Shield the Heart by TK Richardson

Here's a little bit from the author, TK's website: 

Lilly’s gift of reading the heart seemed like a curse, but when she discovered her gift was linked to an old, Russian prophecy it changed everything. What she never questioned, though, was her own heart.

When the prophecy pulls Lilly back to Russia and demands to be fulfilled she is torn between love and loyalty. She must make the most difficult decision of her life and choose between the two. But Lilly’s decision is farther reaching than even she is willing to acknowledge. It stretches from East to West - from the past to the future.

Lilly discovers there’s more to the old prophecy than she realized and enemy forces are bent on stopping it from unfolding.

One thing is certain - there will be casualties. And sparing those closest to her may be impossible. While Seth attempts to shield Lilly from the truth, Nikolai reveals secrets that could change everything.

As Lilly falls into the arms of Russia she must decide: will love or loyalty reign? And can she live with the consequences? Two sides compete for Lilly’s heart and she must find the answers she needs before her enemies find her.

My Take

This is the second in the series.  I fell for the characters in the first book Return the Heart and have continued my love affair with them through the second book as well.  In this story Lilly and her friends spend almost all of the book in Russia.  Lilly discovers secrets about her heritage and the prophecy that sets so many questions in motion. 

More action, more romance and an ancient prophecy lie within the pages of Shield the Heart.  This book was wonderful and I can't wait to read the final book in the series.  I'm giving this little gem 4 1/2 heartfelt kisses!

So Shelly by Ty Roth

Here's a bit from the author's webpage: 
High school junior John Keats was never a close friend of schoolmate and literary prodigy Gordon Byron. At his best and worst, Keats was a distant, envious admirer of Gordon's talents, fame, and "player" lifestyle. That changes when their mutual friend, Shelly, mysteriously drowns. After stealing Shelly's ashes, the boys set a course for the small Lake Erie Island where Shelly's body had washed ashore and to where, according to Gordon, she wished to be returned. As they navigate obstacles and resist temptations during their odyssey, Keats and Gordon glue together the shattered pieces of Shelly's and their own pasts while attempting to make sense of her premature end.
Outrageous, poignant and in subtle homage to Lord Byron's classic Don Juan, SO SHELLY captures the indomitable spirit of Romanticism while confronting contemporary issues of sexuality, dysfunctional families, suicide, poverty, racism, alcohol and drug use, the hidden costs of popularity and fame, and friendship and while exploring themes of death, dying, grief, abandonment, abuse, and belonging.

My Take

Admittedly, it took me a while to get around to reading this book.  For that, I'm profoundly sorry.  But I can say that I really, really loved this book.  I can't count the number of times that I laughed out loud while reading it.  The author, Ty Roth, deftly mixes humor amongst the darker themes for a great balance.  Keats is a funny fellow.  He's a great narrator with keen observations.  As the story of the three unfolds, the characters take shape.  Gordon is the most colorful of the three and his character demands to stand out.  He craves attention constantly.  Keats is a pallid sidekick who pines for Shelly, but feels too inadequate in Gordon's wake to ever speak up.  Shelly has her own unrequited love, only it's directed towards Gordon.  We get to know her better as the story of their past gets revealed.  Keats deep self examination throughout the book gives him more shape and as he evolves becomes quite endearing.

This was a lovely book and the info given at the end regarding the actual Keats, Byron and Shelley was extremely interesting.  I thought that since I knew little of Keats, Byron and Shelley that may get in the way of enjoying this book.  Not in the slightest though.  It was a wonderful story with a very contemporary message about living in the now and being present in every moment.  Something we can all use a little reminder about from time to time.  I'm giving this one 5 shiny kisses!!

Brother/Sister by Sean Olin

First, let me say sorry for taking ages to post reviews here lately.  I've been busy with life's happenings though, and I appreciate everyone understanding that. :)  You're all the greatest!
Here's a quick bit about Brother/Sister by Sean Olin from it's goodreads page: Will and Asheley have a troubled past. Their father left them when they were little, and their mother has just been carted off to an alcohol treatment center. Now, they have the house to themselves, and an endless California summer stretching out before them. Through alternating perspectives, they tell the story of how and why their lives spun violently out of control - right up to the impossibly shocking conclusion you'll have to read for yourself to believe.
My Take

Will and Asheley are close siblings.  Their lives have been in the shambles pretty much from the start and things are only getting worse.  This book really makes you think about how one wrong choice ignites others and can set someone in a tailspin.  That being said, there was a fair amount of mental illness in this book as well.  Very rarely does someone escape a traumatic upbringing completely unscathed.  This is as much about the heartbreaking events as well as the undoing of these characters (heartbreaking in its own right) as anything else.
I thought it was well written and gripping.  While somewhat disturbing in the events that take place, it's gritty reality at the same time.  I'll give this one 4 shattered stars.

Shield the Heart Blog Tour Stop

I'm thrilled to be a stop on T.K. Richardson's blog tour.  T.K. is always a pleasure to interact with and she's one great writer.  I loved Return the Heart and can't wait to read and post my review of Shield the Heart.  Stay tuned for the review.  Take it away T.K.!

Hi Lisa, thanks for hosting this stop on the blog tour for Shield the Heart!

The theme for this blog tour is a little different and I hope all of you will enjoy it. It’s titled ‘A Russian Tour’ because each day during the blog tour we’ll explore the Russian cities and historical sites that are the backdrop for my new YA novel Shield the Heart.

Sometimes the setting of a novel is so interesting and unique that it deserves a closer look, and that’s why I thought this blog tour would be so much fun. ‘A Russian Tour’ will give my readers a chance to get a better view of where everything in Shield the Heart takes place.

After all, these are the places that have inspired me, and I hope they inspire all of you, too.

Today on our itinerary we’re visiting Kozelsk, Russia!

To follow along each day and visit some of the places found in Shield the Heart, be sure to follow the blog tour.

Okay, onto our destination!

Козе́льск

The past 2 days on the blog tour we’ve visited 2 well known cities: St. Petersburg and Moscow. But today we’re stopping in a city you may not know much about - Kozelsk.

Hmm… what can I say without giving away too much about how this city ties into the story? Well, what I can tell you is that when Lilly winds up here everything changes, or becomes more focused for her. She knows the importance of this place and she is awestruck.

Although Lilly doesn’t spend much time here, she loves it – from the quaint scenery to the people – Kozelsk is someplace she’s naturally drawn to. Located far from St. Petersburg and Moscow, Kozelsk is situated on the Zhizdra River and is much smaller in population.

Kozelsk is also the place where Optina Monastery is located which has been visited by great writers and people of renown for centuries. (We’ll visit Optina Monastery on the blog tour!) With its ancient ties to the past Kozelsk plays a significant role in Shield the Heart. Although I did take artistic liberty with some scenery and distances, I loved my research of this city.

Character quote~

“For some reason, Lilly, we have to go. There’s a reason everyone is trying to keep us away from here and I think we need to find out just what that reason is.”

~Claire, Shield the Heart

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini tour of Kozelsk. Be sure to follow us to our next destination. Tomorrow on the blog tour we’ll visit Kostroma, Russia!  http://eveningfades.blogspot.com/p/shield-heart-blog-tour.html

Lisa, thanks again for hosting me on the blog tour. I hope you and your blog followers enjoy my new release!

One Gift, One Prophecy, One Choice

Shield the Heart

 (Note: This book is part of a series. Book #1 Return the Heart. Book #2 Shield the Heart.)

What if the battle was in your heart?

Lilly’s gift of reading the heart seemed like a curse, but when she discovered her gift was linked to an old, Russian prophecy it changed everything. What she never questioned, though, was her own heart.

When the prophecy pulls Lilly back to Russia and demands to be fulfilled she is torn between love and loyalty. She must make the most difficult decision of her life and choose between the two. But Lilly’s decision is farther reaching than even she is willing to acknowledge. It stretches from East to West - from the past to the future.

Lilly discovers there’s more to the old prophecy than she realized and enemy forces are bent on stopping it from unfolding.

One thing is certain - there will be casualties. And sparing those closest to her may be impossible. While Seth attempts to shield Lilly from the truth, Nikolai reveals secrets that could change everything.

As Lilly falls into the arms of Russia she must decide: will love or loyalty reign? And can she live with the consequences? Two sides compete for Lilly’s heart and she must find the answers she needs before her enemies find her.

Shield the Heart, by T.K. Richardson, is the riveting second book in the series and takes Lilly deeper into Russia’s mysterious past… and her future.

Available in paperback and ebook

*For a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a signed copy of Shield the Heart, check out my contest! http://eveningfades.blogspot.com/p/kindle-fire-contest.html

About the author~

T.K. Richardson is the author of YA books Return the Heart, Shield the Heart, Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate, and Love, Me: Anthology of Short Stories. She is the founder of Partners In Print.org, a program that donates books to children in the foster care system. She also runs The Writers Resource Directory, a great site for writers filled with publishing and writing links, tips and advice. Her next books: Courtship and the Kremlin, Swan Song, and Dovetail are due out later this year.  Find out more at http://tkrichardson.com

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Here's a little blurb from the author's page: The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

My Take

I've been on this kick lately to catch-up on reading in the trilogies or other sagas that I started. This is the third in the Hush, Hush saga. I remember not being overly thrilled with Crescendo, so I will admit I started this book with a kind of attitude. Before I knew it the pages were turning fast. I couldn't seem to put it down. Ms. Fitzpatrick is great at ending each chapter with a cliff hanger that kept me reading at a fevered pace.

There was only a minor detail that I felt was a little unrealistic. Other than that, I loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading the 4th installment in the saga, which is slated for release sometime this year. Yay!! With all that said, I'm giving this one 4 1/2 angelic kisses!!

Crossed by Ally Condie

Here's a quick little blurb from the product page: The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy in search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Take

 I liked Matched a lot and was anxious to see what Crossed would bring.  It wasn't disappointing.  I liked the fact that Cassia was stronger and more independent in this book.  There are some surprises that I never saw coming.  I like the new characters added to the mix as well.  I really enjoyed the time they all spent in the canyon, and getting to know the farmers that came from that area.  Whenever I read these books it always brings me around to thinking about This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (re-released and I desperately need to re-read).  I think it's very dystopian nature reminds me of it.  However, I would swear there are little whisperings around the edges that smack of similarity (only in minor details).  It's left off in a place making me want more.  I can't wait to read the third installment.  So definitely pick this one up and do yourself a favor and pick up This Perfect Day as well.  I'm giving this one 4 1/2 kisses!!

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Here's a quick bit from the author's website: The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

My Take

I had been waiting for the conclusion to this trilogy.  It was worth waiting for.  I liked the fact that we got to know more about Isabel and Cole.  There were times when I screamed out "NO!" and was saddened that I couldn't stop what happened.  (Even though most have probably read this, I don't want to let out any spoilers.)  And then so joyful at some things and hopeful for others.

Ms. Stiefvater has created a great trilogy here.  It's romance and really all types of love and relationships at their best...and worst.  Lovely stories that keep me quite enthralled.  The characters are endearing.  The writing is wonderful and keeps you turning the pages.  I'm giving this one 4 kisses!