Kara Lynn Conyer First in Trilogy Creates Exciting Beginning!

“We don’t.” Her voice is stiff, suppressing anger. “By the charts, we’re some 100 miles from the Cubbarros. But both global positioning systems put us much closer, somewhere in the middle of the blackout zone.” We’re exactly where the Commission doesn’t want us to be.
"Dirk cuts Candace off in a booming voice before he even enters the salon. “OK. I need everyone to stay inside until we straighten this thing out. The Commission knows why we’re here. It’s not our fault. It’s all good.”
Lacey throws me a look that practically screams, “See, I told you!” I hope he is right. The Commission doesn’t admit to it, but everyone knows they sink any ship that wanders into restricted waters near the Cubbarros Islands. A few years ago, a navy fleet disappeared out here, and the Commission said they had nothing to do with it. Of course, no one believes them. Navy fleets don’t just disappear. The only reason we have permission to be here at all is that Dr. Warren thinks there may be something here to help stop the Fouling.
~~~

Restricted Waters

By Kara Lynn Conyer

This is the first novel in a Trilogy--one I highly recommend for YA to Adults! I loved it for a number of reasons, including that the author spotlights information about a major world issue--oil spills. But, even more important, she very effectively has identified the issue of discrimination, without even using the word... So while this is an important book for those reasons, the major reason to buy it is that it's fun, entertaining, and has much potential for exploring a major world resource, our oceans...

He nearly rips off his shirt and yanks on the fins.
As he pulls his mask down over his eyes,
 I round the stern and swim as fast as I can toward
 the bow. Jake catches up quickly.
So, I suck in a big gulp of air and dive below.
Hand over hand, I pull myself down
 the anchor chain. The bottom looks
 to be about 40 feet below the boat.
In the distance, a drop-off leads into deeper water.
I’m about 20 feet down when Jake catches up.
He grabs my fin to stop me. But then,
he stops and pulls himself down the anchor chain
 to me. He sees it, too. Just past the drop-off
a massive, dark silhouette. It looks like it could be
 the bow of an enormous ship
 reaching straight up out of the deep.
Jake grabs my arm and pulls straight to the surface.
I can’t hold my breath any longer,
so I don’t put up a fight.
“Did you see that?” I say as soon as we break
 the surface. “Shhh, be quiet,” he says.
“Jake, it was huge.” “Alannis, we didn’t
 just see that. I told you,
we’re not supposed to be here.”
~~~
 

Alannis  (which I thought was a cool name, reminiscent of Atlantis) Summers is 16 when she smartly contacts the head of a research expedition into an area around the Cubbarros Islands  in the Caribbean Sea. A crucial key about her being able to go was that she had worked hard, had the appropriate training, certification and dives to be accepted!

She would be assisting Dr. Candace Warren, who was a leading expert on marine invasive species. And, wow, right now an unidentified species was creating a major world-wide problem. Simply referred to as The Fouling, it was a black crust which hardened on surfaces, such as the underside of boats, and literally ate them...  It also consumed oil, petroleum, plastic... you get the idea! 

Ships were being lost, seafood activities had been stopped, restaurants were closing...and people were being killed...

The area around Cubbarros was being explored to see if they could find any sign of the fouling and determine if it was the same that was spreading into the Atlantic Ocean up the U. S. east coast. 

Alannis, was a normal teen who had a tendency to get involved, to seek out adventures, to get answers...and to get herself in trouble. On her first dive, she spots something that looks like a ship and immediately goes to check it out! Jake, the Captain's son follows and manages to get her back on board, rather than do what she wanted to do...go back down! They kept everything a secret so they wouldn't get in trouble...

But it was there, on that first dive that she thought she saw someone, but didn't know that somebody began to follow her...

While the team boat went on to their next location, he started to follow her underwater...

And so routine set in as they explored, looking for the black crust... But somebody was watching everything they did!

The Ocean Security Commission (The Commission) now controlled the Atlantic Ocean. They monitored all shipping. They determined where people could and  could not go. And when the expedition team needed supplies they had to get them from The Commission, by stopping in an area that was guarded at all times...

There, Alannis was taken in for questioning--about her parents, what she was doing on the expedition, how she had gotten permission to be there... 

It seemed to Alannis that too much attention was being paid to her...

But then again, there was a very good reason and The Commission already seemed to know about...the one who followed her underwater...

This is a really exciting water adventure, including diving into caves, into secret waters that were all being carefully controlled... But nobody knew who had created The Commission..or why... Action and suspense and lots of fantasy characters! I'm looking forward to the next story, because The Commission has already debriefed Alannis and "suggested strongly" that she plan on working for them after her high school graduation...Wow! What a ending! And what a hook for the next book!

Don't miss this one... and check out the links to the Trilogy site to learn more about this tale!


GABixlerReviews

Kara Lynn Conyer graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in journalism and anthropology. After many years as a writer and a science diver for an international research center, she has learned a few things about what it's like to be on an expedition in the middle of the ocean. When she's not gathering the facts, she likes to imagine what secrets might lie beneath them. Restricted Waters is her first novel.

You can reach Kara Lynn at the official Restricted Waters trilogy website: restrictedwaters.com or by email at klconyer at gmail dot com

Review: Friends 2 Lovers Responds to Lovers of Romance...

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Friends 2 Lovers
How could that ever be?
When that one you love
Is afraid of what may come...

Friends 2 Lovers


By Jonathan Anthony Burkett











With lots of beautiful poetry liberally spread throughout his book, Jonathan Anthony Burkett's debut novel is the answer to those who love to read romance, especially as young adults.


Claude is the romantic young man who is in love with Kelly. They met early in life and became each other's best friend. Interestingly it is their "best friend" status that makes both afraid of their relationship moving into something more; neither wanted to lose their best friend!


But when Claude lost most of his family through a series of events, Kelly was there for him, helping in every way she could. Claude lost his father and brother in a shooting and Kelly was hoping to keep Claude from seeking revenge and prevent further violence.


Claude had fallen in love, but knew that it was important not to push Kelly too far, still he presented her with a promise ring as she graduated from high school. At that time she was dating Donald a football star and was planning on attending the same college he would be going to. That happened to be where Claude was attending, so each was looking forward to seeing their best friend more.


But little by little real feelings for each other overrode feelings they had for others. And that was not easy because Donald was still wooing Kelly and Claude had met and was becoming close to Brittany.


Tension develops then and then even more later when Donald and Brittany decide to share a relationship...


Burkett takes readers directly into the midst of a young adult relationship. He explores sex, religious beliefs, friends versus lovers through Claude and Kelly, providing readers with intimate conversations as the couple grow closer, learn more about each other, and then as they decide to live together.


Claude and Kelly are enjoyable characters. They tease each other and talk about anything and everything--showing that having been friends first led to a closer relationship romantically? It certainly seems to be the case for these two!


I especially enjoyed the poetry and shared just a few lives above, but the author is obviously a gifted poet who is probably right now sharing another poem with the one he loves! You can just tell that this young man has a love for life that he is or will one day share with his chosen mate. By the time the book is ending, it seems like everybody is hooking up with somebody--including Kelly's Mom! 


Looking for a lover, then check out the activities of those who become friends first!


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GABixlerReviews

Review: Rachel Vincent Brings Back Mythology Characters For YA Thriller!

Image via WikipediaMy Soul to Take

By Rachel Vincent



When you read a young adult book where young girls are interested in the attentions of the most popular boys, talking about the last high school game, or taking part in your favorite school group like dance, you begin to remember or appreciate those times spent in school. Rarely, however, do events happen like they do in the weirdly wonderful My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent!

Take for instance when Kaylee and Emma were standing, cold and worried, that Emma's older sister had forgotten she was supposed to sneak them into the club where she worked--and for which they were too young to be admitted...

It never entered their minds that one of the beautiful young girls there that night would fall...dead...

Especially when Emma was off dancing and Kaylee was in a daze since Nash Hudson had just called to her and started talking, and she was trying to maintain some semblance of "cool" because she hadn't even realized that he knew her name!

But then it happened...Kaylee saw the girl, and realized she was shrouded in gray. The question was now only, "When would she die?"

But Kaylee couldn't say anything because she was trying to keep herself from screaming. She wanted to say something to the girl, try to get to her and possibly save her...but she couldn't move, could only try to keep her mouth closed and prevent everybody from once again thinking she was crazy...

Nash started talking to her and Emma rushed to her, mentioning to those watching, that she was having a panic attack and the two of them got her outside...but, inside, in the meantime, Heidi Anderson, aged 19, was found on the restroom floor at the club...

