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The Devil's Triangle #1
The Devil's Triangle
When 17 year old Cooper dies in an attempt to burn down his school, he finds himself in the afterlife. Lucy, the Devil's sister who has crossed party lines, decides to give Cooper another shot at heaven. The deal? Cooper returns to Earth and has to find a girl named Grace. The rest is up to him.
While Cooper figures out his mission, he's thrown into the life he's always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend who can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn't watch out.
While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what's keeping him and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagined.
While Cooper figures out his mission, he's thrown into the life he's always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend who can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn't watch out.
While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what's keeping him and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagined.
216 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 10, 2013
5 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Toni De Palma
8 books109 followersWho am I? Well, let's start with who I am NOT. I am Not tall. I am Not a genius. And though a lot of people have assumed I was, I was never, ever a cheerleader in high school. Actually, I was a klutz, a nerd and kind of quiet when I was in high school. I am still a klutz, a much better listener than I am a talker (though my husband would probably disagree with that) and still a nerd (and very proud of that thank you!)
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and when I was a kid I loved to wander the streets with my best friend John. We'd disappear for the whole day, returning conveniently when it was time for dinner. During the summer, I'd dance in the spray of the johnny pump (the fire hydrant). Some summers I'd spend in Ischia, the Italian island where my dad was from.
I have always loved to travel and wander. My most valued possession is my passport. I love to write stories that take me and my readers places and of course I love traveling places to do the research for my books (can you say write offs!). I write Middle Grade and YA both contemporary and paranormal romance but I like to read everything and discover new and unusual books.
Any good recommendations?
You can find me on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterToniDeP...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/ToniDePalma1
My Blog:
http://www.tonidepalma.blogspot.com/
My Group Blog with Writers By the Shore:
http://writersbytheshore.blogspot.com/
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and when I was a kid I loved to wander the streets with my best friend John. We'd disappear for the whole day, returning conveniently when it was time for dinner. During the summer, I'd dance in the spray of the johnny pump (the fire hydrant). Some summers I'd spend in Ischia, the Italian island where my dad was from.
I have always loved to travel and wander. My most valued possession is my passport. I love to write stories that take me and my readers places and of course I love traveling places to do the research for my books (can you say write offs!). I write Middle Grade and YA both contemporary and paranormal romance but I like to read everything and discover new and unusual books.
Any good recommendations?
You can find me on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterToniDeP...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/ToniDePalma1
My Blog:
http://www.tonidepalma.blogspot.com/
My Group Blog with Writers By the Shore:
http://writersbytheshore.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 21, 2012
Out of this world! Really great--the story, the writing, everything!
(review by Carol Behrman)
(review by Carol Behrman)
February 22, 2013
Originally posted on City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/
The Devil's Triangle was a little different from what I expected, but I loved it! From the characters to the intense plot to the constant humour embedded throughout the novel. I finished this book in a day, because I just couldn't put it down! The premise was amazing and Cooper's now one of my favourite book boys.
The Devil's Triangle starts off with Cooper in heaven, about to be judged by Saint Pete and Lucy, Lucifer's (a.k.a. the devil's) sister. Lucy decided to join the good guys instead of following in her brother's footsteps. But Cooper's not sure how much he can trust her. Lucy convinces Saint Pete to give Cooper another shot, and her mission for him is to back to Earth and find a girl called Grace.
Cooper jumps at the chance of having a life again, but he soon notices a few things about it. Like how people's memories of him are just a bit too real, and how he starts to feel like he's lived that life before. He's in for a shock when he first meets Grace, a punk girl with bright pink hair. But they develop a connection, which again feels weirdly familiar to Cooper.
I really loved Cooper's character - he's funny, sarcastic to the bone, and his devil-may-care attitude (see what I did there?) is impossible to resist. Cooper's used to being a bad boy, but in his new life, he's a star. He's on the Junior Varsity football team, and has a shot at getting a scholarship. His old personality didn't abandon him completely, though, and I liked seeing that. His snarky one-liners made me laugh out loud while reading this book, and honestly he made it a lot more interesting to read. His hilarious comments about everything were awesome, but at the same time he showed a different side of him, a softer side. This side of him came out when he was around Grace, and I loved that.
We are introduced to Grace when Cooper first returns to Earth to enter his new life. She's initially quite unapproachable, and very sarcastic. She's a punk girl with piercings and a shock of pink hair. I really liked that Grace was different from most girls, though later we find out that she wasn't always like that. Underneath it all, she's actually really sensitive, and she has this immense bravery about her that's hard to ignore once you see it. It's this bravery that led to a lot of events happening, including the reason Cooper was there in the first place. Their relationship together was really sweet, despite the fact that we don't get to see much of it. I'm hoping for a lot more Grace-Cooper time in the sequel!
Ryan, Cooper's brother, is another character I really liked. He's older than Cooper, but doesn't look down on him. The opposite, in fact. He's incredibly supportive of Cooper all the time, no matter what. Ryan lost a football scholarship in high school, but he's never let that bring him down. He wants Cooper to succeed where he failed, and he's not bitter at all. That kind of unconditional love and support is really admirable to see, and it made me like Ryan all the more for it.
There are quite a few twists in this book, which I obviously won't mention, but I definitely did not see them coming. Cooper has to fight against an unknown (for most of the novel) enemy, and he realizes just how powerful that enemy is. He grows a lot over the course of the novel, and discovers a lot about himself. I guess you could say he rediscovered himself, with the help of Grace. I really like the world that Toni De Palma has created in The Devil's Triangle, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel, Devil's Temptation!
*Thank you to Toni De Palma and publicist Christine Attardo for picking me for this blog tour and providing me with a copy for review*
The Devil's Triangle was a little different from what I expected, but I loved it! From the characters to the intense plot to the constant humour embedded throughout the novel. I finished this book in a day, because I just couldn't put it down! The premise was amazing and Cooper's now one of my favourite book boys.
The Devil's Triangle starts off with Cooper in heaven, about to be judged by Saint Pete and Lucy, Lucifer's (a.k.a. the devil's) sister. Lucy decided to join the good guys instead of following in her brother's footsteps. But Cooper's not sure how much he can trust her. Lucy convinces Saint Pete to give Cooper another shot, and her mission for him is to back to Earth and find a girl called Grace.
Cooper jumps at the chance of having a life again, but he soon notices a few things about it. Like how people's memories of him are just a bit too real, and how he starts to feel like he's lived that life before. He's in for a shock when he first meets Grace, a punk girl with bright pink hair. But they develop a connection, which again feels weirdly familiar to Cooper.
I really loved Cooper's character - he's funny, sarcastic to the bone, and his devil-may-care attitude (see what I did there?) is impossible to resist. Cooper's used to being a bad boy, but in his new life, he's a star. He's on the Junior Varsity football team, and has a shot at getting a scholarship. His old personality didn't abandon him completely, though, and I liked seeing that. His snarky one-liners made me laugh out loud while reading this book, and honestly he made it a lot more interesting to read. His hilarious comments about everything were awesome, but at the same time he showed a different side of him, a softer side. This side of him came out when he was around Grace, and I loved that.
We are introduced to Grace when Cooper first returns to Earth to enter his new life. She's initially quite unapproachable, and very sarcastic. She's a punk girl with piercings and a shock of pink hair. I really liked that Grace was different from most girls, though later we find out that she wasn't always like that. Underneath it all, she's actually really sensitive, and she has this immense bravery about her that's hard to ignore once you see it. It's this bravery that led to a lot of events happening, including the reason Cooper was there in the first place. Their relationship together was really sweet, despite the fact that we don't get to see much of it. I'm hoping for a lot more Grace-Cooper time in the sequel!
Ryan, Cooper's brother, is another character I really liked. He's older than Cooper, but doesn't look down on him. The opposite, in fact. He's incredibly supportive of Cooper all the time, no matter what. Ryan lost a football scholarship in high school, but he's never let that bring him down. He wants Cooper to succeed where he failed, and he's not bitter at all. That kind of unconditional love and support is really admirable to see, and it made me like Ryan all the more for it.
There are quite a few twists in this book, which I obviously won't mention, but I definitely did not see them coming. Cooper has to fight against an unknown (for most of the novel) enemy, and he realizes just how powerful that enemy is. He grows a lot over the course of the novel, and discovers a lot about himself. I guess you could say he rediscovered himself, with the help of Grace. I really like the world that Toni De Palma has created in The Devil's Triangle, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel, Devil's Temptation!
*Thank you to Toni De Palma and publicist Christine Attardo for picking me for this blog tour and providing me with a copy for review*
March 29, 2013
I thought I knew what to expect going into this book. I was wrong. Just judging by the cover and the synopsis I assumed that Cooper would be some bad boy seeking redemption while maintaining his snark and that the "triangle" in question would be one of the love variety (luckily that wasn't the case). I was nicely surprised on both points.
LIKES:
Male POV: With YA books I get a little burnt out reading from a teenage girl's perspective all the time. I always like it when authors switch it up and write from a guys point of view. I felt like the author did a great job of getting into the character of Cooper and he really felt like a guy. He reacts to situations differently than his female counterparts would and that makes the story more interesting.
Different "back from the dead" set up: Okay, with this one I feel like I have to be vague or I'll give major plot points away, but I loved the way De Palma set up the "back from the dead" scenario. I expected Cooper to be zapped back to his old school before the fire as a totally different him. It didn't quite work out like that and the result a kid who still has to deal with the consequences of his actions while getting used to a much better life. I can't be more specific than that without spoilers, so you'll just have to read it to find out ;)
Cooper's growth: This goes hand in hand with my last point. Cooper does a lot of growing in his new life. He finally gets to see what life is like with a loving family and friends. This is both a kindness and a cruelty. He knows that it could all go away at any moment and that knowledge makes him fight to keep it. He transitions from a selfish, insecure delinquent to a kid that people might actually want to be around. A guy who loves his family and his life and finds value in it and I really loved watching that transition.
DISLIKES:
Rough start: I have to be honest, I didn't think I was going to be able to get through the book after the first chapter. Cooper was so obnoxious. He kept referring to St. Peter as "St. Pete" which annoyed me to no end and his bravado and snark was a little much. Luckily things really started turning around after that and I was able to get into the story.
Grace: I'll just say it. Plain and simple, I didn't like Grace. She was so beaten down and weak. I realize that her character is supposed to be showing strength by self-denial and not fighting back but I just couldn't take it. Half-way through I just wanted to shake her and yell "DO SOMETHING". Hopefully she finds a voice in the next book.
The ending seemed incomplete: The ending was something of a let-down. It seemed like the action had just gotten going and then the book was over. Everything was kind of left up in the air. I always like it when books have some sort of solid ending, even if they're part of a series. Unfortunately this ending was lacking.
The Devil's Triangle was not what I expected and that is a good thing. I'm really glad that I got a chance to give it a read. If you're looking for a new paranormal series that's a little brash and quirky with some great character growth I would give this a try.
LIKES:
Male POV: With YA books I get a little burnt out reading from a teenage girl's perspective all the time. I always like it when authors switch it up and write from a guys point of view. I felt like the author did a great job of getting into the character of Cooper and he really felt like a guy. He reacts to situations differently than his female counterparts would and that makes the story more interesting.
Different "back from the dead" set up: Okay, with this one I feel like I have to be vague or I'll give major plot points away, but I loved the way De Palma set up the "back from the dead" scenario. I expected Cooper to be zapped back to his old school before the fire as a totally different him. It didn't quite work out like that and the result a kid who still has to deal with the consequences of his actions while getting used to a much better life. I can't be more specific than that without spoilers, so you'll just have to read it to find out ;)
Cooper's growth: This goes hand in hand with my last point. Cooper does a lot of growing in his new life. He finally gets to see what life is like with a loving family and friends. This is both a kindness and a cruelty. He knows that it could all go away at any moment and that knowledge makes him fight to keep it. He transitions from a selfish, insecure delinquent to a kid that people might actually want to be around. A guy who loves his family and his life and finds value in it and I really loved watching that transition.
DISLIKES:
Rough start: I have to be honest, I didn't think I was going to be able to get through the book after the first chapter. Cooper was so obnoxious. He kept referring to St. Peter as "St. Pete" which annoyed me to no end and his bravado and snark was a little much. Luckily things really started turning around after that and I was able to get into the story.
Grace: I'll just say it. Plain and simple, I didn't like Grace. She was so beaten down and weak. I realize that her character is supposed to be showing strength by self-denial and not fighting back but I just couldn't take it. Half-way through I just wanted to shake her and yell "DO SOMETHING". Hopefully she finds a voice in the next book.
The ending seemed incomplete: The ending was something of a let-down. It seemed like the action had just gotten going and then the book was over. Everything was kind of left up in the air. I always like it when books have some sort of solid ending, even if they're part of a series. Unfortunately this ending was lacking.
The Devil's Triangle was not what I expected and that is a good thing. I'm really glad that I got a chance to give it a read. If you're looking for a new paranormal series that's a little brash and quirky with some great character growth I would give this a try.
April 10, 2013
Let me start out by saying, that I adore a book that steps away from the pack and shows us something different. Especially in the paranormal genre. This book did exactly that. THE DEVILS TRIANGLE is told from the POV of a seventeen year old boy named Cooper. Not only did Cooper die, but he gets another shot at life to redeem his bad boy ways, and earn his way into Heaven. And when he's tossed into this alternate life he gets a few surprises. One of those surprises being Grace. This book was packed with an awesome cast of characters. I loved Cooper. His sarcastic humor left me laughing out loud. And Grace was exactly the kind of female lead that I love. She was spunky and unique. The story was engaging and laugh out loud funny, but had it's serious moments too. Another thing I loved was seeing Cooper grow as a character. Toni De Palma had done a brilliant job in crafting a fresh, quick paced read that will keep you glued to the pages until you reach the end. This one is a must read for fans of paranormal YA. A five star read for me!
May 13, 2013
If you skim my reading list, you'll see a young adult novel here and there (The Hunger Games, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, etc.). I am also compelled to read an author whom I know to be a friendly and kind sort.
I picked up De Palma's latest novel and couldn't put it down until I finished it. The story will appeal to readers of all ages with a memory of tumultuous high school days. And to those who, given a chance, might change a choice or decision that altered the course of things.
I appreciated the King Lear references, one of the more challenging Shakespearean tragedies to teach at the college level, and its appropriateness to the characters lives. If I were a younger reader, it might very well turn me on to and keep me open to Shakespeare. Another unique feature of this novel is the male first-person narrator. From what other readers have written and told me, much of the YA world grants agency to the young female narrator. So more voices and more perspectives are welcome!
Dare I say I'm impatient for the second installment?!
I picked up De Palma's latest novel and couldn't put it down until I finished it. The story will appeal to readers of all ages with a memory of tumultuous high school days. And to those who, given a chance, might change a choice or decision that altered the course of things.
I appreciated the King Lear references, one of the more challenging Shakespearean tragedies to teach at the college level, and its appropriateness to the characters lives. If I were a younger reader, it might very well turn me on to and keep me open to Shakespeare. Another unique feature of this novel is the male first-person narrator. From what other readers have written and told me, much of the YA world grants agency to the young female narrator. So more voices and more perspectives are welcome!
Dare I say I'm impatient for the second installment?!
February 25, 2013
Toni De Palma takes us on a page-turning journey in her new paranormal romance The Devil's Triangle. When Cooper is given a second chance at life to go back down to earth and save a girl named Grace, he has no idea how crazy his experience will be. The whole concept of Cooper getting a second chance despite the things he'd done, was so refreshing and enjoyable to read.
De Palma brings to life a world that kept me on my toes. Main character Cooper is a bad boy that is easy to fall in love with, and I really enjoyed the love story that unfolded between him and Grace. Normally I have trouble reading stories with a male P.O.V. because I find them boring, but that wasn't the case here. I enjoyed spending time with Cooper and getting into his head. If you want to read a great quality book with wonderful comical writing, you should definitely check this one out.
I look forward to reading the next installation of The Devil's Triangle series, The Devil's Temptation.
De Palma brings to life a world that kept me on my toes. Main character Cooper is a bad boy that is easy to fall in love with, and I really enjoyed the love story that unfolded between him and Grace. Normally I have trouble reading stories with a male P.O.V. because I find them boring, but that wasn't the case here. I enjoyed spending time with Cooper and getting into his head. If you want to read a great quality book with wonderful comical writing, you should definitely check this one out.
I look forward to reading the next installation of The Devil's Triangle series, The Devil's Temptation.
February 18, 2013
3.5 out of 5.
This was an enjoyable read, definitely a little different from what is usually found out there in young adult. My only complaint is that sometimes the euphemisms, metaphors, and/or slang used by the main character were sometimes but not always a little confusing and took me out of the story a little. Not to the point that I didn't enjoy the story overall. I was a little surprised that the book included an excerpt for the next book (since this didn't end on a cliffhanger), and I look forward to reading more about Cooper and Grace. : )
This was an enjoyable read, definitely a little different from what is usually found out there in young adult. My only complaint is that sometimes the euphemisms, metaphors, and/or slang used by the main character were sometimes but not always a little confusing and took me out of the story a little. Not to the point that I didn't enjoy the story overall. I was a little surprised that the book included an excerpt for the next book (since this didn't end on a cliffhanger), and I look forward to reading more about Cooper and Grace. : )
March 7, 2013
**ORIGINALLY ON READ-A-HOLICZ, HERE!**
Going into this book i was cautious because I really didn't know what to expect or what this "triangle" would entail. I was also curious to see who this Cooper fellow was because come on WHO BURNS DOWN THERE SCHOOL & get's a second shot at life?! O.O
This book starts with Cooper in heaven getting judged about where he is going to go. What caught my attention from the start was how Toni made Cooper and all the characters in the book SO, not approachable, but likable! Cooper is such an interesting character because he has such a "devil may care" kind of attitude. And HE IS HILARIOUS! Not in a ha, ha kinda way but in a witty-snarky way. I love it when a character is funny and charming yet has an edge because they become someone I want to get to know, so i keep reading :)
In the story Cooper has to find this girl Grace and keep on the straight and narrow. BUT he's never been one to keep to the rules. It's interesting because this book get's you thinking: " what if there was another ME living a different life... " O_O right? But that's the tricky part...I didn't know what was real and what was not, technically, real but more a fantasy come true.
I loved it when Cooper got wise and serious because life can thrown you lemons, you have to know how to make money selling the lemonade :) The begging was a "get comfortable" with the setting's start but not slow. Pretty good paced and always had little things that makes you laugh. Yes there were intense parts and "emotions" or as Cooper say's "those butterflies" aw :3 yes Cooper can be sweet. Like when he talks about his faux-brother and parents.
Overall, this was a great & entertaining read! It made me laugh, think, feel, and LOVE every second I was reading it! What really hooked me was the story and the unique and charming characters :D
5/5 GREAT STARS! Devilishly GREAT! It blew me away at times, kept me engaged, and laughing! :D
Going into this book i was cautious because I really didn't know what to expect or what this "triangle" would entail. I was also curious to see who this Cooper fellow was because come on WHO BURNS DOWN THERE SCHOOL & get's a second shot at life?! O.O
This book starts with Cooper in heaven getting judged about where he is going to go. What caught my attention from the start was how Toni made Cooper and all the characters in the book SO, not approachable, but likable! Cooper is such an interesting character because he has such a "devil may care" kind of attitude. And HE IS HILARIOUS! Not in a ha, ha kinda way but in a witty-snarky way. I love it when a character is funny and charming yet has an edge because they become someone I want to get to know, so i keep reading :)
"Good Thing She wasn't Grace. When Ayslan opened her mouth, she was like a geyser. Big words exploded out of her. The only thing cuddling up with her at night was the dictionary."
