Grasping at Eternity [NOOK Book]

I'll be honest, I didn't expect to love this book as much as I d

I'll be honest, I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. The whole girl-who-can't-remember-her-past-lives-but-her-love-interest-remembers-everything-and-he-protects-her-without-her-knowing thing isn't exactly new, but I thought it was really well done here. The whole idea that people can choose, at the end of their lives, to retain all of their memories or erase them and start from scratch was really interesting to me. Wouldn't that be amazing?! Anyway, I ended up buying this eBook because I had read Karen Hooper's other book Tangled Tides (which is also super good and highly recommended by me) and I really liked it so I thought I'd give this one a go. I'm so glad I did! The only downside? It's only available in eBook, so I had to read it on my computer. But that was only the tiniest of inconveniences. If you have a nook or any other kind of eReader, it'll be less cumbersome. If you enjoy reading books that have great action, witty dialogue that will make you laugh out loud (at least I did) and a really super-sweet romance, this book is definitely for you! Give it a shot!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Karen Amanda Hooper Grasping at Eternity Kindrily #1 Wow, amaz

Karen Amanda Hooper
Grasping at Eternity
Kindrily #1

Wow, amazing, astonishing…..I could carry on but you get the point. This book just would not let me get anything else done other than finish it, only problem now is that I have to wait for the next one to be released before I can find out what comes next.

Incredibly well written, be prepared to be so drawn in you won’t notice the hours disappearing as you read. The start may throw you a little, but once you get past the tragedy its more than worth it. The characters develop significantly as the book continues, and I fell in love with more than one of them. Finishing in a good place, it’s enough to leave you wanting more but not cheated out of a good ending.

I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book about family, love, eternity, choices and c

This is a great book about family, love, eternity, choices and consequences. I loved the characters and felt so bad for Maryah who is so clueless and lost in her life. Everyone around her loves her and knows her and she just doesn't understand why. I also felt for Nathan who loves her so much and she doesn't even remember him and all that they have shared together. This was a fun book to read and I loved how she showed the back stories through out not giving away too much so that you had to read on and find out what is really going on. I had hope for Maryah all the way through the book even though it seemed hopeless. When the ride was over I set it down and thought, when is the next one. I wasn't ready to let go of this story or its characters. Thanks to Karen for a great read and hurry up with the next book please.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An enchanting love story about soul mates. I loved all the magic

An enchanting love story about soul mates. I loved all the magical elements and the supernatural stuff. I want my own kindrily. This book makes me wish soul mates were real (and that Nathan was mine...SWOON). I can't wait for book 2.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I received this e-book from the author for my honest review, so

I received this e-book from the author for my honest review, so here it is.

Grasping at Eternity is a truly captivating story. The book starts with the vicious attack of Maryah's family that leaves her the sole survivor. After recovering from her own injuries, Maryah moves to Sedona, AZ to live with her godmother, Louise. Maryah struggles with the loss of her family while finding her place in her new home. Every night she dreams of a mysterious green-eyed boy that appears in her most desperate times of need. Maryah learns that Nathaniel, who she has dubbed her angel of death, is real.
Nathaniel is Maryah's soul mate who has reincarnated with her for several generations. But the last time Maryah died, she choose to erase her memories of him and the family she belongs to. Nathan suffers watching the woman he loves so deeply not have one ounce of recognition of their shared past.
While Nathaniel searches for the threat against Maryah, Maryah slowly realizes that her new family aren't what they seem and must find her place with them.

Grasping at Eternity is a sweet story that is written well. I enjoyed this story and can't wait to find out what happens next. This isn't a fast past novel but kept me intrigued until the very end.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper is a great story. I

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper is a great story. I could not put this story down. I was captivated by the characters and concepts in this story. The main character suffered from a horrific experience, and her world was changed forever. The result of the experience resulted in her discovery of so many things that she most likely would not have discovered any other way. I find it hard to write about this story without writing any spoilers, but I highly recommend this story. I am also anxiously waiting for the next book in this series. 

(Source: I won a digital copy of this book. Thanks to author Kar

(Source: I won a digital copy of this book. Thanks to author Karen Amanda Hooper.)
17-year-old Maryah is horrified when armed thugs break into her parent’s home, kill both of her parents and her brother, and put her in a coma.
Struggling to come to terms with what has happened, Maryah goes to live with her Godmother Louise in Sedona, to finish recuperating from her injuries, and to maybe move their permanently as was her mother’s wish.

Although she can’t ever remember meeting Louise, the whole family acts as if they have known her all her life, and when Louise’s son turns out to be the gorgeous boy that she has dreamed about since her coma, Maryah is even more puzzled.

What Maryah doesn’t know is that she is an element. A soul who is reborn after death, and that Nathan – the boy she has been dreaming about, is her soul mate. For some reason, the last time Maryah was reincarnated, she chose to erase her memories, which means she has no memory of Nathan or her previous lives at all.
Can Maryah ever remember her past? Can she remember Nathan? And why did she choose to erase?


An enjoyable YA love story about reincarnation.

I really enjoyed this book, I liked Maryah, and I liked Nathan, and I was hoping all the way through that Maryah would remember and they could be back together. I liked the whole soul-mates thing, and I liked how Nathan held himself back, even though he had been missing her for years.
Maryah did have moments where she should probably have asked what people meant when people said things that hinted at the whole reincarnation thing, but she was still grieving so I’ll let her off. I did like the way that Nathan seemed a lot more mature than 18 though, which obviously fitted in well with the rest of the story.
The other characters were all very real and likeable, and it really did seem like Maryah had a good support system in her Kindrily.

I liked the storyline in this book, and I liked the ‘will she, won’t she?’ regarding Maryah’s memory loss. I was surprised that we didn’t find out why Maryah erased, but maybe that will be covered in the next book. I liked the little twists in that story, and I thought that the whole thing came off as really believable, which is difficult when you’re talking about reincarnation! I did like the little surprise at the end, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book.
Overall; an entertaining and believable YA romance about reincarnation.
7.5 out of 10.

The story of soulmates  reincarnate life after life, who have lo

The story of soulmates  reincarnate life after life, who have lost touch with each other ... Obviously, this romantic plot as everything to be touching. Who has never dreamed of eternal love ? Added to this love story, drama and lost memories of one of the lovers that keep them separate and you can get the kleenex!

To spice things up, murders, some supernatural powers and all secondary characters more exotic one than the other and you should have a good time reading this serie.

But I found some lengths and some lack of action. The secrets are kept too long before being revealed. And, it's a shame because when they are, it infuses great energy in the story.
The heroes have potential but have not really moved me. 

Nathan is too silent and too cowardly to face reality. He fled too often when he promised to fight. He expects a lot from his beloved. I tended to believe that he was more in love with their past than its present.
Maryah lacks a bit of color and intensity by playing the innocent.

But the end is well tied. I forgot all the lengths because the ending gives a second breath to the action. A shot of adrenaline boosts the story and makes you want to know more about the powers and plans of the enemy.
After secrets are revealed, Maryah  takes the bull by the horns. I really like the reincarnation part with the baby ...
"Taking Back Forever" seems full of promises and I can not wait to start my reading...

Lucie
newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr

Why You Should Buy It This book has a bit of everything: tra

Why You Should Buy It




This book has a bit of everything: tragedy, romance, paranormal, mythology, fantasy, action, and mystery.  The beautiful world of reincarnation that Karen Amanda Hooper builds in this book is something special.




My Thoughts




*I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of NetGalley*




I am a sucker for reincarnated love stories.  I never read one until Incarnate, but I connected with the story line, and have found myself seeking out more like it.  So, when I had the chance to review this book, I was nothing short of thrilled.




And I have to admit, at first this book let me down.  I found myself rolling my eyes and trying to keep up with what was going on.  But very quickly, I got sucked in.  And by the end I was smiling and hugging my Kindle close, wishing I could read book two right away.  I love stories like that!




There are some technical issues with the beginning of the book — things seem forced and rushed, but it is something that ultimately vanishes.  Another thing is there are a LOT of characters to keep up with, some that come and go so fast you almost wonder what their true purpose was to the heart of the story.  One redeeming quality is that the shift in POV allows you to get the back story at a smooth pace, rather than all at once as Maryah does.




But, the story that Hooper creates is unique — while many elements can be found in other books and genres, this one sets itself a part.  And it is definitely a different situation than the typical ‘boy is madly in love with the girl’ scenario we see in so many other series, because obviously he has a REASON to be in love with her.




With a fast-past thrill, this book will leave you wanting more.




Overall




Four out of Five Stars

Quick Question

This was an amazing book, when will the second book will be coming out? I hope it comes out soon its killing me waiting to see what will happen next...

Sweet and Romantic¿A Extraordinary Read From Beginning to End! 

Sweet and Romantic…A Extraordinary Read From Beginning to End! 

Grasping at Eternity is the first book in the Kindrily series and is a YA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance written by Karen Amanda Hooper.

