thathannah's review against another edition
2.0
Title: Undeniably Chosen
Author: Shelly Crane
Series: Yes
Cliffhanger: Not Really
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Rating: Not sure maybe 2
HEA:
Undeniably Chosen is about Maggie and Caleb's daughter Ava Jacobson. She meets her significant Seth Watson. He is from the Watson clan who is the enemy of the Jacobsons. It takes a while for Ava to fully trust Seth and they face challenges with their respective challenges as well as the normal drama from the Virtuoso Council.
At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to read about Ava instead of Caleb and Maggie. Caleb and Maggie are the characters I read first and I really liked reading about them. Then I came around and was really excited to be back in this world and thought it was a fun treat to have another book. However, as I was reading I was kind of disappointed. It just fell a little short for me.
Just like Caleb and Maggie, Seth and Ava were great together. It was rocky at first but they really worked through all the obstacles in their way. It was also really great to see the relationship build since it didn't start with them being completely in love and together from the beginning. It really meant more when they were finally together because they had to work for it. It was also nice that Caleb, Maggie, and the rest of the Jacobsons were in the book. I love a guy taking the girl's last name when getting married. And I am totally guessing that Trouble and Ember will end up together.
A lot of time it is easier to talk about the things you don't like. So although it may seem like there is more wrong with this book it's just easier to talk about. And there is a lot that needs to be worked on.
So to start with the dislikes this book was really long. It was not just long in page numbers but the plot kind of dragged. That is because it took forever for anything to get resolved. It went through the same pattern over and over again. First Seth and Ava would try to hang out to get to know each other then would talk about the same things and then she would doubt him and her family would doubt Seth. And that happened a lot.
It also took a long time for the plot to really move forward. At the beginning there is an attack from the Watson clan and then not really anything from them until the end. Seth, Ava, and her family would talk about how the Watson family was planning something and they had to be ready but nothing happened and they didn't really do much to look into it.
I also thought there would be more of Caleb and Maggie. Even though the book is about Seth and Ava, she is Caleb and Maggie's daughter. I was really surprised by how little they were in the book especially since in their books their families were more involved. Seth and Ava had to deal with a lot and they didn't talk to her family and work together to resolve issues that needed all of them. And when they were in the book the Jacobson family was not always great to Seth because he is from a rival clan.
And though I understand being cautious they didn't always handle it well just like Ava didn't handle it well. She constantly got mad at her family for their actions when they were just trying to protect her. I expected more from the family and for that situation not to drag on for practically the entire book. The issue of Seth being in a rival clan could have been solved a lot sooner.
I also don't know why there wasn't more information given to Seth. If I were him and my family told me how horrible the Jacobson family was I would ask questions when I did meet them. Questions about his mom, their family, the traditions of the Virtuoso, and so much more. And Ava got mad at her family for not welcoming someone from a rival clans into their family with no questions when Seth and she did not try very hard to get to know them and really ease their fears. Their valid fears for a family member who is now involved with someone from a family that is obsessed with hurting them.
The endless back and forth of love when Seth and Ava started to really be together got annoying. That was also a problem for me with Caleb and Maggie's books after a while. Seth and Ava's relationship was great and getting to read about them getting to know each other was fun. However, it just never stopped. They told each other that they loved each other, how much, why, etc. over and over. It was so often that it took up a lot of space in the book that could have furthered other plot lines and bonding between Seth and Ava's family sooner. Or actually doing something about the Watson clan. Or furthering the plot of the Council and their plans. Basically all the story lines that should have had more time devoted to them during the book that weren't.
Seth and Ava were constantly looking into each other's eyes and holding each other. Ava twisted Seth's shirt a lot. And what was with Seth's thumb that Ava kept talking about. Every little touch was described in detail. And I think the readers understand the calming touch so it does not need to be explained practically every time they touch. And they don't need to be doing all their love talk when serious, albeit confusing and plot wasting, stuff is going on. Like all the stuff with the previous visionary, Ashlyn, that I still don't fully understand what the purpose was for that.
There is going to be at least one more book after this one. As someone who likes to wait for an entire series to be finished before reading I was not too happy to realize about 90% in that there is no way they can finish everything that was set up in this book. Especially when it took so long just to get through what little it seemed like there was in the book. At least there wasn't a big cliffhanger so I can survive until whenever the next book comes out. Which probably won't be for at least a year with how much waiting I've had to do for this book.
I don't think that the book was edited really well because there were a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. It is not uncommon for a few things to slip through the cracks so I give a little slack for grammar when reading. This book had so many mistakes that it got very annoying. And many were the kind of mistakes that could be easily fixed with a simple read through. I hope that those mistakes get fixed for future readers and that the next book is checked more carefully.
Editing was also a problem just for the general plot. Many things were glossed over like their ascension and gifts. Does Ava have the power to shoot fire, ice, or both? Is Seth's really to shoot fire or just not be hurt by fire? Why have a Watson attack and then basically forget about them except for the end when it helps with the plot? Why is the council all of a sudden evil at the end? I thought that they fixed that for the most part in the other books and that it was on the path to being better.
Why are there so many Virtuoso that are so evil and look the other way when a girl is basically tortured. Why is killing an acceptable thing (self defense but still). I get that they aren't human but they are not supernatural enough to not still follow basic human laws. Why does the family seemed to be different in this book? Their fundamental personalities should be a little more similar.
Why was the previous visionary's story so important? How did it help the plot at all? Why was Seth an echoling? Why didn't Caleb, Maggie, or Ava explain the history between the Watson and Jacobson clans? Why was Seth's mom kidnapped in the first place? Why did they keep Seth? I thought that there was a reason that they kept him specifically. Was there not a reason?
If this book was cut in half but covered pretty much the same stuff it would have been better off. That would essentially force Crane to cut all the BS, time wasting, plot confusing stuff from the book. And if there was only one more book then she could have made it just one so the reader didn't get surprised at the end with having to wait for another book.
Regardless of the issues it had a strong concept that would have been amazing with more thought and editing. If you haven't read it yet and can wait I would recommend waiting until all the books are out so they can be read all at the same time. I think that I would have enjoyed this one a little better if I had the next one (which I kind of hope is the last so the series is not one that is dragged so long that I loose interest) ready to read right away. It is still worth a read but just needs a general plot and grammar polish to even be close to my expectations for the book.
Author: Shelly Crane
Series: Yes
Cliffhanger: Not Really
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Rating: Not sure maybe 2
HEA:
Spoiler
YesUndeniably Chosen is about Maggie and Caleb's daughter Ava Jacobson. She meets her significant Seth Watson. He is from the Watson clan who is the enemy of the Jacobsons. It takes a while for Ava to fully trust Seth and they face challenges with their respective challenges as well as the normal drama from the Virtuoso Council.
At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to read about Ava instead of Caleb and Maggie. Caleb and Maggie are the characters I read first and I really liked reading about them. Then I came around and was really excited to be back in this world and thought it was a fun treat to have another book. However, as I was reading I was kind of disappointed. It just fell a little short for me.
Just like Caleb and Maggie, Seth and Ava were great together. It was rocky at first but they really worked through all the obstacles in their way. It was also really great to see the relationship build since it didn't start with them being completely in love and together from the beginning. It really meant more when they were finally together because they had to work for it. It was also nice that Caleb, Maggie, and the rest of the Jacobsons were in the book. I love a guy taking the girl's last name when getting married. And I am totally guessing that Trouble and Ember will end up together.
A lot of time it is easier to talk about the things you don't like. So although it may seem like there is more wrong with this book it's just easier to talk about. And there is a lot that needs to be worked on.
So to start with the dislikes this book was really long. It was not just long in page numbers but the plot kind of dragged. That is because it took forever for anything to get resolved. It went through the same pattern over and over again. First Seth and Ava would try to hang out to get to know each other then would talk about the same things and then she would doubt him and her family would doubt Seth. And that happened a lot.
It also took a long time for the plot to really move forward. At the beginning there is an attack from the Watson clan and then not really anything from them until the end. Seth, Ava, and her family would talk about how the Watson family was planning something and they had to be ready but nothing happened and they didn't really do much to look into it.
