Running on Empty by Colette Ballard-Cover Reveal and Giveaway
Running On Empty by Colette Ballard Release Date: November 25, 2013 Recommended: 16 years and up Cover Design: Marie Romero Publisher: Tulip Romance ( an imprint of Spencer Hill Press)
What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim? You’re the killer?
River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom.
Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky return to Texas. Her return means more than facing her ugly past, she must also face the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.
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I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.
Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.
It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.
After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?
REVIEW: IF I SHOULD DIE is the third installment in Amy Plum’s Young Adult Revenant-Die For Me series.
A bit of background into the storyline: Revenants are immortal, re-animated humans who feel the need to continuously sacrifice themselves to save humans. As part of their immortality, the Revenants must enter a once-monthly hibernation where their spirit becomes Volant and they have the ability to separate mind from body, and communicate with other Revenants while not in corporeal form. And in these cases-their bodies are protected from harm by family and friends.
If you have not read the first two storylines, this review may be a bit spoilerish as the events of this particular book focus on re-animating a Revenant whose body has been destroyed by their enemy. Believing he is the Champion who would have saved the Revenants from certain destruction, his powers were to be used in the war between good and evil-stolen by a one time Revenant who had plans to usurp control of former kindred and friends. But this particular Revenant is not the Champion and his Volant spirit is continuously pulled towards his final death. When the true Champion is discovered, the aura will be a beacon for others to follow.
As the Paris House of Revenants prepares to go to war with the Numa, they struggle with their feelings and emotions. Once again unrequited love will force two of their household members to make decisions that will affect the lives of the others, while another will sacrifice himself to save a friend. In the end, the Paris Revenants numbers will dwindle as two will face the final death and another must come to a decision regarding who and what it is he wants.
Amy Plum has written a storyline that has brought some finality to this particular ARC of the series but has also opened up several potential avenues for a spin-off series for a couple of former Paris Revenants. Amy has taken the world of Revenant’s and Volant’s and, written a storyline for the young and the young at heart. As a YA storyline, Amy (thankfully) avoided the messy love triangle although there was a definite possibility for a heartbreaking end. The love between Vincent and Kate is strong enough to withstand death and it would have withstood competition from one of their own.
The world of the Paris Revenants is awash in French history and the sights and sounds of Paris at night: and more of the history of the Revenants and the Volant is revealed when the search for a way to save one of their own requires a history lesson that dates back hundreds of years if not more. Amy reunites the characters from her previous storylines in a final struggle against a common foe and along the way, reintroduces the readers to a Revenant who has struggled to find his place among his kind.
The storyline is fast paced. There is rarely any down time to consider what has happened as the plot pushes forward with the impending war between the Revenants and the Numa. The central characters are likeable and the reader is able to relate to and empathize with their sorrow and pain.
Overall, IF I SHOULD DIE is a fitting conclusion to this particular series. There is nothing overwhelming or philosophical in its presentation but in the grand scheme of love and ever lasting life-what would you sacrifice to save your one and only?
Ali Philips never thought anything could be more devastating than the day Levi and Tucker Corbin, her two best friends—her only friends—moved away. Three years passed without a single phone call, text message, or email from them and she’s resolved to the fact that she will probably never see them again. Until one morning when she comes face-to-face with Levi Corbin in physics class.
Little does she know, the Corbins have returned to Haldeen with only one thing on their minds: winning Ali’s heart. Ali soon finds herself in the middle of a love triangle she doesn’t want any part of. As she tries to reclaim the friendships she’s lost and to adjust to the unfamiliar feelings she’s having, she struggles with making the one decision that will forever change their lives: Levi or Tucker Corbin?
She’s always had a special bond with Tucker and feels most comfortable when she’s with him. But Levi brings her to life in a way she didn’t think was possible and makes her feel things she didn’t think she would ever feel. Torn between the two, Ali is certain of only one thing–by the time it’s over, she’ll lose one of her best friends.
