Awake at Dawn (A Shadow Falls Novel)

I accidentally found this series and after reading the first one, I couldn't stop! Engaging story line with multiple characters that are well developed - yes it's a YA series but who doesn't love a 'light' read once in a while?

I feel as though the books keep getting better and better. The first book was iffy, but this book held my attention. I dreaded putting the book down. All I could think about was Kylie. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

Loved reading the book. I couldn't put them down. The characters draw you in and each book keeps you wanting more. C.C. Hunter has done a wonderful job with the books. I laughed, cried and so much more.

I literally could not put this book down, and when I did I always wanted to go back. I wanted to go back to Kylie's life of adventure and mystery, but most of all back to Lucas and Derek, I mean who wouldn't? One of my all time favorites!

This is the second book in the shadow falls series. Kylie is still torn between Derek and Lucas, still doesn't know if she is vampire, werewolf, fairy, etc and who knows how long it will take to find out. There wasn't a while lot of action in this book, it was very slow. Here's to hoping book three had way more action and suspense!

I started reading Born at Midnight because one of the ladies I work with knows C.C. personally and knew how much I loved supernatural books especially vampires and she told me that I had to get C.C.'s book. So I decided to get the book and man was she right it is an amazing book anyone who is a fan of the supernatural world that also loves romance is in for a treat! Her book has everything that any fan would love from vampires to fairies which you do not see that much in supernatural books. After I read Born at Midnight I could not wait for Awake at Dawn to come out I got it the day it came out and read it within 2 days! It is the perfect follow-up to Born at Midnight it gives you enough new powers for Kylie that will keep you guessing but also leave you wanting more, and can we talk about the wonderful love interests Derick and Lucas while they are totally different they both bring great character to the book. While personally I am a Lucas fan I can understand why someone would love Derick also. Bottom line buy this series because you will not be disappointed would make a perfect Christmas gift for an avid reader or someone who is trying to find a book to get the starting back reading!

I accidentally bought the first and second book of this series, which is the only reason I am reading this junk.

The main character is a judgmental brat that the author is trying to make seem perfect. She is mean to her friends and extremely selfish. I still have no idea what the plot is and I am guessing there really isn't one. The grammar is crap, The personality of the main character is crap, the story line isn't just boring it's also obnoxious. I get that I'm being critical and this may come off as a mean spirited review but the main character's personality grated on my nerves!!! She seems to be an extremely judgmental, superficial, self centered, woe-is-me brat!

The juvenile phrases only used by kinder gardeners gets on your last nerve, fast! Oh crappers! Oh, heck! Ahhh!

The first few chapters aren't that bad so when you read the sample it seems promising. Save your money!

This is the second book in the Shadow Falls series; there are five books in this series all of which have been released. This is a pretty typical YA paranormal read but it is incredibly addicting and hard to put down. I have really been enjoying it!

I absolutely could not put this book down. The broader mystery of what Kylie is is still slowly being revealed and Kylie goes through a lot of changes in this book. There is also a mystery contained in this book about the most recent ghost that is haunting Kylie.

This is an easy and fun read, the story just pulls you right through the book. There is a love triangle in here which I normally don't like, but for this book it really works. I enjoyed both of the male leads Derek and Lucas. Many secrets are revealed for both of our male leads as well. They also both have very good chemistry with Kylie which makes for a fun tension filled read.

Overall I really enjoyed this book a ton and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I love series that have a mystery contained in each book and then a broader storyline as well. I would recommend to those who enjoy paranormal YA books. This book is well written and very entertaining!

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Whoa. Ok so this book was full of So. Much. Information. We get to find out more about what each supernatural does and that was super cool. There is also a ton more action in this book. Kylie is finally filling out with her abilities and it seems like she’s getting everything but the kitchen sink. Which makes figuring out what she is that much harder! Lucas has taken a back seat in this book until the end and I enjoyed getting to know Derek some more. He’s still struggling with understanding and accepting his abilities but I’m glad he isn’t going to just push them aside and block them out. Pretty much this book is full of personal growth via all characters. Which is SO REFRESHING. Normally only one or two main characters will change and you don’t really notice anyone else developing but in this book its noticeable in every character. Heck, even the minor characters.

