Fields of Elysium by A. B. Whelan

How can love mend a heart full of hate?

Small town girl, Molly Bennett, moves to Los Angeles where she becomes an outsider while attending Beverly Hills High School. It seems life cannot be any more dreadful. Then one day after school, something magical happens. On a secluded hike in the Hollywood Hills, Molly chases her disobedient mutt and only friend into a hidden cavern. She stumbles upon a strange glimmering gateway that transports her to Arkana, a planet that is the cradle of an advanced human race. There, teenagers navigate amazing flying vehicles, compete in perilous games for glory, and possess supernatural powers.

While Molly tries to wrap her mind around this unbelievable discovery, she meets the alluring and mysterious Victor Sorren. He is a Sentinel Apprentice, whose hatred toward people from Earth is beyond understanding. Yet every time Victor unpredictably saves Molly’s life, his heart draws closer to hers, no matter how much he tries to fight against it. It further complicates things that their growing friendship is strictly forbidden. Earth people are prohibited in Arkana, yet Molly continues to cross through the portal to Arkana to see Victor. Torn between their double lives, they go down a dangerous path, from where there is no return and multiple endings.

Fields of Elysium is a suspenseful, romantic tale full of forbidden secrets, unimaginable danger, deception, and the never-ending fight for true love.

My review:
The Elysiam field is the concept of the afterlife for humans who were related to gods in Greek mythology. I had to look that up, to know more about it, but it totally made this book make sense in a different way for me, and I just loved the way it was used to create the story in this book.

While the teens in this book were a smidge unbelievable to me--something about the way they use language makes me think of an adult trying to sound like a teen--the writing was good, the characters were developed, and the overall experience was great. Definitely recommend to my YA readers.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 5:

“Earth?” A shock wave rippled across Weston’s face. He spun on his heels to view the majestic landscape of our grand city. His hands flew to his head and cupped his temples. “I don’t think I’m allowed to do this. The Almighty sees everything.”

“The Almighty? What are you talking about?”

“We’re prohibited from coming back. We don’t belong here.” Backing up, he tripped over a tumbleweed and landed on his butt. I squatted beside him, offering him my arm.

“I don’t understand you,” I said desperately.

With his face troubled, he looked at me, seized my arm and started to shake it. “I can’t be here! My father will kill me if he finds out about this.”

“Why? What do you know about Earth? Have you been here before?”

“Going back to Earth and mixing with earthlings is forbidden. I can lose everything just by being here.”

“Going back to Earth? Are you guys from here originally? Oh, no …” I trailed off, chewing on a nail as an idea started to develop. “It can’t be. Or maybe it can … are you living in the afterlife? I read it somewhere. I think it was in a book about ancient Greeks or something. Yeah, that’s it. The Fields of Elysium. The heaven for heroes. … Are you dead?”

Tide Ever Rising by Mandi Slack

Kadence Reynold’s favorite pastime is exploring old ghost towns, but when she and her sister, Maysha, stumble across an old journal and cheap pendant hidden in the depths of a crumbling foundation near Eureka, Utah, their world is suddenly turned upside down. Immediately, strange dreams and premonitions begin to haunt “Kadie” as she learns more about the author of the journal, Charlotte Clark. Kadie sets out on a journey to learn more about Charlotte and her family, and she and Maysha travel to Bremerton, Washington, where they discover Charlotte's still living twin sister, Adelaide and her family.

Kadie and Maysha, upon arriving in Washington, are immediately immersed in Adelaide and Charlotte’s story. Kadie soon learns that Charlotte disappeared the night of a tragic fire that took the lives of Adelaide’s entire family. With the help of Logan Mathews, Adelaide’s handsome grandson, and Charlotte’s ever disconcerting presence, Kadie delves into the past. Hoping to solve the mystery of Charlotte’s disappearance, Kadie immediately discovers the secrets contained in the journal will toss her and Adelaide’s family into a world filled with mystery, past regrets, and dark unknowns.

 

Misty's Review:

 

 If you can love a book based on it's cover, then that is what happened to me. Is it not gorgeous? But seriously, loved, loved, loved this book (based on its content). I wanted it to be a little longer, and I wanted the plot to be more complex, specifically I wished there was more than one option for the bad guy. But to be fair, it's not a mystery, and it's completely good the way it is.

 

One thing I particularly liked about this book was Logan's little daughter. So often when I read books that feature a child like this, the child either detracts from the action or is so unrealistically written (saying and doing things that don't intellectually correspond to the child's age) that it is a distraction. But ZaZa was so well done, she was a delight to read about.

 

Suspense novels are not exactly my thing (I sometimes stop reading a book if it's too suspenseful), but I totally love the perfect amount of suspense in Slack's books. And I love that I can expect them to be clean and even uplifting in a way.

 

Anyway, check out Mandi's books if you've got some time today.

 

 

 

 

The Alias by Mandi Slack

After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey is sure the worst is over. But when the FBI reveals some disturbing information about her ex-husband, she is forced into hiding to protect herself and her son. In the process, she risks losing her identity, her future, and her heart. Thrilling and suspenseful, this novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.

Misty Review:

This was a sweet story about starting over. Jacey Grayson is escaping an abusive relationship and its fallout when she ends up in Utah hiding on a farm at the end of a dirt lane in Mona. But in order to stay hidden, she has to lie her socks off about who she is. "Uncle Grant" and "Aunt Helen" are really kind, and the guilt of lying to them eats at Jacey--but not more than the fear. When John, her ex-husband, locates her, he shows up and nabs their son, Blaze, while Jacey is out buying feed for the animals (what passes for a date in Utah!) with Grant and Helen's handsome son, Kale. And then the truth all comes out, Blaze has to be rescued, and before it's all over, so does Jacey. John may have a gun, but Kale has a bigger one (Ha! I loved that part!).

I really liked how familiar all the people seemed in this story. The characterizations were very real and down-to-earth. I liked that Jacey had this great example of family, something she'd never had in her life, when she stayed on the farm. I also liked that she felt acceptance and curiousity when she went to the Mormon church, yet the book was not at all preachy. The action was not too suspenseful, and the plot moved along well. Mandi has a way of picking you up and dropping you right into her setting. When you read The Alias, you feel like you're in Mona, Utah among its people and scenery. 

Next week, Six Mixed will be a stop on the tour for Slack's new release, Tide Ever Rising, in which she exhibits the same skill and delightful prose. I was dying to read Tide Ever Rising, and I'm so excited to give a review.

In the mean time, for more infomation about Mandi Slack and her writing, you can visit her website by clicking below. Also, to purchase your own copy of The Alias, click on the cover below.

http://www.mandituckerslack.com/

Click to purchase

Dead Running by Cami Checketts

Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.
With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she’ll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.








Misty's Review:

I love that Cassidy hates running at the beginning of this book. Ha! And I like that it helps illustrate her emotional progress through the book. As she gets stronger at running she gets strong enough to start her own business, strong enough to face her parents' deaths, strong enough to start caring about people again. Her family and friends kind of baby her, which makes it hard for her to have faith in herself. Training for the marathon, not giving up, shows them all what she is made of, and ultimately that she is ready to deal with whatever there is.

I would have liked to see her puzzle out the mystery of her parents' deaths. For instance, she could hunt down evidence that she thinks means they are not dead. Her father coming back (whoops! spoiler alert!) is something that gets resolved for her, rather than Cassidy, as the protagonist, doing the work to resolve that issue herself.

I also would have liked to see her finish the marathon before running off after the bad guys. She could just as easily have finished and then caught sight of the bad guys. What I mean is that scene could have happened after the completed marathon and would have been a lot more fulfilling to the reader who has followed Cassidy through a summer full of marathon training and wants to see her do well. It wouldn't have affected the story and would have rendered unneccessary the quick "Oh yeah, and then she finished the last couple miles...late."

But that's me, always looking for changes to make. Really, the story was great. It kept my interest and the characters were well-developed. I would definitely follow them into a sequel, and it clearly calls for one, leaving questions such as how her father is going to stay dead, how she can justify what is now insurance fraud, and how Jesse is going to break away from his father. Utah readers will be interested to read about familiar places. Dead running will also appeal to runners and those who enjoy romantic suspense novels.

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

From gifted new writer Tasha Alexander comes a stunning novel of historical suspense set in Victorian England, meticulously researched and with a twisty plot that involves stolen antiquities, betrayal, and murder. For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. 

Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and she immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek. Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There, amid priceless ancient statues, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.

Jillian’s Review:

This novel kept me turning the page, but unfortunately it was predictable and fizzled out in the end. The characters were interesting but I really didn't care what happened to any of them and there was barley any romance.

I don’t quite get the title. Maybe it’s because everything was so predictable for me, but I didn’t feel like Emily was deceived a whole lot if she’d just opened her eyes and used her brain.

Still, it was a fairly enjoyable, quick read.

<----- I don't have a star rating for this genera of books!

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Inside Front Cover:
"Allie can't remember the night her boyfriend, Trip, died. She knows they were driving on the cliff road. That Trip lost control. That she woke up later, broken and bruised. That, somehow, she survived. All Allie has left are the scars, a constant reminder of Trip. Not ready to face the truth, she tries to ignore a nagging feeling that the crash wasn't an accident. Her best friend, Blake, and her brother, Andrew, will do anything to help Allie move on, but when the police reopen the investigation into the crash, suspicions in their small town intensify. Soon Allie's memories collide with a dark secret she's kept for too long. Caught somewhere between her past and her future, can Allie find the truth so she can finally break free?"

 Jennifer's Review:
First of all, I want to say that I WON this book in our last blog hop!! So cool! Breaking Beautiful just came out this month so I think I am one of the first to review it online. Watch, there will be 1000 more. Anyway...

This is an easy read. I was able to get through it in just over a day. (That includes working, sleeping, being a mom and wife.) If I sat down and read without stopping it would probably be just a few hours. In a few chapters it was almost too slow but would pick back up and keep me reading.

I don't like to guess what is going to happen in a book. I like to just let it take over and guide me as I read. (I think Jillian would totally predict this book within a few chapters...) So, I was a little surprised at the outcome. Allie's big secret took me by surprise and turned the whole book upside down.

 I enjoyed Breaking Beautiful as a light read. In a mystery, I would prefer a little more suspense but was between books so enjoyed this break from my normal genre. I would call this a romantic mystery. Love that there was nothing even implied inappropriately!

You tell me, "Does time heal all wounds"?

I give Breaking Beautiful 3 1/2 stars.

Watched...by Cindy M. Hogan

Publisher's Note: It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy's life. It takes murder.

A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.
She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

Mandi's Review: Watched by Cindy M. Hogan is definitely a book that will keep you biting your nails until the very end. Christy is on a scholarship sponsored trip to Washington D.C. when she and her new group of friends witness a terrifying, brutal murder. Shocked, scared and confused, the group struggles to understand what they've just witnessed, and with a bit of deliberation and a lot of courage they decide to contact the FBI. Soon Christy finds herself thrown into a whirlwind situation that she has a difficult time grasping, all the while dealing with the emotions and awkwardness that any teenager deals with at her age. Trying to find her place in the world, Christy is also confused about who she really is and what she wants in life. She fits in with the kids in Washington and she feels as if she is blossoming into a new person. I enjoyed the descriptions of D.C. and I even have to admit that I could really relate to the main character. When I was a sophomore in high school I was awarded a scholarship to a political program that was held in D.C. just like Christy. I remember feeling some of the same emotions as the main character. I was a geek, awkward in social situations, and even felt like an outcast. During my time in Washington I learned about politics and the inner workings of D.C., but mostly I came to grips with who I really was. The same can be said for Christy. Her faith and values are tested and she is forced to make grownup decisions in light of her terrifying experience. I give Cindy M. Hogan's Watched full stars and would recommend this book to both teens and adults alike.

The Arthurian Omen...G.G. Vandagriff

Publisher's Note: Is the story of King Arthur history or myth? In this spellbinding novel, a Celtic scholar is murdered when she finds a clue to a priceless 13th century manuscript that will provide the true identity of King Arthur. The victim's sister takes up the quest to uncover the relic, but quickly realizes that someone close to her is the murderer. As pursuit of the manuscript winds through the ruined castles and monasteries of Wales, more than one reason emerges for keeping the manuscript and the legend buried in the past.

Mandi's Review: The story of King Arthur has always been one filled with mystery and intrigue. Purported as folklore by some and history by others, King Arthur has developed as a character of international interest and I have to admit, I fall in with the crowd. I love stories that evolve around the mystical King Arthur, so when asked to review The Arthurian Omen by G.G. Vandagriff, I happily jumped on board. The author weaves history, suspense, mystery and romance in a way that will leave readers turning the pages long into the night. Maren Southcott is a character who you can easily relate. She's vivacious, strong-willed, compassionate and makes mistakes like everyone else. Vandagriff does an excellent job capturing the essence and unique culture of the UK and her vivid descriptions will leave you yearning for a trip through Wales. I loved the images of the ancient ruins alongside green rolling hills and miniature streams. I thought the author did an excellent job keeping the suspense high until the very end. Throw in history, drug cartels, ancient manuscripts, and a kidnapping and I'm hooked. I give The Arthurian Omen 4.5 out of 5 stars.

A Cry In The Night....

A Novel By Mary Higgins Clark, Queen of Suspense

Publisher's Note: For a divorced mother of two, it was a fairy-tale romance...
When lovely Jenny MacPartland met the man of her dreams while working in a New York art gallery, she could hardly believe her luck. Artist Erich Krueger was handsome, sensitive, a painter whose exquisite landscapes were making him a virtual overnight success...and a man utterly in love with her!

That twisted into a woman's most horrifying Nightmare.

Married within a month, suddenly wealthy, deeply adored, Jenny planned a warm, caring home on Erich's vast Minnesota farm. But the lonely days and eerie nights strained her nerves to the breaking point, making her doubt her own sanity. Caught in a whirlpool of shattering events, Jenny was about to unearth a past more terrifying than she dared imagine...tragic, terrible secrets that threatened her marriage, her children, her very life.

"A stunning achievement...A Cry In The Night could become a suspense classic..." Associated Press

Mandi's Review:  Married to a wealthy farmer and artist, Jenny MacPartland and her children feel as if they've suddenly stepped into a fairy tale. But when strange happenings fill the night, Jenny is left wondering if she has simply gone mad or if the ghosts of Erich's past has come back to haunt them. Just in time for Halloween, Mary Higgins Clark's A Cry In The Night is a definite thriller that will leave you gripping the edge of your seat and nibbling your fingernails. I have always enjoyed her books, but this one quickly moved to the top of the list. I don't care to read books laden with gore, language or graphic scenes, and I thought this book was tastefully written, filled with suspense, and a definite clean read. The plot moved at a rapid pace and included enough twists and turns to keep even the most savvy reader guessing until the very end. I thought the characters, including the minor characters, were very well-rounded and fleshed out, and as a mother with young children the story sent shivers up my spine. I give A Cry In The Night 4 out of 5 stars!!

Fall by Jennifer Hurst

From Goodreads:

Women and construction shouldn't mix. At least, that is what the client; Mr. Blackwell thinks when Twenty-one year old Julia D. Halstead is promoted to project manager to remodel a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast. However, the schoolhouse contains a dark secret that has been hidden for nearly a hundred years. A secret that will unleash the Furies of Hell and cause the Angels in Heaven to weep as ethereal brothers, Matthew and Nathan battle over Julia's very soul.

From Misty:
Using elements of local history and folklore, Hurst crafts a unique story about the age old battle between good and evil set in the pictureque town of Torrey, Utah and centered around the reconstruction of the old Torrey schoolhouse.

Paranormal fiction is really prevalent right now, but in a corresponding post on my personal website today (see link below), Hurst explains what makes this paranormal romance different from the others that are out there.  While other paras focus on the attention grabbing tactics of teen angst and low morals, Fall focuses more on good fighting evil, the redemption of souls, second chances to make things right, and accepting the consequences of choices--all things I really appreciated.

Things that normally bug me in a book, (such as the handful of typos, tired phrases, or occurrences that have no bearing on the plot), just didn't in this book.  The story was so engaging and the characters so memorable that I became engrossed in the story quickly and only cared about what would happen next.

I would like to have seen the main character, JD, developed more fully.  Was she anal and organized?  Or was she flighty and impulsive?  I did understand that JD, like many of us, could be both ways, but I felt that this was told in the narration more than it was shown in the story, and I failed to connect with who JD really was.  Also, JD started out strong with both organized and impulsive behaviors, but as the story played out she began to be someone who was acted upon, someone who bad things just happend to, rather than develop into a strong character who learns to control herself and her life.  BUT, those are things I am expecting to see in a sequel.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with my enjoyment of Fall.  Not that I expected to not enjoy it--I guess I just didn't know what to expect.  Hurst's writing flowed smoothly from event to event.  Her voice was easy without being informal or colloquial.  Her exciting scenes were exciting, and her creepy scenes were creepy.  A successful piece, achieving everything it attempted.  Really, a thumbs up on this unique blend of paranormal and real life.

Jennifer is running a contest for a free stay in the real Torrey Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast.  You can check that out on her website. 

And you can read more about Jennifer in an author interview on mine.

An Oldie, but a Goodie….Return to Red Castle by Dorothy Keddington

Publisher’s note: Red Castle ... an ancient citadel of wine-red stone in the heart of Utah's primitive High Uinta Mountains. Hidden away near its rocky base, a small plane lies twisted and broken.

The four men ... desperate, ruthless, will stop at nothing to retrieve the plane's valuable cargo,
but their only clue to its location are the words ... Red Castle.
Jesse Chisholm ... rugged, lonely, one of the new breed of modern Mountain Men. As a geologist for the Forest Service, he calls the wilderness his home and only the mountains know the secrets of his heart.
Melissa Heydon ... spirited, young, in love with life, the mountains, and Jesse Chisholm.

My Review:  When I was a young woman, about fourteen or fifteen years old, I spent hours wandering the aisles of my local library. I loved to read anything that hinted at the notion of romance and I was simply enamored by the thought of being in LOVE. One rainy afternoon, I stumbled across a section of more mature romance reads. Being young, I was intrigued, but when I stepped to the counter to check out my stack of books the local librarian kindly shook her head, pointed to the return cart, and replied, “Why don’t I help you find something a bit more appropriate, hmm?”  Crestfallen and a little embarrassed, I placed my books on the metal shelf and scowled as she came around the counter. She placed her hand on my shoulder and led the way toward the back of the library. She paused and scanned the shelves that sagged with hundreds of titles then thoughtfully, she pulled a worn book from the self.  The protective, cellophane cover looked less than appealing and I stared at the dog-eared book enthusiastically. Her “trust me, you’ll love it” fell on hardened ears. Needless-to-say, I checked out the book and left the library in a huff. When I returned home that evening I tossed the book on my dresser and it sat there for days, buried under a stack of over-due homework and silly notes I’d collected from friends at school. Then one boring Saturday afternoon, I finally grabbed the book and opened to the first page. I read the forward and was immediately hooked. I finished Return to Red Castle by Dorothy Keddington in one afternoon and I closed the book with a sigh. It quickly became one of my favorite books and I read this book at least once a year. In fact, I just finished it again last week. Keddington spins an amazing story of intrigue and suspense set among the majestic background of the High Uintas in Utah. The story opens with Melissa Heydon, a young woman, who travels with her brother and his buddy to visit old family friends in Utah-- the Chisloms. Missy recounts her first visit when she was just a small girl of eight. Jesse Chislom, nineteen and recently widowed, is home for the summer. When the eight- year- old Missy and the nineteen- year- old Jesse meet they become fast friends. Over the years they spend many summers together, but as Melissa grows and changes into a young woman so does her relationship change with Jesse. Years pass and their friendship fades. Jesse remarries (or so she thinks) and life moves on.  Now, in her twenties, Missy returns to the Chislom’s mountain home, hoping to bury the memories of Jesse and the bond they once shared. However, things never go as planned and when Jesse and Melissa meet once again, her life is forever changed. She soon discovers that Jesse holds a secret that could tear them apart. Then to make matters worse, a hike in the mountains turns into a deadly race against dangerous drug runners. Keddington’s ability to describe the setting and emotions leaves the reader fully engaged. Her stories are full of suspense, intrigue, action and just the right amount of “appropriate” (clean) romance. I give Return to Red Castle 4.5 out of 5 stars.