{Review} Perfect Fudge by Hazel Larsen

From Goodreads: Sam is horrified to find herself kidnapped by a bunch of strangers – People stranger than anyone she ever met before. She doesn’t care that they claim to have saved her from death. Or that they call themselves angels. Guardian angels. All that matters to her is that they won’t let her go but insist she stays with them. Forever.
And then it gets even worse.

As time passes, Sam is faced with decisions and choices full of hurt and anguish and she is sure of only one thing… That nothing will ever be the same again.

A story about friendship and love, about commitment and happiness, and a girl who never thought anything out of the ordinary would ever happen to her.

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This was a very interesting novel with a completely original storyline concerning angels.  What I really like about it is that there are no references to the Bible or the downfall of angels, but rather angels that live in the human world, with extraordinary powers, such as flying, levitating objects, and conjuring food.  Their job is to guard people from harm—like a true guardian angel, and I really enjoyed learning about them. 

The novel begins right in the middle of the action and moves very quickly throughout the entirety of this story, jumping from scene to scene, which occasionally makes the timeframe of the novel hazy, but overall gives the reader a feeling that ample time has passed in order for the next element in the story to be revealed.  I liked Sam and many of the angels, though there were a few angels that rubbed me the wrong way.  Luckily, those angels were not meant to be “liked” per se, so I think Larsen did a great job with that aspect of the characterization.  I would have liked to have the relationships within the novel slowed down a touch, but overall I did enjoy the romance within the story.  For a debut novel, Larsen has created a truly unique, interesting piece that I believe many will highly enjoy.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Releasing Today: Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

From Goodreads: A terrible truth has been revealed to one man: the entire human race has been drained of every emotion except one— fear. To bring life back to the world, Rom must embark on a journey that will end either in his own demise or a reawakening of humanity. But to bring love and passion back into existence will also threaten the powers of the world with the revolution and anarchy that had nearly destroyed them previously.

After happening upon a journal through strange circumstance, Rom’s world is shattered. He learns that humanity long ago ceased to “live,” that it exists today in a living death of emotions. In a terrible risk, Rom exposes himself to the vial of blood folded into the old leather of the journal. His change is fearful and fraught with mind-bending emotion. A once-pious observer of the Order’s passionless statues, he is filled with uncontrollable impulses. He is filled with love.

He is undone, terrified, and alone in the desolate world.

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Hachette Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its publication today, so it pains me to say that this novel wasn’t my forte. This is my first Dekker novel, and while I’ve heard many glorious things about his writing, this particular story just didn’t reach out and grab me. Although the underlying concept of the novel is quite superb, I never personally connected with the characters, which is a must for me. I understood the character’s plights, and I disliked the bad guys and cheered on the good guys, but that was the extent of my connection with them. Now, I was quite upset with the ending and what Dekker and Lee decided to do with some of the characters, but that aside, the novel didn’t really peak my interest like I had hoped, and I will probably not be continuing this series. Some books just aren’t for everyone, and this dystopian novel wasn’t for me. Two stars.