Review: Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper

Taking Back Forever (The Kindrily, #2) by Karen Amanda Hooper
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Publication date: May 29th, 2013
Number of pages: 366 pgs
Format: E-format
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Forever is worth the fight.

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

I love when an Indie book takes you by surprise and you fall head over heels with it. This is what happened to me with 'Grasping for Eternity.' The narrative, the mythology, characters and relationships pulled me in so deeply, it was one of my favourite books of 2012.

The follow up to the first book was very good. I loved being pulled back to this world with these characters. I couldn't wait to see what was going on between them all, and especially, Maryah and Nathan.
This book picks up pretty much right after the previous one ended. It was revealed that Maryah's little brother who died along with her parents may have just been reborn. I was surprised and happy for her when that little bit happened.
In this installment, we have two POVs again, but rather than Maryah and Nathan, this time we have Maryah and Harmony.  It was a little different, but a nice change to see things from Harmony's POV. We had to see how things were going with her and Maryah's POV just wouldn't do that.
Maryah has been trying to control her abilities to be able to help the others locate Gregory, but it's just not working as well as she hoped. Darn those little buggers.


Maryah and Nathan's romance keeps progressing, even though she doesn't remember everything, which she so desperately wants to. She doesn't know why she erased, but she does know that she loves Nathan. Since she is in this new body and she feels like a new soul, her relationship with Nathan feels like very much of one that is a seventeen year old, in love.  With Nathan though... he has loved her for so long, he is an old soul in a new body, so for him.. he understands things better than she does at current time.  While things do get increasingly intense between the two, Nathan is also a gentleman and wants to do what is right --- not just for Maryah, but for both of them.  He doesn't want to mess this thing up that's between the both of them.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and I look forward to see how things progress with the cliffhanger that we were left with.
This book also contained some bonus content, which I think is from the next book? Which I look forward to.
The stakes are raised, questions are up in the air and answers are wanted.  I hope the next one is just as good.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper

Taking Back Forever (Kindrily #2) by Karen Amanda Hooper
Publication Date: May 31, 2013
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Number of Pages: 365
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

Forever is worth the fight.

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it.

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

Some sequels you can pick it up and read without reading the first since they seem to summarize what happened in the first book. This book is not one of those books. It picks up right where the first book ended. Maryah remembers her love for Nathan but she can't remember most of her memories.

Like the last book this one is divided into two different POVs. Instead of Nathan's POV we get to see Harmony's. Maryah is working on trying to active control her power in order to help the kindrily find Gregory. But Harmony is getting impatient, and refuses to wait for Maryah to get a handle of her power.

The book is filled with Maryah and Nathan romance. And while I enjoyed it and the book, I didn't think the book measured up to the first one. Don't get me wrong, I still loved the book just liked the first book better. We do get an answer from the first book, the secret Nathan has been keeping from Maryah and the rest of the kindrily. Nathan has seen Gregory, and knows who he is with, and not only that he has a big connection to Maryah.

What makes this book interesting is there are two endings to this book. The first is sweet, but at least to me it felt lacking. That there should be more after that. There's a note from the author herself warning about a cliffhanger. And to respect her and her wish for those who kept on reading not to mention what happens so I won't go into details. Although sometimes I hate cliffhangers, but at the same time I love them. Sometimes they are needed. Makes you want the next book even more. And this one is no exception. Makes you go holy shit!

Rating: 4/5

 

Review: Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Grasping at Eternity (Kindrily #1) by Karen Amanda Hooper
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Number of Pages: 328
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

Maryah's life it turned upside down the day her parents and her twin brother was murder. Not to mention she barely escaped with her life and ended up in a coma for two weeks. She decides to leave her old life behind, and what little family she has left; her aunt, uncle, and cousin and best friend Krista behind and live her mom's best friend from childhood who was left her appointed guardian.

It's an adjustment, especially since it seems like certain members of the family hate her for no reason. Or why everyone seems to keep mentioning Nathan. Which when Maryah comes face to face with, is completely shock to realized he's her death angel she keeps dreaming about. Which he actually stays away from Maryah for majority of the book, which is fine by her since she can't stand him. But who could really blame him? It must be torture to be near your soul mate and for them not to remember you or your past lives together.

I've always loved the concept of reincarnated souls, especially soul mates. This book is definitely a page turner. Another book I couldn't put down and read in one day. I will say throughout the book I was confused on how some of the members of the kindrily were related to each other in this life in regards to human terms. I was hoping that her parents were reincarnated souls, but turns out not to be the case. There's another person that turns out to be part of their kindrily which I suspected from the beginning.

The book was broken down in two POVs, Maryah and Nathan's. I'm not big on multiple POVs in YA, especially when authors tries to do one as a guy. It's tricky, and most can't get it down. Comes off as juvenile and annoying. I'm happy to report that this isn't the case. I adore Nathan, and how whatever he does is for Maryah. Maryah did make friends with River, the school's most popular guy, not to mention all the girls swoon over him. I never understood the friendship. River has an ego the size of the United States, not to mention he's a douche. Or how he keeps pressuring Maryah to date him when it's obvious she just wants friendship. I did get excited one of the minor characters share the same name as me. Wasn't thrilled that I was initially River's girlfriend.  But River has ulterior motives for getting close to Maryah, and it just may put her life in danger again.

Not sure if everyone else feels the same, but I felt a Twightish vibe to this book. Now don't let that scare you off, I just noticed similarities. But this book holds it's on, and really is nothing like Twilight. There was a part where Maryah goes four wheeling, but it ends up being dirt bikes, and uses the word four wheeling one more time. It shouldn't bug me, but for a person who loves four wheeling myself, there's a difference.

I do love how in the end Maryah remembered Nathan. She didn't get all of her memories back, but it's a start. And her twin brother, Mikey, comes back in an unexpected way. Which I felt how he came back was a little weird.

I'm anxious for the next book to come out. This easily in one book made my favorites list. I'm looking forward to finding out the answers still lingering, especially why did Maryah erase in the first place.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Grasping at Eternity (Kindrily #1)
Karen Amanda Hooper
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Publication date: July 15th, 2012
Number of pages: 368
Format: E-book
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add to Goodreads

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

How would you feel if the love of your life has simply erased you, as if you or your lives together didn't matter or existed?
This is what Maryah did. She might not know it right now, or understand why, but before entering this life, she existed prior but erased every memory of those closest to her.

After the death of her parents, seventeen-year-old Maryah Woodsen has no idea the people who have taken her in are no strangers to her. They are more than family, but since she had erased her previous lives and memories for whatever reason, she doesn't understand why they act like they already know each other.
The relationship between Maryah and the son of the woman she is staying with was the main drawing point for me for this book. The love that he has for her is just insane. It's so.. undescribable that it would make even the most unromantic person weep with tears at the nature of their story.

The characters that Amanda has shared with us in this story are so full of so many characteristics. I feel drawn to every single one of them. From Maryah and Nathan, who I like to think are my babies of this series, as their story is the one main draw for me, and one I connect to most. Or maybe, because I just love these kind of love stories, as they really tear up your heart strings and yearn for a love like Nathan feels for her.

There is also a mystery to the plot. Yes, it's not all about the romance. The people or person responsible for killing her parents, they soon discover they aren't done. That she might have been the real target during this horrible incident after all. Will she rediscover her memories in time to find out who was responsible and why?

This was such a fantastic book. I would recommend it if you enjoy an amazing, re-incarnation type romances that will claw you at the heart at any given change. A good mystery that follows, and a great set of characters that you can feel for, and relate to. Each character is special and unique in their own way and serve a greater purpose in the long run.

I look forward until book 2 gets released. But I do have to say it's one heck of a starting novel.

Verdict