The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Summery (via Goodreads): It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Book Trailer:


Book Review:
This was my first introduction to Maggie Stiefvater. Wow! What an amazing introduction. I have been hesitant to pick this up because I am not a fan of horse and I am not a fan of races. This seemed like a combination of both, and therefore just not my cup of tea. I could not have been more wrong!!! What I found was a story of passion, family, drive, and heart. As I stated in my previous review, I love a story told through alternating voices. Puck and Sean's voices were endearing, they were able to really draw the reader into the story. I loved the world-building and the capall uisge. I could have stayed in this world for a very long time. If you're curious about the back story, I highly recommend checking out Stiefvater's post (here) where she talks about her inspiration for writing the story. I am now a huge fan of Stiefvater, and plan to read her Wolves of Mercy Falls series in the very near future! :)

Favorite Quote:

“There are moments that you'll remember for the rest of your life and there are moments that you think you'll remember for the rest of your life, and its not often they turn out to be the same moment.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I love this cover!  So simple, yet affective. The blood red backdrop. The bold gold lettering. The black horse with the girl riding. It works so well together, and has rich meaning to the story.

Rating:

Reading Reflections: December 2011

Books Read:
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Dearly, Departed (Gone with Respiration #1) by Lia Habel
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 4

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 62

Most Anticipated:
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Biggest Let Down:
None!!!

Favorite Read:
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 4.5

Overall Reflection: 
Okay, okay...I know my number of books read is a little low, but seriously, both Divergent and Dearly, Departed were almost 500 pages a piece! I know the quantity is a little low, but quality more than makes up for it! A great reading month as far as quality goes! I am totally in love with Gabrielle Zevin! I plan to read pretty much anything she comes out with in the future! Divergent lived up to the hype! Dearly, Departed was a wonderful surprise! The Scorpio Races were just as fabulous as I had anticipated! Seriously, seriously great book selection this month! *Here's to another great year of reading!* Happy holidays everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Dearly, Departed (Gone with Respiration #1) by Lia Habel

Book Summery (via Goodreads): The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

Book Review:
I'll be honest. I hadn't heard a thing about this book before I picked it up. It was the cover that caught my eye. When I read the blurb on the cover I was hooked! A future Victorian world filled with steam punk and zombies? I was soooo there! I didn't take long to get hooked into this story at all. Nora is just so adorable, feisty, and smart! It's hard not to like Bram either. Really...all the characters are great, even the villains! I love the alternating voices. Each chapter speaks from a different character's perspective. I know that not everyone is a fan of this, but I really like it. It makes for a richer story, in my opinion. The back story of the waring Punks and new Victorians is well thought out and original. I love the political pieces in this story. Habel fleshed out her tale rather impressively, and not in an information-overload manner, but rather in an interesting and engaging way. One thing that kind of bothered me was that the book trailer and the cover blurb really amp up the romance. It is not the center focus of this book. Instead, it's a slow building arc that is to be savored and cherished. Overall, this book was well done and I look forward to the next installment to the story!


Favorite Quote:
“Real ladies can give orders, Real gentlemen can take them, and Real zombies don’t eat brains.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I'm not gonna lie...I am a sucker for a beautiful cover, and this one is certainly eye-catching. In fact, I had heard nothing of this book, but saw it on the shelf at the bookstore and made a rather impulsive purchase, which I almost NEVER do! This cover is just that powerful! You know immediately that there is something unique and interesting about this book, just from the cover alone.

Rating:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

Book Review:
Let me start by saying this poor book has been sitting on my shelf for a rather long time, just waiting to be read. I have heard so many good things about Divergent, I was hesitant to pick it up. I thought it might be too good to be true. Past experiences have made me somewhat leery of books that get rave reviews. In the case of Divergent, I needn't of worried. It was FANTASTIC. Within the first few sentences, I was hooked. Roth's world building was phenomenal. I loved the backdrop of Chicago (my hometown) as the setting. I found the idea of splitting up society into factions rather interesting and unprecedented. Tris was a strong feminine voice. She carried her strength and curiosity beautifully. I enjoyed going on this journey with her as she struggled to find her rightful path in the "dauntless" world. Four was a great counterpart. I enjoyed the slow build of their romance. Often I find that YA romances start to quick in a story, which can be a little over-the-top and cliche. This was definitely not the case in Divergent. The dystopian perspective was spot on, almost eerily so. All in all, Divergent was an engaging read which I will be recommending for many years to come. I can hardly wait for the follow-up, Insurgent!

