Day 15 : The Violet Eden Chapters is a series that has grown on me. The books get better and better and my heart aches for Lincoln and even bad boy Phoenix. You gotta love a bad boy with a guilt trip.
Violet Eden is about to discover , she isn't who she thought she was, she is so much more.
Star crossed love and a whole pile of awesome sub characters make this a must YA series to read. Jessica really did a brilliant job of Endless. Next is Empower.
* whispers * I think it is the last one. I thought there was originally talk of two more books but the cover says 'The Final Choice'. EEeeeeppp! I don't want this series to end.
If you haven't started this series, I have my review links down the bottom. I give no spoilers , so you can have a read if you want and I might entice you into reading this series...errr, no pun intended.
I also have the link for an interview I did with Jessica a short while back. She really is a lovely author to chat to.
Here is my review of Endless # 4 in The Violet Eden Chapters.
Giddy Up!
Michelle
By: Jessica Shirvington
Published By: Hachette , Sourcebooks
Released: Available Now
Details: Digital Netgalley ,446 Pages
RATING: 5 MY HEART ACHES FOR VIOLET AND LINCOLN STARS
Blurb: Goodreads
Love will kill us all.
Angels are real. They aren't always kind. Violet Eden is certain of all this because she is Grigori - part angel, part human. She has felt the influence of both light and dark.
When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the endless question 'Can love conquer all?' will finally be answered.
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:
Emotions and mayhem.
O.M.G.
This was the BEST book in the series to date for me.
This one is a non stop roller coaster of emotions.
Jessica smashed it with this installment.
I am Team Lincoln but hell, Jessica makes it hard on my feelings for Phoenix. There are always moments where Phoenix will grab my heart and squeeze it. I find myself wanting to give this bad boy a big hug and then the next minute I am going WTH!!
He paused at my shoulder. “That’s good, lover. You’re going to need that,” he said quietly, reading my emotions. “That and more.”
Jessica turns it up a notch with Linc and Violet.
Huzzah!
* waggles eyebrows *
Heaven.
Hell.
My heart raced. He was warmth and sun and everything that felt right in my world. I wanted it so much, like I’d never wanted anything in my life before. Everything. His touch, his lips, his heart, his ... soul. God help me, I wanted it all.
Mine.
... He kissed me just below my ear and I thought I might faint from the feeling that the world was suddenly igniting around me.
The rules are looking like they can be broken or at least played with.
Nox and Uri, you two dudes are all knowing and like to pop up with words of riddles. Nothing like chat time with you two.
“Only when you must know , can you know,” Uri answered.
I am channeling Yoda. HA!
Spence is still that loyal, awesome dude who likes to parrttaay like the next person, but when it’s time to help Violet, he is as solid as a rock. I just totally dig Spencer. He is the funny bone in this series.
“Follow that cab!” Spence said to the driver, throwing all the money in his pocket at the taxi driver.
We leaned back as we headed over the bridge and into lower Manhattan. Spence looked positively exhilarated.
“You’ve always wanted to say that, huh?”
“Every man’s dream! “ he said, not taking his eyes off the taxi ahead.
Steph is still the most awesome friend to Violet. She is getting herself some man time among all the mayhem. Steph is such a solid friend.
“Can you believe we’re going out for a night to have pure fun?” No exiles, no angels, no Grigori strategy - just us, music, dancing, and seriously spiked punch!” Steph looked like she was about to explode with delirium.
“And for some of us, the after party!” Zoe added suggestively, looking at her with raised eyebrows.
Steph’s smile broadened. “That might have something to do with it,” she said slyly.
Onyx and Dapper. I love these two. Dapper has some tucked away secrets and Onyx is more good guy than bad-evil-dude. I have me a thing for these two. Onyx is that bad guy , you can't help liking. I think even he is enjoying himself, even though he doesn't want to admit it. It's got to be easier, fighting the good fight.
Onyx was working behind the bar, showing off his impressive physique in a tight black T-shirt and torn, slim-fit jeans. Dapper was serving a group of girls to his right. Working in sync, the two of them had the entire bar covered. I was struck by the professional attitude Onyx seemed to have adopted as he expertly flipped a coaster onto the bar with one hand just before landing a glass on it with the other. It was quite a change. Almost as different as his casual attire, which had girls draped over the bar eyeing him up instead of crying and running away at some insult he’d launched in their direction- as had happened in the past.
Dapper moved over grudgingly, taking in all the women drooling over Onyx- could’ve sworn his eyes blazed before he began jabbing a finger toward Spence.
Dapper cleared his throat and grunted at Onyx. “Is it so impossible to admit you simply wanted to help?”
Onyx’s grin faltered and he rolled his eyes.
Onyx is quite a delight to read . I keep waiting for him to let me down, but he doesn't. He and Violet are such fun to read when they are verbal sparring. An odd friendship of sorts.
Onyx chose that moment to walk past me, brushing my shoulder as he watched Lincoln stalk away and resume his position at the bar. “I like him more and more.”
I gave him a deadpan look. “You feeling sorry for me doesn’t work with me.”
“Oh, thank Christ,” he exclaimed with relief. “I thought I was going to have to pretend all day.”
“You’re an ass, you know that, right?”
He bowed. “I do, thank you.”He eyed my drink. “Enjoy that, there’s more rum in it than coffee,” he said with a wink before sauntering off to sit beside Dapper.
I turned to Lincoln, a look of puzzlement on his face as he watched Onyx. “Do you think there’s something going on between Dapper and Onyx?” he asked me.
I glared back at him.
“Oh,” he said, throwing a hand to his chest. “Is that your evil stare? I’m quivering.”
“Well, thank freaking Christ for that! And about time too,” Onyx said, standing outside the door I’d just opened.
My eyes narrowed. “Were you listening?”
“Yes. Better than an episode of Gossip Girl. Sex, betrayal, scheming, murder, and, my personal favorite...denial. I applaud you! “ He clapped.
“When you two are finished!” Dapper called out from the end of the hallway. “Honestly, you’re like children. And you’re the worst of all, girly,” he said, jabbing a finger at me. “You know he’s harmless now. Leave him to his snarky remarks, they’re all he damn well has.”
At that bit, Onyx and I glared at Dapper.
“I am anything but harmless. You people gravely underestimate my potential.”
Onyx smiled slyly.
“What?” I snapped.
“Nothing. I’m just trying to decide who it is for?”
“Who what is for?” I asked, losing all patience.
Vi, let’s go,” Steph said, trying to pull me away. I didn’t budge.
Onyx’s smile broadened. “All the pent-up sexual frustration, of course.”
Evelyn and Violet’s father have much to discuss, many years of lost moments to catch up on. If her father can actually accept all that has been thrown at him.
I find Evelyn to be a very strong character, to do what she did. Give up her baby and her husband. Well, that is a pretty HUGE thing in my book.
Violet was pretty darn hard on her mum, I thought. Selflessness comes in many ways and all is not necessarily what it seems. Dad pulls rank and cracks off a bit of a biatch slap. There are some anger issues that need to be sifted through. Bridges to mend.
She put her hands on her hips, looking down at me like... like... like a mother. My mind scrambled.
I harrumphed. “What? Did you hit your head tumbling down from your cloud or something?”
Jase thinks he is in with a chance and Lincoln is setting the record straight. Can't blame a lad for trying.
Lincoln shrugged, too calm. “I wouldn’t describe our relationship as the brother-sister type, Jase. I believe that would be frowned upon.”
But Lincoln spoke first, putting his hand up to stop me. “Jase, I’m sure I haven’t been clear with you on this issue. I apologize for that. Entirely my fault.”
Oh shit.
“Linc,” I butted in unsuccessfully.
“Allow me to rectify,” Lincoln continued, stepping a little closer to Jase. “If you look at her again, that way you do- I’m going to be very upset. If you touch her in anyway that you haven’t first been invited to and, well”- he glanced at me, still frozen, before turning his full attention back to Jase- “even then, I won’t be responsible for my actions. Violet and I may not be together, but make no mistake, she is mine just as much as I am hers.”
Lincoln tries so hard to keep his emotions in check, but sometimes it is too much. I simply love Lincoln. He is my team guy.
* whispers * Go Linc.
I stormed over. “That wasn’t necessary,” I snapped.
“I know,” he replied quietly, catching me of guard. He sighed and looked guilty. “I know,” he said again, his eyes on me in a way that somehow covered my whole body and caused an unstoppable tingle all the way down to my toes.
Damn, he knows exactly how to unhinge me.
“But what do you want me to do?” Stand by and smile while he hits on you?”
Phoenix is playing the part of evil spawn and testing Lincoln's emotions. He just can't help reminding Lincoln of the , been-there-done-that, got the V card to prove it. A tough thing for Lincoln to get past.
“Funny. You don’t seem to make it into my dreams.”
“That’s because you’re busy dreaming of things I’ve already had,” Phoenix said, gesturing to me but not taking his eyes off Lincoln.
While also being the messenger of bad news for Violet.
“That’s never going to happen. Tell your psycho bitch of a mother to sit on the pointy end of her deal and twist.”
Lilith lives up to her legendary status of epic-evil ordering her minions to kidnap innocent children. Really Lilith, that is not cool.
“Violet, Lilith is not like any other exile you’ve faced. They’re all insane, but Lilith... Lilith is insanity. She drives people to madness. I’m the reason she went to Hell and if she ever gets her hands on you, she will punish me by breaking you. She won’t just kill you, Violet; she’ll destroy you and everything you care about.
She looked at me. “Such a plain girl- nothing striking about you, and yet I find I must compete with you. And most disturbingly”- she turned a less friendly look on Phoenix- “You hold the heart of my offspring, even though you have clearly given yours to another."
Josephine reminded me of that horrid woman in Harry Potter, Dolores Umbridge. Grrrrr she is a pain in the ass.
“I heard about your testing and for the record, Josephine is an evil bitch. When I get there I plan on having ugly words with her and her damn Assembly.
Josephine needed a stinky dead fish slap from me.
Violet really stepped up to the plate in this installment, she was tested, tortured, emotionally pounded with her love for Lincoln and her different love for Phoenix. Then she has to check her emotions with the returned-from-the-grave parent, and a father that is trying to absorb all that has been thrown at him.
Violet 1.0 to Violet 4.0 has come a long way. Can't wait to meet Violet 5.0.
Steph is always available for words of wisdom and advice for Violet. Sometimes you need a gal pal to help you sort through everything you are feeling.
“But it’s true. You might not have loved him the way you do someone else, but you cared enough to consider the possibility of being in a relationship with him.”
A most energetic read that was a real page turner, shiz was going down left right and center. Jessica has really pulled out all the stops in this one. I am really going to miss this series when it comes to an end.
I can tell you shiz will be going down in Empower if those last few chapters are any indication to go on.
My heart was blown apart.
My nerves were raw.
I bit my nails.
“Not us, Vi. Everything else may end, but not us. What we have... We’re endless.”
Here's hoping.
I think this may just turn into an epic love story.
Michelle
It has been two years since Violet Eden walked away from the city, her friends, her future and - most importantly - her soulmate, Lincoln. Part angel, part human, Violet is determined to stand by the promises she made to save the one she loves.
Living in the perpetual coldness of a broken soul she survives day to day as a Rogue Grigori in London.
But when an unexpected visitor shows up at her door, the news he bears about someone she swore to protect leaves Violet with no choice.
Even worse, she fears that this might all lead back to the night she tries hardest to forget. And what was taken without her permission.
Violet is going back to New York ... and she knows exactly who is going to be there.
With Phoenix in her dreams and Lincoln in her heart she knows it is only a matter of time before the final choice must be made.
Released Australia : 12th November 2013
Hachette Australia
My Reviews:
&
USA COVERS
Jessica Shirvington is the author of THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS also known as THE EMBRACE SERIES, and stand alone novel, BETWEEN THE LIVES. An entrepreneur, author, and mother living in Sydney, Australia, Jessica is also a 2011 finalist for Cosmopolitan’s annual Fun, Fearless Female Award. She’s also one of the lucky few who met the love of her life at age seventeen: Matt Shirvington, a former Olympian and current sports broadcaster for FOXTEL and Sky News. Married for twleve years with two beautiful daughters, Sienna and Winter, Jessica knows her early age romance and its longevity has definitely contributed to how she tackles relationships in her YA novels.
Tomorrow I am visiting with Rebecca Berto and Ann B. Harrison.
