Review: Surrender - Lee Nichols

After a devastating battle at headquarters in New York, the ghostkeeping world is in shambles. But Emma and Bennett are finally a solid team - and sneaking off to quiet corners of Bennett's museum-like mansion is just what they need to recover from battle. That is, until Bennett's parents kick him out, leaving Emma feeling more along than ever.

The only way to save her relationship - and the ghostkeeping world - is to defeat Neos forever. But the wraith master's next attack hits close to home: Thatcher Academy. If evil ghosts manage to take over the entire school, even Emma won't be strong enough to stop them. Though if she or Bennett sacrifice their power, they might be able to end Neos's reign once and for all - and break the curse that is keeping them apart. The question is: who will be the one to surrender?

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
Surrender is the third and last book in Lee Nichols' Haunting Emma trilogy and it really sends the series out with a bang. The story picks up right after the ending of Betrayal with Emma and the rest of the ghostkeepers all reeling from Neos's latest attack. They know that Neos is gaining power with every day that passes and that Emma has the best chance of defeating him but just how much will she have to give up in order to beat him?

This has been a really enjoyable series and as much as I'm a little sad to see it end I was pleased with the resolution to things. Emma has really grown as a character since the first book, she is much stronger now that she has learnt to use her abilities and I've enjoyed seeing her find out about the ghostkeepers and their history. I did expect that we would learn more about the Knell in this book and was surprised that they didn't seem to have much of a role to play in the story - particularly since Simon was sent back to headquarters to help them rebuild. It was a shame to break up the ghostkeeper team from the last book but at least Emma still had Natalie and Lukas to rely on for help.

In Betrayal I had missed the interaction between Emma and Bennett so I was pleased that he had a bigger role in this book and they got to spend a bit more time together. I wasn't happy about his continued use of drugs to keep him strong enough to fight Neos but as much as I didn't agree with his actions I could understand why he felt he had no other choice. He loved Emma and didn't want to avoid being with her but he also felt that he needed to be strong enough to protect her and he couldn't see any other option.

I enjoyed seeing more of Sara, Harry and Coby and it was great that they have resolved their issues from the last book and are back in Emma's corner again. I also loved seeing more of the ghostly jocks that have been plaguing Emma since the first book, at least this time they finally offer her some assistance. It was interesting to have the added dynamic of both Emma and Bennett's parents in the story since they have been so conspicuously absent throughout the series. I know Emma's family have tried to explain their actions but personally I haven't forgiven them and I thought it was quite amusing that they felt they had the rights to waltz back in and expect to tell Emma what to do. I thought both families reactions to Emma and Bennett's relationship were realistic but ridiculous considering they had practically abandoned the pair of them!

I was slightly disappointed with the final showdown with Neos because it seemed to be a bit too quick and easy but overall I was pleased with the story. The action towards the end sucked me in and was impossible to put down and there were a couple of twists that I hadn't expected but I would have liked to have felt a bit more risk for Emma and her friends. Overall I've really enjoyed the Haunting Emma series and would definitely recommend it to paranormal fans who like their ghost stories to include romance, action and interesting mythology. I'm looking forward to seeing what Lee Nichols comes up with next!

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Betrayal - Lee Nichols

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries - which is great for battling the wraith master, Neos, but awful for her social life.  Emma knows fellow ghostkeeper Bennett Stern is her soul mate, but when ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power.  And until Neos is defeated, Bennett and Emma can't risk it.

When the temptation of being with Emma gets to be too much, Bennett disappears.  Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school.  But when the Knell, a secret ghostkeeping society, sends two new ghostkeepers to Echo Point, Emma throws herself back into training to battle Neos.  As the team grows stronger, so do the ghosts.  And worse, one of their own will betray them.  One Emma never suspected . . .

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
With Emma trying to cope with the devastating events at the end of the first book and on a sharp learning curve when it comes to her ghostkeeping abilities she is going to need her friends more than ever.  Unfortunately Sara and Harry blame her for what happened to Coby and Bennett has done one of his vanishing acts so she finds herself more alone than ever.  Luckily she still has Natalie to rely on and she is kept busy training so that she can fight against Neos.

I loved Deception so had been really looking forward to reading Betrayal.  Unfortunately it didn't quite manage to live up to my expectations but it was still a good read and has left me looking forward to the final installment, Surrender, later this year.  I loved the fact that there was more action in Betrayal, the story has a much faster pace and kept me on the edge of my seat with some surprising twists and turns.

Now that Emma is aware that she's a ghostkeeper she is working hard to learn how to use her abilities against Neos.  She is determined to do whatever it takes to bring him down but she isn't going to be able to do it alone.  She has some surprising allies but she is also going to face some shocking betrayals, one in particular that really upset me.  I enjoyed finding out more about the Knell although I have to say that as a supposedly powerful organisation they seem rather weak when it comes to protecting themselves.  I did like getting to know Lukas and Simon though and it was interesting to see the dynamic between them, Emma and Natalie as they all learnt to trust each other and work together.

I think what I missed most were the interactions with Emma and Bennett, I really loved the two of them in Deception and wanted more of that.  Things started off really well but then Bennett disappears for most of the book which was disappointing.  When we do finally see him again I found myself annoyed with some of the decisions he has made and I'm concerned about how things will play out in the future.  I had also hoped to find out more about Emma's family in this book, I want to know more about why they have abandoned her and exactly what they are up to but it seems like I'll have to wait for the next book to get answers to all of my questions.

Although I didn't think this installment was quite as strong as the first I'm still really enjoying the Haunting Emma series and am looking forward to finding out what happens next.  The mythology Lee Nichols has created is unique and I'm enjoying finding out more about the ghostkeepers.  If you haven't picked up this series yet then it's one I would definitely recommend but you do really need to start with the first book Deception before you pick up Betrayal.

Source: I was given this book by the lovely Carly from Writing from the Tub, thanks Carly!

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Review: Angel's Fury - Bryony Pearce

I've started to have dreams while I'm awake.  I remember music I've never heard . . . I've got all this extra stuff in my head, but I'm forgetting things from my own life.  I feel like I'm being taken over.

Every Atrocity
Every War
Every Act of Vengeance
Will Come Back to Haunt Her

A fallen angel walks the earth to bring mankind to its destruction . . . Turning love into hate, forgiveness into blame, hope into despair.  Through the fires of hell he has come to torment one girl's dreams.

But what if everything she ever dreamed was true?

Visit Bryony Pearce's website for more information

Review:
Cassie suffers horrific and vivid nightmares that make her terrified of falling asleep as she knows she will wake up screaming.  Suffering with sleep deprivation she is finding it hard to cope but things come to a head on a school trip to Germany when she realises there is more to her nightmares than she ever could have expected.  Returning home things are worse than ever and her parents are forced to reveal a secret they've been keeping from her.  They have strong evidence that Cassie's dreams are in fact memories from previous lives.  Cassie makes the decision to seek out a doctor who specialises in people with past life experiences and for the first time she meets people who have similar issues to her.  As her treatment progresses and her symptoms get worse instead of better Cassie starts to wonder if everything at the clinic is really what it seems.

I have to say that Angel's Fury was nothing like what I was expecting but I mean that in a good way.  I'm not sure why I thought it was going to be a fairly typical paranormal romance but I'm very pleased to have been proved incorrect and the story is so much more than that.  Although there is a little romance that is by far one of the smaller elements of the story.  Instead Bryony Pearce gives us a supernatural thriller with touches of historical fiction and a dash of romance.

The story is fast paced, has believable characters and some of the historical back story is heart wrenching to read.  There were plenty of twists and turns making it hard to know what to expect and almost impossible to put the book down.  I loved the fact that by the end of the story we get answers to all of our questions and don't have a cliffhanger ending leading us into a sequel, it makes such a nice change to read a stand alone story.  I'm impressed with Bryony Pearce's debut and am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Source: Received from Egmont in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Deception - Lee Nichols

When her parents leave on a mysterious business trip, Emma Vaile has the perfect excuse to rebel.  But when the police crash her party, she finds herself in the hands of a new guardian, Bennett Stern, and swiftly on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma makes friends with the popular crowd but can't shake the strange visions that are beginning to haunt her.  She has memories of Thatcher that she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been.  Emma doesn't trust anyone any more - except maybe Bennett.  And he's about to reveal a ghostly secret, one that will explain the visions ... and make Emma fear for her life.

