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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This woman's take on college life sounded a lot more like high school.
Also, I desperately wanted to edit this book and send it back to her.
Also, I desperately wanted to edit this book and send it back to her.
So I'm clearly in the minority here, but this book just doesn't do it for me. I admit I was torn between 2 and 3 stars, but while this book isn't as bad as the others I've rated at 2 stars it just didn't do enough for me to give it the 3rd star.
Altogether I'm confused by the marketing for this book in the first place. I came across it as part of the YA group I'm a part of's scavenger hunt, but the description, and frankly the cover, pitch the book as for adults. The YA group is right. This is not written for an adult audience. The writing is super simplistic. I read paranormal romance like it's my bread and butter. This is nowhere on par with the books I love in that genre. The writing style doesn't come close to someone like J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, or Christine Feehan to name a few. I struggled to get through and finish the book.
To the book itself. First of all their is no character development. We're dropped smack into a world where relationships are established. I never understood why Stew was interested in her, or what Natalie saw in Stew. We tried to develop something with Rick, but even when Natalie asks him what he sees in her it's all generic, you're so amazing, you're beautiful. Really? Cause I've seen nothing about her that is so interesting other than a general interest in art that we get a glossing over and no in depth knowledge of. So she's had a hard life being thought of as crazy. We've seen none of that. Every person we've seen her deal with directly has treated her fairly normally. Only in the general and abstract are we told that people have always treated her different.
Let's not even mention the ending...
While I wasn't left with any unanswered questions or huge plot holes everything seemed very pat and unbelievably cut and dried. The love triangle just got on my nerves because while I wanted to like Rick he never came across as that special and I just wanted to slap Stew 9 times out of 10. Natalie, well she was ok, but for a heroine I wanted more bad ass I won't do that, not going to cross that line. Do something about your life, especially when you found out that not everyone thinks your crazy even if they don't like to admit it. You're handed another, admittedly difficult and quite possibly impossible option to save your soul and it doesn't even warrant a second thought. Let's just go finish the life taking we've started, doesn't even cross our mind that Rick could be lying to us and that taking those lives potentially could just make us the demon faster. Now granted that's not what the author wrote, but it was the first thing through my mind and it doesn't even occur to Natalie. Let alone that a sword from heaven and killing the guy who we made the deal with sounds a lot more believable and likely to do the job than taking three other lives. Nope instead we're going to go on believing everything that someone else tells us and build on our "feelings" that draw us towards two different guys until we can' separate them in our minds. Whatever the one we're currently talking to tell us that must be that absolute truth. A heroine should stand on her own.
Altogether I'm confused by the marketing for this book in the first place. I came across it as part of the YA group I'm a part of's scavenger hunt, but the description, and frankly the cover, pitch the book as for adults. The YA group is right. This is not written for an adult audience. The writing is super simplistic. I read paranormal romance like it's my bread and butter. This is nowhere on par with the books I love in that genre. The writing style doesn't come close to someone like J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, or Christine Feehan to name a few. I struggled to get through and finish the book.
To the book itself. First of all their is no character development. We're dropped smack into a world where relationships are established. I never understood why Stew was interested in her, or what Natalie saw in Stew. We tried to develop something with Rick, but even when Natalie asks him what he sees in her it's all generic, you're so amazing, you're beautiful. Really? Cause I've seen nothing about her that is so interesting other than a general interest in art that we get a glossing over and no in depth knowledge of. So she's had a hard life being thought of as crazy. We've seen none of that. Every person we've seen her deal with directly has treated her fairly normally. Only in the general and abstract are we told that people have always treated her different.
Let's not even mention the ending...
Spoiler
We've spent the entire book trying to get her out of her demon bargain and once she finally does after basically helping to kill three people (but you know who cares as they were bad people in the first place) we immediately slap her into full demon to save her mom YET AGAIN! Ridiculous.While I wasn't left with any unanswered questions or huge plot holes everything seemed very pat and unbelievably cut and dried. The love triangle just got on my nerves because while I wanted to like Rick he never came across as that special and I just wanted to slap Stew 9 times out of 10. Natalie, well she was ok, but for a heroine I wanted more bad ass I won't do that, not going to cross that line. Do something about your life, especially when you found out that not everyone thinks your crazy even if they don't like to admit it. You're handed another, admittedly difficult and quite possibly impossible option to save your soul and it doesn't even warrant a second thought. Let's just go finish the life taking we've started, doesn't even cross our mind that Rick could be lying to us and that taking those lives potentially could just make us the demon faster. Now granted that's not what the author wrote, but it was the first thing through my mind and it doesn't even occur to Natalie. Let alone that a sword from heaven and killing the guy who we made the deal with sounds a lot more believable and likely to do the job than taking three other lives. Nope instead we're going to go on believing everything that someone else tells us and build on our "feelings" that draw us towards two different guys until we can' separate them in our minds. Whatever the one we're currently talking to tell us that must be that absolute truth. A heroine should stand on her own.
4.5 stars Natalie is a girl in college who thinks a demon has taken her soul. Everybody thinks she is crazy. the only that doen't is her friend Stew who lives next door. They meet in a treehouse every night to cuddle and chat. When school starts back Stew will not admit to anyone that he is with Natalie. Natalie gets angry and won't talk to him. Then Natalie meets Rick who is hot!! He wants to hang out and be her "friend". They start hanging out and Natalie thinks she is starting to have feelings for him. Things seem to go a little crazy from there.....
This book was very well written. The way the characters are described allows you to get a clear picture in your head as to what they look like. The story flows very smoothly and never seems to rush. There was a perfect amount of detail given throughout the book. I can't wait to read the next one!!!
This book was very well written. The way the characters are described allows you to get a clear picture in your head as to what they look like. The story flows very smoothly and never seems to rush. There was a perfect amount of detail given throughout the book. I can't wait to read the next one!!!
Review posted on Hesperia Loves Books
After falling in love with Ms. Valentine’s Black Falcon series, I jumped at the chance I was given, to read this newest book of hers. Demon At My Door was a great introduction for her, into the Paranormal Romance genre. The story concept was unique and refreshing and the character development revealed just enough to keep us turning the pages and wanting more.
Natalie sold her soul when she was 5 years old, to save her mother. After years of psychiatric visits, mental illness diagnoses, being shunned by kids at school and her parents; Natalie hides within herself. She never lets anyone see the real her; which she admittedly doesn’t even recognize anymore. She has come to terms with, what she believes will be her death, on her 21st birthday. What I love about Natalie is her fierceness and her never quit attitude. She wants to protect those she loves, at all costs, from the demon that she has grown to hate. And, even though she has no doubt that she will die, she continues to fight, until the very end, for the life she’s never had a chance to live.
Rick is a demon, but not by choice. If he could go back and change the circumstances of why he was turned he would; that would allow him to live the life he’d dreamed of. Instead, he has to settle with the hand he was dealt and the who, what, when & why of that, was one of the best parts of this book. Rick’s character was enigmatic and intriguing. From the start I knew he would be integral to the story. Several aspects I guessed right off, but others, totally blindsided me ;) For me, what made Rick’s character so fabulous, was the love and confidence that he helped Natalie find. She was just a shell of a person, who was constantly on guard when they met. With his help, she breaks that shell and becomes the woman she always wanted to be.
While I loved most everything about this book, there were aspects that caused me not to rate it higher. Even though this should be considered a New Adult genre book, since the characters were in college, it read more like a YA. With all of the sexual tension between Natalie & Rick, I wanted to be shown more of a connection between them. The heat was there, just very mild. My other issues with the book concern the editing. There were several scenes that I felt were unnecessary to the overall storyline, some scenes that were very redundant and quite a few grammatical errors throughout. I had to re-read passages and, in the end, the book felt longer than it actually was.
Overall, I really enjoyed being immersed in Natalie’s world. After the ending, I hope that we get a 2nd book; Ms. Valentine has laid the groundwork for an exceptional series. Lovers of Paranormal Romance will definitely want to add this one to their TBR list!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
After falling in love with Ms. Valentine’s Black Falcon series, I jumped at the chance I was given, to read this newest book of hers. Demon At My Door was a great introduction for her, into the Paranormal Romance genre. The story concept was unique and refreshing and the character development revealed just enough to keep us turning the pages and wanting more.
Natalie sold her soul when she was 5 years old, to save her mother. After years of psychiatric visits, mental illness diagnoses, being shunned by kids at school and her parents; Natalie hides within herself. She never lets anyone see the real her; which she admittedly doesn’t even recognize anymore. She has come to terms with, what she believes will be her death, on her 21st birthday. What I love about Natalie is her fierceness and her never quit attitude. She wants to protect those she loves, at all costs, from the demon that she has grown to hate. And, even though she has no doubt that she will die, she continues to fight, until the very end, for the life she’s never had a chance to live.
Rick is a demon, but not by choice. If he could go back and change the circumstances of why he was turned he would; that would allow him to live the life he’d dreamed of. Instead, he has to settle with the hand he was dealt and the who, what, when & why of that, was one of the best parts of this book. Rick’s character was enigmatic and intriguing. From the start I knew he would be integral to the story. Several aspects I guessed right off, but others, totally blindsided me ;) For me, what made Rick’s character so fabulous, was the love and confidence that he helped Natalie find. She was just a shell of a person, who was constantly on guard when they met. With his help, she breaks that shell and becomes the woman she always wanted to be.
While I loved most everything about this book, there were aspects that caused me not to rate it higher. Even though this should be considered a New Adult genre book, since the characters were in college, it read more like a YA. With all of the sexual tension between Natalie & Rick, I wanted to be shown more of a connection between them. The heat was there, just very mild. My other issues with the book concern the editing. There were several scenes that I felt were unnecessary to the overall storyline, some scenes that were very redundant and quite a few grammatical errors throughout. I had to re-read passages and, in the end, the book felt longer than it actually was.
Overall, I really enjoyed being immersed in Natalie’s world. After the ending, I hope that we get a 2nd book; Ms. Valentine has laid the groundwork for an exceptional series. Lovers of Paranormal Romance will definitely want to add this one to their TBR list!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
I really liked this! Loved the way the two main characters came together! Can't wait for the next installment.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. Natalie Sugarman sold her soul years ago when she was little to save her mom. Now at 21 years old that debt is coming due. Will she find a way to save her soul? Does she decide to be one of Satan’s helpers? I liked that there is more books in this series and I am excited to learn more about these characters as they grow in the series.
Wow! I loved the book. It was not how I thought it would be, but in a good way. The ending I didn't like so much (cliffhanger-ish), but I can only think that there will be a sequel, which will be just as amazing as this one.
I know Michelle Valentine by her fabulous Black Falcon series. So imagine my surprise when she reached out to bloggers for reviews on her paranormal book. Let me tell you, Michelle can a demon just as well as she can a rocker.
Natalie Sugarman knows she's living on borrowed time. After bartering her soul with a little demon boy to save her mother's life, she knows with her approaching twenty-first birthday everything is about to change. What she doesn't understand are the images the little demon boy keeps sending her each time their paths cross. What she doesn't realize is the new guy at school, the one who isn't turned off by her freakishness and likes her for who she is, is so much more than she could have ever imagined.
I loved the story. I loved how a five year old girl battered for her mother's life. I loved how Rick Steele showed Natalie how she was so much more than the freaky goth girl everyone thought she was and she should be no one's dirty little secret. But most of all, I loved the story of how Rick became what he was and what he's done all in the name of true love.
I'm interested to see what could happen next. It was left with an ending the begs for a second book (or maybe more). You can't leave us wondering what will happen with Natalie and Rick. What Stew finds as he goes off in search of his mother. And more importantly, what is going to happen with Lilim now that Rick and Natalie are together. Inquiring minds want to know! Hopefully Michelle Valentines hears my pleas and gives us some more Demon books.
Natalie Sugarman knows she's living on borrowed time. After bartering her soul with a little demon boy to save her mother's life, she knows with her approaching twenty-first birthday everything is about to change. What she doesn't understand are the images the little demon boy keeps sending her each time their paths cross. What she doesn't realize is the new guy at school, the one who isn't turned off by her freakishness and likes her for who she is, is so much more than she could have ever imagined.
I loved the story. I loved how a five year old girl battered for her mother's life. I loved how Rick Steele showed Natalie how she was so much more than the freaky goth girl everyone thought she was and she should be no one's dirty little secret. But most of all, I loved the story of how Rick became what he was and what he's done all in the name of true love.
I'm interested to see what could happen next. It was left with an ending the begs for a second book (or maybe more). You can't leave us wondering what will happen with Natalie and Rick. What Stew finds as he goes off in search of his mother. And more importantly, what is going to happen with Lilim now that Rick and Natalie are together. Inquiring minds want to know! Hopefully Michelle Valentines hears my pleas and gives us some more Demon books.
Usually when I read a paranormal it has vampires as well as werewolves. This one had, well, Demons. It drew me in within the first chapter. That is for sure. I wanted to know more and what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. I couldn't put it down. We get to meet a few interesting characters. I love that even tough there are 2 main characters there are others in the book that are very important as well. I wont lie I kind of hope that this is not it and when I asked her and she said there will be one more book I got excited. I kind of hope that maybe Stew gets a book of his own too because well it left me wanting to know more about him.
We meet Rick and immediately fall in love with him, he treats Natalie like she is perfect just as she is. He never once shows that he wants anyone else but her. He wants to get to know her and she doesn't seem to understand why, and to be honest if you grew up in a town where everyone avoided you, you would wonder why also. But leave it up to the new guy in town to bring out the inner girl in Natalie.
He always is there at the right moments and always has her back no matter what anyone says or does. Who wouldn't want a guy like that? Just when things seem to get normal for her and you hope that the evil demon boy will just stay away things come up that throw you for a loop and make you say.. I KNEW IT! I KNOW I KNEW IT, I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT BUT I KNEW IT!!!
Then when you think okay there is nothing else going to surprise you, ANOTHER moment comes to pass that has you wondering... WHY DID I NOT SEE THAT?
There were so many moments that had me thinking ohhhhh thats is good! I know for me one of the moments was when Michelle writes this: (it gave me the chills---mooofasssaahhh---say it again)
"All souls are reborn until they make a deal with a demon and commit themselves to do Satan's work. If you don't make a deal then you just keep getting reborn over and over."
I know that for many, paranormal reads are not their thing and I can understand that; I was not much into them when I was younger but have been drawn in now that I am older but mostly with vamps and were's. This one to me, although, yes it is a paranormal read, it is very believable as to something that could happen in everyday life. But then again I did just tell my husband I wanted to go visit Transylvania to see if we can meet any real vampires. But if you are looking for something that is not going to overwhelm you on the paranormal side and just want to dip your toes in and see if it might be something you might enjoy reading I would recommend this one!
It doesn't bombard you with all this history of the creatures in the book, it is just about a demon, who makes a deal with a girl. That deal being her soul. As you read you will at times forget that it is a paranormal which some may find not a good thing, but that is one of the things I love about Michelle's writing. You will be reading a book about a demon and then feel as though you are just reading about two normal people who are going through some things and just when you start to think I love these two people together, BAMM you are reminded this isnt just a normal read there are demons! She does such a good job not overwhelming people with stuff and making the story between the two people in the book the priority and I love that!
I am sure it will get some who may not normally read a paranormal book interested, because it is not so in your face with the "paranormal" side of it, it is there but in more of a subtle way. I know that I have some friends who are not paranormal readers and I will be sending them this as a recommended read. I have yet to be disappointed by her books and so I look forward to what is next.
We meet Rick and immediately fall in love with him, he treats Natalie like she is perfect just as she is. He never once shows that he wants anyone else but her. He wants to get to know her and she doesn't seem to understand why, and to be honest if you grew up in a town where everyone avoided you, you would wonder why also. But leave it up to the new guy in town to bring out the inner girl in Natalie.
He always is there at the right moments and always has her back no matter what anyone says or does. Who wouldn't want a guy like that? Just when things seem to get normal for her and you hope that the evil demon boy will just stay away things come up that throw you for a loop and make you say.. I KNEW IT! I KNOW I KNEW IT, I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT BUT I KNEW IT!!!
Then when you think okay there is nothing else going to surprise you, ANOTHER moment comes to pass that has you wondering... WHY DID I NOT SEE THAT?
There were so many moments that had me thinking ohhhhh thats is good! I know for me one of the moments was when Michelle writes this: (it gave me the chills---mooofasssaahhh---say it again)
"All souls are reborn until they make a deal with a demon and commit themselves to do Satan's work. If you don't make a deal then you just keep getting reborn over and over."
I know that for many, paranormal reads are not their thing and I can understand that; I was not much into them when I was younger but have been drawn in now that I am older but mostly with vamps and were's. This one to me, although, yes it is a paranormal read, it is very believable as to something that could happen in everyday life. But then again I did just tell my husband I wanted to go visit Transylvania to see if we can meet any real vampires. But if you are looking for something that is not going to overwhelm you on the paranormal side and just want to dip your toes in and see if it might be something you might enjoy reading I would recommend this one!
It doesn't bombard you with all this history of the creatures in the book, it is just about a demon, who makes a deal with a girl. That deal being her soul. As you read you will at times forget that it is a paranormal which some may find not a good thing, but that is one of the things I love about Michelle's writing. You will be reading a book about a demon and then feel as though you are just reading about two normal people who are going through some things and just when you start to think I love these two people together, BAMM you are reminded this isnt just a normal read there are demons! She does such a good job not overwhelming people with stuff and making the story between the two people in the book the priority and I love that!
I am sure it will get some who may not normally read a paranormal book interested, because it is not so in your face with the "paranormal" side of it, it is there but in more of a subtle way. I know that I have some friends who are not paranormal readers and I will be sending them this as a recommended read. I have yet to be disappointed by her books and so I look forward to what is next.
I really enjoyed this book. I have read so many books in the paranormal genre its easy to feel like you have read the same kind of story several times but I did not get that feeling while reading this book. Definatly loooking foreword to the next one!