Hi lovelies, I'm super duper happy to be able to be a part of the JLA Summer Blog Tour
For this tour, I read and reviewed Cursed! :)
Title: Cursed
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: September 18, 2012
Format: Hardcover; 288 pages
Rating: 5/5 stars
Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.
However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
My Review
Jennifer L. Armentrout does not disappoint, in fact, she continues to impress me with her superb writing. I’m always in awe at the way she can easily make me fall in love with her books. Like the others I have read by her, Cursed became an instant favorite. She weaves a story with a paranormal touch full of mystery, uncertainty and a romance that had me on my knees begging for more.
Ember was definitely my favorite in the book. She’s one character I admire so much. Ember was unselfish, caring and a great sister. She astounded me with her ability to take care of her five year old sister at such a young age without no help at all. She was willing to do anything to protect and provide for Olivia. Not only was she forced to grow up quickly, Ember is also taunted and made fun at school on a daily basis. To top that all off, Ember cannot touch anyone for fear of killing them with her touch. Ember becomes a social outcast and one sad girl in all of two years. Even through all this mess, Ember is a fighter; physically, mentally and emotionally. When she and Olivia are taken to be among the other gifted, Ember learns more about the accident and finds a way to get to the bottom of things. She was determined and relentless. By the end of the book, Ember embraces her power and realizes what she can do is not a curse, but a gift. What I love is how Ember gained confidence and belief in herself where she no longer saw herself as a freak. I saw Ember transform right before my eyes and I loved that so damn much.
Hayden was another joy to read about in this book. He was a fabulous character in and out. He had this odd, but flattering protectiveness towards Ember that I found too cute to resist. For me, Hayden was dark and alluring, but he was also kind and brought in the sweet and even humorous moments into the book. I just loved his overall personality. He believed in Ember when no else did and he kept encouraging when no one else could. His relationship with Ember turns into an honest and emotionally-packed romance that shot straight through my heart. Their romance was intense and the type where it felt like you had to walk on eggshells all the time because of the danger and harm both can bring to each other. Ember and Hayden both had building tension and passion with longing and yearning thrown into the mix, but their romance was also sweet and sigh-worthy.
From the beginning, I was drawn to the story. I loved the idea of these people having powers gathered together to control and use them for good. I enjoyed knowing more about the other gifted living under the Cromwell house and I liked that each person had different powers. The best part was seeing how each struggled. They all had their dark pasts and secrets in life; struggling to become a better person. The mystery in this book, although slightly predictable, was well thought-out. I ended up figuring out who was behind everything, but I thought it tied any loose ends and it certainly didn’t take away any enjoyment or love I had for this book. Even with the predictability, there was a build up of anticipation for that big moment and when I got there I felt like I was going to burst. So much goes on in this book, you’ll be entertained more ways than one.
Overall, Cursed was a splendid novel! Armentrout exceeded my expectations and she gave me a book that I throughly enjoyed and plan on reliving all over again. With incredible wit, a storyline that grabs attention and a heart-warming ending, Cursed will feed the continuous JLA addiction we all have!
.jpg)