Did I mention more ghosts? Kylie seriously can’t catch a break. This time its the most disturbing old women and she’s somehow connected to a person Kylie loves which makes it very stressful and spooky. She’s finally getting closer to her mother, patching things up with her father, and close to a decision between Derek and Lucas then BAM- bloody ghost all in her business warning her about someone dying. I think if I was Kylie I would rather be insane as well. Ghosts are so mean and lack the understanding of how much trouble they put people through. Especially if they refuse to believe they are dead. Needless to say Kylie has her hands full in this one and is also finally able to visit the waterfalls which are just as creepy as you expected.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

Yes! This book was better then the first in so so so many ways. I keep wanting to speed read these and finish the series but at the same time cherish it since its a short series.

Review can be found here: https://parttimebooknerd.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/mini-book-review-awake-at-dawn-c-c-hunter/

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

Picking up where we left off. Still don't know what Kylie is but I had it figured out here just saying. It's all good though and the story itself is fun and keeps you moving right along. Still the great things I loved in the first one Socks, Della, and Miranda and their fights and banter is on point. Holiday is still a favorite and I grew to really like Burnett in this one and the dynamic between the two of them as well. We went to the falls and find out more about the lesser known and outcast type ability to see ghosts. The ghosts are still vague and such but it's kind of like a mystery each time, a horrible and terrifying one but still interesting. I like how it continues to have everyone dealing with their own things. Perry was cute in the first book but he kind of grew on me a bit more in this one. I really grew to dislike Derek in this one around the time I was growing to like Lucas more and he seems more accepting of her wishes at least in respect for boundaries which Derek claimed book one but never managed. Also I like how one of the bad guys from the first one blends into this one and a larger plot.

I liked Awake at Dawn, but nothing really important happened. Kylie spent a lot of time being horny, moody, and worrying about who to date. We still don't know what she is and that's cool, but I would like a little more work on the mysterious aspect of that. I mean, don't just toss things at me and dismiss them one by one in a manner that pretty much tells me they were never gonna stick anyway.

On top of that, I'm still not sure if I like Kylie. I don't dislike her, but I'm not all in with her either, despite her issues being easy to relate to. I spent most of the book being indifferent to Derek and then he leaves right when he says something that really pulls me in and makes me understand him a little more. Same with Lucas. He does have the upper hand because I'm a wolf girl, but he spent most of the book absent. Still, the MC's and side characters are likable enough with a ton of potential.

The triangle is ...I hope it ends quickly because I think it's unnecessary and detracts from the story. It also makes Kylie annoying. There are two other potential romances in this book and I enjoyed them way more than the triangle. I'll take more Perry/Miranda and Holiday/Burnett next book, please.

I think what bothered me most is that the mystery with the ghost played like an after thought and the wrap up was just blah. The action of the last 40 pages or so just felt sloppy to me and the ending wasn't that strong either. Hoping the next book works a little better for me.

What a great way to continue this series! It picks up exactly where the previous novel left off and it has no shortage of Kylie's lovable quirkiness. She continues her journey of finding out exactly what she is, while the love triangle between Derek and Lucas continues to heat up. Not to mention that Kylie has a whole new meal on her plate: somehow convincing her overprotective mother to allow her to go to the new and improved Shadow Falls Boarding school! This girl's life never seems to not be busy.

The main focus of this novel is the continuation of Kylie's journey of self-discovery, as well as the love triangle and the blossoming of a side-romance between Holiday and Burnett. (Oh, come on, I'm not spoiling anything, we all knew it was going to happen even though Holiday is still her stubborn self and isn't really letting it happen! But it's getting there!) To add to everything, Kylie's powers are making themselves more pronounced. Whether it's dealing with new ghosts, running super fast, or suddenly growing a cup size, shoe size, and a couple inches overnight, her powers are coming in all shapes and sizes that make her identity crisis even more of a mystery since it seems she has a little bit of everything in her. Seems like a magical version of puberty, eh? Sounds like it if puberty included talking to ghosts and picking up some other uncanny abilities that you'll have to find out by reading the book yourself!

