Accidentally opening a vortex sucks! Fifteen-year-old KIZZY TAYLOR is just hoping for an evening of fun when she joins her friends in a spelunking expedition through an under-city tunnel. But fun turns bizarre when Kizzy accidentally opens a vortex and her stepsister is swept through to an evil alternate dimension. The only way to rescue her stepsister is to reopen the vortex and go in after her. But will Kizzy be able to return home?
Print copy: Lori Strongin with email starting serena423
Ebook winner: Sweety with email starting sweety225
Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture by Benjamin Andrews
Rift of Askrah is the story of Nihlen Draven, heir to the throne of the nation of Draven. After being kidnapped though, everything changes. A world he thought he understood is now alien to him, as he must cope with the danger that haunts him around every turn. His only chance is to find a way to reclaim his stolen kingdom, understand new found abilities, and save himself and the rest of the world from an even greater danger.
About Ben: (from Goodreads)
Reading and writing have always been passions of mine. There are few things like losing yourself in a good book. I've always loved reading fantasy literature. From novels to manga, and all kinds of other stories in between. It's been a staple of my childhood, and is still an enjoyable part of my life. Writing brings its own similar form of this joy. Creating an entire world from scratch, making it feel as real as possible, no matter how unreal it may be. Making it flow and come to life, there's nothing else quite like it.
As for some personal information, I was born in Idaho. I grew up in small towns in the south-eastern portion of the state. At 19, I moved to Oregon, where I currently reside. I currently hold an Associate's Degree in Pharmacy Technology, and work for a call center.
Thank you Benjamin for the time, and the interview!
--The Twitter
version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Rift of Askrah is a story of a kingdom lost, and the
struggle to recover it. The heroes will deal with the unknown to save the
world.
--How did you get the idea for the story?
It was
kind of a sequential event. I had written the outline to another novel, when I
had some ideas about another story. I started writing them down, and they
eventually developed into the Rift of Askrah series.
--Which
character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Most
would probably be the hero, Nihlen. Least would be Cal, I think he would be an
unsavory dinner companion for me.
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I love
lots of different kinds of books, including other fantasy novels. Other genres
I read are action, thrillers, and some non-fiction when it interests me. I
always make time to read every day, no matter how busy I am. Recently I also
expanded my blog to include reviews, and have received some book I'll be
reviewing soon.
--Do
you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
Book 2:
Shatter in the Rift of Askrah series is currently being written. Target release
is set for early 2012, so be sure to keep an eye out for it! I'm also toying
with a few ideas I've had while writing this series for what I'll be writing
after it is completed, so there won't be much of a pause between the end of the
Rift of Askrah series and my next relese.
--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be
like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
I think it would have to be something with magic, maybe the Wheel
of Time or Lord of the Rings.
--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on
your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were
playing while you wrote?
I
usually write with the television on. I don't like to write in the quiet, and
music distracts me when I want to work. Oddly though, I can listen to the
television and continue working.
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The
ability to fly, no question. Being able to fly anywhere, at anytime, would be
beyond amazing.
--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy
playing video games, going snowboarding when it's in season, and traveling. Of
course, simple relaxation is always welcome.
--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
I'd
like to thank those who check out my book, and Brandi for allowing me the
opportunity to have this interview.
With Weston's self-imposed forty-eight hour deadline having already lapsed, Sophie's patience is pushed to the max- especially with her realization that his concern is not for his own well-being, but for hers. Just when they embrace a reconnection, she'll learn that her greatest threat is not necessarily something that might happen in the future, but something that's happening...right now. And this time, Sophie and Wes will need the help of more than one person to fix it -even if it means giving up his secret. With time forever moving, and the dark cloud at its lowest, the third book in the Pace Series stays true to its signature grace and determination as Sophie and Weston take the biggest detour so far.
Published in US: Aug 1 2011
3rd in Pace Series
Source: publisher for honest review
My Review:
The Pace Series is one that since I discovered it, the next installment is always on my anxiously waiting for list. The Iron Quill, like it's predecessors did not disappoint. The characters, the writing, and the pacing are right in line with what I expected, and the ending left me with that longing and expectation for the next chapter in their story.
There was no time wasted getting right into the plot and it was like I didn't miss a beat. It was like picking up with old friends, a comfort level, and a sense of completeness. That isn't to say that it started with Sophie and Wes in an easy place--that seems next to impossible with their situation, and their history, but I was glad to be back in their lives nonetheless.
There are old characters that we're used to, and a new and intriguing character that we get inside his head. He's a great addition, and I love how he's introduced and then how he impacts the story.
Ms. Shorts gives the right information at the right time, and kept me breathless on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would turn out. She writes with an obvious passion, and I really appreciate how she can flesh out what the characters are feeling and thinking, putting me right into their shoes. She isn't afraid to blow up the character's worlds though, and no matter how hard it is to read, this really is a feat of a writer. Especially when I see no way to really reconcile it all, but have faith that somehow she will get them to the end!
This is a wonderful series, a great installment, and I can't wait until more from Sophie and Wes.
I'd love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review.
At 7:45 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving break, a bomb goes off at Edison High. Nine people die instantly. Fifteen are critically injured. Twenty-two suffer less severe injuries. And one is blinded. Those who survive, struggle to cope with the loss and destruction. All must find new meaning for their lives as a result of something they may never understand. Lurlene McDaniel’s signature expertise and finesse in dealing with issues of violence, death, and physical as well as emotional trauma in the lives of teens is immediate and heartrending.
Publishes July 24th 2012
Source: Netgalley
My Review:
Red Heart Tattoo is a new addition to Lurlene McDaniel's masterpieces. I've always loved her writing style, and the way that she has an eye for grief and hard issues. She addresses them head-on and with characters that I can't help but care about. This book is no different.
At first it is a bit confusing because there are several rotating point of views, but I quickly got a handle on the personality and voices, and found myself caring, despising, cringing, and rooting for the different characters. It may seem that it's hard to encapsule a voice and several lives in so few pages, but I think she did a superb job.
Morgan is probably my favorite character, and the one that I connected with the most. It surprised me a bit because I have never been that popular, but she had a personality that I couldn't help but like.
Roth was also a very developed character, and more like someone that I would have been found hanging out with in school. I liked the different layers that were peeled back and how I got to know and care for his character.
The pace never lets up and Red Heart Tattoo kept me flipping until I reached the satisfying conclusion.
I'd love to hear what you think of this book and/or my review.
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.
Published in US: Oct 25 2011
Source: Netgalley
My Review:
Ms. Dolamore writes a captivating novel, with characters that match the stunning cover. I enjoyed this book and the world she created. I've read about mermaids and sirens before, but I think that she had a unique take on them. I was intrigued by the Fandarsee, the winged people in the novel, since I've never read about anything quite like them.
The focus of the story is our main character Esmerine trying to find her sister Dosinia, and I love how it shows love and devotion to family. Many stories have gravitated toward the romantic tendencies, and I enjoy more and more the familial connections when I see them like they're featured in this book.
Not to discount the love story that exists within Between the Sea and Sky, because it is sweet, and I had fun seeing how it unfolded. Alandare is quite an intriguing character, and I enjoyed learning more about him and what makes him tick. It was hard until near the end to really get a good handle on him, and that's a good thing, he kept me in mystery and suspense.
I loved being in Esmerine's head and could really understand her struggles and where she was coming from. Her pain, her joy and her emotions were clear and it was easy to get in her head. I wasn't sure exactly what she would choose at each turn, and Ms. Dolamore made her conflict real and challenging--she didn't get anything without a price.
I hope there's more to this world, and I'd love to get my hands on it.
I'd love to hear what you think of my review and/or the book.
But sorry if I'm behind on getting back to you! I will once everything settles down! We closed on our house yesterday and moving truck is coming on Friday, so everything is kinda crazy now.
Not to mention that baby #2 will be here in less than 5 weeks!
So enjoy the giveaways that are up, and I'll be sporadically posting reviews and other stuff.
Here's my house:
[IMG]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc489/blkosiner/New%20house/IMG_20110924_122122.jpg[/IMG]
Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate by TK Richardson
Everything tastes better when it simmers.
