Friday, May 29, 2015
'Michael' by Annabell Cadiz
Zahara Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength, speed, and silver skin when the moon is out), fallen angels, and Nephilim (hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous acts against humans. What they never expected was the possibility of having to hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most suspected. Supernatural bodies are starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it—which represents Rekesh’s coven— being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has to deal with the return of someone he has been keeping a secret.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Lucifer was a fascinating character. I wanted to find out his motivations for everything. Revenge? Why was he who he was? Was he truly just evil? No. That can't be. He had to have motivation. I can't believe someone is just purely evil. There are reasons. Lucifer was fascinating. Silently stealing souls. He did everything without notice. No sparkles. No fireworks. I can say this. He was intriguing. Still is. I can't wait to see how Lucifer evolves. And I can't wait to witness his master plan.
Michael was very kind and angelic. He seemed a bit too perfect honestly. I liked his powers, though. He could do so much more. If he cared to incinerate Jason. (That would suck.) He was very kind. And very knowledgeable. What I am wondering is this. Who was controlling the body for most of the time? Jason or Michael? We get a lot of Michael talking about his skin getting hot around Zahara. But Jason assured it was him. I gained a question. Not the best thing, though...
I liked that I got both Lucifer and Michael's perspectives. We saw the polar opposites. Angel and fallen angel. The good and bad. But who is who? That's the eternal question.
You're probably wondering why I'm not talking about Zahara or Becca or Rekesh. The story was partly in Lucifer and Michael's perspective. I did want to focus on them.
I really enjoyed the plot. It got really fascinating to see both sides of the story doing certain things. It seemed more fascinating than the first story's plot. It was more action. More action sequences. And, thankfully, less dates. But I was shocked by the drama from the relationship. Man. That was surprising. I didn't expect that.
The action was amazing. Lots of fight scenes. And magic. MAGIC. (Squeal.) The magic made the Light Witches and everyone have to fight differently. Cautiously. And maybe get hit more. I truly enjoyed the fight scenes. They made me happy and excited.
The romance. I can't say I liked it. Or not. It was hard for me to decide. I liked the drama between Rekesh and Becca. I wasn't convinced of any relationship being solid. Well...Solomon and Mia. I mean...whoa. They work so well together. Rekesh and Becca was okay. I didn't really like all the presents and everything. (How does car restoration get you THAT much money? I thought it wasn't the best business. Guess I was wrong. Classic cars is something else. That's the money maker. Unless...it's restoring classic cars. Is it? I dunno.) Becca does act like a little bitch sometimes. She got really angry at Rekesh over Amos. Why would he tell you? He has secrets. Everyone does. Just because you're dating doesn't mean you get a ticket to his innermost secrets. It's a secret for a reason, Becca.
And Jason and Zahara. I don't...what. I was just getting used to Bryan and Zahara. Now this? I can't. I won't. I don't like this. Why are there so many couples? I mean really.
I liked the cliffhanger ending. Many things were revealed. We have more to find out. This story wasn't bad. I got things. Like Zahara actually being used for her purpose. And Lucifer actually did something. Gasp. I felt like the battle at the end was great. Really saw something. People had to fight. Magic and non-magic. Angels and non-angels. It was havoc. It was crazy. But I enjoyed it.
I can't wait for the next story. Maybe we'll get more of the diary. Maybe we'll get more Lucifer and his motivations. Who knows?
Weather:
Sunny with some clouds
3.5/5
'Lucifer' by Annabell Cadiz: Blog Tour
Add on Goodreads!
Purchase on Barnes & Noble and Amazon! *FREE until MAY 31, 2015!*
Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in
the shadows?
Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom.
Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls.
Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.
Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.
Normal just got a deadlier definition.
Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom.
Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls.
Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.
Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.
Normal just got a deadlier definition.
Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy #2)
Add on Goodreads!
Purchase on Barnes & Noble and Amazon! *ONLY 99 Cents MAY 11-31, 2015*
Synopsis: Zahara
Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood
with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with
her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a
secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made
of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength,
speed, and silver skin when the moon is out), fallen angels, and Nephilim
(hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday
is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help
protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous
acts against humans. What they never expected was the possibility of having to
hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their
battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful
Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most suspected. Supernatural bodies are
starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder
them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it—which
represents Rekesh’s coven— being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his
coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a
war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has
to deal with the return of someone he has been keeping a secret.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Nephilim (Sons of Old Trilogy #3)
Add on Goodreads!
Coming
August 2015!
Synopsis: After the loss of Dustin, Zahara throws
herself into taking care of the Howling Café—the café he left to her in his
will and fights to keep a rhythm of normalcy with the others. It’s the best
they can do since Lucifer has gone underground and any attempts to find him
have rendered no leads.
Endymion, Prince
of the Angel Kingdom, isn’t exactly helping though. Thanks to his brash and
arrogant attitude, Zahara finds she would rather stab him with her dagger than
hang out with him for any period of time. But she has no choice. Endymion is
the only who can help her learn to control the magic threatening to take over
her body thanks to his connection to the soul lying dormant inside of her.
Nevaeh was once the most powerful Nephilim in the Supernatural Kingdoms and
engaged to the Prince himself. She also happened to be Lucifer’s daughter who
was killed in the first Supernatural War. Her soul is key to Lucifer creating
war again—not just with the Supernatural Kingdoms but with Heaven itself.
Endymion is determined to keep that from happening, even if that means
destroying the soul of the only woman he’s ever loved so Zahara can live.
Complicating
things even more—as if they could get any more complicated—is the revelation of
an ancient Grimoire once held by Margaret. The Grimorie contains powerful
spells passed down through the generations of coven members within the Light
Witch community. But Margaret hid it away before she helped take Lucifer down
the first time. The Grimoire not only holds the two dark spells Lucifer needs
to complete the final phase of his plan and but a secret Lucifer never knew
about.
Zahara and
company are in a race to find the Grimoire before Lucifer can but Margaret
didn’t exactly make it easy. Seven keys have to be found in order to discover
the location where the Grimoire had been hidden. Making matters worse is a new
coven that has suddenly appeared in town. A coven made of a variety of
supernaturals, all under Lucifer’s command.
The clock is
ticking.
Battles will be
waged.
Life changing secrets
will be revealed.
The stage for
the epic battle is set and not everyone will make it out alive.
Check out the Sons of Old Trilogy Board on Pinterest!
Zahara Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength, speed, and silver skin when the moon is out), fallen angels, and Nephilim (hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous acts against humans. What they never expected was the possibility of having to hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most suspected. Supernatural bodies are starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it—which represents Rekesh’s coven— being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has to deal with the return of someone he has been keeping a secret.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.
But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.
Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan.
A battle is about to begin.
One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.
Lucifer was a fascinating character. I wanted to find out his motivations for everything. Revenge? Why was he who he was? Was he truly just evil? No. That can't be. He had to have motivation. I can't believe someone is just purely evil. There are reasons. Lucifer was fascinating. Silently stealing souls. He did everything without notice. No sparkles. No fireworks. I can say this. He was intriguing. Still is. I can't wait to see how Lucifer evolves. And I can't wait to witness his master plan.
Michael was very kind and angelic. He seemed a bit too perfect honestly. I liked his powers, though. He could do so much more. If he cared to incinerate Jason. (That would suck.) He was very kind. And very knowledgeable. What I am wondering is this. Who was controlling the body for most of the time? Jason or Michael? We get a lot of Michael talking about his skin getting hot around Zahara. But Jason assured it was him. I gained a question. Not the best thing, though...
I liked that I got both Lucifer and Michael's perspectives. We saw the polar opposites. Angel and fallen angel. The good and bad. But who is who? That's the eternal question.
You're probably wondering why I'm not talking about Zahara or Becca or Rekesh. The story was partly in Lucifer and Michael's perspective. I did want to focus on them.
I really enjoyed the plot. It got really fascinating to see both sides of the story doing certain things. It seemed more fascinating than the first story's plot. It was more action. More action sequences. And, thankfully, less dates. But I was shocked by the drama from the relationship. Man. That was surprising. I didn't expect that.
The action was amazing. Lots of fight scenes. And magic. MAGIC. (Squeal.) The magic made the Light Witches and everyone have to fight differently. Cautiously. And maybe get hit more. I truly enjoyed the fight scenes. They made me happy and excited.
The romance. I can't say I liked it. Or not. It was hard for me to decide. I liked the drama between Rekesh and Becca. I wasn't convinced of any relationship being solid. Well...Solomon and Mia. I mean...whoa. They work so well together. Rekesh and Becca was okay. I didn't really like all the presents and everything. (How does car restoration get you THAT much money? I thought it wasn't the best business. Guess I was wrong. Classic cars is something else. That's the money maker. Unless...it's restoring classic cars. Is it? I dunno.) Becca does act like a little bitch sometimes. She got really angry at Rekesh over Amos. Why would he tell you? He has secrets. Everyone does. Just because you're dating doesn't mean you get a ticket to his innermost secrets. It's a secret for a reason, Becca.
And Jason and Zahara. I don't...what. I was just getting used to Bryan and Zahara. Now this? I can't. I won't. I don't like this. Why are there so many couples? I mean really.
I liked the cliffhanger ending. Many things were revealed. We have more to find out. This story wasn't bad. I got things. Like Zahara actually being used for her purpose. And Lucifer actually did something. Gasp. I felt like the battle at the end was great. Really saw something. People had to fight. Magic and non-magic. Angels and non-angels. It was havoc. It was crazy. But I enjoyed it.
I can't wait for the next story. Maybe we'll get more of the diary. Maybe we'll get more Lucifer and his motivations. Who knows?
Weather:
Sunny with some clouds
3.5/5
About the Author
Born and raised in the sweltering suburbs of South Florida,
Annabell Cadiz grew up fine-tuned to the cuisine of various Spanish cultures,
learned to master the art of Puerto Rican cooking thanks to her parents, and
learned to converse crazy thanks to her band of siblings. She is now working
toward attaining a B.A. in Psychology at Trinity International University to
better understand how to converse with the weirdoes and crazies of the world.
(After all, she is one of them.) A self-proclaimed nerd and a book-a-holic (her
room holds dozens of shelves with much evidence to prove that her claims are
indeed true), she created TeamNerd Reviews along with her best friend, Bridget
Strahin, to showcase their EXTREME love for all things book related.
She published her debut novel, Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1), in January 2013. The second novel, Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy #2) will be released on May 28, 2014. And the final installment in the Sons of Old Trilogy, Nephilim, will be out in Summer 2015.
She published her debut novel, Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1), in January 2013. The second novel, Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy #2) will be released on May 28, 2014. And the final installment in the Sons of Old Trilogy, Nephilim, will be out in Summer 2015.
BLOG
TOUR SCHEDULE
May 11
Indy
Book Fairy (Promo Post)
May 12
Mia
in Narnia (Book Review:
LUCIFER + Top Ten)
May 13
Dreams
Come True Through Reading
(Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)
May 14
An Aussie Girl’s WILD Book Addiction! (Promo Post)
Writing
On the Sunny Side of the Street
(Guest Post)
May 15
Book
Lover’s Life (Top Ten)
May 18
Reading
Away the Days (Top Ten)
May 21
Every
Free Chance Books
(Review of LUCIFER & MICHAEL)
May 22
Relaxed
Reads (Promo Post)
We Live and Breathe Books (Book Review of LUCIFER)
May 24
Just
Us Book Blog (Book
Review: LUCIFER)
May 25
Read Write All the Time (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL +
Guest Post)
May 27
Books and Sweet Epiphany (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)
AlwaysJoArt (Guest Post)
May 28
Buried
Under Books (Guest Post)
May 29
The Phantom Photographer (Promo Post)
Welcome to Book City (Book Review: LUCIFER)
May 30
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club (Top Ten)
May 31
Paradise
of Pages (Book Review:
LUCIFER & MICHAEL + Guest Post)
Kariny’s Teen Boox Frenzy (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)
GIVEAWAY!
**E-copies of LUCIFER & MICHAEL**
**Signed Michael Bookmark**
**Handmade Bookmark**
**Sons of Old Trilogy Inspired Eyeshadow Kit**
**Rose shaped earrings, funky headbands & zigzag ring**
**Lipgloss**
**Notebook**
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'More' by TM Franklin: Book Blitz
Young Adult Paranormal
Date Published: October 4, 2012
Ava
Michaels used to think she was special. As a child, she fantasized about having magical
powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact
that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn't so bad after all.
Now
a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who’s
supposed to help her pass physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he
shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core. Because Caleb
isn't quite what he seems. In fact, he's not entirely human, and he's not the only one.
Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect
humans, but only after protecting their own secrets—secrets they fear Ava may
expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she's not actually normal . . . she's not
even just special.
She's
a little bit more.
Excerpt
“Is
everything okay?” Ava asked.
