Review: Lily (Mystic #2) and Shelia (Mystic #3) by Jo Michaels

Summary:
Lily Conyers is a twenty-year-old who had it all going for her until a car crash left her with terrible scars, no modeling job, and an addiction to pain killers. When she meets a strange young woman named Markaza, Lily begins to re-build her life with encouragement from her new friend.

Problems arise when Lily leaves the safety of her apartment for the first time since her accident to venture back into the world she used to know. Her so-called friends shun her and her boyfriend recoils at the sight of her face. She rushes home with thoughts of suicide only to find a letter on her step from a company called WSTW; promising her a new life.

Lily packs her bags, bids Markaza goodbye, and sets off for the city. But going to New York is only the first hurdle Lily must jump. She must learn to use the power inside herself to help defeat an evil that is threatening to destroy the world. Once there, she meets a girl named Bronya and the two help one another re-build what was so negligently broken.

As Lily is boarding the plane bound for New York, Markaza boards another headed to Tennessee so she can collect the next young woman on her list: Shelia.

Publication Date: October 30, 2012

Summary:
After a horrible accident takes the lives of her parents, Shelia Morgan is placed in the care of her Aunt Ivy and Uncle Melvin. For six years they work her like a slave. On her twelfth birthday, Uncle Melvin makes Shelia an offer that will destroy her life.

When she turns 19, the ugly truth about her past comes out during a therapy session, Uncle Melvin is arrested, and she's placed in the sights of everyone in town. Hurling insults, objects, and threats, the townspeople side with her uncle and call Shelia a liar. She loses her job, her boyfriend, and her freedom in one day. When a girl named Markaza shows up and tells Shelia she's part of a group of young women destined to save the world, Shelia begins to dream of a new life and true freedom from her personal demons.

She tells the jury her story and boards a plane destined for New York and her new life. Once there, she meets Bronya and Lily: Two other young women with special powers they must learn to harness in order to fight an evil that will rise on December 21, 2012, and destroy the world.

Markaza boards a plane to Atlanta to save the life of a young lady named Melody before her mind destroys her from the inside out. As Markaza fights for Melody's life, Shelia, Lily, and Bronya throw themselves into their studies and learn that even power from within can get out of control.

Publication Date: December 21, 2012

Lily and Shelia are the sequels to Bronya from the Mystic series by Jo Michaels. The premise of the series is that a group of powerful women need to band together to save the world from Armageddon. I’ve liked all of the books in the series so far and I’m curious how it will all end.

Lily: Each story in the Mystic series deals with a woman who has endured some type of tragedy. Lily’s fall from grace revolves around her becoming scarred after getting into a drunk driving accident. Her modeling career is over and she has to learn how to love this new scarred version of herself. It was touching to see her growth as a character and to witness how she comes to fully appreciate her inner beauty.

I would’ve liked more backstory on Lily. I’m interested to know what kind of person she was before the accident including more about her relationship with Wilhelm and her friendships. Overall, more character development was needed in order to lend believability to how awful her boyfriend and friends treated her after the accident. I also think that Markaza and Lily’s friendship was too instantaneous. I was surprised at how easily Lily let the girl take over her life. I felt in Bronya, the two girls got to know each other in a more natural and realistic manner.

The prose is easy to read and flows at a great pace. The descriptions were well done, especially the ones involving Markaza’s visions. The end of the book was a nice set-up for the next one and I’m eager to see what happens when all of the gifted girls come together.

Shelia: I think I enjoyed Shelia the most out of the three Mystic books. Her story was truly heartbreaking. The author didn’t shy away from writing hard to read scenes. Shelia’s interactions with her uncle turned my stomach and her behavior in response to the abuse seemed realistic.

There was also more action in the latest installment of the series. The girls finally start experimenting with their powers while Markaza has more visions of the future. I was on the edge of my seat during a particularly harrowing scene where an attempted rape occurs.

Although the books are quick reads, they are not without packing an emotional punch. Almost EVERY PERSON is awful. It makes you wonder why the girls are even bothering to save humanity if these are the kinds of people they come across.

The book deals with tough subjects, but it was refreshing to read a very pro-feminist novel. The pacing was excellent and I finished the book in only two sittings.

Ratings:

Lily: 4/5 Stars

Shelia: 4.5/5 Stars

First Person Versus Third Person Narrative Mode

The Memory Witch is my first ever attempt at writing in the first person. Because of the plot—a girl has her memories stolen away—I knew it was important to not head hop. I wanted everything to be told from Quinn’s perspective only.

Writing in first person past tense was a challenge. You’re really limiting POV and it was a tough switch after writing in third person for so long. Since the POV is only told from Quinn’s perspective, I found myself relying on certain plot devices to move the story along. For instance, since there’s a mystery that Quinn must unravel, she had to overhear certain conversations to learn more clues about her past.  

First person writing can also sound wooden and unnatural. It’s easy to end up with a narrative that has many sentences like “I went here” and “I did this.” Since Quinn is relaying the story to the reader, it was up to her to keep the story interesting and portray the secondary characters in a way that readers could connect with.

Although it was tough, I liked what it could achieve. I feel readers may be able to connect more with a character when first person is used. The story reads like a diary and I like the intimacy of the narrative mode.

What are your preferences as a reader and writer? Do you tend to like books with first person or third person POVs? Have you seen books where both are used? 

Waiting on Wednesday #7

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and highlights an upcoming release we're eagerly awaiting.

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Goodreads Summary:

A daring rescue. A difficult choice. Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom---but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible---she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else---he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help---but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them---they must also protect their hearts.

I've been really into fairy tale re-imaginings lately and this book sounds like it could be a good one! What books are you waiting for?

Looking Back at NaNoWriMo

Yay! I won! My first NaNoWriMo was a complete success and I'm happy to report that my first novel in a new series is now undergoing edits. The book is called The Memory Witch and here's the synopsis:

Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.

On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers emerge, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth. 

That's the rough draft of my synopsis. I'll be editing the book now while also working continuously on the third book in the Second Sight series. It's been interesting to write the books simultaneously for several reasons. For one, The Memory Witch is the first novel I've written in first person. Also, Quinn's voice is very different than Kate Edwards.

Thanks to everyone for their support during the NaNoWriMo craziness.

Review: Always and Forever by Karla J. Nellenbach

Goodreads Summary:
Mia's first reaction is outright disbelief. Obviously, a mistake has been made. Sixteen-year-old girls don't die. But, when the diagnosis is confirmed, she dives headlong into anger. If she has to die, why should it be of cancer? In fact, anything would be preferable to cancer. Better for her to say when, where, and especially how.

Determined to meet death on her own terms, Mia devises scheme after scheme to get the job done. A “fall” down the basement stairs, driving her car off a bridge, and even a dance with a train all end in her survival. 

And through it all, Mia keeps her family and friends at arms' length with her destructive and hurtful behavior. With each failed suicide attempt and burned relationship, she slowly realizes that it’s not the dying that she’s afraid of, but the life she’ll be leaving behind. Now, that life is in a shambles. As time begins to slip through her fingers and death is upon her, Mia fights to rebuild the bridges she has destroyed, but can she do it before the clock runs out?

Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Source: LibraryThing Giveaway

As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I had an inkling I would be a sobbing mess while reading it. Although Always and Forever was certainly a tearjerker, it wasn’t merely a story about a girl dying from cancer. It was also about going through the stages of grief and being able to find love and acceptance along the way.

The author did a superb job of depicting Mia as an average high school girl. Her relationships and behaviors felt very realistic for a sixteen-year-old girl. I loved her friendships as well as a healthy relationship with her parents. Her behavior after finding out about the terminal diagnosis was also well done. It was easy to imagine a young girl trying to push everyone away in order to protect them from her impending death.

I went back and forth on my feelings towards Kal. At first, he was way too mushy for believability. He felt too romanticized and all the sobbing and poetry reading put me off. However, by the middle of the book he grew on me and I ended up liking him a lot more. It was great to see a three-dimensional YA male character that the main character didn’t fall for simply because he was hot and mysterious.

I enjoyed that the book was told in first person and gave the readers a chance to really get into Mia’s head and understand her motivations for wanting to end her life before she succumbed to cancer. Present tense may have worked better though since we know from the beginning she’s going to die.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet story that will cause spontaneous bouts of crying, then I highly recommend this book. The writing was beautiful and I’m going to be on the lookout for future books from the author.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Stacking the Shelves #18

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

My Kindle is so overloaded right now, I'm afraid it's going to burst. It has been a super book week though and I can't wait to get to them all =)

Purchased:

Lily (Mystic #2) by Jo Michaels

For Review:

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Edge of the Past by Jennifer Comeaux

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Friday Blog Hop #17

I'm participating in two of my favorite Friday book hops today. Make sure to stop by my Amazon Gift Card Giveaway for new and old followers. Ends 12/24.

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What is the last book that made you cry? Tell us about the scene...

It's funny that this is the question of the week because I was just thinking last week how I hadn't read anything in a long time that had made me cry. Then, I had two books in a week that had me weeping like a baby! Easy by Tammara Webber was the first one. Without giving away spoilers, it was the scene where Lucas's past is revealed. Then, a couple of days ago I finished Always and Forever by Karla J. Nellenbach. The book is about a girl diagnosed with terminal cancer falling in love, so it was obviously a tearjerker from start to finish.

From the Crazy for Books blog:

"The Book Blogger Hop is much more than just a “follow for a follow”. It’s about making friends. There are literally thousands of book bloggers around the world. It can seem like we are blogging in a bubble, constantly checking the same blogs over and over again. The Hop is about taking the time to make a quality visit to another blog, getting to know the person who is writing that blog, and seeing if you really *want* to follow that person!"

Every week is a chance to visit a new blog or more, find connections, and learn about new books to read! The Friday Book Blogger hop was gone for a while, but it's back and better than ever. I missed it and I'm happy to participate as we rotate hosts! I'll be hosting this week and next!

What Bookmarker Are You Currently Using?

I have a tendency to lose bookmarks like crazy, but it hasn't been that upsetting now that I read most of my books on my Kindle. Right now though, I'm using two: a Mystic series bookmark I won from a giveaway and my son's solar system bookmark.