If you’re hanging out with friends and want a quick snack, or just want to eat something you have cooked, the recipes in this cookbook are simple and easy, but big on taste. A cookbook for teens and beginning cooks SIMMER is easy to follow, easy to use, and offers a variety of great recipes.
Fast food is expensive and eats away money few teens have to spend. SIMMER can help! Mixed with step by step easy directions and common ingredients, these recipes will help the beginning cook prepare food that will satisfy and delight. From bacon cheeseburgers to simple spaghetti, or grilled pizza sandwiches to taco pie – these recipes are always a hit.
Easy to prepare, even better to eat – the teen cook will have fun making their own meals.
From my kitchen, where everything has a splash of olive oil, to your kitchen – I hope you find these dishes tasty.Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate contains over 70 recipes, including more than 30 vegetarian recipes.
I loved her YA novel Return the Heart, and she has graciously agreed to write a guest post and do a giveaway for her latest tasty book.
Cooking
Up Characters and Main Dishes by TK Richardson
Writing
books is such an important part of who I am and I’ve had great fun writing my
novels Return the Heart (2010) and Shield the Heart (2011). These books are
geared for young adults and are filled with great characters. But when the
opportunity presented itself to write a cookbook I couldn’t resist.
Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate was
so much fun to write and I found it wasn’t all that different from writing my
fiction books, either. I cooked up main dishes like I cooked up my characters.
I had to make them both easy to read and easy to relate to. And like my novels,
this little cookbook is geared for teens.
When
asked why I wrote a cookbook for teens and beginning cooks the answer was
simple: cooking is a basic life skill that many kids don’t learn anymore. Fast
food is easy, but expensive and even worse – it’s unhealthy. So the idea for Simmer was born!
My
plan was to create an easy step-by-step beginner’s guide to cooking using
common ingredients and simple instructions. In addition to this, I’ve listed
which pots, pans, and utensils you’ll need for each individual recipe. No guess
work involved!
Cooking
up characters and main dishes proved to tie together nicely. And to celebrate Simmer’s release in paperback and as an
ebook I’m giving away a signed copy of Simmer along with a custom t-shirt that
reads, “Everything tastes better when it
simmers…”
I
hope you enjoy this cookbook as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Simmer:
Recipes for the Teen Palate is available at Amazon in
paperback for $8.99 or on Kindle for $2.99. It’s also available at Barnes and
Noble and on the Nook.
About the author ~ When she’s not in the kitchen
whipping up something new to eat T.K. Richardson can be found writing her next
novel, visiting the beach, collecting books for PartnersInPrint.org, or hanging
out with her children. Be sure to look for her first book for adults Imagine Short Stories & Poems due
out December 2011.
With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, physical frustrations, and spiritual dilemmas— not to mention the ever expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her— Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but delightful places.
My Review: I really enjoyed the dynamic characters of The Next Door Boys, this is a true to life, dealing with hard issues type of book that I gravitate towards, and Ms. Perry did a good job writing it with genuine emotion, and characters I wanted to care about.
The Next Door boys is a Mormon book, and some of the elements are kind of strong, but they did not turn me off. I don't know if that is because I am a Christian (non-denominational) or because I've read books about Mormons before (Taken by Storm by Morrison). It just seemed to be an extension of the character, and not preachy. That said, there were a few things that I didn't quite understand, but it didn't distract from the main plot or anything.
This is not just another cancer book though, it is Leigh's story of healing and growing, and yes, there is romance involved. It's also got a strong theme about the love and support of family and friends, and I really enjoyed that a brother got to shine like Jaron did in this book. I appreciated how close they were and it made me a little jealous that I'm an only child and never got to experience that bond.
The romance, well the main one, and the one that I rooted for, is awesome. It's not a love at first sight, it is a true friendship that gets to bloom, and I just love it. There is a love triangle, and I think that it has a more complete resolution than I've read in a long time.
If you like contemporary, then I suggest you give this one a try! For similar reads, check out Taken by Storm, most any Lurlene McDaniel book, Change of Heart, Flyaway, or GirL Saves Boy.
I'd love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review.
PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.
Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.
But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!
Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.
But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.