Caleb smiled, but didn’t look at her. “Sure.”
“You
seem . . . I don’t know . . . nervous?”
He
glanced at her briefly. “Just doing my job.”
Ava
snorted. “Your job is tutoring physics.”
“Call
this moonlighting.”
Ava
tucked her hands more deeply into her coat pockets as Caleb returned to his steady
surveillance. She started to say something more, but forgot it immediately when Caleb
stopped suddenly.
“Caleb?”
“Shhh . . .” He stepped in front of her, his head tilted to the
side.
“What is it?”
He
touched a finger to his lips, his body impossibly still.
Ava
froze, pressed slightly against his back as she tried to peer over his shoulder. He
stretched his hand behind him, as if blocking her from something, and his fingers
curled slightly around her hip, stilling her movement.
A
prickle of awareness ran over her skin, stealing her breath. For a long moment, the
world seemed to slow around her, growing silent and still, and Ava closed her eyes,
unsure what she was searching for, but feeling her consciousness reach out, calling out
into the darkness.
Ava
gasped suddenly as a strong arm wrapped around her waist, sweeping her up in a blur
of motion. Her eyes flew open, trying to make sense of the whirling world around her,
and in the next instant, she found herself pressed against a wall, Caleb’s back to her.
Her fingers gripped his shoulders as she tried to regain her balance and clear her head.
A low voice chilled her blood.
“Get
out of the way, Foster.”
No.
Not him. Not again. Ava’s confusion gave way to outright fear. She shrank behind
Caleb’s back, as if hoping to disappear.
“Leave her alone, Tiernan,” Caleb said, his voice deadly. “The Council gave
me three days.”
A
mocking laugh grated back at him. “Time’s up.”
“Not
until tomorrow.”
“Technicalities aren’t going to change a thing,” Tiernan growled. “The
Council’s fed up with your stalling. I’m taking her now.”
“No,” Caleb said, his voice a quiet but not subtle threat. “You’re not.” He
grabbed her again, so fast she didn’t even see him move. Once more, she found
herself fighting for breath, suddenly behind a tree and unsure of how she got there. A
moment later, Tiernan’s hulking frame appeared a few feet away.
“You
can’t outrun me, Caleb,” he said, shaking his head. “And you don’t dare risk a
shift.”
Another blur of movement and Ava was face-to-face with a
door.
“Go
inside,” Caleb urged. “I’ll draw him away.”
“What?” Ava shook her head. “What’s happening? Where am
I?”
“It’s
your dorm,” he hissed. “Hurry, before he—”
“Really, Caleb?” Tiernan’s mocking voice interrupted him. “This is getting
tiresome, don’t you think?”
Caleb turned, squaring his shoulders. “You’re not taking
her.”
A
flash of red and blue lights drew their attention, and Ava breathed shakily at the sight
of a police car driving up the path.
Tiernan glared at Caleb. “This isn’t over,” he said.
And
then he was gone.
Two
city cops stepped out of the car, hands resting on their weapons, one shining a
flashlight toward them. Caleb pulled Ava through the door into the
dorm.
“What are you doing?” Ava asked. “We need to tell them he was
back.”
“Not
a good idea,” Caleb muttered. He grabbed her wrist, heading down the hallway, but
she yanked out of his grasp.
“Caleb, what the hell’s going on?” she asked, stepping back warily from his
angry gaze. “How did you do that . . . move so fast? What happened out
there?”
“We
don’t have time for this,” he snapped.
She
reached for the door, Caleb’s eyes following the movement. Her challenging gaze
focused on Caleb as she whipped the door open to run to the police and tell them
what had happened.
At
least that was her intent.
But
before she even turned the knob, Caleb had her across the hall, all but carrying her
around the corner.
She
gasped. “What . . . what are you?”
Caleb frowned. “That’s not your concern.”
He
placed a hand on her forehead, and the world went black.
About the Author
T.M.
Franklin writes stories of adventure, romance, & a little magic. A former TV
news producer, she decided making stuff up was more fun than reporting the facts.
Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a
challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a
finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning
the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards.
She's since written three additional novels and several best-selling short stories...and
there's always more on the way.
Author Links
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Purchase Links
Giveaway
Paperback of Frequent Flyers, Paperback of How to Get Ainsley Bishop to
Fall in Love with You, 3 swag packs, 2 $5 Amazon gift cards (Amazon
U.S.)