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
When Emma's parents go abroad on a business trip Emma finds herself home alone and in charge of looking after the family business.  It isn't really that unusual for her parents to go away but it is strange that she hasn't heard from them in weeks and they aren't returning her calls.  After someone reports the fact that she is home alone to Child Protective Services Emma is given two choices, to go into foster care until her parents return or to go and stay with her guardian Bennett.  It isn't a difficult decision to make and she soon finds herself moving to the other side of the country to live with Bennett.  Starting at her new school Emma starts to see things that can't possibly be there, she has memories of Thatcher Academy even though she has never been there before and she is seeing people that nobody else seems to notice.  Is she losing her mind or is she really seeing ghosts?

Deception is a fantastic debut from Lee Nichols and one that had me hooked from the first page.  Emma is a great main character and one that it is easy to relate to.  You have to feel for her when she is left to fend for herself and although she copes surprisingly well on her own I really wanted to track down her parents and give them a good talking to.  Emma has the usual worries of a teenage girl, especially one who is trying to find her place in a new school but she quickly starts making friends and I loved seeing her interactions with Coby, Harry and Sara.

There are a lot of different mysteries going on in this first installment in the Haunting Emma series, not only does Emma have to come to terms with her new ability to see and communicate with ghosts but she also appears to be being targeted by some kind of evil spirit.  A lot of people have been keeping secrets from her and she is now finding it very difficult to work out who she can trust.  There are some great twists that I really didn't see coming and I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next book.

Some of my favourite characters were the staff who worked in Bennett's mansion and it was good for Emma to have some kind of support at home.  Bennett annoyed me early on by spending so much time avoiding Emma, I really felt that she needed someone to help her deal with everything and thought he should have spent time explaining things to her.  As we got to know him better my feelings toward him started to change and at that point I could see why everyone finds him so swoon worthy.  I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing what happens with him and Emma in the next book.

Deception was a quick and easy read that had me gripped from beginning to end, the story has action, mystery and a little romance, the plot was fast paced and full of surprising twists and I can't wait to read the sequel Betrayal.  I'd definitely recommend this series to paranormal fans who are looking for a ghost story with unique and interesting mythology.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

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Mindful Musings
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Review: Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Spellbound Series:
Spellbound
Spellcaster (2012)

Visit Cara Lynn Shultz's website for more information

Review:
The last few years haven't been easy for Emma, first she lost her twin and then her mother died leaving her living with her abusive step-father.  When her step-father nearly kills her in a drink drive car accident Emma's aunt insists on taking her to live with her in New York.  Emma finds herself at a new school having the usual struggles to fit in and make friends.  She finds herself drawn to Brendan but when she starts to have strange dreams about him things get really complicated.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, quick and easy paranormal read then Spellbound could be just what you're after.  It fits all of those criteria perfectly but for me it didn't stand out as an amazing story.  The plot is fairly straightforward, it was easy to work out most of the twists and our heroine Emma does some incredibly stupid things that made me want to shake her. 

I did like Emma, she cared a lot about her family and I admired her for sticking up for her cousin but I was really annoyed by the way she spent half the book mooning around over Brendan.  They'd been out together once and then he spent 2 weeks ignoring her - he was a jerk that she should have just walked away from but instead she just moped around trying to catch his attention and complaining about how heart broken she was.  OK I get that they're supposed to be soul mates but I still think that the romance has to be believable and it just wasn't in this case.  Perhaps I've just read too many of these insta love stories recently but it is really starting to bug me.

What I did like was the fact that the bad guy was just a normal person, not someone with superpowers.  That made a refreshing change and made the story much more realistic.  The action scenes towards the end of the book were well written but it all felt a little too rushed and it was all over too quickly.  Emma also makes the worst kind of horror movie mistakes, you know those ones where you're yelling at the TV telling the character "don't do it!".

It was a shame that the paranormal element of the story wasn't really explored but I do think that is going to make the next book in the series even more interesting.  I'm curious to see what happens in the sequel and what direction Cara Lynn Shultz will take the series in, will she focus more on the paranormal side and Emma's witch abilities or will it be more focused on the soul mates?  I probably will pick up the sequel at some point but I don't think I'll be in a rush to get hold of a copy as soon as it comes out.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Evermore - Alyson Noel

Sometimes love is eternal.
For good . . . For evil . . . Forever

Sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom is the sole survivor of a car accident that killed her family.  Exiled to sunny California, Ever is haunted by her little sister and by the ability to see people's auras, hear their thoughts and know their entire life story by touching them.  She wants to hide from the world, but when a stunningly handsome new guy arrives at school, she can't seem to keep away.  Falling in love with Damen is dangerous - he's not what he seems.  But if Damen is her destiny, how can Ever walk away?

