Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen (January 4th, 2011)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Hardback: 435 pages

Source: Publisher

Series: Unearthly book #1

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Review:  I honestly adored this book! I felt like I was transported directly into Clara's world in the thick forests of Wyoming. This story is from the point of view of Clara, a young girl who is part angel, known as an angel-blood. In all other ways she seems to be a very typical teenage girl. She has her own insecurities and she wonders where her path will lead. Each angel-blood has a purpose and Clara has recently started having glimpses of hers. All she sees is a boy in the burning forest and she knows instantly that she must find him. 

This discovery takes her, her mother, and brother Jeffrey far from their California home and into the woods of Wyoming. It takes a bit of adjusting for Clara but soon she sees the boy from her vision, Christian, and she knows she's in the right place. As she gets acquainted with new friends, she watches Christian and tries to figure out the pieces of the puzzle that lead to him needing to be saved. 

Then comes Tucker. Okay, maybe she meets Wendy first and Tucker is Wendy's twin but still...Tucker arrives! Ohhh how I love Tucker. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when he would tease Clara and call her names. It was adorable to see them bicker back and forth. Tucker is the rugged country boy that just steals your heart! I think that most girls who read this book will swoon over his delightful, strong personality. 

However, Christian is nothing to sneeze at. I didn't feel that instant connection with Christian but I could see Clara's pull towards him. Christian and Tucker are nothing alike, besides them both being adorable. I was honestly surprised by how this story progressed. I was proud of Clara for sticking up for herself as problems came up and fighting for what she wanted. 

Wendy and Angela added a lot of fascinating elements to this plot. Although they may not have had anything in common, their friendships with Clara could easily be understood in their own ways. I enjoyed seeing how Clara interacted with them both. Also, the realness of Clara's family seemed to fit. Her younger brother is fighting with the pull of popularity and her mother is trying to keep her children from harm, even if she has to keep secrets along the way. Clara's trusting relationship with her mother was truly a refreshing touch for this story. 

I don't want to give too much away but I'll just say that you MUST read this book! Be prepared to fall in love with Tucker and savor every amazing detail Cynthia presents. Cynthia weaves the story together by combining Clara's normal teenage drama with the magical aspects of angel life. I felt like I was walking along side Clara as she explored this new place and all the people around her. 

Unearthly is just as magical inside the pages as it looks from the cover of the book. I had high expectations for this novel and I must say that it surpassed those and took me on a journey I never dreamed of. Cynthia's writing is nothing short of amazing and the flow of this story will keep you at the edge of your seat. I can't wait to see where she goes with this story and what happens to the characters I grew to love in this book.


Find Cynthia Hand
Website   |   Blog   |    Twitter   |   Goodreads   |   Facebook

Purchase Unearthly
Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   The Book Depository

Book Trailer

Unearthly is one of the Dark Days of Supernatural titles from HarperTeen. Remember to click HERE for fun widgets for this book and several others.

Click here to read the first chapter of Unearthly.

Winners of Real Live Boyfriends

We have 6 lucky winners to announce today. Each one will receive an ARC of Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart. 

And the winners are...

Janice Bashman 

Katie (katie_tp)

Twimom101

Lina (lkim496)

Joanne (figuringoutthesmallstuff)

Idris

Congrats to you all! I have emailed you. Please respond within 48 hours with your mailing address. 

Thanks everyone for entering! 

* Remember to check out the other giveaways linked above.

In My Mailbox (34)

Awesome books this week!! I have tours coming up for a few of these and a few others I've been wanting for a long time. Thanks to Knopf Books, Flux, Bloomsbury, Harlequin, Daniel Koch, CreateSpace, and Disney. Thank you all so much!

Review

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde
The Lucky Kind by Alyssa Sheinmel
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
The Protector (and 4 bookmarks) by Daniel W. Koch
First Generation White Collar by L. Marie Joseph
Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Unraveled by Gena Showalter
and The Iron Queen bookmark and pin

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristie at The Story Siren

and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. 

 

 

Guest Post and Giveaway: Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Today I am very pleased to have the author of Daughter of Xanadu, Dori Jones Yang, on my blog. She's also offered up a copy of the book for giveaway. 

My question to Dori: Daughter of Xanadu involves a 16-year-old girl, Princess Emmajin, who wants to become a warrior. How do you think young girls today can gather the strength they need to pursue their dreams? Where did your strength come from when you were a child?

Dori Jones Yang, author of Daughter of Xanadu, talks about strength, confidence and perseverance.

  Throughout much of history, including the Mongol Era when Emmajin lived, young women and girls did not have many choices. Emmajin, eldest granddaughter of the Great Khan, was expected to agree to a marriage arranged to secure a family alliance. She was lucky that she lived in a time of change, when new customs were replacing old ways, so that she could, though sheer force of will, insist on taking a different path, to try to succeed in a man’s world. I think her strength came from the confidence she built up, practicing to be an excellent archer.

  When I was a teenager, I also lived a time of change, when women were being accepted into professions traditionally open only to men. Until the early 1970s, the major newsmagazines hired women only as researchers and not as reporters, a job offered only to men. By the time I got a job in journalism, that had changed, and I was able to work as a reporter. In the early days, I had such a severe lack of confidence that it was hard for me to pick up the phone and call someone for an interview. But I kept doing it till I knew I was good at it.

  Being a good journalist did not mean I could be a good novelist. So when I switched to fiction, I had to learn from the beginning, make mistakes, and persevere even when publishers rejected my work. It took me nearly ten years to write Daughter of Xanadu and get it published. Every time I failed, I dusted myself off and tried again.

  Young women today have many more options, but that causes confusion for many girls – and they have to live up to much higher expectations than I did. What college? What major? What field of work? When everything is available, it takes strength, determination, and clarity of mind to find your own path.

  Strength comes from confidence, and confidence comes from undertaking something difficult and persevering until you can do it well. If you take on challenging things when you are young – organizing events, mastering a musical instrument, working hard at a competitive sport – and keep working at it until you are confident that you are good at it – then you will build up the strength to persevere in pursuing your life’s path. People who just drift and don’t challenge themselves don’t have a chance to develop the true confidence it takes to achieve.

  So I would say: Pick one activity and do it super-well!  When you blow it (and you will), pick yourself up and keep going. If you learn how to power through tough challenges, you will develop the strength you need to pursue your dreams.

  Please visit me at my website, www.dorijonesyang.com to find out more about Daughter of Xanadu!

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 11th, 2011)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Hardback: 352 pages

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

Giveaway

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive a finished copy of Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends February 18th.
• Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
• The form must be filled out to enter.  

Find Dori Jones Yang

Website   |    Facebook

Purchase Daughter of Xanadu

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   The Book Depository

Book Trailer

The Dark Days of Supernatural

Are you ready for the DARK DAYS ahead? 

Show support for your favorite Dark Days of Supernatural authors Ellen Schreiber, Cynthia Hand, Courtney Allison Moulton, Claudia Gray, and Kimberly Derting and prepare to experience paranormal thrillers, supernatural romance and otherworldly adventure in their new YA books Once in a Full Moon, Unearthly, Angelfire, Afterlife, and Desires of the Dead! 

You can click HERE to find all the cool widgets, author photos, book covers, and more.  

 Like this one...

...and even links to read the first chapter of any of the books.

If you'd like to see these authors in person, you can click HERE to see where they will be visiting. I wish they were coming anywhere near TN!

I have to say that I just finished reading Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting and they were both amazing! Plus, the covers are beautiful. I plan to read Afterlife very soon and I'm dying to get my hands on Angelfire and Once in a Full Moon. 

Want to find out more? 

Follow Pitch Dark Books on Facebook
Follow @PitchDarkBooks on Twitter and tweet #DarkDays

Review: Whisper of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Whisper of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Publisher: Omnific Publishing (October 26th, 2010)

Reading Level: 17 and up

Paperback

Source: Publisher/ Author

Series: Light, book #2

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

The saying goes that all men are created equal... but Nicole Abbot knows better. Lacking the supernatural gifts of the Sentients she has known all her life, Nicole has lived with her nose pressed to the glass, withering beneath the guilt of her own inadequacies and the disapproving glare of her father. It's easy to believe that the universe has forgotten all about her, but things are not always as they seem. With the arrival of Christian Wright, a handsome but complex Combatant with a troubled history, Nicole is forced to question everything she has ever believed about herself, proving that sometimes, our most flawed perceptions are those reflected in a mirror.

Jennifer DeLucy again plunges us into the world of lingering spirits, dark apparitions, and malicious vampires. But this time she takes us to the California coast where we get to know a new ensemble of gifted souls that are just as vibrant and endearing as the Sentients we came to love in Seers of Light. In Whisper of Light, DeLucy delivers exciting supernatural encounters as well as very human interactions that will both break your heart and make it soar

Review: Another masterpiece from Jennifer. This is book 2 in the Light series and it is centered around a few different characters. In Whisper of Light we get a chance to meet a new group of Sentients in California. A love interest from book 1, Seers of Light, is in this story so this can be a bit spoilerish if you haven't read it yet. 

Nicole Abbot lives in a house full of Sentients and, under normal circumstances, she would be one herself. Unfortunately for Nicole those gifts seemed to have passed her up. Now she is in a home where her dad seems to hate her, her mother is suffering from memory loss, and her friends all have special powers she could only dream of. But Nicole does keep busy. She uses music therapy on children and it is a very rewarding job for her. Nicole's kindness is so refreshing and it's easy to see what a great person she is. 

Soon, Christian comes into the picture after he decides to come stay in California for a while. Nicole is instantly frazzled by Christian's sudden arrival and she can't deny the attraction to him. She's also aware of Christian's troubled past and she tries to keep her distance for a while. But Christian proves hard to resist and when he shows her his sensitive side after helping her with one of the children she works with, Nicole can't help but have strong feelings for him. 

In this book we get the chance to see a different side of Christian. He was always strong-willed, brave and stubborn but now we go deeper into his true personality. He is amazingly sweet when it comes to being around Nicole and Samantha. He doesn't let what Nicole's father says about her deter what he wants.

Jennifer sure has a way with words and her characters seem so real and natural. Like you'd want to hang out with them and have a drink. Although they have very supernatural powers, their personalities are so complex and interesting. Whisper of Light brings in more of their day to day struggles with the paranormal and it was a great turn of events to see how a human deals with these creatures. Nicole showed a lot of bravery with what she had to deal with.

Whisper of Light introduces us to even more fascinating characters and another romance that makes your heart flutter uncontrollably. Nicole and Christian may seem like opposites but their complex personalities and past experiences make them mesh together perfectly. Jennifer DeLucy knows how to write a romance that will keep you up at night! I couldn't force myself to put this book down until I finished the last page and I still think about the story daily. I am excited to see what adventures are in store for the Sentients as this series continues.

Find Jennifer DeLucy

Website   /   Twitter   /   Goodreads   /   Blog

Purchase Whisper of Light

Amazon   /    Barnes & Noble  

Book Trailer: 

Kiddie Korner: I Must Have Bobo by Eileen Rosenthal

I Must Have Bobo by Eileen Rosenthal

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Date: January 25th, 2011

Hardcover: 40 pages

Ages: 3-6

When Willy woke up there was trouble. Where was Bobo? Willy needs Bobo. But, Earl the cat likes Bobo, too. A favorite toy is hard to share…even when it’s a sock monkey. With sparse text and a modern-nostalgic vibe, this retro-fun book about friends (sock monkeys) and frenemies (devious cats) is an ode to favorite toys everywhere. Oh, Earl! Leave Bobo alone.

Purchasing Information:

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   The Book Depository   |    Borders  |   Simon & Schuster

My Thoughts: 

First, I have to say that I love the colors used in this book. It's a simple cover but I like that the colors are not bright. I think that would appeal to children a little older. The illustrations are also very cute but simple. Most of the pictures do not have everything colored in. It looks like a pencil drawing someone could have drawn directly in the page. Some people may not like this but I think it brings more focus to the actual story, which again, might be more appealing for children around the age of 5-6. 

In this story a young boy searches for his Bobo, a toy monkey. Turns out his cat Earl has been taking him. The child tries to keep Bobo away from the cat but it doesn't seem to work. One thing I didn't like in this story was that the child seemed angry throughout the book. It's a very short story, but the child did most of the time complaining or being angry with the cat. I'm not sure how this would be a good lesson for a child. Many children have toys they hold onto but in this book the boy never shares or forgives the cat for taking the toy. I'd rather have seen the child accept sharing the toy by the end of the story. There is also no parent to step in and teach the child to stay calm or share.

Review: Seers of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Seers of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Publisher: Omnific Publishing (February 16th, 2010)

Reading Level: 17 and up

Paperback: 396 pages

Source: Publisher

Series: Light, book #1

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lillian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things—disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures—cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she’s ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her.

Jennifer DeLucy has created a unique, enchanting tale of destiny and the ageless power of love in her debut novel, Seers of Light. DeLucy's novel charms readers with quirky characters, while sketching a haunting portrait of one woman's journey on the path of the supernaturally gifted. But be prepared. Once you've entered the world of Seers, you will never be the same.

Review: Wow! This book was so much more than I expected. I didn't think it would be bad, of course, but I never expected the connection between two characters to be sizzling off the pages. Seers of Light is about a young woman, Lillian, who has always struggled with her sense of reality. Things that seem impossible keep coming to her through dreams and visions. She wonders what could be wrong with her and why this is happening now. 

One encounter is too real to be a dream and she discovers that she may have more of a purpose than she thought. The first person she meets is Christian who tries to give her only the information that is needed in order to keep her safe. He takes her away from her life in order to guarantee more safety from the creatures now aware of her existence. Lily has so many questions but she is forced to wait till she gets to her new home in order to find out what is going on. 

Immediately Lily is surrounded by friendly people who know exactly what she is going through. She slowly pieces together the strange puzzle of her life and begins learning how to deal with her powers. Part of that process includes learning how to protect herself and that brings in William Maddox. Ohhh, William. How I love thee! *mind wonders* .....hmm..oh yeah, anyway, William. He is not like the others because of one major difference. He is essentially the enemy. He's a vampire and Christian refuses to let anyone forget that fact. They have many disagreements and with Lily in the mix, those heat up.

Christian seems like the perfect choice for Lily but something about William makes her heart race. His hotness, maybe? But their chemistry is incredible! Wow! I was floored by a few of their interactions and I'm not sure if I have ever read something with such a romantic, hot and sensual male character. Trust me ladies, you will fall in love! Head..over..heels. 

So much happens in this book I can't even begin to get to it all and I want to save it to be a surprise for you as well. I couldn't put this book down. Jennifer's writing is beyond words. She has a way of making characters real without them being over the top, forced, too perfect or too messed up. They were the best possible blend. Even the friends Lily comes to know brought so much to this story. I enjoyed them all! It honestly felt like a wonderful dysfunctional family that you would love to be part of. 

Seers of Light is nothing shy of magical. The writing, plot and astonishing characters transport the reader directly into the story. I went through a full range of emotions while reading this book and I know this will be one of my favorite reads of 2011. Bravo Jennifer, I am now your biggest fan!

Warning: This is NOT a YA book. This book contains language and sexual scenes that are not appropriate for people under 17. 

Find Jennifer DeLucy

Website   /   Twitter   /   Goodreads   /   Blog

Purchase Seers of Light

Amazon   /    Barnes & Noble  

No Name-Calling Week (Jan 24-28)

Today marks the beginning of No Name-Calling Week. 

What is No Name-Calling Week?

 

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.

THE HISTORY OF THE NO NAME-CALLING WEEK PROJECT 

No Name-Calling Week was inspired by a young adult novel entitled "The Misfits" by popular author, James Howe. The book tells the story of four best friends trying to survive the seventh grade in the face of all too frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence, and sexual orientation/gender expression. Motivated by the inequities they see around them, the "Gang of Five" (as they are known) creates a new political party during student council elections and run on a platform aimed at wiping out name-calling of all kinds. Though they lose the election, they win the support of the school's principal for their cause and their idea for a "No Name-Calling Day" at school. 

Motivated by this simple, yet powerful, idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition, created by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and consisting of over 40 national partner organizations, organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools across the nation during the week of March 1-5, 2004.  

This year, No Name-Calling Week will take place the week of January 24-28, 2011. 

The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.

 How can you help?

There are many ways you can help spread the word. You can download buttons and badges for your blog, become a fan on facebook, or create your own blog post highlighting the event and books against bullying. 

Random House is one of the supporters of this event and they have a variety of books that discuss bullying. 

Confessions of a Former Bully 

by Trudy Ludwig; Illustrated by Beth Adams

(Tricycle Press / on sale August 24, 2010 / Ages 8-12)

Gossip from the Girls' Room: A Blogtastic! Novel

By Rose Cooper

(Delacorte Press / on sale January 11, 2011 / Ages 10 & up)

 

Orchards

By Holly Thompson

(Delacorte Press / on sale February 8, 2011 / Ages 12 & up)

 

Jumpstart the World

By Catherine Ryan Hyde

(Alfred A. Knopf / on sale October 12, 2010 / Ages 14 & up)

 

You can also check out books from Simon & Schuster. They, along with GLSEN first came up with No Name-Calling week back in 2004. 

You can click on any of the banners above, or here, to get to the main site. 

 

Blog Tour: The Light Series by Jennifer DeLucy

Today I am very pleased to have a fabulous author on my blog! Jennifer DeLucy is the author of The Light Series and I know for a fact how amazing this series is so far! I wanted to interview Jennifer but I am a huge fan of Lily, from Seers of Light, so why not have both?

Lily: What was it like in the beginning when strange things started appearing to you? Do you think Jennifer did a good job of capturing what those experiences were like?

It was terrifying!  I thought I was losing my mind. Actually, I hoped I was, because the things that were going on made no sense at all, and I was afraid that no one would believe me if I told them. I just wanted to make it stop.  And considering that Jennifer was kind of obsessively in my head at the time, I'd say she lived the experience accurately, yes.

Jennifer: Was it difficult for you to visualize Lily's ghostly encounters? What was the hardest part of bringing those experiences to life?

Not so much. I imagined what would scare the poop out of me and figured that was probably universal.   The hardest part was coming up with new entities and keeping it fresh.  Another downside to creating creepy circumstances is the night light I had to sleep with as a result.  That's how I know I'm on the right track, though. ;)

Lily: Your life changed dramatically when you were forced to move away from your family and home. What kept you strong during this shift?

I love my grandparents so much, but sometimes you just have to do what keeps you sane. I was a walking zombie for a while, you know. Had I not gone with Christian that day, who knows what would have happened to me. Ugh. I shudder at the thought.  We can't live other people's lives. We can only live our own.  It would have been contrary for me to stay behind and not grow.  Knowing this helped me to transition.

Lily: Were you ever shocked by your own powers? Could you explain to the readers a little about the different powers your group has?

I was shocked by everything and I wasn't shocked by anything. Does this make sense? What I mean is, my heart knew what was true, but I could never have imagined the full extent of it. And Sentient gifts are so diverse it's probable that I couldn't list them all.  But, I can tell you the gifts that seem to manifest more often. Pathcrossers are pretty common (they're folks who can best communicate with and assist the dead), Combatants are more common, too (they can physically attack an enemy using psychic energy). Then there are some rarer things, like Anna Wright's ability to manipulate emotions or an Empathic Endowment.  Some Sentients have more than one ability, but most don't.

Jennifer: Were you surprised to hear of Lily's gift with the paranormal? Had you heard of anyone having similar abilities?

Nope. I wasn't surprised. It felt natural to write Lily as she is, abilities and all. I've heard of different derivations of her gifts, but nothing exactly like them.

Lily: Things heat up between you and William and I have to say that I don't know a girl who wouldn't be envious of your connection with him. What made you see William in a different light?

I credit that I could feel what he felt.  It's easy to judge people when you're not walking in their shoes, but, when you're an Empath, well, you have no choice! It's really frustrating, but, it's something to be thankful for, too, because you can pretty much guarantee that you'll have to throw your misconceptions out the window.  I have a feeling I might have come around, either way, but the empathy thing helped. Thank heavens.

Lily: Was it difficult to share those....intimate....experiences with Jennifer for her to document? Was her portrayal of those events accurate, because if so, WOW!

Hah!  Well, it wasn't so hard to share them with Jennifer because she's not at all afraid of love scenes. I'm in her head as much as she's in mine, so I know she's as passionate as I am. But, I will say that, while she got the important points right, written word does not do the experience justice. You'd have to be there. Eh hem.

Jennifer: You had to be blushing like crazy when Lily shared those details. Were you surprised by William's romantic side?

I wasn't blushing, actually. I'm quite shameless. *wink*...  Kidding. Actually, I do tend to write more of a spiritual connection in their love scenes, and I wasn't surprised at all about William's romantic side.  As I got to know him, my heart broke, and I understood full well that there was a whole bunch of repressed love and depth of feeling there that needed release.

Lily: Christian was sure nothing to sneeze at. How did your feelings change towards him?

Hm. Well, Christian is no slouch in the looks department. If fate hadn't set its course another way, I may have gone about things differently. Still, it became clear, after a while, that Christian was really more like my older brother than anything else.  First I admired him, then I realized he was flawed and messed up and I couldn't stand him, and then I just loved him as family.  That's kind of how life goes, I think.

Jennifer: What do you personally think of these 2 guys? Would you pick William, Christian, or both?

Both, depending on the day. :) Really. I've been asked this question more than once, and while I do tend to lean toward the mystery and quiet strength of William, I love Christian's passion and warmth, as well.

Lily: I've heard a rumor that your story may not be over. Is that true? Can you give us any hints as to what may be in store for your next book?

The rumors are right. There's one more installment of the Light Series coming out in late spring/early summer and it involves William and myself.  The story was nowhere near over with book one, trust me.

Jennifer: Are you excited to continue writing Lily's story? Should we expect a lot more...hotness?

I am so happy to return to Lily's group.  I love the group in book two (Whisper of Light), but I missed my Seers characters.  There's a lot that is going to happen in book three... including the hotness, definitely. :)

Seers of Light

Omnific Publishing (February 16th, 2010)

Lillian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things—disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures—cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she’s ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her.

Jennifer DeLucy has created a unique, enchanting tale of destiny and the ageless power of love in her debut novel, Seers of Light. DeLucy's novel charms readers with quirky characters, while sketching a haunting portrait of one woman's journey on the path of the supernaturally gifted. But be prepared. Once you've entered the world of Seers, you will never be the same.

 Whisper of Light 

Omnific Publishing (October 26th, 2010)

The saying goes that all men are created equal... but Nicole Abbot knows better. Lacking the supernatural gifts of the Sentients she has known all her life, Nicole has lived with her nose pressed to the glass, withering beneath the guilt of her own inadequacies and the disapproving glare of her father. It's easy to believe that the universe has forgotten all about her, but things are not always as they seem. With the arrival of Christian Wright, a handsome but complex Combatant with a troubled history, Nicole is forced to question everything she has ever believed about herself, proving that sometimes, our most flawed perceptions are those reflected in a mirror.

Jennifer DeLucy again plunges us into the world of lingering spirits, dark apparitions, and malicious vampires. But this time she takes us to the California coast where we get to know a new ensemble of gifted souls that are just as vibrant and endearing as the Sentients we came to love in Seers of Light. In Whisper of Light, DeLucy delivers exciting supernatural encounters as well as very human interactions that will both break your heart and make it soar.

Giveaway

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive an ebook of Seers of Light and Whisper of Light.

Rules:

• You must be at least 17 to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is International and ends February 14th.
• Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
• The form must be filled out to enter. 

Find Jennifer DeLucy

Website   /   Twitter   /   Goodreads   /   Blog  

Purchase Seers of Light

Amazon   /   Omnific Publishing  

Purchase Whisper of Light

Amazon   /   Omnific Publishing  

Book Trailer:

*The image of "Lily" above is Jenn's personal pick (Liv Tyler).