Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Title: Forgive My Fins
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
Copyright 2010 by Tera Lynn Childs
Forgive My Fins Facebook
Tera Lynn Childs Official Webpage

Synopsis:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Wow! I loved this book! Tera Lynn Childs wrote an easy, fun, and light-hearted story that I truly enjoyed. If there was ever a mythical character I wanted to be, it was a mermaid.


For some people, the darkness of many storylines in YA books is frowned upon. (I, personally, think that people need to realize that fiction is fiction and sometimes people read to escape.) However, Forgive My Fins gives readers a lighter escape.


I warn though, tears did surface a few times. I love books that actually bring my emotions to the surface.

The characters made this story completely amazing. Each of them were quirky in there own way.

• Waterlily - or Lily as she is known to "terrapeds" or humans is a royal princess to the Kingdom of Thalassinia, she has a unique way with words, she will have to make choices that will forever define her life. Such a difficult thing for any teenager to do.
• Shannen - is the terraped best friend to Lily. She is smart, trusting, supporting, accepting and helpful. Shannen is all the things best friends should be.
• Quince Fletcher - is the boy next door who is a "pain in the tail fin." He may not be exactly the person Lily thought he was, though.
• Brody - is the all American boy. He is an olympic level swimmer with a bright future. He is also Lily's main crush.
• King Whelk of Thalassinia - is the father of Lily. He is a charming and understanding dad. He has ruled Thalassinia with a firm but honest hand.
• Peri - is Lily's best MerFriend. They grew up together and Peri knows Lily better than Lily knows herself.
• Dosinia - is Lily's pesky MerCousin. She is shallow, bratty, and has a hatred for all terrapeds.
• Aunt Rachel - is Lily's terraped aunt on her mother's side of the family. She has taken Lily to raise while Lily searches for what she truly wants in life.

The characters have great chemistry with each other. From the beginning, I laughed with them and then I cried with them. Lily's "bizarre obsession with fish terminology" always managed to make me giggle.


I saw this as a coming-of-age story about a young lady who must make many tough decisions before she turns 18. Many of these decisions are difficult at any age, but much more so for an eighteen year-old whose choices will affect her for her entire life. Can you imagine the decisions you make at eighteen being permanent for your entire life? Eeks!!!

Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly

Title: Angel Burn
Author: L. A. Weatherly
Published: May 24, 2011
Candlewick Press
Angel by L.A. Weatherly Facebook
ANGEL by L.A. Weatherly

In a world where angels are beyond redemption, Alex thinks he's found one that might deserve mercy. Alex is a ruthless assassin - of angels. Forget everything you've heard about them before. Angels are not benign celestial creatures, but fierce stalkers whose irresistible force allows them to feed off humans, draining them of their vitality until there is barely anything left. As far as Alex is concerned, the only good angel is a dead angel...until he meets Willow. She may look like a normal teenager but Willow is no ordinary girl. Half-angel, half-human, Willow may hold the key to defeating the evil angels. But as the hunter and the hunted embark on an epic and dangerous journey and Willow learns the dark and terrifying secrets of her past, Alex finds himself drawn to Willow...with devastating consequences. Eoin Colfer reinvented the fairy, Stephenie Meyer reinvented the vampire, L.A. Weatherly reinvents the angel! This is a heart-pounding, knuckle-whitening, paranormal romance action-adventure for fans of the "Twilight" series. This is the first in a devastating new trilogy. (Goodreads)

I enjoyed reading it when I finally got into the story. The first few chapters were slow going for me. As the story progressed and Willow finally met Alex, things became much more interesting. Willow finds herself in a precarious situation. She finds that she possesses more than one secret that will make her a wanted woman. She is a unique young lady with an interesting family life.

Alex is the usual tall, dark, and handsome love interest. He is interested in Willow for reasons that she does not know, and quite possibly, does not want to know. He finds himself questioning things that he has been raised to never question.

By the end of the story, I was hooked. I look forward to the following books in this trilogy. L. A. Weatherly wrote an intriguing fantasy that will change the way you think about angels.

Demon Kissed by H M Ward

Title: Demon Kissed
Author: H. M. Ward
Copyright 2011 by HM Ward
Laree Bailey Press, 4431 Loop 322, Abilene, TX 79602
Independently Published
Demon Kissed Facebook
Demon Kissed Official Website

Synopsis:

The Valefar boy tricked Ivy Taylor into kissing him, but he took much more than a kiss - he stole her soul and left her within inches of death. By surviving, Ivy is drawn into the conflict between the Martis and the Valefar. The war between these two immortal forces has raged for millennia without distraction. Until now. Ivy is an anomaly - she is the only person who has ever walked away from a demon kiss alive. Her survival gives her unique and deadly abilities. Too powerful to ignore, Ivy is a threat to both armies. These two ancient enemies will stop at nothing to kill the seventeen-year-old. Surviving is nothing new for headstrong Ivy, but her survival has never depended on another person before. This time it does. And if she misplaces her trust, she's dead.

To her horror, she starts falling in love at the worst possible time - with the enemy. He appears to be protecting her. But she can't be certain if he is trying to help her, or help himself to her power. For Ivy, trusting the right person is the difference between love and survival, or a deadly demon kiss.

I was immediately drawn into this thrilling, twisting and always surprising read from the very first page. Everything from the color and the font of the cover to the very first page drew me in. The old saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" doesn't hold true in this case. Holly Ward wrote an outstanding debut indie book. I was hooked from page one. Filled with turns, drops, and spirals; the book reminded me of a first ride on a roller coaster.

Ivy Taylor's character was dramatic and built layers deep. She struggles with problems most teenagers don't have. She has lost her sister and drowns her sorrows by indulging in random make-out sessions with anonymous boys. She trusts very few and will be forced to question the trust of everyone around her. Her life depends on it. Every character plays an integral role in this book.

Demon Kissed is a classic struggle between good and bad; however, as you read, you will find that things are rarely as black and white as they may seem. Are some things purely destiny or do we have control by the choices we make?

Cursed, the second book in this series, will be release later this summer. I cannot wait.