{Review} Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet #1) by Jessica Sorensen

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: May 26th, 2015
Finished Date: June 22nd, 2015

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Episode 1

Hidden in the Red Hill Mountains is the quiet town of Hollows Grove.

In that town, there is a field where a secret is buried deep beneath the ground.

And in that field is where Mila was found abandoned with no memory of her past and haunted by visions of the future.

Nine years later, Mila’s life is almost as normal as any other eighteen-year-old. That is until she starts foreseeing the murder of Nyjah Bradley, a guy she’s never met before, but whose face is branded into her mind. 

Constantly plagued by the vision, Mila decides to track Nyjah down and warn him of his impending death. But when the search leads her back to Hollows Grove, she learns there’s more to the sleepy town than meets the eye.

This story takes place over multiple episodes. Each episode is approximately 20,000 words.

The Review: Ultraviolet is the first instalment of a serial novel that any reader could devour in one sitting.
We start the book with a girl awakening in a field with no memory of how she got there or who she is/was – all she knows is that it’s her birthday. Fast forward nine years and we meet Mila (the girl in the field) and we see that she has had a great life after being placed with foster parents elsewhere, she’s just graduated high school and she and her best friend are heading off on a road trip before they head off to college.
Just before she leaves however, she starts have dreams about the murder of a young man that seems so real. What is also startling is that she feels like she knows him and that his name is Nyjah, she also knows that there is a connection to Hollows grove, the place she was found in all of those years ago. She knows what she has to do, she has to go to Hollows Grove and warn him that he will die but whilst something is telling her to go – something is also telling her to stay away.
As the girls set off on their trip Mila unconsciously makes the decision to head for the place…. But what will they find there? Does Nyjah even exist? If he does, how do they plan on saving him?
So, I really enjoyed this and for all it is only 81 pages, it’s sets the full book up perfectly. I was reeled in by the mystery of it all, at first when the girl wakes up in the field, I wanted to know who she was, why was she there? My curiosity was awoken straight away and I wanted to know more. With the fast forward it was nice to see that Mila had been happy where she ended up, life seems great for her and although she is a little bit of a loner her friend had brought her out of her shell. Mila also has a gift where she knows things will happen before they happen and we get a glimpse of how that works in her daily life and sort of introduces her to her BFF too which I thought was cool. I always like a paranormal element in my books and this fit in well with the feel of the book. Mila has a great friend in Novela, she’s cool but cooky too and I love how she accepts all that is Mila without question, there camaraderie is felt throughout the book so that when risks are taken, it’s no surprise that they have each-others backs.
Obviously, Mila is going to end up right in the place she doesn’t want to be – Hollows Grove – and it’s everything you would expect it to be; Small town in the middle of nowhere; Practically empty; Mysterious and full of eeriness…. In fact, it was perfect and the atmosphere was palpable plus you get the feeling that this place has a LOT of secrets of which I will remain silent about. We do learn quite a bit in this but obviously it’s just an introduction but sets up the scene for a very intriguing story and everything that seems to be going on – all focuses on Mila. In such a short story this book did the business by reeling me in and making me want more, I really wish this wasn’t a serial novel though because I hate waiting for things so maybe I will wait until all of the parts are out so that I can fully immerse myself in the whole book. Brilliant start though. 

Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Review for The Vision (Fallen Star #3) by Jessica Sorensen

Posted by Donna
Published Date: October 23rd, 2011
Finished Date: November 24th, 2011
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Paperback
Pages: 303
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The Blurb from Goodreads: Gemma thought she was trapped—that Stephan had finally won. But then time resets and she’s given another chance. 
The clock is ticking as Gemma tries to figure out how to change the vision that ends the world in ice. If she can, then maybe she can save the world from Stephan and give her and Alex a chance at a real future. But changing visions can be dangerous, and sometimes one small mistake can lead to disastrous results.

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The Review: "Don't cry." He leaned in, his lips a silver of air away. "It will be alright." "Will it?" I asked. He kissed me like I was everything. "It will." Tears dripped down my frost bitten cheeks. "How do you know?" "Because I'll save you," he whispered. "I'll always save you, Gemma." 
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Jessica Sorensen has done it yet again. She has utterly blown me away and I can not wait to see what is next.

When Gemma became trapped by Stephan, she thought she would die but when help comes to her, Gemma  is more than shocked when she finally learns the identity of her father. Her father needs her to go back into history and change a mistake that he has done, that will result the end of the world. But when Gemma finally finds the vision, she realises that her and Alex will have to pay the ultimate sacrifice to save the world.

The Vision was one of them novels that once I started I couldn’t put it down. You know I’m a huge fan of this series because I think it’s totally unique and well it  honestly gets more and more unique with each book I read. Jessica has a way of writing explosive storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end and yes, she does some evil cliff-hangers but boy are they good!

I have to admit, I did look at a few reviews that had spoilers in it while I was waiting for this book to arrive but even though I kind of new the storyline, I wasn't actually prepared for the emotions that hit me during this book. The Vision was probably the most emotional book out of the series because we see Gemma's and Alex's relationship on a whole new level. Even though their trying to find a way to be together they are thrown a whole new line of obstacles that honestly leave you emotionally drained in a good way. They were a total shock and I even had tears at some scenes. I do have a love hate relationship with these twists but I'm super excited to find out how it all ends. I have hope that Jessica will do us readers proud.

Overall, The Vision was a fantastic third book to the series. It's a series that you can truly connect with and will be a favourite of mine for a long time. Seriously, if you haven't read this....read it! February 2012 can not come quick enough....I NEED BOOK FOUR NOW!!! 

Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for giving me the opportunity to review this novel.

Author Interview: Jessica Sorensen

Jessica Sorensen: Author of The Fallen Star & The Underworld
Find Jessica on: Jessica Sorensen Blog
Find Jessica on: Facebook - Goodreads
Donna's Review for The Fallen Star: HERE
Donna's Review for The Underworld: HERE

The Fallen Star

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.

Jessica Sorensen is the author of the awesome 'The Fallen Star Series' which you all know I LOVE! Definitely one of my favourite series out there. So please show her a big warm welcome......Hi Jessica! Thank you for joining us today:

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a twenty-eight year-old mother of three, who loves to read, write, and travel.

If you could describe yourself in three words, what words would you use?

Sarcastic, creative, and shy.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was old enough to write because I loved to create stories.

What inspired you to write your first book?

It’s always been my dream to write a book. So when I came up with the idea for The Fallen Star, I decided it was time to give my dream a try.

How did you come up with the concept 'The Fallen Star'?

The concept came from a dream I had about a girl who couldn’t feel emotions. Eventually, I turned that dream into The Fallen Star.

How did you go about picking the names for your characters?

It took me a long time to come up with the names for the characters. For most of them, I looked through lists of names until I found one’s that seemed fitting. But I chose Gemma because the word “gem” means something precious and valuable, which I thought was perfect.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The revision process was probably the hardest part. It took me many revisions to turn The Fallen Star into the story that it is now.

Could you tell us about any upcoming projects?

The project I am working on right now is finishing up the third book in the Fallen Star Series.

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Three Random Questions:

What's your favourite colour?

Violet of course.

What's your favourite food?

Cheesecake

What's your favourite book?

This is a tough one, because I have many favorites, but I guess I would say any of the Mortal Instrument books by Cassandra Clare.
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Awesome answers Jessica! Again, thank you so much for joining us and good luck with the series....you know you have my support!

A Review The Underworld (Fallen Star #2) by Jessica Sorensen

Posted by Donna Published Date: July 31st, 2011
Finished Date: August 3rd, 2011
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown

The Blurb from Goodreads: Gemma thought her mind was gone, but she was wrong. And now she is left trying to figure out the truth to what Stephan is planning to do with her and the star, before it’s too late. But finding out the truth is hard, especially since Gemma doesn’t know who she can trust. There may be only one person who Gemma can turn to for answers, but that means having to go to the one place no one wants to go—The Underworld.

The Review:

“Forever,” he said his breath shaky. "It means we're bonded together forever."

As you all know, I loved the first book 'The Fallen Star' in this series and I was left wondering if this book 'The Underworld' would be as good. Well, we all know second books in a series tend to.......ermm what's the word I'm looking for.....ah fall short? Now the question you should be asking me is "Did The Underworld fall short?" and my answer will be.................HELL NO! It totally rocked!

After the massive cliff-hanger in The Fallen Star, Stephan tried to wipe Gemma's memory but for some reason it doesn't work, she doesn't know who to trust or who to believe, all she knows is that she needs to find her mother and she will do anything to get her back. Needing to find out what Stephan's plan is Gemma, Alex & Laylan head on a mission to bring Gemma's mother back from the one place no-one escapes from..........The Underworld.

The Underworld was such a quick read for me because I was so interested in the plot; I finished it in a matter of days. If you couldn't tell already I loved this book just as much as the first. From the first page I was instantly drawn back into the world that Jessica has created and I spent most of the book on edge of my seat because you honestly can't even guess where the story is going to go. It’s got twists and turns that leave you breathless, a romance that you will leave you begging for more and loveable characters that will keep you entertained all the way through. One thing I love about this book is the different mix of mythical creatures that are included. Not only are there Vampire, Witches and Fae but you also have Foreseers and the Keepers. I believe I mentioned this in my review for ‘The Fallen Star’ but the Foreseers world is truly amazing. It’s a completely new topic for me and I find myself captivated in their world and I'm intrigued to know more. Not only do the Foreseers amaze me but the general storyline of the book is completely unique and Jessica has definitely got the the gift for creating amazing stories.

Our characters are well developed and a complete joy to read about. Gemma is my favourite. With everything she has been through, she strong minded, determined and not afraid to take things head on. Alex is 100% swoon worthy and a total pain in the bum but you can't help love him. He's very stubborn and doesn't show his emotions often but when he does......wow.......yeah like I said......swoon worthy. Now both characters together, I honestly really want to bang there heads together. Sparkles fly when there together and it’s obvious they like each other but the author sure does know how to keep the suspense of their relationship alive in these stories. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat, praying for something to happen and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Overall, this series is fast becoming one of my favourite series. I'm left now dying to know more about the next book in the series. If you haven't read the first book in this series, then I totally recommend it because you are missing out on a great story!!!

Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

 

A review for The Fallen Star (Fallen Star #1) by Jessica Sorensen

Posted by Donna

Published Date: April 7th, 2011

Finished Date: June 23rd, 2011

Source: From author to review

Format: Kindle

Pages: 449

The blurb from Goodreads: 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.

The Review: Firstly I’m going to say “Buy this book and read it.” My oh my…..I honestly don’t even know how to begin reviewing this book and try and give it the justice it deserves…..but I’ll try.

This story follows Gemma, an eighteen year old girl who hasn’t been able to feel any emotions what so ever until recently. Only within the last few months have the emotions slowly been working their way through Gemma’s body, and as she experiences each one she starts to feel a little bit more human. When new boy Alex starts school, Gemma’s emotions soon start to intensify because every time she is near him she feels electricity sparking between them. Soon they start to get to know one another but Gemma realises that Alex is hiding secrets, secrets that somehow involve her, leaving her wondering if he’s a friend or foe? This then leads her into a deadly situation.

Isn’t the book cover of this book beautiful? It’s what initially attracted me to the book but once I read the blurb, I was more than excited to read it. The blurb on Goodreads doesn’t really give any indication as to what this story is actually about, so I kind of started the book a little blindfolded, but wow, I didn’t realise that the title of this book says it’s all.
I was completely amazed by how Jessica Sorensen has created this story; she has not stuck to an original love story or original vampire’s, werewolf’s story but created a topic I never imagined reading about. Not only was this story interesting but it was captivating, intriguing, and mysterious, a lot of creativity has gone into it and I loved every minute of it. It’s safe to say I’m wondering why this book hasn’t been picked up by a publishing company.

Our main character Gemma was such a loveable character and I loved feeling the new emotions that she experiences. It was also great to see how her character adapts with everything crazy happening to her, when she cried I cried and when she was happy, I was happy with her. Not only is she a strong character but a character that I felt truly connected with and I pray there is a happy ending for her.

Now Alex, where to start with him? Let’s say….wow! He is one hot guy but god did I have a love hate relationship with him. One minute he’s mean and the next he’s nice, it was hard to keep up with him sometimes but I honestly think his true feelings are genuine. He’s obviously battling between what’ he believes is right and wrong, so I can understand why he is the way he is but I’m dying to find out what happens between him and Gemma. Their romance is minimal during this book but you do see bits that manage to keep you interested enough.

The story itself was completely refreshing and unique. We get introduced to foreseers, vampires and witches with a slightly new take. I found I was more interested in the foreseers, especially when Gemma is introduced to their world and I can’t wait to read more about it.

Overall, this is a fantastic debut novel. Jessica has done a great job and I’m dying to get my hands on the next book. I’m so glad I only have to wait until September for the next instalment because talk about a cliff-hanger! Yeah, it’s a big one! Read it guys! You’ll love it.

Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for giving me the opportunity to review your work.