Now, we all love a good romance, and the love triangle is definitely a central portion of this story, though it has a lot of wishy-washy moments in it. I suppose my biggest problem with the execution of the love triangle is that she could ignore Derek for Lucas one minute and then ignore Lucas for Derek the next, but Derek cannot ignore her. That aspect of her took away from the lovable quirkiness and goofiness that is Kylie Galen and made her seem the tiniest bit bratty in the romance department. While I get that a good love-triangle has to have a lot of moments where you favor one over the other and then suddenly go back to the other to keep it juicy since your heart and mind are telling you two different things, that doesn't give you the right to get mad when they try to make something better for themselves. So, at times, Kylie was a bit frustrating in this one.

Kylie's boy troubles led her to claim to Holiday that she hates them and is seriously considering becoming a lesbian in one portion of the book. If I read this book a year ago, I'd probably shake my head and laugh, but it's not a year ago and that particular piece of attempted humor didn't register well with me. I suppose I should explain why. One of my close friends since a young age has been dealing with problems regarding her sexuality. Whatever sexuality she has, I'd love her no matter what, and it only recently became apparent to her that homosexuality seems to be more up her alley, not bisexuality like she originally believed. Thus, I know how much it bugs her at times when girls make comments like, "I hate boys! I should just become a lesbian." She is a girl who loves girls, not because she hates boys, but because she is not attracted to them and love girls and doesn't have a choice with who she loves. However, in a relationship, she experiences the same problems that a girl could experience in a heterosexual relationship, but she does not sit there saying, "I hate girls. I should be straight again!" You love who you love and you shouldn't make tiny jokes at the expense of another sexuality, especially a minority who is not entirely accepted in this country, that can hurt them depending on how it's used. Now, that doesn't subtract from the book for me, but I wanted to get that out there for my friend's sake. I, too, am guilty of saying such things as a joke, only now do I understand how others may view my joke offensively, even if not meant so.

With that aside, I'll assume the review. I have no other qualms about this book besides the fact that all the girls seem to be really wrapped up with Holiday's sex life. While I totally love Holiday because she's a best friend first and an authority figure second, she is still an authority figure and you shouldn't be concerned with her sex life as if she is a sixteen year old girl. If this was real life, I'd be a little uncomfortable in an instance like that. But, just as in my previous review, I do believe that we need more people like Holiday in the world.

After saying everything above, I am giving this book a rating of a 4.5! All of Kylie's new powers make you curious as to how much of a role they will play in the next novel in this series. My gut is telling me that they will be of great importance, so I can't wait to type of the review for that next book. However, with the love triangle being of such importance in this novel, the wishy-washy moments made you a bit frustrated. You just wanted to shake some sense into Kylie at times because she was so wrapped up in her moments and troubles that she forgot to consider how she was effecting and treating others, especially Derek, Della, and Miranda. This is still a must read series because the need to find out Kylie's true identity is becoming greater and greater and there is no shortage of unexpected plot twists.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This was a really good sequel to Born at Midnight. The story was really interesting and filled with great action, good humor, and an interesting love triangle.

Opening Sentence: "You have to stop it, Kylie. You have to. Or this will happen to someone you love."

The Review:

Kylie has finally accepted that she isn't normal. She went to Shadow Falls at the beginning of the summer and found out that the supernatural exist and that she is one of them, the only thing is she doesn't know which one. It is genetic, but Kylie's biological father didn't know what he was either, so he is no help to her. As she tries to figure out what she is, she starts to change and she is showing signs that she could be any number of the supernaturals. One of her powers is being able to see and communicate with ghosts. She is suppose to help them with their unfinished business so they can move on. She has a new ghost haunting her that keeps warning her that someone she loves is going to die, but she has the power to stop it. The ghost doesn't give her any details and she won't tell her who. Kylie tries everything to figure out what the ghost is talking about, because she doesn't want to lose anyone she cares about.

While all this craziness is happening to her she also has a big boy problem. When she first came to Shadow Falls she met the sweet gorgeous Derek, and the hot bad boy Lucas. She has feelings for both boys, but she really doesn't know who she wants to be with. On top of her boy problems she has a feeling that she is begin watched and it isn't a good feeling. With everything going on Kylie is starting to feel really overwhelmed and she doesn't know if she is going to be able to handle everything in her life.

I like Kylie, but there are times when she just drives me a little nuts. Kylie is a really great friend and just an overall nice person. She is always trying to help others, even though it does backfire at times. As she starts to develop more powers she becomes a stronger person physically but emotionally she starts to crumble. She is very confused, but she isn't afraid to ask others for help. I really loved learning more about her and new abilities. It made her a much more interesting character. Now for the part that frustrated me. The love triangle in this book just doesn't work for me. Kylie is really immature when it comes to making decisions about love. She is really hot and cold with the boys which annoyed me. I had the same problem with her in the first book, she does get a little better at the end so I am hoping that in the next book this problem will be gone.

Now for the boys! Derek is a hot fairy who has the power to manipulate emotions. Just by touching he can change how you are feeling, and this has always bothered Kylie. She has a hard time trusting Derek and her feelings for him because she's not sure if it is real. He never gives her any reason to not trust him, but it is still hard for her. I really like Derek for the most part. He gets jealous a little too easily, but he is really sweet and caring. He has been really taken with Kylie since he met her and he has been very patient with her. He is a great guy and I think that he and Kylie are cute together.

Lucas is a bad boy werewolf. He left in the last book with another female werewolf and Kylie can't find it in her heart to forgive him. He keeps writing her letters, but she doesn't answer any of them. She does find herself having some pretty sexy dreams about him that feel pretty real, but they are just dreams, right?. Kylie really wants to give things with Derek a chance, but she can't help but be really attracted to Lucas. She hears that he might be coming back to camp and she's not sure how she feels about that. I am a sucker for bad boys, and Lucas is just so darn hot. I will have to admit that while I like Derek I am totally Team Lucas on this one.

This was a really great read for me and a great sequel. The book flowed really well and was fast paced. I loved getting to know more about the world and all the different supernatural creatures. I like all the characters, even though at times they did frustrate me a little. The plot has some pretty predictable parts, but there were also some parts that really surprised me. There was a lot of humorous parts that really made me laugh and some really good action. The writing was really well done and honestly I can't wait to read the next book in the series. There isn't a cliffhanger which is nice but you are definitely left wanting to know what is next for Kylie and all those at Shadow Falls. I would highly recommend this series to anyone that likes YA paranormal books.

FTC Advisory: St. Martin's Griffin/Macmillan provided me with a copy of Dead Mann Walking. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Kylie starts getting visited by a ghost that tells her she must save someone she knows or she will be killed. She has no idea who it is, but she is desperate to find out. Kylie is still struggling to find out what she is.

At Shadow Falls, the counselors have been getting the campers to participate in supernatural ceremonies that will help get them to understand one another. During a vampire ceremony, Kylie has to drink blood from a cup and realizes that she likes the taste of it. This freaks her out, and she makes a mad dash to the woods.

She feels like she isn't alone, and a wolf starts to approach her. However, she doesn't think it's going to harm her. It actually submits to her. At first, she thinks maybe it was just the wolf freaking her out until she feels a mist that seems to contain a dark presence.

From then on, people are encouraged to be careful and not to get themselves into situations that would make them vulnerable. Even though Kylie wants to know what she is, Derek tells her it doesn't matter to him. She starts to show signs that she might be a werewolf. Derek said he didn't care what she is, but if she's a werewolf, she would be closer to Lucas, a guy that left camp with another girl. Will Kylie be able to save the girl the ghost is talking about? Can Kylie convince Derek she wants to be with him, and can she even convince herself?

I absolutely love this series. When I start these books, I feel like I can knock out a lot of pages in no time at all. This series is so engrossing that I never what this series to end. I love Derek, but he broke my heart (along with Kylie's). I do like Lucas, but I've always liked Derek more. Anybody that loves paranormal romance books should read this. It has a little bit of everything: vampires, werewolves, rogues, fairies, and more!

I don't see how Kylie can stand her friends Miranda and Della. They can get into some pretty stupid arguments and pretty often. It didn't seem like they got into as many as they did in the first book.

