Enhanced by Courtney Farrell

Publisher: Fiction Foundry Press
Pages: 310

From the cover:

At the Institute, they breed people like livestock. One powerful doctor decides which children get to grow up, and which will die. Losers are dumped in the savage slum outside Institute walls. Those kids never come back. Sixteen-year-old Michelle is a perfect specimen, destined for a luxurious life as a breeder. When her brother and her boyfriend are both mysteriously culled from the breeding program, she jumps the wall to find them. Alone in the ghetto, she’s in trouble until handsome, streetwise Dillon stakes a claim to her. She’s mortified by her attraction to a Normal. But the doctor is using the missing boys in a twisted experiment, and she needs Dillon’s help to stop him. Michelle must rescue the boys, but a plague is spreading, the doctor is after her, and Dillon isn’t thrilled to help find her lost boyfriend.

Excerpt:

“The game is every man for himself,” Salomon announced. “Your objective is to be the first to push the large black button on the south wall of the gym. You will be timed. Certain, eh-hmm, difficulties may impede your progress. That is all. You may begin.”

Younger boys surged forward, but stopped when they saw that none of the older ones were rushing in. “Difficulties!” Brian reminded them, putting a hand on Nick’s chest to keep him from charging in there like an idiot. “That means a trap. There’s always a trap.”

“More than one, usually,” Seth added grimly. “These tests aren’t all physical, they test your problem-solving capacity too.”

The boys fidgeted uncertainly at the boundary, peering in but carefully staying outside the white painted line on the floor. The smallest ones looked sick with apprehension. Tests turned nasty once kids turned thirteen, and this would be their first hard one. Deaths during tests were rare, but they did happen, especially among the youngsters.

“Who wants to run in there and spring it for us?” Brian grinned. No one did. He bent to yank his shoes off, muttering to himself, “He had his off.” A few other kids followed suit.

“Where’s the big black button?” Nick demanded, hopping up and down to get a better look. “I don’t see it!”

“Neither do we.” Brian grabbed the wiry kid and hoisted him up for a better view. Nick grabbed a wad of Brian’s hair and nimbly stood up on the bigger boy’s shoulders. He hadn’t taken off his shoes.

“Ow, Nick, that hurts.”

“I see the button!” Nick shouted, leaning dangerously to one side to look between poles. “It’s way up high! Too high, and too far from the next pole.” The kid swayed and deftly hopped down before falling. “I don’t see how anyone’s going to reach it.”

The doctor touched a finger to his glowing bracelet and his platform rose, carrying him up and away. His high laugh echoed back from somewhere near the ceiling. “Bonus points to Nicholas Arnold, for being the first person to pose the right question. And the clock is ticking.”

“Go!” Guys in the back began to push. “We’re being timed!”

“Fine, go.” Brian stepped aside and let an eager eighteen-year-old shove his way in. The muscular black boy put one tennis shoe over the line and the green lights on his bracelet began to move in a swirling pattern around and around his wrist.

“Look!” The boy held up his arm.

“Dhorian, you’re on!” Seth bellowed. “Go!”

Dhorian hesitated for a moment, and then grabbed the line that hung off the nearest pole. He began to climb. Boys held their breath, leaning in to see what would happen. Nothing did. For a long moment everything was still, and then a shout came from above. “I made it! I’m up!”

A stampede began as boys surged across the line. Some became entangled in the foam bushes. Those turned out to be horribly sticky, and getting through them was nearly impossible. A few guys made it to poles and began to climb. Seth, Brian, and Todd waited behind the white line. “Let ‘em trigger it for us,” Todd breathed, but nothing happened.

Simultaneously, their three bracelets made warning beeps and the lights turned orange. “Aw, hell, we’re out of time!” Brian exclaimed, and waded into the foam forest with his friends. Behind them, the wall slid shut, leaving the room in sudden darkness.  

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Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Pages: 259

(Release Date: 10/11/13)

From the Cover:

Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him. 

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

Lia is one of the kids who doesn't quite fit in, and she has a secret that not even her foster-sister, Chelsea, knows. Lia can see monsters and the shadows of darkness. Chelsea talks Lia into a visit to the haunted house, Frightland, but rain shortens their terrifying trip. One rainy evening plus a flat tire leads to a horrific accident, separating the sisters, ripping one from the other.

Aiden appears to be this ghostly apparition only Lia can see. The strange skater boy tanned and toned, fresh from Frightland or maybe he's part of it. But, can he be something more? And, if he's alive like he claims to be, where's his body and how can Lia get his spirit to re-attach itself?

Enter into the equation, demented Bianca, driven to the point of insanity by the darkness, filling her head with negative thoughts and the idea that Lia killed her father. She makes it her mission to make Lia pay, the price is Lia's life.

With monsters, shadows darker than night, and a boy who claims to only want to help her, can Lia survive?

Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich is the story of an outcast, a girl who has lost her family, subplanting it with her foster family. Until Chelsea is ripped out of her life, and Lia knows, it was all her fault. And, AJ Prescott is just as much to blame. After the accident, Aiden appears, scaring the monsters away, chasing the shadows back to where they belong. But, can Lia trust this strange boy she doesn't even know? Should she?

Haunting Lia is a wonderful blend of paranormal, horror, suspense, and at times, heart tugging warmth. Ms. Eckrich paints vivid pictures of life beyond the realm of normal, of an afterworld I'm not sure I'd like to visit with it's threatening corpses, but it's all in good fun. Haunting Lia is an excellent read, I managed to read it in one sitting. The reader is pulled away into Lia's world, which can be frightening at times, and at other times, the world of an insecure girl, trying to fit in. What she discovers is that not everyone needs to fit into a round hole. I highly recommend this quick little read, at 259 it shouldn't be quick, but the pages flew through my fingers. Paranormal romance lovers, horror fanatics, and lovers of suspense will all want to give this book a try, there's something for everyone.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader. 

