A Beautiful Dark - Jocelyn Davies

Serie: A Beautiful Dark #1
Release date: 2011

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

I really enjoyed this book! The cover is stunning and I’m a huge sucker for books with the angel theme. And of course romance! This book is full of mysteries. The main character Skye is quite ordinary, nothing really special and the beginning of the book was kind of slow. But.. With the introduction of Asher and Devin the story took quite a turn, it became full of mysteries and tension. I really liked the two and they captured my interest. I found myself become overwhelmingly interested in their history. There was kind of a love triangle going on with Skye – Devin – Asher, but I really didn’t like that. Asher was kind of a stalker, especially when he admitted to watch Skye sleep. Creepy much!? Though, I have to admit, Asher made me laugh quite a bit. And the fact he's smoking hot is helping too. Devin is a whole other kind of character, shy, but so mysterious! I didn't really know what to think of him, a sweet and hot guy. Like he is the good one, boy oh boy was I wrong! The end of the book was kind of rushed, like a lot of information had to be put in as few pages as possible. The ending is a huge cliffhanger and makes me craving for more! Especially Devin turns out to be a huge surprise. The story itself is kind of predictable, but there were a few elements that made the book a good read.

Shadows - Jennifer Armentrout

Serie: Lux #0.5
Release date: 2012


The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable. 

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in.  

Captivated. Lured. Loved.   

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence...and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Gosh what a heart breaking story. I read Obsidian a while ago and really can’t wait for Onyx, so I decided to read Shadows. This book gave more understanding about Daemon’s attitude and actions toward Katy in Obsidian. I kind of have to laugh about some things Daemon said in Shadows and in Obsidian he basically is repeating his brother’s actions. I just want to read Obsidian again after reading Shadows. The story of Dawson and Bethany is a tragic love story. I really like Dawson and I found it sad that he wasn’t around in Obsidian. Though I get the feeling we haven’t seen the end of both Dawson and Bethany. I really enjoyed Shadows, the parts between the two love birds where so sweet and hot. I really hope they are still alive somewhere and they pop up somewhere. I’m so in love with the characters. I would really recommend to anyone to just read this story before you read Obsidian, though you can read it also afterwards. The only bad thing about the book is, it finished way too soon! Can’t get enough he he.Ohh and look at the cover, how hot can it be!!

Tempting the Best Man - J. Lynn

Serie: Gamble Brothers #1
Release date: 2012


Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

God this book kept me up last night! I loved it. Damm Jennifer Armentrout!!! I am in love with her Covenant and Lux series, and just figured out she writes under another name; J. Lynn. And did I love this book or what! How can I not love something of someone who makes aliens seem hot. This book has it all, love/drama/humor! This book should really turn into a movie; I can just picture the awkward scenes he he. I like that you get to read the store from Chase’s and Maddie’s point of view! I just loved the arguments between Chase and Maddie, it made me really laugh. I don’t know how Jennifer Armentrout does it, but the dialogues are just funny and witty. Really everyone should read this one! There is a lot of drama and it’s really great. The fights made the whole tension between the two just that much hotter! I liked that there was a childhood history in the book, it made the story that much better. And then the characters, seriously they are so good! Maddie is just a smart-ass, witty, hilarious and hopelessly in love with Chase. And Chase.. My God.. I love him. Not just because he’s hot, but his over-protectiveness of Maddie made me melt. Sometimes he was a jerk, but mostly just sweet. And then there are the steamy hot love scenes. They have it all, the chemistry; the tension; did I mention hot and steamy? Seriously, just read the book!

