Possess My Soul
Possess Saga # 5
By- J.A. Howell
Publication Date- May 15th, 2014
“Being half-fae I had the ability to sense others' impending deaths. Anomalies. Deaths that didn't have to happen. Sometimes, if I had enough time to get to them, I could stop their deaths. But I never imagined I'd see my own.”
With only a week to go before she gives birth to her daughter Emma, Harley Faye Finley chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice. Trade her life for that of her daughter’s. When the time comes, she’s ready for the inevitable.
But something goes wrong.
Harley survives.
But someone…or something else is in there with her.
As this unknown, malevolent force fights for control, Harley finds herself a prisoner in her own body, and those she loves are now in mortal danger. Will she, Nolan, or anybody else be able to stop it before it’s too late?
Or will the Harley they know and love be lost to them forever?
REVIEW
I'm a huge fan of J.A. Howell's, and this book was a fantastic reminder of why I love the Possess Saga so much. I got to meet up with some of my favorite characters again and it thrilled me to no end.
This book is so much darker than the other books in this series. With an sadistic demon on the loose I knew I was in for one exciting rollercoaster ride, and I was hooked from page one. With the arrival of baby Emma I was hoping this wonderful family would have a bit of normal for a little while, but the action started right off the bat and never let up. My heart went out to Nolan. That poor man put up with so much in this book and he was still the sexy, loving man I've enjoyed getting to know throughout this series. He was the perfect husband and perfect father. His moments with Emma were so moving and precious, and they made my heart melt.
Harley also had so much to deal with in this book. Not only was she possessed by evil, which she tried so hard to protect her family from, but then she had to face the truth and consequences of her actions. She may not have been the one behind the brutality, but it was still blood on her hands.
I enjoyed the dual POV throughout this story, and it was great getting to know Fate a little better. He too was pushed to the brink of madness and his story about how this entire mess came to be sent another jolt through my heart.
This story was filled with anguish and pain. It ripped at my heart and soul, and I just wanted the nightmare to end for everyone involved. Howell tested her characters to the max while leaving me emotional spent.
This book was a stunning, imaginative paranormal read about true love, forgiveness and courage. Spectacular!
EXCERPT
When we reached the hospital, it was chaos. There were ambulances, police, and news vehicles crowding the Emergency entrance. I tried to hear what was going on, but we weren’t close enough. None of it mattered anyway. I’d be gone soon.
“I’m a couple days early, but I already called the doctor. We don’t need to go in that way.” I assured Nolan. He eyed the ER, then turned the truck around to the main entrance and pulled up in front of the glass doors. He handed the keys to the valet, thanking them before helping me out.
“You called everyone else, right?” I looked up at him as he eased me into a wheelchair. “I want them to be here for yo—I want them to be here when Emma comes.”
Nolan gave me a questioning look but nodded. “Yes, I called them. Aggie is rounding up the troops as we speak.”
“Good.” I felt a little more at ease at that thought. Of everyone that had been there with Nolan when something went wrong, I trusted Aggie the most. I was sure she could help Nolan through this too.
“Harley! Ya okay? Is it another one?” Nolan stopped and kneeled in front of me. I was doubled over, my hand gripping the side of the wheelchair. I could only nod, letting out puffs of breath. A couple nurses were already rushing to our side, seeing me in active labor.
“Come on, mommy. Let’s get you into a room.” The woman’s chipper tone stung me.
Mommy. I won’t get the chance to be her mommy.
Twenty minutes later we were settled into a room in the maternity ward and my contractions were coming quicker and stronger than before.
“My, first time moms usually are sitting and waiting for hours for anything to happen. You’re just moving right along, aren’t you?” The nurse shook her head after she checked my dilation. “Hope your doctor gets here before the baby does.” She joked but I gave Nolan a nervous look.
He kissed my forehead and came closer to the side of the bed. “It’ll be okay, love.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Another wave of contractions hit me hard. My fingers gripped the bed railings and I tried to hold back the scream forcing its way up.
