Title:  Crossroads
Author:  Mary Ting
Release date:  July 29, 2011
Publisher:  World Castle
Pages:  315
Source:  Author

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. Where, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia.

Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should?

Crossroads is not your typical angel story.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I really loved it and I hope that the sequel is just as unique and captivating.

Crossroads is a place between Heaven and Earth where people who are in comas or have had near death experiences go (or at least they do when they are asleep.)  Claudia has never had an experience like that but for some reason she can visit Crossroads.  I couldn’t guess why she could visit Crossroads but it was explained eventually. The idea of Crossroads was really interesting and the angels that guarded it were my favorite characters.  I loved Davin.  He was very fun and quirky.  Michael was super romantic and such a sweetheart.  Vivian was someone I would want as a friend and Caleb was shy but by the end of the book I felt like I knew him.

The story itself was the best part of the book. When Claudia crossed over into Crossroads she was marked.  That meant that fallen angels and demons could find her and they were after her.  I never knew when a demon or fallen angel was going to come after Claudia and it made the book very suspenseful.

Overall, Crossroads is a very unique story but it, of course, has its flaws.  I would have liked to see more personality from Michael and a little more bravery from Claudia.  I hope to see some improvements on those few things in the next book.

First line:  There was something different about her this time.

Rating:  B-

Cover:  B