Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Review: The Raven Boys

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Format: Hardcover, 408 pages
Genre: YA, Magic, Adventure
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Published by: Scholastic
Rating: 3.5/5

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters.Indigo | Book Depository

Synopsis
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

My Thoughts
I originally gave this book four stars, but after finishing the book and sitting on it for a few days I decided to change it to 3.5 stars instead. Why 3.5? Well first let me you that when I read the synopsis I was very intrigued. Magic, fantasy and mystery are all up my ally and I have read Maggie's work before and loved it. But this novel left me a little disappointed.

I found the beginning to be very slow, I kept waiting for the interesting part to start, but it took over 150 pages to get there. I found that there were too many characters to follow, and I believe there were around 6 or 7 and I found it hard to keep track of all of them. At times I felt myself confused as to what Ley Lines actually were, and what their importance was. But that became a little clearer as the story progressed.

I found myself really attaching myself to Blue's character because she was such a eccentric person and her story line was the most interesting out of everyone. The other characters added intrigue, especially Adam. His story was heartbreaking at times and I loved the relationship he developped with Blue throughout the book.

Overall I enjoyed the book, at least the later half, and I am intrigued as to what happens later in the series. I have a feeling that these characters will only get more complex and I hope that the next installment will capture my attention right from the beginning. But unfortunately I cannot say the same for this one.

Review: Yesterday

Title: Yesterday
Author: c.k kelly martin
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Adventure, Mystery
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Published by: Random House
Source: NetGalley ebook received from Publisher for honest review
Rating: 2/5

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters. Indigo | Book Depository

Synopsis
THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas's life. Until that world starts to crumble.

NOW: It's 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her father's death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories feel so foggy? When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can't get him out of her head. She's sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they've never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be numbered. Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place they really came from.

My Thoughts
I went into this book with high expectations, I had heard great things about it and the premise sounded extremely interesting. The book opens with a prologue that grabs you and once I read that part I thought this is going to be great! But unfortunately this novel fell flat for me.

For most of this book I felt lost and more than a little confused because the story jumped around more than I would have liked. At times I felt like there were three different stories going on at once. The prologue depicted a dystopian society that captured my imagination, the middle of the story depicted a contemporary setting that left me a little flat and then there was the fantastical and mysterious element at the end of the book. The end of the book also had a time travel element that came out of nowhere and made me feel like I missed something while I was reading. I just felt confused as to the type of book I was reading, and the mixture of genres threw me off.

For most of the book I was waiting for more character development, I really liked that Freya created at the beginning of the book. But once a love interest was introduced, they all disappeared, and they were hardy mentioned throughout the rest of the book. I felt a little cheated when it came to certain relationships in the novel. I felt that they started very fast and yet I felt no personal connection between these characters. Yes they say they have feelings for each other, but I didn't feel it as a reader. I needed to be more convinced of their chemistry.

Overall I was disappointed in this novel. I think it had great potential to be a great dystopian YA novel, but the time travel element and the inclusion of contemporary YA was a little too many genres in one place for me.

Exceprt+ giveaway of Rise of the Infected!

Releases October 31st

River Black lives in a world where only the strong survive. The earth has changed to a brutal climate and the survivors will do anything to live. The eastern continents unleash a biochemical weapon on their enemies, and directly onto River’s world. She will have to leave her quiet existence in the forest and venture to the slaver fortress and further beyond, into the deepest part of the surviving cities. If she doesn’t die first, or rise infected…

Excerpt:

Aspen was the first to speak, all of us still slightly in shock at what we had just witnessed.

“We have to clear out the house. I don’t know if all of them left, or if some of them got in, but we have to know for sure,” he said, the urgency in his voice clear.

“I’ll take upstairs,” I responded immediately, wanting to get a familiar perch from above, and recalculate our current situation.

The fire still burned in the pit in the entryway, illuminating the three of us as I walked up the curved stairs. I quickly lost sight of them, the wall turning smoothly into a hall. The hallway was covered in shadows, the dying embers of fire pits casting light through the open doors of the rooms.

“Hello,” I called out weakly.