I received my copy from the author for an honest review. All opinion expressed are my own.

Cover Reveal!! Hauntiing Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing (available in paperback and ebook!)

Pages: unknown

(Release Date: October 11, 2013)

 

From the Cover:

Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

This is one of the most amazing covers I have seen in a long time!!! It captures my attention, begs me to follow through and read the story! And you know what, I can't hardly wait!! Mark your calendars my lovelies!! This is one not to be missed!!

For more information about Shannon's books, check out her website and blog. Friend her on Facebook.

Book Trailer (cos Shannon's awesome like that!)

 Shannon's Bio:

Born and raised in Delaware, Shannon Eckrich lives with her husband, two children, and chocolate lab, Chewy, along with her newest addition, Taylor, a spunky little kitty who loves to terrorize her while she’s writing.

Shannon is a multi-published author who loves the paranormal. Ghosts, angels, vampires, aliens, immortals, it doesn't matter, she’s obsessed with it all, which is why she’s compelled to write stories in the paranormal genre.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Macmillian (Feiwel and Friends)
Pages: 400

(Release Date: January 3, 2012)

From the Cover:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


Guess what book just made my wishlist?? Gorgeous Cover!!

Author Guest Post: Kimber An + Sweet Bytes Giveaway

Today of my blog, I'd like to welcome Kimber An!

*applause*

She's going to tell us about her new novel:

Sweet Bytes, Book Three, The Ophelia Dawson Chronicles! 

Going All The Way By Kimber An

Okay, that’s a loaded phrase.

It can mean a lot of things.

I stand upon the third book in the Ophelia Dawson series and there are five books, which means Sweet Bytes is the middle book, the pivot on which the series turns.

What does it mean?

One, the entire series going all the way to publication - that was in question in August. My previous publisher declined Sweet Bytes. I assumed self-publication was the only way it’d see the light of day, but my buddies at Fabulously Young ePubs (http://fabulouslyyoungepubs.blogspot.com/) encouraged me to ask around. And Noble YA (https://www.nobleyoungadult.com/) picked it up.

Two, going all the way on the plot - conflict after conflict makes a weak series. I’ve loved other series long enough to know, you’ve got to go all the way. Luke Skywalker must learn Darth Vader is his father and then he must defeat and redeem him to bring the Star Wars saga to a satisfying conclusion.

Three, the heroine goes all the way to her edge, this one’s hardest. My instinct is to mommy-coddle Ophelia. If I don’t let her go, she can never reach her greatest potential and the series will fizzle and die. But, how far is far enough? And how far is too far? The Villain would like to rape her (he’s so twisted, he thinks its love) but is that too far in Young Adult? Would it assassinate the Heroine if I let the Villain get away with it? Or, would it force her to dig even deeper and come back even stronger?

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

Four, okay the fun one, the Heroine goes all the way with Hero in the lovemaking department. Ophelia’s true love is Adrian, always has been and always will be. She empathically bonded him to herself in the very first book when she was only sixteen. Technically, I can let them go all the way once she turns eighteen and she comes of age in the next book, Blood, Dark and Sweet. For some YA, that’s a no-no and understandably so. Lovemaking has life-altering consequences, even when morality is not an issue. YA authors need to handle it carefully in their stories. At Noble YA, the readership is older though, eighteen to twenty-four. Adrian and Ophelia are a bonded couple. That’s practically married, according to the Borean Empaths. Once they’re grown up, what’s to stop them?

Well, the plot for one thing. It’s gotta work for the whole story, and the whole series. I think of the whole series as one big story, as a matter of fact.

One thing’s for sure, I’ve already promised a Happily Ever After. I can make that promise because the series is done in my head, so, actually, I already know the answers to all the above questions. I’m just not telling you! Mwa-ha-ha! ;)

Sweet Bytes is due out October 17th. Please comment to enter a drawing for a free copy. There will also be a Grand Prize to celebrate the event, something really cool and Alaskan.

.
Here’s the Sweet Bytes blurb-
.
Ophelia’s escape from Martin, an Addicted Newblood, came at a terrible sacrifice. Adrian, the boy she loves, is now infected and hunted like vermin.
As her new Protector, Tristan Li represents the Oldblood determination to destroy Adrian, along with all the Newbloods, addicted or not.
In her grief, Ophelia hates everything about Tristan, until his subtle strength empowers her to resist being turned into a vampire by the High Prefect.
As Tristan helps Ophelia harness her empathic ability, his need for redemption rings in her heart. Her own strength grows, along with her passion for freedom.
The veil of mourning lifts.
The evil of Martin returns.
Ophelia seizes ownership of her destiny.
.
Thank you! And a big thanks to Dottie for having me here today.

Kimber An
www.kimberan.com

Kimber would like to giveaway a copy of her book, Sweet Bytes, so please remember to comment!!

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross + The Strange Case of Finley Jane

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 78

(Released: May 1, 2011)

 

From the Cover:

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. 

Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

Finley Jayne is a strange girl, "unnatural" she's been called. She seems to see more, hear more, and she's stronger than she should be. But, when she's hired as a companion to young Phoebe, she need every bit of that "extra" she has if she's going to save her.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset, and it's a free read on various sites @ Harlequin, Amazon, and B&N. The title is a fun play on the masterpiece, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because there are two Finleys, the one that stays out of trouble (mostly) and the one that keeps getting her into it up to her neck. In this case, Finley needs to discover why a man more than double the age of his fiance wants the young woman, and it may be for a nefarious, grotesque desire. YA lovers of all kinds will want to give this steampunk novella a try, it's a taste of Ms. Cross's The Steampunk Chronicles world, and a most excellent world it is. 4 out of 5 fairy kisses for this reader.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 474

 (Released: May 24, 2011)

From the Cover:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in. 

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

Finley Jayne is once again up to her neck in trouble. She's had to runaway from her position as a lady's maid for taking the young lord of the manor to task for attempting to force himself upon her. Young Lord August-Raynes finds out just what can happen when the object of his desire doesn't want his illicit desire, and it's not anything he's anticipating.


The Duke of Greythorne, Griff to his friends, stumble upon Finley Jayne in her attempt to escape..well he actually runs her down. But, when he sees the young girl, instead of calling the authorities and bringing unwanted attention, (his velocycle has...modifications), he brings her home with him. Finley Jayne isn't what anyone is expecting.


Sam, Em, Jasper, and Lady Cordelia don't know what to make of the girl who can carry twice her weight, who seems to have two personalities, and who doesn't seem to like them all that much (at least part of her doesn't), they don't trust her at all. But, Griff won't have it any other way, because deep down, he feels a connection to Jayne, and he needs to find out why. Maybe it can help lead him to the murderers of his parents.


The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross is the first full book in the Steampunk Chronicles, and it lives up to being the start of a new series plus so much more. In this story, Griff, Duke of Greythorne has lost his parents in a freak accident. Unbeknownst to Griff or Finley, their parents knew each other, were collaborators, and Finley's father lost his life because of it. They find their lives intertwined by fate. Finley has always felt like an outcast and that leads her to trouble. And where ever trouble finds Finley, her alter ego take over. While Finley feels herself drawn to Griff (who is a Duke and no way is she a Duchess), her alter ego is attracted to the seedier criminal type, a Lord in his domain. The true fly in the ointment is Lady Cordelia who knows more than she's saying, and who's husband is missing. She doesn't trust or like Finley, and she has her own set of abilities that allows her to take a trip through Finley's mind, which brings Finley's alter ego into the picture, more than powerful in her own right. Can Finley blend the two halves of her personality? Does she want to?


The Girl in the Steel Corset is a must read book for YA lovers, especially those who enjoy Steampuck, which is sort of a new genre for me. I was impressed by the world building skills of Ms. Cross, her attention to detail, and her ability to weave a story that totally knocked my socks off. I'll be eagerly waiting for the next in the Steampuck Chronicles, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, which should take up where this one leaves off. Jasper, American cowboy and almost romantic hero, is arrested at Duke Greythorne's estate by none other than the secret service. Can he face his own demons? I absolutely loved this book, and I will snap up the continuing story. Excellent reading for those who love adventure, a new world, and strange new happenings. Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

  

I received by ebook from NetGalley and Harlequin for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Shimmerspell by Kimberly Spencer

Publisher:  Kimberly Spencer / Smashwords
Pages:  50

From the Cover:

When sixteen-year-old Jensen Meadows is cut off from her sister and finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient faerie war, she quickly learns that faeries aren't made of sparkly goodness. They're vicious. And worse, they're after her.

With the help of Liam Casey, she searches for her sister and begins to suspect that her whole life has been nothing more than a faerie tale.

But what if the truth turns out to be more than she can handle? 

 

EXCERPT:

She reared back and slammed the locker shut, backing away with her hand braced against the wall of metal for balance. She blinked and everything became more pronounced--the green of the lockers extra bright, the classroom doors an almost blinking white, like the world had suddenly gone HD and her eyes couldn't catch up.

Something was wrong with her, but she couldn't ponder that something for long. The sound of feet shuffling had her heart back-flipping in her chest. Unnerved, she turned to run, or more honestly, hobble to class, and slammed into a brick wall.

Liam. Except--not. The boy in front of her had pale pearlescent skin that shimmered underneath the overhead lights, his eyes no longer the cerulean she had come to adore, but a deeper, more vibrant blue that reminded her of giant sapphires. Tension lines bracketed his mouth, and his gaze darted up and down the hall as if he expected someone to show up.

Jensen found her eyes riveted to his face. She tried to count the number of hairs that made up his golden stubble, looking for something, anything to avoid dealing with the two things that had caused her breaths to come way too fast, and her palms to feel like she had dipped them in the ocean.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, voice just as strained as the cords bunching in his neck.

She shut her eyes. They weren't working anyway. But the darkness that followed only made her pulse speed up more, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. When she peeled her lids apart, she knew her sight wasn't the problem because they were still there, still peeking over his shoulders at her. Still fluttering. Wings. Liam had wings.

Jensen has had a strange life. She's never known her mother or her father, both gone soon after her birth. She's been raised by her con-artist sister, Lauren, constantly on the move, going from one to another when it gets too hot to stay. But, this time something is different. Even when Lauren tells her it's time to move on, Jensen stops to think, why now?

Then, a strange thing happens. Jensen has been the burnt of the A-listers jokes, maybe because Liam, hot and magnetic, notices her. When she decides to even the scales, Liam intercepts her activity, catching her in the act. But, the weird thing isn't being caught, it's the wings that suddenly sprout from his back. And he's not the only thing that's different.

Shimmerspell by Kimberly Spencer is a fun ride into the world we didn't know existed and neither does Jensen. Everything isn't how it appears to be, and not everyone is who they claim to be. And Jensen's world gets more interesting and more complicated with every glance. But, it might also lead to her imprisonment in a world that can't exist, Jensen's never has known existed. Only her father can save her, and she doesn't even know him.

Shimmerspell was fast paced fun trip into the land of faery, and it gets better. There's a struggle going on and Jensen is stuck in the middle. If you want a quick little read that's just the tip of the iceberg, pick up Shimmerspell, you won't be disappointed, and there's more stories to come. Paranatural story lovers will want to read this one, interesting and fun take on the land of faery. Great for an afternoon pick me up!!  Kimberly is blessed by the cover goddess as well, lovely cover!  4.5 out of 5 fairy kisses. Excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next novella is the series.

 




Book Trailer:



I received my ebook novella from the author for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Pages:  352

(August 9, 2011)

From the Cover:

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. 

Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose – hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire – is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. 

Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes – or be left without any future at all.

Rose was been asleep for a very long time, much longer than her mother promised, much longer than anyone thought possible. Sixty-two years is a long time to be asleep. She missed so much, and from what she understands, no all of it was good. When she went to sleep, her father's company was working on genetic altered foods, and when she woke up, everything has changed. The Dark Times brought death, infertility, instability. Her parents and first love, Xavier, are all gone. Her parents died after putting her in stasis, never telling others of her existence. She was left to languish in the stasis tube found in the sub-basement of their apartment building all those long years. And if it hadn't been for the accidental discovery of her tube by her mysterious savior, Bren, she would have remain, asleep within her dreams, eternally.

When she wakes, it's to a new world, new vernacular, nothing is the same. And someone, something, has been programmed to seek her out, and retrieve her... and ultimately killer her.

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan tells the story of a young girl, who has been sheltered and shielded all of her life, to the point of obsession and abuse. Her parents seldom let her explore her world, even before stasis. They were world famous scientist and corporate engineers, holding the rights to an interplanetary empire. Every time they opened a new station, launched new product, wanted to take a vacation, they put Rose into stasis.... every time. Rose doesn't know any better, she's never been treated any differently. Her controlling father demanded obedience, her dependent mother easily and willingly bent to his will. If she questions their decisions or requests, she's put into stasis, until she "calms down....becomes reasonable". It happens many times throughout her life. Rose first meets Xavier when he is only a toddler, and while he continues to grow, to mature and grow older, Rose exists in that place without reality. She's always been older than Xavier, until one day, when she's released from her stasis tube, she's not. Xavier, though chronologically younger, has gained more birthdays than Rose. He's always been fascinated by the girl who goes away, but always comes back the same. Eventually, love grows and when Rose's parents place her in stasis, Xavier finds a way to help her escape. He becomes Rose's hero and savior... until her parents found out, and she's placed in stasis and forgotten. Sixty-two years later, Bren discovers an old tube, dusty and worn by time, used for home stasis, until it was outlawed. As he brushes away the dirt and grime, he discovers the sleeping beauty tucked away inside. Then, Rose's world changes, and nothing will ever be the same. Everything has been lost or changed. And not only that, something is hunting for her, something wants to find her, and wants her dead.

A Long, Long Sleep is one of the best YA distant reality novels I've read. It's not set in the far future, just one that hasn't happened yet, but could. It's the story of a young girl's abuse. She's not beaten or physically damaged in any way that anyone else can see. She's not mentally broken... that anyone would notice. She has accepted her fate, to be the girl in the stasis tube, never questioning, never resisting, compliant. She doesn't know any different, won't accept that her parents are doing is something wrong. When she does question why, when she wants to be her own person, to learn to live and have a life, she forced in stasis one last time and forgotten. It isn't until she's discovered in the sub-basement of her parent's old apartment building that she comes to life, real life. Her old life comes to her in the memories of her mother and father, and of Xavier... and they're all gone, long dead. She's never been allowed to attend school long or socialize with others her age. Now, she has to start over, if she can figure out how and learn to handle all the new strangeness. She latches onto Bren, her savior, but Bren is overwhelmed. But, Otto, the hybrid-alien engineered boy is fascinated by her, and he seems to be the only one who wants to be her friend. But, then again, they are both owned by the corporation, one and the same.

A Long, Long Sleep is a sleeping beauty retelling with a macabre twist. Rose's parents leave her in a stasis tube, repeatedly. Any time they need a break from being parents, a break from the reality of their lives, she's hidden away. No one questions, no one knows. Rose is almost the secret child, and there might be others. But, even from the grave her parents reach out and touch her one last time. If you like retellings of classic fairy tales, you'll enjoy A Long, Long Story with it's dark twists and turns. If you like young love, twice over, give this one a try. You won't believe the ending. Five out of five fairy kisses.

I absolutely LOVE the UK cover! Isn't it amazing!!

I received my ebook copy for review from NetGalley and Candlewick Press. All opinions are my own.

Settling by Shelley Workinger (ARC Review)

Publisher:  CreateSpace/Shelley Workinger
Pages:  242

Release Date:  July 4, 2011

From the Cover:

At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation.

But it was no ordinary camp and they weren’t ordinary kids…

Soon after learning they were the products of a secret genetic experiment, the teens began developing super-abilities ranging from bounding lightness to blocking heaviness; blinding brilliance and the ability to vanish. These same gifts made them targets of a psychopath in officer’s clothing, and they found themselves fighting for their lives.

Picking up where “Solid” left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren’t ready to go home; they’re determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self- discovery. But someone doesn’t feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away – even kill.

Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them…

Clio, Calliope Kaid, seems to have everything working for her. She's found her niche, even if it's at an Army installation because some whacked out Army doc on a power high corrupted her genome, like everyone else at the camp. She has the most awesome guy in camp as her boyfriend. Not that she and all of her friends at the camp haven't had the lives screwed up, having to deal with the aftermath of the CX9 experiment Dr. Heigl put their pregnant mothers through. Now, they've all discovered these special abilites... the stars, the jocks, the heavies, and the stealths, each with their own unique ability. And, they've decided to keep the camp open, let the kids attend school there. A place where they fit in.

But, something else is happening to Clio, something she can't explain. She's angry when she doesn't need to be. She finds herself attracted to Ford, Lt. Graham when she really shouldn't be, especially with the awesomely hot Jack waiting for her. What the heck is going on with her?

