Location: United States
Member Since: Aug. 05, 2012

Carmen Pacheco

Biography

Robsessed.

Married with 2 girls.

Where to find Carmen Pacheco online

Twitter: @alzgalz

Smashwords book reviews by Carmen Pacheco

  • The Legend of the Blue Eyes on May 07, 2013

    B. Kristin McMichael dips her foot into the genre of Young Adult PNR, with The Legend of the Blue Eyes. Our heroine, Arianna Grace, has no idea that turning 16 will change her forever: SHE is the legend come to life. In a rather rapid transformation (literally), Arianna cannot seem to catch her breath before being flung into this supernatural culture. “You need to feed, or the pain will get worse.” “Feed?” she asked, confused. Arianna felt a jolt of pain rip through her body and she closed her eyes. With one fluid movement, the young man pulled a knife from his pocket and cut his own wrist. “What…?” Arianna began to ask, as she opened her eyes to find his bleeding wrist near her face. Arianna felt an urge come over her. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at the blood. Without thinking, she reached for his bleeding wrist and licked the blood away. Arianna felt the pain inside her subside. The world around her dimmed, and she passed out. Welcome…not! A mysterious person whom has been communicating via discreet notes confirms a meeting to deliver answers about her family. Arianna’s mother died after giving birth and her father died when she was four; she is being raised by her aunt and uncle. The revelation is more than Arianna could have anticipated: Great Uncle, Gabriel, one of TWO living relatives, tells her she will be meeting her mother’s father, Lord Randolph, and will now live at his estate. Arianna is the product of a paranormal Romeo and Juliet: Her mother was a purebred dearg-dul (aka vampire) and her father was a purebred Baku (“night human” aka demon). The two clans have been at war for hundreds of years (because they both feed on blood) and Arianna has reached the age where she must convert into the new species. As you can imagine: BOTH sides want her! So much for Sweet 16. Before I get into the love story(ies), I should explain the legend itself (though I didn’t learn of it until about 57% into the book!). The legend states that for the blue-eyed one to reach full power, he or she must take five companions: each of a different race. And just like that, this is no straightforward love story. Devin is the first person attached to Arianna. He is a “day human” (nothing supe about him) and groomed by Grandfather Randolph to be Arianna’s guardian. Their attraction is almost immediate, but Devin is hot and cold with his feelings; completely frustrating/confusing Arianna. He supplies her with blood, he even kissed her, but is that because she’s an “assignment”? Does he like her or doesn’t he? This part didn’t bother me so much because I swooooon for first love (YA or otherwise!); those insecurities are universal and relatable. What I didn’t enjoy, though I’m not the exact demographic for YA, is that by adhering to the “collection” of custodians (those who will supply Arianna with blood and become irreversibly connected to her), there is an influx of feelings from every new custodian she takes on. Forget about the YA love triangle. Enter Turner the Lycan, Andrew the Baku, and Thomas the Tengu (he flies). Even as I’m writing this, I’m wondering: Aren’t we missing the Dearg-dul? Or is Devin fulfilling that role since he supplies blood? Perhaps she doesn’t need that race, because she is already part vampire, but then again she’s also Baku and so is her custodian, Turner. Questions…lots of questions. Not to worry! Ms. McMichael is set to release the sequel, Becoming a Legend, in June. I’M FIRST IN LINE!!!! ☺ Arianna learns she has been surrounded in a supernatural environment all along (vampires, lycans and bakus, oh my!). Problem is, under Lord Randolph’s instructions (Uncle Gabriel’s pretty guilty, too), no one was allowed to advise Arianna of the monumental legend she would come to fulfill. Arianna finds herself embroiled in kidnappings, poisonings, and nefarious plotting to undermine current leadership. With little choice but to embrace this new life, Ms. McMichael keeps you interested in Arianna’s rise to glory and pursuit of adjustment and happiness. The story is far from done. In “P.S.”-mode, while I am no fan of lycans, I did like Turner’s approach (he is the second person attached to Arianna and has a really great role in the story). Uncertain of Arianna’s feelings for Devin, Turner moves with intention and lets Arianna know he is interested. Maybe if Jacob had approached Bella li…nah, even then, Edward was clearly the better choice! :D I hope Ms. McMichael trusts me to continue this series…I need to reconnect with this group.