Today I have the pleasure in introducing you to author H.L. Le Roy to the blog to reveal the cover of The Fountain of the Earth, which is the first book in his YA dystopian series of the same name as well as a chat with H.L. The Fountain of the Earth seems to be a promising series and it was published today by Tranquille Press!


Terra Vonn is fighting to survive in a destroyed world,
surrounded by unspeakable horror . . .
and things are about to get much worse.

After witnessing the horrific murder of her mother, fifteen-year-old Terra Vonn has a singular focus—exacting revenge on the killers. But before she can complete her plan, savagery intervenes, and she is cast alone into a brutal post-apocalyptic world. As she trails the murderers south—through a land filled with cannibalistic criminals, slave traders, and lunatics—the hunter becomes the hunted. Terra quickly learns that she is not as tough or as brave as she thought she was. Worse, she may be the only one who stands between what little remains of civilization and destruction.



H. L. (Holly) LeRoy is an American short story writer and novelist, author of the award winning Street Crimes anthology and the novel The Fountain of the Earth (Nov. 22, 2013), first in a series of young adult adventures. Born in San Jose, California, LeRoy currently resides in Pioneer, California with his family.

 Has anyone had a day, month, or a even a year in which they wished for a do-over? I know I have and this very feeling is what drew me to Kate Atkinson's much talked about novel, Life After Life, in which she explores the possibility of living again and again until you got it right.

Description: On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war. Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?

Review: Life After Life reminded me a lot of the old children series Choose Your Own Adventure in which it was up to the reader to decide where to take the story. As a child I hated those books because the ending I always chose no matter what either ended abruptly or the main character had died (which now thinking back on it- what does that say about me? Hmm..), but Atkinson thankfully takes a more interesting and ambitious route to explore in her latest novel. Her protagonist, Ursula, makes all the decisions: she can die at birth, or she can flourish and blossom; she can be wealthy, or she can be a fugitive; she can be the victim of rape, or she can choose her sexual destiny. 
  What makes Life After Life work as an engaging story is that all these possibilities arise, and all take the story in different directions, making us wonder if we would make the same decisions as she knowing the outcomes that has lead up to this critical point. As they say, hindsight is twenty-twenty, but we all know that the choices we make do have consequences some of which we can predict and others we can't. As you may suspect that all of these possibilities sometimes entwine, near to the point of confusion as characters take up more than one role but that is what's expected of in alternate realities. Atkinson suggests that all of these lifetime events can be folded up into one lifetime so that all are equally real. 
  My reactions to Ursula varied which each of her lives. There were times that I admired her for her tenacity, other times where I grew frustrated with her when she making a horrible, obvious mistake. Each life of Ursula added a new layer of complexity to her character and those surrounding her. I really enjoyed getting to know her family from various points of views. I also think I had an advantage in not getting disoriented by the book's nonlinear storytelling by reading other reviews. I knew when to expect Ursula to die and come back so I was more engaged as to what happened in each lifetime. I grew bored during Ursula's adolescence but I was immediately sucked right back in to the story during the beginnings of World War II and Ursula's journey to Nazi Germany. I will be honest and say that the book does become tedious after a while and I'm not sure if it needed to be over 500 pages but I'm glad I stuck with it. 
Provocative, entertaining, and beautifully written. Life After Life is a speculative fiction that would be enjoyed by fans of historical fiction and literary fiction alike. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, underage drinking, sexual situations including rape, and war violence. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, The Returned by Jason Mott, The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer, Blackout by Connie Willis, for a YA book try Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Memoirs of a  Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

  The Mysterious Howling was an entertaining read and I couldn't wait to read more of this series. The second book, The Hidden Gallery, does not disappoint. Questions about the Incorrigible’s backgrounds, Penelope’s connections to them, and Lord Ashton’s own wolfish behavior set the stage for the next act of this most excellent adventure.

Description: Thanks to their plucky governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are much more like children than wolf cubs now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees.
  Yet the Incorrigibles are not entirely civilized, and still managed to ruin Lady Constance's Christmas ball, nearly destroying the grand house. So while Ashton Place is being restored, Penelope, the Ashtons, and the children take up residence in London. As they explore the city, Penelope and the Incorrigibles discover more about themselves as clues about the children's--and Penelope's own--mysterious past crop up in the most unexpected ways.


Review: The fun and chaos continues in this enjoyable sequel to The Mysterious Howling. Transplanted to London while repairs are being made to manorial Ashton Place in the wake of the last episode's disastrous and hilarious climax of introducing the Incorrigibles at the Ashton Place's Christmas ball, inexperienced but resourceful governess Penelope Lumley looks forward to taking care of her charges in London. Though the Incorrigibles have the veneer of civilization, they still retain their wolf-like characteristics but Penelope is determined to make sure everyone has a good time and is in one piece. 
   Of course to much of Penelope's dismay and to the delight of the reader, events quickly get out of hand. The plot of the second book moves slowly compared to the first book as we are introduced to new characters with ambiguous identities, astonishing apparent coincidences and take a moment to sight-see 19th century London (which I didn't mind at all. I loved my visit to London and want to go back!) as the plot thickens.
  The plot and suspense escalates when Penelope and the Incorrgibles attend a play with pirates (who are also possibly real)- you can only imagine the trouble they get into! We also meet a dashing, helpful, unemployed playwright who I'm really hoping would be a love interest for Penelope as sparks of chemistry fly between them. More questions arise as vague warnings, references to a prophecy, and a strange guidebook emerges that might hold all the clues to Penelope and the Incorrigibles' past. I couldn't wait to jump into the third book to find out more. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The Unseen Guest (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #3), Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

  Sorry for the lack of posts last week, I've been out of town for a much needed mini-vacation. I've really enjoyed reading Leila Sale's This Song Will Save Your Life, a novel that is an insightful celebration of individuality. Please note this review is based on an advanced readers copy of the book provided by the publisher via Netgalley. 

Description (from the Publisher): Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski's strong suit. All throughout her life, she's been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Review: There has been a slew of books about bullying written for YA, but Leila Sale's This Song Will Save Your Life stands out for its unflinchingly real and honest portrayal without the contrived makeover mise-en-scène. 
  Being cool has eluded Elise Dembowski for years. She has been socially isolated and relentlessly bullied by her peers for no apparent reason. Her project for sophomore year is to finally fit in. She studies pop culture, noting what is and isn't fashionable in clothing, and all the other so-called important things in a teen's life during summer break. With renewed confidence she goes to school only to realize that all that she studied for was not on the test. Elise fails miserably and another drop falls into the ocean of self doubt, insecurity, and the hurtful truth that no matter how much she tries Elise will still be the same as she's always been. In a rash and heartbreaking moment, she makes a desperate decision--a suicide attempt--that ostracizes her even further. 
    Sales veers her story from doom and gloom by shining a ray of hope in Elise's darkest times, as she strolls alone at night and stumbles across Start, an underground dance party, that changes her life. At Start finally finds solace, her calling as a DJ, and meets a cast of characters who help her begin to see a light at the end of the crushingly dark and seemingly endless tunnel that is high school. Elise begins living a double life, returning each week to Start and learning to DJ. Being a DJ gives Elise confidence, happiness, and assurance that there is indeed nothing wrong with her. What I love most about This Song Will Save Your Life is that the transformation of Elise is not external but internal. Elise is responsible for her own development not a romance fling (which I appreciated for its realistic brief, confusing, exhilarating moments) nor a best friend in the wings. It is this epiphany for Elise and her journey of acceptance, of others and herself, that makes this book stand out for me. 
  Elise is a remarkably self-aware character and a person that I would be friends with in high school. She is unabashedly passionate about music and looks beyond the superfluous crises of high school. I understand why she kept her pain inside though I don't condone it, but I was thrilled when she finally found the courage to open up and speak out especially when the bullying gets even uglier. Like Elise, the supporting characters are equally well-developed, with the strengths and flaws of real people. Sales' narrative is rich with diverse music references and reverberates with resilience. Elise's story pulsates with hope for everyone who is just trying to belong. I really look forward to whatever Sales writes next.  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, underage drinking, a scene of attempted suicide, and some sexual situations. Recommended for strong Grades 8 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak,

I thought I would do some mini-reviews of books that were a bit of a mixed bag. Please note that all of these reviews are based on an advanced reader's copy provided by the publishers via Netgalley.