Then, Dr. Larson (who doesn't really have any fans at the camp) is murdered, placing everyone under suspicion. Do they have another killer hidden within their ranks?

Settling by Shelley Workinger is an excellent follow up to Solid. The characters are well developed, and I found myself liking them as much in this book as I had in the last. (Except I wanted to kick Clio in the patootie.) For me, the story seemed a little slower paced than the first book, but I think that's because I already knew all the characters, and the plot unfolded in a way that I didn't think it would go. All in all, I very much enjoyed Settling. It tells the next part of Clio's life and summer at the New Jersey Army Installation. There's so much we don't know about that's going on in those massive buildings, and I wanted to grab one of the kids, and demand to explore. And why do they need blood draws, if the Army is only trying to figure out how Doctor Demento's work (Heigl) then one draw should be enough, right? Is the Army hiding something up their sleeves? All questions I'll be looking to Book #3 for answers.

Settling is a YA paranormal romance/fantasy about what can go wrong during an unauthorized experimentation. If you a fan to preternatural storylines, give this Indie author a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed, I know I wasn't. I think Settling could be read as a stand alone, but I think you'd get a much better feel for the characters, their backgrounds, and connections (as well as the abilities) if you read Solid, Book 1 and follow it with Settling, Book 2.  I recommend this book to YA lovers, PRN and UF lovers, and fantasy lovers, something for everyone. For now, I'll be patiently waiting to read Book 3, I'm left wondering where this story will go next. Also, everyone please stop back by my blog on June 28, 2011. Ms. Workinger will be here to tell us a little more about her series and to hold a giveaway. Mark your calendars!

Moon Spun, Book 3, The Unbidden Magic Series by Marilee Brothers

Publisher:  Bell Bridge Books
Pages:  246

(Released:  July 1, 2010)

From the Cover:

Junior's back from Mexico with his movie-star entourage. Beck's using his half-demon charms to "heal" a new girl. Mom's still wacky and now she's dating Principal Hostetler. High school is still an obstacle course of drama queens, bullies and nutjobs. The Trimarks are still a menace, and the moonstone pendant has revealed even more mind-boggling powers.

In other words, Allie Emerson's life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super-Charged Super-Weird, and it's about to get even weirder. You're a faery princess. So says the mysterious Ryker, whose handsome talents include turning himself into a hawk. By the way, he and Allie are destined to marry. In faery land--Boundless. If they can save it from forces even more deadly than Trimarks and high school.

The third book in the Unbidden Magic series plunges readers into a rich other-world of danger, humor, romance, fable, fairytale and magical destiny. 

Excerpt from the author's website:

If you thought Allie’s life couldn’t get any more complicated...

As I followed Ryker into the faery kingdom he called Boundless, the ground beneath us began to shake, and a voice that sounded like living thunder boomed, “You dare to bring this mortal into our world?”

I clapped my hands over my ears, frantically looking around for the source of the fearsome noise. Oh, this can’t be good, Allie. I made a move toward Ryker. Strangely, he was grinning like crazy and pointed to the pool and waterfall. “Over there.”

I took a cautious step forward. All at once, something burst from the water, reared back and let loose with an ear-splitting bellow so frightening, I screamed in terror. The ground shook harder. Or maybe it was my legs. I froze in my tracks, even though my brain said, “Run, Allie, Run!”

The creature looked like a humongous black horse with moss-covered green scales growing out of its back, flaring nostrils and water weeds tangled in its flowing mane. Its mouth was open, exposing large, slime-green teeth.

“What... is... that... thing?” I gasped.

 “Allie, meet Uncle Davey. Uncle Davey, this is Allie,” Ryker said calmly, as if I’d been invited for Sunday dinner to meet and greet the family.

In this installment of the Unbidden Magic Series, Allie Emerson's life takes on a whole new meaning.  And it's almost unbelievable, if you didn't know Allie that is. It seems in this continuation of the story that Allie, for the first time ever, get to meet her grandmother.  And she nothing like what she's expecting.  Most peoples grandmothers are sweet little old ladies who like baking cookies. Not so with Allie's grandmother.  She a Faery Queen, and Allie is a Faery Princess destined to marry another faery, Ryker.

All this as Junior strolls back into her life, some Mexican movie God complete with an entourage, and Beck decides to pay a visit... can things get anymore complicated? And not only that.... Principal Hostetler's son isn't who he appears to be... it seems Faery has paid a visit before.

Moon Spun by Marilee Brothers is the continuation of Allie's adventures, and this one is wilder than all the others. Allie has always wondered about her grandmother, her own mother hardly mentions her, but Allie can tell, it part of the reason why Fay is the way she is. When Ryker shows up, blazing down the world on his motorcycle, Allie doesn't know what to think.  He's bold, taking her for a ride, even though Fay would have a stroke.  But when Ryker tells her they have to return to some mystical wonderland called Boundless, to save it if they can, Allie is up to her eyes in trouble once again.

Moon Spun is the third installment in this series that keeps growing.  Allie is off on another wild adventure, and just so she doesn't miss anything important, Faery magic allows her to freeze time, at least temporarily. She doesn't want Fay to worry and end up thinking Allie has left her to her own devices.  This is one series that everyone will enjoy reading, there's action, adventure, myths and legend of Faery long since lost.  If you have the opportunity, this is an excellent series for the young reader, just becoming enchanted with books as well as some adults, still willing to remember high school, cliches, and dastardly antics. It's a fun filled adventure story that was hard to put down.  All YA paranormal romance lovers should give this one a peek.  Perfect reading on those lazy Winter afternoon when you can't escape the house, and I guess that would hold true for Summer as well.

I received this ebook from the publisher, Belle Bridge Books.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Pages:  272

(Released:  April 12, 2011)

From the Cover:

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

The Enclave is a hard life with castes, the Builders who keep the enclave in repair, the Breeders who insure the survival of their tribe, and the Hunters who protect and feed those who live within the enclave. 

