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Larkspur (Sensate Nine Moon Saga)

by H.H. Laura (Goodreads Author)

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 28 ratings · 21 reviews

2ND EDITION RELEASE! (108 additional pages of text)

After the devastating loss of her parents in a freak accident, Alexandra obsesses over the mystery surrounding Teater Higgins, her great-great-grandfather. She searches a deserted farm for Teater’s gravestone, but fate intervenes and she plunges into a deep cistern. Trapped, cold, and alone, she finds a warm stone that fac...more

Paperback, 472 pages

Published December 2nd 2011 by RNL Associates (first published November 12th 2011)

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Best Cover Art 2011 (Non-YA)

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Mar 04, 2012 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2-review-books

Book was wonderful. I enjoyed it very much. Very detailed and kept me intrigued. Thank you much for a great story line.

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Mar 25, 2012 Aisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got this ebook from the group Shut Up and Read.

Okay, so first I liked the writing and attension to detail. Although the house details confused me, but then again I've never really looked into all the different things with that. The characters themselves were nice and I could clearly see them growing throughout the book. That is good, most books i've read recently have barely to no character development.

Now, some things that I didn't like was the instant attraction to the main male character. I...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Jayde Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m a huge fantasy and paranormal romance fan, and was quite excited to get my hands on this one. The cover’s gorgeous, and the blurb promises an intense story. As I started reading, I realized this book’s way more than that.

Alexandra was an ordinary young woman, until she touches something that shouldn’t have been touched. Now, psychic abilities she cannot understand awaken inside her, taking her on a journey that will change her life. With Jediah’s help, she realizes she’s a Sensate, the most...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was pretty interesting. I liked it, more than I thought I would.
I guess this is a bit unrelated, but the cover totally through me off, of course books shouldn't be judged by their cover. But even so, I tend to do so anyway...

Ah this book was so different from what I usually read, I couldn't seem to put it down at all. So I guess I'll start with what I really enjoyed about Larkspur.
The writing style was really good, the vocab. in the story was different, and I ended up learning a few n...more This book was pretty interesting. I liked it, more than I thought I would.
I guess this is a bit unrelated, but the cover totally through me off, of course books shouldn't be judged by their cover. But even so, I tend to do so anyway...

Ah this book was so different from what I usually read, I couldn't seem to put it down at all. So I guess I'll start with what I really enjoyed about Larkspur.
The writing style was really good, the vocab. in the story was different, and I ended up learning a few new words. I really liked that Alex was an adult, though she finished college and everything, she still felt really young. But I loved that she wasn't a typical high school girl, but actually a young woman instead.
I like the whole entire idea of senates and their abilities, with the descriptions used in the book, it sounds pretty amazing.

One of the things that bothered me the most, were that the thoughts of the guys pursuing her, were placed oddly in the book, or it seemed that way. After what seems like the end of a part of the chapter there was always what seemed to be a thought from a particular character watching Alex. But I felt like the 'thoughts' were oddly placed most of the time.

Another thing that bothered was in the beginning of the book, Alex talks about finding her great-great grandfather, and ends up staying in a hotel while visiting the town he lived in. She also started building herself a house as well, and ended up renting a apartment in the novel too. But Alex just barley got out of college, and never really talked about having a job. So I could never really figure out where she was getting this kind of money from. The money aspect of all her actions just logically didn't make a lot of since to me. She probably had money from her parents death and inheritance... but even with that, I was still skeptical.
Not only that but, there are quite a bit a circumstances that seemed pretty unrealistic too.

Though even with all that, I enjoyed the book and the new ideas presented. (3/5)(less)

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Feb 20, 2012 hiroyuki rated it 3 of 5 stars

First things first! I don't like the cover for this! It could have been so much better.

This book started out amazingly well. The premise is very interesting and the beginning really pulls you into the story. The main heroine is a very likable girl, something that felt refreshing since I mostly hate female protagonists. The story progresses along very nicely, and the book held my interest for long until the last third were it felt like I was reading a different book. I kept feeling many things m...more First things first! I don't like the cover for this! It could have been so much better.

