Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen by Sally Smith O'Rourke-Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway

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Product Details

• Title: Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen
• Author: Sally Smith O'Rourke
• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Victorian Essence Press (November 16, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891437038
• FTC FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

My Review
I liked how this book had time traveling and Jane Austen. What a fun concept about Jane Austen getting her muse for Mr. Darcy {Pride and Prejudice} from a time traveling American from another century. I truly wish that I had read the first book where that actually happened. By the second book, Fitzwilliam Darcy has come back to our time and meets our modern-day heroine Eliza. I can see some staunch and avid fans of Jane Austen and her works scoffing at this storyline, but I loved it! Author Sally Smith O'Rourke has such a captivating writing style. I was drawn completely into this story. I want to read the first book now and then I'll probably read the second book again.

So anyone who truly loves Jane Austen, romance and a pinch of angst, you will enjoy reading Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen.

 

Praise for Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

O’Rourke creates a world that defies cynicism and demands suspension of disbelief – even in this age of doubt and hyper-realism. Sheer escapism at its best. Clever, charming and affectionate. ~Jocelyn Bury …the reader must tenaciously read on rather than put the book down to satisfy their hunger for the story to resolve, which it does in characteristically Jane Austen fashion. ~Erin Murdock

In Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, author Sally Smith O’Rourke creates a compelling story that investigates what and who might have inspired Jane Austen. While the story line is certainly far-fetched, it is a truly unique idea, one that captivated this reader until the very last page. ~Meg Massey

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Audio Book Excerpt

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Author Sally Smith O'Rourke S
Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia. With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels. The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote The Man Who Loved Jane Austen released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with The Maidenstone Lighthouse in 2007 and Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke. Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel.

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Tour Giveaway
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His Hands: A Mother's Journey Through Grief and Loss by Jenny Hess: Review

Product Details:

• Title: His Hands: A Mother's Journey Through Grief and Loss
• Author: Jenny Hess
• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (May 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621082512
• FTC FYI: I was given a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.

 Book Description:

Publication Date: May 1, 2013

With the sudden loss of a loved one comes an unavoidable fork in the road some succumb to anger and despair, while others seek strength in the healing power of Jesus Christ. When faced with paralyzing sorrow, how can one truly find peace and perspective? In His Hands offers a candid portrait of grief in which one family fights to find a way out of the black hole of grief and into the arms of the Savior. Author Jenny Hess invites readers on her journey from heartache to healing, from the shattering loss of her young son to her personal quest for hope. With grace and wisdom, the heavenly insights gained by one woman navigating through her darkest hours demonstrate that though grief is achingly painful, there are tender mercies to be found along the path.

Here is a video of Jenny talking about her experience of losing her precious son. What a beautiful lady.

 

My Review: 

 It would be an understatement to say that this book touched my heart and made me cry. I'm also a bereaved mother who lost an infant son, Matthew who was stillborn @ 35 weeks. There were so many thoughts and feelings that Jenny shared that I could relate to. There is something that draws us together when we join a club that no parent ever wants to join. Losing a child is a heart wrenching thing and changes you forever, good and bad.

  

There was something that Jenny said that was very poignant as you are dealing with a loss. This isn't fair. Why did this have to happen to me? This went through my mind plenty of times after we lost Matthew. Here is how Jenny looked at the fairness issue...

 "In those moments, my mind was opened and expanded to fully comprehend
that mortal life isn’t fair—and that’s why it isn’t forever. In that big sterile
emergency room so far from home, I saw forever, and I resolved that while
I may have to endure the indignities of an unfair existence, I would not be
ranting and raving about it. I would not be bitter about the injustice of it all.
I would be accepting of whatever my Heavenly Father required."

That is something that I wish I had read back in 1999. What a beautiful response.

I also have to thank Jenny for sharing her honest feelings at the time of her sons death. Many people don't know what to say to someone after a loss like this. Many times it's better to not say anything at all but, I'm so sorry for your loss. Jenny shared what happened in an awkward moment right after her son passed away.

"As we walked out of the hospital, one of the ambulance workers clumsily
tried to give us some comfort. “At least we know the plan of salvation,” he
said a little too heartily. I looked at him, my mind trying to process why
he would be saying something like that to us in such a happy voice right
now. It seemed so trite, so small when compared to the enormity of what
had just happened.
 

