WoW: The Dead And Buried by Kim Harrington

"Waiting On" Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you highlight books you are anxiously waiting for.

My pick for this week will not be released until January 1st, 2013, but I love the cover so much and the story sounds so intriguing, I just had to pick it.

 

Goodreads description:

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school -- until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

Isn't this a haunting cover? There have only been a couple of ghost stories so far that I have enjoyed, and I think this one could be the next one in line. I love the idea of an angry ghost who seeks vengeance on the people who've wronged them. I am sure there will be a fairly long line of possible suspects for this murder. What could be the motive? Jealousy? Envy? We shall find out next January. I, for one, am already very excited!

If you would like to add it to your Goodreads to-read list, simply click on the picture and it will take you to the right place.

*****

What books are you dying to get your hands on? I would love to hear from you!

Review: Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

#DaemonInvasion is in full swing and I thought what better time could there be than to post my reviews for both Shadows and Obsidian. Today I am starting with Shadows and Obsidian will follow sometime in the next few days.

 Goodreads description:

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in.

Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence...and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Shadows is a Lux Prequel Novella and was first published in e-book format on February 20th, 2012 by Entangled Publishing

When I first heard about the Lux series, I wasn't sure whether I should read the books or not. The whole alien aspect threw me off a little bit because I started thinking of little green men, or something along those lines, anyway. I know, I know...

Needless to say, I pushed all my thoughts and doubts aside, and started reading, and I am so unbelievably happy I did. Jennifer L. Armentrout found a perfect way to portray the beings from out of space. Usually, when you think of aliens, you think about scary things and possible war and destruction. Not so here. Any normal person can't even tell them apart from ordinary humans. They are not out to get us - at least not all of them, some might be. Obviously, everything has to be very secretive as to not cause a mass hysteria which would probably happen if it were brought to light.

Speaking of light, I love the idea that Luxen are consumed by light - they are light. It is so fascinating to imagine it. Incredible!

The main focus in this story lies on Dawson Black, who is an alien and brother of Dee and Daemon - they are triplets, can you believe it? - and Bethany Williams, a human girl.

It is love at first sight for the two of them, but having a relationship and keeping the Luxen a secret, is not very easy to do. Dawson is very romantic and will do anything for Bethany, even if it means going against his family and friends. In doing so, he is not only putting himself and his kin at risk, but also the girl he loves, because where there is light, there is also darkness...

I devoured this book in no time, I just couldn't get enough of it. The whole idea of Luxen is so unique and intriguing, you can't help but continue reading until you have reached the very last word on the very last page. Even then, you will want more and more and more.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This wouldn't be a review without a few of my favorite passages, so here you go:

Dawson about Bethany:

"Holy crap, she was...she was beautiful.

And he knew beautiful. Their race had won the genetic roulette when they adopted human forms, but the way this girl's elfin features were pieced together was absolute perfection."

****

Bethany about Dawson's eyes:

"And those eyes, they were...wow. A vibrant, untarnished green that reminded her of fresh spring grass. Those peepers were something else.

If she'd known this before, she would've begged her parents to move here a hell of a lot sooner just for the eye candy."

*****

Daemon and Dawson:

"God, I hope I never fall in love."

A little bit surprised by that statement, Dawson watched his twin. "Do really want that?"

"Hell yeah," Daemon replied. "Look at how stupid it's made you."

*****

This book is full of amazing passages and quotes!

One other thing I absolutely loved where all the different POVs. I loved reading from everybody's point of view because you got to know everybody so much more. Brilliant!

*****

Have you read any of the books in the Lux series yet? What did you think? I would love to hear from you!

~~~ GO TEAM #DAEMONTEMPTATION!!! ~~~

SSRC Mini Challenge: Fearless

It is hard to believe but there will only be two more posts for the Soul Screamers Reading Challenging following this one.

There are only two and a half weeks left in the challenge but it's still not too late to join in. Simply click on the SSRC button and find out how you can participate in this event which is hosted by the amazing Rachel over at fiktshun.

Today's thoughts will be all about Fearless, another short story in the Soul Screamers world, which you can find in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology. It was the only story of this series I hadn't read prior to the challenge.

In Fearless we get a glimpse as to how Sabine and Nash's relationship had been before Tod died and Nash and his mom moved away. We also get a better idea of who Sabine is and what she had to deal with while growing up.

I don't want to give away too much, so I'm only going to say we meet Sabine when she first arrives at the halfway house "Holser House" and not everything is what it seems.

Sabine is a Mara - a living Nightmare - and staying at Holser House, she learns a little bit more about her species. She also learns there are worse things out there than herself and it was very unsettling to see her actually being scared of someone - something - else. I say "unsettling" because she is Nightmare personified and for a Nightmare to be scared of something, it has to be something terrifying. At the same time, it makes Sabine appear more human. Showing fear and admitting it is definitely a human trait.

As for Nash and Sabine, their strong connection is so obvious and they seem like they are meant to be together - they seem to be complimenting each other perfectly.

Even though I absolutely love the character Syrie in Niederwald, I think I like this short story even better. It felt so intense from the very first page and didn't let up at all. Rachel Vincent managed to put in an amazing twist with only a limited amount of time available to fill. She is just that incredible with her words and imagination. Fearless is definitely a must-read for any Soul Screamers fan!

*****

Of course, this wouldn't be a post without my favorite passages:

Sabine and Anna-Rosa Gomez, Director of Holse House:

"I'm not violent."

She raised one of those arched brows at me. "You gave a car a baseball bat-makeover."

"Yeah, but I didn't make Tucker over." Which was what I would have done in his nightmare, if he'd been there, to mess with.

*****

"So peaceful. So hopeful. So... completely useless to me. Peace and hope are cute. But fear is my medium. It's the vibrant paint on the canvas of my life, the only color bright enough to mean anything. To truly feel. With it, I could paint her dream into a nightmare..."

*****

"[...] a new world had just opened up in front of me, and its dark, gaping maw threatened to swallow me whole. I didn't know how to exist in a world where I wasn't the scariest thing around. I wasn't sure I wanted to."

*****

My next SSRC read will be If I Die and I am already dying to pick it up again. 

Book Club Read #3: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

Our Book Club Read for May was Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist". I am almost embarrassed to admit I hadn't heard of this book until it was chosen by our book club. It is a phenomenal book which is why I can't possibly wait to write my review until after our Book Club meeting on Tuesday.

Goodreads description:

A Fable About Following Your Dream

 
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

We first meet Santiago, a young shepherd, at the ruins of an old church in Andalusia. He was supposed to become a priest, but instead followed his heart, bought some sheep, and started traveling all throughout Andalusia. After a reoccurring dream which tells him to find his treasure, he begins his quest to do just that. Along the way he meets very different people - a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself King of Salem, a crystal merchant, an Englishman, and an alchemist. They all have a part in fulfilling Santiago's quest.

At first, Santiago thinks it is all about finding a treasure of gold, but the longer his journey goes on and the more he interacts with those he meets, the more he realizes his quest is about much more than just material things. He learns to speak the Language of the World and see the Soul of the World.

His quest is not only about the physical journey he has to undergo, but more importantly the journey within himself. It is a tale of following one's dreams and never loosing sight of one's goals, no matter what obstacles might get thrown in one's path. One might doubt themselves at times and even wonder whether one will ever be able to fulfill their own quest - wonder if it will all be worth the while - but as long as one has hope and keeps believing in their dreams and following their heart, anything is possible.

This story is so mesmerizing and just so beautifully written, you will want to read it again and again and again. I know for a fact I will be reading this book over and over again.

