Book Review: The Vincent Boys - Abbi Glines

 Title: The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #1) - Abbi Glines

Release Date: October 12th 2011

Publisher: Self-published

Pages: 464 (ebook)

Goodreads 

There was something wicked about Beau that drew me to him. What was wrong with me? Why did I want to sin so badly?

Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.

Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.

Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist....

THE COVER  

I love the colors, even that green which I usually hate. My only problem with this cover is that I don't see any connection to the story.

THE STORY

The storyline's kind of cliche, actually, but I just have a thing for bad boys as main characters. The pacing was okay, too. 

I don't find Glines' books spectacular or anything, but I can't stop myself from reading them because they're stories I want to read. I guess the story does beat out the writing.

THE CHARACTERS

It's really a struggle to read a book when you dislike the main character so much, and, man, did I hate Ashton with a burning passion. She should've broken up with Sawyer a long time ago. Heck, she shouldn't even have gotten into a relationship with him. And she had the nerves to hate him when he didn't save her from the bullying? Wow.

The only characters I liked were the Vincent boys - I don't know whom I loved more! - and Ashton's cousin.

MY FAVORITE PART was the ending. Nicely done.

RATING: 3/5

(photo and summary from Goodreads.com)

Book Review: Predestined - Abbi Glines

 Title: Predestined (Existence Trilogy #2) - Abbi Glines

Release Date: The edition I have was first published March 30th 2012

Publisher: Self-published

Pages: 300 (ebook)

Goodreads 

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.

THE COVER  

I have mixed feelings for this one. I love the picture of the girl with those fiery eyes of hers, but the font's not doing it for me.

THE STORY

Let me get it out: I liked Predestined more than Existence. The story flow was way better, and the other characters were expounded. Glines explained the reason why Pagan could see souls, and also Dank's last words in the first book. 

One thing I didn't get was the voodoo world. Was it supposed to be hell, or just an evil dimension?

THE CHARACTERS

Pagan showed some attitudinal improvements; she's tougher and more determined. Unfortunately, she still had to be saved. Why can't Glines make her more able?

As for Dank, he was quite the disappointment in this. He did either of these two things: take souls or save Pagan. Yes, that was it. But he's still swoon-worthy.

And Leif is back! Honestly, if I were Pagan, I would've gone with Leif just to get everything over with.

MY FAVORITE PART was Pagan in the voodoo world. I loved the idea of that place.

RATING: 3/5

(photo and summary from Goodreads.com)

Book Review: Existence - Abbi Glines

Title: Existence (Existence Trilogy #1) - Abbi Glines

Release Date: December 12th 2011

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

Pages: n/a (ebook)

Goodreads 

What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.

Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he's about to break all the rules.

THE COVER  

OOOOOOOOOOH THAT COVER. YES GOOD JOB YES. Pepe Toth is glory personified. And Sztella too, but all we can see here is her back, but hey, it's glorious too, lol. Oh God those eyes. Moving on!

THE STORY

When I read the synopsis, the story intrigued me. Death falling in love? Yes, please. And the fact that the female lead also had a power made it more interesting. There were a lot of surprises in the end, but I felt like a lot of parts could have been cut out to make the pace better. 

THE CHARACTERS

Unfortunately, Pagan's ability to see souls was the only significant thing about her (until we get to book two, but that's got to wait for now). Like most female main characters in YA, she had to be saved several times. I'm all for butt-kicking girls so that weakness always irks me.

Also, even though I swoon every time Dank's in the page, there really wasn't much back-up for their attraction. I won't call it insta-love, though, because Pagan certainly wanted Dank gone at first, thinking he's just another ghost. But I can't blame Pagan because if I were her, I'd fall in love with Dank, too... especially if he looked like Pepe Toth. Moving on!

MY FAVORITE PART was every time Dank sung. I'm a sucker for guys who sing and play the guitar. And the author's friend (I think?) recorded Dank's songs. Here are links to Closer and, my personal favorite, Yet You Stay.

RATING: 3/5

(photo and summary from Goodreads.com)