Hush, Hush by Becca Fitpatrick (Third Review!)

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1)

By Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009

391 pages, paperback

Date Finished: 25/4/2011

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Romance, Action, Some Mystery

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...until Patch comes 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 whom 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 far 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.
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "Chauncey was with a farmer's daughter on the grassy banks of the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wander in the meadow, was left to his own two feet to carry him back to the chateau."
~Last Line: " 'More.' "

Review: I felt so left out during the release of Crescendo last year because I hadn't gotten a chance to read Hush, Hush. Now, however, I can see why everyone was so hyped and excited for a sequel! Happy to know that The Mad Scientist (Steampunkery & Book Reviews) is generous enough to send me a copy of Crescendo. Thanks, MS!

The main character, Nora Grey, is just your average girl until she meets Patch in her biology (can't remember; it was some type of science) class. Patch is one of those guys that you can't help but be drawn to. Nora is automaticlaly drawn to him, of course, and does her best to find out whatever she can about him and his past.

Then someone begins following her around. And she's imagining things. Things that aren't really happening. Or are they? Her best friend, Vee, thinks that Patch is Nora's stalker, but Nora is determined to believe that he isn't. Besides, she can totall trust Patch -- right?

Even so, she eventually uncovers a lot about Patch's past. Some very interesting stuff if you ask me :). The romance between Nora and Patch was awesome. Definitely helped pull me in even more; not that I didn't already have my entire face stuffed in the book's seams!

Did I mention Elliot Saunders? No? Well, you'll just have to read the book to figure out who he is. Because I'm not telling!

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages:427
Genres: Action, Adventure, Angels, Mystery, Romance, YA
Reviewed by Kate

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

How do I even begin my review of this book? I'll start by my initial worries about this book. I'm not 100% sure but pretty sure that Hush Hush, the first book in this series, was supposed to be a stand alone novel. It seemed to me that it would have been fine that way, though I'm glad it's not. Anyway, it always worried me when authors either make their stand-alone novels a series or make way to many books in a series, you just don't want to push to-much-of-a-good-thing. So I was worried that this book wouldn't be as good because it seemed more of an after thought to the success of Hush Hush. But I have to say that Fitzpatrick did an amazing job. I loved this book, and at times hated it.

So this book was a lot different than Hush Hush but if you didn't know that Hush Hush and Crescendo were related before reading them you could tell afterwards, it still has ties and expands on things from Hush Hush. This book actually has a lot more mystery of who killed Nora's dad and a new secret society, I won't give away any spoilers so that's all I'll say, than anything else. I really liked that aspect of the story, there really wasn't to much romance. In fact Nora and Patch take a break throughout the whole book pretty much, and yes Patch hangs out with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie. However predictable this may seem for a second book it was done in a way that I liked a lot, well hated actually but that was just the situation in general. So this book was a lot of mystery and action.

I was really disappointed that Patch wasn't in the book a whole lot. I missed his sarcastic, arrogant, in a bad boy way that I love, and sexiness/charm. I was also a little confused by some of Nora's actions about him being being Marcie. Sometimes I was saying "yes Nora!" other times I was thinking why on earth is she doing that. But then I thought about how I would be feeling in that situation and I think that that is how I might react as well, against my better judgment. Love hurts. It also bothered me that at the end Patch and Marcie's relationship was sort of explained but not really, I need more.

One thing I loved about this book was the mystery. There are so many twists and turns that I was not expecting at all. This book really is preparing for what I hope is an explosive next book. There's just so many things that are set up in this book that NEED to be answered/resolved in the next book. I hated the ending, well it was more I hated the ending because you need to know what happens next and we have to wait a little less than a full year for the next book. It makes me want to pull my hair out in frustration. But I'm super excited for the next book! Overall, this book left me with so many emotions. I know this review is a little hard to understand since this left me with so many different feelings, most were contradicting, but I'm still giving this book a 5 Kisses! I absolutely loved it! If I can decipher my feelings and thoughts better I'll come and change my review.

5 Kisses!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 391
Genres: Action, Angels, Romance, and Young adult

This book is about Nora Grey. She is extremely academic and doesn't really date guys. Then comes Patch, Nora's new biology partner. He comes across as arrogant and conceited and a little sarcastic but he draws Nora in. After Nora meets him the strange feeling that someone is following her becomes a lot more apparent. Strange and scary things start to happen to her, and Patch seems somehow connected to it all. Turns out that she is in the middle of an ancient battle, one with a fallen angel and an immortal.

Okay, first I'd like to start off by saying that the cover is what drew me in. It's really amazing. It has a fallen angel aka Patch on the front cover. It's a photograph by James Porto. It really is different but it totally works, in my opinion. Now for the actual book. I have to admit i really loved it. The whole book was very good and kept me reading through the night. I read this book in three days. I love Patch, who is a bad boy. I like book characters like him. Usually they tend to be sarcastic and arrogant but also sweet to the people, to their choice of course. Some people don't like Patch's kind of character so they will probably be turned off by this book. Nora seemed, to me, like a typical girl who's very studious. She really isn't interested in anyone until Patch comes along and spices her life up. She is a like able character. The other characters are all pretty good to. To some people her friend Vee may get a little annoying at times but I liked her. The plot kept me reading. There was always something that i needed to see what would happen. It was a little complicated though with a lot of surprising twists and new problems throughout the whole story, but it worked for this book. Otherwise the book would have been totally boring and wouldn't make any sense for the first half. The plot was great, the characters were great, the cover was amazing. It was a really good read and worth the money to buy it. The sequel, Crescendo, is coming November 16th and I can't wait!

5 Kisses!

Hush Hush - Book Review

Hush Hush
By: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 2009
Pages: 391, Hardcover
Rating: 5
Bookcover Rating: 4
Read: December 2009
Genre: Young Adult, Fallen Angels, Paranormal Romance

First Line: Chauncey was with a farmer's daughter on the grassy banks of the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wonder in the meadow, was left to his own feet to carry him back to the Château.

Review: I rented this book from the library not thinking that it would amount to much. Whoa! This was much more then I expected in a good way. This story is still with me even after months of others in between. I even managed to get my own hardcover copy for my favorite books of all times shelf. *sigh* It is the most beautiful sight!

Sophomore Nora Grey, seemed to have a pretty good life. Plus, she had Vee, a truly good friend. They even endured Biology together. Luckily for the reader and unluckily for those two that the dear old biology teacher decided to shake things up by making everyone change lab partners. Nora is now partnered with the silent bad boy, Parch Cipria. From there on out her semi perfect life now seems to be tearing at the seams and everything starts to change...

Weird events start to happening to her. Like a mysterious car crash. She freaks out and thinks she maybe loosing it. Maybe she is!

Dark attractive Patch knows how to and what to say to get to Nora. She gets all flustered and mad. However, no matter what she can't stay away from him. It's a scary weird attraction she does not understand. She is afraid and lusting after him. There has to be something blasphemous about the possiblitiy of that relationship. Yet, the magnetic connection to Patch continues even though he is skecthy at best. I really wanted to love him but he comes out as being creepy in the beginning. I must admit I love the I nuendos that he sends to Nora. It made me laugh out loud more then once.

Nora and Vee do some investagation of their own which leads no where. Soon, her fear switches to Vee who gets herself into a scary situation without knowing it. Vee is alone with Elliot and Jules who are not exactly what they seem.

Nora races through the twists and turns in the edge if fear. So did I. Well, at least on the edge part!

This novel was Becca Fitzpatrick's debut book, that made me a instant fan! She has easily wiggled her way on to my favorites list and I can hardly wait for Cresendo to come out! Hush Hush was a fast paced page flipper. I personally could barely it down! The story was I tense with well thought out plot twists. What I mean is, I was guessing throughout the boom I stead of being told what I already figured out.

A great debut novel! I will most defiantely be running to the store to pick up her next book, Cresendo!!

Rating: 5