Laney by Joann I Martin Sowles

What would you give to be with the one you love?

Would you give it all, including your life?

In a small college town in Northern California, Laney Alexander leads a regular, uneventful life–that is, until the charming and alluring Oliver Knight enters her world. Who is this gorgeous and mysterious stranger? Or, rather, what is he?

As Laney’s sophomore year of college begins, so does an unbelievable adventure–including a love she didn’t know she longed for. She soon learns that Oliver is not ordinary, nor is the rest of his family, including a sister who openly hates her and a brother who will stop at nothing for revenge. As she fights for her life, and Oliver’s love, Laney discovers that the fictional world of vampires isn’t so fictional after all. Nobody is safe, especially Laney, Oliver’s most important priority, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. With her mortality at risk, and a commitment revealed that she, without a doubt, knows she wants, Laney’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn…

Joann I Martin Sowles brings us Laney –

Must Read Young Adult - - Yep I said it!!

I love what this new author has done with this book.  Laney is the first in the Brookhaven Vampire Series.  We have been set up for this series to keep us anxiously awaiting the next!!!

Sowles has given us a story that starts right out and gets you interested.  I definitely wanted to know Oliver…young and fresh romance wrapped in with action and plot.  We’re set up that I can see many twists and turns left to come.   We still have so much to go with this story.  Sowles comments on another top YA that you’ll have to read to find out about…

Laney and Oliver share a hot connection.  As a young college student, Laney is new to relationships, Oliver is an ‘old pro’.  The references and comments in this book were straight from my time.  I felt like this book is meant for the 25-35+ crowd.  I related to Oliver although at some points he went a little old fashioned for my *coughs* crazy tastes.  We end with a great cliffhanger.  I can’t wait for the opportunity to read the next one!!!  Could not put this one down!

5 Slices

Tell me what you see...Fairiewalker

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.  

Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does.  Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again… (back cover)

Glimmerglass is the first in the new Young Adult – Fairiewalker series by Jenna Black. 

What teenage girl wouldn’t want to stumble into the world of the Fae, where every guy is more gorgeous than the next? 

I truly enjoyed this read.  For me it was a quick, page turner, right from the start I didn’t want to put it down. 

I love how Black set up the lead character, Dana, to be a responsible 16 year old, who is mature yet still naïve.  Dana is extremely well done, you love her from the start.  Dana Hathaway rushes to leave the problems of her mom beyond, only to discover her world was not nearly as turned around as it could be.  Captivity, lies and tricks await her as she arrives in Avalon, as well as Ethan and ….shall we say boy #2…who enjoys throwing her down. 

The world of the Fae is always fascinating and can easily be ruined as authors make it “their own”.  Black has not left me disappointed and we’ve only just hit the tip of the world in this book.  I hope that Black takes us on the magical journey through her version of the world in many more books in this series; I for one can’t wait.  I think I’ve only been this excited about the Fae world from 2 other authors (some of my faves in para-rotica)

Great book for teens and adults…. 4/5 

Book 2 in this series is due out next year.

Just a note – I loved the cover of this book, the matte feel of the paper was unique.

Rating 4