In the story Cooper has to find this girl Grace and keep on the straight and narrow. BUT he's never been one to keep to the rules. It's interesting because this book get's you thinking: " what if there was another ME living a different life... " O_O right? But that's the tricky part...I didn't know what was real and what was not, technically, real but more a fantasy come true.
"I reminded myself that life was what you made of it, whether it was your first, second or fifth time going around."
I loved it when Cooper got wise and serious because life can thrown you lemons, you have to know how to make money selling the lemonade :) The begging was a "get comfortable" with the setting's start but not slow. Pretty good paced and always had little things that makes you laugh. Yes there were intense parts and "emotions" or as Cooper say's "those butterflies" aw :3 yes Cooper can be sweet. Like when he talks about his faux-brother and parents.
Overall, this was a great & entertaining read! It made me laugh, think, feel, and LOVE every second I was reading it! What really hooked me was the story and the unique and charming characters :D
5/5 GREAT STARS! Devilishly GREAT! It blew me away at times, kept me engaged, and laughing! :D
March 28, 2013
We start off the story in Heaven. Cooper is in front of a panel of judges, more or less, which includes St. Peter, a guy who likes to nod off constantly and Cooper can’t figure out who he is, and Lucy – the devil’s sister who has switched sides.
Cooper was in foster homes and was pretty much a juvenile delinquent. He ends up killing himself when he’s setting a school on fire and now he’s in heaven. Before judgment is made Lucy talks St. Peter into sending Cooper back to see if he can redeem himself. Lucy sends him to Grace in New Jersey saying that he has a month. A month to what? He’s not sure but he plays along cuz he doesn’t want to end up in hell.
What he finds when he gets there is Grace, who is a punked out girl with pink hair and lots of piercings who is dating Cooper’s best friend, Blake. Cooper’s pretty amazed that Lucy has set this whole life up for him and he’s in awe of the things he’s accomplished. He’s trying really hard to fit in and not let on that he’s not the “real” Cooper but it’s difficult. Grace will hardly talk to him even though by his family’s photo albums it shows that Cooper and Grace were best friends up until a few years before.
What Cooper discovers is that he’s part of a devil’s triangle. Lucy had saved Cooper’s life in a deal with the devil but that came with some pretty harsh agreements and punishments if not followed – for both Grace and Cooper. Blake is kind of the devil’s lackey and cruel and abusive to Grace. Cooper also discovers that because of the devil’s deal he has been leading two different lives. It’s crazy but it all come to make sense to him and he’s determined to break himself and Grace out of the deal.
When the book first started and Cooper was in front of St. Peter and Lucy I have to admit to rolling my eyes. IDK, I saw every teeny bopper movie that my fifteen year old has watched flash before my eyes. I carried on though because I wanted to see what happened. I’m SO glad I did.
This story is so touching and heartfelt and intricate that I don’t think I can say enough about it. It caught me by surprise with the emotions I felt for Cooper and his struggle with his new reality. He was so confused and didn’t know what to do and being a lost soul in his previous life didn’t help much. He had anger issues before his death but when the story goes on and you find out what happened it’s almost understandable (not his actions, just his feelings).
Cooper’s desire to be with Grace was the motivation behind all of Cooper’s actions. He figured out what was happening and did his best to right the situation that had gone terribly wrong. While we didn’t get ALL the answers in this book we got a great story and a wonderful introduction to Cooper’s world.
The book was compelling in a way I almost can’t describe. I was completely invested in the story even though there was a time or two when things got confusing. I have to say that this is a great start to a great series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.
Cooper was in foster homes and was pretty much a juvenile delinquent. He ends up killing himself when he’s setting a school on fire and now he’s in heaven. Before judgment is made Lucy talks St. Peter into sending Cooper back to see if he can redeem himself. Lucy sends him to Grace in New Jersey saying that he has a month. A month to what? He’s not sure but he plays along cuz he doesn’t want to end up in hell.
What he finds when he gets there is Grace, who is a punked out girl with pink hair and lots of piercings who is dating Cooper’s best friend, Blake. Cooper’s pretty amazed that Lucy has set this whole life up for him and he’s in awe of the things he’s accomplished. He’s trying really hard to fit in and not let on that he’s not the “real” Cooper but it’s difficult. Grace will hardly talk to him even though by his family’s photo albums it shows that Cooper and Grace were best friends up until a few years before.
What Cooper discovers is that he’s part of a devil’s triangle. Lucy had saved Cooper’s life in a deal with the devil but that came with some pretty harsh agreements and punishments if not followed – for both Grace and Cooper. Blake is kind of the devil’s lackey and cruel and abusive to Grace. Cooper also discovers that because of the devil’s deal he has been leading two different lives. It’s crazy but it all come to make sense to him and he’s determined to break himself and Grace out of the deal.
When the book first started and Cooper was in front of St. Peter and Lucy I have to admit to rolling my eyes. IDK, I saw every teeny bopper movie that my fifteen year old has watched flash before my eyes. I carried on though because I wanted to see what happened. I’m SO glad I did.
This story is so touching and heartfelt and intricate that I don’t think I can say enough about it. It caught me by surprise with the emotions I felt for Cooper and his struggle with his new reality. He was so confused and didn’t know what to do and being a lost soul in his previous life didn’t help much. He had anger issues before his death but when the story goes on and you find out what happened it’s almost understandable (not his actions, just his feelings).
Cooper’s desire to be with Grace was the motivation behind all of Cooper’s actions. He figured out what was happening and did his best to right the situation that had gone terribly wrong. While we didn’t get ALL the answers in this book we got a great story and a wonderful introduction to Cooper’s world.
The book was compelling in a way I almost can’t describe. I was completely invested in the story even though there was a time or two when things got confusing. I have to say that this is a great start to a great series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.
dnf
September 8, 2016
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DNF
My main problem was that I couldn't stand the main character, Cooper. He was rude and judgmental, and he had a snide remark about everyone. Like, 'When Ayslan opened her mouth, she was like a geyser. Big words exploded out of her. The only thing cuddling up with her at night was the dictionary.' Just because you're too much of an imbecile to understand those words doesn't mean she's a loser. You're just jealous that only half of your brain functions because the other half is too busy supplying blood to other parts of your anatomy.
The innuendos were too much for me. I found myself frequently rolling my eyes at the ridiculous and cheesy terminology, such as 'producing a tectonic shift in my pants,' or 'take a ride on my stone pony,' or 'I would have rolled myself all up in her like a dog in a big pile of dung.' OH and my personal favorite, 'Woodstock erupted inside me and the butterflies wore peace signs on their breasts and tiny mud boots on their tiny insect feet as they trudged through the sea of mud and love.' ....are you freaking kidding me? Seriously. Ughhhh! *bangs head against wall* The book was full of stuff like that, and I swear if I'd have rolled my eyes one more time they would have popped out of their sockets.
Then the plot took a ridiculous turn and it was so far-fetched and absurd that I couldn't bring myself to continue.
*eye roll*
*frantically scrabbles to keep eyeballs in head*
DNF
My main problem was that I couldn't stand the main character, Cooper. He was rude and judgmental, and he had a snide remark about everyone. Like, 'When Ayslan opened her mouth, she was like a geyser. Big words exploded out of her. The only thing cuddling up with her at night was the dictionary.' Just because you're too much of an imbecile to understand those words doesn't mean she's a loser. You're just jealous that only half of your brain functions because the other half is too busy supplying blood to other parts of your anatomy.
The innuendos were too much for me. I found myself frequently rolling my eyes at the ridiculous and cheesy terminology, such as 'producing a tectonic shift in my pants,' or 'take a ride on my stone pony,' or 'I would have rolled myself all up in her like a dog in a big pile of dung.' OH and my personal favorite, 'Woodstock erupted inside me and the butterflies wore peace signs on their breasts and tiny mud boots on their tiny insect feet as they trudged through the sea of mud and love.' ....are you freaking kidding me? Seriously. Ughhhh! *bangs head against wall* The book was full of stuff like that, and I swear if I'd have rolled my eyes one more time they would have popped out of their sockets.
Then the plot took a ridiculous turn and it was so far-fetched and absurd that I couldn't bring myself to continue.
*eye roll*
*frantically scrabbles to keep eyeballs in head*
March 27, 2013
I've got to admit this one surprised me a little. I hate to start a review out this way, but I'll admit it up front that while it might not be considered one of my favorite books, I still found it to be a fun and catchy read. I was curious from the start what the author had in mind once I got a sneak peek at the plot from the book's teaser of a description and my attention didn't waver until I finished.
Having no experience with this author previously I went into this one with a completely open mind and for that I'm grateful. So many of the books I've been picking up lately have either been continuations in a series, or new starts from authors I'm familiar with. Debut authors are always exciting, and even if an author's work that I pick up might not be their first, if it's the first I've experienced their work than it feels brand new either way.
So I'm excited to see what De Palma has in store for readers in the future and I'll admit that I'm not opposed to a sequel for this series. I'm once again going to be curious to see what happens next in the story and what the next hurdles will turn out to be for these characters. On a side note....right from the beginning, when the author has the main character referring to Saint Peter at the gates....as St. Pete...for whatever reason it struck my funny bone with no disrespect that I could find in the nickname. Just an author lightening the mood based on how the character's frame of mind would have been at that point in the story. It broke the ice for me with this new read and I'd like to see more!
Having no experience with this author previously I went into this one with a completely open mind and for that I'm grateful. So many of the books I've been picking up lately have either been continuations in a series, or new starts from authors I'm familiar with. Debut authors are always exciting, and even if an author's work that I pick up might not be their first, if it's the first I've experienced their work than it feels brand new either way.
So I'm excited to see what De Palma has in store for readers in the future and I'll admit that I'm not opposed to a sequel for this series. I'm once again going to be curious to see what happens next in the story and what the next hurdles will turn out to be for these characters. On a side note....right from the beginning, when the author has the main character referring to Saint Peter at the gates....as St. Pete...for whatever reason it struck my funny bone with no disrespect that I could find in the nickname. Just an author lightening the mood based on how the character's frame of mind would have been at that point in the story. It broke the ice for me with this new read and I'd like to see more!
February 19, 2013
Cooper is dead, but when he gets a chance to redeem himself by none other than Lucifer's spitfire sister, Lucy, he gets tossed into a boy's life who's got everything. A loving parents, a caring older brother, a spot on the football team. The one thing he doesn't have is the girl he needs to find, a girl named Grace, who he's instantly drawn to but who's with an abusive jerk of a boyfriend who could pummel Cooper to dust if he looked at Grace the wrong way. Cooper soon learns that he's more connected to this new life than he originally thought and there are sinister secrets hidden in his memories that ties him and Grace together, or are keeping them apart, and he has to remember them before it's too late.
The first thing that drew me to this story was the interesting premise. It sounded original and unique, and to top it off, it has a well-written male perspective, which is really hard to find in stories. Cooper was funny but still honest and determined, that made the story worth reading.
The start of the story felt a bit slow for me as I kept waiting for things to happen, but once the twists and turns started (and what some twists they were), it sure picked up pace and kept me wanting to find out what's going to happen next.
Overall, even with the slow start, this story still had a good build up with twists that will keep the reader guessing and a believable male character and I'd recommend this story for anyone that loves stories from a male perspective or a different love story. It will be interesting to see where Cooper and Grace's story goes next.
The first thing that drew me to this story was the interesting premise. It sounded original and unique, and to top it off, it has a well-written male perspective, which is really hard to find in stories. Cooper was funny but still honest and determined, that made the story worth reading.
The start of the story felt a bit slow for me as I kept waiting for things to happen, but once the twists and turns started (and what some twists they were), it sure picked up pace and kept me wanting to find out what's going to happen next.
Overall, even with the slow start, this story still had a good build up with twists that will keep the reader guessing and a believable male character and I'd recommend this story for anyone that loves stories from a male perspective or a different love story. It will be interesting to see where Cooper and Grace's story goes next.
February 16, 2013
Toni De Palma nailed it with The Devil’s Triangle. Most YA books these days are written from the female POV, but not this one, completely from the male perspective and she nailed it. I love De Palma’s writing on a whole and found myself laughing throughout the story at the way Cooper relates things. The mystery behind why Lucy gives him a second chance and what happened with Grace in the past kept me turning the pages wanting to know more. While Cooper is trying to figure out his role in this alternate reality Grace seems to be keeping secrets. And then there is Blake who is clearly on to Cooper and definitely not good for Grace. Then add to the mixture the strange sensation Cooper has to wander into the woods, where he’s told something bad happened the last time he did. You’re constantly wondering which world Cooper truly belongs in and what happened before that has him on edge. Really good read, and refreshing since it’s told from a male POV.
October 24, 2013
Sheesh. Talk about your arch-rival being overpowered! I loved the book. It was well-written. You could totally relate to the main character, even when he was just being an ass. The plot was definitely original. I've never read anything like it.
(I received a free copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway.)
(I received a free copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway.)
January 9, 2014
Sounds amazing!
April 8, 2014
Originally read February 11, 2013 - 4.5 out of 5
Second reading April 7, 2014 - 4.5 out of 5
Second reading April 7, 2014 - 4.5 out of 5
March 5, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed reading The Devils Triangle! Toni 's writing kept me from wanting to put my book down. I am looking forward to the the sequel to this book.
March 20, 2024
This book was awesome! The writer does a great job at getting you soaked up in Cooper’s reality and the issues he is dealing with. The theme of love conquering the day was a beautiful touch to the plot. The book is written so smoothly and cleverly, and the author does an amazing job at painting a portrait of teenage life added with the paranormal aspects that make it just that more interesting.
I was definitely hooked! Cooper himself has such a great sense of humor and I was laughing a lot throughout it. Grace herself is a very endearing character and- well, Lucy is something else! She brings a lot of color into the story and spices things up throughout the entire plot. I also like that the book was from a young male’s point of view, which is a nice change.
I really loved the growth I saw of Cooper throughout the novel. He really matures and grows up, and his love for his family and for Grace is heart-warming. I liked the family a lot and I felt some of Cooper’s pain when he was trying to save the people he loved. 5 stars to this brilliant narrative!
-Ali
I was definitely hooked! Cooper himself has such a great sense of humor and I was laughing a lot throughout it. Grace herself is a very endearing character and- well, Lucy is something else! She brings a lot of color into the story and spices things up throughout the entire plot. I also like that the book was from a young male’s point of view, which is a nice change.
I really loved the growth I saw of Cooper throughout the novel. He really matures and grows up, and his love for his family and for Grace is heart-warming. I liked the family a lot and I felt some of Cooper’s pain when he was trying to save the people he loved. 5 stars to this brilliant narrative!
-Ali
August 17, 2013
**I received this book for my honest and actual opinion of the book. **
At First Glance/The Cover:
Before this book was actually offered to me, I was actually eyeing it. Because the plot sounded good. The characters sounded interesting. It might be something that I like. That was for me.
The Characters/The Opinions:
Before I actually move on to the characters, I might as well tell ya'll the good and bad. I'm brimming with details. :D
I should have expected it to have angels, heaven, hell, and a devil in the book. I mean, even the summary and teaser said so. The title also. Everything points to devil, horrible devil, mean devil, evil devil. But really, I was expecting more romance from this. Because it seems like the romance is the story. I was expected more of a chemistry romance. A warm, fuzzy romance. But it was far from that. It's the scared, tittering kind. Kind of a forbidden romance. Even a forbidden romance is better. At least in a forbidden romance, the characters try to get together and secretly meet or something. But no. In this book, they just stand there. For a long while before taking any action.
I mean, I know Cooper's trying, but his actions didn't really affect the plot, the story much, because nothing much change. Except that we got to learn even more about the devil. The devil. And the character themselves. Yes, we learned a bit, but it all revolved around the devil. I want to know a bit more about their love, their romance. Why it was so deep. What caused the devil to stop them, interrupt them? Not just a one sentence explanation, but a full, heart-felted one.
Although, the romance was as good as what I was expecting, the rest was a good book. Cooper was enjoyable...I expected Cooper to be more cool and jocky. But what can you get from someone whose pretending to be one. LOL. I don't really mind reading about the devil. But we don't really get much impression of the devil. No looks, only the atmosphere around him. And reading all this also leads me to ask: What is the devil? Who is he? Ruler of Hell? But? What does he do.
Of course, writing can be very very hard. I mean, it's very hard just to satisfy your needs, much less others. I tried. I, well, stopped. I'm not really telling the author to rewrite the whole book, cuz that would just be plain mean. But when she writes her next book, maybe she'll take some of my feedback and make it even better. At more details. More chemistry to the romance. Maybe.
Cooper - Needless to say, Cooper is the main character. He's the guy in the middle on the cover. Somehow, he just kind of reminds me of Leo from Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. The whole 'burned down school' and fire thing. And the going back to modern life thing. Cooper? He's not funny, but he's not boring either. He's not a stoner or loner, but he's not exactly popular. So I guess you can say he's near the middle. His attitude. Well, he has a bit, not big enough to count it as an attitude problem.
What shows out the most though. His persistence. His will. To get Grace. To save her. If it was me, I'd probably not make a very good protagonist and chicken out.
Grace - I have no problems with her, but then sometimes she gets on my nerves. I was mad. And annoyed. Like the reason the plot didn't move on was her. I mean, I get it that the devil is going to kill them. I get that it's bad. I get that it's going against everything. But what makes a good book when the characters are following all the rules? And they're gonna have to go against the rules sometime, why not make it sooner?
Grace just kept saying no, no, and no. And that's the only tad bit that got me annoyed. Otherwise, I can't say much. If I went to their school, she'd probably be invisible. She doesn't have any bad thing that points out that she doesn't have friends or is not someone very unpopular. But I definitely won't see her in the popular crowd either. And also not being in a group of friends.
Overall Thoughts:
Wow! I said like super much in this review. And not all of them are kind compliments. I'm sorry for that. But saying all that out feels nice. It feels like a rant. Just ranting compliments doesn't let your whole heart out. And thanks so much to Christine for allowing me to read this book. As much as there is to be fixed, I do not hate this book at all.
And I think the wonderful, quirky idea of this story was awesome. :)
At First Glance/The Cover:
Before this book was actually offered to me, I was actually eyeing it. Because the plot sounded good. The characters sounded interesting. It might be something that I like. That was for me.
The Characters/The Opinions:
Before I actually move on to the characters, I might as well tell ya'll the good and bad. I'm brimming with details. :D
I should have expected it to have angels, heaven, hell, and a devil in the book. I mean, even the summary and teaser said so. The title also. Everything points to devil, horrible devil, mean devil, evil devil. But really, I was expecting more romance from this. Because it seems like the romance is the story. I was expected more of a chemistry romance. A warm, fuzzy romance. But it was far from that. It's the scared, tittering kind. Kind of a forbidden romance. Even a forbidden romance is better. At least in a forbidden romance, the characters try to get together and secretly meet or something. But no. In this book, they just stand there. For a long while before taking any action.
I mean, I know Cooper's trying, but his actions didn't really affect the plot, the story much, because nothing much change. Except that we got to learn even more about the devil. The devil. And the character themselves. Yes, we learned a bit, but it all revolved around the devil. I want to know a bit more about their love, their romance. Why it was so deep. What caused the devil to stop them, interrupt them? Not just a one sentence explanation, but a full, heart-felted one.
