Brad About Books: My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush by Laura Toffler-Corrie

Read on August 3, 2013

MY TOTALLY AWKWARD SUPERNATURAL CRUSH
Expected Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Roaring Brook (Macmillan)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 352 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

While coping with middle school drama and costuming a teen production of Fiddler on the Roof, fourteen-year-old Jenna falls for Luke, an angel, and joins him in battle against demonic foe Adam, who wants Jenna's ancient pendant.

My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is a light-hearted, fun paranormal read that is filled with beautiful love scenes - but with those love scenes comes, unfortunately, insta-love.

I was intrigued by this novel just from the premise - we have an angel and his evil foe, clashing together because of our main protagonist, Jenna. It just sounds really cool! But while it does sound cool, I had a few issues with this book. I couldn't tell if Jenna and Adam had anything going on, and I felt like Jenna flip-flopped with her feelings. Aside from all that, it's impossible to deny that My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is a fun read! Definitely impossible to put down, and I found myself sucked into the story very easily!

I feel like this book would be a great transition book from tween-readers to teen-readers. It definitely has the light-hearted and easy to read vibe, and it's incredibly easy to get invested into the story. Jenna was such a great protagonist. She was strong, loyal, and determined - everything that makes a great heroine. And honestly, I felt like she handled situations like a leader and very carefully. If you fall for an angel, you're not just going to rush into their world, no? Luckily, she didn't - she took a moment, paused, and asked herself if she really wanted to become apart of this. And I really appreciated that from Laura Toffler-Corrie!

The ending was my favorite part about My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush - talk about fast-paced! Action was flying off the page, and I couldn't get enough of this book. Plus, who can resist a nice paranormal read now and then? Such a great book!

Overall, My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is an energetic, stunning read that captivated me and never let me go! So good!

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies

Read on June 14, 2013

A FRACTURED LIGHT
Published: September 25, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 337 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: A Beautiful Dark, #2

This review is entirely spoiler free, even if you haven't read book one, A Beautiful Dark.

A Fractured Light is a marvelous and outstanding sequel that not only surpassed book one - it blew it out of the water. Easily one of my favorite sequels!

I really enjoyed book one, but I had no idea how powerful and epic A Fractured Light would be! Tons of action and fast-paced, tension-filled scenes can be found in this second book - it's absolutely impossible to put down. If I wasn't reading, A Fractured Light was the only thing on my mind; it was that addictive. I ate this second book up like it was nothing, and I fell in love even more with this world and these phenomenal characters! If you're a fan of anything paranormal, the Beautiful Dark trilogy is a must-read. Riveting!

After the tragic and fantastic cliffhanger that A Beautiful Dark leaves us with, I was very eager to jump back into this world. Our protagonist, Skye, is a changed person thanks to the ending of book one, and I appreciated how Jocelyn Davies developed Skye's character even further. And of course, we can't leave out Asher and Devin: these two brothers are a mess! I also love how Davies creates these brothers as light and dark. They are absolutely different, and we get to see different sides to both of them in A Fractured Light! I can't even express to how much I love these characters - and this series in general!

So. Much. Insanity! There is never a dull moment in A Fractured Light. If we're not on the battlefield with these characters, we're learning more about these paranormal creatures and Skye's history. The dreaded "Sequel Syndrome" passed right over A Fractured Light - I'm not even sure how Jocelyn Davies did it, but she created a sequel that captured me wholly and had me locked into this world long after I turned the final page. So fantastic and so amazing. Highly recommended!

Overall, A Fractured Light is marvelous gem that shouldn't be missed. Hauntingly beautiful and absolutely addicting, I couldn't get enough of this book! More, please!

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Brad About Books: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Read on May 18, 2013

A BEAUTIFUL DARK
Published: September 27, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 390 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Beautiful, #1

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.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

A Beautiful Dark is a haunting and dynamic read filled with love, suspense, and the perfect balance of action. A riveting debut!

First, I want to pinpoint what I believe is the best part about A Beautiful Dark - I absolutely adored the characters and the whole world of that Asher and Devin are apart of it! This is, honestly, one of the best paranormal books I've ever read (definitely one of the best angel books!). The world-building is just so original and captivating. It's nearly impossible - it was definitely impossible for me - to put this book down. It's so addictive! I wanted to explore this frighteningly dark and mysterious world that Davies masterfully wove together. Gorgeous!

Now, I did have a slight problem with A Beautiful Dark. I had actually tried to reading this book back in 2012, but I couldn't get into it due to the slow beginning - and I almost had that problem this time around. But luckily, I got through the slow (and a bit confusing) beginning - once you get past page 50, A Beautiful Dark takes off and soars like there's no tomorrow. If you're needing a paranormal romance read that will have you craving for more and have you on the edge of your seat, look no further, because A Beautiful Dark is the perfect choice!

That. Cliffhanger. Loads of cliffhangers are executed very well, with a shocking twist of events that makes your mouth fall open and having you turning pages, wondering if your copy is missing some pages (unfortunately, it rarely ever is). I can happily report that Davies does a fantastic job with this cliffhanger! It makes you want to read the second book, and you're in a state of shock for minutes! Love it! A Beautiful Dark radiates with its haunting beauty and stellar high notes. 

Overall, A Beautiful Dark is a standout debut that had me on the edge of my seat and dying to know what would happen next! A brilliant start to a promising trilogy!

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