In Which Leah Reviews... Mark of the Princess by B.C. Morin

The feisty and determined faerie Princess Alannah is many things, but she never thought she would be the key to her people’s destruction.

Kidnapped for a power she does not yet possess, Alannah finds herself in the clutches of the most malevolent sorcerer of her time. Maligo. Alannah escapes her prison with help from the handsome and stalwart warrior faerie, Brennus.

Now she must cross mountains and forests fraught with rogue faeries, vicious Fae-hating trolls, dangerous shape-shifters, and more to reach the only ones that can help her control her incoming powers. The Elder Faeries.

With Brennus by her side, Alannah is determined to reach the Elder Faeries and save her people. Maligo is just as determined she never makes it that far.

Published February 1st 2012





An enchanting fantasy story about fairies, magical kingdoms and other strange and wonderful creatures that would be the perfect read for younger book lovers. The book changes from the point of view of a fairy princess to the handsome prince that wants to win her heart and, of course, the evil fairy that wants nothing more than to make things difficult for them and cause trouble throughout the kingdoms.

The cover of this book is beautiful and a real eye-catcher. The story is an easy read so anyone that wants a feel good story with romance and magic can just sit back and read until the sun sets and you are losing hours of sleep.

The story does get kind of confusing between scene changes since it isn’t shown clearly when the characters are in different places or situations which can get frustrating but after a while I got into the flow of the story and it was much better to read it.

This is definitely a good read for younger readers. It is a good story but I didn’t enjoy it all that much since I prefer reads that are for older readers and are a bit more intense which is why this should be great for younger people.

The author is talented and has a vast imagination because of the magical scenes and places that were described in the book. There was always something new happening and that keeps a reader’s attention along with great characters and a good storyline.

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Author Spotlight: Featuring Nadege Richards, The Bleeding Heart Trilogy

Hey everyone,

Welcome back to Mera's YA Book List! Today, I'm kicking off a series of author spotlights, for authors I'm love and think you'd love, and not just because of their writing but also because of their beaming personalities.

Today:

Nadege Richards

So, I'm a little biased. Nadege is not only an admin on MYABL, an extremeley amazing one at that, but she is the author of series that is currently recieving rave reviews!

So, I'll tell you just this- besides writing the Bleeding Heart Trilogy, Nadege is an amazing friend, she's one of the most caring and charitable people I've met over the blogosphere, and she's plain fun.

Here are some review snippets of her book, Burning Bridges, #1 in The Bleeding Heart Trilogy.

"The story is an emotional adventure. At one point, I was even brought to tears and that is a very rare feat! I am looking forward to book two."

"It's a fabulously written love story for any teen/YA to enjoy and a MUST read!! Thank you, Nadege for this awesomely written story about a time where you have no choices of your own to make!!" - Jenny Bynum, Blogger at Black Words- White Pages

"If you haven't grabbed a copy of BURNING BRIDGES yet, don't make the same mistake I did and wait. You'll be kicking yourself. Good news though? DECIEVEING DESTINY should be out soon, and I know I'll be needing that ASAP. " - Author Alivia AndersBURNING BRIDGES DESCRIPTION:Do or Die...

In a world that has been divided amongst the Hunter race and the Warrior, prisoners who have fallen prey to King Cyrus' decrees are forced into the arena to fight until death. Winner is granted mercy and privilege to see another sunrise. Death unto the weak. In an attempt to get back at everyone who has ever shut her out, seventeen year-old Princess Echo becomes another victim, dragging Ayden, her forbidden love, along in a race to freedom, to find out who she really is, and to put a world that has been swallowed by lies back together again.

In the first installment of The Bleeding Heart Trilogy, life becomes a dangerous game of kill or be killed, love or let go. When death threatens the forbidden love of an unlikely couple and they are forced to do the unthinkable, to what extent will they go to be together?

Nadege's next book in the series, Decieving Destiny, will be out later this year. She has a new series, The Bionic Saga (I've read excerpts that were AMAZING) coming out in 2013, as well as the last book in the Bleeding Heart Trilogy, Fleeting Fires.

Also, you can get the My Home Away From Home's ASSCC (Annual Short Story Charity Contest) Anthology, If I Should Die Before I Wake, right now. All funds help out The Pajama Project which donates books and pajamas to children awaiting adoption.

(Psst: Want to try your hand at writing? You can submit your own entry for this year's ASSCC)

Just go here for more details:http://officialmhafh.blogspot.com/p/asscc.html

I asked Miss Richards to tell me about her upcoming novel Decieving Destiny and this is what she had to say:

"I'm excited, but worried at the same time. I think the change in plot will appeal to a lot of people, as it differs from book 1."

So check out Nadege Richards (you won't regret it)! I'll leave links to all of her pages below!
 

Born in New York and raised in Pennsylvania, Nadege has traveled to five other states and two countries, but aspires to travel the world some day. Her name is of French origin, though she's never been to France. Forever a lover of art and all things pertaining to Literature, she hopes to obtain knowledge from her writing career, rather than popularity or fame. She wrote her first story about aliens and goats in the 8th grade and has had a passion for story-telling ever since. Her friends and family are her biggest inspiration, and the occasional cup of coffee. She enjoys being part of the Indie community and sharing her stories with the world.

When not reading, writing, and blogging obsessively, she's usually found hiking, studying, camping, or at home with her family. She's been a martial artist for two years, a singer for three, and always seeks a common ground in everything. She considers her writing very personal, as she's always been a private person. She enjoys writing about what could or should happen, rather than what did happen--she's a dreamer and a procrastinator.

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 BTW You might have noticed the last review snippet was from author Alivia Anders! Keep an eye out because she's going to be our next feature for Author Spotlight!

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Second SIght by TC Hart Blog Tour

Hey everyone!
Welcome to Mera's YA Book List!

Today we are participating in the blog tour for T.C. Hart's Second Sight which released on September 15th.
Check out the info about the book, my review, and an awesome giveaway of the ebook. Check back everyday to see where the tour is headed next! The links for the entire tour is below!

Being gay in high school is not always easy, and now Kyle is having unexplained visions. His friend, Jenny, is convinced that he is psychic. When thefts occur at school, Kyle realizes that his visions may be the key to solving the crime, if only he could figure them out.

 As editor of the school newspaper, Kyle almost has more on his plate than he can deal with. When the news staff tries to figure out who the thief is, personalities clash and tension rises. But the challenges will form friendships that Kyle never would have imagined. And Kyle’s world will be changed forever.

“So I’m both gay and psychic? That’s a lot for one high school guy to handle.”

Review:

Second Sight by TC Hart was a fun and quick read. It chronicles the life of Kyle, a gay high school student who just happens to be a psychic. The awesome thing about this story is that it takes me back to my mystery phase. Throughout the end of elementary school and all through middle school, I was transfixed with mystery books. Second Sight is the first mystery book I've read it a while and it was a good one. Another good thing I liked about the book was that it stuck to it's point. There were plenty of places where the authors could have veered off topic and gone too much into the fact the Kyle was gay. Instead they made it just a part of his being which at points became tough but wasn't his first focus. It definitely didn't deter from the mystery of the novel. I loved that Kyle's psychic vision played into the story as clues to solve the mystery, putting a paranormal spin on the genre. The story isn't too long or too short and is effective all around. Plus, it's fun trying to guess who the culprit of the novel is.
3.5 stars :)


Giveaway!!!
Enter to win an e-copy of Second Sight! Winner picked at end of tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

TC Hart are co-authors who believe in the importance of a caring, compassionate future generation that celebrates everyone's uniqueness.

We are best friends who are native to Washington State. We love to travel, go to the theater and try new things. Our latest adventure is zip lining. Which should be interesting since we are both terrified of heights!

Tasha is an educator and married with four boys. Cheryl is a nurse and married with three boys and two girls.  We are first time authors and extremely excited about the release of our first book!

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN? Here's the buy links for Second Sight and other places to find out about the authors:

Buy Links:

Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096ZS5PW

Smashwords URL:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/224251

Stalker Links:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-TC-Hart/179180845543123?ref=ts

Website: TC-Hart.com

ABOUT THE TOUR! Click the links on their days to see more content referring to Second Sight! Mera's YA Book List is the second stop on this tour.

September 17- 23

17.  Andi’s Young Adult Books http://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com 

18.  Meras YA Book List http://www.merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/

19. Black Words White Pages http://www.blackwords-whitepages.blogspot.com/

20. Paranormal Reads http://paranormalreadsreviews.blogspot.com/

21. Phenomenal Reads http://jennswiger.blogspot.com/

22. KB Miller http://kbmillerbooks.blogspot.com/

23. Lovely Reads  http://serenityslovelyreads.blogspot.com/

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Calling Invisible Women

Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray (NY: Crown, 2012). 

Fifty-something Clover has been married to  her busy pediatrician husband for thirty-plus years. Their twenty-three-year-old son Nick, currently unemployed, has moved back into the family home, and their daughter Evie is away at college.  At one point Clover worked on the local paper as a reporter, but her job has been scaled back to a weekly gardening column.  Her life hums along just fine until one morning she gets out of the shower and can't see herself in the mirror--she's invisible. That first day she flickers back into visibility, but by the next morning it's permanent.  And no one notices except her best friend. A want ad in the paper takes her to a meeting with other invisible women where she learns that they've deduced that their condition is a side effect of a pharmaceutical trifecta: antidepressant, calcium supplement, and hormone replacement therapy, all products of a single company.  Plus, most of them have had a Botox treatment or two as well. The company knows about the side effect but has refused to take the highly profitable drugs off the market.  While Clover initially settles into an invisible funk, she eventually gets her journalistic mojo back, asserts herself at home, and organizes the invisible women to force the chemical company into action.

Obviously, this novel will resonate with any woman (of a certain age or not) who has ever felt overlooked or taken for granted, though Ray manages to show that no woman should get mired in self-pity.  Rather, she can embrace her talents and empower herself, as Clover does. Thankfully, Clover, despite her unfortunate name that evokes pastures, recognizes her literal invisibility as a trope for all middle-aged women whose families and communities willingly take advantage of their stalwart if unassuming presence. Clover also sees that she has let this happen to herself.  While all of this may sound serious and even melancholy, this novel is anything but a total downer.  Clover's visit to the doctor (who also fails to notice that his patient is invisible) is hilarious, as are some of her invisible exploits, such as freaking out an abusive husband in a grocery store parking lot.  The stories of the other invisible women add variety as well.  Overall, a bracing and introspective read, highly recommended for women of any age. 

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In Which I (Mera) Gush Over A Few Authors!

Okay, so  I love authors, I love books, I love when people ask me about books. Obvious, right?

So I posted on the page early three books I am currently always recommending.

Here they are:

                     


After posting, one Lister ( Thanks for inspiring this post Jenna W.!) asked me a question.

Jenna's question: What r they about?

Of course, I don't give a vague answer. I'm here to inform the masses of book lovers! Libertad de la leer! Libertad de la libros! Nerds de libro se unen! Uno para todos y todos para uno!

Okay, I'm sorry! I got a little *ahem* passionate. So um, yeah. I thought back on my experiences reading the novels, I went over my reviews, and I re-read the descriptions via Goodreads, then I gave a nice hunk of responsey type stuff.

Here!

Mera:

They are amazing! I'll try to tell you without adding anything that's not in the blurb. Illumine is about a teen girl named Essallie, who after witnessing the death of her boyfriend, and returning to her childhood home, which harbors horrible memories, realizes that she is far from human. The story is fast paced, the characters are intriguing, and the ending is perfect, making you immediately wish you had the second in the novel, Obumbrate.

Silver Mortal by Jenna Kay, is her latest, and it comes out on the 21st. It chronicles Gracen, a teen girl who spends her nights fighting demons. She is a Silver Mortal, one of a group of supernatural humans that protect people from the crimes of demons. When a Night Viper (a type of demon) comes to her with his makeshift family of rogue Vipers and asks for help she has to decide what is the right choice. The plot has so many brilliant twists that I gasped aloud while reading this, the characters are likeable, some are droolworthy, and Jenna's writing urges you to keep reading.

Echo of an Earth Angel is a New Adult book by Sarah M. Ross, who in my opinion has published only greatness. After witnessing the deaths of her parents, and just avoiding her own death, Tessa wakes up from a coma miraculously fine except for the holes in her memory. David Allegri, a healer angel gone rogue, healed her on the day of the accident but went too far and changed her life forever. Now, with people chasing him, and eventually her, David has to help Tessa fill in the blanks and protect her from harm. Amazing read. I'm excited for the next in the series!



Jenna's response:

Omg. they all sound amazing. i need to find them at my library. i want to start reading them rite now!

Hopefully, she can find some of them in her local library. These books are awesome! So GO, read! Before I rant at you in my shaky but proficient Spanish. It doesn't have to be these books, though I recommend them, but read! Trust me, it'll save your life, or at least let you live mutiple lives! Viva el libro!

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In Which I Review... The Veil by Cory Putman Oakes

 

 Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be -- the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says . . .

Paperback, 288 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Octane Press









The Veil. Wow! I loved this novel.

Firstly, let me start off by saying, I wasn't planning on reviewing this novel. With my review pile being so incredibly long, I snuck in Oakes' book as a pleasure read. I mean, here I was drinking out of this mug daily that says, "Caffeine gives me Annorasi powers", eating Ghiradelli chocolates and wondering how the heck they related to The Veil, drinking some amazing coffee (Illy coffee, to be exact, that is amazing and way out of my price range for coffee), and looking at these stickers that state "I &heart* Luc" and I had no idea who Luc even was! (I actually won all of this The Veil related stuff via a Cory Putman Oakes giveaway on the lovely Cynsations blog - the blog of author extraordinaire, Cynthia Leitich Smith.)

So suffice it to say, my curiousity was getting the best of me, so I snatched up the book and warily, I began reading. I mean, you'd probably feel the same. After anticipating it for so long, I was scared that I'd be let down immensely, and end up staring mournfully at the mug and stickers, never the coffee and chocolates though. Fortunately for me, The Veil left nothing to mope about. I was thoroughly, thoroughly satisfied and all I could think was why wasn't people screaming about this book!

The Veil takes on a subject I have never seen taken on, a veil between two worlds- the one we live in and another very extraordinary world few can see- these few being the people of this world- The Annorasi.

The Annorasi are a paranormal entity of their own. I couldn't say creature, monster, nothing, because besides their ability to see between and travel between the worlds and their "otherworldly" powers (get it?), they seem completely human. Well, most of them.

I would recommend this to anyone searching for something different in the YA world. The Veil is a novel set apart from the rest, and Oakes' manipulation of words created something spectacularly special. This is one book you will not regret reading.

I give The Veil 5 shining stars, and yes, I now do love Luc. In fact, I carry one of my "I *heart* Luc" stickers in my binder for the world to see.

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