{REVIEW} EPHEMERAL (COUNTENANCE #1) by ADDISON MOORE

Series: The Countenance #1
Publisher: Addison Moore
Publication Date: 9/12/12
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 412
Source: Received from author for review

Young Adult/ Mature Situations

The last thing Laken Stewart remembers is the oncoming car, then bursting through the windshield.

Two months dissolve without her knowledge and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers who not only profess to know her but insist she’s someone else entirely.

Laken discovers her long dead boyfriend, Wesley, has been thrown into this alternate world as well. He is quick to inform her she suffered a horrible fall and that her memory hasn’t fully returned. According to Wesley the other life she had—her name, her family, they were simply a side effect of her brain trauma.

In her quest for answers she meets Cooper Flanders, the son of her psychiatrist who readily believes every word she says.

Laken Stewart knows she died on that hot July afternoon, but now she’s alive—or is she?

Whoa. Ephemeral was C-R-A-Z-Y. The good kind of crazy, definitely. You have a spirited, hard-headed main character in Laken, whose passion and temperament rivals that of her Celestra Series counterpart, Skyla. Laken, who also is dropped into the crazy world of angel factions, the Transfer, and viscious high school rivals, also has the dreaded/beloved love triangle to deal with.

Yes, another triangle. For fans of Moore's Celestra Series, you know this is a good thing! This time, we have Wes, Laken's one true love, her perfect match. But, there's also Cooper. A sweetheart of a guy, who seems more willing to believe Laken and to help her uncover her past and the truth about what is happening in this insane alternate world. Laken wants to be with Wes, loves him, but cannot deny her attraction to Cooper. I have a feeling this entanglement may end up rivaling that of Skyla/Gage/Logan.

Ephemeral had so much going on. You have Laken trying to navigate and unravel this alternate world she wakes up in. The people from her other life are not the same in this world. Her family is not the same. Laken is driven to the edge wondering whether she is dead, alive, or insane. Those she trusted in her old life are the same she must be wary of in this new life. There are monsters in the forest, possible evil among her family and friends, and a battle for her heart and mind.

Ephemeral is a great spin-off to the Celestra Series. Those who've read and loved that series will be extremely happy with this new series. I'm excited to find out what happens next in book two, Evanescent.


Favorite Quote:

  "I write silly things on the back of leaves and give them to you." I don't tell him that I wrote "I love you" a thousand times or that he was my everything or that he saved every leaf I'd ever given him in a box beside his bed - that I did the same with the ones he gave me.    (12%)



You can purchase Ephemeral at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Smashwords





Connect with Addison Moore at:
her blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

Three-for-One Reviews ~ WICKED, VEX, and EXPEL (Celestra #4,5,6) by Addison Moore

Hi, all! Today I am continuing my three-for-one reviews of the CELESTRA series by Addison Moore. On Monday, I reviewed books 1-3:  ETHEREAL, TREMBLE and BURN. Today's reviews include books 4-6: WICKED, VEX, and EXPEL.

Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger is wishing people would just stay dead. With Chloe back, Skyla finds it difficult to live under her tyranny and threats. A seemingly innocent misstep in Skyla’s past comes back to haunt her and could end up costing her relationship with Gage. ~From GoodReads

"This is what I know. These are my truths."

(ebook, 2%)

Addictive. The CELESTRA series is so crazy addictive that I am exhausted. I have stayed up until 2am reading these books for four days now. I don't know quite how to explain what it is about the books that have me so hooked. Actually, there are a lot of reasons. But I think the main reason is, author Addison Moore has kept me on my toes. I literally don't have a clue what will happen next. I've quit trying to guess. The safest assumption is to take what you think will happen, spin it 180 degrees, crank it up like a wind-up toy and let it fly.

Like I've said in my past few reviews for the series, my hands are kind of tied. I want to shout about the insanity of WICKED. I want to go over my theories about why Gage did this, Logan said that, what Chloe is going to do, why Marshall told her this, and how the freaking heck Skyla is going to react to all of it!

In WICKED, the stakes are higher for Skyla than ever before. The book opens with a shocker. A HUGE shocker. Everything she thought was true is a lie. She doesn't know who to trust, who to turn to. Her worst enemy is in her face and trying to ruin her life. Logan and Gage are both still trying to win her heart. And yes, Marshall is still around. That dude is seriously hot...and crazy. I just don't know!

The ending. The ending hit me, and Skyla with a shocking twist. I'm not sure what to make of it. I wanted to scream and cry. So of course, I headed straight into book five, VEX, to learn what on Earth (or not) Skyla has gotten into now.


Favorite Quote(s):

" 'Skyla.' His hand runs down my hair, swift as a waterfall. 'There is nothing on this planet, in heaven or hell, that can keep me from you. I more than promise.' " (ebook, 6%)

"I land soft in the arms of a wall of strength. My eyes open, and I'm greeted with an explosion of gorgeous dimples-eyes the color of the stratosphere.
'You caught me,' I say breathless.
Gage presses a kiss onto my lips. 'I'll always catch you.' " (ebook, 79%)

Published September 15th 2011 by Addison Moore


You can purchase WICKED (Celestra #4) at:
Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger finds herself lying on an altar as a sacrifice to the enemy. Being an angel of the highest Nephilim order hasn’t been easy. Her first love has cast his allegiance to the Countenance, the Sectors and the Fems see her as nothing more than a celestial pawn, and the dead girl she helped bring back to life has blackmailed her into relinquishing her boyfriend. Skyla is determined to change all that. She's decided to never trust Logan again, to turn the tables on the Sectors and the Fems, and get dirt on Chloe to blackmail her into leaving Gage alone. But, when one obstacle after another gets in her way, Skyla can hardly find the strength to carry on. The only solution seems to be to sacrifice herself to the Sector in her life and put everything in order while losing everything she values most. ~From GoodReads

"I can endure all things in the holy name of love. And I will."

(ebook,

Gah!! At this point in the series, I feel as if I'm repeating myself. The CELESTRA series is absolute insanity, crazy, unpredictable, funny, scary, suspenseful...You name the emotion, and I'm pretty sure I felt it.

When book four, WICKED, ended, Skyla had been betrayed. Big time. By someone she loves. The fallout of the supposed betrayal is terrifying and heartbreaking. It definitely alters the course of the story.

The usual suspects are still around. Marshall... I still don't know what to think about him. One moment he does something that squicks me out. In the next, he acts in a way that makes me, and Skyla, melt. I can't say I love him as a romantic interest, but I certainly get the appeal. Logan and Gage. Gage and Logan. I still don't know which Oliver boy, if either, is right for Skyla. I just have a feeling that things are far from settled when it comes to Skyla's love life.

I still hate Tad. What a creep. I mean, the jerk is almost comical when he starts in on Skyla or her mom. He makes me twitchy, and stabby. Speaking of stabby, someone has to kill Chloe. Pronto. That is all.

There are plenty of faces from the past to dot the landscape of VEX. And that's something I find extremely cool about this series. Little things that happen, or people who are mentioned, from the previous books have a way of showing back up. Things are starting to make a bit more sense.

I know I said the ending to WICKED was shocking. But this one takes the cake. The last few pages of VEX are brutal. I feel awful for the readers who waited months for EXPEL. Definitely buckle up when you dive into VEX.

Favorite Quote:

"Gage and I need to harness the power of our love to accomplish all of the good things the future prompts us towards, but not tonight-tonight we spin it into gold." (ebook, 45%)

"His gentle grazing sends a shiver through my spine, makes me feel alive in the most splendid way. 'I know how it ends,' he puts it out there in a broken whisper. He presses his lips to the back of my hand as a seam of tears lines his lashes. 'Do me a favor. Save something for me in here,' he taps lightly over my chest." (ebook, 73%)


Published November 29th 2011 by Addison Moore
You can purchase VEX at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

A death. A war. Regret. Heartbreak. An old enemy. A new enemy. A well-placed boyfriend. An ending you won’t believe. Seventeen year-old Skyla Messenger discovers love is stronger than death and deception. In an effort to rectify those horrible truths Skyla’s life changes forever. Love and heartbreak become obstacles that overshadow the faction war and in the end may cost her everything.~From GoodReads

"There are no accidents in my life, no coincidences, no blind love at first sight."

(ebook, 3%)

 I am exhausted. EXPEL was an emotionally draining adventure. All my emotions were taut as a live wire while reading this book. I just...I can't even begin to encompass how much happened in VEX. And in the interest of remaining spoiler-free, I won't even try.

But I will say, all of Skyla's past misdeeds come home to roost. Skyla hasn't always been the most sympathetic character in my eyes. She's a bit wishy-washy when it comes to Logan and Gage. And really, who can blame her with those two on the menu? But I don't think she means to be that way, she honestly loves both of them. Skyla can also be vicious at times, especially when it comes to her enemies. She's not a "turn the other cheek" kind of girl. That's completely fine with me. Even though she's reckless and impulsive, I adore her. In fact, maybe I love her because of her indecisive, impulsive, crazy, but always heartfelt choices. Who needs perfect when you have this much fun?!

But back to consequences. Skyla has to face a lot of them in EXPEL. And she doesn't try to explain or worm her way out of them. She doesn't deny anything. She owns up to her bad decisions and acknowledges them. But she doesn't lay down and die. Skyla does her very best to apologize and make things right. She doesn't white-wash her bad choices or push the blame on anyone else. And for that, I have mucho respect.

EXPEL was crazy, crazy intense. Logan and Gage are both very much in the running for Skyla's heart. As is Marshall. And yes, I will finally, begrudgingly admit that I like Marshall. Once he quit trying to deal his way into Skyla's pants, quit sleepy around incessantly, and let down his guard a bit, he became an alright guy. I'm not convinced he's a viable candidate for Skyla, but I'm not going to dismiss him either. Skyla has some big decisions headed her way.

EXPEL had, for me, the best of what books offer. I had fun, laughing at Skyla and her crazy family. I was angry, mainly because of that evil witch Chloe. I was sad; for Skyla, Logan, and Gage. Those three are in an impossible position. I was shocked, and shocked, and shocked again. Over and over, the hits just kept coming. The ending?! It made me want to scream, and flail, and cry. I need book seven, Addison. My heart can only take so much!


Favorite Quote:

"Logan leans in and bumps his forehead to mine, his nose, his lips, closes his eyes as a thin seam of tears lines his lids.
'You love me,' he whispers in a long strained hiss like steam from a kettle." (ebook,48%)


"Being married to Marshall would be like falling into a supernova. I'd be swallowed up and blinked out of existence before I knew what hit me." (ebook, 58%)

" 'You love Gage,' he expels softly with tears glistening, 'but you love me, too. A powerful, hungry, unstoppable love that deep down, you can never deny. I can see it engraved inside your heart just as it is in mine.' " (ebook, 78%)
You can purchase EXPEL at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble



Source: I received these books as a gift from the author.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.



Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger is wishing people would just stay dead.

With Chloe back, Skyla finds it difficult to live under her tyranny and threats.

A seemingly innocent misstep in Skyla’s past comes back to haunt her and could end up costing her relationship with Gage.

My Teaser ~

"Marshall pulls back and examines me with an ice-cold expression.

'I'm going to teach you a lesson, Skyla,' he pauses, 'if you run I may not catch you. Now go.' He spins me around and gives a swift push. 'Run.' " (ebook 98%)


I am LOVING this series.


Published September 15th 2011 by Addison Moore

You can purchase WICKED (Celestra #4) at:
Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Three-for-One Review: ETHEREAL,TREMBLE, and BURN (Celestra #1, 2), and 3) by Addison Moore

I've taken on the fun task of reading the entirety (so far) of Addison Moore's CELESTRA Series. So over the next few days, I will be posting three reviews of the books per post. Today, I have books one  two, and three: ETHEREAL, TREMBLE, and BURN.

Sixteen-year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking. When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds. Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own. Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in. Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?~From GoodReads

"It is that time in my life - a time for love and a time for death."

(ebook, 2%)

My blogging buddy, Autumn, has been telling me how awesome the CELESTRA series is for a while now. So I have to say, I had high expectations for the series. My expectations were blown away. I mean, really, there are so many angel series out there. And so often, they seem to fall a bit short in many readers' expectations. But ETHEREAL was wonderful.

What made it wonderful? For starters, the writing. Again, I had friends insisting I would love Skyla. And I really did. She's not a perfect heroine. She's real, and she's so darn funny. I love a character who can deliver the snark without being obnoxious.  I caught myself smiling as I read along. All the characters were fun to read. Their conversations were realistic and entertaining.

In addition to the character aspect, the story in ETHEREAL was great, as well. A lot of YA Paranormal books feel repetitive. But I never once had that "Oh, great. Not this old story again." feeling while reading ETHEREAL. While there are a lot of angel stories, I haven't read any with quite the same tone. Addison Moore's writing feels completely fresh and engaging.

Next topic: Logan and Gage. Many people began hounding me for my opinion as soon as I started reading. I kept thinking "Why are they asking me this already? I just started the book." But then, I started reading and I quickly realized why the fans are so passionate about these guys. Logan and Gage are both so endearing. I know a lot of readers, myself included, are wary of love triangles. And though this hasn't developed into a full-blown triangle yet, you know it's so going to happen. Love triangles get a bad rap because so often their not well-executed. But a love triangle done right, when both guys (or girls) are great choices, is a wonderful thing.

I'm highly impressed with ETHEREAL, and wildly excited to continue the series. The ending was a killer. As soon as I turned the last page, without a moment's hesitation, I opened up TREMBLE. And that says a lot for me.

Favorite Quote(s):

"Logan doesn't take his eyes off me. The intensity has returned to his face. His eyes seem to have garnered the ability to steal the light from the chandelier, cast it out at the world as though it were their own." (ebook,8%)

"It's an explosion of emotion when his lips connect with mine. A love song, and every glorious sunset I've ever seen all rolled into one. We write a poem with the dull ache of our passion."
(ebook, 57%)

Published March 26th 2011 by Addison Moore


You can purchase ETHEREAL at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

TREMBLE is the sequel to ETHEREAL (Celestra Series Book 1) Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is determined to bring back the dead. For Skyla, being an angel from the coveted Celestra faction hasn't been easy. An entire band of wicked angels is after her blood, a Sector is after something far more sinister, and her newfound powers lead her on a quest to save her dead father. Skyla and her boyfriend Logan try to piece together a plan to take down the Countenance in order to maintain their relationship, but will Skyla's burgeoning feelings for Gage get in the way? And when Skyla decides to use her powerful blood to change the fate of another deceased soul, just who is going to stop her? ~From GoodReads

"Inevitably, we all die."

(ebook, 2%)

It is impossible for me to write a detailed review of TREMBLE without spoiling it! I want to dig into every little bit of the crazy, hot goodness that filled this book.  It was so much fun. TREMBLE took off in ways I never imagined. I thought the series would be this sweet story about a girl with angelic heritage and the boys who love her. Uh uh. Not even close. TREMBLE is insanity in the best way possible. There's action, crazy time-jumping, and swoony romance.

Skyla is still the same headstrong, cleverly sarcastic girl we meet in ETHEREAL. But she becomes a total powerhouse in TREMBLE. Now that she knows what's up, for the most part, she's determined to do whatever it takes to make things right in her world. She wants to save her dad, who's been dead for two years. She wants to learn more about Chloe, who's been dead almost a year. She wants to rid the world of the even Countenance faction, that's been around for millenia. It's a tall order to say the least. And Skyla, ready or not, considers herself up to the challenge.

And...the biggie: Logan and Gage. Wow. So much about this little love triangle should make me upset. But it doesn't and here's why. Both guys, up to this point, are a great match for Skyla. When Skyla was with Logan, I would think "Yes, this is exactly how it should be. Perfect." Then Skyla was with Logan. And I have to say, she didn't want this situation. She was happy with Logan. But forces beyond their control have pushed all three into this mess. But anyway, when Skyla was with Gage, I would melt. He is a complete sweetheart, head over heels in love with her. Every time his heart was crushed by Skyla and Logan, my heart hurt for him. The balance in the situation can be explained best in this passage:

"I watch Logan and Gage in equal parts-Logan as the quarterback and Gage as safety. Logan in all his quarterback glamour and Gage caught in the thick of the fight, always looking out for the other guy-protecting. The analogy isn't lost on me. It tells our story in so many ways." (ebook, 25%)


Also, there's another guy on the scene, Marshall. I don't like Marshall. He's charming and handsome, but he's a weasel. Having said that, I fully expect to either like or fall (somewhat) in love with him in the future books. He's just one of those characters that can worm his way into your heart.

TREMBLE was an out-of-this-world exciting, sweet, and fun addition to the series. I read it at an inhuman pace, trying to figure out what was going to happen to poor Skyla next. The amount of craziness surprised me and I can't get enough.

Favorite Quote(s):

"Gage - those sweet soulful eyes, that painful angst of his that shreds me to pieces."  (ebook, 24%)

"Kissing Gage is like lying in the grass on a warm spring day. You forget the beauty, how amazing it can make you feel until you're right there in the meadow glowing in the radiance." (ebook, 24%)

Published May 26th 2011 by Addison Moore

You can purchase TREMBLE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is having difficulties with the living and the dead. With Chloe’s diary in her hands, Skyla embarks into the mind of one of Paragon’s most twisted former residents. After accidentally kick-starting the faction war, Skyla finds herself in more danger than ever before. So, when Marshall offers her a taste of the gift of knowing, Skyla attempts to use it to alter the outcome of future prophesies. And now that Skyla’s love life seems to involve one boy too many, she must choose who to be with. If she waits too long, the decision just might be made for her. ~From GoodReads

"The future wafts in and out of my life like a ghost..."

(ebook, 1%)

I don't know how to write this review without being spoilery. So from here on out, vague is the name of the game. And enthusiastic.

Wow. I don't even know where to begin with BURN. My friends told me this series was a wild ride. And I got that, but I didn't get it. Just when I had things sorted out, author Addison Moore virtually picked the entire story up and shook it, letting the pieces fall back into place like glitter in a water globe.

Addison is still torn between Logan and Gage. I know this won't end well. It just can't. I mean, Logan and Gage are cousins and they live together! It's sooo sad. Marshall is still around, and that dude is on the prowl. And yeah, I still think he's a creep. A really funny, sexy creep. But still.

Skyla is still on a mission to make the world safe for Celestras, and to avenge her father. She dives headfirst into massively dangerous situations, and more often than not, makes things worse. But for some reason, I love her still. Skyla is impulsive and lets her heart lead the way. She's also outrageously funny, and isn't afraid to get into a good catfight. For example:

"'Anyway, I don't break hearts, and I'm not a slut,' I pause as I make my way past her. 'Besides, they would never kick you out of L.A. for sleeping around. They erect statues and throw parades for shit like that.' " (ebook, 37%)

With lines like that, how can you not love her?

BURN was one fun ride through CrazyTown. I laughed, I swooned and more than once my eyes popped out as I said "WTF?!?". All in all, good times.

 Favorite Quote:

"There's something hauntingly seductive about Logan under this full squatting moon-something in his eyes, that suggests there are still so many more layers to this person than I could ever imagine." (ebook, 15%)

" 'Skyla.' My name comes out broken, just shy of a whisper. 'I'd do anything to be with you. And if that means giving you all the time in the world to make up your mind, I'll do that.' " (ebook, 21%)


Published July 13th 2011 by Amazon Digital Services

You can purchase BURN at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble



Source: Received the books from author for review purpose.