Review: Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter

Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter

Shadow Falls #4

Release Date: October 2^nd, 2012

Number of Pages: 400

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Source: ARC from Author

Shadow Falls Camp is back in session with the most explosive installment yet.  A shocking new threat will rock Shadow Falls—changing it forever and altering Kylie’s journey in ways she never imagined. Even at a camp for supernatural teens, Kylie Galen has never been normal. Not only can she see ghosts, but she doesn’t seem to belong to any one species—she exhibits traits from them all. As Kylie struggles to unlock the secrets of her identity, she begins to worry that Lucas will never be able to accept her for what she is, and what she isn’t…a werewolf.  With his pack standing in their way, Kylie finds herself turning more and more to Derek, the only person in her life who’s willing to accept the impossible. As if life isn’t hard enough, she starts getting visits from the ghost of Holiday, her closest confidante.  Trouble is, Holiday isn’t dead…not yet anyway.  Now Kylie must race to save one of her own from an unseen danger before it’s too late—all while trying to stop her relationship with Lucas from slipping away forever.   In a world of constant confusion, there’s only one thing Kylie knows for sure.  Change is inevitable and all things must come to an end…maybe even her time at Shadow Falls. The breathtaking fourth installment of the New York Times bestselling Shadow Falls series from author C. C. Hunter...Whispers at Moonrise. 

When you’re reading the fourth book in a series, you kind of know what to expect from the book in general. You don’t know what will happen, but you do know the characters, and mostly, in this series, my feeling for the characters haven’t changed that much. I loved the first books, but now that I’m at the fourth one, I’m kind of excited to see it end. It’s not because I don’t like the series anymore. I still really enjoy it. It’s just that I want to see Kylie get her kind of happy ending. Whispers at Moonrise is a really great read on many level, and I think that fan of the series will enjoy it. This doesn’t mean that I didn’t find a couple of things to annoy me. There were a few.

Let’s start by talking about Kylie, Lucas and Derek. The big problem I have here is that I’m tired of their kind of love triangle that never seem to end with those three, with Kylie who seem to know who she wants, but never act as if she is sure. Then there are all the secrets with Lucas, which helps push Derek and Kylie a little more together. Of course, you have Derek, who can read Kylie’s emotions, and told her he loves her. Yes, that’s a huge mix. After four books, I just want Kylie to be happy in a way with someone, and have to other find happiness with someone else (or just move on.) Is it too much to ask?

Other than that little thing here, I was quite happy with the novel. The mystery of surrounding Kylie’s supernatural identity is thinning, since she has learned what she is, even though she doesn’t really what it means. There are still a few mysteries left once the book ends, which hopefully should be answered in the final book. Whispers at Moonrise will satisfy fan of the series, that’s something I’m pretty sure of. 

Review: Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter

Title: Taken at Dusk

Author: C.C. Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls #3

Release Date: April 10^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 380

Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

Source: Publisher

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

The third installment in the Shadow Falls series is as good as its predecessor. I read it again in a matter of hours, caught by Kylie’s story from page one. In this novel, we finally get a glimpse of what she really is. We actually learn WHAT she is without really learning what she is… Do I make sense? The thing is, we learn what kind of supernatural she is, without knowing the extent of her ability.

This book doesn’t disappoint when it comes to keeping you entertain from page one. There’s always something going on, being someone coming for Kylie, boys’ drama, of even people of her past bringing some drama. Kylie’s life isn’t getting any easier, that’s for sure. She still isn’t 100% decided on the one her heart desire, which for some may be getting annoying (I do hope she make her choice in next book, I clearly know who I would chose for me….)

One of the things C.C. Hunter is excellent at; it is keeping the character believable and having them mature in a realistic way through the series. That’s not always easy, especially after three novels, but she did it. Characters are so important to me in a series, so having them be really good was such a bonus for me.

Again, the characters in Shadow Falls are probably its biggest strength, in my opinion. Kylie is still the great main character that got me addicted to this series, the girl that can’t seem to follow her heart when it comes to boy, but has not problem being there for her friends when they need her. Lucas keeps on making me swoon and Derek still leaves me cautious. Holiday and Burnett still make me laughs, their chemistry so easily visible, yet still denied. Della and Miranda never seem to bore me, and I adore them as Kylie’s friend. I like that C.C Hunter made Sarah stop by the camp, which created a great clash between Kylie’s past and present.

Overall, it’s a series that I still recommend you read. It is simply addicting. I’m already dying to read the next installment in the series, coming out in October. Can it be October already??

Review: Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Title: Awake At Dawn

Author: C.C. Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls #2

Release Date: October 11^th, 2011

Number of Pages: 383

Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

Source: Publisher

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

Awake at Dawn was an amazing sequel, that’s for sure. There was everything I could ask for, and even more.

The story in this second book was even more captivating than in Born at Midnight. Kylie may have accepted that she wasn’t completely human, but it doesn’t mean life gets easier! Love, friendships and family are there to complicate her life. Of course, there are always some strange things happening in Shadow Falls to keep thing interesting for the readers.

My favorite things about this series are the characters. They are simply so well presented, so well described. I feel like through what they are put through, the memories and the interactions between all the characters really let us understand what kind of people they are. It’s one thing I really like, as I sometime get bored when there are way to many descriptions. It can make the story longer and slower.

Kylie is a really great main character. She is a little more mature in this second book, but she still doesn’t completely know who she is and what she wants. Her heart is also unsure about who she really wants to be with. Her head (and body) says Derek, yet she can’t forget about Lucas. Now those two are some fine male characters, but I have to say that I prefer Lucas. There’s just something about Derek that makes me question if he is completely good (and truthful with Kylie). I know he hasn’t done anything to make me question his intentions, but still. Lucas to me is simply amazing. There is something mesmerizing about him that caught my attention from book one.

Della and Miranda were great friends to Kylie, which really made me like them even more. Della may be a bitch half of the time, but you still see that she will always be there for Kylie if she needs her. Same thing with Miranda. Kylie’s mother gets a better part in this one, as her relation with his daughter is getting better. I was happy about that, because a daughter needs her mother. Holiday and Burnett were two really great role models for the camp, and I have to say that I love the interaction between those two. It’s so clear that they are attracted to each other, yet they are worse than teenagers.

Again, C.C. Hunter caught me attention from page one. Like a bag of chips, it is one of those novels can’t be put down until you have read every word (or eaten every damn chip in the bag). Okay enough about food analogy, all you need to know is that if you haven’t read this series yet, you should start it really soon (as in RIGHT NOW!)

Guest Post: C.C. Hunter + Giveaway!

Thirteen Things You’ll Learn From Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter

1.     The only thing worse than trying to help a woman with amnesia remember her name and life is trying to help a dead woman with amnesia remember hers.

2.     Be careful what you wish for—you might just get it . . . and the reality will probably not be anything like the fantasy.

3.     The person you think is your enemy could just turn into a friend who'll do anything to save you.

4.     The scariest thing in the world isn't ghosts or rogue vampires bent on murder—it's falling in love.

5.     Explaining why you have a skunk curled up in your arms to your mom and your old best friend is as easy as eating a brownie while brushing your teeth.

6.     We all make mistakes, which is why it's so important to practice forgiveness.

7.     The only thing worse than a pissed-off shapeshifter is a pissed-off shapeshifter in love.

8.     Sometimes the earth really does have to open up and swallow you whole before you can accept the truth that's right in front of you.

9.     Vampires have no sense of humor . . . especially when they get turned into a kangaroo.

10.  Free will gives us choices, but even making the right choices can't change destiny . . . and learning to accept that can be the most painful lesson of all.

11.  People aren’t always who they say they are, even if you really want them to be.

12.  Sometimes when you try to save someone, they end up saving you instead.

13.  Never get between a dragon and a warlock on the war path.

I have one copy of Taken at Duck up for grab, thanks to C.C. Hunter and St.Martin's Press. 

US/Canada only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever could have imagined.

Taken At Dusk was release on April 10th, and it is the third book in the Shadow Falls Series. You can find my review of Born At Midnight, the first book in the series, here. My review of Awake at Dawn will be posted on Wednesday and my review of Taken at Dusk on Friday.

Review: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Title: Born at Midnight

Author: C.C. Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls

Release Date: March 29^th, 2011

Number of Pages: 398

Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

Source: Bought

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Born at Midnight is one of those novels I didn’t really any expectations about. It was one of those books that sit in my bookshelves. I finally read it last week, and I simply couldn’t put it down once I started it! I really had no expectations about this novel, as I hadn’t read many reviews about it. All I knew was that it was about a camp full of supernatural. Yet, HOLY SMOKE! THAT WAS SOOO GOOD!!!

I didn’t think I would get into the story as much as I did. That’s why I had decided to start the book before going to bed. WRONG IDEA! I ended up reading it in one sitting, only to finally be able to go to bed at 3AM. I just had to know what would happen next, to discover what Kylie really was.

The first novel in this series more about setting the tone for the series, and about presenting the characters, yet it never got boring to me. Even though there wasn’t killing action in most of the book, there was some action toward the end. Still, the characters in the novel really made it interesting, in my opinion. Kylie was interesting to me, especially since she didn’t simply want to believe she was a supernatural. I liked that about her, as it made her more believable in my eye. Her ex, Trey, was one character that I really dislike, as he was such a prick. I had trouble believing he acted with Kylie sometimes. Derek was one character that I started disliking toward in the middle of the book. There was just something about me that made me unable to trust his intentions towards Kylie. I can’t really say why though. Then, there’s Lucas that I ADORE. There’s just something about him that made me swoon. I can’t wait to read more of him in the next book.

C.C.Hunter created a series that will get you addicted. It is a novel you should really pick up soon if you haven’t yet. I can’t wait to finally discover what Kylie is!