Fallen in Love, by Lauren Kate

Series: Fallen, #3.5
Publisher: Delecorte Press
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Hardcover: 201 pages
Genre: YA - Paranormal Romance
Read it in: 7 days
Source: Library
Challenges: None
Rating: ★★★

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.
And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.
Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.
True love never says goodbye. . .

If you're a fan of the Fallen series, I recommend reading this. While it wasn't AS addicting as the first three books, it was enjoyable. It's four short stories compiled into one book. Each short story is with a different point of view, but they all happen on the same day; Valentines Day.

The first story, in my opinion, was the cutest. It was Shelby's point-of-view and it was about Shelby and Miles. It was my favorite story of all four of them. It was the start of something and I can't wait to read Rapture to see if it continues! I was hoping Shelby and Miles would get together!

The second was Roland's point-of-view. It was weird reading through Roland's eyes, but also a great opportunity to learn more about him. This one completely broke my heart. I've always seen Roland as this strong, cool, mysterious sort of character. He's hilarious sometimes, really. But seeing him completely tormented by a choice he had to make for him and the woman he loved, just tore me apart. I feel for Roland so much. I think this one was the saddest one.

The third was of Arianne. I've always loved Arriane and to see this side of her made me understand why she tries to help Daniel and Luce so much. She had a forbidden love too, and it ended badly. You also get to see how she got her scars, and I'm glad we get to find that out because I've been curious about that since the first book.

The final story is, of course, Luce and Daniel. You can't have a Fallen novel, even if Novella, without Luce and Daniel. While their story wasn't very long, you do get to read about the only Valentines Day they've ever been together for. It's always fun to read about Luce and Daniel, but I really hope they get a break in Rapture. They've been through SO much and it just isn't fair!

Overall, this was an enjoyable extra to the series. It's quick paced and I could of read it pretty fast, but I've been in a bit of a rut so it took me a week. Can you believe that? Ha! If you're a fan, definitely read it. It's not the BEST, but it IS a compilation of short stories. Not an actual novel. Read it! :)
                                                                                                                                       
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository 
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari

The final book in this series is Rapture. It was released on June 12, 2012. 

Read my other reviews for this series: 

• Fallen
• Torment
• Passion 

Passion, by Lauren Kate

Series: Fallen, #3
Publisher: Delecorte Press
Release Date: June 24, 2011
Hardcover: 420 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal Romance
Read it in: 6 days
Source: Own
Challenge: None
Rating: ★★★★★

Luce would die for Daniel.
And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way....
Luce is certain that something - or someone - in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of thislifetime...going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel...and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames...forever.
Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

Okay, I know a lot of people have had issues with this book. But I didn't. I loved it. I know that it's basically just Luce stepping in and out of Announcers in different times and places, but I loved seeing her past lives with Daniel.  I loved seeing them fall in love so deeply each time, it was so romantic. As you should already know if you've read the first two books (Which you better have if you're reading this review!!!), Daniel has had to watch Luce die over, and over, and over again with each reincarnation. He falls in love with her as a different person, with the same soul, each time and she falls in love with him and just as they start to proclaim that love, poof. She dies. It's so tragic, but such a romantic tragic love story.

Also, in this third installment, you get to read Daniel's point-of-view. Every other chapter is Daniel's. I really loved seeing through his eyes and getting an insight on his feelings and the way he thinks. It also adds a lot to the history of him and Luce, and the fallen angels.

The only thing that I can remember really bugging me was the fact that it seemed like Luce STILL needed to know about her love with Daniel after so many past lives. She knew after so many of them that their love was true, and she kept whining about missing him. I know, though, that this book was about learning about the past with them. But I hated how she basically whined through the whole thing.

And ugh, Bill. I knew something was up with him as soon as Luce met him. I was always suspicious of him, even when I kind of liked how he helped Luce. But the whole time I was waiting for him to do something. Not going to go into too much detail about him, ha. Or I'll give away everything with him and rant on and on and on about how...nevermind!

Overall, I loved this installment. I'm dying to read Rapture, but I want to save some time and read Fallen in Love. I'm really sad that Rapture is the last book. These books make me cry so hard. They make my heart hurt. The writing flows well and you fly through SO many pages so fast, even though the chapters are super long. Which I don't mind in these books. If you haven't tried this series yet, please do! I know a lot of people stay away from them because they are the type that is either a love, or a hate relationship. Can't be so-so about it, or at least I haven't seen anybody with a "Ooh, yeah I liked it. It was okay." feeling about it.
                                                                                                                                
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari

There is a novella called Fallen in Love that was released after Passion, it was released on January 24, 2012. The fourth book is called Rapture, it was released on June 12, 2012. 

Read my other reviews for this series: 

• Fallen
• Torment

Past, Present, & Future, #31

Past, Present & Future Reading Pile is a feature I do on my blog every Sunday to keep track of the books I read the week before, the book I'm currently reading, and the books I'm hoping to read in the upcoming week. 
                                                                                                                                        

My Soul to Take, by Rachel Vincent
(Soul Screamers, #3)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 1, 2010

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.Until something does.Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that reallycan kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.And so is someone else…

I love this series and I love Rachel Vincent's books. It took me a bit to get into this book, but after a while I was sucked in and couldn't stop!
You can find my review here.   

                                             Total: 1

                                                                                                                                

Passion, by Lauren Kate

(Fallen, #3)

Publisher: Delecorte Press

Release Date: June 14, 2011

Luce would die for Daniel.
And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way....
Luce is certain that something - or someone - in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of thislifetime...going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel...and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames...forever.
Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

I only have about 100 pages of this left, so I'll probably finish it tonight or tomorrow morning. It's really good! I love this series. My review should be up tomorrow sometime, so watch out for that! =)
                                                                                                                                  

Pretty Crooked, by Elisa Ludwig
(Pretty Crooked, #1)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Release Date: March 23, 2012

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.
Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.
The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.
But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

After I finish Passion, I'm going to be starting on this one. I'm really excited because it sounds really good.

Fever, by Lauren DeStefano
(The Chemical Garden, #2)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: February 21, 2012

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.
In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

I started this a couple of weeks ago, but got into a rut and didn't want to read anything. So now I want to start it again because I know it'll be amazing.
                                                                                                                     
What did you read this week? Was it great? What are you currently reading? What's up next on your reading list? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments so I can add more books to my TBR list. =)

Starters, by Lissa Price

Starters, by Lissa Price
(Starters, #1)
Publisher: Delecorte Press
Release Date: March 13, 2012
ARC: 368 pages
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Random Buzzers
Challenge: Debut Author, Dystopian
Rating:
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER 
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

I have to admit, this was one of those books that I saw and thought sounded pretty interesting, but I wasn't going all crazy wanting it. I told myself I could wait and if I saw it in the library someday, I'd read it. Then it came in the mail as my book for the Ambuzzador program for Random Buzzers. When I opened it and saw it, I was a little disappointed.

I tried to get really excited about it, but I couldn't. Until I started reading it! It sucked me in and I couldn't stop. If I would of had more reading time, I probably would of finished it in a day, two tops. I wanted to keep reading it and reading it.

Every time a chapter ended and I had to put it down to go to bed or do something else other than reading, I kept wondering what was going to happen to Callie next. What would Helena do next? At first, I was wondering what kind of crazy Helena was on, but then as Callie--and I--got to know her, I really started to like her.

The characters in this book were so interesting, even the other "renters" that you would meet for a little bit along the way. I really liked Callie, she did what she had to in order to protect her little brother Tyler. She made a grown up decision and sucked in her pride and went in to Prime Destinations to be RENTED out to the Ender's who were over a hundred years old and wanted to use her body so they could feel young again and do things they couldn't do as an ender.

The world Price created was very intriguing and very scary. I love Dystopian novels, but so many are coming out nowadays that I'm getting worried that the genre is going to become too overdone and each new dystopian novel you pick up is going to have something in it that has already been used. And that scares me. But I can definitely say that this was not the case with Starters.

I mean, can you just imagine it? A world where everyone from 20 to 60 is just gone. POOF! Ceases to exist? And all that's left is the Starters, who are ages 19 and below, and then the Enders who are 60 to, like, 200! I really like the way that got this idea started in her head as well, all over the flu shot crisis a couple of years back.

Overall, this was a great dystopian. A great debut, and kept me completely intrigued until the last age. And you know, it doesn't even stop there, I'm intrigued on what is going to happen in the sequel. I really wish that it came out, like, right now. If you love Dystopian, I definitely recommend it. Heck, even if you don't like Dystopian at least give it a try. It could surprise you!

The second book in the series is called  Enders. It is expected to be published on December 12, 2012. 

Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris

Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris
(Kate Grable, #1)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Hardcover: 201 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 1 day
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 

To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Someone's been a very bad zombie.Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. It's one of those books that has supernatural beings in it, but it's not meant to be taken serious. It was funny and really sets the pace to be intriguing, yet not something that will make your heart race.

The characters were pretty funny. I hope they develop a lot better in the sequel. Kate was a pretty strong, smart character. She definitely seems to work well under stress and does what it takes to save the day. She bugged me a little bit at times, but overall she was a pretty cool character. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the sequel! All the other characters felt a teensy bit flat to me, but were pretty funny at times. I like Jonah and Aaron.

A lot of times it seemed a bit unbelievable, but that was in the way I said before on it not something you would take seriously.

Overall, it was a fun read and I'll definitely be reading the sequel. I may even go back later this year or next year and re-read it. Give me something light and non-serious to read. If you like zombies and want something short and fun to read, I would recommend it.

The second book in the series is called Bad Hair Day. It will be released on Novemeber 13, 2012. 

Oh, and by the way, keep a lookout for Shanyn from ChickLovesLit & Tirzah from The Compulsive Read. They may make an appearance in the trailer. =P

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Timeless by Alexandra Monir
(Timeless, #1)
Publisher: Delecorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Hardcover: 304 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon  
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author, A to Z, Support Your Local Library
Overall:   

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

Wow. I finished this book about a month ago now and I'm still thinking about it. When I look at this book I can't help but smile. It is so romantic and heart-wrenching. I knew from the moment I heard about this book that I wanted to read it, and I knew I would love it. It's just one of those books you know the moment you hear about it that you are going to like it. It definitely did NOT disappoint me!

I've had time to think over what I was going to say about this book in my review, but I am still in shock over it all. I'm still wondering "What the hell just happened here?" but in a completely good way. It's just one of those books that is overly amazing and you are wondering minutes, hours, days, months what the heck just happened. Until you finally get the next installment and dive in and get that "Ahhhhh" =) feeling. You know what I mean?

Not only is this book AMAZING, but it's utterly beautiful. The writing is gorgeous! And the descriptions. Arg! Makes it even more amazing. I love the lyrics added in, they are beautiful. Monir put juuust the right amount into it to where it wasn't major overload.

The plot is unique and just very romantic. This book made me hurt so badly for Michele. Everything she had to endure with her mom and then with Philip.

Oh, and you can definitely NOT forget about the awesome history that is in this book and how well crafted and genius Monir put this book together! You won't really understand until you read this book and that's all I'm going to say.

Overall, I can't really say much about this book until after you read it. Whenever you do, please send me an email and strike up a conversation about this book so I can overload you on how awesome I think this book is and we can discuss the awesome-ness of it. Please?? I'm DYING for the sequel. Seriously.

Also, the cover is GORGEOUS! It's so, so, so beautiful! Possibly one of my top five favorite covers of the year.

The second book in this new series is called The Time Keeper. It is expected to be out in 2012.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Series: --
Next book in series: --
Publisher: Delecorte Press for Young Readers
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 224 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Source: BookDivas
Challenge: none
Overall: 3/5
Summary                                        
Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?
First Paragraph                                                                                   

Griffin Colburn knew something was wrong the moment he slid into the driver’s seat. 

My Review                                                                                         

When I received Sleepless in the mail for review from BookDivas, I was happy because I have wanted to read one of Balog’s books for a while.  I’m not really sure what I expected out of this book, I was kind of so-so with wanting to read Sleepless.

When I first started reading, it didn’t really catch a hold of me. I told myself I would give it 50 pages, it started to intrigue me a little bit after a while so I continued reading it. It’s not one of my favorites, but Sleepless was an okay book.  I would like to read another one of Balog’s books, but I really don’t know what to say about this one.

The writing was good, and the plot was unique, but it just didn’t do much for me.  I liked Eron and Julie, but Griffin, wow. I can’t really understand why Julie was with him. I mean, sure, he seems nice enough, but like one of those guys that has a REALLY mean side underneath.

Overall, it’s a very short read, and I guess I would recommend it to someone who wants something short and unique read.  I wish I could of gotten to know more about the sandmen and their history. It was a really cool aspect of this story.

Cover Love                                                                                     

It's pretty. But not one of my favorites.