Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts

Saturday, 16 February 2013

Now Available: Affinities by J.L. Walters

A Young Adult Fantasy Series by J. L. Walters

Now available for the first time from Books We Love

 
Affinities: Escape
Book One

Sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret pla
ce and find teachers before the evil man discovers them.
Affinities: Havens
Book Two

The four teens, led by the mysterious birds they believe are their parents seek a place of safety where they can learn to control their affinities. They find a place of refuge with Doma Jandia, grandmother of their friend Zand. The doma plans to take them to the highlands but news of the capture of two of their friends by Dom Senet, sends them on a rescue mission. Their powers are not strong enough to defeat the evil dom. They must find a way to succeed or their friends will be corrupted forever.



Affinities: Searches
Book Three

Having found a safe place in a tower fortress, the four and their companions set out to find what they need to defeat Dom Senet and He Who Walks With Evil. They divide into three groups. The first group seeks the focus stones that enhance their affinities. The second group looks for the remaining artifacts, the swords, the staffs, the flutes and the scrying bowls. The third group sets out to find those with their affinities to round the groups to four of earth, four water, four air and four fire. Their strength will be needed in the final battle.






Affinities: Confrontations
Book Four

Ash, Bran, Ky and Jay along with their friends have now mastered their affinities. They now control their ability to use Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The time has come for them to face Dom Senet and He Who Walks with Evil. They have learned a disturbing fact. He Who Walks With Evil is able to exchange an old body for a new one. Dom Senet wishes to obtain the secret and he is willing to sacrifice even his own son to gain this power. The four sets of companions set off to rid the doms and domas of Dom Senet’s bonds and to defeat the two evil men. Can they or will they become pawns to evil?




Find all the purchase links here:

 

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Now Available: The Perfect Guy by Ann Herrick

Can Rebecca turn her new stepbrother into her new love? 
 
When Rebecca's mother marries Pres's father, Rebecca is sure that living in the same house with the guy of her dreams will have its perks and it will be just a matter of time before Pres sees her as more than a kid sister. Even though her best friend, Celeste, warns her to face reality, Rebecca doesn't listen. She thinks Pres is the perfect guy for her. But Celeste's brother, Josh, has been friends with Pres for years, and Celeste thinks she knows what she's talking about.  

Rebecca's not so sure about her relationship with her new stepfather. She knows he can't replace her real dad, but she thinks she can break through his cool surface by helping him with the school play. 

But things don't go as planned, and as friendships start to change, Rebecca faces surprising truths about herself and her friends. Will she find happiness in her new family and find The Perfect Guy?

Available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BB2E0U2

Sunday, 3 February 2013

Now Available: Dummy & Me! by Sydell Voeller

Fifteen-year-old Deanna Lambert is miserable. She can't find her niche with the popular kids at school and believes she is ugly. Then too, after her mother deserted the family to pursue an acting career in New York City, Deanna's father has grown distant and embittered. Now Deanna is saddled with most all the chores at home--and she and her dad barely communicate.

Yet Deanna's one happy escape is her volunteer work at the nearby Children's Hospital. There the activities director convinces her to get back into her ventriloquism, a creative skill Deanna's grandfather had taught her years earlier. 

Deanna and her puppet, Ramblin' Roy, entertain and delight the young hospital patients, but Deanna is worried. What if the kids at her school discover what she's doing? Will they think she's just "a baby" who still plays with dolls?

Deanna takes the risk, but one problem soon leads to another. Can she ever gain true acceptance at school, especially from Jason, the guy whom she has a major crush on? And most of all, can Deanna embrace her gift of ventriloquism, and in so doing, come to terms with her mother's leaving?


Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/281588


and coming soon to Barnes & Noble, Apple and more!

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Comment and Win with Ann Herrick

Leave a comment below and one random name will be chosen to win an eBook PDF copy of this special edition. Be sure to leave your email address in the comment. Good Luck and Happy Holidays from Books We Love!
 

 


Now available in one special edition, three young adult novels from Ann Herrick: The Real Me, Snowed in Together, and Hey, Nobody's Perfect.
 
The Real Me

When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way?