The Immortals Series:

Evermore
Blue Moon
Shadowland
Dark Flame
Night Star
Everlasting

Visit Alyson Noel's website for more information

Review:

I bought my copy of Evermore before I started blogging and like so many other books it has sat on my bookshelves just waiting for me to read it.  When I was invited to an event with Alyson Noel I thought it was about time I picked it up and I'm so glad I did.  I'm a big fan of paranormal stories so it's probably no surprise that I enjoyed it but what I was really impressed with is that it wasn't what I was expecting.  I found Ever's psychic abilities fascinating and I loved the fact that Damen isn't your standard vampire that has become so common in YA urban fantasy stories.

Ever is an easy character to relate to, she lost her parents and her younger sister Riley in a horrible accident and ever since then she has struggled to deal with her guilt and her grief.  You can't help but feel for her as she tries to make sense of being the only person in her family to survive and my heart really went out to her.  Since the accident Ever has gained some new abilities, she can see ghosts, hear people's thoughts, see their auras and if she touches someone she will know their life history.  She is still trying to learn to cope with these abilities and it isn't easy for her constantly being bombarded with information she doesn't want to know and learning everyone's deepest, darkest secrets.  I'm looking forward to seeing how Ever grows into her abilities as the series progresses.

It took me a while to decide what to make of Damen, yes he's hot but there is still an air of mystery about him and I hope we get to learn more in future installments.  At times I was convinced that he was out to harm Ever but then he'd do something that would completely change my mind about him again.  I liked the fact that although Ever felt drawn to him because he seemed to lessen her psychic abilities she didn't immediately fall head over heels for him.  She remains wary of him and shows good sense that is often lacking in YA paranormal stories.  I have to say that one of my favourite characters was Riley, she had me laughing out loud so many times with her crazy ghostly antics and I'm so excited that she gets her own spin off series.  That is definitely going on my wish list. 

Overall I though Evermore was a promising start to a series and I'm looking forward to reading more.  The story was a page turner and I flew through reading it, there were a few things I would have liked to have seen expanded on, especially towards the end, but if you're like me and late to the Immortals party I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Blue Bloods - Melissa de la Cruz

They're young, fabulous and fanged . . .

And they rule Manhattan from the trendy uptown clubs to the downtown boutiques.  Fifteen-year-old Schuyler Van Alen has never quite fit in at her exclusive prep school - she's more of a vintage than a Versace girl - but all that's about to change . . .

Because Schuyler has just found out she's a Blue Blood.  The Blue Bloods are the city's glamorous and secret vampire elite.  They're young, beautiful and powerful.  But now they're being murdered.  And Schuyler must find out who - or what - is behind it, before she's next.





Blue Bloods Series:
Blue Bloods
Masquerade
Revelations
The Van Alen Legacy
Keys to the Repository (series guide)
Misguided Angel
Bloody Valentine (novella)
Lost in Time (October 2011)

Visit Melissa de la Cruz's website for more information

Review:
As a massive fan of vampires and paranormal stories I was really looking forward to reading Blue Bloods but having finished reading it I'm still not quite sure what to make of it.  Melissa de la Cruz has come up with a unique take on vampire mythology but I don't really want to go into too much detail here in case of spoilers.  I did find that the mythology wasn't smoothly explained throughout the story though and was mainly told in one hard to follow chapter.  I found myself getting confused & having to re-read parts to make sure I'd understood it correctly and would have much preferred the information to be woven into the story in a different way.  That can be a problem with first books in a series though and by itself wouldn't put me off reading a sequel.

What is more likely to put me off is the fact that I didn't really like any of the main characters.  I found Schuyler OK to start with but she turned out to be a bit too much like so many other protagonists that I've read about more times than I care to mention.  She was an outsider at school, the poor girl amongst the rich kids who wore mainly second hand vintage clothing compared to the others who were obsessed with fashion labels and name dropping.  It is stated that she doesn't care what she looks like (even mentioning that she hasn't washed her hair for weeks) but out of nowhere she is offered a modeling contract and is suddenly shown how beautiful she really is which I found far too unrealistic.  It probably didn't help that I've never been a fan of reading about spoiled rich kids who spend ridiculous amounts of money on designer labels.  I'm not a Gossip Girls fan but this story would probably be much more appealing to those who are.  There was far too much description of what everyone was wearing and how much it cost them for me and I found myself skimming over these parts, I'd have much preferred this time being spent enriching the mythology of the story.

