I had such a great time reading and enjoying The Aquamarine Surfboard by Kellye Abernathy. The description of life by the beach was brought to life by Abernathy's descriptions. There was something homey about it while at the same time feeling other-worldly. 

Condi, the 13 year old girl at the center of the story, was lovely to read about. Her circumstances as well as her determination and eagerness created a well-rounded character that readers of all ages could definitely enjoy and cheer for. Thirteen is such an important age. It is an age where we are not necessarily a child, but also not necessarily a teenager either. I feel that The Aquamarine Surfboard shows the reader the juxtaposition of the in-between time where the magic of childhood hasn't completely diminished as we edge toward the blossoming of getting older. 

There is a whole other level to this story that involves the Beachlings, a group of local women, that certainly gives more weight to this story. It shows us Condi's struggles with how her community is changing and the underlying stories beneath the surface of the town and Condi's life. Due to this level of complexity, I see older middle grade readers as well as young adults (and adults, of course) enjoying this story. 

There are truly layers to this story, and I believe that Abernathy did a wonderful job in relaying this lovely story to readers. From the magic of living near the water, the eagerness of growing up to the complexity of community - it is all engrossing and results into quite the page-turner. This is definitely a book that needs to be on your list!

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Review

Charm Wars by Dan Lutts is a young adult fantasy book about political intrigue and two young protagonists stuck on two very different sides of a coin. Rill and Alyse each have their roles in life: one is a commoner who hopes for more in life and the other is a noble who wants the simple life. 

Charm Wars is.a good start up to what is setting out to be an intriguing fantasy series. I find that first books in series are perceived to be long and heavy on the information. This definitely isn’t wrong, but it is so for a good reason. In order to create a detailed and worthwhile story, it is necessary for the first book to set this up for the reader. This is what Lutts has given us in Charm Wars, a story that is rich with an intricate magic system and two main characters that grow to know and enjoy. 

One thing is for sure, Lutts knows how to write an intriguing book and I for one am looking forward to the next book!

 
 
About the Author
Dan Lutts, the author of Charm Wars, was brought up in Quincy, Massachusetts, and began addictively reading Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman comic books at an early age, much to his mother's distress. In junior high school, he switched to reading science fiction novels. While in high school and college, he wrote science fiction short stories.
 
Dan taught history and archaeology in high school for ten years. After being laid off because of budget cuts, he used his love of writing to retrain and became a software technical editor and writer. He worked for several computer companies, taught technical writing at the college level, and worked as a freelance writer. Now, combining his love of history and writing, he works at a World War II museum doing research and writing.
 
Dan loves to read and has varied tastes, including Young Adult, historical fiction, mysteries, 18th-century sea epics, and history. He especially enjoys Young Adult fiction and decided to try his hand at it. Charm Wars, Dan’s first novel, is the result.
 
Dan lives in rural Maine with his wife, Lisa. When he’s not working or writing, Dan can be found reading, making and shooting medieval arrows with his longbow, or playing with his two dogs and two cats—all rescue animals.
 
Book Links
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/GoodreadsCharmWars
Amazon: https://bit.ly/CharmWarsKindle
https://twitter.com/DanLuttsAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/DanLuttsAuthor
 ​

Excerpt from Charm Wars

Chapter 1
​
Cougar’s Lair
“If a charm seeker did open this tomb, why did she take the charm from that one Old Mage but not his staff? And why did she leave all the other charms and staffs behind? I wonder—” 
“How fortunate for me she did,” a voice said behind them. “And how unfortunate for you.” 
Rill and Jedd whirled around. 

Just inside the entrance stood a skinny, middle-aged man of medium height. His gray tunic and tan pants were dirty and patched and his boots old and scuffed. Oily, unkempt hair framed his pockmarked face. In his right hand, he held a staff. The light from Rill's and Jedd’s torches danced shadows across his face, making his malevolent grin appear even more evil. 