"…a charming young adult novel about love and identity. Mattie, the first-person narrator, is a spunky heroine who takes charge of her life, makes mistakes, dusts herself off, and tries again. Kevin, her heartthrob, is both believable and appealing. The plot moves quickly with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about whether-and with whom-Mattie will find true love …." ~ Debra Stang, eBook Reviews Weekly 
 
Snowed In Together

What secrets are revealed when six teens get trapped at school on a Saturday? 

Wes and his best buds, Tony and Jeff, have enough brain power to fuel the entire sophomore class, but when it comes to their social lives, they are totally inept. So they volunteer to organize the art room on Saturday knowing three certain cheerleaders will be there for practice. Trouble is, none of the guys can come up with a plan to take advantage of the opportunity to be the only six students in the building.
 
Then, thanks to a freak snowstorm, they're snowed in, which isn't so bad when the girls of their horniest dreams are there, too. Maybe it could give Wes the chance to make his fantasies about Ellyce come true! However, the last thing Wes expects is to be caught in a game that forces everyone to share his deepest secret. He fears if Ellyce discovers the story of his alcoholic father and abandonment by his mother, she'll never want anything to do with him.


"Ann completely stayed true to the characters and their age. Teenage hormones were very active, but not overdone. And I loved how everything turned out in the end for Wes and his friends. Things didn't end perfectly - I mean, it's high school - but the things that really matter, like self-confidence, self-discovery, and self-growth, was accomplished in spades. Ann Herrick's "Snowed In Together" is definitely a five star story!


Hey, Nobody's Perfect

Life was complicated enough for Sivia before a guy with no legs came into her life. 
Her parent's divorce did not wipe out their traditional family values. Dad is still way too self-centered, Mom is still resentful, Russ is still shoving food in his mouth and Sivia doesn’t need any more drama. But when the new student, obnoxious and legless Keeley, becomes her project partner, her life becomes even more complicated.  Family friction, peer pressure and her overly controlling father are threats her budding relationship—but prejudices she never knew she had and doesn't want to acknowledge are the biggest hurdle of all. 

Hey, Nobody's Perfect is a story about serious issues told with both substance and humor.

"HEY, NOBODY'S PERFECT is an outstanding teenage romance. I was highly impressed with the characters of Sivia and Keeley. The supporting characters of Brad, Marcy and Todd added so much in-depth character to the overall development of this story. I feel this is a book that every teenager should read. There are so many life lessons in this one book that it is a very eye opening experience. Ann Herrick is a wonderful author who has allowed her readers to go into the lives of a set of high school teenagers. It is refreshing to see how they experience their own way of finding the love they deserve" ~ 5 Stars, Suzie Housley, Romance Junkies Reviews




Be sure to enter our Sweet Treats Scavenger Hunt for your chance to win an eBook Reader or a gift basket from Books We Love! Find the details here: http://bookswelove.net/contest.php

 

Sunday, 25 November 2012

New 5 Star Reviews of Trading Places by Ann Herrick

"Ann Herrick’s young adult novel "Trading Faces" is a fun read that explores an old idea of wanting to be someone else. This universal theme of switching places takes a fresh turn when romance is introduced and Darcy and Cybil realize that what they wanted was right in front of them the whole time. Good read!" ~ 5 Stars, Lisa McCombs, Readers Favorite

"This is a great story about two girls that are forced into growing into who they really are because they now have gotten a whole new life perspective. The grass isn't always greener on the other side and sometime you have everything you needed you just had to grab for it, make it a priority and express how you feel.

Trading Faces take the normal body swap story...adds a totally new aspect by using teen girls and all their issues...then builds in relatable situations and characters to make a wonder teen adventure. Immensely enjoyable read! I know this story would be perfect for my 14 yr old daughter." ~ 5 Stars, Beth H., Amazon Reader


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


An "Ugly Betty" and a Popular Beauty wind up trading faces—and lives—and the situation is not what either one expected! 
 
When 15-year-old Darcy Doane wakes up as Cybil Sheffield, she is thrilled. Cybil is everything Darcy has ever wanted to be. Pretty. Popular. Only… all the attention isn’t exactly what Darcy expected. Especially when her own brother, Joey, is crushing on her. Gross.

Cybil is shocked when she looks in the mirror and sees a face she totally doesn’t recognize.  She thought not always being the center of attention might be a good thing, but being invisible is hardly bearable. Even her boyfriend, Devon, looks right through her! How can she survive when the only people (except a family of strangers) who even know she's alive are three dipsticks she can't remember ever seeing before?
 
