Review: "Haze" by Paula Weston

"But what if we can’t find Jude?" He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will." "How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember. "Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to." Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed. But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive. And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.

My thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This series is seriously so cool!  I thought I was kind of over the whole angel thing.  I loved the Mortal Instruments series when I first read it (hey, I'm not ashamed!) until the fourth book, where it got pretty old.  I read "Hush, Hush", and thought it bit, hard.  I read "Fallen" and thought it was boring and stupid.  So why do I love these "Rephaim" that Paula Weston has created?  I'm not sure exactly - it could be the Australian setting, or the characters (okay, Rafa is just, yum!  Love him!!!) or possibly the world building involved.  Maybe it's the writing!  I love how it's been a year or more since I read "Shadows", and Weston is able to keep me in the loop, fill me in and remind me of the history of these characters, and not make me feel like she's dumping a whole load of crap on my head.  I've read a couple of other sequels lately where I felt totally lost, and it made the reading experience confusing and much less enjoyable than it could have been, so I really appreciate Weston's ability to  segue from one book to the next with ease.  

I'm not sure I got to know Gaby any better in "Haze" than I did in "Shadows", and that is one area I felt was lacking.  Gaby still can't remember anything from before the accident, except the memories of her and Jude that were planted, which aren't even "real" memories.  Although we do see her progress a bit in her fighting and shifting abilities, I would have liked to see more growth overall, if that makes sense.  Like maybe if she remembered something about her former life.  I don't know.  I am, however, enjoying how her relationship with Rafa is progressing -  there's still quite the mystery between them, and Rafa is definitely NOT spilling the beans.  I want to know so badly how things end up between these two!  

I feel like this series is building steadily, and while it's true that not a ton happened here plot-wise, I don't feel like "Haze" suffered from that sophomore slump that many second books in a series are afflicted by.  There was still a lot of action, a bit more romance, and some intriguing character interactions and developments.  I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next!

My rating: 4 stars 

Review: "Sacrifice" by Brigid Kemmerer

Earth. Fire. Air. Water. One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time. Michael Merrick understands pressure. He's the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it in for his family, and he's all that stands in the way. His girlfriend, Hannah, understands pressure too. She's got a child of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could put her life in danger at any moment. But there are people who have had enough of Michael's defiance, his family's 'bad luck'. Before he knows it, Michael's enemies have turned into the Merricks' enemies, and they're armed for war. They're not interested in surrender. But Michael isn't the white flag type anyway. Everything is set for the final showdown. Four elements, one family. Will they hold together, or be torn apart?

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

I have really enjoyed reading all of the books in the Elemental series - it is probably my favourite YA paranormal series.  But having said that, "Sacrifice" is definitely not my favourite book of the five.  

In "Sacrifice", we finally get Michael's story.  I was really looking forward to Michael's point of view - being that he's in his twenties, I thought there would be some super steamy scenes between him and Hannah.  Alas, my dreams were not even close to realized in "Sacrifice".  Honestly, the two of them barely spoke - most of their communication was through texts, and very brief ones at that.  I was also hoping to see a lot more of Michael's brothers, Nick, Gabriel, and Chris, than what was delivered here, too.  I did get to see some more of Hunter, Adam, and Tyler, which was great, but as for the girls we got to meet in the first four books of the series?  They barely get a mention.  (I think Quinn's name was brought up once, and I was watching for more of her because despite all her flaws, I have a bit of a soft spot for her.)  This aspect of the book really disappointed me.  I really needed more from everyone, and I didn't get it, and that sucked!

Hannah and Michael themselves as characters are pretty great.  Kemmerer writes them in such a way that they seem real, like people you might know and hang out with in real life.  I enjoyed getting a view into their thoughts and feelings, but again, I wanted more.  I NEEDED more, from both of them and from their relationship.  I never felt all those gushy, angsty feelings I felt with the other books in the series.  Like, if Hannah had decided that, yeah, maybe she should just move on from Michael and date her coworker, Irish, I would not have been devastated with that decision.  And I should NOT feel that way, at all!

Which brings me to my lack of feelings when it came to the big EVENT.  You know, the climax of the book.  An event which should have had me in tears left me kind of confused.  Flummoxed.  It happened, and I thought it was a joke, but then the book ended.  Done.  Fini.  Huh?  That can't be it?  Sorry folks, that's all she wrote.  

So yeah, I was disappointed overall.  But, if you're a fan of this series, you definitely still need to read this book.  Even if you end up disappointed like I was, you still need to read it just so you know what happens to this amazing family of fictional boys.  I still love them, no matter what! P.S.- wouldn't this make a fabulous TV series?

My rating: 3 stars

Review: "Secret" by Brigid Kemmerer

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER. Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner. And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides. SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

This whole series is really fantastic!  Don't be fooled by the cover (sorry, but I really don't like it!) - this is the best paranormal YA series I've ever read.  I don't know if this was my favourite book of the bunch, I'd have to go back and read the others to compare, but it might be.  Nick's just such a great character, and I actually really enjoyed Quinn's side of things, too, (although I'm not sure if I like Quinn or not) - the development of Tyler's character was not something I expected.

This next bit could be considered spoiler-ish, so if you haven't read "Secret", you might want to scroll down.

A couple of things I thought could have been done better:

• the element of danger from the Guide was pretty much absent throughout the book.  There was still tension between Tyler and the Merricks to some degree, but it just wasn't quite enough, and wasn't to the same level as in the previous books.  
• to me, it seemed like Quinn was a bit quick to believe the whole elemental powers thing.  Then again, by the time Nick told her about it, she'd already had some first hand demonstrations of his power, so maybe it was realistic.  Possibly I just wanted Quinn to be more excited or blown away by the whole thing.  I know I would be!

Other than those two minor issues, everything else was great.  I had a really hard time putting this book aside once I'd started it, and I devoured it in about two days!

My rating: 

Review: Carved in Stone by Kate Douglas

Archeologist and folklore expert Nate Murdock has discovered ancient stone carvings that will either revolutionize thinking in his field or get him laughed out of it entirely, and he’s hired world-renowned photographer Alex Martin to document his find and bolster his claim. When the alluring Alexandra Martin, not Alex, shows up for the job, Nate’s not sure whether to send her packing or take her into his arms. Alexandra Martin, the daughter of the famed photographer and just as talented with a camera, is a dark-haired and dark-eyed beauty. Years ago her father built his reputation on photographs he’d stolen from her, and she’s out to prove once and for all that she’s the real deal. When the opportunity to work with the celebrated and ruggedly handsome Nate Murdock falls into her lap, she jumps at the chance—whether he likes it or not. As tempers flare and accusations fly, the two dig in for a battle of wills and an uneasy truce at their remote mountainside camp. But when drug smugglers trap them in a cave and leave them to die, Nate and Alexandra realize they must trust each other—and the fiery passion growing between them—and surrender to a mysterious force as it guides them through a perilous escape and the acceptance of a powerful love as primal and compelling as the mountain itself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

What drew me to request this book initially was the cover.  I know, I know, how shallow am I, but the book itself turned out much better than I expected!  There is some real action that I wasn't expecting, and the paranormal aspect of the story was just enough for me to enjoy it (I don't always like the paranormal genre!)  The circumstances of Nate and Alex's romance were also unique - I don't want to give anything away - but when things get back to normal, Alex's questions were justified and added some realistic complications to their relationship.

In short, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced paranormal romance.

My rating: