Book Review: Pello Island: Cassia, by A. L. Jambor

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This week, we return to the wonderful world of romance with Pello Island: Cassia, by A. L. Jambor. This historical romance spans thousands of years as our eternally-reincarnated heroes choose to fight or embrace their destinies. Every life, they make different decisions--and if they could get it right just once, they'll have their chance at freedom. The characters' weariness with their cursed lives and struggle to overcome their flaws help weave a story that is endearing and compelling. While the historical parts are a bit drier than the modern day ones, both halves work together to create a story that I couldn't put down.

Not sure what the face-thing is supposed to be.

Cassia, our heroine, wakes up on heroin (actually, it's cocaine, but the pun was too great to pass up). It's not the first time she's found herself in a new body, and she stoically drags herself to the hospital to begin detoxifying herself and to meet up with her partners-in-reincarnation. Her cynical attitude and her resignation makes it clear that this isn't the first time she's done this. In fact, she's fed up with the whole dealio. Nevertheless, she's willing to trudge along--until she's informed that this life, she'll either break free of the curse or spend eternity in Hades. The catch? To break free, she'll have to marry her childhood sweetheart. Again.

Darius, though attractive and properly attitude-y, is bad news for Cassia. He's had a gambling problem since Ancient Rome--and because of that addiction, something bad's fated to happen in every single life for him, Cassia, and their currently-missing daughter, Dulcia. Darius' struggle with addiction is both realistically portrayed and sympathetic. Despite his flaws, his longing to make things right with Cassia made him a very compelling character. And likewise with Cassia's struggle to balance her old love for Darius with the knowledge that he can't be trusted.

Most of the story takes place in ancient Rome, where the Reincarnation Buddies grew up. A young Cassia fights the marriage her father tries to arrange for her and dreams of true love. And handsome nobleman Darius fits the bill. But when Darius' irresponsibility threatens to keep them apart, it's up to Cassia to do whatever it takes to bring them together.

This book is an excellent set up for the rest of the series and left me wanting more. Ancient Roman Cassia is extremely different than her modern counterpart, but Jupiter only knows how the years take their toll. There's a few anachronisms--for example, the towel wasn't invented until the fourteenth century--and Cassia's attitude is a little bit too modern to feel ancient. And I wish we had gotten more of the modern day and a little less history, but here both parts weave together to form a cohesive whole, because you know the mystery of their modern day reincarnations--and the key to gaining their freedom--can only lie in their past.

Highs: Character development. All the main characters are quite engrossing, though the secondary characters could use a little more depth. Pacing. Everything moves quite quickly and had me turning pages until the end. Secrecy. By the end, I couldn't wait to find out how exactly the characters had found themselves in this situation.

Lows: Anachronisms. They break with reality to me. Division. I would have liked to see a little more modern and a little less ancient.

My rating? For historical romance, four stars out of five. As a novel, four and a half.

You can download Pello Island: Cassia here