Category: Reviews-Sourcebooks Fire(2012)

Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 400
Pub Date: March 2012

Source: I received a advanced readers copy for my honest and sincere review.

About the book
It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It’s a battle Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden.

LINCOLN: He’s been Violet’s one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he’s Grigori—part human, part angel—and that he was training her for an ancient battle between Angels and Exiles.

PHOENIX: No one knows where his loyalties lie, yet he’s the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln’s lies. In a world of dark and light, he is all shades of gray.

Two sides: Angel or Exile.
Two guys: Lincoln or Phoenix.
The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity…

This is Jessica’s debut young adult novel and what a debut novel it is. All I can say is whats not to love about this book? There is romance, mystery, suspense, life and death danger and some pretty hot guys.

Embrace is action packed and intense you will not be able to put this book down once you start it. Trust me I had a hard time putting it down once I started to read it. I am anxiously anticipating the next book (Enticed) and the wait is killing me. I have had this book for awhile but I only read it this weekend because after reading the first few lines I knew I wouldn’t be able to wait for the next book so reading it closer to the release date won’t make the wait that long. Or will it?

Violet isn’t your typical girl because she grew up without her mother and at times I think the Violet thinks she is responsible for her mother’s death because she died giving birth to Violet. Her dad is almost like an absent dad leaving Violet to grow up on her own because he is so busy with work and you will see that throughout the book.

Violet has two amazing friends, Steph and Lincoln. I loved Lincoln from the very beginning. You could see that he truly cared about Violet and it was more then just a friend but you knew he was hiding something that he was almost too good to be true and I was curious about that. He is loyal, caring, respectful, and understanding. Although he does reveal most of his secrets to Violet and I could understand how she would feel like she was betrayed when he told her. I would have probably been to.

Then there is Phoenix. He came off as the kind of guy your parents warn you about. I had a love hate relationship with him. One minute I loved him and this was when he was with Violet he did care about her and it seemed like he wanted to protect her and encouraged her to talk to Lincoln but when she did, I hate Phoenix because he came off like the jealous boyfriend which was a turn off for me. Plus I felt like Phoenix was keeping something from Violet. There was more to this guy then we knew.

Violet has never liked birthdays and really who could blame her. Although this birthday life as she knows it will change her forever. The days starts with a mysterious birthday gift from her mother, a beautiful box containing a letter and some jewelry. She has no idea what any of it means but quickly finds out and her world comes tumbling down around her.

Violet finds out she is part Grigori (half human, half angel) and that Lincoln is her life partner. Violet has noticed some changes happening within her and she eventually must make a decision to embrace or not to and who to trust and who not to trust.

Can you ever imagine having to make that kind of a decision?

After reading Embrace I really can’t wait for Entice to come out so I can continue this journey with Violet.

If you want to discover a fantastic debut young adult novel then I highly recommend this one.

Thanks Sourcebooks Fire for sending me this. I loved it.