Kacie Ramsey, Teenage Psychic and Paranormal Investigator With the Orion Circle, Opens up to Kimber Leigh Wheaton and to Emeraldfire's Bookmark About the Recent Changes in Her Life

I would very much like to welcome both Kimber Leigh Wheaton, author of the young adult Paranormal Thriller, Tortured Souls and Kacie Ramsey, a Paranormal Investigator with the illustrious Orion Circle, to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. The Orion Circle plays a major role in Ms. Wheaton's latest young adult paranormal novel Tortured Souls and with the author's permission, Kacie was nice enough to answer some questions for me about her life before and after joining the Orion Circle. Thank you so much for stopping by Emeraldfire's Bookmark, Ms. Wheaton and Ms. Ramsey, and I wish you all the best now and in the future!

Meet Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet roance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate - not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Synopsis of Tortured Souls:

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts - and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before - a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Coming to Amazon on June 28, 2014!

Meet Kassandra 'Kacie' Ramsey

I’d like to introduce Kacie Ramsey, the main character in Tortured Souls. Kacie is a physical medium and has been communicating with spirits her entire life. Welcome to Emeraldfire's Bookmark, Kacie!

Emeraldfire's Bookmark: So, Kacie, what was it like to finally find a group of people who understood and embraced your powers?

Kacie Ramsey: Heaven on Earth? Yeah, pretty close. It’s really hard going through life hiding who you really are from everyone. There were times in the recent past that I had to do a double take to make sure the person I was about to talk to was real and not a spirit -‘cause sometimes they appear almost alive. I can think of little worse than talking to a spirit only I can see in the middle of the school cafeteria…

Emeraldfire's Bookmark: Has that ever happened?

Kacie Ramsey: Not since I was a lot younger. At first I didn’t realize the spirits weren’t supposed to be there - that most people didn’t see them. I’d have long conversations with spirits. Looking back, I must have appeared crazy, talking to myself. Now that I’m older, I can tell spirits from people much easier. The spirits are always accompanied by a cool breeze - like someone cranked up the A/C. I prefer the spirits who look like ghosts should, you know transparent.

Emeraldfire's Bookmark: What was it like to be different from others around you?

Kacie Ramsey: In most instances, I say flaunt your differences. Those differences are what makes you interesting. However, since my difference could land me in a loony bin, I had no choice but to hide it. It was awful. Like the longer I held the spirits at bay, the more determined they became. I had no one to talk to. My best friend, Celia, believed in ghosts and even experienced a haunting, but she has no idea how minor that was compared to what I feel and see on a daily basis.

Emeraldfire's Bookmark: What about now? How is the Orion Circle helping you?

Kacie Ramsey: Well, first and foremost, they are teaching me how to channel my abilities in a more productive manner. Oh, and how to shield myself and block out spirits when I need to. Just the fact that I get to use my powers to help people makes a huge difference in how I feel about myself. I always thought my abilities were a curse, but now I can see them more as a gift. Through the Orion Circle, I’ve learned there are some bad things out there. I like being on the frontlines, investigating hauntings and other supernatural cases.

Emeraldfire's Bookmark: What does the future hold?

Kacie Ramsey: Hmm…I found out that my mother plans to visit for my sixteenth birthday in a couple months. I’m not sure how I feel about seeing her again. She has some kind of reconciliation planned, but I just don’t see it. Other than that, there’s never a dull moment being part of the Orion Circle. If it’s not ghosts, it’s a new coven of vampires, or an evil witch. Oh, and our new member, Blake, is stirring up all kinds of trouble with my friend, Raven. Things should be interesting.

May you read well and often

Introducing The Banshee and the Witch by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

Hello Everyone! I was delighted to learn recently that The Banshee and the Witch by Kathryn Meyer Griffith - Book 2 in her Four Spooky Short Stories collection - will be free to download from Amazon - at least for a short time! I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing The Banshee and the Witch by Kathryn Meyer Griffith back in January of 2013, and here is my review.

Yes, from Monday, January 26, 2015 until Friday, January 30, 2015, The Banshee and the Witch by Kathryn Meyer Griffith will be available to download for free from Amazon. So, I would advise you to go grab yourselves a copy today! ;)

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had twenty (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last five novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo, and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire - Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

The Banshee and the Witch by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2012)

Length: 39 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

The Banshee and the Witch Blurb:

The Banshee and the Witch...

What would you do to live forever, stay young forever? To find true love again?

And if you were a white witch with the magical powers to make it happen…and the secret of how to do it, would you?

So when the banshee comes calling for you one rainy dark night you’ll do what you have to do to get what you desire the most. More time.

May you read well and often

Erik Therme - Mortom: A Novel

56. Mortom: A Novel by Erik Therme (2014)
Length: 293 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 7 December 2014
Finished: 12 December 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Erik Therme for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 June 2014
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Erik Therme is a new author for me.

There was never much love lost between Andy Crowl and his cousin Craig Moore. Even as children, the boys had shared little beyond an innate and fiercely competitive streak; building up to a mutually self-imposed estrangement that lasted well into their adulthood. Since the two hadn't spoken in years; what happens next leaves Andy utterly mystified.

On the outskirts of the tiny town of Mortom - population 986 - thirty-three-year-old Craig Moore is found drowned in the lake. Considered by many to be a loner and the town eccentric, few attend his funeral. One week later Andy and his sister Kate arrive in Mortom, still stunned by their cousin's death and wanting to pay their respects to Craig's mother Mary. What surprises Andy the most is the revelation of what is in Craig's will: everything - all of Craig's worldly possessions - have been left to Andy.

However, Craig has hardly done him a favor. "All my worldly possessions" amounts to little more than a drained bank account and a property which is overridden with junk. All in all, this is a ramshackle and practically destitute estate...Craig was apparently barely living above subsistence level.

When Andy finds a dead rat under the refrigerator with a key in its mouth, he reaches his breaking point. He's convinced that this is all some sort of sick joke. Then he finds the letter left by Craig, written two days before his death...detailing the rules of "the game."

I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book. It certainly was quite an interesting plot; and while there weren't that many sympathetic characters in the story - I don't think there were supposed to be that many - I felt sorry for exactly three characters: Andy's sister Kate, his aunt Mary, and Craig's boss' granddaughter Debbie. Overall, I would give Mortom: A Novel by Erik Therme an A! I will certainly keep my eyes open for more books by this author to read in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Introducing Ghost Brother by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

Hello Everyone! I was delighted to learn recently that Ghost Brother by Kathryn Meyer Griffith - Book 1 in her Four Spooky Short Stories collection - will be free to download from Amazon - at least for a short time! I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Ghost Brother by Kathryn Meyer Griffith back in January of 2013, and here is my review.

Yes, from Saturday, January 17, 2015 until Wednesday, January 21, 2015, Ghost Brother by Kathryn Meyer Griffith will be available to download for free from Amazon. So, I would advise you to go grab yourselves a copy today! ;)

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had twenty (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last five novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo, and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire - Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

Ghost Brother by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2012)

Length: 28 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Ghost Brother Blurb:

Ghost Brother…

So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them?

And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do?

Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death.

Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.

May you read well and often

Introducing Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

So, I was delighted to learn that the third book in Kathryn Meyer Griffith's thrilling Dinosaur Lake Series, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation will be published sometime in the very near future - I believe that the book will be published as a paperback some time in early May. I would advise you to grab your own copy as soon as possible!

As a matter of fact, Ms. Griffith is currently looking for some kind people who would be willing to read and review her latest book. All that potential reviewers are required to do is send an email to Ms. Griffith - requesting a pdf, epub or mobi copy of her book to read - and then post their honest review on Amazon. Just email Ms. Griffith at rdgriff@htc.net, and she'll be delighted to send you a complimentary copy to read.

I had the pleasure of reading Book 1 - Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith - back in March of 2014 and here is my review. Ms. Griffith was also kind enough to send me a copy of Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising back in May of 2014, and I do so hope to start reading it very soon!

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had twenty (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last five novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo, and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire - Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2012)

Length: 451 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Audible!

Dinosaur Lake Blurb:

Ex-cop Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for eight years and he likes his park and his life the way it's been. Safe. Tranquil. Predictable. But he's about to be tested in so many ways. First the earthquakes begin, people begin to go missing, then there's some mysterious water creature that's taken up residence in the caves below Crater Lake and it's not only growing in size, it's aggressive and cunning and very hungry.

And it's decided it likes human beings. To eat.

And it can come up onto land.

So Henry, with the help of his wife, Ann; a young paleontologist named Justin; and a band of brave men, must not only protect his park and his people from the monster but somehow find where it lives and destroy it before it can kill again.

Now Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* in their Suspense/Thriller category.

Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2014)

Length: 248 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Audible!

Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising Blurb:

Prehistoric creatures have again invaded Crater Lake National Park…and this time there’s more than one.

Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for thirteen years now and thought the days when he’d had to fight a rogue dinosaur that lived in the caves below the lake were long over.

Until one of his park rangers, to save a visitor’s life, is in a deadly struggle out in the woods with a new breed of dinosaur worse than the last one. It’s as big as a man, but this one is a young one. And growing.

Then more of the creatures begin to show up everywhere, threatening people and destroying the tranquility and safety of his beloved park.

A tourist trolley filled with fifteen people is snatched up off the crater’s rim by another version of the younger one…but this one has grown into a giant with fangs, claws and a deadly tail. And this one has wings. Ugly Gargoyles, Henry calls them. For this one isn’t alone. They’re flying beyond the park’s boundaries into the neighboring towns.

So Henry, with the help of his son-in-law, a paleontologist named Justin, and a band of brave park rangers, and a few good soldiers, must not only protect his park and his people from monsters once more but find their lair and destroy it and them before the creatures kill again.

Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2014)

Length: 285 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation Blurb:

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has dealt with and fought real live dinosaurs at his beloved Crater Lake National Park for over six years. With the help of his rangers, a few brave FBI friends and army soldiers he’d been victorious over a prehistoric lake creature and years later some particularly fiendish, and clever, specimens of the flying variety. He and his newspaper publisher wife, Ann, thought their park was finally rid of the monsters and they could reclaim their tranquil life in a place they cherished.

Not so. For suddenly across the park new and even more malevolent mutant species of dinosaur begin to appear and create havoc, attacking the park’s visitors and threatening its peace. And this time the primeval scourge isn’t confined to just their park. The creatures have moved into the nearby towns, across the western United States and up into Canada.

They are so much more aggressive, smarter and hungrier than any that have come before and the infestation is spreading further and faster than Henry and Ann can even imagine. This time there’s no easy way to defeat the dinosaurs. There’s too many of them and they’re too devious. This time it’s full out war and the victor will someday claim Earth.

May you read well and often

Blog Tour For ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More by Tamara Branch From January 5, 2015 to March 27, 2015 - Come Join Us!

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Tamara Branch will be touring the blogosphere to promote her young adult Self-Esteem book ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More. This virtual book tour is being hosted by Pump up Your Book and will last from January 5, to March 27, 2015!

Ms. Branch is also doing an awesome giveaway - she is giving away a $25 ITunes Gift Card to one lucky winner at the end of her Blog Tour. Be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and I wish you all the very best of good luck in taking part!

ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More Blog Tour Information:

Meet Tamara Branch

“I believe in the power, beauty, strength and amazing potential of girls. I believe girls deserve to feel extraordinary. I believe that when girls shine their light, they are unstoppable!”

- ItGirl4Life by Tamara Branch

Tamara Branch is from New York, born and raised in the Bronx. She is thrilled to share her first book release, ItGirl4Life, kicking off the ItGirl4Life self-esteem movement to empower girls to stand up, stand out and shine bright in the world.

Tamara has worked as a professional model and actor for almost two decades. She strutted down the runway for designers Calvin Klein, Donna Karen and Christian Dior, acted in a few independent films, co-hosted PBS New York’s education series, “What’s up in Technology” and appeared T.V. commercials and print ads for Levi’s, Old Navy, Hershey’s, Colgate, Kellogg’s Special K, Revlon, Hanes, Nike and many others. A Penn State alumnus and lifelong student of personal development, Tamara is deeply passionate about uplifting the human spirit.

After graduating from Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying under Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil and some of the top health and wellness experts in the world, she was inspired to raise the bar on her own ‘self care’ and support others in living more vibrantly. She is an abstract artist and teaches a dynamic dance class, where she gets to fuse her varied background, having trained in everything from jazz, ballet and modern to Afro-Caribbean and Salsa.

Tamara was recently asked to become a Female Visionary Author guest blogger for The Brave Heart Women Global Community. She’s a SAG/AFTRA member since 1998, a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is represented by Abrams Artists Agency.

Tamara currently lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband of seven years and offers ItGirl4Life workshops to assist girls on their self empowerment journey.

Her latest book is the YA/self-esteem book, ItGirl4Life.

Connect and Socialize with Tamara!

Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Blog

About ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More:

Writer, artist and speaker, Tamara Branch serves up 40 bite-sized chapters on how to build unshakable self-confidence, honor your life, and shine bright in the world, in ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More. Packed with sage advice, life-changing insights and affirmations to help you soar, ItGirl4Life offers ideas, tools and principles that you can reference and build upon, supporting you in becoming your best. Get ready to fall in love with your own wisdom, beauty and strength.

Purchase Your Copy From Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Pump Up Your Book and Tamara are teaming up to give you a chance to win one $25 ITunes Gift Card!

Terms and Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
• This giveaway begins January 5 and ends March 27.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, March 30.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

ItGirl4Life: How to Bring Out Your Special Something and so Much More Book Publicity Tour Schedule

Monday, January 5 - First Chapter Reveal at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, January 6 - Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Wednesday, January 7 - Book Featured at Undercover Book Reviews

Thursday, January 8 - First Chapter Reveal at The Writer’s Life

Monday, January 12 - Guest Blogging at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, January 14 - Book Review at A Simple Life, Really?!

Monday, January 19 - Book Featured at CBY Book Club

Tuesday, January 20 - Book Review and Interview at Not Now…Mommy’s Reading

Thursday, January 22 - Book Review and Guest Blogging at Our Families Together

Tuesday, January 27 - Book Featured at Bound 2 Escape

Wednesday, January 28 - First Chapter Reveal at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, January 29 - Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Friday, January 30 - Guest Blogging at Books Books the Magical Fruit

Monday, February 2 - Interview at PUYB Virtual Book Club

Tuesday, February 3 - Book Review at The Phantom Paragrapher

Wednesday, February 4 - Interview at As the Page Turns

Thursday, February 5 - Book Featured at Margay Leah Justice’s Blog

Monday, February 9 - Book Review at Books, Reviews, ETC

Tuesday, February 10 - Book Review at Must Read Faster

Wednesday, February 11 - Book Featured at Booklover Sue

Thursday, February 12 - Book Featured at Rose Wynters’ Blog

Friday, February 13 - Interview at Blogcritics

Monday, February 16 - Guest Blogging at Reecaspieces

Tuesday, February 17 - Book Featured at World of My Imagination

Wednesday, February 18 - Book Featured at Maureen’s Musings

Thursday, February 19 - Book Review at Mina’s Bookshelf

Friday, February 20 - Interview at Examiner

Monday, February 23 - Interview at The Writer’s Life

Tuesday, February 24 - Book Review at Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

Wednesday, February 25 - Book Review at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Thursday, February 26 - Interview at I’m Shelf-ish

Friday, February 27 - Book Review at Deal Sharing Aunt

Monday, March 2 - Interview at Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, March 3 - Book Review at Lita’s Book Blog

Wednesday, March 4 - First Chapter Reveal at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, March 5 - Book Review at Create With Joy

Friday, March 6 - Interview at Beyond the Books

Monday, March 9 - Book Featured at Fabulous and Fun

Tuesday, March 10 - Book Featured at 2 Kids and Tired Books

Wednesday, March 11 - Book Featured at StoreyBook Reviews

Friday, March 13 - Interview at The Book Rack

Monday, March 16 - Book Review at Mom Loves 2 Read

Tuesday, March 17 - Guest Blogging at Literal Exposure

Wednesday, March 18 - Guest Blogging at Bookingly Yours

Thursday, March 19 - Book Review at I’d Rather Be At The Beach

Friday, March 20 - First Chapter Reveal at Read My First Chapter

Monday, March 23 - Book Review at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Tuesday, March 24 - Book Review and Guest Blogging at My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

Wednesday, March 25 - Book Review at The Blended Blog

Thursday, March 26 - Book Review at The Literary Nook

Friday, March 27 - Guest Blogging at Farm Girl Books

May you read well and often

C. H. MacLean - One is Come

55. One is Come by C. H. MacLean (2014)
The Five in Circle Series Book 1
Length: 231 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 22 November 2014
Finished: 2 December 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 September 2014
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and C. H. MacLean is a new author for me.

For fourteen-year-old Haylwen Rightad life is harsh. Beyond harsh, if truth be told. First of all, there's her annoying sixteen-year-old brother Cadarn, who delights in endlessly teasing her. Then there are her parents, who apparently have completely forgotten just how unfair life can be when you are always the new kid in school. In her entire life, Haylwen can't ever remember a time when she has stayed in one place long enough to make even one friend, so she doesn't understand why she's currently sitting in Principal Johansen's office being disciplined for something she didn't do.

Haylwen doesn't care who actually blew up the wall of the school library, all she knows is that it wasn't her fault. However, with the principal threatening suspension, Haylwen's sure of one thing: if the principal suspends her, her parents will have to move again. And Haylwen will miss another chance to finally make some real friends.

Her parents, forced to keep their own magical past silent, are shocked to learn that their daughter is indeed a magic user. That's just not possible; especially when she tested negative. Twice! Desperate to hide Haylwen from the King of magic users, they flee, but their efforts ultimately put them all in mortal danger.

Haylwen's parents don't know anything about the prophecy of 'The One'; or that the only one who doesn't suspect that Haylwen is an extremely powerful magic user is Haylwen herself. As the King schemes with the dragon clans to remake the world, and the dragon clans quietly set their own ulterior motives in motion, the time of 'The One' draws near. And as Haylwen struggles with her feelings of loneliness and unworthiness due to her inability to make a friend, little does she realize that the fate of the entire world rests on her choices. Will she learn about her magic and true friendship in time to save her life and hopefully the rest of the world?

Despite being seriously delayed in my reading, and having to postpone my review of Two Empty Thrones for about a month - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought that the characters were well-developed and sympathetic, and the story is fast-paced and engaging. I also appreciated that there was a little bit of a back story provided about Abrennin and Crystyn Rightad; and their secretive magical pasts. I found these characters extremely likeable and completely believable as people.

In my opinion, the story flowed along easily and naturally - fire-breathing dragons, magical portals and ancient prophecies didn't seem out of place at all within the plot. One is Come by C. H. MacLean was an intriguing start to a new series. I give this book an A+! and am looking forward to starting the next book in the series: Two Empty Thrones.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often