Evergreen by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing Date: June 29th, 2012 Series: Mer Tales #2 Add it to Goodreads Summary: A kingdom on the brink of war. A king on the fringes of insanity. A family running for their lives.
Ash and Fin’s only desire is to be together and dive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work to pull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other’s life: become a human or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holds the fine fabric of everyone’s lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ash and Fin will no longer have the luxury of waiting. They’ll be forced to choose. But will it be for loyalty or love? Or will someone else make the choice for them if they can’t decide? Brenda is also hosting a contest right now on her blog. It's a a 'Name Tatchi's Novella Contest' where the winner will get a $50 Giftcard. Everyone can enter and you can get details by going to Brenda's blog.
Everblue by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (July 29th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Source: Author (Thank You!) Series: Mer Tales #1 Rating: 4 of 5 stars Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever. Review: Something wonderful I have learned about Brenda Pandos and her writing is that she knows exactly how to create a world. It doesn't matter if it is a world full of mermaids or vampires; it's just as spellbinding.
This is one of my first mermaid books and I have to say that I was completely mesmerized at how Brenda told this story. Everblue alternates from Ashlyn to Fin throughout the story and they have very different lives. Ashlyn is a student, dealing with boy issues, swim practice, and a pretty typical family life. Fin, on the other hand, has a life far from typical. He lives in the mer world and it is not as magical as people may think. Rules and politics get in the way of any sort of normal life for Fin and his family. He is forced to live within the world and watch his sister Tatiana deal with the same uncontrollable fate.
During the first part of Everblue we get a chance to get to know each character. I enjoyed each point of view and it was nice to see how the characters acted independently. But I gotta say that the middle and end of the book was really what hooked me. We are able to see more of a mingling between the characters and I feel this is where they both shined. We see the passion and determination come out. Ashlyn doesn't back down and Fin just glowed with strength and courage.
As much as we get to know the characters, we are able to truly visualize their contrasting worlds. Ashlyn sees the clear blue water while Fin lives deep below it. Everblue really allows the reader to open their imagination and accept a place full of beauty and charm. But even a place that beautiful hides some dark secrets and Fin and Tatiana must find ways to protect each other. The last thing Fin wants is to bring Ashlyn into the mix too.
Everblue continues on with the fabulous, descriptive writing style readers have come to enjoy through Brenda's Talisman series. Readers will easily dive into this story!
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I'm so thrilled to be part of Brenda's tour for Everblue and she has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy for one lucky reader! You can USE GOOGLE to add to the book to goodreads. My review of Everblue will be posted shortly but if you enjoy a fascinating tale about mermaid life, it's a must read! Click the banner to follow the tour!
Everblue by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (July 29th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Series: Mer Tales #1 Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.
GiveawayPrize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Everblue by Brenda Pandos.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends September 9th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
