Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Griffin Rising

Written by Darby Karchut
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Published by Twilight Times Books
 *Arc copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review


Summary from Goodreads:
"For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.
Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen year old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terra Angeli.
But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the strength he needs to triumph over the monster still haunting him?"

My Thoughts:

This was a really heartwarming book!  Darby Karchut's debut novel is not only about Guardian Angels, but on a deeper level it seems to be about the journey of self discovery.  Griffin's story had me wiping my eyes at times and laughing out loud at others.  The story chronicles Griffin's journey from the tragic start of his apprenticeship as a Terrae Angeli or Guardian Angel to his final test, the Prolieum.  I am a huge fan of Angel-themed books and this one is fantastic!  It was a fresh take on Guardian Angels and had such an original storyline mixed with memorable characters.  Darby Karchut did an incredible job developing these characters.  Griffin was just so darn lovable!  He was battling the emotional demons stemming from his abusive past with his first Mentor, but lucky for Griffin, he was placed with a new Mentor named Basil.  Basil had a loving and capable hand where Griffin was concerned and this enabled Griffin to emerge from his shell and blossom into what he was destined to be.  Griffin's vulnerability was endearing and his dedication to his destiny was admirable.  The changes that take place in Griffin are no doubt in response to Basil's patience, understanding, and the father figure relationship he forged with Griffin.  I really enjoyed the banter between the two of them too.  It had me snickering throughout the book!  Griffin also goes through another change when a new family moves in across the street.  Much to Griffin's liking, the family has a daughter the same age as him- and she is cute!  Griffin falls for the new girl (Katie) and the romance that sparks between them was both sweet and innocent.  It brought me back to how it felt to be a young teen discovering love in all its awkward glory! 

I liked the manner in which Darby Karchut wrote the book.  Each chapter was a journal entry from one of the main characters (Griffin, Basil, or Katie) and this type of story structure really seemed to allow the reader to get to know each character on a deeper level.  The story ended with a surprising twist that left me craving the next book in the series in a big way!  I would highly recommend this book to all that enjoy Angel stories!  It is a really quick read that should appeal to young teen readers as well as adult readers!  Congrats to Darby Karchut on a wonderful debut!

Waiting On Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.  It is always so hard to decide which books I want to feature on Wednesdays.  There are so many wonderful books coming out!  Waiting is such torture!  I have an 'Angel' theme this week!  Here are a few that I am waiting for....

Lemniscate

(Angel Star #2)

Written by Jennifer Murgia
Release Date: March 21, 2011
Published by Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC

Summary from Goodreads:

"For Teagan, these last few months have been heaven on earth- especially now that Garreth, her boyfriend and guardian angel, is earthbound. But perhaps Garreth is becoming a little more human than either of them expected.
Now, Teagan must realize that her world is once again about to shift, as she questions the faith she held in others against those once considered enemies.
In this continuation of Angel Star, Lemniscate will draw you even deeper into the world of dark and light as Teagan realizes the angel who could possibly save them all is the one angel she feared the most."

*I really enjoyed Angel Star and I can't wait to find out where the story is headed next!  I have this book in my tbr stack and I can't wait to read it!!

Breath of Angel: A Novel

(The Angeleon Circle #1)

Written by Karyn Henley
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Published by WaterBrook Press (Random House)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Melaia, a young priestess, is drawn into an ancient feud between immortal brothers who destroyed the Wisdom Tree with its stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the world of humans. For the Tree and its stairway to be restored, the debt that sparked the ancient feud must be paid, and the payment, Melaia discovers, involves her own destiny."

*This sounds really interesting! 

A Touch Mortal

Written by Leah Clifford
Release Date:February 22, 2011
Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary from Goodreads:

"Eden didn't expect Az. Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long, happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.
And that's only the beginning of the end."

*I have been eagerly awaiting this book's release!  The wait is almost over... it releases next week!


Now you know what I am waiting for!  What books are you looking forward to?

Review: Promise by Kristie Cook

Promise (Soul-Savers, #1)
Written by Kristie Cook
Release Date: Available NOW!!
Self-Published!

I initially caught sight of this book on Goodreads and was intrigued by it's summary.  I had not heard of the author before and the book was self-published, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I started reading the book the day I received it in the mail and I honestly read it cover to cover in one day!  This is a GREAT book! 

