Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved. 

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart. 

Amy Garvey’s transcendent teen debut is perfect for fans of Shiver and Beautiful Creatures. Wren’s unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

From Goodreads.com

I have to say that this story will take your breath away. When I first heard about the concept I wasn’t sure what to expect. There are various way this story could’ve played out. However, nothing prepared me to the spectacular way Amy delivers Wren’s story. 

When Wren loses her boyfriend in a car accident, she loses her first love. She is a special girl, with powers living within her that she doesn’t quite understand. She reaches out to that power in a moment of grief and brings Danny back to life. Or more accurately to the land of the living. Danny is not the same boy she fell in love with. Wren spends most of her time hiding Danny and trying to figure out what the future will hold.

Then Gabriel walks into her life, and he knows her secret. Yes, even the deepest and darkest secret of her power. Gabriel and Wren draw closer together. Their relationship is beautiful and difficult because Wren is still trying to make things right with Danny. Danny is a broken shell of a boy she once knew. Gabriel is a gorgeous complication. How do you chose between your first love and a boy who seems to see down to your soul? 

This book was one of the best books I’ve read all year. The writing is charming, full of heart. I have to be honest and say that I’ve shed a few tears reading this story. Alright, maybe a bit more than few. I wouldn’t call it an ocean per say. :)

I can’t begin to explain the decisions that Wren has to make in this book. Even though this story incorporates supernatural, the life Wren lives can be related to every day situations. We all make decisions that may break our hearts. Some things, some people, stay with you to your very soul. How do you let go of that? Do you let go at all? This book is elegantly written. It touches the heart, speaks to the soul, and teaches you that life is beautiful, even with pain and heartache. Amy weaves the words together in a way that brings us close to the characters and shows us the ways of life. You don’t just read this book, you feel it. 

Cold Kiss hits the shelfs September 20th! I highly recommend it!!! 

Happy Reading,

Valia 

Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor (Books 1-3) by Lori Foster

     When You Dare (Book 1), Trace of Fever (Book 2), and Savor the Danger (Book 3) are all part of this series called Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor. These books do not have to be read in order, or even together, because each story stands on its own. However I couldn’t get away from the series as a whole and decided to do a review centered on all three. I won't include a synopsis of each one, but I did include the covers (which are gorgeous by the way). Yes, there is nothing I do not love about this series. 

The characters in these books are amazing. Dare, Trace, and Jackson are all very different men and yet they have a certain pull that makes them great together. They are friends, coworkers, and brothers. They are all strong and unique in their own ways. I honestly cannot pick a favorite because each has qualities that pull you in. Dare is the more bold, solid, serious type of character. Trace is smart, daring, and ruthless. Jackson is blunt, crazy, and dashing. These characters are real. They all share the characteristics of being a hero. When Molly, Priss, and Alani are pulled in the middle of a world they should never see, these men do everything in their power, and beyond, to protect those they care most about and right the wrongs of the world. 

These men will push the limits. They will fight hard and fast. They will pull you in and never let you go. When each one of them meets the woman of their dreams, I honestly can’t even begin to explain the challenges and romance that each go through. What is it they say, “The tougher they are the harder they fall”? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed them “falling” in each one of these books. 

Lori never disappoints. Her stories are full of life, reality, and action. Her characters, whether male or female, are strong individuals you can relate to. They step off the pages and take a seat in your room, telling you their stories themselves. This is by far one of my favorite series’. The story is exceptional, the characters are breathtaking, and the only bad thing about reading these books is that they eventually end. Thank you Lori for making me forget my responsibilities and lose hours of sleep! You make it worth it! 

When You Dare - May 2011
Trace of Fever - June 2011
Savor the Danger - July 2011

Happy reading,

Valia

P.S. I am thinking of moving my book reviews to my regular blog. Would you like that better? Let me know! :) And let me know what you think of Lori's new series. 

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.

From Goodreads.com

For all of you who have read Personal Demons, this book is better! :) Yes, now you can’t wait till July can you.

Let me back up a little. Original Sin picks up right where PD left off. Luc is now mortal. Frannie is in love, and Gabe is trying to keep everyone sane. We met Matt at the end of PD and in OS he is a lot more of a presence since he is now Frannie’s guardian angel. If you’ve been following Lisa’s teasers you know that Matt’s point of view is used to tell the story quite a few times. 

Overall, I enjoyed OS. I enjoyed the conflict and the romance. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The one things I didn’t enjoy as much was the absence of Gabe for most of the book. The cover for OS is beautiful and it seemed as if Gabe would be a bit more of a presence. However, it was the opposite. Yes, that’s a bit spoilery for you but you come across that information if you read the summary on the back of the book so I don’t feel too bad about giving that out. Lisa once again brings us into the world of good versus evil in a way that is entertaining and exhilarating. I love how she always has a way of using commons sense knowledge and still makes the story completely supernatural. Its fun to be in the heads of characters, seeing the happenings from their point of view. Lisa never fails to amaze me, and I might be pulling my hair out little by little considering I now have to wait - A long time - for book three. 

Needless to say, I want book three now! I know book two is not even here yet, but I’m already itching to know how it all unravels! Lisa leaves us with quite a cliffhanger in OS! I hope you go out and get your hands on OS July 5th! Let me know what you think! :-) 

Happy reading, 

Valia

PS. Well? 

