Dark Vortex

Mated by Magic, Book 1

By: Stella Marie Alden

Narrated by: Simone Gayuma

Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Lust and desire light up the night in this first of four steamy stories of paranormal passion.

Jack's about to lose his friends, family, and even his life unless he finds a powerful witch to call his own. Fate brings him the perfect woman except for one fatal flaw. She never learned the art of dangerous foreplay, the mating duel.

Can he train her in time?

Zoe is a warrior-healer, orphaned at birth. She believes magic is all a harmless game until one night a dominant, brooding, sexy-as-sin warrior collapses in her tea room. When he ignites a craving deep within, she must decide if he's worth fighting for.

Is there a place for hearts in this magical world, or will their love destroy them both?

Warning: Swearing, mating, and scenes for mature adults only.

A satisfying happily ever after guaranteed.

©2017 Susan M. Hammond (P)2019 Susan M. Hammond

Jack and Zoe

The first book in a series set in the modern world where witch clans are divided into either warriors or healers and the Solstice brings on their urge to mate and merge their magic with someone. Jack is the leader of his warrior clan and when he gets injured is taken to a healer, but instead discovers a possible mate in Zoe. Zoe only recently learned of her magical heritage and knows next to nothing about this new world she finds herself in. As a reader, you get to discover all about the witches right along with her. The connection between Jack and Zoe is electric and jumps out of the pages. Zoe has someone after her and Jack is facing a fight for the control of his clan, and their only hope is to mate and hope their combined power will be enough to defeat their enemies. An action-packed story filled with suspense, twists, drama, and steamy romance.
The narrator does a good job bringing the story to life and portraying all the emotion in the story. She also does a great job with the Russian accents for the villains in this story.

Good story

I actually got this entire series for free but it was not in exchange for a review. However, I have decided to give the first two books my unbiased review.

First of all, they are well written and the narration is pretty good. I am sure the story is good but I had a hard time finishing this book because the main female character was so annoying. She was obviously in danger, yet kept going off by herself. I understand that the main male character was always miscommunicating his feelings which was another annoying trope but she kept disbelieving what was in front of her.

The thing that saves both these books for me is that the writing is good and the narration was pretty decent. I wrote this in the review for book 2 as well.

Again, this is only my opinion. I am not really into what I consider to be a trope. But at one time I loved books like this. As my taste has changed these kinds of books whereas all areas of their lives the women are smart and strong but when it comes to common sense they start being stupid, I just can't take it. I will finish the series and hope that the main female character changes since in the 1st book as well as this one, they were very similar.

recommend

loved it. the narrator did a amazing job. i cant wait to start the next one.

So Glad I Found this New Seires!

I offered to review this audiobook because I am such an an avid reader but also almost exclusively audio due to my schedule. Because of this, I can be critical of narrators. Especially when books have a single narrator required to speak with different voices for multiple characters. Most cannot do it without having some errors where they use the wrong 'voice' for the wrong character. I am a true believer in the fact that a bad narrator can destroy a great book and have turned away several books with good ratings because of just that. The narrator in this book did a great job, so I was able to listen to the book without issue.

Next is the story. I am not one to give a lot of specific story details since I feel you should read the story for that, and in this case, you won't be disappointed. This is book 1 in a paranormal romance series, which has great characters and an interesting storyline that make you want to keep listening until the story is over. There is intrigue, suspense, and romance. What more can you ask for in a new series. I am off to read book 2!

I received a free review copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.+

Wow just wow

What an amazing take on witches totally loved this book. I was listening at work and didn’t even want to pause it when I had too. The characters are great and easy to love. Although their coming together wasn’t as straight forward as it should have and could have been. But it is was at least a happy ending.
Simone was an awesome narrator, easy to listen.

Good Story

Good story with twists and turns. Will read the series. Looking for the next one.

Paranormal appetite

Zoe and Jack
I love their story it was intriguing fascinating heart-wrenching sizzlean and oh so sexy don't forget the action , suspense an intriguing storyline it original gem
overall this is a five-star read in the narration was fabulous like a wet dream come to life

Magic and lust creates a hard earned vortex of lov

Dark Vortex (Mated by Magic Book 1) by Stella Marie Alden is a very well written and narrated paranormal romance with tons of magic, high emotions, suspense, danger, failure to communicate and one complex complication after another.
Zoey, unaware of her ancestry, finds herself in a world that completely and utterly confuses and frightens her. What should be comforting, her Mate Jack, only confuses and hurts her time and time again. Jack, relieved to have finally found his true mate, fails to realize how much Zoey needs his understanding, patience and care. Jack, the leader of his clan is alpha all the way and selfish in many ways when it comes to Zoey, his untrained and unaware of magic Mate.
While the magic within them is strong and continues to pull them together, the failure to communicate creates many opportunities for the antagonist to create havoc, putting Zoey in danger and threatening Jack's life.
Overall, a great book to read or listen to and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The HEA is promising for Zoey and Jack as well as the future of their clan. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for some of the other characters introduced in Dark Vortex throughout the rest of the series. I will definitely be giving them a listen too!

Great!

This was such a great story and so different from what I've read from Stella Marie. I was not disappointed though. There's magic, lust, love, and even some angst and suspense. I couldn't put it down and now can't wait for the other books in the series. The narrator does a good job of showing the emotions of the characters and bringing them to life. I would have loved to have a male and female narrator though as I prefer that and helps me get into the story more.

Dark Vortex

Hmm, I’m speechless. This book had me sucked into it I hate pressing the pause button weather it’s that I got to work or had to go to bed. I truly felt that Jack and Zoey were meant to be and the hurdles a true test of love. Above all I love the complexity of this couple. I must say I was looking foreword to Zoey or Jack getting even with her fathers’ family.