Dark Veil by S.L. Naeole

Synopsis:

Fallon Timmons didn't know what to expect from the small island her adopted parents grew up on, but whatever it was, she thought she was prepared for it. Then Liam appeared, all teeth and venom, with a warning to stay away from his sister Audrey and from him. It was a warning that she was not going to heed, no matter what the strangely attractive boy said.

Liam Mace was used to seeing the tourists on the Rock, and looked especially forward to them leaving. But Fallon wasn't leaving. In fact, she was staying. Worse, his sister was growing attached to her, and that was never a good thing...

You never become attached to your food.

Black Cat Rock, or the Rock as it is called, is the home of the Panthus, shape-shifting cats of magnificent size and strength who live in their human skins only to protect their secret. During the day they catch fish to sell, or wait on and serve the tourists who come to visit their island, but at night, the fangs come out and the hunt begins as tourist becomes prey.


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The synopsis is longer than this book! Ha. Any way, this was a pretty short read for being a S.L. Naeole book. She is a sucker for amazing detail and imagery, and this was no different. I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book, and the characters, but I just couldn't. The story is amazing and original like always, but the ending was adrupt, with no real resolution. The two main characters; Fallon and Liam spent the whole book hating and fighting chemistry between each other and all of a sudden then they decide to be together? Then the end is snippets of them coming out to the whole town that they are together? It just left me with more questions than answers. I really don't like Liam. He was a dirty dog (HAHAHAHA!) and he kept playing both girls until the end. We'll see what happens and if he can restore some dignity in the next book.
I do recommend, Naeole is my all time favorite author, and I will be reading the next book and hopefully it will be a hell of lot better like her other books!

Falling From Grace by S. L. Naeole

Synopsis:

When you wake up in the morning and your eyes take in the first hints of light that shine through your window, the dust motes catching and reflecting the sun’s rays like little diamonds, the shimmering hues of yellow and orangey gold breaking through into your room, the first thing you think about usually isn’t how you’re going to make it through the worst day of your life.

Unfortunately for Grace Shelley, that’s exactly what she’s facing as she ponders what to do now that she’s going to be starting out her last year in high school without her best friend. She’s not exactly the most popular girl in school - well, not the most popular girl in school to like, anyway - and everything seems to be hinting at another status quo year for her until she bumps into a stranger who leaves her stumbling for words and chasing after her heart.

The new guy in school is different. Robert doesn’t care about the rumors he’s heard about her or that no one else seems to see her the same way that he does; he only wants to be her friend. That’s when things get complicated. When Grace learns that he’s not your typical high school boy and that he’s actually a wingless angel who’s looking for someone to trust, she’s thrust into his world where not all angels are meant to protect human beings, and where the changes she brings into his life changes everything in hers.


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“Before I succumbed to the sweet lull of his voice, I made one last request. "Stay". I was asleep before he could answer, but in my dreams I heard him reply "Forever."”

Falling from Grace was the first book I read written by S. L. Naeole. Man oh man! She is a fantastic writer! Grace Shelley is the school reject. She is described, by herself, as ugly. (I've read a few reviews where they are all "its unrealstic to have someone gorgeous ugly fall in love with someone ugly. Wrong. How shallow can you people be? Seriously. I consider myself ugly, but my gorgeous boyfriend says I am beautiful.) Grace is probably not ugly as she thinks she is, but kids at school ridicule her for being different. (I can relate. Big time.)  She is different and she never seems to fit in any where except with her best friend, Graham. Then she confesses her love for him, and he ends the friendship for some sleeze. Typical. After weeks of being depressed and no one to turn to the first day of school has arrived. To Grace, this is the worst day to be alive. She has face Graham, his sleeze and her friends and the rest of the school. How will she stay out of the depressed mood, and survive without so much as a tear. It seems hopeless. Until she meets the hunky new guy, Robert. That when her world is turn upside down, or right side up. (Tomatoe, tomotoe; half full, half empty.)

This book was a handful in the good and bad way. I'm not bashing the author or the book, it was just a lot of emotions that would consume you. I loved how Naeole's writing could do that, but along with Grace, it was tough to live with such strong emotions, and mix in a gorgeous, deadly, angel and you have yourself a pickle. The characters were amazing. The only character I could have done without was Graham. I hated him since he hurt Grace, and thought I wouldn't have forgave him so easily and would have beaten up his sleezy girlfriend for being such a bitch! Grace is an emotional girl with a lot of issues, Robert seems to come in and helps her with these emotions and then all of a sudden he is the cause of these emotions. The way she handled the news he was an angel was unrealistic. I would have freaked, but to Grace it seemed odd, but she took it as normal as possible. Too normal if you ask me. Some of the situations in the book seemed unrealistic at times, but over all the story was fantastic.

My favorite scene in the novel is a cliff hanger, so I can't really say much about it, but man was it a tear jerker. Poor Grace, and poor Robert. I just couldn't understand at first why all that was being said but then it all made sense once they explained it. I know, I know, you have no idea what the hell I am talking about. Read the book and you'll find out, (HINT: Its after the holloween festival :))

Overall, it was amazing and I would highly recommend this to anyone. You need to read this!