Eternal by Gillian Shields

Gillian Shields never disappoints when it comes to the Immortal series and I will be the first to admit when I saw ETERNAL I thought it was a continuation of Evie's story-how her life would be now that Sebastian is no longer part of it, upon later research noticed that it was written from the perspective of Sarah.

I found the ETERNAL to be very insightful, I got to see Evie in a different light and maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall every reading in either IMMORTAL or BETRAYAL where we got a sense of jealousy from her but in this book it seems to be a pretty strong feeling until about halfway. Sarah was always portrayed as the good friend, the one who hides nothing but will be there no matter what and we see how she begins to question that when things start taking a toll.

I found a lot more action, suspense, romance and even loss in this book. There isn't a page in this book that you don't feel someway connected to the story as if that is what you're going through at a moment in time or perhaps even while your reading.
I loved the fact that Gillian went deeper for us to connect with a character that was briefly described in BETRAYAL and I found her story very touching and it added to the suspense at the end of the novel.

Gillian is also introduces a new character and from the word go I got the sense that this person is up to something, but then she says something and I'm thinking she can't be that bad. So for me at the start of her introduction is was a catch 22. I was left questioning a character that I knew was not who she was being portrayed to be, she just couldn't be. Confusion is the name of the game until you hit the last couple of chapters.

If the ending is anything to go by I'm pretty sure that next year this time there will be another tale to be read.

Sarah had a few choices to make in this novel and I think they have made her someone that she can be proud of and there is still plenty room for her to grow :)

I'm ending here before I spoil anything else.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

Exclusivebooks.com-Eternal by Gillian Shields

My first giveaway :)

I'm so excited to announce that I will be conducting my first giveaway :) I can barely contain my excitement.

I happened to come across Jennifer Laurens when a very good friend of mine posted a book that she had written and I feel in love with the book and couldn't wait to get my hands on the book so I could get lost in the pages of the story. I was lucky enough to enter one of Jennifer's awesome giveaways and I won HEAVENLY.

For my first giveaway I would love to share that feeling I had when I opened the pages of HEAVENLY and dived into the amazing storyline that helped me through a tough time and shed some light on what I was feeling was pretty normal. Not everyone enjoys the same genre but I think HEAVENLY has a little something for everyone.

Now for the serious part of the giveaway-the rules of the game:

1. The giveaway is open internationally :) 
2. For every follow, i.e the blog, Facebook and Twitter earns you a point. Please leave a link as to where you have posted the giveaway.
3. Every new follower that you bring along and they mention to whom has sent them over earns you an extra point
4. Please leave contact details! 
5. The giveaway is running from today 26 August 2011 until 30 September 2011. The winner will be announced on 2 October 2011 :)

One thing I've learned in the world of blog giveaways is PR is pretty important!!! 

Good Luck!

Happy Reading :)

Gillian

xxx

Feature and Follow Friday

Thanks to Alison Can Read and Parajunkee 

Q. In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life?

That is a very interesting question to ask. I've read so many paranormal books that it's hard to say which one I would prefer to happen in real life. I love them all actually so I'm caught at a crossroads on this particular question so at the moment my brain is working overtime to find the most suitable paranormal creature. I've read a few novels that have had angels in them and for me one of the books have stood out the most HEAVENLY, the way the main character found out that her sister had a guardian angel touched me deeply and I found that to be pretty profound. So I think for that would be an awesome "comes out the closet" moment to be carried into real life :)

I can only imagine what it would feel like to love someone that you cannot touch or whom is just out of reach but at the same time is a guardian angel to sister....I would love to hear your thoughts.

                                                              Happy Reading Friday!!



Dragon's Oath by PC and Kristin Cast

My wait is finally over and the reading felt like a few minutes. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only HON fan that has been binding their time until the release of the novella.

I found it very interesting and it explained why Dragon took such a change at the end of AWAKENED and I can only hope that in DESTINED things change for the better for him and that the path we see him heading on at the close of the book is not the final path in his story.

I'm getting ahead of myself and I haven't even done a review yet. I'm terrible when a thought is running through my head I have to finish it or else I won't be able to conduct the review properly.
When we have come across Anastasia in the previous books it's always been brief and we haven't been able to learn a lot about her, but with DRAGON'S OATH we can. She was so pretty and honest, when she loved she loved with her whole heart. He love for Dragon was not intentional but written in the stars and it was touching to see how their saying of "my own" came into being.

I noticed a dramatic twist in the book and I'm hoping more will be explained in DESTINED because I had to read those last pages a couple of times as well as in the beginning of the book. I never knew that they had been present since then and who was he?

I don't want to go into great detail because DRAGON'S OATH is such an amazing read and because it doesn't even reach 200 pages so the more I review the more likely it is for me to spoil the book.
My advise pay close attention to the ending where Dragon comes close to Nyx and keep your tissues handy.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

Exclusivebooks.com Dragon's Oath by PC and Kristin Cast

Eternity by Heather Terrell

I thoroughly enjoy Heather's writing and I almost missed the sequel in A Fallen Angel Novel series, but thank heavens for my Blackberry.
The only downside to ETERNITY is that it wasn't thick enough but it was full of suspense, drama, heartache, love and action.

From the moment I closed the book on FALLEN ANGEL I have been dying to know how Ellie and Michael's story would carry on, if their parents would be able to "wipe" their memories again and what about Ruth's memory-she's a pretty smart kid if you don't count in her grades :) but most of all I needed to know if Ellie was prepared to take on her role as the elect one.

