Review: The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

The Queen's Lady (The Lacey Chronicles, Book #2)
by Eve Edwards
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
2011 Razorbill
Softcover Edition; 324 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-141-32733-4
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Penguin Canada

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
1584 – Surrey, England  When Lady Jane Rievaulx begins service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled at the court’s newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. Despite her previous courtship with his older brother, James is the man she truly loves. And for his part, he cannot deny his fascination with her. However, James is setting sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Lady Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, there is only one man to save her. Will Master James return to his lady ­- before it’s too late?

My Thoughts
The Queen's Lady is the second book in the Lacy Chronicles and tells the story of James Lacy and Lady Jane, two characters to which we are introduced in The Other Countess, the first novel in the series.  Having read the first novel, I was pleasantly surprised by the The Queen's Lady as I was glad to see the further development of Jane's character as she was by far one of my favourite characters in The Other Countess.  I actually thought she displayed the most possibility for being a unique and enjoyable character, and her antics in the first novel are what made it so interesting.  While she was far tamer in the second book, having undergone a transformation while in exile and during her marriage, it seemed like her vitality was just simmering below the surface and the fire she displayed in the first novel was just waiting to come out. 

One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel is the conflict that women often faced during this time period, regardless of how strong a character you have or how much money you may have.  Despite finally winning freedom from her awful and controlling family, Jane quickly finds herself under their wing as their machinations and betrayals force her hand into a foreign marriage that she does not want.  I read Jane's struggles with interest as it really showed how desperate women were, especially those who waited on the Queen, despite the money, power, and position they may have held, and how they could be easily tricked into following their family's wishes.  I really felt for Jane in her predicament, but with the Queen backing her family, and the threat of insanity hovering over her head, there was little she could do.  I couldn't imagine feeling that powerless and although I felt for Jane in her predicament, being a woman of the modern world, it really is hard to imagine what that would be like as we have so much freedom.  The fact that she has to rely so heavily on other people to get her out of her predicaments must really weigh heavily on her, and she was lucky to have had that help as to many others did not.

I enjoyed the further development of Jane's character in this novel, but she had changed so much from the first novel that it was difficult, at times, to reconcile her as being the same person.  I liked especially when she was rebellious or did something that went against decorum as she seemed so much more likeable and personable that way, and she often got herself into a lot of trouble too.  Her temper tantrums made her seem more normal, and although she alienated her maids on occasion, they were fun to read about.   James was a much more serious character in this novel than in the first, but he had spent time in the Low Countries and had seen some atricious things while serving there.  He was suffering from a form of PTSD and needed some help to overcome his anxiety and nightmares, something of which Jane could not understand.  I thought the voyage to America was too pat in healing his anxiety and stress disorder, but swallowed it for the sake of the novel.  Milly and Diego were favourites of mine, and I wish the author had spent more time delving into their relationship and the difficulties they would have faced during this time period.  This is another area I thought was dealt with a little too succintly, but perhaps there will be more in the third novel.

Verdict
The Queen's Lady is an enjoyable and quick read, with characters that are interesting and fun.  If you are looking for something that is really deep and involved, you will not find that in these novels, as they tend to be more on the lighter side of historical fiction.  The great attention to detail, and the polish that many of the great historical novels have is missing, but The Queen's Lady has a charm of its own that makes it whimsical.  I am looking forward to reading The Rogue's Princess, the next novel in this series, about James and Will Lacey's half-brother Christopher Turner.

Review: Out of Breath by Blair Richmond

Out of Breath
by Blair Richmond
Release Date: October 11, 2011
2011 Ashland Creek Press
Softcover Edition; 274 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-9796475-7-4
Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Nineteen-year-old Kat Jones has been a competitive runner since she was a young girl, but after her mother's death, the path her life was supposed to take begins to crumble around her -- until one day, she finds herself on the run in a literal sense, this time in a race for her very life!

Kat's journey takes her to the Pacific Northwest town of Lithia, the place of her last good memories, of the days when her mother was still alive. But soon after her arrival, strange things begin to happen in Lithia -- and when one of her new friends disappears under mysterious circumstances, Kat begins to realize that Lithia's inhabitants are not all of this world. Worst of all, she is falling in love with one of these otherworldly locals, and the friend who hopes to save her has secrets of his own.

As Kat tries to rebuild her life, she is also training for a race that will turn out to be her biggest challenge yet, as she must outrun not only the demons of her past but the demons of the here and now, who threaten her very existence and that of the entire town.

My Thoughts
Out of Breath is the first novel in a planned trilogy, and features a host of intriguing characters who are mysterious, quirky, and interesting.  As a long-time runner myself, I found myself fascinated by the added running culture that was intertwined throughout the novel and how it was woven so seamlessly into the plot and into the characters' lives.  I understand that 'runner's high' and know how it feels to be connected to everything around you as you run.  Having such a wonderful environment in which to run would be amazing, as the runners and characters often ran on secluded trails and in secluded, peaceful areas.  It also gave the author the perfect setting in which to contrast the beauty with the horror that was simmering behind the beautiful town of Lithia.

