Broken Wings - Alexandrea Weis

Publisher: World Castle Publishing

Pages: 270

Source:  Review copy from author

Genre: Adult, Romance

From Goodreads:

As a wildlife rehabilitator in Southeast Louisiana, Pamela Wells has dealt with her fair share of wild animals, but her reclusive life is forever changed when she meets an elusive former soldier named Daniel Phillips. Sent to Pamela’s wildlife sanctuary as part of his parole requirements, Daniel and Pamela quickly clash until Daniel’s troubled past unexpectedly comes to light. After serving in Iraq, Daniel suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Pamela tries to help ease his condition by introducing him to the healing power of animals. Daniel begins to find peace, and an unexpected kindred spirit in Pamela. Fearing one day she will be forced to give up her beloved sanctuary, Pamela confides in Daniel about her debilitating health. United by their misfortunes, the relationship turns romantic.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books where you see how broken both of the main characters.  The author has helped the reader understand how the main characters got that way.  Shoved together  the animals and their relationship help them both begin to heal.  When Daniel leaves, Pamela is forced to once again seek help from her ex-husband.  Can you say controlling?  He is the type of character you love to hate.  You can’t read this book without hoping that he will get his.  Want to know if he does?  Read the book.

About the Author:

Alexandrea Weis’s popular first novel, To My Senses, received rave reviews and garnered awards for both commercial fiction and romance writing.  Her second novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards and was named best Romantic Suspense by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2011.  Her third novel, Sacrifice, was released in late 2011.  A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife.  She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

You can find her:

Twitter:  http://Twitter.com/alexandreaweis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394

Blog: Ravings of a Frustrated Writer

Student Saturday: Perfect Girl - Barb Huff

Publisher:  Barbour Publishing
Pages:  160
Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Student Reviewer: Courtney

I read the Perfect Girl written by Barb Huff.  The main characters name is Jenna Rose Brinly who has a huge crush on skateboarder prodigy, Parker Blevins.  Along with band members, friends and acquaintances, they stand up to creepy stalker, Jamie Valetin.  When Jenna Rose doesn't do what Jamie wants, bad things happen.  I can connect with the book because, sometimes I feel like I've hurt somebody, but feel so bad that I couldn't face them for a while.  My opinion on the book is that I think it was great.  This book was just the kind of book that I enjoy.  Most of the story that I enjoy.  Most of the story happens in a high school, Mr.s and Mrs. Angelino's Pizzeria, and Jenna Rose's house.

I recommend you read this book.  It teaches that wanting everything to be perfect just pushes things away.  For example, Jenna Rose wanted everything when she finally got it, everything went wrong.  Her friends turned on her and she attracted the attention of people she didn't want.

The Dig - Audrey Hart

Publisher: Backlit Fiction

Pages:  229

Source:  electronic review copy

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, and Mythology

From Goodreads:

Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece.

As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.

Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her.

Out of time and out of her element, teenager Zoe Calder finds herself in ancient Greece, battling against the power of the Olympians and the vengeance of a scorned goddess—all for the strange and mysterious boy she has come to love.

My Thoughts:

We teach Greek Mythology every year at school.  It has never been one of my favorite subjects.  However, recently there have been some great books out that deal with Greek mythology in a different light.  This is one of those books and it is great.

Zoe is the type of young girl that teens will be able to relate to.  She suffers bullying at the hands of those in her boarding school because she doesn’t fit it.  I will have to say here that she doesn’t really try very hard to fit in.   When she ends up in 1000 BC, Ancient Greece her life changes.  Suddenly, the most popular boy (Zeus) has fallen for her.  I loved the idea that the gods and goddesses were portrayed as teenagers instead of the way we teach about them.

She realizes that these gods and goddesses are not much different than the teens she left behind at the boarding school except here they all have powers.  This is just the first book in the trilogy and the second one is a definite must read.  After all, we must see how things progress for Zoe.