Forgiveness and Permission: The Ghost Bird Series: #4

OVERALL: 5 STARS!Story/Plot:5! - Yes, that's a HUGE WHOPPING 5, WITH EXCLAMATION MARK. So, this is book 4 in the Academy series by C.L. Stone.If anyone is glancing through my reviews - which I am horrible at compiling - if you came across my previous comments for books 1 - 3, you will find them sorely lacking. I apologize and shall try to go back and correct this so I can get EVERYONE to realize they need to read this amazing series. And I promise not to drop a lot of SPOILERS.Before I move on, I want to admit there aren't a lot of books out there that grip me from the first page straight through to the end of the book and headlong into the next book if it's a series. I will admit I love to read and I happily fall into the worlds authors create and don't want to leave, but even though it is difficult to explain I feel it more for certain books/series than others. The Academy series is unquestionably one of these.Re-read Value: 4 - I am 100% sure I will re-read these books. If I were honest with you, if I didn't have so many books on my TBR list currently, I would throw caution to the wind and re-read the series from the beginning to feed my addiction until the next book in the series is released. Maybe I should check my list for this month and see if I can do that . . .Continue Series: 5! - I am on tenterhooks here. The next book isn't available until January and I simply must find out what is going on with Sang and the guys. While pondering when the next book would become available and just how long I would have to suffer - god, I think it does sound like I am an addict facing withdrawals symptoms *sigh* - I went over to the author's website and found out the most amazing thing! If you are fan and are not aware yet, my I drop one spoiler? If you are saying no, please drop down to the next rating and if yes, here it is: Ms. Stone has 20 - yes, my fellow readers and fans, the big 2-0 - books outlines for this series and with a possibility of more to follow! Are you screaming and fangirling like I am? I know right?!Characters: 5 - I love the characters in The Academy series, both good, bad and the questionable. Mainly the good *smile* Who wouldn't? There are 9 - Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Luke, North, Gabriel, Mr. Blackthorne & Dr. Green - very hot sexy guys you just gush over as you're reading the books. You're also calling them sweet and adorable or yelling at them to get their acts together. Of course that might just be me, but if you want to mock me, go ahead. And of course you have Sang, the luckiest girl in the whole universe. If your a girl, you will spend all your time reading the book thinking how lucky she is, how jealous you are and wondering what she is going to do. I won't go into the antagonists or the people we are still left looking at with huge question marks over their heads because as I mentioned up above, I don't want to provide spoilers & if I was honest, I would rant and rave about some of them and their antics and ruin the whole book for you. Trust me, just read the book and rant and rave yourself!Cover: 4 - The cover does in fact fit the image of this series. I only gave it a lower rating because *sigh* I am a little shallow and enjoyed the first two covers when this series was first being released. Now I am left in wonder at how hot and sexy the guys are.Genre Fulfillment: 5 - I wish I could put this at a higher rating. I guess that is confusing or maybe you think I am just being favorable because I LOVE this series, but I promise that isn't why I said that.This book is geared towards young adults/teens. It deals with not only teen issues, but adult issues as well and some pretty intense situations which are not considered pretty. This book isn't just a harem or reverse harem book, where all the guys are in love with the girl and the girl cannot choose between them - though from my comments above, you might assume that is all it is. *growl* You'd be wrong. There is also an element of mystery, espionage to the story that keeps you wondering. There's also a good amount of comedy and hilarious situations. In truth, the books are a nice blend if I say so myself. I read the books in one sitting - yes, in less than a day, I finish one book because they are so amazing - and during that time, I am shocked, offended, crying, laughing, suspicious, rooting for various characters, yelling at them to do this, that or telling them off for their behavior - sometimes with accompanying shake of the head or finger - smiling like a loon, or ready to reach into the book and be horrible to certain people because I am MAD. I should also add I am thinking and pondering - whether on what will happen in the future, that specific book or about the mysterious Academy. Now do you understand why I said I wished to give this book a higher rating for genre fulfillment?Personal Involvement: 5! - As if you didn't know? I don't know what to post here about my personal involvement. Above, you see how much I enjoy the series, but there is so much more that I cannot write about with telling you SPOILERS! On her author page, C.L. Stone states "I write things. Usually about cute boys and uncomfortable situations." *sigh* I don't know if this will spoil it for you and if it does, please excuse me. She does write about "uncomfortable situations" and personally, I try to not think about those things. I know they happen - trust me, I know - and I know the world can be a horrible place and there are tons of horrible people out there. I just generally try to avoid them in all things. This being mentioned, although it bothers me on a small level while reading the books, I am not put off. *sigh* It's not coming out right.I highly recommend if you have not already started reading this series, please do!

What do I say? It's all so plausible, that it's mind-blowing! I can see myself in Sang's situation, being bullied by a paranoid mother, now being bullied by her school's administration. Throw in daddy issues and sibling rivalry (that's what I saw anyway), and how could she not value the attention, affection, and friendship offered by the guys? She's 15, lonely, sooooo innocent and gullible, and just now able to come out of her shell because her craaazzzaaaayyy mama (can't forgive her for that shower scene) is in a hospital somewhere. Yeah you remember those days, when you first start to question the world around you but also want to please all your buddies. And Sang is the biggest people-pleaser of them all, you know those types: they don't say no to anyone, and they let everyone walk all over them. I just wanted to get in there, be her bff and slap some good old common sense into her. But good thing Mr. Blackbourne is there to inject some strength into her backbone.So let's get to it, the attraction to seven, possibly nine guys, realistic? HELL YEAH! (Mostly only true for this series, but I'm sure y'all will lemme know if there's other good ones out there.) And let me say that I hate, absolutely HATE love triangles, and this is some sort of mutated love polygon or should I say love decagon (whispers thanks to Kota). The way this story is woven together with the personalities of the guys, mixed with every day high school problems and secret Academy espionage business, it so totally works for this series. In this book, you get more of an in-depth look into most of the guys and the workings of Sang's mind. This group is a family, and they share everything. Nathan tells her that The Academy's boot camp showed them how to overcome unnecessary everyday gripes in order to recognize needs and be able to depend on one another. If he needs a car, he can borrow Victor's or Kota's. If he needs a place to crash, any one of the guys' houses is available. Family is a choice, and they choose to be together and help each other with everything. Family first, The Academy second! This lead to the big "Oh, that's why they're not jealous!" moment in which I became eternally grateful to the author and sent her air kisses and hugs. Sang's been so abused and she's deserving of any one of the guys, but without another female friend/mentor, I'm glad there was no jealousy displayed among the guys to discourage her even more. Some jealousy is addressed and Sang gets to see it from a male and female perspective. Yep, our sweet little princess has gotta grow up some time.The reason I love this series is that it could totally happen in the real world. Back! Back you! (to all those vampires and werewolves amazon keeps suggesting) Remember being so young and checking out every hot guy that passed by wondering, "Is he the one? Will he love me no matter what? What do I do? How do I act? Does he like me? Or are we just friends?" I admit, I drooled a lot, actually fanned myself, and literally stopped breathing several times. But that's ok, because I read this well into the night so that I could finish it, so I fan-girled in private, thank you very much. Anyway, it was so fun to see how the guys were trying to get Sang to kiss them. As you will recall, from the last book, they are only allowed to touch her in a way that they have previously done so, and the only way to move forward with her is if Sang initiates. I was glad she was so innocent in the ways of relationships because I loved seeing the creative methods the guys came up with to be nearer to her and how they hinted at wanting a kiss. Of course sexual tension rules say we must suffer until Sang gets a romantic epiphany, so I sighed and aaahhed, and hugged my e-reader (like he was the guy of the moment).The Academy: Forgiveness and Permission (Year 1, Book 4)Pros:1. Know more of how Sang thinks.2. Getting up close and personal with some of the guys. (swoooon)3. Realistic High School issuesCons:1. This book is part of an 8-book series (waaahhhh, I don't wanna wait that long)2. These lines made me sad and think too much: "The hardest part was admitting to myself that if I really liked one of them, knowing that if we really started dating, I'd have to let go of the others. And I felt the lure every time they called, touched, or said my name."I don't want to give too much away because I know you love squealing at surprise revelations too, but the last chapter was jaw-droppingly beyond belief (although, I was secretly wishing for something like it all along, haha). So in conclusion, read this book, your romantic daydreams depend on it! Gonna go shop with Gabriel and then swim with the guys now, tootles.

I picked book one because it was free, I bought the next three because I simply had too. This is a concept I haven't read before, one inhibited, damaged girl being adored and making slaves of 9 gorgeous, smart, men but the twist is it looks like she can choose them all. I actually found myself worrying about the others every time I thought she was going to kiss one properly! I also found myself getting aggravated with Sang over her incredibly compliant and confused nature but the book forced me to consider how abused and isolated people can interact with the world and those they love. I read the four books all over three days and the wait to January is going to kill me. The storyline is such I believe and fervently hope it has a lot of mileage in it. Usual ebook issues with grammar and some spelling but totally overlooked it this time. Thank you to the author and please hurry with the next books!!!

OMG this series is amazing and this book did soooooo not disappoint just wish sang would have a bit more time with Black Bourne and green !! Especially if they want the dynamics of the group to work she needs to get on with all of them not just the boys ! So hopefully we'll see that in the next book ? I like how she standing up more for herself now but wish she could start to sort out some situations on her without the boys coming to rescue her however her innocence and helplessness is what got the boys attention in the first place so whatever ! The next book needs to hurry up I would re omens reading this book slowly to make toast longer !!

It was good that the author has started development on Sang because the one dimensional character she was becoming was annoying. At last she is starting to stand up for herself and not letting the boys dictate to her all the time. Entertainment at its best though, I enjoyed this story and now need the next installment - recommended! !

Not my favorite in the genre, but still a good book. I liked Sang and you can't help but feel sorry for her. Some of the boys are easier and better to understand than the others, but overall the sense of family is overall what everyone wants.

This book I literally do not know how to describe it I have read all of them so far and it s excruciatingly slow waiting for the next book I have told all my friends and I have asked the librarian to buy them even though I have them all nothing van compare I have read a vast vast majority of books different genres and this beats them all well done C.L Stone keep it up just wondering but could you release-it on Christmas or at least show the cover so you could do the pre-order or you know just tell us the date.If you love solving , spy, real life problems , romance kind of thriller this is defiantly the book for you and even if you don't you'll still probably like it rate it 5 stars all the way in fact 20 out of 5 again well done C.L Stone The Academy - Introductions (Year One, Book One) (The Academy Series) The Academy - Forgiveness and Permission (Year One, Book Four) The Academy - Friends vs. Family (Year One, Book Three) (The Academy Series) The Academy - First Days (Year One, Book Two) (The Academy Series)The Academy - Introductions (Year One, Book One) (The Academy Series)The Academy - Forgiveness and Permission (Year One, Book Four)The Academy - Friends vs. Family (Year One, Book Three) (The Academy Series)The Academy - First Days (Year One, Book Two) (The Academy Series)