Heather, brought a lot of drama into ETERNITY and I think that kept me reading-don't get me wrong the book is a page turner but I had to know what was going to happen next and I even carried my book with me to work because I didn't want to miss a second of what was happening in the life of Ellie.

I always thought that Ellie and Michael would have the perfect relationship given that they are destined to be together, as Ezekiel said in FALLEN ANGEL "Knight to his lady" but upon reading the book I got the feeling that, that might not be the case. We see how they needed to act normal but while doing so the relationship took strain and it was harder for them to connect in a way. Add the mystery guy that Ellie meets while trying to save the world which doesn't make it any easier.

I noticed a huge change with Ellie when she accepted who she was and what her destiny would entail and I found that very endearing and reinforced my beliefs in a strong woman doesn't have an age or type. Her relationship with her parents changed as well and with that came a very interesting twist which is explained in a little more detail near the end of the book.

I feared that the ending would not have the conclusion I was so hoping for, Heather in a way also helped feed my fear and left me a little confused along with Ellie when the final pages came into play. I'm left hoping that there will be another book in the series. It just cannot end like that.

With much restraint I have tried to leave out all the juicy bits....

Happy Reading:)

Gillian
xxx

Exclusivebooks.com-Eternity by Heather Terrell

Happy Book Release Day BLOODLINES and Richelle Mead

"When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood."

A much anticipated release for the spin off series from VAMPIRE ACADEMY, BLOODLINES. I for one has been counting down the days until the release day. May Richelle have every bit of success with BLOODLINES as that of VAMPIRE ACADEMY. I'm pretty sure the fans will be grabbing the books off the shelf to get their fix of the wonderful spin off series.

Every of the best and may your success only grow in leaps and bounds :)

In My Mailbox

In my mailbox this last week:

Dragons Oath by PC and Kristin Cast

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Eternal by Gillian Shields

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Dark Heart Rising by Lee Monroe

Lee Monroe is an amazing writer. I will be the first to admit it took me some time to read DARK HEART RISING but that was not by choice. Recovering from an operation can delay even the best book.

Again we see Jane at a crossroads when it comes to her ove ife when a tall, dark and handsome gentleman steps into her life while on holiday with her grandmother in France. At first Jane is hesitant to be around Soren and I don't blame he comes off a bit creepy and seems to have a hidden agenda. She's battling with the loss of Luca but feels that she needs to move on even if she does love him he has moved on whether it be by choice or not.
I noticed a connection between Soren and Jane because they have both lost someone that they love dearly which seems to bring them closer in the beginning, until later.

I noticed that Jane hs grown so much in DHR that she is able to try and move on after Luca has pushed her away as he is trying to do the right by his family even if it means that he might loose his one true love. Yes, he is doing the noble thing to make his parents and Lowe happy but what about his happiness? Its brought up a lot in conversations with Raphel, he belives that Lila is just second best and if you don't love someone why should you be forced to marry tham? The marriage will not be filled with love-there is an old saying that you will grow to love them in time. I don't agree, one should be with someone that they love not settle for second best.

Raphel also has a strong part in the book, he is trying to move on from his mistakes but he knows that he is not the same person since his come back earth, but he will do anything to keep up the pretense to his great-mother Celeste so he isn't locked away like some animal. He also makes a startling discovery that is someway connected to Soren's story.

I don't want to carry on because I'm afraid that I will spoil this amazing story for everyone, but I will say one more thing. Be prepared for some interesting twists and turns. People will come toghether and secrets will be aired.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

Exclusivebooks.com Dark Heart Rising by Lee Monroe

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff's debut novel was pretty hard to put down and I have to admit that she has out done herself. I've always been a fab of hers but when I heard that she was going to pen a novel I thought it might be reaching a tad bit too far but I have to swallow my words, EXILIR was amazing.

I loved how Hilary took the term "soul mates" to another level, we see how Clea's friend Rayna has many soul mates which account for the men she hooked up with while away on her winter break but Clea doesn't see it like that, she can't wrap her head around the fact that there is one person out there for everyone until she starts having dreams about this dashing man.

Something that caught my attention was that Clea had just recently lost her father but still clings to the hope that he has to be a live somewhere and if he isn't then she needs to retrace his last steps so she can finally be able to let go and move on. We see how both her mother and herself deal with the loss differently. Clea would like to speak about him but out of respect for her mother she doesn't. We can see that it's hard for Clea to do because she was so close to her father but she doesn't want to see her mother crumble because she is trying to keep a game face on. Don't get me wrong we notice how much her mother loved her husband and that just reiterates the fact that soul mates exist.

We finally meet the man of Clea's dreams, Sage and with Clea discover that he is her soul mate but it comes with a lot of baggage on his part. I got a sense at the beginning that I did not trust him and it was reconfirmed for me again when Clea went on a snooping expedition but then my mind changed again. Is Sage the right person or can he still be hiding something? I'm not completely sold on him just yet.

ELIXIR will keep you glued until the end of the book leaving you begging for the sequel. I found the ending to be a bit sad but I think it was well placed, it left me with so many questions but not the happy ending I was hoping for. Fingers crossed Hilary will answer some of the questions I'm sure the readers have.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

Exclusivebooks.com Exilir by Hilary Duff