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"Crossroads is a lovely, heartwarming story about young love and hope. It is a wonderful escape into the world of an ordinary girl, an extraordinary love, and the forces of evil that try to keep them apart. We loved it!"
-Michelle De La Vara, Owner of http://www.inspiredbytwilight.com/
Shaeeza
Posted May 20, 2011
Crossroads is a book that I think is the ultimate Young Adult book. It is a book I would have my own 16 year old read. It offers great romance and faith based living. It follows a young girl raised by a single mom and a caring Gamma(a name my kids also used)who comes of age in the most remarkable way.
Filled with star crossed lovers, fantastical creatures, good friends, beautiful places and evil, this book is an easy read. This easy to follow plot is full of twists, turns, surprises and battles which in this reviewer's opinion is extremely important (since I usually find battles hard to follow in a book and would skip them.) The author told us the story without extreme attention to the surroundings (too often I encounter books which have pages dedicated to the description of the surroundings - which I usually skip also). Her descriptions of the settings in the book were enough to teleport us there to continue the enjoyment of the story.
The characters are likable and well developed. Mary ting's explanation of the half breeds sounds plausible and real. Their hierarchy very real and keeping with the Christian faith.
Crossroads is one of the few books I have read that I couldn't until I got to the end. I had to see what would happen and now I can't wait for the sequel!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 22, 2011
I read Crossroads in just two days because I couldn't put it down. The plot is a new and unique one: Claudia sees people in her dreams, beings who warn her to stay away. Her friends calls to ask whether she's okay because, for a moment, they thought Claudia was dead. But instead, it's someone else with the same name who dies the same way Claudia dreamed.
At first, Claudia thinks everyone worrying is the result of her friend's death, but that soon turns enigmatic when the people around her become obsessive when it comes to Claudia's safety, fretting over her late night shift at her after-school job as a sales assistant.
Claudia keeps meeting people in her dreams, beings of light, beings who want something from her, and these beings are starting to cross over into the physical realm, beckoning Claudia to come to them. They've been ordered to take her somewhere. Soon, the visions of meeting these beings blur, and Claudia can no longer tell whether they're just dreams or reality--or something in between.
When she falls for Michael, the boy she keeps meeting, she knows he's someone she can never be with because she's different. And being different has never been more dangerous.
I don't write reviews unless I found the book remarkable and worth reviewing. I thought this was a great book, original, sad at times, with beautiful writing and description. I liked Michael straight away. He was protective, yet broody and mysterious. Claudia is not a wimpy heroine; she's fiercely protective of those around her and tries to keep them safe, even if it means staying away from the one she loves. I also liked the twist at the end when I found out what Claudia really is.
Mary Ting's story of angels and a world in between was a stunning read with plenty of drama and twists and turns. The cliffhanger at the end left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I recommend this to all fantasy readers and those interested in the paranormal.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 17, 2011
This book is such an amazing book! I believe this book is great for young adults and women of all ages. Once I read the prologue, I was hooked. And now that I have finished reading the book, I am VERY anxious for the next one. This book has the perfect amount of both romance and action. This is a story about a young girl and her guardian angel and their forbidden love. Once you have started reading this book, it will be very difficult trying to stop.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 1, 2011
This is a MUST read!!! Being that I have read so much to get through grad school and being a mother of two children, I never get a chance to read anymore and no one could force me to read because I would rather spend the time sleeping! Recommended by a friend, I was told to read CROSSROADS. I was reluctant to do so, but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down!!! It's better than I ever expected. Read it and you won't regret it!!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 31, 2011
This is one of the most beautiful forbidden love stories I have ever read and it is presented in such a pure, holistic way in which the reader feels fully connected to each of the characters. We are invited into a world that is as much our own as it is these characters and they take us to a place that is so beautiful and peaceful where the atmosphere thins between life and the afterlife. They take us to the crossroads, to the place where only those who have passed can move through, with one exception, Claudia. She is the only living human who dreams herself to this place and who can see it for what it is but cannot move through it. She can only sit at it and see the beautiful angels who guard it. Little does she know that her dreams are really her reality and that being at the crossroads is the most dangerous thing for her, but she cannot seem to stop dreaming of the place and because of this her life is put in danger, but her guardian angel will keep her safe and set forth a course of events that changes her entire world both for the good and the bad. A darkness looms over Claudia's life and soon she realizes that she must depend on her guardian angel. Who will win? What will happen? Can't miss this read! It is a great book and one of my absolute favorites!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 31, 2013
It was okay. It's not really as good as everyone in the reviews say it is, though. I didn't like the author's writing style. It seemed she kept using the same phrases over and over. She also made Claudia seem much more immature then a senior in highschool would be. I thought the book should have ended at page 600 or so, not go on for 100 or more pages. You can get it if you want, but Crossroads is not a book I would recomend to my friends.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 25, 2011
Claudia has been having strange dreams almost all her life. She sees the same place every time, and sometimes she sees and talks to other people there. When a friend of hers with the same name dies, Claudia sees this friend in her dreams. She soon discovers that her dreams are taking her to a special place- the Crossroads. While there she interacts with Michael, who quickly informs her she doesn't belong and is not welcome at the Crossroads. As Claudia learns more about Michael and the Crossroads though, she will begin a completely new journey. The truth changes everything for Claudia. Now she must manage to stay safe and navigate the waters of true love.
This was a very interesting book. Perhaps the best part for me was the characterizations. The author did a fabulous job of writing people that felt real. They had good points and bad points, but mostly they were just great characters. I found myself wanting to know more and more about them and their world. Even the bad guys. There's also a very sweeping romance. In fact, the romantic aspects of the book do take up a good deal of time. So be prepared for that. There is plenty of action too though. For me one of my favorite parts was when Claudia went to a birthday party with a group of half-angels in tow. They were an awesome group, and that's definitely some people I want to party with!
There were a couple surprises in the book, so that was always fun to come across. This book also had an amazing part dealing with the death of loved ones. You felt the grief, but you also got a great sense of hope. Naturally a book dealing with angels will discuss the afterlife, and this book does a great job of balancing the sadness of passing with the joy of knowing no one ever truly dies. If you want to get lost in a book with some fun characters, daring action scenes, and a lot of smushy romance, then definitely check this book out!
Book provided for review.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 24, 2011
Really 3.5 stars
We have all read angel books and read about battles between good and evil. But in Crossroads, Mary Ting has reworked this story, adding new dimensions of emotions and events and introducing us to characters that are worth getting to know.
Claudia leads a relatively simple life, until things are shaken by the death of her close friend with the same name. Her subsequent dreams lead her to a place called Crossroads, a realm between heaven and earth where Alkins (half-angel, half-humans) live. As the first human to enter Crossroads, Claudia is cause for questions and concern. Because of her special abilities, the Alkin and other angels fear that Claudia may be in danger from the fallen angels. Hence she is assigned a guardian angel, Michael, who at first seems to dislike her. Over time, however, the feelings between Michael and Claudia grow, and the danger continues to increase. And if learning about angels weren't enough, Claudia still has her human life to deal with. Not everyone is who they say they are, and plenty of people are vying for Claudia's attention. Can she navigate her seemingly double life and find a way to be with Michael against the odds?
What really drew me into this book was the writing style. Everything flowed incredibly well, as if I were actually watching the story unfold instead of simply reading it. One of my favorite characters in this book was Davin, another Alkin who befriended Claudia and helped Michael protect her. His sense of humor and fun personality definitely added the right amount of lightheartedness to this book. There were, of course, some very sweet scenes between Claudia and Michael. Because of his tendency toward everything romantic, Michael is a character who is very easy to fall for. But then there's Austin. I'm fairly certain there must be something more to his character, and I'm looking forward to seeing what that could be. Finally, this book is about a battle between good and evil; for those of you who like action with your romance, Croossroads certainly delivers.
I have to admit that I did have a few issues with this book. Though I really enjoyed Mary's writing style, there were instances where Claudia's voice just didn't seem like a teenager. With this, a few events were somewhat unbelievable. Also, at times Michael reminded me of a certain other well-known romantic lead, with both his disposition and actions. Finally, I will say that although this book is not necessarily Christian fiction, there are strong religious undertones to it.
If you are looking for a sweet story encompassing an ancient battle, a fresh take on angel mythology, and a great cast of characters, then Crossroads is the book for you. I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next installment!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 24, 2011
I just finished this book, it was so heart whelming! Full of action, love friendship, family, its everything a book needs! Every time I turned the page I just wanted to keep on going, never wanting to put it down! Anyone who like the Twilight series should seriously think about reading this book!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 23, 2011
What can I say except I love this book. The loved building between characters is amazing. Micheal is every girls dream. New author Mary Ting has beautiful prose and strong characters. The imagination that comes from this novel is so original from anything I've read before.
