Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Valley of the Shadow by Elizabeth Hunter Series: Elemental World #4.5
Published by Self-Published on December 10, 2019
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 114
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
For eight years, Baojia and Natalie have pursued their goals: family, career, friendship and love—trying to carve out an ordinary life in an immortal world. And for eight years they’ve been mostly successful save for a world-bending adventure every now and then.
Except that their life was never ordinary. It was never going to be.
Natalie and Baojia might have made plans, but when ordinary life comes crashing down, they’ll have to turn to the family they have chosen—vampire and human—for help keeping their world together.
Five couples, four kids, three weeks, two paths… and a partridge in a pear tree?
For Natalie Ellis, it’s time to come home.
Elemental World is a PNR spin-off series from the Elemental Mysteries which was more urban fantasy following one couple. Elemental World series starts during the Elemental Mysteries but has a different couple in each book. I don’t recommend reading the series out of order – I never do – but with the ongoing story throughout, it wouldn’t be the best plan. The series plot and the world-building are excellent.
A holiday story, just longer than the 100 pages I use as a novella delimiter, Valley of the Shadow continues Baojia and Natalie’s story which came to life in Blood and Sand. The couple wanted to have children so Natalie has remained human to have their two children and raise them. Their schedule and plans have gone well; they are happy. Natalie has continued her work as an investigative reporter. The plan has always been for Natalie to turn vampire when the children are over 18. But now there’s a problem.
We see Natalie’s decisions about her life and death with the support of all their friends and family as they come together for the holiday at the South American ranch. In addition to allowing us to go through this emotional journey with the couple, we also get to catch up with everyone in the Elemental World. This sort of holiday “love letter” is appreciated since we see all our favorites and hear their latest antics. Combined with Hunter’s stellar writing and emotional character progression, it’s a must read for me.
About Elizabeth Hunter
Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher.
She currently lives in Central California with her husband, son, very ineffective canine assistants, and a pitifully empty fish tank.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in both Central California and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of the Glimmer Lake series, Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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enjoyed your review and learning about the book. thanks for sharing
It’s amazing series but part of a big world of books.
I’ve read the first book in this series longer ago than I care to think – glad that it goes on developing into something special and original… Thank you for a great review.
I think the whole world is incredibly well developed and written.
This sounds so good! I just signed up for KU so maybe I can work at least one of her books in before my 3 months are up.
I wouldn’t start here though. I’d start at the beginning of any of the series. OK it looks like Cambio Springs PNR 3 books and Irin Chronicles UF , then PNR 6 books, and Ink contemporary romance 3 books, are in KU right now. Cambio Springs is my favorite of all her series but they are all good.
I either need to go back and try to read/listen to the original series, or wait for her to release a new series all together! haha.
The shortest are Cambio Springs (my fave 3 books PNR) and Ink (contemporary romance, also 3 books) which are both in KU right now.
oh a story set in a at the South American ranch!!! I should read it! 🙂 My family used to have one 🙂 I LOVED IT 🙂
It’s at the end of a spin-off series. The ranch is in the original series also. But the whole thing is more character driven and not much about the ranch.