Teaser Tuesday: A Want So Wicked

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

"Abe backs away, holding up his hand to say goodbye. 'Have a nice evening, Elise,' he calls. 'Told you I wouldn't ruin you yet.' and with that, he turns to leave. I watch after him, not sure why I didn't kiss him. He's certainly cute enough, sweet. Charming. But at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Maybe everyone's right. Maybe I do need therapy." page 86
This was a great addition to the series with an ending that leaves you DYING to know what happens next!

Now c'mon...Tease me!!

A Want So Wicked (A Need So Beuatiful 2) by Suzanne Young: Review

A Want So Wicked (A Need So Beautiful 2)
By Suzanne Young
Published June 26th 2012 by Brazer Bray
Pick up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:
Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

After reading book one, A Need So Beautiful, I wasn't exactly sure if there was going to be a second book. Or, if there was, where it was going to go. The way the first book ended was so devastatingly bittersweet, so final, yet I was so happy to see there was more, and I couldn't wait to get my hand on the next book.

Elise is just a normal girl. At least that's what she thought until she starting have visions of a blond girl in a school girl outfit. Having memories of a past that isn't hers. Now she is left wondering what is happening to her, and what it means for her family. What if something is really wrong? What if it's fatal and she leaves her father and sister behind? What if she is losing her mind? Then she meets Abe after moving to Thistle. And then there is the mysterious guy on the Harley that she seems to be pulled to. As things begin to reveal themselves Elise learns the world isn't as it seems and she was never the girl she thought she was. Left to make an impossible choice everything comes down to the ultimate sacrifice...

I have to say that the first 50-80 pages of this book was a little slow for me. It wasn't bad, just slow and didn't hold my attention as well as I thought it should. But after that initial hump things really started to pick up and I couldn't get enough. The only other downside was that I was able to pick out the villain within the first 80 pages as well. Still I don't feel like that took anything away from the story, and the ending, particlary the last few pages, I never saw coming. But was soooooo happy it happened that way. *winks*

Elise is strong and brave. I love the way she faces everything head on, as she stumbles her way through everything she has found out about herself. Finding out that you are one of the Forgotten would be hard enough on anyone, for Elise it's even worse and she handles it in stride. I know I am being cryptic but I don't want to give anything away. Just like with the first book I adored Harlin. He is so broken after loosing Charlotte and my heart bled for him. In fact my heart broke quit a few times during this book and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried more than once.

Overall this was a great addition to the series and still a refreshing new take on angels. One that is both painful and beautiful at the same time. I can't wait for the next installment!

Lymi...



Entice (Need #3) by Carrie Jones: Review

Entice (Need #3)
By Carrie Jones
Published January 3rd by Bloomsbury
Pick up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever.
But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead.
Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned...she's Astley's queen.

Darkfallen' thoughts:

okay more like a rant so hang onto your life vest...

I want to start by saying that I know that there is A LOT of bad reviews out there for this series. Most of those reviews complain about the same few things.

The use of immature dialogue.
The similarities to Twilight.
The descriptive writing is lacking.
This is where I tell you that I am NOT one of those such people.

First of all the language: While others found it annoying, I found it cute, sweet, funny, and at times heartbreaking. May I remind you all, that while most of us who read these books are older, this is still a YA series and thus the characters are young, immature, teenagers. I sometimes think we forget that. Thusly Zara's rambling and choice of phases reminds us of her age and I heart her for that.

Secondly the how Twilight debacle: Can I just say that it is time that we move on? I will always LOVE Twilight on an almost obsessive level, but we simply can't compare every YA novel to Twilight, and every author to Stephanie Meyer. If you want every character you read to be Bella or Edward well then of course your going to be disappointed. Take these characters for who they are and let down the barrier and I promise you will enjoy the ride. Who knows maybe you'll come to love another. (I know this sounds like a recovery for a break-up but Twilight pretty much "broke-up" with all of us when it ended)

Thirdly the descriptive writing:  It could have been a bit better in the first 2 books but Carrie Jones has made up for it in Entice.

Ok enough of the soapbox. Lets get on with it!
****WARNING!! If you haven't read the first two books DON'T read this review, it contains spoilers.****

Poor Zara can't seem to catch a break. She loses her father in Need, loses Nick in Captivate, and broken is a word that barely comes to describe her in Entice. After turning into a pixie she is left questioning herself. Also worried that she is going to become the evil monsters that she fears. Her biggest fear has now become of herself. Her love for Nick pushes Zara to her limits. She is willing to try anything to get him back, including trusting Astley, the pixie King. We learn so much more about Astley and you will find yourself hearting him by the end of the book. Despite the fact that he is completely in love with Zara, he too risks everything to help her get back her true love Nick. If that's not love than I don't know what is. Every step of the way they find themselves up against another deadly road block. Even the pixie counsel has been compromised. When you have tried everything, and your back is against the wall, you begin to wonder is it even possible. Will Zara and the gang be able to get Nick back, or lose him forever?

 Will Astley become more than just the pixie King to Zara?

 Will the town of Bedford make it out alive?

While Captivate is by far my most favorite in this series, Zara has grown so much in Enitce. Lets just say that Zara will find out that being a pacifist is overrated when it comes to getting Nick back from Vahalla. Somewhere along the way I found myself wanting to hug Astley. I was almost mad at myself for this. I felt like I was betraying Nick somehow, but what can I say the guy is all hot and dark side emo. Whats a girl to do;) For risk of spoilers that is all your getting from me.

I leave you with the right questions to ask. Now go, run along now, pick up the book, and find the answers!!

Lymi...

While your here check out our upcoming Halloween event & Blog Hop, Zompacolypse 2011, and join in on the fun!

Need (Need 1) by Carrie Jones: Review

Need (Need #1)
By Carrie Jones
Published December 23rd 2008 by Bloomsbury Childrens USA
Pick up your copy today at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Ok so I'll start by saying this...Need was a great read. The only reason it didn't quite get 5 stars from me is because I saw a few things coming. Please don't misunderstand me though, I enjoyed every page and before I finished Need, I went on amazon.com and bought the rest of the series. All in all I would say this is a solid 4 1/2 stars!

So whats it about? Thought you would never ask!

Everything starts with Zara leaving her world behind. She is lost, lonely, and a hollow shell of a person after losing her step dad to a heart attack. 

 "People say my dad's heart attacked him, but the truth is his heart failed him. It decided not to beat anymore, not to move the precious blood around his veins. It seized up and failed."

Her mom sends her to Maine to live with her step grandmother in hopes of saving her. Zara is sarcastic and quirky and hides behind chanting phobias when she is scared. I learned Sooo many phobias that I didn't even know they had a name for. It was Great! lolz Zara also rambles in the most perfect way and you'll find yourself drawn to her almost instantly. I only got mad at her once, and for me that's saying something, lol.

She finds herself thrown into a world where not only does she think she is being stalked, but this creepy guy may not actually be human. She is pretty quick to accept the possibility of Pixies but can't seem to wrap her head around the idea of Weres. (this is when I got mad at her. I mean You find out there is Pixies and your ok, but I tell you there is also Weres and you look at me like I'm crazy? Just saying;))
Zara quickly learns that this small snowy town is being plagued buy all sorts of the paranormal beings at the cost of human lives. Being the humanitarian she is, with the help of her new friends, she decides to put an end to it all. Little does she know that she is actually more a part of this paranormal world that she could have guessed possible.

Maybe her mom wasn't sending her to Maine to save herself from herself. Maybe she sent her away to save her from something else.....

Oh you want to know more you say? Well there is only one way to do it and I think you know what that is....Read it!

O c'mon you should know me well enough by now to know that I am not going to give it all away. That just wouldn't be as fun, now would it?

So if you have been on the fence do yourself a favor and jump right in.

Lymi...

 



A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young: Review

A Need So Beautiful
By Suzanne Young
Published June 21st by Balzer & Bray
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book is truly a different spin on the supernatural. I almost wanna say it's a different spin on angels...but to be honest I'm not sure it is.

In fact I think it is something else entirely...The Forgotten.

What would you do if you found out that you were....quite literally...no one?

Charlotte's character is great. I love her voice. I loved the fact that like any teenager these days, she is completely head over heals in love with her boyfriend, and they express it in the most physical of ways. NO there is not graphic details. This is YA after all. But Ms. Young doesn't play the naive writer. Writing about high school kids that don't have sex, because face it people MOST high school ARE. And Ms. Young isn't expecting her readers to be naive and buy into the whole we have been together for 2 years and still haven't had sex

Another great thing is that this doesn't follow the normal YA pattern of boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy & girl fall in love at first sight, then pull away, only to end up together in the end. Nope it was refreshing to come into Charlotte & Harlin's relationship after it was already established. But I felt so sorry for these two.

I have to admit in the beginning, while the writing was good, I wasn't seeing what all the hype was about. And then, next thing I know, there are tears rolling down my face and I'm like "Hey when did I start caring this much? How are you making me cry?" And that is what I think makes this a great book. It's the sneak attack. One minute you are just kinda idling by and then BAM! It's got you.

The whole concept of the Forgotten. Their sole purpose to bring light into peoples lives. Saving them...mostly from themselves. Saving their souls....at the price of yours? Knowing with each person you save the more you fade away, until you are completely forgotten, until you are nothing. It's heart breaking...truly.

Leaves you wondering if you were ever really anything to begin with. This story takes "self-sacrifice" to a new level.

So I'll ask you again...what is you found out that you were nothing?

Would you give up and accept it?

Or would you fight?        

Lymi...





Teaser Tuesday

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

So this week I just couldn't pick one...so I'm gonna tease ya twice!

"I'm sorry," Charlotte whispers. "Don't leave me."
Without a second's hesitation, Harlin turns into me and cups my face with his hands. "I'm not leaving you, Charlotte," he says. "I'm trying to keep you."
page 193


I lift my eyes to meet his. "Charlotte doesn't exist," I say. "No one will ever remember me." And the statement in my ears is the most horrible thing I've ever heard. Because I never existed. There is no such thing as me.
page 240

*sniffles*

Anyone have a tissue?

 

Now c'mon...Tease me!!