GIVEAWAY and a Review on Outcast by Jill Williamson...

About the Book:
Author: Jill Williamson

Series: The Safe Lands
Book Two: Outcast
Pages:416 pages
Publisher: Zondervan

Genre: Dystopian/ YA/ Christian

Age Range: Mature 14+

Uncovering the truth could cost them their lives...

Since entering the Safe Lands, Mason has focused on two things: finding a way to free his village from captivity, and finding a cure for the disease that ravages many within the walls of the Safe Lands. After immune-suppressive drugs go missing in the clinic, Mason discovers his coworker, Ciddah, may know more about the Safe Lands than imagined ... and may have an agenda of her own. At the same time, Mason's brother Levi is focused on a way to free the remaining Glenrock captives, while Mason's younger brother Omar decides to take the rebellion against the Safe Lands into his own hands as a vigilante.
Soon all three brothers are being watched closely---and when Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, his investigation just might get those closest to him liberated.

About the Author
Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including By Darkness Hid, Replication, The New Recruit, and Captives. She's a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. She loves teaching about writing. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two children, and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online at jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.
My Review...
Ever since I read Replication, I have been a fan of Jill Williamson’s tales. She has the ability of writing a great cast of characters set in a unique, yet fun world. What I love about her most is her ability to write “real” life like characters. Her characters are never one dimensional, their layered and I love getting to know them.

Outcast is book two of her new series, The Safe Lands. It starts off where book one ended, so I highly recommend reading it in order. If you don’t, you’ll be lost.

I liked book two more than book one, but I’m still not a huge fan of her Safe Land series. I don’t mean this in a negative way. There is a lot I appreciate in her dystopian tale; such as her characters Shaylinn and Omar and her fresh story theme on this genre. I just don’t care for this genre and I know that’s why I’m slightly disappointed with it compared to her other tales.

The Safe Lands series hold a lot of issues that our youth struggles with in today’s society on morals. Though Jill Williamson does a magnificent job on writing about these mature and ugly topics, I would still recommend this series for mature 14+ readers ONLY. With that said it’s a great tale that makes you think hard on what you would do in a world that claims to give you anything, yet holds no hope or recognition of God. I recommend giving this dystopian series a try, yet a forewarning on the mature content.

(I received an ARC of Outcasts from the publisher and the author; however, it does not influence my review. The opinions in my review are entirely my own.)

My review on Book One Captives

To purchase Outcasts please go to... Amazon Paperback or Amazon Kindle

To find out more about the author Jill Williamson please go to jillwilliamson.com 

I'm doing a GIVEAWAY for one lucky person. To join in the giveaway please follow the Rafflecopter below.


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December Sidekick: Characters in Costume Challenge...

I joined the fun December Characters in Costume Challenge, that the talented Gillian Adams has lovingly created. 

This month we're focusing on our wonderful sidekick characters. They really don't get enough credit!


Challenge Guidelines: It's quite simple, really.

Pick one of your obstacle characters. Or, if you're not a writer, or not currently writing a story, feel free to choose an obstacle character from one of your favorite books.

Find a costume that fits your character and take a picture of yourself in said costume (and in character - i.e. if your character is prone to scowling, don't smile in the picture.)

Post the picture on your blog or somewhere online where the other Challenge members can see it. 

Feel free to write a little bit about your character too, or if it's a character from someone else's book, tell us why you chose that character!

 

Pretty cool huh?

 

Todays character is Katriel from my series The Chronicles of the Key Holders.

(Yes, that's me in the picture... hehe. And no it's not my best Photoshop job, but it was fun.)

 Katriel, like her mother is a healer, which is rare in her broken land. She along with her family fight in Prince Kaiden's army in hopes of saving their world from darkness. Being a healer isn't easy, for you are always hunted by the enemy for your gift. Always by her side is her beloved red fox, together they search for injured knights.

I know this is really short and doesn't really show her sidekickness ;-)... I'm sorry for that, I didn't have a lot of time today, but I love doing these. They're so much fun!

Please be sure to check out the other participants in this fun challenge. Thank you Gillian for letting me join in again on the fun and for putting it together. I hope to join in on your next character challenge. I'll be sure to give more teasers on my series The Chronicles of the Key Holders.

For those of you that are interested in finding out more about my series please "Like" my facebook page.

 

Don't Become "Such" A Person...

But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an... inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

[They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. ~2 Timothy 3:1-5

LET US NOT BECOME such a person! Do not let your heart turn ugly from this mad crazy world. Stand bold in the Light and hold onto the truth! There is indeed still beauty around us EVERY day. Turn off the media and step out. Love one another and care for those around you. Every person that is in your life, is in your life for a reason. Don't pass up any opportunity to share the ultimate gift. Don't forget what you were created for! You have a great purpose... if you choose it

Team Novel Teen: Anomaly by Krista McGee...

About the book
Age Range: 14+
Genre: dystopian
Part of a Series: book one in the Anomaly series
Author: Krista McGee
Pages: 303
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli’s birth, the world was decimated by a nuclear war. But life continued deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. There they created genetically engineered human beings who are free of emotions in the hope that war won’t threaten the world again.

