Blog Tour! Review: Crossroads & Between by Mary Ting + Giveaway!

Today is my stop on the Crossroads Saga Blog Tour

Hosted By Insane About Books

I have reviews of both books and a giveaway!

About The Author

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing Crossroads was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. It was inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl.

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Crossroads 
(Crossroads Saga #1) 
by Mary Ting

Release Date: July 29, 2011
Publisher: World Castle
Pages: 315
Genre: YA Angels
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. Where, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia.
Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should?

When Claudia dreams she enters the Crossroads, a place between heaven and earth. A human has never entered the Crossroads before and this puts Claudia in danger. Demons and the fallen angels will want Claudia for her power. Michael is assigned as her guardian angel. At first Michael is rude and abrupt with her. I didn't understand him at first but it turns out he just didn't know how to handle the situation. Claudia has visited the Crossroads all her life and Michael has watched her and been in love with her for a long time. Claudia never remembered him from the dreams but falls for him rather fast. They definitely have some sweet moments but sometimes it was a little too mushy for me personally. Their relationship is also forbidden because an alkin is not supposed to fall in love or be with a mortal.

The other alkins also visit Claudia and work to protect her. My favorite is Davin who is a gatekeeper. He always pops up and says the funniest things. I also like Patti, Claudia's best friend who she also works with. Patti is a supportive friend and insists on Claudia coming along for a camping trip. During the trip she spends more time with Austin, a cutie she met at a restaurant. I feel like there will be more to him in the future. Claudia is drawn away from the campsite and attacked again. It was a lot of Claudia getting attacked and then the alkins come and save her. I was very curious as to why everyone wanted her so badly but it is all eventually explained. Claudia isn't at all who she thought she was. I think big fans of romance will really enjoy this series. Michael and Claudia have the all consuming love that is deeper than an ocean and higher than the sky. Their words at one point not mine! LOL A lot of the story revolves around their scenes together which are very sweet.  

"I don't even know what you mean by dating. We learn by observing and that thing you call Googling on the computer."

"The first time you tried to enter by yourself, I should have let you be, and you would have just disappeared, but I let you in. It was me. I was being selfish. You make me feel things I didn't know I could feel. I didn't want you to leave, and when I knew you were about to give up, I stopped you from leaving."

"Multiple my love by infinity and take it to the depths of forever, and you still have only a glimpse of how I feel for you. I love you more."

Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Between 
(Crossroads Saga #2)
by Mary Ting 

Release Date: January 12, 2012
Publisher: World Castle
Pages: 330
Genre: YA Angels
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelve, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside–a place between Heaven and Earth–he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators—nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?

I swear I am going to keep this very spoiler free so that way even if you haven't read the first book you can read this. I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than the first! Claudia spends a lot of time with Austin and I love him! All my suspicions about him from the first book were true. We find out his secrets and I won't spoil things but he is a good guy and helps Claudia. I found him hilarious and very charming. Michael is sweet but I just feel like Austin has a more fun and outgoing personality. I really enjoy his scenes. There were still plenty of Michael scenes where he showered Claudia with love and gifts. I also continued to really love Davin. He is trying to learn earthly ways and slang. He spends a lot of time googling which cracks me up but really you can learn everything from google!

The action was more exciting in this one. A demon stuck in the Between is gathering forces to send after Claudia and finally Claudia learns how to defend herself. In the first book she was always hiding in the corner when the danger came but this time she is facing it. The fight scenes were more intense and involved. There were some hostage situations that really had me on the edge. I also liked the extra background into the alkins and how there are different ones on earth. There is a group of venators and they hunt demons. We delve deeper into the 12 original angels and their offspring. The ending was surprising and a bit sad. There are some big obstacles for Claudia and Michael and I'm not sure how they will work through them. Definitely left me extremely curious for the next book.

"Okay then, day dreams. I can have those."
Vivian shook her head, letting out a short laugh. "You have too many of those. And I have no idea of what."
"You don't want to know." He arched his brows.

"Gamma once told me, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

"Our love is like the snowflakes, pure, delicate, and one of a kind. My love for you will never melt. I'm unequivocally yours today, tomorrow, a year from now, forever, and then some."

"Come in. I won't bite...well, maybe a little nibble." Austin chuckled.

Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Be sure to follow the tour! More reviews and a different giveaway on every stop!

May 7^th Insane About Books 

May 8^th Me and Reading 

May 9^th I Love Teen Books 

May 10^th Some Like it Paranormal 

May 11^th Books Complete Me

May 12^th Jean Book Nerd 

May 13^th Amethyst Daydreams 

May 14^th TotallyBookalicious 

May 15^th I am Wolf 

May 16^th In Between

May 17^th Stuck in Books 

May 18^th Putting Pen to Page 

May 19^th Sassy Book Lovers 

May 20^th Delphina Reads TooMuch 

May 21^st Insane About Books & I Love Teen Books 

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