I also wasn't too impressed that the characters spend so much time clubbing, drinking and having casual sex.  Yes, I understand that this happens (I was a teen once even if it was a while ago!) but these characters are only 15 and it didn't seem to send a good message out to the teenage readers that the story is marketed too.  I would probably have found myself less worried by this if the characters were a few years older but as it was I felt uncomfortable reading the book at times.

Despite my complaints I will probably pick up the second book in the series because I have heard so many good things about it.  This may not be the strongest start but I'm going to reserve my judgement until I've read the next installment but I won't be in a rush to do so.  As I already mentioned if you're a Gossip Girls fan and are hugely interested in fashion you'll probably enjoy the story more than I did but if you're not then you might consider giving this one a miss.

Source: Received from Atom in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Love Immortal - Felicity Heaton

When you're searching for your purpose, the last thing you expect to discover is that you're the latest reincarnation of a goddess on a three thousand year old mission to defeat the original werewolf, Lycaon, before he can gain revenge on Zeus and Olympus.

Rescued from the claws of werewolves by Julian, a handsome and mysterious immortal, Lauren is pulled into a dark and frightening new world full of monsters out to kill her and an organisation of people with phenomenal abilities who want to protect her—Ghost. But the most frightening thing of all is that soon Lauren will need to drink Julian's blood in order to reawaken and regain her immortal powers.

Or she will die.

Julian isn't about to let that happen. He's never met anyone like Lauren and he's determined not to lose her. She's the perfect copy of Illia but is nothing like her or any of the incarnations. She is light to their darkness, and she breathes life back into him, but can he trust her with his heart and bring himself to believe that the feelings she shows him are real after everything he has been through?

Can Lauren succeed in defeating Lycaon when all of her predecessors have failed? Will she be able to crack the armour around Julian's heart and seize her happily forever after with him?

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information.  You can also read the first 8 chapters for free on the Love Immortal blog.

Review:
Lauren is just a normal woman with no idea of the supernatural creatures that exist until she is attacked by werewolves on her way home one night.  She is saved by a mysterious stranger, one who explains her life is in danger if she doesn't let him help her.  Lauren doesn't believe Julian when he tells her that she is the reincarnation of a Greek Goddess Illia but as much as she tries to deny it she soon discovers that Julian is telling the truth.  It is her destiny to try and defeat the werewolf Lycaon but this is something that her previous incarnations have been trying to do for nearly 4,000 years - how can Lauren possibly succeed when all the others have failed?

I have read and enjoyed several novellas by Felicity Heaton so I was really looking forward to seeing what she could do with a full length novel, I can tell you now that Love Immortal did not disappoint.  It contains everything I could ask for in a paranormal romance - action, danger, mystery, betrayal, lust, love, passion and much more besides.  Lauren is a great heroine, she may not have asked for the life she has but when she accepts her heritage she goes to great lengths to protect those she cares about and to learn everything she can to help her defeat Lycaon.  She has her backup but she isn't someone who is going to sit about and let everyone else fight for her - she wants to be in on the action and make sure she plays her part.  She is equally determined to get her man and Julian is definitely a man worth fighting for.

I absolutely loved Julian, he is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect Lauren and has been through so much to keep her and her previous incarnations safe.  Illia was the love of his life and he was distraught when she died, watching over her incarnations throughout the years has torn his heart into pieces as none of them have ever returned his feelings.  This makes him very wary of falling for Lauren but she is so different from Illia and the others and he finds her very hard to resist.  The sexual tension between the two of them was fantastic and had me desperate for them to get together, Felicity Heaton makes you wait a long time before anything happens between them but believe me it is more than worth the wait!

Lauren and Julian also have help from an organisation called Ghost that was formed to help keep the balance between humans and demons.  The 5 members of ghost that are helping them - Duke, Astra, Piper, Kuga and Leo - all have very distinct personalities and very different abilities that will come in useful when they take on Lycaon and his werewolves.  I liked each of the team members but Piper, Kuga and Leo were particular favorites.  The banter and friendship between them all really added to the story but at one point a betrayal almost broke my heart.  I can't say any more without giving spoilers but just make sure you have tissues to hand when you're reading.

