Review: Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (October 4, 2011)

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

The only good part of waiting so long to read book 2, was it allowed me to start this one immediately. Silence starts right where book to left off. Nora has been found but months later and with no memory. Its no just the kidnapping that she can't remember its almost a years worth of time she is missing. Nora can't help but feel that people are hiding things from her. 

There was so much to this story, Nora is trying to put her life and memory back together. she gets some help from and old "friend" and makes a new ally I guess would be the best word. One of my favorite things about this book was watching Patch and Nora reconnect. like the previous installment this one kept me turning the pages. There was action, adventure, romance, twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed getting caught up with this series. I give this one 4 stars!

Review: Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (October 19, 2010)

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.
Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.
Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts. 

It took me a long time to read this book and I have no clue why, All the things I loved about Hush, Hush were present in this book. Great writing, a good story, and great characters. I do want to say though that I wanted to kick Nora, how could she break up with Patch?!? Once that happened we still saw Patch but he was more on the sideline. Nora starts to get angrier and angrier and pusing Patch further and further away when she realises he is haning out with Marcie. I loved the addition of Scott. He was strange and kinda creepy but I liked him, although I'm not sure I was supposed to. 

This book really hooked me, once I started I couldn't stop. The plot kept moving at a good pace and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist knocked me on my butt. Actually a few things that were revealed kinda knocked me on my butt. This book didn't pull any punches it just layed it all out on the line and left us trying to figure out how to pick up the peices. I strongly urge you guys to read this seres! I give this one 4 stars!

Review: A Beautiful Dark - Jocelyn Davies

• Reading level:
 Ages 13 and up

• Hardcover:
 400 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperTeen (September 27, 2011)

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice;Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

My Thoughts...

This book was pretty good from start to finish. My only complaint was the ending, I'm not a huge fan of a cliff hanger. Skye was a pretty cool character, she seemed to be very non accepting of the things going on around her. All while trying to learn to accept it. In the end though I feel she did accept everything and that she made the right choice. Asher and Devin were both hott hott hott. While I liked both of them for different reasons I am firmly team Asher. He is more my type of guy. The story here kept me flipping the pages, but I would have liked some resolution, the cliff hanger ending has me wanting more, but at the same time I would have liked a nice neat resolved story. Either way the story was great and this book was well worth the read. I give this one 4 stars!

Review: The Mephisto Covenant - Trinity Faegen

• Reading level:
 Ages 14 and up

• Hardcover:
 448 pages

• Publisher:
 EgmontUSA (September 27, 2011)

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat. 
A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha. 
With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

My Thoughts...

I have a big problem with this book...there wasn't more! I loved every second I spent reading this book. I got to the end and sat there wishing someone would zap my nook with some extra chapters. I loved the mythology that this book was centered around, usually I'm more into Green, Roman, or other foreign cultures. This was based on something I am around every day, and while usually that would turn me off a book, it worked here. The characters were very well written. Sasha was cool, I loved how she felt a connection to Jax, but at the same time she had a hard time dealing with what he is and what he does. Jax and his brothers were cool and quirky in a brotherly way. The story never seemed to slow down we jump right in and it just keeps moving. The writing was fantastic and with everything mixed together this story kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. This was a fresh story and a very entertaining read. I suggest this one for all YA fans! I give this one 5 stars!

Review: A Need So Beautiful - Suzanne Young

• Reading level:
 Ages 14 and up

• Hardcover:
 272 pages

• Publisher:
 Balzer + Bray; 1 edition (June 21, 2011)

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten... 
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger. 
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely. 
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

My Thoughts...

I NEED A Want So Wicked NOW! I devoured this book. I couldn't stop reading it. I loved the characters, Charlotte broke my heart, Harlin made me smile, Sarah made me sad yet happy at the same time. Charlotte's family made me happy too. It might not have been a fairy tale family, but they loved each other. The story compelled me to read even as my heart broke. I wanted Charlotte to fight I wanted her to have the life she wanted. There were parts where I wanted to scream at Monroe and tell him to fix things. I really don't have enough words to describe this book. It was beautiful and heart wrenching, yet at the end you are left with hope. I give this one 5 huge stars! I can't recommend this one highly enough! Go read this book! Now!

