REVIEW: Compulsion by Martina Boone

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse. All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. 

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher Simon & Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  4 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below). 

What a great debut novel! Compulsion definitely exceeded my expectations, and left me wanting more from the heirs of Watson Island by the end of it. I loved the protagonist Barrie. She was so funny and quirky, and I had a lot of fun while reading from her point of view. I swear, there must be something about guys with numbers as names, but Eight Beaufort was beyond swoon worthy. Barrie and Eight's relationship was a really great addition to Compulsion's charm, though it was already charmed beyond measure with its southern gothic theme. My favorite aspect to this book was the actual magic of Watson island. The people and the island's origins was a really great of stating that things really do go down in history. I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book, I have a feeling that it's going to be absolutely great! 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow

All-access doesn't mean no problems The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza--with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion--and turn their lives upside down all over again.

I received an Advanced Reader's copy of this book from the publisher (Harlequin) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 
3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below).

At the end of the first book in the Secret Diamonds Sisters series, I had very mixed feelings about The Secret Diamond Sisters. I did not know if I liked it or not, because reading it made me felt like I was watching reality TV. Reality TV is something I mindlessly watch from time to time, so I found myself in a place asking myself if I was comparing a book to reality TV, even though reading a book is not exactly mindless, though what your reading reminds you of what you do mindlessly. That being said, I'm very glad to say that I enjoyed Diamonds In the Rough much more than I did The Secret Diamond Sisters. Diamonds In the Rough definitely had much more plot than the The Secret Diamond Sisters did, and it seemed like I wasn't watching a reality TV show anymore while I was reading it. I still definitely really enjoy the three point of views in which the story is told, and I'm so glad that the book switched main settings; the new setting made it much more entertaining. Overall, I really enjoyed Diamonds In the Rough and am so excited to read the next book! I bet the series is just going to get better and better. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince. Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour. When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

I received an finished copy of this book from the publisher (HarperTeen) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

2 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below).

A book about a girl who travels around the world, meets a prince, and they fall in love. What could go wrong? Royally Lost had everything going for itself, it has a great cover, a great idea, and an amazing-sounding plot line. My biggest problem with this book was the dialogue. To me, it felt so robotic and inhuman, like the characters had no emotion, like they weren't even alive. Because of the dialogue, I had such a hard time investing myself in any of the characters, making Royally Lost a fairly big disappointment. The main characters Becca and Nikolai had the most awkward and choreographed encounters. They were unbelievable, and the fact that they're love story progressed from "accidentally" seeing each other around Europe just made me want to snicker to myself because it was so unreal. This book could've still been decent with the encounters that Becca and Nikolai had throughout the book, but the immaturity of Becca and Nikolai and their inhuman dialogue would've had to been stripped of this book. Because of these imperfections, the love story in Royally Lost didn't develop much, and neither did the characters. Overall, there were many problems that I had with this book, including character dialogue, development, and maturity. I was very sad to not have loved this book, it was a book that I was looking forward to reading all of 2014. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Scwab + GIVEAWAY

Kell is one of the last Travelers—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes—as such, he can choose where he lands. There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there’s Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne—a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see—a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—and that is proving trickier than they hoped. 

Be sure to check out A Darker Shade of Magic's website: Darker-Shade.com

Buy this book here on Amazon

Book trailer:

Victoria "V.E." Schwab is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes", "like", and "y'all". She currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and when she is not wandering in search of buried treasure, fairy tales, and good tea, she's tucked in a cafe, dreaming up monsters.

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Quick Q&A with Victoria Schwab:

Question:

If writing had not worked out for you as a profession, what would've been your back up career plan? What would you pursue instead? 

Answer: 

Interrogator. I’m kidding. Sort of. I actually really wanted to be a military interrogator. Then again, I also wanted to be an astrophysicist. And a professional baker. So in the end, it’s probably best for everyone that I went with writing…for now.

From A Darker Shade of Magic:

Take the A Darker Shade of Magic "Which London Do You Actually Belong In Quiz"

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REVIEW: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites. Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

I received this book from Penguin for free in exchange for an honest review and read-along with BookBusters. All opinions are my own. 

