Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates

Shades of Atlantis

Carol Oates

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: Paperback 307

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn’t quite fit in…in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona’s small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous…and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It’s there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her – secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

Yet another great publication from Omnific! The originality of the plot, characters, and the world that Carol created complete sucked me in from the beginning. I am glad that I got this debut in just in time for my debut challenge and am glad to say that it is easily one of my top books for this year. Carol’s creativity of the Celtic myths was just what those of us who are stretching our creative writing brains need… and those of us who simply love to get swept away in a world completely believable and tremendously imaginative.

My cousin and best friend are red heads and both have often said to me that there aren’t many good books out there with strong red headed females. Well Manda and Rachel, this one is for you (and all you other strong red heads out there)! Triona is the kind of girl we all secretly hope to be. She lost her parents at a young age and went with her younger brother to live with her aunt and uncle. She has a determined personality and a past that she is slowly coming to realize is far more complicated than she could have ever imagined. When the hottie Caleb moves into town, Triona doesn’t think much of it because she considers herself plain but is completely shocked when he shows interest in her. As they fall in love seemingly immediately, they quickly find that their destinies are more entwined than they could have ever imagined.

Readers will find themselves traveling from America to London all through Triona’s eyes and living right with her as she finds out more about her past, her parents and her future. Seeing as I have never been to many of the places Triona mentions, I found that Carol did an amazing job describing even the little things so that I could (quite literally) see it through Triona’s eyes. I love that Triona had two equally impressive men vying for her attention who were vastly different. It was easy to fall in love with all of the characters throughout the novel and feel the raw emotions they were dealing with.

This wonderful debut needs to join the rest of the amazing books you have on your shelf… and not just as a decoration! Carol’s creativity of a brand new world, description of her characters, and enticement within the plot will have you sucked in from the very beginning and you won’t put it down until you are done. Then, if you are like me, you will send emails begging her to write more!

For more about Carol, visit her HERE.

Purchase your copy of this amazing novel HERE.

Even better... fill out THIS FORM for a chance to win a copy of Shades of Atlantis of your very own! Good luck and happy reading!

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: Hardcover, 454 pages

Publisher: Philomel (October 19, 2010)

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

For those who know me well, you know I am not a big fan of werewolves and the like. With that being said, I was excited about this book. I had heard great things about it and was definitely interested. I can now amend my statement to say, “I only like Andrea’s wolves.” She has done an amazing job creating her own idea and world of wolves. In hearing her speak this week, it was refreshing to hear her say that she didn’t like werewolves so she created her own ideas and worlds. I love that.

The story of Calla Tor is one that will resonate with many. She is searching for herself and trying to understand what she is really meant to do in a world where everything has been spelled out for her. Her life hasn’t been her own since she was born and she had grown to accept that fact; she didn’t necessarily like it, but she accepted it. When Shay Doran came into town though, her whole being was thrown off. She knew that something was pulling them together and being able to see how she tries to work through the history she has been told and the knowledge that she finds proves to be a little more than she can handle.

I loved this story from start to finish and the originality of the world completely sucked me in from the beginning. So many times authors take what someone else has done and try to tweak it to make it their own. I love that Andrea didn’t do that… she just created it the way that she wanted it. The plot and characters were beautifully written and leave you waiting for more as you’re reading and especially when you get to the end of this wonderful debut novel. The second installment of this series, Wolfsbane, will be out in July 2011 and I am so ready for it!

Check out Andrea’s site HERE for more information about her and the series!

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Halo

Alexandra Adornetto

Reading Level: Young Adult

# of Pages: Hardback 496 pages

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (August 31, 2010)

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings.

But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

My students will tell you that I am in LOVE with this cover. I talk about it all the time. Sometimes we, as readers, are left wondering what it has to do with the book… but that is not the case with this one. The cover is what makes us want to pick a book up and this one has done its job. I even have some of my students who went to buy it because they loved the cover too!

I was amazed and intrigued throughout this book with the concept of angels coming to earth to do their part in ridding it of evil even in the smallest ways. The story was beautifully written and kept me on my toes throughout the read. Beth and Xavier’s love is pure and not a product of society. I love that. There is no pressure from them to be the couple that everyone wants and expects them to be because they have found love in the purest form and refuse to conform to society. The introduction of evil causes great problems in their peaceful existence, but they overcome it in the best possible way.

I went into this book knowing a few things… it was about and angel, it was written by a 17 year old and it was part of a series. I came away from this book loving the story, being amazed and inspired by this 17 year old, and beyond ready for the next one. I think that Alexandra wins for making me drool for the next one more than any book I have read recently!! This one is going strait onto my classroom shelf and I guarantee it will not be on there long. Great read!!

Here is a great interview with Alexandra that lets us know more about her and her writing... check it out!

Blog Tour: I Now Pronounce You Somone Else by Erin McCahan

Genre: YA Romance

Pages: Hardcover 272 pages

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (June 1, 2010)

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birthday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

I read this book in one day and immediately wanted to go back and read it again. Bronwen was completely sarcastic (which I relate to oh so well) and reminded me a lot of myself in some ways. She had this idea of what family was but couldn’t find it until Jared came along. It was when he did come along that she got the family that she wanted and realized that she had no clue who she was.

I remember those early days of being in love and thinking that you are ready to spend the rest of your life with the person only to look at them and think, “Really? FOREVER?!” Sometimes it does work out and other times it doesn’t. I love how McCahan wrote the characters of Bronwen and Jared and the relationship they share. They have the whirlwind romance and think they have so much in common, only to find out that maybe they really don’t. They are both at different points in their lives and believe that when they get married things will even out. (Those of us who are married are now laughing hysterically)

McCahan did a wonderful job writing believable characters in a believable situation. The plot was well developed and showed the growth of both characters all while keeping them true to who they are as individuals and as a couple. They exploration of family dynamics and exploration of self were also refreshing and very well written. Readers were able to see who Bronwen was and were not left wondering how everything turned out in the end. I get so perturbed when we read these “Find Yourself” novels and we never find out if they learned from it all… McCahan did a great job of letting the readers know.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this novel and am sure that so many others will. It was refreshing, enjoyable and a very fun read. I love that it took me back to first loves, exploring all that those relationships entailed and reminded me of what it was really like in the early stages of dating and making a relationship work. I do have one request.... sequel PLEASE?! :)

Check out my fellow Jenny's blog (Wonderous Reads) HERE with her Q&A with Erin!!

Visit Erin HERE to find out more about her and her books.

Happy reading all!!