Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Edited by: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 345

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

My Rating:✰✰✰✰✰
Brief Overview Review:
I loved this book a lot more than I thought I was going to! The writing was very simple and easy to read. The characters were realistic and seemed authentic. The plot was quite fantastic. I loved the paranormal/ urban fantasy aspects of how something could change a girl's life forever. I do recommend this book for a fast, thrilling, read that will keep you on your toes.

Spoiler Review:
The beginning of the story was quite strange since a janitor kissed the main character, Harper (whose biggest problem homecoming night is having naked lips..), giving her Paladin powers and right after that,  her history teacher tries to kill her, but she kills him with her shoe....Then, when Harper goes home, she does a handstand on the fence and flips into the pool which confirms her thoughts of her having powers. Harper's reactions once she realizes is a lot calmer than what most people probably would've done. She did her own researched and did her own hilarious experiments. (hitting David, hitting Brandon, throwing a pencil..)

The whole story about Paladins, Mages, and Oracles was great. I liked the idea of the three of them being connected to each other always. I can't wait to see how this world background will development and what other things we will learn.

At first, I wasn't sure if I liked Harper's character. She seemed too perfect and a little bit annoying at the beginning to be honest. I definitely started to like her more after she accepted her role as Paladin and started training. She became a lot more stronger and fiercer.
David's character was also annoying in the beginning, but as him and Harper started to interact more and like each other, I grew onto the both of them. Their history of being rivals gave them a unique back story. These types of relationships are the best because you want them so bad to finally have their first kiss or to accept their feelings. I was worried that they weren't going to in this book, but at the end, I was very satisfied.
I didn't hate Ryan and felt bad for him that Harper couldn't tell him the truth, but understood why. When he let her go at the end, it made me happy for the both of them and they both would be free. (I do not like Mary Beth though) Although if they both would've broken up in the beginning, things would be a lot easier.

Bee's character didn't seem that important other than her role of being a friend until the end where Blythe takes her away. I did like Bee and she was a nice supporting friend for Harper.

Saylor's death made me sad and I didn't want to see her die for the sake of how much Harper and David needed her. She was an  important person that was like their teacher on the history but now that she is gone, they will have to get through it together. Ryan's now the Mage which made me feel excited and smiley because I knew that this trilogy would be going places. The three would be united. (and is it just me or do I smell a possible love triangle brewing if Ryan wants her back..)

This whole book led up to Cotillion which was where David would be put to the test if he can handle to spell that would give him so much power. Thankfully, he was okay in the end. Since Blythe was the main villain in the book, I wished that we saw more of her in the beginning so that it would've been even more of a shock at her wrongness. I think it was very smart to choose to poison everyone that Harper knows personally, to go try to kill her. It made things more personal and difficult for her.

There were many small details in the writing that made it grand. (David and Harper bumping into each other. The moment where Saylor tells Harper that there are only 6 girls in the room. Wow.) Rachel's writing was great and I didn't want to stop reading.

I honestly cannot wait for the next book and see where their journey takes off. This trilogy has so much potential to be the best one out there. It was mix of a lot of great things.