Review: World After by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #2)

Title: World After by Susan Ee

Published: November 21^st, 2013 by Skyscape

Format: eBook

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Genre: Paranormal | Dystopian

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A-

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go. Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Review

Like the rest of the world I LOVED Angelfall.  It took forever to get book two, and unlike it usually happens to me with sequels, I couldn’t wait to read World After.  It was not as good as its predecessor, but good nonetheless.

Penryn is still our kick-ass hero.  Sorry, but there is no better way to describe her.  She is loyal, stubborn, strong, fearless, smart, caring; in short, she’s awesome.  After she comes back from the dead (almost literary), she is trying to reconcile her past with the crude reality of the world after the angel invasion and with Paige has become.  Nothing is getting easier for anyone, but we learned a lot about angel politics, crazy scientists, Paige, and future plans. 

Raffe (insert *sigh* here) is one hot angel.  He’s loyal to Penryn (the only one on his side) and trying to find out what the heck happen with the rest of the angels, while still wearing demon wings.  I think my disappointment with World After strives from the fact that Raffe and Penryn were NOT together for most of the book.  It seems like once they were (maybe after 2/3^rd?) the story became so much better.  

The chemistry between Penryn and Raffe is absolutely amazing!  Even if it is forbidden for an angel and a human to be together, and they are fully conscious of the fact, they can’t help what they feel.  I hope that the next books have more time of them together.

The characterization is great.  I love Dee and Dum, and their reliability to Penryn.  Penryn’s mom is still crazy (there’s no cure for her kind of crazy!), but she’s still smart and her survival skills are uncanny; also she tries to keep her daughters safe the only way she knows how. 

The plot and world building of this book is outstanding.  You don’t know what to expect or when, it’s in constant horrific motion.  This book is not for the faint of heart as the angels are even more ruthless and the mad science experiments are getting crazier by the minute. The writing is impeccable and easy to read (even when it’s not easy to digest what’s actually happening!).   

It seems like Penryn & the End of Days will be a five book series, and of course it will take years for us to know the ending, but I wish the best for Penryn, Raffe and the rest of the World After.  I can just hope that the next book won’t take two years to be published.

Some quotes for you:

“I look up to say something but he puts his finger to my lips and whispers, “Don’t talk. You’ll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.”

“It is painful to see that people prefer a bad guy who looks like an angel to a good guy who looks like a

demon.”

“I kick him in the face point blank with my high heel.

He wasn't expecting that.

The Angel flies back off the stage.

"It really is you,"says Raffe.”

“My only thought is that I am not going to end up truly dead this time in Raffe’s arms. I am not going to be one more wound on his soul.”

“He glares at me. "I've had to watch you die once, isn't that enough?"

"All you have to do is make sure it doesn't happen again." I give him a sunny smile. "Simple."

"The only thing simple is you. Stubborn little..." His grumbles fades to a point where I can't hear them, but I suspect they're not compliments.”

About the cover: This one is not as pretty as Angelfall, but then again, these are Raffe’s new wings.  Nothing is pretty in the World After.

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)

Hi gorgeous people! I'm so excited for participating in the Blog Tour for The Liberator! I really love Dante and I was missing mi a lot :)   Welcome to my stop on The Liberator blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Title: The Liberator by Victoria Scott 
Release date: August 27th, 2013 by Entangled Teen
Source: Provided by the author for review
Format: eBook
Age group: Young adult
Genre: Paranormal \ Romance
Grade rate: A

Bad boy, meet bad girl.
Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.


With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

Where to find The Liberator:

   

My Review

I feel like a groupie right now and I’m going to start this review by shouting: I LOVE YOU DANTE! With that off my chest let me get on with the review.

The Liberator starts a few weeks after the ending of The Collector (see my review here) and finds Dante trying to revel against his new status. Dante being, well.. Dante, tries to weasel out of doing his duty and wants to stay close to Charlie to protect her.  Dante is head over heels in love with Charlie he’s not afraid to show it, for which I’m grateful.  Sometimes the ‘bad boy’ in books comes off as the quiet, stoic, suffering type, and that is just not like Date.  He continues to be his bad, but better self and I just adore him. Charlie has changed a little due to the events in the previous book, even if for a moment there at the beginning I wasn’t quite sure what was going on.  I’m glad it wasn’t anything major.  At the end Charlie and Dante make such a cute couple and I can’t help but to be in their team. Their romance is kicked up a notch in this book and I wanted to swoon more than once. 

We visit with old friends from the previous book; Kraven, Valerie, Annable, Grams, and Max are all there.  The notable new character is Aspen.  I like Aspen a lot, she seems like a female version of Dante, and I’m so happy that they developed a really deep friendship (thank goodness there was no love triangle here!). 

The plot is complicated by all the secrets kept by angels and demons alike.  People, talk to each other pleeeaase! Keeping Dante in the dark was really dumb!  The politics of heaven and hell are complicated, but understandable.  Hell is not a nice place at all!  Even so, Ms. Scott has a wicked imagination; needless to say I’ll pray really hard that I don’t EVER have to see it. The writing is awesomeness personified!  Being in Dante’s thoughts is just magical, hilarious, sarcastic and more. 

The ending was such a cliffhanger! I cannot wait for the next book in the series and more Dante :) Overall, The Liberator is a solid hit and a great addition to the series that I’m glad to report does not suffer from the second book syndrome.

About the cover: Gorgeous right?

About the Author

I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.

My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.

*Author Links*

     

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of YA Bound Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by YA Bound, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Review: Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods #7)

Title: Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz

Published: January 15^th, 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased

Format: Hard cover

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal – Angels, vampires and demons

Challenge(s): Finish the series

Grade Rate: B

  

Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince of Hell is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on winning the heavenly throne for good. This time he has his greatest angels by his side, Abbadon and Azrael—Jack and Mimi Force, as they are known in the Coven.Or so he thinks. Even as Lucifer assigns Jack and Mimi the tasks of killing their true loves, the Force twins secretly vow to defeat the Dark Prince once and for all. But how far will Mimi and Jack go to conceal their real loyalties?Meanwhile, former vampire Bliss Llewellyn has joined forces with Lawson, the greatest wolf of the underworld, to free his people from their imprisonment in Hell. As they struggle against impossible odds, an ancient message, woven into the very fabric of time, reveals just how much depends on the success of their mission.Lucifer seeks the key to the Gate of Promise, and when Schuyler is taken captive and delivered straight to Hell, she must make an unthinkable choice—the same one the archangel Michael was forced to make during the Crisis in Rome. Will Schuyler find the strength to do what he could not?The epic, heartbreaking Blue Bloods series comes to a close with this final novel about staggering courage, unbearable sacrifice, and the immortality of true love.

Review

After investing a lot of time on the Blue Blood series (this is book 7!) I’m happy for the ending that Ms. de la Cruz gifted us.  Gate of Paradise answers all your questions and then some.

The story starts a few months after the ending of Lost in Time (my review here).  Schuyler, Oliver and Kingsley are in London and they are guarding the gate and getting ready for the battle to come.  Schuyler and Jack, which have been some of my favorite characters in the series, are not together for most of the book, but I still enjoyed their story, especially Schuyler’s which is full of discoveries. 

I never warmed up to Mimi, even though she is one of the most interesting, conflicting and strongest characters.  On the other hand I love Kingsley, he is adorable, honorable, and loyal to the end.  Oliver got what he deserved and so did a lot of other characters. 

I have to say that I did like the ending, but the execution was a bit rough.  For starters, the story of the wolves and Bliss, which is told in the companion book Wolf Pact (and that I haven’t read) confused me a lot.  Not enough background information was given and in my opinion, it should have stayed in the companion book, even if they made an appearance at the end, instead of making Bliss the narrator of some chapters. Also, the story is told from numerous points of view (in the third person), and from different times and settings.  I’m sorry to say that this turned out to be very confusing to me as well. 

Don’t get me wrong, the ending was good and it made me cry. BUT it was kind of abrupt and all ends were tied very neatly… Maybe too neatly?  Overall, I’m happy with the series and also with the ending.   I’m eager to start Ms. de la Cruz’s new series, which starts with Frozen, and the new Blue Blood spin off (Vampires of Manhattan?)

A few quotes for you:

“Because love was not the answer to every question. Because real love meant sacrifice. Sometimes love means letting go.”

“I know you. I know this isn't you. And even if it is, I still love you. As much as I always have. You will always be mine. I will always love you, I promised you that when you left, and it's true now.”

“Evil was seductive and easy, and virtue was difficult and unappreciated.”

About the cover:  Gorgeous, right?  I have to say that the covers for the whole series are beautiful.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: The Liberator by Victoria Scott

Published by: Entangled Teen

Release date: August 27th, 2013

Bad boy, meet bad girl.
Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

Why I want to read it:  I LOVED The Collector and Dante, of course!  I can't wait to read about him again, although I'm not too crazy about a love triangle.

What are you waiting for this week?

Celebrate my 2nd Blogiversary here

Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

Title: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Published: April 30^th, 2013 by HarperTeen

Source: Puchased in Audible

Format: Audio book narrated by Erin Mallon

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal romance

Challenge(s): 2013 Books in a Series

Grade rate: A+

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.
 Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind. When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

My Review

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!  I’ll try to get over my incoherent babble and get on with the review, but seriously, Sweet Peril is incredibly good!

Last year, I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Sweet Evil from Goodreads and I devoured it in no time (see my review here), thus I have been impatiently waiting for book two, and boy was it worth it!  I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get an unfounded fear of sequels when I love a book to much; I’m afraid that the next book won’t live up to my expectations and let me down.  I should have known better and never doubted you Ms. Higgins :)

Sweet Peril starts a couple of months after the end of book one and finds Anna starting her senior year of high school.  She is missing Kaidan (who wouldn’t!), and pretending to work on her dad’s trade as a result of increased surveillance by the whisperers; she has gained a rep as a party girl.  Due to an unexpected and old prophesy, Anna and her dad start looking for other Neph that will be willing to ally with them in a fight to banish the demons from Earth.  So our story stars with a quest to find others; Anna and Kopano travel to different places to talk to these Neph.  We get to meet new characters, like Zania and Flynn and visit with old ones like Ginger, Marna and Drake.   I also enjoy to read about Anna’s relationship with Patti (her adoptive mother), and her dad.

I love Anna’s character!  Even though she is a sweet southern girl, she is smart, loyal and has a big helping of common sense.  She knows to look at the final goal and how important that is even if they have to break a few eggs to get there.  Since I was listening to the audio book I can’t tell you for sure, but it seemed to me that Kai is not in the first third of the book.  This is a true testament to Ms. Higgins writing:  first, I didn’t get bored because all the information was relevant and interesting and, second, Kai was present all the time in Anna’s thoughts and conversations with the other Neph. 

Kaidan is, as I stated in my review of Sweet Evil, one of my favorite characters ever!  I can’t get enough of him, and of course neither can’t Anna.  Kai tries to be so tough and do the “right” thing, but it is so plain to see that he is crazy about Anna.  The scenes between Kai and Anna are extremely HOT; like in ‘handle with care’ hot.  That’s all I’m saying about that!

As you can tell, the characterization on this book is amazing.  I adore these characters and even the Dukes are so bad, but distinct from one another. The plot is so good, it varies from slow and steady, to hot, to action. The writing is outstanding, Ms. Higgins as an incredible talent.  Ms. Mallon did a terrific job with the narration and with the English accents! 

Overall, Sweet Peril was a worthy sequel to one of my favorite reads from last year. I cannot wait for Sweet Reckoning due to be published in May of next year (and the wait starts NOW).

Some quotes for you:

“I was more myself with you during those three days than I’ve ever been with anyone in my life. It’d be easier if I could be fake with you, but you bring out everything in me, little Ann. All of it.” – Kaidan

“God, you smell nice," he whispered. "I've missed that smell. I've missed everything about you, little Ann.” - Kaidan

“We had a secret knowledge that demons couldn't fathom. They saw love as a weakness, but they were wrong. Love would keep us going, love was our strength.” - Anne

About the cover: A beautiful and fit companion for the cover of Sweet Evil! I love the contrast in colors and how both Anna and Kai are dressed in black now.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Collector by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #1)

Welcome to my stop on the ‘2013 Belongs to Dante’ blog event hosted by YA Bound.  Click HERE to see the rest of the blog tour schedule!

Title: The Collector by Victoria Scott

Published: April 2nd, 2013 by Entangled Teen

Source: Provided for review

Format: eBook

Group age: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Grade rate: A

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.
Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Find it here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

My Review

Dante stole my heart from the very first page!  The Collector is an amazing debut by author Victoria Scott.

For reasons that are too spoilery (yes, I know it's not a word!), Dante lands downstairs when he dies, and in order to be able to walk on Earth, he chooses to become a Collector.  There are some intricacies and politics tied to exactly how it works, but it works fine for Dante.  I mean, he is handsome, confident, and loves the perks that come with the job.  The problem is that he is sent to collect a special soul, namely Charlie.

At the beginning of the story Dante is all those things I said above, plus selfish, angry and cocky.  You might think that these adjectives are negative, but somehow Ms. Scott created a character that is full of depth and is so ‘bad’ that it becomes endearing.  In contrast, Charlie is Dante’s complete opposite.  She is not outwardly beautiful, but her soul is pure and bright and so is her personality.  Dante feels an inexplicable pull and attraction towards her, but he has a work to do and he is use to look out for himself.  The transformation and the conflict that overtakes Dante is as fun to read as the rest of this story, and it’s gradual as well.

Other characters in the book are well fleshed out and add to the story.  Annabelle and Blue are Charlie’s best friends and they form a tight circle of support and protection around her.  Max is Dante’s best friend and also a fellow collector, he is also cocky and self-assured, but a loyal friend.  Valery (Red) is a bit confusing to me, but can’t add anything else, least I spoil the book for you ;)

The plot is well thought out and it has a few twists and turns.  Not everything is explained in this installment and, to be honest, there are a lot of unanswered question at the conclusion of the book.  The writing is a gem.  The story is told in first person, from Dante’s point of view and his thoughts are a thing of beauty.  I also appreciate that, although the story lasted about two weeks, the romance piece didn’t feel like insta-love.

If you like ‘bad boys’, paranormal stories, demons and angels and a great romance, The Collector is the book for you.

Add book two, The Liberator, to your Goodreads 

About the Author 

I'm a YA writer represented by Laurie McLean. Author of THE COLLECTOR (Entangled Teen, April 2013) and THE BRIMSTONE BLEED (Scholastic, 2014). I have a master's degree in marketing, and live in Dallas with my husband. When not writing, I can be found munching cotton candy and snuggling obese cats. 

Website | Blog | Twitter  | Goodreads | Dante's Website

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of YA Bound Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by YA Bound, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson

Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop for the Rapture Tour! You can find other stops here.

Title: Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson

Published: October 21^st, 2011 by Pear Jam Books

Format: eBook

Source:  Provided for free for review

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal / Dystopia

Challenge(s): 2013 Dystopian

Grade rate: B

 The Rapture has occurred, just as the Bible predicted. The faithful have risen up to Heaven. Those left behind are in a living hell.
 
Earth burns, hell-like in its oppressive heat. Every volcano in the world has erupted, and tsunamis and earthquakes continue to devastate the planet. Clouds continually rain ash onto the scorched landscape, sparking fires all around. Plants and animals are dying. Food is scarce. The night sky is devoid of stars, and the moon - when it can be seen - is the colour of blood.
 The remnants of humanity fight for survival. Most have fled the cities and now hide in caves deep in the mountains. By night, demons stalk the Earth, capturing the remaining humans and killing them - if they're lucky. The less fortunate are converted to worship of the Devil, and ushered into endless hell.
 Eighteen year old Sam is unable to rise up because he is half demon. Hikari, a Japanese sword master and demon expert and his beautiful daughter, Aimi, have been all the family Sam has ever known. Now they're gone, and Sam must set out on the mission Hikari charged him with long ago: to help all the humans left behind. Armed only with his beloved Japanese swords and his wits, Sam wanders the post-apocalyptic world alone, separated forever from everyone he loves. Cursed by his demonic heritage, he must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to the City of Angels.
 There he will confront his destiny. There he must fight to save a friend ... and the souls of the living. 

My Review

I’ve seen reviews of Rapture in other blogs and I was intrigued by the cover and the synopsis, thus I jumped at the opportunity to review it for this tour. It wasn’t quite what I expected, that is to say, that I was pleasantly surprised.

Rapture is a post-apocalyptic tale with heavy religious undertones.  The story begins when Sam is ready to start his quest, a few weeks after the rapture.  From there, the story is comprised of mostly alternating chapters from the present to Sam’s past.  The flashbacks give the reader an insight on Sam’s life, training, family and his responsibility.  I rather like Sam’s voice; he is not perfect and doesn’t pretend to be.  He had a sheltered life, but full of truths and a burden that’s not easy to carry. It’s refreshing  that the main character knows exactly what he is and what his purpose is.   I felt sorry for him at times; all in all he fought really hard to do the right thing.

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #1)

Title: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Published: May 21^st, 2011 by Feral Dream

Format: Paperback

Source:  Library

Challenge(s):  Dystopian

Grade rate: A+

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

My Review

Oh. My. Goodness.  I can’t find words to describe how awesome Angelfall is!  Nonetheless, I will try my best to describe it for you.

Angelfall has been in my TBR list for a long time and then, last week I saw a great review in another blog (I can’t remember which) that made me put it on hold at my local library.  I devoured it in no time :)   Okay, let’s start with Penryn.  First, let me say that I’ve ever heard this name before.   Penryn is an amazing character, she reminds me a bit of Katniss (from The Hunger Games), in the sense that they are survivors.   She will do anything to keep her loved ones safe in a world that’s been turned up-side-down in a very short span of time.  Due to a schizophrenic mother, she was trained in different forms of self-defense from a young age; she also feels she is in charge and the protector of her little unusual family. 

Raffe is the wingless angel that Penryn rescues in order to help her find her sister (no spoilers, this is in the synopsis).  He is physically perfect, lighter and bigger than humans and willing to sacrifice a lot to get his wings back.  Pernyn and Raffe form an uncomfortable alliance based on need and a sense of loyalty that grows between them. 

The characterization is amazing.  I couldn’t help but fall in love with Penryn and Raffe and suffer with them through every trial.  Penryn’s mom is some kind of crazy and a little abusive, I cannot imagine growing up like that, but it does make for a good survival skills.  My heart brakes for all of them, especially for Paige, Penry’s little sister.

The plot is incredibly good.  This is dystopia at its best.  A story based on angels that descend to Earth to destroy humanity.  These are celestial beings that are not fluffy or angelic, but ruthless and cruel.  The entire world goes to heck in a matter of weeks; with unreliable electricity, no food and gangs taking over the streets.  It’s amazing how people go crazy so fast!  The politics of angels is very complicated and I can’t wait to understand what’s going on (although I have my suspicions). Angelfall is not for the weak of mind.  It is dark, way dark.  The survivors have to see and suffer many horrors, not only from the angels, but from fellow humans.  The writing is astounding; so, so good.

The ending was sort of a non-ending for me.  I hope that Raffe and Pernyn find each other again and soon.  I’m still reeling from the last few chapters, it’s all so unfair.  I’m glad I read Angelfall this year, as book #2 in the series, still untitled, is not due for publication until the fall of this year (with the projected five books, it means I will be waiting for the series to end for a few more years!).

Here are some quotes for you:

“Oh, please. Your giant head is getting too big for this forest. Pretty soon, you’re going to get stuck trying to walk between two trees. And then, I’ll have to rescue you” I give him a wary look. “Again” – Penryn to Raffe.  

“I lean into his strength until I realize what I’m doing.  I pull back abruptly. I don’t have the luxury of leaning on anyone’s strength, least of all an angel’s.  My shoulder feels cold and vulnerable once his warmth is gone.” – Penryn

“You should know” he says. His whisper is low enough that even angels probably can’t hear it beyond the background noise of conversations in the corridor. “I don’t even like you”.  – Raffee to Penryn

 About the cover:  Gorgeous!

Review: A Halflings Rescue by Heather Burch (Halflings #1.5)

Title: A Halflings Rescue by Heather Burch

Published: July 2^nd, 2012 by Zondervan

Source: Free for Kindle

Format: eBook

Challenge(s): eBook

Grade rate: A

In this free illustrated short story from the popular Halflings series by Heather Burch, Nikki and the Halflings team intercept important information regarding the kidnapping of Hollywood's hottest teen celebrity, Mandy Mosen. Will they be able come to the young starlet's aide in time, or is Mandy's fifteen minutes of fame about to end? Includes a bonus first chapter from Guardian, the next full novel in the Halflings series!

