Review of Eternal Mixture

Author's Blurb:  If you had the chance to start your life over, would you take it? If you were told you would live for eternity, would you embrace it? If a stranger told you he was your soul mate, would you believe it?

Raina Richmond has played it safe her entire life. She has never broken the rules. That is, until Brent Alexander walked straight into her life, causing havoc. Turning her world upside down.

Brent is the new kid in town. He is every girl’s fantasy: adorable, charming, chiseled, and the typical boy Raina usually steers clear of. But there is just something about him she can’t seem to resist. Safe is no longer an option for her. For him, she breaks all the rules.

What she doesn’t realize is that he holds the key to her past, present, and future. Once he reveals the reasons behind their irrevocable connection, she will unlock the answers to all of her questions, and her life as she knows it will never be the same again.

What I thought:  While Eternal Mixture is a Young Adult Paranormal novel, there aren't any blood sucking vampires or werewolves in this tale.  Shevaun Delucia delivers a fresh take on eternal love.  

Raina is the main character in this story.  I felt the author did a great job capturing the conflicting emotions that Raina is experiencing.  Brent is the love interest - He's exactly what females dream of - tough and tender with a great big dose of sexy.  

The romance in this story is a bit steamier than some Young Adult fiction.  However, it doesn't cross the line.  Adult readers might enjoy a little sizzle and teens will relate to the raging hormones.  

There are a few grammatical errors and a couple of story inconsistancies but I enjoyed the author's writing style.  I thought the story flowed at a nice pace - nothing too rushed.  

**I received a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.**

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Mixture-Series-Volume/dp/0615828035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408147727&sr=8-1&keywords=eternal+mixture

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternal-mixture-shevaun-delucia/1117194877?ean=9780615828039

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/eternal-mixture/id839709955?mt=11

ETERNAL MIXTURE BLOG TOUR

Thanks for stopping by and participating in the Eternal Mixture Tour!

The author, Shevaun Delucia, is sharing an excerpt of her exciting new novel.

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Date Published: 11/1/2013

   

If you had the chance to start your life over, would you take it? If you were told you would live for eternity, would you embrace it? If a stranger told you he was your soul mate, would you believe it?

Raina Richmond has played it safe her entire life. She has never broken the rules. That is, until Brent Alexander walked straight into her life, causing havoc. Turning her world upside down.

Brent is the new kid in town. He is every girl’s fantasy: adorable, charming, chiseled, and the typical boy Raina usually steers clear of. But there is just something about him she can’t seem to resist. Safe is no longer an option for her. For him, she breaks all the rules.

What she doesn’t realize is that he holds the key to her past, present, and future. Once he reveals the reasons behind their irrevocable connection, she will unlock the answers to all of her questions, and her life as she knows it will never be the same again.

EXCERPT

He puts the picture down and turns to look at me, face stern and serious, eyes full of hunger. I swallow, chest heaving, unable to break his gaze. “Why do you look at me like this?” I whisper, eyes still locked on his.

            “I just feel this amazing, erotic connection to you. I’ve never felt it before. I’ve met a million women throughout my years, and none of them have come close to touching me the way you do.”

            “Brent…” My voice drifts off as he slowly comes closer. His face is only inches from mine and our breathing is now in sync. Just as our lips are about to touch, my bedroom door slams open.

            “Hey, Rain—” Bailey turns towards the hall and then comes back in the room, obviously flabbergasted with what she almost just witnessed. “Whoa!”

            “Shit!” I say, jumping up from my bed and rushing over to close my door.

            “So you two, what is going on?” Bailey’s eyes glare between Brent and I, mouth grinning from ear to ear. This is the moment she was hoping for—to catch us in the act. She couldn’t stand the fact that I was keeping Brent from her, and now she’s standing here gleaming with satisfaction.

            “Bailey, this is Brent. Brent, this is my friend Bailey,” I introduce them, taking a seat back on my bed, leaning my head against my headboard.

            Brent already moved to the chair at my desk. “Hey, nice to meet you.”

            “And very nice to meet you, Brent,” Bailey responds, still glowing.

            Brent stands up, seeming uncomfortable, and says goodbye to both of us. As soon as we hear the front door close, Bailey immediately turns and faces me with accusing eyes.

            “What?”

            “What do you mean, ‘What?’ Raina, you’re my best friend, and you couldn’t even tell me?” Bailey asks angrily as she gets off my bed and paces across my floor.

            “Bailey, there’s nothing to tell!” I screech quietly.

            I grab my nightclothes out of my dresser drawers and rip off my pants and shirt, strewing them on my floor.

            “Bullshit, Raina! Were you not just here a minute ago when I walked in on you two?” Bailey shrieks in a whisper, throwing her hands in the air.

            “Fine. Yes, you walked in on us almost kissing. But that’s it! We are just friends. You probably just saved me from making a huge mistake,” I admit. “By tomorrow, he’ll probably realize it too.”

            Bailey takes a seat next to me on my bed. “Raina, why can’t you see how beautiful you are? And I don’t just mean physically. You’re a beautiful person inside and out. I wish you could just see what the rest of us see. It’s obvious Brent sees it too.”

Shevaun DeLucia

Shevaun DeLucia lives in upstate New York with her husband, four children, and two dogs. As a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, she fell in love with reading. She indulged in the small moments that took her away from the reality of her loud, overly rambunctious household, bringing her into a world of fantasy. When reading wasn’t enough to satisfy her, she turned to writing, determined to create the perfect ending of her own.

Website: http://shevaundelucia.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Shevaun-Delucia/563843076961083

Twitter: @shevaundelucia1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7375844.Shevaun_Delucia

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Mixture-Series-Volume/dp/0615828035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408147727&sr=8-1&keywords=eternal+mixture

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternal-mixture-shevaun-delucia/1117194877?ean=9780615828039

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/eternal-mixture/id839709955?mt=11

The Parasites - Book Review

Marjorie DeLuca's The Parasites (The Iduna Project Book 2) grabbed hold of my imagination and didn't let go. While I enjoyed reading The Forever Ones (Book 1), DeLuca's storytelling shines in Parasites. The plot is tighter and the characters are better developed.  I loved the growth shown by Paige, the main character. And I had some serious character love going for Crime Lord Antoine.  But my favorite part of this book was the action - there was a lot of it - and it gets really intense.  This is where DeLuca shined.  I enjoy an action-packed movie that has me on the edge of my seat and while reading The Parasites, I could see the scenes - the explosions, the carnage - and I loved it!

Amazon Purchase Link

Book Review - Marionette by T. B. Markinson

Synopsis:

At the age of seventeen, Paige Alexander had it all planned. She wrote a letter, sat in the bath, and slit her wrists. Her plan failed.

Her best friend, Alex, is dead.

Paige can’t get over her twin sister blaming her for a tragic event in their past.

Colorado is in the midst of voting on lesbian and gay rights and Paige is terrified to come out of the closet, fearful for her life.

Many people in Paige’s life are keeping secrets from her. Will she piece everything together before it’s too late?

In this gripping first-person narrative, a young college student grapples with more than first loves or coming of age.  In a world filled with homophobia, suicidal feelings, and a dysfunctional family, Paige cuts her wrists in an attempt to free herself from the crazy life that’s all she’s ever known.

Could there be new lessons in store for Paige?  With the help of her girlfriend, friends, and a compassionate therapist, can Paige find the safe space she needs to heal, grow, and cut her strings?

What I thought:

To be honest, I started to read this book then stopped - not once but three times.  I can promise you this had nothing to do with the author's writing.  It had everything to do with me as I tend to read "happier" stories.  Marionette is not the typical young adult novel. Instead, it broaches some heavy issues:  suicide, family dysfunction and homosexuality.

Marionette is a first person narrative but I wasn't always convinced that main character, Paige Alexander, was giving an accurate depiction of her family.  It sometimes felt a little too convenient.  (Like the old saying goes, I kept thinking that there are three sides to every story - your side, my side, and the truth which falls somewhere in the middle.)  I would have loved to have met her family, to have witnessed the dysfunction rather than having to rely on a "retelling" of the events.  Having said that, there was a lot to like about this novel.  The author juggled a lengthy cast of characters and did a good job giving a distinct voice to each.  While I didn't find Paige to be the most likable character, she was captivating.  I especially liked the scenes between her and her therapist.  The interaction between the those two characters felt authentic and the author's approach to handling such a sensitive issue was spot on.  She didn't minimize the suicide attempt nor try to justify it. She presented it as it was - something confusing and traumatic.  

Being a teenager isn't easy; it can be quite painful.   Add homosexuality to the mix and you've got a recipe for some serious angst.   Paige and her friends deal with homophobia. (Introduce the homophobes - Aaron, with his military haircut and attitude and Audrey the good Catholic girl.) I recognize that homosexuals deal with homophobia on a daily basis - and some of the people serving up the hate consider themselves religious, etc.  I wish the author would have  chosen to reach beyond the stereotypes.  A compassionate Catholic girl who supports equal rights or a military minded gay guy would have been awesome.  That being said, I felt as though Markinson shared a story that anyone could read and relate to.

There was romance in this story but don't expect anything raunchy because its not in this book.  The author took great care to show the emotional connection between Paige and her girlfriend - any physical descriptions are kept to a minimum. 

Overall, I thought Markinson delivered a compelling story.  

Mean Girls in Young Adult Fiction

There are people who would prefer that the stereotypical mean girl, who so often appears in young adult fiction, would go the way of the dodo bird.  But why?  Literature is sprinkled with femme fatale characters who use their beauty and charm to manipulate.  They lie and deceive.  They bring a certain magic to the story.  Like the femme fatale, the mean girl serves much the same purpose.

The teenage years are a time of growing and maturing.  It's also the time when many teens are at their most vulnerable.  I explored this topic in Of Dreams and Shadow.   Having a mean girl allowed me to use her as a tool - one that could expose my main character's insecurities.  Jenna is a typical teen.  She's the new girl in school.  She's dealing with all the baggage that comes with a move - finding her place in a new social environment while mourning the loss of the security of her former life and friends.  Mean Girl Melissa helped to propel Jenna's story.  She made sure Jenna felt out of place.  She possessed a confidence that Jenna lacked.   Because of her, Jenna had to grow.  She had to become a young woman who knew her own self-worth. 

But what of the mean girl?  Why do we typically choose to describe her as popular and beautiful? After all, we all know girls that are not only popular/beautiful but sweet and kind.  So why the stereotype?  There are a variety of reasons but one reason sticks out for me.  In our society, looks are valued; females tend to compare themselves to their peers.  Most people can relate to the girl who is all too aware of the pimple that blemishes her face or the hair that refuses to cooperate.  We know what it's like to feel as though we don't measure up.  The mean girl is beautiful because she has to be.  She's the picture of perfection, a contrast to the main character's self-perceived shortcomings.

Review of Late Summer Monarch by Angela Welch Prusia

As a rule, I don't often read a novel in one sitting. With     Late Summer Monarch, I broke that rule.  Author Angela Welch Prusia has penned a coming of age story that should be on required reading lists.  While the story covers subjects like bullying and abuse, the author takes great pains not to be preachy.  What she does do - is open a secret window into the lives of the characters.  We see their personal struggles and witness how a town is willing to look the other way when some of its own are suffering.

The author does a wonderful job developing and maintaining the mood of the story.  Her descriptions of the town hit just the right note - you get the feel for the place without a tedious narration that ultimately becomes a distraction.

There was a lot to love about this novel.  Main character Darby Fletcher is the typical girl next door, complete with the requisite teenage issues.  Characters Peyton and Keaton display a vulnerability to which many in society are susceptible.  While Crazy Rainey Shaw is quirky and full of insight:

Fire flashed from Rainey's eyes.  "And if I was you..." She tossed her money onto the counter and stood to leave.  "I'd guard my tongue.  It reveals much about the heart."                                                                  -Angela Welch Prusia, Late Summer Monarch

If you are looking for a quick read that offers more than passing entertainment, check out Late Summer Monarch.   While it is written for the young adult audience, adults will also enjoy the story.

In honor of the release of my debut novel, Of Dreams and Shadow, I thought I'd introduce one of the characters.  Meet Sarah Jones:

Prologue

June 17, 1997

     Details…they were the making or breaking of any plan and he felt sure that his plan was perfect.  He surveyed the yard one last time, slid back into his hiding place and waited.  It wouldn’t be long now.  She would open the door and come out to play as she did every morning: swinging, pulling her wagon, playing with her doll.  Only this morning would be different; this morning would be special.

     Laying in her wagon was his gift — a necklace he had taken from his mother.  He was certain Sarah would love it.  A door slammed, pulling his attention from the wagon to the patio where the little girl stood. 

     “Big…black...bug’s blood,” she said slowly.  And then, looking rather pleased with herself, she continued a bit faster, “Big, black bug’s blood, big black blugs blug, blig black blug’s blug.”  Shaking her head, she stepped off the patio, “I don’t like bugs anyway…well, maybe ladybugs…and butterflies,” Sarah added as a swallowtail fluttered by.

     Sarah found herself following the butterfly’s trail, stopping when it lit upon a flower and continuing on as it once again took flight. “Come back butterfly,” she called as the butterfly flitted from place to place, always just out of her reach.  The tinkling sound of her laughter floated across the yard to his hiding place.  He couldn’t believe his luck.  It seemed that fate was lending him a hand as the butterfly fluttered ever closer to the wagon.  

     Just a little further, sweet Sarah. 

     She stopped, looked up at the butterfly as it changed course and then set off in the opposite direction.  He clinched his fist.  Fate, he thought, is like a fickle strumpet.  But patience on the other hand, was quite the virtuous lady.  Damn.  He hated virtuous ladies. And strumpets…they weren’t any better. 

     The swallowtail, perhaps tired of playing the game, circled around and carried Sarah back toward the wagon.  Its flight was now one of purpose.  It had nectar to collect and flowers to pollinate and a curious little girl was a hindrance.  The butterfly, however, didn’t need to worry.  It had lost Sarah’s attention.  She had seen the gift.

Link to Amazon

Sometimes the dead refuse to die...

Of Dreams and Shadow:  Forget Me Not Book One

is now available on Amazon!

Link to Amazon