The Best Reader:
michelle zink

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (March 20th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 448 pages
Source: Author/Publisher
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance…

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Review:

She has no idea what's going on and Darius, the older of the brothers doesn't seem too pleased with her arrival. Soon she gets a much better understanding of who she is, what her parents were trying to protect, and what she will have to do in order to stay safe.

Helen was a pretty strong character. I was amazed at her ability to remain calm under stressful situations. This is a historical novel so she seemed very composed and poised most of the time. Then there were times where her emotions showed — like when she was with Griffin, or when she would become stubborn when listening to Darius and his demands. While she does make a few silly, and dangerous, decisions, she was enjoyable to get to know.

Darius is hot-headed, bossy, and difficult. He knew how to push Helen's buttons but in a way, that helped her become so much stronger. Griffin was the sweet, gentle brother. There was immediate chemistry between Helen and Griffin and I enjoyed watching their relationship form. Then there is another young man from Helen's past that truly makes her question what is right and wrong. I won't spoil it, but I liked this character and I felt he really brought a lot to the story. In a lot of ways he helped me to better understand Helen as well. I am curious to see where this"triangle" goes.

The plot and world-building of this story is very complex. Most of this book did seem to be focused on setting up the world these characters live in. We get to know the paranormal creatures, history, and powers involved. For this reason, the beginning was a bit slow for me. There is a large chunk of it dedicated to explaining the history and current situation Helen is faced with, which was needed, but got a little tiring. But, by the middle I was hooked on this story and excited to see what would happen.

A Temptation of Angels was a great beginning to this paranormal story involving fantastic world-building, a steamy romance, and a heroine seeking justice for her family.

Recommended: Paranormal/historical fans looking for a new series with a complex format and great characters.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers (August 1st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 352 pages Rating: 3 of 5 stars Series: Prophecy of the Sisters book #1 Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.
Review: This is the story of two sisters fighting on the sides of good and evil. They have recently experienced the loss of their father, and since their mother died years before, they are now left alone with their younger brother Harry and their aunt Virginia. Lia is sweet, caring, and curious to discover the mystery surrounding her father's work and his death. Alice is quiet, dangerous, and may know more about the mystery than she lets on.
As Lia searches for answers she discovers that her and her sister Alice may be the keys to a prophecy that says two sisters will be divided by good and evil forces. While one wants to destroy, the other wants to save. It seems from their drastically different personalities, that Lia would be the force of good; however, the prophecy says otherwise. Now Lia must go on a journey to answer these questions and find out how she can deal with the prophecy that seems to have a link to worlds beyond her own.
The way Michelle tells a story is incredible. The language, descriptions, setting, and characters were perfect for the time period. I felt like I was in the story with Lia and I could visualize each and every detail. My problem for me was in the pace of the story. I felt that maybe the beginning was a little slow, and while the middle picked up pace, the ending left me with a few too many questions about Lia, Alice, and their history. I was also frustrated with a few parts of the story but those contain spoilers so I can't really point them out.
Overall, if you enjoy a great historical tale, this one is unique and full of possibilities. The paperback cover is amazingly beautiful and the details on each page inside show just how much detail was placed in this story.

Guardian of the Gate (Book #2)
Released August 1st, 2010

Find out more on Michelle Zink and The Prophecy of the Sisters series
Michelle Zink / Twitter / Goodreads

Buy from:
Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer:

By: Michelle Zink

I’ve always been a believer in the paranormal. Even when I was small, ghosts and spirits seemed perfectly possible. And I’m sure having a New Agey 1970‘s mom didn’t hurt, either.
But I was never one of those people who was comfortable with the idea of communicating with spirits. If they’re out there, I’d think, I hope they leave me alone!
And they did until one night when I was about thirteen.
I was sound asleep when something — I still don’t know what — woke me up. But I didn’t wake up a little at a time. I didn’t wake up gently. Instead, I sat straight up in bed, my heart racing. A glance at my clock told me it was exactly 1:00am and then, my eyes were forced to the foot of my bed where I saw something coming toward me in the dark. A figure, somewhat large, moving swiftly toward my position on the bed.
You’d think I would have jumped out of bed in fear, but I was so terrified that I actually threw myself back against the pillow where I remained stock still in the seconds it took the figure to reach me.
My heart was still slamming against my chest when I felt the pressure at the foot of the bed. It was as if someone were sitting right on top of my legs. Then, I had the very real sense that the figure was male though all I could see was a smudgy, shadow in the outline of a person.
I was scared. More than scared, really. Way more than scared. I felt menace emanating from the figure and felt, without really knowing how or why, that I was in danger. But I couldn’t seem to move. I was frozen, not only by the pressure of the figure on my legs but by the feeling that if I moved, something terrible would happen.
After what seemed like hours, I finally got up the courage to turn my head. I glanced at the alarm clock, the red 1:14am beaming its light into my room.
And that’s the last thing I remember. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the morning. There was no slow drift back to sleep. No gradual reassurance that I was imagining things. Just the very real pressure on my legs, the clock, and a swift, sudden descent back into sleep.
The encounter haunted me for me months, but I told myself it was a one-time thing. As long as I didn’t think about it when I was getting ready for bed, I could still sleep with the light off.
Except it wasn’t a one-time thing. Throughout my teenage years, the figure appeared sporadically in the middle of the night, sometimes standing behind a young woman in white who seemed oblivious to his presence. I never stopped feeling like I was in danger. I felt like he was trying to send me a message. Trying to tell me something. But to this day I don’t know what it could have been.
Once, when I was about fifteen, I went to a psychic with a friend. It was all fun and games until the psychic told me she sensed a dark presence trying to infiltrate the positive energy in my spirit. She asked me if I’d seen anything strange or had the feeling that I was being watched by ghosts or spirits. When I told her about the presence that had been following me since I was thirteen, she asked me if the woman who sometimes accompanied him looked anything like me. I was shocked to realize that she was right.
The girl was, in fact, me.
Which only made it scarier when he continued to show up in my room, his arms wrapped around the girl from behind while she smiled beatifically, totally unaware of the ominous presence behind her.
Sometime during my late adolescence the spirit stopped appearing. I haven’t seen him since I was about seventeen, but I still get goosebumps when I think about it.
And I still try not to think about it before bed, as if thinking of him alone will conjure his presence.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (August 1st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 352 pages Series: Prophecy of the Sisters, book #1
Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (August 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 340 pages Series: Prophecy of the Sisters, book #2 The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a signed copy of BOTH Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate, as well as a CD of the Prophecy and Guardian scored by Kenneth Zink, and Halloween goodies!

• 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 INTERNATIONAL and ends November 7th.
• Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

- Michelle, I can not thank you enough for the book and goody donation and for taking the time to write a story!

Find Michelle Zink Michelle Zink / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Prophecy of the Sisters

Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer:

I also wanted to mention that Michelle and Jessica Verday are doing a Ghosts & Graves tour and it starts today!

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Date: October 24 Time: 2:00-4:00 pm Location: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery 540 North Broadway Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
The Otis Library Date: October 25 Time: 6:30-8:00 pm Location: The Otis Library 261 Main Street Norwich, CT 06360
Easton Public Library Date: October 26 Time: 7:00-8:30 pm Location: Easton Public Library 515 Church Street Easton, PA 18042

Harleysville Books LLC Date: October 27 Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: 674 Main Street
Salford Square
Harleysville, PA 19438
Borders Express
Date: October 28
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Borders Express
298 Exton Square Mall
Exton, PA 19341

Jefferson Market Library
Date: October 29
Time: TBA
Location: Jefferson Market Library
425 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011

* Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.