Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Book Description:

A girl.
A coma.
A life she can't remember.

When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.

Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

 Christina's BookReview

"You may never remember the way you used to be with them, I have no doubt that you'll figure out a way that works with them one day. And when you do, when you figure everything out and decide with no regrets who you want to be, if you still want me, I'll be right here waiting for you."

RECAP
 
Emma Walker wakes up in an unfamiliar room surrounded by unfamiliar people. Ones that have been by her side and call themselves her family. But Emma doesn't remember anything or anyone. And she soon realizes that maybe she doesn't want to remember that girl. Maybe this is second chance at life. What Emma does know is that she's determined to work on getting better and then she will worry about remembering. Maybe. 

With the help of her gorgeous physical therapist, Emma not only begins to heal physically but also to find herself in her new life. Even if learning to live as Emma is not what everyone around her wants. 

Will Emma finally remember her previous life? Does she even want to be that girl anymore?

MY TAKE

I have to say that this book was a great read.

I liked that Emma was a whole new person because I think that I wouldn't have liked the book as much if she was the person before her. Her struggle with her family and friends was one that you would expect. I thought that her parent must be just as shallow as the old Emma because they were insistent on her being that girl again when that girl was...terrible. New Emma was learning to be "normal" again and it was a struggle that we saw throughout the story. The only person on her side was Mason.


Oh Mason. What can I say about this sweetheart? He was the epitome of a hero. He not only helped Emma physically but also mentally. Without him in her corner Emma's struggle would have been hell. But he was haunted by his past as well and in this aspect of the story they both healed each other.


The secondary characters all annoyed me, except Mason's family. I still had questions about why his mother called Emma "Mariah" and hope to learn that in any future book there might be. I also liked Milo and can't wait to read his story!

What I also enjoyed about this book were the "Useless Facts" they were pretty cool and some made me laugh. The only reason this was a 4 was because it was pretty predictable, slow in some parts, and because I thought one of the characters (not spoiling) got away with their "bad" deeds to easily.  

Buy it. Read it. Love it.
 

Happy Reading! 

Consume by Shelly Crane

Book Description:

Eli and Clara's story continues as she tries to finish high school. Eli is as over protective as ever and Tate and his group of friends are no help. They wait for the Horde, always looking over their shoulder. But the ever annoying but strangely prophetic bird begins to become more of a chatter box and Eli learns something that could change some things. Not just for him and Clara, but Devourers everywhere.
Then an unexpectedness guest comes forcing Eli to flee with Clara, leaving her temporary family behind. She is thrown into his world of underground 'traitors' and learns much of his past. They meet many new people and creatures along the way to freedom. But when tragedy strikes the two, will Clara see the monster in Eli? Can she handle his strange world and awful past? Will one of them lose their life forever...

Christina's BookReview

“I want to save her because..." Even though he was speaking to her, he never took his eyes off mine. "Because I'm a better man with her. Because I can't imagine going back to being who I was before I met her. Because I'm afraid...that I could be that monster again without her here loving me.”

In this final installment of the Devoured series we witness a change in Clara and finally a change in Eli. As they fight to stay alive and get the help they need in order to live peacefully Clara learns more about the world of the Devourers. But for these two, nothing will separate them. Not a bitter brother, old as well as new enemies, or the juvenile acts of human teenagers. Eli and Clara encounter new beings in this book and make friends with surprising allies. But will fighting for their love cost them their lives?

Consume was an okay wrap up to Eli and Clara's story. We meet new characters and delve a little into ones introduced in book one. It was interesting reading more about the world Eli is from. But at times the book was just bland. The action was bland, the relationship was bland, and the characters were not really memorable. Well except for Enoch, he was interesting. I'm interested in how his story will play out in the next book in this series.

The book had its few good moments and that is why the 3.5 rating, but wasn't a book that I would read over and over again. I felt there was so much potential to Eli and Clara's story if the Devourer world was delved into more and in depth.

All in all, if you want a light, quick read then pick up this series.

Review for Book #1-Devour- HERE

Devour by Shelly Crane

Book Description:

Clara has it all. A wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, all the right school activities...pretty much a perfect life...up until her parents died. Now she lives with the Pastor and his family and though they take good care of her, she feels alone. Then her boyfriend, Tate, starts to show signs of trouble when a new guy, Eli, comes to town. Clara is fascinated with him but hides it until something happens. Eli confesses to her that she gives him something he's never had before...something he needs. Everything is about to change for this normal pretty popular girl in a supernatural way

Christina's BookReview

“You saved me from my life.”

Clara Hopkins has it all. A popular wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, and a normal life.The only rip? Her parents are dead and she's now living with her Pastor's family. But her life is still pretty good. Or so she thought. Eli Thames is about to turn her life upside down.

Eli is sweet, protective, charming and gorgeous. With those starling violet eyes and beautiful smile Clara as well as every other girl can't keep their eyes away from him. He devours their attention and Consumes Clara's every thought. But Eli is much more then meets the eyes, as Clara is about to find out.

As Clara and Eli start to spend time together she starts to realize that her life has been a lie. Her boyfriend is acting strange and her friends aren't the type of friends a person should have. Clara's eyes are finally opening. Thanks to Eli. But Eli has a secret and Clara is prone on figuring it out. When she finally does, everything she's ever known would never be the same. She finally grows the courage to part from the lie she's been living and finally be free. But freedom comes with a price. A price she is willing to pay, with Eli by her side. He's her protector, her friend, the guy she loves, but most of all her "mate". Together they stand to fight off the evil in both their lives.

I have to say that I enjoyed this story. There were times when things dragged and Clara had me wanting to strangle her but at the end she made up for it. This story was not only about love for each other but about love for yourself. Finding the courage to love yourself enough to walk away from the poison in your life. Clara really blossomed in this book and it was refreshing to not have to read an entire book of her being stupid.Eli was also incredible in his way. He was very protective of Clara and loving but also very stern and direct with her. I loved that about him.

The title plays honor to the book. You will devour this book! and want more to Consume more! If you haven't read this, pick it up!

Review for Book #2-Consume- HERE