Favorite Quote:

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This cover is definitely eye catching. The flames juxtapose nicely against the blue background. I love the Chicago skyline in the background! :)

Review:

 

Top Ten Tuesday: 'Tis better to give than receive!

 
 A feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This weeks topic: Top Ten Books I Want to Give as Gifts 

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
2. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
3. Forgotten by Cat Patrick
4. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
5. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
9. The Help by Katheryn Stockett
10. Drink, Slay, Love by Sara Beth Durst

 What books would you like to give as gifts this year?

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her "Chief." She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads.

Book Review:
I recently read Zevin's latest novel, All These Things I've Done (my review), and just adored it! Ever since, Ganrielle Zevin has been on my list of to-read authors! At the bookstore I saw a paperback copy of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Zevin, and immediately snatched it. I started reading it at the store, and before long, I was completely hooked! The characters are so individualistic and engaging, it hard not to fall in love with them. What I enjoyed most was making discoveries alongside of Naomi. I loved making mistakes and amends along side of her. Zevin excels at enveloping the reader into the story. It's a talent that I tend to find in books that I really enjoy. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is a wonderful example of this. I only had a few minor complaints. While I enjoyed the ending, I thought Zevin could have elaborated a little bit more and left the reader feeling more satisfied. The total page count was under 300, so I feel this could have been accomplished. Also, the world building, while good, wasn't as good as All These Things I've Done. So for these few reasons, I marked Memoirs a half point less than All These Things. Overall though, such a great story! I can't wait to read more from Gabrielle Zevin!

Favorite Quote:

“Above all, mine is a love story. Unlike most love stories, this one involves chance, gravity, a dash of head trauma. It began with a coin toss. The coin came up tails. I was heads. Had it gone my way, there might not be a story at all. Just a chapter, or a sentence in a book whose greater theme had yet to be determined. Maybe this chapter would've had the faintest whisper of love about it. But maybe not. Sometimes, a girl needs to lose.”

Cover Art Commentary:
I LOVE the cover of this book! The simplicity of the typewriter keys is classic, yet inviting. Typewriters hold a lot of meaning in this story. Such a great choice for the cover!

Rating:

 

Reading Reflections: November 2011

Books Read:
The Revenant by  Sonia Gensler
Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherine M. Valente
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs 

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 6

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 58

Most Anticipated:
Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter

Biggest Let Down:
(If I had to pick one)
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Favorite Read:
I'm torn between Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter and All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 4

Overall Reflection: 
November was a fantastic month in terms of reading.  Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter was a great installation in the series, I can't wait for Taken at Dusk to release in April! The Revenant by  Sonia Gensler was a satisfying ghost story. While I enjoyed The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, I felt it lack a certain depth and didn't fully explain some elements of the story. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherine M. Valente was a whimsical, modern-day fairy tale. All These Things I've Done was a surprising read, I am totally in love with Garielle Zevin's! She is on my list of must read authors! I also really enjoyed Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs, such a fun read! This month might be a little lighter in reading due to school and the holidays.

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Book Review:
I wasn't sure what I was in store for when I picked this book up. What I got was a unique tale with a mythological twist. The three girls couldn't be more different from one another. Gretchen is one tough chick who is certain of her destiny. Grace is the sweet girl-next-door who is very eco-friendly. Greer is a confident young lady who comes from a very privileged background. Together, they make the decedents of Medusa and must fulfill an ancient prophecy. I loved Childs' writing. It was charming and whimsical. I enjoyed the different voices of each of the girls. Grace is my favorite. Overall, this was a fun story the ended on a cliffhanger. I can not wait to read the sequel! In the meantime, I plan to catch up on Childs' other books!

Favorite Quote:

“For the first time, I want to let people in. I didn't want to hang up on Nick. I had to. Because, for the first time, I wanted to say yes.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I like the darker colors of this cover. I like the movement of the braid and curly writing at the bottom.