Review: Mercy - Rebecca Lim

• Paperback:
 288 pages

• Publisher:
 Harpercollins Childs (October 28, 2010)

An electric combination of angels, mystery and romance, MERCY is the first book in a major new paranormal series.
There's something very wrong with me. I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There's nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It's made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive.
Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.

My Thoughts...

I think this might be love! I was sucked into from the first page.  Chapter 1 was haunting and beautiful! The story of Mercy seems complex and quite confusing. Even at the end of the book while I feel like I learned something about Mercy I'm still confused, but in a good way, in a way that makes me wish I had the next book sitting here to dive into.  But all the while we are trying to learn about Mercy, we are also learning about a girl named Carmen, and a family in crises. It is really quite a complex weave of the fates of many in this book. I loved the mystery aspect of this story. I wasn't expecting it really and it was well done.  I really loved the characters even the "mean girl" types", they all seemed to have so much life to them. I also think the pacing of this story was great. It never bored me and I was always guessing at where the mystery would eventually end up. I really looked forward to reading more about Mercy. I give this one 5 stars.

Review: A Touch Mortal - Leah Clifford

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (February 22, 2011)

Eden didn't expect Az.
Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long, happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.
And that's only the beginning of the end.

I have read quite a few rave reviews for this book and I have to agree with them.  I'm not sure really how much I can say here without giving something away but I'm gonna try. I think this was a fresh take on the subject of angels and fallen with a little something thrown in for good measure.  Our Characters...Eden, I loved this girl, while she did fall apart from time to time she managed to keep it together when needed. Gabe and Az again loved them! Gabe always seemed to keep himself together and Az seems to be ruled by his passions (I love me some passionate men!) Kristen...I think she might be my favorite. Her love of quoting the fact that you couldn't tell from one scene to another just how crazy she was going to be.  Just when I thought I had everything figured out the plot would twist on me then when I finally wrapped my head around it, it would turn on me! I had trouble putting this book down because I had to see what was going to happen next.  Once I got to the ending it was something I never would have expected, I was fulfilled by this ending but at the same time left wanting more from this story and these characters.  While I did enjoy the book I would just like to inform any parents out there that there is a lot of use of some "foul" language.  Other than that I feel compelled to give this book 4 stars and I hope that many of you will give it a chance!

Review: Unearthly - Cynthia Hand

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 4, 2011)

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 apurpose, 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.

I feel like I just got off a roller coaster.  This book hit all my emotions.  I really enjoyed all the characters in this book, None of them seemed to be filler characters, they all added something here or there.  One of the things I liked the most about the book was Clara knew from page 1 what she was.  You don't see that all that often.  I also really liked her family dynamic, Usually YA book have teens running around all hours doing crazy things that leave you sitting there going "Wow, where the hell are your parents?"  In my opinion Clara came off as a pretty normal teenage girl despite being an angel-blood, that is what really made me fall in love with the character.  There were parts of this book that had me giddy and smiling, then biting my nail, sitting on the edge of my seat!  Now I know that everyone is probably sick to death of "the love triangle" but this one was well done and I feel it was different than other books because it feels more like a triangle between duty and the heart.  I was reading asking myself "what would you do?"  I never came up with an answer, but I did like Clara's choice.  Now as far as our leading males went...I really loved Tucker, his jackassness in the beginning was actually cute to me (I totally need a team Tucker pin lol). Christian rubbed me the wrong was from the beginning, I'm not sure why but I never really feel for him or felt myself routing for him through out the story.  I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens to this groups, or if any of my theory's pan out.  I believe this is a 5 star book that I highly recomend to everyone, even though that say I am not a fan of angels.  After this book...you will be!