I loved seeing some of Kylie's powers pop up, and I can't wait to find out what Kylie is!

* ARC read via Around The World ARC Tours

This book was a spectrally delicious 5 gnomes out of 5 gnomes for continuing a really intriguing world where you'll always be wondering what's going to happen next. This series continues to be fun to read and all the characters are really engaging.

Kylie's a great character who just wants to find out what she is so she can find some peace and be more sure of herself. She has even more unexpected changes in her life of the regular and the supernatural variety.

The camp setting is fun and gets rid of the whole inattentive parents problem that plagues a lot of Young Adult books. It does this by having parents day at the camp when the parents come to visit and with Kylie you see her communicating with her Mom all the time.

Kylie is still perplexed about what she is and trying to get a handle on her seeing and speaking to ghosts power. Some rather strange developments happen during the course of the story that will leave you wondering what exactly Kylie is. You are given a small part of why Kylie's the way she is but a concrete answer is not yet given (though at the end you know she's just about to learn who she is and then WAM, the book ends.)

This is one love triangle that I actually enjoy reading about. Derek appears to be a great guy and Kylie has some major feeling for him. He is half-fairy and has the kind of disturbing power to influence people's emotions and he gains an even more disturbing power that should make Kylie question him more. Lucas who's a werewolf seems like a much better love interest for her. She still thinks of him even though he's been away and they are connected in some intriguing ways. I hope that she ends up with Lucas and that we get to see more of him in the next book.

Della and Miranda continue to be great characters. Even if they are fighting, which they do plenty, they are always there when Kylie needs them. Perry, the shapeshifter, is another character that really makes you want to know more about him and also whether he and Miranda will ever officially become a couple.

A major theme in the story is communication. Kylie can't get the ghosts that visit her to communicate clearly. She doesn't know if she ever wants to communicate with her Dad again. Her former best friend doesn't seem interested in their friendship anymore and talking on the phone becomes tedious. Then there's the bad communication that happens between a lot of the characters who don't want to admit that they were wrong or step up and be in a relationship even though they obviously like the other person.

There are some intense twists and turns in the story and a lot of mysteries to solve. It does look like answers will be forthcoming in the next book. I can't wait to see if they turn the camp into a boarding school and of course I'm very curious what kind of supernatural Kylie is. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book.

MY REVIEW

So after reading Born At Midnight I couldn't wait to get straight into book two Awake At Dawn.
Kylie is still on her personal quest to find out exactly what sort of Supernatural she is. In this book Kylie also has a new spirit to puzzle out too. Kylie's love life has improved, from being dumped for not making out with Trey to having two new love interests. One the Fae, Derek and the other Were, Lucas. Two different characters all together really but both seem to really care about and truly love Kylie. I have a feeling no matter who Kylie eventually chooses, someone will be hurt. At the moment Kylie is trying her best to keep each one as a friend without upsetting the other. Derek, the Fae may be physically there at the camp with Kylie but Lucas, the were, seems to be getting his feelings through in Kylie's dreams at night.
We also see more of the darker side of the supernaturals, and learn a little more about the vampire gang that Della's cousin Chan runs around with.
Kylie, Della and Miranda's friendship continues to become stronger. Kylie is becoming more attached to camp and kind of dreading going home to visit.
This book seemed slightly more fast paced than bk one to me, I felt that I read it quicker. I really enjoyed this book , even more than the first in the Shadow Falls Series. Once again when I got to the end I wanted the next bk straight away. This second book definitely had more "wow", "Oh Wow" moments in it. Some of pieces of the jigsaw have begun to slip into place. Yet as one or two pieces slip together you seem to discover even more pieces of the continuing puzzle to put together.
Just when you think you have figured out what Kylie is she seems to develop another ability that points to a totally different supernatural race. So the speculation as to what kylie is continues to be somewhat of a mystery.
Book two ends in such a way you want to immediately grab Bk3 and continue reading.
I again loved the cover the beautiful falls and shades of green. The relevance of the falls will obviously become clearer to you when you read the book.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes. Would I recommend C.C. Hunter/This Series? Yes. Will I read more of this series/ by C.C. Hunter? Definitely....I am straight into Bk 3 now.