BOOK REVIEW - AWAKE AT DAWN by C.C. HUNTER - SHADOW FALLS # 2 - ST. MARTINS PRESS

By: C.C. HUNTER
Published By: St. Martins Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 383 Pages

RATING: 4.25 TEAM STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I’m now addicted to this series, devouring the books, one after the other.

Team Lucas and Team Derek.

EEEeeeEEEeeeeeee, what does a girl do?

C.C has written two very, very likable and delicious characters. I am left licking my fingers for both of them.

Is that wrong?

Both so different. Both so appealing.

Me thinks I have a conundrum on my hands.

Me thinks Kylie has a conundrum on her hands.


“You don’t have any clothes on.” Oh, God, did she really say that?

“I know. I usually shower that way.”

...A really awesome view, too.

... His gaze from the mirror locked with hers. That rush of blood returned to her face.



He pulled her against him and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was hot, passionate, and she didn’t want it to end. And when it did, he was the one who pulled away, not her.



“If Lucas were still here, would you still be sitting next to me?”


He leaned in. “Dream of me,” he whispered.

See how am I supposed to choose?

But again, there is more to this story than these two delicious lads.

Kylie is still on her quest of self discovery.

What is Kylie?

She now believes more in her supernatural side than being just plain ol’ human.

A shopping trip ends badly and with a peeping tom.

Burnett, that big hunk of spunk ( what? he is closer to my age...I said closer!!!) man is proving very delicious and he and Holiday are still butting heads. They are still such fun to watch. It’s like waiting for one of those scenes in a movie where the smexual tension gets too much and characters are ripping their clothes off in a frenzy. I am waiting for that frenzy, lol!

Burnett continued, “Don’t let Holiday leave either. Tie her down if you have to. Got it?”



“You got the hots for me?” Burnett’s deep voice rang out as he moved to stand behind Holiday.

.... “So you’re alive,” Holiday snapped.

..”You never answered,” he said. “You got the hots for me, or not?” His dark eyes lit up with a smile.

Squaring her shoulders, Holiday started talking, “Della assumed I might have the hots for you. And you know what they say about assuming, right?”

“It makes an ass out of you and me,” Della answered, and gave Kylie the elbow. “Get it. A.S.S.U.M.E.”



“No, because it’s clear to you and everyone else that those two need to go bump uglies.”

...”To do what? Bump what?”

“Bump uglies, bang each other, burn off some of those flaming hormones they put out when they’re in the same room together.”



Burnett continued to follow her, his gaze taking in her every move, as if trying to memorize every inch of her body.





Perry has gone all serious and not so much class clown anymore. I wanted to give the cranky pants a cuddle, he went and got all growly and ...well, growly.


“Would have?” Miranda asked, her voice shaky.

“Yeah, would have.” Perry turned and started walking away. But he stuck his right hand back and shot her the bird.

Pepe le Pew! LOL!! That is all I will say.

Some bridges mend, some bridges break, some bridges totally collapse.

Kylie is discovering all sorts of new gifts and the story takes a bit of a turn towards the end.

Miranda and Della, love these two! They are still bickering best buds, but they are more best buds, than bickerers. They are the 3 muskateers when it comes to helping each other out. 


“Why would he turn his off his phone? “ Holiday’s eyes tightened. “He has to have known I would want to talk to him.”

“I can answer that,” Della said. “You see, when you’re out in the woods looking for someone, hoping to find them before they find you, nothing takes away your advantage more than a ringing phone.”



Miranda clung to Della’s back and her legs wrapped around the vampire’s waist. “Rides over. Open your eyes. We found her.”

“You let her ride on your back?” Kylie asked, hoping they wouldn’t notice her watery weakness.

“It was that or wait on her. She’s slower than a three-legged turtle using a broken walker.”

“Am not,” Miranda said.

“Are too,” Della countered.



“Do either of you wear thongs?” Miranda held up a red stringy pair of panties.

“Not me,” Kylie said. “I like regular bikini.”

“Personally for me, wearing a thong is like flossing your ass,” Della said, and all three of them burst out laughing.





Selynn needs to be shown the door. Like, seriously...there's the door, use it! 

All sorts of things are happening in this installment. Boob jobs ..of the painless variety, dreamscaping. Cheating without really cheating....errr... Tom Selleck. Step-dad needs some lessons in etiquette. Friends, ex friends are messaging but Kylie don't wanna chat. Derek finds himself useful while her mum is in a bit of a tizz and Fredericka is still being a biaaattcchh! Ghostly behavior is still happening, in cryptic messages and Kylie must stop being afraid and be willing to listen and help.




Della continued walking but held her hands out in front of her boobs. “The girls.”

Kylie looked down at her chest. “You’ve seen me without a bra before.”

Della stopped. It’s not that your girls aren’t supported. It’s that they’re bigger.”

.... “Oh, God,” muttered Kylie, staring down at herself.

“Hey, if you don’t want them, pass me a cup or two over here.” Della laughed.



Holiday is always there for advice, and some girl bonding.



“Holiday frowned. “We have to learn the lessons the hard way, don’t we?”



Holiday’s eyes pooled with tears. And that pretty much made it a cry fest. Even Della joined in the tear party.

Right then, Burnett walking into the office. His gaze went from one female to the other. Kylie could almost hear him groaning inwardly. 

“I... I’ll be ... right out here.” Obviously even a hard-bodied vampire trained by the FRU wasn’t capable of dealing with four crying women.


C.C has great fun with some of her characters and leaves us all confuzzed over our Team guys. I want to like Lucas more, but then I can't help liking Derek. They are opposites that attract us girlies like a moth to a flame.

Looking forward to Taken At Dusk. Just the title is intriguing, never lone wanting to know more about the lads and the direction this book took at the end...well, one can only wonder really. Time to crack the book open and get some answers.

Michelle