She used to be Girl15 but with her naming, she became Deuce. She has two friends who survived to be named, Stone and Thimble. They have their places, and now she has hers. Now all she has to do is prove herself. Prove that she's the Huntress she's been trained to be. Her first partner is the outcast, the boy found wandering the tunnels, more than a little feral. No one knows his age or where he came from, only that he has a great fighting prowess, Fade to those who dwell in the tunnels.

With their only they're second assignment, they find a blind brat from the Nassau enclave, and he claims Freaks have surrounded them. As punishment for breaking protocol, Fade and Deuce are sent to Nassau for recon. They find only Freaks, fat on the remnants of the Nassau tribe, the brat spoke the truth. With their escape, the Burrowers find them, another race living off the tunnels, warning them that they're being tracked. When Deuce and Fade return to the Enclave, no one wants to hear about the Freaks, the loss of Nassau, or that the Freaks are apparently hunting them, with a new intelligence glowing in their blood red eyes.
 
When Stone is accused of hoarding, the worst crime that can be committed in the Enclave, it's a setup to keep Deuce quite. But, honor and love of her friend refuse to let him suffer for a crime he didn't commit. Now, Deuce and Fade have been sentenced to banishment, sent out into the tunnels to live. But, Fade has other ideas, making his way Topside, to his home, because if they stay in the tunnels, they face certain death either at the hands of Hunters or Freaks, neither a good choice.

But, other things wait for them in the brightness of daylight, none of them good. Now the question is what will get them first.... the Muties, the Gangers, or maybe the Plague and the reason for their cursed existence in the tunnels.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre is a fast pace YA urban fantasy that I had trouble putting down. It's one of the best books I've read in the YA horror/urban fantasy category since The Hunger Games. For some reason, life above ground has ceased, or at least we're lead to believe that's the case by Enclave elders. Who are the Enclaves, why are they in existence, why have the Enclavees been forced into this existence? The elders lead the readers to believe that humanity had to escape for some unknown or forgotten reasons, horribly devastating reasons nonetheless, and the above ground is only for those who wish death from burning rays and blistering rains. The only safety is found in the tunnels. Deuce has accepted everything the elders have told their Enclave, until she sees differently with her own eyes. The elders have become so enshrined in their lies, they've forgotten or refuse to believe the truth, not enough when one of their own brings it to them. For her pains, Deuce is threatened, punished, and as a final nail in the coffin to insure her silence, Stone is threatened with banishment. She can't watch it happen, not like the blind brat was killed or Banner's apparent suicide. She steps forward, claiming his punishment, and Fade as her partner, steps up with her. Both are banished. But, instead of accepting their fate, Fade leads them topside where a new life begins.

Enclave was a one sitting read, start to finish about four hours. I, like Deuce, couldn't believe my eyes when the elders denied the Freaks had overrun Nassau, when Banner's wrists were slashed, when Stone was accused of hoarding. If you looking for an apocalyptic read, this is your book! I loved the flow of the action, the dance of Deuce while in hunter mode, and as time goes on, she learns that no one is strictly one thing, people have many facets, and life is what you make of it. It's a hard lesson and it goes against everything she has known in her life. The Enclave is nothing like she has been led to believe, and it gets worse.

Ann Aguirre tells an awesome tail of wonder, life, and the unknown. If you're looking for a great summer read, YA or not, pick up Enclave, I don't think you'll be disappointed. But, be forewarned, gore, blood, and more are found within the pages. In my personal opinion, it's a great read, and I highly recommend it for the 13 and over crowd, might be a bit scary for the younger set. If you enjoy urban fantasy, the blossoming of young love, the heat of the battle, and shifted realities, this is the book for you. Enclave is a must read.

If you haven't seen the book trailer, you're missing out...





I received my copy for review from Tara@zeitghostmedia.com and the publisher, Feiwel & Friends. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Pages:  304

(Released:  April, 19, 2011)

From the Cover:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. 

Kate would do anything she could for her mother including moving from her beloved New York City to some no name town in Michigan. If only it bought her mother a few more days, if only it made her happy to see her childhood home once more. Kate would even promise to stay in this place, even after her death, if only it would make her mother smile. And it does, it seems to squeeze a little more life into her mother's eyes, if only temporarily.

But, the school sucks. Kate excels at not making friends, ties are the last thing she needs in her life. Only one boy can't seem the hint, and he becomes important in her life. James turns out to be the friend who'll comfort her when her mother takes a sudden turn for the worse.

Before she knows it, others are intruding into her solitary existence. Where it's only been her mother before, others seep into her life. When Ava invites her to a party, she has little choice but to go. But, Ava isn't trying to be her friend, she's trying to keep Kate from drawing the attention away from herself. Ava plans to ditch her in the middle of nowhere. But, Ava's plans go awry when instead of ditching Kate, she hits her head and dies, leaving Kate with little hope and alone, until Henry finds them. With a single thought, Ava is whole. Now the question remains, would he be able to do the same thing for Kate's mother?

When fall arrives, it's time for Kate to fulfill the bargain she made for Ava's life. She must go to Henry and remain with him until spring's arrival. If she refuses, Ava's life will be forfeited.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter is a wonderful take on the mythology surrounding Hades and Persephone. In this reality, Hades released Persephone from the underworld because she fell in love with a mortal. His love for her goes unmatched, and for a hundred years, the Gods try and fail to find her replacement. Someone is killing any mortal woman who might become Henry's mate and Queen, and he doesn't know why. But, Henry has vowed to end his own existence, to fade into the unknown, before another mortal woman can meet her end. His sister-Goddess, Diana, begs him not to fade, to give her one more chance to find him his match, and though he is dishearten, he agrees. There is only one possible way left. Into his life walks Kate, with a mother dying of cancer, without anyone else, as wanting as he is. What he sees in her eyes is someone who could pass the tests, become his mate, rule at his side, and possibly, take Persephone's place. She'll have to meet the Gods's tests, pass them all, to become a Goddess, immortal, and Henry/Hades's mate.

The Goddess Test was an excellent YA read, fast paced, drawing the reader deeper into the mythology of the story. I want to encourage all mythology lovers and YA lovers to pick this book up, the retelling is fantastic! The heroine, Kate, is a little older than the average at 18, but the story deals with the death of Persephone (the death of love), the death of Kate's mother (loss of a parent), and finding love (there is a brief sex scene when Henry and Kate fall under a spell). That leads to the 13 and over crowd, but other than these few brief scenes, it is an appropriate read for all ages, so, I'll leave it to a higher authority, lol. I love how the author develops her version of the story between Hades and Persephone. [If you know the story of Hades and Persephone, Hades abducted Persephone (some say willingly) and carried her off to the underworld. There, even though she knew better than to eat any underworld food or drink, she consumes six pomegranates (some say seeds, some say she was starved, some say again willingly). Demeter, Persephone's mother, becomes enraged and seeks Zeus's decree. He rules since Persephone ate six pomegranates, she would spend six months in the underworld, six months with her mother.] In Ms. Carter's world (as in the mythology) Henry/Hades truly loved Persephone, but here's the twist. Hades released Persephone from her obligatory underworld stay when he can't find a way to make her happy. She fell in love with a mortal, but to love a mortal, she has to become a mortal which means her eventual death. Henry cannot reign in the underworld unassisted, he must have a mate. Kate is the only likely candidate, and only if she survives where the others have not.

Aimee Carter creates a world where anything is possible, where Kate remains in the underworld for six months of the year, then released to the mortal world for the remaining six. Just like Persephone, she'll be in contact with other mortals, and we have yet to see where this will be lead in the story. She becomes attached to the people who make up her new world, and falls under the gorgeous Henry's spell. But, as she slips further into Henry's world and love, can he let her take Persephone's place in his heart? Can he forget a dead love to find a new one, living and breathing, wanting his love in return? Can Kate survive the true test of love? Will she remain Henry's or fall in love with a mortal as Persephone had? I fell in love with the characters in this story, one by one the Gods are revealed to be the people who make up Kate's new world, the Olympians. Personally, I don't look for an exact retelling of the mythos, that would be boring, and as I am such as lover of the mythos, I already know those stories. I want something new, someone else's take or possibilities, and that's what you'll find in The Goddess Test, an original story full of possibilities. To all lovers of mythology, this is an excellent addition to the growing genre. YA lovers will want to give this one a try, it's a most excellent retelling. Paranormal romances lovers will find an endearing tale of love lost and found. The Goddess Test is another to add to the growing list of must reads. The next in the series, Goddess Interrupted, will follow in January 2012.

From the Cover:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

OMG!!!  I so want to read this!!!


I received my copy for review from NetGalley and the publisher, Harlequin Teen. All opinions expressed are my own.

Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly

Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Pages:  464

(Release Date:  May 24, 2011)

From the Cover:

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars.

Willow has a gift.

She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil.

In the first book in an action-packed romantic trilogy, L. A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill ride of a road trip  —  and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

Willow's life is .... complicated. Her mother has lost touch with reality, more and more everyday until there's almost no reality left. On a good day, she might look at Willow, on a bad day.... well, at least she appears happy. Since her mother's deteriorating mental state, Willow and her mother now live with her aunt, and she reminds Willow everyday that she allows them to live with her out of the goodness of her heart. She reminds Willow that she could help out more, contribute more, make her life easier. School isn't the best, she's just not an average girl.

But Willow has a gift, as well as a nack for fixing cars. With a simple touch, Willow can tell your hopes and dreams, your fears and desires, your future. While her best friend only wants her car fixed, and who even believes in the mumbo-jumbo of future telling, Willow senses something wrong. When one of the most popular girls in the school, Beth, seeks Willow out, she knows something isn't right. Beth claims to have seen an angel, and the angel wants her to join him at the Church of the Angels. Willow sees into Beth's future, it shows two paths, one with happiness and one with a slow death, and it all depends on if Beth follows her heart or her head. When Beth takes off, Willow knows she has chosen the wrong path.

Alex knows all about the angels, he's lost his father and his brother to the breed. He used to be part of a militia that worked to control the angel infection, but since the CIA took over, he seems to kill only those angels not interfering with the human population. He never knows when he'll be called into service. But, when he get an assignment that leads him to Willow, he knows something is going on, he only kills angels, and Willow seems to be human, with one tiny exception... an angel sleeps over her head. Alex secrets Willow away, and together they begin to figure out what's going on.

Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly is an exciting fast paced read, I had trouble putting it down. Willow is a likable character, with a bossy best friend. She isn't your ordinary teen girl, she's better with cars than boys.
To earn extra money to help support herself and her mother, she gives an occasional reading. Beth's reading couldn't go worse, because she only wants to hear that angels are good, when in reality the angel that she's seen is anything but. These angels aren't angels, and only their prey can see them. Except for Willow, and the hunters. Alex is a hunter, but he's lonely, he has only himself, no friends, no family. And now, he starts to realize that the 'hits' he has been sent out aren't what they seem. When he encounters Willow, he doesn't understand her, doesn't know what to make of this girl who knows things she shouldn't, with extraordinary powers. Willow feels the same about Alex, but as they spent more time on the run, they become closer, falling in love. But, will they get to stay together or will the angels find away to claim them for their own use?

Angel Burn is a fun YA read, it's unique, wonderfully told, and honestly, I couldn't have been happier with the read. It was fantastic! I have no trouble saying I highly recommend it. It's the first book of a trilogy, so I'll have two more opportunities to enjoy this author's storytelling. I would probably recommend for the over 13 year old crowd, due to the romance between Willow and Alex. It contains an action/adventure, an alternate reality, and sexual tension. The angels in this story are not heavenly, more demonic than angelic, and looking to make meals of the human race. Even though this book was almost 500 pages long, it felt like a quick read, and when I arrived at the end, I was hoping for more. Willow and Alex were meant to be together, and I can't wait for Book 2 to see where the story leads. I recommend this books for lovers of YA fantasy, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy (YA and adults alike). Angel Burn is one story not to miss.

I received by copy for review from NetGalley and Candlewick Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

My Soul to Take, Soul Screamers, Book One by Rachel Vincent

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen / Harlequin Enterprises
Pages:  384

From the Cover:   

She doesn't see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…

Kaylee Cavanaugh is your average high school student.  She worries about what to wear, where to sit, why her cousin and her crowd are so vile, and why she doesn't have a date on Saturday night.   What she worries about most is going back to the mental hospital and her next panic attack, and when she'll know without being told who's going to die next.

When Kaylee and her best friend, Emma, sneak into one of the hottest dance club, everything's thing great until a gorgeous blonde stands next to Kaylee.  She's shrouded in shadows, and as Kaylee sees the darkness, the scream starts to build in the pit of her soul, claws at her throat for release, as she presses her lips tightly together, hoping against hope that she can stop the panic attack in time.  But she knows the cute little blonde only has moments to live.

Nash Hudson, one of the hottest guy in school and part of in crowd, and someone her cousin would have no problem being with sees Kaylee at the club, he knows what's about to happen, and guides her to relative quiet of the alley where he can whisper and chant the scream away.  Because Nash knows what wrong with Kaylee.  He knows because he's one too, and he's drawn to Kaylee and her need to release the soul song.

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent is an amazingly quick read that had me flipping pages, entranced by one of the best YA series I've read to date.  I loved the short story prequel to this series, My Soul to Lose, it had me begging for Kaylee's continuing story.  Kaylee is an average teenage with one difference.  She's a bean sidhe from the legends of old.  A soul screamer, one who knows when the unthinkable is about to happen and sings for the soul's release, unable to affect the events because if a soul is saved, another must be taken in it's place.  The scales have to be balanced.  Her family has deep roots in Ireland where the legend was born, only this legend is founded in truth.  Nash, her new boyfriend, is also a bean sidhe, he doesn't see the soul before it's demise, he guides the soul to the next place.  He can also guide the soul back to it's body, but the price of doing so is too great.  When he hears Kaylee's song, though beautiful to his ears, it's ear splitting to others around her.  Bean sidhes are destined to be together, to help reach other, and only Nash can help Kaylee through the trying times yet to come.

MSTT is a must read for teens and adults alike, fast paced page turner that I had trouble putting down.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It has all the elements of a good paranormal romance with toned down sexuality needed for a younger audience, but still with enough romance to keep adults coming back for more.  The cover art for this series is amazing well done.  The colors match the tone of the books, bringing the reader into the story before it ever begins.  I can't wait to see where Ms. Vincent takes this series as well as seeing how Kaylee grows into her heritage and her new knowledge.  It also has elements of a great urban fantasy, a whole society of death seers with Reapers and their counterparts.  This series is just starting to unfold, and already I'm hooked, pre-ordering the third book in the series.  I highly recommend this series for readers who enjoy excellent YA, paranormal romance readers, and lovers of urban fantasy.  I know you won't be disappointed, I certainly wasn't.

I purchased this book for my own enjoyment.  All opinions expressed are my own.

My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent (Prequel to the Soul Screamers Series)

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen / Harlequin
 Pages:  74

From the Cover: 

Kaylee Cavanaugh's trip to the mall ends with a brutal panic attack and a brainscrambling shriek she can't stop. Her secret fear is exposed. It's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

But the hospital isn't a safe place for Kaylee, and getting out won't be easy because everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, who has a secret of her own...

SOUL SCREAMERS

The last thing you hear before you die...

Kaylee Cavanaugh is your average teenage with the average problems.  Her boyfriend, Toby, dumped her right before Homecoming to ask her best friend Emma to the dance.  Now together, they plan their revenge on the unsuspecting Toby.  But on a trip to the mall, a panic attack takes Kaylee, one like she's never had before.  She wakes up to find herself strapped to a metal bed, scratches on her neck, and she can't remember how she got there.

My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent is a prequel to her Soul Screamers Series.  In this series, Kaylee is something different, something other, and her aunt and uncle don't know what to do.  When she has the panic attack at the mall, no one can bring her back, not Aunt Val or her best friend, Emma.  To prevent herself from injury, her aunt, who really doesn't like the interruption of her normally placid life, sends Kaylee to a mental facility for observation.  Upon visiting, and seeing the other patients as the facility, Uncle Brendon can't leave her there, she doesn't belong there.  But, just when Kaylee thinks release is in sight, the panic comes again, worse than before, keening threatening to burst from her throat.  Lydia, fellow patient, drags Kaylee away from the mayhem caused by another patient and through her touch, takes Kaylee's pain away.  But maybe at too high of a cost.

My Soul to Lose is an excellent little taste of Ms. Vincent's YA series, and I highly recommend giving it a try.  If you haven't tried this series yet, and you like YA, good story telling and paranormal, it's a free read if you click here.  The next two books in the series, My Soul to Take (Book One) and My Soul to Save (Book Two) are available now, and the three book, My Soul to Keep will be available in June 1, 2010.  I do love the cover art and colors chosen for this series.

I downloaded this book as a free eread.  All opinions expressed are my own.