Emma had started calling what happened to Kaylee panic attacks so they could help others understand. Kaylee never wanted to go back to the psychiatric hospital where her aunt and uncle had placed her one time when she had allowed her screams to escape. Since then, she had done as much as possible to prevent this happening, even though neither she nor her psychiatrist could explain it.

But Nash could. In fact, Kaylee had been afraid that Nash wouldn't ever want to talk to her again, but he kept coming back and soon they were seen as a couple. And he was the one that finally told her...

Two more deaths of young girls had occurred, the last one a member of the dance club in which her cousin danced. Kaylee had been around two of those girls and knew they were going to die. Now she, with Nash's help were searching for some way that her knowing could help prevent future deaths!

Rachel Vincent has given a whole new face to our mythology characters of the past and has created an exciting tale of wonder for young adults (and mystery/suspense fans of all ages) This book is first in a series, so if you like a little spookiness along with a great whodunit, of the supernatural kind...read My Soul To Take and prepare to enjoy!

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G. A. Bixler

Review: Guest Janet Morris Grimes Shares Thoughts on A Summer's Secret

A Summer's Secret

By Kathleen Fuller


Three and 1/2 Stars.












Thankful for the opportunity to read a Young Adult fiction book on any topic other than vampires and wizards, I appreciated the respite offered by this simple but intriguing story. It centers on thirteen year old Amish girl, Mary Beth Mullett. An easy read for those from ages 8 – 12, it provides an introduction to the culture, their slight language variance and an explanation of common practices of the Amish. But more than this, it centers on the similarities between Mary Beth and any other girl her age.

She seeks a frequent escape from the harassment of her three brothers. She writes out her private thoughts, assuming no one would ever understand. Though she readily intends to fulfill her responsibilities and keep her parents’ trust in her, she also longs to help a mysterious teen aged boy who has no where else to turn. This struggle eventually causes her to overstep her bounds.

I recommend this book as it provides a great escape from the pressures of the high tech world. To read about those who choose do without electricity in the home, and how that affects their daily habits, it allows the reader to consider the benefits of such a simple lifestyle. I found it entertaining and enjoyed meeting these characters. The few drawbacks I saw were that there was actually no mystery to be solved, and that some teens may get bored with how long it takes for the story to fully develop. Still, I do look forward to reading other stories from this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


Janet Morris Grimes
Writing for the Pursuit of Sappiness www.janetmorrisgrimes.com
Join my Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/janetmorrisgrimesfanpage.



Any day spent writing is the best day of my life...

Review: A Must-Read by Paul Nemeth

"I rubbed my eyes, wondering if what I was seeing was real...The wolf was huge, and handsome, with snowy hair. I would have been taken with his beauty, if not for the fact he didn't belong in a hospital room...he'd never been in any of the nightmares I'd had here since... The wolf, the warg, watched our...grief. He cocked his head when he heard me crying...I'd been torn up with grief, but now it was gone, replaced with anger...Fury was born September 15, 1984...
(p. 126-127)

Image by Furryscaly via Flickr



Cataclysm Children


By Paul Nemeth



If I were a parent, or a concerned adult, there are some books about which I would want to be told. Paul Nemeth has written such a book--Cataclysm Children. Some will call it a great action, suspense book. It is that. Some might call it a horror of some time in the past or the future. It is that too.

I call it a warning--a wake-up call! If you haven't already heard it by events such as Columbine I urge you to read this book!

I am not an alarmist; I am a realist...

The book begins in 1991 when Rabbi Avram Levin has been attacked, the synagogue burned. When the police arrive, they find, not what they expected--a swastika.

Instead, they found a Pentagram and in the center was a wolf.

The Rabbi only remembered that he had seen two slithering figures, with clown-white skin and long black hair, with rune-like designs on their face. They looked like demons to him.

The Rabbi had met the Brotherhood of the Wolf...

Moving back and forth in time, readers learn that the Brotherhood had been started in the late 80s. One of the members had murdered Father Dermott Cavanaugh in Hadley, Colorado and was now in prison.

He had been turned in by one of his brothers...









In 2003 Danny Andrews was making his way to class when he was picked up and thrown against the wall by two jocks. He was being punished once again based upon stupid rules established by those who wore the blue shirts, most of those were athletes or those that associated with them. The teacher who saw the incident turned and quickly went back to class. Danny and his friends had no choice but to ignore it; the administrators would do nothing against the blue shirts--it would be Danny or his few friends who would be punished, just because they were not athletes.

Danny had once gone to church, but almost gagged when he had seen Haversmith was a member. Danny figured that anybody who was as mean spirited as Randy Haversmith was, but was involved in church, then he didn't want to participate there. Danny was a musician and had formed a band with his friends, DJ and Tim. They had discovered an old abandoned mansion and used it to practice. Actually, Charon had taken them to the place.

Charon was an older guy, but he knew what it was all about. He brought beer for the boys and supported their efforts and listened to them... Like many families, Danny's father worked all the time. He had remarried and his new wife was totally involved with their baby. Danny lived in the basement since he really had no relationship to his step-mother and his father was never at home. Most nights, he would sneak in and out through the window to be with his friends until early morning.

Charon spoke to the boys as a friend, and bad-mouthed everybody else, except one. He introduced them to Satan and explained how he spoke for them... Charon, however, was only passing on what he himself had been taught years ago, before The Brotherhood had broken up when one of the leaders went to jail...

In fact, Charon spoke to many small groups such as with Danny and he taught them much--he invited them to become a part of a brotherhood...The Brotherhood of the Wolf... None of the boys or girls in the small groups knew any of the others. But they knew that one day hundreds of teenagers would be brought together to work as a group. In the meantime, they were given tests to become members. Such as placing bombs under random cars and blowing them up. Or, burning down any church of any religious group.

Fortunately, one day when a teacher, who was also the football coach, was roughing Danny up in the hall, they were seen by a new guidance counselor. Mary Anne Allen had come to the school as a teacher, but the principal had talked her into taking the administrative job. Now, when she started questioning what was happening, he couldn't very well remove her! Also fortunately for Danny, his uncle, who he didn't even know existed, had come to visit. As Danny talked to both Mary Anne and Ian Andrews, he began to question what he had become involved in.

Especially when he learned who his uncle was...

Paul Nemeth has written an exciting book that provides a climax so amazing that you will have teenagers talking about it... Indeed we adults will love the drama as well, and hopefully will be sharing the book with our children and discussing it with them...There's nothing wrong with a fantastic book also having an underlying theme! Parents, I believe this is a must-read for you and your older teenagers; tell me I'm wrong--read Cataclysm Children by Paul Nemeth...and let's talk!

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G. A. Bixler

Review: Her Mother's Diary Well Worth the Reading

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Her Mother's Diary

By David Curry Kahn


Wheatmark
ISBN: 9781604943597
232 Pages


The drug lord showed up everywhere Allison ran, leaving bodies behind!



Events happened so fast in Allison Ercheverry's life that she didn't have time to feel the monumental grief she experienced in Her Mother's Diary by David Curry Kahn. In fact, she had to keep running for her life!

Fortunately, the love and life she shared with her mother and grandmother had provided the strength and maturity to handle what happened.

That, and having her mother visited her in her dreams...

For her mother had been murdered by her father. Her mother had found a large amount of money in their home and she knew that her husband was still selling drugs with his uncle. She hid the money! It was both anger and, more, fear that set Allison's father off. He tried to explain that if he didn't turn over the money that he would be killed. Before he realized it, his wife was dead...

Allison ran out of the house to her grandmother who lived nearby. As her grandmother tried to deal with her daughter's death, the burial and worry for Allison, she pointed out that Allison was now an orphan. Not understanding, Allison proclaimed that she would stay with her...but her grandmother knew that her life was near its end. Indeed she died soon after her daughter was buried. But she had told Allison about two possible family connections; i.e., other than her father's brother, with whom they didn't want her to live, due to the drug connection.

But the aunt in California, to whom she went was found to be in a hospice and she died before Allison could even get to her. And as she traveled, she had learned that her father had been killed--the police felt that it had been a hit and probably drug related.

The Holliday family were billionaires, with Henry being the family head at the moment. But when Allison tried to make a connection, it was determined that her uncle had also already made a connection and indicated he would provide a home for Allison. Henry politely explained to Allison that the family money was tied into a trust and dedicated to specific causes; there was no money for individual family members... And besides her uncle had promised her a home!

As deaths occurred around Allison as she made her way from their home in Oregon to California, she met two men--one a killer and one a savior.

Allison kept remembering the million dollars that her mother had hidden; her grandmother thought that she had probably written the hiding place in her diary, but her father had taken it with him when he had been arrested! There were two things that her mother knew that would help Allison find the money and each time her mother visited her in her dream, she would share more and more with her daughter. All she had to do was figure out how to go look for it!

But before she could make plans, the killer, who she had surprisingly met on her way to California, and who she later found had killed her father...she now saw visiting her uncle! Another murder was nothing for this man! But now Allison was totally alone, and knew that the money was what this evil man wanted!

David Curry Kahn has used a suspenseful murder mystery to show the potential of young individuals who are suddenly left alone and afraid, to show that there are also good people that will come into their lives and, with faith, hope and determination, an individual can take a stand to act on those beliefs and to win a life worth living! This is a great YA book, but also one that will inspire all readers! We can all take a lesson from Allison's response to becoming an orphan, homeless and estranged even from a wealthy family! I think you'll enjoy this one!

Bood Provided Through
Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

G. A. Bixler

Review: Read My Review - Then Enter Contest!

Visit Mars with


LM Preston

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The Pack

By LM Preston
Phenomenal Press
ISBN: 9780984198979
316 Pages

By the year 2161, Earth is completely free of violence. Oh, there are still drugs, body organ theft and other “benefits” that the rich are willing to pay for, but if any problems arise, they just shut down travel to the planet! The Pack by LM Preston, who first captured everybody’s attention with Explorer X – Alpha has just released her YA novel, full of an action-packed adventure that I totally recommend—hey, you don’t have to be a teen to have fun reading about teen life! This book is definitely at 5+!

Mars is where it’s at! Or at least it is the place to be if you are a criminal. Originally, it was supposed to be that the criminals selected to colonize Mars were to be working to change—to create a new life. However, there were some hardened criminals who figured out how to relocate, figuring they would be kings there!

And they probably would have succeeded, if this possibility had not been predicted...

Major technological advances had been made. Mars had been built and colonized by the government, who had created a world as close to Earth as possible, including the generation of oxygen and other elements to approximate the control of temperatures there. Mars was colder in general and lacked the “green” of Earth, but it held its own beauty for those that had been born there and could not look back in their lives to miss their home...

For in addition to the relocation of criminals, there were also civilians who had been asked to spend time there. And a special Security Force Elite had been created.

With a body that had been developed from birth to provide extra strength and superior abilities...

But now, something had happened, the children of the original Security Force Elite were being kidnapped and several of the adults had been taken. There had also been other civilians adults and children taken, but the panic began because it should not have been possible for anybody to “take down” the Elite Force.

The daughter of two of the top-level Elite had had enough and wanted to save the children!

Shamira was a special young woman and even her parents did not know the extent of her abilities. In order to save her life when she was a baby, doctors had used advances that had only been used on adults before. She survived, but had been blind since then. Surprisingly, this had caused other children to shun her as a child and she had withdrawn into herself, allowing only her family to be loved and close. But the only one with whom she truly felt she could be herself was her younger brother David.

But then David was kidnapped also! And as Shamira roamed the streets trying to find out about all of the children and where they might be hidden—and during times her parents were working, she met Valens, whose sister had been taken. A hate-love relationship developed, Shamira hating the way Valens would not leave her alone, since she knew she could take care of herself. But then, after David was gone and he shared that his sister was also gone, she realized that it would take more than her own strengths to find them!

And The Pack was formed!

In addition to The Pack by LM Preston being an excellent action-filled adventure, there is a very comforting underlying story about friendship, parental guidance—and love. You can’t beat those additional qualities for a YA book! Preston writes/creates “stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.” In my opinion, they are some of the best around to help our children understand and live in today’s world!

G. A. Bixler

The publisher is excited about the contest for The Pack. Here is the contest being offered.

· Free signed book, poster  and magnet

· All of the winners from the Virtual Blog tour will automatically get a free copy of the next book released by Phenomenal One Press, BANDITS that comes out Spring of next year.

All you need to do to enter is to follow the lmpreston blog listed below and a fan at Facebook!

LM. Preston
YA Science Fiction AUTHOR
WEBSITE: http://www.lmpreston.com/
BLOG: http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000094441527&ref=mf

Upcoming Releases
EXPLORER X - Alpha (Feb. 2010)
THE Pack (Fall 2010)
Writing stories for and about kids that overcome the impossible...