The Collector Review and Giveaway

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
★★★★★
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Age: Mature YA
Genre: Paranormal, Demons, Hell, Soul, Death, Supernatural, Angels, Heaven, Bad Boy
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher for review
Buy it: Amazon US | B&N | Amazon UK

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

This book is brilliantly cocky. Even from the synopsis we know we're in store for some impressive moves, but Victoria Scott takes bad boy to a whole new level. I wasn't sure that I could handle Dante, but I found myself completely impressed. His attitude did annoy me at first, but eventually we break down his shell and see the real man behind the mask. Dante's ego is massive and it adds this sarcastic and witty feel to the story Victoria's overall tone and voice of the book was set perfectly. When Charlie enters the mix we see the dynamic of good versus evil in a whole new way. For paranormal fans especially those who loved Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick this book is a must read!

This story is about Dante and his swagger. No lie. Dante is hot stuff and he is the ultimate bad boy sealing souls for hell; but he meets his match in little plain and ordinary Charlie. And, this my good people is how you make a good story great. Victoria Scott introduces Charlie and Dante is all, oh pulease I'll have this soul in minutes. But oh no, there's more to Charlie than he first sees. She is this great person and her charm and love begins to rub off on our bad boy Dante. And boom. I was HOOKED. I read every single word until the very end, start to finish (no small feat) but I couldn't stop. I love this bad boy and his struggles at becoming something more. I also loved the shape the story took as their relationship grew.

My favorite part of the book is Dante and his problem with labeling things as he sees them. From the beginning he thinks nothing but mean things about those around him, even Charlie. He looks down on himself as well and while I think he wants to be better, he sees his fate as sealed as well. But, he changes a lot throughout the story. He finds it in himself to become a better person with redeeming qualities and he stops at nothing to protect those he loves. His world is flipped upside down and he sacrifices everything for something greater.

I'm a huge paranormal romance fan and Victoria Scott has created one of the best books I've ever read, over any genre actually. It really is an epic journey that I will definitely be following throughout the series. The overall story is just awesome. I honestly have no other words, nothing I say will do it justice. It's a story everyone must experience for themselves.

I've read some great books this year so far, but THE COLLECTOR took me away and I have yet to land on my feet. It is currently number 1 of 2013! It really stuck with me and shocked me with its heart warming tale of love and sacrifice, I never saw the story turning into such an emotional ride, I was surprised and elated with the turnout. Victoria's writing is excellent and this book is a new take on the afterlife, a very creative story through the end. It's emotional and fast paced, it's constantly moving and changing and evolving. I loved it. Loved it. and I love it. Check this book out and also don't miss the sequel THE LIBERATOR out in September!

GIVEAWAY

I want to pass this book onto a new reader, it is sure to be a favorite for many!
I am giving away 1 ebook copy of The Collector by Victoria Scott gifted from Amazon or BN.

Open Internationally. Must be 13 or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Beloved Purgatory by Katherine Pine Review & Freebie

Beloved Purgatory (Fallen Angels #2) by Katherine Pine
★★★★☆
Release Date: December 25, 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Angels, Demons, Devils, Paranormal Romance, Purgatory, Heaven
Format: e-book
Source: Author
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

Sometimes God has a good reason for breaking your heart.

Devi always feared God took her brother because there was something horrible about her. She’s about to find out she was right.

Since Beloved Purgatory is a sequel to After Eden, the first book in the Fallen Angels Series, I recommend reading After Eden before this review as it may have spoilers. I try not to spoil anything, but with sequels that can be hard.

Beloved Purgatory was a wonderful continuation of the unearthly drama featured in After Eden. I am absolutely in love with this series and the characters, especially Oz, that Katherine has created. As this story progresses so does the drama and disaster. I feel like Devi is venturing deeper into darkness for the ones she loves.

In Beloved Purgatory Devi discovers a lot of truths about herself and her purpose. She also meets some new and interesting characters, but those characters from book 1 join in on the fun as well. The relationship between Devi and Camael, her guardian angel, while still a bit tense at times grows a lot in this book and I just know he's not as emotionless and void as Devi thinks he is. He has some surprises up his sleeve I'm sure. Oz is still cat loving Oz and his love for Devi, no matter what she's capable of, is beautiful.

I do find some of the scenes between Jasmine and Devi kind of awkward. You'd have to read the book to understand. It's not enough to make me crazy, but just enough to make me think of it when expressing my thoughts on the story. Overall it's no biggie, but when reading it I could see others agreeing.

One of the many things I love about Katherine's story is while it's a book about God and Angels, and how Devi fits in. I never feel like I'm being swayed into believing anything. It's a story, an amazing story, and I said the same thing about After Eden it's not a preachy book.

This author is great at pacing her books, the story starts off at full speed, slows for a little, then picks right back up. Katherine successfully traps the readers into the story and keeps them involved and interested. Never a dull moment for Devi.

I love this book, I love this series and was so excited when Katherine asked me to review this book! If you have read this one and the previous book check out Katherine's blog post about book 3, I can't wait! If you enjoy paranormal romance, especially angel books, this series is definitely for you! Thank you to the awesome author for the chance to read and review Beloved Purgatory!

__________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Katherine I have 2 e-book gifts for everyone!

The first is a coupon for After Eden by Katherine Pine FREE on Smashwords!
Coupon: MZ43H

The second is a coupon for 50% off Beloved Purgatory by Katherine Pine on Smashwords making it only $1.50!

Coupon: XU95R

Both expire March 17, 2012 so get a move on it! 
Now there's no excuse for not checking out this great series! Enjoy! 

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Dark Seeker Review

Dark Seeker (Seeker, #1) by Taryn Browning
★★★★★
Release Date: 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Demons, Seekers, Action, Cherokee, Witches
Format Read: e-book
Source: Publisher
Buy it: Amazon| Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

Janie Grey kicks butt in Taryn Browning's fast paced paranormal romance about a girl who focuses all her energy and time on ridding the city of Vampires, until she meets Kai, a boy very different from herself but with the same goals in mind. When she begins looking at the world from more than one side she learns a lot about herself, her past, and those around her.

When Kai enters Janie's life she begins to question her teachings about the evil ways of Vampires and Demons, and she slowly begins to realize how prejudice her beliefs have been. Not everyone can fit the stereotype in her mind, and when Kai breaks the cookie cutter mold she wonders what else she's been wrong about all along. Their relationship simmers throughout and only heats up when it's ready, definitely not an insta-love story (hallelujah). More of an I hate you and should kill you story, should being the key word, but it becomes a friendship story that eventually evolves again.

Janie spends her nights as a huntress tracking down the undead and keeping the cities streets safe. But, during the day she is a high school student with two great friends. Her friends, Ava and Luke, made me smile. Their fun and easy conversations with Janie made her seem like such a normal girl but she is also one tough Seeker and fighter.

So, lets recap: hot guy, forbidden romance, plenty of action to go around, drama galore, witches (not the warty kind), cute boys, high school, and vampires. What's not to love? Taryn keeps the reader on their toes with her intense and energetic plot that is sure to corral a steady stream of followers for this remarkable series. Thank you to the incredible author for the chance to read and review this wonderful novel!

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Misfit

Misfit by Jon Skovron

★★★★★

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Publisher: Amulet Books, Imprint of Abrams

Age: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal, Demons, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Pre-order your copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help. But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much. Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

Misfit is an eclectic blend of past and present. The story, or rather stories, that take place in this amazing novel had me both grinning and frowning on a single page. The term half demon would usually brings about negative thoughts, but Misfit will change how you think. For me Misfit brought about diversity to an age old question, are all demons evil?

Throughout the novel the author, Jon Skovron, jumps between the past of two important characters: mortal Paul and demoness Astarte, and in the present we meet their daughter Jael, a half breed. Ultimately this is Jael's story, it is about finding herself and using events and sacrifices that happened in the past to strengthen and propel her into her uncertain future. I loved this style of writing, normally I don't enjoy when authors change narrators or point of views, but Jon Skovron pulled this storytelling off without a hitch. We learn alongside Jael the truths that for so long her dad kept from her through visions of the past.

Paul, Jael's father is a quiet man. He avoids answering every question Jael throws at him until he must face the fact that she is old enough to handle it. Jael is like any other teenage girl, but since she was a child she's known her mother was not human. Now at 16 she must face what she is and unleash what has been hidden for so long. With her newfound ability comes learning to use it. That's where her sweet natured Uncle Dagon comes into play. I loved his character. Jon Skovron could have taken the only other living relative of Jael's in any direction, and what he did was brilliant. Ah, I loved it!

In the story we also meet Jael's friends Britt and Rob. I can't say that I liked Britt, she was just annoying. I'll leave it at that. Rob on the other hand I am a fan of. He's a sweet and funny, nerdy, skateboarding heartthrob who definitely likes Jael, even if she can't really see that.

Misfit is a paranormal, fantasy filled, demon based young adult book. That said, it does deal with a lot of almost morbid situations. Brutal torture and cruelty are definitely found here, but it's a very necessary part of the story. A story that is about Demons. I would take nothing away from this fantastic read, all the elements made it the remarkable journey that it is. Hope lines every page, even the dark ones. I am definitely team half breed!

There's so much to love in this book. It's definitely worth a read, you won't be disappointed. 

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