The Review:
I did not want this book to end, that's how much I loved it! When I got to the last page I immediately went to look up when the next book would be out so I could grab it up as soon as it's released.

This was an amazing story that made me smile, made my heart sore and literally captivated me from start to finish. It also made me really think about what it means to have a soul mate, reincarnation and the universe at large. I loved all the remarkable characters, their past lives and their present incarnations. This book was incredibly well written and held solid back stories and an exciting lead into future books for the series. The idea of reincarnation to your soul mate is a heartwarming thought and one that was woven perfectly by the author into this story.

I loved the concept that the Kindrily are a special brand of human's who can choose to erase or retain their memories upon reincarnation and are born with an individually special gift but they can get sick and die just as humans do. This makes them unique but also vulnerable so even though their souls are essentially immortal, each life is precious and rewarding.

I loved Nathan and Maryah's story. Maryah's introduction to the reader is heartbreaking and painful. She's goes through a traumatic event that would cripple most people but she carries on and moves forward. Nathan's circumstances are touching and you can feel yourself being pulled in by his sadness as he wonders the world without his soul mate. Maryah has chosen to erase her memory at the time of her last death for reasons unknown but we the readers are promised it was for selfless reasons which Im sure will lead into a bigger mystery hopefully revealed in the second book.

The Wrap Up:
Grasping at Eternity left off with many unanswered questions and a subsequent story that's brimming with conspiracy. I can't wait for the second book, Taking Back Forever (Kindrily #2), when it comes out in May, 2013. Sign me up, I'm now and forever a fan of this series and I'll definitely be there for its release!

NOTE:: I read this as a R2R with We ♥ YA Books! at Goodreads. As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.

*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an hone

*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was another that was really hard for me to rate and review. Both during reading and even after finishing, I just wasn't sure what I thought of it. Honestly, it wasn't until I sat down to write this review that I was able to figure out my feelings!

The beginning was amazing. The prologue just kicked off with a bang, and by the end of it, I was literally thinking "Woah. Did that really just happen?"

From there, though, I felt that it was more of an up and down journey. There were some really great, interesting scenes, but there were also some parts that just felt a little slow-moving. There were also some scenes where I was confused, but I think that was intentional, as we were seeing them from Maryah's perspective, and she had no clue what was going on at the time.

There was plenty of mystery in this book.  There are several big questions permeating the story as a whole and smaller things that pop up here and there. Most of the smaller things just have to do with learning more and figuring out the world of the Elements. These were actually some of my favorite parts.

My biggest complaint was just that there were a lot of characters, specifically within the kindrily. It took me a long time, probably until about halfway through, before I could keep them straight. Though I still found myself getting them mixed up at times.

The two main characters are Nathaniel and Maryah. I LOVED Nathaniel. He was so heartbroken, but completely fully of love. He was sweet and caring, but also fierce and strong when he needed to be. Maryah was a little bit frustrating to me. This may have been intentional, since we just want her to figure out what's going on! Don't get me wrong. She wasn't unlikable, just had some stubborn moments where I wanted to smack her! lol Harmony and April were good for a few laughs, and Louise was just an awesome mother figure. I also loved Carson, and his hot and cold attitude toward Maryah.

Grasping at Eternity has a big twist towards the end that I didn't fully foresee, but I definitely had a feeling that something was going to happen. I thought it was really good, and the resolution was even better. There was also another scene that literally choked me up. It was actually a scene that I thought might come up (only toward the end), but it was one that made me so glad I was right! Grasping at Eternity left with a few things tied up nicely, but left a lot more loose ends, making me anxious for the next book!

Overall, even though Grasping at Eternity was a bit slow at times, I thought that the storyline was very interesting, and that it was a very good start to the series. I would definitely recommend reading it, but maybe AFTER book 2 is out! lol I was left with so many questions that I'm mad I can't read the next book right now!

I was given this book to read for free from the author through m

I was given this book to read for free from the author through my book club in exchange for an honest review and well, this has to be the best book I have read in awhile. I loved it and couldn't put it down until I finished it (which meant I pulled an all nighter seeing as I didn't start the book until late at night). I fell in love with the story, and the authors world she has created as well as the characters within the novel. I'm always a sucker for soul mate novels and this one is the best I have read so far. I consider myself to be a very spiritual person and a lot of the elements on certain spiritual ideas and beliefs used in this book were spot on and I could tell the author did her research on a lot of the spiritual beliefs that are tapped upon in this novel. 
If I could give it a 10/10 stars. I would and would most certainly recommend this book to anyone who loves YA paranormal/supernatural romance novels.

