Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles #4) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Redemption is the final installment in the Caster Chronicles. Ethan has paid the ultimate sacrifice, restoring the balance to the Order and saving the ones he loves. When he wakes in the Otherworld, all he can think about is Lena and those he left behind. He soon discovers that the destiny he believed was his was really the result of dark forces trying to upset the balance and bring an end to the Mortal race, and that there might be a way for him to reverse his fate and return home. Armed with a renewed hope, Ethan sets out on a journey to return home.

Meanwhile back in Gatlin, Lena refuses to give up on Ethan and is determined to believe that he is not gone and that he will find a way back to her. When she starts receiving messages through the local paper's crossword puzzles, Lena vows to do whatever is necessary, including making deals with old enemies, to bring Ethan home. Can they find their way back to each other even when they are worlds apart?

This is probably one of the most anti-climatic endings to a series that I have ever read. I wanted it to be amazing and had hope after reading the third book that maybe the story had really picked up some momentum...Nope! I felt like the story had tremendous potential and there was moment after moment when I saw a glimpse of greatness, only to have it snatched away. The story was almost lackadaisical, like it couldn't be bothered to tell the exciting version. There were no real surprises including the return of one character which I felt was completely unnecessary. Ethan's journey home seemed almost too easy and there seemed to be a general lack of angst and suspense. There didn't ever seem to be a question of whether or not Ethan would get home, but rather how long it would take. I was hoping for more of a struggle, more of an emotional journey wondering if he would really be able to reunite with Lena. The ending was somewhat disappointing and I wasn't left with heart-wrenching, sigh inducing, sense of fulfillment I have experienced with other series.

Overall, I did not love this series. I'm not sorry that I read it, and there were elements and characters that I really liked. I think the whole thing could have used a good edit and it will probably be a "one read" series for me. I was not left with the desire to return to the world of this series. It's more like a "been there, done that" for me. Reviews for this series are largely mixed and I think it is one of those series that you either love or you hate. I fall somewhere in the middle, but I am curious to see how this series will translate to the big screen. This may be a case where I like the movie better than the book...I guess I will have to wait and see until the movie hits theaters on February 14th. 

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Lena has claimed herself for both and Light and the Dark, and the consequences of her decision quickly become evident as Lena and Ethan return to Gatlin. Soon the town is plagued by a series of apocalyptic events - an oppressive heat wave, swarms of insects, and devastating storms. Even Lena and her supernatural family are effected, as their powers begin misfiring.

As Lena and Ethan begin searching for a way to restore the balance, Ethan finds himself being haunted in his dreams again. Even worse, he slowly begins to lose pieces of himself - chocolate milk no longer tastes the same, he can't remember phone numbers he has dialed a hundred times, and he can't recall memories of his own past. As the events in Gatlin continue to escalate, it becomes clear that the Old Order is broken and a sacrifice is needed to restore the balance. Now Ethan and those he loves will have to answer tough questions. What would you be willing to sacrifice to save the people you love most in the world? When the time came, would you be able to do what is necessary? Even if it meant that there would not be a happy ending?

Beautiful Chaos is by far my favorite book so far out of this series. Once again I found it to be fairly predictable, but I wasn't so annoyed by it this time. It could have used a good editing, as it once again seemed to drag or dwell too long on certain things. I have come to really like Ethan as a character and like how he has become much more central to the story over the course of the last two books. In many ways this was the typical 3rd book - love triangles (rectangles) were resolved, the non-supernatural embraces their destiny, and the story moves toward the final climax and hopefully (undoubtedly) the happy ending that we all want. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the final book - Beautiful Redemption.

Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2) & Dream Dark (Caster Chronicles #2.5) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Darkness is the continuing story of Ethan Wate, whose life was forever changed when Lena Duchannes, a caster, moved into his small southern town of Gatlin. Lena, suffering the loss of her uncle, is pulling away from Ethan and spending more and more time with Ridley and a strange newcomer named John Breed. Lena is keeping things from Ethan and acting more and more like a Dark caster. Meanwhile, Ethan is experiencing visions unlike anything he's had before - visions of the past that will further entangle his own history with the history the town. When Lena, desperate to escape a reality she cannot face and a fate she feels she cannot control, runs away with Ridley and John, Ethan sets out on a journey to find her and bring her back. A journey that will not only have far reaching effects on the people he cares about, but will also revel his own destiny and role he plays in the supernatural world of Gatlin.

Beautiful Darkness was highly predictable and cliche, almost to the point of ridiculousness. As with most paranormal series, book two often finds the lovers being pulled apart as the realities of their doomed relationship begin to sink in. Fans of these types of series know it's coming, and it is the author's challenge to execute this in a way that keeps readers interested. The inevitable love triangle is introduced and we learn that the mortal is not just your average mortal, that somehow they are different and therefore able to exist on the fringes of the supernatural world. Not so sure if I can say this was a successful execution. Lena really got on my nerves in this book and her emotionally riddled tantrum was almost too much to bare at times. It was clear from the beginning that she would end up deserting Ethan, believing that he was better off without her, and that Ethan, having the usually white knight syndrome, would charge after her. I've read this story a thousand times, but this time I had a hard time buying into the story emotionally.