The mythology and world building is well done and enjoyable to read. Love Immortal will play on every emotion as you're reading it and I really hope that Felicity Heaton will re-visit this world and these characters again in the future.  I'm sure there is more to learn about each of the characters and I would like to see each of them get their own happy ending in the future.  If you like your paranormal romance with plenty of action this is definitely a story you need to get hold of.

Source: Received free from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller

Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?
Do you long for a place you've never been?
Do you often experience the sensation of déjà vu?

Ever since Haven Moore can remember, she's experienced visions of a previous life as a girl named Constance, whose love for her soulmate Ethan ended in tragedy.

And the sight of the world's hottest movie star, Iain Morrow, brings Haven to her knees. She knows she has met him before. Is Iain her beloved Ethan?

Unable to deny her past any longer, seventeen-year-old Haven flees to New York to find him - and an epic love affair begins. But it is both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Can Haven unlock the deadly secrets hidden in her past lives - and loves - before all is lost and Ethan disappears again...forever?

Eternal Ones Series:
The Eternal Ones
All You Desire (2011)

Visit Kirsten Miller's website for more information

Review:
As a child when Haven had visions of a man called Ethan her Grandmother was convinced that she was possessed by a demon. With even the preacher in agreement the whole town is wary of Haven and she has always been an outsider with only her best friend Beau to rely on.  Then at 17 she sees Iain on TV and her visions begin happening again. She becomes convinced that Iain was Ethan in a previous life and as memories of her life as Constance start coming back to her she becomes determined to go to New York to track Iain down. She remembers being a member of the Ouroboros Society and when she discovers that the organisation still exists she sets off in search of answers.

I was intrigued by the idea of The Eternal Ones and had been looking forward to reading this book for a while but I ended up finding it a frustrating read.  The beginning of the book is quite slow and it seemed to take ages for anything particularly interesting to happen. I was curious about Haven's life in her small minded town but I think this section could have been cut down quite a bit without us missing out on any of the information we were given. Once Haven makes her way to New York the pace picks up quite nicely and I did enjoy the mystery of who was behind the death of Constance.

I didn't really feel a connection with any of the main characters. Although Haven is young and inexperienced I found the way she constantly changed her mind about Iain was frustrating. All of her memories of Ethan are of them being happy and in love but I was glad that she realised that she didn't know the full story and was wary when first meeting Iain. However when they did actually meet she constantly flipped from being madly in love with him to taking the word of total strangers who she had no memory of and becoming frightened of him. Then Iain would tell her he loved her and everything would be OK again - until the someone came along and said something negative about him that is.  This continued throughout much of the book and at times I just wanted to shake her and tell her to walk away from the whole mess.

For the hero of the book Iain just didn't capture my interest, we didn't see enough of him for me to get to know him properly and what we did see didn't give me any reason to trust or even like him. I was suspicious of him throughout the whole book and just didn't feel the attraction between him & Haven. There didn't seem to be any real connection between them and the romance completely missed the mark for me. My favorite character by far was Haven's best friend Beau - the scenes with him made me smile and he stole the book which was a shame considering he wasn't one of the major players in the story.

I have to say I enjoyed learning about the Ouroboros Society and I believe there is more to learn about the organisation and it's members. It was interesting trying to figure out who was involved in the plot to kill Constance and I didn't work out the full story until right near the end of the book. I'm just not sure if I enjoyed the story enough to continue reading the series though.

Source: Received as part of a book tour arranged by UK Book Tours, this book has already been sent on to it's next destination.

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ARC Review: Torment - Lauren Kate

How many lives must you live before you find someone to die for?

Lucinda is sure that she and Daniel are meant to be together forever.  Now, in this sequel to the bestselling Fallen, they are forced apart in a desperate bid to save Luce from The Outcasts - immortals who want her dead.  As she discovers more about her past lives Luce starts to suspect that Daniel is hiding something.  What if he has lied to her about their shared past?  What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

Fallen Series:
Fallen
Torment (30th Sept 2010)
Passion (2011)
Rapture (2011?)

