Teaser Tuesday: Empower by Jessica Shirvington

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

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"She thought about this, watching me. 'What did you give?'
I pressed my lips together, my teeth biting down hard to distract me.  Finally I answered, 'I gave my heart.'"  Australian copy, pg. 197

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There are no words.  NO WORDS!!!!!  This series is just so amazing.  I'm going to be so sad to see it end.

Rapture by Lauren Kate

Rapture by Lauren Kate

ARC provided by Delacorte Books for Young Readers via Edelweiss

Release Date:  6-12-2012

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  A riveting end to the Daniel and Luce Saga

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

In Rapture, Daniel, Luce, and the other angels must stop Lucifer from erasing history.  Lucifer plans on using an announcer to sweep all the angels from the infamous fall to the present, thus erasing Daniel and Luce’s past.

I will admit, I was wary of reading Rapture because I did not enjoy Passion—death after death after death.  But, I am glad that I put aside my judgments and went ahead and read the final installment in the Fallen series.  While not as good as Fallen and Torment, Rapture was still interesting and it definitely (I mean DEFINITELY) surprised me!  The twists and turns left me with a cartoonish O-shaped mouth.  There were hints in the book (which I am guessing were put there on purpose) and I knew about halfway through what the twist was going to be,  but still, looking back on the 3 books before this and I NEVER would have guessed that was how it was going to end.  It was an amazing way to end the books, and you will not regret spending your money on this one.

There was so much more action in this book than in Passion, which is great, because the slowness of Passion is what made me wary of Rapture.  But right from the first chapter, Luce and Daniel were in the midst of a war—everywhere they turned they were being chased.  Two words to describe the action:  Excitement and Intrigue.  I was clipped from the present and thrust into Lauren Kate’s world—flying along with Daniel and Luce.

Okay…so, why did I like this book as opposed to love it?  The romance.  Lauren Kate spent 3 books building up this epic romance, and all I wanted was to see that passion.  But I didn’t.  There were kisses and hugs and slightly intimate moments, but there was no grand kiss that took my breath away or romantic scene that made me wish I could trade places with Luce.  It was disappointing that the entire book focused on the war as opposed to the love that exists between Luce and Daniel.

As always with Lauren Kate, there were times when I breezed right over paragraphs and sometimes pages because it was just description after description.  I like description when it builds the scene, but there is such thing as too much.  I don’t need to know the color of the moss on the buildings or a three paragraph description of the heat of a desert.   If she would have cut out some of the superfluous description, the book would have been a much more readable 380ish pages as opposed to 430.  And, I would have enjoyed those pages much more.

So….let me answer a few questions for you.

Am I glad I read it?  Yes.  The ending took me by surprise, and I am still in awe at how perfectly she melded the story.

Would I recommend it to others?  If you are a fan of the Fallen series (even if Passion turned you off), you should definitely read this one!

Should I spend my money on it?  Yes—even if it is only because the cover is gorgeous.  I have an e-copy, but I am definitely going to purchase a hardcopy because of the cover.

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

ARC received by Harlequin Teen via Netgalley

Release Date: 5-22-2012

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Daunting, Delightful, and Delicious!

I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Samantha is not the only one struck with an insatiable hunger!  Read Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen, and I am sure you will find yourself hungering for more!  Dark Kiss is delectable—so tasty, I devoured it in one sitting! 

Yes, this is another book in the angel/demon category, but, even with the aspects that resembled other books, I still really enjoyed it.  The only thing that bothered me is the very déjà vu feeling I got because much of the plot line resembled the old WB drama, Charmed.  (I mean there’s a Source (of evil) and the Hollow (which sucks good and evil inside it)—both of which are very similar to the television show).

I know quite a few people are burned out on the whole angels and demon scenes; so, I’m going to try to convince you WHY you should read this book.

1.) You don’t have to spend half the book watching the main characters try to figure out who and what they truly are—that’s the biggest thing that bugs me with some paranormal books.  It’s so obvious to us as the reader that at times you just want to rear back and slug someone while screaming, “Seriously?   They have wings….must be an angel or demon!”  It’s not like this with Dark Kiss…right from the start, Samantha figures out who Bishop (we’ll call him Cutie #1) is and who Kraven is (we’ll call him Cutie #2).

2.) There is plenty of action!  There wasn’t any down time where the characters were moping in self-pity because “woe is me….the world is ending and I don’t know what to do.”  Instead, the characters are straight forward with what needs to be done, and they don’t sit around—they get straight to work.  There was never a dull moment!

3.) The hottie guys!  Bishop, angel, has been sent to, quite literally, save the world.  However, when he falls from Heaven into our world, something goes wrong and he ends up a little disjointed.  Enter Samantha who’s touch can open Bishop’s mind and make him sane again.  Not only that, but they have an intense pull towards each other.  This pull is what creates the romance in the book.  Now, I do wish there was more romance because I’m a sucker for it, but I’m hoping that we will see more of that in the second book.

4.) Then we have Kraven, demon, who has also been sent to save the world.  He’s dark, sarcastic, and all to willing to kill whatever gets in his way.  Let’s say Bishop’s the light that Sam is drawn to, but who can resist Kraven, the dark?  I really enjoyed him, and I have a feeling we are going to see quite a bit more from him in the second book.  Can we predict love triangle? 

5.) The ending is satisfying.  While there is plenty still up in the air and much to still be resolved in future books, the ending does not leave you screaming and pulling your hair out.  I don’t know about you, but I really don’t enjoy cliffhanger endings.  It frustrates me that I have to wait a year in some cases to find out if someone lives or dies.  I like when things are wrapped up (somewhat), so I can have some closure but still look forward to the next book.

So…don’t be put off by the fact that it’s another angel book.  It’s refreshing in its own way, and the guys are swoon-worthy.  I think you’ll find Dark Kiss to be a tasty read, so get sucked into Michelle’s world—you never know what you’ll find!

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington: A Review and a Giveaway!

Embrace by
Reviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany
ARC Received from Permabound Books
Release Date: 3/6/12
The Sisters say: Angelic. Amazing. Action-packed. That's Amore!

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…” 

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before. 

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. 

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… 

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013!

You know... every time I think I'm tired of a certain trend-- a new book pops up that still manages to sweep me away! I thought I'd had enough of Angels, but sure couldn't get enough of Embrace.

Violet is a kick-butt heroine! She's independent, but not so independent that she's without weakness. She's witty, but not so witty that she's always knows exactly what to say. She's brave, but not without fear. She's attractive, but she's insecure. But... she's not so insecure that she's annoying. What I'm trying to say is.... she's real. I could see myself in her. She wasn't one of those heroines that seems to be good at everything, and is practically the second coming. On the flip side, she wasn't one of those heroines who is plain, but everyone treats her like she's amazing. She had all the right mix of attributes to make her an honest, relatable character.

Shirvington gives us a unique take on how her part-angels, known as Grigori, are created. Whenever the mom dies in childbirth, it creates an opening in the baby's... um, aura, I guess? Angels (either light or dark) then have the option of giving a piece of themselves to that child to make him or her a Grigori-- human protectors who wage battles against the fallen angels on earth. There's not a whole lot of religion involved in the book. The angelic realm is balanced by good and evil, and it's a mystery to the Grigori and to the angels, as much as it is to humans. There are a few big plot twists that will keep you hooked (though with the fast pace of this book, I don't think that will be an issue).

Okay... I've gotten some coherent thoughts in... SO NOW IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE BOYS. See what I did there? I held off as long as I could, really.

LIIIIIINNNNNCCCOOOOOLLLLLLLLNNNNNN.

That's what my brain looked like as I read this book. Or occasionally like this....

LINCOLNLINCOLNLINCOLNLINCOLNLINCOLN

Once or twice it looked like this...

LINCOLNLINCOLNPHOENIXLINCOLNLINCOLNPHOENIIIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXX.

Alright. Let me try and real some coherent thoughts back in.

The boys in this book are some of the most swoon-worthy boys I've seen in a long time. If Lincoln doesn't make the YA Crush Tourney this summer, I will die. Unless Phoenix saves me.

Lincoln is Violet's friend. He's older, and they met in a self-defense class. Since then he's become her pseudo-trainer. He's that perfect, hot older guy, that seems out of your reach, but then does something to make you think otherwise. I won't tell you much about it... but there's this kiss... and GUYS. DANG. IT IS SOME KISS.

But when Violet realizes she's Grigori, and that Lincoln is too-- things start to fall apart. Just when it seemed that something might be happening between them, she learns nothing can, because it's not allowed.

Enter Phoenix. Fallen Angel. The very creature from whom she's supposed to protect humanity. But he's different (far different than she will realize until the end of the book). He is hotness incarnate. And he's there when Lincoln isn't.

Seriously. SWOON. BOTH OF THEM. BUT MOSTLY LINCOLN.

And do you know what the best part is? This is a trilogy, but Sourcebooks has scheduled the releases only 6 months apart. Which is good, because I'm suffering from Lincoln withdrawals already.

Oh, wait, I almost forgot! Do you know what the even better best part is???

I HAVE A COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY TO YOU FOR FREEEEEEE!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Unearthly

by Cynthia Hand

Reviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany

The Sisters say: Unbelievable. Unpredictable. Unearthly. J

I have this tendency to get annoyed with trends really fast. I’ll read a couple fairy books, then be loathe to read anymore. I read two angel books, and that was quite enough for me. But then a book comes along like Unearthly that makes me wonder if I’ve been missing out on some amazing books in my haste to ignore trends. It’s certainly not a book I would have ever picked up on my own, but I kept seeing recommendation after recommendation for it on Twitter. And can I say how thankful I am? Because I loved Unearthly!

It was long, which if you’re anything like me, is a major plus. I read so frequently and so quickly that I’m often left feeling like a book ended too soon. But Unearthly is very filling!

The Angel folklore definitely had a unique twist! Cynthia Hand definitely didn’t rely on the same old same old information. She created a world of Angelbloods that was uniquely her own, and I personally loved getting to be a part of it.

Jackson Hole made for a wonderful setting. I never thought I’d have a desire to vacation in Wyoming, but you can bet I’ve changed my mind!

I also really loved that this book didn’t follow the normal paranormal formula. For one…. Clara already knows she’s an angel. So you don’t have to suffer through pages and pages of waiting for her to wake up already. As I read the book (and loved it), I had this recurring fear that it was going to fall into that same predictable pattern, but thankfully, IT NEVER DID! YESSSSSSSS!!!!!

And now… to my favorite thing about Unearthly. THE BOYS. Oh, the boys. Christian is your classic YA boy. Clara’s been having visions of him, and she’s pretty sure that her Angel purpose is to save him. And Tucker… well, Tucker is her best friend’s brother. And he’s kind of a pain in the butt. But a charming pain in the butt. And I won’t give anything away… but once again, Cynthia Hand goes against the grain and doesn’t let the romance fall into predictable patterns.

And there aren’t just twists when it comes to the oh-so-predictable YA formula. There are also plot twists galore.

I loved this book. LOOOOOOVED IT. And you will too.

So read it.

(And yes, in case you were wondering, that’s an order).