**Some spoilers included, so read with caution**

Of course, book two also introduces the star crossed lovers to the third option, creating the inevitable love triangle, or in this case rectangle. Both Lena and Ethan find themselves presented with a possible alternative to each other, an easier choice to be made. Lena's option I get. John is a supernatural being who can understand Lena in a way that Ethan cannot. Ethan's was something else entirely. Liv (another L name), is a research assistant and Keeper-in-training from England. Ethan and Liv become friends as they both work at the library, and somewhere along the way they apparently fall of each other. I don't know if Ethan was just feeling rejected by Lena, or what, but this whole thing annoyed the crap out of me. Ethan was supposed to be the steadfast one, the one who doesn't give up, and I was annoyed that this story line was introduced at all. I think it was unnecessary and underdeveloped. It was clear that Ethan would never chose anyone else other than Lena and to suggest otherwise was stupid.

Finally, we also discover that Ethan is in fact not just your average mortal - shock and dismay!! He is in fact a Wayward, a mortal guide for the supernatural. His family's history is explored more and we find things out about his mother's past, which are of course ensnared in Lena's family history. Again, predictable. The only thing that saves this book is that it is action packed. Most of the story is about Ethan's journey to find and save Lena. It of course ends with another cliff hanger and no resolution.

Dream Dark is a short little novella which focuses on Link and his transformation after being bitten by John in the tunnels. I really like Link as a character and he is obviously the comic relief in this series. He's also an amazing loyal friend to Ethan, having his back when others would have walked away. I am hoping that this side story indicates that Link will play a larger role in the remainder of the series. His antics are endearing and he is one of the few characters that I don't find myself annoyed with on a regular basis. It remains to be seen how the journey Macon sends him on will effect the larger story or if it will even be eluded to in the third book. Nevertheless, as annoyed as I am with this series I can't help but finish it, even though I am pretty sure I know what is coming...

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate is counting down the days until he can escape the small town of Gatlin where he has lived all his life. Gatlin is a small southern town where nothing ever seems to happen, and where people love tradition and the status quo. For months Ethan has been dreaming of a girl he has never met and the connection he has with her is something he has never felt before.

Lena Duchannes is hiding a dark secret - she is a caster. When she moves to Gatlin to stay with her uncle, the town's recluse, she is desperate to hide her power and fit in. Ethan is drawn to Lena, and even though she tries to keep him at a distance, Lena cannot fight the connection between them. But Lena's family is cursed. On her sixteenth birthday, Lena's power will either be claimed for the Light or the Dark. When all fingers point to the Dark, Lena and Ethan desperately search for a way to stop fate and find a way to stay together.

I picked up Beautiful Creatures because the movie is coming out in February and the movie trailers looked good. Since I refuse to see a movie before reading the book, I decided to pick the series up. The reviews for this book are very mixed and I can see why. I did not love this series, but I didn't hate it either. There were things that I really liked about the book, but other things that I felt were superfluous and detracted from the story. I like that it was told from Ethan's point of view, which is something different from many of the other YA paranormal series I read. I'm usually dying to know what the male lead is thinking and for once I got to see the events from his point of view. Having said that...I didn't always feel like I was seeing things through the eyes of a guy. Let's face it, men and women think differently, and sometimes I didn't buy the fact that I was seeing things through Ethan's eyes. It felt like a female author trying to see things through the eyes of a male character - it's hard to explain, but it didn't always feel right.

Another thing I didn't like about the story was the rampant cliches of a small town southern town, complete with Confederate flags and Civil War reenactments. Although I know there are many southern towns who still fly Confederate flags and love reliving the Civil War, at times it just felt a little too exaggerated in the book. The story seemed to go on and on in some parts, and there were many things that I felt were unrelated to the central story and could have been cut. The book seemed to suffer from a lack of editing. Even though I didn't love it, I am intrigued enough to continue with the series, so it is on to book two - Beautiful Darkness.

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence #1) by Jessica Sorensen

"In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one."

Callie's world is shattered on the day of her twelfth birthday and she has spent the last 6 years trying to hold it together and become invisible. Kayden might appear to live the perfect life, but looks are deceiving and suffering in silence and shutting down are the only ways he knows how to survive.

Callie and Kayden have gone to school with each other for years, but Kayden never really paid attention to her. On the night of Kayden's graduation party, Callie happens to be in the right place at the right time and saves Kayden's life. She then disappears off to college, hoping for a new start, but Kayden cannot stop thinking about her. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he is determined to get to know the girl that saved his life. As Callie and Kayden get closer, they realize that they both are hiding dark secrets. The pull that Callie and Kayden feel for each other is undeniable and both must learn to trust and open up again if they are ever going to save each other.

