Review: After Dark by Emi Gayle

 Eighteen year old Mac is a changeling. She can change into any supernatural being she wants after dark. Thing is by her nineteenth birthday she has to choose which one she wants to be forever. Mac is already having a hard time choosing when she meets a geeky boy named Winn who has this book that seems to have things about her that she was never told. So now Mac has to find out what has been kept secret from her.

 I started After Dark with great expectations, maybe too great. This book has a great storyline and a very original premise but it just never got in tune for me. I am typically not a very picky reader so I was actually quite shocked. I never really connected with the story or its characters and found myself sort of dragging through. I wondered how this girl could be eighteen and has never once wondered about her race or what that meant for her until now. It seemed to me everything was thrown together with at times a bit of randomness and hurry. If not for the originality I do not think I would have had enough curiosity to carry me through this one. Although I never connected with After Dark, I did find myself wanting to continue reading just to find out what would happen. So I do believe this book has great potential I just don't think we see it met in this novel. I do think that I would be interested in reading a sequel to see if the story grows and progresses any, maybe meeting the potential that I see in this novel. 

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review *

Review: Touched by Corrine Jackson

Remy O'Malley has the power to heal others, the downside is every injury she heals, she then has to endure. Living with an abusive step father has made this an exhausting feat until one night he lands her in the hospital and she gets sent to live with her estranged father. Shortly after her arrival she meets an enigmatic boy named Asher that seems to have even more secrets than herself. Asher and Remy feel a strong attraction to each other and when they can no longer deny its pull they ind themselves in danger, not only from others if they found out but also from each other. 

Wow, Touched is my favorite book from the past year hands down. I love the whole concept of healers and protectors and think Corrine did an amazing job showing us her unique and satisfying take on it. The chemistry between Remy and Asher is so entertaining and I found myself smiling at little things Asher would do to get her attention. After all of the abuse that Remy has been through I really loved the connections she made once she moved in with her dad. Remy is such a perfect blend of vulnerability and strength, I don't think there could have been a more perfect main character for this story. I really felt connected to her and her struggles. Asher is every girls dream, the misunderstood bad boy with a good heart, that would do anything for the one he loves ( insert swoon here ). I can't think of a single thing I would change. The pace was perfect and the characters and world portrayed was believable and enthralling. I sure hope there is a sequel to Touched, because I want more of this fantastic story!                                           

* book received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*                                                                                    

                                                                                          

Review : Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Tara cannot believe what just happened . She just killed a girl. She had to, because this wasn't just a girl. This girl was a werewolf that just attacked her. Tara starts freaking out and that's when the sexy mysterious Wes shows up. He takes her home and so starts Tara's inevitable feelings for him and her discovery of her part in the dangerous world of hunters and werewolves.

I loved Dirty Blood! From the moment I started reading it I was  mesmerized and couldn't put it down until I knew what would happen next. Heather put a unique twist on the whole world of hunters and werewolves history and I thought the whole prospect of half bloods or as their called in the story " dirty bloods " was brilliant. Half werewolf half hunter and hated for it, that's awesome. I don't want to give anything away but their were definitely a couple things that happened that totally surprised me. All that mixed with the pure magnetism of Tara and Wes's attraction that flows through them like an electric current SO HOT! It is an amazing story that I can't wait to continue in book 2 Cold Blood.

* I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review *

Review Decked with Holly by Marni Bates

 
 Holly gets stuck spending her Christmas vacation on a cruise with her family. It wouldn't be so bad if it were just her grandpa and her, but instead she also has to put up with her evil twin cousins and her Aunt that's constantly insulting her. To top things off Holly is experiencing extreme sea sickness and her cousins kick her out of their room. Not wanting to disturb her grandpa and in desperate need of somewhere to throw up, Holly staggers into a strangers room and uses their bathroom. When she comes out she gets assaulted with pepper spray and called a zombie by a guy calling himself "Nick". But when she tries to leave and gets bombarded by the paparazzi Holly realizes that Nick is actually "Dominic" a member of one of her favorite pop bands " Readyset". To avoid a scandal Nick talks Holly into being his fake girlfriend. Even though they can get on each others last nerve could this fake relationship turn into a real one?

I loved "Decked with Holly"! It was hilarious and intelligent I found myself laughing out loud continuously and loving how fun and unique the story was. Holly is definitely a "mess" but that's what makes her so cute and lovable. Nick can certainly get under her skin and vice-versa which made for a lot of cute banter. The point of view switches back and forth between Holly and Dominic which I feel gives us a better look into each character and helps us know what they are both truly feeling. I like that it clearly states who's point of view you are now reading so that it doesn't get confusing like some other books that I have read. I am definitely going to check out other books by Marni Bates after this great read. Overall it is a fast and fun read that will have you smiling behind its pages.

I think fans of romantic comedies of all ages would love Decked with Holly.

** Book received from K-teen books in exchange for my honest review **

Review : Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Spark is the second full length book in the Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer about four brothers that each have their own special ability to control a certain element.
Spark picks up where Elemental left off. Except this time we get to focus more on Gabriel. Oh Gabriel, how can I ever say enough about Gabriel?

Gabriel's element is fire which suits him perfectly. He's hot and hard to handle but also beautiful. When an arson epidemic breaks out in town all the evidence seems to point to Gabriel and it seems the only person who believes his innocence is a shy girl named Layne.

I absolutely fell in love with Gabriel  in Spark. We get to see a whole side to the tempermental bad boy. Under all that sarcasm is really just guilt from blaming himself for their parent's death and shame that he can't indulge in and control his element better. Layne really helps us see the true Gabriel and I love her for that. Altough we realize Layne has a few secrets of her own. I also really liked the unlikely friendship that forms between Hunter and Gabriel. They both really needed someone and they make each other stronger.There were a few times I wanted to kick the brothers for not believing in him more. But that just goes to show you how connected I felt to him in this book.

Brigid Kemmerer once again proves how complex and appealing her character's are. You can't help but get drawn in by them and sympathise for them. I can't wait to see what's in store for them.

 This book was received from the publisher for review purposes

Review: Burning Emerald by Jaime Reed

     

Burning Emerald is book 2 in The Cambion Chronicles by Jaime Reed. In book one Samara meets Caleb and not only finds out about cambions but also becomes one thanks to her friend Nadine. This book picks up where there left off with Samara trying to come to terms with the "spirit" inside her and coping with Nadine's death. But then strange things start to happen at school surrounding this boy named Malik. When Samara and Caleb fall ill at a party putting Caleb in a coma, things start to unfold into a terrifying new reality for Samara. Malik is no longer the boy she grew up going to school with but is in fact a incubus named Tobias posing as him to get close to Samara or more accurately to get close to Lillith the spirit that now resides inside Samara. Samara belongs with Caleb but Tobias claims Lillith belongs with him, now that Samara and Lillith are a part of each other it becomes a dangerous mess.

I loved Burning Emerald. Just like Living Violet "Burning Emerald" is a real page turner. Although this one has more dangers and twists that make is deliciously tense. It really puts a whole new spin on love triangles with two of them residing in the same body. Not to mention there were some real wow moments in this one that left me reeling and aching to read the next book due in the series "Fading Amber".

I think anyone who likes a great YA paranormal romance will definitely love this one.                                                                                                                                               

Review Otherkin by Nina Berry

Desdemona a.k.a Dez lives a normal teenage life. Until one night in a fit of rage over the back brace she has had to wear for the past two years, she transforms and realizes she is anything but normal. But before she even realizes what is happening to her, she is kidnapped and wakes up in a cage next to a mysterious and sexy guy named Caleb. Through him she discovers things not only about herself but also about this world and worlds beyond that she never thought possible.

This book was amazing! Nina Berry creates a world unlike any other,with a thin veil between this world and another and the amazing people here closer to it than anyone else,that enables them to have these amazing abilities. I loved that there wasn't just shapeshifters in this book but also callers and objurers as well. It made for a thrilling adventure of suspense and action. But I think my favorite things about this story were the amazing connection between Caleb and Dez and also Dez learning to truly find and except herself. Otherkin is enthralling from beginning to end  making  for a quick pace with lots of variety from adventure, love, action, and suspense to feed any reading appetite.

** Disclosure**
I received this book from Kensington publishing in exchange for my honest review.