Summary from Goodreads:
"Alexis Ames has a life full of promise…but not all promises can be kept.

When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can’t be real, she decides it’s time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family’s secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he’s not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.

Their union brings hope and promise to her family’s secret society, the Angels’ army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan’s minions and Tristan’s creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell. " 

My Thoughts:
I really loved this book!  Let me start by saying that this isn't a book for the younger ya readers.  While 90% of the book is PG-13, there are many sexual references and there is actual sex in the book.  It is definitely written in good taste.  The characters practice abstinence until marriage and the scenes are not written in a graphic manner, but I do feel that this is a read for 16 years of age and up.  That being said... Kristie Cook has written one helluva book!  

Promise doesn't fall into a neat little category.  Describing the book's genre is a little tricky for me.  It is definitely a romantic thriller, but it also a good vs. evil smackdown featuring warriors for both the dark (Hell) and the light (Heaven).  It isn't really about angels and demons, but they do play a major role indirectly (are you confused?).  I just can't explain it much more without giving away too much!  Anyway... The plot was super original and very intricate.  Cook did a wonderful job explaining everything without confusing the reader, and created some fantastic and memorable characters.  The main characters(and love interests), Alexis and Tristan, had great chemistry.  I appreciated how their relationship developed at a natural pace (not the 'love at first sight I'm madly in love with you a week after setting eyes on you' way that a lot of ya relationships develop).  The two were drawn to one another, but both carried such a large amount of emotional baggage and each had their fair share of secrets to protect.  Therefore, it took time to break down their barriers and develop the trust necessary to come into the relationship despite their individual pasts.  I really LOVED Tristan.  He may just be my new fictional husband!  He was loyal, self-sacrificing, and SUPER HOT!!  He had a true dark side that he fought with daily, but underneath all of the darkness, he had a good heart that rose above all of it.  I felt very connected to him and I found myself rooting for him and Alexis.  Alexis was a strong female protagonist.  She had so much uncertainity in her life concerning her identity and her destiny.  I just wanted to slap her mom sometimes for not just telling her the "BIG family secret".  There was a reason for keeping her in the dark, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for her as she suffered through feeling like an outcast and a freak.  She could do things normal people couldn't do, but was left with nagging questions like 'Why can I do this? What am I? and Why are we in danger?"  The build-up to these revelations was suspenseful and satisifying.  When the truth was revealed to Alexis (and the reader), it answered all of the questions raised and set up the next book in the Soul Savers series perfectly.  The ending left me feeling a rollercoaster of emotions.  I was sad about some things, happy about others, hopeful for the future and REALLY eager for the story to continue.  I will admit that I didn't grasp the full meaning of the title (Promise) until the very end of the book and the 'promise' made is the basis for the next book.

In short, this book rocked!  It was suspensful, action-packed, original, fast paced, and well written.  I find myself recommending it over and over to friends on the hunt for a good read.  I am on pins and needles waiting for the next installment titled, Purpose, that is due for release in Fall 2010.  Congrats Kristie Cook... you have written one of the best books I have read in awhile and you have kicked off one killer new series!!!

Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

 
Halo
Written by Alexandra Adornetto
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
*arc copy provided the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I remember the first time I laid eyes on this cover ~ let's just say it was love at first sight!  I LOVE books about angels and this one sounded interesting!  It is really long (496 pages) and the author is really young (17!), so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!

Summary from Goodreads:

"Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth."

