The Keeper's Calling by Kelly Nelson

The Keeper's Calling

Author: Kelly Nelson

Publisher: Walnut Springs

Published: February 2012

ISBN13: 978-1-59992-844-9

Paperback - 312 pages

FTC FYI: I was gifted an audio copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Chase Harper's to-do list for senior year never included "fall in love" and "fight for your life," but things rarely go as planned. Tarnished gold and resembling a pocket watch, the counter he finds in a cave during the summer of 2011 will forever change the course of his life, leading him to the beautiful Ellie Williams and unlocking a power beyond his wildest imagination. In 1863, Ellie Williams completes school in Boston and returns to the Utah Territory only to discover that her grandfather and his counter, a treasured family heirloom, are missing. When Ellie is abducted and told she must produce the counter or die, an unexpected rescuer comes to her aid.

My Review

This book has been on my to-read list for a while, so when I was approached by the author to review an audio copy, I was thrilled.  This is the first book I have listened to, and I really enjoyed the change.  I listed while I drove around town running errands, and I was taken on an enjoyable ride.

I have a soft spot for books that have Utah settings. The Keeper's Calling starts off in Zions.  Chase goes out on his bike, and finds an old relic similar to a pocket watch in a cave.  What happens next is an exciting ride that leads him to Ellie.  Together they start a journey that doesn't end where they started.  The author does a great job of writing a teenage boy.  Chase is immediately likable and I found myself cheering for him.  Ellie is also a doll, and is fun to watch as she tries to adjust to a different life.  This book is very fun and I enjoyed Chase's journey as he figures out how to adjust his life to be a keeper.  I was happy with the result of him not staying in the Old West in the beginning and how Chase and Ellie had to adjust to their new circumstances.  I also loved what a caring, thoughtful guy Chase was.  I also enjoyed how their relationship wasn't instant, it developed in a more realistic way.  I thought the jumps into different time periods were very exciting too!  

4 out of 5 stars.  I am excited to read the rest of the books in the series.  Book 4, The Keeper's Council, was just released in January!

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Eruption by Adrienne Quintana -- Blog Tour

Eruption

Author: Adrienne Quintana

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: January 13th, 2015

ISBN13: 9781462115365

Paperback: 288 pages

FTC FYI: Received a PDF from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Jace Vega has finally landed her dream job—working for Omnibus, an up-and-coming tech firm. But a mysterious message from her future self sets Jace and her old friend Corey racing to piece together clues before Omnibus destroys their future—and their past. This fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing till the very last page.

My Review

Excuse me while I catch my breath...  Great story with excitement around every page.  In the beginning, I was screaming at Jace, she frustrated me at first, but what an awesome character she turned out to be.  I realized that I would probably be just like her, not knowing who to trust and being too trusting, all at the same time.   I think that that is what made her most relatable.  So many choices and decisions for her and so many things she had to face, all while trying to chose between Corey and Damien and the turns her life could take her with any choice.  The storyline with the tablet was so cool, all that was found in it and all the secrets that were hidden.  All of Jace's quirks and breathing techniques were for a good reason, which is slowly revealed through the book.  The last fourth of the book is, WOW, make sure you aren't needed for awhile, because you will want to find out what happens.  Great ending, too!

4 out of 5 stars.  I can't wait for more from this author.

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

About the Author

Adrienne Quintana is the second of nine children born to professional oil artist, John Horejs, and his wife and business partner, Elaine. She spent her early years playing on the banks of the Snake River in southern Idaho while her father built a geodesic dome house. When the family wasn’t traveling around the country to art shows, Adrienne spent many happy hours reading in her unfinished, tent-like bedroom. Love of reading soon blossomed into a desire to write. If the family’s antiquated computer could be resurrected, a collection of short stories involving local characters and their epic battles with fire-breathing dragons would be sure to entertain.

After completing high school via correspondence, Adrienne studied Music Education at Mesa Community College. She took an 18 month break to serve a church mission in Montreal, Canada, where she gained invaluable life experiences and a few pounds from the local delicacies. After the completion of her mission and a month abroad in Europe, Adrienne moved to Utah with the intention of continuing her education at Brigham Young University, but these plans were short-lived when she met her husband-to-be while working at an investment company. Soon after their marriage, the Quintanas packed up and moved to Minnesota, where Adrienne worked while her husband earned a Law degree.

After four children and a move to Arizona, Adrienne completed her Bachelors of Science and Communication at the University of Phoenix. In the throes of housekeeping, potty-training, and carpooling, Adrienne discovered that she could find time to accomplish her goals—often in the quiet hours after the children were in bed. Since her graduation in 2012, those quiet moments have been used to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a writer.

Cragbridge Hall: The Avatar Battle by Chad Morris -- Blog Tour

Cragbridge Hall: The Avatar Battle

Author: Chad Morris

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 4th, 2014

ISBN13: 9781609078096

Hardcover: 352 pages

FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Goodreads Summary 

The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. But when Grandpa Cragbridge admits them to the Council of Keys--a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time--strange things begin to happen. One by one, members are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby and Derick must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past forever.

A page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing history.

Author Video by Chad Morris.

My Review

The Avatar Battle is another reason why I love, love, love Middle Grade books.  Chad Morris has got himself a hit with this series.  The Avatar Battle is even better than The Inventor's Secret.  The action hits you right at first, and develops a great mystery that had me guessing until the end, which I love!  There are very fun twists and turns that I wasn't expecting that kept me turning pages fast!  

One of the things I liked the most was the conflict Abby was having with herself.  She doubts how great she is because of her grades.  I can relate to that in my own family with one of my daughters.  After some challenges and set backs, Abby starts to realize that she is needed and important.  Derick also tested with challenges to overcome.  He wants to join a club at school and feels he will never be good enough either.  The twins probably don't even realize they have this in common.  Abby also asks her grandfather an important question as to what is happening on the Bridge and adds to this exciting adventure as Abby, Derick, Carol and others race to figure out the threat to Cragbridge Hall.

5 out of 5 stars.  If you are new to this series, definitely start with the first book, The Inventor's Secret.  

Author Links

Twitter / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

Echo in Time by C. J. Hill

Echo in Time (Erasing Time #2)

Author: C. J. Hill

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Published: December 23rd, 2013

ISBN13: 9780062123961

Paperback: 400 pages

FTC FYI: I received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Echo in Time delivers on "the possibility of an equally thrilling sequel" (Kirkus Reviews) to Erasing Time.

After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.

My Review

Echo in Time is another example of Janette's excellent writing.  This book is as good, if not better, than the first.  If you have not read Erasing Time, I would suggest you do that before you read Echo in Time.  There are too many spoilers in this book, but I can tell you, it starts off strong and does not let go.  I thought what came about was so clever and it brought excitement with lots of twists I wasn't expecting and they added a ton to the story.  I loved Sheridan and Taylor.  A turn of events finds Sheridan in danger and Taylor will stop at nothing to help her.   But, it also puts everyone is danger too, for other reasons.

About C.J. Hill: CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother's pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children's books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

Most writers' first novels aren't publishable. CJ Junior's first novel wasn't, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.

CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

Author Links

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Janette is graciously offering a hardcover copy of Erasing Time, the first book in this series.  Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you are entered.  US ONLY. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway