An extraordinary womanâs abilities lead an angel of a man to her doorstepâŚ
With the promise of her expansion now funded, he invites her to join him on a mysterious quest⌠utilizing a secret skill that few know she possesses.
But the devil has other plans.
And fate comes for us all.
---------------------------
Briellyn wanted an angel investor to assist in the expansion of her business. When Eric Windsor makes an offer she canât refuse, with the opportunity to embrace her darkest secret to aid him in return, the monster that haunts her nightmares blurs into her reality.
While the ill-fated call of her fatherâs death forces her to overcome painful memories, it also presses everyone around her to confess their own secrets. With humanity and family hanging in the balance, will Briellyn embrace her fate, new powers, alternate history to uncover the deadly mysteries that threaten those she loves most?
An extraordinary womanâs abilities lead an angel of a man to her doorstepâŚ
With the promise of her expansion now funded, he invites her to join him on a mysterious quest⌠utilizing a secret skill that few know she possesses.
But the devil has other plans.
And fate comes for us all.
---------------------------
Briellyn wanted an angel investor to assist in the expansion of her business. When Eric Windsor makes an offer she canât refuse, with the opportunity to embrace her darkest secret to aid him in return, the monster that haunts her nightmares blurs into her reality.
While the ill-fated call of her fatherâs death forces her to overcome painful memories, it also presses everyone around her to confess their own secrets. With humanity and family hanging in the balance, will Briellyn embrace her fate, new powers, alternate history to uncover the deadly mysteries that threaten those she loves most?
Briellyn
HER FACE is barely recognizable. Itâs morphed into something much darker, more demonic. I donât know this face. The wind beneath her sweeps her long dark locks straight up into the air, yet I feel nothing. I pant, afraid of this situation. My heart beats so fast and hard that I can feel it in my ears. I donât know what to make of it. Two men kneel before her. They mean something to me, yet I canât see their faces. Her long, dark claws dig into their shoulders on either side of her, keeping them subdued.
âLeave them alone,â I cry out to her, staring into the eyes of this creature that strikes a sense of fear and loss within me. The darkness inside her has consumed her entirely and thereâs no humanity left.
âYou get to choose who lives. Or they both die. You can only choose one, if you see it fit.â Her voice is serpent-like, with a faint echo. The room around is so dark that itâs difficult to see much of anything.
âWhy should I have to choose? Please just let them go.â I plead, fear and worry dripping from each difficult word.
âOne may live if we make a trade.â Her tone delighted by her offer.
âWill you take me in their place?â I huff audibly, willing to make the sacrifice.
âOnly one!â She hisses at me. âWould you give your second child in place of one of these men?â Her eyes grow darker, burning into me like a master branding his slave.
I nod yes.
âI need to hear it woman. Speak up!â Her words cause me to tremble, I canât keep the hands at my sides still.
âYes.â Tears fall slowly down my cheeks, the words challenging to voice, âI would give my second child in one of their place.â It didnât matter. I have no children.
âWell then, kill the one that you donât want!â She screams out, pushing both men forward into the light.
âHow can you make me choose? I love them both!â I cry out just before a cold grip takes me by the neck.
He presses me against him then whispers, âYou belong to me.â
My eyes fly open as I sit up to stare into the dark abyss that is my bedroom in a cold sweat. I lean up to glance at my phone. 2:14 AM. I gently press my palm to my forehead. Heâs back?! Itâs been eight years.
â Ξ â
Â
About eight years agoâŚ
THE UCONN Huskies are about to win the National Championships and my best friend and I are at the loudest possible bar in Connecticut watching the game. We just finished taking a shot with the exceptionally hype crowd in this bar. I grab the lemon provided, sucking it to take bite off. I laugh carelessly as Justin and I make our way back to our little booth off to the side. âBest night ever,â he yells out in glee.