*****

Here a few of my favorite passages:

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting, he thought, as he looked again at the position of the sun, and hurried his pace."

*****

the man who calls himself king:

"[...] The Soul of the World is nourished by people's happiness. And also by unhappiness, envy, and jealousy. To realize one's Personal Legend is a person's only real obligation. All things are one.

"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

*****

"When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke - the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love."

*****

There are a few more beautiful quotes but some are better left to be discovered for yourselves...

*****

So, this was May's pick and since I can't find my list, I'm not even sure what we will be reading in June. I'm okay with that though, because I'm still living in this wonderful book...

Believe in yourself and in your dreams and always follow your heart.

SSRC: Reaper (+ MSTSteal & Reaper Spoiler Chat Reminder!)

We are in the last month of the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge, people, which is why I will be - hopefully - putting up four SSRC posts within the next three weeks. That is if everything goes well and I actually manage to read all of the last three stories (one full-length novel, one novella, and one short story). I am pretty confident right now, but you never know what could happen.

A big shout out to the wonderful Rachel over at fiktshun who is hosting this incredible challenge.

Reaper is the second novella in the Soul Screamers series and was released on December 1st, 2010 by Harlequin Teen.

Goodreads description:

Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food, and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. In fact, he had his whole life in front of him--and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it was going to be a very long life indeed. And then the car accident occurred. 

Suddenly, Tod's future wasn't so sure, and he had to make a choice. Life... Death... or something Between....

I think out of all the novellas, this one is my favorite. Though I thoroughly enjoyed both, My Soul to Lose and Never to Sleep, Reaper is just the one. It's not simply because it's about Tod, but the whole concept of sacrificing your own life, future, everything that makes you who you are, to save someone you love. It's a very tough choice to make and I'm sure not everybody would have done what Tod did.

While re-reading this novella for the SSRC, I found myself loving it even more than the first time around. Tod and Nash really had the typical love/hate relationship all siblings go through. I can still remember how my brother and I used to fight constantly, and I mean ALL THE TIME. Our parents got so frustrated with us, and then seemingly from one day to another it all changed, but this isn't about me.

One thing seems clear, Nash and Sabine really are dependent on each other during the time Reaper takes place. The way Nash tries to convince Tod to break Sabine out of the halfway house shows it perfectly. Nash appears willing to pretty much do anything to get her out of there, no matter what the consequences may be. Now, I'm not sure I would call it love, but for Nash it might have been. Though, even good-natured Harmony says what they have isn't healthy...

Then Nash sneaks out while being grounded and everything seems to be falling apart. Nash and Tod get into this huge argument where Tod completely "loses it". He says things he later regrets and wishes would have never crossed his lips.

Then BOOM... and it's time to meet Levi, Grim Reaper, there to test, and eventually recruit, Tod.

Most of Tod's interactions with Levi are just hilarious. He is lucky Levi is somewhat of a good sport and doesn't just fire him. Levi is actually a great character and I am hoping we will get to see more of him. There hasn't been a moment in this series where I haven't liked him.

"What'd you say?" I asked, fighting the urge to scruff his curls. He didn't like that. At all."

It makes me laugh every time I imagine Tod messing up Levi's curls.

Obviously, I can't talk about Reaper and leave out one of the key scenes - the moment Tod hears and sees Kaylee for the very first time. Even though it only lasts for a couple of short minutes, it is so intense. It is one of my favorite scenes in this novella for sure.

This little part alone opens up room for so many questions - which, of course, I am going to ask Rachel Vincent during the My Soul to Steal & Reaper Spoiler Chat later today - 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific to be specific. Everybody can join - simply click on the picture and it will take you to Rachel Vincent's blog where you will find a link to the chat room thirty minutes before the spoiler chat starts.

As always, here are some of my favorite quotes:

Tod to Levi:

"So, would you say I'm closer to a zombie or a vampire? I gotta know - are my parts going to rot and fall off, or am I forever frozen in youthful perfection?"

*****

“So you’re saying the afterlife is hard on the libido? FYI, that’s probably not a good bullet point for your recruiting brochure.” 

*****

Tod to Harmony:

 

