Review: One Day by David Nicholls

Title: One Day
Author: David Nicholls
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd.
Date Published: Aug 2009

Summary: Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY.


Review:  When I saw the film to this book advertised me and my sister immediately wanted to see it.
As we were on holiday it was put on the back burner.
In a way that's best as I wanted to read the book first which I now have.

One Day is a beautiful yet at times very frustrating novel about love, friendship and life.

Emma and Dexter are a funny pair who should obviously be together.
The end of university has seen them part ways.
I loved reading their letters to each other yet Dexter's first letter has me on the edge of my seat and then it abruptly changes to a different time.

I love how you get both Emma and Dexter's story throughout the years although I'm frustrated with them on more than one occasion.
Emma makes me smile yet I also worry for her naivety. She's a happy go lucky girl, yet inside she wants to be loved by one person in particular. Does he share the same love for her?

On more than one occasion I thought Dexter was a total creep but the more you get to know his character you just can't help but fall for his charm.
He's the boy at school who you got on with and fancied the pants off him, yet you know he'd never look twice at you.

This novel will have you laughing, crying and screaming. It will also have you yearning for a love this strong.
The friendship between Emma and Dexter will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
They'll be many shocks and twists along the way and at times you will be seriously annoyed with them both yet at other times you'll be screaming and whooping in delight.
But the pair always reunite in the end.

I don't want to say anymore as I don't want to ruin the story for you.
I'm now eager to see the film and I'd also love to read more from Mr Nicholls.
I'm thinking 'The Understudy' will be my next Nicholls read, I wonder if I'll be as captivated by that.

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Andrea's Top 10 Reads of 2011

So here you have it- in no particular order I've listed my favorite 10 books which were released in 2011 that I read. There were some books I didn't get a chance to read that came out this year, that were a huge hit, but I'll be sure to blog about those when I get the chance to read them. :-)  And of course many more I read that should/could be added to list.. but I'm trying my hardest to stick with 10!!

Click the pictures to read my review!!

Review to come soon :-)

What are your best reads of 2011? Same or different than mine-- I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts. 

2011 has been a wonderful year. Thank you to Casey and Haylee for making me a part of the Dark Readers team, its been a fun year reviewing with both of you. Thank you to the Publishers for generously sending ARCS and books to be reviewed. Thank you to the authors who let us into their minds and escape to another world for a short period of time :-) Last but NOT least, thank you thank you to the followers who make all of what we do totally worth it! There isn't anything better than being able tell others about an amazing book!

I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings. 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 

 

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Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer & Bray: Harper Collins
Published: January 24, 2012

Synopsis: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 


Review: As I write this review I must note that I just closed the last page to Everneath, I have tears rolling down my cheeks and my nerves are all over the place- but there is so much going on in my mind right now that I can't possibly write it all down for the worry of spoilers... so I'll try me best. 

Ever feel like no matter how AMAZING you try to make something sound you know it won't do the book a justice?? << well Everneath is that book!! From the very beginning, I was sucked into the world of the Everlings, and even if I wanted to escape for a brief period I couldn't. It was impossible to set down. 

Everneath shifts back and forth from "Now" and "Before the Feed." I wasn't sure about this layout at first because I was a tad lost in the first chapter ((but it kept me wanting to read and figure out what was going on!!)) After I understood the times and setting of the story, I was able to really get in the novel and love it! 

Author Brodi Ashton parallels a mythology with a well thought out storyline. The tie in was probably my all time favorite thing about this book. I'm a huge fan of mythology in general, but I was impressed with how Brodi brought the story of Persephone into the plot, but without overriding the entire story. Our main characters are always there and we are still in THEIR story.. the mythology tidbits just help them accomplish their overall goal- to save Nikki from the Everlings.

I loved (most of) the main characters in this book.

Ever feel like you can't escape something, no matter how hard you try? That no matter what you do the outcome will still be the same? Nikki felt the same way in Everneath. She  is a teenager gets taken into the underworld; she's chose her fate by leaving and coming back to the human, and has only a short period of time left. Everneath is a story about courage, strength, love, loss,and believing in yourself. Nikki goes through all of that. This character really got to me, I enjoyed trying to put the puzzle pieces together. To me, Cole's (who taunts Nikki about coming back to the underworld with him) personality as very bipolar. He'd be so sweet and the next minute he was an ass. A reader anticipates what he was going to do or say next.

And Jack--- OH MY GOODNESS! I would NEVER forget him! WOW! hot hot hot! I absolutely fell in love with Jack. My heart breaks for him throughout this novel and although he's lost a lot... he's holding on to hope and helping out his girlfriend until the end. *psst- hey guys out there, you should read this book and model Jack! okay? Thanks* 

Awesome book!! I'm actually really wanting to pick it up to read again lol 

Hands down 5 stars to Everneath!

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Book Review: Forbidden By Tabitha Suzuma

Name: Forbidden

Author: Tabitha Suzuma

Publisher: Definitions
Age: Over 17
Summary: She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister. Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending

Reveiw: When starting this novel. Of course I was nervous. I was cautious, worried and creeped out by the whole thing... You ask why I read it? I was curious.
You judge people through out your life.. On looks, Personality, sexuality and pretty much anything. Some people are stubborn and hostile and really don't understand somethings or just choose to ignore or push them out. Reading this book changed my view on certain things... Things I can't explain very well without going into detail but I think Tabitha has written a very heartfelt controversial novel that really challenges your view on things.... Things like Incest.

If you read the summary about your obviously get the jist of what the book is about. without sounding weird.. Do I say this novel was good? Amazing? Beautifully written? On such a topic as that No. I say that it captivated me and it is DEFINATLY something that I've never read or come across. It was written in such a way that it had me feeling things I'd never felt before for people going through that situation. This book IS NOT glamorising incest at all. These are real people. 

You read books especially YA about things that can't actually come true vampires, werewolves etc but then you find one novel that can let's say based on real things and it can hit you so hard and have you thinking about things days after reading and this is what forbidden has done for me.

Through out the novel I felt and I know other bloggers I spoke to felt they wanted to cheer the brother and sister on. You couldn't help it. The book made you forget sometimes that they were related. BUT then. Then you change the page oh suddenly realise.

I think the plot had a lot of Depth. Their were characters in this novel that made me so attentive and they were very Memorable.We had Maya. She's one the nicest characters I've come across! She's beautiful, brave and really kind.

Then lochan seventeen, gorgeous and a brink of bright future. He wasn't so brave, but SUCH a memorable lead guy for me! He wasn't just typically "good-looking"
Tabitha has made this guy has so much depth its unreal.

I could go on forever but I would say if you want to read something controversial something that will challenge you imagination and make you look onto your judgements I'd say read this novel. I would suggest if you are under 17 NOT to read it.

You really can't help who you fall in love with....... Can you?

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Get Lauren Oliver to number one!

Hey guys! we now have a special Christmas treat for all you Delirium fans: whilst you're eagerly awaiting its sequel, Pandemonium, out in March, you can read Lauren's amazing short story, Hana. It's told from the point of view of Lena's best friend (who, you might have guessed, has some secrets of her own…) There's a shocking twist to her tale that will leave you with your heart in your mouth. The short story is out exclusively in eBook this Christmas - it's available to buy for just 99p for a limited time only over the festive season.

 So We'd love to give Lauren the best Christmas present ever: seeing Hana at number one in the eBook charts on Christmas Day.Will you help us get it there by joining in on one big Christmas Eve push? If we all buy it on the 24th December, that will propel it up the charts into (hopefully!) the top spot.

And we'd be so grateful if you could help us spread the word by posting this news on your blogs, twitters and facebooks and encouraging people to buy it on 24th December too.

To get Laurens ebook click on the banner above and enjoy her wonderful words

Thanks so much - and  HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

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Book Review: Tempest By Julie Cross

Name: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross
UK publisher: MacMillan
UK Release date: 5th January
Summary: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Review: Time travel, Boys POV, action, sexy, shocking, exciting moments and so much more in this amazing entrancing, descriptive, witty... fascinating, memorable, read.

Where do I start? How about the fact that this book was written by a a women and its all in a boys POV. That's not even the best part! The best part is how realistic and not at all relatable to a girls POV. Sometimes when reading YA that's Written by a women in a Boys pov you literally forget he's a boy and he sounds like a women but this was nothing like it, which was amazing and so refreshing!

Also I wanted to talk about the plot! Time travel! Theirs not many YA time travel books out there and Tempest has set the bar so high now. It was so addicting and I found myself mesmerised from beginning to end. This book is defiantly for boys and girls! Its not to girly and not to masculine! Its slap bang right in the middle which I think is perfect! 415 pages of awesome perfection!

I love all the characters their not at all 2 dimensional! They jump out in your imagine nation attentively that you can't help but fall in love with them all (even the baddies). Jackson oh Jacksonnnnn the heartbreaking hero of the novel. His bravery, good looks, witty self makes this book what it is!

Then there is Holly. She's such a beautiful character that a lot of us girls will relate to in more ways than one. Then Adam! The awesome good friend of Jackson who is a total awesome nerd who is just as brave as Jackson and is a loveable interesting character!

Guys seriously next time you are in your book store you need to pick up this novel! I can't explain how much you should read it! Its nice and refreshing from the YA I've read and has a very shocking ending! Enjoy :)

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Book Review: Wrapped Up In You By Carole Matthews

Title: Wrapped Up In You
Author: Carole Matthews
Publisher: Sphere

Summary: A Christmas fling, or has Janie found the real thing?
Thirty-something hairdresser Janie Johnson's single status is a constant source of gossip for her friends and clients. So after too many nights in with her cat, a blind-date disaster and news that her ex is getting married, Janie realises it's time to do something dramatic with her life.

It's time for an adventure!
Leaving winter behind, Janie takes the plunge and books an exotic trip to Africa. Her friends think she's mad and Janie thinks they may very well be right...then she falls head over heels for her tour guide- and fully fledged Maasai warrior- Dominic. But can Janie now face spending a snowy Christmas back home without him?

Review: Firstly, I must comment on the Christmassy cover it makes me feel all warm inside and extremely excited for the big day itself.

I truly loved the touching letter from the author Carole Matthews, although when I started this book I was unwell. So, alongside the book I've drank honey and lemon and not wine and choccies as Carole suggests.

I instantly fell in love with the main character Janie Johnson.
Janie makes you smile as she's fun and in a way carefree. 

Just like many women she wants to feel real love and to be loved wholeheartedly in return.
The only thing that worries her friends and us readers is Janie's naivety. 

But that's also a sweet sentiment to the context of the novel.

Janie's disastrous blind-date will have many women laughing out loud me included. We've all given a guy a story as to why it won't work. 

But who can say they've jumped out of a toilet window into the arms of a lesbian hen-party. I certainly can't top that. 

Janie's trip to the Maasai Mara makes me want to visit Africa. 
A few friends went to Kenya and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

It also makes me think of the cultural differences between us. 

There's many things we take for granted like a hot soak in the bath, one other thing we hate yet take for granted is rain. 

Some countries are wishing for it, if only we could bottle and send some rain clouds?.

If you think this is your average chick-lit novel then think again. 

There are so many twists that you would never have expected. 

They'll be times when you agree with Janie's best friend Nina and times that you want to beat her to a pulp.
I truly loved Mike- everyone needs a friend like Mike in their lives, he's so warm and giving and he'd never want anything in return. 
The worrying thing is there any Mike's left in the world?.

What I also loved was the Christmas Q&A with Carole Matthews and the first two chapters of her next novel Summer Daydreams.
I've read two of Carole's novels and I can say I will definitely read Summer Daydreams and I will also go through the back catalogue.

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Rachel Vincent Q&A

1) Will your seventh book in the Soul screamers series be the last?
Probably. Unless sales sky rocket and the public demands more Kaylee and crew, then yes. As much as I love the Soul Screamers world (and I really, really love it), there are other books I want to write too, and
they all deserve a chance to be loved. ;)

2) How do you come up with such intense scenes?
I don't know! You know, beginning writers always ask me how I manage to make it through a book without losing interest, and all I know to tell them is that if they're getting bored with what they're writing, then
they're not writing what they were meant to write. I try to make sure that every single scene I sit down to write has at least one "wait for it" moment. You know which one I mean, right? That moment I just can't
wait to write. A revelation in the big mystery. A new character's introduction. A deeper connection between to friends, or enemies, or lovers. That first kiss. That next kiss. Whatever. I figure if I'm looking forward to something in every scene, the readers will be too.

                                                                         
3) Greatest moment writing The Soul Screamers series, and worst?

Um...right now, If I Die has 53 reviews at Barnes and Noble's website, and they're all five stars. That feels pretty awesome. (That'll probably change by the time this goes live.) The lowest moment I can remember in
this series was learning that My Soul To Save got a bunch of mixed reviews. People didn't connect with Addison's character enough to care whether she lived or died, and that made me sad. But it also taught me
something about character development. So in the end, even that is a highlight. ;)

4) What do you love about your UK book covers the most?

I love how they capture the feel of the books, with the smoke and the iconic figures. Also, they're just plain beautiful!

5) Are you writing anymore series after the unbound series? And do you have anything in mind at this point in time?

Yes, I always have something on the back burner. But nothing I can talk about yet.

Thank you Rachel for taking the time to talk to us and thanks to Mira Uk for organising it. UK people make sure you get you copy of My Soul To Steal its released now and AMAZING!

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Blog Tour: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Title: Farsighted
Author: Emlyn Chand
 Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Date Published: November 24, 2011

Synopsis: Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Review: Read the synopsis for Farsighted and decided to give it a go. I wasn't completely drawn in when I read the description- but the idea of being able to see the future peaked my interest. As I read Farsighted I realized why I wasn't completely in love with the synopsis- and that reason is simple... it is impossible to write a wonderful summary in such a short amount of space!! There was never a moment where I felt the need to put the story down- the pace upbeat and fast, but at the same time steady. 

Author, Emlyn Chand did an excellent job with writing through the perspective of a young boy who is blind. Getting down the smallest details of the senses that Alex would be able to pick up were descriptive and realistic, which isn't always easy to do. Seeing is second nature to anyone who has sight... but to those who can't see, their senses become stronger- and this is a major key role in Farsighted. 

Alex, is not able to see through his eyes but he is able to use his mind to see- he learns this after he comes in contact with a psychic, Miss Teak. He finds out that he has gifts beyond his knowledge. These "gifts" help and hurt him- but he has to learn to use them for the better with the help of his friends who also have the ability to use touch, senses, their mind to control and help with certain situations. What made this book so great was that there was so much going on all at once-- different dynamics of the plot where coming from every which way...and it was all up to a small group of people to figure out the obstacle that's coming their way.  

I enjoyed the characters that Emlyn so vividly created. Each character has their own unique personality. Of course any reader would be silly to not have a soft spot for Alex and Simmi! I look forward to the next book to see where their relationship is headed!  And of course there's never going to be a book without an enemy right?? that's where Dax comes in. Dax is a dream character I guess you could say- Alex gets flashes of episodes that play out in his head. Alex has to figure out how who Dax is and what his motive is before its too late.

There is quite a bit going on in the book- most of it too complex to where the main characters are not fully aware and are missing the pieces to the entire puzzle. As I reader I was able to pick up on parts of what I thought would happen (of course at the time it was all a guessing game- and in hopes of what I wanted the outcomes to be ;-) hehe). Some may think the "dream" sequences are confusing. To be completely honest, I had to reread the section over again, the first time Dax came into the picture, but once I understood what was going on it was easy to switch your thinking over from reality to dream. 

I think this is a wonderfully written original piece of work- and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for just a leisure read :-)

Stars: 4 of 5

You Can Buy FARSIGHTED at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

 

Emlyn's website is : http://www.emlynchand.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/emlynchand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emlynchand

 

This tour was brought organized by Lightening Book Productions!! 

 

 

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Lesson of the White Eagle by Barbara Hay (guest post, review and giveaway!)

Title: Lesson of the White Eagle
Author: Barbara Hay
Publisher: The RoadRunner Press
Date Published: Oct. 2011

Synopsis: Dusty White Eagle Feather is about Dusty Hamilton, a fifteen-year-old boy and his struggles with teenage life and racial differences in small-town America. The story is set in rural Oklahoma on the weekend of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Land Run - that time in American history when Native American lands were forcibly taken away from them and given to European settlers. A dispute between the Native Americans and the townspeople over the inscription on a newly erected statue causes tempers to flare up. Dusty finds himself witness to hatred and prejudice at its worst, and he is the one who is driving the getaway car. Through a series of dreams, a mystical white eagle comes to Dusty and takes him on an unforgettable journey into history when the Ponca tribe was forcibly moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma; a remarkable journey that causes Dusty to search inside himself for the answers to his own questions about honesty, courage, friendship and forgiveness. It is a journey that ultimately earns Dusty an honor reserved only for the most noble of character.

Review: First off, thank you to The RoadRunner Press for giving Dark Readers this opportunity to read and review Lesson of the White Eagle and be a part of the Blog Tour :-) I must admit that history was never my strong point; and when I was younger I thought learning about Native American was just plain boring- but as I continued through school and even went out west on a family vacation to battle fields, Native American museums and Crazy Horse I started to appreciate how the United States came to be. So as I read the synopsis of Lesson of the White Eagle, I was eager to read on. 

Dusty is a young boy who is in some way stuck between two crowds: a girl who is his friend but is friends with the Indians and an old guy friend who despises the Indians. Dusty tries to please every and therefore sometimes chooses the wrong path. In the town of Ponca, most people look down on the Indians; this way of acting towards them was passed on from generations. For example Dusty's father did not trust the Indians, and so Dusty was brought up to be cautious around them as well. 


Barbara Hays the author, did an excellent job with telling a modern "lesson" in a legend from years past. Certain events play out in this story that do not favor the Indians... in fact, the Indians are blamed for something they did not do. The White Eagle shows Dusty what would be the right thing to go. He even has experiences where he can feel and experience the lessons that being taught to him. I thought that this story was very powerful! It shows a person that they should not judge based on past circumstances and be accepting to those around you despite their color or race. 

I would recommend Lesson of the White Eagle to middle schoolers... and I do believe that this would be a wonderful book to be read in school; in either English or History class. It was an easy and fast read with only 116 pages. There is a lot to be said from the stories that the White Eagle tells Dusty- and the legend that happened way back then, can still be learned from now!

Author Barbara Hays- Guest Post 

We hear the word “paranormal,” and chances are images of vampires, zombies, or werewolves flit through our minds.

But Webster’s actually defines paranormal as simply anything “not scientifically explainable.”

In the case of my debut young adult novel, Lesson of the White Eagle, the paranormal element is actually a twist on reality.

Chief White Eagle was one of the chiefs of the Ponca tribe—but more than a hundred years ago.   In my book he comes to fifteen-year-old Dusty Hamilton in 1993 in a dream, while the teen is unconscious — recuperating in the hospital after his “best friend” has left him beaten and battered in a ditch alongside a remote country road.

Yet if this were only a dream, how is it the chief is telling Dusty things he didn’t already know? 

And if Chief White Eagle is real, has Dusty slipped into a parallel universe?

One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from Rabindranath Tagore, a philosopher from India, who wrote:  “Truth in her dress finds facts too tight.  In fiction she moves with ease.” 

That’s what I love about fiction:  it allows you to suspend disbelief, as long as what is posed is plausible.

My story is based on events that did happen in 1993, but I wanted Dusty to feel certain emotions that could only come from personal experience, so that he would truly be able to identify with the harsh experiences of others who came before him.  He needed to walk in someone else’s shoes, in this case, those of his Ponca peers. 

Enter the paranormal.

The reader ultimately gets to experience—right along with Dusty—the ups and downs of friendship, the challenge of being fifteen and wanting so badly to be grown up, and the high stakes involved in choosing to go against the tide.

The use of the paranormal in my story, allows me to “move with ease” through not only time but also issues many teens face and have questions about. 

Have you ever experienced a situation in real life that didn’t go as planned in your daydreams?  Or have you ever wanted to wish someone into a day in your shoes, so they could understand your life?

GIVEAWAY!

US/Canada Only

Easy to enter: Just comment below this post and please leave your email so that we can contact you if you are randomly chosen as the winner. Ends 12-19-11 at midnight EST

EXTRA ENTRY--- leave a response to Barbara's guest post question: 

Have you ever experienced a situation in real life that didn’t go as planned in your daydreams?  Or have you ever wanted to wish someone into a day in your shoes, so they could understand your life?

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Book Review: Everneath By Brodi Ashton

Name: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Review: What a original, suspenseful, thrilling plot this book truly has. I can't compare it to any other YA I've read. This book is so atmospheric and had me literally on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Let me start by saying how emotional this book will have you. I've never felt this emotionally drained touched and so excited from a book in awhile. The words, sentences paragraphs just has you totally memorised.

I think its so descriptive and effective. Brodi has created word images so vivid that it is almost like watching a thriller movie. She takes you for a romp through America infested with Everneath and find themselves in a action packed suspenseful event that had my heart facing and had me excited from beginning to end. This is a book for all tastes. This skilfully craft novel contains some history, mysticism, mystery, intrigue, humour and romance in a neat package that is not just entertaining but challenges your mind and imagination.

I loved the characters in this novel. My favourite was Jack. Jack the ever so sweet and sexy quarter back. Not your typical Jock he's such a likable swoon worthy character that you will all love.
Then there's Nikki the brave trouble young girl who finds herself stuck in a troublesome situation that was amazingly written by Brodi. You find yourself wanting to help Nikki through out.
AND last but not least Cole. The cocky little so and so who isn't at all what he seems. You can't help but love him and Brodi has written him so cleverly that you can't help but find entertaining.

I love the use of mythology in this novel and how it relates to Nikkis story! I think from the amount of History Brodi has defiantly done her research and it totally shows. Everneath will snatch you away into a world that will have you captivated from beginning to end. Bring on the sequel!

P.S Watch out for those tunnels! That's all I'm saying ;)
 

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Stealing Kevin's Heart by M. Scott Carter (Author Interview, Review & Giveaway)

Title: Stealing Kevin's Heart
Author: M. Scott Carter

Publisher: The RoadRunner Press

Date Published: October 12, 2011

Synopsis: Their small town saw Alex Anderson and Kevin Rubenstein as the most unlikely of best friends, but that is just what the handsome athlete and the artistic Jewish brainiac are: inseparable buddies since childhood. Then Kevin dies in a motorcycle accident, and his parents blame Alex. And Alex blames himself. His grieving derails both his studies and his football, and he is sent away to a camp for troubled youths in the wilds of southeastern Oklahoma. Borderline suicidal, Alex finds his way back to sanity among the pine trees and clear lake waters thanks to a girl with a secret, a group of misfits, and the most unselfish gift a person can give another.

Review: First off, I'd like to thank The RoadRunner Press for getting into contact with me to review Stealing Kevin's Heart. I read the synopsis of the book and was more than thrilled to read it! I very much enjoyed reading this book- I think that there are some serious "true life" issues that are brought up and the author, M. Scott Carter does an excellent job with balancing real life troubling issues and making them into something more meaningful. 

Death is a topic that almost every person has had to deal with either directly or indirectly; the feelings that come with loss is even harder- and for some people, like the main character in Stealing Kevin's heart, Alex has such a hard time overcoming loss that he is made to get treatment away from home.


Alex looses his best friend Kevin to a tragic accident, not only does he grieve over him, but he watched him die. Definitley not an easy thing for a teenager to overcome. M. Scott Carter takes you through a remarkable story of Alex's transformation through his journey after Kevin's death. Alex experiences loss, confussion, anger, self pity, blame- the reader can feel what Alex feels and that's what I enjoyed while reading. The author writes with a sense of "self" in Alex's point of view at times, therefore the reader can connect with Alex on different levels and get a better understanding of what he's feeling. Alex is a teenager- and I thought that the writing style reflecting the way a teenager would thing and feel at a time like this! 


Twist and turns down a truly heartbreaking, but honest book in the beginning... and Alex finally begins to see the light when he meets a girl named Rachel. They meet at a recovery camp- each has their own reason for being at this camp; and Rachel's reason may eventually connect her and Alex together forever. I think ever reader in one way or another could relate to Stealing Kevin's Heart. And if not, I do believe each person will take away something from it :-) I know I did. 


This book had me in tears... tears of sadness, tears of anger, and tears of joy. But I would recommend this to anyone- especially teens!! Its an adorable, quick read.

 Dark Readers interviews M.Scott Carter!

Dark Readers:  How did you get into writing?  Was publishing a book something you’ve always dreamed of doing?

M. SCOTT CARTER: When I was a little boy – maybe 6 or 7 – my mother found an old Underwood typewriter at a garage sale. She bought it for me and I started my own newspaper; that was my first taste of putting words on a page.  Later, when I was 13, my first job was working at the little weekly newspaper in my hometown. After that I was hooked. As far as writing a book, yes, being a novelist has been a dream as long as I can remember.

DR:  Were you influenced by any authors growing up?

CARTER: Yes. Many, many writers influenced me. I read Sherlock Holmes very early. I read and re-read Mark Twain when I was 10. Victor Hugo, Edgar Allen Poe and Dumas. Beverly Cleary was a huge influence as was Bertrand R. Brinley and Norton Juster. Later, when I was in high school, I read A Confederacy of Dunces and that had a profound influence on me, both as a person and creatively.

DR:  What do you enjoy doing in spare time—apart from work and writing?

CARTER: I’ve always loved photography and reading and music. Music is a huge pastime. I love old, B-grade sci-fi and fantasy movies. But anything that takes me away from the ordinary will do. I like being outside and I like watching my kids grow.

DR:  Explain a little about your characters—are they based on anyone in your life personally?

CARTER: I’ve worked in the newspaper industry for many, many years. During that time, I’ve interviewed thousands of people. And, often they show back up in my fiction. There are several characters in Stealing Kevin’s Heart that come from my past. Rachel is a combination of several girls I knew in high school and college, and Kevin was composed a couple of kids I went to Career-Tech school with in Oklahoma.

DR:  To expand on the previous question, this novel gets into some deep topics:  was your life experience something that you added into this novel?

CARTER: As a kid, I’ve had my share of struggles and some of that is reflected in my writing. I also have family members who have experienced some of the same health problems that I wrote about: my youngest son, Zach, has had the same French surgical procedure that Rachel has in the story. So, yes, you could very easily say that my life experience has been put into this novel.

DR:  If you could be one character from any book of your choice—who would it be and why?

CARTER: I think it would be fun to be Ronald Weasley from the Harry Potter books or Sherlock Holmes. I’ve often thought of what it would be like to be Tom Sawyer or even young Milo from the Phantom Tollbooth.

 DR: Stealing Kevin’s Heart is a published book—are there other projects you are currently working on? Maybe a spoiler or two?

CARTER: Well, since you asked…my next book is The Immortal Van B. It’s the story of a young girl named Josie Brunswick who accidently clones Ludwig van Beethoven and drops him smack dab in the center of 21^st Century Vienna. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I will tell you that Beethoven learns a great deal more about music, including how the play a Fender Flying V, electric guitar. Thanks so much for having me on DarkReaders.

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