Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Sometimes It Happens

by Lauren Barnholdt

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Simon Pulse 

Source: Galley Grab

 

 

Plot:

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.

The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

My Thoughts:

There's nothing like a good contemporary in the summer. They can totally lift your mood because they are fun and the plots aren't super complicated, kind of like a romantic comedy. Ms. Barnholdt wrote TWO WAY STREET, another contemp novel that I feel in love with, so I was excited to review this novel.

 

The main character (MC) of Sometimes It Happens had such a great voice, as well as all of the secondary characters. If you've read any of my reviews before, you know the voice of the novels make or break a book for me. In young adult fiction, the teen voice has to ring true. If the MC sounds like an experienced adult or uses phrases that no teen would say I totally get turned off. YA is all about making mistakes and learning from them while you are coming of age and the voice needs to represent that.

 

I'm glad to say Hannah, our MC, pulled me in immediately. I loved how the novel switched from present time to past (over the summer) so we could watch things unfold. I understood why she liked Noah by reading the past parts of the story and then understood how guilty she felt by reading the present part of the story.  

I would recommend this novel to any YA contemp fan. Readers who enjoyed novels like The Duff, Twenty Boy Summer, The Sky is Everywhere, Something Like Fate, Sarah Dessen novels, Anna and the French Kiss and Rachel Hawthorne novels will fall in love with this story.

 

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton -- Review

Title: Angelfire

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Hardcover, 464 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Series Angelfire #1

Characters: Nathaniel, Kate, Ivar, Lauren, Bastian, Will, Geir, Ragnuk, Cadan, Ellie Monroe

Setting: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Speical Note: ARC/Galley Review 

Plot:

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts:

OMG is Ellie a bad ass! She helps define strong female YA protagonist. I can't tell you how many books I've read lately with a supposedly "strong" female character. but she only turns out being snarky. Not the sword wielding, reaper slaying chick that Ellie is. She will decapitate a reaper in a minute, just saying. LOL

Now, let's talk about Will. *Sigh* He's awesome. Stoic. Strong. Most importantly HAWT. He comes on the scene like most of our typical YA fantasy/paranormal make love interests--all mysterious like, but there are a few things that distinguish him from the pack. Number one, like Rose and Demetri in Vampire Academy, Will is Ellie's trainer AND he's older, which adds a little forbidden tension in it's self. Two: he's tatted. The only YA guy I can think of off hand--that I love--is seth from the Wicked Lovely series. And he might have only been human, but he was a very swoon worthy one. Will is definitely a guy I want to read more about.

The relationship between Ellie and Will is intense. There where so many times I could just feel how much they wanted to kiss each other and didn't, which is a huge part of the reason I finished this one in two days. I wanted them to admit their feelings for each other. Also, I was hooked by the mystery of where they lovers in one of Ellie's past lives or maybe even all of them. I won't give away what happens there, because that might ruin for those of you that hate spoilers. LOL

The only issue I had with novel was Ellie went from normal teen girl, worrying about designer clothes and cars, to an angelfire sword swinging reaper death machine pretty quick. But I guess, in her defense, if I had reapers, which are basically demonic beasts, trying to kill me I'd let instinct take over, too. Her memory comes back in flashes, so there are a TON of flashbacks. Flashbacks help back up why is is suddenly able to remember her power--other than Will just touching her forehead and bringing a little back at a time--but there where so many. Sometimes they pulled me away from the current story. Seems like they may be important for upcoming novels though.

Over all I gave this one 5 stars on Goodreads. I just had too. Any book that makes me negate sleep earns that one. So read this one if you like older love interests, TONS of action, and a little forbidden romance!! I personally can't wait for book 2!! Kudos on an awesome book Courtney!!

Afterlife by Claudia Gray --Review

Title: Afterlife
Author: Claudia Gray
Hardcover, 368 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by HarperTeen (first published March 3rd 2011)
http://www.claudiagray.com/books.htm
Series: Evernight #4
Characters: Bianca Oliver, Lucas Ross, Bathazar

Synopsis:

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.




Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.



Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

My Thoughts:

Hmmm, where to begin. This book was a toughie for me because I have been a huge supporter of this series ever since I fell in love with EVERNIGHT. AFTERLIFE wasn't as exciting as the first three books, but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that Bianca had made her choice to be with Lucus forever. Also, the fact that she became a wraith and Lucus a vampire right at the end of the third book cut out a lot of excitement from the series plot line.

Balthazar is sitll in this book and Bianca is still likes having him around. He was my favorite character in the entire series and part of me wanted Bianca to be with Balthazar in the end, but Lucus was her "true love."

Mrs. Bethany is still an evil, bad ass in this book, but we finally get a glimpse into her background. Her death and transition into the vampire life was one of the most fascinating parts of the whole book. Her motives were finally revealed and it was an awesome plot twist.

So here's my thoughts, if you love the series, read it of course, but just don't expect it to be as amazing as the first three books.