Visit Lauren Kate's website for more information

Review:
After events in the previous book Luce once again finds herself starting at a new school and struggling to fit in.  Life at Shoreline couldn't be more different from her previous reform school Sword and Cross.  She has an angel and a demon for teachers and is in a class of Nephilim (part angel part human) students.  Daniel is being more elusive than ever and Luce knows he is keeping secrets from her.  Determined to find out what is going on Luce sets out with the help of her new friends to find the answers.

I'm finding this review a little hard to write because I can't help feeling frustrated that instead of getting answers to some of the questions raised in Fallen, Torment has just left me with even more questions.  While the plot has moved on and I have been able to make some guesses about what I think might happen I have no idea if I will be proved correct or not.  I do love a story that leaves me wanting more but I can't help wishing that we were given just a little more information in Torment.

I found Luce could be a frustrating character in Fallen - she doesn't make very wise choices and at times had me wanting to shake her - but I forgave her that considering everything she had been through.  I hoped she would have grown up a bit in Torment but I found her actions even more frustrating than ever.  She has been told by Daniel to stay on campus where she is safe yet, despite the fact that she is nearly killed when she ventures out, the very next day she decides to leave campus again.  I just didn't find that believable and I started to feel that perhaps Luce deserved to have the worst happen if she was going to be that stupid.

I was also a little disappointed in the relationship between Daniel and Luce.  Daniel keeps Luce at arms length, he won't explain anything to her and leaves her doubting the feelings between them.  Although I felt that Daniel genuinely loves Luce I didn't feel that she returned his feelings.  It felt more like she thinks she has to love him because of their shared past - a past that she can't even remember.  When they are together there is a connection between them but when they are apart (which is for most of the book) Luce seems totally lost and unsure of her feelings.  I guess that this is understandable but I did find her constant confusion started to irritate me.

On a more positive note I really loved the new characters that we are introduced to in Torment.  Luce's roommate Shelby was great - such a fun and snarky character & someone I'd love to have a conversation with!  Her teachers Francesca (an angel) and Steven (a demon) are interesting characters and I'm curious to find out if we will see more of them in the future.  Miles was a sweet guy too who genuinely seems to care for Luce.

Lauren Kate is a talented writer and her descriptions make it easy to picture Luce's surroundings.  I always have pictures in my head as I'm reading but I find the images are particularly strong when reading this series.  I know exactly what both Sword and Cross & Shoreline look like and have complete pictures of the characters in my head.  This works especially well in the action scenes.  Like Fallen the main action in Torment comes at the end of the story and for the last few chapters I was completely gripped.  But the cliffhanger... oh the cliffhanger!  I don't know how I'm going to wait until next year to find out what happens next!

While Torment was a frustrating read at times I did still like the story and am looking forward to finding out what happens next.  If you want a series that is non-stop action then this might not be the series for you but if you like paranormal romances that are more character driven then it is well worth giving this series a try.

Source: Thanks to RHCB for sending me this book for review

Other reviews of this book:
Once Upon a Bookcase
Girls Without a Bookshelf
Asamum Booktopia
Fluttering Butterflies
I Was A Teenage Book Geek
Chrissie's Corner
The Bookette
Lorelaycci
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Fallen - Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Fallen Series:
Fallen
Torment (30th Sept 2010)
Passion (2011)
Rapture (2011?)

Visit Lauren Kate's website for more information

Review:
Luce has just transferred to Sword & Cross reform school and is completely out of her element.  She doesn't know anyone and is struggling to fit in, make friends and learn the rules.  She is instantly attracted to Daniel but he seems determined to avoid her and when forced to speak to her is usually downright rude.  Despite his attitude she can't help but feel they have a connection, if only she can get him to open up to her she might be able to convince him.  Then there is Cam - who makes no secret of his interest in her - but why does she feel she shouldn't trust him?

Fallen is one of those books that I've seen mixed reviews for so I really wasn't too sure what to expect when reading it.  If you haven't already read Fallen then I'd have to urge you to forget anything you may have heard and read it yourself.  Yes I had a few minor niggles along the way but overall I found it was an enjoyable read & I'm really looking forward to reading Torment.

This book is very character driven so there isn't much action until right near the end of the book but I was completely sucked into Luce's world.  Lauren Kate's writing is descriptive and leaves you able to picture the reform school perfectly.  I could feel Luce's attraction for Daniel and their connection felt real despite his attitude towards her for most of the story.  It was easy to imagine yourself in Luce's place starting at a new school not knowing how anything is supposed to work and finding it hard to know who to trust.  Yes she makes mistakes and at times you want to scream at her not to do what she is about to do but I think most of us have made mistakes when it comes to love - especially as teenagers.  I found that made her a more real character & easier to relate to.

Luce is a young girl who is confused by the events that brought her to reform school, she is cut off from her family and friends and in an unfamiliar environment.  She doesn't know how to deal with her feelings for Daniel and she is also confused by the attention she is getting from Cam.  He seems like he would make an ideal boyfriend but for some reason her instincts warn her against him.  There are also some great secondary characters - I particularly liked Penn who made an excellent friend for Luce and had me laughing out loud with her quirky ways.

The action at the end felt a little rushed and I would have liked to have seen it drawn out more but there was a fab twist that I didn't spot coming.  I enjoyed what we have found out so far about the fallen angel mythology Lauren has created, yes there are plenty of unanswered questions but I'm very much looking forward to finding out more in Torment.  Overall I found Fallen an enjoyable read and would definitely recommend it to fans of young adult paranormal romance.  If you're looking for something that is non-stop action from the first page then this may not be the book for you but if you enjoy a character driven romance with well written characters then it is well worth picking up a copy.

Source: Thanks to RHCB for sending me this book for review

Other reviews of this book:

Chrissie's Corner
Lily's Book Shelf
Trisha's Book Blog
I'd So Rather Be Reading
Lorelaycci
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: My Name Is Memory - Ann Brashares

"I have fallen in love, and she is the one who endures.  I killed her once and died for her many times and I still have nothing to show for it.  I always search for her.  I always remember her.  I carry the hope that someday she will remember me."

Their story spans a thousand years.  Time and again, they have been together, yet apart.  He knows they are meant to be one.  Only he carries the memory of their love.

Not everyone believes in the existence of "the one", but Daniel knows it's real.  How could he not?  He has spent centuries meeting and falling in love with the same girl, over and over again.  Life after reincarnated life, spanning continents and dynasties, he and Lucy have been drawn together - and though he can never tell her, he remembers it all.  But the force that draws them together keeps tearing them painfully, fatally apart, and Daniel is heartbroken when he realises what he must do to break the pattern...

Visit Ann Brashares' website for more information

Review:
Daniel has spent centuries tracking down Sophia ever since he accidentally killed her in his very first life.  At first he looked for her to try and make amends for his mistake but he quickly fell for her and has loved her ever since.  Daniel is unusual in his ability to remember all of his past lives and to be able to recognise souls from one life to the next even when their appearance can change drastically.  He uses this ability to find Sophia waiting and hoping for the time when they can finally be together.  In his current life Sophia is now Lucy and they meet at high school, they are both finally the same age at the same time and neither of them is already married but will this be the time that they can be together?  Will Lucy be able to remember Daniel this time around just like she promised him the last time they met?

My Name Is Memory is a very character driven story so there isn't a lot of action until very near the end of the book but it is well written and an enjoyable read.  The story alternates between what is happening in Daniel & Lucy's present and Daniel's memories of his past lives and all of the times he has previously spent with her.  I found Daniel's tales of his past lives fascinating and I love the idea of reincarnation although I don't think I'd want to be able to remember my past lives if I've had them.  It must be incredibly hard to spend thousands of years losing everyone you love.  Even if you do come across them again in future lives they have no memory of you so it isn't really like they are the same person. 

The concept of the story was great but although I enjoy character driven stories I did find that this one was a little slow moving in places for my taste, particularly in the middle of the book.  I think I would have enjoyed it even more if it had been just a little bit shorter.  Despite finding the story slow in places I felt that the main action at the end of the book felt a little rushed and I would have liked that part extended.  The ending was frustrating to say the least, although we got the answers to some of our questions the story has been left wide open for a sequel.  I'm not sure if a sequel is planned but I really hope there is one coming as I need to know what happens next.

Overall I found My Name Is Memory an enjoyable read and I would definitely read a sequel if one is written.  I enjoyed the romance between Daniel & Lucy and would recommend this if you are looking for a slower more romantic read rather than an action packed story.  If you find the idea of reincarnation interesting then I'd definitely suggest giving this one a try.

Source: Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me this review copy

Other reviews of this book:
So Many Books, So Little Time
The Bookette
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.