Top 10 quotes from Fallen by Chris

1. “Trust is a careless pursuit at best. At worst, it’s a good way to get yourself killed.” – Miss Sophia

2. “You know everyone loves to hate a happy pair of lovebirds.” – Arriane

3. ” It made Luce want to stand up next to him and fight. Fight to stay alive long enough to live out her life next to him. Fight for the only thing she know that was good enough, noble enough, powerful enough to be worth risking everything. Love.” – Luce

4. “Get to part B, Daniel. Think fast. Patience is a virtue, and you know how Cam feels about those.” – Arriane

5. “The tender pressure of his lips soothed her, like a warm drink in the dead of the winter, when every part of her felt so cold.”

6. “Some things are more important than love. You won’t understand, but you have to trust me.”

7. “Luce had heard people say that line a thousand times before. It was what everyone always said. Not good enough. But when the words passed Daniel’s lips, they sounded important, even somehow true and relevant, not vague and dismissive the way the phrase had always sounded to her in the past.” – Luce

8. “You don’t really know either of us,” Cam said, standing and stepping away, “but you’re prepared to choose right now, huh?”

9. “It is not a little truth.’ Miss Sophia said, stepping forward to position herself between them. ‘And you will not survive it. As you have not survived it in the thousands of years since the Fall”. -Miss Sophia

10. “He’s not good enough for you.” – Daniel

Top 5 Books about Angels By Chris

1. Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

2. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides,the wrong choice will cost her life.

3. Angel Time (Songs of the Seraphim Series #1) By Anne Rice
Into O’Dare’s nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions comes a mysterious stranger, a seraph, who offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest but instead came to embody danger and violence, seizes his chance. Now he is carried back through the ages to thirteenth-century England, to dark realms where accusations of ritual murder have been made against Jews, where children suddenly…

4. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it’s hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary’s mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know….

5. Covet (Fallen Angels Series #1) by JR Ward

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

 
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides,the wrong choice will cost her life.

Source

Angel Time (Songs of the Seraphim Series #1)

Into O’Dare’s nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions comes a mysterious stranger, a seraph, who offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. O’Dare, who long ago dreamt of being a priest but instead came to embody danger and violence, seizes his chance. Now he is carried back through the ages to thirteenth-century England, to dark realms where accusations of ritual murder have been made against Jews, where children suddenly…

Source

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

 
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it’s hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary’s mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know….

Source

Covet (Fallen Angels Series #1)

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Source

Have you read any of these books? What did you like most about them, do you enjoy the concept of ‘fallen angels’? Did we miss some other novels about angels, and their fall from grace?

One of the first books I read that involved fallen angels, Hush Hush is a lush YA book that everyone should read. Don’t believe me? Let’s hear what one of our staff members had to say.

Brought by OBS staff member Farrha

Book One: Hush, Hush Series

Summary
Nora Grey, unlike most other girls at her school, isn’t interested in finding herself a boyfriend. Simply, no one has ever really interested her. But the arrival of transfer student, Patch, turns her life upside down.

With dark eyes and a disarming smile, Nora can’t help be attracted to Patch, no matter how much she tries to hate him. And all the while Patch seems to have unnerving knowledge about her that her closest friends don’t even know. Despite all of this, she begins to trust him, until a series of unexplainable events occur. Is she being followed? Is she the target of a series of planned attacks? She’s no longer sure of who she can trust, not even herself.

She can’t decide if she should run to Patch when danger finds her, or if he is in fact, the cause of the danger that seems to be shrouding her life. She begins to question if Patch is even human. When attempting to seek answers for the strange things that seem to be happening to her, she discovers an unsettling truth that ascends anything she could have guessed.

Review
Firstly, what a concept! Fallen Angels, Nephilim and an Angel of Death. Well, it surely is darkly interesting. In fact, I found Patch’s story, and everyone else, that more interesting than Nora, the main character.

After completing the book, I was both amazed and a little under-whelmed. A confusing mix of emotions which I was finally able to draw down to being that I wanted just so much more from this novel. And it really could have delivered.

While the writing is wonderful, the story is great and the banter exceptional, the story arc was left wanting. Suspense was used greatly, and for more than half the book we are left trying to figure out who or what Patch is and what he wants from Nora.

