Chosen (The Chosen #1) [Kindle Edition]

Denise Grover Swank (Author)

Book Description

Book One of The Chosen series **This is a paranormal thriller/romance**

Second place finalist in the 2012 Write Touch Readers' Award-- Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic 

*****
"A new voice in the urban fantasy genre, Grover Swank is definitely one to watch." RT Book Reviews

"Allow me to introduce you to an amazing new urban fantasy series. Chosen is book 1 and November can't come fast enough until I get book 2, Hunted into my hot little hands." Another Look Book Reviews

"I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal, action packed read. I know I for one will be eagerly awaiting a follow up to this book." Rea Book Review

****
Everything Emma Thompson owns fits in a suitcase she moves from one roach infested motel to another. She and Jake, her five year old son who can see the future, are running from the men intent on taking him. Emma will do anything to protect him even when it means accepting the help of a stranger named Will. Jake insists she needs Will, but Emma's never needed help before. And even though she's learned to trust her son, it doesn't mean she trusts Will.

Mercenary Will Davenport lives in the moment. Hauling Emma to South Dakota should have been an easy job, but his employer neglected to tell him about Emma's freaky son and the gunmen hot on her trail. Instinct tells him this job is trouble, but nothing can prepare him for Jake's proclamation that Will is The Chosen One, who must protect Emma from the men hunting her power. A power she doesn't know she has.

Will protects Emma and Jake on a cross-country chase from the men pursuing them, while struggling with memories from his past, his apprehension of Jake, and his growing attraction to Emma. Will's overwhelming urge to protect Emma surprises him, especially since it has nothing to do with his paycheck and possibly everything to do with the tattoo Jake branded on his arm. Rich and powerful men are desperate to capture Emma, and Will must discover why before it's too late.

Winner of the 2011 Beacon FF&P division

The Chosen Series
Chosen #1
Hunted #2
Sacrifice #3
Redemption #4 (October, 2012 release)

The Chosen Short Stories- prequels
Emergence #1 -- Emma's story
Middle Ground #2-- Will's story (July 1, 2012)
Reader's Choice #3-- Readers pic the story in a poll at the author's website (August 1, 2012)

Product Details

• File Size: 655 KB
• Print Length: 366 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1463692463
• Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises (September 16, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005NSF3ZQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,983 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Paranormal > Psychics

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore negative reviews July 12, 2012

By Kevin J. Bom

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading a number of the negative reviews, I was hesitant to buy it. However, it still sounded interesting so I read the sample and that led me to get the full book. I am very glad I did. The book is a good read with good character development and significant suspense.

One or 2 reviews was very critical of the use of the F... words (F... and F...ing) which occur on average about 2 times per chapter. Contrary to the one review, they are not in front of the child that often and if you live in the real world, the phrases they are used with are actually very common (i.e. What the F...?). Although I do not use the word myself, it IS the way a large portion of the population speaks and and sounded perfectly natural in its use throughout the book.

As far as the story jumping back and forth between the thoughts of the main characters, each view DID contribute to the plot development and even more so to the character development.

There was a section of the book that did have quite a bit of sex involved (although not what I would consider graphic - much less so than a typical romance novel), but it was significant to the development of the characters and their relationship with each other as well as how it fit in with their past.

In summary, if you have grown up in a sheltered environment, do not read this book (it might offend your sensibilities). Likewise, I would not recommend it for pre-teens. However, if you don't mind a book that reflects realistic personalities, I highly recommend this read!

I just finished it and am now getting the next book in the series that I am looking forward to reading (thankfully it is already available so I don't have to wait).

70 of 78 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong, driving narrative makes it a nail-biting speed read October 3, 2011

By Heidi Tretheway

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Before I read Chosen, I read a guest blog by the author who described how the idea for Chosen's paranomal element came to her. The special connection between the three main characters is richly imagined. But many paranomal books veer off-course because they spend so much time on the paranormal elements themselves that the plot gets lost. Not the case for Chosen - it's fast-paced, intense and carefully crafted to keep readers focused on the truly human struggle that's happening. My only regret is discovering this book before all of the Chosen series has been released, so I'm DYING to know what happens next, in Hunted. Great suspense!

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Exciting plot, weak protagonist June 19, 2012

By Mithrendiel

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sadly, Chosen did not resonate with me. It's an exciting premise: A woman and her young child on the run a powerful, mysterious enemy. Car chases, gun fights, men in black, espionage. It had all the makings of a great story, but there were a few things that really irked me.

On the positive side: I did enjoy Wil. He was snarky, sexy, and fun. I didn't trust him at first, but he grew into an amazing, multidimensional character.

The sex scenes between him and Emma were very well done, and unquestionably steamy. ; )

The story definitely moves, and managed to keep me interested. I loved the mystery, the prophetic elements, and the intensity of everything. I found myself biting my nails and staying up late to finish.

Where the story lost me was all on Emma and her relationship with Jake.

My biggest complaint: A four year old child called the shots and made all the major decisions for the first 50% of the book. "Why was she taking orders from a five-year-old?" Emma asks herself this very question at one point in the book, and I found myself asking the same thing. Jake doesn't listen to Emma at all - but she does everything he tells her to do, which drove me nuts. I mean, I know some kids are stubborn, but it seems Jake has no respect for her. She constantly tries telling him to do things, and he flippantly ignores her and does whatever he wants. Instead of dealing with this rebellion with some sort of disciplinary action, she either casually ignores it, blatantly caves to his whims, or crosses her arms and sulks. She's completely a victim to the whims of her child.

He's FIVE YEARS OLD lady - I mean come on!

There is a moment in the story where big, bad, evil things happen. Instead of dealing with these things, Emma goes completely catatonic, putting herself those with her in danger. She refuses to run, or fight. Instead she makes the mature choice, and sits down on the ground weeping and wailing, giving away her position to everyone hunting her. In her situation I would be heart broken, but more importantly, I'd be angry. Big, BAD things happened! Where's the righteous anger, the need for vengeance? As people, our true mettle is revealed in hardships. We are defined by how we deal with things when life pulls the rug out from underneath us. It's in those times that the true strength of our souls is revealed. Emma proved conclusively that she has no strength of spirit. She's a bendable reed, and not worth the ink her story is written in.

Emma's general lack of backbone made me strongly disliked her character. She was weak, and acted like a child so much of the book. She spent the first half of the book bitchy, sulky, and ineffectual, completely unable to set boundaries for her son. She spent the last half of the book falling apart and needing others (Wil) to save her.

Beyond the weak characters, the story was also rife with plot holes, inconsistencies, and illogical story elements.

The great thing about Chosen is it's pace and plot. Despite my complaints with it - I finished the book in one day, and there wasn't a single time I felt bored. Annoyed yes, bored no. I am curious to know what happens to Jake and Wil, but I'm not sure I'll read more in the series.

More About the Author

Denise Grover Swank is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, romantic comedy mysteries set in the south, and sexy new adult contemporary romances. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

You can find out more about Denise at www.denisegroverswank.com or email her at [e-mail]