“Breathe, baby, breathe.” Nolan’s hand caressed my back and I let out a slow breath, tears stinging my eyes.
“I’m scared.” I couldn’t help the pitiful tone in which the words came out when the contraction finally subsided. Nolan leaned over me as I laid back. He brushed the strands from my face that were stuck in place from the sweat coating my forehead.
“Yer doin’ good. Yer almost there, love, and I’ll be right here the whole time.”
I nodded, pressing my forehead to his and his fingers intertwined with mine. I didn’t want him to be here. I didn’t want him to watch me die. But it was a comfort to know I wouldn’t be alone. I gave his large hand a squeeze, savoring the feel of it and the way mine fit in it so perfectly. God, I didn’t want to let go.
I won’t. Not until I have to.
The doctor came into the room a couple minutes later, just as another wave of contractions subsided.
“Well, Mrs. Finley, you’re ready to go. Next contraction, I want you to push, got it?”
I nodded, still clutching Nolan’s hand as another one hit.
“Alright, here we go. Push!”
I let out a pitiful whimper at the pressure building within me, but pushed with everything I could.
“Alright, just a couple more pushes, Harley. You’ve got this.”
I already felt my body weakening, but I did what I was supposed to. Just how the vision went. I pushed again and the world blurred around me.
“Harley, I can see her head! You’re almost there.” Nolan’s voice was filled with joy, and a tear ran down my cheek. I didn’t want to leave him, but at least he’d have her. Our baby girl.
“Okay, one more push.” The doctor’s voice was barely distinguishable, but I already knew what I had to do.
“I’ll always love you, Nolan.” My words slurred together and I gave his hand one last squeeze. With everything I had left, I pushed. I heard Emma’s wailing just before the lights faded overhead and my hand slipped out of his.
“Harley? Harley!”
BOOK SOUNDTRACK
Possess My Soul got a lot darker than the rest of the series...and as a result so did the playlist for it. There is also a lot of action in this book so there is a lot of songs with heavy thumping beats on here as well, like Rammstein. Nightwish and Apocalyptica were really great to write to especially with all the paranormal elements. Imagine Dragons just fit Lucas’ character really well.
1- Flesh and Blood- Johnny Cash
2- Bye Bye Beautiful- Nightwish
3- Scaretale- Nightwish
4- Fake Angels- Lovedrug
5- Feed The Fire- Combichrist
6- Retaliate- VNV Nation
7- Storytime- Nightwish
8- Bodies- Drowning Pool (A good song for when shit hits the fan)
9- The Widow- The Mars Volta
10- End Of Me- Apocalyptica
11- Radioactive-Imagine Dragons
12- Du Hast- Rammstein
13- I Don’t Care- Apocalyptica
14- Demons- Imagine Dragons
15- Bleeding Out- Imagine Dragons
16- Not Strong Enough- Apocalyptica
17- Seven Devils- Florence + The Machine
18- Breathe Me- Sia
19- Don’t Bring Me Down- Sia
20- All I See- Lydia
21- Hospital- Lydia
22- Arabesque- Nightwish
23- Last Ride Of The Day- Nightwish
24- Save Yourself- Stabbing Westward (I named a chapter after this song)
25-Come Little Children- Erutan (One of the prettiest and creepiest songs)
26- Wild Horses- The Sundays (Serious Nolan Feels)
27- Never Tear Us Apart -INXS
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About the Author
J.A Howell is an office drone by day, and a writer by night. Her love of writing took off when she was eleven years old and decided to fill a composition notebook with stories to read to her friends. Many years (and notebooks) later, not much has changed. She still loves writing and sharing her works with others. When she isn’t writing, she can often be found trying her hand at whatever artistic pursuit strikes her fancy. J.A. Howell resides in Apopka, FL with her husband and their menagerie of animal children.