Description: Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?
  As June approaches--when Laura must return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn't she take it?

Review: When I read the description of this book, I had expected a similar version of Stephanie Perkin's fabulous Anna and the French Kiss except the story is set in Cold War Russia, but The Boy on the Bridge did not meet my expectation at all. The relationship between Laura and Alexei felt contrived and lacked chemistry. As a result, I thought they were really boring characters.The setting of Russia makes up for a lot of the book, however, I wanted some background to the Cold War. My history lessons of the Cold War a bit fuzzy at best so I was hoping this book would introduce teens to this time period but it does not. We do get the sense of hysteria and the lack of privacy, but we don't get the full impact on why people like Alexei want to leave Russia and immigrant to other countries. Overall The Boy on the Bridge is a very disappointing teen romance that has a lot of potential to become a stronger story.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, scenes of underage drinking, and allusions to sexual situations.

If you like this book try: Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackall, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Pardon My French by Cathy Hapka


Description: After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Deveaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades--the city's secret ghost-fighting police--are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.


Review: I was really disappointed with The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson's first venture into the paranormal/mystery genre after setting up very high expectations but I enjoyed this sequel much more. In this book I got a better understanding of Rory's quirky personality and her witty internal monologues. Her voice, in my opinion, is much stronger in the book and I began to care for her much more. The plot is relatively slow, which is common for a middle book but Johnson does pick it up when she add a new mystery angle in addition to the Jack the Ripper case: Rory is much more than a girl who can see ghosts, but now she has become a human "terminus," meaning that when she touches a ghost, it disappears for good. Hailing from a Louisiana family peppered with eccentric alleged mystics, Rory was, from the beginning, aware of the spirit world. Now she hesitates when her comrades try to persuade her to put her power to civic use, even as other suspicious deaths crop up to suggest that the Ripper's destruction may have simply unleashed more mayhem. The book ends with a lot of questions in the air especially when one of Rory's Shade comrades is in serious condition. I'm definitely hanging on to this series and am really curious to see how everything ends.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, scenes of underage drinking and drug use, and mysterious deaths that may be a bit too much for younger readers. Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up.

If you like this book try: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington, Past World by Ian Beck, The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade


Description: They Said It Was An Accident...

Sawyer Dodd is a star athlete, a straight-A student, and the envy of every other girl who wants to date Kevin Anderson. When Kevin dies in a tragic car crash, Sawyer is stunned. Then she opens her locker to find a note: You're welcome.

Someone saw what he did to her. Someone knows that Sawyer and Kevin weren't the perfect couple they seemed to be. And that someone—a killer—is now shadowing Sawyer's every move.


Review: Truly, Madly, Deadly is a great premise that grabbed my attention right away, however, the execution of the story was a bit shaky. Jayne has a good sense of creating teasers, but I would have liked a bit more development leading up to suspense. The death of Sawyer's boyfriend isn't used to its full potential. I was confused as to why Sawyer didn't grieve enough for her boyfriend or why she didn't seem to share the same popular opinion of Kevin like her peers. There are hints of a possible abusive relationship but it is rushed and put in the story as a check mark for plot events just like a scene where a teacher takes things too far with a student. There is also a budding romance that I would have liked to see more of in the story.
  You need to suspend a lot of disbelief when reading Truly, Madly, Deadly such the delay in going to police, not sharing important information of a potential stalker with parents, but this is common for teen suspense novels. Overall Truly, Madly, Deadly is a good popcorn book that I would recommend to reluctant readers but I would suggest something more complex to my advanced teen readers.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is language, underage drinking, a scene of sexual advances from a teacher, and PG-13 violence. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Acceleration by Graham McNamee, Killing Mr. Griffin or I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan