He wipes blood from his mouth with his bare arms. “I need you to hold still so I don’t feel the need to chase and conquer. Do you understand?”I feel his breath on my skin. “My chances if I run?”“None.”I had wondered if I would be strong enough to love Ryder, my stranger from the woods. I learned that I was—still am. But now Ryder, Gunner and I have a young together, Rain, the Princess go the … Princess go the Guardian Warriors. And a very powerful being, King of the Shadow Clones, wants her dead. The only time I ever saw King was in the dream where forced a kiss on me, sending me into labor. Yes, I learned I was strong enough to love Ryder, but with a new stranger in the woods, will he be strong enough to love me?
Author, India R. Adams, blurs the lines between “good” and “evil, between “black” and “white”, and shows us the beautiful spectrum on the gray tones. She will make you fall for those darker shades of gray, as well as the lighter ones. She shows us the importance of the balance, and of nature. She shows us the complexity of “human” nature and humans in general… and well elves too. She shows us that every action has immeasurable consequences, and that sometimes certain outcomes are unavoidable. The spiritual undertone in this book is beautiful. —Blogger, The Reading Cat
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River is book two in A Stranger In The Woods series and the story just gets better and better. Once again we are taken on a beautiful journey full of warriors, elves, guardians, humans and prophecies full of twists that had me anxiously turning the pages to find out what would happen next. A well written story, amazing characters, and a beautiful love story make this a fantastic read!
A phenomenal story that leaves you breathless!
WOW! This series is just amazing. The utter phenomenal storytelling with complex characters in an epic fantasy world is one story not to miss. I love this fantasy world, the deep connection the characters have to nature, and the battle of goodness and light against the darkness and evil.
Right from the very start you are thrown into such a vivid, detailed, vibrant and life-like magical world with characters who will captivate and enthrall you with their passion, strength and love for one another. This story continues to take you on an intense emotional journey that will leave you shocked at times and utterly breathless at others.
The story is with action, suspense and so many twists and turns that will leave you clueless on how it will eventually end. Rose, Ryder, Gunner and Rain’s story is fraught with insecurities, trust issues, agony, loss and an out of the world love that no one can compete with. They are such fierce characters that when the unexpected tragedy happens to them it breaks your heart and sends you on a tailspin of despair. I became so emotionally involved with them that I felt their sadness and anger deep in my heart. Their story left me breathless and begging for more.
This amazing author knows just how to make us readers become emotionally invested in her stories. She captivates us and enthralls us with her emotional and passionate words to the point that we are literally riveted to our seats and will not put the book down until the very end.
I can’t wait for the final book in this series, but I will definitely be heartbroken when it ends.
Yeah…so I deff finished this in one day. Or, more to the point, one night. It’s THAT kind of a book, that you won’t want to put down once you get started.
If you thought Rain’s birth would mean all is good and lovely, sorry to spoil it, but it’s only the beginning of another adventure. A struggle for survival as Rose tries to protect her baby and her men at the same time.
I am once more amazed at how easily India writes the whole triangle of Rose, Gunner and Ryder. But it works so well!!!
I was at once heartbroken and elated while reading this book. The action is on-point, the romance will make you swoon, but the struggles… Aye the struggles…. will break your heart.
Looking forward to Mist!
*ARC kindly provided by author*
I received a ARC copy of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you India R Adams.
What I love about Adams books, is that although they are bricks, every single page holds a truth we must know; has a purpose; a reason to be present. So much happens from the very first page you read to the last one. The whole story evolves, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
One of Adams’ many strengths is that she is able to trick you so effortlessly into believing something that turns out to be counter-proven in the end. You don’t even see it coming, because that “fact” was so deeply rooted in you, and the whole story, so you believed, stemmed from it. As you know, I’m typically good at predicting what will happen, which is no fun, but the fact that Adams can break from the clichés is just so refreshing.
My favourite aspect of this book is Adams blurring the lines between “good” and “evil”, between ‘black” and “white”, and shows us the beautiful spectrum on gray tones. She will make you fall for those darker shades of gray, and well as the lighter ones. She shows us the importance of balance, and of nature. She shows us the complexity of human nature, and humans in general… and well elves too. She shows us that every action has immeasurable consequences, and that sometimes certain outcomes are unavoidable.
The spiritual undertone of this book is beautiful. I could not help feeling blissful as I was reading the novel. The underlying spirituality brings with it and incontestable lightness; hope. Something so undeniably India R. Adams.
ARC so kindly given by India R Adams.
I was extremely lucky to be chosen as a beta reader for this amazing story.
So starting there I would like to thank India for the changes made. It made a huge difference to how I felt about certain characters. (Although I love them all. Bar one)
For me I felt the beginning was maybe a little confusing and jumpy in parts. However, knowing India’s stories as I do i knew to keep going and believe me India doesn’t disappoint.
From the moment Rose runs with Rain it’s an explosion of action, twists, turns and omg I knew it moments. On top of all that your emotions are going to be going haywire. love, hate, shock, sadness, despair and joy.
I couldn’t read fast enough but also didn’t want to get to the end.
You can’t help but get emotionally attached to all the characters.
One scene had my nose burning, my eyes leaking and my heart hurting.
In typical Gunner style “Now kiss me. F****r” had me laughing whilst leaking.
“No you’re my legand. Now let me be yours” had me a blubbering mess.
I popped over to Purple Flames on FB as at this point I had to stop and pull myself together. It’s only a story right? pfft. Sure tell my heart that.
When you get to the end of River you’re not going to be wanting Mist. You’re going to be needing Mist.
If you haven’t already reading Rain is a must.
Thank you India for an amazing second instalment.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book direct from the author.
This is book 2 in the Stranger in The Woods series, and you really MUST read Rain, book one first. I really enjoyed that one.
This one?? Not so much. Mostly because this book is LONG!!!
Rose had her baby, Rain right at the end of book one. This one is about the run up to River’s birth. Ryder is River’s father.
It is again written first person, present tense, multi point of view, mostly Rose and Ryder, with some Gunner and a few other, less savoury characters, but it is right that they have a say. And it bothered me more here, than in Rain, the present tense thing, and I’ve no idea WHY!
There is a huge chunk of the book that was kinda…trippy….for want of a better word. When Rose and Rain are kidnapped by King and are dwelling in another plane, I got lost. There are two or three names for the same body that is inhabited by King. Sometimes his speech is in italics, and sometimes not. I’m still not entirely sure about the past life thing between King and Rose!
There is, I think, a MUCH bigger picture that still isn’t clear for these characters, and sometimes that’s a good thing but here?? I’m thinking not so much. I have no idea, not a single clue, where this story is going, and I felt that right down to my bones as I was reading. I began to skim far far more than usual, and that is never a good thing.
I did, however, read this book in one single sitting, and it ain’t no novella, let me tell ya! Not sure how many pages it is, but it took me 5 hours! So it kept me mostly engaged, except the trippy bit which was confusing to say the least!
So, because I read it in one go, because everyone who needed to has a say, and because I really do need to know where this is going…
4 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
India has my mind spinning in this second book!! I could not put it down!! The amazing about India’s books is that she can breaks my heart, torture my soul and I will continue loving her books!! I can’t wait for Mist!!!
The second book in this trilogy was even more exciting than the first. So much happens with these wonderful characters. I was glued to my kindle from start to finish, left dying to know what happens next.
Strangely enough (for my tastes) I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I finished Rain. Yes this is not the type of book I would never normally willingly read, but like with all her other stories, the author has created a world you can’t help but love.
After a prologue that will batter you with so many emotions, you are thrown right back in to where book 1 left off. Fully in her stride now the author does not hold back on her vivid and amazing imagination. Her attention to details transport you into a magical world that sometimes you forget that you’re not actually there.
With twists and turns you won’t see coming, you’ll be sent on a rollercoaster of emotions with no safety bar, with no clue of the fate of those around you. I haven’t mentioned any character names in my review as so much happens to each and every one of them. You will be enthralled and unable to look away, completely forgetting that for some like me this is not your usual go to read.
I’m so glad I read this close to Mist’s release so that I don’t have long to wait for answers, but will definitely be sad to see this series and characters go.
“They understand the beauty in the small things that add up to be grand things – like love” wow, where do I start with this one? This book was a little of a love/hate relationship. I love the characters, and the story definitely keeps you on your toes… twist on a twist on a twist. Every time I thought my favorite characters where finally getting to something of a happy end the plot twisted. The uncertainty of Gunner’s fate drives me a little nuts, because of his selfless love for the women and his guardian brothers he is my favorite, and I was kind of hoping for a little resolution by the time the book ended. The fact that the characters seem to have so little agency and are controlled by a destiny, that is not just for their well-being is a concept I really struggled with. Even though i sometimes felt like throwing the book in the corner, it was worth the read! Now, I will be waiting to see what happens in the next book.
River is the second book in the A Stranger in the Woods series, and continues where Rain finished. Rose and Ryder are together, with Gunner firmly in the mix too. Now that Rose has had Rain, Ryder is struggling with feelings of jealousy. Things ease when Gunner finds a female of his own, and their quartet becomes stronger than ever.
This is one action-packed book! I don’t think there is a single page where there isn’t something happening. With more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at, you will find out more about Rose and Ryder’s pasts. One of the things I loved about it is how the ‘big bad’ is not just one-dimensional. There is a rhyme and reason for everything that happens, and to everyone who has an appearance. Just try to keep that in mind as you read, although it will be difficult to think of anything other than what you are reading.
With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this story flowed like a river that gives it its name. The pacing was smooth, and the whole story was full of action in one way or another.
Fair warning though – this book does end on a cliffhanger, which is good in one respect. It just means I need to wait impatiently for Mist. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
I received this as an ARC. I love this author and have read many of them. They grip your emotions and don’t let go till the end. Leaving you wanting more.
You will love this story. You will love the characters to the point you will cry for them and laugh with them. You will be so moved.
This writer has left me in tears — my favorites are frozen in various states of unfinished business.
This story has broken promises , pain,deals, retribution, and hell mixed in with love, family,
and loyalities….I want the story to continue — it will I hope… My heros will be back I hope.
I look forward to reading more from this writer — shes awesome…