Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

What the back of the book says:
Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

What I have to say about it!

I think this book is a lot better than Hush Hush, and since I already liked Hush Hush, then that can only be awesome! Now, we start off early in the book with my least favorite thing. Twilight did it, and now I think every author thinks they have to too. 2nd book? Break the couple up for (in my opinion) stupid reasons! It drives me nuts every time I read that now. I know it creates conflict, and conflict drives the novel, but I just wish they could find another way to do it. BUT! And this is an important but, I love the way Nora handles it. I love how, after Nora dumps Patch, she really tries to get over him. Now, I'm not sure she does it the right way, but who am I to judge another person's post-break up actions? But she gets angry with herself when she gets all mopey about him, and that is a solid step in the right direction, which I whole-heartedly love.

 The climax was really exciting too. Nora goes to Delphic and suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Bad guys turn good and good guys turn bad and who the heck has a gun?! And there's something about the scene in the fun-house that I love. I always thought those places were creepy, and now I know why! And the ending was just crazy. That's the simplest way to put it, since I don't want to give anything away. Now I have to hurry up and read Silence to find out what happens!!

So, final thoughts? I think I’d have to give it….4 stars. I loved it, but I was so angry at Patch for half the book, that it made it impossible to do 5 stars. Yes, you’re dark and mysterious, but don’t take it to the point where the reader starts to hate you! And Marcie?! What, Patch, were you thinking!!!!!

The Fallen Star by Jessica Sorensen

What the back of the book says:

"For eighteen year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. Up until recently, she has been incapable of feeling emotion. And when she's around Alex, the gorgeous new guy at school, she can feel electricity that makes her skin buzz. Not to mention the monsters that haunt her nightmares have crossed over into real-life. But with Alex seeming to hate her and secrets popping up everywhere, Gemma's life is turning into a chaotic mess. Things that shouldn't be real suddenly seem to exist. And as her world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death."

What I have to say about it:

I originally got this book because it was only 99 cents on my Nook and I was bored at my doctor's office. And let's face it, the purple eye looks cool. I originally described it as  "Just another teen paranormal romance", which sounds like a slam, but really isn't. After all, teen paranormal romance is huge! And I actually enjoyed the series. I read all four of them in less than a week, if that's any indication. 

Now, if you're one of those people who harps on why a book isn't 100% original, and that plot line was totally in Lord of the Rings or Twilight or whatever, don't read it. (Did Twilight really have a plot line?)  But as I subscribe to the belief that every idea possible has pretty much been written by now, I'm more interested in how they take an idea and make it theirs. And Jessica does a pretty good job of that. Now, Jace and Alex could probably be the same characters (that dark, troubled, brooding boy is so hot right now), and there are several character similarities to be found between The Mortal Instruments  and The Fallen Star, and probably every other teen paranormal, but I feel like the story plays out completely differently. 

And as for the plot, I have to admit, I haven't heard the fallen star story before (except in Starfall, but that's not the same at all). There is a plot, but I will admit that it gets a little overshadowed in the first book by the whole attraction thing between Alex and Gemma (my biggest complaint), but it picks up in the rest of the series. Now, you'll still find all your favorites (vampires, werewolves, fairies, and demons!), but I think the fallen star idea is really unique. I like what she does with it.  

Final thoughts?

If you like Teen Paranormal Romance, read it. Especially if the first one's only 99 cents, cuz that's an excellent deal! And finish the series, because I think her writing just gets better as she goes. And less, OMG ALEX!-y. It is a LendMe book for Nooks, so it's also pretty easy to share! However, if you hate books that have similarities to other books (especially those ones in the same genre), then put it down and walk away.