I loved this book! Super unique (reincarnation + superpowers), a

I loved this book! Super unique (reincarnation + superpowers), and romantic without the "insta-love" you might expect when you hear the term "soul mates" (Maryah and Nathaniel get off to quite a rocky start, actually).  Maryah is realistically skeptical about things she learns about reincarnation and such, which is a nice change from some stories that have main characters who don't question the supernatural/paranormal for more than 2 seconds.  Don't let the fact that it's self-pub'd scare you off. The writing is fantastic and the author took a lot of care with the editing, proofreading, and formatting.  

A MUST READ!

Wow this book was fantastic! It has everything you could want romance, friendship, family, humor and heartache. A MUST READ!

With it's shockingly brutal opening, Grasping at Eternity captur

With it's shockingly brutal opening, Grasping at Eternity captured my attention, and held it. Poor Maryah has lost everything. She's constantly hit with moments of deja vu. Her dreams are invaded by a dream guy. Maryah soon learns that her dream guy is real and but so much of what she thought was her life, isn't.

Maryah was an easy heroine to embrace. Her pain at losing those she loves the most was consuming and realistic. Her hesitation to move on after tragedy was believable. Nathan is protective and loving, and thankfully not overbearing. His torment over losing his love was aching. And though the story mostly revolves around Maryah, I found my heart to lie more with Nathan. The supporting characters of Grasping at Eternity were well-served. They had just enough side story to make them interesting, and they worked to help move the story forward.

I love when I find a story that involves an otherworldly aspect that is new or different to me. I will say that I was a bit confused through the first half of the story because I, like Maryah, didn't quite know what was going on. I'm not typically a reader that likes huge information to be withheld. Once I did learn what was going on, though, my enjoyment level went up. The Kindrily world that is built in Grasping at Eternity is enchanting, ethereal and romantic.

This is the second book of Hooper's I've read and I've found each to be well-written and enjoyable. Grasping at Eternity was lovely. I did find the story to be a bit slower-paced in the middle, but the last portion of the book was full action and revelations. I will definitely read book two of the Kindrily Series, Taking Back Forever, to find out what happens next.

This was such a beautiful love story! I have been up all night f

This was such a beautiful love story! I have been up all night finishing it, and it is now 5 am! That is how crazy I am! And how much I loved this book!

Maryah is a young woman that starts out with her twin brother and parents getting murdered. Of course she is heart broken and depressed, but she decides to go live with her godmother. Here is where she finally meets Nathaniel and the story gets so good. This story is about soulmates, which actually made me frustrated with Nathan half of the book. He just has so much love, but I think he could've showed it with more passion a few times instead of staying away.

There are all lot of great family and friends in this book, like Faith with her uber-cheerfulness, and Carson that was a great protector. And then there was River that just seemed creepy the whole way through. I can not wait for the sequel to reveal some of the secrets that are still unvealed and to get more of this romance underway. I recommend this book to everyone!!

4.5 Stars Grasping at Eternity is a fresh take on Elementals an

4.5 Stars

Grasping at Eternity is a fresh take on Elementals and I really liked it. The author combines reincarnation with supernatural elements and soul-mates with a taste of astrology thrown in to weave a truly unique story. I love the concept of a kindrily – a family of souls that choose to retain the memories of their previous lives and continue living as a family in each life.

Kindrilies always retain in each new life and remain with their family, but in Maryah’s previous life she chose to erase. No one knows why she would make that decision, especially her soul-mate Nathan. And since Maryah has no memory of her previous lives, she doesn’t either.

The whole time I was wondering why she would make such a choice to be separated from her eternal family and if she and Nathan would be able to recover their love. Rather, if Maryah would be able to remember Nathan and love him again. Nathan’s love for her holds strong and true, although he is completely devastated, and Maryah doesn’t seem the same to him.

This story switches between Maryah’s and Nathan’s perspectives, which I loved. This allows the reader to understand a bit of what is going on before Maryah does. It was nice to not be left in the dark with a ton of questions – a blessing since it takes Maryah forever to start asking questions.

Which brings me to a couple of issues I have with this novel. All these strange, unexplained things keep happening and sometimes it’s so glaringly obvious that I couldn’t believe Maryah wouldn’t actually say anything. She remains fairly naïve throughout the book and it annoyed me a bit. But, I think that may have been done purposely, based on what one of the characters, Carson, says about halfway in:

"'Finally, she starts asking questions.' Carson lowered his sunglasses. 'If a giant meteoroid fell from the sky and landed on our house, would you notice?'”
~Location 3250, Review ebook

Good question. Also, some of the pacing needs work. For a little while I was wondering what the heck was going on and when I would get some answers, but when some things begin to be explained, a new influx of characters are introduced. It was a bit confusing, and for a period of time I couldn’t remember who was whom. The beginning flows extremely well and the last half of the book does too, it’s just toward the middle that threw me a little.