Thalli is an anomaly, born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far by hiding her differences. But then her secret is discovered when she’s overwhelmed by the emotion of an ancient piece of music.

The Ten quickly schedule her annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk—a scientist being groomed by The Ten—convinces them to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the Scientists’ Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance.

As her life ticks a way, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer—someone even more powerful than The Ten. What’s more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she’s been looking for all along.
Thalli must sort out what to believe and who to trust, before her time runs out.

My Review

All in all I really liked Anomaly. I loved the characters, especially Thalli, Berk, and John. I loved the story theme of love and "true" love, and I really loved the Christian touch throughout the book.

I am not usually a fan of dystopian, in fact I kind of hate it. Anomaly was for sure dystopian, but full of a lot of hope and beauty. Fans of dystopian will be sure to enjoy it also, but those who don't normally enjoy this genre might be surprised by it... I sure was.

This book is very Christian, the story theme is based on it so I highly doubt non Christians will enjoy it and those who don't liked to be "preached" to might not either. Personally I was really touched by the Christian message within it.

Anomaly was a beautiful read, with a lovely message. I highly recommend it and I greatly look forward to book two, Luminary, which comes out  January 7, 2014.


To purchase Anomaly go to... Amazon Paperback  or Amazon Kindle

To find our more about the author Krista McGee: http://www.kristamcgeebooks.com/

Become a fan on her Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/krista.a.mcgee

Be sure to see what others are saying about Anomaly...
Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Anomaly by Krista McGee by clicking on the links below

ADD Librarian • http://addlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Audacious Reader • http://audaciousreader.wordpress.com/
Blooming with Books • http://www.bloomingwithbooks.webs.com/
Bookworm Reading • http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/
Christian Book Review Blog • http://christianbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
CTF Devourer • http://www.ctfdevourer.com/
Jill Williamson • http://www.jillwilliamson.com/jill-williamsons-blog/
Katie Clark Writes • http://www.katieclarkwrites.com/apps/blog/
Katie McCurdy • http://katie-mccurdy.blogspot.com/
The Life of a Teenage Writer • http://katelynthekreative.blogspot.com
The Ramblings of a Young Author • http://www.ramblingsbybethany.blogspot.com
Realm of Hearts • http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/
Shadow Writer World • http://shadowwriterworld.blogspot.com/
Worthy2Read • http://worthy2read.wordpress.com/
Writing in Summertime • http://writinginsummertime.blogspot.co.uk/
 
In conjunction with the Team Novel Teen Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Jill Williamson and Thomas Nelson!

September Obstacle: Characters in Costume Challenge...

I joined the fun September Characters in Costume Challenge, that the talented Gillian Adams has lovingly put together. 

This month we're focusing on our obstacle characters.

What is an obstacle character? 

Good question because I didn't know until I joined this challenge.

An obstacle character is any character who stands in the way of the protagonist as he/she moves toward his/her goal. Obstacle characters are generally not the main antagonist, but could be anyone from a villain's minion to a random stranger in the street to the protagonist's best friend. Regardless of who the obstacle character is, his/her beliefs or own desires or goals set him/her in the protagonist's way.

Challenge Guidelines: It's quite simple, really.

Pick one of your obstacle characters. Or, if you're not a writer, or not currently writing a story, feel free to choose an obstacle character from one of your favorite books.

Find a costume that fits your character and take a picture of yourself in said costume (and in character - i.e. if your character is prone to scowling, don't smile in the picture.)

Post the picture on your blog or somewhere online where the other Challenge members can see it. 

Feel free to write a little bit about your character too, or if it's a character from someone else's book, tell us why you chose that character!

 

Pretty cool huh?

Todays character is Gretella from my book The Realm of Hearts, book one of my series The Chronicles of the Key Holders.

(Yes that's me in the picture... hehe. And no it's not my best Photoshop job, but it was fun. I also don't have lovely red hair, but Gretella does.)

Gretella is not only an obstacle character for my protagonist (main character) in book one of my series The Chronicles of the Key Holders, but she is also in book two. I wouldn't exactly call her a villain, but she isn't exactly good either. She's a "I don't know what I'm going to do next" kind of character.

Gretella's best friend is a sea dragon named Ormanda, who only obeys her commands and runs off of her masters emotions.

She is deadly in the art of sai, the weapon choice of her country.

Following in her twin brothers footsteps in hopes of not losing him, she pushes aside her own hearts desires in order to stay close to the last person in her family, even if that means hurting friends. Gretella struggles to do what is right, but doesn't always see what "right" should be. 

Gretella is in all three books of The Chronicles of the Key Holders. She is most definitely an obstacle character because she likes to throw a wrench into things and I like her for that.


 I don't want to give too much away so I'll stop there. Be sure to check out the other participants in this fun challenge. Thank you Gillian for letting me join in again on the fun and for putting it together. I hope to join in on your next character challenge. I'll be sure to give more teasers on TROH.

For those of you  that are interested in finding our more about TROH please "Like" my facebook page.