•••••••••••••••••
REVIEW: When you are young the friendships you make sometimes stay with you forever – that is – at least until they are taken from you. Ali Philips is a beautiful young girl from small town Haldeen, Georgia. Growing up here had been hard for Ali, she had always been picked on and had always been “one of the boys.” She did however have two best friends – her only friends – twins – Tucker and Levi Corbin. They were as close as any three friends could possibly be. Spending their summer days at Old Man Potter’s swimming hole, climbing trees and hanging out in the hay loft of the old abandoned barn. Life was simple and their friendships were forever. That is until Levi and Tucker abruptly announced that they were moving. Tearing Ali’s world apart – she was left with no one. No friends, no one to protect her. Life did continue – and Ali weathered the storm.
Fast forward three years later – Ali is a stunningly beautiful junior in high school. She has a group of friends that she is comfortable with and a life that she is secure in. Until she walks into Physics class and sees Levi Corbin. The Corbin Boys are back. After three years – three years of no contact – no phone calls, no emails, no letters. They just disappeared from her life – and here they are – back again in Haldeen. Ali is unsure of what the future holds now, but one thing is clear – the Corbin boys are all grown up and better looking than she remembers. The question is – will their friendships go back to the way they were and does Ali even want them to?
I found this book very heart-warming and well rounded. I immediately enjoyed the character of Ali Philips and her small town. I found the author’s knowledge of small town living and being a teenager growing up there was spot on. While I am years gone from being a teenager – I found myself remembering and reminiscing about my teenage years while reading this book. There is an abundance of teenage angst – which lets admit it – what teenager’s life isn’t filled with angst. But there is also an amazing amount of true friendship and loyalty, love and understanding. The relationships that Ali begins to explore with Levi and Tucker were very emotional and I could feel the pain that Ali felt. And I will admit to shedding a few tears here and there for the decisions she had to make. The characters of Levi and Tucker Corbin were almost real to me – at least I wished they were. Handsome, adorable, charming Southern boys – who could ask for or want anything more. I thoroughly loved this story – the only thing that I can complain about is (without revealing too much) – while I understand Ali’s choice – I do not agree with it. And I am praying to the book gods that there are more books in the works that will elaborate and continue the lives of these three characters. If you love a good, down home, Southern love story that grips your emotions and tears at your soul then I highly recommend this book.
Copy supplied by the publicist
Reviewed by Erin K.
About the Author:
Born and raised in the small town of Mexico, New York, Kara was an only child who was forced to find ways to entertain herself. Playing make believe with her Barbie dolls and stuffed animals was her first real taste of storytelling before she became old enough to develop a love affair with the written word. In early 2010, Kara picked up her very first erotic romance novel, and she was instantly hooked. She loves to write contemporary romance, erotica, and young adult romance. Currently she has several full-length novels in the works, a series of novellas, and a handful of short stories. Kara is an active member of the CNY Creative Writers Café and the CNY Romance Writers. Today, Kara resides in New Haven, New York with her husband, five kids, and three cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s thinking about reading and writing. And when she’s not doing that, she’s spending time with her family and friends.
TRC: Hi Kara and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of The Georgia Corbins.
Kara: Thank you! And thanks so much for letting me stop by. I’m excited to be here.
TRC: We would like to start with some background information, would you please tell us something about yourself?
Kara: Well, I’m a full time stay-at-home mom to five children – four girls and one boy. I was an only child growing up and I hated it, which is why I opted to have more than one child. lol. Writing really is a passion for me and it started out as just something to occupy my time while my kids were in school, but then I realized I was kind of good at it and I decided to try getting published. As they say, the rest is history.
TRC: What difficulties or challenges have you faced as an author?
Kara: There are a lot of difficulties and challenges. The first is finding enough time to write all the stories that are rumbling around in my mind. The second is finding a good balance between writing time and marketing. Trying to get my books in the hands of the readers is a huge challenge, especially when there are so many great authors out there looking to do the same.
TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?
Kara: Thankfully, I have a great network of friends and authors I can bounce ideas off, but my go to people are Giovanni Valentino and Nikki Lynn Vale. Not only are they close, personal friends, but they are members of my weekly writers group. Then I have a super awesome beta reader, Louise D. Gornall, whose insights are always spot on and tremendously helpful. I’d be lost without them.
TRC: The Georgia Corbins is the June 2013 release in your new Young Adult series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?
Kara: It’s the ultimate love triangle — fraternal twin brothers fighting over their childhood best friend. As if the teen years aren’t hard enough, throw in the need to make an impossible choice and you’ve got a story ripe with tension.
TRC: Ali and The Corbin Boys is a free download from Smashwords. Should the readers grab a copy before reading The Georgia Corbins?
Kara: I hope they do! I mean, it’s free! Why wouldn’t they? Seriously though, The Georgia Corbins can be read without first reading Ali and The Corbin Boys. This free download gives the history between Ali and the Corbins. It shows how they became friends and the tumultuous relationship between Ali and Shelby, who is the closest thing to a villain in this story. I think it adds another layer to the book and helps to give a better understanding to the complex relationships among these characters.
TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?
Kara: It was rather easy to do with this story. From the beginning its pretty clear who Ali wants to choose, but a series of events and realizations lead her to make the opposite choice. From the reviews and feedback I’ve already received, it was something readers didn’t see coming. They’re in for a lot more surprises in book two!
TRC: What difficulties did you encounter (logistical, research, etc) outlining and writing this particular novel?
Kara: The dialect. This takes place in the Deep South and the way of speaking down there differs from how we speak here in NY. I spent some time researching the dialect and the accents, listening to clips of it on YouTube. Then I incorporated all of that into the story only to be told it was too “heavy” and that it made it difficult to read. So, I had to go back and start over. At least now I know for next time. Lol.
TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters, which actors or models would best represent your ideal image?
Kara: The only one I ever had a real image for was Tucker and that was a young Chris Hemsworth.
TRC: How many books do you plan for the series and will the characters and storylines overlap?
Kara: Right now I’m planning on three books. This first book was the story of all three of them and Ali’s choice. The second and third books will focus on each Corbin boy individually, because I can tell you now, things don’t stay happy for the three of them for very long. I’ve considered writing a fourth book that would take place ten years in the future, at their high school reunion, but I’m still letting that idea toss around in my brain a little more. And yes, all of the characters and storylines will overlap. Even though it’s three separate books, it’s one long, continuous story.
TRC: How thoroughly do you plan out your characters and story before you begin the first draft?
Kara: Not much at all. I’m a panster to a fault. Typically I’ll jot down some character names with a physical description and maybe a plot idea or two, but that’s about it.
TRC: Do your characters direct the storyline or do you have a semblance of control?
Kara: I’d like to think I’m in control, but that’s not always the case. I guide them in a certain direction, and then my characters take over. It’s more fun that way.
TRC: You are a writer of several different genres. Do you prefer writing one over another? Which do you find easier?
Kara: Yes, I am a multi-genre writer. I hate to be confined to just one. My favorite genre to write is erotic romance because I feel like I have a lot more freedom with my characters. I don’t have to censor them as much.
TRC: If you could become a contestant on a television reality program, which show would you prefer and why?
Kara: Dancing With the Stars – for several reasons: (1) I’ve always wanted to learn how to dance; (2) I would LOVE to meet Derrick Hough; (3) I wouldn’t have to eat anything nasty like bugs; (4) I could, hopefully, finally lose these few last pounds that just won’t seem to go away; (5) Hello? Have you seen the pretty costumes they get to wear??
TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines?