Alas, the author makes up for it in character, setting, and plot development. Once I got over my confusion, I didn't want to put the book down. Each character has a unique personality and is easily discernible once the story slows down. I actually can't think of a different/better way for the new characters and information to be written. Perhaps that was the point - for the reader to experience Maryah's overwhelming circumstances alongside her.

Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to Taking Back Forever (The Kindrily Series, Book Two) which is scheduled to release early next year. The thing that bothered me the most is Maryah's cluelessness, and since that has been resolved, I know I'll LOVE the next book! Bonus: Grasping at Eternity's ending is wrapped up nicely with a great setup for book two. And that cover is absolutely beautiful!!!

**A review copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No incentive was offered or accepted for a favorable rating or review.

Grasping at Eternity is a beautiful mesmerizing imaginative magi

Grasping at Eternity is a beautiful mesmerizing imaginative magical story. I instantly got sucked into the story, just from the first few pages. Grasping for eternity is about a girl named Maryah that is part of a kindrily, which is a family from a former life. It’s kind of like reincarnation. When they reincarnate into their new life they reconnect with their family or kindrily and it continues over and over even when new family members are added, they all still seem to find each other, retaining all their memories from every life they lived.

Maryah, the protagonist in the story, choose to erase herself from her kindrily and the love of her life, Nathaniel, when Dedrick, the head of the Nefariouns, who are a group of bad people that are trying to kill off the kindrily, captured her. Maryah erased to protect her kindrily, but after you erase you erase every memory from all your lives leaving behind all your family and everyone that you ever loved behind, but Maryah had a theory that over time that you would eventually get all your memories back. So when she was captured by Dedrick and had no choice to erase to protect her kindrily she forgot everyone and everything she ever loved and every memory. Her kindrily was left to hope that she was right and that she would eventually remember.

She was than reincarnated into a new family with no knowledge of her kindrily or of Nathan. Unfortunately, a tragic accident occurred with her and her new family, where she was once again reunited with her kindrily without even realizing who they were or who Nathan was. She was there to start a new life with a new family that already knew and loved her very much. It became very disorientating at times for her and she made a few bad decisions along the way, but they were decisions that would eventually be what she needed to find the truth and her memories.

I can’t even begin to imagine what Maryah had to go through. Losing—well not to give it away, but pretty much everything. She sacrificed so much, because she loved so much. Her love was what returned her to her kindrily and to Nathaniel. And what would eventually return her memories. Holy Hanna, how Maryah every had the courage to leave a man like Nathan only the stars know. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It was amazing and if you get the chance I highly recommend that you read it.

Just a few coincidences about this book my name is Mary. Maryah was Mary in a past life, and my husband’s name is Kris, with a K. Krista, another character in the book who was sometimes called Kris, and of course also with a K. Just thought that these were a few neat coincidences, and also which helped me related to the book.

I had my eyes on Grasping at Eternity for some time now and when

I had my eyes on Grasping at Eternity for some time now and when I heard the author was searching some bloggers to review it, I couldn't let the opportunity go by. Hooper's novel was as good as I anticipated. I haven't read many novels about immortality and I'm sure you won't find another novel similar to this one. With such concepts as immortality and superpowers, Grasping at Eternity will certainly grasp your attention.


The Plot: As mentioned, I haven't read many novels about immortality so I'm totally blown away by this novel. I loved the originality about people who get to choose to be born again and with time develop superpowers. But nothing can be so perfect, right? The main character, Maryah, chose to erase. And the story revolves around the reason she chose to erase (which no one knows) and the relationship with her soulmate. There is enough action, romance and mystery in Grasping at Eternity to satiate everyone's needs.


The Characters: Admittedly I didn't like Maryah that much. I can understand that is difficult for her to find out that she knows her new family for ages, literally, but can't remember it. Furthermore she has to cope with the idea that she has a soulmate. But I found her too dramatic sometimes, nevertheless she was a nice main character. Nathan was just plain sweet and swoon-worthy. The other characters complement the story really well and I could not see this novel working without them.


Grasping at Eternity was such an enjoyable read and I'm certain that I will be rereading it some time soon. I'm already eager to get my hands on the sequel and I hope it will be as good as this one. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys great romances with superpowers!