From Goodreads: An ancient curse resurfaces. From deep within the English forests, a hideous creature threatens to re-emerge, stronger than ever. Meanwhile, young girls are disappearing from the streets of London, and rumors of heinous rituals abound.

Fearing for her very life, a young actress working at the famed Lyceum Theatre calls desperately on Jason Dark for help. On the eve of Walpurgis Night, the Geisterjäger meets another formidable enemy as he comes face to face with the Blood Witch. Who will prevail?
____________________________________________________

Henkel again intertwines his novella with history as Bram Stoker is introduced at his Lyceum theater.  I absolutely love the literary references and how Henkel keeps writing these famous writers into his work… first H.G. Wells, then Jules Verne, and now Bram Stoker.  Although Stoker is only in the novel in passing, with few lines, it makes a literary buff, such as myself, giddy.

This was a very interesting story about lycanthropes and witches, bringing them together as an ancient curse wreaks havoc on London.  It is another very well written, unique tale that I recommend in this gothic, mystery series.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exhange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: The unexpected death of their next door neighbor rattles occult detectives Jason Dark and Siu Lin. But does a woman in good health simply drop dead by dawn? The Geisterjäger is not convinced and suspects something more wicked and sinister is at work in London. As his investigation leads him down to the seedy underbelly of society, things more mysterious than he expected reveal themselves, making it clear that the ghost hunter will need all of his skills and resources to put an end to the horrors that stalk the night.

________________________________________

I love that each of Henkel’s novellas begins with a death of some sort.  I’m onto the seventh book in the series, and I’m just now making this observation, but even so, I absolutely love it.  I think it adds to the mystery of the novellas as we then have to figure out, alongside Jason Dark and Siu Lin, what happened and why.

This was a really interesting story, especially as I didn’t have a clue who the culprit was and was taken aback when I finally did find out, at the same time as Jason Dark.  I really enjoyed this novella as it deals with one of those vendors that pawn off fake medication, reminding me very much of a scene in Pete’s Dragon. I just thought this was great, and I loved watching Jason Dark and the other characters as they began to figure out the cause of all the deaths throughout London, starting with their next-door neighbor.  This is the first novella is which the death strikes close to home and is a more personal matter than the others, and I truly enjoyed it!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A quaint seaside town seems the ideal place for an English summer holiday. Little do its inhabitants suspect, that a century-old curse is about to throw their idyllic existence into turmoil and terror. Wraith-like, the black ghosts of undead mariners spread their cloak of horror over Pegwell Bay, the lure of their cursed gold too much for most to resist. Can Jason Dark and Siu Lin find the key to unlock their secrets and lift the curse from beyond the grave before more innocent townspeople die, or will some villainous trickery put even their own lives in jeopardy.

_____________________________________________________

This is another great, unique novella by Henkel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  I absolutely adored the references to Sherlock Holmes, Watson, H.G Wells, and Jules Verne!  Though Watson was referenced before in Theater of Vampires,  I somehow overlooked the connection between him and Holmes, and feel a little sheepish about it, but that aside, it is blatantly obvious in this story that Henkel is combining characters across history to spur his novella on, and it’s fantastic!  I now know who Herbert really is from Dr. Prometheus and watching Waston interact with Jason Dark was extremely interesting! Though a brief sighting of Holmes resides within the pages of this novella, I am truly hoping that we will meet him in the flesh as the series continues. 

But, Holmes and references to other literary characters aside, this novel is amazing.  There were many different things going on and I love that Jason Dark and Siu Lin are again outside London solving a paranormal mystery.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: After the passage of the Anatomy Act, surgeons have access to legally obtained corpses. Yet a few individuals persist in making their illicit living from grave-robbing. And what exactly is the research of the mysterious Dr. Prometheus, who purchases these dead bodies? Could it have any connection to the wild stories regarding re-animated corpses shuffling about in some of the seedier areas of London? When Scotland Yard’s finest are baffled, Jason Dark is called in to investigate, not realizing the dangers that lie in wait even for a seasoned investigator of the occult.

______________________________________

Constable Lestrade is brought back again in this fifth novella by Henkel, and the situation is just a profound as ever.  Henkel combines gothic elements from the Frankenstein era as well as elements from Sherlock Holmes in this well written story about Dr. Prometheus and his evil intents.  I really enjoyed this combination of elements as Henkel alludes to the characters of history as well as within other exceptional novels.

A new character also comes on the scene in this novel, a young man named Herbert, who joins the characters Jason Dark and Siu Lin as they battle against evil to save mankind from the devil himself.  Although the plotline of this novel isn’t as original as I hoped it to be, it is still extremely well written and worth the read.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When our world becomes a mere pawn in an epic battle between Heaven and Hell, Jason Dark faces a challenge that threatens to shatter the very fabric of reality. As immortal angels die and harbingers of death and destruction escape the fiery pits of hell itself, the Geisterjäger and his companions receive a desperate call for help! Will they be able to save mankind in the face of an onslaught of demons or will our fate burn as brightly as the streets of London?

___________________________________________

This is the first novella within the series that pulls past characters and accessories from previous novellas.  In terms of characters, Heaven on Fire revisits one of the evil demons within Demon’s Night, the first book in the series.  The cross from Ghosts Templar also plays an important role within this novella.  And, while I still stand by previous statements that Henkel’s novellas are standalone productions, I think the reader will find it extremely beneficial to have read both Demon’s Night and Ghosts Templar before reading this novella, especially as it glosses over some facts that readers may need in order to understand Heaven on Fire completely. 

While I enjoyed this novella on the whole, I wasn’t as interested in the storyline as I had been with Henkel’s previous work.  The writing, of course, is just as well done as all Henkel’s other novellas, but I found I wasn’t as drawn into this story as I’d hoped to be.  Three stars. 

I received a copy of this novella fromt he author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: In this horror adventure, a well-known police acquaintance asks Jason Dark to discreetly look into the case of a missing Chief Constable, which is out of Scotland Yard’s jurisdiction. When Dark and Siu Lin arrive in Swanage, however, they find that the quaint English seaside village hides more than its share of horrible secrets. Ghosts Templar is filled with ruined castles, ghostly hoof beats in the night, and a series of macabre murders, which swirl amidst rumors that undead Templar knights have awakened to exact a bloody revenge. Investigate if you dare.
__________________________________________________

This is, by far, my favorite novella in the series so far!  While I really enjoyed Demon’s Night and Theater of Vampires, Ghost’s templar swept me off my feet!  It’s completely unique and original, and I absolutely love the gothic feel, the sense of olden days, and the mystical allusions of life and death.  This is a superb story, bringing back our two amazing, kick butt character, Jason Dark and Siu Lin as they embark on a mission given to them by none other than Constable Lestrade himself, a character right out of Sherlock Holmes!!!

This novella is very well written and captivating.  I love both the imagination Henkel possesses and his master storytelling abilities!  I am really enjoying the series, especially as each novella has been, so far, a standalone piece that and can be read at your leisure, though most will be read in one sitting as they’re short enough but just long enough to produce a feeling of a job well done when finished. Great story!  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When stage magic isn’t what it seems, Jason Dark turns to an old friend for help. Explore the shadows of the Victorian Theater with London’s most famous Geisterj as he confronts vampire horrors beyond anything yet confronted. Theater of Vampires is a gothic story of betrayal, discovery, and horror in the tradition of the Grand Guignol. The only admission price needed is your courage.

This is the second volume in a series of gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, sets out to solve a supernatural mysteries.

_______________________________________________

Henkel has written yet another interesting novella involving Jason Dark, ghost hunter, though his profession isn’t only ghosts.  His first battle, in Demon’s Night, dealt with demons, and now this book deals with vampires.  Of course, I found this novella very interesting, especially as these vampires are hiding in plain sight, performing at a theater; and their performance is not for the squeamish. 

Henkel does a superb job tying all loose ends together in this novella while bringing both Jason Dark and Siu Lin back in this enticing story where not everyone is what they seem. I really enjoy that these novellas seem to be stand-alone texts and can be read out of order.  Since the texts don’t necessarily tie in with one another, it does give the reader some say over what they want to read.  However, both this novella and Demon’s Night are superbly written and I suggest reading them both, in order; I am excited to read the next installment and see what new gothic horror Henkel comes up with! Four stars.

 I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A series of bizarre deaths leaves the victims unnaturally desiccated and decaying, sending Jason Dark into the dangerous world of the London dockyards in search of a supernatural murderer. But is the paranormal investigator prepared to duel a full-fledged demon on a Hell-bent mission to create chaos and catastrophe throughout the earth, a fiend determined to wreak more death and destruction than his even more ominous Master?

This is the first volume a series of gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, sets out to solve a supernatural mystery.

_________________________________________________________

I was really impressed with this novella and am excited to read all of Henkel’s work after having read this first installment in the Jason Dark series.  Henkel is a fabulous writer, and this novella is like a Sherlock Holmes story intertwined with paranormal elements and demon activity. 

Henkel doesn’t waste any time with preliminary information, but rather jumps right into the action of the story, making it the reader’s job to keep up.  While the reader isn’t given any background information concerning who exactly Jason Dark is, or where he hails from, it becomes quickly apparent that Dark is a kick butt character intent on saving others and ridding the world of evil demons, one at a time.  I liked the idea that Dark isn’t completely known to us either as Henkel presented him in a rather shrouded light, creating even more elements of gothic mystery as the story unfolds.

I especially enjoyed the multiple perspectives of this story as Henkel shifts between Jason and the demon he is in pursuit of, giving the reader more glimpses into the story to aid the plot along.  I haven’t yet pinpointed the time period of this series, as I’ve only read this first piece, but I’m thinking it’s sometime in the early 1900s based on the carriages and other context clues Henkel adds to his story, and that is a time period I vastly enjoy!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review

From Goodreads: Reid Alexander’s life is an open book. His Hollywood celebrity means that everything he does plays out in the public eye. Every relationship, every error in judgment is analyzed by strangers. His latest mistake totaled his car, destroyed a house and landed him in the hospital. Now his PR team is working overtime to salvage his image. One thing is clear—this is one predicament he won’t escape without paying for it.

Dori Cantrell is a genuine humanitarian—the outward opposite of everything Reid is about. When his DUI plea bargain lands him under her community service supervision, she proves unimpressed with his status and indifferent to his proximity, and he soon wants nothing more than to knock her off of her pedestal and prove she’s human.

Counting the days until his month of service is over, Dori struggles to ignore his wicked magnetic pull while shocking him with her ability to see past his celebrity and challenging him to see his own wasted potential. But Dori has secrets of her own, safely locked away until one night turns her entire world upside down. Suddenly their only hope for connection and redemption hinges on one choice: whether or not to have faith in each other.

_________________________________________________

Although this novel doesn’t follow all the beloved characters from Between the Lines and Where You Are, it does follow Reid Alexander, the self assured, conceited, yet dreamy actor we all love to hate, and let me tell you, he is hot in this novel!

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy this story as it left out my favorite characters, Graham and Emma, but Webber is a master storyteller, creating more amazing characters, such as Dori, while also giving the reader an even closer look into Reid’s soul.  I loved it.  I absolutely did, and I am in awe of Webber’s sheer writing abilities.  I was drawn into the story from the very first page, and while Reid was his normal cocky self in the beginning of the novel, the reader is able to see him begin to transition and tap into his softer side, a side he hides from everyone, as he works alongside Dori completing his community service.  It’s a beautiful tale that wrapped me up until the final page, where I sat breathless and wishing for more.

This novel is extremely well written, but reader beware, it does have a darker side to it as well.  Not everything works out for the best for those involved within the pages, and I was shocked by one of the developments.  Although completely plausible, I wasn’t ready for it, even though I was aware, before reading, that there were some extremely sad elements within it.  But, it makes this novel that much stronger and believable, and I’m anxious for the next book in this series, which I hope continues Reid and Dori’s journey. Five stars.

 I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out all the books in this awesome series!

Between the Lines (#1)

Where You Are (#2)

Good For You (#3)

Here Without You (#4)

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for my blog.  THANK YOU SO MUCH to all my readers and commenters! You have made my first year blogging an epic success!!!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 31,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

From Goodreads: When Officer David Zellner is called in to investigate a burglary at a jewelry store, he soon discovers that although the employees and owner seem happy on the outside, each of them has their own motive for the crime. Zellner soon discovers that in the jewelry business, not all that glitters is gold. A work of super-short crime from our Fingerprints line.

_______________________________________________

This is a very, very short story; it’ll take about 10 minutes to read, so it’s great for those times when you need something to read, but don’t have time for a whole novel, like when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store.  As this is such a short story, there isn’t much room for characterization and the like, but Ambardar has created a quick mystery novel that the police officers swiftly figure out; it’s a nice little read worth the time. Three stars.

I received a copy of this story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Krista’s world crumbled when her soul mate and Protector, Mark, walked away from her, severing the sacred link they had shared their entire lives. Faced with uncertainty, Krista questions her role as a Guide while struggling with the ramifications of life without him. Her only desire now is to seek the truth behind Mark’s heartbreaking betrayal, no matter what the consequences. With the help of her friends, Krista risks everything, including her soul, to march into the den of the Dark Angel, Victor. Their only chance for survival is for Krista to find the courage to accept the new role fate has bestowed upon her, even if it means losing Mark, forever.

_________________________________________

This book concludes the awesome Saving Angels series by Tiffany King, and I must say I am absolutely impressed.  King is a fantastic writer, and this final novel is just as compelling and mind-blowing as the first two.  Whereas the first novel, Meant To Be, stole my heart, and the second novel, Forgotten Souls, broke it, this final novel has made amends and my heart is whole again.  I love this series, and I love this novel.  The ending really made me smile because I never saw it coming, especially as King sent me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as events unfolded, truths were realized, and Krista was forced to make impossible choices.  In all honesty, I’m extremely sad to see the series come to an end; King is a very gifted writer with a vivid imagination, and I have fallen in love with this series.  However, I am excitedly awaiting King’s reveal of her next writing endeavor, which I am certain will be just as amazing as her past three novels.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: As Potter leaves Kiera and his friends to go in search of Luke, he makes a lonely journey across the snow-capped mountains of Cumbria. Haunted by the death of Murphy, the capture of Luke and the love that he feels for Kiera, Potter reflects on his past life and the disturbing events that took place at the Wolf House.

He remembers his first encounter with the werewolves, how he had to save Murphy and Luke, and capture the serial killer who was murdering the children from the town of Little Hope.

__________________________________________________

Wolf House is an in-between novella that gives us a glimpse into Potter’s past while also connecting it to events within Vampire Breed.  Told from Potter’s point of view, readers are swept away into Potter’s mind as he broods over the past, giving us an in-depth look into his personality and how he came to be the way he is today.  This story was a real treat, and the many twists and turns within the novella kept me turning the pages from start to finish.  O’Rourke is a master storyteller, gripping the reader through his masterful prose and intense storyline.  I was highly impressed with the ending of this novella, and was reminded of O’Rourke’s psychological Black Hill Farm series.  O’Rourke certainly knows how to deliver twists that the reader never sees coming and that will leave him/her reeling for days on end.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Gemma thought she was trapped—that Stephan had finally won. But then time resets and she’s given another chance.

The clock is ticking as Gemma tries to figure out how to change the vision that ends the world in ice. If she can, then maybe she can save the world from Stephan and give her and Alex a chance at a real future. But changing visions can be dangerous, and sometimes one small mistake can lead to disastrous results.

_________________________________________

This is a great third installment in the Fallen Star series, and what makes it even better is that it’s not the last book!  I was under the impression that this series was a trilogy, but this novel ended up shocking me at the end as it left off on another cliffhanger.  Yes!  There is nothing more exciting than realizing that a series I love is going to be continuing, and I’m really excited that there will be at least another installment in this great series.

Sorensen is back with Gemma, Alex, and the rest of the characters that stole my heart as I began this epic journey into their world, and Sorensen’s novels just keep getting better and better, in my opinion, as this epic journey continues.  I was actually extremely happy to note that Gemma takes on some no-nonsense, kick-butt qualities in this novel, and she begins to act for herself, which has made my opinion of her skyrocket.  In the first novel, Fallen Star, she was a bit weak, quite literally, and while she became a bit stronger in terms of decisiveness and the like in the second novel, The Underworld, she still wasn’t where I wanted her to be.  However, Sorensen has really made Gemma a dynamic character as, looking back, I can see how she has morphed and changed into the strong willed young woman that every heroine should be.  I am very pleased with this development and can’t wait to see where it leads us in book four! 

So, the love triangle I was talking about in The Underworld?  Remnants of it are still there, but I’ve changed allegiances again, and now I’m on Alex’s side.  Although I still don’t think he makes the best decisions and is always nice to Gemma, I do see his softer-side emerging with each novel and I think he will make Gemma extremely happy… if they can survive the changing of the visions… four stars!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Identical twins can cause all kinds of difficulty when someone is attempting to decide who is who, not only when both are alive but also when one has died. Which one has died? How do you prove it? It gets even worse when somebody is charged with murdering the one who died. Did he kill the one that everyone thought he killed? What if he didn’t murder either one? Sometimes “is” just plain isn’t!

___________________________________________________

This is a very interesting novelette dwelling on a case of mistaken identity.  It takes place in a courtroom, opening right up into the action and pushing all background information aside, which the reader later gleans from the story as it unfolds.  It’s one of those stories where the reader can’t help but root for the defendant and feel triumphant as the defense lawyer wipes the floor with the prosecutor and, in this case, the sheriff as well.  It’s hard to pinpoint the time in which the story takes place, leaving it all up to the readers’ imagination.  For me, though, I’m thinking it’s the mid 1950s based on some of the evidence, but I could be wrong.  Read it and find out. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novelette from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: It’s been a busy month for Lucy Leary. The new year has barely begun, and she’s a) become a vampire, b) fought and defeated one of the most dangerous vamps on the planet, and c) been forced to leave the city she was born and raised in so her family and friends won’t find out what’s become of her.

But those might be the least of her worries.

It turns out her new friend Emma and her sire Wash neglected to tell her just how much danger they’re in for the crime of nearly revealing their existence to humans. Worse, Emma must repay a favor to an old friend that will put them into public eye, when they should be laying low.

__________________________________________

I think the hardest thing to do as an author is to write a sequel to a novel, especially if the first novel is exceptionally good.  But Patterson has taken on this challenge, creating a riveting sequel to his vampire novel, Blood Calling, as he continues the story of Lucy, Wash, and Emma.  Once again, Patterson introduces us to some interesting characters along the way, creating a roller coaster ride as the trio undertakes a mission to defeat an evil vampire intent on imprisoning and draining an innocent.

I really enjoyed this novel and the characterization that Patterson provides through the many different characters he employs.  The fact that he adds depth to all the characters, and there are multiple, makes it all the more engaging for the reader.  This is a completely unique sequel and I loved where Patterson chose to take it, providing the reader with a fantastic ride, but also leaving it open for more books in the series, which I am excited about. 

I especially enjoyed how Patterson smoothly aligns his story, explaining the background of each of the vampires, as well as connecting their story to his short prequel Baby Teeth which is actually the first portion of the Blood Calling series that Patterson ever wrote.  It takes a special author to be able to write a piece, months prior to the actual novel, and then intertwine them so seamlessly.  Hence, it’s easy to see why I have always been impressed with Patterson’s writing; he is exceptionally talented and the fact that he can publish one novel right after another is a feat within itself.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You can pick up all of Patterson’s awesome novels here:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobel

Smashwords

From Goodreads: Khantara is a Haanta conqueror, meant to wage war and rule over the enemy nation of Thellis, but after vanquishing Thellis and occupying a construction of a Haanta outpost, he meets Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people bearing a brand of servitude on her neck. Khantara contrives to save her from a cruel home and bring her to the refuge his people can provide, but how can he do so successfully when the eyes of Thellis are upon him. 

_______________________________________________

Ever wonder how the Den Asaan Rautu came to be who he is today?  Who his family was, where he originated from…? Khantara is another very well written novel by Michelle Franklin.  And again, she takes us deeper into the world of Frewyn, but this time the characters are different.  This time, we meet the Den Asaan’s parents before the Den Asaan was ever thought of, before even the slightest notion of him was even conceived. 

I really enjoyed getting to know more about the giants and their people, and I especially liked Khantara’s personality.  He is a much calmer version of The Den Asaan, yet still a leader of his people.  Khantara strives to bring peace to Thellis after stopping their advances and attempts to overtake Haanta; his anger does not overflow and he genuinely cares for others.  Attempting to understand the people of Thellis, Khantara takes to the streets to see his new town, and in the process, stumbles upon Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people, a notion Khantara cannot understand in the least.

I love the world that Franklin has created, whisking the reader away with extremely vivid characters and plot twists.  I also love stories in which the good triumph and the bad fall hard—this stand-alone novel is like its own little Cinderella story, but for adults, and with a wicked twist.  I highly recommend it. Four stars.

I receieved a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

_______________________________________________________

This is an amazing sequel to Unearthly and, although it’s over a year away, I am already dying to read the third book in the series.  In my opinion, 2013 can’t come fast enough, because I need to know what happens next, much like I needed to know what happened next the minute I completed Unearthly.  Hand is a fabulous writer, transporting the reader into her world of half-angels, Black Wings, and divine purposes, leaving the reader astounded upon the conclusion of each novel.

Of course, I am still a huge fan of Tucker.  He is a dreamy character; I want him to step out of the pages and join me in the real world.  Everything about him is amazing, and his persona continued to draw me in throughout this sequel, even though Christian was ever-present and vying for Clara’s attention.  I really enjoyed how Hand presented all of her characters throughout this novel, but especially these two male suitors.  Although my heart is steadfastly with Tucker, Christian is a very close second.  Yet, I think the main reason why Tucker wins over Christian is that, destiny or not, free will is a key concept for me, and Hand presents it beautifully in this fantastic sequel.

But, reader beware, Hallowed is sad as it deals with Clara’s knowledge that someone close to her will die.  I was highly surprised to find out exactly who that person was, and the events leading up to, and surrounding, the death were extremely difficult for me, especially as Hand has created such real characters; it’s impossible not to feel for each and every one of them.  Hand is a master storyteller, writing this portion of the story with much precision and detail, yet it will break the reader’s heart, much as it did mine.

Sadness aside, this novel gives the reader more answers concerning angels, the Dark Wings, and purposes, yet it creates even more questions as well.  Once again, the reader is left with some big questions that will leave him/her desperate for more.  Four stars.      

HarperCollins has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 17, 2012.

From Goodreads: In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

________________________________________________________

I put this book off for sometime because of the cover.  I know, I’m shallow.  I’d heard the novel was good, but it has sat on my shelf for the better part of a year, mainly because I have many books to review, but also because the cover didn’t call to me. But the writing?  The writing did.  This story is amazing, and though I feel like angels and fallen angels aren’t a unique topic anymore, this story is.  It’s riveting.  Beautiful… I LOVE IT! And I’m kicking myself in the butt for not reading it as soon as I bought it… But, on the plus side, the sequel comes out in just under a month, so I guess my timing is okay after all.

Hand blew me away from the very beginning of this novel.  I honestly don’t know what I was expecting, but Hand delivers a masterpiece of a story, full of mystery and intrigue.  I spent a majority of the novel trying to figure out Clara’s purpose.  I concocted all types of bizarre endings for the book, including making Christian out to be a murderer, based on the visions Clara has throughout the novel.  Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending; I never even came close to figuring out Clara’s purpose, and I think that’s half the fun of a great read like this: trying to figure out what’s going to happen based on past events and foreshadowing.  Hand proves that she is a master storyteller, keeping the reader guessing as the story unfolds, while enticing them on with the exceptional characterization that will capture the reader’s heart.    

Tucker is my favorite.  And this a different, because I’m almost always a “first” girl, meaning the first person the main character falls for is the person I’m automatically routing for.  However, Hand made me fall in love with Tucker and not Christian, though they both have charm and are well written characters.  But, there’s just something about Tucker, about the forbidden, and I fell hard for him.  Very hard.  Thus, I am dying to read the sequel because I must know what happens next for Clara and her suitors.  Five stars.