A blacksmith’s vise clamped Rill’s chest making it hard for him to breathe. A rohan! A backwatcher or protector—either a mage or a bladeswoman or bladesman—who had been expelled by a noblesse matriarch for breaking her oath to serve and protect the matriarch’s family. An outcast from society no other noblesse First or Lesser Family would touch. A woman or man who was lower even than the criminals, dagger women, and prostitutes living in Caldon’s most dangerous neighborhood, The Slums. 

Rill’s gaze fastened on the rohan’s left hand that clutched something beneath his grimy tunic. 

A charm. 

“Actus,” the rohan mage said, his sinister smile showing he’d deliberately spoken the word loud enough for Rill and Jedd to hear. 

Rill eyed the staff, his stomach paining him. The rohan had activated his charm. All he had to do now was point the staff at a target and cast a spell. Rill’s gaze slid to Jedd, who appeared as rigid as a marble statue. 

With exaggerated slowness, the rohan aimed the staff at the gap between Rill and Jedd, then deliberately moved it from one to the other. His lips drew up into a cruel smile, making Rill feel like a mouse being toyed with by a cat. 

Rill choked on a lump of regret. Why didn’t I listen to Jedd and leave the coffins alone? We could of been partway home by now. I could of been a mage. But now I never will be.

Slowly and deliberately, the rohan inhaled a mouthful of air and said, “Luco!” 

Rill’s frightened breath blended with Jedd’s when the crystal burst into life, and white mage light flooded the tomb. 

The rohan laughed as if he’d just watched a first-rate comedy routine as he stepped several paces forward. “Scared of a little light, boys?” 

Rill’s gaze jumped to Jedd. His cousin was glowering at the man, his hands balled into fists. 
The rohan smirked at Jedd. 

Slowly, keeping his eyes on the rohan, Rill moved his hand toward his sword’s brown leather grip. 

The rohan must have had invisible eyes in the side of his head. With a chuckle, he casually pointed the staff at Rill. “Foolish boy. I can kill you before your sword’s half out of its scabbard.” 
Rill let his hand drop to his side. 

“Tsk-tsk,” the rohan said, drawing closer. “Naughty boys charm seeking. That’s a death offense. Unless you’re mages, of course. Are you mages, naughty boys?” 

“You know we ain’t,” Rill said through clenched teeth. 

The rohan stepped forward a few more paces until only a staff’s length separated them. “When I came across your well-fed and groomed horses a while ago, I thought that maybe their owners came from good families. Families with money. So I went looking for you. My goodness, you weren’t hard to find. Not with all that racket you made in here with the cougar. Boys with horses and swords. And purses hanging from their belts.” His gaze riveted itself to Rill. “And with such interesting things inside.” 

Rill’s heart froze into a lump of ice as he forced himself to return the rohan’s stare. He saw me take the charm.

The rohan flashed them both an evil smile. “So I said to myself, ‘Self, I bet those naughty little boys are carrying some nice shiny gildas in their purses. Or maybe even a goldie.’ You got any?” 
“Why don’t you come closer and find out?” Rill said. He’d tried to sound cocky, but his voice broke halfway through the question. 

The rohan grinned, obviously enjoying himself. He pointed the staff at Rill. “Naughty boy. I hope you don’t melt.” 

Terror ripped through Rill like a barbed arrowhead. 
​
He had only moments to live. 

​It Happened on Thunder Road
By Susan Antony
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
 
Brief description
 
When Emmy Russo returns to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina after summer break, she discovers some changes. First: Mom has a boyfriend. Second: the cute new student, Charlie Fields, is a Rockabilly greaser with a gang who obeys his every command. Third: attractive Keir Harper wants to be more than just her best friend. And fourth: a perplexed Emmy soon finds herself drawn to two extremely different boys. How do you choose between sweet and smoldering? Then tragedy strikes on desolate Thunder Road. Strange things start happening, with Emmy in the middle of it all. Intent on finding the truth, she must fight for her heart, her life, maybe even her soul. Because someone wants to possess all of Emmy. And they will be together, no matter what the cost. For eternity.