I also thought there would be more of Caleb and Maggie. Even though the book is about Seth and Ava, she is Caleb and Maggie's daughter. I was really surprised by how little they were in the book especially since in their books their families were more involved. Seth and Ava had to deal with a lot and they didn't talk to her family and work together to resolve issues that needed all of them. And when they were in the book the Jacobson family was not always great to Seth because he is from a rival clan.
And though I understand being cautious they didn't always handle it well just like Ava didn't handle it well. She constantly got mad at her family for their actions when they were just trying to protect her. I expected more from the family and for that situation not to drag on for practically the entire book. The issue of Seth being in a rival clan could have been solved a lot sooner.
I also don't know why there wasn't more information given to Seth. If I were him and my family told me how horrible the Jacobson family was I would ask questions when I did meet them. Questions about his mom, their family, the traditions of the Virtuoso, and so much more. And Ava got mad at her family for not welcoming someone from a rival clans into their family with no questions when Seth and she did not try very hard to get to know them and really ease their fears. Their valid fears for a family member who is now involved with someone from a family that is obsessed with hurting them.
The endless back and forth of love when Seth and Ava started to really be together got annoying. That was also a problem for me with Caleb and Maggie's books after a while. Seth and Ava's relationship was great and getting to read about them getting to know each other was fun. However, it just never stopped. They told each other that they loved each other, how much, why, etc. over and over. It was so often that it took up a lot of space in the book that could have furthered other plot lines and bonding between Seth and Ava's family sooner. Or actually doing something about the Watson clan. Or furthering the plot of the Council and their plans. Basically all the story lines that should have had more time devoted to them during the book that weren't.
Seth and Ava were constantly looking into each other's eyes and holding each other. Ava twisted Seth's shirt a lot. And what was with Seth's thumb that Ava kept talking about. Every little touch was described in detail. And I think the readers understand the calming touch so it does not need to be explained practically every time they touch. And they don't need to be doing all their love talk when serious, albeit confusing and plot wasting, stuff is going on. Like all the stuff with the previous visionary, Ashlyn, that I still don't fully understand what the purpose was for that.
There is going to be at least one more book after this one. As someone who likes to wait for an entire series to be finished before reading I was not too happy to realize about 90% in that there is no way they can finish everything that was set up in this book. Especially when it took so long just to get through what little it seemed like there was in the book. At least there wasn't a big cliffhanger so I can survive until whenever the next book comes out. Which probably won't be for at least a year with how much waiting I've had to do for this book.
I don't think that the book was edited really well because there were a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. It is not uncommon for a few things to slip through the cracks so I give a little slack for grammar when reading. This book had so many mistakes that it got very annoying. And many were the kind of mistakes that could be easily fixed with a simple read through. I hope that those mistakes get fixed for future readers and that the next book is checked more carefully.
Editing was also a problem just for the general plot. Many things were glossed over like their ascension and gifts. Does Ava have the power to shoot fire, ice, or both? Is Seth's really to shoot fire or just not be hurt by fire? Why have a Watson attack and then basically forget about them except for the end when it helps with the plot? Why is the council all of a sudden evil at the end? I thought that they fixed that for the most part in the other books and that it was on the path to being better.
Why are there so many Virtuoso that are so evil and look the other way when a girl is basically tortured. Why is killing an acceptable thing (self defense but still). I get that they aren't human but they are not supernatural enough to not still follow basic human laws. Why does the family seemed to be different in this book? Their fundamental personalities should be a little more similar.
Why was the previous visionary's story so important? How did it help the plot at all? Why was Seth an echoling? Why didn't Caleb, Maggie, or Ava explain the history between the Watson and Jacobson clans? Why was Seth's mom kidnapped in the first place? Why did they keep Seth? I thought that there was a reason that they kept him specifically. Was there not a reason?
If this book was cut in half but covered pretty much the same stuff it would have been better off. That would essentially force Crane to cut all the BS, time wasting, plot confusing stuff from the book. And if there was only one more book then she could have made it just one so the reader didn't get surprised at the end with having to wait for another book.