“Uh, yeah, I do. The scythe was a little tricky at first, but—much like golf—turns out it’s all in the swing.”

*****

Harmony about Nash and Sabine's relationship:

“It isn’t healthy, how wrapped up they are in each other. Relationships like that burn bright, but when they burn out, they leave everyone blistered.”

*****

This last one always makes my heart ache...

Harmony to Tod:

"I don't think you even understand what you gave up for him. I don't think you will, until we're both long gone." 

If this doesn't make your heart feel heavy, then I don't know...

*****

Yes, I do realize I might have gone a little bit overboard with the quotes, especially considering it is only a novella, but what can I say? I love it!

*****

What about you? Did you love it as much as I did? Do you have a favorite part?

I would love to hear from you!

Also, don't forget to join the My Soul to Steal & Reaper Spoiler Chat with Rachel Vincent!!!

Wednesday, May 23rd - 6PM Eastern/3PM Pacific

Releasing Today: Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

Today marks a very happy day for all fans of the "Unbound" series by Rachel Vincent as the second book, "Shadow Bound", releases in Paperback. The e-format will be available on June 1st. This adult series is being published by Mira.

Goodreads description:

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

Shadow Bound is now available and you can purchase it here:

Amazon.com               Barnes & Nobles               The Book Depository

Unfortunately, I haven't read the first book in this series, "Blood Bound", yet, but I do have it sitting on my shelf. It's one of the reasons why I have put myself on a library ban and I am hoping to dive into this world very, very soon.

*****

Rachel Vincent's Bio (via Harlequin.com):

A native of the dust bowl, Rachel Vincent is the oldest of five siblings, and arguably the most outspoken of the bunch. She loves cats, devours chocolate and lives on flavored coffee. Rachel’s older than she looks—seriously—and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

You can stalk her on:

her blog

her website

twitter

facebook

formspring

*****

Now, go ahead and buy it already, you all know you want to!

SSRC: My Soul To Steal

 

 

Hard to believe the last month of this incredible Soul Screamers Reading Challenge, which is hosted by the fabulous fiktshun, will be starting tomorrow. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.

"My Soul To Steal" is the fourth installment of the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, and it has everything from love and jealously to complete pandemonium.

Goodreads description:

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

While Kaylee tries to come to terms with what Nash has done - to her, to himself, and to them as a couple - all hell breaks loose around her. Teachers start dying, students start jumping at each other's throats - it's complete mayhem. To make matters worse for Kaylee, Sabine, Nash's ex-girlfriend - transfers to their high school, and she means business. She wants Nash back and doesn't care who stands in her way. She goes to some extreme lengths to get Kaylee to give up Nash, but Kaylee doesn't let herself get pushed around by anyone. My favorite hellion, Avari, has his own twisted role in all of this, and if he shows one thing, it's that he doesn't lack creativity when it comes to trying to get to Kaylee.

I have to give credit to Nash. Even though Sabine tries everything imaginable to get in his pants, he never gives in. He stays true to his words to Kaylee and his love for her. He is so desperate to earn back Kaylee's trust. At first I got a little bit infuriated with him for hanging out with Sabine in the first place, but after a while I could understand him. Overcoming addiction and staying sober is very, very difficult and without someone there to really support you and to talk to, it would be easy to fall back into the vicious cycle. Even though Kaylee wants to help Nash, she can't be there for him the way Nash would need her to. She cannot trust Nash yet and every time she looks at him, she sees what he did and what he let happen to her. As far as Nash goes, Sabine couldn't have shown up at a better time. 

For Kaylee, on the other hand, Sabine probably couldn't have come at a worst time. She is trying to find her trust in Nash again, all the while having to watch Sabine trying to tear them apart for good. I can only imagine how it must have felt, seeing Nash with her, even though he kept insisting nothing was going on. Kaylee believes him but that doesn't stop Sabine from trying at all.

My favorite moment was a talk between Kaylee and Tod about Nash and Sabine, and whether Kaylee should let him go for good or not. Some of the things Tod said were harsh, and I felt for Kaylee because realizing the truth behind those words cannot have been easy. Leave it up to Tod to be straight up front without any attempt at sugarcoating things. I still have to laugh imagining him in his pizza delivery uniform though.

The one person I felt really sorry for was Alec. He went through so much in his twenty-six years in the Netherworld, and when he finally gets back to the normal world, he doesn't even get a rest. He is still being used and doesn't even realize it until after terrible things have already happened. He deserves a break from all the horrible situations he has been put through.

*****

One of my favorite parts of these posts, is picking out my favorite quotes and/or passages. This time I'm actually going with four and some of you might be surprised to see that none of them are by Tod. One of them made me laugh, one made me sad, while the other two gripped me hard and shook me.

Passage #1:

"NO! I'm screaming now, the magic word. They teach us in preschool. If something bad happens, shout NO! and parents will come running. If a stranger touches you, shout NO! and the police will take him away. You can always shout NO! and there will always be someone there to protect you.

But that's a lie. No one comes. NO! is a lie, and safety is a lie, and the only truths are pain and forever, and pain is everywhere, and forever has already begun."

*****

Passage #2:

"I couldn't breathe, and this time that had nothing to do with any fear leaking from her abusive, rotting soul. I couldn't breathe because she was right. He'd given me up, but he'd kept her. All of her."

*****

Passage #3:

“Anger is great. It's powerful, when you need something to hold you up. Something to steel your spine. But in the dark, when you're alone with the truth, anger can't survive. The only thing that can live in the dark with you is fear.” 

*****

Oh, Emma, how I love your honesty and directness! She is never afraid to tell it as she sees it.

"What are you gonna say?" Emma asked. " 'I'm not sure I want you back, but I'm sure I don't want your ex-con ex-girlfriend to have you, either'? Yeah. That'll start this little triangle off on the right foot.”

*****

Wow, tomorrow marks the first day of our last SSRC month. How crazy is that? I am so hyped up to read "If I Die" again, it's almost ridiculous. Then, of course, there are still "Reaper" and "Never To Sleep" left to read. I think part of me will be super sad when it's over, but a bigger part will be anxiously awaiting the release date for "Before I Wake". Okay, but enough with the rambling. "If I Die" here I come...

Stacking The Shelves {1}

I haven't done a post about books I received in a while, but I figured it was time again. The books aren't all from this past week, but more like the last three weeks. As I am sharing my bookish mail with you, I give a shout out to Tynga's Reviews for hosting "Stacking The Shelves".

First up, are three books I bought.

"Clockwork Angel" I found when we went on a fishing trip of all things. While my hubby and his brother-in-law went fishing, my sister-in-law, my little boy, and I went strolling through a little mall. I was so happy to see they actually had a REAL bookstore, which I hadn't seen in so, so long. Obviously, I hadn't anticipated being able to walk into a bookstore, and was so completely overwhelmed and couldn't remember a single book I really, truly wanted. How pathetic is that, people? After spending some time looking through shelves, I found the super deal of "Clockwork Angel" for only $4.99. As you can tell, I took it, and am looking forward to start my journey into this series.

"Sweet Evil" and "Pure" I had ordered and was so super happy when they showed up only a couple of days later. "Half-Blood" was so amazing that I just HAD to get "Pure". I cannot wait to see what's going on with Alex, Aidan, and Seth - oh, and Caleb! I love me some Caleb!

I have heard so many amazing things about "Sweet Evil" from all over the blogosphere that I couldn't say no when I saw it. I am super intrigued by the summary as well.

*****

I also received two books from my sweet friend Rebecca. The first is "Eisberg" (Iceberg) by Clive Cussler and the second is "Knochenlese" (Grave Secrets) by Kathy Reichs. They sound very interesting and I'll definitely be giving them a try.

 

*****

Oh, I just remembered, I bought "Water For Elephants" the other day. My library had it up for sale and I only paid 50 cents. That's what I call a steal. I won't read it just yet though because it will be a Book Club read in July anyway.

*****

Last but definitely not least, I got this gorgeous, gorgeous postcard from the author Tiffany King. The picture turned out a little bit darker than I wanted it too, but I hope you can still see its awesomeness. I absolutely love it! It's looking all stunning and beautiful on my fridge - even though I did get some weird looks from the hubby when he saw it there for the first time. When I told Tiffany King about it, she actually said she would send me a magnet as well. How awesome is that?! I can't wait to see my hubby's look then...

*****

What about you? What did you receive in the mail this week? I would love to hear about your treasures!

TGIF at GReads! {4}: Supporting Characters

TGIF at GReads! is a weekly feature created by GReads! to re-cap the week's posts and propose a question to followers.

The question for this week is:

Supporting Characters: We tend to gush over those main characters the most, but what about those supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites?

I love this week's question, because there are actually a few supporting characters I swoon over more than the main character.

~~~ All pictures link to the respective Goodreads pages. ~~~

Whenever I think about secondary characters, two names pop into my head - Donovan and Carter.

Donovan - or "D" - is one of the supporting characters in the Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith. You can tell he is not your nice-boy-from-next-door type of guy. He is a criminal and comes across as a real bada** and tough guy who doesn't care about anybody else. However, a closer look reveals what a caring and protective boy he really is. Life in Furnace has hardened him, of course, but he has never lost his heart or soul. Even though, I absolutely love the main character Alex, I have a real big soft spot for Donovan. He is by far my favorite character and I wish I could talk about my favorite scenes "with" him from book two (Solitary) but I don't want to put any spoilers here.

Quote: “Don't make the mistake of bringing your heart down here with you, there is no place for it in Furnace.” (Lockdown)

*****

Carter is a supporting character in the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead (NOT YA!!!) and he is definitely my favorite angel of all time. He is also my favorite male character in this series. Yes, I know Seth is amazing, but Carter has my heart. He is smart, funny, sometimes even a little mysterious, and just so incredibly swoon-worthy. Did I mention he is a freaking angel??? I am still hoping someday we will be able to read something from his POV - even if "just" a short story. I would love to know what's going on that mind of his.

Quote: “Love is rarely flawless,” Carter pointed out. “Humans delude themselves by thinking it has to be. It is the imperfection that makes love perfect.” (Succubus Blues)

*****

When I first saw the question for this week, there was one other name which crept into my head right behind Donovan and Carter. Some might consider him a supporting character, others might only see him a minor one. Either way, he has left a lasting impression on me - it is none other than Mason Ashford from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I still adore him to this day. He was always so sweet and kind of innocent when he was flirting with Rose. He captured my heart with his funny comments, his cheeky smiles, and also his courage. He also gave me a whole lot of heartache, but let's not talk about it here.

 

Quote (with Rose): 

“Belikov is a sick, evil man who should be thrown into a pit of rabid vipers for the great offense he commited against you this morning."
"Thank you." I said primly. Then, I considered. "Can vipers be rabid?"
"I don't see why not. Everything can be. I think. Canadian geese might be worse than vipers, though."
"Canadian geese are deadlier than vipers?"
"You ever try to feed those little bastards? They're vicious. You get thrown to vipers, you die quickly. But the geese? That'll go on for days. More suffering."
"Wow. I don't know whether I should be impressed or frightened that you've thought about all of this.” (Vampire Academy)

*****

Then there is Gabe... ah Gabe... wouldn't you know it, he is another angel. He is one of the amazing characters in the A Touch series by Leah Clifford. He always had something very intriguing about him which drew me in right from the start. It also doesn't hurt that I really, really love his name. I haven't had a chance to read "A Touch Morbid" yet to see what's going on, but I'm hoping to do so within the next couple of weeks - well, before May is over, anyway.

Quote (with Eden):

"Because he belongs with you," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Eden scoffed. "A bit dramatic, Gabe."
"Do what you need to do, but you know what they say, right?" he asked, smiling. "Once you get celestial..." He paused before laughing. "Yeah, I got nothin'." (A Touch Mortal)

*****

Two other of my favorite supporting characters are from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series. No, I'm not talking about Tod Hudson, because he is not just a supporting role for me. I am talking about Kaylee's best friend Emma Marshall as well as Alec. 

Emma is the sweetest person ever, but she can also get her claws out when it's needed. She always supports Kaylee and is there for her whenever Kaylee needs her. She doesn't judge or ask too many questions. She trusts Kaylee completely, and would go to the end of the world with and for her.

Quote:

“It's not like I'm actually wishing for more dead cheerleaders. I'm just saying, if someone has to go..."
Tod snorted. "I like her." (My Soul to Save)

Alec is this quiet character who Kaylee can turn to, especially in "My Soul to Steal" when there is nobody else to talk to. He has a very hard time adjusting to his new "old" life, but never gives up. I can't really pinpoint a specific reason, but I have always really liked him. I guess he just has a natural likability to him.

Quote Alec (with Kaylee):

I gaped at him. "In what universe does Nash's ex wanting him back qualify as a good thing?"

Alec leaned back against the cushions. "Think of it as a second opinion on his value. If he wasn't worth the fight, wouldn't she just let him go? Wouldn't you?" (My Soul to Steal)

 *****

Drew Armstrong is from Scott Tracey's Witch Eyes series and I love, love, love the mysteriousness around him. He has somewhat of a dark and really deep character. He also always has a witty comeback. I am already super, duper excited about "Demon Eyes" since we will be seeing a lot more of him.

Quote (with Braden):

“Someone want to tell me what’s going on?” I walked into the room and stared at both of them.

“Planning committee for your execution,” Drew announced without missing a beat. “How about we skip the catering and just get everyone Happy Meals?”

  

I just had to add this one as well...

“You sure you’re not some sort of moron?”

*****

I was going to write down a few more with more details, but decided just to do some honorary mentions instead: Avari from the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, Stark from the House of Night series by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast, Caleb from Jennifer L. Armentrouts Covenant series, Jules Marchenoir from Amy Plum's Revenants series, Sampson from James Patterson's Alex Cross series, and Johnny from The Outsiders by Susan E. Hinton.

*****

What about you, my lovely readers? Are their any swoon-worthy supporting characters you can't get enough of? I would love to hear who you are drooling over.

Have a wonderful Friday & Happy Reading!