With the school play and an A-List party coming up, Darcy and Cybil have a lot to work out. There’s a learning curve for both of them, especially after they are caught fighting at school and forced by the principal to help her at a Return-to-Work project for displaced women.

 Trouble is, how do they get their own lives back?

~ Find this title here

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

One Final Stunt by Pat Dale

Sean Cassidy’s senior year in high school might be labeled ‘How not to impress your girlfriend’. After his dad deserted him, he turns to dares and stunts to prove his worth. Angie tries to talk him out of his obsession but has no more luck than his mom, Sheila. When he plans one last stunt with the hot car his dad had left him, Sean may have made the mistake of his short life.

~ Find this title here

Friday, 5 October 2012

Friends Forever by Maryann Miller



Eppie Awards Finalist


Debbie Webly is terrified that she will lose Laura to the influence of Angie who is rich, beautiful, and the most popular girl in school. There’s not much Debbie won’t do to hang on to her friend, but will she cross some line that she can never come back from?

And what about Brad?  Does she even stand a chance with him?

The challenges mount when Debbie is tempted to commit social suicide by taking up for Stephanie who is even more of an outcast than she is. When Angie makes a surprising move, Debbie finds out that true friendship is based on much more than looks or popularity.
 
“FRIENDS FOREVER beautifully captures the pain and confusion of early adolescence. Young readers will identify with Debbie and her friends. Older readers will remember and smile. It is a delightful book. I highly recommend it.” - Four and a half stars, Carrie S. Masek, Sharpwriter Reviews   
 
“Ms. Miller captures the trials and tribulations of 13 year-olds very easily. She talks their lingo and keeps the book interesting with enough twists and surprises to keep younger readers turning the pages to the very end.” - Pam Stone, Myshelf Reviews

“Miller’s book accomplishes what few others in this genre do. She effectively combines humor, true life feelings, and interesting dialogue in a novel about peer pressure.” ~ Aimee McLeod, Wordweaving Reviews
 

Sunday, 30 September 2012

Now Available: Trading Faces by Ann Herrick

An "Ugly Betty" and a Popular Beauty wind up trading faces—and lives—and the situation is not what either one expected! 
 
When 15-year-old Darcy Doane wakes up as Cybil Sheffield, she is thrilled. Cybil is everything Darcy has ever wanted to be. Pretty. Popular. Only… all the attention isn’t exactly what Darcy expected. Especially when her own brother, Joey, is crushing on her. Gross.

Cybil is shocked when she looks in the mirror and sees a face she totally doesn’t recognize.  She thought not always being the center of attention might be a good thing, but being invisible is hardly bearable. Even her boyfriend, Devon, looks right through her! How can she survive when the only people (except a family of strangers) who even know she's alive are three dipsticks she can't remember ever seeing before?
 
With the school play and an A-List party coming up, Darcy and Cybil have a lot to work out. There’s a learning curve for both of them, especially after they are caught fighting at school and forced by the principal to help her at a Return-to-Work project for displaced women.

 Trouble is, how do they get their own lives back?

~ Find this title here

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

4 Stars for The Real Me by Ann Herrick

"In The Real Me, Ann Herrick delves into the tumultuous feelings of a teenage girl who is unhappy with her appearance. As we follow Mattie through her transformation, we are treated to realistic dialogue and inner thoughts of a teenager. The reader roots for Mattie to be successful with her changes and with her budding romance. Mattie has an awesome friend who helps her along the way, which has you guessing as to who is the right guy for her. The story will keep you guessing until the end!" ~ 4 Stars, Krista, Single Titles Reviews


When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way?


"…a charming young adult novel about love and identity. Mattie, the first-person narrator, is a spunky heroine who takes charge of her life, makes mistakes, dusts herself off, and tries again. Kevin, her heartthrob, is both believable and appealing. The plot moves quickly with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about whether-and with whom-Mattie will find true love …." ~ Debra Stang, eBook Reviews Weekly

"…Ann Herrick delivers a plot that is big on empowerment for the female teen, while exploring the conflicting emotions, uncertainty, and dreams that are prevalent in those "between" years. [She] tells a story about a young woman who has character, a sense of compassion, strong commitment, determination, and understanding beyond her years. We see the questions about ethics, compassion and morality arise and how they are handled. This is a very good portrayal of the teen years, addressing some of the issues that are faced, the challenges and opportunities that can arise, and the choices that are made. Best of all, we watch Mattie bloom before our very eyes and grow into what she calls, "the real me"." ~ Kim Green-Spangler, Womenonwriting.com 

"…a great insight into the insecurities, hopes, dreams, and confusion of being a teenager, and the self-acceptance and realization that not all is how it appears to be at first.  Mattie is self-conscious over her appearance, little realizing that her true beauty has been shining forth all the time – even without the weight loss and haircut.  The new look just gives her the self-confidence to hold her head high and let the “real” Mattie shine forth. She realizes that even guys, and the “popular” kids, have insecurities and fears of their own…I found it to be entertaining, and…I plan on reading more of Ms. Herrick’s books in the future." ~ Teresa Henson, Romance Junkies 


~ Find Ann's titles here

Thursday, 2 August 2012

5 Stars for Hey, Nobody's Perfect by Ann Herrick

"HEY, NOBODY'S PERFECT is an outstanding teenage romance. I was highly impressed with the characters of Sivia and Keeley. The supporting characters of Brad, Marcy and Todd added so much in-depth character to the overall development of this story. I feel this is a book that every teenager should read. There are so many life lessons in this one book that it is a very eye opening experience. Ann Herrick is a wonderful author who has allowed her readers to go into the lives of a set of high school teenagers. It is refreshing to see how they experience their own way of finding the love they deserve" ~ 5 Stars, Suzie Housley, Romance Junkies Reviews





Hey, Nobody's Perfect

Life was complicated enough for Sivia before a guy with no legs came into her life. 

Her parent's divorce did not wipe out their traditional family values. Dad is still way too self-centered, Mom is still resentful, Russ is still shoving food in his mouth and Sivia doesn’t need any more drama. But when the new student, obnoxious and legless Keeley, becomes her project partner, her life becomes even more complicated.  Family friction, peer pressure and her overly controlling father are threats her budding relationship—but prejudices she never knew she had and doesn't want to acknowledge are the biggest hurdle of all. 

Hey, Nobody's Perfect is a story about serious issues told with both substance and humor.

Friday, 13 July 2012

Free at Amazon July 13-14: Affinities: Confrontations by J.L. Walters

Ash, Bran, Ky and Jay along with their friends have now mastered their affinities. They now control their ability to use Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The time has come for them to face Dom Senet and He Who Walks with Evil. They have learned a disturbing fact. He Who Walks With Evil is able to exchange an old body for a new one. Dom Senet wishes to obtain the secret and he is willing to sacrifice even his own son to gain this power. The four sets of companions set off to rid the doms and domas of Dom Senet’s bonds and to defeat the two evil men. Can they or will they become pawns to evil?

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Free at Amazon July 10-11: Free to Love by Sydell Voeller

One year after Joanna Sullivan’s husband, Kyle, a firefighter, has been killed while battling a house fire, Joanna makes a desperate attempt to start over. She moves to a new town, embarks on a new career at the local coastal aquarium, and attempts to refurbish a dilapidated duplex. Then Austin, her husband’s brother, visits unexpectedly. He offers to stay and help her with the much needed repairs.

Joanna soon discovers, however, that Austin’s presence is proving more disturbing than helpful. His resemblance to Kyle is uncanny, thwarting her resolve to put her husband’s memory to rest. Worse, she is strongly attracted to Austin. Austin, a veterinarian, shares Joanna’s love of nature, and the two find much common ground as they team up to help clean up the beaches and save the native birds and wildlife from the encroachment of civilization.

Can Joanna let go of her grief and love Austin in his own right? Or will he always remain the a painful reminder of her husband?

Thursday, 5 July 2012

Now Available: Affinities: Confrontations by J. L. Walters

Affinities: Confrontations
Book Two

Ash, Bran, Ky and Jay along with their friends have now mastered their affinities. They now control their ability to use Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The time has come for them to face Dom Senet and He Who Walks with Evil. They have learned a disturbing fact. He Who Walks With Evil is able to exchange an old body for a new one. Dom Senet wishes to obtain the secret and he is willing to sacrifice even his own son to gain this power. The four sets of companions set off to rid the doms and domas of Dom Senet’s bonds and to defeat the two evil men. Can they or will they become pawns to evil?

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Free at Amazon June 28: Hey, Nobody's Perfect by Ann Herrick

Life was complicated enough for Sivia before a guy with no legs came into her life.

Her parents' divorce did not wipe out their traditional family values. Dad is still way too self-centered, Mom is still resentful, Russ is still shoving food into his mouth and Sivia doesn't need any more drama. But when the new student, obnoxious and legless Keeley, becomes her project partner, her life becomes even more complicated. Family friction, peer pressure and her overly controlling father are threats to her budding relationship--but prejudices she never knew she had and doesn't want to acknowledge are the biggest hurdle of all.

Hey, Nobody's Perfect is a story about serious issues told with both sensitivity and humor.

Monday, 25 June 2012

Now available: Hey, Nobody's Perfect by Ann Herrick

Life was complicated enough for Sivia before a guy with no legs came into her life.

Her parents' divorce did not wipe out their traditional family values. Dad is still way too self-centered, Mom is still resentful, Russ is still shoving food into his mouth and Sivia doesn't need any more drama. But when the new student, obnoxious and legless Keeley, becomes her project partner, her life becomes even more complicated. Family friction, peer pressure and her overly controlling father are threats to her budding relationship--but prejudices she never knew she had and doesn't want to acknowledge are the biggest hurdle of all.

Hey, Nobody's Perfect is a story about serious issues told with both sensitivity and humor.

Monday, 4 June 2012

Now available: Escape by J.L. Walters

Escape
Affinities Book One

Sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them.

Monday, 14 May 2012

5 Stars for The Real Me by Ann Herrick

When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way?

"After loving Ann Herrick's The Farewell Season, I was completely honored to be given the chance to read and review The Real Me. Ann has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. I absolutely love her writing style. I loved the realistic characters and the fact that the moment I start reading her novels, I just can't put them down. The Real Me has a great message and makes you think about how everyone has insecurities, no matter what they look like or how popular they are.  I've had weight issues my whole life and it took me quite some time to be comfortable in my own skin. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. The Real Me was a refreshingly wonderful contemporary read that I highly recommend." ~ 5 Stars, Memoriesovertakingme Reviews 

~ Find this title here

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

5 Stars for The Real Me by Ann Herrick

"The book has a great storyline. If you're someone who experienced being picked on for being different in any way in high school, or you're a teenager who feels out of place in their own body, this book is a good read!" ~ 5 Stars, Melissa Ringstead, There For You Blog

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Now available: The Real Me by Ann Herrick

When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way?


"…a charming young adult novel about love and identity. Mattie, the first-person narrator, is a spunky heroine who takes charge of her life, makes mistakes, dusts herself off, and tries again. Kevin, her heartthrob, is both believable and appealing. The plot moves quickly with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about whether-and with whom-Mattie will find true love …." ~ Debra Stang, eBook Reviews Weekly

"…Ann Herrick delivers a plot that is big on empowerment for the female teen, while exploring the conflicting emotions, uncertainty, and dreams that are prevalent in those "between" years. [She] tells a story about a young woman who has character, a sense of compassion, strong commitment, determination, and understanding beyond her years. We see the questions about ethics, compassion and morality arise and how they are handled. This is a very good portrayal of the teen years, addressing some of the issues that are faced, the challenges and opportunities that can arise, and the choices that are made. Best of all, we watch Mattie bloom before our very eyes and grow into what she calls, "the real me"." ~ Kim Green-Spangler, Womenonwriting.com 

"…a great insight into the insecurities, hopes, dreams, and confusion of being a teenager, and the self-acceptance and realization that not all is how it appears to be at first.  Mattie is self-conscious over her appearance, little realizing that her true beauty has been shining forth all the time – even without the weight loss and haircut.  The new look just gives her the self-confidence to hold her head high and let the “real” Mattie shine forth. She realizes that even guys, and the “popular” kids, have insecurities and fears of their own…I found it to be entertaining, and…I plan on reading more of Ms. Herrick’s books in the future." ~ Teresa Henson, Romance Junkies 


~ Find Ann's titles here