Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 172
March 29, 2016
"New Release Tuesday": GOAT CHILDREN by JORDAN ELIZABETH
Today, for "New Release Tuesday" we have a brand new book from the author of Escape from Witchwood Hollow, Cogling, and the Treasure Chronicles books, Jordan Elizabeth!
GOAT CHILDREN A young adult novel with a touch of fantasy, love, and imagination versus reality.
When Keziah’s grandmother, Oma, is diagnosed with dementia, Keziah faces two choices: leave her family and move to New Winchester to care for Oma, or stay in New York City and allow her grandmother to live in a nursing home miles away.
The dementia causes Oma to be rude and paranoid, nothing like the woman Keziah remembers. Each day becomes a greater weight and love a harsher burden. Keziah must keep Oma from wandering off or falling, and try to convince her grandmother to see a doctor as her eyesight and hearing fail, but Oma refuses to believe anything is wrong. Resentful of her hardships in New Winchester, Keziah finds herself drawn to Oma’s ramblings about the Goat Children, a mythical warrior class. These fighters ride winged horses, locating people in need, while attempting to destroy evil in the world. Oma sees the Goat Children everywhere, and as Keziah reads the stories Oma wrote about them, she begins to question if they really exist.
GOAT CHILDREN is now available on Amazon from CHBB.
Check out early reviews on GoodReads!
Check out Chapter 1: Bodies crushed against each other, a blur of hair and clothes, in the mad dash to exit the subway. The air smelled of the greasy restaurants above and felt stuffy, despite the bitter cold that rattled through the damp subway tunnel. My mouth watered as I sniffed roasted chestnuts. You haven’t eaten dinner yet, my rumbling stomach scolded. I slipped past a man speaking rapid Spanish to board the train, grabbed a pole, slid on to a seat, and pulled my green bag higher towards my chest. The two paperbacks inside jammed into my ribs. With a groan, I shifted into a new position, wondering what glorious worlds awaited within the glossy covers. “Whoa ho, ho, ho.” More people ranting on the subway. It could never be a quiet ride. I opened my bag to peer at the fantasy novels. I’d chosen thick books because they lasted longer and made the reading more rewarding.“Ho, little one.” A face shoved into mine from the aisle, and I jerked back, squeaking. Oily black hair hung over a scarred forehead. The man swayed, braying a laugh. I glanced at the woman with bright pink hair sitting on the next seat. She read a newspaper without looking up.“So much to you.” The man licked his lips and slurred the words. His pungent odor clawed its way through my nose; no escaping the invisible fumes. They washed over me with groping draws until my eyes watered. I cringed, my craving for chestnuts gone. Anyone on a diet would be thankful to have him around. He stood, clinging to a pole with one gloved hand. Threads poked from the torn seams in the gripping brown leather. Two duffel bags, stained with mud, rested near his feet, bulging with contents. I lowered my gaze, clutching the bag tighter. Please go away. I shouldn’t have taken the subway, but I’d done it to save time. Even though I was seventeen, Mama said it wasn’t safe to ride alone, and now, I agreed. I’m not gonna be home by my seven o’clock curfew. Mama’s gonna freak. I can’t believe I forgot my phone. “You don’t belong on this world.” He smacked his lips. Behind his head, a large sign told the public not to smoke, or they’d get lung cancer and die. It was easier to stare at the anti-smoking sign than him.“Yes, thank you,” I mumbled as he leered at me. Even if he lacked a home and suffered from insanity, he didn’t deserve rudeness.“You like fantasy?”I stared at my lap, but when he repeated the question louder, I nodded. “What would ya do if fantasy became your life? What would ya do if it wasn’t fantasy anymore?” “Fantasy isn’t real.” I shifted my gaze to my black socks. They came up to my thighs and the right sock had a tiny hole near the knee. I’d have to sew it when I got home. If I studied it, maybe he’d grow bored and mosey on elsewhere. “Are you happy here? Don’t you want more, little one? I can take you to another world.” His deep breaths made snot rattle in his nose. I gagged, hiding my mouth behind my hand. The woman with the newspaper glanced over. I pleaded silently for her to make the man go away, but she moved to an empty seat down the car, wrinkling her nose. I still had five more stops before I could get away. Do I dare follow her?“Don’t you believe in destiny?”What if he sits next to me? I slid my bag onto the empty seat, clutching the handle. As the subway curved around the corner, it screeched, the sound echoing through the metallic enclosure as if screaming, “Doom!”“I’ve been to other lands. I’ve seen my future, and I spit at it.” He turned his head to hack on the floor. The saliva bubbled with a yellowish hue. The subway squealed to a halt, and some of the passengers stood to exit. I removed the bag in case someone new sat down, someone safe, but no one came near or looked at us as they found seats. The doors slid shut, and the train moved again. Four more stops to go.“Don’t shun fantasy. I’ve made mistakes and don’t want you to make ‘em too. Take it and see what you can do. Take it!” He pumped his fist, revealing grease stains on his coat sleeves.I scanned the other passengers’ faces. They ignored us, although the ranting man filled the car with his voice. Only the smiling faces on wall advertisements watched. Ever-smiling, ever-trapped in their realm of sales. I fiddled with the zipper on the front of my gray hoodie, heart racing. The subway halted at the next station. Again, people exited and entered, and no one sat beside me. Three more stops to go. I drummed my fingers against my thigh.“I know all about the ones they call the Goats.” He drew a ragged breath. “I’m not supposed to, but I know. My wife was one. She told me all about them. Oh, yes, she did. She wasn’t supposed to, but she did. They don’t let them take over the world. They won’t!”Why do crazies always go for alien invasions? I twirled my brown curls. I’d get off at the next stop and walk the rest of the way, even if I arrived home later. What if he follows me? “The Goats!” He flapped his arm. Alien goat invasion. How awesome. I jumped and clutched my bag like a shield. The subway screeched as it approached the next station. I wanted to run, but he waved both arms, repeating the scream. The doors swished open, but if I stood to escape, he could attack. Two more stops to go. What if I can’t escape at my stop, either? As soon as the subway started, he lowered his arm and drew a few breaths. He reeked of alcohol, and overpowering the sweat stench, the stench made my head swirl. “Beware of the Goats.” His chest heaved. “Help the Goats. Save the Goats!”He really is deranged. There weren’t any goats in New York City that I’d ever seen. “Yes, I will.” Go away. “I’ll … I’ll watch out for the goats.”“The Goats,” he corrected, as if I’d mispronounced the word. He picked up his duffel bags and waddled to the back of the car, where he dropped onto a seat. He took a small paperback book from the pocket of his trench coat and flipped it open. When the doors swished open at the next stop, I exited in the crush of bodies. People coughed and spoke, heels clicked and wheels on backpacks rolled, and the sounds echoed off the stone walls. I slid through the turnstile and bolted up the cement steps two at a time, the edges cracked and crumbled and graffiti decorated the walls with images of fire and obscene language. The brightness of the paint, and the harsh edges that curved and sang were beautiful. The scrawls seemed to want to leap off the stone, suddenly alive. At the top, I grasped the railing. Cold, dented metal bit through the fishnet of my fingerless gloves while I gazed over my shoulder. The people emerging didn’t spare me a glance. I was lost in the crowd, a stationary fixture. The man wasn’t following. I ducked my head to push into the crowd. People bumped into me, jostling with elbows and bags. I almost walked into a tourist, who snapped a picture of the taxicabs. “Hey,” called a stout vender from the corner. “You okay?”I tucked back a brown curl. “I’m fine, but thanks.” Wind whipping between the skyscrapers stole the power of my words.“Wanna dog?” He held one out, nestled in a white roll.“No, thanks. I don’t eat meat.” “Good,” I thought I heard him whisper. “Your kind shouldn’t.” He couldn’t have spoken. It must’ve been someone else. It wouldn’t make sense for a man who made his living off people scarfing down meat-in-a-tube to agree with my vegetarian lifestyle. I ogled the sea of metal vehicles washed in the afternoon sunlight like sharks swarming for a fresh kill. I shook off the thought and ran, an empty Styrofoam cup crunching beneath my foot. I didn’t have a watch, but the sun hung low in the sky. A thought raced through my mind as the sun made windows wink and flash. Beware of Goats.
