YA Adventure

She Learned THERE WILL BE LIES–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing newly-released THERE WILL BE LIES, a YA adventure from Nick Lake. I usually read YA romance, but this? This was different. Not romance. More adventure-meets-mysticism-meets-well…so many things I can’t quite fit it all without giving away giant sections of the plot. So….

There Will Be LiesAbout the book:
In four hours, Shelby Jane Cooper will be struck by a car.

Shortly after, she and her mother will leave the hospital and set out on a winding journey toward the Grand Canyon.

All Shelby knows is that they’re running from dangers only her mother understands. And the further they travel, the more Shelby questions everything about her past—and her current reality. Forced to take advantage of the kindness of unsuspecting travelers, Shelby grapples with what’s real, what isn’t, and who she can trust . . . if anybody.

My Review:
This is a book that will stay with me. Shelby lives a very sheltered life. She’s almost 18 and has never gone to school. She is homeschooled by her mother, Shaylene, and spends 6 of 7 days a week in their apartment in Scottsdale, AZ. Every Friday they leave the apartment together, so Shelby can hit balls at the local batting cage, then they have ice cream for dinner and Shelby goes to the library, unescorted, for a few hours while her mother works. This library time is the only time Shelby is ever left alone outside their apartment.

She has never has a friend, and has no siblings. Her father is dead, and he was horrible, or so she has been told. Then, one Friday, while waiting to get picked up outside the library, Shelby is struck by a car. In her pain she meets, well, a coyote, who advises her that she will learn two lies and one truth about her life.

For a moment I wondered if Shelby had hit the peyote, but she hadn’t. She did have a broken ankle, however, and in the aftermath of her care finds herself and her mother on the road. Escaping, her mother tells her, from her (dead) father. Because if he finds them, they’re as good as dead. Yep. Guess Shelby’s dad isn’t so dead after all.

Or, is he? How can Shelby trust her mom–as she watches her befriend unsuspecting men with the objective of stealing their vehicles. And, the coyote continues to return.

When Shelby sleeps she falls into the Dreaming, a place of myth and mystery where she is the Maiden and must rescue the crying Child from a malevolent force in order to restore the rain and keep the Dreaming alive. In this mythical place Shelby is aided by the trickster Coyote, as well as the stalwart Elk and strong Eagle. It is here she is told she has 8 days to save the Child or the Dreaming–and Shelby’s whole universe–will be destroyed.

This is a strongly metaphysical book, with real and mythical touch points. In her waking life, Shelby learns that there are very big portions of her life that are lies, and the truth that is revealed is just as devastating. There are car chases, and police actions and people who try to help but end up only causing more harm.

I adored the elements of First Nations mysticism and mythology that were interwoven. This book sang with cultural tenets, and a realistic depiction of a displaced teen. Shelby, herself, is at a major disadvantage as her own advocate–not because she is young (she’s almost an adult) but because people assume she is disabled. She has some difficulties, but that doesn’t diminish her capability. Throughout Shelby is self-possessed and as independent as she is ever allowed to be.

I am not ashamed to admit there were twists I didn’t see coming. I did, however, predict the bulk of the ending–as the foreshadowing was excellent. The ticking time bomb of Shelby’s world is a motivator, but she can’t often access the tools, or skills, she needs to complete her quest in the Dreaming, and must return to reality to marshal resources. In the end, the heartache that is Shelby’s life is greatly resolved, on her terms for a change. No more isolation. Actual friendships and autonomy, and a family she never expected.

Interested? You can find THERE WILL BE LIES on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retail outlets, no doubt. I received an advanced review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author: (In his words…)
My name is Nick and I write and edit books for young adults. My first YA novel IN DARKNESS, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012 and won the Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in YA Literature. I also wrote a book called HOSTAGE THREE about a girl kidnapped by Somali pirates.

THERE WILL BE LIES is about a girl who learns that everything she knows is a lie. To say it’s a book with a twist in the story would be a massive understatement. There is also a talking coyote in it.

I live with my wife, daughter and son in a 16th century house in England with almost 19th century amenities. Sometimes the heating even works.

I like: reading, art, music, food containing sugar, cities at night, the countryside in the daytime, vintage furniture, modern standards of heating (see above), traveling.

I dislike: being sick, failing, being underdressed in the cold, being overdressed in the heat, the unnecessary suffering of children, being punched in the face.

Catch up with Nick on his website, Goodreads, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Cephalopod Coffeehouse Nov 2014–THE FIFTH VERTEX–A Review

0ed81-coffeehouse
Hi there! Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month. Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.

This month I’m sharing a YA/New Adult fantasy. THE FIFTH VERTEX is the first in a planned series by Kevin Hoffman, and I really did enjoy it.

The Fifth Vertex (The Sigilord Chronicles, #1)About the book:

Urus Noellor–a boy born deaf who is about to be publicly branded as a burden, incapable of being the warrior his people demand–stands upon a rooftop, poised to throw himself over the edge. His failed attempt at suicide unlocks within him a long-dormant form of magic thought to have died out thousands of years before, a power that may be the key to saving the world from an equally ancient enemy.

Urus and his companions–Goodwyn, the greatest warrior in Kest, and Cailix, a mysterious orphan–must find a way to stop a powerful group of sorcerers from destroying the five long-hidden vertices that ward the world against threats from beyond, while fighting off threats from within. They soon learn that the scope of the coming danger may be more dire than any of them could have imagined. As the battle for the vertices spreads to the neighboring realms, Goodwyn must face the realities of war and death; Cailix discovers a devastating truth that could change everything; and Urus discovers his uncanny gifts and courage as he peels away clues to his true identity. But even as Urus gains the power he has always craved, he experiences it all in profound, lonely silence.

My Review:

Urus tells the majority of this epic tale of magical forces set on tearing apart the world. He is a young adult, on the verge of being outcast from his clan–for lack of being a better warrior on account of his deafness. He discovers a magic within himself when he attempts to commit suicide. He is a sigilord, though he doesn’t yet know what this means, or the power he holds.

Cailix is an orphan in the care of monks, when three blood mages arrive and slaughter the monks to obtain the vertex map they guard and gain the power of their blood. She attaches to the head blood mage, Anderis, and begins to learn this killing art–always in the effort to gain enough power to escape her new mentor.

Goodwyn, Urus’s BFF is a gifter warrior, with the ability to “see” the near future in his mind. He also has a dark secret that would alter his status if it were revealed.

As it turns out, Anderis is tasked with destroying the five dimensional vertices on this world. In doing so he will release his fellow entrapped blood mages and they will then be able to traverse not only this world, but all other worlds.

There is an exiled arbiter, Murin, who becomes a guide for Urus, helping him to gain the knowledge of his power and also find the lost vertices and protect them from destruction. Unfortunately the blood mages gain power with every kill, and even the combined strength of Urus, Goodwyn and Cailix may not be enough to prevent annihilation when the vertices get crushed.

This was an interesting hero’s saga. Urus and Goodwyn are good characters, both having deeper layers. Urus was routinely beaten as a child, whereas Goodwyn loves one he cannot claim. These internal issues definitely affect the choices they make. Cailix learns the truth of her parentage, and it only makes her more determined to use her blood sorcery for good. Plus, it seems she has an affinity for Urus.

War is being batted throughout this world, but there comes a time when fences get mended and enemies unite to assault the larger evil, and it is handled in a way that is respectful and honest. Lots of gore–due to the wars incited by the blood mages, and also by the mages harvesting blood for their own power–which directly affects Urus; his sigilord blood power is enormous compared with that of normal people, or even blood mages.

What I loved about this book was the variety of form. Urus and Goodwyn are from Kest–and they are black with yellowish eyes. Murin, Urus’s arbiter guide is a grey man. Cailix is a pale girl with red hair, some of the others in the book range from dwarfish to giant. The people of this world are all different, unique to their locale. Urus’s main skill is his abiility to communicate with them, even if he cannot hear and has limited speech–so this was a decent trick, though there were times I wondered if he could possibly read all those lips! His developing sigilord skill was interesting to witness–it comes on slow and builds with time and trial.

The world is set in less modern times, with hand-to-hand combat being the order of war. Groups that had been allied with the blood mages gained technology far superior to the norm, and for this they paid dearly, but it brought a steampunk element into the plot, allowing for the Old World v. Technology theme to be explored.

The end comes a little quickly, I thought, but I was glad that it ended in such a way that the resolution is solid, and without a cliffhanger. Yes, there is a tie that will bind on to book two, but it is not the outcome of the battles.

At times I worried about so many points of view–but they were all well defined. Urus tells the bulk of the story (well his POV does) and Cailix and Goodwyn share other parts for when they are separated and how the battles progress via their eyes. These really move the plot forward, and there is little overlap or recap upon reunion.

I think lovers of epic fantasy will find this book to be interesting and engaging. I look forward to the sequel.

Interested? You can find THE FIFTH VERTEX on Goodreads, and Amazon. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for popping in for this month’s Coffeehouse. Don’t forget to check out the great books my fellow bloggers loved. And, keep reading my friends!

 

1. The Armchair Squid 2. mainewords
3. Meradeth’s Write Stuff 4. Cherdo on the Flipside
5. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME 6. Hub City
7. Life Before the Hereafter 8. Trisha @ WORD STUFF
9. Stephanie Faris, Author 10. Hungry Enough To Eat Six
11. A Creative Exercise 12. StrangePegs — Ozma of Oz
13. Words Incorporated 14. My Creatively Random Life
15. V’s Reads

 

The Future Exists in THE BOOK OF IVY–Review and Giveaway

The-Book-Of-Ivy-TOUR
Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE BOOK OF IVY sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stop on the tour click here. This YA dystopian romance by Amy Engel is a compelling read.

The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy, #1)About the book:
After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…

My Review:
I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the blurb: 16 y/o Ivy Westfall is arranged to be married to the only child of the President of their post-apocalyptic town, and then she’s supposed to kill her new husband. I was genuinely surprized at how well I liked this book.

In this dystopian future, there aren’t many people left: 10,000 in the fence-protected Ozarks town of Westfall. No one knows about the rest of the world because anyone venturing out of the fence is killed (presumably). Ivy’s father is the lone child of the town’s founder, and his town of Westfall was seized in a police coup by the grandfather of her husband-to-be, Bishop Lattimer. Ivy has been coached throughout her life that the Lattimers are evil, and need to be deposed. Her elder sister, Callie, was originally betrothed (in the arranged marriage system of Westfall) but Bishop objected and it is now Ivy’s duty–not only to marry him, but also (in accordance with her father and Callie’s plans) to kill him.

Quick note, because of the history of nuclear war and disease, the lifespan of this world is lower, and younger procreation yields healthier babies, hence the marrying of teens with the objective of early pregnancy. Also, it’s a bit of a 1950’s world where the wives are strongly expected to remain home as baby incubators–something which greatly dismays the literate and curious Ivy.

Frankly Ivy is terrified. She has been home-schooled and rarely ever mixed with anyone, let alone boys. She can’t understand why Callie was passed over; cunning Callie is petite, dark and lovely while Ivy is too tall and too awkward and too impetuous. Still, Ivy presents herself for the marriage, because to not agree to marrying is a crime in Westfall–one that carries a banishment (death) sentence. Ivy is afraid Bishop will assert himself as her husband against her will (read: rape her), and yet, he doesn’t. At all. I wasn’t sure if he was interested in girls, or not, for a bit there. It seems Bishop wants a real relationship with Ivy–not just a sex partner.