Although, the romance was as good as what I was expecting, the rest was a good book. Cooper was enjoyable...I expected Cooper to be more cool and jocky. But what can you get from someone whose pretending to be one. LOL. I don't really mind reading about the devil. But we don't really get much impression of the devil. No looks, only the atmosphere around him. And reading all this also leads me to ask: What is the devil? Who is he? Ruler of Hell? But? What does he do.
Of course, writing can be very very hard. I mean, it's very hard just to satisfy your needs, much less others. I tried. I, well, stopped. I'm not really telling the author to rewrite the whole book, cuz that would just be plain mean. But when she writes her next book, maybe she'll take some of my feedback and make it even better. At more details. More chemistry to the romance. Maybe.
Cooper - Needless to say, Cooper is the main character. He's the guy in the middle on the cover. Somehow, he just kind of reminds me of Leo from Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. The whole 'burned down school' and fire thing. And the going back to modern life thing. Cooper? He's not funny, but he's not boring either. He's not a stoner or loner, but he's not exactly popular. So I guess you can say he's near the middle. His attitude. Well, he has a bit, not big enough to count it as an attitude problem.
What shows out the most though. His persistence. His will. To get Grace. To save her. If it was me, I'd probably not make a very good protagonist and chicken out.
Grace - I have no problems with her, but then sometimes she gets on my nerves. I was mad. And annoyed. Like the reason the plot didn't move on was her. I mean, I get it that the devil is going to kill them. I get that it's bad. I get that it's going against everything. But what makes a good book when the characters are following all the rules? And they're gonna have to go against the rules sometime, why not make it sooner?
Grace just kept saying no, no, and no. And that's the only tad bit that got me annoyed. Otherwise, I can't say much. If I went to their school, she'd probably be invisible. She doesn't have any bad thing that points out that she doesn't have friends or is not someone very unpopular. But I definitely won't see her in the popular crowd either. And also not being in a group of friends.
Overall Thoughts:
Wow! I said like super much in this review. And not all of them are kind compliments. I'm sorry for that. But saying all that out feels nice. It feels like a rant. Just ranting compliments doesn't let your whole heart out. And thanks so much to Christine for allowing me to read this book. As much as there is to be fixed, I do not hate this book at all.
And I think the wonderful, quirky idea of this story was awesome. :)
May 9, 2013
In a word: laugh-out-loud funny, romantic, character-driven and exciting.
I had such fun reading The Devil’s Triangle, an entertaining story about second chances and the lengths one might go to for love. I was a bit worried when I started reading, since the story begins after our main character, Cooper Wanderman, has died and is facing St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. I really wasn’t looking forward to reading a book crowded with morality lessons, and I hoped it wasn’t going to get too heavy-handed and preachy. But my fears were laid to rest, happily. Although De Palma clearly has a message to impart, I was too thoroughly caught up in the story and the engaging relationships and characters to worry about the author's agenda.
The story begins in Purgatory, as newly deceased Cooper faces a beautiful girl named Lucy (who just happens to be Lucifer’s sister) who is about to decide the future of his afterlife. Lucy seems to have a heart, however, and she agrees to give Cooper one more chance at a shot in Heaven. All he has to do is go back to Earth for one month and help a girl named Grace. Easier said than done, however, because when Cooper wakes up in his new life, he doesn’t recognize anyone, even though everyone knows him. Cooper does his best to fit in to his new role as a high school football star and get to know his new family, including an older brother named Ryan and a mother and father who make him feel loved and welcome, a far cry from his old life as a foster kid. Cooper soon finds Grace, the girl he’s meant to help, but he doesn’t have any idea what kind of help she needs.
When Cooper realizes that a bully named Blake is dating Grace against her will, he thinks he may have found his mission: to help Grace get out of an abusive relationship. But why does Grace seem so familiar to Cooper? And why do memories of an unfamiliar life keep intruding into his memories from his other life? It may seem confusing, but De Palma takes all these story elements and weaves them together, and the outcome may surprise you.
Although Cooper’s adventures on Earth and the meddling Lucy and Lucifer up above mingle throughout the story, it was the action on the ground that really kept me reading. I found it much more interesting to observe as Cooper slowly figures out what his purpose is and how he is able to change his destiny, as well as the destinies of his friends and family. But when he occasionally speaks out loud to Lucy, who is presumably watching him from "above," I was jarred out of the story. Even though Lucy appears to be part of the “triangle” of the book title, and her purpose in the story is to play “puppeteer” with Cooper’s destiny, I thought she was one of the weaker characters and could have been developed more. All of the earthly characters are well drawn and I loved spending time with them, but the sections that take place in Purgatory made me uncomfortable, and just like Cooper, I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.
De Palma’s dialog is pretty funny, and I thought Cooper and his friends sounded like typical high school students, and there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. A few metaphors did make me cringe, however, and I wasn’t sure if it was the author’s voice coming through, or Cooper’s sense of humor. Lines like “My tongue sat in my mouth as still as a lizard sunning itself” and “My dreams flew at me like a gaggle of geese desperately flying out-of-the-way of a plane’s propeller” made me laugh, but to me they felt out-of-place. When a line is so bizarre that it takes you out of the story while you try to visualize the metaphor, in my opinion it’s a line that needs to be cut.
And yes, there is some romance in the story, because Cooper’s driving force to help Grace is based on love. The author does a great job adding romance in just the right amount so that she doesn’t scare off male readers, while also showing the seedier side of high school relationships, like the one between Blake and Grace, which is about power and control rather than love. De Palma will keep you reading until the satisfying resolution at the end, and this short story may seem all too brief when you’re finished.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
I had such fun reading The Devil’s Triangle, an entertaining story about second chances and the lengths one might go to for love. I was a bit worried when I started reading, since the story begins after our main character, Cooper Wanderman, has died and is facing St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. I really wasn’t looking forward to reading a book crowded with morality lessons, and I hoped it wasn’t going to get too heavy-handed and preachy. But my fears were laid to rest, happily. Although De Palma clearly has a message to impart, I was too thoroughly caught up in the story and the engaging relationships and characters to worry about the author's agenda.
The story begins in Purgatory, as newly deceased Cooper faces a beautiful girl named Lucy (who just happens to be Lucifer’s sister) who is about to decide the future of his afterlife. Lucy seems to have a heart, however, and she agrees to give Cooper one more chance at a shot in Heaven. All he has to do is go back to Earth for one month and help a girl named Grace. Easier said than done, however, because when Cooper wakes up in his new life, he doesn’t recognize anyone, even though everyone knows him. Cooper does his best to fit in to his new role as a high school football star and get to know his new family, including an older brother named Ryan and a mother and father who make him feel loved and welcome, a far cry from his old life as a foster kid. Cooper soon finds Grace, the girl he’s meant to help, but he doesn’t have any idea what kind of help she needs.
When Cooper realizes that a bully named Blake is dating Grace against her will, he thinks he may have found his mission: to help Grace get out of an abusive relationship. But why does Grace seem so familiar to Cooper? And why do memories of an unfamiliar life keep intruding into his memories from his other life? It may seem confusing, but De Palma takes all these story elements and weaves them together, and the outcome may surprise you.
Although Cooper’s adventures on Earth and the meddling Lucy and Lucifer up above mingle throughout the story, it was the action on the ground that really kept me reading. I found it much more interesting to observe as Cooper slowly figures out what his purpose is and how he is able to change his destiny, as well as the destinies of his friends and family. But when he occasionally speaks out loud to Lucy, who is presumably watching him from "above," I was jarred out of the story. Even though Lucy appears to be part of the “triangle” of the book title, and her purpose in the story is to play “puppeteer” with Cooper’s destiny, I thought she was one of the weaker characters and could have been developed more. All of the earthly characters are well drawn and I loved spending time with them, but the sections that take place in Purgatory made me uncomfortable, and just like Cooper, I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.
De Palma’s dialog is pretty funny, and I thought Cooper and his friends sounded like typical high school students, and there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. A few metaphors did make me cringe, however, and I wasn’t sure if it was the author’s voice coming through, or Cooper’s sense of humor. Lines like “My tongue sat in my mouth as still as a lizard sunning itself” and “My dreams flew at me like a gaggle of geese desperately flying out-of-the-way of a plane’s propeller” made me laugh, but to me they felt out-of-place. When a line is so bizarre that it takes you out of the story while you try to visualize the metaphor, in my opinion it’s a line that needs to be cut.
And yes, there is some romance in the story, because Cooper’s driving force to help Grace is based on love. The author does a great job adding romance in just the right amount so that she doesn’t scare off male readers, while also showing the seedier side of high school relationships, like the one between Blake and Grace, which is about power and control rather than love. De Palma will keep you reading until the satisfying resolution at the end, and this short story may seem all too brief when you’re finished.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
April 6, 2013
[3.5/5]
For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!
THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE was the type of book that I started with the intention of reading just a few chapters, then realizing I had finished the whole book in one sitting. For me, it was a near-perfect weekend read, with smart characters, fun, mystery, and excitement!
Many times, authors make the mistake of making male POVs sound unrealistic, whether it be making their voices to “feminine” and dramatic, or picturing the guys a little too perfectly. Rest assured, in THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE, this is not the case. Cooper, your main character, had a witty, sometimes snarky, and hilarious voice, and I really enjoyed it! Moreover, his eventual character growth and development from a mostly self-centered teen with his own goals, to someone who truly cared, supported, and loved others was wonderful!
Of course, the other side characters were also well written! Though Cooper’s relationships with them weren’t perfect, you definitely see the friendship and sense of family between them. Along the way, you meet Lucy, who’s pretty mysterious but I ended up liking, Grace, a liberal punk-girl with a sweet heart, and Ryan, Cooper’s super supportive “brother”. Other more villainous side characters, like Blake, were obviously unlikable, but still brought an interesting side to the story (:
The storyline also never ceased to intrigue and entertain me. Right from the beginning, you’re introduced to Lucy, Lucifer’s sister, and her proposition to Cooper to “redeem” himself by forming a relationship with Grace, then immediately thrown into the action. There was also plenty of mystery and questions for me to ponder on, as well as a few very unexpected twists along the way, which, of course, just made me more interested in the book! :D The eventual romance between Grace and Cooper also didn’t overcrowd the storyline, but was still satisfying & sweet.