Rating:

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
This was the first book I have read by Zevin, and I have to say, I was blown away! Zevin's voice was colorful and refreshing. I loved, loved the main character Anya. She is flawed, responsible, loving, and always tries to do the right thing. Her family "mob" background was original and engaging. I loved how she interacted with different family members and family acquaintances. Really, all of the characters were superb. The romance was realistic and endearing, and not too overpowering. There was very little I didn't like about this book! I couldn't help but furiously turn the pages, eager to know more. Overall, I highly enjoyed this story, and look forward to the sequel! Ganrielle Zevin is now on my author TBR list! :)

Favorite Quote:

“Tragedy is when someone ends up dead. Everything else is just a bump in the road. For the record, that was something Daddy used to say.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This is definitely not my favorite cover. For one, it lacks color. Two, because of the font and the majority of writing on the cover, I thought this was a self-help book for teens until I started reading reviews. For what it's worth, I like the chocolate heart! Also, once you remove the jacket, the actual book cover is made to look like a Balanchine chocolate bar, which is beyond awesome! :)

Rating:

Top Ten Tuesday: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

 A feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This weeks topic: Top Ten Twelve Books On My TBR List For Winter

1. Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
2. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
3. Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
4. Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins
5. The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting
6. Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
7. Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3) by C.C. Hunter
8. Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington
9. Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth 
10. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
11. Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer 
12. The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelly Armstrong  

 
So what are you looking forward to reading this winter?

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherine M. Valente

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.  With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online.

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Enchanting! This highly imaginative tale has reminiscent tones of Alice in Wonderland, His Dark Materials, and Abarat. Follow September as she embarks on a journey like no other. Valente uses a vivid and innovative voice to create a world of mystery and magic. Throughout her journey, September comes across many unconventional and dynamic characters. Among my favorites are Saturday, A-through-L, the Green Wind, and the Leopard of Little Breezes. What I love most about September, is that she tries to think logically through all the choices she is faced with. Quite impressive for a twelve year old! I had first heard of Valente through the book blogger calico_reaction, who speaks highly of this author and her diverse publications. I was not the least bit disappointed! My only concern is that this book's intended audience is children, and they might have a difficult time understanding some of the content. Of course, their imaginations will run wild! :) This book has so many whimsical and magical tones that it would be hard for any reader not to fall in love with original modern fairytale!

Favorite Quote:

“Stories have a way of changing faces. They are unruly things, undisciplined, given to delinquency and the throwing of erasers. This is why we must close them up into thick, solid books, so they cannot get out and cause trouble.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the bright colors! The illustration is whimsical, yet classical. Very eye-catching! :)

Rating:

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful to all of you wonderful people who take the time to read my blog! Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Top Ten Tuesday: Pass the gravy!

 
 A feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This weeks topic: Top Ten Authors I'd Love To Have At My Thanksgiving Feast!

1. Neil Gaiman - "So Neil, I just love your stories! Did I ever tell you that you're an genius? Also, would you marry me?"
2. Rachel Caine - "Rach, would you pass the potatoes? Also, you're my writing hero. I just love your world-building techniques! Would you consider adopting me?"
3. Stephen King - "Seriously Steve, where do you get the ideas for your stories? Did you know that The Shining would scare the living daylights out of me for many years to come? Also, these cranberries are fantastic!"
4. Chuck Palahniuk - "Okay, Chuck's running a bit late, but it's worth the wait. Trust me, Chuck's got stories!"
5. J. K. Rowling - "So J, how are you enjoying our American holiday? Would you consider writing more Harry Potter books?  I mean what else is in store for Harry. I feel as though his story isn't over yet. Wait, wait! Where are you going?! I have like a million other questions!!!"
6. Holly Black - "First of all, awesome name! Second, I love your Curse Workers series. What inspired you to write them? How many more to plan to write? Any thoughts on writing another series?"
7. Rachel Hawkins - "Rach, I just love your Hex Hall series! So much fun! Can you give us a sneak peak into your other series?
8. Margaret Atwood - "Thanks for the wine Margaret! It's delicious! I just adore your feminism approach in your writing. Your dystopian novels are just amazing. If I could write like anyone, it would be you."
9. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - "Thank you both for bring the rolls! How do you approach your novels when using alternating voices to narrate? Do you have another book in mind to write?"
10. Julie Kagawa - "Jules, this pie is amazing! By the way, I just loved your Iron Fey series! Could you give us a little insight into your next series coming up?"

