New Release: Haven (Apocalypse Chronicles, Part I) by Laury Falter

Haven (Apocalypse Chronicles, Part I) by Laury Falter 

Release date: June 22, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Haven, the first book in the Apocalypse Chronicles...

On an ordinary day in early September, Kennedy Shaw leaves for school unaware that within a few minutes the world she knows will be gone - succumbed to an outbreak of epidemic proportions. After finding a safe haven inside the security of her enclosed high school, she learns that four others have survived, one being a bold, mysterious transfer student from Texas whose unruffled demeanor harbors more than a cool interest in her. As they struggle to survive the dead fighting their way inside, will Kennedy discover there is more to life than survival? And will she and the others find a way to live in this terrifying new world?

Book Excerpt

"I'm different, Kennedy." Those words seemed to sting as they left his beautiful lips.

"We're all different, Harrison. I have steel throwing stars in my pocket, and I know how to use them. Do you know any other eighteen-year-olds who do that?  You asked that same question this morning, remember? Not one. Not a single one." I paused to meet his stare directly, ensuring my last point was heard. "I don't think you're any more different than the rest of us."

He laughed under his breath. "You don't now, but you will eventually."

In a way that made me think he was trying to prove his point, he opened the refrigerator door wide, so that I could clearly see inside. It was stocked, but not with fruit, vegetables, and Yoo-Hoo drinks. Bags of raw meat were crammed into every shelf and drawer available. That was it, just bags of raw meat. He began shoving as many of them as he could fit into his duffel bag, stuffing it so tightly it couldn't zip closed. When he straightened up and turned, he discovered that I hadn't moved.

"You underestimate me," I said.

He seemed surprised that I wasn't bowled over by his brazen display of how odd he was. "Why are you so determined to like me?" he countered.

"Why are you so determined to push me away?"

"Like you do with others?" he retorted, striking at the one thing he knew I couldn't deny.

My only response was to press my lips together as the uncomfortable silence stretched between us.

Obviously, he'd seen me sitting alone in the library during lunch and he knew that I was short on friends. I was also pretty sure he'd heard my story through one of the many strings of gossip that seemed to surround me. He laughed under his breath again, this time with thick sarcasm. "We are similar, Kennedy. We keep to ourselves, preserving that preciously safe space around us, denying others entry. We make it painful for others so they won't think about invading it. We make ourselves invisible or unreceptive so they won't consider trying. I've watched you do it for a year. But we do this for different reasons. You do it so that others can't hurt you. I do it so that I can't hurt others." He slung the duffel bag over his shoulder effortlessly despite the weight it held.

"So that's it?" I said, causing him to halt. He kept his back to me as I asked, "That's why you never asked me out, why you're being…reticent now? You think you can hurt me."

His shoulders lifted as he drew in a deep breath. "Kennedy," he exhaled wearily, "it's the only reason that could keep me from you."

About the Author

Laury Falter is the author of the bestselling Guardian Trilogy. She writes young adult paranormal romances and urban fantasy when she's not taking her stray dogs for a walk or enjoying a date night with her husband.

Laury has released two series, the Guardian Trilogy and the Residue Series (a spinoff of the Guardian Trilogy books), and is currently releasing her third series, the Apocalypse Chronicles.

To learn more about Laury and her novels, visit her at:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Eternity by Laury Falter

Eternity by Laury Falter
Publisher: Audeamus LLC
Release Date: August 29, 2011
Purchase: Amazon 

Maggie thought she was safe until an old enemy arrives in New Orleans with a dire threat: A battle is on the way.

With only a few days to spare, she and Eran embark on a path that is expected to prepare them for the world’s most evil creatures. But what Maggie discovers is far more disturbing…the truth behind her identity and why their enemies will never give up.

My Thoughts:
I am completely addicted to this series.  I really enjoyed Fallen, the first book in the Guardian Trilogy, but Eternity totally blew me away.  I knew I would like it since I was a fan of the first, but nothing could have prepared me for just how much I would fall in love with not only the characters, but the whole world that Ms.Falter has created.

Eternity picks up where Fallen left us with Eran and Maggie trying to stay one step ahead of the Fallen Ones who want to destroy Maggie.  This proves to be harder than they thoughts when several Fallen Ones start enrolling in her school.  When a warning comes from one of their enemies, Eran starts traveling at night to gain some knowledge as to who is leading the army and what they will face.  This leaves Maggie open to uncovering her other lives and that is where the story really took off for me.  We get to see how Eran and Maggie met, how they fought together, and in the end how they fell in love.  It was beautiful and one of the most romantic things I have ever read.  I loved loved loved that the story took us into the past and let us see the big events in Maggie's lives.  Honestly I would read a book from each of her lives if I could, the chapters that contained the past were that good and totally captivated me.  The story in Eternity is not just past filler, we learn quite a bit about other characters that totally surprised me and we get to see Maggie live up to her badarse past lives.  I really appreciated that the author took the time to continue the storyline while giving us a ton of background information.  I understand more about why Maggie is in danger and about the Fallen Ones.  Just brilliant!

I love Eran and Maggie.  They are quickly becoming my favorite couple of all time and seeing how they fell in love was amazing.  Their love truly does stand the test of time.  Felix, Ezra, & Rufus were awesome just like in the first book and I loved their loyalty to Maggie and her fight.  I am still unsure of The Warden and Bridget, I think they will have a bigger role in the next book because I can't see them just being secondary characters.  I could  be wrong but there is just something sinister about them both that I think will come out eventually.  I loved Bronte!  I was skeptical at first but let me tell you that woman was awesome!

If you haven't picked up Fallen yet you are seriously missing out.  I can't say enough how much I am in love with this world and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book Reckoning.  I have a feeling it will be EPIC!

Review: Fallen by Laury Falter

Fallen by Laury Falter
Release Date: April 1, 2009
Purchase: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble

Fallen - the first book in the Guardian Trilogy...

Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.

As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.

 

My Thoughts:

I was pleasantly surprised by Fallen.  It isn't your normal everyday Angel story and I fully believe that Laury Falter is on to something here.

Maggie having moved around a lot in her eighteen years has just been told she will be living in New Orleans for a year.  Her first reaction of course is no way, but after meeting her new roommates and moving into her new home she decides that maybe this won't be so bad...that is until strange things and guys start popping up.  Maggie has always been different, she has an ability that not many possess and when strange things start happening and she realizes that her life is in danger she starts wondering just what exactly she is.  Filled with a wonderful cast of characters, Fallen, gives a new look into Angels and Guardians.

Like I said I was very pleasantly surprised with this book.  It is definitely different from anything I have read and that is a very good thing.  Falter takes a whole new approach to the Angel genre and it was very refreshing.  I won't go into the Lore behind her world since she has it played out nicely within the story and I don't want to spoil it for anyone.  Just take my word that it is all worth the wait.

I also really enjoyed the characters.  They were all written extremely well and it was nice to see Maggie confide in and finally find family.  I am a little upset with her Aunt though.  I don't quite understand why she left her to go overseas when every other time Maggie was allowed to go with her.  Being the only blood relative that Maggie had I would have liked to have seen her involved a bit more.

My only other complaint is that the story seemed to get a little repetitive at times.  I would have liked to have seen certain things come to light sooner than they did and I think this could have been accomplished if the author refrained from repeating things.  For instance we are told that Maggie can sense when certain people are near her because the hairs on the back of her neck stand up okay great got it.  Well this is stated several times throughout the book to the point where I started skipping the lines where this was talked about.  I would have loved to have read more about Maggie's ability or why these certain people were after her.  Everything is brought out in the end I just wanted it to me a little sooner.

All in all a great start to what appears to be a very interesting series.  I am definitely interested in continuing on with the future books.

3.5 Snowflakes

*A copy of Fallen was provided by the author for an honest review*