Crossroads has everything a reader wants, romance, danger, excitement and the hot hunk we all want to love us. This is a great read for teens and adults alike. I promise you will not be disappointed by the amazing new author and her debut series.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 22, 2011
Who hasn't longed for a love that goes beyond Earthly boundaries and can carry you away on gossamer wings? Crossroads tells the story of such a love, complete with all the mortal and immortal conflicts to create a wonderful roller coaster of emotions. Do yourself a favor and read this one...you'll be glad you did, and like me, you'll be eagerly anticipating a sequel!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 20, 2011
This novel is incredibly engrossing. Claudia has an odd ability...foresight through her dreams. She dreams of a girl with her exact same name dying in a horrible way...and she is right. Claudia is thrown into an unknown reality after the similar girl's death. Her friends and family are much more concerned with her whereabouts and safety and she meets a love interest, Michael-a boy who turns out to be much more than he seems. The book takes off right from the first chapter.
Claudia is a fun character to read about. She is likable to the reader, easy to connect to. She has many of the qualities that are desirable in a heroine; she is compassionate, brave, and intelligent. The love interest, Michael, is charismatic, handsome, and protective. They complement each other perfectly. The secondary characters, especially Claudia's friends and family, are a fairly large part of the novel (refreshing) and very nice to read about.
The plot is different-finally a paranormal that isn't about some type of "monster." The events are fast-paced, the book is hard to put down. A young adult/teen/adult would definitely enjoy this book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 19, 2011
I truly loved this story. Its great to take a step away from all the vampires and werewolves for once and be drawn in by angels and fallen. I found I couldnt put the book down and after each chapter I was anxious to see what would happen next. Mary has found away to approach a controversial issue about if angels exist and turned it into a love story worth reading. I look forward to reading the second installment of Crossroads when it comes out.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Crossroads
By: Mary Ting
ISBN: 9781937085766
Published July 29, 2011 by World Castle
Available Format: Paperback, ebook
My Rating: ?????
After the tragic death of her friend, Claudia begins dreaming about a beautiful, heaven-like place. She soon learns this place is all too real, this isn't the first time she's traveled there, and for some reason she is there when she, as a human, should not be. Crossroads is an in-between place where souls can go when they are between life and death, but Halo City is open only to those who carry the blood of an angel. Marked by her unexplained passage into Halo City, the Fallen and an army of demons begin stalking Claudia. It is up to the nephilium to protect Claudia and discover what makes her so very special.
There is nothing I love more than a good book about angels/nephilium, especially when those angels have a tendency to act more human than divine. Don't forget they are breathtakingly gorgeous and can kick some serious tail!
One thing that bothered me was that Claudia had a friend who was also named Claudia. I expected there to be more to the story, but it never really developed any further. I can't really explain my thoughts on that without giving some of the plot away, so if you want to talk about it more, read the book and email me! ?
I like how Claudia's relationship developed. I love the supplemental characters in the story-her mom, her Gamma, Patty, Austin, etc. Everything was well-rounded and the characters were all established so well. Ting has an easy, fun writing style which I related to quite well. I have the clearest picture of Crossroads in my mind, and it is beautiful! There are some amazing characters, locations, and scenes in this novel!
I don't want to give too much away, but there is a certain someone in the story who helps the bad guys at one point. Well, I thought I had it ALL figured out, and boy was I upset that this good person turned bad! But, I had it all wrong!!! Fooled me! It's always fun to try to figure out what's going on, but it is even better when the author is clever enough to completely blindside you with a shocking revelation. Once my pride recovered, I was relieved that the "good guy" actually was good!
I also appreciate that Ting didn't leave us completely hanging at the end. Sure, a suspenseful ending is interesting and sets up anticipation for the next book, but I felt that the crisis of Crossroads was satisfactorily resolved, and there is a peaceful respite in the story that still leaves us wanting more but doesn't make us feel like we have been cheated either.
I have been dying to read this book for a while now and couldn't stand putting it off any longer. I am SO glad that I jumped in! If you are a YA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance fan, this is an absolute must read. If you aren't, well, try it anyway! ?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 2, 2011
Crossroads was a wonderful book of a young girls journey of finding unexpected love in an unexpected world. This story will take you into a place filled with forbidden romance, self-discovery, and evil at it's best! Two Worlds combine, uniting to save humanity. One special being, Michael is an "angel" we all wish would come to our rescue. Move over Edward...Michael is here! This is just the beginning....can't wait for more.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 9, 2013
I thought that this book was terrible. It's so mushy and corny it made me want to throw up. There were parts that didnt even make sense and were very confusing. It also needs more description because i can't quite picture the scenes in my mind. I was so excited to read this book because of the good ratings, but it wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Claudia is a girl who when asleep, unknowingly goes to the Crossroads. She thinks that the rude boy there is just a figment of her imagination. What she doesn't realize is that she is actually in the place between heaven and earth.
I liked the sound of the book and was quick to read it when I got it from the author. However, within the first couple of chapters I knew that I was in big trouble. Maybe it's because I am 25 and this book is geared toward someone in their early teens? I found the dialogue to be quite lacking and it just didn't seem like something someone would normally say. The majority of the dialogue between Michael and Claudia was overkill on the sweet talk, for example... "You're doing it again. Melting my heart with your smile." I just could not get into the author's writing style. She paid great attention to detail and even to small talk and I think that is what got me. I like it when an author is short and sweet and get to the point. Details are great and I love to see the world that the author envisioned but there is a fine line between informed and information overload.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book and I tried to find an angle of the story that I liked but the only two things I liked about this book was the idea and the cover. Like I said, maybe I am too old for the age group. Would I allow my 12 year old niece to read this, yes because there is no swearing, Claudia is highly respectable to her elders, smoking and drinking is heavily frowned upon and the romance is nothing but a few kisses here and there. This is a very wholesome book. If you have a young one at home that is interested in reading the new angel fad, then this is a great book for them to read. However, for my age group, I was looking for something with a little bit more oomph and it just didn't have it for me.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 9, 2011
this is my first time writing a review on a book and i feel i have to be honest with it so here it goes things that i liked about the book: 1. the book cover- I have been trying to find an angel book that i can fall in love with, so when I came upon this book it was a no brainer I had to look into it. it's a beautiful cover by the way. and an added bonus was that the author did put angel wings in the story line (wont say anything more so i wont ruin it for the people that have not read it and want to) 2. the world of crossroads- when I read the sample book I was so drawn to the world of crossrods with it's "vast fields of sweeping brown grass that stood at least twelve feet high" pg 14 etc. etc. the author created such a vivid world in my mind that I just had to buy the book so I could go back there and see more of that world. unfortunately once I bought the book I quickly realized that the story was going to be centered around claudia's real world. and this is were all my possitive feedback ends for this book. things I did not like about the book: the charaters- not one charater in this book did I felt was memorable I thought there needed to be more character development done. the romance- first of all I have to say that I'm a sucker for romance in books, that being said, I was surprised I didn't like the romance in this book. I dont know if it had to do with not being attached to the characters that when the romatic stuff came I really didn't care for it. so will i get the next ebook from this book series? no it didn't capture my interest to do so.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was a very entertaining story. Crossroads contains action, twists, and romance that has you flipping through the pages so fast that you're at the end and ready for more before you know it. The strong romantic attachment came on very early in the book for Claudia and Michael. It would have been nice to see Micheal's attitude hang around a little longer to build up some anticipation. Even though their relationship intensified so quickly, the pace of the story itself flowed naturally. Claudia was a little overbearing with her questions, and she spoke more grown up than people her age normally would. It was unnatural at times, but through this, a lot of your own questions are answered as you read. The characters, as a whole, are very loveable. The author gave just enough detail that her readers can easily picture the story as they read. The story reels you in. The author put a lot of thought into creating her angels and the story behind them. Their world is fascinating.
I loved that Mary Ting included prayer, church, and other Christian themes within the story. I feel like this is missing from most angel related books that I've read lately. It made the story more relatable to me, and she pulled it off without making you feel like you were being preached at. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. The story can go in many directions, and I'm excited to see what happens next.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 1, 2011
This book will make you fall inlove with the main character and you will be wishing the book was longer... LOL I can't wait to find out what happens next.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
There, ...