Review: A Blaze of Sun by Bella Forrest

A Blaze of Sun by Bella Forrest
Release Date: October 28, 2013
Format: eARC
Series: A Shade of Vampire #5
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
Welcome back to The Shade...

"Of course you know who I am. I'm a daughter of the darkness just as surely as you are his son..."

Ever since his brief encounter with Emilia at The Shade, Derek's thoughts and dreams have been haunted with images of the mysterious, beautiful brunette. Plagued with guilt, he struggles to understand why he is so drawn to this dark stranger from his past.

When Emilia suddenly appears again on the island, Derek is both terrified and intrigued. But this time, he is determined to involve Sofia and discover who this woman is.

If only Derek and Sofia knew, Emilia is a mystery that should be left undiscovered...

I was on such a SHADE kick when I dove into this one, and let me tell you--this book helped me live through that kick, no problem. Another wonderful installment in what I always say (and always WILL say, because it is so true) one of my favorite vampire series. 

Bella Forrest has written another story I literally could not put down. Seriously, it was at least 4 am on a school night/morning and I was still up reading this book. These characters are great, and I always need to know what's going to happen next with them.

The plot in this one wasn't so much out of left field as the others in the series. Or, actually, I guessed the one thing I didn't want to happen and it ended up happening. Which leads me to the one--literally ONE, one and only--thing I did not like about this book. A certain something happens with Derek that I didn't like and didn't think was necessary. I felt like it was just something added for SOMETHING to happen. Not because the story actually called for it.

I did love absolutely everything else about the story, however. We met some new characters that I did like learning about, and I do like where the series is going for the end in the next book. This time, I actually HOPE what I think is going to happen will happen :)

Oh! And I was so happy for the characters in this book. Well. Some of them. When you read it, you'll know what I mean. I loved it and I'm so happy.

And the ending left me with that happy feeling. As I said, I have high hopes for where this series is going and where it'll  end. 

Overall, this was a nice, solid addition to the SHADE series and, even though I didn't love absolutely everything that happened, I still enjoyed this book and crave the next. For real, WANT. Serious want. If you're a fan of this series, get to reading this one!

♥Jessica(:

Review: A Shadow of Light by Bella Forrest

A Shadow of Light by Bella Forrest
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Format: eARC, 270 pages
Series: A Shade of Vampire #4
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
Since the implosion at The Oasis and Derek's stay at Hawk Headquarters, The Shade has fallen into a state of utter chaos. To make matters worse, the citizens of Derek's kingdom have become suspicious of his loyalties and accuse him of siding with the enemy... At a time when Derek desperately needs full cooperation from his subjects, they wish to put their own King on trial.

Meanwhile, Sofia is being held hostage by the hunters. They are determined to rid her of her infatuation with the vampire. She submits to the strict routine and training they impose on her, but the only fuel that keeps her going is the thought of reuniting with Derek - something Reuben is fighting with every fiber of his being to ensure will never happen.

...Until one day, out of the blue, Reuben appears to have a change of heart and comes to Sofia with a proposal; a solution that she never dreamed possible. A solution that would fulfil her heart's deepest desires and secure her and Derek's future together, forever.

But can she really trust this man who is so renowned for his hatred of vampires? Does she even have a choice? 

Since I jumped right into this one after finishing A Castle of Sand, I didn't really have to read much to get back into the book. I was IN from the very first page. Yet again, Bella Forrest has added to one of my favorite vampire series in a way that I never saw coming--and I LOVED it.

Picking up right where the last book left off yet again (Bella always does this, which is something I definitely like), we get into what is going on pretty quickly. I was surprised again by where this story went, and it was so fun to read. It was nice to have some time in the Shade and at Hawk Headquarters, but it was also nice that we didn't spend too much time where I didn't want to be. So basically, this story isn't what I expected it to be, but it's even better than I could have thought up myself.

The mystery that is Sofia continues to reveal itself, and as time goes on I like this girl more and more. She truly is a great MC, and I don't really mind spending time in her head. And Derek...he continues to redeem himself to me. I definitely like him more now than I did in book 3. My love for him grows and grows. I have a bad feeling, though...about the next book...but we'll see. I am soooo not counting those chickens before they hatch, because goodness knows Bella Forrest very well may turn everything COMPLETELY AROUND in no time at all. So for now, I'm loving these characters.

I didn't get much of a chance to get bored in this one--then again, I can't remember being bored with any of these books since the very beginning of book 2. From there on out, this series has been on the freaking ball, and I heart them. This series is seriously so addicting, I can't even.

The ending to this one had me starting the next one right away. Seriously, I'm pretty far into the next one now. And I just finished this book yesterday. Restraint? Ha! I have none. These books rock.

Overall, Bella Forrest has written another fabulous story to be added to a series that I love dearly. How she does it, I don't know, but her take on vampires is always riveting and just feels so RIGHT. Goodness, I love it!

♥Jessica(:     

Review: A Castle of Sand by Bella Forrest

A Castle of Sand by Bella Forrest
Release Date: June 26, 2013
Format: eARC, 296 pages
Series: A Shade of Vampire #3
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
What Sofia has with Derek feels like a sandcastle; temporary and something that the waves of life and time will soon ruin...

Since the return of Gregor Novak, the island has turned several shades darker. His hatred toward Sofia and thirst for fresh blood lead to a brutal war igniting between father and son.

Meanwhile, the hunters are gaining formidable strength and resources by the day; they know that the safety of The Shade hangs entirely on its ability to remain hidden from them.

And a sinister secret lies in wait for Sofia within the bowls of an Egyptian desert... a secret that threatens to crush her sandcastle much sooner than she could have expected.

Honestly, it took me a little bit of reading in the beginning of this book to get back IN to the series. But once I got back in? Goodness, I was HOOKED. Bella Forrest  writes the most compelling vampire stories. This one picks up right where A Shade of Blood left off, catching us up with Derek and Sofia and everyone else pretty easily.

These characters are great. Sofia...well, she does seem like a special snowflake, but she also earns her status. I like how she can be calm in situations I know I would personally be FREAKING OUT. And she really is kind. Add that stuff to the fact that she is one big mystery--WHY is she so important, what is up with her, WHAT is going on?!?!--and that makes for a character that may not be my favorite but definitely hold my attention. And Derek...I don't know what to do with this guy. I feel for him so much. My heart hurts. He was much better behaved in this one than he was in book 2, so that made me happy. But he's still not perfect. Then again, that's what makes his character feel so real. Imperfections always help to make characters feel more real, in my opinion. I heart Derek. He's not my favoritest ever, but I think he can definitely end up being one of the book boys I cherish once he and Sofia finally get through the big mess they're currently dealing with.

Throughout the whole book, there's the idea of a sandcastle and how they always get swept away by nature. That's just how it goes; it's inevitable. I really liked how this idea held throughout the story. It didn't feel like too much to me at all. It just WAS and I enjoyed that. Plus, it was kind of deep. 

Oh, and Ben. Oh, goodness Ben. BEN BEN BEN. My boy Ben. Sigh.

The course this story takes is waaaaay far from what I ever could have imagined. Right when I think the story's going one way and the characters are going to do one thing, they do something I NEVER could have expected. I kind of love it, though. I love not being able to predict what comes next. It's not so much that I have no idea what is happening; it's just enough that I don't really ever get bored.

The ending to this one is just like we've come to expect from Bella--a big BOOM that left me wanting more. So much more. 

Overall, this was an awesome addition to a series I grow to love more and more with each installment. Bella Forrest writes the most addicting stories, y'all. And she does vampires soooo well. Yeah, I'm wanting the next book NOW. 

♥Jessica(:     

Review: A Shade of Blood by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Blood by Bella Forrest
Release Date: April 8, 2013
Format: eARC
Series: A Shade of Vampire #2
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
Having been delighted by the Christmas best-selling debut, A Shade Of Vampire, readers are begging for more.

In A Shade Of Blood, Bella Forrest transports you deeper into a unique, enthralling and beautifully sensitive story.
Prepare to be lost in its pages…

When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she’d forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.

Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek’s heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape.

High school, prom and a chance to move on with her life now await her.

But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? … and the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?

I loved A Shade of Vampire. So much. So, so much. So when I got A Shade of Blood...well, there was some flailing. Okay, A LOT of flailing. I was so excited to get back into the world of the Shade and find out what came next for Derek (my boy!) and Sophia.

Then I actually, you know, started READING the book. And...it was a fantastic sequel. FANTASTIC. It was also longer than the last book, so it wasn't a whirlwind of awesomeness and then BOOM over. It was a slow, steady string of awesomeness.

Character Rundown:
Sophia: I just like this girl more and more as time goes on. I like how loyal she is to Derek, how calm she is in...certain situations, and...she's just an all-around STRONG character, and I admire that.

Derek: Still my boy, of course. But...he disappointed me with some of his actions in this one. He has a long list of excuses, but I'm not falling for any of it. LUCKILY, he got better when a certain something happened at a certain point, but I'm not going to tell you because...I do not spoil. Nope. I don't.

Plot. The book started out good, especially considering it was answering questions I had been waiting to know about since the end of the last book. Then things slowed down a little. I was still interested, but the plot wasn't moving as fast as before and..it was just slower. THEN, about halfway through, everything picked up again and kept on a-rollin' all the way to the end. So the book had it's low spots, but overall, was...well, it was fantastic.

Romance. It's still here! And it's sweet! Some things happen romantically that just needed to happen to lead to...other things. But I loved the romantic element in this book. Once Derek stopped being disappointing, it got EVEN BETTER. I still love Derek & Sophia. They are incredibly cute. And they WORK. Ahhh, I love them.

The ending. Hello, book 3. Can I have you now?

Overall, A Shade of Blood is a fantastic, fulfilling sequel that not only grabbed my interest from the very first page, but left me wanting even more at the end. Yet again, Bella Forrest has written a vampire romance that wasn't even close to letting me down. And now I'm going to be here, waiting until I can sit my booty down and read A Castle of Sand. Man, I really hope that day is soon.

♥Jessica(: