In The After, by Elisa Dane - Cover Reveal

In The After By Elisa Dane

Published By:  Swoon Romance, February 2, 2016

Genre:  Contemporary, Romance, YA

Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Sadie Reynolds is a liar with secrets. At school, she’s part of the popular crowd known as AE, despite being broken inside. She hides it well. She has to. The slightest bit of imperfection will land her in the same shoes as her Geeky neighbor named Ian.

Ian and his only friend are the objects of Sadie’s friends’ ridicule, ire, and entertainment. The AE rule the school with intimidation and retribution against anyone who would dare question their supremacy.

Sadie steers clear of most of it, terrified someone will find out her secret. She isn’t the least bit perfect. In fact, she suffers from PTSD stemming from the murder of her mother right before her eyes when she was a child. She can barely cope from day-to-day, hiding her truth and trying to fit in. But she knows it’s only a matter of time.

Hayden is a “Waverly,” a kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE don’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever.

Desperate to get away from her oppressive friends, Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between them is nothing short of electric. But Hayden’s an outsider and when things heat up, Sadie will be forced to choose between her friends and her new boyfriend.

Only Queen Bee Britt isn’t having it. She will not allow Sadie to cross her. Sadie can either do what Britt wants her to do or she will reveal Sadie for the PTSD freak that she is.

Sadie does some soul searching about who she is and who she wants to be. She can’t live her life like this. Not anymore. One fateful night will help her see how much things have to change.

She’s determined to no longer allow the AE to rule her life. She will be strong, stand up for Ian and love who she wants in Hayden. Determined and invigorated, Sadie goes to school feeling hopeful for the first time in forever.

But, the unthinkable happens.

Shooters attack dozens of students before the two eventually take their own lives, leaving the school a decimated shadow of what it once was.

Suddenly who lives where, wears what or loves whom seems like the least of Lexington Parish’s problems as everyone and everything changes forever in the after.

IN THE AFTER by Elisa Dane is a hard-hitting and heart-warming story of tragedy, love, loss and redemption. It is recommended for readers 14+.

AUTHOR BIO:

ELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she's a proud mother to three All-Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it's her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.

Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena.

Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.

You can connect with Elisa at the following places on the web:

Author Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

The Dark Realm, by Anthea Sharp - Book Review

The Dark Realm

Feyland #1

By:  Anthea Sharp

Published:  April 12, 2012, CreateSpace (1^st published December 1, 2011)

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Pages:  318 Kindle, 328 Print

Source:  Author Free Day on Amazon Kindle eBooks

What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the dangerous Realm of Faerie?

When a game…

Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

Turns real…

Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her.

Winning is everything.

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.

--------------------------------

This is really a neat book. Written in a succinct, just-enough-of-everything writing style, it had me racing through it. If you’re a gamer and can’t get enough, you need to read The Dark Realm. If you like fey, paranormal, magic novels, pick this up.

When I read the description for The Dark Realm, I loved the idea of crossing magical barriers. I’m not a gamer, but I read exactly for this reason; escapism.

We begin with Jennet’s final game fight with the fey Dark Queen. Jennet loses and the queen takes something from her that she will need a champion to retrieve. And she needs it back in order to survive in the real world.

Then Jennet moves with her dad to a new town. She’s really hoping she’ll find a gamer champion at the new school she is to attend. She finds Tam. I like that Tam is curious about the VirtuMax company but he’s not at all into getting the wrist implant that those who are well-off have. He also deals realistically and calmly with his complex life issues but is open to new possibilities that intrigue him as well.

As Jennet and Tam start Feyland, the game begins to bleed through into real life. Vice versa, some elements of the real world cross into the game. I wonder how many gamers are looking for this experience!

I loved Marny as a supporting character. She’s a little outside of the mainstream but has a great sense of herself and is good with it. I didn’t get a good feel for was Tam’s brother, Peter (Bug); his looks or exact problem.

I like that the author uses gaming as a way to cross social class. Jennet’s main priority is finding a talented gamer who then turns out to be a decent guy. She doesn’t let the fact that he’s from another social class stand in the way.

This novel has roots in the Ballad of Tam Lin (Scottish Borders) written by Francis James Child (1882-1898).

Nice ending without a cliff hanger, though there’s an opening for book 2. Overall, a neat fast read though not particularly complex. The author might have made more of the threat to all humanity.

4.0 Stars!

Thank you to Anthea Sharp for the free day on Amazon. You'll find her on the web here:

At Amazon | Author Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Update 2016 Kristin Ravelle

Happy New Year all!

Hope you've had a great holiday with loads of fun, great food, and good times with loved ones.

I've had a chance to plan for a busy year of self-publishing myself. Here are some new titles that I'm working on and will hopefully complete in 2016.

Fated For Sanchez

This is a title that I'd started work on some time back that has been calling me to finish it. It's a contemporary romance in the Harlequin style. Sanchez and Lilli share a special connection from their grandfathers' times that draws them together in the present but which also threatens to tear them apart. Sweet-spicy read with a Spanish hottie businessman.

Immortelle (Book II Iron Web)

Bryn and Curran are on the run from the OED, along with Elain who they've managed to pick up from Moorfield's. Dinas Affaraon is magically hidden in the Snowdonia mountains and only Bryn's ability to read raven calls will help them find it. They're looking to learn new earth magic that will help in the growing fight against One Earth Dynamic, the encroaching world authority that is putting tighter controls over its citizens. Will Bryn and Curran come closer together in their struggle or discover new things about each other that drive them apart?

A Trail of Broken Glass

Fractured Fairy Tales

I've been wanting to write a fairy tale, Christmas story, retelling for about two years now. I'm finally getting it together with A Trail of Broken Glass; planned release for November 1, 2016. This is based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale, the Snow Queen, my absolute favourite. What if the sovereign of snow and Kai really have the hots for each other? Impossible you say. Let's see...

Good fortune in all your blogging and writing endeavours in 2016. I look forward to my first book review of the year, The Dark Realm (Feyland #1), coming soon!

Kristin