ARC Review: Almost Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Title: Almost Midnight (The Novella Collection) 
Author: C.C. Hunter
Genre: Paranormal 
Source: Finished Copy sent by St. Martin's Griffin (Prior to Publication date)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016

Summary:

Nestled deep in the woods, Shadow Falls is a secret camp where teens with supernatural powers learn to harness their abilities and live in the normal world. Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang did not believe in vampires...until she became one. Chase Tallman is the newest member of Shadow Falls, but what made him into the sexy, mysterious vampire he is today? And what led him to Della Tsang? And for Miranda Kane, magic has always been something she's struggled with, but when an opportunity to test her powers takes her to Paris, she'll have to prove that she's a witch to be reckoned with and belongs at Shadow Falls.

Turned at Dark (Shadow Falls #.5)

I was always unclear how Della was turned, we knew Chan was involved but not how. Turned at Dark takes you through the first few days of Della's transformation from human to vampire. It was short (28 pages kind of short) and got to the point. We also get to meet Lee, who Della is hung up on all through out the Shadow Falls series. I honestly felt bad for her, because we all know how strict her father was, and they seemed to have a decent enough relationship before all of this happened. I enjoyed this short story, but I felt like it was lacking something. 

Saved at Sunrise (Shadow Falls #4.5) 

I love Steve! I remember bits and pieces of the Shadow Falls series but I think I liked him back then too. Della's dream is to be part of the FRU (The supernatural version of the police/FBI) and when Burnett allows Della on a mission she is ecstatic, only Burnett also stuck Steve (A shapeshifter) on the case as well. Della believes it is to keep an eye on her, and resents to idea. 

Della breaks my heart a little, because she was so in love with Lee and he broke her heart after she was turned into a vampire. But Della is so hung up on him that she spies on him a bit. Now, Lee has a fiancee and looks genuinely happy. But Della is just tormenting herself and won't allow herself the chance to let someone else in. Even Steve. 

Through out the short novella, Della feels herself developing feelings towards Steve and she fights them because of Lee. This novella contains a lot of snark, a few kisses and everything I loved about the Shadow Falls books. I liked the mention of the other characters. Overall I really enjoyed this one. 

Unbreakable (Shadow Falls: After Dark #.5) 

I haven't officially met Chase yet, so reading Unbreakable will be kept in mind when I do. I can't tell you how choked up I got while reading this novella, Chase finally got the girl of his dreams and then he looses her and his family in a plane crash.  I like Hunter's writing, so even though the novella is short it is packed with a mystery, seriousness and a bit of humor. I am looking forward to meeting Chase, and the boy he has become! 

Spellbinder (Shadow Falls Novella) 

I liked this one best so far out of all of them and I think it is more or less because there are more of The Shadow Falls characters in it then the other novels. In this one Miranda is competing to be the high priestess but things keep getting in the way. Perry left her. Other contestants are being murdered. Tabitha has it out for her. Nothing is going her way.  

I loved Miranda is the other books, so getting a novella about her was pretty awesome! This novella was meatier then the others, so a whole let more goes on. Miranda learns something about her life that has to potential to turn everything upside down. I like Hunter's writing. Besides the serious moments there is some fun, and laughs that happen through out. 

Besides Miranda we learn a little bit more about Della and Chase and Steve. As cold hearted as Della tries and attempts to be we know that she isn't. Della is obviously struggling with was Chase has done, and how to deal with it. Overall I liked this novella the best out of them all! 

Fierce (Shadow Falls Novella)

I think Shadow Fall fans naturally hated Fredricka because she was the person who stood between Kylie and Lucas. But this novella gave me a new appreciation for the girl. She tries to be tough, and on the outside she is but on the inside she has her own pain and demons. We learn things about Fredrika that we didn't get to in the previous Shadow Falls books. Her past wasn't easy, but she came out on top of it all.  

I think my only issue with tis novella was Cary, the pervy teacher. Why was their "friendship" allowed in the first place? I just feel like that was something Burnett would have been all over despite the issues that arose between the two. Which brings me to my next point about how much I love Burnett, he reminds me of a kick ass FBI "I am going to bust your teeth in" kind of guy and I just love that. But then he has his sweeter side that has been seen tons of times. 

Overall I liked the whole novella collection and how it is together in one book. Reading it makes me miss Shadow Falls, and now I know I am going to be doing a reread soon!