Review: Surrender the Sky

Surrender the Sky by Meradeth Houston
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: May 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

Gabby lives by two unbreakable rules: don’t expose her kind, the Sary, and don’t fall in love—too bad some rules are made to be broken.

When Gabby’s most difficult charge accidentally shoots her in front of a class full of students, the event exposes her carefully hidden identity. She shifts from looking like a normal teen to her secret Sary form, revealing her wings and the existence of her kind—immortals who try to keep people from committing suicide.

Her incident attracts the attention of the next leader of the Sary, Jassen, who offers her an impossible bargain: she can keep her wings if she makes amends with those who know the truth. Things get more complicated when a rebel Sary, intent on exposing them to the world, starts interfering with Gabby’s work. And there’s no denying her attraction to Jassen, who is torn between his duties and his heart.

With threats at every turn and her immortality on the line, Gabby has to find a way to save the Sary or surrender the sky forever.

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"Surrender the Sky" by Meradeth Houston is actually one book of a series that has to do with Sary, guardian angels who look over humans and help those who are thinking of committing suicide find their way.
Our story revolves around the Sary Gabby, who was assigned to a high school in hopes of helping a boy who's been bullied for years. However, things don't go as planned and she's faced with an even bigger challenge of making wrongs right so that she doesn't end up losing her wings and being kicked out by the other Sary.

Houston starts the action right off in the first chapter as Gabby is sitting in class and the boy she's supposed to be looking out for pulls a gun out in order to kill himself, and he's not afraid of taking others with him. Gabby tries to talk him out of it while also protecting her fellow classmates, but ends up getting shot, and exposes her wings in front of the entire class. Instantly, the stakes are raised and the reader is left turning the pages to see what Gabby's fate will end up being.

I think that there was also good world building involved in "Surrender the Sky". Throughout the story, Houston was able to explain what the Sary were, how they came to be (they weren't always winged guardian angels), and what their mission is. We even learn that there's a void-like blackness that awaits anyone who commits suicide, and they're fighting to prevent people from being sentenced to that fate.
There are a few twists and turns throughout the story as well.

Cover Reveal: Breaks

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Breaks by Amy Evans
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Book Description:

When the CLICKS and ECHOES have all been ignored, and the universe can take it no more, the pressure builds below the surface until everything breaks.

Cami’s invitation to the elite Australian Surf Carnival is a dream come true, but it’s causing tension with Blake, her parents, and her community.  Her relationships feel as broken and unsteady as their island home where the pin swims below the water’s surface, symbolizing a total lack of safety and balance.  The Elders in The Guard fear for their new generation, so they send Mica and the other twins away with Cami. It maybe for everyone’s protection, but Cami’s angry to not get to break away on her own.

Review: The Group

The Group by Kevin R. Doyle
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Release Date: January 12, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Professor Ron Green could only blame himself as his marriage teetered on a precipice. Even though the affair had been over for months, he felt accused by every icy stare his wife sent his way. What could be worse than this slow motion disaster? The murder of his ex-lover could be worse.

Becoming the prime suspect in her murder could be worse. Discovering another murder related to his lover's death, and making himself the scapegoat by telling the police about the connection could be worse.

Someone is killing harmless members of the focus group where he met his lover. What did the group do to cause this horrible vengeance? Who could feel hurt by anything Ron and the others had done in those two brief days?

Ron must answer those questions and find the killer before he ends up taking the fall. Or worse, before the killer finds him.

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I always love it when I find a new author who leaves me anxiously awaiting their next book. After reading The Group, I can add Kevin Doyle’s name to that list.

Review: The End of the Line

The End of the Line by Jim Power
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Latesha Thomas is a beautiful, young African-American woman who lives with her handicapped father. She is in her final year of university and they are having a hard time making ends meet. She decides to start a matchmaking service to make a little extra money, though she has no experience and it turns out to be a disaster.

She does, however, meet a client, a handsome white man named Peter Elsworth. The sparks fly immediately, but there’s a huge problem. Her father, and his mother, are vehemently opposed to an interracial relationship. This leads to tremendous conflict, but their love will not be denied. They grow closer, yet the closer they become, the more the tension rises.

In time a secret connection between their two worlds become clear and this adds another dimension of conflict and complexity. But love is color blind and they are irresistibly drawn to one another.


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When I first read the description of End of the Line, I knew that I wanted to review this book. I wanted to see how the author handled the subject matter. Mr. Power did not disappoint in this wonderfully sweet story about two young people who have to overcome the objections of their parents.

Peter and Latesha are great characters that I enjoyed spending several hours with as I watched their relationship develop. It just felt right for them to be together and I wanted them to have their happily-ever-after ending.

Book Blitz: The Girl (Guardians #1)

The Girl (Guardians #1) by Lola St.Vil
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: January 9, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N

Book Description:

Sitting there in the car, a part of me bitterly resented what she was doing to me. I knew it wasn’t her fault. But does she have to be so… alluring? I need to focus on something else besides the spot between her earlobe and neck. It looked so soft. Her lips were slightly parted as she looked out the window.

I wanted to part them further with mine. I put both my hands on the steering wheel. I could not allow myself to let go until she was out of the car. Suddenly she leaned in and kissed me. It was far better than I could even begin to explain to you.

I’ve fought and died a slow and painful death on earth. And nothing, NOTHING can compare to how hard it was for me to pull away from her lips. I don’t think any angel could to do it twice in a lifetime…


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Excerpt:

Ameana came over to me and sat on my lap. She wrapped her hands around my neck. I lifted my head and looked into her face. After all this time we still have secrets the other has yet to discover. Looking in her eyes, I was certain there were things she hadn’t told me.

I was also aware of how much I enjoyed being in her embrace. She leaned in closer until our lips were almost touching. She never kisses me first. She likes to test me to see if I can get close to her and not kiss her. I never pass the test. I cannot be that close to her and not touch her. I moved in and closed the gap.

Her lips are soft and giving. She leans in and kisses my ear and down my neck. I gently return the favor. I’m slightly more forceful in kissing her than she was in kissing me.

Book Blitz: Crushed

Crushed by R.S. Novelle
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 7, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N

Book Description:

Brooklyn has decided to stick around campus to pursue her Master’s Degree while her boyfriend chases a job opportunity in Chicago. 

After discovering that long distance relations rarely work out, her best friend helps her to decide that she needs to put down the daily pints of therapeutic ice cream and join their local gym.

Though resistant to the idea at first, Brooklyn relents and finds that things quickly heat up with her new personal trainer Collin. Is it just a flirtatious crush, or is there something real there? 

And will the blind date her best friend has also committed her to have any weight in the decision on whether or not Brooklyn will pursue her chances with Collin?

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Excerpt:

As soon as I walked through the perfectly polished glass doors, I was assaulted by a rush of bright colors, vibrant music and overly friendly people just dying to put their bodies through the most grueling workout they could endure. And I had to admit to myself, their enthusiasm was a little contagious. People of all shapes, sizes and ages surrounded me, and I began to feel those nerves dissolve – just a little bit.

Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

And that’s when I saw him. He was leaning casually against the check-in desk, the absurdly chiseled muscles of his arm flexing under the weight of his perfect body. They were easy to see, thanks to the black top he’d cut the sides out of. His dark brown eyes glistened with boyish mischief while his lips curled into an appealingly delicious smile.

The low rumble of laughter that flowed from his chest moved through me, over me, and almost immediately – I’m ashamed to say – I could picture myself in those sexy arms with his hands moving in all sorts of ways. It was one of those knock-down-drag-out images that stilled me in my tracks. And I’m pretty certain my face turned a million shades of red.