  3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

Click HERE to watch the BookBusters YA club liveshow, where I also share my thoughts about this book! (This is also a spoilery discussion) 

As a huge fan of Marie Lu's previous series, the Legend Trilogy, I had super high expectations going into this book. I was especially interested in The Young Elites because I wanted to see if Marie Lu would write it in the format of what I call the "typical dystopian/fantasy book". The usual norm is that we have our protagonist, who joins a rebel group, then is either trained or mentored in a way by a specific individual. Then the protagonist either falls in love with that individual, or becomes best friends with he/she. I was sad to find out that The Young Elites did fall into the category which I call "typical dystopian/fantasy books". I had discovered this about 100 pages into The Young Elites, and still had high hopes for it because I have indeed read books that fell into the "typical dystopian/fantasy books" category yet I still found them absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, The Young Elites definitely fell flat for me, considering how great the Legend Trilogy. I wouldn't consider The Young Elites to be a disappointment of a book, but I would rather categorize it as not too shabby. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't a complete let down either. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

 I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher Penguin for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

When I first picked up this book in September 2014, I had so much trouble getting in to it. The writing style had thrown me off because it was unlike anything I've ever read, and I had a very hard time adjusting to the characters. That being said, I took a hiatus from this book for about two and a half months. After my hiatus, I picked this book up again, and it read so fast. I remember not believing that I was reading the same book that I took a break from, because it felt so different from the book that I had read in September, which was a book I couldn't get into it at all. I found it so interesting that from the start of my reading journey with I'll Give You the Sun, I pretty much hated it and constantly questioned myself if I was reading the same book that everyone else was reading, that everyone else loved. And at the end of my reading journey with I'll Give You the Su, I was so sad and heartbroken because the book had ended. Jandy Nelson was able to create such a quirky and intricate story. I loved how the 2 different timelines, set in different timelines, wove together so beautifully. Though I still do not favor the writing style of this book, I thought it was a very creative way to tell the story, with both of the protagonists being artists. After finally being able to adapt to everything in I'll Give You the Sun, I found that it was a heartwarming journey of two unique siblings, that is most definitely applause worthy. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson

Since witnessing her parents' murders at the age of eleven, Phoenix's only purpose in life has been to uphold her mother's dying words- to be strong and survive. But surviving outside of The Walls- outside of The Sanctuary- is more like a drawn-out death sentence. A cruel and ruthless city, Tartarus is run by the Tribes whose motto is simple, "Join or die." Refusing to join and determined to live, Phoenix fights to survive in this savage world. Trusting no one, she lives as a rogue, fending only for herself. Then in a moment of rash judgment, she breaks all of her rules to save a child, and in that moment her life is turned upside down. When the rescue mission goes awry, Phoenix is captured by an underground group who claims no allegiance with either the Tribes nor The Sanctuary. She finds herself in the most dangerous game of survival she has ever played. In her captivity, only one person- the handsome and oddly sympathetic Triven- shows Phoenix something she has never before experienced: kindness. While warring with unfamiliar emotions and still skeptical of her captors' motives, Phoenix quickly realizes that these people may just hold the key to her lost memories. But who can she trust, when no one can be trusted? Not even herself.
Buy this book on Amazon

Rate:

4 of 5 stars 

★ ★ ★ ★

Review:

I received a free paperback of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I must admit, when I read the first few pages of this book it felt like I was reading Divergent. Within the world that Jennifer Wilson creates there are five different tribes, each with their own defining features and virtues, that live contained within a bordered wall. Although they share this similarity, this is no Divergent. This story is in a world all its own and is nothing short of thrilling. The protagonist, Phoenix, is a resilient character who was forced from a very young age to rely on no one but herself, and a select few who she can barter with for the things that she simply cannot obtain on her own. For the past six years she has managed to survive and make a life for herself in a city where the enemy is hiding in every corner. Her life is completely turned upside down when, in a moment of complete bewilderment, she decides to save the life of someone other than herself. However brave and selfless her act of salvation is, she does not escape unscathed. In a now precarious situation, she is surrounded by a new world, or so it seems to her. Hidden within the world she thought she knew so well lies a third party of people unlike the vicious tribes and unlike the perceived utopia of The Sanctuary. This new group challenges everything Phoenix thought she knew and thrusts upon her Triven, the kindness in him more shocking than anything else in her new environment. At war with herself and her surroundings, Phoenix will do whatever it takes to stay alive and survive. Even when I thought I knew what would happen next, I was incredibly thrown off by one of Wilson's incredible plot twists. With a writing style all her own, Jennifer Wilson creates a world that not only captivates, but consumes entirely, the attention of the reader. I can't wait to see where else this story will go and what new surprises Wilson will have for these characters that I have, in a short amount of time, completely fallen in love with. 

Reviewer:

Nancy

REVIEW: The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him. But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina. Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else. When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life. Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen Books) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

My preconceived notions about my feelings on the plot/outcome of this book could not have turned out more different than what happened with The Things You Kiss Goodbye. I remember reading the synopsis of this book and thinking to myself that this book would be a great fluffy and easy read; I could not have been more wrong. When I started The Things You Kissed Goodbye I was in a little bit of a reading slump, and it was hard for me to engage myself into the story when I first started reading. I would read the first chapter over and over again because I just wasn't "feeling the story". After a few days of not reading, I finally continued on into the story, and found myself in this limbo zone where I was flying through pages and almost "enjoyed" the story, but it almost "too brutal" for me to continue reading. What I mean by this is that Bettina's boyfriend Brady was inhumanly abusive of her, and this was really hard for me to take in because of my belief in non abusive relationships. I would find myself literally looking away from the page while reading because it was too much for me. I'm really glad that this only lasted for a period of time because Bettina met Cowboy. What bothered me about Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was how naive Bettina was about him. I definitely liked Bettina and Cowboy's relationship much more than the one she had with Brady, but don't you think a girl should ask a guy what's his name before falling in love with him? Nonetheless I did end up loving their relationship and was really devastated by the ending of the book. I also really liked how Bettina was of Greek heritage; this made the book really unique and relatable to to because of the strong culture and tradition that Bettina grew up with. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The Selection meets The Handmaid's Tale in this darkly riveting debut filled with twists and turns, where all that glitters may not be gold. The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her life . . . all while trying to stay alive. But before she can accept her fate, Violet meets a handsome boy who is also under the Duchess's control, and a forbidden love erupts. But their illicit affair has consequences, which will cost them both more than they bargained for. And toeing the line between being calculating and rebellious, Violet must decide what, and who, she is willing to risk for her own freedom.

 I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from EpicReads as a giveaway prize and I received a finished copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher before the release date. All opinions are my own. 

2 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below. 

As soon as I received my early copy of The Jewel, I picked it up right away because of my genuine excitement for its release. I had heard so much hype from my friends and the lovely ladies at EpicReads; I was hoping that The Jewel would be absolutely spectacular, since the premise was very promising. As soon as I was about 100 pages into the story, I knew that they story had fallen flat, and I knew that this type of story definitely wasn't for me. I didn't want to judge The Jewel if I had only read 100 pages of it, which was why I continued reading the entire book. By the time that Violet met Ash, the story had become a little bit messy and unclear. I think another reason for my disappointment in this book was because of my resentment towards the instalove. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this tough and tender young adult novel that's a lot about love (and a little about cancer). "When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics." So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can't forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

Though similar to John Green's The Fault In Our Stars, I think I might have to say that Zac and Mia was one of the best books that I've read all year; it was so heart warming and refreshing. I remember myself cracking up every few minutes each time I would try to read in an Australian accent, since the novel is Australian. I loved how awkwardly Zac and Mia met, and how their differences sparked such a great friendship (especially their morse code conversations about Lady Gaga and texting over Facebook). Friendship, not romance. It's so common for healthy and friendly relationships in YA books to turn into romance, and I loved how Zac and Mia's stayed the same, it never changed, making it such a breath of fresh air. Out of the two perspectives that the book was told in (Zac and Mia each had a perspective), Zac’s by far had to be my favorite (Did I mention that he loves Emma Watson?!). He was such an interesting character. All of his decisions were driven by math and logic, except when it came to Mia. Mia on the other hand was a bit selfish and reckless, but I really enjoyed seeing her change as a character Zac as the story progressed, and her changing herself was great as well. Overall, I would really recommend this book to anybody who likes to friendship, crazy bus road trips, and especially if you loved The Fault In Our Stars. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Awaken by Jaime Guerard

Three things run through my mind at this very moment… ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same. TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist. THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life and death. Sixteen year old, Breanna Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her, revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming reality. Amongst the chaos of this new discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close. There is another secret kept- Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her feelings for Collin. Bre is faced with an almost impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.

Rate:

4.5 out of 5 stars

★ ★ ★ ★

I seriously regret not reading this sooner! I couldn't put it down and the ending left me in one of the biggest book hangovers I have ever been in! When you first hear about this you think it's just like any other paranormal book; Girl has super natural powers, is misunderstood by the world, she falls in love, a crazy event happens where she can show her powers are good and finally everyone accepts her and then she has a happy ending. Well, boy was I wrong!  Awaken was NOTHING like a basic paranormal book. Sure it has the romance (and can I say it is BEAUTIFUL)but the way it happens isn't your typical love story. 

The book itself is beautifully well written, It's such a unique story line and I honestly have never read anything like it. The way the author Jamie approaches everything is so unique and very different.  In almost every book I read there is a character that is just there, they are very unnecessary and its just pointless to mention them. Yet in this book there is never that moment, all the characters have a point in the story, they are there for a reason even if you think they aren't necessary in the beginning, they will be in the end. The whole plot has a mixture of mystery,suspense, love etc. It just pulls you in and leaves you with tears either from happiness or sadness. I absolutely LOVED it and it is on my list of favorites!  I recommend it to everyone because it was just so spectacular and it will leave you wanting more. I promise.


Reviewer:
Samantha