The Haunted (The Hollow #2)

Title: The Haunted (The Hollow #2)
Author: Jessica Verday
Rating: 4/5
Summary: An impossible truth. An impossible love.

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with—the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead—Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind.

She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.

But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny.

They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates—a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....

My Thoughts: What a sequel. I found this novel to be very well written with an easy flow to follow the story line. This is a book which I had a hard time putting down as I got so engrossed in the story. The concept is amazing. How Jessica Verday came up with this idea is astounding. You can definitely feel for each of the characters and can be understanding of what they are each experiencing especially if you know of someone who has passed on early in life. I have only the highest praise for this series and am eagerly awaiting the release of the third one to know what is going to happen. A fantastic read and I would very much recommend this series to anyone to read.

The Hollow (The Hollow #1)

Title: The Hollow (The Hollow #1)

Author: Jessica Verday

Rating: 3/5

Summary: I watched out and touched the casket lid. It was cold. So cold that I immediately snatched my hand away. It almost felt like it had burned me.I just stood there. I couldn't bring myself to say anything... not out loud, at least. But a thousand thoughts raged inside my head, while a thousand feelings raged inside my heart. The weather mimicked my emotions. A fierce wind rattled by, howling in outrage. The edges of the plastic awning flapped angrily against the aluminum poles holding it up and made a horrible ringing sound. Even the rain pounded harder, lashing out its bitterness.
And that was when I felt someone watching me.

My Thoughts: I was so unimpressed by this one. It was just so... empty. It was five hundred pages but really could have been condensed down to a short story. I could not identify with or bring myself to like Abbey. She seemed to think she was clever and witty but she just sounded foolish most of the time. The dialogue was forced and flat. A lot of the book consists of Abbey going to bed, taking a nap, complaining about getting out of bed or talking about how she'd like to go back to bed- seriously, she takes a nap every twenty pages or so. It was so dull! I really wasn't feeling the 'relationship' between Abbey and Caspian. He had no real personality and I couldn't figure out what either or them saw in each other. There was literally nothing happening (except Abbey sleeping, eating, going to school) until about the last thirty pages. Overall, it was really void of substance and I'm puzzled about how anyone could find this book compelling.

A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1)

Title: A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1)
Author: Suzanne Young 
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten... 

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.
My Thoughts: What’s the first thing you’ll think of when you finish reading Suzanne Young’s A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL?
You need the sequel.
Disclaimer: you may also think the following:
1) How the hell is it 1 am?
2) Is Harlin based off of a real life character and where can I find him?
3) My eyes are totally going to be swollen all day tomorrow.
In short, you need to read this book ASAP. I was lucky enough to read it early on and it has a place near and dear to my heart. I loved reading it the first time, the second time, and the third time—and it’ll be a story I’ll pick up on rainy days and reread with a cup of hot chocolate and a box of kleenex.
Bravo, Ms. Young. You rock.
It's rare for books to focus on the "good" in people and this one was very heart-warming while also being completely gut-wrenching as Charlotte spins out of control. I thought I knew how the book was going, but the last few pages threw a monkey wrench into that notion, and now I am eager to see what happens next.