Katherine, or Kat, is running away from events that we know little about throughout the novel, and eventually ends up in her birthtown, Lithia, unknowingly looking for answers to her mother's death all those years ago.  What she finds is a perfect place, with friendly, outgoing people who always seem to know what she is doing and with whom, and she finds herself happy for the first time in a long time.  Before long, she is mesmerized by two handsome men, Roman and Alex, and the ensuing byplay between the three of them is quite interesting as naturally the two men dislike each other immensely.  As the secrets are revealed, and the danger becomes more real, Kat realizes that Lithia is not such a wonderful place and that many things have been covered up.  I enjoyed Kat's character quite a bit and often identified with her, even though I still have no clue why she is running away.  She is spunky and holds true to her beliefs, and walks away from those who try to change her.  The whole vegan thread running through the novel definitely brings this aspect of Kat's personality to light as she defends her diet choice to others, but I was surprised at how extensive the vegan thread actually ran.  There are many issues that are raised in this novel (health, exercise, diet, choices, safety while running) that can be discussed with your adolescent or teen, and I like the fact that Kat was fit and healthy. 

One of the things I did not really buy into however, is the romance aspect of the novel.  While I enjoyed the byplay between Roman and Alex and how they fought over her, I didn't understand why they were so interested and protective of her all of the time.  It seemed like they just met, and then all of a sudden, they were always there, wanting to protect her, and it just didn't seem that believable to me.   Don't get me wrong as I adored Alex, and he is one of my favourite characters, but I didn't buy into the love relationship as it didn't seem real or authentic to me.  Kat can certainly take care of herself, and we understand that she learned many of these skills by being on the road for so long, and being homeless, but so little information got frustrating and I wanted to know more about her in order to keep liking her. 
 
Ms. Richmond's writing style is definitely clear with some emotionally wrought scenes, yet not so overwhelming that younger readers for whom the novel is written would not understand the implied meanings. While I enjoyed learning about the vegan lifestyle and liked the fact that Kat stood up for her beliefs, I did feel at times like I was being lectured to and that I should be feeling guilty because I like to eat meat.  I don't know if this was intentional or not, but it is not a feeling that I enjoyed and I don't want it to turn me off the novel, or future novels, as it is not the reason why I am reading them. Even Stacy and David, Kat's helpers and 'saviours' in Lithia, often had arguments over their vegan diet, as Stacy often broke the diet and cheated.   On the other hand, the healing effects of running were also in force in this novel and this didn't bother me at all, so maybe I was just touchy? 

Verdict
Out of Breath was an enjoyable novel, and as it is also meant to cater to the 12+ age group, quite easy to read.  I found the interplay between the three main characters interesting, although I did find the character development in the secondary characters to be not quite up to par with the main characters, which is too bad as I would love to know more about Doug and David. I also felt that something was missing at times, although I couldn't really put my finger on it, just this sense that the tone changed.  Having an eco-friendly twist to the vampire tale was different, but I think a fine line needs to be drawn for the veganism discussions before the novels take on a lecturing tone and take away from the feel of the novel itself.  I did however, enjoy the descriptions of the mountains and the nature and could picture it quite clearly in my mind.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy as the ending in Out of Breath certainly left a lot of questions unanswered and I would like to find out what happens next.  For those looking for a quick, entertaining vampire novel, then take a look at Out of Breath.

About the Author:
Blair Richmond is currently working the The Ghost Runner, the second novel the Lithia Trilogy. 

Ashland Creek Press is hosting an official Out of Breath Halloween virtual book launch party on Monday, October 31st, with author Q&A, book giveaways, and to share some Halloween recipes.  Don't forget to mark this date on your calendar!!!

Review: The Last Seal by Richard Denning

The Last Seal (The Praesidium Series, Book #1)
by Richard Denning
Release Date: July 20, 2011
2011 Mercia Books (Paperback Edition; 382 Pages)
Ebook Edition; 343 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-956-81033-5
ASIN: B005CC4RSC
Genre: Fiction / Historical / Paranormal / Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Author

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
September 1666: a struggle between two secret societies threatens to destroy London. Three hundred years previously the Praesidum defeated and incarcerated a demon beneath the city. Now the Liberati aim to release it and gain its power for themselves.

Agents of the King are seeking four suspected foreign spies who are, in reality, disparate and unlikely heroes: GABRIEL, the sole remaining member of the Praesidum, crippled by his fear of failure; FREYA, a young thief orphaned by the Great Plague, driven by poverty and self-interest; TOBIAS, a cynical physician, obsessed by his desire for vengeance against the Liberati cavalier who killed his father, and finally and most vitally, BEN, a Westminster schoolboy, whose guilt over his parents' death threatens to destroy him. Yet these four must overcome their personal problems and work together if they are to foil the evil plans of the Liberati, protect the city and gain the means to defeat the demon.

Thrown together by chance when Ben finds an ancient scroll revealing the location of arcane seals that bind the demon beneath London, the story launches into a battle between the Liberati and Praesidium, a battle which takes place within the Great Fire of London. Ultimately, Ben and his friends must confront and defeat both the demon and the evils of the Liberati to save their city and themselves.

My Thoughts
Set amidst the Great Fire of London in 1666, The Last Seal is an interesting twist on how the fire first sparked, using demons, magic, and sorcery as the reasons behind why it lasted for five days and destroyed so much of the city.  Using the age-old struggle between good and evil as the basis for the story, The Last Seal is a story about the battle between two secret societies, one of which wants only to raise a demon in order to have ultimate power on earth and the other spends all its time and resources on preventing this from ever happening.  Woven realistically within the historical context of the Great Fire, with amazing detail that displays how much research went into this work, The Last Seal is a novel full of action, adventure, magic, and secrets. 

One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel was the incredible attention to detail in the historical sense.  With great attention to detail, Mr. Denning wove a story around the Great Fire in such a way that I could feel London burning and grieve for a place that was falling down around the characters' feet.  The descriptions were such that I actually felt like I was there, and I'm still amazed that people did not panic when it first began, considering the drought and lack of resources to put out the flames.  While I knew that the Great Fire actually began at a bakery and rapidly spread from there, using a demon to start the fire instead was believable as it was woven quite subtly into the story.  My issue was some of the narrow escapes some of the characters faced as I'm sure they would have succumbed to smoke inhalation in the normal sense, but I tended to overlook that and just went with the story.  There was also the implication that many people died and I rather liked that as I can't imagine that such a fire would have had only a few deaths and I tend to believe that many more people died and their bodies cremated in the awful heat of the inferno.

Ben and Freya were two of the main characters and they are a complete contrast in study.  Ben is a well-to-do young man who gets caught up in the idea of inheriting powerful sorcery and constantly struggles with the concept of doing the honourable thing towards others or grabbing the power for himself.  He is also dealing with the aftermath of his parents' death and the guilt he carries from that night.  I enjoyed his flawed character as it made him more real, even if I didn't always like his choices or his actions.  Freya however, I enjoyed tremendously as I found her concept of honour, even though she was a thief, rather intriguing.  While she thought nothing of pilfering others' belongings in order to survive, she had ethics and morals that were quite impressive and would never leave anyone behind no matter the danger to her person.  The rest of the characters were interesting as well and I was glad to see Gabriel had issues too. I particularly loved the scene when Gabriel meets his old headmaster again and is reduced to the status of a child; it's quite funny and it reminds me that even as adults we never forget how we behaved as children and those of whom we were afraid.  The camaraderie that builds up between the main players was quite nice to see and I was glad that it developed as I really liked all of the main characters.

Verdict
The Last Seal was an enjoyable novel that moved quickly from scene to scene, hardly giving one time to breathe between events.  Set amidst a time of terrible tragedy for London, it is also a historical treat for those of us who really enjoy learning about the past.   Written in an easy style, it is highly recommended for readers of any age who enjoy historical fiction with a twist of paranormal.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series when it is released.

Review: Sudden Moves: A Young Adult Mystery by Kelli Sue Landon

Sudden Moves: A Young Adult Mystery
by Kelli Sue Landon
Release Date: December 31, 2010
2010 Outskirts Press, Inc.
Softcover Edition; 236 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-4327-6713-6
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Author

3.5 / 5 Stars

Michelle Martin grows suspicious when her friend, Katie Brashers, isn’t in attendance at school after a trip to Florida after Spring Break. The police and adult don’t see anything suspicious in Katie’s disappearance, especially considering Katie’s mother was known to have been flirtatious and people just assumed she must have run off with some man. Having lent Katie a special book given her by her grandmother however, and not having said good-bye to her friends and boyfriend, Michelle teams up with her best friend, Tami, and Katie’s boyfriend, Brad, to seek out the truth the Katie’s disappearance. Dodging a demanding mother, the threesome started their own investigation by talking to neighbours, and looking inside Katie’s house. With clues leading into one dead-end after another, Michelle is about to give up when her dog helps her find the most important clue of all and leads her into danger she doesn’t suspect and circumstances beyond what she would ever expect.

Michelle Martin was an engaging young lady whom I really enjoyed as a main character. I really liked her tenaciousness and passive/aggressiveness in trying to find clues that would lead her to find her friend Katie. I also liked her vulnerability with regards to her relationship with her mother, someone whom I really did not like, nor did I really relate to at all. It would be very difficult to deal with someone who has these unpredictable mood swings all of the time, and she handle the situations with maturity and grace. When Michelle finally stood up for herself at dinner one night, I really liked how the author handled the scene as she didn’t lower it to one of Michelle acting like a young child, but allowed Michelle to handle her mother with great aplomb and maturity. I also really liked Mr. Nichols and found him hilarious. He is one of those older people who are retired and don’t have a lot to do, but certainly tend to notice everyone around them. He would have a lot to say about life and I found him terribly interesting. My only concern with the character development is the relationship between Katie and Michelle as I didn’t really feel like there was any bonding between them, like there was a caring relationship. I felt the only reason Michelle wanted to find Katie was to get her book back and that is really no reason for someone to go to all this trouble. It created some confusion as I didn’t fully believe that Michelle’s reasons for looking for Katie were altruistic.

While I really enjoyed Sudden Moves and found it to be a quick, easy read, I have to admit that I did find the plot somewhat predictable, despite some of the twists and turns that did catch me off guard. I also found Michelle’s obsession with getting her book back somewhat irritating, as the characters would be in the middle of an important scene, and suddenly Michelle would bring up her book, and spoil the scene. While the book did have its importance in the final chapters of the novel, it felt more like it was thrown in rather than an important point of the plot. It also seemed like the author didn’t really know where she wanted to go with the plotline as there were too many plotlines thrown in towards the end and it didn’t really mesh well together. I really wish she had stuck to just one or two as the book could have been really great. Despite all this, I was engrossed in the novel and really wanted to find out what happened in the end. The last two lines of the book were great!

The novel was easy to read, and the language was kept simple and familiar. She writes with an open style that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable, trying to emulate the language of teenagers. While it worked most of the time, there were times when I felt she was trying too hard and it seemed somewhat forced. I like how the message of the book is kept simple however, as some of the young adult novels can be pretty heavy. This one is lighter and younger readers will definitely enjoy this one. I am looking forward to reading more novels by Kelli Sue Landon. Sudden Moves was a novel that kept me engaged until the final page.

Review: Chime by Franny Billingsley

Chime
by Franny Billingsley
Release Date: March 17, 2011
2011 Dial Books
Softcover Edition; 368 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3552-1
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Source: Review Copy from Penguin

4.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
Briony has a secret.  Her secret killed her stepmother, destroyed her sister Rose's mind, and threatens all the children in the Swampsea. She yearns to be rid of her secret, but risks being hanged if she tells a soul; hanging's what they do to the Old Ones in the Swampsea - not the Boggy Mun or the Dead Hand, but Dark Muses, witches and the like.

When Eldric arrives - Eldric with his golden mane and lion eyes and electric energy - he refuses to believe anything dark about Briony.  But he wonders what's been buried beneath Briony's memory and guilt, hidden in Rose's mangled thoughts, and whispered about by the Old Ones.  And Briony wonders how Eldric can make her want to cry, especially when everyone knows, witches can't cry.

My Thoughts
I was completely enthralled with Ms. Billingsley's wildly imaginative world and read about witches, and Boggy Mun, and the chime child, and Dark Muses with great interest and absorption.  I found the magic to be dark and twisted, reminding me so much of the Grimm fairy tales and the darker tales of my childhood that I enjoyed so much.  The magic was realistic and scary, and its use could and did seriously hurt those living in the area of the Swampsea who didn't respect it or made fun of it.  But the dark, twisted sense of things is something I really enjoy.

Briony is at the center of all of this twisted magic, and believes herself to be a witch, a dangerous one who can hurt people out of jealousy and rage.  She is full of woe and anger and guilt, and takes a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, such as looking after her twin sister Rose.  She is tormented by memories and visions she is not sure are hers, and make her doubt her beloved Stepmother, and this causes her endless torment and grief.  Briony is a person who has many walls around her and it was difficult to really get to know her well.  Her sarcastic wit and humour is a device to keep others at bay and to close off her heart to others, as her guilt makes her believe she is unloveable. 

Briony's twin sister Rose was an absolute delight.  She was like a breath of fresh air in every scene, and her confused sayings and speeches were a way of trying to tell Briony a truth and a secret that she knew but wasn't supposed to tell.  I have to admit it took my quite a while to pick up on this technique, although looking back it was right there and I don't know how I missed the obvious.  The author was quite brilliant in using this technique. I grew very fond of Eldric as well, and loved his toughness and his vulnerability.  He had his own brand of sarcastic wit that slowly drew Briony out of her shell, and as the two of them grew closer together, he began to see that maybe Briony was not exactly who she thought she was.  His slow probing of her actions with her Stepmother was another technique the author used to draw out the plot, and I really enjoyed how this was done. 

The language was probably one of the best things about this novel.   The tone of voice just jumps off the page and you feel like you are right there, with Briony, picturing how she felt and the setting around you.  I loved the sarcastic humour and the flow of the language and just savoured each word.  The plot can be somewhat confusing, but it does sort itself out, and there are some twists and surprises that caught me off guard.  I love how the love affairs were genuine, and took months and months before they became full-blown love affairs.  I'm not a big fan of stories where girl meets guy and they are immediately in love, but I did like how this was done.  The people involved became friends first, then good friends, then realized their love for each other.  Great sacrifice was involved, as well as great faith.

Verdict
Chime was one of those books that haunted me from the first page and captivated my interest throughout.  I enjoyed the characters tremendously and really wanted the best for everyone involved.   While for the most part things ended satisfactorily, there were some things that were left at loose ends, and I would have like to have known more about certain situations.  I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Review: Blue by Lou Aronica & Contest

Blue
by Lou Aronica
Release Date: January 16, 2011
2011 The Fiction Studio
Softcover Edition; 400 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1936558001
ISBN-10: 1936558009
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Pump Up Your Book

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Chris Astor is a man in his early forties who is going through the toughest stretch of his life.

Becky is Chris's fourteen-year-old daughter, a girl who overcame enormous challenges to become a vibrant, vital young woman - and now faces her greatest obstacle yet.

Miea is the young queen of a fantasy land that Becky and Chris created when Becky was little, a fantasy land that has developed of its own and now finds itself in terrible, maybe fatal trouble.

Together, Chris, Becky, and Miea need to uncover a secret.  The secret to why their worlds have joined at this moment.  The secret to their purpose.  The secret to the future.  It is a secret that, when discovered, will redefine imagination for all of them.

My Thoughts
When I first started reading the novel, Blue, I assumed that it would follow the more traditional fantasy novels in that it would consist of the more usual fare and I had resigned myself to a lighter, fun, and more adventurous read. I was in for a rather pleasant shock.  The novel was nothing like I was expecting, and with some rather deep undertones, conflicts, and mature content, I was in for an interesting and fascinating ride.  It ended up being a rather beautiful and heart-rending story of the relationship between a father and daughter who found themselves learning how to trust each other again after years of disappointments and misunderstandings after the daughter's parents divorced when the daughter was ten-years-old.

Chris Astor is a man who finds himself without a purpose in life, going on blind date after blind date unsuccessfully, trying to figure out how his life ended up the way it did.  He is in a job he doesn't really like, in one failed relationship after another, and his relationship with his daughter Becky is strained, to say the least.  Becky is a fourteen-year-old girl who is struggling to re-identify with a father she absolutely adored, but finds it difficult to communicate with him in the way she used to as a child.  The scenes with the two of them together as they try to communicate are heartbreaking as you feel for both of them and yet, just want to shake them at the same time.  The link between them is this imaginary world they invented/created when Becky was small as she was battling a crippling disease; it was a way to help her forget the pain of the medication and to help her relax.  As they re-open the world of their imagination, they learn to communicate again and learn to trust and lean on each other in a way they haven't been able to in years.  I have to admit those scenes were really touching and brought me to tears several times while reading.  The themes of separation, divorce, isolation, and loneliness were explored in this novel and were not done lightly or easily.  Chris lived for his daughter and the author makes sure the reader understands that very clearly.  It would be something that a young adult reader may have some difficulty understanding or connecting to easily.  The concept of a father's fear for his daughter and the fact that she may be outgrowing him and preferring to spend time with her friends is another prevalent theme in this novel. 

At first I didn't know what to believe about the fantasy world, Tamarisk.  Let me reprase that; I wasn't sure whether Tamarisk was a real world or something they brought back in order to deal with the re-appearance of Becky's disease.  I chose to believe that it existed because it made me feel better to think that way.  Miea, the queen of Tamarisk, was a delightful queen, one who was struggling to deal with a blight on her land.  Becky and Chris, having travelled to Tamarisk, tried to help Miea deal with the repercussions, both financially and spiritually, the blight was having on Miea's people.  I really enjoyed the visits to Tamarisk and loved the creativity and different ideas and things that were found on this alternate world, although I did not really understand the role Gage played.  It is a place I would dearly love to visit myself.   As to whether this place actually existed, that is for you believe or not.  How far will our imaginations let us believe that something actually exists?  How far will our imaginations go to help us help someone we love, especially when that loved one is sick and possibly dying? 

Verdict
I really enjoyed this novel.  The writing flows smoothly from one scene to the next, the plot was interesting although somewhat predictable as I was able to figure out quite early what was going to happen, but at the same time, I was engrossed from beginning to end despite having an idea as to the possible ending.  Blue will tug at your emotional heart-strings and take you on a roller-coaster ride, but it is definitely worth the ride.  I would love to revisit Tamarisk and I sincerely hope Mr. Aronica will one day revisit Tamarisk as well.

Contest

How often do you hear about something that sounds too good to be true? Well, I am here to offer 10 lucky winners the opportunity of a lifetime.

New York Times bestselling co-author, novelist, and former Publisher of Avon Books and Berkley Books, Lou Aronica has created a unique and exciting offer to anyone that is going to follow his upcoming book tour with Pump Up Your Book. His extensive experience in the publishing and editing fields has given him insight into an industry that continues to grow and change daily. Once again, that insight has led him to offer a contest that is truly special in so many ways. Lou will be accepting story pitches from followers of his blog tour. These story pitches must be for short stories pertaining to the fantasy world of his novel, “Blue.” This contest will allow 10 lucky people the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to have their story published in an upcoming companion anthology to “Blue.” Lou will hand pick the winners, edit their stories, include them in the anthology and give them a pro-rated share of the royalties. How can you pass up an opportunity like this?

Now for the details:

The pitch should include a synopsis of the proposed story and a sample of the submitting author’s fiction writing. Specify the expected length of the story.

The pitch needs to be submitted by April 16, 2011

Please email your submission to Lou at laronica@fictionstudio.com

All winners will be notified by email by May 27, 2011.
 

Lou Aronica is the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction. He has collaborated on a number of books, including the national bestseller The Culture Code. Prior to that, he spent two decades as a senior executive in the publishing industry. He lives with his family in southern Connecticut.

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

The Dark Divine (Dark Divine, Book 1)
by Bree Despain
Release Date: December 28, 2009
2010  Edgmont Books
Softcover Edition; 400 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-60684-154-9
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Library

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.


The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

My Thoughts
The Dark Divine was an interesting blend of religious belief and mythological folklore that worked very well to create a story of parallel worlds, where in one world you have a 'good girl' and the other you have the supposed 'bad boy' persona.  Although I found the novel at times preachy and dogmatic, I also found that it worked very well in the story as this is the world in which Grace grew up and these are the beliefs that Grace has known since she was a small child; beliefs that she once thought were unshakeable were now being torn down around her, belief in the foundation of her family, belief in her older brother Jude, belief in the fundamentals she always held dear.  I found this to be absolutely fascinating as I read through this novel.

Grace was an interesting character and I liked her enormously as I learned more about her.  Although I did find her to be somewhat narrow-minded and naive toward the beginning of the novel, I grew to like her more and more as she matured and developed throughout the events that happened around her, and as she questioned what she always thought was a normal family and normal life.  The scene in which she finds her mother supercleaning the house in order to avoid talking about the fight between her and her father is particularly eye-opening for Grace as she wonders whether she and family had ever really discussed anything of great importance or if they always just avoided talking about important issues.  I like how she becomes a little bit more rebellious and does things she shouldn't, not bad things, but things that are fun and interesting.  Too much emphasis has always been placed on her and her brothers and sisters to maintain a role in the community whereby they are role models for others; it's a warning not to do anything that would tarnish the family image.  I would think that kind of pressure would become trying after a while.

Daniel is someone I just adored, and the more I learned about him, the more I adored him.  Maybe I just have a thing for the supposed 'bad boy' image, but he was definitely not a bad boy in this novel.  I identified with his character completely and understood him, while I did not understand Jude and did not identify or sympathize with Jude at all.   Daniel was someone who tried really hard to improve himself and it showed in everything he did. 

I also really like how the parents were included in this novel and had an important role.  Too often, the parents are relegated to a secondary role and I don't feel this is realistic.  Grace's parents definitely played more than a secondary role, and April's parents wouldn't let her go to the dance if she couldn't go with another couple as they were afraid for her safety.  Grace even got in trouble from her parents for a couple of things she did and had to face the consequences of her actions, and I like how this is included in this novel.

The novel did feel somewhat predicatable however, and I felt like I was reading something that had already happened before.  Because I enjoyed the characters and their interactions so much, this wasn't as important as it could have been, but for me, I didn't find it suspenseful with the many twists and turns that I have found in other novels.  That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the novel tremendously, because I did.  I don't think I would have liked it as much if it wasn't for the Grace and Daniel dynamic that was intertwined within the plot, or even the family dynamics that I enjoyed quite a bit. 

Verdict
The Dark Divine was an interesting, fascinating read on family dynamics and the relationship between religion and mythology.  I did find the plot to be somewhat predictable and lacking in suspense, but the interactions between the characters kept it from sliding into a moderate plotline, and therefore I enjoyed it tremendously.  I am definitely looking forward to book 2 of the trilogy, The Lost Saint.

Review: Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Always A Witch (Witch, Book 2)
By Carolyn MacCullough
Release Date: August 1st, 2011
2011 Clarion Books
E-book Edition; 291 Pages
ISBN: 978-0547224855
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Publisher through NetGalley

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Though she should be enjoying her new boyfriend, Gabriel, or discovering more about her newfound magical "Talents," she's too busy dealing with her sister, Rowena's bride-zilla wedding demands and worrying about the resurgence of her enemy, Alistair Knight. But most of all, Tamsin is haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision. A choice so terrible, that it could destroy her family forever.


When Tamsin discovers that Alistair successfully went back in time to Victorian Era New York, in order to destry the Greene family, she's forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the 19th century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, bustling about as a servant, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the lascivious advances Liam Knight. As times runs out, Tamsin's brash demeanor and sardonic wit place her in the center of the fray as both families square off in a thrilling display of action and magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this novel as I followed Tamsin's journey into her exploration of her Talents and the discovery of what she really needed to do and sacrifice in order to keep her family alive and safe in the future.  Time travel is one of the things I have always enjoyed reading and Ms. MacCullough draws you into the past seamlessly and effortlessly so that you feel you are there with Tamsin and Gabriel as they fight the Knight family and try to keep the future on track.

What I really enjoyed about the book is the sense of family and deep loyalty that family inspires.  Despite the fact that Tamsin has always felt like an outsider in her own family due to her lack of Talent, when her Talent finally emerges, she has to now cope with her changing role in her family.  Her other family members also have to adjust their thinking, but old habits die hard and sometimes Tamsin has a hard time having people accept her opinions or her ideas with regards to magic.  Her wild and crazy family actually made me smile on many an occasion as I can relate so easily to them; my family is very similar and it felt comfortable and easy.  I also understood where Tamsin was coming from, and how frustrating it can be.  When events transpire one evening, and catch Tamsin and her family unawares, Tamsin must take matters in her own hands, and sneak into the past in order to set things to rights.

I really enjoyed Tamsin's role as servant in the Knight household in the nineteenth century.  I always enjoy these descriptions as it amazes me how hard these girls worked and the long hours they worked as well.  The descriptions from 'behind the scenes' so to speak is always fascinating and I like hearing and seeing things from the servants point of view.  It also amazes me how servants were so often treated like pieces of furniture and how much they actually knew and saw in a household must have been incredible.  If only they could have written their own biographies, we would have such a rich description of people in the past!!

The romance between Gabriel and Tamsin continues in the novel.  I adore Gabriel, and I always enjoy the witty dialogue between these two, but the romance really took a back seat in Always A Witch and focused more on the mystery and suspense involving the rivalry between the Knight and Greene families and how either may lose their powers, and/or their livelihoods, in the future.  It didn't bother me that the romance wasn't the most important part of this story as I enjoyed learning about the history of the two families and how the rivalry began in the first place.  While the plausible reasons were a little weak, I still found the writing to be interesting and enjoyed it tremendously.

Verdict
Always A Witch was a satisfactory sequel to Once A Witch, and although the ending had a surprising twist I wasn't expecting, I still felt the novel ended the way it should have.  The novel had fun and witty dialogue, suspenseful moments, engaging characters, and a satisfying ending; I would recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for an engaging, quick read.

Review: The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

The Julian Game
by Adele Griffin
Release Date: August 26, 2010
2010 G.P. Putnam Sons
Softcover Edition; 208 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-25460-4
Genre: Young Adult
Source: ARC from Publisher

3.5 / 5 Star

Summary 
All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It's a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself - and igniting Ella's rage.

As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

My Thoughts
The Julian Game was a quick, easy read about revenge and the lengths one will go to be included in a popular group in school, and how easily those lengths can backfire on you.  While I found the novel to be somewhat predictable and formulaic, there were some interesting moments and some witty dialogue in the writing that I quite enjoyed.

One of the things that really has not changed since my high school days is the concept of revenge and the lenghts one will go to get that revenge; I think just the means of getting that revenge has changed.  With the onset of technology in our society today, the possibilities for revenge are endless and that is easily demonstrated in this novel when a reluctant Raye and a headstrong Ella set up their plot against Julian on Facebook.  Do I think something like is possible today?  Absolutely, and unfortunately, things like that happen all of the time.  These are things I am not allowed to even discuss online, but I know for a fact that these things can and do happen.   What I would have like to have seen is a little more 'meat' to the story as I felt somewhat disappointed by some of the events against Julian, as if they were just filler pages to get to the revenge against Raye.  I also would have liked to have seen more repercussions for students using a school webpage the way it was done as in a real school I know that type of slander would not have lasted for long and students would not have gotten away with it; there are a lot of restrictions in a school for that kind of thing.  There was no mention of anything happening after Raye and Natalya complained to school administrators. 

One of my favourite characters in this novel was Natalya.  I loved her direct attitude and her no-nonsense approach to life.  She was very comfortable in her own skin and accepted things the way they were.  She also understood people in a way that naive Raye did not and I really wanted to shake Raye at times.  I can see why people will change and do things they are not proud of just to be popular and to be thought part of the in-group, but Raye was a frustrating character as she couldn't see what was in front of her face.  She was likeable, yes, but I liked Natalya a lot more.  I didn't feel anything for Julian, but I loved his friend Henry and really hoped something would come out of that connection.  It's a credit to Ms. Griffin's writing as I realized at the end I was being led in my emotions to feel the way I did, even feeling the way I did towards Raye as she was not always likeable at times when she got caught up in the Ella machinations.  Yet, I did not feel sorry for her when she became the victim of vicious lies herself.  How to explain?  I don't believe in bullying, but I also believe that "what goes around, comes around" and you need to be careful in what you do.  I was proud of Raye when she finally stood up for herself towards the end and to keep going to school amidst all the bullying and everything else certainly took a lot of courage.

Verdict
The Julian Game was an enjoyable novel that delves into many social issues.  It deals with teen cyber bullying which is becoming a real problem as well as insecurity issues and the lengths to which one will go to be popular.  While I found some of the lingo and language between the characters to be a little too much at times, and the plot was somewhat predictable, I still had fun with this novel and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger (A Goblin Wars Book)
by Kersten Hamilton
Release Date: October 18, 2010
2010 Clarion Books
ISBN: 978-0-547-33008-2
Hardcover Edition; 311 Pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
"Your life is totally in danger!" Teagan Wylltson thinks her best friend, Abby, is joking.  And Abby's dreamed that horifying creatures are hunting her friend.

But Teagan isn't worried.  Her life is perfect.  She's on track for a college scholarship.  She has a great job.  No boys, no heartache, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives.  Finn has survived on the streets since he was twelve, so he knows a thing or two about fighting.  Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.  The goblins are coming.

My Thoughts
I really had no idea what this book was about when I received it in the mail to review, so I was pleasantly surprised as I began reading and entered a world of goblins, faeries, and sidhe.  Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated by myths and legends and this wonderful story is based on a plethora of Celtic prehistory and mythology.  I couldn't have been happier as I delved into a story that deftly incorporated many of these old mythological legends and stories into a beautiful and cohesive story.

As a main character, Teagan was someone with whom I could identify right from the beginning.  I found her courageous, sympathetic, empathetic, and endearing.  I love the way she took care of her brother and cared for him, even in the midst of tragedy.  And I have to say, there was one twist to this novel I was definitely not expecting at all and which totally caught me off guard.  It changed the whole tone of the novel and I really wasn't sure what to think for a long time, which is one of the reasons I gave it four instead of five stars.  It's not the incident that changed it for me, but I felt a real shift in tone in the novel and I found it difficult to get back into the novel for several chapters; I just couldn't feel the same connection I did before and it saddened me.  Luckily, I felt it again towards the end of the novel, but I couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed there for a while.

I do have to say this though, where was a boy like Finn when I was in high school?  His kind of character is exactly the type of character I would have found sexy and attractive as a teenager.  Can you tell I just love, love, love Finn?  He was compassionate, tough, sexy, endearing, and a warrior who is supposed to save the world.  What else do you need?  And I love the fact that Teagan's younger brother had an important role to play in this novel as well, as younger siblings often get left out of the action in so many novels.  Neither Teager nor Finn would have survived without Aiden. 

Like I've already mentioned, I adored the mythological aspect to this novel.  However, without a certain background, I think the reader could have become lost in some of the legends and explanations as there was a certain assumption made that one was somewhat familiar with them, at least to me.  I knew what was going on because I am familiar with the legends, and I understood a lot of the connotations, but I am not sure everyone would have understood clearly. 

Verdict
I enjoyed this novel tremendously, despite the disappointment and letdown towards the middle.  I love the mix of traditional and ancient legends and mythology that are woven into this narrative and I can't wait to see how the sequel plays out in the continuing story of Teagan, Finn, Aiden, and Abby.  It should be very interesting!!

Review: The Jumbee by Pamela Keyes

The Jumbee
by Pamela Keyes
Release Date: October 19, 2010
2010 Dial Books
Softcover Edition; 400 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3313-8
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary
When Esti Legard starts theater school on Cariba, she's determined to step out of the shadow of her late father, a famous Shakespearean actor. But on an island rife with superstition, Esti can't escape the darkness. In the black of the theater, an alluring phantom voice - known only as Alan - becomes her brilliant drama tutor, while in the light of day Esti struggles to resist her magnetic attraction to Rafe, the local bad boy. Toppled sets, frightening rumors of jumbee ghosts, and brewing tropical storms culminate in a tantalizingly spooky finale where romance sizzles and truths are unmasked.

