Ghost of Bliss Bayou
by Jack Massa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Life for seventeen-year-old Abby Renshaw has not been easy. Her father died when she was young, her mom moved her from Florida to New Jersey away from her Granma, and she started having vivid dreams and visions. Of course she was treated by a psychiatrist for those in New Jersey, but they have started to return only now Abby feels compelled to return to Florida to visit her Granma on Bliss Bayou. While there Abby has more visions, only this time she learns more about her family history and the history of Bliss Bayou as a magical place, and is introduced to Violet who practices magic and is able to help Abby understand the visions and not run from them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou by author Jack Massa tells the story of the Renshaw family and the practice of practical magic that existed in the area. The truth of the family history has been buried in lies by those greedy for power, and it becomes Abby's job to uncover the truth and set things right.
Author Jack Massa has created a wonderful little world that is historic and steeped in tradition and magic, but not your wand waving kind of magic, the more practical magic of a naturalist, listening to the elements of the world and being in tune with them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou falls into the paranormal genre for the appearance of a number of ghosts who help lead Abby to the truth, as well as the use of the practical magic. It is just as much a coming of age story as Abby finds her way in the world and what she wants to do and who she really is. This is a well written and engaging book that is great for young adults, teens and adults alike. Although at times the visions get a bit confusing, it you just press on reading, it all becomes clear. This is a very clean book, no language or sex, so I recommend it for any reader.
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When Lightning Strikes(Lightning, Book 1)
by Kathleen Rovner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Life for Julie has always been about dance, always about dance and nothing more than dance, and she is an amazing dancer. But after two attacks on Julie, her parents move the family overnight to a small island in the middle of nowhere, where nothing is what it seems. Now Julie is going to a high school with only five kids while her brother goes to a high school on the other side of the island, and she feels like she is forgetting things all the time. Her mom is acting strange and Julie is determined to figure out what is going on and what the big secret is with life on this island. When Lightning Strikes is a young adult, coming of age novel that embarks on a young girls discovery of the secrets that her parents are keeping from her. Author Kathleen Rovner writes a compelling and captivating story.
When Lightning Strikes is slated as the first book in a series, which is a good thing, because this book just ends abruptly and you are thinking wait, I need more. Also, the author Kathleen Rovner classifies the book as paranormal, but that is an underlying concept in the book until almost the end, so it is definitely something that you hope will be fleshed out more in the second book. That all being said, this was a great first book. It drew you into this world, helped explain the attitudes and why Julie's parents made some of their choices, without actually telling their complete story. You got to understand the values and traditions, and you could kinda see where things were moving. Its a unique coming of age story with a paranormal twist that is worth reading, and it is clean - no sex or language so I would recommend it for all ages.
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Live Fast, Die Young
by Vanessa Barneveld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Alex has dreamed of going to Yale, becoming a pediatrician and spending his life with his best friend Molly. Molly is just as hard working and dedicated to going to college with Alex and nothing is about to stop her. So when Alex comes back from a recent trip to visit his dad, Big Dave in Sydney and seems to have lost his drive for school, studies and even Yale, Molly is livid. What Molly doesn't know is that Alex has a secret, his trips to visit his father haven't been just that, he has been getting chemotherapy and treatments for Stage IV Melanoma, problem is none of it is working. Live Fast, Die Young is the story of Alex and Molly, as they deal with this diagnosis and a six month sentence. Author +Vanessa Barneveld tells the story from both Molly's view and Alex's view, and brings in real teenage emotion and thought processes.
Live Fast, Die Young is a relatively short novella that it is engaging. You are easily able to understand the characters. It is a great young adult read. The only thing I can think to say bad is that, reading it as an adult, I can see the problems in a few of their rationals, but as sixteen year olds, I definitely see that the author, Vanessa Barneveld has captured the mindset and thought processes of the characters and real life teenagers. It is a cute, short story that is a great read and I enjoyed it quite a lot. It has no sex or real language in it, so I would feel comfortable letting even younger kids read this one. It will remind kids, nothing in life is forever, and to grab what you can while you have the chance.
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The 13th Descent - Book One: The Rosefire Trilogy
by Ky Lehman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Life isn't perfect, in fact far from it since her mom and Nanna died, but Ren thinks it's pretty normal. For a teenager, she has her best friend Mike, school and family, if only Georige Pa would stop drinking. Even though the bizarre deaths of her mom and Nanna, don't have Ren thinking too much, until her Aunt pulls her out of school with the news that her mom is really alive. That alone is enough to turn your world upside down, but follow that with the knowledge that you have lived before, and you have a job to do coupled with the fact that there are people out there wanting you dead. Well, now that is just a little much for a teenager to take in one afternoon. Author Ky Lehman has woven a wonderful tapestry that is the story of the past and present, the battle of good over evil and light over dark. The 13th Descent is the first book in what will become The Rosefire Trilogy, and it starts off with a bang.
The 13th Descent is set to begin The Rosefire Trilogy, and as such you expect to have a lot of background in this book, but the way that author Ky Lehman has written the tale, the background you need comes from the characters themselves, as they remember their past lives, how they worked then and what they are to do now. It doesn't come across as too much, it comes across as part of the story and feels right. By the time you reach the end you are wanting that next book to continue the story, to see what is next because you have gotten to know and like the characters and their connections to each other. This is a good book for readers of all ages, no sex, violence and very little language.
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Cain's Coven (Begotten Bloods, #1)
by Kristin King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Claryn hates crowds, and is not in the mood for this bachelorette party, but there is no way Kelley is letting her get out of it. It gets even worse when Kelley invites Justice, the guy from the burger joint to join them, and then makes him Claryn's date for the wedding. The thing is, he seems to understand Claryn's fears and issues with men and even more he is willing to work around them, of course Justice has his own secrets.
Cain's Coven is the story of brothers Justice and Chess as the fight and survive in the world. Claryn is drawn into their world, although Justice tries hard to keep her at a distance, he just can't. Outside of them, in the world at large lurks an evil that threatens young woman in the area, even Claryn. Author Kristin King molds dynamic characters in Chess, Justice and Claryn that you come to like and feel for easily and quickly in the story.
Cain's Coven is not your typical vampire novel, in fact there is not much of it that is typical. There are even times when you forget that there are vampires because that is really not the main focus, it is more the whole nature of the relationships and what is going on in the world in general. You've got an online computer game people are playing with the promise of immortality if they win, which has created some disgruntled few who won and found out there wasn't immortality at the end. They are not bent on slaying vampires. Then Author Kristin King decides to throw in a serial killer lurking in the community to mix things up a bit. There is no lack of action or down time in the story, it really keeps you turning the pages and engrossed in the story all the way through. This is a great read for all ages, teens, young adults and up. There is no sex, mild violence - and I do mean mild especially for a vampire story, this is very mild. I feel comfortable letting my middle schooler reading this one. Enjoy!
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The Witch Who Cried Wolf (Cry Wolf, #1)
by Sarah Mäkelä
My rating: 4.1 of 5 stars
Mia is a shy little flower of a witch, and Jessa is her best friend, who runs and owns an herbal shop in town. Some people realize that she is really a witch, but most just come for the fun of it and the novelty. When a client asks Mia to make a potion, he doesn't give her enough information and the healing salve goes wrong. Now Mia has werewolves hunting her down and threatening her family and she doesn't really now which camp to believe.
Ethan has just spent the last year plus on deployment overseas and he is looking forward to being home, even if he isn't exactly looking forward to spending time with Mia. It's not that he doesn't like Mia, that's just it, he's been in love with her since seventh grade, but you just don't go after your best friends little sister, it is just not done.
This year, when Ethan gets involved in the werewolf attack on Mia, and then see's the treatment that a bad boyfriend subjects her to, it is almost more than he can handle.
This is a cute story of friends figuring out their places with each other long after college and if it's ok to finally date your best friends little sister or not. A story of a witch and a werewolf and a friendship and partnership to help each other when one is injured, but also to keep the supernatural hidden from the rest of the world.
Definitely a young adult type story, one sexual scene, not too explicit, but enough to be mentioned. Fun, enjoyable story for anyone who likes the witch, werewolf, paranormal genre.
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Beauty & The Wolf (Beauty & The Wolf Saga, #1)
by L.A. Maldonado
My rating: 4.3 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Her very own apartment, and at only sixteen, it all seemed surreal to Claire, but then again so did the fact that she would never see her mother again. Her mother had finally lost her battle with cancer, and now Claire was in a new town, a new apartment, just down the street from her Aunt and Uncle, but on her own so to speak. First day of school and Claire spots loner, Adam and is immediately drawn to him. Jeannie takes Claire under her wing and they become best friends quickly, but trouble in the form of Billy Ray, or Bully Ray as he is called behind his back is headed her way. Billy Ray has taken an interest in Jeannie, and he doesn't take kindly to being told no. When Billy Ray forces the issue and kidnaps Jeannie things go from bad to worse and in ways Claire could never suspect. Beauty & The Wolf follows the unlikely team of Adam and Claire as the work together to help Jeannie and bring Billy Ray down. L.A. Maldonado gives the reader a complex story of rules and anarchy, set within the confines of high school life.
L.A. Maldonado's Beauty & The Wolf is a young adult book, and sometimes it seems that the average life of that age character gets lost in the story. In this story, the author really tries to keep you remembering that the characters are only sixteen, they are in high school, they are solving adult problems and dealing with adult-like situations without having the learning or experience to deal with them. Bully and rebelling against the perceived unfairness of rules are the big themes in this story, which are perfect for this age reader, and are dealt with in a manner that makes them understandable for the reader.
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Black Snow
by Larry Vick
My rating: 4.7 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
As a young child growing up in the projects, if your skin shade is slightly different, it can cause an issue. In Black Snow, we meet Aaron and Sanobia, two young children that have had to learn far more than their age would dictate to survive. When Aaron can no longer take the consistent teasing, tormenting and bullying, he fights back on Sunday with a stream of curses that would make even a veteran sailor blush. A chain reaction of events, in no way related to each other, occur within a brief five minute window of time that will change Aaron's world forever. Author Larry Vick shows how his childlike mind can connect the events, when there is no connection, and how an unsuspecting friend can lead you to your greatest moment.
Black Snow, although marked as a young adult book, is easily readable for upper elementary aged children to adults. It should be read by children and adults alike, and then talked about together. It is one of those books, that brings social issues to light, but in a mild enough way for all ages to be able to cope with reading about them, and to allow families to discuss the issues together. Author Larry Vick has created a wonderful book that could easily be a school reading assignment book. It would work perfectly in that type of setting where it is read and discussed and talked about more deeply. Not only do I recommend the book to readers, but teachers and educators alike.
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Justice Buried (Starbright, Volume 1)
by Hilary Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Justice Buried (Starbright) (Volume 1) tells the story of a new world order. The world as we know it now ceased to exist in 2068, and one city at least, underground survived. The prophecy was that in one hundred years a child born on the spring equinox and one born on the autumn equinox, would venture out of the underground and start a new city above ground. Astrea and Lexan are those children, but there are those that would prefer they did not reach their goals. Some in Asphodel don't believe that there are any people left above ground, and others believe there are. Things become complicated when Stian arrives in Astrea's hidden cave, as he actually comes from the surface. Can he be trusted? Astrea and Lexan find they must do things they never thought possible in order to save the city they love and the people they love. +Hilary Thompson, Author has written a story that will pull you in from the first page.
The current world ends in 2068, not too far away, and in a manner that seems reasonable enough to be realistic, which makes the book that much more compelling to read. Three cities are said to remain, two above ground and one underground. Justice Buried is the story of the underground city of Asphodel. +Hilary Thompson, Author blends coming of age, as the main characters, Astrea and Lexan are all of seventeen, with the struggles of truth and justice, what is right and wrong, how to balance family and community, ethics and morals. It is an amazing beginning to a three part series that draws you in, keeps you reading and is fun, but at the same time, when you sit back and think about what they went through it will have you thinking about the choices they had to make. Wonderful book for middle schoolers, young adults and adults as well.
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The Stray : To Plan
by K. E. Strokez
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Matthew Bridge has been accepted into a prodigious academy called St. Kenneth's. His twin brother Ken is accepted along for the ride, despite his objections. Life in this boarding school is going to be like nothing Ken has ever experienced before. Right from the beginning Ken begins having hallucinations. They feel real to him, but he is not sure what is really going on. As the story progresses we learn that nothing in The Stray: To Plan is what it seems to be, everything is an illusion and a trick. K.E. Strokez gives us a fantasy, science fiction, paranormal novel in which someone has set up a simulation world that runs in a bubble, and there are people watching it, yet it is not real. The gravity of the situation is enormous.
The Stray: To Plan turns out to be an elaborate simulation that has been running for a very, very long time, in fact at this point in time they are at Phase 83. The people in the simulation think it is real life and are living day to day, and yet there are people out side watching them, observing what they are doing. K.E. Strokez writes a story that is part fantasy, part science fiction, part paranormal and yet at the same time there is just enough technology available today that makes you stop and think, you know this might just actually be possible to pull off. Reading it gave me goosebumps and reminding me of reading George Orwell's 1984 back in 1982. There is just enough reality to make you take notice of what he is writing about and make you think about this as a possibility, not today, but in a few years. Great read for young adults and adults alike!
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Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm, Book 1)
by K.C. Blake (Kasi Blake)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
When you have grown up all your life, moving from place to place all the time because there are real monsters hunting you, you sleep with a dagger under your pillow. Bay-Lee Bishop does, but on the night that she is visited by dead rocker Tyler Beck, she doesn't have a chance to reach for it. Good thing because they become the main characters of the story, Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm Book 1). After Tyler's visit, Bay-Lee is visited by a Reaper, and finally it is time for her to follow her father to his famous school for monster hunters, Van Helsing's Academy. Being the head guys daughter is not easy, and Bay-Lee enters school with a target on her back. She must learn to find and make friends, cope with a prophecy and deal with dead rocker Tyler Beck's alter-ego, Nick who turns out to be her mentor. Kasi Blake creates the story of two realms, the world and the spirit, and between them monsters, in the forms of werewolves, vampires and more cross over to destroy humans. Hunters are here to prevent that from happening.
Bait is a terrific blend of action and adventure, mystery and intrigue, and a little teenage romance tempered with parental conflict. Paranormal or fantasy, it is a compelling story that will keep readers of all ages turning the pages wanting to see what happens next. Kasi Blake gives the young adult-teen reader set a new world order to follow and find something to look forward to in the next book. Even though there is a bit of a teenage romance, there is no sex, perfect for this age range!
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Loxy Quum and the Merge Experiment
by Ricky Mon
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Loxy and his sister Lana live on a far away planet. They and their parents, along with four other families were sent there to determine if the planet could support life, and if so to build a colony. Loxy and Lana, as well as the others on this planet are what are called merged humans. This means that they have human and animal DNA merged together. One day the parents on the planet all disappear, and it is up to the kids to find out what has happened, and to find out all the truths of the world outside their small planet that their parents have hidden from them throughout their lives. Loxy Quum and the Merge Experiment is science fiction, but there are real life morals and applications from the story that can be applied to real life. Ricky Mon does a wonderful job in merging the science fiction story to attract the attention of the readers with the moral and ethical issues that need to be learned about and learned from.
Loxy Quum and the Merge Experiment is a young adult book, but I definitely feel it could be read by Middle School children, in fact I think it might be a great book to read in school. While the story is science fiction, there is real life application. You can trace the treatment of the merged humans to slavery and more in history. This is what makes this book one that would work well in a school setting for kids to read. While they get a fun story, they also learn of the real life impacts of discrimination. Ricky Mon takes some tough ideals in discrimination and puts them into a story that most pre-teens and teens would enjoy reading. This is a win-win book, and something that teachers would be pleased to take a look at and possible teach from. Even if not in school, I think this is a book worth reading for that age set.
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The Legacy of the Key
Ancient Guardians, Book One
by S.L. Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Reece is your typical college student, dealing with classes and unfortunately, her father's passing. At least that is what she thinks anyway. She is heading to San Diego to finish up things on her father's estate, when she notices two handsome young men at the airport, and then they are on her plane, which ends up having trouble and returning to Philadelphia. She later notices them again while out with friends, and while out on a run they save her from being abducted. Turns out they are her Guardians and she is someone called The Key. Now she must understand that there are other dimensions and worlds other than her own, all while hiding for her own safety. Ancient Guardians is a young adult tale of character and honesty. S. L. Morgan takes fantasy and morals and makes it into a wonderfully captivating romance novel between a young girl called the Key and her Guardian.
Ancient Guardians: The Legacy of the Key is the beginning of a new series, and it is a strong start to the series. It lays a good foundation for more to come. The guardians are shown to be a people that a strong, yet morally upright and have good values; which is why they were originally chosen as the guardians in the first place. Greed and power are the opposite and are shown to get in the way of life and what is really important. This fantasy novel is set in multiple dimensions, which is a fun concept to think about, with Earth being the central focus of the dimensions. Although there is some fighting, the crux of the story is the romance between the Key, Reece and her guardian, Levi. This is a great young adult and teen novel in that the romance is also woven in with a moral message of honesty, trust and doing the right thing. This novel will also appeal to older readers as well, and given that it is very clean, even mature younger readers would do well with the novel.
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Shadow of Time
by Jen Minkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
For years Ben and Hannah have summered in their mom's cabin in St. Mary's Port. They grew up there and formed great friendships with Josh and Emily from the nearby reservation. Hannah hasn't been back in four years, but after her first year of teaching she needs the summer break. What she finds is not what she expected. Josh, her brother Ben's best friend has grown up and even though he is younger than her he seems so much older and so good looking. She is not sure what to think or what to do, and he seems just as confused. After being stranded and having to wait for the guys to pick her up, Hannah is threaten by three drunks, which starts a series of weird and scary dreams. As she tries to understand them, she only gets more confused until finally Josh is forced to break down and explain himself to her. Shadow of Time is a wonderful mix of romance, history, legend and modern. Jen Minkman does a superb job of mixing so many concepts into one book without it seeming overwhelming.
Shadow in Time is set near an Indian reservation, so we learn some true Indian history, some Indian legend in this story, but never once is any of that boring or stuffy! It is told in dreams and remembrances and scenes that make perfect sense so that it fits perfectly in the story. Not only that but there is romance, past lives, curses and coming of age all wrapped into this story. Three people; Ben, Hannah, and Josh are at the center of this story, but you don't realize it until closer to the end that all three are involved. It can almost be said this book is a walking advertisement for the ideal that people come into your life for a reason because in this story, there are reasons that each person is where they are. Even the grad student Nick, that seems out of place has a purpose, he gets them all talking about history of the Navajo and is able to put some perspective on certain things that Hannah and Josh are too close to see at first. That message in the book is classic. This is a great book for young adults and teens, but I can easily say that adults will be able to find the beauty of the story just as well.
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Neria
The Future Demon Huntress, Book One
by A.S. Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Neria thinks she is just a normal high school student, except that she has weird dreams. Her mom thinks they should talk to the priest at school. Neria The Future Demon Huntress reveals that what she really is, much to her disbelief is a demon hunter. This takes some getting used to and she has to deal with the fact that her life is being planned out for her, without her consent. Kellar is an older boy at school that she has a crush on, but what she doesn't know to begin with is that he knows she is a demon hunter and it is his job to protect her. She will deal with a budding relationship with Kellar, then the fact that he knew more about her than she did and can she still trust him. A.S. Johnson writes a paranormal novel of the life of a demon hunter, but it is also steeped in the Catholic faith and exorcisms. It is definitely not your typical paranormal novel.
The ability of A.S. Johnson to take a paranormal concept of a demon hunter and place her into the middle of the Catholic church, surrounded by high level church people is a new and different concept in paranormal novels. The main characters are high school students, so it is a great young adult book, but that being said even as an adult I found it worth the time to read. Neria The Future Demon Huntress has romance between Neria and Kellar, training through the church, and the future of the world in the paranormal hunter concept. It touches on so many planes that the novel is extremely realistic.
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The Future Demon Huntress
Book One - Neria
The Vampire Empress Chronicles
Book One - Caroline's Path
Book Two - Charlotte's Journey
Other Books - Not in a series
Orion
Native Nights: Roxanna
Secrets
The Hero Chronicles, Book One
by Tim Mettey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Nicholas has moved at the end of summer every year that he has lived with his Aunt since his parents death. It's just part of his life, not that he likes it, but that is the way his Aunt says it has to be, and he has to keep from making friends or talking too much about himself. This time they move closer to his old hometown, the first time they have come back this way since they left, and things are beginning to change. He falls for a girl, and wants to form relationships for the first time, but his Aunt is still cautious but allows him more this time around. Only problem, strange things are happening. Tim Mettey takes the concept of a hero, adds some paranormal and a world in flux after a huge natural disaster to create a story that you want to be part of. Secrets starts out this series with the knowledge that there is a great deal in the world that Nicholas doesn't know about, and now is apparently the time for him to find out about a number of those.
Recently hero books seem to be all the rage, but this book is different. Nicholas is considered a hero by a number of people, but he doesn't think that way. He thinks he is a normal teenager, which gives this a different vibe. Nicholas is not a cocky kid, but a true humble and confused teenager and that is part of what makes Secrets a wonderful book. Secrets is the first book in the Hero Chronicles series that Tim Mettey has created. This book will pull you in and remind you of high school if you are an adult, but be so relate-able to the young adult and teen market. The paranormal slant to the book gives it a new and different vibe, but at the same time I could easily see Nicholas fitting into our local high school. I found this to be a easy to relate to novel that drew me in. I love it for the young adult and teen market, in fact will gladly share it with my teens at home. This is definitely worth the time to read.
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The Hero Chronicles
Book One - Secrets
Book Two - Trust My Review
Arielle: Immortal Awakening
Immortal Rapture Series, Book One
by Lilian Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Arielle has always been a bit different, she can read the mids of some people. Aside from that, she has searched, never really dating all that much, looking for a prue and true love, one that resembles that in her favorite novel. Sebstain is far from normal and her knows it, but he has spent his entire life looking for the one person her can truly love. While Arielle is on vacation, Sebstain spots her and knows that she is the one, but it takes him almost two months to work up the courage to talk to her. Now he can't imagine life without her, there is only one problem. Arielle is a human and Sebstain is immortal. How will Arielle take the news, and how will Sebstain keep her safe from another immortal that has vowed to destory all he loves? Lilian Roberts gives us a new and differnt paranormal story, no vampires but immortals and blends it with a deep and immediate love story. Arielle Immortal Awakening is the first book in a series that will follow Arielle and Sebastain to hopefully answer the qestions.
Arielle Immortal Awakening is scheduled to be the first book in a series, and be forewarned, it does end on a bit of a teaser, which will have you waiting impatiently for the next book. The idea of immortals has been around in stories with the vampires and other paranormal creatures, but there was always a price to their immortality, with vampires it was blood. That is not the case here, but yet there is a deep ad quick love that develops that results in trust questions only because of the speed in which they fall. Lilian Roberts has done a wonderful job in giving the reader a new look into the paranormal romance genre and this is defintely a book for those who are looking for a heart-stopping romance. Although it is a romance, it could actually be read by young adults as well as adults.
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Daughter of the Earth and Sky
Daughters of Zeus #2
by Kaitlin Bevis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
All her life Persephone thought she was a normal teenager, now she has found out she is really a God and married to one of the best looking Gods around, Hades. Problem is that Zeus, who happens to be her father, is hunting her down. Of course she is also dealing with this thing that mostly the Gods marry for power and not for love, and she is not really sure what is going on with her and Hades. To top that all off she still wants to try to finish her senior year like a normal teen. There is just too much going on, and he is running herself ragged, not to mention setting herself up to be easy pickings for Zeus. Daughter of Earth and Sky is about Persephone, because her father is Zeus, God of the sky, and her mom is Demeter, God of the earth. Not to mention her marriage to Hades, giving her power in the Underworld making the most powerful God alive. Kaitlin Bevis weaves traditional mythology with a contemporary setting and romance that ends up being cute and endearing.
Daughter of Earth and Sky is a different take on the recent stories that have been published featuring the Gods and mythology. It is focused more towards the female reader, but at the same time it has enough mythology in it to interest a wide range of readers. The tenderness and interactions between Persephone and Hades are a joy to read. Kaitlin Bevis has done a great job of making this story feel like it could actually be happening in real life. I was life with the need to find the next book in the series when I finished this book. I needed more. Young adult readers and even older readers will enjoy this book.
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Never Lost
by Riley Moreno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Romance and Paranormal are popular genre's today, and add in a young adult main character and you have most of the recent top sellers. Given that information, Never Lost is something of its own completely.
The main character is Harper who at 16 is forced to move from Chicago to a tiny farm village in Wisconsin where her mother grew up. Life is changed in an instant, and not to the better as far a Harper can tell. The first person she meets in this new town is Danny Benson, the problem, Danny is a 17 year old ghost who has been wandering the woods for the last 39 years!
The interactions and relationship that develops between Harper and Danny is unlike any ghost-human relationship you have ever read about, in fact Danny appears more human than ghost. It is an intense relationship and it helps Harper to adjust to the move, but it won't last for long.
Although this is a short book, it was originally written in five small installments, but I read them all together at once. This book packs a powerful story and kept me wanting more till the end, in fact I still want more of the story.
This is a great young adult or teen story, the trials of moving to a new town, all fit with life and make this story so easy to relate to in many ways.
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The Concealing
by D.E.L. Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Five teens, the best of friends, find that they are not only friends, but they have a mission in life. They are Spirit Warriors, they can move their own spirit to share the body of an animal, then back to their own body. What a trick to learn when you are 15! Spirit Warriors follows these five friends as they are brought to a time when they are needed to use their powers to defeat an evil. They have trained and looked for the evil for awhile now, but when they are finally confronted with it, they are surprised. It came in a disguise that no one would have expected and almost lead them into trouble.
The Spirit Warriors is well written and entertaining, and with the main characters all being in the middle teens, they bring in a world of issues from that same teen life. This makes the story good for the teen and young adult market, while keeping the topics of abuse and homosexuality, which are mentioned in a brighter light. As the discussion progresses one night, one of the guys admits his true leanings to the friends, and the discussion is nothing short of heart-warming. Nothing of the actually abuse is described but more alluded to, and so I find that they way the kids work through finding out these things to be beneficial to readers. The abuse is never talked about, but only realized after the fact and then the fight to make sure people know what really happened is encouraging.
Some will say this is the perfect book for girls, and while there are three girl teens in the main cast, there are also three boys throughout the book, two in the original circle of five, and a newcomer that will end up playing a large role in the end. I find that it has a mix that although girls will get it and enjoy it, there is still enough action and adventure to interest the boys as well. It is a coming-of-age novel that has to deal with the harsh realities of life, and at the same time, it entertains you with the spirits.
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