Crescendo

Crescendo by Becca Fiztpatrick                                                   
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publication Date: October 19, 2010
Page Count: 427

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast 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 Path 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 desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

You know when you read a book and you have that feeling of "No, it can't be over!" at the end? Well that's what this book did to me! I really hate that I have to wait until October for the third book to come out! 

It was so frustrating that Nora and Patch wanted to be together so badly but couldn't or shouldn't. Someone is following Nora around and trying to kill her. Meanwhile Patch has been reassigned as Guardian Angel to Nora's biggest enemy Marcie. As things get more and more dangerous, Nora doesn't know who she can trust and ends up falling into a trap!  How will things turn out? Will Nora be saved? Will Patch be alright? Can they ever be together?! The ending was such a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next book! 

Hush Hush

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick                                            
Publication: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publication Date: October 13th 2009
Page Count: 391

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

When I saw the reviews for this book on goodreads I was really blown away, there were so many 1 and 2 star ratings! A lot of people were comparing this book to twilight...I would have never made that connection! I thought that this book was really good. It was something different which I needed. A lot of books lately have all been the same story different version and it was getting old! I liked that this story was a little dark; mystery, drama, love, and suspense all mixed into one! 

Now I'm not saying that everything was perfect. It was a little confusing when Nora kept going back and forth between being terrified of Patch one minute and sometimes, literally the next minute, trusting him completely.

Overall though I did really enjoy this book and am excited to start Crescendo, the second book in the trilogy!

The Haunted

The Haunted by Jessica Verday                                              
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Page Count: 467

Description from Goodreads:

An impossible truth. An impossible love.

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with—the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead—Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates—a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

Wow! Just wow! I literally just finished reading The Haunted and I have to say I was really blown away! As you may know The Haunted is the sequel to The Hollow, and while the first book may have been a little slow this one definitely makes up for it! You simply have to read The Hollow if for no other purpose then to read The Haunted!

Abbey has a few hard spots to get through in the beginning but then has somewhat of a revelation...I don't want to say too much and give anything away. This book is full of romance (I swear I got butterflies when Caspian took his shirt off), mystery and suspense! And the ending KILLS me!! What a cliff hanger! I'm really bummed that the next book in the trilogy doesn't come out until September 1, 2011!

Quote from The Haunted:

"I feel all these things, Abbey," he continued on. "Rage that I can't run my fingers through your hair. Sorrow that I can't lay my face next to yours. Agony that I cant steal the breathe from your lips. I cant' eat or breathe or sleep for wanting to touch you, and yet I don't eat or breathe or sleep. I'm just here. Stuck between." 

~Caspian

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

The Hollow by Jessica Verday                                                    
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Publication Date: October 1, 2009
Page Count: 513

Description from Goodreads:
When Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey has never felt so desperately alone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen’s funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey’s life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he’s the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen’s betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

I was really excited to read this book. I like the cover and the story sounded interesting. After reading about 5 pages though I had to stop and set the book down. I just couldn't stay focused on it. The next day I came back to it and decided to give it one more chance, and I'm glad I did. While the beginning is pretty darn slow, it eventually picks up...not a lot but enough to keep you reading. 

Abbey's best friend Kristen just died but no one really knows how it all happened. She struggles through people talking bad about Kristen, and coping with losing her best friend; her only friend really. Abbey meets a mysterious boy Caspian and they share a mutual attraction but it is pretty clear he is keeping a secret of his own. There is alot of back and forth with Abbey and Caspian. She wants so badly for them to be together but he pulls away, then can't help himself and is drawn back to her...repeatedly. At the end you find out Caspian's secret and Abbey has a sort of nervous breakdown. 
  
There were parts were I really felt for Abbey and what she was going through with her best friend dying, her  controlling but loving mother, her finding love and losing it, and then the whopper of a secret that she finds out about Caspian! I loved how she made perfume throughout the story, I could picture her sitting there trying to find the perfect scents. I could almost smell them!

Overall I think, while a little slower paced, this book was pretty good and worth checking out. I'll be reading the next book in the series, The Haunted.  I hope the story will pick up where it left off as I felt that it was just starting to get really good! I'll cross my fingers for faster paced too! I hope you give this book a chance!

Cover of the Week

If you are anything like me you LOVE book covers! They are the first thing you see when choosing a book and honestly gorgeous covers have a huge draw. I know there have been plenty of books that I have seen and thought "that cover is amazing I have to have it!". I will admit that a pretty cover doesn't mean that the book will be any good but it sure doesn't hurt. Then again some covers are flat out horrible, dated, ugly, boring...but have wonderful books in them.

Anyways, my cover of the week pick is Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon.I have a little bit of a sweet spot for mermaids; watching The Little Mermaid over and over when you're little can do that to ya! But I think this cover would have caught my eye regardless. I mean its beautiful, the shimmering scales, the red hair, and the gorgeous colors! I can't wait for this book to come out on March 3rd! 

 

Challenges

I have decided to sign up for some challenges. My first one is going to be the "100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011" hosted by Book Chick City. I'm thinking of setting up my own personal challenge because it's only February and I've already read 46 books! I think this is a great challenge and I hope you'll join me!

Join here!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan           
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: September 7, 2010
Page Count: 336


Description from Goodreads: 
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a Draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.  

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner Draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner Draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.




Let me start by saying that as soon as I saw the cover to this book I just HAD to read it, it is absolutely gorgeous! And boy am I glad I did. I was totally engrossed in Firelight and read it in one sitting. 

Jacinda is the first fire breathing Draki (descendants of dragons) in centuries which makes her a commodity to her pride, which is slowly fading in its powers. She is promised at just 16 years old to Cassian the prince of her pride, where she is expected to breed little fire breathing babies. Jacinda and her best friend Azure sneak out to fly during the day, which is a serious no no. While they are out they encounter Hunters, humans who kill and sell off Draki parts. She hides but is discovered by a Hunter named Will, with whom she shares an instant attraction, and he lets her go free. For her disobedience the pride elders decide on some pretty harsh punishment and Jacinda's mother takes her and her twin and flees in the night. 

Jacinda's mom decides that the only way to keep them safe is if Jacinda's Draki dies. So she moves them far away from the mountains, lakes, and fertile soil that sustains her inner Draki, hoping that it will wither and die, leaving Jacinda human. What she doesn't know is that the Hunter,Will, who found her and let her go free lives in the same town. A family of very dangerous Hunters...and she can't seem to stay away. Her attraction to Will is still as strong as before and awakens her weakening Draki, making her almost manifest in a crowded school hallway. Their attraction is mutual, and while he doesn't know who she is in her human form, she knows exactly who he is and can't decide whether staying near him and keeping her Draki alive is worth the risk. She goes back and forth but is ultimately discovered and they decide to be together despite everything.

The ending is a total cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next book Vanish to come out in August!