Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Okay, when I first began reading this book I fell in love with the fact that is was based in the South. Being a Southern girl born and raised, it made my day. Then, the further I delved into the story, the more I fell in love with the characters and the plot.

Ethan Wate is just like every other sixteen year old boy in the town of Gatlin. He's on the basketball team, has the right friends, he's one of them. Only, he's not. Ethan has been waiting for something, anything, to happen since his mother passed away and the answer to that may be just around the corner when Lena Duchannes moves to town.

They have both been dreaming about each other, neither knowing who the other is until a random encounter during a torrential downpour. And the dream always ends the same, they lose their grip on each other and Lena disappears. What does it all mean?

The pace is slow and steady, revealing a little more with each chapter. Including a big secret that Lena, her Uncle Macon, and others around Gatlin have been keeping for years. A secret that could endanger both Lena and Ethan. One of the few clues you get early on is a count down of numbers that she keeps on her hand, each day she marks off another day that's passed.

I absolutely adore Ethan and his constant devotion to Lena. The more he learns the more it draws him to her, and vice versa. They are connected in a way that can't e explained and is too beautiful to pass up.

Kami and Margaret weave a beautiful tale of love and betrayal, hope and desperation, fantasy and southern tradition. This is such a wonderfully written and engaging story and I for one can't wait to find out what happens next. If you want to learn more about this fantastic series you can go here: http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/ This site also has information on contests, interviews, and links to the author's blogs.