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

From Goodreads. com

This story starts out with Amelia and her wanderings. She is a girl who lost her life and is now stuck as a ghost in the mortal world. She struggles with memories of who she is and where she comes from. The one memory she does not struggle with is her death. She can’t remember it but she ‘relives’ her watery demise in her dreams. 

Enter Joshua. She saves him from the same fate that befell her and finds out that Joshua can see her. For a girl who has lost her ability to touch, it seems that she can feel Joshua. The story unravels in a way that introduces Amelia and Joshua in a wonderful light. Amelia is a girl who is beautiful but dead, trying to find her place in the world. Joshua, a sweet and considerate boy who pulls Amelia into the land of the living. The connection between the two is solid and wondrous. Tara brings the characters to life with her remarkable writing. Every word seems to jump off the pages, pulling you into a world where life after death, and love beyond the possible is real. 

This is a beautiful story of love and self discovery. This book will leave you wanting more! I cannot wait to find out what happens to these characters. Will they withstand the obstacles in their path? Will their love service the many challenges thrown their way? These questions are answered in “Hereafter” but they are also asked, because Tara leaves us with an ending that is just a beginning. 

This book hits the shelves June 7th, 2011. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! Let me know what you think!

Happy reading,

Valia 

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

From Goodreads.com

I should begin by saying that I have never before liked steampunk. I have tried the genre before, unsuccessfully. The Girl in the Steel Corset changed that forever! 

I absolutely love this book. I went in thinking that I will have to make myself read it, because even though I adore history, I’m not big on history novels. Right away, this book pulled me in. From the first pages, there is conflict, action, and a character who kicks some serious butt. 

Finley Jayne is a girl with a secret. She is introduced to us as a tough and independent character who will stand up for herself if the situation calls for it. Her unique personality brings an edge to the story, making it even more fantastic. Then we meet Griffin King, The Duke of Greythorne, royalty who is a genuinely sweet and caring person. He has a way about him that you cannot help but love. (He’s definitely on my list of boy book crushes) He is the kind of young man who puts the needs of others above his own, while still remaining tough and unmovable. He, like our heroine Finley, carries a secret of his own. That makes him sweet, mysterious, and exciting. (Now, I need me to find one of those). His three friends, Sam, Emily, and Jasper are all unique individuals with abilities of their own. Each one plays a part in the story making it more thrilling with every page you turn. 

Honestly, I am so glad I decided to give this book a chance. I am officially in love with this series and genre! Kady is a brilliant writer who pulls you into the world of the future in the past, making it come right off the pages. In a world full of automatons, villains, and individuals with real emotions, the book is a wonderful debut into the series. I cannot wait for more! The book comes out May 24, 2011. Buy it, read it, love it! :)

Happy reading,

Valia 

PS. Thoughts? :)

The Near Witch by Victoria Shwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

From Goodreads.com

This book introduces us to Lexie, a take charge kind of a girl that I instantly liked. I love having the main character who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes, which in this case is a stand against the whole town of Near. She has to defy the rules and beliefs of the town when strange things start happening. When Lexi meets the mysterious unnamed boy, she gives him the name of Cole, tall dark and handsome stranger in a town with no strangers. The chemistry between the two is wonderful and sweet. Together they push to save the children of the town of Near while they grow closer together. The Near Witch is a wonderful fairytale story that takes a look at a world beautifully created by Victoria. I enjoyed every character in the book, from the little sister Wren to the cocky Tyler, the story comes right off the pages (I enjoyed Tyler’s obnoxiousness tremendously). And I already mentioned that I loved Lexie’s nature. Independent, strong young woman with a dashingly handsome young man by her side; who can go wrong with that? Honestly, I always have to keep my reviews short and to the point or I end up giving too much away. Victoria is a sweetheart and a wonderful writer. 

This is a well written debut that I highly recommend if you like any kind of a fairytale. The Near Witch comes out August 2, 2011. 

Happy reading,

Valia

PS. Did I mention that I loved the fact that Victoria named her heroine Lexie? Yes, Victoria and I are ‘heroine buddies” Woo hoo! :)

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him. Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere. But her memory refuses to cooperate. 

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen year old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive. Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right. His sister is alive and together they can find her. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind. 

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time? 

The first in a dazzling new series, Mercy masterfully weaves romance, mystery and the supernatural into a spell-binding tale.
From Goodreads.com

        The story starts out with Mercy waking up in a new body. She is thrust into a life of a girl by the name of Carmen. She’s in a completely new environment, surrounded by  people who’s name she doesn’t know, living with a family who carries a burden. Mercy knows next to nothing about her own life, and now she must learn all she can about Carmen’s in order to succeed in her mission. Mercy must make a few tough decisions, putting the needs of others before her own.

Mercy is a refreshing story with a heroine who is hard not to like. I love the fact that Mercy is a tough girl who takes no prisoners, independent, and stands up for herself and others. There is just something about a girl who can kick butt. She carries secrets inside her mind that she must unravel. The more she learns about herself, the harder her choices become. We meet Ryan in the beginning chapters. He’s gorgeous, mean and troubled. His family’s troubles sit heavily on him. He pushes everyone in his life away, until Mercy comes in to the picture. Their relationship is interesting to say the least. They are two people pushed together by circumstances, but they become more than that. 

I like the conflict in this story. The uncertainty, the struggle, the relationships all told in a simple and precise way. This is book one, so of course hardly anything is resolved, but you do find out more about Mercy and who she is. Rebecca wrote a wonderful story that will make you want more as soon as the last words are read. I definitely recommend this book. The beautiful hardcover comes out May 17th. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!

Valia