SLEEPLESS is a unique and delightful supernatural read that combines romance with suspense, the real with the mythical.

The story travels along in a gentle yet always engaging pace. Julia is appreciably complex: oftentimes we might find ourselves wondering why she ever dated Griffin in the first place, but Cyn Balog masterfully weaves together the different parts of a complicated girl who feels like she has to pretend to be someone she isn't in order to protect herself. Eron, too, is a sweetheart, though perhaps less developed. It's easy to see why he's different from others of his kind, and we find ourselves cheering for him and hoping that he gets the girl and everything turns out alright.

Cyn Balog does a marvelous job with the supernatural element of SLEEPLESS. I had only vaguely heard of the Sandmen, but I like how Cyn puts together a complete portrait of a mythical people who have more complex motivations than legend says. Alongside the supernatural, the "real world" element is also well done. Without giving away any spoilers, it does a great job of blending so many different things together, from Eron's struggles with his too-human feelings, to Griffin's inability to get over the past, to...the thing that Julia has to deal with.

SLEEPLESS is an easy but enjoyable read, with just the right touch of romance, human struggle, and heart to make it a story that lingers in your mind.

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I read the ARC of this book so don't know what ended up hitting the shelves but based on my copy I can say that it's a nice read.
I really liked the idea of a Sandman falling in love with one of his charges and breaking rules to protect her. I am generally a fan of incorporating folklore into contemporary fiction and building stories around it so here Ms. Balog did well as far as I'm concerned. What I was much less fond of is how from a perfectly satisfying middle of the book where the story developed at a good pace we jumped to the conclusion that felt cut short and rushed and where the main trouble-maker acted completely out of character. I literally turned the last page and wondered "What? That's it? Aren't there supposed to be more chapters?"
The characters are interesting, each with their own voice, and you can see how they change and develop over the course of the story. It would have been great to learn more about them. With the book being as short as it is I feel we've been given a glimpse but there's more to know about every one of them and since I think Ms. Balog does a good job with her characters I bet it would've only made the story better.

Read my other reviews at bibliophilescorner.blogspot.com

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Balog had a great idea, a great story. She blew it.

At first, my only problem was my personal dislike of the hero. I couldn't like him. I found him quite annoying. However, I couldn't tell if this was a problem most would have him. It's more of a subjective problem.
Over looking that, I thought it was a really good book until the end.

It seemed to me that things just seemed to magically work out because Balog needed an ending and wasn't creative enough to workout the issues in such a way that the story ended properly. The best way I can describe the ending is that it was too easy. I can't stand endings like that.

Good for young adults who haven't read as much or as often as I have. For people with developed tastes in reading, this isn't for you.

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Reviewed by Andrea for TeensReadToo.com

In SLEEPLESS by Cyn Balog, the Sandman is not just a childhood fantasy - he, or she, is real!

Eron De Marchelle is a Sandman and his job is to protect his charges and help them get a good night's sleep. And he isn't supposed to favor one over another or become involved in their dreams. But ever since she was a little girl, Eron has been attracted to Julia. And he has to watch as her world crashes around her when her boyfriend, Griffin, is suddenly killed. Will Eron break the rules and become involved with one of his charges, or just sit by and watch?

The premise of this story is definitely new. A Sandman? I've never read anything of the like. (And where is mine? I always have a hard time falling asleep and wake up at least once an hour - so my Sandman must not be doing his/her job!) Anyway, when I saw what the story was about, I knew I had to read it.

The storyline was good and the plot was well thought out, but I didn't really like the characters. I definitely didn't like Griffin or Brett. Sorry, but they just seemed like jerks to me. Guys who laugh at anything, and Griffin and Julia never had serious conversations. I don't know; just not very likeable guys. And while I didn't dislike Julia, I didn't really care for her either, until the very end. Then she seemed to get some of her own personality. Eron was cute. The way that he was so confused in the modern world was endearing.

I liked how the story was told from alternating viewpoints between Julia and Eron. And I liked the overall plot. But I think the ending wrapped up a little too nicely and quickly. I could easily have read more and would have liked there to be more story at the end. Still a 5 star read, though.

This was a fun book on a new topic, and I look forward to reading Cyn Balog's other book, FAIRY TALE.

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