He was smiling. Why is he smiling? My son was dead. My brows were
furrowed as I continued to look at him questioningly. His smile faltered,
and he stepped away.
 

I had just experienced a transcendent spiritual experience, but my
heart was still broken. I could accept this event as part of Heavenly Father’s
plan, but simple phrases and “Sunday answers” felt empty and offensive and offered no comfort at all. "

This is why I feel that this book should be read by all people; those who have lost a child and those who will need to help and comfort those who mourn. I remember getting so frustrated with people telling me, "You can always have another baby." Truth was, we had just experienced 4 years of infertility and Matthew had been our little miracle. I knew that getting pregnant again might just never happen again for us. The Sunday Answers of..."He's in a better place," and "Matthew was just too good for this world," and the always popular, "Remember that Families are Forever," were things you just did not want to hear when your loss was so fresh. You knew all of these things were probably true, but all I wanted at that moment was a screaming, happy and alive baby in my arms. 

Jenny addresses how she and her husband Kirk discussed trying to find meaning in the death of their son. Was it to help one of their family members or a complete stranger? 

"It’s not certain that all of my family members
will stay close to the gospel even after experiencing Russell’s death. Many
strangers will still avoid God even after hearing Russell’s story. It is a terrible
reality that I have no control over. I can’t change anyone’s use of agency but
mine. And if I want Russell’s death to mean anything or have the potential
to save others, I have to be willing to put forth the effort necessary to make
it meaningful." 

Reading this made me think back to what I have done in the past 14 years since my son died. How have I made his death meaningful to me, his brother and sister or  to complete strangers? I know I have always tried to help other Moms who have lost a child. I've been there to listen, comfort and mourn with them. I've tried to be a better Mom to my two living children and talk often about their brother and how we all want to be together some day. We also donate gift bags to the hospital where Matthew was born. These bags are given to parents that have lost a baby. We include a camera,  some poems and articles about loss and grief, and a teddy bear for them to hold. I hated leaving the hospital with empty arms.

I hope that you can see from this long review what a touching and wonderful book His Hands: A Mother's Journey Through Grief and Loss truly is. I also hope that Jenny realizes how many lives she will influence and uplift by sharing her story about her sweet son, Russell. It's hard to reflect back on those tender moments after a loss and the hard work of grieving. There is no set time table for grieving a loss. There are still some days, 14 years later, that I miss my son SO much! Matthew provided some needed comfort for me two years ago when my dad passed away. I knew that Matthew and dad were meeting for the first time. I knew that they would have work to do together up in Heaven. 

As you can see, I could write a book about Jenny's book and quote her valuable insights all day long. Please remember this book, her story and her son the next time someone you know experiences the loss of a child. There were so many days that I couldn't even crawl out of bed.  I would stay there reading any books I could find to help me with my grief and my painful loss. I can see how this book will bring such needed comfort to parents as they grieve. Just knowing that you are not alone and someone else understands can help you get through each long day. 

I want to share one last part from the book of how Jenny felt a year later after Russell had died and how she had changed. I'm sharing this to show you how to have hope amidst the loss...

"It was amazing to see the change in me in one short year because of
a single, short-lived event. That burned line in the mountain behind our
home, where the fire changed direction, was still there for a few years after
this second Christmas letter was written. I saw it every time I drove into
our neighborhood. I often think about how my life is different, how I am
different. I vaguely remember my life before Russell died. When I think
of my past now, I feel removed from it, as if I’m peeking like a voyeur
into someone else’s memories. I only know that I am a changed person, a
different creature. I have been made new, and there are days I still look at
myself as a stranger. I’m still changing and morphing and trying to decide
who I am and who I want to be.
 

All I know for sure is the love I have for my family, my friends, my
Father in Heaven, and my Savior. My understanding of the gospel and of
the scriptures has deepened. My commitment to my Heavenly Father has
been cemented through my trials. I have been expanded, stretched beyond
my bounds. I will never again be that carefree person on the other side of
the line, but I have learned through the death of my sweet child that I will
have beauty again one day."

 

In His Hands

Jenny Hess

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 About the Author:  

Jenny Hess was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She is an avid quilter and loves the outdoors. After serving a mission in Denmark, Jenny graduated from California State University, Long Beach, where she met her husband, Kirk. They have five kids four living on earth and one living in heaven. As a family, they love spending time together camping, hiking, biking, exploring, and rock climbing. Jenny s story can be found on Mormonorg. A video vignette detailing how the scriptures helped heal her is currently being shown at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center in California.

 

Moonlit by Jadie Jones: Blog Tour Review and $25 Giveaway

Tour Schedule

   

 Book Description:
 Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods. When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t. But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself? 

My Review:
This book was a very different read for me. It started interesting, but soon it was all very confusing. I kept going back to re-read chapters to make sure that I hadn't missed something the first time I read it. I liked main character Tanzy with her fighting spirit, but some of the supporting characters were hard to like. The writing is very good and has the seeds for a great story. I just wish that the underlying story had been explained more than before 2/3 of the way through. Once more things were revealed I enjoyed the story more. This novel has a nice combination of mystery, suspense and supernatural.

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WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

     

Praise "Virginia's trees look like they're burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they'd give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they're dying." And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you'll love this novel! ~Author Julie Ford    

Prologue The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed. I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.  

Meet Author Jadie Jones

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went. She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

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Insomnia (The NIght Walkers) Book 1 by J. R. Johansson: Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Product Details

• Title: Insomnia (The NIght Walkers) Book 1
• Author: J. R. Johansson 
• Age Range: 12 and up
• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Flux (June 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738735930
• FTC FYI: I bought my own copy of this fantastic book!!

Today is the release day of this book! How cool is it that I am reviewing the book on it's birthday!! Today would be a great day to purchase your own copy.

Book Description:
  Her eyes saved his life. Her dreams released his darkness.

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he's had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people's fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets--and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.
 
Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia's eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he's gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it's Parker.
 
Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

My Review:
I'm so excited to review Insomnia! Ever since I first saw the cover I knew I would love this book. In fact, I pre-ordered the book so I could get my hands on it as fast as I  could. The cover is one of the best I've seen this year. If you think the cover is creepy and haunting,this gives you a good idea about what you will find inside. 

Even though main character Parker scares you with his bizarre actions, he is a very sympathetic character. You can't help but feel his pain when he longs so much to be able to have a good nights sleep. Parker doesn't sleep at night because he lives within others dreams. He wanders undetected in the dream of the last person he made eye contact with.  As I was reading this book I felt a more appropriate title for this book would have been, Intense!
The story hooks you from the beginning and never sets you free until the end. I was so impressed with the great writing in this book considering this is Jenn's first published novel. If you are familiar with I'm Not a Serial Killer, by Dan Wells, it is a creepy and fantastic book. I need to warn Dan that Jenn is fast on his tail for mastering the creepy factor. She has created such a dark tale that keeps the reader guessing and freaked out. This YA thriller I can guarantee you is going to be making a name for itself and it's author.






I asked the author about the 2nd book in the series and here is what she told me...

"The 2nd book is in process, and it should be next summer but we don't have a specific date yet. The name is very close to being decided and I'm really excited about it. In this book we'll delve more into the world of the Night Walkers. All the same characters, plus new ones and we'll answer a whole lot of questions."

I also wanted my readers to know Jenn's exciting news about her book. Here it is...

"Insomnia is set to be published in five languages so far: English, Italian, German, Chinese and Hungarian! I'm thrilled to have my story coming out in so many countries!"

I've told you why I like Insomnia so much, I wanted to know what the author liked about her book. She gave some great answers and I have to agree with all of the reasons. 

The Five Things I Really Like About Insomnia - 

1 - How different it seems to be from every other book out there.

2 - How the psychological thriller aspect can really keep you guessing.

3 - The characters (Parker AND his amazing friends).

4 - The creep factor (I love hearing it gave people the chills).

and last but not least...

5 - The cover. It conveys everything I wanted it to and so many things I didn't even know I wanted. LOVE IT.

Order Links :

The Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/Insomnia-Johansson/9780738735931

Indiebound - http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738735931

Books A Million - http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Insomnia/J-R-Johansson/9780738735931?id=5529587671279

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/insomnia-j-r-johansson/1113713840?ean=9780738735931

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Insomnia-The-Night-Walkers-Johansson/dp/0738735930/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352960177&sr=8-1&keywords=insomnia+by+j.r.+johansson

Make sure to enter the giveaways down below!!

Meet Author J.R. (Jenn) Johansson:

 

J.R. JOHANSSON is a young adult thriller author published with Flux & FSG/Macmillan. Her debut, INSOMNIA is coming June 2013. She has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. When she's not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she can do all three at the same time. She has two young sons and a wonderful husband. In fact, other than her cat, Cleo, she's nearly drowning in testosterone.

Jenn’s Links -

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennJohansson

Blog: http://www.jennjohansson.blogspot.com/

Site: http://www.jrjohansson.com

Tumblr: http://jrjohansson.tumblr.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenn.johansson

J.R. Johansson on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5100095.J_R_Johansson

INSOMNIA on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12260608-insomnia

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A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver -Blog Tour Review

Product Details:

• Title: A Change of Plans
• Author: Donna K. Weaver
• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing (June 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193685077X
• FTC FYI : I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
Book Description:  

When twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing young surgeon. He's everything her fiancé wasn't, and against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world, her emotions come alive.
 

Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship—on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.

But it's hard to get away from someone when you're stuck on the same ship. Things are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions. Then paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped, and Lyn's fear of a fairy tale turns grim.

My Review:

I always love it when I'm surprised by a novel. Most of the time readers think they know pretty much what will happen in a story. Don't do this when you read A Change of Plans. This book is SO much more than your typical romance. It has suspense, drama, and adventure. One more thing, it will make you cry at some point as you are reading.(I'm not divulging where those moments will take place in the story.) 

One of the highlights of Author Donna K. Weaver's writing is that she knows how to write characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading the book. I moped around all the next day after I finished this book because I missed the two main characters, Lyn and Braedon. The last time this happened is when I finished reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows for the first time. That is how involved you will become in their lives. Both of these wonderful characters have things that they are trying to overcome in their lives. They don't always get along, but in the end love finds a way. 

You can be assured that you will go through a variety of emotions before you read the last page. This novel should be your first choice when you are looking for  that perfect Summer read.

Meet Author Donna Weaver: I'm a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because I sailed the Pacific three times as a child, I love cruising and wish I could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with my husband. We have six children. Our eight grandchildren live all over the world. At fifty, I decided to study karate and earned my black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After doing city council minutes for twenty years, I decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing. My debut novel, A Change of Plans, is being published by Rhemalda Publishing and comes out in June 2013.


You can find Donna HERE:

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The Huaca by Marcia Mickelson: Blog Tour Review

Product Description: 

Title: The Huaca

Author: Marcia Mickelson

Publisher: Sweetwater Books (Cedar Fort)

Release Date: May 14, 2013 (available now)

ISBN: 978-1462111909

Size: 256 pages, 5.5 x 8, softcover

Genre: YA Mystery/Paranormal

FTC FYI: I received a review pdf in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Description:

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Cummings just wants to be a regular teenager, but after her mother’s mysterious murder, she isn’t sure if she’ll ever be normal again. Her mother’s death has left Ellie and her father worlds apart. And when her best friend abandons her, she has no one else to turn to—except for the strange boy he says he can help.

Gabe de la Cruz seems to know way too much about everything, and Ellie’s instincts tell her to stay far away. But when he claims that he can communicate with the dead through an ancient Incan artifact, Ellie can’t resist the temptation of seeing her mother again. In the Hanan Paeba—the Incan afterworld—Ellie’s mother sends a message to help Ellie understand what happened the night of the murder—a message that may be better kept a secret…

EXCERPT:

After practice, Coach Dennis critiqued our performance and tried to get us geared up for the next practice. I wondered how many people would drop out between now and then. I sat on the field as the group dispersed. My calves were aching, and I spent a few minutes stretching, berating myself for not keeping up with running in the off-season.

I watched the track clear out slowly, the cooled-off bodies beginning to feel the icy chill in the air. I felt the frosty lawn beneath me, cool moisture penetrating the thick black fabric of my Lycra running pants. I didn’t care though. It felt good. The cold feeling was numbing, and I wanted to stay on the frosty lawn right in the center of the track.

Just ahead of me, Gabe De La Cruz was walking around the track, cooling off. Despite the frigid weather, he had worked up a sweat, evident by the wet trail that ran down the course of his back. He stretched his arms over his head, and the muscles in his back rippled under his white T-shirt. He turned around quickly and caught my eyes just before I could turn my head away. I looked out onto the bleacher stands and then toward the parking lot, but my eyes were automatically drawn back to Gabe as I sensed he was walking toward me.

This time, his eyes held mine as he closed the distance between us. He stopped just short of reaching me. He bent down to pick up a gray hooded sweatshirt just a few feet from where I sat. Turning his eyes away from me, he pulled the sweatshirt over his head. I took the opportunity to look away from him and focus on the poor movements I was attempting to pass off as stretching.

Despite my focused attempt to look nowhere near his direction, I saw him continue toward me. He dropped down to the ground beside me, draping his arms over his lanky bent legs.

“Feels good, right? A run like that?” he said.

Nothing about running on this wintry day felt good, and the thought made me question myself for doing winter track for about the twentieth time that day. “I guess,” I said.

He looked at me, running a hand through his brown, wavy hair. I pulled my eyes away from his hair, and they inadvertently traveled down his arm to his hand, which moved to the grass between us. He ran his fingers through the cold grass, plucking up small bunches and letting the short brown blades fall back to the ground. He repeated the action—grabbing and tossing small bits of grass—over and over, as he shifted his eyes from me to the grass between us. Maybe he was thinking of something to say. Maybe he was nervous.

“You going to do hurdles again this year?”

Hurdles? I tried hurdles once last year, at the insistence of Coach Dennis, who’d wanted me to give them a try. It had been one lucky practice, followed by one terribly demoralizing meet in which I’d tripped twice over the hurdles and had come in last place.

“No,” I said. “I doubt Coach Dennis wants me anywhere near the hurdles. I suck.”

“You weren’t that bad,” he said, his hands still plucking grass, his eyes still on me. A slight smile came to his lips.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“You could do it,” he said. “You have the leg strength. You just need to work on your rhythm a little.”

My eyes went instinctively to my legs, wondering how he would be able to gauge my leg strength. I looked back at him, and he flinched, probably realizing how awkward that had sounded.

My Review: 

The Huaca starts as many YA contemporary books showing the life of a teenage girl. Ellie is a junior in high school trying to fit in and not always doing a great job of it. Ellie is on the outs with her best friend of 10 years, Sarah. Ellie does something that gets Sarah's prospective boyfriend in big trouble. Also, Ellie's mother was murdered so her life was turned upside down. Ellie meets the "strange" kid (Gabe) at school and they become friends. Through him Ellie learns some new details about her mother's murder. 

Without giving too much away, Gabe, whose grandfather was an Incan from Peru has a Huaca at his disposal. Author   Marcia Mickelson spoke of what the Huaca is  and how it is used in her story...

     

      "A huaca (pronounced waca) is an object that represents 

something revered. Huaca is a word from the Quechua

language, a native American language of South America.

In my story, the huaca is an Incan artifact .(The picture of the Huaca is found on the front cover of the book.)

Gabe De La Cruz has the huaca, and it has been passed 

 down to him from his ancestors.  Ellie Cummings wants to 

 know who killed her mother. She turns to Gabe who claims he can communicate with her dead mother. Ellie takes a chance and discovers that the truth may be better kept a secret."

The book turns from a high school drama/love story, into a full blown mystery uncovering who killed her mother. There is a supernatural feel to the Huaca or some may see it as sacred. That is what it felt more like to me. Gabe and Ellie grow close very quickly, but it is through their experiences together using the Huaca. It all feels OK though because of their backgrounds and hardships they both have gone through. Ellie and Gabe both grow stronger to face their trials in their lives. I liked how Marcia wrote the relationship between the two characters. It showed true loyalty between friends as they are dealing with grief and sorrow. 

The story flows along so well that you can't quit reading. You want answers to the mystery right along with Ellie. I have to say I was surprised when those answers came. Even though this is written for teens, I can tell you that adults will also be pulled into the stories of Ellie and Gabe. This captivating tale with a flavor of Incan history will be sure to draw you in until the last page is read.   

The Huaca

Marcia Mickelson

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Meet: Author Marcia Mickelson

Mickelson teaches third grade in Texas and has longed to reach students through her writing.

“As a teacher, I love to see how literature opens up a new world for students,” Mickelson said. “I have seen my students and my kids pick up books that they can’t put down. There are so many great authors writing for young people right now, and I have wanted to be a contributor to that for a long time.”

Marcia Mickelson was born in Guatemala, but came to the U.S. as an infant. She considers herself from New Jersey even though she’s lived in three other states. She graduated from Brigham Young University and now resides in South Texas with her husband and three sons. Marcia is the author of Star Shining Brightly, Reasonable Doubt, and Pickup Games.

Learn more about Marcia by visiting her blog HERE.