I didn’t like the idea of going blindly into each room, possibly ambushed at any moment. It would be better to draw them out into the hall, and cut them down as they ran towards me.

I waited, my body tense and fluid at the same time, ready to spring if needed. But nothing came. I spoke louder a second time, my ears straining as my voice traveled down the hall. Once again nothing came out of the rooms and I walked forward, entering each one and searching every corner, my rifle always ready.

A few were bedrooms, which I frowned upon. It was a bad omen to have bedrooms aboveground. It was obvious that the townspeople had become lazy. I entered one more room that was a study, a desk crammed into the corner, covered in books. Even in the most stressful situation, I found myself becoming excited at the plethora of reading material that was before me. It was rare to see one book, let alone dozens.

The last thing in the hallway was the stairs leading to the final floor. Once again I walked the smooth curve of the stairwell, the stone giving off a sense of protection, although it would do nothing to help me if I was attacked by the infected.

It was dark down the long hallway, only one room at the far end giving any light, the rest of the doors closed. Once again I called out and waited, keeping my eyes on the farthest room. I was greeted only by the sound of my own voice.

Taking a breath, I pushed open the closest door, holding my gun out in front of me. I knew the moment I stepped in the room that I was not alone, there was a presence in the room, a presence in turmoil. I could almost hear the chaotic thoughts, trapped and angry. I knew when I heard the low animalistic growl, that I had walked into the room of one of the infected.

My shoes slipped on the floor as I walked towards the sound, a trail of blood beneath me, as though someone had dragged themselves to the door and shut it. I walked around the bed towards the continued hissing, expecting the creature to come sprinting at me. But it remained in the corner. I walked closer, and finally saw white gleaming eyes as it stared at me, a hideous grin on its face.

It was a woman, or what was left of a woman.

These rooms were bare compared to the extravagant rooms below. I could only imagine the ones belowground. Logic would say that they belonged to servants, possibly even slaves. It was clear that even with the thick window covering the rooms would quickly get hot during the extreme heat. It would be torturous to be forced to live up here. On a beautiful day like this, they had all probably had their windows open, the first to succumb to the plague that had been dropped upon us.

I almost tripped over the two severed legs that were littered on the floor. It looked like someone had taken an axe to them, and the brutality of the scene shocked me. Instead of dying, the woman’s wounds had almost healed, the blood stopping its flow.

The growling increased as the woman dragged herself by her arms towards me. Her mouth had started the rabid chomping that seemed a telltale trait of the infected. Bloody fingers reached for me, just as I lifted the rifle once again and placed it to the woman’s temple, pulling the trigger with a quickly flick of my finger.

I took a closer look at the carnage around me, the bloody legs and the limp body of the infected woman. “Yup, looks like a Zombie to me.”

I wiped the blood from my boots in the hallway, leaving a creepy trail of red footprints. There was one more room before the open one at the end, and my hairs rose as I pushed open the next door. I was greeted by silence, the room empty. Even the shutters were closed, and from the dust on the furniture I could tell it had been some time since anyone had been here.

I moved back out into the hall and walked towards the last room, the light was not coming from a burning pit but from an open window, the sun shining into the room. My trigger finger tensed once again, concentrating on everything in front of me. The first thing I saw was the bed, covered in blood. Another servant was there, axe marks evident on her body.

But this one was clearly dead, its head lying a few feet from the body.

“I doubt you will be getting up,” I said, and that’s when I realized there was someone else in the room.

It was another woman, her hair dark and her clothes fine. She was not some servant, but a mistress of the house. She was young, not much older than I was, and she carried an axe that dripped blood onto the floor as she stared at me.

Look for Rise of the Infected

October 31^st 2012

To learn more about the author visit moniquemorgan.com

Welcome to the reality of River Black

Here is a chance to win signed swag and a free e-copy of Rise of the Infected. A special thank you goes out to all the blogs participating in the Cover Reveal Blog Tour. Rise will be released October 31^st 2012.

The Giveaway

Win signed Rise of the Infected swag: signed cover photo and signed bookmark

Win signed cover photos of all of Monique Morgan’s books: Pursuer, Dreamer, and Rise of the Infected.

Win a e-copy of Rise of the Infected when it is released October 31^st 2012, and all signed swag!

