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Colors Like Memories
( Sary #1)
by
Julia has a secret: she killed the man she loved. It was an accident—sort of.
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her partner's life—an accident she knows was her fault. If li ...more
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her partner's life—an accident she knows was her fault. If li ...more
ebook, 192 pages
Published
May 11th 2012
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Start your review of Colors Like Memories

"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did-with a swift kick."
That line alone made me want to read more and I'm so glad I did. Colors like Memories was one of those guilty pleasures--the kind of book you can't put down until you read that last word. You let the kids watch television all day so you can read, you don't do chores and you order take-out for dinner--just so you can keep reading. Yeah, it was THAT good. So stop reading my review and start reading Colors like Memories! You'll be gla ...more
That line alone made me want to read more and I'm so glad I did. Colors like Memories was one of those guilty pleasures--the kind of book you can't put down until you read that last word. You let the kids watch television all day so you can read, you don't do chores and you order take-out for dinner--just so you can keep reading. Yeah, it was THAT good. So stop reading my review and start reading Colors like Memories! You'll be gla ...more

The Sary are souls of children who died before taking their first breath. Their job is to help people who are suicidal. They take their positions seriously, with a set of rules and a secret society that monitors activities of each Sary. Julia is a Sary. Her current assignment is to help a girl who has lost her mother and who was in an abusive relationship with an ex-boyfriend.
Julia is on edge, though. She’s haunted by memories of her first and only love, a Sary named Derek, and she feels respons ...more
Julia is on edge, though. She’s haunted by memories of her first and only love, a Sary named Derek, and she feels respons ...more

Two love stories in one! This book weaves the past and present for Julia, a Sary, who earns the price of her immortality by helping humans resist suicide. But what's a Sary to do when her own heart is broken?
Colors Like Memories alternates between the love that might destroy Julia and the love that might save her, building to a satisfying, yet unpredicable, ending.
I look forward to reading Meradeth Houston's next book. ...more
Colors Like Memories alternates between the love that might destroy Julia and the love that might save her, building to a satisfying, yet unpredicable, ending.
I look forward to reading Meradeth Houston's next book. ...more

I had never read a book involving the Sary, so I really did not know what to expect from Colors Like Memories. What I found was a delightful story with characters I cared about. There was suspense, romance, and drama. Lots to keep me turning the pages!
A Sary is a being that has never taken a breath of life and is put on Earth to protect those who want to take their own lives. They have magnificent wings and must keep their Sary identity completely secret. Julia has seen a lot in the hundreds of ...more
A Sary is a being that has never taken a breath of life and is put on Earth to protect those who want to take their own lives. They have magnificent wings and must keep their Sary identity completely secret. Julia has seen a lot in the hundreds of ...more

Colors Like Memories is a story which follows Julia's life and switched from present to past.
Julia is a Sary, and such she has a purpose in this world.In the present, her charge is Marcy, a teenage girl dealing with a drunk father, and ridden with guilt. Feels responsible for her mom's death. Her father doesn't help much in regards to easing that guilty.
Julia on the other side is dealing with her own loss, a companion she lost years ago and since then has never felt whole again.
Enter Edison, a ...more
Julia is a Sary, and such she has a purpose in this world.In the present, her charge is Marcy, a teenage girl dealing with a drunk father, and ridden with guilt. Feels responsible for her mom's death. Her father doesn't help much in regards to easing that guilty.
Julia on the other side is dealing with her own loss, a companion she lost years ago and since then has never felt whole again.
Enter Edison, a ...more

I like emotional books. I like it when they touch your heart. And this one was one of these. It was full of various emotions and made me feel a lot.
After reading synopsis I was eager to know what happened that Julia lost her boyfriend, what‘s going to happen for her now, how she would deal with her assignment. Also I wondered who the Sary are.
Main character Julia is the one to help others, but she has wounds herself. Story tells more of her life as it is now and as it was before these wounds wer ...more
After reading synopsis I was eager to know what happened that Julia lost her boyfriend, what‘s going to happen for her now, how she would deal with her assignment. Also I wondered who the Sary are.
Main character Julia is the one to help others, but she has wounds herself. Story tells more of her life as it is now and as it was before these wounds wer ...more

Meradeth Houston introduces a whole new species with the Sary in Colors Like Memories. They are kind of like guardian angels and help humans who are contemplating suicide. Sary Julia is sent to help Marcy, who has recently lost her mother. But ever since her Sary boyfriend died in an accident, Julia has found it hard to do her assignments and may lost her wings if she can't find a way to help Marcy. When a mysterious young man keeps appearing, Julia realizes it's not a coincidence. What is his c
...more

Why did I wait so long to read this? Seriously, I can't believe I didn't read this sooner.
Meradeth Houston spins a wonderful tale about Sari (children who died before taking their first breath) and their role as guardian angels (of sorts) working to keep people from committing suicide.
Julia, an experienced Sari, is having trouble completing her assignment. Not only is she having problems reaching Marcy, but Julia's own past is haunting her. Things go from bad to worse when Edison arrives, remind ...more
Meradeth Houston spins a wonderful tale about Sari (children who died before taking their first breath) and their role as guardian angels (of sorts) working to keep people from committing suicide.
Julia, an experienced Sari, is having trouble completing her assignment. Not only is she having problems reaching Marcy, but Julia's own past is haunting her. Things go from bad to worse when Edison arrives, remind ...more

COLORS LIKE MEMORIES is an achingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. Meradeth Houston writes with a clean, clear prose that packs a punch. She carries her characters through the full spectrum of emotions, and the reader is swept along in the journey. I encourage everyone to read COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and CHEMISTRY OF FATE. Houston and her Sary friends will leave you mesmerized.

I went into this book blind. Honestly, it had been so long since I'd read the blurb, I had no idea what I was getting into. At the first mention of wings (and the gorgeous imagery that goes with it) I was hooked. Four hours later, I sat back to digest the entire story.
One sitting. Entire book. Consumed.
I loved the story world and can't wait to see where Meradeth Houston takes us next.
...more
One sitting. Entire book. Consumed.
I loved the story world and can't wait to see where Meradeth Houston takes us next.
...more

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and the new take on guardian angels. The author writes in such style that you feel every emotion the character feels. The storyline is well developed and has a natural flow. I would recommend this to readers of the YA genre. Look forward to more from this author.
I enjoyed this book and the new take on guardian angels. The author writes in such style that you feel every emotion the character feels. The storyline is well developed and has a natural flow. I would recommend this to readers of the YA genre. Look forward to more from this author.

What a beautiful book! It's not like I am surprised...Per Se...but I have to tell you that I'm always extremely cautious when I find out that a book I've been asked to review has those feathery beacons of hope and love: Angels...One of my biggest issues with the whole Angels and Demons aspect of Paranormal literature is that I struggle greatly with religious themes. I find it very difficult for authors to approach such a topic without sounding like they are on their soap box and striving to conv
...more

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book tells Julia's story (switching back and forth between her past and the present) - as it says in the synopsis, Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before she was born. One of a Sary's jobs is to help people who are considering suicide - to help them realize that life is worth living. Julia has been assigned to a teenage girl named Marcy who has been teetering on the edge of suicide since her mothe ...more
This book tells Julia's story (switching back and forth between her past and the present) - as it says in the synopsis, Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before she was born. One of a Sary's jobs is to help people who are considering suicide - to help them realize that life is worth living. Julia has been assigned to a teenage girl named Marcy who has been teetering on the edge of suicide since her mothe ...more

Visit my blog for the Book tour for this, with a giveaway. My stop is 10/12 Also, you can read an expert to there. Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books
Wow, this was one of the most interesting reads I have read in awhile. From the moment I fell in love with the beautiful cover, until I started the first page. I was captivated right from the start.
I never read a book quite like this one either. I never heard of the Sary, they are like guardian Angels I guess, but mostly their assignments are to ...more
Wow, this was one of the most interesting reads I have read in awhile. From the moment I fell in love with the beautiful cover, until I started the first page. I was captivated right from the start.
I never read a book quite like this one either. I never heard of the Sary, they are like guardian Angels I guess, but mostly their assignments are to ...more

MY REVIEW
I received this e-copy direct from the author, in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
I like the cover, the floating feather and how the scene is in a red hue does make the book cover look appealing. Does the cover go with the story? That's where the lone feather is relevant and after reading the book I imagine the scene being of Paradise Island.
The plot is quite different in that the "beings" are called The Sary. A Sary is the soul of a child that never took his or her first brea ...more
I received this e-copy direct from the author, in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
I like the cover, the floating feather and how the scene is in a red hue does make the book cover look appealing. Does the cover go with the story? That's where the lone feather is relevant and after reading the book I imagine the scene being of Paradise Island.
The plot is quite different in that the "beings" are called The Sary. A Sary is the soul of a child that never took his or her first brea ...more

Colors like Memories was a book with a message. Meradeth Houston's story, which at one point brought tears to my eyes, was a story of love. Love shared by families, love shared between friends and the unbreakable love between soul-mates along with the thrilled of romantic love to be discovered.
The beginning of the book explains the world of the Sary which is made up of souls of a lost child who died before taking his or her first breath. It is a Sary's job to help humans who are hovering on the ...more
The beginning of the book explains the world of the Sary which is made up of souls of a lost child who died before taking his or her first breath. It is a Sary's job to help humans who are hovering on the ...more

The setting of this story unfolds from the perspective of Julia, a Sary on assignment. A Sary is explained as the soul of a child that never took its first breath whose job is to help and in a sense protect humans that are considering suicide. As the different factors affecting Julia’s assignment are revealed the setting goes from her present to 1862 America further elaborating on her relationship with Derek and revealing the root of her own personal depression and turmoil. During the unraveling
...more

This is one of those books that's sort of hard to review without giving things away. The story bounces between present life and the past as we learn more and more about the characters. While I enjoyed Julia's present life, it was her past that had me the most engaged in the book. By no means was her present life not interesting, but the relationship between Derek, Julia's first life companion, was so flawlessly written that any other relationships with Julia just didn't compete with it. What's i
...more

Julia had chosen to be a Sary many centuries ago. Sary are the souls of stillborn children who have chosen to help keep those close to suicide from going over the edge. Julia lost her companion Sary, Derek, during the Civil War and the pain is still fresh. It’s getting hard to keep her grief from interfering with her Sary duties which would ultimately lead to her being stripped of her Sary powers and thrust into a human existence. This is something she promised Derek she’d never let happen to he
...more

*I received this book from the author via Lovers of Paranormal on Goodreads*
This story centers around Julia, a Sary, and her current live, as well as the life she once had before she was cruelly forced to face the world all alone.
Julia's assignment is to keep an eye on Marcy, which proves to be a lot tougher than she'd thought it would be. With her own thoughts constantly on her lost companion, Julia stumbles more than once in her job.
I found this story endearing. I don't quite understand th

Julia is a Sary and has been for a very long time. Even though her boyfriend Derek died over a century ago, it's still fresh for Julia. Now, she has a new charge, a young girl who just lost her mother. She also meets a new boy, Edison, and they connect on a different level.
Told in two different time lines, present and the time from before, leading the reader to Derek's death, is captivating. The reader is drawn to Julia and her feelings for Derek and for Edison, which shows how she grows over t ...more
Told in two different time lines, present and the time from before, leading the reader to Derek's death, is captivating. The reader is drawn to Julia and her feelings for Derek and for Edison, which shows how she grows over t ...more

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
Colors Like Memories is the debut novel by Meradeth Houston. I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. The book never mentions angels, but the Sary seem like a type of Guardian Angel. They become a part of the human's life, so they can better protect them. The story presents you with segments from Julia's past and her life with Derek to segments from the present and a possible new love interest, who I'm very curi ...more

I'll admit--I probably wouldn't have picked up this book on my own. But I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway, and, well...
"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick."
Who wouldn't want to read more after that opening sentence?
I loved the writing in this book. The descriptions popped out at me, the dialogue was natural and engaging, and it easily sucked me into the world and the characters. Meradeth Houston has created such a unique world that feels so real, from the ...more
"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick."
Who wouldn't want to read more after that opening sentence?
I loved the writing in this book. The descriptions popped out at me, the dialogue was natural and engaging, and it easily sucked me into the world and the characters. Meradeth Houston has created such a unique world that feels so real, from the ...more

Colors Like Memories is a YA fantasy about a member of the Sari, which are angels made up of babies born who never breathed before death. Julie, the Sari, struggles with her own overwhelming grief as she tries to keep a teen from suicide.
Meradeth creates an excellent fantasy world with the right balance between the elements of the "real" world and the fantastic. Julie has abilities (and wings, I love wings) but she also has to eat and sleep--and has other human failings that are more important, ...more
Meradeth creates an excellent fantasy world with the right balance between the elements of the "real" world and the fantastic. Julie has abilities (and wings, I love wings) but she also has to eat and sleep--and has other human failings that are more important, ...more

Houston creates a somber reality of grief and attempted suicide, and then lifts the story up on the beautiful wings of a Sary, an immortal being whose mission it is to keep a grief-stricken teenager alive. The trouble is, that Sary isn't doing a very good job of dealing with her own grief. With her beloved soulmate Sary gone, she can't help but wonder what's the point of being immortal if she's doomed to being alone forever... or is she?
I don't usually read fantasies, but I found this story to b ...more
I don't usually read fantasies, but I found this story to b ...more

Colors Like Memories was a book that there was never a moment something wasn't happening. The story started and hit the ground running. Most of the time I didn't want to put the book down even when I had to. At first I will say the cover was very odd, but the deeper I went the more I understood the red feather. Soon I was indeed knee deep in Julia's amazing world full of Sary and the human that was her assignment. From the very first sentence~
"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did— with ...more
"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did— with ...more

"Colors Like Memories" is a moving story of Life, the importance of living that life, and how we are connected with others. As a Navy Wife (Hubby retired now since 2006) I feel that I have a unique perspective about this story and it is especially touching. Over coming temendous loss, dealing with duty and responsibility despite that loss, and realizing that..."Purpose is Everything". I hope that reading this story will touch your life as it has touched mine. Looking forward to reading whatever
...more

4.5 stars
This was a very dark area that deal with the pain of loss.
Julia's job as Sary was to help other like Marcy handle bad times after a death to keep from killing herself.
The only problem with this is Julia is so deep in depression from the death of Derek that it's a struggle to keep going from day to day...
This whole time I was reading this story I was in tears.
This is a real problem with teen and I am glad that the author put it into words!!! ...more
This was a very dark area that deal with the pain of loss.
Julia's job as Sary was to help other like Marcy handle bad times after a death to keep from killing herself.
The only problem with this is Julia is so deep in depression from the death of Derek that it's a struggle to keep going from day to day...
This whole time I was reading this story I was in tears.
This is a real problem with teen and I am glad that the author put it into words!!! ...more

Meradeth Houston has written a magnificent fantasy about the mythical Sarys, a race of angelic creatures sent to the mortal realm to guide souls in trouble. What makes it great is the touching romance and character interaction. A timeless, tragic romance through-out time always gets this curmudgeon going. Ms. Houston's prose is stellar, dang near poetic at times. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the sequel.
...more

The concept of the Sary—to prevent suicide—really fascinated me and this first story in the series didn’t disappoint. I also liked the complication of the main Sary, Julia, having a battle with her own kind of suicide. There was enough mystery through the plot to keep me guessing too. With a lot of emotion woven throughout, this was a very enjoyable story.
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A Must Read! | 1 | 3 | Mar 29, 2013 04:18PM |
Meradeth Houston lives in Montana where she’s an anthropology professor and scientist. If you let her, she’ll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about getting DNA out of dead stuff. She enjoys escaping the snow by imagining herself back in her favorite places in her home state of California, with a little drama or supernatural flare added in.
Other books in the series
Sary
(3 books)
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