Review: 4-stars for Parallel Spirits
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 23, 2013
Belinda is just a normal girl trying to survive high school and all the trappings thereof.  Until she notices that she is having dreams that turn out to not be dreams.  She is doing things without deciding to do them.  When she figures out what is going on she makes a deal with the carrier spirit using her body.  Mara can use her as a means to earn a body of her own.  In return Mara will help Belinda find love.In the quest for love and a body though spirits from Mara's past are around every turn.  It will take everything in both of their powers to survive the traumas and tragedies that befall them in their journey.I'm not usually a huge paranormal fan, but I'm always a huge Cassia fan!!  I really enjoyed this book.  While the entire book is paranormal it doesn't ever feel paranormal, if you know what I mean.  I felt like this was just a normal love triangle between a girl and two boys.  The spirits felt just as human as the humans did.  I was quite grateful for it.  If more paranormal books had this 'real' feel to them I'd be a huge fan!As only Cassia can, there was no way to be sure which guy was the right one.  My heart went out to both Frankie and Conor.  They were both wonderful people and cared so greatly for Belinda.  There is no way that I could pick just one.  My head says that Conor is great and stable but my heart says that Frankie is 'it' for her.  I feel like a lot of the pain and suffering that Belinda felt was because of a huge misunderstanding that she never fleshed out with the people involved.I loved Mara.  Yes, her actions were questionable and some of the things she did I wasn't a huge fan of.  (Stealing Belinda and Conor's first kiss!?  OUCH!!)  But the things that she has had to overcome to get to where she is and still have any hope? Amazing!And Darius? I'm still unsure about him.  I wanted to hate him but there is just something so tragic about him that I couldn't help but kind out want him to get what he wanted.  Not in place of the others happiness but in addition to, even if that is never possible.I truly enjoyed Parallel Spirits and would recommend it to any romance lover, regardless of their interest in paranormal.  As it didn't feel paranormal to me.  It was a great, well written story with lots of twists and turns.  It kept me invested in the characters throughout and I am looking forward to the next book, due out next summer.