Unfortunately, the suspense wasn’t the interesting part of the book. While it did make it difficult to put the book down, it became even more difficult to let the book leave my hands, once Patch’s confusion and threatening story is finally revealed. The entrance of a jealous Angel of Death shot the story to new heights. I wanted the novel to linger and delve deeper in these parts of the story, but unfortunately the story being from Nora’s point of view, we only get a glimpse of that side of the story and only from about three quarters through.

In saying all that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was interesting and I found it hard to put it down. Definitely a unique love story in an age of the Bella and Edward saga, it brings out a darker and deeper side of love and desire. But, with a Fallen Angel and a jealous Angel of Death, I just can’t help but wish the story focused on them more than a human. Patch’s mind would definitely have been more interesting.

Random Chalk Talk is having a Sing Me to Sleep Giveaway:

THE TRANSFORMATION
Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

Contest will end on February 25, 2010. ENTER HERE

Stephanie’s Blog is giving away a signed copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, a Hush, Hush postcard, and a Hush, Hush bookmark.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Contest ends February 8, 2010 at midnight CST. ENTER HERE.
The Book Junkies Bookshelf is having The Birthday Box o’ Books giveaway

Titles currently in the box:

Devil May Cry & Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Shiver by Maggie Steifvator

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Musical Chairs by Jen Knox

ENTER HERE

Steph Su Reads is having My Blogoversary Giveaway! You could win the following ARCs:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (signed)
The Snowball Effect by Holly Hoxter

Giveaway ends Sunday, February 28, 2010. ENTER HERE

Did you enter any of these contests? Join us in the forum to discuss!!

Bree Despain is giving away jewlery from Heather Zahn Gardener’s Etsy shop inspired by The Dark Divine for her birthday!!

Grand Prize: Win 2 pieces of TDD jewelry + a YA book of your choice

2nd prize: Win 2 pieces of TDD jewelry

3rd prize: Win 1 piece of TDD jewelry

The contest ends Saturday December 16th at 11:59pm.

ENTER HERE

Dark Faerie Tales is celebrating the 3 month release of Hush, Hush. The winner will receive a hardcover copy of Hush, Hush, and a wicked writing journal.

Romance was not part of Nora Grey’s plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen — and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Giveaway ends Tuesday, February 3rd at 11:59 PM EST.

ENTER HERE.

The Book Butterfly is giving away an ARC of The Mark & swag.

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

Contest ends 1/31 at midnight.

ENTER HERE.

Novel Novice has two contests for YA books!

(1) Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, are inviting fans to create an alternate cover to their book Beautiful Creatures.

The deadline to enter is January 15th.

(2) YALSA is hosting a Book Trailer Contest. Contest runs through January 17th.

ENTER HERE.

DarkUFO and LongLiveLocke.com are sponsoring a Twitter Contest: Win a LOCKE LIVES t-shirt

Contest ends 10AM EST on Thursday, January 14

ENTER HERE.

Discovery is offering a Trip to Comic Con from Mythbusters

Contest ends Monday, January 18 at 9AM ET/PT.

ENTER HERE.

Which contests are you excited about? Join us in the forum to discuss!!

Becca Fitzpatrick is the New York Times bestselling author of HUSH, HUSH. She grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers, and at one point, dreamed of becoming a spy, thinking it would be thrilling and sexy. Then she read BLOWING MY COVER: MY LIFE AS A CIA SPY by Lindsay Moran and changed her mind. She ended up graduating college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. Much to her delight, telling stories can be thrilling, sexy and dangerous. When not writing, she’s most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV. HUSH, HUSH is her first novel. ~ From beccafitzpatrick.com/

OBS: How did you get from a degree in health to writing books?
BF: Quite the switch, right? I started writing HUSH, HUSH in 2003, when my husband enrolled me in a writing class as a birthday present. It’s all his fault, ha! Seriously though, it was instant love. I’ve always been an avid journal writer, but during that writing class, I knew I’d found the one thing I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. If I hadn’t sold HUSH, HUSH last year, I’d still be writing today. Writing and storytelling are a lot of work, but I’m slowly figuring out that the things in life that require the most work are also the most rewarding.

OBS: Who are your literary influences?
BF: I never tire of Jane Austen, Diana Gabaldon, Sandra Brown, Laurie Halse Anderson, Richelle Mead, Sue Grafton, Laurie R. King, and Juliet Marillier.

OBS: What are you reading right now?
BF: CRAZY BEAUTIFUL by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.

