Awake At Dawn by C.C Hunter

C.C Hunter has out done herself with the sequel to BORN AT MIDNIGHT. She was able to carry across everything I loved from the first novel straight into AWAKE AT DAWN causing everything to run smoothly with no hiccups or lingering questions as to what happened in BORN AT MIDNIGHT. I was not able to put the book down for a second and found it glued to my hand everywhere that I went.

AWAKE AT DAWN  is an amazing read with a storyline that is full of twists and turns, lingering questions and even new ones but I personally don't think that changes the well written storyline. The emotions in this book are extremely genuine that you can feel your heartstrings being tugged along with Kylie, it adds to the realness of what is being expressed on the pages. The characters bring new depth and discovering with them, not one of them seem to be out of place and fit perfectly into the life of Kyle whether they be positive or negative. Exploring how the characters grow made AWAKE AT DAWN that more enjoyable for me.

I cannot forget to mention Miranda and Della, they keep me on my toes with their constant bickering, but they add a new level to the book and we discover another side to them that is a lot deeper and at times even darker than we're use to. I would love to have them as friends because sometimes I wonder with their dislike of the spirits when they are going to bolt? I get a sense that they're in this for a very long time and will do anything to help Kylie.

Holiday and Burnett are two very strong role models for the campers even with their chemistry notable to everyone. I find that Burnett has grown on me and at times like Holiday I would love to give him a beat down but with this novel he has grown from this dark and foreboding vampire to someone that Kylie can turn to and count on for when she reaches a very bad place and can't get out. I'm hoping to see more of him and maybe even the Holiday and Burnett romance spark a little more in TAKEN AT DUSK.

Kylie has grown immensely since BORN AT MIDNIGHT and I know that she has a lot more to do but there's something about her that has me doing air pumps every time she discovers another part of her. For instance not trusting her biological father in the beginning to loving him deeply now that she has been able to learn from him and bond. Daniel makes a confession in this book, that had my heart breaking and I think it struck a chord with Kylie too, but there still is a lingering of regret, which leads her on a mission that to be honest has me a little worried.

What can I say about the boys? When I first met Derek I was his biggest fan but as BORN AT MIDNIGHT progressed I had my doubts about his intentions with Kylie but that slowly changed. He's grown as a person and at the end of AWAKE AT DAWN makes an extremely dangerous decision but one I;m hoping will help him grow even further into the man I know he can be. Lucas the ever charming werewolf leaves a few girls with their blood a little above normal but the way he cares for Kylie, the honesty in his eyes makes me jump on the Kylie-Lucas romance waggon. Truthfully I did think he was a bad boy looking for something at the beginning but it never amazes me how he will get himself into a tight spot just to make sure that she will be okay.

If you haven't picked up AWAKE AT DAWN I think you should. C. C Hunter has out done herself and I'm counting the days until TAKEN AT DUSK is released.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

EB.com Awake at Dawn by C.C Hunter 

Muse by Rebecca Lim

I have to admit this before I begin my review, Rebecca Lim has every emotion possible in her books and MUSE left my with an emotional tornado. I loved it! My favourite so far in the MERCY series.  Having said that, I think I need to go into more detail as to why the book is one of my favourites, it has a lot more of the paranormal element, the angels seemed to share the spotlight with Mercy and finally Mercy was finding out who she was before she become a "body snatcher". Answers are ripe for the taking but some may still leave you wanting a more in depth answer, I found that I still have questions but I know without a doubt Rebecca will have everything tied up with FURY.

I think the life that Mercy is inhabiting in MUSE, Irina fits her perfectly this particular point in her life. Irina is a supermodel who just so happens to be in a pretty bad spot in her life too, everyone wants to know what she's up to and whether or not she will stuff up again and in doing so end her career with a massive bang. If you think about it, up until now that describes Mercy to a T, what she goes through on a daily basis trying to figure out what happened to her and who she is relates a lot to what Irina seems to be going through in terms of her struggles.
Mercy is finding it easier to remember and in doing so piecing her life together a lot quicker, this adds to the pace of the storyline and with it comes a few momentous revelations. One thing though is still consent, her love for Ryan. Will this go anywhere now that Mercy knows what she is and she came to be a "body snatcher"?

MERCY and EXILE had some action written into them but MUSE is full of it and sometimes I wonder if its bursting at the seams. With the action is compelled me to keep turning the pages. If I could sneak a few pages at work to help with the need to know what Mercy was going through I would.

