I received this book for free from the TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Series: The Wanderer #2
Published by Troubador Publishing on March 15, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Historical, Romance, Time Travel
Pages: 400
Source: TLC Book Tours
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Six months ago, Helle Madsen would have described herself as normal. Now she no longer knows if that terms applies, not after her entire life has been turned upside down by the reappearance of not one, but two, men from her very, very distant past.
Helle Madsen never believed in mumbo-jumbo stuff like reincarnation—until she came face to face with Jason Morris, a man who purportedly had spent fifty lives looking for her. Coping with being reunited with the lover from her ancient past was one thing. Having Sam Woolf, her vindictive nemesis from that same ancient past join the party was a bit too much. Suddenly, Helle finds herself the reluctant heroine of a far-flung, time-transcending epic story, one in which pain and loss seem to play a very big part.
This time round, Jason and Helle are determined to make it to the happily ever after. Unfortunately, Sam Woolf will stop at nothing to crush them. That ride into the golden sunset seems awfully far away at times…
When I was approached to read book two in this series for the book tour, Smoke in Her Eyes, I immediately agreed since I was already eagerly reading this book through my Kindle Unlimited membership. I really loved the first book in this reincarnation love story/psychological thriller, A Torch in His Heart, featuring the story of two men the present day who have lived many lives, fighting over the same woman over and over again—sometimes to one of their deaths. Helle does not have clear knowledge of her previous lives while Jason and Sam do—and their burning hatred for each other is at the forefront of each new life as they search for Helle in each incarnation.
Just when Jason and Helle seem to be getting to their happily ever after, Sam will not give up his dogged campaign to destroy their lives. Complicating matters even further is Jason’s sometimes-lover over the centuries Juliet, who still complicates things for Jason and Helle’s relationship for a good chunk of this book.
Helle is a bit of a wounded animal for a good part of this book, and she doesn’t cope well with Jason’s diverted attention. She isn’t good at relationships, so she acts like a stubborn child at times, which puts her right into Sam’s crosshairs. Jason is so preoccupied with Juliet and her convalescence and his guilt that he doesn’t see that Helle is having a very hard time. Their relationship goes through a very rocky patch. Can they ultimately overcome not only a very dangerous enemy in Sam, but a bigger one in themselves?
Even though Jason and Helle are soul mates, Anna Belfrage does a great job of showing that relationships aren’t easy–no matter if they’re destined to be or not. Since Jason and Helle never really got a fair shot at being together in their first life together, now that they do have the chance, they are both messing things up left and right. It’s very realistic and maddening to the reader at the same time. When you throw in the danger that Sam poses to them and their loved ones, it makes Smoke in Her Eyes a bit of a tumultuous, wild, and dangerous ride of a book.
I really loved getting a deeper look at Sam’s side of things. He’s a bit unhinged, and you get to see what’s happened to him over the years to make him so evil and possessive of Helle. You just love to hate him.
I give Smoke in Her Eyes a four out of five. With complicated relationships and plenty of danger, the stakes are even higher in this second installment. I really don’t recommend someone coming into this one without having read the first book. There’s so much that you’d miss and need to understand before diving into Helle and Jason’s relationship and Sam’s deep-seated hatred for them both. I’m eagerly awaiting the third book in this series. Luckily this installment doesn’t end on such a hellacious cliffhanger as the first, so the wait is a bit more bearable.
Find SMOKE IN HER EYES
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Goodreads
About Anna Belfrage
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a professional time-traveller. As such a profession does not exist, she settled for second best and became a financial professional with two absorbing interests, namely history and writing. These days, Anna combines an exciting day-job with a large family and her writing endeavours. Plus she always finds the time to try out new recipes, chase down obscure rose bushes and initiate a home renovation scheme or two.
Her most recent release, A Torch in His Heart, is a step out of her comfort zone. Having previously published historical fiction & historical romance, with this first book about Jason and Helle Anna offers a dark and titillating contemporary romance, complete with a time-slip angle and hot & steamy scenes.
Connect with Anna Belfrage
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Anna Belfrage’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS for SMOKE IN HER EYES:
Instagram tour:
Monday, September 9th: @bookclubwithbite
Monday, September 9th: @booksandchinooks
Tuesday, September 10th: @thereadingchemist
Wednesday, September 11th: @a_bookish_dream
Thursday, September 12th: @mixed_matched_socks
Thursday, September 12th: @book_hangover88
Saturday, September 14th: @novelgrounds
Sunday, September 15th: @lovelyreadergirl
Monday, September 16th: @nsiabblog
TBD: Friday, September 13th: @sarahs_reads
Review tour:
Monday, September 16th: What is That Book About – author guest post
Tuesday, September 17th: Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, September 18th: From the TBR Pile
Friday, September 20th: Sincerely Karen Jo
Monday, September 23rd: Stranded in Chaos
Wednesday, September 25th: @livingmybestbooklife
Thursday, September 26th: @barr_bookworms
Monday, September 30th: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark
Tuesday, October 1st: @myreadingchronicles
Thursday, October 3rd: @sarahandherbookshelves
Monday, October 7th: @escape_in_a_book
Wednesday, October 9th: Book Fidelity
Thursday, October 10th: Treestand Book Reviews
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I’m reading this one right now and it’s everything I loved about the first but MORE! Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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Dear Heather, what a lovely review! Thank you! I fear Sam will be even easier to hate in the final instalment…..
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