Another thing that really interested me, though, was the book’s concept. As I mentioned before, Cooper is sent back into a second life of a sort in order to redeem himself, after he set fire to a school. Though this might seem simple, along the way, you learn that there’s something more to the deal, and more to Cooper’s identity and memories. The magic and mythology of it all just excited me!
My only complaint would have to be that I wanted more. To me, the book was ended relatively quickly and easily, and I wanted more of the characters and their wittiness, more of the mystery and fantasy I was hooked on, and more of my questions answered! Nevertheless, there will probably be plenty of stuff to build off of for the second book, so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next!
Simply put, THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE was a great read. With a combination of light and witty humor and an intriguing concept, this is a book that will appeal to many YA readers, especially if you enjoy fantasy or paranormal romance. If you’re looking for a weekend adventurous read, definitely check this book out!
(* On a side note, there are a few mentions of God, though religion is not prominent in the book. Nevertheless, if you’re the type of reader who is very uncomfortable with reading a book with a slight religious presence, this might not be the book for you.)
* A review copy of this book was provided by the author for the blog tour. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!
THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE was the type of book that I started with the intention of reading just a few chapters, then realizing I had finished the whole book in one sitting. For me, it was a near-perfect weekend read, with smart characters, fun, mystery, and excitement!
Many times, authors make the mistake of making male POVs sound unrealistic, whether it be making their voices to “feminine” and dramatic, or picturing the guys a little too perfectly. Rest assured, in THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE, this is not the case. Cooper, your main character, had a witty, sometimes snarky, and hilarious voice, and I really enjoyed it! Moreover, his eventual character growth and development from a mostly self-centered teen with his own goals, to someone who truly cared, supported, and loved others was wonderful!
Of course, the other side characters were also well written! Though Cooper’s relationships with them weren’t perfect, you definitely see the friendship and sense of family between them. Along the way, you meet Lucy, who’s pretty mysterious but I ended up liking, Grace, a liberal punk-girl with a sweet heart, and Ryan, Cooper’s super supportive “brother”. Other more villainous side characters, like Blake, were obviously unlikable, but still brought an interesting side to the story (:
The storyline also never ceased to intrigue and entertain me. Right from the beginning, you’re introduced to Lucy, Lucifer’s sister, and her proposition to Cooper to “redeem” himself by forming a relationship with Grace, then immediately thrown into the action. There was also plenty of mystery and questions for me to ponder on, as well as a few very unexpected twists along the way, which, of course, just made me more interested in the book! :D The eventual romance between Grace and Cooper also didn’t overcrowd the storyline, but was still satisfying & sweet.
Another thing that really interested me, though, was the book’s concept. As I mentioned before, Cooper is sent back into a second life of a sort in order to redeem himself, after he set fire to a school. Though this might seem simple, along the way, you learn that there’s something more to the deal, and more to Cooper’s identity and memories. The magic and mythology of it all just excited me!
My only complaint would have to be that I wanted more. To me, the book was ended relatively quickly and easily, and I wanted more of the characters and their wittiness, more of the mystery and fantasy I was hooked on, and more of my questions answered! Nevertheless, there will probably be plenty of stuff to build off of for the second book, so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next!
Simply put, THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE was a great read. With a combination of light and witty humor and an intriguing concept, this is a book that will appeal to many YA readers, especially if you enjoy fantasy or paranormal romance. If you’re looking for a weekend adventurous read, definitely check this book out!
(* On a side note, there are a few mentions of God, though religion is not prominent in the book. Nevertheless, if you’re the type of reader who is very uncomfortable with reading a book with a slight religious presence, this might not be the book for you.)
* A review copy of this book was provided by the author for the blog tour. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
September 11, 2013
3 1/2 stars!
My Review:
For Grace, her life is all about decisions. The good ones and the bad ones she's made. She used to be happy, but one day a wrong decision shattered her world. Now, she can only dream of being with the people she loves.
Juvenile delinquent one day, High school football star the next, Cooper wants to know where he belongs. Is it in the life where he struggles or the one where he has a loving family and friends? Wich one is his reality?
What happen's when the Devil's sister pulls some strings? Well, for Cooper it means getting a chance to redeem himself and fight for a place in heaven. Cooper never felt like he belonged in his other life. When he gets this second chance at life, it leaves him confused, but he accepts it. His mission? Find a girl called Grace. He is given one month to find her and save her, but from what?
When he starts his mission he is surprised to find the kind of life that is offered to him: a loving family, having many friends and being the star in the football team. On his first day back on earth he meets Grace. She is an unexpected surprise with her pink hair, piercings and smart mouth.
The more he steps into his new life, the more Cooper is confused. Who are all these people? Why can't he remember them? He finds himself feeling a strong connection to Grace, but for some unknown reason she keeps on pushing him away. As the days go by he finds himself stuck in a life size puzzle. Putting all the pieces together and playing against the rules could put him and the people he loves in danger and close the doors of heaven.
In this journey, it's all about pulling the right strings so that GOOD wins over EVIL.
My Rating:
I give The Devil's triangle, 3 1/2 funny and intriguing stars! I'm a huge fan of YA and Paranormal novels. This book has a nice mix of both. Cooper caught my attention from the start with his sense of humor. His story was a page turner for sure! This story is told from a male POV. I usually enjoy a book from a male POV, but in this one something was missing: my connection with Grace. Once I got to read more of the story I understood why I was feeling that way. For me, Grace is still an enigma and I know that in the next installment I will find out more about her. It took me a bit of time to connect with her, but after a couple of chapters and understanding her decision, she won me over.
I did enjoy the diversity of the characters in this story. Ryan, Cooper's brother, was one of my favorites. Blake, Grace's boyfriend, was the one that almost got a virtual slap from me. He just played with my nerves!!!
The plot was very well written and it was filled with many twists and turns that I did not expext. It had me asking myself plenty of questions. The story did answer some of them, but I was left with some unanswered ones. I can't wait to read what's next for Cooper and Grace. We get a sneak peek of Devil's Temptation (The Devil's Triangle #2) at the end of this book and I devoured that first chapter. This story is far from being over!
My Review:
For Grace, her life is all about decisions. The good ones and the bad ones she's made. She used to be happy, but one day a wrong decision shattered her world. Now, she can only dream of being with the people she loves.
Juvenile delinquent one day, High school football star the next, Cooper wants to know where he belongs. Is it in the life where he struggles or the one where he has a loving family and friends? Wich one is his reality?
What happen's when the Devil's sister pulls some strings? Well, for Cooper it means getting a chance to redeem himself and fight for a place in heaven. Cooper never felt like he belonged in his other life. When he gets this second chance at life, it leaves him confused, but he accepts it. His mission? Find a girl called Grace. He is given one month to find her and save her, but from what?
When he starts his mission he is surprised to find the kind of life that is offered to him: a loving family, having many friends and being the star in the football team. On his first day back on earth he meets Grace. She is an unexpected surprise with her pink hair, piercings and smart mouth.
The more he steps into his new life, the more Cooper is confused. Who are all these people? Why can't he remember them? He finds himself feeling a strong connection to Grace, but for some unknown reason she keeps on pushing him away. As the days go by he finds himself stuck in a life size puzzle. Putting all the pieces together and playing against the rules could put him and the people he loves in danger and close the doors of heaven.
In this journey, it's all about pulling the right strings so that GOOD wins over EVIL.
My Rating:
I give The Devil's triangle, 3 1/2 funny and intriguing stars! I'm a huge fan of YA and Paranormal novels. This book has a nice mix of both. Cooper caught my attention from the start with his sense of humor. His story was a page turner for sure! This story is told from a male POV. I usually enjoy a book from a male POV, but in this one something was missing: my connection with Grace. Once I got to read more of the story I understood why I was feeling that way. For me, Grace is still an enigma and I know that in the next installment I will find out more about her. It took me a bit of time to connect with her, but after a couple of chapters and understanding her decision, she won me over.
I did enjoy the diversity of the characters in this story. Ryan, Cooper's brother, was one of my favorites. Blake, Grace's boyfriend, was the one that almost got a virtual slap from me. He just played with my nerves!!!
The plot was very well written and it was filled with many twists and turns that I did not expext. It had me asking myself plenty of questions. The story did answer some of them, but I was left with some unanswered ones. I can't wait to read what's next for Cooper and Grace. We get a sneak peek of Devil's Temptation (The Devil's Triangle #2) at the end of this book and I devoured that first chapter. This story is far from being over!
September 5, 2013
First and foremost I have to comment on how refreshing it was to read in the male perspective. You don't see that often in young adult and being inside the mind of Cooper was a wonderful experience. The story begins with a Cooper in the afterlife. He as a misfit has been offered a chance into Heaven, but he must succeed in finding a girl named Grace--just what he is supposed to do once he finds her is unclear. He goes from being in the afterlife to suddenly sitting inside a classroom with no clue as to who the people around him are, even though some appear to be this Coopers friends, and he finds the girl he's looking for--but she isn't at all what he had in mind. He has no rules to follow or guidelines from Lucy; he just goes into this blind to everything and most of what he does gets him odd looks from those around him. From there the story progresses with Cooper completely confused as to what is going on while the people in his life keep looking at him like he's crazy and the one girl that could save him from an eternity in Hell wants nothing to do with him.
The Devil's Triangle is full of suspense as we follow Cooper along this path of redemption and confusion as everything spirals out of control and strange things begin to happen. He's always searching for guidance from the person who thrust him into this life, but she's never around to help. Cooper has to figure everything out on his own and it takes a good portion of the book before the biggest realization he could imagine finally hits him.