I originally came across this book as a recommendation on Goodreads and after my good friend Erlynn over at Books Hug Back insisted that I read it without delay, I decided to pick it up. I loved it! Be prepared for some heavy subject matter if you pick it up. The characters are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff including rape and child abuse, but they are raw and real. I enjoyed the author's style and liked how the perspective of the story switched back and forth between Callie and Kayden.

Fair warning there is a fantastically tortuous cliff hanger that left me with my mouth hanging open, tightly gripping my iPad, and gasping with shock. There appear to be two more books planned for this series with unclear publication dates - sometime in 2013. It is going to be tortuous to wait for the next book as I really want to know what happens next, but such is the plight of a bookworm. If you don't handle cliff hangers well, you may want to wait until the whole series is out, but this is definitely one you do not want to miss. If the end result is anything other than Callie and Kayden riding off happily into the sunset however, I might find myself a disappointed (and angry) reader...just saying ;)

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Sargent has always been warned that she will cause her true love to die. Growing up in a family of clairvoyants, she has seen any number of strange things. Blue does not possess the power of sight, however. Instead her gift is to magnify the energy of those around her.

Every year on St. Mark's Eve, Blue sits beside her mother and records the names of the spirits of the soon-to-be-dead as they walk by. Blue has ever seen these spirits until this year. This year Blue encounters the spirit of a boy who speaks directly to her. According to her aunt, "there are only two reason a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve. Either you're his true love...or you killed him." The boy's name is Gansey and Blue soon discovers that he is a Raven Boy, meaning that he attends the well-to-do Aglionby private school. Raven Boys are notorious for trouble and Blue has long since had a policy of avoiding them.

However knowing that he is going to die and that she might have something to do with it, Blue can't seem to stay away from Gansey. Blue soon discovers that Gansey is more than he appears. He and his friends are on a quest to find a legendary king rumored to be hidden along a ley line. Blue finds herself caught up in the lives and quest of these Aglionby boys. As their lives converge, one thing becomes clearer and clearer - Everything has changed. Something big has begun.

This book was amazing! I was hooked from the very beginning and the momentum of the story continued to build and build. There was never a dull moment and Maggie Stiefvater weaved the stories of all the characters together beautifully. The story was exciting and mysterious, and the characters are complex and dynamic. I loved every minute of it! Unfortunately, we are left with so many more questions than answers (but in a good way...the way that makes you look forward to continuing the journey) and book two is not scheduled to be released until September, 2013. This story is clearly building towards an amazing climax and I can't wait for the next installment!

Falling in Love by Stephen Bradlee

Falling in Love is based on a true story. Sherry Johnson would appear to have everything going for her, except one thing - Sherry is addicted to sex. While physically surviving an abusive childhood involving abandonment, sexual abuse, and neglect, Sherry is left with emotional scars so deep that they causes her to "act out" and seek the love she never received from her family in the wrong places. Sherry's life has become one endless cycle of drunken nights and even hazier mornings when she wakes up in yet another stranger's bed.

Desperate for a change, Sherry flees her hometown only to meet Paul and fall head over heals in love with him. Sherry cannot escape her demons and when Paul finds out about her latest indiscretion Sherry flees again, this time to New York City. There she meets Elaine who introduces her to a 12-step program for sexual addiction. As Sherry struggles to face her demons and finally take back control of her life, she meets several women, and a few men, along the way who become the family she never had and support her on her way to sobriety.

I was given this book by the author for an honest review. I really liked this book and think that Sherry is an amazing and inspiring woman. I appreciated that the story was told from her point of view because it made taking this journey with her that much more profound. The story was well written and there were no salacious scenes, which one might expect from a book about sex addiction. Instead the book really focused on Sherry's journey and was handled with the utmost respect.

I was able to relate to Sherry in so many ways, having grown up with a parent who was an alcoholic and verbally and emotionally abusive. While I myself have never lived with an addiction, the scars of growing up with an addict are painfully similar. Sherry acted out, while I avoided anything that might lead me to turn out just like my father. I too know what it is like to feel powerless to control what is going on around you, to feel like you don't deserve the good things in life, and always waiting for the "other shoe to drop." Like Sherry, I strove to attain a level of perfection that was unattainable and hated myself for failing time and time again. It took me a long time to realize that I couldn't live my life for other people and that the only opinion that really matter was my own.

I think that is why Sherry's story is amazingly inspirational. She was able to build herself back up and take back control, despite mistakes and set backs along the way. That's what makes stories like Sherry's so powerful. It's the realization that you are human and that you are going to make mistakes, but that you keep getting back up and make the conscious decision to keep moving forward. Judging by the ending there will most likely be a sequel to this book, and I sincerely hope that there is. I look forward to reading about the next chapter in Sherry's journey.