Title: Betrayed (The Guardian Legacy, #2)
Author: Ednah Walters
Publisher: Self-Published, (August 1st 2011)
From: the Author, Thank You!
Check out my Review: Awakened (The Guardian Legacy, #1)

Synopsis: Lil has come to terms with her life as a Guardian/demon hunter and the wielder of the Nephilim most powerful weapon. She trains everyday to master her growing powers, gets along with her Guardian trainee friends (most of the time) and cherishes her moments with her human friends.

Just when she feels she belongs, her nature-bender father contacts her and warns her about a betrayal by someone close to her. Then Bran, the guy she loves, starts to act strange and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability. While Lil struggles find a connection between these three things, she begins to realize that someone is manipulating her and Bran, and will stop at nothing (including hurting those she loves) to lure them to the dark side.

Review: 4 Stars - Betrayed is the exciting second book in the Guardian Legacy series by Ednah Walters. Filled with twists and turns, this thrilling continuation reminded me just why I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and this second only further solidified being a HUGE fan of these characters, this series and the author.

Lil has finally started to get used to things as a Guardian, yet she is still trying to achieve better control over all her powers. She has a loving relationship with Bran, great friends and feels like she’s finally found a place to belong. She’s a pretty amazing female lead who continues to fight for her family and friends and what she feels is right. She has a lot on her plate in this book, dealing with a number of things while trying to master her powers. Throughout it all she’s attending High School and being sent out on missions with her Guardian friends, and she seems to do it all pretty well. That is until things go a little wrong.

Their relationship – Lil and Bran’s – is great; he’s still one of those male characters that I thoroughly love. Their relationship has always had its up’s and down’s and this time they are going to be faced with a HUGE roadblock. Bran’s dealing with his own set of huge messy issues surrounding not only himself, but also with his siblings - I didn’t know what was happening, what was going on or what might be right around the corner for Walters and her characters. I felt for both Lil and Bran, with all they were facing and when everything came to light on what was really going on, I think my heart broke a tiny bit.

Walters has taken this second book and kicked it up a notch. Sometimes when it comes to a second book in a series there’s a lull or it can be a bit on the slow side, setting up for the next book(s) to come and I was extremely elated and can say that this isn’t the case with this one. Its action packed, has many twists and more of these amazing great characters that we were introduced to in the first book – Awakened.

All in all, I’m a huge fan of Walters and her thrilling self published YA series. With characters I love and a thrilling story, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I highly recommend this series to all, especially fans of supernatural tales within the YA genre. So, what are you waiting for?

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)
Author: K.A. Tucker
Publisher: Papoti Books, 284 Pages (July 15th 2011)
From: the Author, Thank You! (eBook)

Synopsis: Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.

When Evangeline meets Sofie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.

With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities . . . like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.

In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed.

Top Five Quotes from Anathema

(in no order)

"You know who loves reading as well?" Amelie asked as I mentioned my unhealthy obsession with books. "Caden. There could be a train wreck two feet away and his eyes wouldn't have lifted from the page."

Caden smirked. "For a human, yes. Human desires change with age. People outgrow one another. It's different with us. Every day with Fiona feels like the first day Bishop met her - the sparks, butterflies, all that."
"Butterflies... I thought that was a chick thing," I muttered.

"I'm so sorry, Caden," I said softly. And I was. It pained me to know that he and Amelie had suffered so.
He gazed down at his hands, a haunted smile on his face. "Do you realize that's the first time I've ever heard those words from anyone?"

All four dogs leapt forward to form a wall around me, but not before Viggo had my pendant within his grasp. "You may tear my heart out, Max, but not before I rip this pendant from Evangeline's neck," he said, his eyes locked with mine.

I had no idea what time it was and I didn't care. I only cared that I would have to leave Caden at some point and I dreaded that reality.

There were a bunch I had to choose from and in the end I put the page numbers/location numbers in a hat and drew these. It was just really hard to pick. So many good ones!

Giveaway Details!

Kathleen is giving away a signed, print copy of Anathema to one lucky winner at the end of the blog tour. Anyone can enter by visiting her site at http://www.katuckerbooks.com/ (read giveaway rules posted). Do you want up to 10 extra chances to win? Visit each blog stop for an Anathema Quiz question. Answer it correctly and your name is entered! Simple!

Here's your quiz question for today, Blog Stop #9: Who is the Council?

To submit your answer, click here http://www.katuckerbooks.com/10-days-of-anathema-grand-prize-entry-form.html

And if you haven't read Anathema yet... what are you waiting for?!

Be sure to check back later today for my review and more giveaway details!!

Find Kathleen online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Anathema Online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this post.

Title: Flutter (My Blood Approves, #3)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: LuLu, 307 pages (May 29th 2010)
From: ebook purchased from Amazon

Synopsis: Flutter - the third book in the My Blood Approves series...

Being undead doesn't make life any easier for Alice Bonham.

Her younger brother's love life is heating up, while hers is...more complicated. Mae is falling apart, her best friend Jane is addicted to vampire bites, and if Alice doesn't get her bloodlust under control, someone will end up dead.

Alice volunteers for a rescue mission with Ezra. But going up against a pack of rabid vampires might be too much, even for him.

Review: 5 Stars - The My Blood Approves series by author Amanda Hocking third title – Flutter – just keeps getting better and better. So far, this is my favorite book in the series. Thrilling from beginning to end!

