Summer Of Stars by Leslee Horner

Book Synopsis (Goodreads):

In this life, Lola’s family is falling apart. In the last one, they were murdered. In this life, Lola just wants to be normal, without the obsessive urges that have her vacuuming at least three times a day and a bipolar mother who’s the poster child for mood swings. Lola thought that turning fifteen would bring change for the better, but a strange vision puts her on a crowded train headed for Auschwitz. Is she losing it or looking through a window to a past life?

My Review:

This book is an emotional roller-coaster that takes you through the journey of Lola Ray in just a summer. We begin her story on her fifteenth birthday at the start of discovering who she is. Instead of usually being her friend’s ‘sidekick’, she is stuck with spending her summer alone at home with no car to get around and often no parent to watch out for her. But with this period of isolation, she discovers new things about her self, what might be her past life, as well as new neighbors.

What is so interesting about this book is the intense real world situations that are addressed, but also the supernatural aspect that is played into Lola dreaming of being a jewish girl-what she suspects is her past life. Lola really seemed lost throughout this book with often more questions and answers and like many people her age, trying to discover her own self identity. Struggling with her own OCD, her mother’s mental issues, and her dad becoming more distant puts her life into perspective of what is important and how she can emotionally deal with these issues. A pretty hard task to do at fifteen and on her own. That is when her new neighbor Ian becomes both her confidant and her friend. He is the only sense of normalcy in her life but encourages her to explore her dreams and use it to help her in life.

What is so great about this book is the character development and maturity that reaches each character. We see them become, brave, self aware, and empathetic to even the hardest situations thrown at them. Each of them makes difficult choices that they struggle with throughout the book but in they end they become better for it in their own way.

I encourage all of you to read this book and it’s sequel An Unrequited Fall.

About the Author:

Leslee Horner is a wife and mother of two little girls. She grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Elementary Education. After college, she lived and taught in Columbus, Ohio for four years and San Marcos, Texas for two. She currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida where she volunteers with the youth in her community. In her teens, she came to love writing. The power to move people with words on a page spoke to her. Back then she wrote mostly poems and letters. It wasn’t until age 32, that Leslee tried her hand at writing a novel. It was quite a journey and in the end, she knew she’d found her way back home to the calling she’d left behind.The award-winning novel, SUMMER OF STARS, is the first book in the Lola series, and is the third novel Leslee’s written. Its follow up, AN UNREQUITED FALL, will be released in the fall of 2014.

Under a Blood Moon by Carrigan Richards
Publication Date: January 28th, 2014
Publisher:  Indie World Publishing & Author Services
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Status: Book 1 in The Elemental Enchanter series
Rating: 4 Stars

Book Synopsis (Goodreads):

Falling in love isn’t the only problem for Ava Hannigan.

When seventeen-year-old Ava discovers that she can breathe underwater, she’s disappointed. She wanted to be normal and dreads the day of her initiation into one of the most powerful covens of Elemental Enchanters. She has fallen in love with a human, which is forbidden, but she has such a strong connection with Peter, the only other person who knows what it’s like to grow up motherless.

Ava and her friends never expected to be caught up in the middle of a three-hundred-year-old war. Devon wants revenge against the humans for killing his master. Xavier, a ruthless witch, is building an army for Devon by spellbinding several students into becoming dark Enchanters. After Xavier realizes Ava and her friends are Elementals, Devon will stop at nothing to have their power. Xavier threatens Ava, attempting to coerce her to join them, but when she refuses, he kidnaps Peter.

Ava must seek help from her coven to defeat Devon and accept her life as a witch in order to save Peter and protect the humans.

My Review:

I really enjoyed Under A Blood Moon. It’s fast paced, filled with complex characters, and an enchanting love story. Ava is a water elemental whom is just coming into her powers. She is sworn to secrecy by her coven to never reveal her powers and to always stay true to her coven. There are six people in her coven besides the elders, Ava, Gillian, Melissa, Thomas, Jeremy, and Lance. Ava is dating Thomas whom is the star quarterback of the football team and a huge jerk. He used to be so different when they first started dating but over the years he’s become possessive and slightly aggressive. Ava feels like because of her promise to her coven and the fact that shes bound to each of them that she is stuck dating Thomas especially since the other girls are dating the other guys in the coven. She never even thought that she could date another enchanter. Though Ava has strong feelings for Peter, but humans are strictly a no and if the elders found out any of them were dating a human they could be stripped of their powers and exiled from the coven. There’s so much character growth for Ava through this novel. At first she’s more quiet and insecure and through out the book she becomes such a solid and strong character. Her relationship with Peter is great! Her and Peter are so adorable. It neat to see a love story begin slowly and then build up from the middle towards the end. I also loved the love story because they start out as friends and it just blossoms from there.

There was only one thing I didn’t like about this book. There’s a moment where Peter gets kidnapped and within a paragraph a month has passed. It was very confusing and very anti-climatic. It also seemed very against Ava’s character to sit around and wait for a month to check on Peter to see if he was okay. That didn’t make sense to me, especially since other humans have been going missing. It just seemed very abrupt and out of character for Ava. Besides that though I loved this book, it was pretty amazing! And I cannot wait to read the sequel!

 About the Author:

Carrigan was born in Cullman, Alabama, but grew up in Birmingham, and moved to Atlanta at 18. She earned her BA in English at Kennesaw State University. For as long as she can remember, she was always making up stories and characters inside her head, sometimes using her dolls to act out the scenes. When she’s not writing (which is rare), she’s spending time with her fiance, family, and friends, listening to music, playing with her sometimes psychotic puppy, or cheering on her Atlanta Braves.

Author Links:

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Indie World Publishing
Amazon

The sequel to Under A Blood Moon is entitled Under the Burning Stars and was released July 21st, 2014! Be sure to add both these books to your goodreads!

Ignite (Ignite #1)

by Lily Paradis (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. She’s used to living life for one person: herself. That is, until another family tragedy thrusts three children into her care and uproots her life in ways she could never imagine.

Lauren’s first instinct is to run, until she meets their striking, mysterious neighbor Dean Powell. Their immediate chemistry and his connection with her late father just might be enough to keep her in town long enough to uncover pieces of her past that she never had answers to. Dean’s shady past and her reluctance to trust him could cost her the life she’s always been searching for, but will she run back to her old life?

Or will she choose to stay and live the life her father always imagined for her?

Quote 1:

A split second later, I was opening my eyes, but I was disoriented for a new reason.  Something, or someone, ran into me and knocked my phone and paper license to the ground.

I bent to pick them up, but another hand went for the paper when I went for the phone.  I stood up, completely embarrassed that I’d just let my emotions get the better of me yet again.  In the DMV, no less.

Our eyes met, and I sucked in a breath.  He studied what he was holding and read off my name.  The sound of his deep voice caught me off guard.

“I’m so sorry, Lauren Annabelle Lindsay, five-five, hazel eyes, red hair, 3239 Summit Drive,” He said as he flashed a dazzling sideways smile at me.  From anyone else, this might have been too invasive.  But his guy knew he could say something like this to a girl and have it charming, rather than an I’m-going-to-stalk-you-home-and-kill-you-now kind of way.His mouth was raised up higher on one side, and I could see the faint outline of a dimple on his cheek.  I had the strange urge to reach out and touch it.

—- Ignite by Lily Paradis

Quote 2:

I just sat there, wondering if I was dreaming.  This was not happening.  It just wasn’t.  Why was Henry Cavill from the DMV in my living room?  Correction, why was he in Linda’s living room, and why was he touching me?

He held his hand out expectantly.

“Dean Powell,” He said, oozing confidence and grinning in a way that made me think he did this regularly.  Charming people, not rescuing girls who fell at his feet.

Well, that might be a regular occurrence too.

I held out my hand gingerly, feeling strange that Jed, not to mention Mary and Chase, were witnessing this little encounter.

“Lauren Lindsay,” I said.  “But you already knew that.”

He flashed another million dollar grin and I felt my traitorous stomach drop.

“Lauren Anabelle Lindsay,” he said.  “Can’t forget that Little detail.”

—- Ignite by Lily Paradis

My Review:

I really liked this book.  It has a very cute love story, but there is more to the story than just that.  The story is about relationships and change, which can be very hard to deal with sometimes.  The story is well written and the author really brought the characters to life.  Lauren and Dean were wonderful, but I adored Emma.  I think she was my favorite character.

Lauren has not had an easy life.  Her parents got divorced when she was younger and she decided to live with her mother, not because she liked her mother more, but because she was mad and hurt by her father’s actions.  Her mother ignored her and left her to her own devices.  Thankfully, she had her twin brother, Tucker.  Her father was killed in a mining accident and soon after that, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her.  She has not allowed anyone new into her life since then, because of her fear of being hurt.  Now her step mother has died and left her with the guardianship of three children. She isn’t sure she is up to the challenge, especially when she meets the brother of her stepsister’s best friend.

Dean is strikingly handsome, but doesn’t do relationships.  He was abused by his parents and after they died, he was put in the foster child care system, which wasn’t much better.  Lauren’s dad got him out of the child care system and became his mentor.  He helped him clean up his life and quit his substance abuse.  Dean felt like he lost his best friend when Lauren’s dad died, but he was determined to continue becoming a better person.  As soon as he was eighteen, he became the legal guardian of his sister Jenny, who had also been in the foster child care system.  Dean had a steady stream of girlfriends, until he met Lauren, then everything changed.  Can he become the man that Lauren needs?

This is a very clean romance, but there are a few swear words.  Just a word of warning for those who find that offensive.  The interaction between Dean and Lauren is wonderful.  I especially liked the interaction between Dean and Emma.  Any man that is so wonderful to a child is definitely a keeper.  As I said before, this book is more than just a love story.  There is a lot of action in this book as well.  The story kept me entertained and engaged right to the end.  The author is going to tell the story from Dean’s point of view in her next book, which will be called Arclight.  I will definitely be reading it.  I give this book four stars.

About the author:

Deliverance (Defiance #3)

by C.J. Redwine (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

Everything hangs in the balance, and nothing is certain: Rachel has been kidnapped by enemy forces and is being taken to Rowansmark while Logan, imprisoned and awaiting trial, is unable to leave Lankenshire. Separated from each other and their Baalboden comrades, each must find a way to achieve what they desperately want: to rid their world once and for all of the Commander and the tech that controls the deadly Cursed One.

Fighting through her pain and embracing the warrior she’s become, Rachel will do whatever it takes to escape her enemies’ clutches and join Logan in his fight. But when she learns a secret that changes everything, she realizes that escaping Ian and his tracker friends is no longer an option if she wants to save the people she loves. Instead, she’ll have to destroy Rowansmark from the inside out—if she can survive the journey through the Wasteland.

But as Rowansmark bears down and uneasy alliances are tested, will Rachel and Logan’s love for each other be enough to surmount the unbelievable odds against them?

My Review:

I loved this book!  It was a great end to a wonderful series.  The story is well developed and beautifully written.  I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book.  I love the characters, especially Rachel and Logan.  They had to endure many hardships in this book and at times, I was very worried, but that is what makes great storytelling. Rachel and Logan have a wonderful love story.

Rachel lives in a society where woman have very few rights.  They must have a male protector and they are not allowed to go out in society by themselves.  Rachel was raised by her father to be self reliant and to think for herself.  She is smart, confident,  cares deeply for her family and friends. and is a natural leader.   She is also very much in love with Logan.  She would do anything to keep him save, including sacrificing herself.

Logan was trained to be a courier by Rachel’s father.  When Jared  goes missing, Logan becomes her new protector.  Logan is an orphan, an outcast, and an inventor.  He will do anything to protect Rachel and soon realizes the true depth of his feelings for her.  He becomes a great leader through the series and many people rely on his ability to make plans.

At the beginning of this book, Rachel and Logan are separated.  Rachel  has been kidnapped by Ian, while Logan is surrounded by Rowansmark trackers and the Commander and his army.  Will Logan be able to come up with a plan to escape and rescue Rachel in time?  You will have to read the book to find out.

If you haven’t read this series, you definitely should.  The series contains the books Defiance, Deception, and Deliverance.  I would recommend them to anyone who likes books about dystopian societies or post apocalyptic literature.  I give this book 5 stars.

Guardian of the Underworld (Underworld Chronicles, #1)

by Rachel Tetley (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

Two worldsNeither can exist without the other

And one guardian to ensure their survival

But a family with a score to settle

Forces one boy, into a dangerous adventure

Jake Summers is an ordinary boy with an ordinary family- so he thinks. He has just spent another summer holidays building dens in the woods with his best friend Paul. But when someone special unexpectedly dies, Jake is determined to find out the truth, unaware that it will change his life forever.

He discovers a key to Grandpa’s forbidden room, and is plunged into a long-forgotten magical world, together with class mate Arianna Brown and a strange creature called Noggin. Stormy seas, underground carts pulled by Golden Eagles and a dragon all stand in his way. He must race against time to fulfil an ancient magical prophecy and save the world.

Quote From Book:

“The storm disappeared as quickly as it had started.  All that was left was the rhythmic dripping of water from the leaves no longer able to hold their weight, and the distant but constant trickle of the river that ran through the woods.

A kingfisher sat on a branch high above, looking down at Evander.  The man’s body was hidden by night’s cloak, but his face glowed in the moonlight.  In fact, it seemed as though all the light that lit the woods — the shimmering reflections, the glowing fireflies — was now focused on his face, and was getting brighter.  It held at its brightest for just a second, then faded and spread out amongst the trees.

A second kingfisher appeared on Evander’s chest.  It flew up to join the other and they peppered each other with kisses before flying side by side into the heart of the woods.”

My Review:

This book has a lot of good things going for it.  It was a little slow at first, but soon picks up speed.  Then it is a roller coaster ride to the end.  The story is well written and very imaginative.  The main characters, Jake and Arianna, are very likable and easy to relate to.  The villain is truly despicable.

There were some things that I didn’t like about the book.  Sometimes there wasn’t enough description to understand what was going on.  I would be reading and then I would think what? and then I would have to go back and read it again to get things a little clearer in my head.  Also, the author created a good villain and then didn’t use him to his full potential.  There should have been an epic showdown between him and the main protagonists.

Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend it to middle school age children.  I would also recommend it to any one who likes the  Harry Potter and  Percy Jackson series.  I give this book four stars.

Rachel Tetley lives with her five children on the top of a wooded Devon hill overlooking the sea. When she is not writing, she is riding her horse Smudge, playing her piano or experimenting to invent the worlds best recipe for Chocolate Brownies. She loves to do anything as long as it’s exciting and has to be doing something all of the time. In fact the idea for her first book Guardian of the Underworld, was created whilst she was sleeping!

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Book Synopsis (Goodreads):

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she’s never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He’s searching for someone too. He’s also wild – a savage – but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other’s best hope for finding answers. 

My Review:

Under the Never Sky is an intricate world that bursts immediately onto the page with as many startling and new situations as the characters face. I can honestly say that this is the kind of book you will have trouble putting down. I certainly did. Despite the changing of character perspective from the two main characters, Peregrine and Aria, the story as a whole flows as naturally as the Aether described in the book. Want to know what Aether is? Read the book. You won’t regret it. Without giving too much away, which is hard to do, I can say that the book is amazing in many ways. The descriptive detail of people, nature, and the pseudo experiences called the Realms is clearly from an artist’s perspective and will fill your mind with amazing imagery.

Of course, what young adult novel would it be if it didn’t have a romance to spice things up? For me, the romance was quite refreshing from most books I’ve read. Perry and Aria’s interactions from the beginning were surprisingly funny and then very mature towards the end of the book. Both are strong characters with noble quests they set for themselves and despite the feelings they have for one another, they keep a ‘relatively’ clear head to do what they think is right.

At first, it is a bit challenging to read in the beginning, simply because you must learn about two different cultures at once and the different names they may have for one thing. However, with all stories, the style of the writer becomes much more familiar and it became second nature to picture a world this amazing…or should I say treacherous?

I hope you enjoy my fanart of the book and it may inspire all of you to read it and share your own art with the world. Happy reading!

Fanart by Haley Ringer

Fanart inspired by:

“Talon rested his head on Perry’s arm, drawing in the sand with a stick…Through gaps in the clouds he saw the Aether flowing fiercely, churning like white caps on rough seas. The beach held a blue glow, cast from the light above. Perry drew the cool ocean air down into his lungs, tasting the salt on his tongue.”

-Chapter 10, page 87

About the Author (Amazon & Goodreads): 

Veronica Rossi

Veronica Rossi is the NY Times and USA Today Best Selling author of the UNDER THE NEVER SKY series for young adults. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, grew up in California and graduated from UCLA. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two sons, one of whom just surpassed her in height.

Veronica Rossi’s debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, will be published in over twenty-five international markets, starting on January 3rd 2012 in the United States. Film rights to the trilogy have been optioned by Warner Bros.

To learn more about Veronica Rossi check out her website here: Veronica Rossi

Click below to add Under the Never Sky to your goodreads!

Heir off Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Publication Date: September 2^nd, 2014

Publisher:  Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Status: Book 3 in the Throne of Glass series

Rating: 4 Stars

Book Synopsis (Goodreads):

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

Review:

I received an advanced reading copy of Heir of Fire by the publisher. Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of the Throne of Glass series! Heir of Fire is told from multiple POV’s: Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, Rowan, Aedion and Manon Blackbeak. But really this book is divided up into three main stories, Celaena’s and her time in Wendlyn with the help of her new trainer Rowan. Chaol, Dorian, and General Aedion and their story in Adarlan. And Manon Blackbeak whom resides with the Thirteen and the other Iron Witch covens in the Ferian Gap. Overall Heir of Fire is deeply moving and a highly enjoyable read. It’s an adventurous read about overcoming fears.

What I didn’t like about the book:

When I first began reading Heir of Fire I did have difficulty connecting with Manon Blackbeak, whom is one of the Iron Witches. Every time her story arose I set the book down and had to come back to it later. I wanted to read the stories of the people I have grown to love, Chaol, Damion, and Celaena. I wanted their stories, not an Iron Witch that didn’t make sense why she was important enough to have her own sideline story. I didn’t understand this new character, and I couldn’t see what importance this new character would bring to the overall story. It took me till nearly halfway through the book to get over my misconception of the character and to look at Manon Blackbeak in a new light and what she really brought to Heir of Fire. Once I reached this point I couldn’t put the book down, and I even began understanding Manon Blackbeak and really enjoyed her story as well.

Another thing that I felt could have been better was to offer more story telling from Dorian’s POV. As much as I loved the book there should have been more Dorian in it. He had such a wonderful story. Dorian played a critical part to the ending, an ending I did enjoyed, however if I had more time to spend with Dorian that it would have caused a bigger reaction from me. It could have been even more epic than what it was.

What I did like about the book: 

All the characters in this story are wonderfully crafted! They definitely have their faults, but they each have the ability to overcome them and in even a few instances, arise to the occasion. Each of Sarah J. Maas’ characters, with their brilliantly crafted faults, are seen as less fictional… and more real. I can promise you, at least one character in Heir of Fire will reach for you through the pages. You will understand this character, identify with this character, connect with this character, and feel what this character is going through. That is one of my favorite things about how Sarah J. Maas writes. You feel what her characters feel because of her wonderful way to express and develop their emotions to a point where we can feel it!

Main Characters:

Chaol is such an interesting character. He has so many inner battles. In Heir of Fire his conflicts dominantly revolve around choosing a side to fight for, instead of balancing on the thin wire like he has been in previous books. Does he fight for his ruthless King? Or does he stand by his friend Celaena? Does he help the rebels in return for information? Or does he turn them in for treachery?  Does he accept the people he loves completely? Or does he wish he could remove the parts of them that he doesn’t understand? So much hidden turmoil for Chaol. Chaol is one of my favorite characters and has been since book one! I loved his interactions with the General in this book, and I loved seeing his character grow into a person we can all believe in. Chaol is becoming such a solid character. I can’t wait to see how his story will play out in future Throne of Glass books.

Dorian’s point of view was one of my favorites in this book. And honestly, we didn’t get enough Dorian! His story is vital to the overall plot of Throne of Glass and Heir of Fire should have presented more from him. It’s disappointing that Dorian’s story took the backseat to Chaol’s. At the moment I feel as if Dorian’s character is slightly more important than Chaol’s and crucial to the overall story of Heir of Fire. If I had spent more time with Damion in this book, then I would have been an emotional firework at the end. However that lack of connection and time with the character made me more detached at the ending. I love Dorian because when he makes a decision he sticks by it. I love his interactions with Sorscha, the healer, and I love how determined he is. For the past three book he has been shaping and transforming from a prince to a noble King. His heart is pure and he only hides it to protect himself and those he cares about.

General Aeidon was an interesting addition to the Throne of Glass series. To avoid spoilers I unfortunately cannot say much about it, but I can tell you that he’s a warrior with many scars, seems a bit arrogant, a charmer, and fancies the ladies. He is a man of secrets. I can also tell you that Aeidon was a great addition to the story, and I look forward to learning more about him.

The introduction to Manon Blackbeak was unsettling. She’s a very dark character and I was bored with her at first. She’s a hard character to understand and identify with. I expect her to play an important role in stories to come, but even knowing this it took me a long time to really connect with her. She was the wild card for me in this book. It takes a long time to understand her and even longer to develop the barest connection with her. At the middle and on through the end her story does get interesting. And I must say that even with my lack of emotional investment with the character that I do look forward to seeing what sort of mayhem she will bring about the next book. My advice with others if they too struggle with reading Manon Blackbeak’s character is to stick with it, the end of the book in its entirety (including hers) is completely worth it.

Celaena starts out with hitting rock bottom. Her tale is so amazingly written. Sarah J. Maas’ writing skills truly shine when she writes from Celaena’s POV. Celaena struggles through past memories and feels the pain of everyone she’s ever lost. As a reader, you feel it too. Celaena is such a tough character, and it was heartbreaking to see and feel how broken she felt. Celaena believes she has failed everyone she has ever cared about. And how do you rise above that? Her story takes place in Wendlyn where she makes a deal with Maeve to learn her magic in return for information. Celaena becomes Rowan’s charge, who trains her how to use her magic. He’s new to the Throne of Glass series in this book, and I absolutely loved the immortal Fae in this story. At first he’s a selfish jerk. But he is exactly what Celaena needs. And their friendship that blooms and develops through the story is purely enchanting. Celaena is an inspiring character! She will amaze you!

Rowan I loved from the very beginning! He begins as a cold, rude jerk whom barely acknowledges or says a word to Celaena. She’s pretty much his charge and I got the impression he really hated it. He’s very hard on Celaena too and he doesn’t let her get away with anything. He knows her full potential and pushes her over the limit, which probably isn’t the smartest idea. Over time though as Rowan and Celaena share stories with each other, as they face dangers together, they become a formidable team. I can’t wait to read more about Rowan in books to come! What a wonderful addition to the story!

The Author:

Sarah J. Maas has really blossomed as an author. Her writing is beautifully scripted. Her ability to tell stories from different points of view, and to really convey their emotions and faults allows us as readers to really connect to these characters and feel something for them. When they are in pain, we feel it. When they are inspiring, we in turn can feel an uplift in our hearts. Heir of Fire begins a little slow, but gives so much depth to our characters that I felt it was key to the story. Celaena’s story begins in a dark, dark place and I’m glad we got to see her really struggle, survive, and overcome that darkness. It’s inspiring!

From evil creatures, to powerful magic, from angry foes to everlasting friendships, from sentimental moments to mystery and action, this book has it all! It’s an enchanting tale of overcoming fears, reaching for help when needed, and realizing that together, you can overcome darkness with your inner light. If you haven’t read Throne of Glass or Crown of Midnight read them now before the third installment is released! Heir of Fire is a wonderful addition to the Throne of Glass series! It’s a MUST read!

Who I would recommend this book/series too: Honestly, anyone whom enjoys fantasy and magic.  

To learn more about Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire click on the title.

Favorite Lines:

“You made it to the other side of the field, but I said to face the wights­­–not throw a magical tantrum.”

 “Please tell me you brought food,” Luca said again
“Is that why you came? Rowan promised you snacks?”
“I’m a growing boy.” He winced when he looked at Rowan. “And you don’t say no to him.”

 “I claim you, Rowan Whitethorn. I don’t care what you say and how much you protest. I claim you as my friend.”

“Together, Fireheart,” he said, pushing back the sleeve of her tunic. “We’ll find a way together.”

About the Author (Goodreads): 

Sarah J. Maas

Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (Heir of Fire, Book 3, will be out in September 2014). Starting in Spring 2015, her New Adult Fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, will be published by Bloomsbury as well. 

Sarah lives in Southern California, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much coffee, and watches absolutely rubbish TV shows. When she’s not busy writing, she can be found exploring the California coastline with her husband.

To learn more about Sarah J. Maas check out her website here: Sarah J. Maas

Make sure you add Heir of Fire to your goodreads!

Cloud Riders

Book Synopsis:

Dom lives with his mom in Tornado Alley, where twisters used to be a way of life. After a year long drought, the family diner is about to go bust and Dom feels trapped, torn between supporting his mother and the urge to escape. Even his relationship with best friend, Jules, is beginning to prickle with feelings he doesn’t want. When the first twister in months appears from nowhere and an airship emerges from the spout, Dom’s world is turned upside down. Its pilots are explorers who make Dom an offer beyond his imagination. But the pilots are hiding a terrible secret. Can Dom uncover the truth and make the right decision before everything he cares for is destroyed?

Cloud Riders:  A fascinating story filled with action, adventure, cool technology and characters that you can easily relate to.  A must read for those who like Sci-Fi.

The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Dom.  I’m not always a fan of books written through one perspective; however, Cook’s descriptive writing flows smoothly and is a strength throughout, as he paints a visual picture filled with twisters, airships, parallel dimensions, faces from the past, royalty, love and secrets.  It’s a story beyond your imagination and you won’t be able put it down.  Looking forward to the sequel…

Be sure to add Cloud Riders to your Goodreads!

Young Barefoot Tweenagers in Love

Book Synopsis: What could be worse? Vinnie has to visit his aunt for the summer and be far away from his friends. And this was the summer when he was sure he would get to kiss a girl for the first time! Then good luck comes his way: he meets Jenny, who is also twelve and the prettiest girl he’s ever seen! Vinnie is very much in luck, as Jenny likes him, too. But then Jenny’s tough ex-boyfriend enters the picture, looking for revenge and wanting his old girlfriend back. Will Vinnie keep Jenny and survive Decker’s wrath? You Make Me Smile: Young Barefoot Tweenagers in Love is a sensitive romance for young tweenagers thinking about love.

You Make Me Smile: Young Barefoot Tweenagers in Love is a very cute pre-teen love story. It’s innocent, has some drama in it with the ex-boyfriend, and is a light, enjoyable read. A great summer read for pre-teens!

What I didn’t like about the book: There’s a few sexual connotations in this story. Even though they are innocent and light references, I felt that it detracted from the overall story. The boy’s wishes for wanting to marry and have kids I do not believe would be typical for a pre-teen. However that may have been the author’s intent, that this boy isn’t your typical boy.

What I did like about the book: It’s an innocent, heartfelt, pre-teen love story. It’s very cute and the main character Vinnie is a very sweet boy. It does mention sexual awareness and how one should wait until old enough. Both Vinnie and Jenny think about the subject matter and how important it is to wait at different times in the novella. It’s pretty cute when Vinnie kisses the main girls cheek the first time! It’s such a sweet moment in the book, and he’s very excited about it! I really enjoyed the elements that Richard Carlson Jr. put in concerning autism. A boy named Adam, whom is Jenny’s brother, has difficulties with communication due to his autism. I thought it was a nice touch to the story, especially since I am an applied behavior analysis and work with children with autism. I believe in autism awareness and I think the incorporation of a child having autism in this novella gives it a just that little something extra special!

This is Richard Carlson, Jr’s first tweenager romance novella! There’s some great elements to this story!

Recommended Reading Age: Ages 10-12

About the Author (Author Website):

Richard Carlson, Jr.  

Rich lives in the beautiful desert of the southwestern United States in Tucson, Arizona.

He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at almost twenty-one years of age. Because of his mental illness, he didn’t realize he had paranoid schizophrenia until over twelve years later when he was thirty-three. Presently, he is still recovering, but life looks very promising for which he is very grateful. He also has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Rich believes he first became mentally ill when he started puberty. The time period between when he first became ill and to when he became noticeably ill to others is called the prodrome of schizophrenia. Remembering the best that he can recall, his mental illness adversely affected him socially at school. He strongly supports discovering a method of determining who will get schizophrenia before they are affected by it so they can be treated as soon as possible and the condition not affect their life.

Rich is a highly sensitive person (HSP) who likes children. He likes being a caring person to the people in his life.

Rich is the author of seven self-published print-on-demand books that were written while he was ill. Unfortunately, his seven books do not reflect his best writing and the publication of them was cancelled. He apologizes to anyone who read and/or bought them. Presently, he writes for children and has self-published books via online print-on-demand publishing companies and Amazon Kindle. He looks forward to his work being published by a traditional publisher. Click here to learn more about Richard Carlson, Jr. and his children’s books!

You can add You Make Me Smile: Young Barefoot Tweenagers in Love to your Goodreads!