Kara: With lots and lots of chocolate! I always try to break things down into smaller portions because if I look at the big picture, all seems hopeless. If I know I have to write 20K words in a week, I’ll break that down to 3K a day until it’s finished, which is doable with all my other responsibilities. If I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed, I’ll take some time for myself to decompress. I’ll take my dogs for a walk or take a nice hot bubble bath.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Kara: Lots of fun things! The sequel to The Georgia Corbins; the sequel to my contemporary NA romance, Death of a Waterfall; and an erotic paranormal romance.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Kara: Thank you to everyone who has bought and read my books. Your support means the world to me. Thank you to The Reading Café for inviting me to stop by to chat. And to all YA, erotica, and/or romance authors out there: I would love to work on a project with you. Contact me if you’re looking for a co-writer or a contributor to an anthology.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food –Chicken Alfredo with broccoli
Favorite Dessert –Cheesecake with fresh strawberries
Favorite TV Show –The Vampire Diaries
Last Movie You Saw –Iron Man 3
Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk Chocolate
Favorite Flower — Orchids
TRC: Thank you Kara for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of your new novel.
Description: Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo’s sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline’s mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he’s convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she’s going?
Sarah Dessen’s devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer
Review:
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen is a simple story of a young girl, in a small town setting, who is spending her last summer at home, before she goes off to college. It is a story of family, friendship, coming of age, & decisions that will affect the future.
Emaline is our heroine, and right from the start you are drawn to her. She is the perfect girl next door, sweet, friendly, smart, savvy, and a hard worker. Emaline is working for her sister, at Colby Realty, greeting vacationers who are renting property. Emaline knows her job well, as she ensures each property is well taken care of.
We get to meet Emaline’s family and friends early on, as well as her boyfriend Luke. They are the perfect couple, and have been dating for three years, though they have known each other since they were kids. Luke is a nice guy, and a hunk.
Emaline is surprised when her father plans to visit for a few weeks, with her 10 year old half brother, Benji. She is estranged with her father, as he has never been part of her life. Emaline considers her mom’s husband as her Dad, and has lived with them and her sisters, all her life. She is upset with her father, who tried to make amends, offering to help pay her tuition to Columbia University, only to back out in the last minute; leaving Emaline to go a college a couple of hours away from Colby. She accepts the fact that her father never keeps his promises, and is still a happy contented young lady with the family she loves.
Then she meets Theo, a young student from N.Y., who is working with a documentary filmmaker, who is in town to try to convince a Colby recluse artist to do a documentary on his career. Just at that time, Luke makes a mistake, and they break up, leaving Emaline, now free, to find herself becoming attracted to Theo. Is it Theo she is really attracted to, or is it the exciting life he is learning for his own career?
In between, handling her family crisis; her half brother, who is lonely; her broken relationship with Luke, as well as her father; and the possible new exciting relationship with Theo; Emaline finds herself facing decisions on what she truly wants in her life. She knows she is happy in Colby, but is that all she wants out of life? As the summer winds down, Emaline becomes involved in helping with the documentary, and dealing with problems that she can and does resolve.
Dessen has created some wonderful characters that you end up caring about. Her friends Daisy and Morris; her half brother, Benji; Luke, who though he made a mistake to ruin his relationship, is a nice guy; and her family, who she knew would always be there for her. This was a simple heart warming story of likeable and realistic characters, and watching Emaline discover things about herself that will help define her direction in life.
If you are looking for excitement, a sexy romantic read, YA angst, or anything paranormal, this is not the book to read. If you want a simple, but wonderful story about a young girl coming of age, and the wonderful small town she lives in. I highly recommend this book.
This book was unique, original and conceptually intriguing. Not the norm as to what I would typically read – but I found the main characters endearing and warm. The book opens and we meet high school basketball player Zara “Zip” McKee – she is your average teen jock. She lives and breathes basketball – and has her mind set on one thing – making it to the regional championships.