So which authors would you invite to your Thanksgiving meal?

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book Summer (Via Hodkin's Website):  My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something. A pseudonym. A nom de plume, for all of us studying for the SATs. I know that having a fake name is strange, but trust me—it’s the most normal thing about my life right now. Even telling you this much probably isn’t smart. But without my big mouth, no one would know that a seventeen-year-old who likes Death Cab for Cutie was responsible for the murders. No one would know that somewhere out there is a B student with a body count. And it’s important that you know, so you’re not next.

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
I devoured this book in big gulps. It's definitely interesting and engaging. I wanted to figure out what was happening so desperately! How are all these people ending up dead?! What is Mara's connection? It's a hunger that kept the pages turning. I loved Mara and her family, they were definitely a fun and interesting set of characters. I would like to learn a little bit more about her dad, and the case he is working on. I enjoyed walking the halls of Mara's new school, and getting to know everyone. All of these were very good things that kept me reading long after I should have been asleep. There are a few things however, that I didn't not like. Noah's and Mara's relationship for one. It was just too over the top for me. Noah had the prince charming thing down...and it annoyed me. He was just a little too perfect, if you know what I mean. Also, I felt like the paranormal aspects in this book weren't fully connected....think about a connect the dot drawing, without all the dots connected. You still get the major picture, but it just seems off. Overall, I enjoyed reading Mara Dyer, but there were a few elements that left more to be desired. I still plan on reading the next book in the series. Check out more on Michelle Hodkin's blog, which is quite entertaining.

Favorite Quote:

“Have you made any other friends since we've been here?"

I gave him the death stare. "Yes, actually."

"Who? I want a name."

"Jamie Roth."

"The Ebola kid? I heard he's a little unstable."

"That was one incident.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
That is one gorgeous cover. I'm not really sure how it relates to the book. There is a water scene in the story, but it's in a swamp, which doesn't really remind me of the cover.

Rating:

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . .

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
This was a surprising tale of love, death, mystery, and tragedy. Set in 1896, this historical fiction piece offers a refreshing take on life for privileged Cherokee children. The setting of this book really added something special to the story. Gensler certainly did her research. The school itself is based on an original Cherokee boarding school, which is now the home of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The mystery plot of the dead girl's ghost is also fantastic and eerie, very, very eerie. This story gave me goosebumps. If I knew better, I would have set the book down before bed, but I couldn't help myself. It was easy to get lost in this story. I loved the main character, Willie. She really struggled to find herself in an unfamiliar setting. She was flawed, and engaging. It was easy to relate to her. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and anticipate more wonderful stories from Sonia Gensler. Check out her website and blog for more info!

Favorite Quote:

"But Papa was dead, and the space next to me was empty. Staring at that void, I knew in my heart I was something much worse than a player on the world's stage/ And more than the summer heat made the perspiration trickle down the back of my neck. I jumped and blushed and perspired for good reason. I was a liar and a thief." (p.3)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the water theme! It has a very significant meaning to the story, and is also beautiful. I love that if you just look at the picture, it's really pretty, peaceful even. Then you read the subheading, "some secrets  wont stay buried" and suddenly you're hooked! There's something sinister beyond the beauty and the only way to discover it is to read the story! Clever!

Rating:

Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter

 

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): 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...

Book Review:
Hunter has done it again! I first became enthralled in Kylie's world with Hunter's first book, Born at Midnight (my review here). Pleasantly surprised with the first installment of the series, I was just as infatuated with the followup, Awake at Dawn. This character driven novel delivers romance, mystery, and paranormal flair! Kylie and her friends are at it again...battling boys, ghosts, and sometimes each other, the trio really set a wonderful tone for the story. All of the characters are vivid and engaging. I love the variety of paranormal beings, it makes for such a colorful story! Kylie sets out to discover herself, with pronounced determination. I really don't want to give too much of the story away. This is a fun, fast read that all ages are sure to enjoy! If you are a YA paranormal romance fan, then this book is for you! :)

Favorite Quote:

“Life isn't supposed to be easy. Generally speaking, the harder something is the more rewarding the results will be.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
Love the colors of this cover. The waterfall has significance to the story. This cover matches nicely to the first book in the series, Born at Midnight.

Rating: