Natural Selection

Forces of Nature #1

by Elizabeth Sharp

What do you do when you find out your family isn't your family, death is knocking at your door, and that guy you can't stop thinking about knows more about who you are than you do? Amelia Hoffman was just a normal 15 year old until she found out the truth. Now ancient myths, supernatural beings, and murder have changed everything. Tests and school dances are no longer the biggest worry in her life-- she has to figure out how to save everyone she loves and accept the future in front of her before its too late.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Mystery, Young Adult Paranormal

234 pages, ebook

First published August 8, 2011

About the author

Elizabeth Sharp is the pen name used by Donna Dull. A full time mom and part dreamer, Donna is addicted Facebook while still recovering from her Dr. Pepper problem. A self-proclaimed techno geek, she loves cell phones, computers, tablets and all things technological. The internet has to be the greatest invention since the wheel, in her opinion. She lives in a quiet subdivision with her husband, young son, three cats, and far too many electronics. It’s quite possible she has some raccoon in her DNA, because she loves glitter and anything that sparkles. She enjoys making jewelry and costumes. Halloween is her favorite holiday since it’s the one day of the year that you can be whatever you want. But her first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in her head would make her feel schizophrenic.

Reviews

[Donna Dull]

well, I wrote it, so of course I love it!

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

I wasn't expecting this story to go where it did, again, I liked the cover, so didn't bother reading what the book was about. Was pretty happy with how the story developed and the pace. The characters were well written too.

[N.A. Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and moving.

Natural Selection (forces of nature) is a wonderfully woven tale. This YA book is as beautiful as it is moving. That awkward stage where most teenagers are caught between being kids and adults is always tough, try being an otherworldly creature on top of it. If that isn't bad enough, find out that your brother and sister are adopted demons. Amelia is a strong, cute character and I see a lot of promise in this book. It hooked me from the start and I didn't have to struggle to finish. It was wonderful. There isn't a bad thing I can say about it. For a young adult book I give this a 10 star rating. Unfortunately I have a five star limit here. Still, this book is a gem. I loved that there was even bits of book two after the ending of the first one. I will be reading more. This was absolutely wonderful and would recommend it to anyone. The greatest part, no sex! Why am I thrilled about that? Because a.) I don't enjoy reading sex scenes b.) I have younger siblings that I recommend stories to. My honest review is I found this a most memorable and fun adventure and I look forward to more.

[MarytheBookLover · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Opinion:

I really enjoyed this YA novel. I have been reading more and more YA books lately and this one was right up there for me. I enjoyed the twists and turns of Amelia’s teen aged life. Elizabeth takes us on a roller coaster ride for one teen that is learning the Gaia/nature spirit life. Amelia has thought all along that she was just an ordinary teenager,until things start to change for her. She is slower to develop than other teenagers and is a bit embarrassed by it until everything comes full circle when she comes of age. She starts getting feverish and the boy Nate that she has had a crush on for so long changes her life on their first day of high school. She learns what her brother and sister are and how her parents have been protecting her for so long. This book has everything in it,from heartbreaking tragedy to teenage romance to mystery and suspense,this novel leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I give Natural Selections Forces of Nature Book 1 by Elizabeth Sharp 4 of 5 stars.

[Book Wyvern · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn’t anymore. Honestly, it just seemed like she was more interest in talking about her sister than her own stuff. There was a scene where she went into uncomfortable…very uncomfortable detail about her sister. There was hardly any detail about herself or anyone else, but I sure had an idea about what her sister looked like.

The blurb just screams ‘special snowflake’ and yet, this is pretty much a story about her sister and not her. Now, there were little tidbits about the plot, in through all the sister talk…but even that couldn’t convince me to go on with the story enough to get through the book.

In fact, it was the uncomfortable bit about her sister that really just threw me for a loop and made me lose my interest in going further. She was jealous…of her sister losing her virginity at thirteen.

This was a DNF for me, I just couldn’t get through the story here when it was all about the sister and not about the main character.

Thank you for reading my review.

[Debra Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natural selection

Free book for an honest review. Great break from thrillers and cozy mysteries. Well written and exciting in it's own rite. Good for young and old alike. Put it on your TBR list.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best paranormal books I have ever read

I was so close to quitting the book after the first few pages. I am too old to be reading about teenagers. I am so glad I continued. There is action, suspense, and every in every chapter. An excellent paranormal book for any age.

[Haley ~ YA-Aholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

“Know me, Amber. I am Amelia Hoffman, and that," I said emphatically, gesturing towards them, "is my family. And if you or anyone does anything to harm them, I will turn the wrath of the Earth Mother on you. I will turn this entire town into a desert waste if I have to, but I will protect my family. If that makes us enemies, then I will weep for you when you are dead.”


Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp completely threw me off guard, what I thought was going to be a simple read turned into an action packed thriller with magic, love, loss..and murder! Within nearly 200 pages Elizabeth Sharp was able to put together a great novel that will leave readers on the edge of their seat!

Amelia thinks she is just an average 15 year old girl, she worries about boys, dances and thinks her curfew is far too early. After some odd events though Amelia is discovering that she is not at all what she thought she was, as if finding out her ‘family’ isn’t really her family, and that she isn’t even human, wasn’t enough to be going through, she also has other people like her being murdered in her town..and she’s next on their list. While trying to figure out her powers, and her connection to her lifetime crush that has recently sparked, will Amelia be able to be strong enough to save the ones she loves? Or will she lose everything she holds dear..

When starting Natural Selection I thought it was going to be a simple read, but it wasn’t at all! It may be short, but it sure packed a punch! Elizabeth Sharp put together a great mixture of paranormal which included Gaia’s, Witches, Succubus, and Djinn. The paranormal mixture I believe was one of my favorite things about Natural Selection. It was something new and refreshing, many times I have read novels of werewolves, shapshifters or vampires, finally running into something new was a great breath of fresh air!

Characters was another aspect of Natural Selection that I deff enjoyed! Amelia is so fearless at times that you can’t help, but look up to her. Sariah although she is a type of demon, shows such care for her family. Out of all the characters though, hands down my favorite was Xander, Amelia’s brother. Xander from the very beginning I knew I was going to fall in love with, he is so caring, funny and protective that I couldn’t help, but totally fall for him!. I also couldn’t help, but to feel sorry for him..he was so ashamed of what he was, and it tore me apart that he didn’t think anyone would accept him, not even his own family. Although Amelia is the main character and I enjoy her, I would really love to read Xander’s story. I feel he would have a lot to say.


All in all, Natural Selection was a treat, and although it may be a short novel, it will keep the readers on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something new in the paranormal/YA genre that isn’t your typical vampire and werewolves story!

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Amelia Hoffman discovers that she is more than human, things escalate quickly. Supernatural beings begin to surface and a murder plagues a community. Twined with mystery, romance, and heart-pounding action, Natural Selection has everything that I love in YA.

When I picked up Natural Selection, it proved to be more than what I was expecting. The magical creatures that are integrated throughout the novel are endless. For example, her sister is a succubus and her brother is a Djinn, while Amelia is a Gaia. She is a creature of nature and has the ability to heal and work with plants/greenery. I loved that there wasn’t a specific supernatural being. It was different and added to the unique and creative story line that Sharp created.

I really liked Amelia Hoffman. Her character is by far one of the youngest that I have read this year. I remember when I was fifteen and it’s much to the insecurities that Amelia faces. She’s sort of plain, but as the novel progresses she blossoms into a beautiful creature (no pun intended). Her feelings towards a certain boy *cough* her brothers’ best friend *cough* is really sweet. He seems to know more about her than she does. Mysterious, eh?

While we’re on the topic of love, Nathaniel, the love interest, is just so sweet and loyal. I just wanted to hug him. Okay, more like attack bear hug him. But still. His fierce protectiveness over Amelia was by far one of my favorite parts. What can I say? I’m a sucker for romance.

Aside from supernatural beings, there are also witches. But the witches in Amelia’s world aren’t the good guys. It’s also difficult to trust people when enemies turn out to be the unlikeliest of people.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this novel was the realistic bond between the characters. I loved that strong connection between family. As a reader, you could really see how much Amelia cared for her brother and sister. Her parents as well. Amelia is willing to do anything it takes to save her family. I found that admirable.

Lastly, I really enjoyed Sharp’s writing style. It flowed easily and well, it was just fun to read.

All in all, Natural Selection was a great start to a series. The ending leaves you wanting more! Plus, isn’t the cover absolutely gorgeous??

[Mutated Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads Synopsis: Book One of the Forces of Nature Series

Average, plain-bodied Amelia Hoffman has resigned herself to a life of mediocrity, unable to escape the shadows cast by her all-too-perfect siblings. Worse, her feelings for her brother’s best friend are getting stronger.

Everything changes after the brutal murder of her close friend.

Suddenly, Amelia’s life is transformed and she is thrust into a wondrous and frightening new world of myths and legends. As she explores this new world hidden within the layers of her own, secrets are revealed. When her body miraculously changes overnight, Amelia is forced to hide in her home for her own protection. But as danger circles closer, Amelia has to figure out who is committing the ruthless homicides.

Otherwise, she could be next..

My Review: Because I finished this book like a week ago, I'm a little iffy on the details.. But here's to hoping the synopsis jogs my memory! :D Anyways. Here's we go. So, The book started out with Amelia feeling inadequate. Her siblings are better than her, they really are. She pays attention in class, she's on time, and she's starting to get some weird electric feelings for her brother's best friend. And then it happens. She finally matures, gets boobs, you know. Gets old. It happens overnight. She overhears her parents talking about her, and learns some secrets she probably shouldn't know. Her brother and sister are demons. She's not human either, but she's the one they're protecting. They're adopted, she isn't. It's nothing like she thought before. Who would've thought? There are people being murdered all around her, and she doesn't know what to do. I wouldn't know what to do either, if I were her. But she.. sort of figured it out. And that's all I have to say about that story. The characters are a little weird, not totally like people I'd know in real life, but almost like some people you might know. It's.. different. The writing isn't the best, but It's good enough. I probably downloaded this book because of the cover, as crazy as that sounds, but it is a nice cover. I'm pretty sure this is one of the books I got free from amazon forever ago... haha. Anyways. Check it out and see for yourself. Thanks for reading!

(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do I even begin to write this review?
Honestly, I don't know, but I guess I will just jump right in.

First, in the beginning of the novel, I was impressed. I felt like the story was headed somewhere. I was intrigued and excited to see where it was headed. I enjoyed the general idea for the story. It kept me on my toes and I enjoyed learning all the different details of this new, magical world. However, as the story unfolded, I was not completely unhappy and not quite happy either. I became indifferent to the story and it didn't matter if I finished. I didn't feel that drive to hear the end of the story, but I pushed through.
My biggest issue with this novel was the writing style. Some writers tend to skip certain areas of the story and it always leaves me feeling like I missed something important. Unfortunately, this author did just that. I felt like I was left hanging in certain areas or I didn't have enough information because important parts were sort of glossed over.
A smaller, but crucial issue I had with this novel was the author's apparent aggravation with another author. Honestly, we all have our favorite authors. I am not denying it in anyway. But do we all bash other authors every chance we get? No. Why? Because that is just bad form. Good Lord, I understand the author didn't agree with that particular author's take on specific supernatural creatures, but did she have to attempt to cram her beliefs down her reader's throats? The point of fiction writing is to create a "NEW, ORIGINAL, intriguing" story. The other author obviously did so since her creatures were the first to have that particular characteristic that Elizabeth Sharp hates so much. If this author's only argument is vampires shouldn't sparkle, maybe she should rethink writing. Writing is about creating and bashing an author as often as you can to make yourself feel better- well, it seemed petty. The author may have intended it to be funny or creating a personality for the character, but if came off as bullying and childish.

By all means, use your writing to make a real difference if you choose, but don't ever push someone down to get where you want to be. One day, someone may do the same to you. Choose to lift others up. Spread kindness.

[Shayna Gier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natural Selection was a quick and refreshing paranormal book. Amelia, also known as Lia, is a delightful and seemingly normal teenager, who just wants to hang with her best friends and survive biology. All seems good and well, until shortly after starting high school she begins to run a bit of a fever. After overhearing her parents talk about sending her away for her own good and because she doesn't realize that "she isn't even human," Lia starts to ask a lot of questions. Questions that, for the most part, are dodged.

If I was put in Lia's place, I'd be furious at my mother for not telling me I was special or what to expect. Teen years are hard enough as a human, without the assistance of latent supernatural powers developing. All in all, however, Lia deals with her changing life and body fairly well- at any rate better than can be expected.

The humor in Natural Selection was very much "my type" of humor. I ended up laughing out loud at least once a chapter.

There's not much to complain about with this book- especially if you like young adult and paranormal books. You've got a succubus, a djinn demon, sprites, ghouls, and earth spirits all living and interacting with humans. You've got a cute love story that unfolds beautifully, and a blushing young lady growing into the woman she's meant to be. Lia deals with a lot, but only after everything she has considered her life gets taken away does she really lose it, and even then her brother and sister pull her back together fairly quickly. The story has a great pace, and I was easily able to finish it in a single day. I'm very excited to read the second book after reading this one.

Disclaimer:

This book was provided for me at no charge, nor was I given compensation
of any kind for this review. This review only reflects my personal opinion.

[Phaedra Seabolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot about supernaturals that aren't vampires, werewolves, and witches these days. This story is about many other kinds of people. Nature spirits in particular are the focus of this story with the bad guys being witches. This is a wonderful story about what the author calls Otherwordly creatures. Amelia, the main character, is a Gaia (or nature spirit). She is completely unaware of what she is until it is nearly too late for her parents to tell her. Nature spirits undergo puberty over night with a few symptoms showing up a few weeks prior. Thankfully, even though her parents have kept her in the dark, Amelia is close to her family and tells them when strange things are happening. This gives them a very short warning that Amelia is about to change in a very drastic way. Unfortunately, there are people out there that believe that Otherwordly creatures are evil and should be eradicated from the planet. Amelia's transformation alerts these people of their existence and brings them to their front door (not literally). Amelia's life is turned upside down and in the end they are fighting for their lives.

I found this story to be quite interesting and the topic very refreshing. There isn't any point where you are wishing the action to happen faster or slower. The pace is easy to follow. There are times when you will be very sad for Amelia, but in the end you will feel hopeful. It doesn't end with exactly a happy ending, but you get the feeling that Amelia and her family have things under control. Once you read the epilogue though, you will definitely want to have book #2 waiting to be read. It gives the cliffhanger ending that you can avoid if you aren't ready to read the second book. Otherwise, you WILL WANT MORE!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, when I was asked to read and review this YA paranormal book I was hesitant. While I like a good mythical creature story, I just didn't think I could stand to read a another book about vampires or zombies. But, I decided to give it a chance, and boy am I glad I did. I didn't see one vampire or zombie anywhere in the story. I learned about Gaia, Djinn, Succubus' and witches, but no vampires or zombies. I love that Elizabeth Sharp chose to feature a different sort of mythical creature, it was a refreshing change of pace.

"When the reader hears strong echoes of his or her own life and beliefs, he or she is apt to become more invested in the story." - Stephen King (On Writing)

That's exactly what happened to me with this story. Based in the area that I live and naming some of the places I know, the story sucked me right in. The characters are strong and interesting and the pace of the story moves right along. There's action, romance, suspense, heartbreak and wonder all woven through this story. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author in conjunction with Promotional Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Allizabeth Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description:

Amelia Hoffman is not who, (or what), she thinks she is. Her parents and siblings have been keeping the truth from her for fifteen years, hoping to protect her. But now other-worlders are being murdered, and they are all connected to her. Can she accept her birthright and save the ones she loves before she's the next one on the chopping block?

Review:
I was relieved when I picked up Natural Selection and realized that vampires weren't involved; I am always looking for paranormal romance/fiction that doesn't fit "today's norm". Elizabeth Sharp does an amazing job with the mythology and development of her characters, particularly how she explains and details the Gaia, Djinn, Succubi, and witches. The characters are very realistic, and their attitudes and bonds with one another are one of my favorite aspects of the book. The story-line is slow at the beginning, but it picks up the pace once you get past the first couple chapters. The only part that irks me is the abruptness of the ending. I feel like there was a lot of build-up to the final confrontation, only to begin and end in a mere five page stretch. Loose ends were tied up, (very quickly), but I enjoyed the Epilogue and can't wait to read the next book in the Forces Of Nature series! I recommend this read to tweens, teens, and anyone who enjoys a quick and unique paranormal romance.


Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)


*** I received this book from 4 Corners Press in exchange for honest and unbiased review.

[Merilyn Dignum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young protagonist, Amelia or Lia as she prefers, is a 15 year old girl stuck in a 10 year old body and not too happy about it either, and who can blame her. Being a teenager is hard enough without looking like a child and wondering if and when you’ll finally bloom.

What Lia doesn’t know is that she is not like her friends and her family is also very different and not what you would call a typical family. Her parents and older siblings have been keeping secrets and when those secrets finally come out it will blow Lia’s mind. She will discover her true heritage, face foes she never dreamed existed outside of books, lose loved ones and fall in love.

There were times in roughly the first third of the novel that I wanted to yell at her mother to come clean and stop telling Lia snippets of the truth inevitably keeping her in the dark about what she was and what would happen when her ‘change’ occurred which could only lead to trouble. However, once Lia found out the truth and had gone through the ‘change’ the story really took off.

It was an enjoyable read and even though I found a few minor errors and the word drug was used instead of drag, I didn’t come across anything that was distracting enough to throw me out of the story.

The first 4 chapters of book 2, Second Nature, are included at the end and after reading them I’m looking forward to continuing Lia’s story.

I think YA readers in the 13 – 15 age bracket will really enjoy this book.

[PuppyPaws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia has always thought she was normal, human, but all that changes when she overhears her mother and father one night talking about her and how she just may not be who she thinks she is.

Natural Selection is the typical YA paranormal romance book with a few new elements put in to keep it slightly unique. Amelia is a Gaia, a creature of nature who has the ability to heal and work with plants and earth. Her brother is a Djinn and her sister is a Succubus. The diffrent paranormal creatures throughout the book was a nice touch, there are Witches as well but they are not the good guys this time around. In fact, enemies come in the most unlikely of places...

The characters themselves are the typical bunch, the lead is a plain jane but becomes beautiful and suddenly people are noticing her, the brother and sister are supportive but also harsh when nessasary, It was fine how it was but not anything that really strays from the norm.

The action is minimal but adequate when it shows. The love interest, Nathaniel is cute, protective, and loyal. I did enjoy this book, and I even shed a few tears in certain spots. There is some talk of sex but its minimal. All together its a nice little package of a YA novel and I do look forward to the next book in the series.

[Lisa Markson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp was a truly fascinating story.  I absolutely loved this book.  What would you do if there were secrets in your family?  Well Lia was about to find out.  She proves with the love of your family you can pretty much accomplish anything in life.  She is thrown into a world that she never new existed except in folklore and fables.  I as glad that the story continued on their journey in a second book.  This is one author that needs you to check out.  She engaged me in the story sometimes a little too much.  By this I was feeling everything Lia was feeling in the moment like it was happening to me.  Now that is a writer that cares what her reader thinks.  This is definitely a 5 star book and I am looking forward to more from her.  Run to amazon, smashwords.com, or Barnes and Noble to get your copy then look for her next installment of this series Second Nature.  Another thing I liked was she talked about some of the other books at her fellow authors have written at 4 Press Corners.  I have also read these authors and these particular books and found it engaging that she used them in the story as Lia was reading them or talking about them.  If I had not already read them I would have gotten them to read.

[Sanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s a story about a girl called Amelia and the strange things that she finds out about herself after her 15th birthday. I mean, why is she so attracted to her big brothers best friend? Why does she look so much younger than she really is? Why does her sister sleep with the entire population of her town? Who killed one of her friends? And Why?

All this and much much more is answered within the book! I’m not going to say too much as i don’t want to give away any surprises but this is definitely one you want to keep an eye out for! I liked Amelia, she wasn’t a whiny teenage girl and actually did some things for herself and took charge. This is a definite plus in my book :) I enjoyed getting to know Xander and Sariah as well (her siblings) and found them thoroughly interesting. The plot flows nicely and there are some ‘interesting’ plot twists. I was sad about one of the things that happened (if you’ve read it, you know!), however understood why it had to occur and it did help advance the plot later. All in all, very enjoyable book, finished it in one sitting and for the price it was when i picked it up (free, go check on amazon usa) it’d be silly for more people to not check out this wonderful series!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia (Lia) seems to think she's going to be stuck in a child's body forever. Everyone around her is blossoming into adulthood while she's stuck as if she'll be 12 forever, while her brother and sister seem to have been blessed with all of the good looks.

Then strange things start happening as she starts high school. Her brothers best friend, Xander, who she's known for so long seems to have electrocuted her. On top of that he went away for the summer and came back looking even cuter! She can't deny she was attracted to him before, but now he is WOW!

Amelia learns a lot about the secrets her family seem to be hiding from her. Secrets that seem to be putting her in danger now. These secrets are also the same ones they've been hiding that help her to transform into the beautiful women she is to become.

Amelia also learns why there is such a pull/connection between her and Xander and who her siblings really are.

I was definitely pulled in by this book and Lia finding out she is a "natural spirit". I love YA books like this! If you are into magical YA books you definitely want to pick this book up and read it! Elizabeth Sharp writes this story very well and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!

[Joey Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began reading Natural Selection, I wasn't sure where I would stand. I was hesitant and honestly, a lot of it had to do with Amelia, or Lia's, age. I wasn't sure how much depth a 15 year old could have. But Elizabeth put any trepidation to rest very early as we have the opportunity watch this physically under developed girl become a beautiful woman. The beings are very different than the vampires and werewolves we're used to, but even more intriguing as you're introduced to witches, various demons, Gaia and many other creatures. While I found the beginning kind of slow, I couldn't put the rest of the book down.

If you're like me, you'll be very fond of Lia's relationship to her family, especially her brother and sister, Xander and Sariah. It's the prime example of true siblings and family love. Elizabeth will have you laughing, crying and rejoicing as Amelia finds strength she never thought she was capable of having to save her loved ones from the misguided beliefs of the murderers. If you're looking for book with action, romance, surprise and supernatural wonder, this is the book for you.

To see more of my reviews please go to: ink-puddle.blogspot.com

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying how refreshing it was to read a young adult paranormal novel that WASN'T about vampires. I like supernatural stories, but reading about different kinds of otherworldly creatures was very refreshing. The descriptions of nature helped me feel even more connected just by reading.

Elizabeth Sharp has created some very interesting characters for this story. Amelia is someone that nearly any female can connect with, after all who doesn't remember the awkward stage right before high school? And just like every other family, Amelia thinks her family is strange. The only difference? Her family IS different, and this becomes apparent very quickly. For Amelia, the changes to her body come with huge revelations which quickly spiral into chaos.

I really enjoyed this novel. Though it took a while to get into, once the action starts there is no going back. One thing I enjoy about paranormal novels is to see the author's interpretation of how each creature would act, and Sharp did not let me down. It was a great read, but the best part is definitely the epilogue.

[A.R. Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original and good start to a new series. Natural Selection is a YA paranormal story that has a perfect touch of magic and romance to go along with the (very different) teenage girl that finds herself going through very different phases and growth. This story has action, mystery and excitement that many fans of the genre will surely enjoy!