Meanwhile, Ivy has been told her entire life that President Lattimer killer her mother. Remaining with Bishop teaches her the folly of trust–her own family lied, repeatedly, in order to gain Ivy’s cooperation. The more time Ivy spends with Bishop, the more she realizes that she cannot achieve her family’s goals. And why should she! Vengeance is not a dish Ivy is comfortable serving–warm, hot or cold–and cold is not the way to describe her new feelings for Bishop.

I really enjoyed this book. I had a few qualms–it seems that Ivy and Bishop pretty much do….nothing. Unorthodox Ivy barely knows how to cook and requests a job so she doesn’t have to sit around all day. Bishop is being groomed to replace his father, but he spends long hours just hiking around, lazing about in the sun. Pretty poor showing for a world where the collective number of citizens is barely twice the population of my son’s high school. I can’t fathom anyone being spared in terms of skill training. This seemed a glaring oversight in the world-building. I did appreciate the frank discussions of domestic violence, and the hardships of forced marriage very much.

The romance that blooms between Ivy and Bishop is organic and well-paced. He has no trouble calling her out for “putting on a show” for others, and demands her honest affection–which she is reluctant to give. How can she give her heart to a boy she is required to kill?

Ivy, of her own self, is an admirable character. She has real spirit and a desire to do right, no matter her familial influences. Her willingness to sacrifice for Bishop was heart-rending. I eagerly await her next adventure.

And check out this trailer. Seriously gave me chills!

Interested? You can find THE BOOK OF IVY on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iTunes, and Google Books. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

Bookmarks***GIVEAWAY***

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a whole lotta book swag, including a signed book, a necklace,

or even jeweled booksmarks.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

amy engelAbout the Author:
Amy Engel was born in Kansas and after a childhood spent bouncing between countries (Iran, Taiwan) and states (Kansas; California; Missouri; Washington, D.C.), she settled in Kansas City, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two kids.  Before devoting herself full-time to motherhood and writing, she was a criminal defense attorney, which is not quite as exciting as it looks on TV.  When she has a free moment, she can usually be found reading, running, or shoe shopping. The Book of Ivy is her debut YA novel. Find her online on her  http://amyengel.net/ or .

Website│Goodreads│Twitter

Sometimes SIDEKICKS are the Real Heroes!–A Review

Hi there! Today is Veteran’s Day in the US. I’m actually a pacifist–which is pretty cool! While it means that I do not support war, violence or brutality, it DOES NOT mean that I do not support soldiers. I do. These people put their lives on the line in ways I can’t imagine, and don’t wish to. What I hate, and I’m gonna use that word, is the (unnecessary) use of soldiers to “protect people” (read: corporate interests) in places we should not be.

See, I am not an Imperialist. I’m not an elitist. I do not think that America is THE VERY BESTEST PLACE. It is a good land, with some problems. It is a good place, that could use some improving. It is better than lots of places, and I am glad to be here, but I’m sure I could find a good life in other countries just as well. In terms of war, I think that many world leaders have forgotten the human cost of it, and that saddens me greatly.

My father, rest his soul, served in Vietnam. He enlisted, actually. Believed he would be helping out the poor Vietnamese find democracy and a better way of life. What he found was an autonomous nation of people who wanted to be left alone. As an 18 y/o kid, my dad saw a lot of combat. He was given a Bronze Star and an Airborne patch, for dropping into over 30 LZs (live zones) as an infantryman.

In honor of Veteran’s Day I hope I can urge anyone reading this to ONE: consider peace. Consider it with your life’s breath. Imagine it was your son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister being recruited to take on a “war” and how that person may not return home to your loving embrace.

TWO: Please, don’t forget our active military and veterans. They need support. The rates of veteran suicide are so high–22 people a day! If you know a vet, or an enlisted soldier, who is suffering please reach out. Try to get that person to reach out, too. The Veteran’s Crisis Line can help.

Okay, so, back to the Reading portion of this blog… My son recommended this book, SIDEKICKS, because it struck a nerve with him. And, I’m so glad I read it. Honestly. This book got my son thinking about all the falsehoods out in the real world. The images we are sold to gain support for shadowy ideals. This is why I wanted to share it on Veteran’s Day.

SIDEKICKS is a YA romance/adventure about Scott Hutchinson, a super strong/super fast teen boy whose alter ego is Bright Boy. He is sidekick to the world’s greatest superhero–Phantom Justice. And, man is his world crumbling beneath his feet! Like many combat veterans, Scott’s a hero, who doesn’t show it.

SidekicksAbout the book:
Batman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be, Scott begins to question his role. With the help of a fellow sidekick, once his nemesis, Scott must decide if growing up means being loyal or stepping boldly to the center of things.

My Review:

Scott/Bright Boy has reached the Age of Awareness. Though he’s been a sidekick for seven years, he’s just now into puberty. And, well, his uniform tights…they are TIGHT! One night, his rescue of a pretty woman leads to (gasp!) an erection–one that is captured on live TV and broadcast all over the news networks.

Remember, how boners in class are a big problem for normal boys? Well, poor Scott has to suffer in silence as all his classmates snicker about the Big Deal and the newscasters cracking tasteless jokes about his “rising” to the occasion. Even Trent (Phantom Menace) is giving him a side-eye, thinking he’s a perv and telling him he better settle all that down right quick. Scott’s rage and embarrassment  knows no bounds, and when he’s taunted by Monkeywrench at a meet-up, well, Bright Boy loses his ever-lovin’ cool. He attacks, and the results? Romantic.

Okay, not at first, but Monkeywrench, sidekick to Dr. Chaotic (Phantom Justice’s nemesis), is more than meets the eye. She, well, is gorgeous, and intelligent, and interacting with her teaches Scott that “good” is a label that is truly subjective. Especially when Bright Boy gets a handle on what EXACTLY Phantom Justice stands for.

I’m not going to ruin this one–at all–because, it is a fantastic book. It takes all the superhero tropes and twists them. I loved Scott’s complete naivete. And Monkeywrench, aka Allison, is frankly a great accessory character. There is a love story here, and it’s not forced. Scott has never really connected with his peers, and Allison is the first person he can be honest with regarding his life, and his dreams. And, she’s tender to him in a way he absolutely needs. Plus, Scott/Bright Boy is just such a great kid. He is so pure of purpose, so incredibly self-less, and yet a bit sulky regarding his own personal life, teen readers will find him easy to connect with.

Interested? You can find SIDEKICKS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and libraries everywhere.

About the Author:

Jack D. Ferraiolo is the author of The Big Splash (a 2009 Edgar Award nominee), the forthcoming sequel, The Quick Fix (Spring 2012) and Sidekicks (2010), which received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. He also works in animation, winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in Animation as the head writer for PBS’s WordGirl (a series he co-created).  He was an editor and producer for Home Movies (on Adult Swim) and a writer, director, editor, and producer for O’Grady (on The N).  Recently, he created Chuck Vanderchuck’s “Something Something” Explosion for PBSKidsGo.org, a broadband-based show about an 8-year-old David Lee Roth-type kid who’s sole purpose in life is to teach the world the awesomeness of music.

In his personal time, Jack enjoys apples and American-style blue jeans.

You can catch up with Jack on his website, or email.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

 

They Observe the WILDLIFE (Themselves!)

Hi all. Today I’m reviewing a newly released YA tale of angst, firsts and mountain life. It’s WILDLIFE by Fiona Wood, and I really enjoyed it.

WildlifeAbout the Book:
Boarding for a term in the wilderness, sixteen-year-old Sibylla expects the gruesome outdoor education program – but friendship complications, and love that goes wrong? They’re extra-curricula.

Enter Lou from Six Impossible Things – the reluctant new girl for this term in the great outdoors. Fragile behind an implacable mask, she is grieving a death that occurred almost a year ago. Despite herself, Lou becomes intrigued by the unfolding drama between her housemates Sibylla and Holly, and has to decide whether to end her self-imposed detachment and join the fray.

And as Sibylla confronts a tangle of betrayal, she needs to renegotiate everything she thought she knew about surviving in the wild.

A story about first love, friendship and NOT fitting in.

My Review:
This is a coming-of-age book, suitable for teens.

Sybilla is a 16 y/o girl in Melbourne, AU. She and dozens of her classmates are embarking on a 9 week term in the “wild”–okay, really. They are being sent for classes in a mountain retreat where they are expected to be rather self-sufficient, living in a cabin with classmates and prepping food, doing outdoor education classes, taking required hikes, having campouts. It’s the opposite of Sybilla’s strength–she’s not fit, per se.

Just before going, Sybilla is noticed by a popular boy–Ben. This coincides with a bit of modelling Sybilla did for a perfume advertisement that gains her some popularity. See, Sybilla is an ugly-duckling-turned-swan, and her BFF Holly is all too happy to cash in on Sybilla’s new social status. Holly, Sybilla, Ben and Michael (Sybilla’s other BFF) are all due on the trip together. Michael is hopelessly smitten with Sybilla, though she is oblivious. He is quirky and (plain-out) weird–but Sybilla knows she is a stable presence in his life and wishes to maintain their friendship.

Louisa (Lou) has been suffering severe depression since her boyfriend died in a bike accident. She hasn’t attended school in a year, and her mothers decide a change of scenery is in order–so they enroll her at the mountain school. She is the newcomer, the outsider–and that suits her fine as she has no desire to connect with anyone again. Slowly, Lou reveals her anguish and experiences into her journal.

The book alternates between the POV of Sybilla, who is trying to figure out who she is and how to deal with a popular boyfriend and conniving bestie, and Lou who endeavors to shut everyone out, and ends up failing.

We get to see a lot of Michael through his conversations with Lou. Lou is the dispassionate observer, witnessing Holly’s machinations and Sybilla’s confusion. She keeps her distance until Holly reaches levels of viciousness that cannot be tolerated. And then, she picks up the pieces of both Michael and Sybilla.

It’s a bit of an angsty read, with some clandestine sneak-offs and the (seemingly) inevitable showdown between lust and sense. I believe this was portrayed with realism and honesty, and the manner in which both Ben and Sybilla handle themselves and their relationship felt real–and at a teen level. Nothing is glorified.

The end is lovely storytelling, with the “villain” getting a comeuppance in a way that satisfies without being horribly humiliating.

While this book is written from the POV of two Aussie gals, the language is accessible to American teens. The format, grammar and diction conform to American English standards, and the use of Aussie/Brit slang is next to absent.

Most of Lou’s chapters are very short–half a page or less–as this is her journal. As the story progresses and she begins to engage with her peers, the chapter length increases–including vignettes of the people she observes, until she is fully-engaged with her grief and can move through it. It is an interesting juxtaposition from Sybilla’s chapters which hold plenty of social interactions, and little contextual understanding on her part.

It takes a while for Sybilla to find the strength within her to grow past the passive girl/friend/girlfriend that she has always been, but she is better for it and happier with her newer, stronger relationships. She weathers betrayal well, and her confrontations had the same understated heat that Sybilla embodied, so no fireworks, but clear demarcations bounding new friendships from old.

I did enjoy this book. I liked the backdrop of the camp, and the metaphors for adulthood that it engendered. I liked how the students struggled to be nicer people–knowing that they had little choice in their living arrangements and had to devise creative ways to release stress in the face of 24/7 camp companionship. Some, like Ben and Michael, take to long-distance runs. Lou has her journal, Sybilla has, well, nothing, though she does invest in some new friendships, which was healthy.

Interested? You can find WILDLIFE on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

Find out more about Fiona Wood by checking out her website or twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Cephalopod Coffeehouse September 2014–FIRST DAUGHTER–A Review

0ed81-coffeehouse
Hi there! Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month. Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.

Before I get started, I’d like to say I read/reviewed >20 books this month–so getting to be my Top Pick is kind of a honor. (Though I will admit that winning my favor is a rather dubious honor…I’m pretty instinctual which is why I connect so well with the protaganist of the book I’m featuring.) And, I wish to highlight my own accomplishment–turning 40 this week. If you read MY BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY post, you’ll know why I’m feeling pretty stoked about reaching this milestone, and you might could win yourself $40. So, there’s that.

This month I’m sharing FIRST DAUGHTER from my friend Susan Kaye Quinn. It’s the third (final?) book in her Dharian Affairs trilogy. I make the question mark because, with Sue one never knows if a series is ever “finished,” but where she left it right now is very complete story-wise. Is she ever travels back to Dharia, it will be with a whole new storyline.

First Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #3)About the book:
Skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue…

With the war begun, Aniri, Third Daughter of the Queen, has to battle not only a prince with a deadly skyship, but her own sister, the First Daughter, who finally sees her chance to become Queen. With their mother gravely ill and the Second Daughter kidnapped along with Aniri’s husband-to-be, Aniri embarks on a desperate mission to save the people she loves from a war that will tear all three countries apart.

First Daughter is the third book in the The Dharian Affairs Trilogy (Third Daughter, Second Daughter, First Daughter). This steampunk-goes-to-Bollywood (Bollypunk!) romance that takes place in an east-Indian-flavored alternate world filled with skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue. And, of course, kissing.

My Review:
I’ve read both previous books in this fast-paced, steampunk romance series and I had high expectations for the finale. Those were exceeded!

In FIRST DAUGHTER we connect with Aniri, our high-spirited princess, on the brink of leading her country to war. Well, sorta. I mean, she’s not QUITE queen of Jungali, the land where she WOULD be queen if her wedding hadn’t been crashed by bombs dropped from a heretofore unknown Samirian skyship. She may have even married Ash, prince of Jungali, and gone to battle with him–if he haddn’t been kidnapped for ransom by Samirian forces.

Still, Aniri knows she is going to hunt down Natesh, the wayward second son of Samir who has not only provoked war, he has Ash and Aniri’s pregnant sister (Seledri) in his control. Oh, and his assassins almost succeeded in killing Aniri’s mother.

It’s a tense time, and Aniri’s eldest sister, Nahali, is now in control of Dharia as their mother convalesces. Nahali is brilliant, but cold. She has a longheld jealousy for the capricious Aniri and is not inclined to seek rescue of Aniri’s beloved, not when vengeance is sweeter and warranted.

It’s up to Aniri to wage a battle on many fronts: to convince Nahali to move slowly, and allow a rescue of both Ash and Seledri, while also seeking to foment rebellion in Samir. Aniri is sure assisting Seledri’s husband Pavan to rise to the throne will remove the threat of war, but she must go undercover in Samir in order to find Pavan, first.

So, we get a whole lotta intrigue, espionage, clockworks, and daring maneuvers in FIRST DAUGHTER. Aniri rises to the top, pushing for peace while scouring all avenues for signs of Ash and Seledri. One thing that princess won’t abide is leaving them to Natesh’s murderous whim.

It is a full-tilt race to not only rescue the two people most central to Aniri’s heart, but to disable Natesh’s armada of skyships that are poised to invade and bomb her homeland into oblivion.

At it’s core, FIRST DAUGHTER is a tale of constant love–familial and romantic. There are many positive examples of loving couples, and of people going beyond all borders to save those they love–Aniri foremost because she tells this tale, but also Pavan who is determined to reclaim his wife, and Janak–steadfast protector of the Queen who is inexorably in love with her and seeks to avenge her wounding.

The climax is nothing other than brilliant, with battling skyships and a weapon of mass destruction poised to decimate the Samirian war complex. Everything happens just as I hoped it would, but not in the order I had expected, leaving me turning the pages in haste to get to the ending I needed–faster.

If you are a fan of this series you will not be disappointed. For all that it’s a love story, the prose is innocent and appropriately-paced. There is no instalove, just affection growing over time and in volume. Aniri is a good protaganist. She makes mistakes and she owns them. She strives hard to protect and save not only her own loves, but to help her sister make decisions that will benefit their world.

I loved getting lost in the steampunk elements and the East Indian flavor of Dharia, Samir and Jungali. It is rare to see a culture of “color” and a matrilineal society in literature, but this world is rendered beautifully. I appreciated the lengths to which the author went to create a society that celebrates women, not only for their beauty and status, but for their courage and ingenuity. It is a place in which I would like to live.

Interested? You can find FIRST DAUGHTER on Goodreads, Amazon, Nook, iTunes and Kobo. I received an ARC from Sue because we are friends, and because I hounded her for the end of the series, and because I’d probably read her grocery lists if they were available–I’m just that big a fan of her writing.

The two previous books in the series: THIRD DAUGHTER and SECOND DAUGHTER are phenomenal and should probably be read first, on account of lots of story points that are working through FIRST DAUGHTER. Please click their titles for review and purchase links.

THIRD DAUGHTER is currently FREE on all digital outlets, so you can get started on this series!

Thanks for popping in, today. I hope you’ll hop over to my fellow coffeehousers and see what books they recommend this month. And, as always, keep reading my friends!

1. The Armchair Squid 2. mainewords
3. Berriesandmore 4. Linda Kay
5. Cherdo on the Flipside 6. V’sReads
7. Aristotle’s Mistake 8. Life Before the Hereafter
9. Subliminal Coffee. 10. My Creatively Random Life
11. WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME 12. Stephanie Faris
13. About Myself By Myself 14. StrangePegs — The Marvelous Land of Oz
15. MOCK! 16. StrangePegs — Many Waters
17. StrangePegs — A Flock of Ill Omens 18. Words Incorporated

Squid Soup August 2014–Stand By Me

MOCK! and The Armchair Squid are proud to introduce Mock Squid Soup: A Film Society. Each month, on the second Friday, we shall host a bloghop devoted to a particular movie. We invite others to watch the same film and post their own reviews.

