Saving Grace

Mad World #2

by Christine Zolendz

After spending over 2,000 years being a lost soul looking for the angel I was forbidden to fall in love with, I finally found him. Lucky for me he has taken up residence inside the hot body of NYC’s local bad boy, tattooed rock star, Shane Maxton. Turns out, not only is he absolutely perfect, so is the whole Grace Taylor life that I’m stuck in. The only problem is Gabriel. An archangel who wants me all to himself so he kind of kidnaps me. Now I have to find my way back and hope everything works out…

Genres: Paranormal, Angels, Romance, New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2012

About the author

USA Today bestselling romance author. Mother. Coffee drinker. Unicorn believer. New Yorker.
Books and writing are my escape from reality.
Read Me Free Here:
bit.ly/ChrisZo

Reviews

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler-free review!

“I promise you, I will pick up every broken piece of you, every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my fucking life, I will put you back together… I’ll make you whole again.“



This book was a bumpy ride that had me screaming “WTF!!” in frustration at my kindle on more than one occasion but had me swooning so freaking hard over Shane that I just couldn’t put it down!!

I read it in one sitting. I was exhausted but it kept me glued to my Kindle until 3am just flipping the pages!

This sequel to Fall From Grace picks up right where that insane cliffhanger from book 1 ended and because of all the twists in this story, I’m actually not going to say a single word about the plot and I’d highly suggest you not look up anything about it. If the premise of book 1 intrigues you then this one won’t disappoint.

I did really like that after the paranormal intensity of the ending of book 1, this book took a bit of a step back and allowed the character development to take over for while before building back up to the heavier paranormal part.

This isn’t quite the kind of book I normally go for because there was a lot of back and forth between Shane and Grace- a lot of “are they” or “aren’t they” and “will they” or “won’t they”, and at the start of this one, I honestly wasn’t sure where the story was really going but because the intense sexual tension was just off the freaking charts and oh-so-swoony, and I was laughing, enjoying myself, and occasionally clutching at my heart, I basically let go and just went with it.

It did however lead me ask about a million questions – Who was… ? How did…? But if [important event] happened like this, then doesn’t it mean that….? Is he still…? WHY WOULD HE….? When did she….? What was he thinking when he….? and it went on and on and on…

There were a few situations that pushed me to the very brinks of my frustration limits (to. the. brink) - seriously there were times when I questioned if they were going to make it relationship-wise, but holy SWOON, once I got to the end, I was in heaven. (no pun, honestly, I swear)

”…just stay with me. I need you like I fucking need to breathe.”

Shane Shane freaking Shane Maxton… the tattooed man-whore rock god. Oh the swoon, the heart ache, then more swoon, and more heartache… and then even more epic freaking swoon!!! I totally LOVED him, I wanted to throttle him, I wanted to hug him, I wanted to geld him, and I totally wanted to do other things to him that I won’t go into right now *winks*

“Dear God, there is just something about this man that makes you want to stick your panties in his pockets and tell him you’re half way there…” <— *nods* yeah, pretty much.



Everything about Shane and Grace is just so intense! For most of the book, they were either fighting or kissing. There isn’t a whole ton of actual sex in this book until the end but with all the music playing ( “Come on, girl, play with me.” *swooooon*), serious UST and eye fucking going on, you really don’t miss it!!

“I think I could have had an orgasm from the mind fuck he was giving me right there.”

I do wish they could have communicated more because I feel like that would have solved like 90% of their issues but at the same time, I enjoyed the bumpy ride of this story so much that even though that’s normally really important to me in stories, I really just kind of accepted it here as character quirks.

And that the ending was gorgeously swoony and I was so glad to finally see them get their HEA!! At the end, when he… hmm, I won’t say what he did, but when he did that thing (and get your minds out of the gutters now, it has nothing to do with that ... yeesh), I totally teared up and got chills. It was AMAZING and romantic and heart melting!!!

But! I have to say that if I were to have one complaint about this book its that I found some of Shane’s behavior frustrating to the point of going a little too far. Sigh. My heart really, realllly hurt and I still don’t understand why he did some of the things he did especially knowing what I know about the ending. Grace and Shane always had a bit of an intense, totally-undeniably-drawn-to-each-other relationship and yet at the same time they were really dysfunctional – which I was able to look past for the most part because of the raging chemistry they had going on but I felt that there were two times when Shane took things just too far in ways that could have been easily avoidable and, because this book was only told from Grace’s POV, I found those times made me kinda of fall out of love with him a little – or at least, just so unable to understand his actions that it pushed me away from him… And there were a few questions that I found were still unanswered about the whole story as a whole in regards to him. BUT, I hear that the author is writing either the next book or a whole collection of scenes from his POV so I’m really hoping that after reading those, I’ll understand his actions more and come to terms with those scenes because I really, truly fell HARD for him. Seriously, he totally worked his way into my heart <3

“Look Gray… A decent guy doesn’t just get born and grow up to be Mr. Perfect. They need to be created by a woman. They’re like a dumb blank lump of clay and you have to mold them into what you want them to be, while erasing everything their mothers ever taught them and all the horrible Internet porn they’ve watched growing up.”

If you want a fun contemporary romance about soul-mates with a unique paranormal twist and a HEA, then you’ll probably really love these!

And at $1.50 each from Amazon, you really should grab yourselves copies and meet the delicious HOTNESS that is Shane Maxton <3

CASTING (above and below)






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[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blacky - a young woman in search of the book of her life
Savingrace - uber-hot and famous book, separated from Blacky for months, a tortured soul disappointed in life
Evildude - the bad guy, no explanation necessary


*written from Blacky's POV*








Once upon a time existed a book. Fall from Grace was the name.
Legend says it had a really, really hot guy in it.
His name was whispered in the shadows and passed through generations of horny teens as a sex symbol.
The story and romance were rumored to be amazing, set in a paranormal world, with main characters as fallen angels.
Wanna know how I know all this?
I was one of the people who actually read that book.
And I am here to tell you the story of how I found the sequel, and what that book put me through...








I found myself trapped in a heavenly library by Evildude who is set on separating me from my one true book soul mate, Savingrace.

"You will never read that book, Blacky! I burn for you, we are meant to be together!!," roared Evildude with an evil glint in his evil eyes!

I got in his face and screamed with all my fury at him, "NEVER! My soul may be bleeding and my heart may be crushed and splintered into a billion little pieces but I am strong enough to defy you! I will save all my love for Savingrace, so back off, moron!"

Evildude turned his evil eyes at me. I could tell he was being in an evil mood because of his squinting.
Damn. He is gonna talk some more.

"I have waited for you for ages Blacky. You don't understand my passion for you Blacky. Yes, I obviously have to repeat your name in every sentence because you are too stupid to figure out who I'm talking to, BLACKY." He turned away from me and I saw him shaking.
"Mwahahahahaha", he evil laughed at me.
"I will destroy your Savingrace and even you if I have to! If I can't have you, no book will!"

With that, Evildude turned around and left me staring at a wall, thinking of my Savingrace and feeling my heart splinter again into a billion little pieces and my poor soul bleed again until I was left completely emotionally ruined.








I woke up sitting at a library, surrounded by thousands of books and with my mind full of confusion.
Why did Evildude want me? I just couldn't understand it.
I couldn't stop thinking of finding my Savingrace, but then, I couldn't stop feeling hurt by Savingrace either.
After all this time searching for each other, Savingrace obviously didn't feel the same as I do. I felt betrayed. My heart broke because my love for Savingrace was not returned.
I'd decided to hate Savingrace for not wanting to be read by me with the same force as I wanted to read it.

After a couple of hours of thinking about the subject, I decided to move on and read other books. Why save myself for my one and only book, if that book doesn't feel the same about me?

Off I went, looking through the covers and blurbs, trying to find something interesting.

That was when it happened.

I saw Savingrace tucked in the wrong shelf, surrounded by books of the wrong genre.
It must have been torture.








Even though I now had my Savingrace, I could not let go of my anger and betrayal enough to read it.
My poor bleeding soul and broken heart just couldn't allow me to get past the fact that Savingrace did nothing to somehow get to me. It's not that I'm unreasonable but seriously, do I have to do everything????

And so I went to my living room to look at my book, because even though I couldn't read it, I was happy to know it was there and it was AMAZING to look at. I mean FANTASIC!!

Anyway, the first thing I saw was a friend of mine, holding Savingrace. And reading it!

"What are you doing?," I screamed while my heart was being torn from my chest and completely stepped upon until it was totally dead and not beating anymore but I somehow managed to magically survive the ordeal.

"How could you do this to me?," I whispered while cold tears went down my cheeks to show I was incredibly sad and heartbroken.
"I thought we had something special, and you are letting someone else read you!," I screamed at my book. Yes, I really love screaming at everything.

I could see the book was trying to explain but I didn't want to hear it!

I have the right to get angry at someone for not having any choice to control a situation, and I have every right to not listen to any explanations and stay completely angry at that person till the end of time!

Savingrace was torn by my outburst, I could see it, but at that point I didn't really care. There are other books to read.








Even though I decided I would never forgive Savingrace for letting anyone else read it, I still couldn't stop thinking about the damn book.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the book really couldn't help it!
I grabbed my backpack and ran home so I could talk to Savingrace ASAP!

I was so excited that I didn't see my huge bookshelf when I was entering my living room, and I ran right into it.
That left me covered with books, and with Savingrace standing on my desk, with a look full of rage and betrayal, and heartbreak and a whole rainbow of emotions that are very difficult to explain.

"I... No, it isn't what you think...," I uselessly tried to get out of the situation, but to no avail. Savingrace was uber-angry, I could feel it's rage across the room.

It made my heart burst from my chest and shatter into another million pieces, and pain blossomed in my chest because it all felt SO BAD!!!

Savingrace shut her pages and turned from me.
It broke my heart all over again.








And so, after another ten or so situations where either myself or Savingrace completely overreacted and screamed a bit at each other, and of course I forgot all the tension between us, the wanting-to-read-but-can't situation, we decided to try it out, and see how it goes.
Only, our bliss was interrupted by Evildude!!!

BUT!

I will not tell you what happened.











Well, I got my happy ever after with Savingrace, having finally read it, but then after being so irritated by the characters I simply could not love it like I thought I would.
It was just not meant to be.

But then, I have heard whispers...
I feel it in the water...
I feel it in the earth...
I smell it in the air...


Shane's book exists!!!!!!!!!!!

[Seena Seena · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 7th 2012



Okay so I jump on GR and I see my GR friend Jade has advised this book is here......

I thought they announced a release date......

Then I saw it ACTUALLY had a release date of 5th October and I was like....



Sooooo I jumped onto Amazon and IT WAS THERE TO PURCHASE FOR ONLY 1.50!!!

Me =







Okay.....

Still can not breath.....

The worse thing though is I have to work tomorrow and it it's already 11pm. I will somehow, someway, go to sleep. I will go into work and somehow be able to concentrate on work (pfffft yeah right) I will come home and make dinner, do homework with the child, give the kids a bath and put the kids to bed (might put them to bed an hour earlier than usual) and then I will pick up my kindle, take a deep breath and start the book.

October 9th 2012



"Then let me in, because I promise you, I will pick up every little broken piece of you. Every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my life I will put you back together..... I'll make you whole again."





That for me was effin brilliant! BRILLIANT!

Okay I need another moment....



Let me remind you all what my Shane (YES MINE SO BACK OFF) looks like in my crazy crazy mind of mine



"You're beyond exquisite. You're Perfection."



People you just do not understand. Shane has me hook, line and a 50kg sinker!

I absolutely loved this installment and I am a sucker for a HEA for the couple who had it tough.

There are no words I can use to fathom a review. My words in my head are jumbled and I cant quite hear them over the constant shrieking of a teenage girl in my head.

Something that absolutely SHITTED ME TO TEARS was the number of times they were interrupted before they could get their sexy time on! OMG I lost count after one because DUDE how can you interrupt that sexy time scene!!!!

I honestly wanted to rip my hair out!



And at times I seriously wanted to bitch slap Grace into next week!



Seriously woman! You have the perfection that is Shane right there and you are second guessing EVERYTHING!

"She poured out the liquid music of her voice to quench the thirst of his spirit."

And when they FINALLY had their sexy time....



"You want to be my first, Shane?"
"No baby, I'm going to be your last."

Ohhhh Shane you will always be my last. hahahahahahahaha



Ohhhhh and fellow GR poeple, it does not end here! A note from the author at the end of the book......

"I hope I did justice to book 2! And YES, I am writing Shane's point of view and it should be published soon."

[Georgia ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ Fallen Angels, Endless Love, Alcohol and Bad Boy Rock - Stars



In the beginning of time, before the world becomes old, God was merciful and vengeful, at the same time and angels were still pure. A small band of them was stationed on Earth to help the humans, but they were corrupted. They fell in love with the women and they gave birth to abominations. The giants, the Nephelim. There were no other choice. God punished them. They fell from grace and they were imprisoned in hell. And their human women were punished along them. But, there was a couple that was pure. Shamsiel and Selah. Their only crime? A single kiss, that doomed them for all eternity. Selah never got to die. She became a lost soul, cursed to live in the empty shells that people left behind, forced to look for a pair of warm blue eyes throughout eternity. And left Shamsiel falling from Grace only to find her all over again when they were both on the brink of giving up forever.

“It is a pure soul who can hold true the innocence and timelessness of passion in another soul. Each unveiling the greatest pieces of the other, locked together at the heart for eternity.



Grace realized what her heart has been screaming at her from the beginning. Shane is her angel, the one she spent eternity looking for. But she realized it after having both their hearts broken and she ended up in a coma with her soul held hostage by a vindictive angel, with his own agenda that spent the last 2000 years pretending to help her.

She will find her way back but not to Shane’ arms. Eons of misconceptions, miscommunication, lack of trust and so much love that ultimately broke them, will keep them apart once again. Two hardheaded individuals who end up hurting each other with every word and gesture, but unable to deny their overwhelming feelings.

“ I guess I didn’t know him like I thought I did and he destroyed my heart. But he didn’t just destroy a small piece of my heart, he desecrated the whole thing. I was the idiot who just handed it to him. Because for so long, I really, really believed...I had faith in him, but I was wrong.”



Love can’t be denied for long and after lots of booze, shoes and bad boys with tattoos, just about when we are going to die from severe sexual tension and our frustration reaches new levels, HALLELUJAH! We are rewarded with the most anticipated sex scene ever after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s kiss in “Pride & Prejudice”. Seriously guys, I almost died waiting for you to consummate...

” Let me in, because I promise you, I will pick up every little broken piece of you, every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my fucking life I will put you back together...I’ll make you whole again.”









AND THEN... FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!



Lacking the haunting atmosphere of the first but more hip, funny and suspenseful, this second book frustrates and hooks you and you are unable to tear your eyes off the Shane the Magnificent,

“Perfection. He was utterly the most breathtaking, painfully beautiful man I had ever laid my eyes on.”



Grace the Determined and their merry band of friends, desperately trying to find their way back to each other…

♪♫ I didn’t know I was lost
Until you found me
I never knew what love was
Until you touched my hand
I lost myself long ago In between your lips
And now here you are
You steal my breath away
Until you I never really knew heaven
Cause until you it was only ever hell
I didn’t know I was so far gone
Until you brought me home
I promise you, girl I know you’re shattered
I’ll pick up your pieces
And make you whole again
Cause until you girl I’ve been shattered too
Since my very first kiss
It’s only been you ♪♫

And now for the most anticipated male POV… Shane, love, I am in for a wild ride!!!!!

[Lise *friends don't flag* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slight

2.5 stars for me. I loved the first book, the whole bad boy in a band vibe was great. The mystery of Grace and her long lost love intrigued me the paranormal overtone and the chemistry between Shane and Grace was five star!. I shelved Fall From Grace in my top books of 2012! So… of course I was thrilled to see the sequel out so soon. I snatched that baby up and cancelled my Saturday plans and started reading. Maybe I am just a grumpy old lady that expected so much more out of the “rest of the story”- but what I got out of this book was a lot of frustration and a very repetitive storyline: getting drunk, misunderstanding of who slept with whom, Gabriel showing up, almost hook up, interrupted, more getting drunk, a few of these after a good drinking binge, more misunderstanding, Gabriel popping in again, almost hook up, interrupted, almost hook up again…. and yep-interrupted again. Like major Coitus interruptus

But, no worries we finally have full penetration at about … maybe 93% in the book and a HEA!



I was pretty much like this for most of the book waiting and waiting and waiting for.... something


I did love the oneliners:



That man was going to make me self cum-bust right in front of him one day

All I Need are Shoes, Booze and Bad boys with Tattoos

I could have had an orgasm from the mind fuck he was giving me right there

Holy Crappocalypse! I was turning into one of THOSE GIRLS!

I could lick that boy from head to toe like a big old lollipop



And... I still love Shane and would "lick" him if I could!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, after finishing book 1 Fall From Grace at 3am this morning, and absolutely loving it, I got 5 hours sleep and was then straight into this one. Was it worth it – HELL YEAH!!!

It picks up immediately after the hideous cliffhanger of book 1 (thank God!) with Grace dealing with fallout from that big, dramatic climax. I’m not going to go into detail about the storyline because I don’t want to give any kind of spoiler. The story is amazing, but intense, and best experienced just to read and feel it all as you go – my emotions were all over the place! I will just say that there is a HEA, but there are many twists and turns along the way.

I love these characters! Grace is amazing, even more so than she was in the first book, Lea is hilarious, with some absolutely brilliant dialogue, and the guys from the band are all back in their rude, crude yet affectionate glory. The way they all come together like a family and have each other’s backs is gorgeous. And of course there’s Shane *dreamy sigh*. I had a mad case of insta-love with Shane in book 1, but I fell deeper for him in this one. There’s nothing quite like a reformed, man-whorish bad boy who has fallen hard for his girl, but it’s all a bit deeper and more intense now, and oh my God is he freaking SWOONY!!!

I will admit that some of the to-and-fro stuff that happened between Grace and Shane in the middle of the book did get annoying, and I was wondering whether we'd ever get to see them happy together. I just wanted to smack their heads together and tell them to get on with it! But there was SOOOOO must sexual tension and enough beautiful moments between them (loved the use of music in this "'Come on, girl, play with me', he whispered") to keep us die-hard romantics happy amidst the confusion and the heart wrenching scenes as they almost tore each other apart:

“Just pull the fucking trigger on me now, please.”

*sob* But oh God, it was worth all of the heartache for the incredible, utterly epic, swoony resolution. And it wasn’t just one scene – it went on and on, and it was absolutely magic!

“I wanted to tell you how I felt. Why I was always so mean to you, Shane. ”
“Because you feel broken?”
“Completely shattered,” I whispered softly.
…
Bringing his hands to my face, he leaned over me, lightly stroking my cheeks with his fingertips. “Then let me in, because I promise you, I will pick up every little broken piece of you, every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my fucking life I will put you back together…I’ll make you whole again.”

HOLY FREAKING SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!! And some seriously steamy hotness too. Absolute perfection!

The bad guy is evil and creepy, and the paranormal element is a unique one (well at least to me), and has enough of a mystery about it to keep you guessing what’s actually going on until the very end. But it’s the deep connection of soul mates and lovers that is the real focus of the series, and it’s done brilliantly!

The perfect blend of romance, humour and angst, my heart was pounding through pretty much all of this book - both books actually, and I absolutely could not put either of them down. I'm flying high from the ending, and probably won't come down for days!

I can't wait to get my hands on Shane’s story.

5 epic stars!

[Kellie Maddox-Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOR
THE
LOVE
OF
GOD
GET
YOUR
ASS
TO
AMAZON
PAY
$1.50
AND
READ
THIS
BOOK
NOW.

AS
IN
NOW!

It's FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!

Yes I'm aware I just used a shitload of SHOUTY CAPITALS IN BOLD but that's how serious I am!

Everything a PNR lover could want! The perfect amount of everything.
OFF the freaking charts melt your panties while your wearing them sexual tension!
Great characters, laughs, tears, love, writing.... It's not off the charts steamy explained to detailed sex but the story more than makes up for it!

JUST GO BUY IT!

[Dilek VT · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I want to say that I loved some of C. Zolendz’s books more than I can explain but this paranormal series of hers hugely disappointed me, unfortunately.



There was an interesting enough plot – but the execution of it was not good and it became a torture for me to finish reading these two books.

If I need to compare, Book 1 is a bit better than Book 2, and honestly, I could have given it 3 stars if the second book were 4 or 5-star worthy, but alas, Book 2 killed it all!

Now, the whole series is max 2 or 2,5 stars for me.

The plot:

Thousands of years ago, some of the angels sent to watch the humans for their safety fell in love with the beauty of the human women and those angels took them as wives and created the offsprings called the Nephilim but they turned out to be savage giants.

That’s why, the angels sent to watch the humans were punished – they were fallen. One of the human women who only had a heavenly kiss but nothing more with one of these angels was punished to live the rest of her eternity as a lost soul in search of the fallen angel that she loves.

And she is our heroine in this series. In this life and body she comes into, she is called Grace. And in this life, she is supposed to meet her soul mate angel. (The angel called Gabriel, who sometimes appears and guides her tells her that bit of information).

Grace meets a man-whore rock star in this life. Shane is immediately attracted to Grace and she is to him.

The whole of the two books in the series go as annoying as follows:

Grace finds Shane hot and irresistible but he is a man-whore and when he is saying he loves her, he can’t mean that, can he?

And Grace needs to find her soul mate angel and this man-whore can’t be him so she goes out with the wrong guys, assuming one of them is her fallen angel.

Being jealous and angry, Shane kisses groupies in front of her, acting like a d*ckhead.

All along the two books, there is this stupid “teen drama” between twenty-something-year old adults.

She wants him but she doesn’t want to want him. Although everybody else sees he has feelings for her, she insists that after one- night stand, he will move on to the next girl, so there is this ongoing and frustrating pull and push between them.

There is nothing more than a kiss or some hot and intense staring between the two of them until the last chapters of Book 2.

And at a certain point, I just stopped caring if they would be together or not, I just wanted to be out of their story asap.

They were like stupid 15-year old teens all the time. They just cannot communicate!!

For example, when she sees a woman beside him, she immediately assumes that he has slept with her.

He is not more mature than her, either. He assumes she slept with his friend when he sees her getting out of his bedroom. He doesn’t even ask properly why she was there and what they were doing.

It is like watching “two spoiled teens” blaming each other all the time about being with other people. I was yelling all the time, saying "Oh, please f*cking learn to communicate and please behave like adults!" But of course, in vain!

There are those rare moments when they get a little bit close and intimate, trusting each other's feelings a little bit more but every time, something happens so that they cannot go any further than kissing and touching. It is so frustrating, it is like the bad soap opera episodes where they stretch the happy end for months or years, all the while creating stupid drama.

The fallen angels, the devil and the good angels sometimes appear and add some paranormal sh*t into the mix and not all of it makes sense. And the fist fight of angels was the most absurd of all!

All in all, I can only appreciate the idea behind it, as the plot was interesting but the execution of it was more than annoying and boring.



I am really sorry to give a “Christine Zolendz book” a low rating but it can’t be helped, unfortunately…

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As busy as I was this weekend, I devoured this book quite quickly! Once again, I have thoroughly enjoyed the blossoming romance of Shane and Grace. This book had sizzle, the sexual tension was intense and at times heartwrenching and frustrating. I love every minute of it though, and when these two get together-they cause the earth to move. I kid you not, this book had some of the most erotic scenes in it that I have ever read. All, I will tell you about one scene in particular is that Grace screamed, "Ah Pizza!" ( You will have to read it yourself to find out what that is all about; but I guarantee you that it is origional!LOL)
The other pleasant surprise in this story was the band members, and Grace's friend Lea..The humor in this story is just great, and seeing how all of these friends interact with each other is highly entertaining!

I don't want to share a lot of details of the book, because I don't want to give things away. I will say that this has been a series where I didn't hold my expectations high, and I will gladly admit that I was so very wrong. This is up there with some of my favorite's for sure.
Shane is a hero that took me awhile to melt my heart to; but he really pulls through, and his love for Grace is inspiring.

"I will pick up every little broken piece of you, every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my fucking life I will put you back together..I'll make you whole again."

"Don't cry, babe. Every damn tear I have seen that fell from those silver eyes broke my heart. This, right here with you is the closest that I'll ever come to heaven. That's all right by me, because you are my heaven, Grace."

Christine Zolendz is an author I will be looking out for in the future. I love her style of writing, and her sense of humor shines through on the pages of her book. I can't wait to read the third book in this sexy series, as it is in Shane's POV. I have no doubt that it will be hot, and I will love it from start to finish!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars

"…the fairy-tale I’d write for you, Grace. You and Shane. One hot rock star badass and one beautiful rock star badass with a happily ever after"

Waking up from a coma, she never expected to be saved and sent back to earth without her Angel. He left her to be free to live a life without him, completely broken Grace has to find a way to live a life as a mortal, but thousands of years is going to be hard to just forget and just LIVE. Could she put aside her love for her Angel and find peace and love with the one man that made her almost forget about her Angel?

“No matter what happens from here , know that I have always, I will always love you and I will always protect you.”

Grace struggles with facing the man who held her beloved Angel within him, she thinks back to the day when he professed his love for her, but now that her Angel is gone, they have to start all over. Who is Shane without the Angel, is he the same man that she could lose her self with?

Centuries of being true and moral, I got my heart broken, then I meet Shane Maxton and I throw all my ethics out the window. I’m so going to enjoy this. I’m so not ever going to get to see my angel again in heaven, because I’m so going straight to hell.

Misunderstandings mixed in with their quick tempers get in the way of seeing where it all could lead, but their love hate relationship just gets stronger and stronger. They don't hesitate to bring out the big guns to drive each other wet or hard

I could have had an orgasm from the mind fuck he was giving me right there.

Shane isn’t known for his relationships and commitments, but time and time he is there for Grace whenever she needs him most. Music is the one thing they always had in common, and it’s with music they can freely express themselves to each other.

“I wanted to tell you how I felt. Why I was always so mean to you, Shane.”

“Because you feel broken?”

“Completely shattered,” I whispered softly.

Shane and Grace have this inner battle that they are quickly loosing, to everyone else it is all so perfectly clear and they just need to open up and let each other in. Even in her new life she is still a prisoner from her of Gabriel, the first fallen angel who wants her all to himself, threatening and taunting her each chance he gets "The devil says he loves me, and he’s coming to get me." Luckily she has true friends who love her and won’t let her get hurt, willing to be by her side every moment.



I absolutely loved this book, the tension and the banter held my attention the entire way, perfectly content watching these two people navigate their way around each other. Shane was to die for, he is such a tortured hero and I loved everything about him, past and all. Grace is such a bad-ass, I loved her feistiness and her strength. Their friends are amazing and had me laughing right through all the drama.

It was a perfect mix, light on the paranormal, heavy on the sexual tension and big on the love. I'm still deciding if I'm gonna read Shane's POV, I have it on my kindle, but scared it's gonna change my view of Shane. We'll see how long I can hold out, but I'm jonesing for more of their story so I just might dive right in and hope for the best.

[• Lisa • · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO END.

This author knows How to write a book with a seriously fabulous mix of FUNNY, SEXY and serious. Following on from the let's say A HUGE mind mess of a cliffhanger from book one, thankfully book two starts straight off with a bang ...

Welcome to Saving Grace a HUGE 5 star read and a whole lot of Grace and Shane eternal loving!

This book made me swoon and laugh in the same chapters and with the perfect fairy tale happily ever after I'm one happy reader.

5 heavenly stars and a hope that my guardian angel is something like Shane Maxton!

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minor Spoilers -Do not read if you have not read book one
3 STARS out of 5
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy/Contemporary Romance

'Holy Dripping Wet Panties! That man should come with a warning label.' ~Inner Monologue of Grace

Yes. He. Should.

2,000 years.... Could you imagine your soul going through time from one life to the next in search of it's soul mate? Well that is exactly what happened to Selah now known as Grace. And finally she has found him... The one who captured her heart.
When the book starts her life hangs in the balance she discovers that the one she thought she could trust is nothing but a backstabbing infatuated stalker.
Seriously, Gabriel drove me BATSH!T CRAZY. But I don't wanna talk about him...
I wanna talk about Shane.

11/17/12 -Okay, so I'm a little conflicted on how to rate this... I liked it, I didn't love it. I did love Shane. A LOT! Can't put my finger on it so I will let the story digest for a few days.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITED on 11/27/12

Like I previously said, I wanna talk about Shane!
His character was very swoon worthy. And the attraction doubled once he gave up his man whore ways in book2. He was a total alpha male, very overprotective and would knock a guy on his ass for stepping to Grace. He played the guitar, sung lead in a band and had a sexy swagger.
Seriously, what's not to like?

Fave lines said and unsaid

'Oh my God. Perfection. He was utterly the most breathtaking, painfully beautiful man I had ever laid my eyes on.' ~Internal monologue Grace

I just wanted to wrap my legs around his face.' ~Internal monologue Grace

'I was speechless anyway. I couldn’t even think right. Well… mentally he was about eight inches deep in me and I was screaming his name raking my nails down his back.' ~Internal monologue Grace

“Oh, my God, Grace. Shane is completely eye fucking you and I’m creaming in my panties right now. How does that not affect you?” ~Lea

Dear reader
I am no longer conflicted I decided to go with 3 SOLID STARS as a rating here is why.

The Story
I felt the story ended and left me with more questions. A lot of them. I also felt that the mythology used was not exactly original it had a few similarities that I read in another series. That series being Fallen. In all honesty it was only small similarities never the less still there.

Also I don't understand why Shane allowed certain things to occur after... certain facts surfaced. On top of that I would have loved for Shane to explain some things. I found myself unfulfilled at the end of the book because I had questions that only his character could rectify. Better yet, if his pov played out along with Grace's it would have given readers a deeper understanding of just how epic their lovestory is.

My Ratings
Characters- Sexy, Witty and some were deceiving
Writing Style- Fair
Storyline/Plot- Okay
Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy
Overall- I liked it!!

Now go forth and read. Then tell us about it on Goodreads!

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I love pop-tarts. I really love Lucky Charms. Who doesn't? They're magically delicious! But raise your hand if you like to pick off the brown edges of a pop-tart or eat all the brown charms first and save the marshmallowy goodness for last. Anybody?? Sometimes we have to pick off the not so good parts to get to the part we really want...the part that's left...the awesomeness.

I'm convinced that Christine Zolendz is walking potential. The concepts and ideas she has in her head are unique, addictive and could explode into some really great books, but the execution just isn't quite there yet. Saving Grace had all the right ingredients. It smelled good cooking, but the cake never rose and the cookies were a little burnt. Okay I'm really sorry. I must have eaten analogy for breakfast because I keep pooping them out, but I'll stop now...maybe!

Here's what's real. I felt like somebody pushed the repeat button with the plot. Don't get me wrong...there were parts that definitely could use a "do me over" "do over" button, but it kept cycling through the same parts just in a different way. Some parts confused me (especially the beginning...maybe I'm just not that smart) and the paranormal didn't blend with the plot as well as it did in book one. It felt like two separate stories happening.

Among the happenings, one thing the author did know how to execute was chemistry and sexual tension! There were several parts that definitely made me pop a moisty! There was also some GREAT one-liners!

I honestly saw a truly amazing book hiding behind some poor edits and a struggled execution. Despite the brown edges, I'm glad I read this series. It gave me some great characters, a steamy unique plot and introduced me to a new author that I think has some amazing potential. I think she'll get there! In the mean time, I'll wait! READ ON!

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been going back and catching up in some of the 100s of unread books my kindle has...wow...i can't believe I have has this series so long and haven't read it! Fallen angels, long lost everlasting love, immortals behaving badly...PERFECT!

While I was getting one hell of a back and forth with Shane and Grace that usually would drive me nuts, I still could not stop reading. I devoured this book start to finish in under 2 hours reading until 2am! If you're a fan of smoldering sexual tension and the race to have a forever love...this is a great series with the whole rocker bad boy/young party hard lifestyle to boot!

[R.E. Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. I really, really tried. I got through Fall From Grace and thought maybe it would all come together in Saving Grace, but I'm left feeling even more frustrated, and completely unsatisfied.

Once again, potential is the key word. This book, the last book, this series, had the capability of being great - knock you on your ass with an amazing romance and a paranormal twist that wrenches your heart out of your chest and has you really, truly believing in soulmates - great. But it just completely falls short and leaves so many unanswered questions...

This review is probably going to sound like a repeat of my review for Fall From Grace, but then again, most of this book was a repeat of Fall From Grace. Maybe I missed something, maybe I just don't understand, but really, I just don't understand! At the risk of being overly vague and cryptic because I don't want to give anything away...the whole basis of the book made positively no sense after the story unfolded. It's like a huge part of the story arc is just missing or was completely glossed over to get the end result that we wanted.

Saving Grace felt just like I was reading Fall From Grace all over again. Through the first half of the book I was beyond frustrated and wanted to pull my hair out. After a brief detour in the beginning of the book, which only served to create more questions instead of offer any answers, we are right back to where we started with Grace and Shane being terrible to each other and it makes no sense whatsoever. The back and forth between them was absolutely maddening.

Once again, after a little more than halfway through the book, things start to pick up and the sexual tension between Grace and Shane is off the charts. It's amazing and just keeps on leaving you wanting more. The problem is, the more that we're really in search of doesn't actually happen until you're about 90% finished with the book. Then it's wrapped up into a nice little package with no real explanations or answers and a very short epilogue that, although is very "happy epilogue after," left me feeling like I missed out on so much.

I loved Shane. I can't stress this enough. His character made these books worth it for me. He's the reason I wanted to keep reading. And I grew to love Grace. And I loved them together. By the end of the book I was definitely connected to these two and the connection to their love story is why that 3rd star is still hanging up there.

I don't want this to be too negative. As much as it frustrated me, I still enjoyed the book. I just wanted so much more out of it. I know the author is writing a book from Shane's POV next and I will happily read it. I just hope there will be some more answers...

Reviewed at thebooklistreviews.blogspot.com

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Remember tonight... for it is the beginning of always.

Okay, I seriously loved this book! I started it and stayed up reading it half the night until I finished... Could not put it down!

I'm the freaking lost soul. And just when I finally found my angel, all hell breaks loose to try to keep us apart. Seriously
Saving Grace starts off right where book 1 leaves off. Read book 1 before reading this!

Holy Dripping Wet Panties! That man should come with a warning level.
That is the perfect description of Shane! Shane is even more smoking hot in this book than the last. I want to lick him up like a freaking cherry ice pop, let him melt in my mouth, get all the sticky and lick my fingers clean. Yes! Shane is the perfect book boy! I can't tell you how HAPPY I was to find out that Shane was really Shane Shane- the soul too, at the end of the book! I was really hoping he was! Loved Shane's romantic side in this book. There was a lot of build up in both books- and when it finally happened... "You want to be my first Shane?" "No baby, I'm going to be your last." Oh swoon! There were some seriously HOT scenes between Shane and Grace!

Grace and Lea were both hilarious as ever! Lea especially! No kidding, I highlighted over 50 lines in this book! Here are some that had me smiling or cracking up:
-"Holy Crappocalypse! I was turning into one of THOSE GIRLS! I wanted to punch myself in the face to knock some sense into myself."
-Scrumdillifuckingemious, I just wanted to wrap my legs around his face.
-"Fuckasstard! It's a fucking asshole retard or a fucking ass in a leotard. Shane's both."
-"You two are making me feel like I need to wear a condom over my head so I can't get pregnant from just listening to the both of you."
-"Are you actually hoping my boobs are going to talk back to you? So you think they'll tell you my name?"
-Devergination in Process DO NOT Fucking disturb!
I'll stop there, but you get the point- seriously funny!!!
Loved the guys in the band- Especially Ethan and Alex! Of course Tucker was still the world's largest douche bag... Are your parent's siblings? I love Grace's description of Tucker and Gabriel... Devil Man and Douche Boy. Able to creep a girl out in 0.5 seconds flat.

This story was beautiful and different- and of course very funny! Read the first book, then this! You won't be disappointed! And I hear there is a book with Shane's pov coming?!?!?! Yes please!

"You're mine forever now."
"I'm completely yours, Shane, forever."

[CeCe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to love the book. I bought it the minute it came out. Saving Grace is the sequel to Fall from Grace. I thought Fall from Grace was so-so, but I saw the potential when Shane discovered who the true Grace was, but NO. Did the author even address that in Saving Grace?! Not sure.

The whole game of miscommunication and misunderstanding was played until the very end. I hate that!! You have to do more in the story for me than..."does he love me, does he not?" "I saw him look at that girl. so I know he does not love me." Blah, blah, blah. It got annoying. What happened at 77% in the book, should have happened at 21% of the book. Then I would have felt that I was being thrown a bone. I don't even need "steamy" scenes, but a good kiss or an understanding that we care or love eachother does it for me. However, Grace was always thinking that Shane was sleeping with other women. Or they would get interrupted right before a special moment. Did she not know that they were soul-mates????? It got old for me especially in the second book. I love tension in a story, but in the sequel, you have to stop teasing me non-stop. Give me something!!! The plot never really took off for me. Sure Gabriel showed up here and there, but I cared less for the characters at that point.

The questions I always ask at the end of a book:
Did I skim? Yes
Did I want the book to end? Yes. When we love the book, we get disappointed the closer we get to the end. I wanted this to end.
Will/would I reread this book? No
Did I count the minutes until I was going to go back to reading this book? No.
Did I think about this book after I finished? Only that I was disappointed that I did not enjoy it.:(

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Loved the ending!!!!!!!

This story picks up where Fall from Grace left off. I'm not going to go into details, for those who haven't yet finished book one. I just want to say that this was a well put together conclusion to the story!! I will also say that I only left a star off my review because of the monotonous and forehead banging sexual tension that flew back and forth between Grace and Shane throughout this book. By the end... I thought about hurling myself off of a very tall building.... but then, the swoon set in and I was sated!!! So much drama though.... I love him... but is he sincere?..... I love him but what about all of the others?.... I love him but does he love me? I love him... but will Gabriel hurt him? It goes on and on... and I almost lost my mind!!!

The story was compelling though, and I had trouble putting it down. And Shane... OMG Shane was just exquisite!! And the steamy moments were numerous and explosive.

"I told you matching sets are weapons of mass destruction."

And the quotes continue... and they are beautiful... and render a total heart melt down...

"Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly at your service," he whispered. "Shakespeare. The Tempest." I looked away again wanting to throw myself at him. "Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." Poe."

"Remember tonight for it is the beginning of always," he whispered, Dante Alighieri, Shane?" "Shut up and go to sleep, Grace."

Every bit of this story was romantic. From Grace's history to her final HEA with Shane, aka Shamsiel! And what a lovely twist of reality the author wove in with Gabriel's long felt desires and punishment. It was a beautiful ending to a lovely romance that took two centuries to fulfill!!!

*****4.5 STARS*****

pics....

Grace Taylor...


Shane Maxton...


Gabriel...


Lea...


Connor...

[Laurynne Gouws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Grace is the second book in the Mad World Series by Christine Zolendz and the follow up to Fall from Grace (Book #1) which I absolutely adored right down to the core of my soul. When I saw that Saving Grace was available from Amazon I went all psycho and scared the life out of my family when I woohoo'ed loudly and did the sitting dance...

If you thought Fall from Grace was one of the best books of 2012 (which I totally did) then you have another thing coming... Saving Grace completely tops Fall from Grace... in fact it's totally off the charts awesome and I didn't once... not even for a second put it down. Did an all-nighter and when I woke up this morning reread the last 3 chapters again just to make sure that it wasn't all a dream.

With about 244 pages it's not a really long book and I'm mildly depressed about that. Could easily have eaten up so much more of Grace and Shane's story :)

Saving Grace takes off from where Fall from Grace ended (which was such a hanger I couldn't believe it was even legal to do that)... I love that there were no lost moments between Grace and Shane and that we were pulled right back into story. I loved that Christine Zolendz didn't waste time getting right into the action and she didn't bore me with rehashing scene's from Fall from Grace. I completely hate it when a second book spends half of it's pages telling us (who have already read it BTW) what happened in the first book. Argh it grinds me! BUT Christine didn't torture me with any of that nonsense and I thank her for that. Saving Grace began with guns blazing and my adrenaline spiked from the first page :)

[Mistress · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This was the sort of love that people wrote books about. Right in the middle of what I thought was an ordinary life; fate sent me a fairytale, one with a happy ending.”

Wow, what a story of long lost love and true soul mates. I loved this book! I love how faithful Selah (Grace) has been to her angel and how desperately she has search for him in each life.



She has been through so many horrible things in her two thousand years, but has continued to be strong and determined. Shane was completely lost without the other half of his soul and trying to get through each day the only way he knew how.



The complete turn around in his behavior shows how strong that bond has always been to the human girl who he lost his heart to many millennia ago. The true love and passion that Grace and Shane share is inspiring.

“This, right here with you is the closest that I’ll ever come to heaven. That’s all right by me, because you are my heaven, Grace.”

When Shane and Grace come together they are smoking hot, full of heat and passion.







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And they are so very much in love.

“Do you still love him?” “Always and forever, and then an eternity after. A girl will never forget her first perfect innocent kiss.”



I highly recommend this series! I can’t wait to continue it with Shane’s POV in Scars and Songs.

“Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly at your service.”

"“You want to my by first, Shane?” “No, baby, I’m going to be your last,” he breathed."

“She poured out the liquid music of her voice to quench the thirst of his spirit.”

“I can get lost in your lips forever Grace,” he murmured against my mouth. “So beautiful. Perfect.”

“It is a pure soul who can hold true the innocence and timelessness of passion in another soul. Each unveiling the greatest pieces of the other, locked together at the heart for eternity.”

“That, that right here. That’s it, that feeling, that moment of breathlessness, that little surge in your chest, the prickle of heart along your skin and the low hot roll of your belly; that’s what being alive is all about.”

“Life is about living every single moment like it’s your last. If you treat each goodbye, each hello, each hug, each day, and each kiss like it was your last…how amazing would each moment of your life be?”

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

*edit*
This book has really been on my mind since I finished it a few days ago. I hate to do it but Im moving it down to 3 stars. I really loved Fall from Grace and I still love Shane and Grace but there are just too many things that don't add up for me. Its not even JUST what I listed in my original review but also things like,
If Grace didn't think her angel was still in Shames body, then who was he suppose to be? Why would he have all the same memories and feelings for her if he was someone else's soul? And, Grace lived hundreds of lives, some of which were horrible, like being a rape and torture victim just long enough to die! But now she just behaves like a fun loving 20 something? She'd be so emotionally scarred I'd be surprised if she could function.
Really, I can keep going. Like Gabriel releasing the fallen angels to capture Grace. Why did she need captured? He knew where she was. And why are they evil anyways? They are angels that fell in love with humans. Why are they now working for the devil?
So see, I think I take things far to literal to be able to just enjoy this book. As a contemporary romance it was great, as a PNR, it was kind of a big fail for me. I'm looking forward to Shanes POV because it might clear some of this up but I really think most it is just inconsistencies in the story and skipping over things that didn't fit right.

*original *
Ok so I LOVED these books. Loved both Shane and Grace. I really like strong female characters that can defend themselves verbally and physically. And SHANE, OMG, I can't imagine any woman with a pulse not drooling over that guy, fictional or not.I read the 2 books in less then 2 days. Could. Not. Stop.

BUT, there are a few issues eating at me. Book 1 ends and Shane has just realized who Grace is. He is devastated then the book ends! AHHHHH! Book 2, unknown to Grace, her angel remains in Shane's body. Can anyone give me their take on why he wouldn't have TOLD her who he was?! Why would that not have been the very first thing he did? And why all the games and bad behavior, like after seeing her leave Ethan's room or kicking her from the band? Or accusing her of sleeping with several people when she had spent 2 THOUSAND years as a virgin searching for him?Or even why he would have played games with that horrible crypt keeper (heehee) making her a priority and making Grace jealous with her? I mean it was GRACE!! The woman he'd loved and pined over for 2,000 years! I don't get it. I can't wrap my head around his thought process there. I was hoping it would be nicely packaged for me at the end but it wasn't.

There's also the fact that Gabriel had said that Grace (Selah) was Enochs daughter, favored by God, with extreme gifts and powers. This of course was part of WHY all the fallen angels wanted her so badly. But that was never mentioned or touched on again. I kept waiting for her to unleash some kind of wrath on Gabriel, but nothing ever came out of it.

For me, sometimes Saving Grace was at war with being a paranormal read with 2,000 year old star crossed lovers and just wanting to be a contemporary romance.

I'm looking so forward to Shane's POV. Maybe it will answer my lingering questions.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really agonized on how to rate this book. I finished it at almost 2AM last night, woke up and have fought with myself about how to rate it. In the end I'm going 3 Stars and I think that is being generous, mostly because I don't want to be a complete bitch about a book. Again.

On the one hand I couldn't put it down and I was VERY invested.

On every other hand (in the universe) it drove me absolute coo coo for cocoa puffs. The grammar and editing was VERY bad, the plot and characters went round and round and round and round and OMG I just wanted to shoot myself or Lea or Grace or Shane. Repeatedly.

I read a book recently that was two books written into one and THAT drove me crazy. By the same vein, Fall for Grace and Saving Grace were ONE book - right down to the splitting LoTR into three movies style non-ending of the first book - divided into two and the only reason I can think of is because the author couldn't figure out a way to stretch the story even further without having to actually utilize a plot so she could make it a trilogy.

But my real problems were all spoilery....

First, THE WAITING!!! Waiting for them to talk. Waiting for them to quit jumping to conclusions about each other. But most of all the waiting for them to finally have sex. If it wasn't one thing it was a damn 'nother. The sex wait was about a book too long in my opinion. It was insane, and then when it finally DID happen -- WAYYYY PAST TO LATE, it was glossed over and it wasn't really a sexual payoff AT ALL. Totally infuriating.

Then, THE SECRETS!!! Ok, so I was OK with Shane being Shamsiel and not revealing it until Lea told him when Grace was in a coma & then him making a deal with Michael to save her life. That worked. What didn't work is finding out at the end of this second book that he didn't get his Shamsiel soul ripped out of Shane like we all & Grace thought, but STILL had all of those memories and thoughts and still played this merry go round game with Grace threw the entire book only to reveal at the end that he was still very much Shamsiel and was still just NOT TELLING HER THE TRUTH OR EVEN HOW HE FELT AT ALL. It totally ruined whatever buildup I had been working on throughout the book/books. Of course, Grace didn't tell him crap either. It was beyond infuriating. But finding out that he basically just wasn't talking to her until the big conclusion so the author could have her moment on stage... I thought my head was going to explode.

And of course, THE BATSHIT!!! You've lived for 2000 years, Grace? Really? I felt your pain to an extent in the first book. As the whining drug on and on and on I was like, you know what, put your big girl panties on and ACT LIKE YOU'VE SEEN A THING OR TWO GAZILLION! And Lea. Geez if she wasn't a Mary Sue of a best friend I don't know what is. AND SHANE: TALK TO THE GIRL ALREADY!!! And those friends of his, especially Tucker - you are kidding me right? Also, I have NEVER read a book where the characters drank the way these characters did. Like 18 year old frat kids, every last one of them. They didn't just drink, they were constantly drunk. It was very disgusting.

I have rage issues with this book. I have a lot of rage toward a lot of books lately. I have just had it with these same games.

I will say that this book/books had plenty of steam, but repetitive and uncreative. The dialogue could be snappy and witty, but at times it felt like too much. The characters weren't fleshed out, none of them felt like real people. BUT I couldn't stop turning pages hoping and praying that some kind of huge payoff would come. The basis of the plot had so much potential and I felt like it just drifted away with all of the mind games.

And Grace should have been a character, that if written correctly - like On Dublin Street's Jocelyn - could have come across as tragically broken but redemptive. Grace should have been more than that because she should have also been wise. But no. And Shane... Oh Shane. You had so much book boyfriend potential, but you refused to talk when you should have and continued to play games. It whittled away at your hotness and just made you an asshole.

Yeah. Lots of rage.

If I keep on I'm going to take away another star and then I'd really feel like a bitch because so many people loved this book. So I'm stopping.

[Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ ~ Sweet Spot Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Stars

Just created a new shelf called "sexually frustrating" and I'm placing this book, along with book 1, and some others in this category. No worries, though. The deed was FINALLY done after a long fought battle, but I could only take so much before I was ready to go postal. Ugh!

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a reader like me who just eats up those torturous moments in a romance story where the lovers are ripped apart or misunderstandings wreak havoc on their relationship and bring them to the brink...these books were PERFECT!!! There was so much tension oozing out of every moment they shared, so much unbearable heartbreak from the constant obstacles that tore them apart, and Zolendz squeezed EVERY. LAST. DROP!!! This story was so insanely addicting that when I had to step away (and yes, sadly, mom duties did not take a break for me to read this amazing book), I literally had butterflies in my stomach anticipating the moment I could finally get back to it! I haven't been this completely engrossed and enraptured by a story in a long time, and I just loved every second of it!

The only physical pain I could feel was the achy stiffness from laying still. Oh yeah, and the freaking pain of the gaping hole where my heart was ripped from my chest. No, let's not forget that. ~Grace

I couldn't wait to see how Saving Grace would start out, because with the way things ended with FfG, things were pretty messed up in her world. I was on the edge of my seat the moment Shane found out about Selah, and I was so anxious to see that first moment they were face to face!! But alas, it was not going to be so easy for Grace, just like everything else in her life. Facing the knowledge that Shamsiel is in the body of Shane the "manwhore" while Grace has been saving herself for her true love...SHE IS PISSED!! And rightfully so, I would think, but i did have to give Shamsiel/Shane the benefit of the doubt given he's thought Selah was in Heaven the whole time. And when Grace wakes up from her coma, her heartbreak and confusion come on the throes of a vision she has just before she awakens. A vision of her angel leaving her behind, returning to Heaven while she remains stuck in the human body on earth. Coming to grips with the thought of living only one final life but knowing it will be without her beloved Shamsiel, Grace is in utter despair. My heart was so torn to pieces at so many moments in this story, but seeing her having to endure this after all the lives full of pain that she'd lived just crushed me. As Grace tries to get on with her last life, the tension and turmoil between her and "Shamsiel-free" Shane was palpable. Shane is coiled up so tight he's ready to spring at every turn, but Grace can't see past him just being the player who wants her for the night. She doesn't understand that he's breaking right in front of her every time she attempts to move on, and OH my lord there were moments when I had tears in my eyes over the pain he was so clearly feeling.

Time seemed to slow down at that moment like we were locked eye to eye forever. For an eternity, and I knew what an eternity was. He slowly brought his lips to my ear, "Just pull the fucking trigger on me now, please." ~Shane


The moments when my heart wasn't sputtering to a complete stop over the beatings it took, it was racing out of my chest from the scorching sexual tension! The chemistry between these characters is unbearably delicious! They were intense, they were wildly passionate, and they were head-over-heels in love, and I couldn't wait for all of the obstacles to be shoved aside so they could release all of that pent-up tension!!!! It was SO worth the wait!!

The sound of him moaning, the sound of his breathing, and the heat of his hands sent me reeling.

Zolendz makes you feel every second of what her characters go through with her incredible literary talents, and when I read the last words of this book I was so sad to say goodbye to them!! I didn't want to leave their story behind after all they went through, but I was happy to finally get to see them sharing their lives together. The Mad World duology was such unforgettable, intense, passionate stories that will leave you gasping, and I insist you pick them up now if you haven't already!!

[Danielle (Danniegurl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is full blown New Adult book with a side of PNR. Or if you want to call it something else it's PNR LITE. Anyways after reading the synopsis I totally though this was gunna be one of those super long reuniting type stories. I so wasn't into reading that, but Grace and Shane kept coming back to my mind and so I knew I had to continue.

This book really picks up after we left Grace in the last book. She completely thinks her angel has left her and that she has no idea what's going on with Shane. When she comes to herself, in the hospital still, no one will tell her where Shane is, and he isn't at the hospital with her.

It's not until days or weeks later, I couldn't tell it was a blur for Grace, that she finds out Shane was arrested for what had happened to her. He's been in Riker's for like 5 weeks. It's not until Grace tells the detectives that Shane had 0 to do with her injuries and there was an intruder.

Once Shane comes back it's a whirl wind of will they won't they, could they please fucking communicate! Yep it was a game of tug of war, and especially to hurt each other.

I'm honestly surprised by how both Shane and Grace act, if they are supposed to be 2,000 year old souls who continue to be put into dying humans, wouldn't they idk be bored? Uninterested in life? Or do the remnants of the previous soul impact how they act in that body? None of this is answered. Maybe smarter, easier to read people and all that.

I do find only kissing someone and basing your faith on them for 2K years and saying you love them as a premise for a story rather....silly. But Grace and Shane make it work.

There's also still a lack of information flow, is Shane Shamsiel? If he is, why is he acting like he was. Most of this is not addressed...until Shane's POV book.

I didn't like the constant hurting that kept happening in this book, but I could completely understand Grace's doubt in Shane because she thinks her angel is gone.

I also didn't like the slut shaming being thrown around in this book. I know it was supposed to be silly and funny but in some ways I felt it was super mean that I guess I couldn't enjoy it. Granted, however, if someone did come up to me like the way some of those girls were going up to Grace and Lea, I too probably been catty. Still, it was uncomfortable to read.

I was kind of disappointed in the end just because it didn't really tell me what happened after the page, I was looking for an epi.

Overall though the concept is interesting, but more New Adult than paranormal.

Also Gabriel is nuts.

[Bayli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. Yes. Yes i did finish both of these book in just 1.5 days.

I loved the second book in this series and I really cannot wait to see Shane's POV. Holy Hottness, I can only imagine.

Okay so basically this book was full of so much steamyness that I really couldnt put it down- not even for a second. I think I might have been just as sexually frustrated as both Shane and Grace! I mean how many times can you get interrupted? Seriously! GAH.

Anyway,
The book started off with a bang...
Grace is seemingly interested in Ethan, well at least that's what Shane assumes when he catches Grace leaving Ethan's room early one morning after a drunken night.

After that the fights are uncontrollable. It seems as if Grace and Shane are either fighting or wanting to rip each other's clothes off.

Grace is having a hard time with allowing herself to love Shane because she believes that the soul of her beloved Angel is no longer a part of him. But also, Gabriel won't leave her alone. Promising pleasure and greatness.

But finally Shane admits his love for Grace and that he is still her angel- except he gave up her wings. After protecting, loving, and lusting after one another for so long they are finally able to show each other just how much they loved and wanted one another for over 2,000 years (talk about some pent up frustration haha)

The love and lust builds so much through out the book that I was wondering if it would actually happen! I was definitely not let down by all the yummy scenes! ;)

Plus i just can't get enough of the actual love story. Girl and Boy fall in innocent love. Boy and girl are ripped a part. They search for one another for centuries. They find one another yet dont realize it. They get hurt. They say things they dont mean. You wonder if they will actually end up together. They fall deeply in love all over again. They are ripped a part but seemingly impossible forces. They find away to be together ANYWAY.

Plus a proposal at the end? Hot.

Love it.

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

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I really enjoyed this series Mad World and am looking forward to reading the next one in Shane's POV. I think he has a lot more to say and it dove me a bit nuts in Saving Grace he wouldn't explain himself to Grace most of the time, which caused all the conflict. Shane explaining himself would have totally cut their time apart in half!

In Saving Grace both Grace and Shane’s secrets are revealed. They have more in common then they think and their beautiful LONG history comes to full force. I thought it was sweet about long lost loves coming together, many… many… many years later in their case. The two have a long battle to fight if they want to be together. A strong force is trying to keep them apart and have Grace be with him instead.

I am giving Saving Grace 3 stars. As much as I enjoy a steamy build up, two entire books was just too much and I was left disappointed. I did over all enjoy this adult Paranormal series, it wasn’t my favorite but I over all enjoyed it and the characters.

[Kristy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update 10/18/13 - I don't want to change my review, because it was my first initial reaction to reading it... BUT after reading Scars and Songs, a lot of questions are answered. So I think I'm going to bump this book up a star. I had not realized this was not the end of the series when I first read it.


This is the second book in the Mad World series. I liked it, I didn't love it like the first book but I still enjoyed reading it. It was fun and angsty just how I like. It read a little slower and I was sort of confused through most of it. I didn't know if we were supposed to just accept that her angel was gone and some other soul was inside of Shane or what. Looking back at the two books, Shane seemed different in this book. I guess it's because in the first book he was really charming and was trying to get Grace to see him differently and just give him a chance. But in this book he was moody and instead of fighting for her, he would get angry and accusatory and have tantrums. I would have thought he would have been ecstatic that he found her. After 2000 years they finally had a chance to be together. Which brings me to my next point.

At the end when Shane finally tells her the deal he made to save her, I didn't understand why he just didn't tell her that from the beginning. Especially when she was getting ready to go out with Ryan. It seemed like he would have done anything to keep her.

Actually there were a lot of things that Shane did (or didn't do) that I didn't understand his motives for. LUCKILY Christine Zolendz is rewriting this from Shane's POV. I'm so excited to read that because I really want to know what was going on in his head, especially in this book. Like why, after he was let out of prison did he not run straight to Grace. He JUST found out who she was, he saves her and then is immediately furious with her when she stumbles out of Ethan's room. I just can't believe he would think the worst of her so fast. Why didn't he grab her up and call her Selah. Why the secrecy. Hasn't she been searching enough. He said her punishment was over, but it seemed pretty cruel to let her think her angel walked away from her.

Even though I don't understand his motives, and why he pretended to not know about their past I LOVE how he finally told her. That was a great scene, at the club after singing together.

There were parts that annoyed me in this book too. Grace's side comments and narration sounded sort of immature and annoying sometimes. But I still enjoyed their story. This author is really good at writing conflict and making you long for the characters to be together.

Oh yeah, one more thing. When she finally found out Shane was her angel why didn't she say "I love you Shamsiel." Because that was who he was, his soul. He was Shane now, but the soul she had been searching for for over 2000 years was Shamsiel. That's who Shane actually was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FAVORITE QUOTES


"Psf. I'm not an alcoholic. An alcoholic needs a drink. Look here," I explained raising my next shot to her. "I already have one. So therefore, I do not need one. Which makes me not an alcoholic."

~Grace


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well, Lea, I just can't understand why you're not married yet," she baited.

"I'm just lucky, I guess. No really, I mean I love Conner and all but I'm holding out for Johnny Depp," Lea answered batting her eyes.

"And you, Grace? What's your excuse?"

"I'm waiting for the zombie apocalypse, that's the theme of the wedding I want. I figured all the guests could just eat each other and I could really save a few bucks on food, you know?"


~Caroline (Lea's mom), Lea and Grace


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yeah, I thought you'd be ready for a run," he said.

"And you thought this because..." I prompted closing and locking the door behind me.

"Because you're pissed off at me and when you get angry you run. It's what helps you think, clears your head."

"You are very arrogant, Shane Maxton, to think that I'd be thinking of you or feel angry with you." I started stretching while I watched his expression closely.

"No, babe. You do think of me, you are angry with me, and Grace, you want me every damn bit as much as I want you."

"Well crap, Shane, now I really need to run."


~Shane and Grace


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I loved the last two stanzas of Shane's song for Grace!




I promise you, girl
I know you're shattered
I'll pick up your pieces
And make you whole again

Cause until you girl
I've been shattered too
Since my very first kiss
It's only been you

[destini · Rating 4 out of 5]

”I want to wake up everyday I have left to the warmth or your lips on mine, the sound of your voice singing next to me, the feel of your fingers on my skin and your heart beating music with mine.”


Holy Sexual Tension! I love the sweet, vulnerable and loving Shane but the hot, sex-kebab Shane…


His eyes slowly crawled over my body and my heart was pounding hard in my ears.




This picks up right where we left of in Fall From Grace.
Grace has found her angel and is residing in the sexy, tattooed singer, Shane Maxton. But just when they find each other, Gabriel comes and messes everything up. Now Grace has to fight for her life, and make her way back to Shane.


"I never needed someone the way I need you."

Grace is just as hilarious as she was in book one. The way she never gave up on her love for her angel (before she knew it was Shane) was commendable. She believed in everything they were her whole two thousands years of existence.


Shane was still a tantalizing as before, but now we get more of the one-woman man side of him. However, this was Shane, so he did make some mistakes but once he opened up his mouth and apologized, I easily forgave him.


”Grace Taylor, I am going to kiss you right now and you are not going to run away from me, because you have no excuse now. Then you are going to go back upstairs to bed and all your going to think about are my fucking lips on yours and nothing else. Not strange men that want to hurt you, or buy you drinks, not Ryan, not Tucker, not even Ethan. I swear to you, Grace, I will not let you think of anything or anyone else until I put my lips back there again.”





Even with the discovery that Shane was her angel, there were still many problems that kept them apart. This was good because they really got to work through everything before getting too involved.


The side characters were amazing! I loved the rest of the band and how supportive and protective they were with Grace. And I always looked forward to a scene with Lea.


”Look Gray… a decent guy doesn’t just get born and grow up to be Mr. Perfect. They need to be created by a woman. They’re like a dumb black lump of clay and you have to mold them into what you want them to be, while erasing everything their mothers ever taught them and all the horrible internet porn they’ve watched growing up.


There were a few setbacks for me. Some things were poorly explained. Like I wrote in my review of Fall From Grace I wanted all the paranormal stuff to be more elaborately explained. There were a few gaping holes that were never closed.
Another thing (and this may seem insignificant but for some reason it annoyed me) Connor was barely featured. He was still mentioned a few times but Lea is a big part of Grace’s life, and Connor’s a big part of Lea’s life, therefore, I thought we should have seen more of him.


There is a beautiful, swoony Happily-Epilogue-After.





"Then let me in, because I promise you, I will pick up every little broken piece of you, every single fucking piece, Grace, and for the rest of my fucking life I will put you back together...
I'll make you whole again.”

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

*sigh*

Ok, first of all I want to say I’m sorry for what comes next. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings but this is not a happy review. So consider yourself warned.

Saving Grace has definitely been a guilty pleasure read for me. I really did enjoy it...at least parts of it. Yeah ok, I read it for the smut. However, I cannot say that this is a good book. At least it hasn’t been for me. Way too much drama which just became completely ridiculous after a while. Shane should have dumped Grace’s mistrusting, ungrateful ass, IMO. There wasn’t really a plot and there were so many facts that just didn’t add up, it makes it really hard for me to take this seriously. The entire book was about Grace and Shane lusting after each other and being kept apart by, excuse me, Grace’s unbelievable stupidity and both Shane’s and Grace’s inability to just freakin' talk to each other.

I won’t lie, this was hot, but the story itself was pretty shallow, the plot paper thin, if not non-existent and the characters...well, as I already said, Grace was stupid, at times kind of funny but mostly annoying as hell, Shane was hot (and a glutton for punishment, obviously), the friends were ok (though I really don’t understand why all of them put up with Tucker’s bullshit) and The Big Bad was kinda useless. Always hovering in the background but serving no real purpose until the end. I don’t really get why there was any paranormal aspect added to this story at all, seeing as this particular part of the plot wasn’t really carried out. I can see why there are people out there fangirling about this (OMG SHANE!!) but unfortunately I cannot be one of them.

Oh and one more thing that really bothered me? To know the difference between “to” and “too” really isn’t that hard now is it? I know, I’m not a native speaker and there are probably tons of mistakes in my reviews but it really got on my nerves while reading that whenever there was supposed to be a "to", it said "too" instead. >8(

So, go ahead friends and read this. It's fun and hot but don't expect anything deep.