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 

Stefan's Diaries: Origins

Series: Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries, #1
Publisher: HarperTeen | Hodder's Children
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Paperback: 256 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal Romance
Read it in: 6 days
Source: Hodder's Children
Challenges: ABC Reading
Rating: ★★★

Set during the Civil War, against a backdrop of grand estates, unimaginable riches, and deadly secrets, three teenagers in Mystic Falls, Virginia enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity.
Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down. Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine's affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together-forever.
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan's Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine--and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

I don't really know what to say about this book or where to begin. I love the original Vampire Diaries series, and I love the show. But the books lately have just gotten...wow. I read the four original Vampire Diaries books and then got excited a couple of years later when a fifth was coming out. But then when it came out and I attempted to read it, I couldn't finish it! It was just really weird.

And now there's a ghostwriter involved and the newer books aren't even written by L.J. and it's sad and horrible. And then these books come out and they aren't involved with the original books. These are based off the SHOW. Which I was kind of curious about because I love the show and want to know more about Stefan and Damon.

Also, by the way, does anyone know who actually writes these books?! It just says based off the novels by L.J. Smith and off the show written by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. But who wrote THIS book??

Anyway, as much as I loved learning more about Stefan, Damon and Katherine and it was fun to read through Stefan's eyes, it wasn't great. I loved reading and being able to see some of the scenes because they were in the show, and knowing more about their history and what happened before they were turned, but something just wasn't right for me. It took me a lot longer than necessary to read this and I just wasn't in it a hundred percent.

Overall, it was enjoyable, but I could only read so much of it at one time. I had to keep putting it down. I love hearing more history than is seen in the show, but something just isn't right. Hard to explain. My husband says the next book is better, hopefully it will be. I'll read it soon, but I'm not absolutely DYING to read it.
                                                                                                                                        
Buy: Amazon| The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari

The second book in this series is called Bloodlust. It was released on January 4, 2011. 

Old Review: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Jekel Loves Hyde, by Beth Fantaskey
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: May 3, 2010
ARC: 282 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon
Source: Publisher
Challenge: none
Date Read: May 2010
Rating: 

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents rules; especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.
To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything, even Tristen's love just for the thrill of being . . . bad.

First off, I love Beth Fantaskey. I read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside and fell in love with her writing. I'm sorry to say this, but I couldn't get into this one all the way. I mean, it was good, but it wasn't one of those books that you don't want to put down. Which I was highly disappointed at because Beth Fantaskey is very talented.

And because of that adoration for her first book, I tried so hard to get so into this book that I didn't want to put it down, but I just couldn't. I finished it, and I think I finally got into it when I read the Epilogue. I really loved the ending of the book, but just couldn't get into it any other time.

I really thought I'd love this book. And the cover is gorgeous! But the plot itself wasn't that great for me.

The story is told in with two narrators, Jill and Tristen. Tristen was pretty interesting, but Jill was just really annoying. To the point where I really wish she was real so I could just smack her and ask her what the hell is wrong with her.

The writing itself was good, though. It was really detailed and I could picture everything. Which I do honestly love. She did a great job in creating Jekel loves Hyde based off the classic, and making it original. That really did intrigue me and the part where they were both ancestors of either Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

But I'm sad to say that I can't give this an A+. I feel bad for it, but I have to be honest. I'm really sorry I couldn't give this the best review. Hopefully anyone else who reads this will like it more than I did.




*Note: This is part of my 'Old Review' collection. Where I post reviews randomly that I wrote a while ago before starting this blog.