A couple of days ago I reviewed C.L. Parker's book Cataclysm, which is actually the sequel to this book, Supernova. I was a part of the book tour so unfortunately my time ran out and I was unable to put up the review for Supernova up first. But I didn't want to just not review it, so here is the review, a few days late.

I really enjoy Parker's writing, she really does a great job of taking the reader along this journey with the main characters, and really lets the reader get to know the main players of the book. This book is book one in the series, so a lot of time is spent on really getting to know the characters and their respective back stories.

Kerrigan is a girl who it seems like for much of her life has let herself be pulled in whatever direction her father deemed correct, and unfortunately part of that lead to her dating a man named Jackson. You quickly learn this guy is bad news, creepy, and gross. Parker's description of this guys breath alone made me want to cringe. When Kerrigan's grandmother dies though, she finds the strength to stand up for herself and ditch the loser. She and her best gay friend Gabe move into her grandmother's house and essential start a new life.

Which brings us to Dominic, the man who has been living at Kerrigan's grandmother's house for over a year. As you get to know Dominic you find out what a tortured life he really has had. If anyone has ever gotten the short end of the stick for a long period of time, it's Dominic. That's not to say that he isn't a good guy, in fact as the story progresses Dominic turns out to be a great help to Kerrigan.

Most of this story is about Kerrigan finding out that her grandmother was much more than just a sweet old lady. In fact her grandmother had powers, powers from the Light, which she used for good. And even more shocking is that Kerrigan herself also has these same gifts. But now that her grandmother has passed, Kerrigan is left to learning her new gifts from Dominic.

That's not to say that the story is not inciting to read. Dominic has a BIG secret he is keeping from everyone, and there are quite a lot of close calls where he is almost revealed. On top of that Dominic also has a past with a crazy ex girlfriend that comes back around. Kerrigan, who doesn't seemingly have a lot of the problems in this book, is more like a catalyst, and helps the story along the way. And the chemistry between Dominic and Kerrigan is not to be missed, it is definitely interesting to follow these two along the way.

Overall this was a good read, if I had one bone to pick I would say it did lag a couple of times during the book, but it was never a huge lag or anything like that. I would say this is a book paranormal romance readers would like, as well as people who like urban fantasy. And it is a great lead in into the second book which I would also recommend. ( )

Supernova, Book #1 of the Supernova Saga
Author: C.L Parker
Synopsis: As part of a chosen bloodline, Kerrigan Cruz has inherited a gift: supernatural powers which give her the ability to protect a person's free will from those who wish to alter destiny for their own design. After her grandmother's passing, Kerrigan meets Dominic Grayson, an alluring stranger with a secret of his own. Dominic has been cursed, touched by both darkness and light, and Kerrigan is the only one who can save him. In their world, only three things are certain: His curse. Her gift. Their destiny.
Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:
Supernova is a beautifully woven tapestry of storytelling, with past, present, and future threads overlapping wonderfully.

The characters, both main and supporting, are easy to attune to, making it virtually impossible not to love or hate them as C.L intended.

Kerrigan is a strong female lead who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to obtain it. She’s thrown in a world of craziness after a devastating loss and handles it like a pro.

Dominic is *sigh* the perfect guy. Tough, sensitive, virile, drop-dead-gorgeous, and not afraid to give his heart and soul to the one who deserves it.

Gabe, Kerrigan’s best friend, is the funniest character I have ever come across in a written work. He’s completely hilarious and you will find yourself needing to know what he might do or say next, but he’s also loyal to a fault, a trait endearing in itself..

The emotion of the tale was gripping and real - even in a Fantasy setting - and lent well to immersing the reader in the character’s lives and their mystery.

With just enough mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance and wit to keep you reading and wanting more, Supernova is a wonderful addition to the ranks of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy alike.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Supernova 4 Skulls, and would recommend it to Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy readers far and wide, and anyone who wants a fresh take on the paranormal genre.

I would have loved to have given it more than 4 Skulls, but having met, gotten to know, conversed with, and seen other written works by C.L over the past 9 months, I feel that she could have given just a little bit more in certain areas of the book. Whether or not the decision not to was hers or someone else’s I’m not sure, but what I am sure of, is that I’m dying to read Cataclysm, Book #2 of the Supernova Saga, because I have a feeling that I won’t feel this way at all with the next installment. :-) ( )

I absolutely LOVED this book!! I've had it on my Kindle for a while but just decided yesterday morning to start it, and I didn't stop until I had finished the book last night! It was an amazingly engaging and easy read with just the right amount of magic and romance! And when I say romance, I mean romance, not sex, which is really nice for a change of pace sometimes. Don't get me wrong - there was some really hot, very sexy sex, and I don't want to say more because I am very anti-spoiler, but leading up to the hot, sexy sex was a lot of hot, sexy foreplay! It was fun and playful and hot and steamy all at the same time!