My Thoughts:
I will admit that I have been on an angel kick lately-  I read three books back to back that featured my favorite celestial beings!  I was excited about this book and I was definitely in major cover love!!  The first thing that I noticed after receiving the book was its length.  It is just under 500 pages- this can be a good thing (if the book is really good and you don't want it to end!) or it can make it very hard to get through.  I certainly didn't have trouble finishing this book, but I did feel like some scenes could have been omitted without taking away from the character/plot development.  Adornetto did pay very close attention to every detail when it came to developing the main characters.  What made this book unique for me was that the main character was an angel.  The reader was allowed into the psyche of an angel and was given a front row seat for all of the unexpected trials and tribulations that came with adjusting to the mortal world.  Bethany was the youngest and most inexperienced of the angelic trio and it did show in her actions.  She was sent on this mission from Heaven with a purpose that seemed unattainable for such a newly created being- yet against the grumblings of the older (and wiser) angels, she was sent anyway.  The reasons behind her being sent were pretty evident to me early on, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the read.  I liked the other two angel characters as well (Gabriel and Ivy), and the mortal love interest (Xavier) was an honest all-american high school hearthrob.  I did fell that there were occassions were Gabriel and Ivy fell out of their character descriptions, but it wasn't drastic or extremely noticeable.  The story had a decent pace (some areas were slow but not boring) and the love story was totally adorable and innocent.  If you like books with tons of fast-paced action, then this probably won't be your type of read.  If you like swooning love stories, then this is definitely your book!  I thought that the ending was pretty good- a little predictable though- and the villian was VERY easy to pick out (for everyone but Bethany!).  That did bother me a bit.  I felt like she was incredibly niave at times and blind to what was right in front of her.  Those things aside- I enjoyed this read and I look forward to the next installment in the trilogy titled Hades, which is due for release in 2011.Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the g...mor

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

***5 super sexy stars***

Who wouldn't love a dark, mysterious, beautiful and dangerous fallen angel?  Well, unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Becca Fitzpatrick's "Hush, Hush" gives us Patch!  He definitely fits the above description!  Normally, I summarize the plot of the books I read and review myself, but since most of you have read many reviews of this FABULOUS book, I will include the summary found on the back of the arc copy I read and then make my comments on what I thought about the book.

Summary:
"Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless.  Her first mistake is falling for Patch.  Patch has a past that could be called anything by harmless.  The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora.
After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her.  She can feel his eyes on her even when she is alone in her bedroom.  And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her.  Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?"

Wow!!  I loved this book!  Becca Fitzpatrick created the perfect bad boy.  He is mysterious, sexy, and dangerous! The book contained the perfect mixture of suspense and romance.  The tortured relationship between Patch and Nora was H-O-T and Patch's snarky attitude was entertaining and sexy!  I liked that Nora was not only strong and brave, but she was smart and could take care of herself.  The story was set at a good pace and all of the characters (good and bad) were engaging.  I really look forward to the next book in the series titled "Crescendo".   I am dying to find out where Patch and Nora's relationship is headed, and I really want to find out more about Nora's past and what it means for her and Patch's future!  I hope Becca writes fast because I am already desperate for more Patch!!!!

Meridian By Amber Kizer

***4.5 Stars***

I loved this book!  It was an exciting read from front to back!  Meridian by Amber Kizer is about a 16 year old girl named Meridian Sozu.  She desperately wants to be "normal".  Unfortunately, she has been anything but since the day she was born.  As a small child she always awoke in the morning sharing her bed with an assortment of dead insects and small animals.  As she got older the dying animals continued seeking her.  Death is her constant companion and the dying are drawn to her.  She never understood why this was happening to her or why she was always sick and in pain until the day of her 16th birthday.  After witnessing a horrific car crash she was immediately debilitated by intense pain and a sense of dying.  It was then that her father came to her rescue and drove her from the scene.  He was frantic to get her away from not only the crash site but from her family as well.  He told her that she was a fenestra (half angel/ half human) and that she was in grave danger.  He also told her that she had to leave right away to go live with her "Auntie" in Colorado.  There she could learn more about what she is and how to protect herself from the unknown danger that is after her.  She arrives in Colorado heartbroken, confused and sad.  It is in this small town of Revelation, Colorado that she learns the truth about what she is, what she is destined to do and that everything in this small forgotten town is not what it seems.  Fortunately, she is no longer alone in her journey.  She meets Tens, a handsome teenage boy that helps take care of Auntie and also happens to be Meridian's sworn protector.  Together with Tens and Auntie, Meridian must face her destiny and find a way to restore the balance of good and evil in a war that she never knew existed.

Amber Kizer's Meridian is a fast-paced story that includes danger, intrigue, romance, spirituality and hope!  I enjoyed the refreshingly original story line and feel that the author did a great job with making the characters likable and believable.  The book's unique take on death and the afterlife will give its readers something to think about.  What a wonderful start to a new YA paranormal series!  Teens and adults alike will be hungry for the next installment!