#
“Long line at the bookstore.” I dropped my bag on the marble table beside the door to my family’s condo. Instrumental Celtic music wafted from the living room as I left the small foyer, and I almost tripped over my sprawled little sister. “Phebe, you shouldn’t lie on the floor.” “Why are you home so late?” Phebe dragged an orange crayon over the page of her coloring book. Her ponytail bobbed as she tipped her head, studying the picture. “You should’ve taken me with you. Mommy said so.” “I’m sure she did.” I rolled my eyes. When I’d left earlier, Phebe had still been doing her mathematics homework. We were home schooled, so even in the summer, we had work to do. It sucked because other home schooled students I knew had summers off. That was our penalty for having a mother with a Master’s degree in elementary education. “Where’re Mama and Dad?” Phebe sat up on her knees with her eyebrows knit together. “Mommy’s crying.”My heart sunk and dropped clear out of my stomach. Mama never got that upset when I came home late. Did she find out about the party last weekend at Tiffany’s? I’d lied and said it was only going to be Tiff, her parents and siblings, and me. I hadn’t mentioned her parents were in Vancouver on vacation or that Tiff had invited all of her friends, not just me. Regret stabbed my gut.“Mama, I’m home! Mama?” The family photographs glared at me from the wall, none so reprimanding as the face of my Reverend Uncle. I kicked off my flats and hurried into my parents’ bedroom. With the lamp off, only a little light slipped through the closed venetian blinds covering the single window.Short brown hair fanned over the plaid pillowcase, and Mama lay sideways on the king-sized bed, a crumpled tissue pressed against her nose. Dad sat beside her, stroking her shoulders. He still wore his suit from work—an even worse sign. The first thing Dad did when he walked through the door was peel off his jacket and toss the tie onto the table. “Mama?” My voice cracked as my throat constricted.“Your uncle called.” Dad tugged on his green silk tie that should’ve been lost in the pile of mail, not still fastened around his neck. “Uncle Tom?” The Reverend in Massachusetts, Dad’s younger brother, only called once a month, on the first Friday. Even though we called him Uncle Tom around the house, we all referred to him as Pastor Thomas to his face. “No, Uncle Jan.”Mama’s brother, the one who called less than Uncle Tom did. “What…what did he want? Has someone died?” Oh no, is it my grandmother? Uncle Jan lived upstate, in the same town as her.“Keziah, it’s your grandmother,” Dad continued. Oh no, oh no, oh no. When I’d been younger, we’d lived down the street from Mama’s mother. She had taken care of me while my parents worked, and we’d often picked violets in the yard. Sometimes, I imagined I could smell their perfume years later and hundreds of miles away.I’d always called her Oma, which meant grandmother in Dutch. I could still remember the way I’d cried and screamed, begging to stay with Oma when we’d moved to New York City. The hours separating us seemed like an eternity.“She has dementia.” Dad removed his tie and knotted it around his fingers. I blinked at him. “Dementia?” Demented, like the man on the subway? “She hasn’t been officially diagnosed, but the symptoms are there. Uncle Jan doesn’t feel she can live on her own anymore.” Dad dropped his tie onto the alarm clock.“So…she’s moving in with Uncle Jan?” I pictured waking up from a sleepover at Oma’s house with fresh squeezed orange juice waiting in the kitchen beside a bowl of cream of wheat cereal, steamy and sweet. “Good morning, sunshine,” Oma would sing. She’d pull out the chair, the seat hideous and green, leftover from the 1970s. It had been an honor to sit at the kitchen table with her.Dad rubbed his chin. “Your aunt won’t let her do that.”I grinned. “She’s moving in with us? That’s amazing!” I only saw Oma on school holidays, and that summer, we’d had to pass because Mama had taught a summer school class. “You know that wouldn’t work.” Dad gazed at the dresser across the room, a fog coming over his eyes. I pulled at a loose thread on my black skirt. If Oma moved in, then Dad would have to move out or risk family war. The yelling would never stop. She hated Dad with a roaring passion I’d never understood. That anger had contributed to the reason why we’d moved, and when we visited Oma, Dad never went. “Your uncle wants to put her in a home.” Dad leaned over to rub a spot on the wall’s blue paint as if that space was the problem, and he could make it disappear.I licked my dry lips. “You mean like a nursing home?” “No!” Mama rose on her elbows. “I’m not putting my mother in a nursing home. Do you know how they treat their patients? It’s horrible. All those people. Oma would hate it. She’s so antisocial these days. Really hate it.”“Hush. Come on, sweetheart. It’s all right. We won’t put her in a home.” Dad combed his fingers through her hair.“Why would Uncle Jan want to do that?” I didn’t know anything about nursing homes, but Mama was right. Oma had become one of the most antisocial people I’d ever met. “It’s your aunt.” Dad patted Mama’s back. “She wants to put your grandmother away. It’s getting too hard to take care of her, and she won’t let her move in with them. You know how your aunt can be.” My aunt could be downright nasty—a sickish combination of stubborn and controlling. Dad was too nice to say that aloud, though.“What are we going to do?” My question made Mama cry harder, and I flinched. “We’ll think of something,” Dad whispered.
Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, is known for her odd sense of humor and her outrageous outfits. Surrounded by bookshelves, she can often be found pounding away at her keyboard – she’s known for breaking keyboards, too. Jordan’s young adult novels include ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, COGLING, TREASURE DARKLY, and BORN OF TREASURE. GOAT CHILDREN is her first novel with CHBB. Her short stories are featured in over twenty anthologies. Check out her website for bonus scenes and contests.
PSST...Keziah lives in New Winchester, a town frequented by squirrels. Win a squirrel charm necklace in honor of her furry companions!All winners will be notified after verification of entry at the end of this promotion. Prizes have been supplied by and the responsibility of delivery are solely that of the author and/or their representatives. Blogs are not liable for non-delivery on the part of the author. No purchase necessary.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
GOAT CHILDREN A young adult novel with a touch of fantasy, love, and imagination versus reality.
When Keziah’s grandmother, Oma, is diagnosed with dementia, Keziah faces two choices: leave her family and move to New Winchester to care for Oma, or stay in New York City and allow her grandmother to live in a nursing home miles away.
The dementia causes Oma to be rude and paranoid, nothing like the woman Keziah remembers. Each day becomes a greater weight and love a harsher burden. Keziah must keep Oma from wandering off or falling, and try to convince her grandmother to see a doctor as her eyesight and hearing fail, but Oma refuses to believe anything is wrong. Resentful of her hardships in New Winchester, Keziah finds herself drawn to Oma’s ramblings about the Goat Children, a mythical warrior class. These fighters ride winged horses, locating people in need, while attempting to destroy evil in the world. Oma sees the Goat Children everywhere, and as Keziah reads the stories Oma wrote about them, she begins to question if they really exist.
GOAT CHILDREN is now available on Amazon from CHBB.
Check out early reviews on GoodReads!
Check out Chapter 1: Bodies crushed against each other, a blur of hair and clothes, in the mad dash to exit the subway. The air smelled of the greasy restaurants above and felt stuffy, despite the bitter cold that rattled through the damp subway tunnel. My mouth watered as I sniffed roasted chestnuts. You haven’t eaten dinner yet, my rumbling stomach scolded. I slipped past a man speaking rapid Spanish to board the train, grabbed a pole, slid on to a seat, and pulled my green bag higher towards my chest. The two paperbacks inside jammed into my ribs. With a groan, I shifted into a new position, wondering what glorious worlds awaited within the glossy covers. “Whoa ho, ho, ho.” More people ranting on the subway. It could never be a quiet ride. I opened my bag to peer at the fantasy novels. I’d chosen thick books because they lasted longer and made the reading more rewarding.“Ho, little one.” A face shoved into mine from the aisle, and I jerked back, squeaking. Oily black hair hung over a scarred forehead. The man swayed, braying a laugh. I glanced at the woman with bright pink hair sitting on the next seat. She read a newspaper without looking up.“So much to you.” The man licked his lips and slurred the words. His pungent odor clawed its way through my nose; no escaping the invisible fumes. They washed over me with groping draws until my eyes watered. I cringed, my craving for chestnuts gone. Anyone on a diet would be thankful to have him around. He stood, clinging to a pole with one gloved hand. Threads poked from the torn seams in the gripping brown leather. Two duffel bags, stained with mud, rested near his feet, bulging with contents. I lowered my gaze, clutching the bag tighter. Please go away. I shouldn’t have taken the subway, but I’d done it to save time. Even though I was seventeen, Mama said it wasn’t safe to ride alone, and now, I agreed. I’m not gonna be home by my seven o’clock curfew. Mama’s gonna freak. I can’t believe I forgot my phone. “You don’t belong on this world.” He smacked his lips. Behind his head, a large sign told the public not to smoke, or they’d get lung cancer and die. It was easier to stare at the anti-smoking sign than him.“Yes, thank you,” I mumbled as he leered at me. Even if he lacked a home and suffered from insanity, he didn’t deserve rudeness.“You like fantasy?”I stared at my lap, but when he repeated the question louder, I nodded. “What would ya do if fantasy became your life? What would ya do if it wasn’t fantasy anymore?” “Fantasy isn’t real.” I shifted my gaze to my black socks. They came up to my thighs and the right sock had a tiny hole near the knee. I’d have to sew it when I got home. If I studied it, maybe he’d grow bored and mosey on elsewhere. “Are you happy here? Don’t you want more, little one? I can take you to another world.” His deep breaths made snot rattle in his nose. I gagged, hiding my mouth behind my hand. The woman with the newspaper glanced over. I pleaded silently for her to make the man go away, but she moved to an empty seat down the car, wrinkling her nose. I still had five more stops before I could get away. Do I dare follow her?“Don’t you believe in destiny?”What if he sits next to me? I slid my bag onto the empty seat, clutching the handle. As the subway curved around the corner, it screeched, the sound echoing through the metallic enclosure as if screaming, “Doom!”“I’ve been to other lands. I’ve seen my future, and I spit at it.” He turned his head to hack on the floor. The saliva bubbled with a yellowish hue. The subway squealed to a halt, and some of the passengers stood to exit. I removed the bag in case someone new sat down, someone safe, but no one came near or looked at us as they found seats. The doors slid shut, and the train moved again. Four more stops to go.“Don’t shun fantasy. I’ve made mistakes and don’t want you to make ‘em too. Take it and see what you can do. Take it!” He pumped his fist, revealing grease stains on his coat sleeves.I scanned the other passengers’ faces. They ignored us, although the ranting man filled the car with his voice. Only the smiling faces on wall advertisements watched. Ever-smiling, ever-trapped in their realm of sales. I fiddled with the zipper on the front of my gray hoodie, heart racing. The subway halted at the next station. Again, people exited and entered, and no one sat beside me. Three more stops to go. I drummed my fingers against my thigh.“I know all about the ones they call the Goats.” He drew a ragged breath. “I’m not supposed to, but I know. My wife was one. She told me all about them. Oh, yes, she did. She wasn’t supposed to, but she did. They don’t let them take over the world. They won’t!”Why do crazies always go for alien invasions? I twirled my brown curls. I’d get off at the next stop and walk the rest of the way, even if I arrived home later. What if he follows me? “The Goats!” He flapped his arm. Alien goat invasion. How awesome. I jumped and clutched my bag like a shield. The subway screeched as it approached the next station. I wanted to run, but he waved both arms, repeating the scream. The doors swished open, but if I stood to escape, he could attack. Two more stops to go. What if I can’t escape at my stop, either? As soon as the subway started, he lowered his arm and drew a few breaths. He reeked of alcohol, and overpowering the sweat stench, the stench made my head swirl. “Beware of the Goats.” His chest heaved. “Help the Goats. Save the Goats!”He really is deranged. There weren’t any goats in New York City that I’d ever seen. “Yes, I will.” Go away. “I’ll … I’ll watch out for the goats.”“The Goats,” he corrected, as if I’d mispronounced the word. He picked up his duffel bags and waddled to the back of the car, where he dropped onto a seat. He took a small paperback book from the pocket of his trench coat and flipped it open. When the doors swished open at the next stop, I exited in the crush of bodies. People coughed and spoke, heels clicked and wheels on backpacks rolled, and the sounds echoed off the stone walls. I slid through the turnstile and bolted up the cement steps two at a time, the edges cracked and crumbled and graffiti decorated the walls with images of fire and obscene language. The brightness of the paint, and the harsh edges that curved and sang were beautiful. The scrawls seemed to want to leap off the stone, suddenly alive. At the top, I grasped the railing. Cold, dented metal bit through the fishnet of my fingerless gloves while I gazed over my shoulder. The people emerging didn’t spare me a glance. I was lost in the crowd, a stationary fixture. The man wasn’t following. I ducked my head to push into the crowd. People bumped into me, jostling with elbows and bags. I almost walked into a tourist, who snapped a picture of the taxicabs. “Hey,” called a stout vender from the corner. “You okay?”I tucked back a brown curl. “I’m fine, but thanks.” Wind whipping between the skyscrapers stole the power of my words.“Wanna dog?” He held one out, nestled in a white roll.“No, thanks. I don’t eat meat.” “Good,” I thought I heard him whisper. “Your kind shouldn’t.” He couldn’t have spoken. It must’ve been someone else. It wouldn’t make sense for a man who made his living off people scarfing down meat-in-a-tube to agree with my vegetarian lifestyle. I ogled the sea of metal vehicles washed in the afternoon sunlight like sharks swarming for a fresh kill. I shook off the thought and ran, an empty Styrofoam cup crunching beneath my foot. I didn’t have a watch, but the sun hung low in the sky. A thought raced through my mind as the sun made windows wink and flash. Beware of Goats.
#
“Long line at the bookstore.” I dropped my bag on the marble table beside the door to my family’s condo. Instrumental Celtic music wafted from the living room as I left the small foyer, and I almost tripped over my sprawled little sister. “Phebe, you shouldn’t lie on the floor.” “Why are you home so late?” Phebe dragged an orange crayon over the page of her coloring book. Her ponytail bobbed as she tipped her head, studying the picture. “You should’ve taken me with you. Mommy said so.” “I’m sure she did.” I rolled my eyes. When I’d left earlier, Phebe had still been doing her mathematics homework. We were home schooled, so even in the summer, we had work to do. It sucked because other home schooled students I knew had summers off. That was our penalty for having a mother with a Master’s degree in elementary education. “Where’re Mama and Dad?” Phebe sat up on her knees with her eyebrows knit together. “Mommy’s crying.”My heart sunk and dropped clear out of my stomach. Mama never got that upset when I came home late. Did she find out about the party last weekend at Tiffany’s? I’d lied and said it was only going to be Tiff, her parents and siblings, and me. I hadn’t mentioned her parents were in Vancouver on vacation or that Tiff had invited all of her friends, not just me. Regret stabbed my gut.“Mama, I’m home! Mama?” The family photographs glared at me from the wall, none so reprimanding as the face of my Reverend Uncle. I kicked off my flats and hurried into my parents’ bedroom. With the lamp off, only a little light slipped through the closed venetian blinds covering the single window.Short brown hair fanned over the plaid pillowcase, and Mama lay sideways on the king-sized bed, a crumpled tissue pressed against her nose. Dad sat beside her, stroking her shoulders. He still wore his suit from work—an even worse sign. The first thing Dad did when he walked through the door was peel off his jacket and toss the tie onto the table. “Mama?” My voice cracked as my throat constricted.“Your uncle called.” Dad tugged on his green silk tie that should’ve been lost in the pile of mail, not still fastened around his neck. “Uncle Tom?” The Reverend in Massachusetts, Dad’s younger brother, only called once a month, on the first Friday. Even though we called him Uncle Tom around the house, we all referred to him as Pastor Thomas to his face. “No, Uncle Jan.”Mama’s brother, the one who called less than Uncle Tom did. “What…what did he want? Has someone died?” Oh no, is it my grandmother? Uncle Jan lived upstate, in the same town as her.“Keziah, it’s your grandmother,” Dad continued. Oh no, oh no, oh no. When I’d been younger, we’d lived down the street from Mama’s mother. She had taken care of me while my parents worked, and we’d often picked violets in the yard. Sometimes, I imagined I could smell their perfume years later and hundreds of miles away.I’d always called her Oma, which meant grandmother in Dutch. I could still remember the way I’d cried and screamed, begging to stay with Oma when we’d moved to New York City. The hours separating us seemed like an eternity.“She has dementia.” Dad removed his tie and knotted it around his fingers. I blinked at him. “Dementia?” Demented, like the man on the subway? “She hasn’t been officially diagnosed, but the symptoms are there. Uncle Jan doesn’t feel she can live on her own anymore.” Dad dropped his tie onto the alarm clock.“So…she’s moving in with Uncle Jan?” I pictured waking up from a sleepover at Oma’s house with fresh squeezed orange juice waiting in the kitchen beside a bowl of cream of wheat cereal, steamy and sweet. “Good morning, sunshine,” Oma would sing. She’d pull out the chair, the seat hideous and green, leftover from the 1970s. It had been an honor to sit at the kitchen table with her.Dad rubbed his chin. “Your aunt won’t let her do that.”I grinned. “She’s moving in with us? That’s amazing!” I only saw Oma on school holidays, and that summer, we’d had to pass because Mama had taught a summer school class. “You know that wouldn’t work.” Dad gazed at the dresser across the room, a fog coming over his eyes. I pulled at a loose thread on my black skirt. If Oma moved in, then Dad would have to move out or risk family war. The yelling would never stop. She hated Dad with a roaring passion I’d never understood. That anger had contributed to the reason why we’d moved, and when we visited Oma, Dad never went. “Your uncle wants to put her in a home.” Dad leaned over to rub a spot on the wall’s blue paint as if that space was the problem, and he could make it disappear.I licked my dry lips. “You mean like a nursing home?” “No!” Mama rose on her elbows. “I’m not putting my mother in a nursing home. Do you know how they treat their patients? It’s horrible. All those people. Oma would hate it. She’s so antisocial these days. Really hate it.”“Hush. Come on, sweetheart. It’s all right. We won’t put her in a home.” Dad combed his fingers through her hair.“Why would Uncle Jan want to do that?” I didn’t know anything about nursing homes, but Mama was right. Oma had become one of the most antisocial people I’d ever met. “It’s your aunt.” Dad patted Mama’s back. “She wants to put your grandmother away. It’s getting too hard to take care of her, and she won’t let her move in with them. You know how your aunt can be.” My aunt could be downright nasty—a sickish combination of stubborn and controlling. Dad was too nice to say that aloud, though.“What are we going to do?” My question made Mama cry harder, and I flinched. “We’ll think of something,” Dad whispered.
Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, is known for her odd sense of humor and her outrageous outfits. Surrounded by bookshelves, she can often be found pounding away at her keyboard – she’s known for breaking keyboards, too. Jordan’s young adult novels include ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, COGLING, TREASURE DARKLY, and BORN OF TREASURE. GOAT CHILDREN is her first novel with CHBB. Her short stories are featured in over twenty anthologies. Check out her website for bonus scenes and contests.
PSST...Keziah lives in New Winchester, a town frequented by squirrels. Win a squirrel charm necklace in honor of her furry companions!All winners will be notified after verification of entry at the end of this promotion. Prizes have been supplied by and the responsibility of delivery are solely that of the author and/or their representatives. Blogs are not liable for non-delivery on the part of the author. No purchase necessary.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 25, 2016
Out of Darkness Teaser
For this bonus Good Friday post in my Out of Darkness blog series I'm treating you to a teaser post. In this scene, Lizette and the gang are exploring their abandoned meeting place, but is it truly abandoned? Where are the strange noises coming from?
Visual Inspiration for the abandoned meeting place: Holy Cross Orphanage, Marquette, Michigan. Photo via "Weburbanist's 'Child's Place: 10 Eerie Abandoned Orphanages'."
Teaser:
We make our way up the debris covered staircase to the second floor. When we get to the landing we take in the empty hallway, disproving the homeless person theory. “Is someone there?” Keiran calls anyway.
The second floor looks much like the first, patient rooms lined the hall on either side. Thierry takes a tentative step towards the first one and I follow closely. I peer inside around Thierry’s shoulder. Two single beds with bare mattresses are pushed against the walls but otherwise the room is empty. Mold grows in the corners of the ceilings and there are crude drawings scattered on the walls.
“Did people actually live like this?” Thierry whispers sadly.
“I wonder how they live in the new building next door.” Keiran wonders aloud.
I shake my head sadly as I turn from the room. Suddenly a loud clanking comes from right behind us. Arianthe screams and we all turn toward the stairs. Sam shines his flashlight toward the stairs and we all relax when we see Delia standing on the landing.
She winces, “sorry. I was getting freaked out sitting down there alone.”
**********
Out of Darkness will be available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Out of Darkness is currently available to pre-order in ebook format:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Smashwords iBooks
Visual Inspiration for the abandoned meeting place: Holy Cross Orphanage, Marquette, Michigan. Photo via "Weburbanist's 'Child's Place: 10 Eerie Abandoned Orphanages'."
Teaser:
We make our way up the debris covered staircase to the second floor. When we get to the landing we take in the empty hallway, disproving the homeless person theory. “Is someone there?” Keiran calls anyway.The second floor looks much like the first, patient rooms lined the hall on either side. Thierry takes a tentative step towards the first one and I follow closely. I peer inside around Thierry’s shoulder. Two single beds with bare mattresses are pushed against the walls but otherwise the room is empty. Mold grows in the corners of the ceilings and there are crude drawings scattered on the walls.
“Did people actually live like this?” Thierry whispers sadly.
“I wonder how they live in the new building next door.” Keiran wonders aloud.
I shake my head sadly as I turn from the room. Suddenly a loud clanking comes from right behind us. Arianthe screams and we all turn toward the stairs. Sam shines his flashlight toward the stairs and we all relax when we see Delia standing on the landing.
She winces, “sorry. I was getting freaked out sitting down there alone.”
**********
Out of Darkness will be available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Out of Darkness is currently available to pre-order in ebook format:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Smashwords iBooks
March 23, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #15
This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm diving back into a world filled with Aliens called "Luxens" and "Arem", Luxen-Human Hybrids, and an Evil DOD (Department of Defense) group in...
Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
No one is like Daemon Black.
When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.
But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.
After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.
Together we're stronger... and they know it.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I loved the first two books in the series (Obsidian and Onyx) and after a short break, I am so happy to dive back into this story and these characters. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when Dawson came back. I didn't know how he would act, he's tormented but I like him so far. Daemon and Katy's relationship seems strained a little since the events in Onyx and Dawson's return and I hope the story will allow them to explore their relationship more despite all the problems they face. It tears me up that Dee is pulling away from Katy in this book. I hope their friendship can be mended. After all, what happened to Adam isn't Katy's fault. I like this book so far and I hope I devour it quickly.
I struggled to get into another book since last week...
Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer
Blurb:
Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.
Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.
The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers….Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden. Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…
What I Thought of This Book: This is the first book in a looooong time that I just couldn't finish. I feel terrible, and I really did try to keep at it but this book just didn't appeal to me. I won't go into specifics and I'm not interested in book bashing, I'll just say this book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a mystery / thriller type novel and instead I found characters like Charlotte and her cop brothers that I didn't much care for and a paranormal element that seemed to appear from nowhere. I'm sure other people will read this book and fall in love with it... I just don't happen to be one of them. Because I couldn't finish this book I won't be rating it.
Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb:
No one is like Daemon Black.
When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.
But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.
After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.
Together we're stronger... and they know it.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far: I loved the first two books in the series (Obsidian and Onyx) and after a short break, I am so happy to dive back into this story and these characters. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when Dawson came back. I didn't know how he would act, he's tormented but I like him so far. Daemon and Katy's relationship seems strained a little since the events in Onyx and Dawson's return and I hope the story will allow them to explore their relationship more despite all the problems they face. It tears me up that Dee is pulling away from Katy in this book. I hope their friendship can be mended. After all, what happened to Adam isn't Katy's fault. I like this book so far and I hope I devour it quickly.
I struggled to get into another book since last week...
Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer
Blurb:
Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.
The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers….Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden. Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…
What I Thought of This Book: This is the first book in a looooong time that I just couldn't finish. I feel terrible, and I really did try to keep at it but this book just didn't appeal to me. I won't go into specifics and I'm not interested in book bashing, I'll just say this book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a mystery / thriller type novel and instead I found characters like Charlotte and her cop brothers that I didn't much care for and a paranormal element that seemed to appear from nowhere. I'm sure other people will read this book and fall in love with it... I just don't happen to be one of them. Because I couldn't finish this book I won't be rating it.
March 18, 2016
If Out of Darkness Was Made Into A Movie (Dream Cast)
For part three of my pre-Out of Darkness-release blog series, I'll show you my dream cast if Out of Darkness were every made into a movie. At first, I was afraid this would be difficult as some of the characters in Out of Darkness are based on people I know, but in the end, it was a lot of fun trying to match my image of what I think a character would look like to the image of an actress or actor.
Lizette Weatherly
India EisleyI've seen this actress in a couple Lifetime movies and she just has such a unique look to her. She'd be perfect for Lizette.
Thierry Sebastian
Thomas DekkerI always thought this actor looked mean, yet attractive. I could definitely see him playing Thierry.
Luke Stephens
Max MinghellaI like Max Minghella for Luke because of the most ridiculous reason: the way his voice sounded in Elvis & Anabelle reminds me so much of the person that inspired the Luke character. Plus he's easy on the eyes.
Sam Weatherly
Max ThieriotIf he had dark brown hair he'd be perfect for Lizette's older brother, Sam.
Arianthe Karis
Emma StoneArianthe was another character based on someone I know and although Emma Stone in no way resembles that person, and I'm not sure how she'd look with Arianthe's oddly colored hair, she'd be the perfect choice for Lizette's best friend.
Keiran Madigan
Kyle GallnerHe looks like just the kind of guy Arianthe would date. And I bet he would look good with blue hair ;)
Finn Madigan
Nicholas HoultI've always thought this actor was attractive, but just his hair in this picture screams Finn Madigan.
Bryan Fynn Sorcha [image error] Tom SturridgeDye his hair auburn or red and let's call him Bryan. Maybe it's just because he played a jerk in Far From the Madding Crowd... :/
Desiree Oliver
Shay MitchellSure, she plays a nice character on Pretty Little Liars, but I could so see her as Desiree.
Delia Angel
Vanessa MaranoThough I never liked her on Gilmore Girls and don't like Switched at Birth I could see her as Delia.
Angelo Desanti
Douglas BoothHe kind of has that all-American jock look to him (even if he is British)
Julie Bryant
Bella ThorneBella Thorne is the quintessential mean girl in my opinion. Perfect to play Julie.
Mr. Weatherly
Gerard ButlerOne of my favorite actors to drool over, Gerard Butler would make a great choice for Lizette's dad.
Mrs. Weatherly
Laura LeightonI've always liked her as an actress and I think she would do great as Lizette's mother.
Claudette Barbeau
Zoe SaldanaI could see Zoe Saldana as a spunky Voodoo Priestess from New Orleans, can't you?
Henry
Russell CroweWho better to play Delia's wise mentor?
Luna
Jodi Lyn O'KeefeI think she would be great as Luna, the leader of the werewolves!
Are you excited to meet all of these characters and see how they all play into the storyline? Out of Darkness is coming in 24 days!
Pre-Order Out of Darkness Today!AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooks
Lizette Weatherly
India EisleyI've seen this actress in a couple Lifetime movies and she just has such a unique look to her. She'd be perfect for Lizette.Thierry Sebastian
Thomas DekkerI always thought this actor looked mean, yet attractive. I could definitely see him playing Thierry.Luke Stephens
Max MinghellaI like Max Minghella for Luke because of the most ridiculous reason: the way his voice sounded in Elvis & Anabelle reminds me so much of the person that inspired the Luke character. Plus he's easy on the eyes.Sam Weatherly
Max ThieriotIf he had dark brown hair he'd be perfect for Lizette's older brother, Sam.Arianthe Karis
Emma StoneArianthe was another character based on someone I know and although Emma Stone in no way resembles that person, and I'm not sure how she'd look with Arianthe's oddly colored hair, she'd be the perfect choice for Lizette's best friend. Keiran Madigan
Kyle GallnerHe looks like just the kind of guy Arianthe would date. And I bet he would look good with blue hair ;)Finn Madigan
Nicholas HoultI've always thought this actor was attractive, but just his hair in this picture screams Finn Madigan.Bryan Fynn Sorcha [image error] Tom SturridgeDye his hair auburn or red and let's call him Bryan. Maybe it's just because he played a jerk in Far From the Madding Crowd... :/
Desiree Oliver
Shay MitchellSure, she plays a nice character on Pretty Little Liars, but I could so see her as Desiree. Delia Angel
Vanessa MaranoThough I never liked her on Gilmore Girls and don't like Switched at Birth I could see her as Delia.Angelo Desanti
Douglas BoothHe kind of has that all-American jock look to him (even if he is British)Julie Bryant
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Bella ThorneBella Thorne is the quintessential mean girl in my opinion. Perfect to play Julie. Mr. Weatherly
Gerard ButlerOne of my favorite actors to drool over, Gerard Butler would make a great choice for Lizette's dad.Mrs. Weatherly
Laura LeightonI've always liked her as an actress and I think she would do great as Lizette's mother.Claudette Barbeau
Zoe SaldanaI could see Zoe Saldana as a spunky Voodoo Priestess from New Orleans, can't you?Henry
Russell CroweWho better to play Delia's wise mentor?Luna
Jodi Lyn O'KeefeI think she would be great as Luna, the leader of the werewolves! Are you excited to meet all of these characters and see how they all play into the storyline? Out of Darkness is coming in 24 days!
Pre-Order Out of Darkness Today!AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooksMarch 16, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #14
This week for "WIR"-Wednesday I swap the fictitious land of Eurona and The Great Hunt for a sexy rocker in...
Mayhem by Jamie Shaw
Blurb:
When college freshman Rowan Michaels meets gorgeous, up-and-coming rock star Adam Everest, she knows a player like him is the last thing she needs after her ex-boyfriend shattered her heart. But she can't stop thinking about the kiss they shared on his tour bus.
On the first day of school, Rowan is stunned when Adam saunters into her French class. He's soon failing miserably, and, on a whim, she offers to tutor him. But Adam doesn't recognize her as a makeup-free, glasses-clad college student—a far cry from the beautiful, mysterious "Peach" he met at his concert.
During a wild weekend on tour with the band, Rowan can't help falling for the sweet guy buried beneath Adam's rocker persona. Yet she knows she could never compete with the girls constantly throwing themselves at his feet. She'd just end up hurt … again.
Peach is all Adam thinks about, though, and when Rowan realizes this, she has a decision to make: stay just friends to protect her fragile heart … or reveal the truth about the night they met and admit she's fallen completely, hopelessly in love with him.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think of the Book so far: As Jay Crownover says on the cover, "Every girl has a rock star fantasy." And who wouldn't love bad boy rockers who just need someone to show them love? I fell in love with books like the Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott, the Devoured books by Emily Snow, Jet by Jay Crownover, among others. I'm hoping to add this book to that list of great rock star themed novels. This is another one of those books I found through the Apollycon 2016 Virtual Book Sale / Book Signing and when I read the description I knew I had to read it. I'm pretty sure I'm already half in love Adam already. This book is quickly addicting.
Mayhem by Jamie Shaw
Blurb:
When college freshman Rowan Michaels meets gorgeous, up-and-coming rock star Adam Everest, she knows a player like him is the last thing she needs after her ex-boyfriend shattered her heart. But she can't stop thinking about the kiss they shared on his tour bus.On the first day of school, Rowan is stunned when Adam saunters into her French class. He's soon failing miserably, and, on a whim, she offers to tutor him. But Adam doesn't recognize her as a makeup-free, glasses-clad college student—a far cry from the beautiful, mysterious "Peach" he met at his concert.
During a wild weekend on tour with the band, Rowan can't help falling for the sweet guy buried beneath Adam's rocker persona. Yet she knows she could never compete with the girls constantly throwing themselves at his feet. She'd just end up hurt … again.
Peach is all Adam thinks about, though, and when Rowan realizes this, she has a decision to make: stay just friends to protect her fragile heart … or reveal the truth about the night they met and admit she's fallen completely, hopelessly in love with him.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think of the Book so far: As Jay Crownover says on the cover, "Every girl has a rock star fantasy." And who wouldn't love bad boy rockers who just need someone to show them love? I fell in love with books like the Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott, the Devoured books by Emily Snow, Jet by Jay Crownover, among others. I'm hoping to add this book to that list of great rock star themed novels. This is another one of those books I found through the Apollycon 2016 Virtual Book Sale / Book Signing and when I read the description I knew I had to read it. I'm pretty sure I'm already half in love Adam already. This book is quickly addicting.
March 11, 2016
Out of Darkness Blog Series #2 - A Crash Course in Tarot Cards
For part two of my four-part blog series for Out of Darkness I'm going to introduce you to Lizette's favorite pastime in the story: the Tarot. When we meet Lizette in the beginning of Out of Darkness, Lizette doesn't have any friends. Her older brother is preoccupied with his own life and her parents are extremely overprotective. All Lizette has to keep her company is her old, worn-out deck of Tarot cards. Maybe she found them in an old box in the attic, maybe she bought them and a garage sale for 50 cents and charged them for her own use. Who knows?
I myself have had a fascination with Tarot cards for many years. Before my fascination for the Tarot, I've always had an interest and belief in horoscopes. I'm just a weird out-there believer like that, so it's no wonder I have four decks of Tarot cards.
While every deck can differ a little they should all basically have the same general cards in each deck.
The four decks I own are: an easy-learn Rider-Waite deck (that has the meanings written on each card), a Tarot of the Witches deck, a Tarot of Love deck, and The Wild Unknown Tarot deck (shown below).
The main difference in the decks I own are what certain suits of the Minor Arcana are called (more on this later), certain placement of trump cards within the Major Arcana, and things like that.
What are Tarot Cards?Tarot cards are one of many forms of divination. They are often used to predict the potential outcome based on influences surrounding a person or event. They are made up of 22 "Trump Cards" in the Major Arcana and 4 Suits of 14 Cards making up the Minor Arcana. Let's start with the Major Arcana... As I just mentioned the Major Arcana are made up of 22 "trump" cards that form the foundation of the Tarot deck. The Major Arcana are made up of:Trumps Zero - The Fool (Representing unavoidable mistakes due to your ignorance or naivety)Trumps One - The Magician (Representing human intelligence, self-empowerment, purpose, the need to control the forces that operate in this world.)Trumps Two - The High Priestess (Represents divine wisdom, understanding of why things work out the way they do, mystery, also possible secrets that will be revealed at the proper time)Trumps Three - The Empress (Represents "the mother", procreation, domestic harmony)
Trumps Four - The Emperor (Represents "the father", authority, leadership, protection)
Trumps Five - The High Priest (Represents Divine Will, Mercy, The Search for the Truth, Religious Needs and Inclinations)
Trumps Six - The Lovers (Represents Commitment - personal note: one of my favorite cards along with The Wheel of Fortune and The Knight of Cups)
Trumps Seven - The Chariot ( Represents Victory, also that you may receive help or advice at a time of great need - think like the calvary is coming to your aid)
Trumps Eight - Justice (In certain decks the eighth card may be Strength and Justice would be the eleventh card. Represents Justice and utmost fairness.)
Trumps Nine - The Hermit (Represents self-reflection, understanding, circumspection, hidden truths to be revealed. Can also predict an impending journey in the questioner's future.)
Trumps Ten - The Wheel of Fortune (Represents chance and blind fate, leaving things up to destiny, an unexpected turn of events)
Trumps Eleven - Strength (Represents victory over overwhelming odds stacked against you. Courage)
Trumps Twelve - The Hanged Man (Represents self-sacrifice and personal growth, change of thinking)
Trumps Thirteen - Death (Does not necessarily mean actual death, instead represents a major unavoidable change of life)
Trumps Fourteen - Temperance (Represents patience and self-control, reflection)
Trumps Fifteen - The Devil (Represents the struggle between good and evil, chaos and order. Destruction, turmoil, bad luck. Personal note: my least favorite card)
Trumps Sixteen - The Tower (Represents a setback, your plans crumbling, disruption)
Trumps Seventeen - The Star (Represents hope, bright prospects, insight)
Trumps Eighteen - The Moon (Represents mystery, intuition, psychic ability, deception)
Trumps Nineteen - The Sun (Represents success, fulfillment, happiness, contentment)
Trumps Twenty - Judgement (Represents a new life beginning, decisions made, conclusions)
Trumps Twenty-One (Represents completion perfection, attainment)
The Minor Arcana
As I mentioned above, the fifty-six cards in the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits of fourteen cards. The four suits are: Swords, Cups, Coins (called Pentacles in certain decks), and Wands (called Batons or Clubs in certain decks).
The suits are further divided into ten (10) Pip cards (Ace-Ten) and four Court or face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page; although in my Wild Unknown deck calls these "Father, Mother, Daughter, and Son" instead).
Each suit represents something different.
Swords - The Suit of Swords deal with conflict, power, and change.
Cups - The Suit of Cups is often called the suit of love and happiness, as that is what they deal with, as well as emotions.
Coins - The Suit of Coins deal with worldly possessions, our homes, money, and careers.
Wands - The Suit of Wands deal with creativity, inspiration, and dreams.
While I won't go through and describe every card from every suit as I did with the Major Arcana, I will pick one card from each suit to describe to give you an idea of the differences between suits.
Swords
3 of Swords - Represents separation, removal, quarrels, infidelity, sorrow. A break-up.
Cups
Knight of Cups - Represents True Love.
Coins
10 of Pentacles (Coins) - Represents Fulfillment. All that you've worked for has paid off.
Wands
6 of Wands - Represents very good news, victory, gifts about to be received.
How to do a reading (spread)
I'm going to give you the simplest explanation on how tarot cards are read. There are tons of books out there that will give you more detailed descriptions but for now, let's stick to the basics.
Usually, I have the questioner hold the cards as they think of what they want the cards to tell them. (No, Tarot cards will not tell you the winning numbers of an upcoming lottery or which horse to bet on at the track... I like to think of this as asking the cards to tell you what's just around the corner for you or what the outcome of a current bleak situation you find yourself in will be.)
Next, the deck is shuffled and cut. (I usually shuffle the cards, cut them into three parts, then place one part over the other and shuffle them again.)
Once the deck has been shuffled the cards are laid out into the spread you have chosen. (I place these face down, then flip them over to reveal their answers so I can draw an interpretation.)
A Few of my Favorite Spreads
No, I'm not talking about dips or jams. Spreads are the way Tarot Cards are laid out to be read and interpreted. Here are a few of my favorite spreads:
A Three-Card Spread
Want to take a look at what's happened in the past, what's happening now, and what's to happen in the future? This is the spread for you.
The Year Ahead SpreadDo this at the beginning of the year to see what the year ahead has in store for you.
Celtic Cross Ten Card SpreadThis is my most used spread. I use this one most of the time. This can be used for a very general reading.
If you're still reading this - Congratulations! You now have a better understanding of the use of Tarot cards. I hope you can picture our heroine, Lizette, sitting around in her room shuffling her cards restlessly and wishing for a change in her life.
Out of Darkness is available for pre-order:
AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooksComing Tuesday April 5, 2016! (Paperback Edition will also be available on April 5th)
Sources used for this blog: Tarot for Beginners by P. Scott Hollander (I recommend for all new Tarot Card users)The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck & Instruction Sheet Photos Courtesy: Myself (those of the Wild Unknown deck on the floor and the desk), Etsy, and Pinterest.
I myself have had a fascination with Tarot cards for many years. Before my fascination for the Tarot, I've always had an interest and belief in horoscopes. I'm just a weird out-there believer like that, so it's no wonder I have four decks of Tarot cards.
While every deck can differ a little they should all basically have the same general cards in each deck.
The four decks I own are: an easy-learn Rider-Waite deck (that has the meanings written on each card), a Tarot of the Witches deck, a Tarot of Love deck, and The Wild Unknown Tarot deck (shown below).
The main difference in the decks I own are what certain suits of the Minor Arcana are called (more on this later), certain placement of trump cards within the Major Arcana, and things like that.
What are Tarot Cards?Tarot cards are one of many forms of divination. They are often used to predict the potential outcome based on influences surrounding a person or event. They are made up of 22 "Trump Cards" in the Major Arcana and 4 Suits of 14 Cards making up the Minor Arcana. Let's start with the Major Arcana... As I just mentioned the Major Arcana are made up of 22 "trump" cards that form the foundation of the Tarot deck. The Major Arcana are made up of:Trumps Zero - The Fool (Representing unavoidable mistakes due to your ignorance or naivety)Trumps One - The Magician (Representing human intelligence, self-empowerment, purpose, the need to control the forces that operate in this world.)Trumps Two - The High Priestess (Represents divine wisdom, understanding of why things work out the way they do, mystery, also possible secrets that will be revealed at the proper time)Trumps Three - The Empress (Represents "the mother", procreation, domestic harmony)
Trumps Four - The Emperor (Represents "the father", authority, leadership, protection)
Trumps Five - The High Priest (Represents Divine Will, Mercy, The Search for the Truth, Religious Needs and Inclinations)
Trumps Six - The Lovers (Represents Commitment - personal note: one of my favorite cards along with The Wheel of Fortune and The Knight of Cups)
Trumps Seven - The Chariot ( Represents Victory, also that you may receive help or advice at a time of great need - think like the calvary is coming to your aid)
Trumps Eight - Justice (In certain decks the eighth card may be Strength and Justice would be the eleventh card. Represents Justice and utmost fairness.)
Trumps Nine - The Hermit (Represents self-reflection, understanding, circumspection, hidden truths to be revealed. Can also predict an impending journey in the questioner's future.)
Trumps Ten - The Wheel of Fortune (Represents chance and blind fate, leaving things up to destiny, an unexpected turn of events)
Trumps Eleven - Strength (Represents victory over overwhelming odds stacked against you. Courage)
Trumps Twelve - The Hanged Man (Represents self-sacrifice and personal growth, change of thinking)
Trumps Thirteen - Death (Does not necessarily mean actual death, instead represents a major unavoidable change of life)
Trumps Fourteen - Temperance (Represents patience and self-control, reflection)
Trumps Fifteen - The Devil (Represents the struggle between good and evil, chaos and order. Destruction, turmoil, bad luck. Personal note: my least favorite card)
Trumps Sixteen - The Tower (Represents a setback, your plans crumbling, disruption)
Trumps Seventeen - The Star (Represents hope, bright prospects, insight)
Trumps Eighteen - The Moon (Represents mystery, intuition, psychic ability, deception)
Trumps Nineteen - The Sun (Represents success, fulfillment, happiness, contentment)
Trumps Twenty - Judgement (Represents a new life beginning, decisions made, conclusions)
Trumps Twenty-One (Represents completion perfection, attainment)
The Minor Arcana
As I mentioned above, the fifty-six cards in the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits of fourteen cards. The four suits are: Swords, Cups, Coins (called Pentacles in certain decks), and Wands (called Batons or Clubs in certain decks).
The suits are further divided into ten (10) Pip cards (Ace-Ten) and four Court or face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page; although in my Wild Unknown deck calls these "Father, Mother, Daughter, and Son" instead).
Each suit represents something different.
Swords - The Suit of Swords deal with conflict, power, and change.
Cups - The Suit of Cups is often called the suit of love and happiness, as that is what they deal with, as well as emotions.
Coins - The Suit of Coins deal with worldly possessions, our homes, money, and careers.
Wands - The Suit of Wands deal with creativity, inspiration, and dreams.
While I won't go through and describe every card from every suit as I did with the Major Arcana, I will pick one card from each suit to describe to give you an idea of the differences between suits.
Swords
3 of Swords - Represents separation, removal, quarrels, infidelity, sorrow. A break-up.
Cups
Knight of Cups - Represents True Love.
Coins
10 of Pentacles (Coins) - Represents Fulfillment. All that you've worked for has paid off.
Wands
6 of Wands - Represents very good news, victory, gifts about to be received.
How to do a reading (spread)
I'm going to give you the simplest explanation on how tarot cards are read. There are tons of books out there that will give you more detailed descriptions but for now, let's stick to the basics.
Usually, I have the questioner hold the cards as they think of what they want the cards to tell them. (No, Tarot cards will not tell you the winning numbers of an upcoming lottery or which horse to bet on at the track... I like to think of this as asking the cards to tell you what's just around the corner for you or what the outcome of a current bleak situation you find yourself in will be.)
Next, the deck is shuffled and cut. (I usually shuffle the cards, cut them into three parts, then place one part over the other and shuffle them again.)
Once the deck has been shuffled the cards are laid out into the spread you have chosen. (I place these face down, then flip them over to reveal their answers so I can draw an interpretation.)
A Few of my Favorite Spreads
No, I'm not talking about dips or jams. Spreads are the way Tarot Cards are laid out to be read and interpreted. Here are a few of my favorite spreads:
A Three-Card Spread
Want to take a look at what's happened in the past, what's happening now, and what's to happen in the future? This is the spread for you.
The Year Ahead SpreadDo this at the beginning of the year to see what the year ahead has in store for you.
Celtic Cross Ten Card SpreadThis is my most used spread. I use this one most of the time. This can be used for a very general reading.
If you're still reading this - Congratulations! You now have a better understanding of the use of Tarot cards. I hope you can picture our heroine, Lizette, sitting around in her room shuffling her cards restlessly and wishing for a change in her life.
Out of Darkness is available for pre-order:
AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooksComing Tuesday April 5, 2016! (Paperback Edition will also be available on April 5th)
Sources used for this blog: Tarot for Beginners by P. Scott Hollander (I recommend for all new Tarot Card users)The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck & Instruction Sheet Photos Courtesy: Myself (those of the Wild Unknown deck on the floor and the desk), Etsy, and Pinterest.
March 9, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #13
This week on "What I'm Reading" Wednesday I'm reading a great book new book that came out just this week...
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
"Aerity..." Her father paused as if the words he was forming pained him. "I must ask you to sacrifice the promise of love for the sake of our kingdom."
She could only stare back, frozen.
When a strange beast terrorizes the kingdom of Lochlanach, fear stirs revolt. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona- kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson's hand in marriage.
Princess Aerity knows her duty to her kingdom but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger... until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. There's no denying the unspoken allure between them... or his mysterious resentment.
Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand - ridding the kingdom of the beast - but the princess continues to surprise him, and the perilous secrets he's buried begin to surface.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think of it so far: I've been a fan of Wendy Higgins since reading the Sweet books and her independently published book, See Me, so when I heard about this book I knew I had to read it. Even if I hadn't read books by this author before, the synopsis definitely grabbed me. Technically this book only came out yesterday (March 8th) but I had purchased a copy through the Apollycon Virtual Book Signing/Sale several months back and received my copy on Saturday. I began reading this book on Monday and it hooked me instantly. I love the storyline so far and I just passed the part where Aerity and Paxton meet for the first time and OMG can you say amazing chemistry?!?!? I love all of the major characters so far and I can't wait to see where the story goes. Will Paxton kill the beast and win not only Princess Aerity's hand in marriage - but her heart as well? I hope so! This book is a duology so I know there is a second book to come and I'm excited for that as well. I'm just over a hundred pages into The Great Hunt but I can already reveal my early rating:5 of 5 Stars!
I received all of the books I purchased from the Apollycon event on Saturday and since I finished Remembrance by Meg Cabot (see "What I'm Reading Wednesday #12" for more info) over the weekend I didn't get a chance to squeeze in any other books before starting The Great Hunt. As you can see I'll be very busy reading over the next few weeks/months!
My New Books!
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Blurb:
"Aerity..." Her father paused as if the words he was forming pained him. "I must ask you to sacrifice the promise of love for the sake of our kingdom."
She could only stare back, frozen.
When a strange beast terrorizes the kingdom of Lochlanach, fear stirs revolt. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona- kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson's hand in marriage.
Princess Aerity knows her duty to her kingdom but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger... until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. There's no denying the unspoken allure between them... or his mysterious resentment.
Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand - ridding the kingdom of the beast - but the princess continues to surprise him, and the perilous secrets he's buried begin to surface.
Why I Chose This Book / What I Think of it so far: I've been a fan of Wendy Higgins since reading the Sweet books and her independently published book, See Me, so when I heard about this book I knew I had to read it. Even if I hadn't read books by this author before, the synopsis definitely grabbed me. Technically this book only came out yesterday (March 8th) but I had purchased a copy through the Apollycon Virtual Book Signing/Sale several months back and received my copy on Saturday. I began reading this book on Monday and it hooked me instantly. I love the storyline so far and I just passed the part where Aerity and Paxton meet for the first time and OMG can you say amazing chemistry?!?!? I love all of the major characters so far and I can't wait to see where the story goes. Will Paxton kill the beast and win not only Princess Aerity's hand in marriage - but her heart as well? I hope so! This book is a duology so I know there is a second book to come and I'm excited for that as well. I'm just over a hundred pages into The Great Hunt but I can already reveal my early rating:5 of 5 Stars!
I received all of the books I purchased from the Apollycon event on Saturday and since I finished Remembrance by Meg Cabot (see "What I'm Reading Wednesday #12" for more info) over the weekend I didn't get a chance to squeeze in any other books before starting The Great Hunt. As you can see I'll be very busy reading over the next few weeks/months!
My New Books!March 4, 2016
Me, Out of Darkness, and Lizette in 5 Words or Less
Out of Darkness goes on sale thirty-one days from now! I can't believe my third book is already about to come out. In honor of that, I'll be doing a four-part blog series to introduce you to Out of Darkness (the first book in the Eternals Trilogy), the overall theme, a few of the characters, and a few topics important to the book. To start it all off, this week I'm going to describe myself, my book (Out of Darkness), and the main character, Lizette in five (5) words or less. Are you ready? Good, me too... mostly.
Me (in a nutshell) I am:-Insane :P-Creative-Shy-Observant-Forgetful
Out of Darkness is:-Thrilling-Romantic-Full of Secrets
Lizette is:-Brave-Strong-willed-Witty-Mischievous
Have I whet your appetite yet?
Out of Darkness is available for pre-order:AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooksComing Tuesday April 5, 2016! (Paperback Edition will also be available on April 5th)
Me (in a nutshell) I am:-Insane :P-Creative-Shy-Observant-Forgetful
Out of Darkness is:-Thrilling-Romantic-Full of Secrets
Lizette is:-Brave-Strong-willed-Witty-Mischievous
Have I whet your appetite yet?
Out of Darkness is available for pre-order:AmazonSmashwordsBarnes and NobleKoboiBooksComing Tuesday April 5, 2016! (Paperback Edition will also be available on April 5th)
March 2, 2016
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #12
This week I've read a few different genres of books. Right now I'm diving into...
Remembrance (A Mediator Novel) by Meg Cabot
Blurb:
Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze's wedded bliss before it begins.
You can take the boy out of the darkness.
But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.
All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).
But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.
From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.
Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?
What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.
Why I Chose This Book: I love Meg Cabot's books and believe me, I've read a lot of them over the years. When I saw on her twitter account that she was signing copies of this book to be sold at an independent bookstore in Michigan that would be available to purchase online I knew I needed to order a copy. Though I've just started the book, if the first line is any indication then I know I'm going to love this book as much as I've loved the other books I've read by the author.
Here's a look at what else I've read since finishing Shiver by Kristen Middleton last Wednesday...
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Blurb:
Bellamy Lyston was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day's most devastating moments.
Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan's murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy's identity is exposed along with the family scandal.
Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.
In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan's wayward and reckless boyfriend -- and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy's sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections -once unlocked-pose dangers that neither could foresee and puts both their lives in peril.
As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear. Haunted by partial memories, conflicted over her feelings for Dent, but determined to learn the truth, she won't stop until she reveals Susan's killer.
That is, unless Susan's killer strikes her first...
What I Thought of This Book: Wow... I loved this book. Low Pressure is my first Sandra Brown book but I can already tell you it won't be the last. My grandmother was gifted this book as a belated birthday present from my sister last summer. She read it and enjoyed it and recommended it to me. I'd planned to read it sooner but I had a large to-be-read stack and just now got to it. Ever since Bellamy Lyston released Low Pressure, the book that she hoped would give her clarity to the truth behind her sister Susan's murder eighteen years earlier and her true identity became known she's found an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to silence her. But who is it? Is it Susan's true killer? Someone that she painted in an ill light in her novel? Susan's boyfriend at the time of her death, Denton Carter? All she knows is that someone is after her. As her and Dent's lives become entwined and she pursues the truth from that awful day eighteen years prior she learns more and more about the family and the sister she thought she knew. And once revealed it can never be unlearned. I loved Dent and Bellamy together. I couldn't get enough. This book reminded me a lot of a couple of my other favorite authors' - Nora Roberts and Lisa Jackson - writing style which helped me to fall so easily into the storyline. It really was a thrilling read that hooked me and kept me its' captive audience until the last page. I never saw the stunning ending coming.My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young
Blurb:
Stay tonight. Stay forever.
When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.
Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.
The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
What I Thought of the Book: I stumbled across this book one day recently when I was at Barnes and Noble. The title sounded familiar, I believe a book blog I follow featured it a month or so back, so naturally I picked it up to take a look. The description drew forth thoughts of an old Disney movie, Tower of Terror, that I'd seen when I was younger, then rented on Netflix just days before finding this book, so I bought Hotel Ruby. This book is fantastic. I really loved it. I kind of had a premonition about what the secret of Hotel Ruby was from about a quarter of the way in but it was still a gripping book that I couldn't bear to put down. I won't spoil the secret but partway through the book you begin to wonder - Is the Hotel Ruby and its' guests even real? As real as the 13th chapter? You'll have to find out for yourself. ;)My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
Remembrance (A Mediator Novel) by Meg Cabot
Blurb:
Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze's wedded bliss before it begins.You can take the boy out of the darkness.
But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.
All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).
But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.
From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.
Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?
What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.
Why I Chose This Book: I love Meg Cabot's books and believe me, I've read a lot of them over the years. When I saw on her twitter account that she was signing copies of this book to be sold at an independent bookstore in Michigan that would be available to purchase online I knew I needed to order a copy. Though I've just started the book, if the first line is any indication then I know I'm going to love this book as much as I've loved the other books I've read by the author.
Here's a look at what else I've read since finishing Shiver by Kristen Middleton last Wednesday...
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Blurb:
Bellamy Lyston was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day's most devastating moments.Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan's murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy's identity is exposed along with the family scandal.
Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.
In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan's wayward and reckless boyfriend -- and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy's sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections -once unlocked-pose dangers that neither could foresee and puts both their lives in peril.
As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear. Haunted by partial memories, conflicted over her feelings for Dent, but determined to learn the truth, she won't stop until she reveals Susan's killer.
That is, unless Susan's killer strikes her first...
What I Thought of This Book: Wow... I loved this book. Low Pressure is my first Sandra Brown book but I can already tell you it won't be the last. My grandmother was gifted this book as a belated birthday present from my sister last summer. She read it and enjoyed it and recommended it to me. I'd planned to read it sooner but I had a large to-be-read stack and just now got to it. Ever since Bellamy Lyston released Low Pressure, the book that she hoped would give her clarity to the truth behind her sister Susan's murder eighteen years earlier and her true identity became known she's found an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to silence her. But who is it? Is it Susan's true killer? Someone that she painted in an ill light in her novel? Susan's boyfriend at the time of her death, Denton Carter? All she knows is that someone is after her. As her and Dent's lives become entwined and she pursues the truth from that awful day eighteen years prior she learns more and more about the family and the sister she thought she knew. And once revealed it can never be unlearned. I loved Dent and Bellamy together. I couldn't get enough. This book reminded me a lot of a couple of my other favorite authors' - Nora Roberts and Lisa Jackson - writing style which helped me to fall so easily into the storyline. It really was a thrilling read that hooked me and kept me its' captive audience until the last page. I never saw the stunning ending coming.My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young
Blurb:
Stay tonight. Stay forever.When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.
Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.
The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
What I Thought of the Book: I stumbled across this book one day recently when I was at Barnes and Noble. The title sounded familiar, I believe a book blog I follow featured it a month or so back, so naturally I picked it up to take a look. The description drew forth thoughts of an old Disney movie, Tower of Terror, that I'd seen when I was younger, then rented on Netflix just days before finding this book, so I bought Hotel Ruby. This book is fantastic. I really loved it. I kind of had a premonition about what the secret of Hotel Ruby was from about a quarter of the way in but it was still a gripping book that I couldn't bear to put down. I won't spoil the secret but partway through the book you begin to wonder - Is the Hotel Ruby and its' guests even real? As real as the 13th chapter? You'll have to find out for yourself. ;)My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
February 26, 2016
Five 4 Three 2 One
Every now and then I like to do a fun 'get-to-know-me' blog and since the next four-five weekend blogs will be devoted to Out of Darkness, here's one carefree blog coming up...
5 Items I Would Buy With A Million Dollars: 1. All the books on my wishlist. 2. A Duplex in Nashville, Tennessee, so I could live on one side and my grandmother could still be nearby in the other half of the duplex while still giving me privacy. 3. A new tattoo (or two!)4. A French Bulldog puppy.5. A trip to Ireland.Bonus Item: Give money to the ASPCA
4 Things I Love About My Favorite Book:(Fav. Book: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore)1. The Mad Monk Ghost / Legend2. Amy's sister Phin3. This line: Never trust a writer, they're paid to make up stories. 4. Amy and Ben's witty banter.
3 Books I'd Bring to a Desert Island:1. Play by Kylie Scott2. Nash by Jay Crownover3. The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
2 Food Items I Could Never Live Without:1. Cheese2. Pasta
1 Person Who Makes My Life Better:1. My Boyfriend Josh <3
5 Items I Would Buy With A Million Dollars: 1. All the books on my wishlist. 2. A Duplex in Nashville, Tennessee, so I could live on one side and my grandmother could still be nearby in the other half of the duplex while still giving me privacy. 3. A new tattoo (or two!)4. A French Bulldog puppy.5. A trip to Ireland.Bonus Item: Give money to the ASPCA
4 Things I Love About My Favorite Book:(Fav. Book: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore)1. The Mad Monk Ghost / Legend2. Amy's sister Phin3. This line: Never trust a writer, they're paid to make up stories. 4. Amy and Ben's witty banter.
3 Books I'd Bring to a Desert Island:1. Play by Kylie Scott2. Nash by Jay Crownover3. The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
2 Food Items I Could Never Live Without:1. Cheese2. Pasta
1 Person Who Makes My Life Better:1. My Boyfriend Josh <3
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