Book Review: Interrupted

Interrupted by Rachel Coker

Format: e-arc
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1st March 2012
Pages: 256
Main Characters: Allie, Sam
Date Started: 14th March 2012
Date Finished: 15th March 2012
Rating Given: *****

Netgalley:
Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.

I thought this cover was sweet and that the book sounded interesting and different to what I normally read so I thought I would give this book a try so I was very pleased when I was accepted.

When I first started reading it and the girl was 13 years old I wasn't sure that it would be a book I liked as I knew it was romance and I just wouldn't have believed the romance at that age. I did however find that she was growing up within the book so as some of the chapters went on she got older.

I had stopped reading a book the other week because I found it a bit too sad and very close to home yet this one in the sadness department was worse and I was crying loads and even throughout the book yet I actually loved it and I think that was down to the beautiful style of writing by Coker.

Allie's character had a lot to go through in her younger life which made her build walls around her so that she didn't hurt that way again so I did understand when she was being mean to some of the other character's whereas usually I wouldn't like these types of characters but I found her likable enough to forgive her. Even though it's not a really long book or even a series I was still able to believe the way she was able to grow up which was nice to see.

I loved Sam's character especially when he was older as he had a great sense of humour and he was also really sweet to Allie even when she didn't earn it. I just wish he was in it more.

I got so attached to all the characters so that when they was sad and crying so was I and when they was laughing so was I. I love to be this involved in a story as it shows just how great it was written.

The time period was around the Second World War and usually you find out about how the guy that has gone to war is going through but with this book we got to see the girls and how each cope in different ways. It wasn't a huge vocal point of the story but it was a great addition t the story.

This book also revolves around faith and loss of faith which isn't something I really like to read about as I'm not sure what I think of that subject matter but it was written in a manner that I never felt like I was being told to believe in a certain way yet it also made me think about what it means to me. Also adoption and death was touched upon in a very delicate way which is needed for all these delicate subject matters.

Overall a truly remarkable debut from Rachel Coker I can't wait to read more books by her. I read this from netgalley so I haven't actually got a hard copy of this book but because I loved it so much I know I will have to rectify that as it was just brilliant!

Book Review: Halflings (Halflings #1)

Halflings (Halflings #1) by Heather Burch

Format: e-arc
Publisher: Zonderan
Publishes: 1st February 2012
Pages: 288
Main Characters: Nikki, Mace, Raven, Vine
Date Started: 18th January 2012
Date Finished: 29th January 2012
Rating Given: ****

Netgalley:
For ages 15-18

Split.

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret-and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

I hadn't heard of this book until I had seen it on Netgalley and it sounded like my kind of book so I though I would try it.

This is like a new concept on Angels/Fallen Angels. With this one the boys are part human part fallen angel who are not allowed to go up to Heaven and they have to go on journey's to protect certain humans.

I really enjoyed this book as there was always something going on even right from the beginning which always kept you on the edges of your seat as you just didn't know what was going to happen next. Which I love not knowing before it happens as it's more intriguing and less predictable.

It was such a heartbreaking read as a lot of things that happened to Nikki was terrible and actually made me cry it was like I felt heartbroken too. There is not many books that can make me actually cry I have gotten upset at quite a few but not many actually crying. The last one that made me cry like this was The Hunger Games! The part that I am thinking of is when the dog dies but as a hero(highlight for the spoiler) it was so beautifully written it was so moving it really did break my heart.

I liked Nikki's character she s such a fighter and with everything thrown at her to actually continue to fight is a strong character which we don't get much of in the female characters they usually wait to be rescued at least Nikki tries to fight first.

I love Mace he is so sweet and seems to have white knight syndrome. I feel so sorry for him as he is trying to fight his feelings for the greater good.

Raven am not sure about as when he is with Nikki he seems alright but when he is not with her there's something evil about him so in the coming books it will be intriguing to see which side he falls on.

I am not sure what I think about with the love triangle between Mace-Nikki-Raven as one minute you think she loves one and then the next minute she loves the other but I know which team I'm on and that's team Mace as I feel like he does actually love her.

I love the beginning of each chapters as there is an image in the background which looks stunning and I hope it's on the final copy.

There was parts of this book where it felt like there was a part of the story was missing as it got a little confusing as it felt like it jumped in time but missed out a huge chunk of the story.

Overall a thrilling and beautiful if not heartbreaking start to what I hope is going to be a brilliant series.

Book Review: The Merchant's Daughter

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Format: E-ARC
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1st December 2011
Pages: 288
Main Characters: Annabebel and  Lord Ranulf
Date Started: 8th December 2011
Date Finished: 15th December 2011
Rating Given: *****

Netgalley:
An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Here we have another retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I have only read Beastly by Alex Flinn (which I loved) and also one of my all time favourite film the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.

With The Merchant's Daughter I found myself comparing it to the Disney version and think about the way Melanie Dickerson changed it to become a less paranormal feel to it. I think that this version is just as good as the Disney version which is saying something coming from me!

This version is by far better than Beastly and will probably have to knock a star off of that version as this one outshines it by a mile!

This version is more of a Historical Romance which was set in the 14th Century. I was instantly drawn into this time and place and I just wouldn't imagine Beauty and the Beast set in any other time or place.

We got to see both point of views of both the characters which I loved as it made me love both the characters. I did want to bang their heads together at times especially when you knew how they was both feeling but they didn't believe that that person could love them and vice-versa.

This is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson and after reading it I looked to see if she had any other books to offer and I was glad to see she had also done another re-telling so I will have to try and get my hands on it.

It may not be as magical as most of the retellings but this book was still just as enchanting!