JennReneeRead: 12 Days of Christmas: Day 4- Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Today I will spotlight and old review of one of my favorite angel books and review a recent angel favorite Both are up for giveaway Kindle or Nook.

On the 4th Day of Christmas an Angel came to see me.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Review

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Title: Embrace

Author: Jessica Shirvington
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publishing Date: March 6th 2012

Pages: 369
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy/Romance

Series: The Violet Eden Chapters #1
Source: Audio Book

It starts with a whisper: "It's time for you to know who you are..."

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It's a battle Violet doesn't want, but she lives her life by two rules: don't run and don't quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden.
LINCOLN: He's been Violet's one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he's Grigori--part human, part angel--and that he was training her for an ancient battle between Angels and Exiles.
PHOENIX: No one knows where his loyalties lie, yet he's the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln's lies. In a world of dark and light, he is all shades of gray.
Two sides: Angel or Exile.
Two guys: Lincoln or Phoenix.
The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

I have read many books this year focusing on different aspects, myths, and beliefs of angels. I really liked this book. The story was good, different but the same as most angel stories, we have good vs evil. Lots of action, lots of romance, lots of wow moments for me.

Violet Eden turned 17 and instead of a great part with lots of gifts,s he gets a little family history. She finds out she is Gigori, part human and part angel. The boy she has loved for so long, Lincoln, is a Grigori too, her protector. She now is left with two major decisions in her life. Does she embrace her Grigori powers and can she ever forgive Lincoln. If that isn't enough to ruin her day, she then meets Phoenix, an exile, he is supposed to be evil but he is the only one Eden feels she can trust. The choices she will make can change the life she has always lived.

I really loved this book. It was really good. The story had great characters, lots of intense moments, and some very hot guys. What's not to love.

The story was a bit different than some other angel stories I have read recently but still has some of the same elements. I really liked the story behind the Grigoris and the Exiles. The fact that a Grigori has to choose to embrace their Grigori powers really added to the story. I was able to feel the intensity of the decision as it weighed down on Violet. Of course the good vs. evil always comes in to play and I love the characters that bring in the the gray area. I believe every good book as a gray area.

The characters really made the story. I liked Violet, for the most part she was smart, knew what she wanted, tried to do the right thing, but she still made some really bad choices. I loved her one moment, then wanted to slap her the next moment In the end, she grew on me. Lincoln stole my heart from the beginning and even in times he acted like a child, I loved him. He was sweet, protective, and just amazing. Phoenix I wanted to hate, I wanted him to go away but liked him being their too. I wanted to trust him but couldn't. Arggh! Yes I love gray, but sometimes I wish the hot ones weren't the gray!

The book flew by for me. I listened to the audio and loved the narrator. She gave Violet a very strong voice. If I would have read the book, I am sure it would have been a real page turner. The story was very intense and I know I wouldn't have been able to put the book down.