AWAKEN: Book One of The Awakener Series

“In a circle of ancient stone, between a scarred stranger and forgotten memories, she’ll discover the most dangerous truth of all—who she was meant to be.”

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Lily McMaster was watching her best friend disappear. Not slowly, the way grief or distance steals people away, but violently—like watching someone drown behind glass while you pound uselessly against the barrier. Three weeks ago, Rachel Perry had walked barefoot into Lavington Psychiatric Hospital in her pajamas and calmly signed herself in. Three weeks ago, Rachel had been whole. Now, as Lily flashed her staff badge at security and hurried past Max’s attempted small talk, all she could think about was the white fog that had consumed Rachel’s eyes that morning, and the aged voice that had torn from her throat: “The Hound is coming.”

The white fog in Rachel’s eyes wasn’t a symptom Lily could find in any textbook—and that terrified her more than anything else. As she locked herself in her office, away from Dr. Altice’s judgmental lectures about “conflicts of interest,” Lily’s hands trembled while pulling up patient files. Hallucinations, yes. Catatonia, sometimes. But eyes that turned completely white while an ancient voice spoke through her best friend’s body? That wasn’t in the DSM-5. That wasn’t schizophrenia or psychosis or any diagnosis she’d studied for twelve years. Rachel had forty-eight hours, maybe less, before the hospital’s protocol demanded heavy antipsychotics—medications that would silence whatever was happening, bury it so deep that Lily would never understand the warnings about the Hound, the Council, the Leecher. Never understand why Rachel kept calling her “the Light” with such desperate hope. And somewhere in the back of Lily’s mind, in the place where her foster-care instincts still lived—the part of her that had learned to sense danger before it struck—a voice whispered: You’re not just trying to save Rachel. You’re trying to save yourself from something you don’t even know is coming.

Identity and forgotten past
Sacrifice for love
Awakening ancient forces
Dangerous attraction
Destiny vs. choice

What Readers Are Saying

★★★★★

“There is so much mystery, adventure, suspense, danger and drama that to mention a little of it would diminish the joy of reading. Twists and turns and surprises galore will have you on the edge of your seat, holding your breath. ” Dee’s Review from Goodreads

★★★★★

“I am so in love with this series. I couldn’t put it down. It definitely keeps you enthralled.”

Connie B’s Review from Goodreads.

This Book Includes

Fated Mates, Alpha Heroine, Political Power Struggles, Slow Burn, Touch-Her-and-Die Energy

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Author R.E.S. Tidmore

She writes bold romance featuring feral heroines, broken heroes, and love stories that hurt before they heal.

Note from the Author

Awaken was my first full-length novel, and the process of bringing it to life was nothing short of transformative. The journey spanned countless drafts and revisions—each one shaping the story, the characters, and me as an author. The final version bears almost no resemblance to the story I began with, and I’ve come to love that evolution. In many ways, Awaken taught me how to write a novel, how to listen to my characters, and how to trust the creative process even when the path forward was unclear.

Through every rewrite, I discovered new layers to the story and to myself. I learned valuable lessons about storytelling, about letting go of what wasn’t working, and about the patience required to follow a book through its many stages. There were moments of deep frustration and self-doubt—times when I questioned whether the story would ever come together, or if I was even cut out to be a writer at all. But with each hurdle, I found renewed determination, and pushing through those doubts made the process all the more rewarding.

Completing Awaken taught me that hard work and dedication truly do pay off, both on the page and in life. It gave me the confidence to keep writing and the courage to face future projects head-on. Looking back now, I’m proud of how far the story—and I as a writer—have come since those first tentative chapters. Awaken will always hold a special place in my heart as the book where I truly found my voice and discovered the resilience needed to bring a creative vision to life.