Book Review: As I Wake by Sarah DiCello

Pages: 236

Genre: New Adult/Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: December 14, 2012
Series: As I Close My Eyes (Breaking Fate #1)

Source: Author for review

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Readers entranced by "As I Close My Eyes" will once again be thrust into the enchanting life of Danielle Grayson in "As I Wake," the second book in the Breaking Fate series. A secret of Dani's past is revealed and she must find the answers before it's too late. Can she change the fate of her one true love or will he suffer the same destiny for all of time? As Dani rekindles her relationship with Ben she finds herself torn between her present day life in Sugar Hill, Georgia and a new past she has yet to discover. But something in her past makes her question the journey she has chosen. Time is running out and she is the only one who can understand the path that must be taken. But will it be enough? Has the story of Dani and Ben been written in stone never to be undone?

At the end of As I Close My Eyes, readers aren't sure about Dani and Ben's relationship.  Dani decides to study abroad in England in order to take some time to clear her head.  Her former life and the flashbacks to Cape May have really started to impact her.  Things have changed though.  Dani was involved in a bad car accident and now is experiences new flashbacks involving Elizabeth, a young girl living in New Orleans in the 1920s.  Her experience in New Orleans is similar to Cape May in that many people from her current life are in these flashbacks as well.  Hanging over her head the whole time is Ben's fate and whether or not she can alter that.  Meanwhile, Dani still has her everyday concerns back in Georgia and to top it off, she learns some family secrets that will give her some clues about her flashbacks.  As I Wake, book two in the Breaking Fate series, by Sara DiCello is a world that I loved to be lost in. Fans of historical fiction and time travel will really enjoy Dani's adventures.

One of my issues with As I Close My Eyes was the insta-love factor, but now that we've got that sorted out and I understand Dani and Ben's connection, I really enjoyed their relationship in As I Wake. I loved that Dani grew as a person in As I Wake; she learned more about her family and unearthed some secrets, specifically about her deceased father and brother.  

Her best friend, Eric, is also in the picture in As I Wake as well as Dani's past in New Orleans. I found this subplot to be a nice addition to the story as I am a big fan of Eric. Don't get me wrong, Ben is great and all, but sometimes he seems too perfect. On the other hand, I do wonder about Eric and why he is always showing up wherever Dani is.

I loved Dani's flashbacks to New Orleans in the 1920s and the incorporation of the many people from her present life in these flashbacks.  Elizabeth is a fun character and I was completely absorbed in her story.  I also enjoyed that Dani had to piece together the various clues from her flashbacks. Dani starts to question that perhaps there is meaning to all of this after all?  I also really liked how DiCello included a character from her Cape May memories in New Orleans--it definitely took me by surprise!

It's a rare thing for me to say that I enjoyed book two in a series more than book one; however, that is the case with As I Wake.  I hope Sarah DiCello is working on book three, because I can't wait to see what is in store for Dani next!