On a very teary note I have to say that it ends with an explosion. I had to re-read the ending to make sure that it didn't end the way I thought. I remember inboxing Rebecca when I had finished my book and told her how I sobbed at the ending even trying to find out if there was a positive outcome early into FURY but all she would reveal was how FURY was her favourite book in the series and that it ends with a bang. Everything will come together.
I cannot wait until FURY is available.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

EB.com Muse by Rebecca Lim

Lost In Time by Melissa De La Cruz

Finally I was able to read LOST IN TIME, the 6th book in the BLUE BLOODS series and it is not a disappointed. As usual when it comes to this particular series my sister watches my bookshelf to see when it will be added to the rest of the series, to be imagined an argument broke out as to whom was going to read LOST IN TIME first. I'm proud to say that I drew the longer straw :)

I loved the romance between Schuyler and Jack, they way he looks at her only cements their love further. Don't get me wrong their love doesn't come without certain consequences and one might be the greatest obstacle they have to overcome. We've learnt through the series that all actions have a consequence to match and it is explained a little further when Jack discusses his wife's fate with a fellow Blue Blood.
Jack has to make one of the toughest decisions of his existence and I have to admit that I'm actually afraid of what might happen at the end.

BLUE BLOODS is not the same without a little Mimi interaction, I've never been a fan of her and watching her with Oliver as they descend to save Kingsley makes me question her as a person and whether or not she actually has heart. Love can do strange things to a person and possibly even change them-I think that is true with Mimi and I'm looking forward to seeing where this new Mimi goes.

Some of our questions are answered when it comes to Charles and Allegra, we see their past and what Allegra went through while growing up in this particular cycle. I loved reading how her love blossomed with Schuyler's father. She went against everything to be with him and for a fraction of time they where happy but something happened to changed that. Fingers crossed in the last instalment we will have that missing clue along with what happened in Florence.

I found LOST IN TIME to have a little of everything; heartbreak, action, suspense and the key aspect love. If you've loved the BLUE BLOODS series so far you will not be disappointed at all. Just get ready for a long wait because THE GATES OF PARADISE will only be released in 2013.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

EB.com Lost in Time by Melissa De La Cruz

200 Followers Giveaway

Giveaways!!!

I'm currently holding a giveaway to reach 200 followers on the blog, that will be running from 01/01/12 until 01/02/2012 and the winner will be announced the moment we reach our goal :) The prize will be a book of your choice from the Book Depository :)

Unleashed Wolf Springs Chronicles #1 by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

I've read the WICKED series by Nancy and Debbie and the moment I came across UNLEASHED I was pretty sure that the book would be another fantastic read to add to their shelf. I was not disappointed.
I would rate UNLEASHED as a classical paranormal book, it's dark, thrilling and even at times a bit romantic. I couldn't get enough of the book.

I find that the girls have a good insight on how to leave their readers begging more. With this book I found their writing to be a blend of mystery, suspense, passion, love and loyalty that made the book hard to put down. There was never a dull moment within the pages and as each page is turned I was left biting my nails trying to see if I could picture what was hanging around the next corner. I haven;;t come across many novels this year that have left me on the edge of my seat and a bit suspicious of 90% of the characters within the story line.

What I found to be one of the key points within the book was how there was a rich history with both the legend, and the town's residents whom for generations have protected the secrets that lie within the borders of their secluded, wooded town. I liked that the wolf lore in this story comes from the Fenrir lore, and even the Fenner Family in this story pay tribute to that. I enjoyed finding those secrets with Katelyn and at a point I just couldn't believe how so much vibrant and even destructive history could be kept in the dark.
There's a saying that people will do anything to keep their secrets and there is a passage in the book that proves that saying without a doubt.

I've read various reviews before I bought UNLEASHED to see what everyone had to say and a few have mentioned how Katelyn isn't the strongest of characters, everyone thinks differently; but I feel that she is quite a strong character given what she has gone through in such a short time. Her life has been uprooted and everything she has known for most of her life gone up in smoke. I'm not sure I would be able to put on a brave face in the hopes of returning to my old life.
Even the turmoil she has a strong support system that I think will see her through one of the toughest times in her life, maybe not everyone in her life has the best intention for her. Don't get me wrong there is room for growth and I'm so excited to see where Katelyn will be by the end of the series.

I mentioned earlier about how some of the characters leave a funny taste in my mouth and Katelyn's gun yielding grandfather and the neighbour next door Trick are a few to keep an eye on. There's some secret that they aren't willing to share. To them keeping her in the dark and well protected leaves me with a million questions that I need answered. What are they hiding?
I love watching how the romance between Trick and Katelyn slowly blossom, its endearing to see how he looks at her and would even battle the world to protect her (that statement is debatable during some chapters). True to any great book there is the dark and mysterious Justin who can send sparks flying when he comes into close range with Katleyn-I think they could set the pages alight but he's not at all who he says is. One minute he is this sweet person and the next someone I wold love to wrap my hands around and shake some major sense into.
This love triangle looks to hold something that will be fun to see unravel.

I'm going to sign off here, because I'm sure that I could spoil everything if I carry on.

Happy Reading :)

Gillian
xxx

EB.com Unleashed Wolf Springs Chronicles #1 by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie