Dec 9, 2011

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Book Description:


Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

Christina's BookReview
 
Okay so I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to say in this review. I've never, at the end of a book, felt so confused on what my feelings are about what I just finished reading. Nine hours later, still the same...

Don't get my wrong, I thought the book was good. I thought the storyline was a good one. I loved the Victorian/Steampunk aspect of the book. The characters were good as well. I started off liking Bram right after his first POV and did not find Nora at all interesting after her first POV. She was kind of bland. Honestly, I thought all of Nora's first couple chapters were boring. It took me a while to get into the book because of that. BUT after Nora met Bram everything was okay in the world. :-) He really makes the book much better and his POVs were actually much more enjoyable to read. The Zombie/Living romance is a little weird to me, I'm still trying to warm up to it because honestly, Bram and Nora do make a good couple, its just this type of book relationship is new to me. I know! Vampires, fairies, angels, wolves, etc are weird too but this is the first zombie romance I've read so its weird to me. :-)

I enjoyed the secondary undead characters as well! I loved Chas and knew right away that Nora and she would get along well. Tom, Coalhouse and Ren were also great to read about. Getting a little about their "transition" story was a great part of the book. Honestly, the only live New Vic I liked was Pamela. I hope to see her in future books but not separated from Nora and the others.

My biggest problem with Dearly Departed is the multiple POVs. Every time the story left Nora and Bram's POVs I was frustrated. I understand it helped us get the whole story but I felt there was a POV overload. One is good, Two is great, three okay fine, four or more is overload. I felt like the author sort of didn't know how to go about writing Nora and Bram's lives/relationship and feared that she would run out of things to write about them. I wished for more interaction between the two and hope to get more in the next book. I would like to see what happens next so I will read the next book.

If you like Zombies and Victorian/steampunk romance then you will enjoy the story. I would recommend the book.


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Nov 14, 2011

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Book Description:


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.

Christina's BookReview
 
“You make me remember who I used to be. You make me want to be that man again. Right now, holding you, I feel like we have a shot at beating all odds and making it together. I’m yours, if you’ll have me.” 

 When I started this series I thought it was good but hoped it got better. And what do you know, my wish came true! Book two was better then book 1 but book 3 blew me away! Silence, was filled with so many twist and turns that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

In Silence, Nora goes through a difficult time and we see her struggle during that time but she never backs down. This book shows just how strong Nora can be and it shows us the girl that she can be. I can't wait to see what is in stored for her in book 4.

Patch, oh Patch. If you've read my other reviews you will know that Patch and I started off a rocky relationship but I'm glad to say that our relationship has progressed tremendously. I am so in LOVE now! :-) Patch was just amazing in Silence. Every part with him had me smiling. The sacrifices that he's willing to make for Nora show us just how in love he is with her. I can't wait to see what role he plays in this whole Nephilim vs Fallen Angels battle because I think that he is very important in it.

As for the minor characters, my favorites are Scott and of course Vee. I was a little disappointed to see that Vee was in Silence less but hope that she will be in the following in book more. I liked seeing Scott in this one and he won me over when he played the crucial part in helping Nora with her struggle. Since book 2 I liked Scott and I'm glad that he hasn't failed me. :-) I think that Scott and Vee are alike in many way and I'm hoping for something there.

If you haven't read the Hush Hush series, I would say "get to it!". I'm glad that I continued the series because it just gets better!

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 Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) Review HERE
Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) Review HERE
Finale (Hush, Hush #4) Review Coming Soon

Nov 11, 2011

Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick

 Book Description:

The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush! Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Christina's BookReview
“Being with you never felt wrong. It's the one thing I did right. You're the one thing I did right.” 

“You're mine, Angel," he murmured, brushing the words across my jawbone as I arched my neck higher, inviting him to kiss everywhere. "You have me forever.”  

OMG! I finished this book last night and I have to say that I LOVED this book so much better then the first! Nora, was so much stronger in this one and I still loved that she didn't let people push her around. I liked that she questioned it all. I'm also glad that we got to learn more about Patch. And i have to say that i finally Love him! :-) We had a rough start to our relationship but its all good now as long as he doesn't pull back again! lol..I wanted to kick him a few times in this book but getting to know more about him evened it out.

Many people thought that Nora was being hardheaded and annoying about the way she was treating him but I thought that she did the right thing. He was keeping things from her and
SPOILER--->spending time with her arch enemy  so of course I thought she did the right thing.

Which leads me to "Scottie the Hottie" :-) I love that name! I thought Scout was a great addition and I just wished that he were more present in the book. I fought hard to like him but he kept messing it up. I thought he could have presented Patch with a little competition but from the beginning you know that its not possible. With that said, I hope to see more of him, not as competition to Patch(because I love him now) but as a friend to Nora.

Vee is still my favorite character aside from the main characters. She was there for Nora when she need it the most and I love her more for that. I just hoped that Nora would let her into the "secret" because I think she would handle it okay. It would be nice for Nora to talk to her friend about all of it.

The End was like Wow! SPOILER---> I so wished it wasn't Rixon! I was beginning to like him!Now I'm on to read Silence.

With all that said, I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book about fallen angels. :-)

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 Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) Review HERE
Silence (Hush, Hush #3) Review HERE
Finale (Hush, Hush #4) Review Coming Soon

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Book Description:

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE


Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora 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 seems 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 way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she 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 Nora her life.


Christina's BookReview

 
“All this time I've hated myself for it. I thought I'd given it up for nothing. But if I hadn't fallen, I wouldn't have met you.” 

I read Hush Hush last year and then reread is a few days ago since it was the series of the month for my book club. I have to say that the second time around was the same as the first. I thought the book was Great! By the end of it I still didn't know if I was a Patch fan. I know...he's the main guy, i should love him...but I didn't. There was something off about him and I didn't feel any which way about him. I thought Nora was a little weak but I did like her attitude most of the time. I'm glad she questioned everything. The character I liked the best was Vee. She is a good best friend and she doesn't have a filter when speaking which is amusing. I've read Crescendo as well and I'm on to that next to review it!

All in All I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book about fallen angels and likes a bad boy. :-)

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Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) Review HERE
Silence (Hush, Hush #3) Review HERE
Finale (Hush, Hush #4) Coming Soon

Oct 21, 2011

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Book Description:
 


Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.



Christina's BookReview
This book wasn't as great as I wished. It was a good read (that's why the 3.5 star)but the story felt bland. Everyday for London consisted of waking up, reading her notes and then trying to remember what her notes say. Nothing really changed and you can't get attached to any characters because she doesn't remember them, only whats on her notes. During the whole story you don't know whats happened with each character so you can't figure out the relationship she really has with them. The bright star in this book was Luke. He was so adorable and so patient. From the instant they met i knew there was more to him and I wasn't wrong. (view spoiler)

Overall, the book was an okay read. I would recommend it to people that want a light read.


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Sep 30, 2011

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Book Description:

A tragic tale about falling in love on the world’s most infamous ill-fated sea voyage as heroine, Tess, discovers darker secrets that lie beneath the doomed crossing… and a hidden brotherhood that threaten to tear her lover from her forever.


The RMS Titanic is the most luxurious ship ever built, but for eighteen-year-old Tess Davies it’s a prison. Travelling as a maid for the family she has served for years, Tess is trapped in their employ amid painful memories and family secrets.

When she meets Alec, a handsome upper class passenger, Tess falls helplessly in love. But Alec has secrets of his own… and soon Tess is entangled in a dangerous game. A sinister brotherhood that will do anything to induct Alec into their mystical order has followed him onboard. And Tess is now their most powerful pawn.

Tess and Alec fight the dark forces threatening to tear them apart, never realising that they will have to face an even greater peril before the journey is over…

New York Times best-selling author Claudia Gray delivers adventure, dark paranormal suspense, alluring romance, and a truly surprise ending, set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic's first — and last — voyage.

Christina's BookReview
“Nobody else will ever be able to save me if I’m not fighting as hard as I can to save myself.” 

Okay so let me start off saying that i was a little hesitant about reading this book because we already knew how it would end. But I'm glad that I read it. We all know what happens to the Titanic but it is awesome to read a story set on-board (even if its not real).

Now onto the characters:

Tess was a nice servant girl to the Lisle's family but she wasn't an idiot or a pushover. She had to serve her employers but she didn't let them or anyone else bully her. That's what I loved about her! She was so very real. I loved that she wasn't afraid to stand up to Mikhail and that she wasn't too afraid to defend the people she cared about.

Alec, oh Alec. He's such a tortured soul. I felt for him and his situation through the whole book. There's were times were I even cried for him. He didn't care what people thought about him being around Tess and that's what gave him all the "cool points". I found myself dying for the moments that he was in.

All the minor characters were also well rounded and each had their part in the story.

I found myself crying, shouting, cringing, laughing and furious at times. All the emotions that Tess went through, I felt like I too was going through them! And to me that's what makes a GREAT story!

I would recommend this book to everyone that loves a beautiful love story, The Titanic and paranormal stories.  

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