Flutter picks up a few weeks after we last left Alice, Jack and the rest. Alice had a lot to deal with in the previous book, which had a few huge twists and turns and an ending that was shocking the say the least.

There’s a lot going on in Flutter, including Alice going with Ezra to Finland to try to save Peter who is on a mission of madness. There are evil vampires out there, totally unlike Jack and his family and Peter went to the worst kind to look for his own way out.

With evil lurking around every corner, it’s only a matter of time before it finds Alice and company and wow, much craziness ensues.

With additional new characters popping up in each book, and the return of a few others, such as Jane and her continuing troubles… guh, that girl needs a good swift smack upside the head. And Mae… she’s dealing with issues that I felt bad for her about on so many levels. However, this part of the story is totally shocking and heartbreaking. What she chooses to do, just… wow. And then we have Ezra, who was a strong presence in this book and it was his strength in all things that was a huge part in the story.

As mentioned above, this is my favorite book so far in the series. The events that unfold surrounding one of the family members will leave the lives of many damaged for a long time to come. I look forward to see just where the many plot twists and turns take us next in Hockings further continuation of the series in Wisdom.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

"Just Picked" is a feature here at A Life Bound By Books. This is a place where I'll be spotlighting new (and old) childrens book or picture books for parents and new readers. It's a place to talk about books for a younger group and to try to help create a new generation of readers.

Title: Three Little Mermaids
Author: Mara Van Fleet
Illustrator: Mara Van Fleet
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 16 Pages (January 2011)
Age Range: Preschool and up.
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: Have a tea party undersea and practice counting with Three Little Mermaids, this sparkling touch and feel and pull tab novelty book by bestselling creator Mara Van Fleet!

Review: 4 Stars - Three Little Mermaids by Mara Van Fleet has been a huge hit with my nieces, ages 1 and 5 since they first got their hands on it. The 1 year old loves the colors and the actions in this extremely cute pop-up book. The 5 year old likes to sit with her sister and show her everything to touch and feel within the story of Three Mermaids inviting their undersea friends to tea.

Counting along with the actions and rhymes and their sea friends on each page… while feeling the soft furry belly of a seal, the snapping of the crabs claws to the sea horses coming out to play from behind the seaweed to all the bright, shiny, bumpy and cute illustrations is only part of what made this book a hit for the girls. It is something the older one can share with her younger sister. And that’s why I fell in love with this book.

I’m a fan of popup books and this one is just too cute for words. Younger girls will love everything about it. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: Firelight (Firelight, #1)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen, 323 Pages (September 7th 2010)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Firelight, the first in a series from author Sophie Jordan is filled with greatness – great characters, great plot and great writing. I found myself immersed in the pages as Jordans unique idea became clear to picture as a new supernatural creature evolved before my eyes.

Jacinda comes from a rare race of people called the Draki. Not fully human and not filly dragon, able to change between the two halves. She’s even rarer as each Draki has a set of abilities making some more valuable than others. She’s a breed that hasn’t been around for a long time – a fire breather – which the pride that she lives in and calls home has plans for in the future.

Jacinda is one tough teenage girl who’s promised to the Prince of the Draki, Cassian. She has no idea just what the elders of her race have in store for her, and once things take a turn for the worse, her mother packs her and her sister and moves them to the desert where she hopes they won’t be found and to try to force Jacinda into a normal life, away from the Draki.

While I loved Jacinda and her strength and her fighting instincts while she tries to find a way out of the corner she’s put in, her mother and her sister were a huge thorn in my side. I understood why her mother moved them, but forcing Jacinda to go down the same path as she did frustrated me just about as much as it frustrated Jacinda. And her sister! Don’t even get me started.

The initial meeting between Jacinda and Will was thrilling, fast paced and unexpected. Their relationship is one that’s doomed from the beginning. When they cross paths again she doesn’t know what to do, just that she’s drawn to him when she shouldn’t be. Will and his family are hunters of the Draki and while he doesn’t’ know what she really is, she knows what Will and his family are capable of. I more than loved the interaction between the two and the push and pull of their relationship because of who they both were. When Will finds out he has two options and its right then at that moment he becomes the person he’s suppose to be and not the one he was born into.

Of coarse it wouldn’t be a true review of this title without more mention of Cassian. Cassian, oh… can I please have some more? Lol While I didn’t agree with his actions, he has many redeeming qualities (or does he?) that come through blindly by the end (or does it?). However, it still leaves me questioning if is a good guy or a bad guy. The verdict is still out on him.

The short chapters, amazing story and characters, the ending, the romance… the mythology, all wrapped together, making Firelight a perfect addition to paranormal YA titles. I’m more than looking forward to the next book – Vanish – to see what happens next for Jacinda, Will and all the people around them.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review. **Note - I did also purchased a finished copy of this title.

Title: Fate (My Blood Approves, #2)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: LuLu, 250 pages (April 25th 2010)
From: ebook purchased from Amazon

Synopsis: Fate - the second installment in the My Blood Approves series...

Alice Bonham thinks she's finally found a balance in her life between the supernatural and real life with her brother Milo. Jack - her sorta vampire boyfriend - keeps her at arm's length to keep her safe. As for his brother Peter... she's not sure where he's at, or what he wants with her. Worse still, she's not even sure what she wants with Peter.

When tragedy happens, Alice finds herself struggling with a terrible choice. Her decision has consequences that reach farther than she'd ever imagined...

Review: 4.5 Stars - Fate, the second book in the My Blood Approves series by Amanda Hocking continues the saga set within her world where vampires exist. The story wasn’t what I expected on many levels, but was the perfect set up for future books in the series. Her characters are likeable and her story thrilling – with a few bumps and hiccups along the way – Fate, in the end, will leave you ready for more.

With many things that came to light in the first book, the issues and drama of being friends or more with a Vampire take root in this continuation of the story. Poor Alice is spending more time alone. She’s missing Jack and his family. She confused about many things including her draw to Peter. She knows why, but still doesn’t understand it when all she wants to be is with Jack.

Alice is… more than a tad down in this book. She’s miserable and can’t seem to find her way back to her version of normal again. For many reasons, but the main one is how alone she feels. She believes that Jack and his family have abandoned her. She feels alone at home too, which if were being honest here, she is. I could understand why she was so down; I mean who wouldn’t be with what’s happening around her. I can say that I missed the Alice from the first book, but everything happens for a reason and wow, those reasons were some doozys.

There’s more of Milo in this book, which was a huge plus. While it throws an even bigger wrench into things for Alice on so many levels, it makes her come to terms with the things she’s had running round and round in her head. And poor Jack has a lot to deal with as well. All three characters have been handed a bunch of crap in this book and it’s a wonder how they all managed to make it out at the end… or did they?

The back story to the vampires was an added plus to this one. I couldn’t wait to learn more as Ezra fills us in on some parts of their past and helps Alice to find some of the answers she’s looking for when it comes to her magnetic pull to Peter and her love for Jack. I always love a good back story; it always gives the reader a better idea to just who the characters are, what they might be facing or what just might happen with the choices they face and or make down the road.

All in all, it’s a fast paced read that’ll leave you ready for the next book - Flutter, so you might as well order or download the next two books to read them back to back, it’ll be hard not to want to find out what happens next.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

Title: Between
Author: Cyndi Tefft
Publisher: Createspace/Self Published, 246 Pages (April 21st 2011)
From: the Author, Thank You!

Synopsis: It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

Review: 4 Stars - Between is an emotional story set in the land of Between – hence the title. It’s about a girl – Lindsey – who passed away too soon but found something in the between. It’s about Aiden who’s been transporting souls to heaven for 300 years. It’s about fate and strength, it’s about pain and grief… and so much more.

Between is Lindsey’s and Aiden’s story told through Lindsey’s eyes. She has a great voice in the first half, but really takes hold in the second part of the story. Tefft has written a strong pair in these two characters and made their story and each of the characters extremely emotional and emotionally driven, which grasped on and didn’t let go.

Aiden has been around for over 300 years. He takes souls onto heaven, always the one being left behind. He’s very old fashioned and very Scottish - swoon. His history and aspects of the story, as he’s showing Lindsey via what he calls ‘casting’ made him into a character that felt so real and true. The story he told was rough and sometimes harsh, but it was his truth and the truth of a time so long ago.

The budding relationship between Aiden and Lindsey happened a little fast, and without much reason, however when you don’t know how much time you’ll get to spend with someone you love, the true reality of things tends to take a back seat and love takes over. At least that’s how I saw it through my eyes.

Tefft had me ready to pull my hair at when I was blindsided by something that happened in the book. It totally took me by surprise. Just when I thought I might have some idea what would happen, the rug was pulled out from underneath me and that was where I shed a few tears. It was pretty brilliant where plot twists and the story are concerned.

One thing about this book is, I’d say it has a YA and Adult tug of war feel going on. I can see it being one or the other, really either or. Lindsey is in college, though still a teen… and Aiden, well he might look as he did when he passed, but he’s still over 300 years old. If anything I’d recommend this to older teens and adults. I can see both enjoying this title.

I can honestly say that I didn’t know quiet what to expect when it came to this title. The religious aspect of the story was a bit more than I had imagined, but in the end it didn’t change what I thought or felt about the characters, the story or the book as a whole.( I’m not a religious person at all) By the end of the book, with the turn of the last page, I wasn’t ready for the story between Lindsey and Aiden to end. Lucky for me, Tefft is writing a sequel that I’m already eagerly waiting for. If you are looking for something totally different and ready to shed a few tears, don’t mind the added aspects of religion, then this is the perfect ready for you.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Synopsis: It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.


Check out my review for Between Tomorrow!

How did you come up with the idea for Between?

I wanted to write a good versus evil story, but I thought angels and demons were overdone. So I started mulling over other ways to bring heaven into the equation without making the character an angel. The Transporter idea allowed me the flexibility to create a whole realm between heaven and earth where I could make up the rules.

I’m also a sucker for a good love story, so anything I write has to be heavy on the romance. I’d been reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and fell in love with Scotland, so that’s why the hero is Aiden MacRae, a Scot from the 18^th century!

What was your favorite part of writing Between?

I loved talking through ‘what if’ scenarios with my friends and family as the scenes were taking shape in my head. They’d get really into it, though strangely enough, my hubby always dreamed up bad things to happen to Aiden. Ha! I’d go on walks along the waterfront during my lunch break at work and puzzle out where the story should go next.

Of course, the best part of writing (to me) is when a reader gets excited about your book and falls in love with the characters. Nothing tops that!

Would you be able to share with us a favorite line or two from the book?

I was suddenly reminded of exactly what I’d wanted to do with him on the picnic blanket. I jerked back from him, my cheeks aflame.

“You don’t hear all my thoughts, do you?”