Amelia is a mid-teen that has been kept in the dark about herself, her family and those around her all of her life. Once all secrets are exposed her world is full of turmoil, sadness, romance and much more. Confused yet able to stand tall and strong. She uses her new found power and smarts to help rid the world of some evil.

A quick and engrossing read that opens a new branch of paranormal into the reading world. I look forward to what the author will bring us in the next of the series.

A 3.5 rounded to a solid 4 rating.

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the makings of a fantastic YA read! Elizabeth Sharp does an excellent job with character development and world building. While the book is other worldly it is also remarkably relatable. As with her other YA titles, Ms. Sharp has mastered the teen voices possessed by her characters. I also particularly enjoy that Lia, while she is struggling through a difficult transformation, is the type of girl to take control of her situation. Too often, female characters are painted as helpless damsels in distress. Girls can kick butt and think their way out of trouble too and Lia doesn't disappoint in this department.
If you're looking for something different with a strong female heroine, you can't go wrong with Natural Selection! It's a five star read!

Oh, and it's free on Amazon!

[Nichole Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for YA fans.

Ms. Sharp has created a world that incorporates paranormal elements and weaves them seamlessly into the world of the average teenager. Even though the characters in her book are far from average, they are easy to relate to. I loved Amelia, her brother Xander, and sister Sariah. Oh, and Nate. You certainly can't forget Nate. I also loved the realistic connection between Amelia and her parents. They love their daughter more than life itself.

This book kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. I simple could NOT put it down. I HAD to know what was going to happen to Amelia and her family. I recommend this book to anyone that loves YA, paranormal, urban fantasy, intrigue, and romance. Natural Selection has it all.

[Crissy Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about Elizabeth Sharp and the Natural Selection book through her Book Party held by RedCoat PR and it was a lot of fun and I am so glad I read this book. I'm on to book 2 and loving every page.

This journey with Lia is great, she knows nothing about the supernatural world, she thinks she is a plain Jane non-exciting teenager. She starts to find out more and more about herself and others around her and finds out that none of them are exactly human. The more she learns the deeper she finds out about killings in her area of other supernaturals, but getting involved cost her more than she was prepared for and she has to grow up faster because of it.

This book was so great, it was my first by Author, Elizabeth Sharp and I can't wait to read more!

[Pragya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will appeal to you if you are into paranormal. Picking up from the life of a girl next door, it moves into the Otherworld. Word by word, secrets are revealed as Amelia’s life takes a rapid turn. Things happen swiftly leaving you little time to even gasp. This is a fast paced book.

I am very choosy about the paranormal books I like and for a beginner (into the otherworld) like me, I would have been satisfied with one species rather than trying to understand so many at once. But for those well acquainted, this may be neat stuff.

Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable book and made me acquainted with a lot of species I didn’t know about.

[Ariel (MandarinBlues) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as a free read through Amazon. It was such a nice change of pace with the shifter/paranormal realm. I loved the story and Amelia's character. I liked the reason for her attraction to Nate but it progressed so quickly at the end and felt rushed to me. I am in no rush to get the second book (cause it's 2.99 and I have a to be read like from here to the moon, who doesn't) but I do have it on my list of to-read. Thanks for changing it up and creating this new race/world (w/e called) Mrs Sharp!

[Kristin Dutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an original story! This is a YA story but I can see adults reading it easily as well.

This story has a bit of everything from paranormal to action and even romance all in one. Quite impressive to me.

This story is building up nicely and I cannot wait to see what's in store next.

I will admit there are a few grammar problems but nothing that would drive me to not want to finish this trilogy. I can easily get past those.

Highly recommend read for those open to YA with a touch a magic.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Great for a young teen, just starting to read novels***
Romance > Paranormal > Fantasy > Witches & Wizards
(Very little graphic violence)

If you want a very basic, simple read....This is the book for you :) Young Adult all the way, no sexual tension between any of the characters.
I would let my Pre-teen read this one :)

I loved the characters and the story line, but I didn't feel connected. It never drove me to want to keep reading. I didn't feel no excitement to find out what happened next.