Published in US: Jun 7th 2011
Source: Won from Ashley (bookaholics anonymous)
My Review:
Once I read the description, I knew that I had to read this, and My Life Undecided did not disappoint. It is such a neat and original premise, and Ms. Brody executes it amazingly.
It actually started out with a much more serious problem than I anticipated, but the main character, Brooks had a voice that kept me entertained, and managed to keep it lighthearted.
The characters were great, and it was fun to watch Brooks learn from her blog readers' input and how she grew into making her own decisions. Her best friend turned frenemy was well written and she really fit into her role. Her crushes, Brian and Hunter were completely different and desirable in their own ways. Another secondary character, Ms. Moody was great. I love how elderly have been featured in a few YA books recently, they have so much to offer, and I love old people.
It was fun to watch everything play out, try to figure out what the readers would pick for her, and how she reacts to her new experiences and choices she otherwise wouldn't have made.
This is a spectacular contemporary, with lots of laughs and some tender serious moments sprinkled in.
I'd love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review. For similar types of reads, you can click on the contemporary label below or try Anna and the French Kiss, A Match made in high school.
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.
Publishes in US: Nov 15th 2011
Source: Simon Teen for honest review
Series? Part of trilogy, 2nd releases in 2012 I think
My Review:
Once I started reading The Pledge, I couldn't stop! I didn't think that I would like this book as much as I did, because something about the description of the language barrier in the blurb didn't connect with me, but once I started reading Charlie's story, I fell in love with her character and had to know more.
Derting is a master of characters, I was suspicious yet charmed by Max, fiercely wanting to protect Angelina, and not only that, she is great at giving only the information you need in that moment, and not a smidge more to keep me asking questions, being surprised, and needing to know more.
The world building and the pacing was great, and this makes me think that I have really missed something by not reading The Body Finder.
There were so many things that I wasn't expecting that effected the storyline and it's a pleasant surprised to be completely blindsided by things like that when I can sometimes sniff a dystopia "twist" a mile away.
If you like fantasy or dystopias, then I recommend to give The Pledge a chance, you might fall in love like I did.
For Lily and Jasper Winter, the Moon Realm began with a single secret bedtime tale. As the children grew older, Uncle Ebb enthralled them with thrilling tales of the Dragondain riding horse-sized, catlike Rinn; mysterious tales of peerin-wielding lunamancers manipulating the magic that lies just beneath the surface of reality; exciting tales of flying dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping giants, and troublesome faeries. But as the magic of their childhood faded, so too did the tales. Eventually, they were just . . . good stories.
Or were they?
Now, nine years after it all began, Uncle Ebb is missing.
Lily and Jasper search for clues, but their uncle's mansion is full of distractions. A Tesla generator thrums in the basement. Prismatic electrimals flit around walls resembling underwater reefs. Then a most unexpected friend comes to their aid, leading them to a hidden room where they find a mysterious coin—the moon coin. Before the night is out, Lily is transported to the real Moon Realm. But the moons are in trouble. The Rinn of Barreth are under siege, and the lunamancers of Dain are beset by the very dragons they once loved. Most horrifying of all, the moon Darwyth has fallen to a villain named Wrengfoul, whose creeping evil now threatens to overshadow all the Realm.
Are Lily and Jasper too late to save the Moon Realm, or will they have enough time to write an ending of their own?
Featuring twenty-two stunning full-color illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio. Volume One of the young adult fantasy adventure series The Moon Realm.
Thank you Richard for the interview and chance to read your book!
--The Twitter version: tell us about
your book in 140 characters or less.
Lunamancers, talking dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping
giants, and troublesome faeries. Life was easier when bedtime tales weren't
true.
--How did you get the idea for the story?
I was racking my brain one night, trying to tell my daughter
a new bedtime tale.I was exhausted,
physically and mentally, and kept stumbling into that wonderland between dreams
and sleep. My daughter kept elbowing me: "Wake up, Daddy, you're not
making any sense!" But I kept drifting off. And then, all in one jolt, I
brought back with me The Moon Realm. About nine books worth.
--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner
with?