He threw his head back with an uproarious laugh and I narrowed my eyes in my most menacing glare, which made him laugh harder. “Gracious, woman, what kind of thoughts have you been thinking that you don’t want me to know?” His eyes danced with naughtiness and I turned away from him in an embarrassed huff. He reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me easily to him.

If you could host a lunch for three or four other authors and their characters, who would those authors and characters be?

Without a doubt, it would be the cast of Outlander (author Diana Gabaldon and the most delicious Jamie Fraser).

I’d like to meet Richelle Mead and her characters from the Vampire Academy series (though I’d like it best if I had some supernatural powers, too).

Of course, who wouldn’t want to meet the Harry Potter and Twilight characters in person (if only to compare them to their movie star counterparts)? I share Ronald Weasley’s petrifying fear of spiders, so we’d have that in common to talk about. And I want to know what Edward really smells like (almond, sunlight, vanilla, honey?). C’mon, glamour me!

Can you tell us a bit about your experience with being self-published?

There are definitely pros and cons to going this route. You get to be in control of everything (which is good) but you have to be in control of everything (which is bad)! I love that I was able to choose the title and cover for my book, which is not always the case for traditionally published authors. On the other hand, I don’t have an expert team of editors, formatting gurus, web designers and salespeople backing me up. It’s all up to me.

There is a ton of information online about self-publishing, but it takes hours to weed through it. And even then, so much of the process is trial and error. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it definitely has its rewards.

Do you have any must haves for writing? (ie, snacks, drink, setting, etc.)

Brian Crain’s piano music was always playing in the background. I must have listened to his album, Sienna, at least 1,578,756 times (give or take)! I usually wrote on my laptop in the living room on the couch, though sometimes I would retreat to the bedroom if I needed some peace and quiet. I work a full-time job, so I wrote in the evenings and on the weekends.

I try not to snack while writing because I am so focused on the story that anything I put in my mouth would be empty calories. I love Diet Pepsi and always had a glass of that at my side, though!

Would you be able to tell us anything about projects you’re currently working on?

After the launch of Between, I will jump into finishing the sequel, Hell Transporter. The first draft is about a third of the way done already, but I haven’t looked at it in a while. I’m excited about spending more time with Aiden and Lindsey, and fleshing out the next chapter for them!

Lastly, are there any tips, tricks or advice you could give to anyone looking into self-publishing?

It’s tempting to just slap together a quick cover just to get the story out there, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a cover is the most critical piece of your packaging. You want it to be the absolute best that it can be. It may the only chance you have at grabbing a reader’s attention.

Hire someone to create the cover for you if you’re not a graphic artist. I used Woulds & Shoulds Editing and Design and I’m thrilled with how they took my idea and turned it into something amazing. In some Waiting on Wednesday blog posts, followers have commented that they can’t wait to read it based on the cover alone!

It was great having you here today Cyndi! Thanks so much for stopping by. We hope you’ll visit with us again soon.

Thanks for having me on the blog!

Find Cyndi Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my review of Between!

Title: Moonglass
Author: Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 224 Pages (May 3rd 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You! (Amazon Vine)

Synopsis: From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Review: 4 Stars - Jessi Kirby’s Moonglass is more than just sun, sand and sea. It’s about truth, healing and honesty. It’s about strength and love. Kirby fit many emotions into her book and did a wonderful job with her characters and what they were finally working to come to terms with.

When Anna is forced to move when her dad takes a new job, she has the typical teen reactions. She’s angry and hurt and wants to stay right where all her friends, her grandmother and her memories are. She’s one heck of a girl with some guts, let me tell you. She’s grown up with the beach on her doorstep, enjoying the sand as much as the ocean. Along with her guts and her strength she’s also grieving. Her grief runs deep, something she’s been contending with for years and being in the place where here parents met, being so close to where her mother spent her summers stirs up old emotions and old but ever present wounds soon begin to fester.

There’s heartbreak of many different kinds throughout Anna’s journey. Not just her past, but also the past of those around her, new and old and of the Cove she now calls home. Many of these things are part of Anna’s past, a past she needs to come to terms with, but doesn’t know how to face it. Sometimes things aren’t as they seem and other times – sadly - things have to get worse before they can get better.

The relationship she builds with Tyler came at a time that I think she needed it the most. It was a slow thing that happened at it’s own pace and didn’t feel rushed. Which is a great because more often than not these types of relationships can feel rushed in YA novels, and Kirby did a wonderful job in writing the two and their relationship at a realistic pace. Anna and Tyler have cute moments and some great lines back and forth. I did laugh at a few things Anna said, which also added to the story and helped to make her a more rounded character.

All in all, Kirby’s debut was not only well written, it was sweet and entertaining with realistic characters in a beautiful setting. It’s always thrilling to find a new contemporary young adult title and this one fit the bill perfectly! I have no doubt that many others will become a fan or Kirby and will be on the look out for new titles from her in the future, just as I will be. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

"Just Picked" is a feature here at A Life Bound By Books. This is a place where I'll be spotlighting new (and old) childrens book or picture books for parents and new readers. It's a place to talk about books for a younger group and to try to help create a new generation of readers.


Title: Trauma Queen
Author: Barbara Dee
Publisher: Aladdin, 272 Pages (April 19th 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: Every tween girl knows what it's like to have a mom who can be a little embarrasing at times. But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother.

Review: 3 Stars - Middle grade title – Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee was a cute story about a tween girl growing up extremely embarrassed by her mother – shocking right? Being embarrassed by your parents is something most everyone can relate to; even as we get older they can still manage to find a way to make us cringe. If you ask me, I think it’s in their DNA. For Marigold she doesn't think she’ll ever have a normal teen life. Her mom is a performance artist and does things such as wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery.

Marigold is more than hurt when her moms dramatic performances hit close to home and affect her relationship with her best friend. It’s so bad that her mother moves them away.

Being a teen girl is rough and Marigold goes through a lot in a short period of time. Moving away from her best friend, starting a new school while trying to keep everyone from finding out about her moms art, just to name a few things.

Marigold has lessons to learn at both home and from the new friends she makes. Dee was able to express and portray the feelings and issues of being a teen pretty spot on. It was easy to see through Mari’s eyes, while dealing with the crazy things life threw at her.

Her grandmother was just as a grandmother should be. She listened, was supportive, explained things in ways Mari’s mother couldn’t and talked about the past to give Mari a better understanding of just who her mother was. Mari’s little sister had her own wacky side – she liked to “Prairie Speak”. Yes, you read that correctly. I had to smile each time her little sister talked. It’s just something you weren’t expecting but became endeared to.

Dee made Marigold likeable and easy to relate to as we were a fly on the wall to Mari as she grew and changed from the first page to the last. If you ask me, the ending was perfect. I haven’t read many middle grade books, but this one was a quick read that flew by, with great characters, an entertaining and sometimes off the wall story.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill, 398 Pages (January 11th 2011)
From: Purchased on Amazon

Synopsis: A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Across the Universe by author Beth Revis was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s a story set in the future, aboard a spaceship with intriguing characters looking for the truth in a world of lies and a mystery that could change the course of their future. Revis writing, setting, characters and plot ebbed and flowed to make this one of those books that sticks with you, leaving you looking for more.

Right from the beginning we are thrust into an extremely vivid world and its characters. Amy, our main female lead is given a choice and it’s a doozy! Stay with her aunt and uncle on earth, or be frozen in a cryo chamber along with her parents in order to take the long journey to what’ll become their new home. Revis has a knack for writing a scene where you feel like you’re right there with the character, so when Amy makes up her mind, to be frozen along side her parents, after watching them go through the traumatic experience you feel the true emotion of the decision.

Being awakened early was more than a jarring experience for Amy. She’s now part of the living community on Godspeed. A community that doesn’t like change or anything that’s different. They are strict and have many rules that are so far removed from all that Amy knows, it’s a wonder she was able to cope as well as she did.

Elder is one of a very small group of people who go out of their way to befriend Amy. He’s in training to become the next ruler of the people on the ship. Amy gets under his skin. She teaches him about the real world and how things should be, compared to how they are. When he starts to question more and more about what he’s been taught, they start to uncover a mystery that’s much bigger than they expected. There’s feelings flowing between the two that are only lightly touched on, but I can see this blossoming into more in the future books yet to come.

With someone out to kill the people who are frozen, it’s a race against time to try to save her parents and everyone else and find and stop the person before it’s too late.

All in all, I was shocked on more than one occasion; however it perfectly fit in this dystopian story set in space. There’s a lot going on throughout the book, its mystery on top of mystery, built on a bed of lies. With all the twists and turns, it’s a thrilling, fast paced read that had me flipping the pages well into the wee hours of the night. I loved the characters and the setting. Revis knows her way around words, using them as brush strokes and the page as her canvas. I can’t wait for more from her in the future, I’m a HUGE fan! What’s up next for the author? How about the sequel – A Million Suns out 2012! I will be waiting and excited to read the continuing Sci-Fi story.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book, and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

Title: Hourglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont, 397 Pages (June 14th 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Review: 5 Stars - Hourglass from author Myra McEntire is in one word – AMAZING! With exquisite writing and characters, McEntire is one of the newest rock stars to join the others within the ranks of the Young Adult genre. How can I sum up my love for this book?… I’ll try but I highly doubt my words will even touch the surface of my love for this book or will even comes close to what McEntire has done with her words.

Life for seventeen year old Emerson hasn’t been easy. She sees things that no one else can see, people from the past, ghosts from another time, which all started right after her parent’s death. She lives with her loving, caring brother and his wife who are concerned about these visions – as any one would be - and as a result her overall health. I was quickly drawn to Emerson and wanted to know – just as she does – the reasons behind why she can’t stop seeing people and places from a different time. She’s extremely caring and has a strength about her that made me in turn care about her as a character. Her strength makes her one of those characters that shows just how much she can hold her own and won’t take being pushed around. She has her fair share of great lines throughout the book – many moments that I ended up with a huge smile plastered on my face and even a few moments where I laughed out loud. And really, it’s all part of what makes a great book even better.

Her brother Thomas and his wife Dru only want the best for her and while they don’t understand what she’s going through, they try hard to find a way to help Emerson. Through many different people who have said they could help, she’s ready to give up. Her relationship with her brother and sister in law was close in many ways, yet distant in others. They each wanted to protect the other, as families do, but this one had more to loose due to all that had happened to them in the past with the death of their parents.

When Emerson’s brother comes to her with something else to try that could just help her, she’s against it. She’s tired and burned out on all the false hope. I mean I would be too if I was in her shoes, that’s when Michael, from the Hourglass institute walks into her life. He’s mysterious and gives us little to go by as to really who he is, but I can say he turns out to be an amazing male character.

While reading the book we chipped away at both Emerson and Michael to get to the root of who they really are. It was through their relationship – professional that it was, as the rules were laid out by Thomas – we find out more than just who they are, but also the what and the why of all Emerson’s visions. Michael might be a little older by a couple of years but nonetheless, the attraction is there. It’s one of those attractions that smolders and lingers, that you just wait with bated breath to catch fire and set off into a massive blaze. Darn those rules set by her brother!

There are tons of twists and turns throughout, it’s more than a rollercoaster ride that’s for sure! I can honestly say that I had no idea what was about to happen numerous times. I was shocked and10rilled over and over again and was always looking for the next helping after each chapter.

It’s easy to fall head over heals in love with this book, not to mention the characters. I did and still find myself thinking about the world McEntire has shared with us and of time travel. Without a doubt, this is a new favorite of mine that I’ll be able to read over and over again and look forward to more in not only this series but truly anything that this author writes, I’ll read it. If you are looking for amazing wrapped in nice warm blanket of epic with a double shot of win, look no further than this book, right here with the pretty cover. I’m so eager for the next book, I have no idea how I’ll deal with the wait.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

"Just Picked" is a new Feature here at A Life Bound By Books. Now and then I'll be sharing with you various picture books that I've come across that I think everyone with kids, or even adults will love to read or would even make a great coffee table book.

Title: Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word
Author: Bob Raczka
Illustrator: Nancy Doniger
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 48 Pages (March 15th 2011)
Age Range: 8 to 12
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: Play with your words! A brand new poetic form that turns word puzzles into poetry.

Part anagram, part rebus, part riddle—these poems capture a scene from a child's daily life and present a puzzle to solve. Sometimes sweet and sometimes funny, but always clever, these poems are fun to read and even more fun for kids to write. Bob Raczka is a fresh, new voice in children's poetry who knows that fun and games can turn a poetry lesson into lemonade!

Review: 3 Stars - Lemonade is more than a book; it’s filled with words made from words to create many different poems. It’s unique, interesting and extremely creative giving kids something fun to read. It might be a quick book of poems but I can see kids looking at words differently, by seeing what words they can find in other words.

I have to say that the poems might be hard to read at first due to the layout, but all you need to do is turn the page and its there, clear and easy to read. It’s the things such as where the poems originate from and how different they are displayed on the page that make this book interesting and will have readers ready to make finding words within words new and exciting.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Happy Release Day to Tracy and Tempest Rising!!

First of all, thanks so much for having me. I’m thrilled to be here today, on Tempest Rising’s release date!

Can you tell us a little bit about writing Tempest Rising, and how things came about from concept to release?

From the second the idea for Tempest Rising came to me, things just kind of slid into place. That doesn’t happen very often with a book, so it’s really thrilling when it does.

In October of 2009, I decided I wanted to write a YA. My friend had done my tarot cards and had basically told me that I wasn’t fulfilled writing the books I was contracted for at the time, and she was right. So I spent a little bit of time thinking about what it was I did want to write (YA and Romance paranormals) and then called my agent and told her what I wanted to do. She was incredibly supportive, and though I hadn’t decided on a YA angle yet (I went dragons with my romance paranormals) she was totally behind me writing one. A few days later, she called me and asked what I thought of mermaids and from the second she said that, everything clicked.

I love mermaids, always have, so the idea of writing a dark mermaid paranormal appealed to me immediately. By mid-November I’d put together a proposal (synopsis and first eight chapters) for a book that I was calling Rip Tide and by Christmas my agent had sold the book J I spent January and February finishing the book, which had been renamed Tempest Rising, and turned it in March 1, 2010. After that, I had some mild revisions to do, and those were finished by June. By July, my editor was talking cover, and I got really lucky. Walker (my publisher) hired an outside artist and photo manipulator to do the cover, and she was wonderful. After that, it’s just been about waiting and waiting and waiting for today to finally happen.

Where did your interest in mermaids begin?

When I was very young (about three or so) my father brought home a VHS tape of Hans Christian Andersen’s version of The Little Mermaid (long before Disney made a version). Though it was really dark and ended with the little mermaid becoming sea foam instead of living HEA with her prince, I fell in love with the story the first time I saw it. From then on, I was all about mermaids. I watched the movie every day (and I mean every day) for three years. My mom swears to this day that she can recite the dialogue word for word. While I eventually outgrew my obsession with mermaids, the second my agent mentioned them I was right back where I started all those years ago …

Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming published and was there anything that was surprising to you?

I always try to dodge this question because I was one of the lucky ones. While Tempest Rising is my first YA, I also write romance novels under two different names. Though I’ve always wanted to be a writer, it wasn’t until 2006 that I really had the time to do something about it. In 2006, I wrote two books and then went about getting an agent. I actually sold the first book to Harlequin before I found an agent and within a month of getting my fabulous and amazing agent, she had sold the second book to NAL. And as I said above, I sold Tempest Rising to Walker within a few weeks of finishing the proposal. Needless to say, in the publication arena, I’ve been very blessed :)

Do you have a favorite line or two that you could share with us from Tempest Rising?

I do actually—usually any time Tempest’s talking to Kona. There’s a smart-ass quality to her that appeals to me at those times.

“So, you glow.”

He winced. “That isn’t exactly how I would describe it. More like a phosphorescent reaction to—“

“You glow.”

“All right. Yes. We glow. But don’t get too cocky—you look different too.”

“Yeah, like a drowned rat.”

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and what was the name of the first story you’ve ever written? Can you tell us what it was about?

I knew I wanted to be a writer almost from the beginning-- I always say since I knew that letters made words and words made sentences. The first story I remember writing was at the beginning of second grade. I don’t remember the title, but I remember I wrote it in aqua marker. It was ten pages long and had a prince, a rainbow and a mermaid …

What’s your favorite part about writing and being an author?

Besides being able to work in my pajamas? From the time I was little I’ve had different characters running around in my head, demanding to be let out. The thing I love most about writing is being able to give those characters free reign. I get to write an entire world for them as I tell their stories and I love everything about that. As for my favorite thing about being an author? It’s the people that I’ve met since I’ve become published. I have some of the best fans in the world, and I also have a close group of writer friends who I can’t imagine doing this without.

Do you have any must haves for writing? Place? Drinks, etc?

I’m actually a pretty low-maintenance writer (though I can hear my husband laughing at the idea of me being low-maintenance anything). If possible, I prefer a bottle of Perrier and my iPod, but that’s about it. I can write anywhere.

And lastly, are there any other projects you’re working on and what can you tell us about it?

My next YA book is a contemporary called The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams. I wrote it with two of my closest writing friends and it is due out January 2012. It’s the story of four small-town Texas girls who become international exchange students to search for life, love and Facebook fame. To document their kissing exploits, they form the IKC Facebook page and record points for kisses. Much to their shock, the International Kissing Club teaches them more about themselves and their friendship than they ever imagined possible.

My next YA on my own is a dystopian story tentatively titled Zero Day. It’s a modern-day Pandora story, but instead of opening a box, my Pandora opens an attachment and hearkens technological Armageddon. It’s due out in January 2012. And if things go well with Tempest Rising, the next Tempest book will be coming soon after that …

Tracy, I can’t say thank you enough for taking the time out to drop in today. You are more than welcome here anytime and we hope to see you again soon.

Thanks again for having me. You’ve got a terrific blog and I really appreciate you making time for me :)

Find Tracy Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook 

Don't forget to check out my review and while your at it, be sure to ENTER TO WIN your own ARC copy of Tempest Rising! Click ---> HERE <--- to enter today!

"Just Picked" is a feature here at A Life Bound By Books. This is a place where I'll be spotlighting new (and old) childrens book or picture books for parents and new readers. It's a place to talk about books for a younger group and to maybe help create a new generation of readers.

Title: Presenting... Tallulah
Author: Tori Spelling
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newtwon
Publisher: Aladdin, 32 Pages (September 21st 2010)
Age Range: 4-8
Order Online: Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: All her life, Tallulah has heard what she’s not supposed to do: Don’t get dirty…don’t talk loudly… don’t wear jeans like all the other kids. “You’re not that kind of girl,” everybody keeps telling her. Tallulah knows plenty about what she can’t do and what she shouldn’t do, about what kind of girl she isn’t. But it’s up to her to figure out what kind of girl she is. New York Times bestselling author Tori Spelling and illustrator Vanessa Newton bring us the story of a spunky little girl who, with the help of some special friends, is able to discover exactly who she is.

Review: 4 Stars - Presenting… Tallulah is a cute story with fabulous illustrations about a little girl who is told everything that she’s not supposed to do because she’s “Special” or “Not that kind of girl”. It’s as she makes her way through life at home and school that she starts to come out from behind all those “don’ts. She doesn’t want to be special; she just wants to be like all the other kids. It’s then that she makes a new friend, rescues a little pug puppy and changes the views of everyone around her.

I can see many parts of this story ringing true to Tori’s life and while most kids don’t go to school in a limo it’s fair to say that every kid can relate to being told to be quiet and even at times not get dirty.

I more than loved the illustrations. I felt that the combination of the message in the story and the art that I believe kids will love reading this book over and over again. I’m looking forward to sharing this with my niece soon, I know she’ll love it and it’ll become a favorite.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: Wake Unto Me
Author: Lisa Cach
Publisher: Speak, 304 Pages (March 31st 2011)
From: the Author & Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.

There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.

And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

Review: 3.5 Stars - Wake Unto Me by Young Adult debut author Lisa Cach was not only wonderfully written, but was interesting in the fact that it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. With characters far and wide and set over different places and different times it’s easy to see the love that Cach has for European history.

When outcast Caitlyn Monahan gets a chance to escape Oregon and head to a boarding school in France she jumps at the offer and heads off on what’ll be a life changing adventure. She’s lonely in both her family life and at school. I could understand the want to get away, start over and live out a dream in a school far, far away that just happens to be in a castle. I mean who wouldn’t want to do that? I liked how Caitlyn looked at the mysteries surrounding her and didn’t stop until she found answers.

She has nightmares and dreams that she has a hard time remembering, but writes and sketches the various things she has in her mind before they quickly fade away. When her dreams start to take place in the castles history she wants to learn more and find out what their true purpose is.

Raphael was interesting and I liked him from the first scene. I can honestly say that I felt he was the best part of the story, which is funny because I tend to not like anything historical very much. And I do have to say that not only was he interesting, but the time which he was from and that time in which he lived in the castle were what held my interest and were exciting and fascinating. I think this is further proof that I need to change my mind about historicals because I continue to surprise myself with liking them more and more.

Her two new friends were great. I was a bit upset at first with how her roommate Amalia treated her, but then she really grew on me with how she helped Caitlyn. And I was a fan of Naomi from the start. The two seemed to have a connection with how they each had trouble with sleeping and quickly to become friends over late nights and ghost stories.

The mystery was interesting and I felt that most of the questions I had were answered. There were a few things that I felt were left wide open, leaving me to question if this first book is set out to be a trilogy or series. Also, since I was reading an ARC copy I’m not sure if anything was changed much in the finished version.

All in all I was excited to read this title and I did in fact enjoy it. From the characters to the castle – which I think was a character in itself – to the mystery, writing and plot, Cach has taken a romantic ghost story and kicked it up a notch. It’s has so much to offer to fans of the YA paranormal genre and will quickly leave future readers looking for more from this author, just as I will be too.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen, 363 Pages (February 1st 2010)
From: purchased from Amazon

Synopsis: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Review: 3 Stars - The Iron King is the first installment in the Iron Fey series by Author Julie Kagawa. With highly entertaining characters and a new take on Faery, Kagawa takes readers throughout her unique world and adds in a further twist of Iron Fey.

When sixteen year old Meghan Chase’s world is turned upside down she’s forced to come to terms with many things. One main thing is who she really is and what that means to her future and of those around her. One of those people is her younger brother who is kidnapped and it’s up to Meghan and her best friend to get him back. She’s a character who takes a ton of risks, makes some wrong turns and a few wrong choices, but in the end is stronger then she realizes. Watching her figure out the strength she has, or even how much she’s willing to give up for those she loves makes her a heroine that grew and continues to grow on me.

Within the land of Faery, she’s going to need people on her side. One would be her best friend Robbie/Robin Goodfellow, or Puck. The other would be Ash who just happens to be a Prince of the Unseelie Court, to bad for Meghan that she’s part of the Seelie Court. Both of these guys have a lot to offer. Each is different – One’s a bad boy with good in him, the other is kind of a good guy who teeters on the edge of bad. I really enjoyed the banter between both boys, which was at times humorous and added so much to the story. They offer support, guidance, friendship, frustration and love to Meghan. Which one does she choose? Well, I’m not going to give that away.

Another character that needs to make an appearance in this review would have to be Grimalkin. He’s a cat with an attitude and knows more than he ever lets on. It’s part of his kind of “fae” and his personality that after reading I just couldn’t see him any other way. Kagawa has written the personality of a cat exactly how I could almost envision any house cat acting… even my own. It’s bloody brilliant!

Kagawa’s Fae, and the world she has created leads the way to her characters and the story. She has given us a taste of the new Iron Fey series with the first book and has left the door wide open as to what’s to come next for her characters old and new. While it did start out a bit slow, the middle and the end picked up the pace and made me eager for any future books in this series… and anything else that Kagawa writes. If you like a good story filled with Fae and magic, then I would recommend you go out and pick up this title and the next two books in the series soon. Trust me; you’ll thank me later when you’re able to read each book back to back. Review for The Iron Daughter coming next week.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

Title: Playing Hurt
Author: Holly Schindler
Publisher: Flux, 312 Pages (March 8th 2011)
From: the Blog Tour, Thanks!

Synopsis: Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

Review: 4 Stars - Playing Hurt is author Holly Schindler’s sophomore title and though I haven’t had a chance to read her first book – A Blue So Dark – I was excited to give her second book a read. Her writing flowed beautifully, creating realistic characters and teen angst that easily made this a book I’d recommend to others.

When a sports injury leaves Chelsea unable to do what she loves, she’s forced to see and do things totally differently. What she used to know of her life is no longer and she’s struggling with many different issues as a result. She has a loving boyfriend, who’s the guy all the girls want and Gabe goes out of his way to make sure she knows she’s the same person she’s always been and always will be. Their relationship is sweet and honest, on his part but confused on hers. It was easy to understand her confusion due to so many drastic changes that happened so quickly. I mean teens go through so much as it is and then to have such a huge part of who you are taken away, as she did would mess with anyone’s head.

Schindler does a great job writing the normal trials of teens and then mixes in some of the added stresses many face day to day….

When Chelsea’s family goes away on their summer vacation she has no idea that her dad has set her up with a trainer for their time away. Her family knows she’s hurting emotionally and they’re as much at a loss as how to heal as she is. They just want her to feel as normal as she can again. So through this “boot camp” she meets her trainer Clint, who is dealing with his own issues. He’s not much older than her, but he does have some scars that are in need of healing.

Clint is one of those rugged all around good guys. He helps his parents, works a couple of summer jobs and goes to school. He just can’t get over something that happened in his past… just as Chelsea has. Through the alternating character points of view – which, by the way, I love more and more – we get a better sense of just how both are and get a better feel for just how deep their scars run. I loved Clint, plain and simple. Schindler did an amazing job writing both the female AND the male side of teens and their physical along with emotional turmoil.

There were some parts of the story that will leave people with some issues. One major thing that I’ll only quickly mention is teen sex. While there were some extremely intimate moments throughout the story, I stand by what I said above in this review. That Schindler has written a realistic story and with a realistic story comes real emotions and issues that teens face. Very important to know - please understand - and I do need to stress, that while there are intimate moments between characters that there are no actual sex scenes in this title. Not all sex (if just mentioned or alluded to) in YA titles work, but for me, as a reader who loves the YA genre, as long as it’s true to the story and setting, I see nothing wrong with it.

All in all, I am now a huge fan of Schindlers work. With characters and writing such as this, who couldn’t find much to enjoy? I know am looking forward to her next book and I’m excited to check out A Blue So Dark soon. Happy Reading.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.