perfect voice for the feel of this story.
Flock review. I can’t deny this book was unique, I have never heard of Amish vampires before and certainly never thought of this combination before, I was very skeptical about it, I started the audiobook and it stared a bit slow, but it then it picks up and we get to know Annalise and Adam’s story, definitely recommend it, the audiobook is narrated by Lucinda Gainey, she did a good job, the characters she portrayed them fine and close to what I expected.
What an original vampire story! Vampires living in an Armish community so they can be incognito from humans. There’s a lot going on in this book even in this quiet community. Brothers in a battle for love. Wonderful world building and interesting side characters that need their own book. Though the pace is slow the emotions are high – jealousy, possessiveness, anger and plenty of angst, in the beautiful love story between Adam and Annalise. So many questions remain in their story the most pressing of which – Will Annalise give up her mortality to save Adam? Find out in this audiobook beautifully narrated by Lucinda Gainey.