This book started out amazingly well. The premise is very interesting and the beginning really pulls you into the story. The main heroine is a very likable girl, something that felt refreshing since I mostly hate female protagonists. The story progresses along very nicely, and the book held my interest for long until the last third were it felt like I was reading a different book. I kept feeling many things mentioned before were not being explained and that the author was trying to distract me from noticing said things.

I really loved the characters in Larkspur and the way we learn about them. The detailed description of things was very helpful at times but a little annoying at other times. I liked reading how the characters felt about nature and their surroundings, even their routine, but some details felt excessive. The name-repeating in dialogue got on my nerves as well. Sometimes it's necessary to call others by their name, but people don't generally talk in the same way characters express themselves here. In some situations, maybe, but not all the time.

The romance had amazing build-up and I really liked the feeling of old lovers heightened by their playfulness. The last few scenes were turning a little too corny for me, but I understood the sentiment and figured it was normal for them to feel that way. I did think what happened to Alexandra around the middle of the book was unnecessary because it didn't seem to mesh well with the rest of the story. That was the least appealing plot twist in the book. The passages in first point of view were very interesting though, specially trying to gather who was the one speaking. I really loved that!

Overall it was a good reading. I sped up a little towards the end, but I'm intrigued about what's to happen to these lovebirds and the rest of the characters. The prophecy made me curious, too, specially the lack of deliberate explanation about it. As an opening book, it shows a lot of potential, but the follow up has to be strong and clear up some things or it'll just be a very frustrating story for the readers.(less)

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Feb 18, 2012 Rinesh Hegde rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: no-way

Received this ebook as part of Read it and Reap It #14 by Shut Up and Read Book group.

The first page or rather the first chapter ensures that readers don't just keep the book aside but actually read it. The first chapter has the ability to captivate the reader by giving just a gist of the storyline but unfortunately after that it just drags.

The detailing about the house on the mountain makes you wonder what exactly does the author wants us to remember (hopefully it will be used in the 2nd part)...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic

This is the first novel of the Sensate Trilogy. It is definitely an original story; I don’t remember ever reading anything that comes close to this particular ongoing story line. Very intriguing. A mixture of contemporary, Paranormal, Magical Fantasy, and much more, I’d be hard-pressed to assign just one label-so I won’t. I’ll just recommend it and let the reader decide to what subgenres to assign it.

At age twenty-two, Alexandra is a continuing student, soon to begin work on her Master’s Degree....more

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Feb 10, 2012 Traci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, kindle-library, paranormal-romance-urban-fantasy, 3-stars, r2r

Disclosure: I received Larkspur in exchange for a review from Shut Up & Read.

This was a hit and miss novel with me. I feel like it has a lot of potential, with some editing and revising, to actually be picked up by a bigger publisher. It felt, for lack of a better word, inconsistent. There was a lot of attention to detail, which worked well in some places, not so well in others. There wasn't an overwhelming number of characters, which was good, but the writing style made it difficult for eac...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Kila rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. " Disclosure: I received Larkspur in exchange for a review from Shut Up & Read.
Okay first off... I really did like the storyline for this book with the whole idea of Sensates. It makes a nice change from using witches. I thought it grabbed you straight from the first page with Alexandra's fall into the cistern and going on through her abduction. However after that, I think it perhaps it lost it's way a bit, concentrating on the romance and ultimate happy ending with Jediah. It seemed a bit...more

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Feb 14, 2012 tif rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to tif by: Shut Up & Read's Read It & Reap program

This book was obtained through Read it and Reap program in the Shut Up & Read book group on Goodreads, in exchange for a timely review.

I’m rather new to the group on goodreads that I got this eBook from. I found their “Read it and Reap” forum and browsed it and the rules, deciding that I’d probably just sit back and watch for a while. A bit later, I read the description posted for this book, and changed my mind. The plot sounded so original, so new and interesting that I knew I HAD to read i...more This book was obtained through Read it and Reap program in the Shut Up & Read book group on Goodreads, in exchange for a timely review.

I’m rather new to the group on goodreads that I got this eBook from. I found their “Read it and Reap” forum and browsed it and the rules, deciding that I’d probably just sit back and watch for a while. A bit later, I read the description posted for this book, and changed my mind. The plot sounded so original, so new and interesting that I knew I HAD to read it.

First, what I did like. There were several little things at the beginning of the book that I really appreciated, things that might get overlooked sometimes but really helped me get a feel for Alexandra’s world. Despite the (awesome) cold opening, in the first chapter we learn when this takes place (more on this later), where it takes place, why she’s there, a bit of family history, the fact that her parents have passed away, as well as her discovery of the mysteriously warm stone.
In the second chapter, we learn some personality quirks about the main character that really helped warm me to her, like her hatred of cell phones, and talking to inanimate objects (you and me both, sister). I do have one question, though. Before the first sentence of the first chapter, we are told this takes place in Spring 2011. On page 67 (ePub version) when talking about Alexandra’s Jeep, it reads “She bought it new in 2002, six years ago”, which unless my math is THAT bad, would make it 2008. I’m confused. As a user of an eReader (I <3 my nook Simple Touch!), I appreciated that Alexandra used one as well. It's not all too common for authors to support digital reading to that extent.
I really enjoyed the first part of the book when there's the mystery about Teater, settling in Waynesburg and learning about her Sensate abilities, but for me the book took a distinct turn when (view spoiler). I found that section awkward to read, partly because of content and partly because (view spoiler)
Once she gets back to Waynesburg, things just went on as normal, which seemed odd. Alexandra's relationship with Jediah was interesting as well. I like them together, they bring out a playfulness in each other that is refreshingly realistic, but there were still areas that read a little clichéd. I understand that there was likely some sort of supernatural attraction or something going on, but still, they fell in love too fast. Even if you're majorly crushing on someone and discover they reciprocate your feelings, most people don't move that fast. Especially after the kidnapping, things just moved ridiculously fast. I understand their desire to (view spoiler), but it was really just too fast, especially for a girl who hadn't shown much interest in boys before. Also, it was incredibly convenient for Alexandra and Cassie both met guys they want to spend the rest of their lives with at the same time. I am the same age as them, and I have never seen 2 best friends at the same stage in their relationship with their boyfriends. Also age-related is the fact that Alexandra (and really any of the younger characters) speaks much too formally for a 22 year old. I very much get the point of speaking politely, but there should still be a difference in the way a 22 year old talks to business partners, elders and such than to their friends and boyfriends.
Overall I thought it was a great start to a series with a very interesting and original storyline. It got a little boring for me at times, like when we would get every little detail described for us, or when things were redundant, but the story was unique enough to hold my interest. I'll be waiting for the next installation, and I'm excited to learn more about Ryeth. He seems like a very interesting character. (less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Sannie Hald rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, read2review, read-2012, free

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 18, 2012 Annalise Grey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got a copy of this book from Shut up & Read to review.

The first couple pages - when Alexandra is in the cistern - I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. What a beginning! How do you go from there and keep it interesting? But it was interesting - so much so that I didn't really want to put it down. I loved the fact that she gets her own mountain. I want my own mountain with glorious views and an eco-friendly house and a stream and the stones and.... I'm digressing now. I enjoyed i...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Paige (TheBookVulture) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, r2r, never-reading-again, most-horrible-books-i-ve-ever-read, slammed-my-head-into-a-wall, dnf

I received a copy of this book from the Read it and Reap program in the Shut Up & Read group, in exchange for an honest review.

I've gotta be honest, I expected so much more from this book. I mean SO much more. I read the first 100 pages and gave up because it was just so boring. Larkspur heavily focuses on Alexandra building a house on a hill that gets more mentions than the paranormal aspect of her life.

I don't care about the hill. I don't care if it has special meaning to her because of h...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Patricia Puddle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a, paranormal-fantasy

I loved this intriguing paranormal and magical fantasy novel. It's about a twenty-two year-old student called Alexandra who falls into a cistern while searching an old, abandoned Higgins farm in Pennsylvania as she searches for one of her ancestor's graves - her great-grandfather, Teater Higgins. While in the cistern, she finds a strange rock that is warm when touched and it seems to help her find a way out. Later in the story, Alexandra makes eye contact with a stranger and it's instant attract...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Jodie rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really had a hard time with this book for the first two thirds at least. I found it to just be skimming the surface of everything.... the characters, the plot, the events. I was intrigued by the idea of sensates and it hinted of good things to come but until the last hundred pages it was almost boring. I really love the idea of this story but the writing is far to shallow to be good. I honestly dont know if I will read the rest of the series, although the last third started to gain my attentio...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Nikki (The Bibliomaniac) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: PNR Fans

Recommended to Nikki (The Bibliomaniac) by: RI&R via Shut Up & Read

This was a good read for me. It flowed well, there were nothing to make you have to go back a page or two to make sure you didn't miss something. People that have typos as pet peeves will be thrilled that there aren't any to speak of. For some reason the one thing that drove me a little mental was everybody constantly using each others names when talking to one another. Just me, I know...

Our Heroine is Alexandra. She is delving into her family's geneology to assauge her feeling of mourning for t...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Cass rated it 5 of 5 stars

Larkspur is a beautifully written fiction and paranormal novel for all ages; intriguing and full of surprises. The story is contemporary but it seems like the trilogy may go back in history. I certainly related to the young characters and lived and dreamed along with their fantastic adventure. It has an edge but does not get into explicit sex scenes; a safe teenage read I think. The extra sensorial fiction is a nice break from faes and vampires,lol. Waiting for book 2.

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Feb 07, 2012 E. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Okay, the beginning of this started out kind of slow for me but by like chapter 5 I didn't want to put it down! Definetly getting added to my favorites and adding book 2 to my to-reads! H.H. Laura did an amazing amazing job on this one. I am in love with the characters! I teared up at the end when the powers were transfered. Definetly five stars from me! Awesome read!

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Feb 08, 2012 NayNay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fresh, fun and fabulous....a new voice in the paranormal genre and she did not disappoint. Characters you can relate too, a storyline that keeps the reader interest. A wonderful mix of excitement and romance. Prepare to be spellbound, this was a book I could not put down. Read this book, you well enjoy it!

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Feb 10, 2012 Laura Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

With a lovable, compelling heroine and her devilishly handsome partner, H.H. Laura draws you into the magical world of the Sensates. Mysterious twists keep you turning the pages, wanting more. Allow plenty of time when you open this book for you will not be able to put it down.

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Dec 03, 2011 Rhodora Fitzgerald rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this paranormal read very much. The author creates loveable, easy to know characters and spins a thought provoking story that keeps the reader interested in what's to come. It's a wonderful mix of romance and mystery. H.H.Laura wraps the story up neatly, yet leaves you hungry for the next book.

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Jan 11, 2012 Des rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hard to tell this is a first time author - well written - moves along quickly. Great characters and if you like the paranormal and believe in the sixth sense that causes goose bumps and "intuition" then this is for you. Can't wait to read book two.

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May 02, 2013 Amadeus marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Apr 08, 2013 Kelly marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Quotes from Larkspur

“You came up this gut-wrenching road yesterday by yourself?" Cassie exclaimed. "You deserve a good cuffing just for driving this goat path on your own."
"It's not so bad once you get used to dodging the ruts."
"You've got some nerve calling these canyons ruts."
"Cassandra Hudson, where is your sense of adventure?"
"I dropped it off going over that last rut-crossing when only two wheels were on the ground."
"Those ones are a bit exhilarating, aren't they?" Alexandra shot Cassie a quick look and wink.
"Keep your eyes on the road!"
"What road?"
"Exactly!” — 1 person liked it

“Okay, what in Hades just happened? Stones don’t glow blue or any other color and they certainly don’t burn circles on you.”

The stone wasn’t talking.

Alexandra considered herself well grounded, yet here she stood, talking to a stone that glowed, burned circles, and refused to answer.

A thread of sensation pricked at the edges of her mind, then grew stronger. It mirrored an idea then became clear.

Tell no one.

What? Looking from side to side, she backed against the wall. Although it felt like someone whispered in her ear, she stood there alone. The day’s trauma must have pushed her over the edge, yet the sensation persisted.

Tell no one.

She froze. Her eyes darted around the room. The muscles in her legs tightened as she prepared to bolt from the room.

Alexandra swallowed and licked her lips. “Who would believe me anyway?” she whispered.” — 1 person liked it

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Larkspur (Sensate Nine Moon Saga)

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