Carrier of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Serie: Carrier Trilogy #1
Release date: 2011 

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

I’m a huge sucker for romance, mostly of the paranormal genre. I really am in love with books with an Ireland setting and I like mystery. I love books with a great cover.. This book has it all... Still... I found the book okay, not loving it. I had the feeling I read it all before. Megan was an okay character, not really special. Adam is of course the hot mystery guy. I though it starts good, but… where’s the tension and where’s the getting to know each other? It’s an instant love/relationship thing, I don’t like that! Sure they are cute together and made me smile sometimes, but really!? Not realistic! And then there is the whole mark thing, still don’t know what the deal is with that. It was all kind of vague. All I know is that they are carriers of the mark and therefore they can control the elements. Adam and Megan can’t be with each other, so they have to find a solution. The whole history and the whole why and everything is lost on me. I like the writing style though. The story had so much potential, it’s a shame that it ended up the way it did. It was a quick read, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead

Serie: Bloodlines #2

Release date: 2012

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

God I don’t even know what to say about this second book in the Bloodlines series. After reading Bloodlines I read the Golden Lily immediately. And now that I have finished it, I want to read the third one so badly, but I have to wait till February 2013. Why??!! This book exceeded all my expectations and I just can’t get enough of it. In The Golden Lily we are getting to know Sydney more and her evolving relationships with the characters around her. We do learn a bit about the so called vampire hunters and Sydney’s magic. My two favorite characters are Sydney and Adrian, god I adore them so much. When they are together they bring the best in each other and they challenge each other. I just smile at their interactions, they are so great together and I really hope they will end up together. How can they not? The tension between the two is killing me and the end is just awful! It was just that good and now you’re hanging with anticipation for the next one. I love how Sydney grows in the series, while she hasn’t gotten over her Alchemists beliefs yet, she continues to make decisions based on what she believes is right. I like Adrian much more in this series than I did in Vampire Academy and I feel guilty that I didn’t really care about him then. With the amazing characters and the amazing story, the series Bloodlines is very good! 

Bloodlines - Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines #1

Release date: 2011
 

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood

So I know I’ve said that I would want to series of the Vampire Academy by Richelle mead to continue, but I would like it to continue with Rose and not another character. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about this one so I finally decided to read Bloodlines. I liked it! So Bloodlines follows the POV of Sydney Sage, the Alchemist of Vampire Academy. She is ordered to protect and hide Jill, the Princess. The group consists further of Eddie and Adrian, although Adrian doesn’t enroll in school. The beginning was kind of slow and I couldn’t make up my mind whether I would love this series or it was a waste of time. I really like Sydney, although I sometimes can’t relate to her at all. She’s easy going, hard on herself, but very likeable, not the kick-ass heroine you’re familiar with in Mead’s novels. What I really like in this book/series is that Adrian finally get some much deserved attention! Adrian is so... hmm... what can I say. You see him struggling with what happened between him and Rose in VA series. I’m curious to see what his role is going to be in this new series. There is so much potential! You can read this series on its own; you don’t have to read the Vampire academy series to understand this book. I would recommend it though, cause that one is also very good! I can’t wait for the next one, The Golden Lily.

Airel - Aaron Patterson & Chris White

Serie: The Airel Saga #1

Release date: 2011

 

All Airel ever wanted was to be normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like an incredible ability to heal. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything. Airel knew change would be an inevitable part of life. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?

Airel was amazing. The cover is so stunning! It was not an easy read and it took me days to finish it, not something I’m used to. It was an intriguing, beautiful written story, with a lot of mysteries! The book contains two stories, one in the present and another in a past. It kept me wondering how they finally would end up together, but it was played out nicely. It was a long book, divided in 4 parts; I found the last 2 parts the best. The beginning is kind of slow and I kept wondering where the stories where headed. The main character Airel (love the name!!) is just a regular girl, but she doesn’t think highly of herself. She’s a very likeable character; she’s real, down to earth and easy to connect with. She ends up meeting Michael and he’s all the mystery. I knew there was something about him, but really I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t figure out what happened with Airel either...  The other story contains a main character named Kreios, trough him you’ve come to know more about angels and Kreios’ history. This story line built the mystery up. I really like that you figure things out the same time Airel does, I hate it when something is just that predictable. I recommend this book deeply, it was a great read!