Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Dreaming Awake (Falling Under #2)

Author: Gwen Hayes

Publisher:  New American Library Trade

Pages: 336

Rating: 4.5 Stars! 

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love… 

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions. 

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own. 

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…~Goodreads

The descriptions of Under in Dreaming Awake are fantastic and beautiful and grotesque and basically just amazing! Walking skeletons, sewn together handmaidens and a blind surgeon...the place is seriously messed up! But I'm in love with it and I’m praying/summoning dark magic in hopes that there will be a 3^rd book and it’ll take place completely in Under!

And Under’s Prince, Haden, never ceases to make my heart beat erratically! He's as sexy as ever with his piercing eyes, cravats *swoon* and black nail polish! He's sweet and vulnerable and flirty and jealous....and if there’s one thing I love, it’s a jealous fictional boy! (When they’re cute about it! Not when they’re, like, violent about it...and Haden is cute about it!)

When Theia and Haden are together their sexual tension is off the charts! Holy DUCK! (thanks, Varnie!) I wouldn’t have been surprised if they started bumping uglies in the middle of the school hallway. Their attraction to each is so palpable it flies off the pages like crazy!

And of course, all of the secondary characters are back and better than ever! Varnie & Ame are completely effin’ adorable, Donny & Gabe are hilarious, Mike is still...just...there, and Mara is out to cause trouble!

Not only was Dreaming Awake messed up and freaky, it was also emotionally draining. Some major, major things go down in this installment and they are nothing short of heart-breaking. One of the things tore me to bits. But alas! I shall stop my rant before I give too much away! The ending is sure to make you let out a frustrated squeal! Good or bad? I’ll let you decide! If you loved Falling Under this incredible sequel canNOT be missed!

Perhaps there will be a third book in this series? Perhaps.