Book Review: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington

Emblaze (Embrace #3)

Jessica Shirvington

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication: March 19, 2013
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Acquisition: received from the publisher

Synopsis:

Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too.

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realise exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to...

(from Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Good and evil, heaven and hell, right and wrong - which side would you choose? For Violet this question is at the very center of her life. Everything revolves around what is right and good - what she must do and what is evil (or forbidden). She is one of the strongest female characters I have come across in a while in YA lit and I absolutely love her!

The tensions that started in Embrace and continued in Entice have built up to a breaking point. Violet and her friends are giving everything they have - and it might not be enough.

Fantasy and reality collide. Angels are real. Evil is real and Violet just might hold the key to it all.

A fantastic story!

Emblaze picks up pretty much were Entice left off and I'm chalking it up to Shirvington's phenomenal writing because unlike what happens most of the time for me when I pick up a book 3, I hadn't forgotten ANYTHING about Violet's world. Only a few pages into Emblaze and every detail from the previous 2 books were fresh in my mind. This is rare and it was awesome!

With slews of paranormal creatures to choose from in YA readings, I feel that angels can be overlooked. Shirvington has filled a void, for me at least. I love the world she has created and her characters feel like old friends.

This is truly one of my favorite series and it's one I can't recommend enough! If you like angels - you must read these books. If you're on the fence - pick up book 1 today and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Will I continue the series?
Yes oh yes! No word on when the US edition of book 4 will be out but it's already been released in the UK (title: Endless).

Rating

5 / 5 Stars

The Embrace Series
#1 Embrace
#2 Entice
#3 Emblaze
#4 Endless (UK release 2012)
#5 Untitled (?)

Book Review: Entice (The Violet Eden Chapters #2) by Jessica Shirvington

"With moments of elation and a few moments of true heartbreak - I was enthralled from beginning to end..."

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 464
Series: 2nd in The Violet Eden Chapters
Acquisition: I received a free ARC for review from the publisher

Summary:

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.

Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.

The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I've always been partial to angel stories so when the chance came along to review the second book in Shirvington's series there was no way I was passing it up.

Intoxicating is a word I would use to decide this one. Lots of characters, lots of drama, life and death situations, good guys who bring a whole new meaning to the word hero and villains that love to hide around every corner. Entice is a thrill ride of a book.

The romance is epic, or tragic depending on your point of view. Violet and Lincoln walk a razor sharp edge and while reading, you get the feeling that at any time, one of them could slip. I do have to say though, by the end of the book I was a little tired of their drama. It was very warranted mind you, as they didn't have a lot of control over what was happening to them but again, the - will they won't they, I'm not good enough for him, she's too good for me- roller coaster ride got a little old at times.

New characters added greatly to this book's appeal for me. Not that I didn't love the original cast from book 1 but I felt that the different aspects and personalities of this infusing of fresh faces really added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

Final verdict:
Lots of drama, like I said, but lots of action too. The world that Jessica has created with this series gets under your skin. It's full of ancient history but in the end, everything could rest on the actions and decisions of 1 person.

With moments of elation and a few moments of true heartbreak - I was enthralled from beginning to end and book 3 could not be here fast enough! The ending was a killer and I can't imagine what else could go wrong (or right) for Violet and the people she cares about.

If you're read Embrace, you have GOT to pick up Entice and if you're a fan of angels in YA and haven't started this series yet you really should.

Overall Rating:

4.5 / 5 Stars

Books in The Violet Eden Chapters:
#1 Embrace
#1 Entice
#3 Emblaze (March 2013)

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

Entice Teaser Trailer from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

Starting on September 7th we are gearing up for Entice Me Day - chapters releases, giveaways and lots more. 

Check it out!

Book Review: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

***2012 Debut Author***
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (US)
Pages: 367
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: received an ARC for review

Summary:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
If I had to pick one word to describe how I felt after reading Embrace it would have to be breathless. The tension in this book is fantastic. Emotional and physical and everything in between. There is such a raw sense of feeling behind this story that I dare you to read it and not be swept away.

Part love story part myth - full of action, suspense and mystery. Also full of love triangles! Ok, only 1 but 1 is enough. Now you have to understand, I absolutely hate love triangles. Being completely honest, books with love triangles stand a better chance of being thrown across the room then they do earning a place on my bookshelves.

So! All I have to say is that Jessica must be some type of magician. Because not only did I love Embrace, I loved the entire story - love triangle and all.

It was really the myth behind the story that really drew me in. The angel hierarchy Jessica created is intriguing and I loved the ways in which angels have played a part of human history. The whole concept of bad or dark angels has always fascinated me and Embrace, for me at least, takes this concept to a new level.

Along with a fantastic storyline, Embrace also has strong characters. I loved some and I hated others and it was wonderful.

Final verdict:
A refreshing read for me. While I love paranormal stories, they can be a bit over the top at times. Embrace was a perfect balance for me - believable situations mixed with unbelievable realities. I highly recommend Embrace and I can't wait for it's sequel. I really don't know if I'll be able to hold off ordering a Australian or UK copy!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Author's website
Goodreads
IndieBound

These covers are all beautiful!

The Violet Eden Chapters

US Release by Sourcebooks Fire

Embrace (March 2012)

Entice (September 2012)

Emblaze (March 2013)

Originally released in Australia by Hachette

Embrace (October 2010)

Enticed (March 2011)

Emblaze (October 2011)

Endless (2012)

Released in the UK by Orchard Books

Embrace (October 2011)

Enticed (March 2012)

Released in Germany by Random House

Erwacht (April 2011)

Verlockt (February 2012)

Gebannt (August 2012)

Book Review: Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 2011
Pages: 449
Series: 1st in the Angel trilogy
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Angel Burn's take on angels is very different. They are paranormal creatures but not heavenly. They aren't from our world, at least I don't think they are, and the world they come from isn't explained very much. I don't really know what this world is but it's not heaven and God doesn't live there. And angels are really more like life-force sucking demons then harp playing embodiments of all that is good.

So! From the very beginning, Angel Burn, like I said, is different! I happen to like this. I liked the evil angels aspect, I liked the characters and I enjoyed the story.

The complete lack of mainstream thoughts on God or religion did confused me a little. There is no talk of heaven or God in Angel Burn and for a book focused solely around the existence of angels that was a little weird. And it's not like the term angel was given to these creatures and they are in fact something else paranormal. They are presented as being actual angels. The same angels that humans have been writing about and believing in forever.

Then there is the romance between Willow and Alex. Have to say - it wasn't what I expected. It actually wasn't love at first sight, I can't possibly live without you even though I just met you love. It was more then 300 pages into the book before they admitted to even liking each other. So, that was refreshing. But then, things progressed a little fast. I didn't mind because I really liked Willow and Alex as characters and I thought they were actually very sweet together. AND! No love triangles!

Angel Burn was hard to put down at times and I have to say, I didn't quite see that ending coming. As the first in a trilogy, I'm very excited to see what happens to Willow as she discovers more of her past and tried to make a future for herself. I'm a big fan of fantasy and paranormal angel stories and I wasn't disappointed with Angel Burn. A great YA paranormal read and I wouldn't have any problems recommending.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Angel Series - US Editions:
Angel Burn
Angel Fire (January 2012)
Angel Fever (October? 2012)

Linkage Love:
Candlewick Press
Author's Website
Goodreads

Tidbits:
*Originally published in the UK. Book 1 was titled Angel and book 2, Angel Fire was published in October 2011
*L.A. Weatherly is the pseudonym for Lee Weatherly who also writes under the pen name Titania Woods

Book Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

***2011 Debut Author***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: June 2011
Pages: 174
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.

Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin’s destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin’s belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed?

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up. (from author's webpage)

My thoughts:
A short and sweet coming of age story with some pretty cool paranormal elements. I very much enjoyed this book. Told as a series of journal entries, as a reader, we are treated to a few different characters and their POVs. I really liked this aspect of the book as It helped me feel connected to each character in a different way. Each journal entry was so personal - the core of each character was right there - I felt drawn into the story very quickly and even with it's short length, the power and strength of story was very well played out.

My favorite aspect of Griffin Rising is it's characters. In the world Griffin finds himself in, his life very easily could have turned out very different. I loved his interactions with Basil and it was uplifting to see how much they loved and took care of each other. Perhaps a little confusing when a new character, Katie, was added into the mix but it passed quickly as I got used to her voice and looked forward to seeing her take on Griffin, Basil and their strange life.

A quick read with lots of background details that kept me interested and a strong cast of characters that gave the story depth. A book I really think younger male readers would really enjoy.

I'm keeping my eye on Darby and I would definitely read more of her books in the future.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
Griffin Rising
Griffin's Fire (April 2012)

Linkage Love:
Twilight Times Books
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

***2011 Debut Author***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Pages: 435
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I love angel stories. Don't know why but they have always been a draw for me. So, when I first found out about Unearthly I was thrilled. And maybe that's why I was disappointed when I finally read it.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good story. A really good story. And the writing is pretty awesome. Not awkward or unrealistic. And even with the unanswered questions, the plot was pretty solid.

But. The romance. The romance just did me in. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again but I really dislike love triangles. I love a good love story, but I would much rather see no romance then a triangle. Or in the case of Unearthly, a half formed, messy shaped thing of unlikableness.

Ok, that didn't make much sense but I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

And it's so hard for me to say I didn't enjoy the romance in Unearthly because I very much enjoyed the characters - most of them at least. AND the romance actually played a huge part in the storyline. BUT...well...it just didn't do it for me.

I'm one of the few. Many, MANY people absolutely love this book and you would probably be one of them. The issues I take with Unearthly are just that, my issues.

Gotta say, the mystery was pretty cool - but not complete. It's the first in a series though so, yeah, to be expected. A lot more of this story to tell but for me at least, I don't know if I'll continue the journey. I can almost see the weirdly shaped love shaped thing getting even messier and the overall story getting bogged down by it and I would hate to read that because I very much would love to see what happens to these characters. But, we'll see. No synopsis for book 2 yet so I can't really say for sure.

Final verdict:
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. If you're a fan of paranormal YA romance, you'll probably really enjoy Unearthly. Like I said, the writing is solid and the plot is unique and engaging, It's just sadly, wasn't a book for me. Cynthia Hand is a debut author and while I might not pick up the next installment of the Unearthly series, I would defiantly read more by this author.

Overall Rating:

2.5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Unearthly Series:
1. Unearthly
2. Hallowed (2012)

Linkage Love:
HarperTeen
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Beautiful Dead: Summer by Eden Maguire

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 1, 2011 (reprint)
Pages: 288
Series: 3rd in the Beautiful Dead series
Acquisition: received ARC for review

Summary:

Six months have passed since the last Ellerton teenager died, but Darina is still traumatized by the stabbing of her own beloved Phoenix. But there's work to be done as Darina must now turn her attention to the shooting of Summer Madison - the beautiful and gifted, singer-song-writer with a heart of gold. It's been nearly a year since the random shooting in a shopping mall caused Summer's meaningless death.

Summer left behind recordings of her wonderful songs and a deep sadness amongst high school friends. Now Darina must act as Summerās agent to track down the psychotic killer in a clear search for justice. With the sound of Summer's music constantly playing inside Darina's head, recalling the wonderful months when she was alive and performing her first gigs, Darina, Phoenix and the Beautiful Dead are determined to catch the crazed killer. And all the while Darinaās love for Phoenix continues to beat ... (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
The third Ellerton teen to die was Summer Madison. Beautiful, talent Summer who everyone loves. Darina is once again partnered with the Beautiful Dead. She does it willingly. Anything to be with Pheonix for just a little longer.

The silence she is forced to keep is tearing her apart. She barely goes to school. Hardly ever sleeps or eats and yet she can never give up. Giving up means eternal damnation for those that she loves. Those that she lost.

Darina is a wreck. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING good ever happens to this girl. She literally has no reason to smile.

What a freaken roller coaster ride this book was!  Some very shocking things happen. Heart wrenchingly socking. As if loosing Pheonix wasn't bad enough! As if being at the mercy of Hunter wasn't more then any person, living or dead, should ever be forced to deal with.

Final verdict:
Oh man, I couldn't stop reading. Tragic and sad but also full of mystery and intrigue. Eden Maguire has sucked me into the world of the Beautiful Dead and like Darina, I can't and don't want to fight back.

Happy endings in this series? Some. But if you're looking for something edgier the Beautiful Dead are for you.

One more book in the series? I can't imagine a happy ending for Darina but like her, I still have hope.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

The Beautiful Dead Series:
Jonas
Arizona
Summer
Phoenix

Linkage Love:
Sourcebooks
Goodreads

Book Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

***2011 Debut Author***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: February 2011
Pages: 464
Series: 1st in a trilogy
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Angelfire was one of those books that literally didn't leave my hands until I was finished reading it. I was captivated by the story from the very beginning and it just got better and better the more I read.

I'm a sucker for angel stories. Always have been so I was pretty sure I was going to like Angelfire.  What I wasn't expecting was the complexity of the story. Ellie's life, or I really should say, lives, lead to so much back story. So many layers to uncover and I loved how Ellie was as unaware of her past as I was. I loved the discovery of it all. Knowing there was so much more going on. It really was fascinating.

Now, I have to say, I don't often swoon over a male character in a YA book but Will? Oh my! He could protect me any day! And! It rarely happens that I find no fault in the romance aspect of a YA book but Angelfire was pretty spot on perfect to me!

Final verdict:
A refreshing YA paranormal read. Having read an e-galley, I'm very much looking forward buying a shiny copy for my shelves.

So so glad this one's the first in a trilogy! I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading about Ellie and Will. Individually, they are both strong, powerful characters. Together? They are fierce! Angelfire is a book I can see myself reading for a second time. Not many books fall into that category :)

I highly recommend  Angelfire to fans of YA paranormal stories. I think you'll be captivated as much as I was.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Angelfire Series:
Angelfire
Wings of the Wicked (2012)
Hymn to the Fallen (2013)

Linkage Love:
HarperTeen
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Awakened by Ednah Walters

Publication Date: September 2010
Pages: 272

Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: received a copy for review

Summary:

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.

But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Awakened is a perfect example of the old saying - don't judge a book by it's cover. Have to say it - I think the cover is completely wrong for a young adult book. It's a little too...sexy? BUT if you find yourself turned off by the cover? Ignore it - I think you'll be happy you did.

I very much enjoyed this story. It started out a little weird - a little too thrown right into the plot from page 1 but I went with it and all in all, it worked.

Lil is a pretty cool gal. Raised by her Grandfather, living the life of modern day gypsies, her entire world changes soon after her 16th birthday. She's suddenly thrown into a world she never could have imagined. She gains some kick ass friends and discovers powers within herself that are desperately needed to save the people she cares about.

And about those people...the romance? It was ok. As far as swoony, unbelievably perfect love interests go, Bran wasn't all that bad. Except for his name...had some issues with that but I didn't hold it against him. I actually really liked his character. His brother on the other hand I never really good a good feel for. He's important to the story but he was good and then he was bad and then he was still bad but doing good things. I couldn't pin him down.

I really loved the background of this story. The Nephilim and the Guardians and Souled Demons along with the Nosferatu and Nature-Benders? Very cool magical elements. Have to say, I would have liked this back story worked into the actual story of the book a little more. We get a lineage, glossary of terms and character bios before the first chapter. It was nice and I found myself referring back to it at times but I tend to like my back story in the story not next to it.

Final verdict:
A very good read for me. I know some people shy away from self published books or books from very small publishing houses but I'm willing to give just about any book a try and with Awakened I'm really glad I did. It's the first in a series and I'm very much looking forward to book 2.

I think Ednah has created a rich world that YA fantasy fans will really enjoy.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

The Guardian Legacy Series:
Awakened
Betrayed (?)

Linkage Love:
Pine Hill Press
Author's Website
Goodreads

Book Review: Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

CHALLENGE BOOK: 2010 Debut Authors

Title: Angel Star
Author: Jennifer Murgia
Publication Date: May 2010
Genre: Young Adult
Tags: angels, romance, good and evil
Age: 13+
Pages: 256
Series: 1st in a series
Book Acquisition: ARC from Other Shelf Tours

My Rating: 5/5/ stars

(from Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows, and now, she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower. 

My Review:
Pretty much loved every word on every page. Yeah, that's all that needs to be said :)

I've had a thing for angels ever since reading Sharon Shinn's adult Sameria Series. I love the idea of fallen angels, good and bad angels, angels who fall in love with humans...they make me swoon. So, let me tell you, I did a whole lot of swooning while reading Angel Star.

One of the things I liked most was the characters. They were so likable. Even the bad one...ok....maybe especially the bad one ;)

I was worried that the romance would turn me off - romance in YA book have been doing that lately. I had no reason to worry. The romance in Angel Star was so sweet, so genuine.

I'm not going to give anything away but there was one thing that happened that did not make me smile at all. It was actually pretty upsetting. I have to say, I was a little mad for a while. But, after reading the entire book, I understood why it happened. It needed to. The gravity of the situation had to be brought home. The fact that all angels aren't good needed to be shown. I don't think Teagan would have been able to get through everything that happened if this one thing didn't happen first. Heartbreaking, yes but necessary. Just one more way Jennifer played with my heart - and I'm glad she did!

I highly recommend this book to fans of angels and paranormal teen fiction. I really can not wait to see what happens in Lemniscate!

Books in the Series:
Angel Star (May 2010)
Lemniscate (Spring 2011)

Linkage Love:
Lands Atlantic Publishing
Author's Website