The characters around him are very interesting. Grace has a huge secret she's keeping from everyone--a secret that has entirely ruined her life but one that she deemed necessary at the time. It's clear that something happened between her and Cooper before Cooper entered into that life, but he is unsure why there is so much tension between them with no insight into the old Cooper's past. Some of the characters were incredibly shady and you didn't know whether or not they could be trusted. Everything is finally shown to us in the end and it's a bit surprising. It's a simple explanation, but still a very interesting one. I'm very anxious to read more about Cooper and his journey to save his soul, and hopefully another in the process. And of course I have to know what's in store for Cooper and Grace.
The Devil's Triangle is full of suspense as we follow Cooper along this path of redemption and confusion as everything spirals out of control and strange things begin to happen. He's always searching for guidance from the person who thrust him into this life, but she's never around to help. Cooper has to figure everything out on his own and it takes a good portion of the book before the biggest realization he could imagine finally hits him.
The characters around him are very interesting. Grace has a huge secret she's keeping from everyone--a secret that has entirely ruined her life but one that she deemed necessary at the time. It's clear that something happened between her and Cooper before Cooper entered into that life, but he is unsure why there is so much tension between them with no insight into the old Cooper's past. Some of the characters were incredibly shady and you didn't know whether or not they could be trusted. Everything is finally shown to us in the end and it's a bit surprising. It's a simple explanation, but still a very interesting one. I'm very anxious to read more about Cooper and his journey to save his soul, and hopefully another in the process. And of course I have to know what's in store for Cooper and Grace.
March 25, 2013
*2.5 stars*
An original story about what's in store for you when you deal with the devil, or his sister for that matter.
I have read stories about angels and demons, but I'm not sure if I've ever read one that dealt with the devil. I liked that this story was a bit different than what seems to be mainstream YA right now. It was unique and the idea of getting a second chance was hopeful, and yet Toni De Palma didn't make Cooper's journey a ride in that park. He had to go through many obstacles and while at times I thought maybe his mission was hopeless, there seemed to be some subtle divine intervention at the perfect moments.
The characters in this story were a bit hard for me to like. First, a lot of the characters were quite evil and vindictive. This always rubs me the wrong way when someone gets controlling and hurtful. Toni De Palma did a great job at making me dislike these bullies and even at times fear them...we are talking about the devil and his minions so some fear is to be expected. However, I didn't feel like we knew enough about the 'good' characters to like them. Cooper and Grace are the main characters and yet we see little into Grace's life, and Cooper's life is kind of jumbled so that makes it a bit hard to connect to him. My favorite character ended up being Cooper's brother Ryan. He seems like a genuinely great guy who has had a horrible hand dealt to him, yet he seems to take it all in stride. I wish we got to see more of him.
With Cooper's life being as convoluted as it was, I had a hard time following what was going on. I wish I would have gotten a little more back story to understand Cooper and Grace's past and the events that led them up to today. The missing information made it hard for me to read The Devil's Triangle at times, because I wasn't sure what was going on. Eventually most of it plays out by the end of the novel, but I'm still a little confused about a couple of things. Maybe they will be explained more in the next novel.
I really enjoyed the unique plot of The Devil's Triangle, but with the hard time I had connecting to the characters and following the plot left me wanting more....hopefully the sequel will fill in some blanks for me.
An original story about what's in store for you when you deal with the devil, or his sister for that matter.
I have read stories about angels and demons, but I'm not sure if I've ever read one that dealt with the devil. I liked that this story was a bit different than what seems to be mainstream YA right now. It was unique and the idea of getting a second chance was hopeful, and yet Toni De Palma didn't make Cooper's journey a ride in that park. He had to go through many obstacles and while at times I thought maybe his mission was hopeless, there seemed to be some subtle divine intervention at the perfect moments.
The characters in this story were a bit hard for me to like. First, a lot of the characters were quite evil and vindictive. This always rubs me the wrong way when someone gets controlling and hurtful. Toni De Palma did a great job at making me dislike these bullies and even at times fear them...we are talking about the devil and his minions so some fear is to be expected. However, I didn't feel like we knew enough about the 'good' characters to like them. Cooper and Grace are the main characters and yet we see little into Grace's life, and Cooper's life is kind of jumbled so that makes it a bit hard to connect to him. My favorite character ended up being Cooper's brother Ryan. He seems like a genuinely great guy who has had a horrible hand dealt to him, yet he seems to take it all in stride. I wish we got to see more of him.
With Cooper's life being as convoluted as it was, I had a hard time following what was going on. I wish I would have gotten a little more back story to understand Cooper and Grace's past and the events that led them up to today. The missing information made it hard for me to read The Devil's Triangle at times, because I wasn't sure what was going on. Eventually most of it plays out by the end of the novel, but I'm still a little confused about a couple of things. Maybe they will be explained more in the next novel.
I really enjoyed the unique plot of The Devil's Triangle, but with the hard time I had connecting to the characters and following the plot left me wanting more....hopefully the sequel will fill in some blanks for me.
May 10, 2013
This was a fun, well-written book that kept me wondering where it was all going. As the story slowly reveals its secrets, I enjoyed watching the snarky Cooper unravel the twists that had his attitude toward life tied in knots. The story is told in first person by the sarcastic Cooper, including all the fun-to-read inappropriate thoughts that run through a teen boy’s mind.
Cooper starts as an angry and unrepentant young man, with enough attitude to rattle Heaven’s gates. He’s in Purgatory awaiting judgment, after burning down his school and himself. Given his sarcastic tone of voice and thought, it’s unclear to the reader why Saint Peter would give him a second thought let alone a second chance to redeem himself. Even Cooper doesn’t think he deserves another shot at life.
It’s the Devil’s sister, Lucy, sitting at the table next to Saint Peter, who advocates for letting Cooper return to earth to save a girl named Grace. This is the only part of the story that bothered me. (Lucifer has a sister who works for God?) But again, it seems this is all part of larger machinations afoot.
As the story unfolds, the reader finds there’s a whole lot more to Cooper than meets the eye. His body, his relationship with Grace, and his sleepy little town have become a living chessboard in the battle between good and evil, with real life playing pieces fighting for their souls. Cooper had no idea what he was getting himself into – and little did he know he’d already been playing a part in this drama for the last five years!
I liked the character of Grace, a troubled teen with an abusive boyfriend. She’s the one Cooper is supposed to save, but the reader can see she’s an independent thinker, despite being stuck in the position of total damsel-in-distress. Ms. DePalma does a good job of revealing her complex character, slowly removing the layers until we realize Grace’s motivations for doing the things she does, and her inner strength.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next chapter in Cooper and Grace’s journey.
Cooper starts as an angry and unrepentant young man, with enough attitude to rattle Heaven’s gates. He’s in Purgatory awaiting judgment, after burning down his school and himself. Given his sarcastic tone of voice and thought, it’s unclear to the reader why Saint Peter would give him a second thought let alone a second chance to redeem himself. Even Cooper doesn’t think he deserves another shot at life.
It’s the Devil’s sister, Lucy, sitting at the table next to Saint Peter, who advocates for letting Cooper return to earth to save a girl named Grace. This is the only part of the story that bothered me. (Lucifer has a sister who works for God?) But again, it seems this is all part of larger machinations afoot.
As the story unfolds, the reader finds there’s a whole lot more to Cooper than meets the eye. His body, his relationship with Grace, and his sleepy little town have become a living chessboard in the battle between good and evil, with real life playing pieces fighting for their souls. Cooper had no idea what he was getting himself into – and little did he know he’d already been playing a part in this drama for the last five years!
I liked the character of Grace, a troubled teen with an abusive boyfriend. She’s the one Cooper is supposed to save, but the reader can see she’s an independent thinker, despite being stuck in the position of total damsel-in-distress. Ms. DePalma does a good job of revealing her complex character, slowly removing the layers until we realize Grace’s motivations for doing the things she does, and her inner strength.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next chapter in Cooper and Grace’s journey.
May 13, 2013
Cooper is seventeen, made of trouble, and very recently deceased when he finds himself before a panel of divine judges. St. Peter is there, along with Lucy, the devil’s reformed sister, and a guy who sleeps through Cooper’s appointment. The lady on the panel is in a playful mood and offers Cooper a second chance at life. He has one month to “save Grace,” and just like that, he’s zapped into a small town in New Jersey, and the life of a boy who had everything Cooper ever wanted.
The Devil’s Triangle is a young adult paranormal story featuring a male lead, a romantic arc, and a twist on the Redemption Quest trope. Cooper, a troubled teen, is given a second chance to make something of himself. At least, that’s how it seems to him when he’s dropped into suburban New Jersey with a vague mission and no contact from his boss lady.
Speaking of devil’s sister, I don’t usually cast the books I’m reading, but in this case, Lucy was Emmanuelle Vaugier, Lost Girl’s Morrigan, in my head from moment one. She’s dark, sexy, playful, and leaves Cooper and the reader both wondering how far to trust her. I’m a fan of sparkly side characters, and in just two scenes, the author creates a heavy weight.
Getting dropped into the life he wants isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Cooper has to feel his way around a loving family, classmates, a football team—one player of which is a bully—and a girl named Grace, that he’s supposed to save. She hates him, so if he’s going to save her, he has to figure out what he did to make her mad. Within Cooper, Ms. De Palma gives the reader a look into the mind of a teenage boy, one who is lost, confused, sex-obsessed, and earnest to make the most of the opportunity that he has.
I would recommend The Devil’s Triangle to readers of young adult paranormal, particularly fans of Avery Olive’s A Stiff Kiss.
The Devil’s Triangle is a young adult paranormal story featuring a male lead, a romantic arc, and a twist on the Redemption Quest trope. Cooper, a troubled teen, is given a second chance to make something of himself. At least, that’s how it seems to him when he’s dropped into suburban New Jersey with a vague mission and no contact from his boss lady.