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Abandon Cover Reveal!

I want to thank AToMR Blog Tours for hosting this event!

Without further ado, here is the cover of Abandon(Possession #3) by Elana Johnson!

Expected Release: June 2013

The Possession series follows the main protagonist Vi, as she struggles to cope with the world she lives in. The Thinkers have brainwashed everyone around her, but she is determined to think for herself. Don't forget to pick up Possession and Surrender, the first two books in the series, if you haven't already read them!

Abandon description:

seduced by power,

broken by control,

and consumed by love...

Vi has made her choice between Jag and Zenn, and the Resistance may have suffered for it. But with the Thinkers as strong as ever, the rebels still have a job to do. Vi knows better than anyone that there's more at stake than a few broken hearts.

But there is a traitor among them...and the choices he makes could lead to the total destruction of everything Vi has fought for.

Vi, Jag, and Zenn must set their problems aside for the Resistance to have any hope of ending the Thinkers' reign. Their success means everything...and their failure means death.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16032249-abandon

Isn't is gorgeous? This series has had some of my favorite covers of all time and this one certainly does not disappoint! Make sure you let me know what you think of it!

ALSO: Elana is running a Pinterest contest for the cover. She wants to get 500 pins (or repins) over the next two days. If we can get that many, she'll pick someone who pinned the cover to win a $50 Amazon gift card. It's so easy to do this. All you have to do is click this PIN IT button and select one of your boards to pin the cover to. Elana has done everything else!

Don't have a Pinterest board yet? Put it on your Tumblr page. Your Facebook page. Your twitter stream. Elana will count those too! Just be sure to tag her (@ElanaJ on twitter, Possession by Elana Johnson on Facebook).

The Crown of Embers

Title: The Crown of Embers
Author: Rea Carson
Format: Hardcover, 410 pages
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Published by: HarperCollins Canada
Source: ARC received from Publisher for honest review
Rating: 4/5

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters.Indigo | Book Depository

Synopsis
In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

My Thoughts

Crown of Embers is the sequel to the very popular Girl of Fire and Thorns that was released last year. I was very impressed with this sequel, especially since I loved the first book so much. I went into this book a little hazy on the details of the ending of Girl of Fire and Thorns, but I was surprised when I found myself remembering as I read. Rea Carson did a lovely job of retelling the events of the first book without overpowering the reader with facts. One of my largest pet peeves when reading a series is when an author bombards the reader with facts of the previous books and forgets to grab the readers’ attention through the storyline. This book grabbed me from the very beginning.

The action start right from the start and we begin to remember why Elisa is such a loveable and charismatic character. Elisa has the ability to seem very humble and innocent in the face of situations that are extremely dangerous and life threatening. It is a commendable character trait and is admired of her character. I absolutely loved the growth Elisa experienced while I read the book. She went from a scared young Queen to a woman of strong motives and a lot of independence. All of these are characteristics that weren’t as strong in the first book.

When I finished Girl of Fire and Thorns I thought that the love story would stop there because of the way the book ended, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a new love interest and I felt myself liking this match up a lot more than previous matches. This time around there was more sexual tension and I loved their relationship throughout the entire book.

I found the ending to be a little predictable but that didn’t take away from my overall thoughts on the book. The end solidified that there will be a third book and because of the ending I can tell you that it will be a great read. I am very excited to see where these characters end up in the third novel and I cant wait.

I will give a warning to readers that this series would be classified as high fantasy. Meaning that the world that Rea Carson built is very complex, extensive and a little complicated, especially regarding the terminology. On many occasions I found myself confused with all the names of everything and the countries themselves. But after a while I got used to it :)

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of Tamora Peirce and J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Review: Embrace & Entice

Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Format: Hardcover, 369 pages
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Angels
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: 4/5

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters.Indigo | Book Depository

Synopsis
It starts with a whisper: "It's time for you to know who you are..."

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It's a battle Violet doesn't want, but she lives her life by two rules: don't run and don't quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden.
LINCOLN: He's been Violet's one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he's Grigori--part human, part angel--and that he was training her for an ancient battle between Angels and Exiles.
PHOENIX: No one knows where his loyalties lie, yet he's the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln's lies. In a world of dark and light, he is all shades of gray.
Two sides: Angel or Exile.
Two guys: Lincoln or Phoenix.
The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

My Thoughts
I can admit that it took me a long time to pick up this book. Maybe it was because I was getting tired of the angel plot line, or maybe it was because I had too many other books on my radar. I really don't know. But when I saw that Embrace was our in paperback I knew this was my shot, and I am so glad I did.

From the very beginning I was hooked. Not only was violet a great protagonist--she was strong, independent and extremely emotional--but she was also the one that introduces us to the secondary characters, who in my opinion are just as important. All of the Secondary characters were written very well, one of my favorites was Steph, because of her relationship with Violet. From the very beginning their relationship seems real and genuine, which is hard to write, especially when there is a paranormal element thrown into the mix. I thought Steph brought a realistic element to Violets character and the crazy world she lives in, especially near the end.

Violet and Lincoln's complicated relationship began right from the beginning and I will say that I started out as Team Lincoln, only because I loved the way her looked at Violet and the fact that her whole body would react accordingly. I felt it through the words for christ sake, and it added a very good element to the story. They were steamy and sexy and I loved their relarionship.

When I read a book I always like to feel the emotions along with each character and Embrace did exactly that. The inclusion of the love triangle was the subject of a lot of those emotions. Adding it in this early could have been disastrous, especially when you are trying to link two characters to together very fact at the beginning of the books, but I liked it. Phoenix was a very interesting character. I really didn't know what to think of him throughout the novel. He was cocky, and a little bit conceded, but it seemed to work for him. At times I loved him and then hated him at the same time because I knew how Violet felt about Lincoln, but his adition added an extra layer to an already amazing story.

Overall I thought Embrace was an amazing start to a series, it was suspenseful, emotional and fast paced. Its story line was extremely original and I loved everything about it. I gave it 4 Stars because I think the series has room to grow and get even better than it already is.

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Title: Entice
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Format: Hardcover, 369 pages
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Angels
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: 4/5

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters.Indigo | Book Depository

Synopsis
Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengeance of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

Enticed is the second compelling book in The Violet Eden Chapters.

My Thoughts
I was lucky enough to read Entice right after I finished Embrace, so the story was very fresh in my mind. The way Embrace ended made me extremely interested in the direction of the series and Entice did not disapoint.

We start off with Violet trying to come to grips with Phoenix's betrayal and what it means for Violet and her realtionship with Lincoln. Add in the mystery of the Grigori List that must be found in order to save all Grigori, and you have a very action pact novel.

My favorite part of the book was Violet and Lincoln's relationship, especially when Magda was put into the mix. I felt everything that Violet felt, and I wanted to scream at Lincoln to open his eyes and pay attention to what he was doing to her. The further Lincoln pushed her away, the more emotion I feltcoming from Violet. And that made me read even faster because I wanted to see the outcome.

I loved that Phoenix made a recurring appearance in this sequel, he added to the misery as well as a catalyst for Violets pent up emotions. In this book it was very clear that the two of them would always have a connection and yet I loved that Violet tried everything to break that bond but ultimately ended up making things worse.

The change in scenery was a wlcome change for me. The trip to Jordan added a Biblical element that I really enjoyed. I am not one for relgion, and I really dislike when a book pushes a relgion onto the reader, but this was different. It added a sense of mystery and intrugue. It was never overpowering and was done very tastefully.

Overall I loved Entice more than Embrace, partially because all pf the characters grew over time and I saw a different side of each of them. I thought the content was more mature and it dealt with more emotions that you don't normally see in Young Adult novels. The suspense was palpitating at times and I felt my emotions go into overdrive, especially at the end of the novel. I know for sure that I cannot wait for the next installment of Violets journey and I just hope Lincoln continues to tear at my heartstrings because I will always be Team Lincoln.

September Releases Giveaway!

Pick a book from the September Releases Below and you could win a copy!

If there is a title you would like that is not on this list and is released in September then just let me know and I will order it for you!

The Rules and Regulations:
-Ends on Sunday, September 30, 2012
-Will be using The Book Depository for shipping so International Residence may enter. Just as long as the website ships to you!
-Total Prize value will depend upon the book title
-I will not be responsible for any lost or damaged products

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Waiting on Wednesday [7]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read!

This week my pick is....

Touched by Corrine Jackson!

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll becoming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

This is Book One in the Touched trilogy.

I am very excited about this book, I have been following Corrine Jackson's rise and I am very happy that her work is getting recognized. This novel sounds amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

On Sale Date: November 27, 2012

Nine Lives(Highland Home Series #5) Excerpt+Author Interview+Giveaway!

I felt a familiar ripple and knew it was too late for me. I saw her, so tiny, so perfect and I knew that I could die content. When Xavier admitted his love for me, I was complete.

Kerry Cote's story may sound familiar, but it's not. Sure there are a lot of unmarried, pregnant teenagers in the world, but how many of them know the child they carry is a miracle? How many have a vampire body guard? How many are alone because the mother of us all and the father of all vampires has a jealous daughter who covets the baby's father? Kerry must survive to bring her child into the world, for if she fails, humanity may not survive.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

"Oh my God," Mairin exclaimed. "I look like a frosted cupcake."

I poked my head around the doorway of my sister's bedroom and burst out laughing. My normally tom-boyish sister looked like someone had airbrushed a Vogue model over her. I could still see Mairin under the makeup, hair and the far-too-flouncy sparkling white gown, but I had to squint.

"Don't laugh at me, brat," she said. "How did you let me let Mom talk me into this?"

I held up my hands. "Hey, don't blame me for this one, sis. This is all you. You let Mom go to the bridal shop with you and Mathias' credit card. You knew she was going to pick something like this."

Truthfully, the gown was gorgeous. It had an empire waist and a very short train, but it also had so much lace and so many sparkles, I was surprised my sister wasn't currently shredding the gown in an effort to get it off.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit. I cannot do this," she said. "Nope. I won't. I should have insisted on the stupid town hall and the stupid civil union, but no, I let Mom and Mathias bully me into this." She waved at herself.

"Mairin," my mother said, slipping past me into my sister's room. "You look so beautiful. I knew that dress would be gorgeous on you once the alterations were finished."

I smiled at my sister over our mother's shoulder and bolted for my room. The glare which followed my retreat nearly burned. Mairin would complain, but I knew she'd never have taken anything away from our mother. Especially not something as important as a big wedding with all the trimmings.

Of course, her willingness to be on display for the town in a gown that was anything but her own choice was really my sister in a nutshell. No matter what it did to her, if it meant one of us was happier, Mairin would do it. Take my bridesmaid dress. The wedding planner Mathias hired to help Mairin keep her sanity had freaked out when Mairin showed her the dress, but my sister had insisted that the pale colors the wedding planner wanted would look awful on me. So instead of joining the frosted cupcake brigade, I was wearing the deep, forest green, knee-length dress my sister had chosen for me. She could have picked some hideous, flowing monstrosity so I wouldn't overshadow her, but had instead picked the dress she knew I'd like.

I was pulling that dress over my head when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Tawnya called from downstairs. I knew she'd been ready for us to leave for the wedding for at least half an hour, but after the tenuous truce she and Mairin had finally formed following their estrangement last winter, Tawnya was keeping her opinions to herself. I, on the other hand, wasn't. If they weren't ready by the time I got my shoes on, I'd shove Mairin down the stairs.

"Hey Tawnya. The other camp is getting anxious and sent me to see what was keeping the bride." Xavier's voice drifted up the stairs to me and I smiled. In spite of some pretty big disagreements they'd had in the past, Mathias had asked Xavier to be his best man. Xavier, always looking for ways to improve the political climate of the supernatural community, and because both Mairin and I had begged him, had accepted. It hadn't been until the tuxedo fitting that he'd truly begun to regret saying yes. The complaints over the fittings had been epic and amusing as hell.

I slipped on my sandals and ran back to Mairin's room. "The natives are getting restless. We have to go."

"I heard him," Mairin said. "Mom, go get in the car with Tawnya. Kerry can help me down the stairs in this monstrosity...um, dress."

Mom kissed us both before heading down to meet up with Tawnya. I could see her eyes were already beginning to shine with tears and knew that before the end of the ceremony, our mother would be a blubbering mess.

"She's going to cry all day, isn't she?" Mairin said.

"Probably. You're her baby and you're getting married."

"Yeah, wait until it's your turn, brat." Mairin clasped a thin gold chain around her neck and sighed. "That's it. No more delays."

"Don't you want to marry Mathias?" I asked.

"Sure I do," she said. "But for all intents and purposes, I'm nineteen. Girls don't get married this young unless they have to. You know most of the town is going to be watching me to see if I'm pregnant."

"That's why you and Mathias are going on a long honeymoon. So you don't have to worry about being watched." I held Mairin's arm as we carefully navigated the stairs. "Besides, admit it. You're dying to see all the snooty jerks jockeying for position to catch your bouquet."

Mairin laughed. "I'll aim for you, if you want me to."

Xavier looked up at me from the foot of the stairs. I knew he'd heard Mairin and my heart thundered in my chest. He'd already asked me to marry him more than once and I'd told him no. Not no forever, but no for right then. Looking at him in his tuxedo, the tiny, shy smile I loved best lifting just the corners of his mouth, I realized while I still might not want to get married tomorrow, I was ready to say yes to him.

"I'll take my chances," I said. "But I'll make sure I'm right up front."

The wedding planning crew had lined the driveway leading to Mathias' house with lights and continued with them along the path leading to the stretch of beach behind the house. I went with Mairin through the front door after sending Xavier around the back to keep Mathias out of the house now that we were there. For a vampire, he was impressively superstitious. I'd always thought being one of the monsters the superstitions protected us from might make him immune to them, but apparently not. He hadn't even stayed at the house with Mairin last night because he believed it was bad luck to spend the night before their wedding together. Personally, I thought that his leaving had more to do with trying to maintain his sense of decorum than with bad luck. Mairin had told me that despite her less fragile state of being, Mathias had refused to engage in physical intimacy with her until after the wedding. If the level of aggression and annoyance displayed by them both was any indication, their sexual frustration had reached a boiling point. Mathias had stayed away so he wouldn't be tempted to break his own rules. It was actually kind of funny that Mairin was certain the town assumed she was pregnant when I knew she was still a virgin. I giggled and Mairin looked at me.

"What's funny, sis?" she asked.

"Just that you're worried those people out there think you're knocked up and I know there's about a million reasons why that isn't even remotely possible."

I ducked when Mairin threw the pillow from the sofa at me.

"Ha ha," she said. "Keep rubbing it in, sis and I'll tell mom that when you stay at Elise's house, you sleep in the same bed with Xavier."

"You wouldn't."

Mairin grinned. "Watch me," she said.

Gino stepped into the room and bowed low. "It is time, little queen," he said.

I carefully kissed Mairin's cheek. "I love you," I said. "Be happy, sis."

"Love you, too, Kerr," she said, taking Gino's arm. He led her to where Mom and Tawnya waited in the kitchen. Xavier stepped up to take my arm.

"You look gorgeous," he said.

"You're looking pretty handsome, yourself." I smiled as he preened.

"You think? I hate the monkey suit, but it doesn't look that bad."

"Mom, if you cry now, you'll ruin your makeup for the photos." Mairin's tone was irritated.

"I can't help it. My baby's getting married."

"And living not five miles from your house. Get a grip, Mom."

Laughing at my family's antics, Xavier laid his hand over mine and led me out onto the deck. The music started and I gasped. There was a silk runner that joined the deck to the area on the beach where the wedding was taking place. Chairs were set up in groups around a central point where Mathias stood, his back to the ocean and his eyes closed against the sinking sun. Only those of us who really knew him knew Mathias wasn't steeling himself to get married, but rather he was enjoying the sun. He must have heard the whisper of the sand under the silk runner because he opened his eyes and smiled at both me and Xavier as we walked toward him. Xavier and I split at the altar and we both turned to watch my sister make her way across the sand. The gown that had looked like too much in her bedroom was perfect as the setting sun caught the sequins and crystals embedded in the fabric, making it appear as though Mairin were glowing as she walked. Mom and Tawnya each held one of Mairin's elbows lightly, escorting her to meet her groom.

At the altar, Mom and Tawnya stopped with Mairin and waited for the minister to speak the first words of the ceremony.

"Who gives this woman in marriage?" he asked.

Tawnya's strong voice rang over the roar of the waves and the gasps of the guests. "Her mother and I do."

I saw Mairin sigh with relief before kissing first Tawyna's and then Mom's cheeks. I knew she'd worried that Tawnya would make some attempt to stop this wedding, but since they'd mended their relationship, Tawnya's acceptance of vampires as a whole had improved significantly. Mairin stepped away from Mom and Tawnya--away from our family--and took the hand Mathias offered her. The look which passed between them was so deeply reflective of their love that I heard many of the audience members gasp yet again. I hoped the photographer had gotten that shot. I knew I wanted it for myself.

The rest of the ceremony progressed as any other wedding I'd ever attended until the minister reached the part in the vows where normally he would have said "until death do us part." I knew Mathias and Mairin had convinced the clergyman to change it to "for all time," but the sound of my sister's voice saying the words was something I hadn't expected would hurt quite as much as it did.

I saw Xavier mouth, "I love you," and realized I must have done something to show my pain. I was so afraid of losing my sister to this new world she'd found herself thrown into and had now married into. She kept promising me she wouldn't disappear, but I knew that someday I'd die and she wouldn't. We'd lose each other one way or another and I wasn't ready for that. She might be mostly invulnerable, but our family's penchant for attracting the biggest and baddest supernatural monsters meant she wasn't invincible. I could still lose her, as I nearly had so many times in the past few years, and I wasn't ready for that.

"I am pleased to present to you all, the newly wedded Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Auer." The applause snapped me out of my thoughts. Mairin flashed me a wink before leading the procession to the reception tent.

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Author Interview

Where do you call home?

I live and work in York, PA. Though I lived in North Carolina for twelve years, this part of PA has been home for me since I was three.

What is your book about?

The Highland Home Series is an epic saga encompassing the lives of several families. It’s more than just the love stories of those people. It includes what becomes the battle between good and evil.

Do you have plans for a new book?

Definitely. With the release of Nine Lives, I still have one more book in the HIghland Home Series and several other, non-related books in the works.

What inspired you to write your book?

The Highland Home Series started as a possible collaborative work with a friend. The friend didn’t have time to work on it and I couldn’t hold the story back, so I wrote the rough drafts of the first six books over the course of a few months. I’ve been working on improving those drafts ever since.

Would you like to be contacted by readers to do book reviews?

Absolutely. Readers are encouraged to contact me any time at sharirichardson@astralplanepublishing.com

How did you come up with the title and cover design?

The covers of the Highland Home Series are inspired by the characters. I was very luck to have found some excellent stock photos of models who fit my images of the characters. From there, I’ve kept the covers simple so the stories can speak for themselves.

Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life?

Oh absolutely. Many of my friends and family would easily recognize themselves and me in these characters.

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?

I’ve been lucky enough to meet several of the authors I most enjoy, but I would still love to meet Stephen King someday.

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcovers?

As much as I love the feel of a book, I must admit the geek in me adores eBooks. I love the fact that I can whip out my phone or iPod and read any time.

Have you ever read a book more than once?

A better question might be “which books have you only read once.” I usually reread books, sometimes several times.

Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version?

Water for Elephants. It was an amusing way to spend two hours in the theatre and the book differed very little from the film, making reading the book after seeing the film redundant rather than revealing.

What book are you currently reading?

I have several books open on my ereader programs right now. I’m rereading The Stand right now.

What book do you know that you will never read?

James Patterson, Big Bad Wolf. I love the Alex Cross books, but after reading about two chapters of that one, I put it down and never picked it up again. I’ve read books that came after it in the series and haven’t missed it yet.

Do you have a book trailer?

I have one for each of the currently available books. They’re on my Youtube channel.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write. Don’t listen to the internal editor when it tells you that you can’t write and don’t let anything stop you from putting the words down.

Where can your readers follow you?

My blog:

http ://www .Astralplanepublishing .com

My book's facebook page: