Title: A Beautiful Dark
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: September 27, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums. She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker.

Skye lives in a beautiful town under a gorgeous sky with her Aunt Jo. She's lived this way since her parents died when she was six, and she's never questioned a thing. It's life. There is loss and there is tragedy, but she overcame it. When two boys, Devin and Asher, show up in her sleepy town, mysteries begin to unfold. There's a darkness that follows one of the boys, but there's an aura of calm and peace with the other. Most of all though, she feels torn into two, and she's unsure why. The boys are a catalyst, and Skye will learn the secrets of her parents that she was never meant to know...and what they mean for her future.

Let me preface my review by saying that I've said it time and again - I hate love triangles. Good Lord. At least give me a square, or a love pentagon. Please. Rant over. A Beautiful Dark is the brainchild of debut author, Jocelyn Davies. Providing three dynamic and engaging characters, the novel thrusts the reader into a world where dark and light are as different as night and day, and the truth within oneself might be more powerful than one could ever know. Engrossing and entertaining, A Beautiful Dark takes angels and spins an entirely new story of good and evil and how the line can blur between the two.

There were elements about A Beautiful Dark that I just adored, and there were parts that left me craving for more, so bear with me while I explain. Skye, as a main character, was strong. She was well-developed and relatable. There was an energy about her that was a smidge reckless, but altogether fun and infectious, which made it an easy feat to access her motives. I will also admit that both Devin and Asher are pretty fleshed out, making them real and as clear as can be. Having a trio of completely dynamic characters is quite a feat, and the author navigated it with ease. Having said that, I also must admit that I felt the love element was a bit too forced on me. I knew going into A Beautiful Dark that there was a triangle, but I was a bit disappointed to see that it didn't break that common love triangle hook. I wanted to see a different sort of twist, and it just didn't happen. Now, that said, the idea behind good versus bad in this book was wholeheartedly refreshing. So, like I said, there was a fairly even balance, though a few of the weaknesses were a bit taxing. I must, however, make note of the awesomely brilliant ending. Seriously? A Beautiful Dark nailed that one. I was riveted and left begging for just one more page.

All in all, while I'm not entirely certain that A Beautiful Dark sets itself completely apart from the competition in the genre, it will definitely find a hearty following. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy YA, especially stories about angels and paranormal romance.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Twilight Times
Published: June 28, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 174
Source: Author

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up. Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen year old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terra Angeli.

But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the strength he needs to triumph?

Griffin is an angel in training, and he's on his way to great things. However, no matter how far he reaches or to what new heights he reaches, Griffin can't forget the torment of his first mentor, Nicopolis. Terra Angeli have the gift of free will, and Nicopolis used his to torment and tear Griffin down. His new mentor, Basil, however is a perfect complement to Griffin and the two are finally reaching their stride when a new family moves in across the street with a girl that catches Griffin's eye. Is angel training, a haunting past, a bright future and a potential love interest too much for one young angel to handle?

There is such a predominance of paranormal stories on the market today, that finding an original idea is an increasingly scarce thing to come by. Truly, the nature of the market is dominated by different realms of paranormal beings, so finding a story that can stand a part is great. Griffin Rising definitely sets itself apart with a unique, sweet and intriguing spin on angels among us. Author Darby Karchut has created a heartwarming novel about first loves, the truth and strength that lies within all of us and the ability to overcome adversity that just happens to involve a great and unique angel plotline. Griffin Rising is definitely a book that will delight all ages and keep readers entertained.

Griffin Rising, though a slim book, contained a perfectly executed plot with a well-developed cast of characters and story arc that kept me hooked. Griffin was a lovable character with a bit of everyone in him in the sense that everyone can relate to a piece of his story. Though young, he's on the cusp of discovering his true self, and as a reader, I felt invested in his journey. Watching his interaction with Katie, the girl across the street and Basil, his mentor, it all rang true and felt genuine. What truly made Griffin Rising stand out, however, was the manner in which it was written. With each chapter written as a journal entry from either Griffin, Basil or Katie, I had the opportunity to truly get to know each character and, in a sense, gain a new insight into the other characters through their eyes. This could easily have been a downfall for Griffin Rising, but it was executed so well that the book was made all the more powerful for it.

Overall, Griffin Rising was a brilliant book. Fun, engaging and enriched with sweet sentiment and great characters, it will transcend the young adult genre. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, only because I wanted the story to be longer, and I highly recommend this for YA, MG and adult readers, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories with a lot of heart and soul.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Angel in My Pocket
Author: Ilene Cooper
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: March 15, 2011
Genre: MG, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

When Bette finds an angel coin among the money collected in a carwash, she puts it in her pocket and forgets about it. But things start to change, especially once Gabby, a mysterious and kind new neighbor, moves into Bette’s Chicago building.

Suddenly, Bette is able to face some big losses—her mother’s recent death; her sister’s departure for college—and move forward. And once the angel coin falls into the hands of three other kids in Bette’s class, their lives change, too. Soon, these two girls and two boys will be connected in ways that open them up to unlikely friendships and new ways to believe in themselves. Here is an entirely new twist on the angel trend.

Bette is lost. Since her mother’s death, she’s lost her will to sing, and she feels like she’s in a long tunnel in the dark with no true way out. Then one day, Bette remembers the unique coin she once found with an angel on it, and she sees a little light in her life again. Things begin to turn around and her life starts getting back on track. Then, we meet Joe, an angry classmate who steals her coin, and his luck begins to change, too. The cycle continues and it becomes apparent that the coin is connecting them in some sweet, magical way, and they’re finding their way back to their futures.

I don’t read too many middle-grade novels because the voices are usually too plain or too dumbed down at my age. However, when I read the premise of Angel in My Pocket, I was intrigued by the sweet and simplistic nature of the story. Ilene Cooper has created the perfect MG voice in Bette and presented four great characters that are honest and heartfelt throughout the story. Enriched with an overall theme of finding oneself, believing in the power to change and the possibility of luck, magic and friendship, Angel in My Pocket is a light, sweet and gentle but powerful read.

What really resonated with Angel in My Pocket was the undercurrent of morals and consistent, steady theme of inner strength. Bette, though a bit younger than most of the characters I read, was a great MC with a fully developed voice and story line. She had me rooting for her throughout. Even Joe, snide and unhappy, had me cheering him on. Gabby, Bette’s kind neighbor, was also powerful, and added depth and intrigue to the story. I don’t feel like I got to know Vivi or Andy, the fraternal twins, as well as the other characters, but I’m sure they’ll still resonate for other readers. I do believe it’s a strong, character and theme-driven book, as they fuel the plot.

All in all, Angel in My Pocket is a bright and positive read for all ages – even those who don’t normally read middle grade fiction. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of lower YA or Middle Grade fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with strong morals and themes.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.