Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Author: Alexandra Adornetto

Publish Date: August 31, 2010

Website: http://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAdornetto

ISBN: 9780312656263

List Price: $16.99

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis:

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

My Comments:

I was very excited to read this angel themed YA novel. It did not disappoint. This is the US debut of Alexandra Adornetto and it is a jewel. I think her writing style is smooth and eloquent. I really enjoyed her unique story line to include a certain insight into Angels and Demons. An innocent, yet a reflection of life and how good & bad things happen in life, and an odd twist at how the dark powers and watchers partake in these events. Who knew how powerful love is until it is tested? This is going to be a series with the next novel coming out in 2011 titled Hades. 

The writer is only eighteen years old. I cannot wait to see what her writing career has in store for us. What an amazing debut for this young author. I truly look forward to reading more of her novels and stories to come. 

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Author: Alice Sebold
Publish Date: September 17, 2007
Website:  http://www.alicesebold.com
ISBN: 9780316001823
List Price: $14.99
My Rating: 3 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis: 
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her - her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling.

Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy

My Comments:
I thought that this was an interesting thriller, but the authors writing style was not smooth and I had to re-read many times to follow the story line and character thought processes. I was not too crazy about the rape and murder of children, but this was the base line of the story, so beyond that if you could focus on the family and heaven it was a mediocre read. My main interest of the story was what was heaven like and how different people interpreted their own heavens. It was a loving tale a ...more I thought that this was an interesting thriller, but the authors writing style was not smooth and I had to re-read many times to follow the story line and characters' thought processes. I was not too crazy about the rape and murder of children, but this was the base line of the story, so beyond that if you could focus on the family and heaven it was a mediocre read. My main interest of the story was what was heaven like and how different people interpreted their own heavens. It was a loving tale about the family's trials and how they learn to live with loss, and how the dead learn to live with their loss. I probably will not explore any more writings by this author because I just didn't like her complicated writing style.