Title: Depth of Return
Series: Another Healing 02
Author: M. Raiya
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Length: Novel (216pgs)
ISBN: 978-1-63477-539-7
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (5th September 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ – 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Betrayed and left for dead by his lover, North has retreated to a secluded island to nurture his coven of witches and their demon partners. His group uses the magic of starlight to bring as much peace to the world as they can. It’s enough. North has no desire to look for love again.
When an accident on a carpentry job reveals that he is a demon, Alan Holsen is sent to North for training. Alan possesses a rare healing ability—one he might be able to use to close the old wounds in North’s heart. While North teaches Alan magic, Alan teaches North to love again, and they both struggle with the leftover resonance of their haunted pasts.
Just when they dare to relax, North’s old enemy returns—and sets his sights on Alan. To save him, North must enlist the aid of neighboring covens, and he learns he isn’t as alone as he thought. But in the end, only North’s love for Alan and the power of the stars have any chance of saving them.
Purchase Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/depth-of-return-by-m-raiya-7482-b
Review: This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
For the last two years North has lived on his small Island regrouping, building up his strength and nurturing his coven of witches and their demon partners, when he’s sent a new demon to begin his training he expects a ten year old child and an easy time… what he gets is a twenty one year old man who hits all his switches. Alan got the shock of his life when he fell from a roof and flew, the owner of the roof explains what Alan really is and Alan finds himself with a reluctant tutor.
This is a fantastic paranormal story that has witches and demons working together and falling in love. North fell in love once before, believing the demon, Gagnon, to be his but Gagnon used and abused him and left him for dead, now North doesn’t let anyone close. Taking Alan on has North confused something about the man calls to him but strange things start to happen starting with a necklace North lost two years before.
Now before we go any further let me say that I didn’t read the first book Another Healing so I don’t know if a full explanation of witches and demons was explained and although there is a brief explanation all I really got from it was the only difference between a witch and a demon, who are both human, is that witches have more talent and demons more power… so yeah no demons from hell or anything like that. Other than being a bit confused as to the whole demon thing I think book rocked!
North and Alan are great characters, they have a few confused moments between them before they find their feet with each other but then the really exciting stuff in the story begins. North’s past comes back and throws North for a loop, can he trust Alan’s appearance, the necklaces return and his bastard ex’s sudden pleas or is something more sinister going on.
This really is a fantastic story that keeps you reading from the first page, firstly because North comes across as a gruff, grumpy git (I was surprised he was only 26), you then get hooked with the magical appearance of a sea monster and a dragon, we become really invested in North and Alan as we learn both their stories and see them opening up to each other, and then we devour the pages as danger heads their way. This really was exceptionally well written.
I recommend this story to those readers who adore paranormal romances, who love characters who have seen the worst and come out stronger, who love magic, danger and finding love and a fantastic storyline that you don’t want to put down.
