Review: Falling Under (Falling Under, #1) by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

What a dark horse in the running this one turned out to be. The synopsis had me interested but I had no idea what I'd really get into within the pages of Hayes' new series. Haden was what kept me interested in this one. While there wasn't anything that stands out for me that I didn't like about Theia...she just wasn't one of those characters that goes up there on my list of top favorite heroines. It may have had something to do with the way Hayes describes her upbringing, but her personality was just a little too docile for me to relate to I guess. Not sure what that says about me, I've never needed an extremely aggressive female lead character in order to find myself rooting for her, but I just found it strange that I was more interested in Hayden and his story, than I was about Theia's background.

Now with that being said, it was one of the only complaints that I found to have with this book. All in all I thought it was an interesting story and for the most part I didn't want to break from reading or to have it end at all. The surprises and revelations were just that....and I enjoyed not knowing what to expect at every turn of the page. So I've downloaded the sequel, Dreaming Awake to my kindle and I'm looking forward to seeing how Hayes is going to pick things up where she left off. This series opener came with an interesting cliffhanger, and I'm anxious to see how life for these two pans out. No idea where this sequel will take me but I'm about to find out.

I gave Falling Under (Falling Under, #1) 3 shamrocks!!!

In My Mailbox (38)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

Bought:

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1) by Veronica Rossi

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

Dreaming Awake (Falling Under, #2) by Gwen Hayes

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

Switched (Trylle Trilogy, #1) by Amanda Hocking

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Touch of Power (Healer, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

Countdown: Backtracking Edition

During my blog hiatus I didn't stop reading but the amount slowed down for sure. There are quite a few books that either slipped under my radar or have been sitting on my shelf just waiting to be cracked open. So if you see any that aren't on my list and I haven't previously reviewed them, leave me a note with your recommendations and I'll add them to my ever growing TBR pile. I hate to miss out on any great reads, but I know I'm going to need some major help to get caught up. So leave a comment and I'll check out what you've read and think I should follow suit.

Countdown Pick #1: Beauty Queens by Libbra Bray

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.

Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

I love the idea of a survivor type setting with beauty pageant contestants as the castoffs. I'm picturing drama, cattiness, blood spilled and broken nails. Definitely not somewhere I'd want to be but totally entertaining to witness from afar. There's talk of mysteries and body counts and it sounds to me like its got the makings of a wild ride for sure. I'm sorry I haven't gotten to this one yet, but I'm excited to check it out in the future.

Countdown Pick #2: Bumped (Bumped, #1) by Megan Mccafferty

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

While this one is currently sitting on my shelf, I've unfortunately not had the chance to dive into it yet. In a world where teen pregnancy is encouraged, not to mention paid handsomely for, I'm interested to see what this fictional society is like. Is the process complicated? Is love completely frowned upon as a distraction? The questions have piled up and I'd really like some answers. It's my own fault my curiosity hasn't been appeased and I'm thinking it's time to rectify this situation.

Countdown Pick #3: Falling Under (Falling Under, #1) by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

When I read the book's description I'll admit it seemed like the mystery would be an easy one to solve. But after coming across the title more than once since its release, I'm thinking I may have jumped the gun. Most reviews lean more towards the positive, both in regards to Hayes' writing and the book in general. The cover is compelling and the evidence seems to be stacked in the favorable side so I've added it to my TBR pile. I'm hoping to not waste any more time.

Countdown Pick #4: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods and Monsters, #1) by Kelly Keaton

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Yet another novel sitting on my shelf after I got it as a gift that I've yet to open. I'm a sucker for paranormal genres and this one sounds like its flirting with those elements. As I also traveled down to New Orleans for the first time last year I think it would be fun to read a book with the city as its backdrop. Maybe I'd be able to recognize a few of the street names, store fronts, etc... I think Ari's story and the mystery surrounding her existence sound right up my alley. I'm not familiar with Keaton's writing and in some ways that is getting me more excited to try this one out. I'm not sure what I've been waiting for, so no more excuses...this book's getting read.

Countdown Pick #5: Haven (Winterhaven, #1) by Kristi Cook

Destiny brought them together. Now it will tear them apart.

Violet doesn’t understand why she feels drawn to the Winterhaven School, she just knows it’s the right place for her. When she discovers the school’s secret, it all makes sense: everyone at Winterhaven has psychic gifts. For the first time in her life Violet doesn’t have to hide her visions. She’s always seen them as a curse, but now she can hone her ability and try to control it.

But she’s thrown completely off balance when she meets the most alluring—and most mysterious—boy in school. She’s never connected with anyone the way she does with Aidan, and the intensity takes them both by surprise. But as their relationship deepens, she begins to have visions of Aidan’s death—and sees that she’s the one who’s fated to kill him.

Violet’s never been able to prevent her visions from coming true. But this time she’ll do whatever it takes... even if it means sacrificing herself for the boy she loves.

This was a book that seemed shrouded in mystery and suspense. Violet is psychic and experiences premonitions of people's deaths. Yikes is all I can say! That is not a gift I'd want to touch with a ten foot pole. But other than knowing of her gift, any other details about this book seem sparse. So while I would like a little more information or background before I hit the ground running, I'm pretty sure my curiosity will get the best of me.