Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Series: Book One of the Violet Eden Chapters
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 384
Barnes and Noble Overview:
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.
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…
My Review:
“If comprehension lay at your feet, there would be no need to walk in search of it”
Violet Eden’s mother died at birth. Her father is barely ever around, all Violet has is her unwavering closet genius best friend Steph, and Lincoln, who has been teaching her fighting skills. Control is vital to Violet since the incident a few years back. From that point forward she has done everything to never feel like she felt that day. Amid a self-defense beginners class, she meets Lincoln, who has turned into one of not very many imperative individuals throughout Violet’s life. But while Violet has feelings for Lincoln, romance seems to be the furthest thing in his mind. But when Violet turns seventeen, and is given a mysterious letter that her mother wrote before her death, she feels that something is awry.
“I pushed passed him. He grabbed my hand and swung me back towards him. Then he pushed me against the wall and… he kissed me.”
He ran his thumb along my jawline and down my throat, hips pinning me to the wall. He kissed me slowly and with intensity, and once I got over the mind-numbing shock and comprehended what was actually happening, it was incredible. I had never been kissed like that before. We melted together. Every movement of mine was somehow perfectly mirrored by his. My heart was pounding so hard I knew he must be able to feel it and I was sure my legs were giving way, but he held me up, pushed me harder against the wall.
I grabbed a handful of his hair, remembering all the times I’d dreamed of doing it. I let my hand drift down his back and pulled him even closer to me. It all happened so quickly. I heard him make a low kind of growl and lean into me. His hand slid down my leg behind my knee, drawing it to him. I moaned and felt him tense”
Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace is a dark and heart-racing tale, filled with action and secrets that will keep you invested and reading deep into the night (guilty as charged) with sprinkled in elements of mythology and religion.
Most YA paranormal romances give the female protangist the ‘Damsel in Distress’ but that’s not the case with Violet. Violet’s personality isn’t perfection, it’s realistic, and relatable. She grows and develops throughout the story. She seems to grow stronger physically and emotionally as it progress, minus a little bump in the road, which makes her fathomable and likable. But as most YA stories goes Violet is conflicted in the love category bouncing between two men, Lincoln and Phoenix. Usually I’m not the biggest fan of love triangles but in this case I. ATE. IT. UP. And found myself being Team Phoenix most of the time.
Phoenix constantly flip-flops with Violet; between obsessive and kind-hearted, stalker-ish and affectionate. From the beginning Phoenix is very up-front about not being human; but rather an exile. It’s almost like Phoenix is caught conflicted and confused by his feelings for Violet, so he’s frequently swinging in the middle of extremes and attempting to remain focused with his intense emotions. His flirtatious banter and obvious affection for Violet kept me entertained.
“You’ll come back, and you’ll be Grigori.” He spoke with such certainty it made me smile. “I doubt very greatly, however, that you’ll kick my ass. But me and my ass will enjoy your efforts.”
I enjoyed this book immensely and have already found myself tearing through the pages of its sequel (figuratively speaking of course, i promise i shall never harm thy book).
Continue the Story
Book 2:
Book 3:
Book 4:
Book 5:
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