Oh, great question! From the cast of The Moon Coin, I’d most
like to have dinner with Nimlinn. Hands down. Normally, I don't think she'd
give the time of day to a foreign storyteller.Butconsidering the
things I know about her past, present and future . . . I think I could keep her
entertained.
The least would be Curse. Curse gives me the willies.
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have
much time to read?
Not in any particular order: The Princess Bride by William
Goldman; The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins; the entire Tiffany Aching series
by Terry Pratchett; Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson; The Prisoner of
Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (bit of a cheat there, since you'd have to have read the
first two); The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas; Twenty-one Balloons by
William Pène du Bois; and any short story collection by Lord Dunsany. Of
course, if you blindfolded me, and pushed me into the P.G. Wodehouse section,
I'd run out of the place laughing like a lunatic, holding as many books as one
man could carry.
--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or
release dates?
The Dragondain, book 2 in The Moon Realm Series, is written
and going through final edits with my editor.After whichit's off to
the illustrator, Carolyn Arcabascio.
Currently, though, I'm working on the very first editing pass of book 3 in The
Moon Realm Series, The Murk.
--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a
favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
Oh! Please, please, please! Put me in a Wodehouse novel.
Preferably in the company of Galahad "Gally" Threepwood during his
prime. I want to visit the Pelican Club circa 1887-1892 and throw bread!
--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are
there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or
that were playing while you wrote?
I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks. Composers I have on
my playlist include: Klaus Badelt, Howard Shore, Thomas Newman, Jonsi, Lisa
Gerrard, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ira Davies, Christopher Gordon, Zbigniew
Preisner, Harry Gregson-Williams, Nicholas Hopper, Richard Tognetti, Tan Dun,
and Danny Elfman among others.
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
The power to solve any dilemma. Of course, I suppose it
would be quite the dilemma solving all the world’s problems . . . no, wait, it wouldn't
be a dilemma at all. ;)
--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I don't get much in the way of free time these days, but I
enjoy getting out for a family bicycle ride when the weather is nice. And I
like to loiter in museums.
--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your
readers?
If you value your life, never sneak up on a Rinn and pull
its tail. It will be the last thing you do.
Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla
Edward or Jacob? Erm . . . (That's okay, I guess I really shouldn't ask men)
Hockey or soccer? Cycling. :D
Ebook or paper? Paper
Salty or sweet? Salty
Beach or mountains? Beach AND mountains (better known
as islands)
The Secret of the Keepers: Kailmeyra's Strength by Elizabeth Isaacs
The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Two--
Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.
That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.
Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.
As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.
Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.
"No one has ever doubted that you would die for those you love. The question then becomes ... would you live?"
Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend? As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side? Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Go is is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.
Publishes in US: Nov 14th 2011
Source: Netgalley
My Review:
Wherever You Go is an emotional roller coaster with three main characters who evoke sympathy, pain and the different forms of love. Ms. Davis wrote the character's well, and their voices are distinct. Even if she didn't use different point of views, I could keep their voice straight. The perspectives all piece together well, and does not take away from the flow of the story.
This is certainly a unique form of the love triangle, and I think that it's development and resolution are perfect.
Wherever You Go deals with so many issues, but it does it well. The characters realistically struggle and come to terms with grief, depression, caring for your family, absence of parents, Alzheimer disease, love and loss.
I love the character of Aldo, Holly's grandpa in this story. He is a perfect door for the ghost of Rob to have a voice in the world, and he has much to offer even if he is frequently locked into himself.
The story has an amazing ending, and wrapped things up better than I could've hoped. Contemporary and paranormal fans alike should give this a read.
I'd love to hear what you think of the story and/or my review.
The Secret of the Keepers: Kailmeyra's Strength by Elizabeth Isaacs
The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Two--
Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.
That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.
Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.
As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.
Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.
"No one has ever doubted that you would die for those you love. The question then becomes ... would you live?"
Publishes in US: Nov 1st 2011
Source: Part of blog tour. Make sure to comment on this post, and the other tour stops for your chances to win a copy of ebook of The Secret of the Keepers.
2nd in Kailmeyra series, to see my review of 1st: Light of Asteria . Third is slated for release in fall 2012 (how will I EVER wait that long???)
My Review:
The Secret of the Keepers starts right where LoA left off, and man, have I been waiting for this!!! We jump right back into their ride to their honeymoon, and Elizabeth gratefully does not make us wait long. She manages to beautifully balance the need for steam and a bit of detail with modesty and everything is appropriate.
The lyrical flow of Nora's voice is still present, and reading her thoughts and following her journey is such a joy. Emotions are a big part of SotK too, and Elizabeth has such a gift, I feel lucky to get to share in this story. Everything seems so real, if the characters are joyous, so am I, and if they are worried or grieving, she manages to show their feelings and explain it so that it makes me think of a similar situation I was in and I'm able to experience things right along with them.
So many things I was looking forward to was in SotK along with lots of unexpected. I was glued to my kindle and was a sad puppy when I had to put it down to do something else. Elizabeth beautifully continued her story, adding depth to the plot and opening up a whole new set of questions and issues for the next book.
SotK left me bawling at times, laughing and snickering at others, and fanning myself a bit at others. I can feel the love and devotion between Nora and Gavin, and then towards their clan and friends, and for the land and people of Kailmeyra. Nora has so much to deal with, and has to make such hard choices, I really empathize with her, and admire her for the strength she finds and everything that she discovers.
Of course, my favorites from LoA are present and there are some new characters to fall in love with, be suspicious of, and marvel at, from marvelous creatures to old ladies who I can never quite decide what to think about, and delightful children. And that is not even mentioning the "wild child:" she's amusing!
If you've been reading this blog much, you know that Light of Asteria is one of my favorite books, and Secrets does NOT disappoint. I HIGHLY recommend!
Giveaway time:
My blog and each of the other tour stops is giving away an ebook of The Secret of the Keepers. Please leave a comment and a way to contact you as your entry! My contest will end Nov 30th 11:59 EST.
The Secret of the Keepers: Kailmeyra's Strength by Elizabeth Isaacs
The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Two--
Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.
That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.
Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.
As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.
Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.
"No one has ever doubted that you would die for those you love. The question then becomes ... would you live?"
Smart and sassy Abby Grace is a seventeen-year-old with a talent for getting out of trouble. Sent to repair the lives and loves of teenagers on the edge of disaster, Abby is the perfect girl for the job. She has everything going for her… except one thing: a body.
This fast-paced and exciting episode is the first installment in an ongoing mystery series with a supernatural twist.
Episode 1
When Abby Grace wakes up in the back of a van, she has no idea who she is, how she got there, or why anyone would want to kidnap her. After escaping her masked captors, she hurries home, only to discover that she unknowingly left her younger brother behind in the van. Unable to answer the police’s questions with her memories gone, she retreats to the safety of her bedroom where she tries to reconstruct her life. Just as she is settling into the belief that things will one day return to normal, she looks in the mirror—and sees a stranger’s face.
As Abby learns next, she has become a Shadow, sent to inhabit the lives of strangers in trouble. With nothing to go on except the vague hints of her cute but maddening Guardian, a 19th century ghostly teenager named Will, Abby sets out to rescue the missing brother. But she will need all of her intelligence, fearlessness, and wit, because if she fails to find him in time, she will remain trapped in this unfamiliar body forever.
Episode 2: Girl Steals Guy http://t.co/MZ01r1Aq
Dropped into the life of a gorgeous senior with a heartbroken best friend, Abby Grace must navigate high school keg parties, football games and power couples as she discovers that love and revenge are sometimes the same thing. (Linkable)
Episode 3: Teacher’s Pet (Nov 21st release date; preview at www.borrowingabbygrace.com)
Abby finds herself in a boy’s body for the first time, where she has to fumble her way through a secret love affair, while getting to the bottom of a grade-tampering scandal that could send her to jail.
Thank you Kelly for your time!
--The Twitter
version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Abby Grace wakes up to find she is a ghost with missing memories and must
rescue a kidnapped boy or be trapped in a strange body forever.
--How did you get the idea for the story?
I got
approached by my publisher to do a series of Nancy Drew-esque novellas, only
modernized with a sassy protagonist and a supernatural element. I’ve always
loved sassy protagonists and supernatural books so I jumped at the chance. What
especially excited me is reversing the traditional ghost story setup. Usually
in ghost stories the protagonist is alive and solves an old unexplained
mystery, some lingering hurt, and then the ghost goes away. But with Abby,
she’s dealing with the very real problems of living people. They’re going on right now, these urgent and suspenseful
dilemmas.
--Which
character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Wilhelm—he’s
adorable. I have a total crush on him. And I’m in the middle of writing the
next trilogy of Abby Grace books right now and learning a lot of interesting
things about him! So dinner with my handsome, 19th century quipster
would be lovely …
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I wish I had
more time to read. I do still read at night, before going to bed, but not like
I used to. Some of my all-time favorite books are: Coraline, The Hunger Games, Phillip
Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, A Wrinkle in Time, The Book Thief, The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of
Unfortunate Events series, and anything by Roald Dahl.
--Do you have
any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
My third book
in the Borrowing Abby Grace series is scheduled for a December 7th
release. And I’m currently working on books 4, 5 and 6. They’re a trilogy I’m
tentatively entitling “Nemesis.”
--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be
like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
That’s hard. Hmm. Definitely not The Hunger Games! I need to start reading
happier books… Maybe when Lyra and Will travel to the land of the Mulefa in The
Amber Spyglass. That seemed like a lot of fun.
--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on
your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
I definitely need coffee! For music I listen to Pandora. Lots of different
stations.
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Invisibility. I’d love to know what’s going on behind closed doors. It’s one of
the appeals of writing Abby Grace (or any book for that matter)—seeing the
secret lives of other people.
--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
Watching old episodes of the X-Files. Totally hooked.
--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
Thanks for
reading my books! And get ready for some very cool twists…
Lightning
round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla.
Edward or Jacob? Edward!
Hockey or soccer? Hockey.
Ebook or paper? Ebook.
Salty or sweet? Salty.
Beach or mountains? Mountains.
Phone call or email? Email.
Early bird or night owl? Night
owl.
Dog or cat? Cat.
Messy or neat? Messy.
Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas!
And now for the contest:
Whoever writes the best 140 character summary of the first episode of Borrowing Abby Grace wins a $10 Amazon voucher to use to download the books?
Contest ends 11/30 at 11:59pm EST, open to US. Please leave your 140 characters as a comment, along with a way to contact you if you win.
As a contemporary poet Spargo Postle recognises the loneliness and isolation we can all encounter, even when we are seemingly among many others. His poetry expresses what we all feel but are unable to speak of, out loud... Selected by Spargo Postle himself for a paperback edition includes We Are Lonely, A Man Of Few Words and I'm scared of the darkness...
About Spargo: Spargo Postle has roamed and meandered his way through life watching and listening to the nations of people that exist around him.Spargo Postle feels that poetry is no more than capturing a string of thoughts onto paper, so feel free to leave your thoughts in a review. But then if you would rather just read his work and browse on by, so be it.
Thank you Spargo for the opportunity!
--The Twitter
version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Alone
Among Many by Spargo Postle. We, we many, we are lonely. Simple, uncomplicated,
pragmatic poetry, even for those who don’t read poetry
--How did you get the idea for the story?
The world can be a lonely place,
no matter how many we are surrounded by... Even the internet, though it
provides us with opportunities like this to reach out to many hundreds at a
time, leaves us isolated... Once we press the off button and the hundreds
flicker away we are left alone, unable to express to those that surround our
real world what our life should have been like... If you do get someone to
listen you can see their smiling disdain of your world, just before they turn
and forget what you just said...
I'm a poet, so watching people
is a voyeuristic compulsion that I have never been able to deny from the
beginning of my time... Each poem is a little bit of me and a lot of who I see
around me, but all of their worlds and mine get jumbled and messed with so that
the world I see is the world I want it to be... So I wrote my thoughts to reach
out to those who may be similar to me...
--Which
character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Most - There is a character I
saw some years ago in a club when I was living on my own, a true beauty during
the day… But the way she was dressed in the club looked like she had just 10
minutes to find a man, very little left to the imagination, make-up by ‘Trowel’
(I hope that isn’t a real make-up
manufacturers name)… At first I didn’t recognize her and then it dawned on
me that it was a woman who didn’t live far from me, in her late thirties to
early forties I would say… She acted like a complete animal all night,
virtually pawing at the men around her… At the end of the night she was crying
near the toilets, very drunk, and then she was walked out by a couple of her friends…
I so wish I could have just spoken to her a few days afterward, find out why
she changed from one thing to another, why she seemed so together during the
day and then acted with complete abandonment
Friday nights… I never did, but I wrote ‘Beauty Became the Beast’ to
place her into my world, where my characters live, to give what she turned into
some context and meaning…
Least - In the poem ‘A Poet
Walks Into A Bar’ there are a whole host of characters that I have used before
and will use again but the person I least like is the wife-beater… I just
couldn’t find the words to make him as evil and depraved as I wished to… He is
the culmination of people I have met and people who I have seen from time to
time… Someday I will find a way to destroy this character but I need to find
the words to show who is and then the words to kill… Perhaps I need the courage
as much as those that live with such terror of what’s about to come back from
the bar…!!!
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
As
a youngster I used to love Roald Dahl books because they told me all about
another world that didn’t seem to exist for me… Much later I read the book
Scanners by David Cronenburg and the main character just seemed to shout out to
me… Strange really because it got such a slating by the critics, but I loved
it… I also love to read and re-read some of T.S. Eliot’s later work. Sadly I
don’t read as often as I should do or would like to but I love some escapism books
such as Dan Brown… I really don’t see why people who write knock him so much,
readers love his work and that seems to be so very important when writing a
book…!!!
--Do you have
any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
It
has to be said that I am constantly writing poetry but it doesn’t always turn
into pigment as the ideas wax and wane. But I am currently working on a set of
poems around the same theme, mythical
gods/entities/otherworld/guardians, or something along those lines… I am also
looking to write a novel, traditionally, without poetic stanzas.
--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a
favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
This
is a more difficult question to answer than I expected and the truth is that I
would pass on her wish grant… Unless I could cheat a little, after all I’m just
using ‘poetic’ license… I would live through Shakespeare’s sonnets, but through
his mind’s eye… What did he see when he wrote them, who did he see, how many
people was he seeing?
--Do you need
anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing
while you wrote?
I
usually need peace and quiet, to be able to drift around in my little
other-worlds… Songs and, in particular, music videos can be a major
inspiration… I am eclectic in my musical tastes, the lyrics have to say
something… As for the music videos there are so many beautiful, thoughtful,
sad, challenging, prophetic, intelligent things to see it would be hard not to
be inspired… But when it boils down to it and I am in a place where there are
people I make lots of notes about all of their worlds, but I capture what I
view from my eyes not theirs…
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
You
would think after all I have just answered that I would want the super power of
mind reading… Truth is that I have come to realize that I like people to live
in my reality and not theirs because they never quite live up to being the
people I wanted them to be when they actually open their mouths… So my super
power would be to fly… I would so love to fly over the landscape with the same
freedom as I see birds do…
--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
Be
with my family, it’s the only place I have ever felt safe enough to just be me…
I also like to draw… I have taken courses and have studied and studied but I am
bloomin awful… I seem to have the hands of a wrestler…
--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
There
are those of us that can stand in a crowd of people and feel more Alone than
ever before… We can be Among the most loving of families and still recognize
that we are in some way not quite connected to them in the way they would want
us to be… So very Many of us are fractured, lonely, isolated… Reach out, say
hello, smile, know that we are there… And then… We, we many, we are lonely…
Together… Love Ya, Spargo Postle.
Lightning
round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Always and forever chocolate…
Edward or Jacob? Edward, does that make me sound terribly English?
Hockey or soccer? Soccer…
Ebook or paper? Paper…
Salty or sweet? Sweet…
Beach or mountains? Mountains…
Phone call or email? Email…
Early bird or night owl? Night
owl..
Dog or cat? Neither, but if pushed then dog…
Messy or neat? Very very messy…
Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas…
And now for the giveaway:
10 copies available, open internationally
+ 
+ 
= most awesome giveaway ever.