He's particularly handsome this evening. The muscular form fitting navy t-shirt heâs wearing with light jeans and boots seems to accent his rugged appearance. He sports a goatee and light brown hair, tapered short cut, somewhat messy on top. His green eyes appear to glow in the dark beyond his perfectly manicured brow. The little boy I once knew has become quite the handsome man. Howâd I never really see this?
He glances briefly at a woman who passes by us as she lightly brushed her fingernails across his shoulder. She flirtatiously waves at him as she continues walking, but he shifts himself to face me instead. I smile, staring off at her. âSheâs cute,â I shrug, attempting to get a reaction.
âAh, not my type,â he grins.
âAm I your type?â I coyly ask, fiddling with the beer in front of me.
He beams at me before sliding closer, âIâm sorry, what?â
âHow come youâve never flirted with me like you do other girls? Am I not your type either?â I shyly ask again.
âI honestly thought youâd never bite. Or perhaps, youâd just play it down like you do to other guys. Plus, you could probably do better than me,â his nervously rubs his chin.
âBetter than you? Is there such a thing?â I smile at him, nervous. âSeriously, give me your best line.â
He laughs, âIt doesnât work like that!â
âCome on, just try!â I encourage.
âI would never cheapen the most gorgeous woman I know by attempting a one liner,â his expression grows serious, his eyes staring so deep into me it feels intimate. Without a second thought, I practically jump into his lap and kiss him. The moment my lips are on his, the buzzer goes off and the entire bar erupts in chaotic cheer. Theyâre as invested in this as I am. His lips are soft and welcoming, the slight taste of salt and lemon from the shot still lingers as his tongue massaged mine. My God, to be kissed like this. My whole body just melts into him with every second we remain lip locked. I want him, now.
âCan we go?â I whisper between breaths.
âAbso-fucking-lutely,â he smirks, stealing another less intense kiss, âIâll be right back.â He rises from our booth to head to the menâs restroom. I canât stop smiling. The butterflies in my stomach only intensify.
âHi there,â a manâs voice interrupts my growing devious thoughts. He stands in front of the booth, âAre you here alone?â Iâm surprised I didnât notice the man at first, tall, handsome, athletic.
I beam at him, because I canât seem to stop smiling, âNo, my boyfriend and I are going to leave shortly though. Do you need the table?â
âBoyfriend you say? Lucky man. Well I just walked in and saw your beauty from afar and had to take a chance.â
I blush, âAw thank you.â
He holds out his hand to me, âCan I know the name of such a breathtaking woman?â
I extend my hand to his, âBriellyn,â
He smoothly grips my hand to bring it his lips, âWhat a fitting name. I will bid you goodnight, beautiful Briellyn.â He kisses the back of my hand, graciously pats it, before walking off.
Justin shows up only a moment after, âWho was that?â
 I shrug, blushing, âHe tried to pull a you.â
âWell letâs go, gorgeous, I wouldnât want anyone else to attempt to steal your attention,â he wraps his arm around my waist to lift me from the seat, kissing me in the process.
I stare into his beautiful green eyes, âNothing could take me away for you.â
Twenty minutes laterâŚ
We arrive to the front door of my apartment, two floors up from his place, kissing uncontrollably as I get the door open. Every inch of me wants him, right now, the bedroom can wait. I guide him with kisses to my couch as peels the jacket from my shoulder to kiss my neck, his other hand on my breast. Between kisses he states, âI love everything about you.â He pulls my shirt up over my head, leaving me in my bra and jeans.
âYouâre perfect,â I manage before asking, âyou have protection?â
âMy gun is in the car,â he breathily states.
I giggle, pulling back from him to see his expression, âI meant a condom.â
âI know,â he smiles, reaching for the wallet in his back pocket, still taking all of me in. He momentarily stops kissing me to look through his wallet. âShit, I mustâve dropped it when I paid for drinks.â
âYou got some in your place?â I query, still softly kissing him.
âYes, let me run down to get it,â he prompts, kissing me one more time.
âIâll go with you,â I insist.
âNo!â He retorts, drinking the sight of me in, âStay just like that. Just hit pause, Iâll back in two shakes.â
With that, he disappears out the door. I bite my lip in anticipation of what our future will bring. I lose myself in deep sexual thoughts before eyeing the glowing bottle of water in front of me. I take a large sip of it before laying back on the couch in an attempt to look as sexy as possible. Before I know it, Iâm sound asleep.
I feel paralyzed, unable to move yet fully conscious. A cloaked figure stands next to the couch staring down at me. âYou belong to me,â he states angrily, before reaching out to smother me.
This 2nd edition of The Great Balance by Terrene Davenport is the first installment of a thrilling paranormal romance series that follows Briellyn, a quirky girl boss, who is approached by a mysterious billionaire interested in her business and the secret ability she possesses. Briellyn signs a contract for him to invest in her business on the condition that she accompany him on a quest to find some hidden relics, but their plan is delayed when she receives a call about her fatherâs sudden death. She intends her trip home with him for the funeral to be a quick one, but the visit takes a turn when Justin, her estranged friend surprises her after eight years of no contact, seeking to make amends for their failed tryst. Reuniting with him causes a conflict of emotions as her attraction grows towards Eric, her billionaire investor. But the real conflict is the ominous, hooded figure that starts appearing more in her dreams after she meets Eric. The connection is no coincidence, and as she begins to question Ericâs intentions for making the contract, she begins to unravel an even bigger mystery that involves the fate of the world and her part in saving it.Â
Davenport builds great suspense by introducing plot developments with limited details. There is more simmering beneath the surface for most of the book, such as with the quest or Briellynâs powers. But uncovering the secrets creates an engaging reading experience that allows us to resonate with Briellynâs character by learning at the pace she does. The reader is also given bits of added context through Ericâs POV chapters that tell us there is more to his contract than he initially lets on. Their chemistry is electric, and as a fan of the romance genre myself, I soaked up every bit of sexual tension and witty banter between them. Briellyn is immediately attracted to him, and the obscurity of his character definitely makes him more alluring, but despite his flirty demeanor, we get to see his real intentions shine through his POV chapters. She is a means to an end, and that end is the biggest mystery of the book. Â
Eric is the one who introduces Briellyn to the supernatural part of their world, which is an interesting take on the paranormal genre since it draws inspiration from biblical texts similar to Hush, Hush. But she has felt its effects long before meeting him - namely through her nightmares - which are her most prominent connection to the supernatural and introduce an element of eeriness as the dreams show a rising threat looming over them all. Yet despite the suspenseful narrative and foreboding dreams, the writing style is very light-hearted and comical in nature. This creates a very engaging reading experience and contributes well to the relationship development between Eric and Briellyn. But their relationship arc seems to dominate the focus of the narrative over the other plot points and softens the intensity, like the suspicious nature of her fatherâs death and the hooded figure that keeps haunting Briellyn. Her mind is so wrapped up in Eric that the conflicts surrounding her donât seem as important. As a result, I had a difficult time connecting with her character because her interactions didnât feel sincere or believable. We get told more than shown how she is affected by her environment, especially while being back home where she is forced to face the memories of her traumatic childhood. The relationship arc is still very compelling, and the major conflict between good and evil that remains a mystery for most of the book is built up well for the sequel.Â
Overall, this book was very entertaining to read, with a pace that keeps the pages turning and a swoon-worthy romance that employs the love triangle trope well. This book focuses more on building suspense than showing the action it builds towards, but the cliffhanger at the end alludes to there being more of that in the sequel. The dialogue is also very entertaining to read and reflects the characters well through witty banter and an engaging writing style. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy paranormal narratives that revolve around angels and demons, as well as stories with a strong female protagonist and a love triangle romance. This book is also intended for an adult audience as it has some explicit content not suitable for younger readers.