Review: Surrender&Possession by Elana Johnson

Author: Elana Johnson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication: June 7, 2011
Source: Publisher via Book Tour

Synopsis:Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

 But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous—everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Thoughts: Violet has just been arrested for being caught outside with a boy, which is against the rules. There are many things that are against the rules and with her match, Zenn; Vi has broken eight of them. However, this crime doesn't fit the punishment, she is being sent to the Badlands and until then she gets locked up in a cell with the strange boy, Jag. She finds it odd that the very crime she commits, that they would do such a thing...nothing makes sense but she will soon learn that everything is much more complicated than they seem. And her cooperation is important for those that want her to gain power, yet Vi has other ideas. 

I like the characters, though they are extremely moody and cry a lot. Vi comes off as an explosive character with a short fuse. She can go from happy to angry in seconds then to crying the next. Jag is an intriguing character, though he is more of a puzzle. He closes off his emotions to Vi and then sometimes he opens up to her, leaving himself raw...he also cries, too. I like the scenes with the two of them together and watching their feelings blossom, though it happens rather quickly. They both are important because they have the ability to manipulate people with their special talents. Vi appears to have more sensitivity to technology and the mind controlling. I did find parts of the dialogue confusing, specifically when she was in Jag's dreams but the way Violet describes it as if she is Jag and I don't feel like the transitions into the change in perspective flowed very well with the pace of the rest of the book. 

I really like the idea of this world, though I am curious how the fact that the people can control minds, so why do they need the tech?  I do want to know how this is going to pan out in the next book. Overall, though slow at times this is an okay read about a unique dystopian world.

Author: Elana Johnson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication: June 5, 2012
Source: Publisher via Book Tour

Synopsis: Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…
Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

Thoughts: In this installment of the series, Vi has been brainwashed into forgetting about Jag and Raine, her new roomie, is responsible for making sure that doesn't change. Raine along with Zenn are playing both sides as that is the best way to gaining control and the key to helping Vi remember who she is. Gunner, the boy Raine has been attempting to recruit forever holds the clue to spearheading the resistance against the government control. As the get closer to finding the answer, things start spiraling faster out of control and lines start to blur...making it even harder to decipher who is true to the cause and who is just playing the game.

Raine is not as outwardly strong a character as Vi, though she does toe the line of being a good citizen and a rebel, she is afraid to leave Freedom. It feels like she still trying to discover where she fits into all this chaos. Raine has such an emotional battle that she goes through in this book, which is understandable because she is living a secret life that she is trying to keep hidden from her father. I did like this one part where she showed some fire towards the end. Gunner is okay, though the romance between him Raine is sweet, the constant battle to gain some control of their own circumstances seems to interfere with them getting to pursue it more. Basically, the rules forced upon them keep them apart as well as the fight to be free. The most well played character would have to be Thane Meyers, who is also Vi's father. He is an enigma, and he surprises me in this book, I just don't know what to expect from him and I'm wondering what he has planned for the crew in the next book. The ending was okay, though it seems similar to the how the first book ended. Overall, though the pace is slow, this is an okay read for those that like a technological aspect mixed into a dystopian theme. 

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The Pineville Heist: Interview & Excerpt

Excerpt from the Pineville Heist
Frustration constricting his chest and pulsing at his temples, Aaron was about ready to run again. Where? Who knows. He’d just rather be doing something. Anything. Not sitting around talking about what happened, what he saw. 

Carl’s hand clamped like a vice onto Aaron’s shoulder, turning Aaron around to face him, Amanda, and the school. Aaron cringed to be looking at that stupid building again. This was supposed to be his oasis. But, after chasing it, turned out it was more of a mirage. He needed help, not concerned adults with all their questions. 

Chat with the Author
Tell us about Lee Chambers
Lee Chambers is a writer, producer and director who has been lecturing and producing award-winning films and education film production workshops for over ten years.   Feeding his passion and love for story-telling, he decided to turn his attention to writing.  His debut novel The Pineville Heist becoming a Number 1 Best Selling Thriller in April and published his second novel The Sum of Random in July of this year.

Having produced many short films that have been nominated and won awards around the world; his heart-warming 2009 When Life Gives you Lemons short, starring Basil Hoffman, and Executive Produced by Academy Award winner Roger Corman, was shown in over 46 festivals worldwide; Lee is now turning his attention to turning The Pineville Heist into his directorial debut feature film.

How do you feel when you read reviews that say that The Pineville Heist is “better than the Hunger Games”?
I’m very honoured. 

Similar to a painter or sculptor you have created a piece that someone admires and you have inspired them, then you have done your job as an artist.  It’s not about the money, it’s about creating.  You write a book and someone reads that book because they like that genre and you have touched them with it; and you are engaging readers in discussion about the story, then that is really, really cool and special.

What do you feel are the necessary ingredients to creating a stunning action-packed thriller?
You need a hero who is reluctant, who has a flaw and is not necessarily in a position of their choice, they have been forced into that position.

Then you need an antagonist with similar qualities, although unrelenting and will do anything to make sure they get what they want.

When you put these two together there is always the potential mix for high drama and fast-paced conflict.

Look at action thrillers such as Die Hard.  You have John McClane, he has flaws, he has a fractured relationship with his wife. While trying to repair that relationship he is thrown into a hostage situation with his wife being held as a hostages by a group of terrorists out to steal millions, which leads to an exciting fight for survival.

As with Aaron in The Pineville Heist, he has a fractious relationship with his father and while trying to prove himself he ends up being thrown into a dangerous situation.  A situation that requires him to fight for his and his young drama teacher’s life, as they are hunted down in his locked down high school by a psychotic robber who will stop at nothing to get the stolen money back.

Wow! Booboo Stewart, how great is it to have already your leading man and I’m curious who do you have in mind for the rest of your dream cast?
It is awesome to already have Booboo as the leading role.  With regards to the rest of the dream cast, a lot would have to do with the schedule for shooting and until that date is known there is no point in engaging Ed Harris or Brad Pitt as they may not be available at the time we are ready to go.

Do I have a list of potentials?  Yes I have a long list of potentials.  But it would be unethical and not appropriate for me to publically share my views or choices.  That’s because the nature of the funding model we are seeking, involves shooting in Canada and a requirement of having to cast mainly Canadian actors.  The final casting decisions will also involve input from our investing partners.  However, if Brad was available, how totally cool would that be… although Brad wouldn’t make a good Amanda.

You’re surrounded by a group of teenagers interested in your book, what’s your pitch to get them running to the shelves?
Having Booboo on board is certainly one good hook to get teenagers interested

However, what I would normally do, is to ask those teenagers to imagine being locked inside their school at night.  Then imagine how cool it would be to have $5million, what would and could you do with that amount of money?  Imagine you’re in your high school with $5million and that a bad guy is after you for that money, with a shot gun or a baseball bat.  

The hook is asking them to imagine how they would feel if they were that particular character, what they would do, how they would feel in certain situations, putting it all together and getting them to imagine that it was actually them.  Even with Twilight, you have young girls wanting to be like Bella and imaging themselves as Bella and having that dream wedding.

This is the great thing with movies and books they take you to a different world; and while it is highly unlikely that a teenager will find $5million and be chased around their high school by a psychotic robber, they can be transported into the emotion fully without getting their hands dirty.

Which do you prefer? Screenplays or novels? What are the pros and cons of each?
Screenplays are different, they are a like an architectural drawing; there is a logical sense to them, however they are devoid of detail, colour or texture.  They have their own unique view about them.  If you look at a blueprint for a house, you get the basis of the house layout, but you don’t get the detail of what the house will eventually look like.

Whereas novels, they are like a blank canvas and you get to paint in total full techni-colour and detail.  Novels allow you to be descriptive and delve into the characters psych, you are able to provide the reader with an image and take them to the actual settings in detail; readers can hear the movement of the startled rabbit in the wood, or feel the ominous presence in the school at night, that is something a screenplay cannot achieve.

Are there any future projects in the works?
I am teaming up again with my writing partner Todd Gordon, who I co-wrote the screenplay of The Pineville Heist, to produce more of a gritty and edgy adult thriller, something quite different to Pineville but equally as exciting.  Then I will look at adapting that story into novel format to share with readers.

However, the main focus and priority for the moment is getting all the fundamentals (and funding) for The Pineville Heist together so that we can start shooting in 2013.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?
The hardest part was getting my head around the craft of writing.  

As a director I view things visually and in screenplay format.  My book has actually been criticised for not following a single point of view and jumping from character to character.  Sure it may not be the normal way a book is read, or follow a particular model of writing; but it certainly doesn’t detract from the story, or the exciting flow and it may actually enhance the reading experience.

Invisibility or the ability to fly?
Invisibility would be cool, but could be open to exploitation and may also prove to be a bad thing, especially if come across a couple of people talking about you.  Now flying would be super, super cool, although you would have to ensure to avoid high power electrical lines, be careful when landing and not fly into windows.  So the choice would have to be flying, as long as there is no side effect of laying eggs!

What is the one question that you wish interviewers would ask and the answer to that question?
Q. “When will The Pineville Heist become a movie?”
A. “The first day of shooting takes place when $2m hits my bank account… mid 2013.”

About the Book
Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble
Aaron whipped through the long grass as fast as his legs would carry him. His eyes were filled with angst and adrenaline. He was still in shock. Not every day you see a dead man. Not every day you see that much money either – he glanced down at the backpack in his arms.
Must – keep – running
Seventeen year old Aaron stumbles into the aftermath of a five million dollar bank heist gone wrong. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron partially catches the murder of one of the robbers. In the chaos he sneaks away with the money and heads straight for the closest place of safety, his high school. Terrified, Aaron tells his shocking tale to Amanda Becker, his drama teacher, but it doesn't take long for one of the psychotic robbers to show up. In the locked down school the pair are relentlessly pursued in a quest to get the money back and wipe out the evidence.
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Excerpt: Under the Desert Moon by Emma Meade

Blurb:17 year old Erin Harris spends her time daydreaming, hoping to escape her small town life in Copperfield, Arizona.  When a movie crew arrives unexpectedly to shoot a vampire film over the summer, Erin’s small town world changes forever.
Erin is positive she has seen the star, James Linkin before in a thirty year old TV show.  He hasn’t aged a day. How is this possible? Erin is determined to find out, but how will James handle the scrutiny of an all too intelligent teenage girl?

Excerpt from Under the Desert Moon by Emma Meade
Erin stared out her bedroom window, wishing as always that she was elsewhere.  Anywhere but here, she thought wistfully.
Nothing ever happened in this rundown town, not since the last mine had closed a decade ago.  Copperfield, Arizona, was dusty, quiet and old-fashioned.  It took months for the latest movie to make it to The Oracle theatre where Erin worked part-time, but it was the easiest job in the world.  It got Erin out of the house she shared with her brothers and angry, alcoholic father, put money in her savings account, and most importantly, Erin got to see movies free.
It was escapism.  For a couple of hours she could lose herself in another world, imagining herself as the beautiful heroine.  Erin was waiting for the day she would learn she wasn’t her father’s daughter. That her mother had embarked on some secret affair with a handsome, rich man, and it was only a matter of time before he discovered her existence and introduced Erin to his world.
Sighing, she rested her chin in her hand.  A cool summer breeze ruffled the curtains and lifted the strands of her bangs, tickling Erin’s forehead.  She hated this tomb-like town, but had to admit that at night, Copperfield was beautiful.  The desert gleamed beneath a full moon, and the scent of vegetation from the garden was spicy and fragrant.  Erin breathed it deeply.
A cloud at that moment obscured the moon, and the hairs on her arms lifted.  The breeze died down suddenly and she straightened up.  She felt distinctly peculiar.  Was there a storm coming?
The door to her bedroom sprang inwards.  Startled, Erin turned to shout at whichever brother had disturbed her peace.  It was Nick, her twin. 
“Do you mind?” Erin said.
Nick’s sea-blue eyes gleamed.  They were just like Erin’s.  “You’re never going to believe this, Sis, sincerely.”
Erin rolled her eyes.  “Try me.”
“A crew from Hollywood is in town.  Copperfield’s the location for some scary movie.”
“Are you kidding?” Erin said, jumping off her bed.
“They’re all in Casey’s right now.  The whole town’s there.”  Nick was practically hopping with excitement.
“Oh, my God,” Erin said.  “Why Copperfield?  What kind of scary movie?”  Slasher or ghost story? she wondered.  She preferred the latter.
Nick shrugged.  “Let’s go find out.”
Erin grabbed her jacket and followed him.  Finally, there might actually be some life in this town, she thought.
“Hey, where you kids going?” her father's slurred voice demanded.
Erin caught a whiff of his beer breath as she passed and grimaced.  Gross.
“Out,” she said, and slammed the door hard.

Casey’s diner was busier than Erin had ever seen it.  Several waitresses were scooting across the shiny tiles in red and white roller skates that matched their uniforms.  Every booth in the place was taken.  Customers were eating their hamburgers and fries standing at the counter.
Erin’s eyes scanned the restaurant quickly as she crossed the threshold with Nick at her heels.  A gust of air at the entrance lifted her long, chocolate brown hair off her neck, and raised goosebumps on her tanned arms.  Strange.  It wasn’t even cold that evening.    
           She paused inside, inhaling sharply.  Her eyes were drawn immediately to the young man sitting at the biggest booth, furthest in the back.  His presence radiated charm, charisma and self-assurance.  Erin couldn’t help but notice the dusky brown of his eyes tinged with flecks of green, and the easy curve of his lips. He looked so familiar, but she couldn’t place him.  
“Hey,” she poked Nick.  “You know his name?”  She watched him laugh heartily with his companions and lean back against the leather seat in complete ease. 
Nick shook his head.  “Don’t recognize him.”
“I’ve seen him in some TV show before.  I think,” Erin added uncertainly.  This was going to bug her.
“He’s the lead actor,” Nick said.  “I heard people talking about him when he got off the bus earlier.”
Erin approached the counter.  “Hey, Mrs. Casey,” she called over the middle-aged owner.  Mrs. Casey was a kind woman.  Her husband had died from cancer three years previously, and she was running the joint single-handedly. She also seemed to know everything in town before everyone else. “You know anything about this movie?”
“Sure.  The crew’s just been here for hours, sugar.  It’s one of those scary movies.  Copperfield’s a real cheap place to shoot, I guess.  That gorgeous boy over there,” she nodded in the direction of the young man Erin had been drawn to.  “Name is James Linkin.  He’s going to play the bad boy.”
Erin chanced another glance his way, not wanting to be caught staring.  It didn’t matter. All eyes were on his table, particularly all female gazes.
“He ordered a hot dog from me just before you got here,” Mrs. Casey said.  She chuckled.  “He’s a little charmer from what I’ve seen so far.”
“What kind of bad boy?” Erin asked.  Her stomach was fluttering.  It hadn’t done that since she’d watched Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall last summer in The Oracle.  She’d been forced to throw a Brad weekend there for one of the most popular girls at school, Lyndsey Mason, her older brother’s girlfriend.
Now looking at James, she believed him to be even more handsome.  Erin marveled at her racing hormones.  She usually wasn’t as silly as the other girls in school, or so she liked to think. She risked another look at him.  Dark hair with sunny tints when the light caught it right, pale skin, strong jaw, slender build…
“Vampire, I think,” Mrs. Casey’s voice broke Erin’s train of thought.  “It's going to be some kind of horror romance.”

Author Website: http://emmameadebooks.com/  

Blog: http://emmameade.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15780938-under-the-desert-moon

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emmameadewrites?ref=hl

Under the Desert Moon on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Under-Desert-Moon-Emma-Meade/dp/0985243163 

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Meade/e/B0064LKMK2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmameade83
Publisher: Soul Fire Press

Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu
Title: Prodigy
Series: Legend #2
Publication: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 384 pp.
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Around the World Arc Tours
Synopsis

Jan. 4. 1932 Hours.

Ocean Standard Time

Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Thoughts: This is edge of your seat good. That news at the end, one word: Bewildering. Needless to say, I am extremely curious how this transpires in book three. June and Day find themselves on a train to the Patriots headquarters seeking assistance in locating Day's brother, Eden,  and medical aid for Day’s  injured leg. Their biggest problem: will the Patriots help them since they have no money to bribe them this time? No, but what they want is much more than either of them are truly prepared for...can they really kill Anden, the new Elector Primo, without giving him the opportunity to be the change that is needed in the Republic . Now, left with this awful choice they uncover a plot more twisted than either can imagine.

June has the making of a phenomenal female heroine. She's tough, calculating, perceptive, and packs a mighty punch. If this does get made into a movie, some starlet has some big shoes to fill. I love the depth of June; her physical and mental capabilities are astounding. She is not a one-dimensional character and I like the different levels that she plays in this book. Day has this magnetism about him that pulls people to him. True, he may not have the skills that June has or even the calming ability of his friend Tess, but he has this presence that commands attention. I guess also helps that he has pretty hair. The attraction between the two of them is so much fun to read. They appear to balance each other out, and I hope that they end up together. Fingers crossed!

The writing is eloquent and detailed. The author truly has a way of giving a sense of the scene that's inviting and visually engaging to the movie theatre in my head. I was emotionally invested in this story. I love the characters and this world that Lu has created. This is going down as one of my favorites!

Giveaway & Guest Post with Author Amy Lignor of the Angel Chronicles

Matthew & Emily Become ‘Marvel’ Characters!

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the angel/warrior team become part of The Justice League? After all…they certainly would fit. The angel/warrior team joins with Superman, Wonder Woman and their friends in order to protect and defend the people! I can see the headline now.

I can also see Matthew’s costume now. He would be the shiniest of all - you’re talking solid gold. The cracks would be there, of course - the cracks in the armor that come from life and saving others. But the cracks would gleam with white hot light as he flew to each and every person who needed him. His blade would be like King Arthur’s famous Excalibur, yet the gold sheen would be so bright that it would literally blind his opponents, causing them to have to fight in sunglasses if they even stood a chance. The Warrior would be young, so the rippling biceps of Superman would not yet be his; but the stunning blue eyes and the dirty blonde hair would set hearts afire as he battled to save the people on earth.

Emily…well, she would be a bit more difficult to costume, I have a feeling. In some people’s minds she would be dressed in the 1950’s regalia of a greaser. The dark red hair, the black eyes shining behind her own shades (which she would have to wear if Matthew was her partner, or even she’d go blind). Her power would not come from a weapon or x-ray vision of any kind (although I have a feeling she would kill for Wonder Woman’s invisible jet just to be able to tease Michael and Gabriel up above). Emily would remain her ‘angel’ self. A tad bit worn around the edges, but when she opened her mouth - when she stood before the heartless with ‘The Power of One’ - she would simply ask them to choose. Right or wrong, they would have a choice as to where they would be sent, and then they would fall to the fiery pit or rise to the blazing light of peace.

And while they fought in The Justice League by the side of the amazing superheroes that everyone has grown to love and cherish, more and more people out there would raise their glasses to the two odd characters who could soar like eagles or simply blink in and out - in one room one minute and another the next.

Either way…they would remain side by side and people would ‘marvel’ at their big hearts and undying passion to help improve lives!

Until Next Time, Everybody,

Amy

Excerpt
No background detail is offered for my partner either. Matthew is a warrior trained by the Archangel Gabriel whose job it is to fight for justice—talk about a comic book character—all he’s missing is the cape and tights. He, too, was forgiven for any sins he may have committed during our first turn on the human dance floor. For clarity’s sake—for the ones following our lives—you should know that Matthew is my protector, and I’m his.

Our partnership is still solid, even though it hurts to look at him right now. It took him time to forgive me for what I did to him the first time around. The path I chose may just have been unforgivable...but he’s still here, sitting by my side, waiting for my feelings to change so I’ll jump willingly back into that tumultuous world below and save them from self-destruction.

We can hear the bombs, the wars—everything can be heard up here. Every time there’s an explosion Matthew rises from his chair. He wants nothing more than to return and do the job he was trained for. He still has faith that the ‘good guys’ will win, whereas I believe it would be a miracle if one good soul could still be found down there...a rose growing amongst the weeds.

The Beloved Angel/Warrior Team from Until Next Time Returns!

When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become… 

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget…

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams…

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.

As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.
Purchase: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords | iBookstore | PDF

Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles #1
How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?
Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.
When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.
From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart. 
The Angel Chronicles | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon 

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Author Bio
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

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Review: Reaper by K.D. McEntire

Author: K.D. McEntire
Title: Reaper
Series: Lightbringer #2
Publication: August 24, 2012 
Publisher: PYR
Genre: Paranormal 
Pages: 341
Source: Publisher
Synopsis

Reaper is set in a world a breath away from our own. After the death of her mother, Wendy is attempting to fill her mother's shoes and discovering that the prospect is far more difficult than she ever imagined. Learning that she is part of a powerful and ancient family of Reapers that her mother had forsaken is just the first surprise—Wendy soon discovers that the San Francisco Bay Never is filled with political powers and factions both previously unknown and completely mysterious to Wendy. Since both her mother and Piotr are gone, Wendy must struggle to maneuver between the machinations of the dead and the dark intentions of her living Reaper family.
Eventually betrayed and made sick unto death, the clock is ticking before Wendy will fall—she has only a matter of days to unravel the mysteries her mother left behind and to convince her wary family to accept her as one of their own.

Thoughts: After defeating the White Lady, who happened to be her mother, Wendy finds herself in the middle of a power struggle between the dead and her new found Reaper family. She thinks that her family is trying to help control her abilities but once they learn she is a natural, they try to bind her powers which could potentially kill her. With so many enemies coming at her from all sides, Wendy has no idea where to turn before death comes knocking at her door.

Piotr is really weird in this one. He becomes more aggressive and angry, though circumstances do lead to his change in attitude. I liked that the author gave more details into his history as a Rider and why he seems to be attracted to Lightbringers. Wendy struggles more in this book, she seems more uncertain of what she should do and it doesn't help that so many people are pulling her in different directions. She comes off as less focused and more scattered, I don't really feel like she got anything accomplished. Basically, this book was more Piotr to me. Of course, Wendy does have the task of locating her best friend, Eddie's spirit but every time she attempts to focus on that, something gets in the way. 

The writing is balanced and well written. The characters have levels...they have more going on with them that has been revealed. I would like for Wendy to "ask the right questions" and not let the shadow of her mother make her confidence in her abilities falter. The author has created a great world in this series. I like how she gives such vivid detail of the Never, so much so that I could visualize it in my mind. Though not my favorite in the series it's still a good story about ghosts, and I think anyone interested in ghosts will like it. 

Audio Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu
Narrators:Mariel Stern, Steven Kaplan
Title: Legend
Series: Legend #1
Publication: 2011
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Length: 7 hrs:48 mins
Source: Library

Synopsis

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Thoughts:Loved it. This is so good. I enjoyed June and Day's interactions the most because the heat between these two...steaming. The best part about the book is the action and these two are the center of it all. Legend is full of deception, lies and hope. June is a strong female lead balanced with a strong male lead, which I like this; I think this is a good fit for this series. The author has done a great job building this world and developing such rich, rounded characters. The plot and flows fluidly and the narrators translate this well into the audio book. 

I really loved the two part narrative of this book and I feel it transitioned well into the audio format. The narrators made this a great listen by using their delivery to make it more interesting to hear them speak. They have the best voices for this work. I found myself sitting in the car till the end of a chapter just see what was going to happen, so they had me captivated. I think the production and sound were done smoothly. Overall, this is a good listen.