Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Passion Review

Passion by Lauren Kate
Fallen Series #3

"All that is good in Heaven and on Earth is born of love. This war is not just. This war is not good. Love is the only thing worth fighting for."
Lauren Kate (Passion (Fallen, #3))



The third book in the series opens with Luce jumping into an Announcer on a quest to find out why her and Daniel's relationship is doomed and find out why she has to die over and over again for their love.

This is a roller coaster ride through time with Luce bouncing between ancient times and each time reliving their love and her death. Luce is trying to find out if there is an end to this curse and if their love is worth it for her and for poor Daniel who is felt to mourn her after each death. Daniel is chasing her through time hoping to reach her before something terrible happens.

I really enjoyed the different eras she experienced, so many details in the clothing and the locations. Like a history lesson with a Angelic twist. My only concern is not enough of our beloved demon Cam. He is by far my favorite fallen angel and I would have liked to see more of him. But aside from that I loved this novel as I have loved all of them in the Fallen series.

Luce & Daniel's love story of the ages is wonderful. I highly recommend this novel and keep your eyes open for Rapture the fourth book in the series being released June 15, 2012. Also, there is a Valentines Day novel with short love stories about SOME of our favorite characters: Shelby, Miles, Ariane, Roland, Luce & Daniel. This is different but I have to say I am dying to read it! Not sure how much it has to do with the series but rest assured I will review it when I am finished :)

Rating: 4.5/5 - History Lesson in love.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Torment Review


Torment by Lauren Kate
Fallen Series #2

"Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith."

"Yeah,there was a whole chapter on you in my eight grade History of Angels textbook," Miles said.
Arriane clapped. "And they told me that book was banned!"

"I have to go," he said at last, getting to his feet. "I shouldn't even be here, but I cannot keep my self away from you. I worry about you in every waking moment. I love you, Luce. So much it hurts."
Lauren Kate (Torment (Fallen, #2))

The battle for good & evil, Heaven & Hell continues with our girl, Luce and her fallen Angel boyfriend, Daniel. Our favorite Angels & Demon reappear in this book as well as some great new ones.

Luce is moved into hiding from the Outcasts, at a school called Shoreline in California. Which is basically a finishing school for Angel half breads, ran by 2 fallen Angels one a Demon on the dark side, one an Angel on the good side, so as to not sway the students to either side. Luce learns a lot about the shadows that have followed her for her whole life. Now realizing they are a way to glimpse her past with Daniel she sets off to find out more about their past including her families in each past life who were left to mourn her untimely death.

Daniel is elusive as ever and I am never really sure if the whole truth is being told to Luce. If a fallen Angel tells you that you are the love of his life, should you believe him? And why? Luce keeps thinking how much simpler her life would be if he had never fallen in love with her to begin with.

I am knee deep in this series and am loving every word. It is written beautifully with so much detail. I am still, after 2 books, on the fence whether Luce is being lead astray by these angels and what the real story is behind the truce and the war.

I highly recommend this book and Series. next up is Passion. I am swept up by this story and its strong cast of characters. There is a fine line between Good & Evil, sometimes it's hard to see where you stand. Read it you wont be disappointed.

Rating: 4/5 - Angel fantasy delivers!


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Fallen Review


Fallen by Lauren Kate

"She had sand in her mouth and between her toes, the briny wind raising goose bumps on her skin, and the sweetest, spellbound feeling spilling from her heart.
She could, at that moment, have died for him."

"He dipped her low and kissed her fiercely, as if he were angry, and each time his lips left hers, even just for half a second, the most parching thirst ran through her, making her cry out."
Lauren Kate (Fallen (Fallen, #1))


In the case of this novel I judged a book by it's cover and I am glad I did.

Fallen is about a girl, named Luce (Lucinda) who is sent to a reform school where she meets many strange and interesting characters. Two boys catch her eye. Cam, is sweet and kind and Daniel who is NOT sweet or kind and treats her like a pesky infatuated child. Luce is drawn to him in such a powerful way and doesn't know why. Big surprise there, aren't girls always drawn to the guy who ignores them.

She is torn between the two guys and starts digging into Daniels past to try to find a reason for her powerful feelings for this perfect stranger. What she discovers starts to unravel her whole world and everything she believes.

It took a while for this book to get going. Knowing it was a trilogy I wanted the story to get to the point which it didn't do until about half way into the book. I am not a patient reader and it took me 4 days to read this, which for me, is a long time. BUT, that being said, once the writer got to the point I was hooked. I could fill this review with spoilers but that's not my style. Its a good fantasy novel and I enjoyed the last half and am about 5 minutes away from starting in on the next in the series Torment.

I reluctantly will recommend this but only because the story got good, really good and I am excited to see where the trilogy takes Luce & the other characters. I hope the reason for the slow start was due to the necessary intro to all the characters that will be popping up in the next 2 books and not just her style of writing. Fingers crossed.

Rating 3.5/5 - Slow & steady wins the race.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Blood & Chocolate Review


Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

"Why me?" she asked, holding on to him.

"Because you cared," he whispered. "You cared so much for your people, it broke your heart to see the pack in ruins. You cared so much for your mother, you risked your life for hers. You cared enough to save someone who wanted you dead. And because you walk like a queen."
Annette Curtis Klause (Blood and Chocolate)



I can't tell you what a treat it is to read a novel that is ONE novel & doesn't have a trilogy waiting in the wings!

Blood and Chocolate is about a girl, Vivian, who just happens to be a werewolf, living with her pack in suburban Maryland. After a terrible fire they lost pack members including her father, the pack leader and had to relocate. Which has left them fighting over who will take over as the new leader. Vivian feels lost among her people and ends up falling for a human boy named Aiden.

Aiden loves all things magical and Vivian gets caught up in love and pretending to be human. Something her pack is not thrilled about
because the men want her for themselves. Especially the incredibly sexy, aspiring leader Gabriel. She loves the bond and security the pack provides but is sick of the constant fighting.

One of their own is killing humans and they need to find out who it is before the locals start asking questions. I didn't LOVE this book but I enjoyed it.

I like the twist that the girl is the werewolf and the boy human, it made for interesting read and her transformations were written really well every muscle shifting & changing. The ending was perfect with some good twists and for once I wasn't ranting about how it should have been.

For anyone who likes a little fantasy this would be a nice quick read, can be read in a day or two. If you have seen the movie, this is completely different. I honestly have no idea why they would change so much of the story, it works better as it is written as with MOST books made into movies! But that is another rant for another day.

Rating: 3/5 - Give it a go :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Million Suns Review


A Million Suns by Beth Revis

"And here we are, in the middle, surrounded by a sea of stars.
A million suns.
Any of them could hold a planet. Any of them could hold a home.
But all of them are out of reach."
Beth Revis (A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2))



The second book in the trilogy following 'Across The Universe'. The story of a girl, Amy, waking up on a ship after being frozen for 300 years. And a young man, Elder, thrust into power before his time and having to rule a ship of 2200 people who are aware for the first time in their lives.

The story continues after the chaos of Across The Universe. The people have been taken off the calming sedative that has been put in their water for generations to boost productivity. Elder is trying to lead them with the people being awake but leading a group of people JUST discovering free will is difficult to say the least.

Secrets covering more secrets is all Amy & Elder find and the plot thicken when they discover something that will effect every person on the ship. But how much information can the people take before they snap and rebel.

Again, a lot going on in this book, like the first. I really enjoyed the VERY slow development of a relationship between Elder & Amy. There is something sweet there. Some unsavory characters return in this book and a few new ones rear their ugly heads. A good mystery set in space.

Good read and I am looking forward to the next novel in the series Shades of Earth coming Early 2013. They are quick reads and I enjoyed my first "space" series.

If you liked the first one you will really like this.

Rating: 3.5/5 - Strong Second Book.


Sunday, February 5, 2012

The Host Review


The Host be Stephanie Meyer

“It's a strange universe,” he murmured.
“It's not fair,” I complained, echoing Sunny's words. It wasn't fair. How could I find this, find love–now, in this eleventh hour–and have to leave it? Was it fair that my soul and body couldn't reconcile? Was it fair that I had to love Melanie, too? Was it fair that Ian would suffer? He deserved happiness if anyone did. It wasn't fair or right or even…sane. How could I do this to him?
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Don't say that like you're saying goodbye.”
Stephenie Meyer (The Host (The Host, #1))



Don't let the 'Author of Twilight' fool you this is a great novel. A grown up novel compared to Twilight and all that angst.

Wanderer is one soul among millions that has been placed INSIDE a human body. It is how her species called "souls" have taken over our world. A peaceful species that thought they could fix earths violence with their invasion.

She is placed in a captured wild human which is never done but Wanderer is on her eighth world and is ready for the challenge, to find out where the other wilds are. But she encounters a force within her she cant ignore, Melanie.

Melanie refuses to die her thoughts still echo in Wanderers head and will not be silenced. They set out on an adventure to find Melanie's family. Each step of the way Wanderer is falling away from her own kind and sympathizing with the humans.

Trying to find peace amongst humans that hate her very existence is hard for her but the story pulls you in and doesn't let go.

Sci-Fi for people who don't like Sci-Fi. Meyer writes characters so well we fall in love and root for the alien! With some great action and some really beautiful moments. I laughed out loud and cried and cheered.

I recommend to anyone who like Sci-Fi with a twist to their stories, and there are more than a few twists. Made me long for the desert air.

Rating: 4.5/5 - Great Read!