My Thoughts
I am one of those people who is thoroughly and absolutely addicted and fascinated by The Phantom of the Opera.  I actually first read the novel in French many years ago for a French Literature course (Le Fantome de l'Opera par Gaston Leroux) and then came the theatrical production, and of course, the film.  So when I received The Jumbee to review, loosely based on the ideas of The Phantom of the Opera, I was more than happy to delve into another twisted love triangle.

The Jumbee is set on the beautiful tropical island of the West Indies, but still retains the flavour of the original work by having many of its scenes occurring in a theater.  I'm not sure if anything can match the famous Opera de Paris (Palais Garnier), but with the theater being part of an old plantation house where slaves were tortured and beaten to death and is said to be haunted, definitely gave the setting that haunted feeling that is needed for a novel such as this.  The many myths and legends surrounding the island also helped to give the novel its mystical allure.  I just don't believe it was enough to carry off a novel that is going to be compared to The Phantom of the Opera, with its underground lake system, and double walls that allow for a series of mischiefs.  In The Jumbee, we have hurricanes occurring out of season, ocean waters, downpours, poisonous trees, and other such nuissances that create problems for the protagonists. 

Although I enjoyed the novel, and found the descriptions of the island and the theater to be fascinating, I just wasn't convinced of the ardour between Alan and Esti as I felt something was missing all of the time.  I didn't feel the connection that she felt to Alan, although I did feel pity and sadness for him, and I couldn't relate to her feelings about him, so I felt distant from her a lot of the time.  Although I understood her attraction to him when he spoke the Shakesperean texts to her, I didn't understand how that transferred into this all-consuming love for him so quickly and so suddenly, especially as how she didn't, and couldn't, touch him or see him. What I could relate to, however, was her feelings for Rafe Solomon, as he seemed more real and human.  I adored Rafe, with his powerful emotions and all of his flaws.  I also wished I learned more about Esti's father as it always seemed like we were given little tidbits of information but little else afterwards and I felt let down at the end as I don't think I really understood why Esti acted the way she did in the last year of his life.  Perhaps if Esti's character had been developed a little more, her thoughts and actions would have made more sense to me. 

The cast surrounding Esti and all of her friends were quite unique and I enjoyed them tremendously, even Ma, who wasn't exactly nice to Esti.  Alan's character was a lot of fun to read about, even if I didn't understand the love relationship, but he certainly gave the people of Cariba some interesting gossip and fed the tales of the jumbee, the ghosts that haunt the island.  And although he wasn't always nice to people, he was the most interesting when it came to character development.  


Verdict
The Jumbee was an interesting read, with a definite Caribbean flavour.  I always like reading books where I learn some of the history about the places in the novel, and it made me realize I am somewhat lacking in my knowledge of the slave trade in the West Indies and need a refresher course.   And I couldn't help comparing it to The Phantom of the Opera, which was perhaps unfair as well as Ms. Keyes definitely weaves the superstitions of a Caribbean culture with an old tale into a unique story, with enough suspense and mystery to keep any reader interested. 

Quick Review: Gifted: Better Late Than Never by Marilyn Kaye

Gifted: Better Late Than Never (Book 2 in the Gifted Series)
by Marilyn Kaye
2009 Kingfisher
Genre: Young Adult
Softcover Edition
ISBN:978-0-7534-6300-0

3.5/5 Stars

Summary (Press Release)
Tough rebel Jenna Kelley secretly dreams of a conventional life with normal parents. When her mother ends up in rehab, Jenna is shocked by the sudden reappearance of her long-lost dad. Jenna can usually read anyone's mind, but this stranger is a total mystery. Before long, streetwise Jenna finds herself walking straight into danger...

Jenna has a secret. She's GIFTED. And she's not the only one...

My Thoughts
This is book 2 in the Gifted series by Marilyn Kaye, and events begin where book 1 left off with Tracy, Amanda, and Jenna continuing to meet in the Gifted class, trying to learn about and control their unique gifts.

Jenna's alcoholic mother enters a two-week rehabilitation program and Jenna is forced to live with foster parents during this time. To her secret delight, Tracey's parents had petitioned to have her come live with them during this time, and Jenna enters a loving environment such as she has never in her short life experienced. As she becomes comfortable with her surroundings, her dad re-enters her life and wakens her hope of living a normal family life with a proper home. But Tracey and others in her group become suspicious of Jenna's dad's motives and try to convince her to be more careful around him as she knows very little about him.

While I understood how Jenna felt in this situation, and how desperately she wanted to believe in her newfound father, I found the storyline a little too pat. It was very easy to see where it was going and how her father was especially interested in her mind-reading abilities. I wasn't at all suprised when I discovered the truth; to be honest, I was somewhat disappointed at the way the events unfolded. I felt unsatisfied with the ending to Jenna's storyline, but I do like how the group is learning to protect and care for each other.

What I did really like was Amanda's storyline. While I'm not a big fan of Amanda, she is the most interesting character. Amanda's inner struggle to re-discover her emotions and to admit she is a very sensitive and caring person was a very interesting storyline and I enjoyed it tremendously. To watch her go back and forth from the mean persona she needs to uphold her 'queenly' rank to the conflicting emotions she has about other people is fascinating. When she body snatches into another person and sees herself through other people's eyes, she is actually disgusted by her other-Amanda behaviour and is upset by how other people talk about her behind her back. I loved watching Amanda's character development and look forward to more in the next series of books. I think she is changed forever and I am keen to see where this goes.

There are some very interesting and quirky characters in this series and I hope to learn more about some of the other students in the gifted class. Emily and her ability to look into the future is featured in the next book, HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

This series is appropriate for grade 7 and up.