Regardless of the issues it had a strong concept that would have been amazing with more thought and editing. If you haven't read it yet and can wait I would recommend waiting until all the books are out so they can be read all at the same time. I think that I would have enjoyed this one a little better if I had the next one (which I kind of hope is the last so the series is not one that is dragged so long that I loose interest) ready to read right away. It is still worth a read but just needs a general plot and grammar polish to even be close to my expectations for the book.
sarajayy's review
4.0
4.5 stars for me!! It was everything I wanted, I'm in love! Can't wait for more!
reilly_k_'s review
4.0
It was a really good plot to the book but it seemed like the actual writing part of it was not as refined as it was in the other books.
darkestdreamer's review
2.0
I wanted so much to love, love love this as much as the other books in the series. Really, I did. I was so excited going into this and literally couldn't wait to start reading this as soon as I got it in my hands. The little sneak peak we got in Independence had me salivating for Ava and Seth's story.
It started out great but then it steadily headed into the "it's okay, I guess" stage. By the time I was almost done, I just wanted it to be over. I can't pinpoint the best word to describe this. Cheesy? I think that's it although I still feel there's a better word.
Ava and Seth and everybody else really just came out as cheesy with all their speeches. I found the little plot twists lacking and honestly I was getting more of a fanfictiony (Not a real word is it?) feel to this.
I was very disappointed with the way Watsons just seem EVIL for the sake of being evil. They are never given any real justification for being the way they are. They just come out as being bad guys for the sake of having bad guys in the story to make the Jacobsons look holy and righteous and pure. Is it possible that all the Watsons are really just evil and there are no descent people in the whole family except Donald and Seth, who happen to have a connection to the Jacobsons?
In the end, I wasn't very invested in Ava and Seth as a couple or as characters because they seemed flat and less interesting carbon copies of Maggie and Caleb. I won't be continuing with the series, I think. I'd like to keep the perfection of the first four books in my head, thank you.
It started out great but then it steadily headed into the "it's okay, I guess" stage. By the time I was almost done, I just wanted it to be over. I can't pinpoint the best word to describe this. Cheesy? I think that's it although I still feel there's a better word.
Ava and Seth and everybody else really just came out as cheesy with all their speeches. I found the little plot twists lacking and honestly I was getting more of a fanfictiony (Not a real word is it?) feel to this.
I was very disappointed with the way Watsons just seem EVIL for the sake of being evil. They are never given any real justification for being the way they are. They just come out as being bad guys for the sake of having bad guys in the story to make the Jacobsons look holy and righteous and pure. Is it possible that all the Watsons are really just evil and there are no descent people in the whole family except Donald and Seth, who happen to have a connection to the Jacobsons?
In the end, I wasn't very invested in Ava and Seth as a couple or as characters because they seemed flat and less interesting carbon copies of Maggie and Caleb. I won't be continuing with the series, I think. I'd like to keep the perfection of the first four books in my head, thank you.
eleni133's review
4.0
4.5/5
I am so happy that Shelly Crane managed to capture all the endearing romance as she did with Maggie and Caleb's books while at the same time making it feel new and exciting. There were a few things that seemed very similar, like how Seth constantly called Ava adorable, while Caleb always called Maggie amazing. But all and all, Undeniably Chosen was so beautifully written that I could quote the whole book. I loved Seth and Ava's relationship, and how it developed not as fast as the literally insta-love seen in the prior books with other significants. And how their love and adoration for each other overshadowed any ploys constructed by the Watson's. Overall I thought this book was, as Seth would say, freaking adorable, and cannot wait for Undeniably Fated to be released.
I am so happy that Shelly Crane managed to capture all the endearing romance as she did with Maggie and Caleb's books while at the same time making it feel new and exciting. There were a few things that seemed very similar, like how Seth constantly called Ava adorable, while Caleb always called Maggie amazing. But all and all, Undeniably Chosen was so beautifully written that I could quote the whole book. I loved Seth and Ava's relationship, and how it developed not as fast as the literally insta-love seen in the prior books with other significants. And how their love and adoration for each other overshadowed any ploys constructed by the Watson's. Overall I thought this book was, as Seth would say, freaking adorable, and cannot wait for Undeniably Fated to be released.
faerietears's review
3.0
2.5 stars - rounded up to 3.
I received an ARC from the author as part of her street team.
I want to start off by saying that I LOVE the Significance series. The first couple of books are so ooey-gooey, sickeningly-sweet in a good way. There were some errors in editing in those first books, but I was too busy swooning over the love story to pay them much attention.
I LIKED that Seth is a Fireman (HOT) and I just generally liked him as a character. He had a lot to overcome from his upbringing and he was inherently good.
I DIDN'T LIKE that the book ran so long. It wouldn't have been a problem for me if there had been a point to the first quarter of the book. Basically Ava and Seth bond, Ava runs away, Seth's family (the evil Watson's) try to kidnap her and fail. Then we have what felt like 300 pages of Ava being a brat and not realizing that with the bond they're going to love each other, no matter what. Ugh. So frustrating.
I LIKED Ava rescuing Seth. And I really liked the character Trouble. I wish he'd been in the book more.
I DIDN'T LIKE that we don't have a clear view of what their powers are after ascension. As another review said, at one point Ava shoots out fire, but then she shoots ice. And Seth is really hot to Ava's touch, but I don't actually know what that means... what IS his power? What is hers???
I LIKED the dreamwalking. At first I was kind of confused, because there really wasn't much transition. But those scenes were really funny and I loved how faithful Seth was to the "real" Ava, even though the dream Ava would have gladly thrown herself at him.
I DIDN'T LIKE the quality of the book. Now, I received an ARC so I realize it wasn't the final edit, HOWEVER, the ARC was sent out a week before the release date, and there was too much to be fixed before that week was up. This book read like a first draft. Yes I loved the characters, but it needed SO much more editing not only for grammar, spelling, punctuation (many of which spellcheck would have caught if it had just been run through! Heck, when a book is loaded at Amazon they run a spell check and give you a list of errors if you bother to look! 99% of these errors should have been caught!) but also for content. A quality content editor would have had the author cut out half of the stuff that happened (or rather, didn't happen...) in the beginning to even out the pacing. So much happened at the end and most of it was really rushed and glossed over.
Overall, I'm glad I didn't pay money for this book. I would gladly have paid money if this book had been properly edited and proofread before being released. I will still read the next in this series, but if the quality is as lacking in the next book, I don't think I'll continue in the series unless someone loans me a copy through Amazon Kindle.
I received an ARC from the author as part of her street team.
I want to start off by saying that I LOVE the Significance series. The first couple of books are so ooey-gooey, sickeningly-sweet in a good way. There were some errors in editing in those first books, but I was too busy swooning over the love story to pay them much attention.
I LIKED that Seth is a Fireman (HOT) and I just generally liked him as a character. He had a lot to overcome from his upbringing and he was inherently good.
I DIDN'T LIKE that the book ran so long. It wouldn't have been a problem for me if there had been a point to the first quarter of the book. Basically Ava and Seth bond, Ava runs away, Seth's family (the evil Watson's) try to kidnap her and fail. Then we have what felt like 300 pages of Ava being a brat and not realizing that with the bond they're going to love each other, no matter what. Ugh. So frustrating.
I LIKED Ava rescuing Seth. And I really liked the character Trouble. I wish he'd been in the book more.
I DIDN'T LIKE that we don't have a clear view of what their powers are after ascension. As another review said, at one point Ava shoots out fire, but then she shoots ice. And Seth is really hot to Ava's touch, but I don't actually know what that means... what IS his power? What is hers???
I LIKED the dreamwalking. At first I was kind of confused, because there really wasn't much transition. But those scenes were really funny and I loved how faithful Seth was to the "real" Ava, even though the dream Ava would have gladly thrown herself at him.
I DIDN'T LIKE the quality of the book. Now, I received an ARC so I realize it wasn't the final edit, HOWEVER, the ARC was sent out a week before the release date, and there was too much to be fixed before that week was up. This book read like a first draft. Yes I loved the characters, but it needed SO much more editing not only for grammar, spelling, punctuation (many of which spellcheck would have caught if it had just been run through! Heck, when a book is loaded at Amazon they run a spell check and give you a list of errors if you bother to look! 99% of these errors should have been caught!) but also for content. A quality content editor would have had the author cut out half of the stuff that happened (or rather, didn't happen...) in the beginning to even out the pacing. So much happened at the end and most of it was really rushed and glossed over.
Overall, I'm glad I didn't pay money for this book. I would gladly have paid money if this book had been properly edited and proofread before being released. I will still read the next in this series, but if the quality is as lacking in the next book, I don't think I'll continue in the series unless someone loans me a copy through Amazon Kindle.
tweetyandy's review
5.0
I didn't think I could love this series anymore than I already had BUT I LOVED THIS!! OMGEEEEEE I need more and I need more now!!
ktbgoodwin's review
2.0
This is sad. I wanted to like Undeniably Chosen SO BAD. I mean, the plot! Romeo and Juliet-esque! So much potential.
But... it started off okay. Then got really boring. Then picked up a little. Then was boring again through the end.
It was overlong. It had way too much shoved in at the end that (again) was very boring and convoluted.
I didn't care about Seth too much, or our MC. Eh.
I don't know. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
But... it started off okay. Then got really boring. Then picked up a little. Then was boring again through the end.
It was overlong. It had way too much shoved in at the end that (again) was very boring and convoluted.
I didn't care about Seth too much, or our MC. Eh.
I don't know. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
yche09's review against another edition
5.0
UNDENIABLY CHOSEN is UNDENIABLY AMAZING!!!
I actually just finished the book 2 hours ago and I'm very ecstatic that I can share the experience with you all STRAIGHT AWAY! Woooo!!!
I feel like I just came off a roller coaster ride. I cannot tell you just how many kinds of feelings I had for this book while I was reading it. I think there were more than 10! If you have been following my reviews, you would know that I am a big, big, REALLY REALLY REALLY BIG fan of the SIGNIFICANCE SERIES. However, that does not necessarily mean that I will give any book in the series a perfect five just like that. Oh no, no, no. I personally think that it's a disadvantage because my expectation is SKY HIGH for this book, but then... Gosh, I DON'T EVEN NEED TO LIKE THE ENTIRE SIGNIFICANCE SERIES TO APPRECIATE THIS BOOK!!!! I got more that I expected and then some!!!!
The plot picks up years after the first generation's books. I love how Shelly Crane made it very mysterious and so full fo twists and turns. You think you know something... but nooo you don't! I also love how the author carried on doing what she does best in the series... A Sweet scene one minute then POWER-BLAZING the next! It's full of action as it is full of romance. To me it just had the right blend. You will never feel bored!!!
Now let's talk characters!
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR Y'ALL TO MEET SETH!!!!
SETH.
JUST SETH. T_____________________T
Your heart will break for him. Then you would love him. Then you would really, really, really LOVE HIM.
How weird is it that I find him hotter than Caleb (the hero from the first generation)? Haha! Soooorrryy Caleb, my Caleb, BUT NOTHING BEATS A FIRE FIGHTER WHO FIGHTS FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT!!!!
Seth may have been raised by the enemy, but he's totally UNLIKE them. I promise you. He's a survivor, a protector, a loving kid who wants his family's approval, but then accepts the fact that he can't have it all. He's humble, he's bashful (at times) AND HE'S SO DAAAAAMMMNNNN SWWEEETT!!! I TELL YOU!!!! What I love best about him is that there wasn't any doubt in his mind about the bonding thing. He was all for it! He loved having a significant and he appreciated it. My heart melted for him because, man.. he really waited and of course, when you wait for something for the longest time, you sure know how to value it. That's him. Every girl's waking dream!
Now onto our girl Ava. BEST GIRL EVER! I could totally feel her frustration with Seth's family, with her family.. with everything that surrounds their situation. Did it let her down? NO! She's my kind of girl because she fought for him! She fought everyone for him. I love it that even though she had her doubts (which were not unfounded, of course with all the history with the Watson) about Seth, she held on. She held on to the most important thing in their life and that's finding each other. Imagine waiting for someone and finding out that it's not your fairy tale. That would suck, but you have to swallow it, smile and deal with what's handed to you. For her, yeah it sucked, but she smiled and made the most out of it. I love it that after everything, she really does appreciate Seth's efforts and is very willing to do the same.
They totally, totally DESERVE EACH OTHER.
If you ask me about the other characters, all I can say is that they have grown. I am so happy for each and every one of them. :)
Ava and Seth. This is about them figuring out where they stand in their world. Finding each other and just living day by day with all the barriers that surrounds their relationship was hard, but the end result it beautiful. JUST PLAIN BEAUTIFUL.
This is a book that I have been waiting for, for a very long time.
I can tell you now,
It was worth the wait. :)
UNDENIABLY WORTH THE WAIT!!!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I actually just finished the book 2 hours ago and I'm very ecstatic that I can share the experience with you all STRAIGHT AWAY! Woooo!!!
I feel like I just came off a roller coaster ride. I cannot tell you just how many kinds of feelings I had for this book while I was reading it. I think there were more than 10! If you have been following my reviews, you would know that I am a big, big, REALLY REALLY REALLY BIG fan of the SIGNIFICANCE SERIES. However, that does not necessarily mean that I will give any book in the series a perfect five just like that. Oh no, no, no. I personally think that it's a disadvantage because my expectation is SKY HIGH for this book, but then... Gosh, I DON'T EVEN NEED TO LIKE THE ENTIRE SIGNIFICANCE SERIES TO APPRECIATE THIS BOOK!!!! I got more that I expected and then some!!!!
The plot picks up years after the first generation's books. I love how Shelly Crane made it very mysterious and so full fo twists and turns. You think you know something... but nooo you don't! I also love how the author carried on doing what she does best in the series... A Sweet scene one minute then POWER-BLAZING the next! It's full of action as it is full of romance. To me it just had the right blend. You will never feel bored!!!
Now let's talk characters!
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR Y'ALL TO MEET SETH!!!!
SETH.
JUST SETH. T_____________________T
Your heart will break for him. Then you would love him. Then you would really, really, really LOVE HIM.
How weird is it that I find him hotter than Caleb (the hero from the first generation)? Haha! Soooorrryy Caleb, my Caleb, BUT NOTHING BEATS A FIRE FIGHTER WHO FIGHTS FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT!!!!
Seth may have been raised by the enemy, but he's totally UNLIKE them. I promise you. He's a survivor, a protector, a loving kid who wants his family's approval, but then accepts the fact that he can't have it all. He's humble, he's bashful (at times) AND HE'S SO DAAAAAMMMNNNN SWWEEETT!!! I TELL YOU!!!! What I love best about him is that there wasn't any doubt in his mind about the bonding thing. He was all for it! He loved having a significant and he appreciated it. My heart melted for him because, man.. he really waited and of course, when you wait for something for the longest time, you sure know how to value it. That's him. Every girl's waking dream!
Now onto our girl Ava. BEST GIRL EVER! I could totally feel her frustration with Seth's family, with her family.. with everything that surrounds their situation. Did it let her down? NO! She's my kind of girl because she fought for him! She fought everyone for him. I love it that even though she had her doubts (which were not unfounded, of course with all the history with the Watson) about Seth, she held on. She held on to the most important thing in their life and that's finding each other. Imagine waiting for someone and finding out that it's not your fairy tale. That would suck, but you have to swallow it, smile and deal with what's handed to you. For her, yeah it sucked, but she smiled and made the most out of it. I love it that after everything, she really does appreciate Seth's efforts and is very willing to do the same.
They totally, totally DESERVE EACH OTHER.
If you ask me about the other characters, all I can say is that they have grown. I am so happy for each and every one of them. :)
Ava and Seth. This is about them figuring out where they stand in their world. Finding each other and just living day by day with all the barriers that surrounds their relationship was hard, but the end result it beautiful. JUST PLAIN BEAUTIFUL.
This is a book that I have been waiting for, for a very long time.
I can tell you now,
It was worth the wait. :)
UNDENIABLY WORTH THE WAIT!!!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
traci_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible! Shelly Crane really knows how to capture the essence and raw emotion of genuine love. Love poured out of every page and you can't help but feel completely uplifted while reading it. I can't wait for more!