​About the Author
 
Susan Antony is an aspiring Renaissance woman who never shies from a challenge. Not only does she have a degree in the Liberal Arts, she has a degree in Automotive Technology. She currently works in the IT department at a local Charleston hospital. Susan lives with her teenaged son and two behaviorally-challenged Cairn Terriers. To maintain her sanity, she cherishes her Friday evenings dancing the night away!
 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SusanAntonyCS
Twitter :https://twitter.com/SusanAntonyCS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Happened-Thunder-Road-Susan-Antony/dp/1509235329
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57309229-it-happened-on-thunder-road
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-happened-on-thunder-road-susan-antony/1139026607
 
 
Excerpt
We faced each other for a beat or two. Then he placed his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his, positioning his body a respectable distance away. We danced, slow and reserved at first, but as the singer’s wails intensified, so did Charlie’s moves. His hips swayed from side to side, and he inched closer to me, smidgen by smidgen, until his pelvis ground against my hipbones.
Our bodies melded, moving together in perfect synchronicity. Side to side. Back and forth. He moved his hand to my lower back and pulled me closer. I took in a quick, sharp breath. He
“You know, baby,” he murmured, “You and me have more than chemistry. We have fire. Not the easy kind of fire you can make from a box of matches, but the kind of fire you get when you rub two sticks together. I’m all yours if you want me.”
The world around me blurred as if I were watching it through thick lenses. I imagined Charlie’s lips against mine. I imagined him shirtless, propped above me, his triceps bulging as he slowly lowered his chest—mine rising toward his, beckoning him closer. He groaned a low animal-like sound. It drew me to him.
And I wanted him bad.
I wanted our bodies to burn in Hell together for all eternity.
What was happening? Had I lost my mind? I wasn’t ready. Was I?
No.
Spasms of panic surged from my loins to the deepest recesses in my brain. In a sharp snap, the imaginary lenses cracked, and through the broken glass was a clear image of a boy with kind eyes and a halo of yellow hair.
Keir was my angel, and I was dancing with the devil. A devil who would betray his brother. A devil who would convince me to betray him as well.
I shuddered and pressed my free hand, fiercely against his shoulder. He clutched me tighter.
“Charlie, please. We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
I took in a long, ragged breath. “Because I don’t want to hurt Keir. He likes me.”
He forced a laugh and loosened his grip. My hand  slipped from his, and he leaned toward me. His chin brushed against my cheek, and flesh bumps shimmied down my spine.
“That was the right answer, New Jersey,” he whispered in a throaty voice. “Welcome to the gang.”

I don't know where to start with how much I loved Pudge and Prejudice. Do I start with the obvious - which is the cover? Look at that cover! It's beautiful and eye catching. In a world where so many books are judged by their covers, this one definitely grabbed the interest of this reader. Then, sticking to the "face surface" stuff, we have the obvious fact that A.K. Pittman's beauty is based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I don't know about other readers, but I love most renditions of Austen's piece. I mean, hello Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, and Elliot Cowan (if you know, you know). 

Okay, now that we have that said (because it needed  to be said), let me tell you about what I loved especially about P&P. Elyse Nebbit is an overall likeable character - and it meant so much to me to have a character who is chubby in a starring role. We've been seeing them more and more, which is FANTASTIC, but it never fails to make me that more happy to see a character in a book who is not only a good character, but who is treated like a person with feelings and not a supporting character meant to shine more light on the slimmer and more lovable main character. Billy was also a great character to become immersed in, as unattainable as he seems to be. What was most important about these two is that, even with misconceptions and all that, their unfolding story is one that is captivating to witness. 

Also, the setting for this book? Phenomenal! As a fan of 1980s movies and the beloved Brat Pack, I took a special liking to this part of the book. It made me want to watch all those movies again. Pitman did such a great job setting this story in Texas and in the 1980s - it's as far as Austen's backyard as you can get, but the story? Oh the story definitely reaches across that pond. 
​

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