Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls #2) by C.C. Hunter

YA Paranormal

Rating: 5 Stars

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

First Thoughts: I received this book by St. Martin's so I bought the first one and I LOVED it. I just had to read a different book before this one though and it hurt a bit. This cover is way better than the first one though. I love the falls and the shine of the falls. Very cool.

Writing Style: Still the same thoughts on this area of the book. It was easy for me to fall into this world and not want to leave. Putting the book down was nearly impossible for me.

Characters: In my honest opinion right now with reading this book, I think that Kylie is too good for the both of them. Lucas is obviously full of himself and thinks that he knows everything. He clearly sees what he is doing to her and causing her pain when it hurts Derek but he doesn't care. Derek knows for sure the pain he is causing her but still does it anyway. Kylie is sweet and cares about everyone so much she is afraid to tell them how she really feels because she doesn't want to hurt them and when she does none of them believe her. She has a lot going on in her life and honestly the boys are making it harder for her to figure out her life. Probably intentional though, the boys are just another bump in her road. Personally, I would just run them over.

Final Thoughts: How long is it till the next one? Obviously too long since I don't have it in my hands right now. Depressing but oh well. I'm really glad I found another series that I can just fall into and not be disappointed with. I love it and cannot wait for Taken at Dusk.

Lenobia's Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Lenobia's Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast

YA Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

A great journey…

A new love….

A dark secret revealed.

Evreux, France, 1788: Before she is Zoey’s favorite professor and the House of Night’s powerful horse mistress… Lenobia is just a normal 16-year-old girl – with enough problems to last a lifetime. As the illegitimate daughter of a powerful baron, she has never quite belonged, and instead has to watch her spoiled half-sister, Cecile, get anything she wants. As if that’s not enough, her remarkable beauty draws unwanted attention wherever she goes. For once, she would like to just fit in.

But when fate intervenes, Lenobia suddenly finds herself surrounded by other girls, on a ship bound for New Orleans, where they will be married off to the city’s richest Frenchmen. And they’re not alone…. An evil bishop who is skilled in Dark magic makes the same journey. His appetite for lovely young women makes him dangerous – most of all to Lenobia, who caught his eye back in France. So she remains hidden, making secret visits to the ship’s stables, where a handsome young man and his beautiful Percheron horses soon capture her attention.

Will they make it to land before the bishop discovers her true identity and a powerful evil breaks loose? And will Lenobia follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? Find out more about one of your favorite professors in the next heart-thumping House of Night Novella.

First Thoughts: I feel like I have been waiting for this one for forever. Then again, I will feel the same for the next and the next one. I have to be honest that I like the covers for these novellas are my favorite, I like them so much better than the novels.

Writing Style: I have never had any complaints with P.C.'s writing style and personally I like the writing in the novella's more because they are more mature. It's supposed to obviously but it's nice for the change but also sticking with the story. Well, sort of since this one is just about Lenobia but it helps in the long run of the series.

Characters: I am in love with these characters. Lenobia is so strong and so honest. She hates to lie and quickly admitted her lie when she knew it was over. She knew what she wanted and told it like it was. I definitely liked Sister Marie as well. So protective. She was exactly what those innocent children and Lenobia needed.

Final Thoughts: Another great addition to my House of Night collection. I really enjoy getting the back stories on other characters than just the main character. I wish some of my other novels would do that too. Can't wait for Neferet's and I definitely can't wait for Kalona's!

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) by C.C. Hunter

YA Paranormal

Rating: 5 Stars

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

First Thoughts: I had to buy this book. I recieved the second one from St. Martin's and there was no way I was going to read that one until I read the first one. I didn't feel too terrible with having to buy it though. I would have normally bought a book like this, this series just isn't in the stores around me unless I drive all the way out to the mall to go to Barnes & Noble. The synopsis would have gotten me though if I had found it more close to home. It is very intriguing and the cover would easy catch anyone's eyes. I love covers with trees so I so would have picked it up.

Writing Style: There is not much to say in this area. I had no complaints with C.C.'s writing. In fact it was easy to fall into her story and her descriptions were perfect. Not overbearing like another novel I recently read.

Characters: Kylie is a very cool characters. One of my favorite kinds. The kind who is small. What I mean by that is they fade into the background and don't seem like the kind of person who would fight you. Then they get pushed into a situation where they can't fade out anymore and actually have to be someone in important and does. They stand out but unintentionally. Kylie is exactly that and I love it. I don't feel like the other characters developed much in this book but that could have been intentional so that we could get more connected to Kylie off the bat.

Final Thoughts: I really like this book. I'm glad I got the second in the series otherwise I probably would have never known this series exsisted. It was intersting right away. It had normal things happening and then all of a sudden it changes and you can just feel it through the writing. I wasn't bored while the story built and I like how she didn't find out who she was already, then the rest of the series has meaning, that quest. And it keeps you wanting to come back because I know that it's going to be bothering me until I figure it out.