My Review

This will be a short review, as this is a very short (but good) story. 

I think the synopsis makes a pretty good job of summing up what the story is about.  The Halflings find out that a hot actress and many of her famous friends have been invaded in her home by villains asking for ransom money.  With a little prompting Will agrees to let them help the teenagers. 

They all go and rescue the teens trapped in the basement and then take the attackers one by one, saving the day!  I love the pictures in the story and with my new Kindle Fire I was able to really enjoy them.

I can’t wait to get started with Guardian, book #2 of the series.

Did you read Halflings?  Do your like books about angels?  Which one is your favorite?

Review: Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods #6)

Title: Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz

Published: September 27^th, 2012 by Hyperion

Source: Finished copy provided for review (and autographed!)

Format: Hardcover

Challenge(s): TBR

Grade rate: B+

After their beautiful yet brief bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force are forced to separate. To fulfill the Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler travels to Alexandria to search for Catherine of Siena and the Gate of Promise. But Schuyler quickly discovers that everything she believed about the Gate to be wrong. Meanwhile, Jack makes the difficult decision to return to New York to face his twin and former bondmate, Mimi. But instead of a bitter reunion, he is faced with a choice for which there is no good option.Mimi, with a most unexpected travel companion in Oliver Hazard-Perry, jets off to Egypt, too, to search for Kingsley Martin, her long lost love. With all roads leading to Hell, Mimi learns that not all love stories have happy endings. But she'll have to put her own feelings aside if she's going to save her crumbling Coven.Packed with heartache, twists, and vampiric folklore, Lost in Time is sure to satisfy hungry fans' cravings for more Blue Bloods adventure.

My Review

Lost in Time, the sixth book (and next to last) of the Blue Blood series was a vast improvement from the previous book, but it was also infuriating how some many questions are still left unanswered.

There are three story lines taking place at the same time. One – Schuyler and Jack, two – Allegra and Michael/Ben, and third – Mimi and Oliver/Kingsley; all the stories are told from the third point of view, therefore we can get more in touch with the characters.  I found each story interesting in its own way and it was surprisingly easy to keep track of all of them.  Let me tell you a bit about each one:

Schuyler and Jack – I’ve always love their story and the absolute way in which they love each other, against the world and all odds.  This is the story line that I liked the most, and I was a little bummed by the ending, but I have my hopes up that all will be well at the end.

Allegra and Michael / Ben – This story line follows Allegra and Michael after college and it introduces Ben to the reader (there is a short story about how they first met in Bloody Valentine).  Michael is not the easiest person to get along with, but he truly loves Allegra and was destroyed when she doesn’t ‘bond’ with him.  Although we know now what happened during that time, we still don’t know what happened to Allegra to end up in a coma for so many years, and what happened to Ben.  Also, the events from Florence seem to be of great importance to the story, but we still don’t know what happened either.

Mimi and Oliver / Kingsley – I like Kingsley and Oliver a whole lot, but I cannot stand Mimi.  I know I have no foundation for my dislike other than her selfish and violent nature, but there you have it.  For this reason, this is the story that I liked the least, but I was happy for the outcome because both Oliver and Kingsley were unharmed. 

I hope The Gates of Paradise, the last book in the series, has all the answers that I’m hoping for.  What on earth happened in Florence?  Where are Michael and Allegra now?  How are Mimi and Jack going to end their bond?  Will Schuyler survive at the end and fulfill her legacy?  Where is Bliss? What happened to Ben?  I think I can go on and on…  Unfortunately I will have to wait until January of 2013 for the answers.

About the Cover:  Beautiful cover that portraits Jack (black feather) and Schuyler and the outline of Egypt at the bottom, where most of the story takes place.

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (Sweet Trilogy #1)

Title: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Published: May 1^st, 2012 by Harper Teen

Source:  Won from Goodreads

Format: ARC

Challenge(s): 2012 Debut Author

Grade rate: A+

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences?  This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Review

I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of Sweet Evil from Goodread’s First Reads and I was so excited to see it arrive at my door that I started reading it right away. Oh, my goodness, this book is awesome!

I love the characters!  Anna is good to the core, courageous, innocent, loyal, loving and more.   She is accepting of her own abilities and quite happy to understand the reasons that she is the way she is.  Kaidan is one of my favorite male characters of all time!

Patti, Anna’s father, Kaidan’s friends… the characters make a wonderful story come to life.   The story line: angels, nephilim, and demons are not new, but Higgins’s take on it is excellent.  She creates a world in which rules are clear cut and everyone knows their place in it.  Although there is a lot of world building in the book, there is plenty of action and interactions that made Sweet Evil a quick read. 

The writing was amazingly easy to read and straightforward and the story was well paced.   This is such a beautiful, romantic story, I cannot wait for the next book to see what is in store for Anna and Kaidan.

My favorite quote:

“A vibrant energy rushed through my body as the pieces slammed into place. Oh, dear Lord. I was in love with him.  And there wasn’t a thing on earth, in heaven, or in hell that could have stopped me.”

About the cover:  Beautiful, right?  The play of light and dark, good and bad and the contrast of the bright red are all amazing.


Please come celebrate Reading with ABC's first Blogiversary with me!  Click here for the giveaways and remember to check often as I will post more giveaways throughout the month. 

Review: Forbidden by Megan Curd (The Guardian Chronicles #1)

Title: Forbidden by Megan Curd

Published: October 22^nd 2011

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Challenge(s): ABC Challenge, eBook Challenge

Grade rate:  A

Levi's job is to protect his human until it's their time to go. That's what a Guard does. He's done it for years on end, and he'll spend his eternity doing the same, mundane thing, following the same, mundane rules. 

...Watch from afar.  ...Never share your name.  ...And above all, never touch a human.  What Levi doesn't know is that his newest human to protect, Hannah, just might be the catalyst to tipping the scales between good and evil, and he will be forced to decide which side he belongs to. Which friends will he side with, and who will he ultimately protect: his human, or the delicate balance that hangs on stopping the heartbeat of the person he has sworn to protect?  And, when you're already condemned, what's there to lose by breaking the rules?  THE GUARDIAN CHRONICLES: FORBIDDEN will take you into a world of Guards and Guardians, Light and Darkness. What side will you take?

My Review

Forbidden was a surprisingly good read or me.  Surprising because, even though this is a book about angels it constructs a unique hierarchy that is easy to understand.

The story is told in the first person from Levi’s point of view.  I found it refreshing to have a guy tell the story for a change.  Levi is a Guard and his “Call” or his assignment, so to speak, is to watch over Hannah.  There are many things that are forbidden for a Guard to do and somehow and without meaning to, Levi breaks the rules.  What happens next is an incredible ride, packed with unique characters, action, and an introduction of the world of the Guardians.  Hannah is stubborn, curious, brave, beautiful and good, and her life is turned upside down by a fact that is not her fault.  I think Levi and her make a really good couple. 

As I mentioned above the characters in the book are amazing.  Besides Levi my favorite characters is Ethan.  Oh boy!  He is handsome, cocky, egocentric and rude, but he is so funny and he is loyal to the end.  I can’t wait to see what happens next with him!  Angie is a conundrum and the dialogue between her and Ethan is priceless! I trusted Clay right away and I hope he makes a good mentor for Levi.

The story is very original as well as the angel lore with its hierarchy and rules.  Ms. Curd’s writing is easy to read, well-paced and flows nicely.  As you can see I really enjoyed Forbidden and cannot wait for its sequel.

About the cover: Of course the angel in the cover is what the book is all about.  I like the play of the light and dark, a symbol for the good and bad (and maybe even gray!)

Waiting on Wednesday: Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for. 

Title: Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Published by: Thomas Nelson Publishing 

Release date: May 29th, 2012

Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . . 

ANGEL EYES 

Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Why I want to read it:  By the description it seems like this is a book about angels, therefore a paranormal book.  I am curious to know what is Brielle running from and feel guilty about.  The cover is beautiful too!

What are you waiting for this week?

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