Into her life comes Kieran Lanier – mysterious, Brad Pitt look-a-like only hotter. Their first encounter leaves Zip baffled, wanting to know more. And does she ever find out more. Kieran Lanier has secrets – lots and lots of secrets and a strange family that is even more mysterious and secretive than him. As the story unfolds we find out that Kieran has narcolepsy (or so the family says) and the effect of this disease has left him sheltered and shy. But when the one girl that takes the time to learn more about him, spends time with him, he begins to open up and share his secrets with her. What will these secrets entail? And will knowing them put Zip’s life at risk? Kieran isn’t your average teenager and there are others that realize this – others that want him for their own use. As Zip weaves her way further into Kieran’s life – she too becomes a target for the evil that stalks Kieran.
At the beginning of this book I was a little leery of it – I am not a sports fan at all and being that Zip was a basketball star and jock I was afraid that the book would be filled with a bunch of sports nonsense. To my surprise the book had just the right mix of high school drama, sports, romance and mystery. I was fascinated with the fact that Kieran had the “so called” narcolepsy and that his sister Kayla was extremely protective of him. I could not put the book down – wanting to know why his family was so strange and what were they hiding. I loved the two almost exact opposite family lifestyles of Zip and Kieran. Zip’s family is fun, easy going and laid back while Kieran’s family is strict, rigid and very abrupt. The two families intermixed well and I loved the dinner scene of them eating together. The secondary characters – the ones that seem to be after Kieran add a great deal of mystery and drama – which left me wanting more. I would have to say that this book was highly original and was definitely an out of the box concept. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can not wait to read the next book in this series.
As You Wake is Book Two of the In Your Dreams book series by Amy Martin. The story continues with Zip McKee and Kieran Lanier on the last day of school and the start of summer vacation. As they are about to begin their summers they find out that the person that was out to harm Kieran may not have vanished as they first thought. Scared that he has brought harm to his family and to Zip, Kieran takes off. While running away is never the answer, he feels this is what he must do to protect his family and his girlfriend.
Zip is off to spend the summer with her father, miles away – and how can she possibly enjoy her summer with Kieran on the run and god knows where? Little does Zip know that a visit by Kieran’s sister turns into anything but. Kidnapped and on the search for Kieran – Zip realizes that his sister may just know where he is. Will they find him in time? And what will they find out in the end?
I found the continuation in book two very fluid and thorough. I loved how the story continued and I loved the secondary characters introduced. The inter-mingling of the two families again – left me laughing out loud. One family very strict and abrupt – the other kind of laid back and easy going. Spending time together is actually good for both families.
The relationship of Kieran and Zip progresses in this book and I could feel the bond between them growing. Kieran also gets to spend more time with his birth father whom I liked and began to really care for as a character. Kieran’s birth father really lends a lot to the story and also brings more mystery. This book was a quick read and was very enjoyable. The only bad that I have to say about the book – who ends a story like that??? UGH!!!! I have to wait until when for the next book? I definitely will be waiting with baited breath for it!
Amy Martin wrote and illustrated her first book at the age of ten and gave it to her fourth grade teacher, who hopefully lost it in her house somewhere and didn’t share it with anyone else.
The first book she published as a grown-up, In Your Dreams,was a semi-finalist in the Young Adult category of the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Competition. The second book in the In Your Dreams series, As You Wake, was released on April 30, 2013.
A native of St. Charles, MO, Amy currently lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and a ferocious attack tabby named Cleo. When not writing or reading, she can usually be found watching sports, drinking coffee, or indulging her crippling Twitter habit (and, sometimes, doing all three at once).
Owen Johnson’s day was progressing just like it did for most other teenagers. By lunchtime he had climbed a tall building using abilities usually reserved for superheroes; he’d flirted with the girl he had secretly adored for years; he’d come home to find his dad had been kidnapped and a mysterious stranger standing in his living room; and finally he’d been rescued by the elderly woman next door who had suddenly revealed that she had the power to launch people through the air.
“The Remarkables” introduces Owen Johnson to the world of The Remarkables, a group of seemingly ageless war heroes, each possessing unique gifts that had been used to fight evil. Now they must help Owen find his dad, and uncover a new threat to our way of life. Along their journey Owen slowly starts to learn the secrets of his past, and uncovers surprising truths about himself and those that he thought he knew: some of which he is glad to learn, some he may wish he hadn’t.
••••••••••••••••
REVIEW: THE REMARKABLES is the first storyline in A.D.Elliott’s YA sci-fi/fantasy series focusing on sixteen year old Owen Johnson and a group of gifted men and women who call themselves The Remarkables. Not quite the X-men or Marvel Comic heroes, The Remarkables have certain abilities that allow them to pull their powers from the elements such as wind, fire and water. Owen Johnson is about to learn what it really means to be special.
The Remarkables is a super hero storyline but not one that involves costumes or over-the-top abilities. Many are gifted with psychic powers while others have the ability to pull their strengths and gifts from other worlds. The group has been hunted for decades but with Owen’s full potential about to be revealed, they can no longer hide in plain sight as Owen has become the number one Remarkable on the hit list of super heroes. On the run, Owen and the others will find themselves pulled into a struggle of good vs evil.
The storyline reads more like a middle grade novel rather than young adult. This is an adventure storyline where the young hero must use his powers to save the people that he knows and loves, but in true super hero storylines, it is never that easy.
Many secondary characters are introduced whose backstory and history were only hinted at or alluded to. There are many unexplained scenarios about The Remarkables that have yet to be answered and this left me with some issues of coherency and cohesion. I kept asking myself-How and Why -but apparently The Remarkables is the first book in a series (by virtue of the ending) and hopefully many of the questions and unknowns will be answered in the next book.
Overall, THE REMARKABLES is a cute adventure storyline but one that I believe will be of interest to a select audience-perhaps young boys and girls who dream that they too will one day be able to fly and walk through walls. If you have a tween who likes to read stories of adventure, science fiction and super heroes with magical abilities then The Remarkables is the perfect summer read.
Description: Meet Arthur Penhaligon on the day his life changes – forever. On the day he skateboards into the past, discovering a world of magic and mystery; unaware that he was chosen before birth to fulfil a unique destiny.
All Arthur really wants is to have a normal life, doing normal things. But unknown to him, before he was born – a very long time before – Arthur was chosen. And that will mean that his life is going to be anything but ordinary. Skate-boarding down his local street he is suddenly aware that everyone has disappeared, except for just one man, a sinister stranger – and a crow. And the stranger is waiting for him.
Arthur and his friends, Nick and Tamar, quickly find themselves pulled into a strange world of deep magic, mystery and danger. A world involving the murderous Crow Man, and Matearnas – the self-crowned Queen of Cornwall, determined to rob Arthur of his ancient birthright. At any cost.
Normal is just about to go out of the window.
Review: The Golden Sword, set in Cornwall, England, centuries after the rise and fall of Camelot, is about Arthur Penhaligon, a young boy destined for big things. Author, Rosie Morgan, tells a lovely story about a normal teenager with normal wishes for a great summer. When peculiar events interfere with said plans and can no longer go ignored, Arthur innately rises to the occasion. Great-Uncle Lance must have had something to do with that?
Arthur is being stalked by a man wearing a long coat and wide-brimmed hat…and a crow. From their first encounter, “the stranger slowly and deliberately raised one arm and pointed right at him” to a near confrontation that riled up and assembled a charming cast of cats in Arthur’s defense. These surreptitious visits would soon turn more menacing and set off a series of events linking Arthur to the legendary past…and his imminent future.
Rosie Morgan is not retelling the legend of King Arthur – rather, she’s preparing the stage (and a sequel, I hope!), for young Arthur’s remarkable destiny. Armed with Tamar and Nick as his trusty sidekicks (headed for the current-day Round Table?), “they were a force to be reckoned with when they were on the same side”.
Fortuitous meetings with members of the “Watchers” slowly, but assuredly, place Arthur in line for a triumphant conclusion. Good versus evil ensues and Arthur faces Matearnas, an adversary unwilling to relinquish her “guardianship” over the land. In spite of his disbelief over the impossible circumstances that have invaded his life, Arthur displays faith and allows fate to dictate his actions. In a nod to the legend, Bedivere, a knight and loyal follower of King Arthur indicates to young Arthur that he is in fact The One:
“There are more things under the heavens than we can ever imagine, Sire.”
At 187 pages, lots of authors would overwhelm you and cram details. This is an unhurried, albeit slow-paced, story of a boy gathering his troops for more adventures. Will they all be of heroic proportions? Who knows, but if Ms. Morgan supplies us with enchanting new quests, I’m reading! The Golden Sword appeals to all ages and I think that’s important for the YA audience when, undoubtedly, the past will encounter the present. Ms. Morgan entwines a brief history lesson while delivering a thoroughly enjoyable read about Arthur’s journey.
The slogan is emblazoned on the minds of every Haven employee. But for Glory, life inside the domed city is anything but safe.
After rescuing her brother, Glory returns to Haven as a double agent to locate and save fellow Deviants. Far from her family and from Burn, Glory faces danger at every turn as she trains to be a Compliance Officer–to track and subdue her own kind–while she works undercover to rescue as many Deviants as she can.
When people she trusts turn against her and a powerful member of Management takes her under her wing, Glory questions everything she believes and can no longer tell her allies from her enemies. A Deviant, a member of the secret police, a double agent–Glory fights to save others, but can she save herself?
Review:
Compliance by Maureen McGowan is her second book in her Dust Chronicles series. When we last left off in Deviants (first book), Glory was going to be sent back to Haven; this time as a spy for the Freedom Army. To refresh your memory, Haven is a city under a dome, that protects everyone from the dangerous outside world of Shredders, Deviants, etc. But Haven hides the truth inside that dome.
Compliance picks up about three months later, with Glory back to training with The Comp. She was accepted back, as they thought she escaped her captor, who had kidnapped her. As described above in the book description, Glory is working undercover, finding and saving Deviants (hidden powers). When she meets her new contact from the FA, who tells her she is to stop until further notice, since the last one she thought was saved, was killed by shredders. Despondent, Glory tries to get more information, so that she can convince the FA to allow her to continue.
Glory is also working with one of Haven’s management leaders to find a mole inside the Comp. During all of this, she has to be careful not to reveal that she is a Deviant (she can kill just with her eyes), which will cause her to be expunged (sent outside to face the crazed Shredders), and die. Glory is still with her boyfriend Cal, but tries hard to not to allow herself to trust anyone. Her friends from the first book, Jayma, and Scout are still there, though not as much.
The story concentrates on Glory finding the deviants inside Haven & saving them, finding the mole; but the major arc in this story is the introduction of a new character, Mrs. Kalin, who is one of Haven’s top management. She takes a liking to Glory, and Glory finds herself becoming very close to her. Over time they become like mother and daughter, but something isn’t right. As her friends and Cal fall into danger, Glory must fight her feelings for the woman who claims her as her adopted mother, and control her Deviant powers to rise up to save her friends, as well as herself. Without giving spoilers, I’ll just throw out some questions we faced heading towards the climatic ending. Will Glory be able to save her friends? Why is Glory concerned about her feelings for Mrs. Kalin? Will Glory act on her feelings for Cal, or is Burn still the one? Will Glory survive? The last half of this book was extremely exciting, with many twists that McGowan seems to throw at us in this series. If you have read Deviants, then you must read this book. If you have not, then start with Deviants. I love this series, and Maureen McGowan does a fantastic job continuing the flow from Deviants to Compliance flawlessly. With most things resolved at the end, McGowan does leave it somewhat open for book 3, Glory. Can’t wait.
