Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Vampires, Shapeshifters
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

This is the third book in the Twilight saga and this this one would have to be my favorite so far. There is a lot of action as well as the understanding between the Cullens and the Quileute to fight together. Learning the story behind Jasper as was a juicy tidbit I wasn't expecting. The conclusion of school for them and then going into the summer of having a huge knock out fight, was great. Then there was the love triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob, and the mess that it was creating on everyone. It really had a great climactic and it didn't just go pop fizzle at the end like some of these other stories. And again it was written to make you feel as though you are right there along side all of the characters working through everything. Being loosely based off of Wuthering Heights, which I never honestly liked, did not hurt the story. I could see how it was similar, which made me almost re-read the classic. Stephenie created this almost unearthly moment in the climax of the story which left me on the edge of my seat. I loved how everything just fell into place. If she hadn’t already decided to write another book the saga could have ended here. But I’m glad she didn’t, I love seeing the and then… of any story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this saga, Breaking Dawn.
Publisher: Little BrownISBN: 0316027650Pages: 640Series: Twilight SagaVolume: 3

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Werewolves
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.
As much as a lot of people didn't like this book because there wasn't much Edward in it, I loved the dynamic between Jacob and Bella. I even like how Jacob and Alice interacted with one another while trying to play nice for Bella. You are able to get an understanding to the relationship that grows into true friendship with Jacob and Bella. And the way Italy is described I could almost feel like I was there watching on. While this story is loosely based off of Romeo and Juliet, which I love. I found myself liking this story more for the ways it is not similar to it. It is such a well written story you can almost feel the pain of loss that Bella is going through. And while some people may not have liked it, I believe that you have to have this to round out the saga for the later story lines. I personally thought it was amazing. Looking forward to reading the next book in the Twilight Saga, Eclipse.

Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 0316024961
Pages: 608
Series: Twilight Saga
Volume: 2

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Vampires, Shapeshifters
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: "Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands. ''Be very still,'' he whispered, as if I wasn''t already frozen. Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat. " As Shakespeare knew, love burns high when thwarted by obstacles. In Twilight, an exquisite fantasy by Stephenie Meyer, readers discover a pair of lovers who are supremely star-crossed. Bella adores beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward is having a hard time controlling the blood lust she arouses in him, because—he’s a vampire. At any moment, the intensity of their passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the danger. But, Bella would rather be dead than part from Edward, so she risks her life to stay near him, and the novel burns with the erotic tension of their dangerous and necessarily chaste relationship. Meyer has achieved quite a feat by making this scenario completely human and believable. She begins with a familiar YA premise (the new kid in school), and lulls us into thinking this will be just another realistic young adult novel. Bella has come to the small town of Forks on the gloomy Olympic Peninsula to be with her father. At school, she wonders about a group of five remarkably beautiful teens, who sit together in the cafeteria but never eat. As she grows to know, and then love, Edward, she learns their secret. They are all rescued vampires, part of a family headed by saintly Carlisle, who has inspired them to renounce human prey. For Edward’s sake they welcome Bella, but when a roving group of tracker vampires fixates on her, the family is drawn into a desperate pursuit to protect the fragile human in their midst.

This is the first of the Twilight Saga. This reminded me of the years when I used to change schools and having to be the new kid. Trying to be noticed and not all at the same time. My favorite character outside the obvious Bella and Edward is Alice. The way she is a bit off and yet knows the future made me laugh. How the story unfolds draws you in so that you can’t help but wonder what is going to happen next. The play on it being slightly based off of Pride and Prejudice was well done. I know that many girls relate to Bella with all her human flaws, and because anyone could be her. This is a brilliant opening to the saga and I look forward to reading the second book in this series, New Moon.

Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 0316015849
Pages: 544
Series: Twilight Saga
Volume: 1