Thursday, May 28, 2015
'Made You Up' by Francesca Zappia
Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.
The characters were amazing.
Alex was the cool sort of crazy. She did a lot of weird things. The Freeing of the Lobsters. Crimson Falls. Many different things. And her mental illness didn't overpower her personality. It complemented her person. The paranoia. Checking for tracers in her food. These were common place with Alex. And it highlighted the caution she took. I thought her mental illness made her special. Different. Not all characters have melded their problems into their life as seamlessly as Alex has. And her voice. Sassy and quick. She was clever. But also very...closed. She was reluctant to like Miles. Alex had a good voice. And I liked her character. She relied on people. And people relied on her. The question that lingers is whether the world you read is reality or not. For her, I mean. Is Miles real? Tucker? Who is real? Who is just a figment?
Miles was mysterious. He reminded me of a friend. His personality was different. The good kind, though. He was dark. Closed off. Standoffish. I thought that was amazing. I am a huge fan of dark and mysterious. And Miles fit the bill. People were scared of him. (And I'm not sure I would rather be loved or hated.) He wasn't good with emotions. (I can relate to that. I found out recently through careful self-examination that I'm not very strong in the empathy area. Woohoo! People who don't work well with others. People who can't comprehend emotions! FTW! WE RULE! But yes. That's true. I'm not perfect, never said I was.) There was just something about him. His past. His present. It lured me in. His personality did the rest.
The plot was interesting. It seemed to follow the pattern of nothing happens, reveal, and reaction. Like with Alex's sister. And McCoy. And the snake. You felt like nothing else was coming. Then wham! Everything is there. It seemed like the story was tricking you in every way. Deceiving you. Making YOU, as the reader wonder what was real. This was a story you had to keep reading. It drew you in. Kept you wanting for more. The reveals shocked you. You were clinging to the pages. Every word captivating. That was this story. The plot was fascinating. So many things happened. You had to know how Alex would react. Would she be surprised? Smug? Happy? Depressed?
I started wondering what WAS real. Or is nothing real? Is this ALL a dream? I had to read more carefully. I had to focus. The story made you do that. Questioning reality in general.
The question is...what is reality?
There was a lot of drama. But not a lot of action. Not that I didn't enjoy the drama. It was great. Edge of your seat. I had to continue reading. There was so much happening. You needed to know. What happened? What now? The urge to know overtook anything else. If I could, I would read the entire thing in one fell swoop. (School sucks. It gets in my way.) There could have been some action scenes. Or something. A fight scene? Cat fight! Doesn't that seem...interesting? I would be glued to the page.
The romance was a bit unexpected. I didn't expect it. Why? The two didn't need to be romancing. Each other or someone else. They were troubled. Troubled plus romance? Hell. It doesn't always work.
I will say this. These two were good for each other. It seemed to work. They could help each other. They lost themselves in each other. It was crazy. Wild. I wasn't sure. These two could work in the end. Somehow. Someway. They were two puzzle pieces they didn't fit with anyone else. They had something.
Alex did change. I thought it was a good change. A crazy change. It wasn't bad for her, though. She seemed happier. Better. She had someone to rely on. Perhaps that's what she needed.
The ending was satisfying. I felt like it worked. Alex got what she wanted. Miles and a better future. I thought that was good. It suited the book. It made me happy to see her happy. Kissing and loving. In love. Crazy in love. It was odd. But the romance...worked. Somehow. I'm not sure how. There were no more questions. Nothing I wanted to ask.
She got her happy ending. In an odd way.
Weather:
Sunny with no clouds
5/5
'Library Jumpers' by Brenda Drake: Cover Reveal
Library
Jumpers
Gia Kearns
would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That
is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly
disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia
unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and
transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical
knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the
gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.
Jumping into
some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a
dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or
dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds.
Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard,
and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and
her own, before both are destroyed.
Pre-Order
Links:
Brenda Drake, the youngest of three children, grew up an Air Force brat and the continual new kid at sc hooluntil her family settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Brenda’s fondest memories growing up is of hereccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was on lyfitting that she would choose to write young&n bsp;adult and middle grade novels with a bend toward thefantastical. When Brenda’s not  ;writing or doing the social media thing, she’s& nbsp;haunting libraries, bookstores,and coffee shops or reading someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).
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