Review: I LOVED this book!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
I really need to look at the blurb before I start reading a book. Perhaps I misinterpreted the title, but I was somehow mistakenly under the impression that this was a Sci-Fi novel. Imagine my surprise when Sapphire Universe turned out to be a New Adult romance novel by debut author, Devon Herrera. Only s few pages in to the book and I was mesmerized, laughing at the spunky personality of protagonist, Nina Ryan, as she ranted about surly bus drivers and dodged the attention of a particularly chatty passenger. The reason for Nina's hostile attitude towards the handsome, Sapphire-eyed Connor Wright is hinted at in the prologue, but a combination of Connor's persistence and Nina's clumsiness create an opportunity for the two to become better acquainted.Describing Connor's irresistibly charming personality, Nina grudgingly notes, "I smile a little back because I just can't help it dammit". I feel like this sentence perfectly describes my thoughts about Sapphire Universe. Though there are serious moments, I spent a majority of the book with a smile on my face. If it were possible to befriend a fictional character, I'd want to be best friends with Nina. Her tendency to talk to the Universe as if it were a person is a bit kooky but she's downright hilarious and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Whether she's joking around with her best friend, Lola, or playfully bantering with Connor, Nina is a genuinely likable heroine. It's easy to sympathize with Nina's traumatic past, but I like that she doesn't ask to be pitied and has enough self-confidence to fight for what she wants.As much as I like Nina's character, I think I like Connor even more. He's a swoon-worthy love interest with secrets of his own, which adds a bit of mystery to the story. Connor is pretty much the perfect hero, always knowing the right things to say and refusing to let Nina's defensiveness push him away. Connor is sweet and charismatic, perfectly complementing Nina's sarcastic, yet loving nature. The subplot involving Connor provides an added element of suspense to the story that had me eager to continue reading to find out what happened next.Everything about Sapphire Universe - from the protagonists and the minor characters to the current plot and the set-up of future plots - drew me in to the story. The concept of fate plays a large part in this book and I was fascinated with the idea that every choice Nina makes is guided along by a higher power. I enjoyed inhabiting the world created by Devon Herrera, if only for a short time. As the book drew to a close, I crossed my fingers in the hope that the relationships involving some of the minor characters would be continued and I was ecstatic to learn that Devon Herrera is already working on the sequel.