Speaking of devil’s sister, I don’t usually cast the books I’m reading, but in this case, Lucy was Emmanuelle Vaugier, Lost Girl’s Morrigan, in my head from moment one. She’s dark, sexy, playful, and leaves Cooper and the reader both wondering how far to trust her. I’m a fan of sparkly side characters, and in just two scenes, the author creates a heavy weight.
Getting dropped into the life he wants isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Cooper has to feel his way around a loving family, classmates, a football team—one player of which is a bully—and a girl named Grace, that he’s supposed to save. She hates him, so if he’s going to save her, he has to figure out what he did to make her mad. Within Cooper, Ms. De Palma gives the reader a look into the mind of a teenage boy, one who is lost, confused, sex-obsessed, and earnest to make the most of the opportunity that he has.
I would recommend The Devil’s Triangle to readers of young adult paranormal, particularly fans of Avery Olive’s A Stiff Kiss.
March 2, 2013
Cooper finds himself making a deal with the devil's sister, Lucy. Her offer doesn't seem so bad. Live again, get the girl, go to heaven. When Cooper wakes up in the body of a jock with an actual family, he's surprised at how quickly he seems to fit into this life. What he doesn't know is that he and Grace, the girl he's been sent for, have always had a connection. Will the task be easy because of it, or will it prove to be the most challenging thing he's experienced so far?
I really enjoyed the idea of a teenage boy caught in this unusual situation. The premise of the book made it seem unlike anything I'd ever read before. Unfortunately, as I began reading, I quickly realized that The Devil's Triangle wasn't living up to my expectations. I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters and as I've mentioned countless times before, that's a crucial part of each reading experience for me. Cooper was just learning about his new identity, so that may be why I didn't feel as attached to him as I usually feel to main characters.
Though the story was interesting, there were parts that I wish were explained more. Of course, the author has left plenty of room to explain more in the next book, but since I don't plan on reading the next book in the series, I wish certain questions weren't left unanswered. Other than that, I liked the idea of Cooper and his connection with Grace, why he feels a certain pull towards her and why he can't give up, even when something supernatural comes between them.
The Devil's Triangle is a nicely-paced and a slightly unusual story of a boy and his love for a girl who belongs to the devil. If you love paranormal books with intriguing twists and an interesting plot, I'd recommend giving this one a try.
I really enjoyed the idea of a teenage boy caught in this unusual situation. The premise of the book made it seem unlike anything I'd ever read before. Unfortunately, as I began reading, I quickly realized that The Devil's Triangle wasn't living up to my expectations. I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters and as I've mentioned countless times before, that's a crucial part of each reading experience for me. Cooper was just learning about his new identity, so that may be why I didn't feel as attached to him as I usually feel to main characters.
Though the story was interesting, there were parts that I wish were explained more. Of course, the author has left plenty of room to explain more in the next book, but since I don't plan on reading the next book in the series, I wish certain questions weren't left unanswered. Other than that, I liked the idea of Cooper and his connection with Grace, why he feels a certain pull towards her and why he can't give up, even when something supernatural comes between them.
The Devil's Triangle is a nicely-paced and a slightly unusual story of a boy and his love for a girl who belongs to the devil. If you love paranormal books with intriguing twists and an interesting plot, I'd recommend giving this one a try.
August 10, 2016
After being cleaned up and prepared for the afterlife in Heaven (well, maybe he's going there), Cooper is sent before three angels/judges. They don't like his previous track record but can see the potential for him to be something more. So they (or Lucy) offer him a second chance at Heaven. But what he finds is some people are worth more than your second chance at Heaven.
Cooper lands himself at school in the middle of English class. He's got a crazy teacher and there's a loner girl that's caught his eye. After meeting Grace, he finds there's a past that he just isn't quite privy to yet. And then school ends and his brother, Ryan, has to help him with the home-life front. But there's just something about Grace and this second-chance that Lucy has given him that just doesn't quite make sense. And it's something Cooper's going to have to dig deeper on to figure out what's really going on.
This story is told from a boy's point of view. And I imagine the voice is how we girls want boys to think when they're thinking about girls. I mean we've got the rusty guy humor, but we've also got the deep-down feelings and romance-y things that some guys deny they have. The romance between Grace and Cooper was cute. I was able to follow the story well, and I was rooting for Cooper's plans-of-action to save the day. However, the whole beginnings of the story (what sets up the plot) is what I had an issue with. I wasn't sure I understood everything clearly, and I just kind of wanted to push all of the bad stuff away and cheer Grace and Cooper on.
This is truly a cute story filled with romance. It'd be pure contemporary if it weren't for the pesky Lucy giving Cooper a second chance at Heaven.
Cooper lands himself at school in the middle of English class. He's got a crazy teacher and there's a loner girl that's caught his eye. After meeting Grace, he finds there's a past that he just isn't quite privy to yet. And then school ends and his brother, Ryan, has to help him with the home-life front. But there's just something about Grace and this second-chance that Lucy has given him that just doesn't quite make sense. And it's something Cooper's going to have to dig deeper on to figure out what's really going on.
This story is told from a boy's point of view. And I imagine the voice is how we girls want boys to think when they're thinking about girls. I mean we've got the rusty guy humor, but we've also got the deep-down feelings and romance-y things that some guys deny they have. The romance between Grace and Cooper was cute. I was able to follow the story well, and I was rooting for Cooper's plans-of-action to save the day. However, the whole beginnings of the story (what sets up the plot) is what I had an issue with. I wasn't sure I understood everything clearly, and I just kind of wanted to push all of the bad stuff away and cheer Grace and Cooper on.
This is truly a cute story filled with romance. It'd be pure contemporary if it weren't for the pesky Lucy giving Cooper a second chance at Heaven.
April 5, 2013
Cooper is sitting around in heaven during his judgment when Lucy the Devil's sister (who has switched sides) talks everyone in to giving Cooper another shot on Earth. Only he wont be going back as himself and he needs to save a girl named Grace.
Cooper was super hot girl obsessed at the beginning and that kinda annoyed me. After he meets Grace and puts his efforts into figuring out what is going on with her and the attraction he has for her he becomes more tolerable. Grace really isn't the kind of girl Cooper would normally go after, she is more punk girl but he found himself drawn to her anyways. There are a lot of hints about why they are drawn together but you don't find out the big mystery until 1/3 of the way into the book and I certainly did not see that reveal coming. Cooper ends up being a pretty neat dude and Grace slowly opens up to past events to make the story come together.
THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE had a pretty unique concept. There was a slow start to the book and I had a bit of a hard time connecting to the story at certain points. The characters were all pretty neat and nicely written. Some things happened that I didn't really understand that hopefully will be explained better in book 2. THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE left off on a slight cliffhanger. You finally know everything about what is going on and hit a peak in the story for it to end. De Palma did a pretty good job with a male POV. I'm not sure that I would go out of my way to pick up book 2 but I liked it enough to read it if the opportunity presents itself
Cooper was super hot girl obsessed at the beginning and that kinda annoyed me. After he meets Grace and puts his efforts into figuring out what is going on with her and the attraction he has for her he becomes more tolerable. Grace really isn't the kind of girl Cooper would normally go after, she is more punk girl but he found himself drawn to her anyways. There are a lot of hints about why they are drawn together but you don't find out the big mystery until 1/3 of the way into the book and I certainly did not see that reveal coming. Cooper ends up being a pretty neat dude and Grace slowly opens up to past events to make the story come together.
THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE had a pretty unique concept. There was a slow start to the book and I had a bit of a hard time connecting to the story at certain points. The characters were all pretty neat and nicely written. Some things happened that I didn't really understand that hopefully will be explained better in book 2. THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE left off on a slight cliffhanger. You finally know everything about what is going on and hit a peak in the story for it to end. De Palma did a pretty good job with a male POV. I'm not sure that I would go out of my way to pick up book 2 but I liked it enough to read it if the opportunity presents itself
March 11, 2013
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The Devil's Triangle Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.
The story starts out with Cooper negotiating another chance at life. Only, he doesn't think it will change anything. Lucy, who just happens to be the Devil's sister, thinks otherwise-and she earns Cooper a second chance in Heaven if he can find a girl named Grace.
Cooper's new life is exactly what he has always wanted-dream parents, a member of the varsity football team, and this mysterious girl named Grace, who is part of his mission to redeem himself. What exactly this mission entails, he has to figure out.
Some readers will enjoy the easy, casual way the story is written-as if the plot is being told to a close friend. I, personally, did not like this method. There were sexual innuendos and thoughts on every page, and while this is a part of high school-it was certainly a turn off for me. If not for this, I would almost suggest this be for middle grade readers.
The plot is unlike anything I have ever read, so the originality is a plus. I like the whole "earning a second chance" mindset, and feel like it is a good motivation to do better. Some parts of the plot were a bit confusing, and there were little details I thought could have been thrown in so that we could make more sense of the situation.
The Devil's Triangle Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.
The story starts out with Cooper negotiating another chance at life. Only, he doesn't think it will change anything. Lucy, who just happens to be the Devil's sister, thinks otherwise-and she earns Cooper a second chance in Heaven if he can find a girl named Grace.
Cooper's new life is exactly what he has always wanted-dream parents, a member of the varsity football team, and this mysterious girl named Grace, who is part of his mission to redeem himself. What exactly this mission entails, he has to figure out.
Some readers will enjoy the easy, casual way the story is written-as if the plot is being told to a close friend. I, personally, did not like this method. There were sexual innuendos and thoughts on every page, and while this is a part of high school-it was certainly a turn off for me. If not for this, I would almost suggest this be for middle grade readers.
The plot is unlike anything I have ever read, so the originality is a plus. I like the whole "earning a second chance" mindset, and feel like it is a good motivation to do better. Some parts of the plot were a bit confusing, and there were little details I thought could have been thrown in so that we could make more sense of the situation.
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