OBS: What is your favorite book of all time? and why?
BF: Oh man, it changes all the time. I do love PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I also love THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB by Karen Joy Fowler. And OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon.

OBS: I was very surprised to learn Hush, Hush is your first book. You write like a pro, which is not easy to do. How did you gain those skills?
BF: I’m glad you think I write like a pro! I’m editing CRESCENDO, my second book, right now, and every time I’m deep into editing a book, the last thing I feel like is a pro. I usually feel completely lost and like a total hack. It’s all part of the process. I don’t think there are many writers who feel completely comfortable with, and proud of, their writing all the time. I know I don’t. Even when HUSH, HUSH went to print, I couldn’t help but think, “But there are still more things I need to fix! I need more time!” In the end, I think it comes down to learning to accept and celebrate what I have accomplished. Anyway, that was a very long and roundabout way of getting to what I really meant to say: thank you!

OBS: What other media do you use to help inspire you while writing (Music, Art, Movies, etc.)? Anything specific?
BF: Oh, wow, I’d never really thought about it. Chances are, I rely on a little bit of everything I see and hear in my day to day life. I can say with certainty that Romancing the Stone is the movie that made me decide, at eight years of age, that I was going to grow up to be a writer.

OBS: How did you come up with the fallen angel aspect of the story? What are your personal beliefs on beings like angels and demons?
BF: When I started writing HUSH, HUSH, I knew I wanted Patch to be the ultimate bad boy… but with a twist. He hadn’t always been bad. In fact, at one point, he’d been really good, and something had caused this big change. While pondering what had caused Patch’s fall from grace, the metaphor of “falling” that I was carrying around in my head became something quite literal – a fallen angel. Since I already knew Patch was going to be the ultimate bad boy, this revelation seemed perfect – after all, fallen angels are the original bad boys. As for my personal beliefs, I absolutely believe in angels and demons, although in some ways, they’re quite different from the characters I’ve created in HUSH, HUSH.

OBS: I really love the hierarchy of angels in heaven, Gabriel’s fall to earth and their roles in Christian tales, did you do any research into this when you came up with the idea of a fallen angel?
BF: I did research Judeo-Christian mythology, but I grew up going to Sunday School every week, so the basic concept of good and evil has been a part of my life for a long time

OBS: I was instantly drawn in by the characters in Hush, Hush, especially Patch. Each character has a lot of depth. How do you develop your characters? Do they have some of your traits or traits of family and friends?
BF: Although I don’t think I realized it while I was writing HUSH, HUSH, most of the book’s characters are based on people I’ve known. Vee’s character was inspired by two of my childhood best friends. Marcie was inspired by the mean girl in my high school (there’s a reason we have clichés!) And Patch was inspired by a guy I knew a long time ago.

OBS: If Hush, Hush was adapted for the big screen, who would you want to play Chauncey, Patch and Nora?
BF: I don’t know many current actors, but I’d love to have Drew Doyon, the cover model for HUSH, HUSH, play Patch. I think he’d nail the part! As for Nora, I think a young Emmy Rossum would be perfect. Chauncey… hmm… I’ve had fans suggest Alex Pettyfer for Elliot, but I think he’d make a fantastic Chauncey Langeais.

OBS: I enjoyed the plot twists and turns but I’m dying for more Patch and Nora… Will there be a sequel to Hush, Hush?
BF: Yes! I’m working on CRESCENDO right now. There’ll be more Nora, and lots more Patch. In Crescendo, readers will find out what really happened the night Nora’s dad was murdered. Let’s just say he was living a secret life… one with ties to Patch…

OBS: What future projects are you working on? Can you tell us anything about them?
BF: Right now, my focus is entirely on CRESCENDO. That said, I do have a YA romance waiting in line at the back of my mind. I’ve plotted the book, and believe me, as soon as I finish CRESCENDO, I’ll be giving it my undivided attention. It’s sexy and fun, and a little lighter than HUSH, HUSH.

OBS: What would you like your readers to know about yourself or your books?
BF: I love my readers! I wouldn’t be doing any of this if it weren’t for them. They’re the best, most supportive and enthusiastic people in the world! Every time I receive a letter from a reader, it motivates me to make CRESCENDO that much better.

Thanks again Becca for this awesome interview. I can’t wait for Crescendo now. Hurry up and finish it pwetty pwease.

If you’d like to learn more about Becca and her books, please check her website here:
beccafitzpatrick.com/