The characters in this book were fleshed out so well that I could imagine being friends with them in real life. I felt like I really knew them, which is extremely awesome when you are reading a great book! The two main characters were Kerrigan Cruz and Dominic Grayson, and they were so cute together that I was a little bit jealous of Kerrigan! I want a Grayson of my own, damn it! Kerrigan's best friend Gabe is gay and very, very proud of it:) He's so much fun, but he's also fiercely protective of his Kerr Bear and would kill anybody who hurt her. Then there are the two girls that live next door and their boyfriends, who are a great support system for the others.

This book moved along at a great pace, as evidenced by my being able to read it in one day even with all the interruptions that having a full household will cause. This book is definitely one of my favorites of 2011, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes magic and romance, with a little bit of spicy sex appeal thrown in for fun!! ( )

Ok, take this as your gush-alert because I loved this book… remember - You. Have. Been. Warned!

Where should I even start? The characters? Sure thing! Let me start with the character that gets the award for being so damn funny that I laughed out loud for much of this novel. If you’ve read Supernova you know that I am talking about Gabe. Talk about a hilarious, diva character. Gabe added some welcome comic relief and a few “I cannot believe he said that” gasps. Parker did a fabulous job of creating a character that I could see so vividly that I had to remind myself that Gabe was only a character and not someone that I know in real life!

Kerrigan – she started out as a weak and timid girl who was too afraid of her father and what he would think of her to stand on her own two feet and she really pissed me off! I can’t tell you how excited I was when she finally started standing up for herself and the things that she wanted in her life. On more than one occasion I could find myself sitting in my favourite reading chair fist pumping the air with excitement when she called someone out on their crap.

Dominic – three words: holy smokin’ hot. I have a complete crush on Dominic (please don’t tell my husband!) from his fierce green eyes down to his Levi’s 501 button fly jeans. Add too his smoldering description, his fierce protective nature, his genuine sweetness and his sense of humor and you have a winning combination!

Now let me gush a little more about Parker’s ability to make you actually feel the characters she is writing about. If you have spent much time around Hands and Home you know that I live for vivid and intimate character descriptions. If I don’t feel like I know the characters I really can’t get all that invested in their stories. Like I said with Gabe, I really do have to remind myself that this is a novel and not a story of people that I know in real life. Everything from Kerrigan’s grandmother’s house, the awful breath of her boyfriend, the tension between Kerrigan and Dominic, and even the colour of Gabe’s Bubbletinis was so fabulously described that I felt like I was sitting around the kitchen in Kerrigan’s house!

Of course I loved the characters, but I also loved the story line and the twists. I thought that Supernova was a great change of pace from what I have been reading lately and really appreciated all aspects of this novel. I loved the connection between Kerrigan and her Grandmother and found the way that Kerrigan’s gift manifested to be quite interesting. However I do think that there was room to explore this in more detail, especially since it played such a huge role in the book and I hope to read more about it in the next novel of the Supernova Saga.

C.L. Parker wrote a book that I actually felt I was a part of. The characters felt so real to me, they could have been my own friends. I thoroughly enjoyed Supernova and I can’t wait to see what Parker comes up with next.

Click here for full review: http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/06/supernova-review-and-author-interview.html

I received a free copy of Supernova from The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Supernova is a fun mix of genres; paranormal, romance, action, adventure, and comedy! I love a book and an author that doesn't take itself too seriously. The storyline flows rather well, it's not an incredibly unique plot, but it does have a couple twists to keep the reader guessing.

I think the strongest part of this novel is the characters. C.L. Parker does a wonderful job in fleshing them out and making them feel real. Some of my favorite scenes were when all the friends were just goofing around. Kerrigan and Dominic's relationship feels real and powerful, and things get very emotional when they both are willing to give their life for the other.

It was obvious by the ending of the book that C.L. Parker plans to write a sequel. I'll definitely be reading it, I'd love to visit all of these characters again! ( )