This book surprised me. I didn't think it would be as interesting as it ended up being. The ending felt a little convenient, but it was still a good story. ( )

I have to admit, I didn't really get into this one until about 2/3 of the way through. At that point the pace really picked up & the story line moved along and it became thoroughly enjoyable. I like where the author ended up taking this story (although I found one small part of it rather predictable). The concept was refreshing and I would recommend this to any fan of YA paranormal. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Caitlyn never knows when she goes to sleep if she will be gripped by her nightmares or a gorgeous Italian boy in her dreams.

Opening Sentence: “Is she the one?”

The Review:

This book was one of the books I most longed to read in my current pile of review books. The book art fed my desire to read this book but the topper was the book synopsis. What reader can pass up on a dead mother’s telling the future, amazing castle setting, gorgeous Italian boy, dreams, nightmares and ghosts? This story takes all of that and weaves an impressive story that spans time and space.

The level of talent that is currently writing for the category of Young Adult continues to astound me and this is no exception. The story has depth and character while maintaining a forward motion of the over arching story. There were a number of places that I need to put this book down but every time I attempted to I got hooked back into the story.

Our heroine, Caitlyn, is a delightful mix of uncertainty and spunk that makes you root for her from the beginning. She has failings that in the over reaching story make her that much more believable and an absolute delight to watch her go on this epic journey through time.

Raphael is a hero that transcends his circumstances to capture Caitlyn’s heart. They then both set off in a treasure quest to find the heart in darkness. The questing side of this story was very engaging and reminded me of Indiana Jones movies or National Treasure because we are given a clue but then must decipher it and then proceed to the next part of the puzzle and so on. This pushed the plot along and in part was why I was so determined to finish the book as quickly as I did. I had to know how it all panned out.

The history that is weaved into this story is the icing on the cake. I appreciated the Epilogue from the author describing the actual people that she incorporated into her tale. In looking back at this story, the author gifted us with a little bit of smoke and mirrors to allow us to lose sight of what is real and what isn’t.

If you are looking for a lazy Sunday afternoon read, then I highly recommend this book. But be warned, you will not want to put it down.

Notable Scene:

“You think you’re so special that no one here can understand you?” Jacqui asked, one eye-brow raised.

“Not special. ‘Freakish’ is more like it,” Caitlyn said glumly.

“You’re not a freak,” Sarah insisted, but her words carried no conviction.

“Yes, I am,” Caitlyn mumbled. “You two both know it.”

Jacqui grinned and held up her thumb and forefinger, pinching a half inch of space. “Well, maybe you’re a leettle freaky. But we put up with you anyway.”

“Great. Thanks.” Caitlyn subsided into silence. They weren’t going to understand.

She barely understood, herself. For as long as she could remember, she had felt certain that her future boyfriend was far from rural Oregon and her present life, thousands of miles away, living a life completely different from her hum drum one here. This unknown guy was her soul mate, and someday, where she least expected it, they’d find each other. It would be love at first sight, because they would have been seeking each other for all their lives.

FTC Advisory: Speak/Penguin provided me with a copy of Wake Unto Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

First of all, bonus points to a very beautiful cover. Really loved it. Second, I really liked this book. The best of it was the setting description of the boarding school and the overall mood throughout the book. It was dark, it was gothic, and it held a lot of secrets ready to be revealed.

Caitlyn overall, was a good character to read. She wasn’t over the top whiny or moody like some protagonists I’ve come across. She’s realistic and likable. The chemistry she has between herself and Raphael is well done (and Raphael is VERY crushworthy).

The plot does develop a little slower than some. The descriptions of France and its’ buildings is well done so picturing the setting is easy and establishes the story so readers will have a clear picture. I liked how the story carries the reader through different time periods, but also it’s like time traveling through dreams. It’s interesting, for sure and the transitions aren’t confusing, it’s pretty much clear and easy to read. The ghost story part of the book was very well done. I wasn’t expecting the outcome and it caught me entirely off guard. The treasure hunting aspect (yes, there’s a lot to pack into this plot!) was good and interesting, and it wasn’t too overdone.

There was one thing that really did bother me, and that was towards the ending. It got a little too convenient and well to be frank, rather cheesy. I thought it should have been done differently or..perhaps that particular event with Thierry just should not have happened. In my opinion, I found that part to be just so predictable and if the rest of the book hadn’t been so great, the score based on that ending alone would have been lower.

Great for YA fans who want a little bit of everything (a ghost story, a romance, a treasure hunt, and a bit of historical fiction). It’s worth the read. Some might be put off with the slow development of the plot so this might not be for some who prefer something fast paced. ( )

I am not sure why, but I really thought this story was about Hades. I have no idea why I thought that or what would have given me that idea. This is the description from Amazon:"Caitlyn Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It's what her dead mother's note suggested, and it's what her recurring nightmares allude to.Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams--and her small town--she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse.But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s. Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams?Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever."I'm not sure if it is just me, but the Amazon book description and the Good reads description seem like two different books.Well, I generally DON'T like books about ghosts or horror stories. So, I can't give this book a fair shake. I did enjoy what I read of it, but the subject matter simply isn't one I like to read.So I need help. I want to know how the book ends- but I don't want to read it myself! ( )