**REVIEW** Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. 
Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.
Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. 
While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be. 
X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.

Release Date: July 15, 2012

Published By:  Starry Sky Publishing

Review Copy:  Paperback, 

*won from Author & Jean Book Nerd 

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Review

  Start by falling in love with the cover because honestly with Karen's books it is as easy as laying eyes on it.  Then open the book and fall in love with not just a single character, but an entire book of characters!  Going into this I knew I would be in for a treat as I loved Karen's Tangled Tides and her overall writing style and Grasping at Eternity was no different.  The ease in which Karen's writing flows is nothing short of breath taking and something that I really appreciate.

  The story is based around Maryah who has no idea who she really is.  Sad thing is, is that she looses her family in order to even start finding out. The biggest problem is that she can't remember something that everyone else does and not only that but she is the one that made the choice not to remember and is the only one that knows why.  Even having her back is almost earth shattering for her other half that she has spent more life times than he can count with but despite her draw to him things seem to be going wrong and the Kindrily that love her are starting to worry that they may never get her back.

  Maryah is an amazing character.  Like freaking loved this girl.  She was real and didn't let other people change her or their opinions of others effect her opinion.  Not that she had it easy or anything because she didn't.  Her parents are killed she is uprooted from the only home she remembers and moves in with a family that seems to be more than they let on and one of them that seems to despise her for no reason that she knows of.  Despite all of this she does trust her instincts for the most part and they don't steer her wrong.  Keep in mind I do say for the most part.

  Nathan is the other half of the story and I just have to say he is the more heart breaking side.  Okay so he makes a mistake albeit it is a big one but my heart fell the moment the balloon did.  To reach this moment and have your heart pull like mine did you will have to read this awesome book but really I thought "heck no!"  This guy loves Maryah with all he has but for so many reasons has to fight it in front of her.  Though he is not perfect, his love and intentions towards Maryah are clear and though it kills him he is patient and hopes for her return.

  There is so much and so many more people that I feel need mentioning but I will leave them for you to discover.  I will however mention that the twist that Karen has spun with the reincarnation and soul mates.  The way that things work and the special abilities that come along with it were intriguing to say the lease.  With each stand out character you got a different ability/talent to enjoy.  I don't think I thought any of their talents were yawn worthy but I do recall wishing I had a few... okay most of them!

  Karen has seriously done it again and made me fall in love with not only her writing but an entire cast of characters, even the ones that weren't who they seemed.  It's got a little bit of everything but romance and the importance of family and sticking together really stuck out to me.  If you enjoy reincarnation and love stories with a little action tossed in I would highly suggest this read.  Nevermind what am I saying this is Karen Amanda Hooper I would recommend her writing to just about everyone!!

Quotes

"How rough could it be?  Her sister is like a real-life Tinkerbell-a vividly colorful version.  How'd she end up so happy, and Harmony end up so...not?"Krista waited by the door.  "People walk different paths, even when they're family."

Faith obviously liked Ms. Barby and I could understand why.  Happy hyper people always liked other happy hyper people.

"Me?  Are you kidding?  In case you haven't noticed, I'm no boy magnet.""What do you mean?  You're pretty and seem cool.""I'm sorry, have we met?  I'm Maryah, member of the socially challenged."

I placed my hand in his.  Happy trumpets kept blaring, and his touch sent surges of electricity through me again.  Worrying he felt my reaction, I pulled away and stuck my hands in my coat.

"How can you be so energetic this early in the morning?"If a drug existed that made people excessively happy and overly optimistic, Faith overdosed on it daily.