So, today I’m departing from books (slightly) to chat about movies. For one, I found a blog hop hosted by The Armchair Squid and MOCK! celebrating a movie from my childhood: STAND BY ME. Secondly, I want to rant/rave over some adaptations recently out, or in development.

To begin, my review of STAND BY ME…

This movie premiered two weeks before I began 7th grade, back in the summer of 1986. I had just completed my growth spurt topping me at 5’3″–still my height today and woefully small even at 12. I had been, and remained, one of the shortest kids in my junior high. But I digress…

SBM was a turning point movie for me. Mostly because I was unfortunately rechristened “Vern”–in deference to the fat, stupid, hideously awkward character played by an appallingly young and not-nearly-showcasing-his-future-deliciousness Jerry O’Connell in this movie. It was a sad occurence, for me–a young, thin, short, smart…uh, GIRL who didn’t have the strength of fist to defend herself from the random “Hey there, Verno!” hallway catcalls.

At first, I didn’t know what was going on–until I ventured to the local Dollar Theater and had my mind blown. I remember the awe of seeing Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and that weird-looking other kid (O’Connell) along with BOTH a swoony John Cusack and a to-die-for Bad Boy Kiefer Sutherland and thinking YES!!! See, the puberty hormones were already turning my brain sideways–I did mention my growth spurt ending, right?–and there’s a scene in this movie…

Ahh, yes, that’s the one! Where Gordie (Wheaton) must reach into his wet underwear to dislodge a blood-engorged leach from his junk and I thought…whoa. (Don’t judge–this was the 80’s! and I was 12…)

Okay, so the story goes this way: It’s 1959 and four intrepid friends—Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern–want to recover the body of a missing boy, Ray Brower. They know he’s dead because Vern has overheard his brother confess to seeing the body near some railroad tracks several miles from home. Vern’s brother won’t tell the cops because he found the body when he was joyriding in a stolen car, but Gordie & Co think retrieving the body will make them heroes.

These boys are all about to begin high school, all have trouble at home, and all need the company and comradery of each other to keep their demons at bay. Being heroes would go a long way toward making their sad worlds brighter. The boys go on a weekend “camp out” to track down the body and claim their glory. Along the way, each boy comes to terms with the realities of the destructive forces in their lives. It is a sweet coming-of-age tale with the back drop of nostalgia of lost innocence and harkening back to a time many consider to be America’s “Golden Age”.

Being a Gen X’er I don’t have the same opinion of the movie’s period, but I could sure dig the movie itself. It was likely a combination of hormones (mine) and heart (the movie’s). Richard Dreyfuss narrates, telling the tale as an adult Gordie, recounting this trip as the defining moment of his youth. It is based upon a Steven King book, The Body.

STAND BY ME is one of those touchstone movies of my youth that I will never forget. The interplay of the boys’ vulnerability and their burgeoning bravado was catnip to the young girl I was, then. They talked about girls. They talked about life. They CRIED.  And, they swore. A lot. All of this scandalized me to my Christian roots. There is humor–a total and complete barf-a-rama. That pretty much sums it up.

Please stop in at the other blogs reviewing this film. I’m sure their reviews will be better–and undoubtedly less boy-crazy–than mine.

1. The Armchair Squid 2. mainewords
3. Cherdo on the Flipside 4. MOCK!
5. The ToiBox of Words 6. V’s Reads

To continue my movie ranting, I’ve got two other topics rattling around in my brain. First, OUTLANDER.

The STARZ miniseries adaptation airs tomorrow. I have read (and loved) the Outlander series. I am a Jamie Fraser/Claire Randall Fraser devotee. I have actually watched the first episode–as it was available on Starz.com all week. And I liked it.

Now, however, I’m nervous about fan backlash. Diana Gabaldon is a consultant to the show and has been giving it her seal of approval, but–as is wont to happen–purists will likely complain. See, the first episode captures the spirit of OUTLANDER, but it’s naturally condensed. Events happen a bit faster than I recall them unfolding in the book. Other scenes didn’t happen at all, yet remain true to the storyline nonetheless.

Will this be a problem?

It wasn’t for me. I’m not the gal to get hung up on casting choices–mainly because I couldn’t name any of ten popular actors under age 30, and I’m okay with that. My world doesn’t revolve around Hollywood.

But some folks are obsessed with WHO should play WHOM in a movie, and I fear this negativity may cause watchers to spurn a promising show that I’ve LONGED FOR since I first read Outlander seven years ago.

Which brings me to my SECOND point: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.

Lookit, I read the books. They are fun and entertaining. They are arousing and intriguing. They are NOT good literature. And yet the legions of fans in complete meltdowns over the film’s cast is mind-boggling.

It weirds me out thinking that people discard a movie featuring a book they love because they “can’t see” a certain actor in the role. I will admit, I’m put-off by the “dream cast” posts I see for books these days. I guess it is because I almost don’t care about the appearance of a character in a story–I desire only so much detail to give me an IDEA of their appearance so I can imagine them in their space–but beyond that it is the character I fall for, not the image of the character.

If an actor is incompetent or not sufficient to the challenge, well, we’ll all see that on the screen. It’s my thought that a movie is separate from a book, as a work of fiction. I like to believe that a book inspires a movie, but doesn’t replace it as a work. Each must be judged on its own merit.

The HUNGER GAMES movies are good. Like the Harry Potter movies, they are mainly true to the books, yet have a whole different appeal. I’m not trying to sway anybody’s opinion either way about adaptations of books to film. I will likely always prefer the book, but I can also appreciate the movie in its own right.

That said, I’m pretty sure I know where I’ll be come Valentine’s 2015.

Anywho, I’ve rambled enough. I’d love to hear any comments you have on STAND BY ME, OUTLANDER, FSOG or movie adaptations of books. Drop me a line, and keep reading my friends! 🙂

She Had to Free Their TORTURED SOULS–Review and Giveaway

Hi all! Glad to be a part of the blog tour for Kimber Leigh Wheaton’s new YA paranormal romance, TORTURED SOULS. For other stops on the tour please click here. This rollicking ghost romp is a fun read and okay for the kiddos.
 

Tortured Souls
The Orion Circle #1
Kimber Leigh Wheaton
YA Paranormal Romance
Available now from Sea Dragon Press
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it’s ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie’s longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he’s never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can’t ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

My Review:
Kassandra has had a rough life. She was born a psychic, and her parents were frustrated and angered by all of Kacie’s “imaginary friends.” Her mother left years ago, claiming she couldn’t deal with Kacie’s antics any longer. This left her father resentful to the point that Kacie has buried her psychic abilities so he won’t be reminded of his broken marriage.

One night at a party, Kacie senses a powerful spiritual presence–and she isn’t the only one! Logan, a boy from school that Kacie has admired from afar, actually approaches the spirit and forces it away, not before it scratches Kacie, however. Logan, it seems, is a psychic, too. In fact, he’s a member of the Orion Circle, a group of “talented” kids and adults who work against in it’s many forms–corporeal, and not.

Working with Logan is as empowering as it is enticing; Kacie is enamored, and the feelings are mutual. But, more than having a boyfriend, Kacie treasures being understood, being accepted for having her psychic powers. In fact, it soon becomes clear that Kacie’s nightmares are more than scary images, they are visions that hold the key to destroying the soul torture of thirteen murdered children.

With the help of Logan and the team of Orion Talents, Kacie has new friends she can depend upon when the evil Foxblood Demon spirit attempts to possess her. Even Kacie’s mother is in on the help–turns out she has some pretty awful reasons for abandoning Kacie all those years ago, and this Foxblood Demon threat has turned mom into an informant.

So, lots of changes for Kacie in a very short period. She embraces her psychic powers and learns to speak with the dead, releasing them to eternal rest, when possible. Logan is a great stand-by, offering whatever support Kacie needs, even if it’s just a soft shoulder to cry on. Kacie’s dad also recognizes that Kacie’s powers aren’t the insane nonsense he’d written them off as all those years ago, and her relationships (on the whole) become stronger and more healthy.

This was an interesting YA read, with well-developed primary and secondary characters and an intriguing plot line. It is the beginning of a series that will undoubtedly feature Kacie and Logan and the rest of the Orion paranormal hunter gang in new and exciting cases. I’d like to take a moment to note that the ebook was beautiful–well-edited and with great internal elements and chapter headings. I know this won’t matter to most readers, but when you read as many books as I do, I really appreciate formatting that goes above and beyond. So, bravo for writing a beautiful book as well as an interesting one. If I had one complaint, it would be that I thought the romance between Kacie and Logan blossomed a little two quickly. I had wished there was a bit more time between the meet-cute and the making out. Still, there was little more than kissing between the main love interests, so I’d go ahead and recommend for all YA readers.

Interested? You can find TORTURED SOULS on Amazon and Goodreads.
About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.


Website * Twitter * Goodreads Author Page
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Leave me a comment telling me the title of YOUR favorite ghost tale.

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Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Book Blitz and Giveaway! CHALLENGING DESTINY by Cherie Colyer

Challenging Destiny

Release Date: 03/27/14
Summary from Goodreads:
Logan Ragsdale and his younger sister, Ariana, have been marked, chosen to be unwilling participants in a war between angels and demons.


Logan can sense something’s not quite right. Like an unexpected chill on a summer’s day, he can feel the unseen closing in. He’s had these feelings before and, each time, someone close to him died. He’s afraid this time it might just be Ariana.


Logan’s fears are soon confirmed when he discovers their new friends aren’t human, but rather representatives from Heaven and Hell sent to Earth to ensure he and Ariana accept their roles in an ancient prophecy. Demons want Logan to open the gates of Hell. Ariana has the power to stop them, but if she chooses to side with Heaven to spare the lives of thousands of innocent people, she’ll damn her brother for eternity.


Together, they must derail the biblical event if they hope to save themselves and the future of mankind…but what price are they willing to pay to keep the other safe?

My Review:
In this contemporary YA paranormal romance Ariana and Logan Ragsdale are orphaned siblings who happen to have mind-control powers. Logan is 18 and Ariana is 16, both born on All Saints Day, two years apart. Their parents died in an house fire 8 years ago, and their aunt and uncle, who had been guardians, were killed in an auto wreck two years ago. After bouncing to a couple foster homes and finding those caregivers being strangely injured, Logan convinces the Illinois State Foster system to let them live alone…

When we begin the story, Logan and Ariana are staying under the radar of the authorities. Ariana has a BFF, Becca, but they mostly keep to themselves–out of fear that any people close to them are targets for the tragedy that seems to follow them.

Of course, they are teens, so it’s impossible not to notice the two new students in their small high school. Ben is in Ariana’s art class, and interested in dating her. Strangely, he is immune to Ariana’s mind-control. Likewise, Logan meets Kira in Foods class. The attraction simmers, and yes, she can resist Logan’s mind powers.

Starting fledgeling relationships is foreign, but exciting. Still, they are wary due to the lack of effect of their powers on their potential beaux. Especially so when Kira begins to reveal more of her history to Logan. She’s been 16–for a real long time…and most of that was spent in agony. Seducing Logan to her purpose will satisfy the requirements of her boss, but could mean the end of civilization.

Not as though these kids didn’t suspect foul play in the deaths of their caregivers, but who’s really ready to accept celestial explanations? Surely not Logan. He thinks Kira’s off her nut, and rightly so. A little physical demonstration promptly makes him a believer, however.

And Ben? He’s on the other side of this equation. He’s anxious to get Ariana to join his team, even if doing so condemns Logan to a fiery fate.

With new knowledge behind the sinister plot that isolated Ariana and Logan from anyone who could help them, they must choose who to trust. According to a prophesy, a war is coming between the Blessed and the Fallen, and the winner will be decided when Ariana, or Logan, chooses a side to assist.

In either case, accepting their destinies means they will lose each other. Or, not. See, Ariana and Logan are determined to beat the Blessed and Fallen at their own games–and set themselves free of this cataclysmic prophesy.

Not that they go about it right. Outsmarting beings that can read your mind is pretty tough, after all. Escape Plan A soon devolves into Survival Plan C.2 when one of their guides changes teams mid-game and the casualties are dear.

It’s a wild chase with pretty steady tension throughout as Ariana and Logan search for the answers that will divert their fate. The end is tied up, but leaves room for a sequel. It’s an innocent read and suitable for lovers of paranormal YA fiction.

Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books

About the Author

A little about myself: I write young adult and middle grade novels. I love finding new stories that keep me up late reading. While my favorite genre is fantasy, if the book is beautifully written with characters that come alive I’m all over it.
My debut novel EMBRACE is now available from Omnific Publishing.

Author Links:
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Happy Book Birthday to SECOND DAUGHTER–A Review

Hi all! Hope you had a great weekend! Mine included fantastic ribs, time with the kids, two busted computers, and few great reads. Today I want to share a YA steampunk/adventure/romance from Susan Kaye Quinn–my dear friend and writing buddy. I reviewed THIRD DAUGHTER a few months back, and I’m hooked on the series.

SECOND DAUGHTER is the second book in this series–it is advisable to read these books in order.

Second Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #2)About the book:

Assassins, skyships, and royal intrigue…

With plans for a second skyship exposed, Third Daughter Aniri fears her sister, Seledri, will be caught in a war between the three Queendoms. Seledri is the Second Daughter of Dharia, which means she had no choice in her arranged marriage to the First Son of Samir—a country with whom they may soon be at war. As Aniri fights to free her sister from a husband and a country she does not love, she questions her own rushed betrothal to Prince Malik, the noble barbarian who controls the skyship—and whether a love pledged in the heat of adventure can survive the looming threat of war.

My Review:
When last we saw Aniri, she was due to marry Ash, Prince of Jungali, in a week. Her mother and eldest sister have arrived in Bhatki, Jungali’s capital city, for the wedding and Aniri had iceberg feet. She’s barely 18, and unsure that she could make a good Queen–let alone a good wife. Plus, she fears that her affection for Ash was the product of their adventure together. She knows he’s a good man–Aniri feels a bit…unworthy.

Then, on the eve of their wedding, Aniri’s pregnant sister, Seledri survives an assassination attempt and Aniri takes Ash’s skyship to Samir (with Ash’s permission yet against his reservations) to “visit” Seledri; even Aniri’s maid Priya and her personal guard Janak know Aniri’s planning to remove Seledri. Why not? There are serious rumors that Samir is planning to invade Aniri’s homeland Dharia–which would put Seledri at greater risk.

Arriving in Samir, Aniri finds the situation more dire than she expected–her sister’s husband is in a battle for the throne with his younger brother and Seledri is a pawn in the struggle. Aniri gets unexpected help from her former “lover” Devesh and and a person she hasn’t seen in eight long years, both of whom have questionable loyalty.

Still, they are able to rescue Seledri–not without casualties–and the return to Jungali should be triumphant. It is not. Aniri made some key mistakes in the mission, and Ash is ready to send her back to Dharia unwed. Her intelligence gained–that Samir likely has an armada of skyships–hastens Ash’s defensive plans, and his efforts to get Aniri far from danger. And out of his country. Of course, Aniri’s fickle heart had finally decided that Ash was The One….had been ready to pledge herself wholeheartedly, until he didn’t want her.

But, the best things in life are worth fighting for, and Aniri’s a spirited girl. She makes amends the best she can, proclaiming Ash’s worth to his people and rousing the Jungalis for the looming battle. Will it be enough to win him back?

Maybe. I’ll tell you now, the book ends with a heavy cliffhanger, but not regarding Aniri and Ash–their feelings are made plain before the book ends. Unfortunately, their romance is still on hold as Bhakti faces the first wave of Samirian aggression and Aniri has an even bigger battle on her hands…

Oh! I just CANNOT wait for the conclusion of this series! The tension has been great. Aniri’s mix of undecidedness over marriage and resolution to save her loved ones is a great back-and-forth. She is young and headstrong and courageous and foolish. Her imperfections remind us of those parts we see in ourselves, undoubtedly. She has only known Ash two weeks–that’s kinda short for a commitment like marriage, and her natural reluctance is refreshing. She isn’t a gal prone to instalove, but wants a lasting connection to her partner. All respectable ideals.

And Ash is very compelling. Far more so than Devesh, though that guy has come out better in this tale than the first one. Either way, Aniri’s got a lot to do next book to reunite with her love, and save Dharia and Jungali from war.

Interested? You can find SECOND DAUGHTER at Goodreads, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, AllRomance.

2978c-susankayequinnwebAbout Susan Kaye Quinn:
Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. The Dharian Affairs trilogy is her excuse to dress up in corsets and fight with swords. She also has a dark-and-gritty SF serial called The Debt Collector and a middle grade fantasy called Faery Swap. It’s possible she’s easily distracted. She always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can find out what she’s up to by subscribing to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!).

She is also NOMINATED for the Illinois Librarian’s “Soon to be Famous Author Project” wherein librarians hope to discover local authors whose “work will jump off the page for readers.”

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

 Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!