Intangible - J. Meyers (Review & Giveaway)

What a way to start out my "YA in April" month -

with a bang!

 

5 STARS!!!!!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right.

And he can’t do anything about it.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

J. Meyers grew up in Vermont and now lives in Central New York. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s chasing her four kids around, exploring the outdoors with them, relishing the few quiet moments she gets with her husband, baking sweet treats, and forgetting to make dinner. Though she cannot actually see the future nor heal with a touch of her hand, she likes to think her children believe she can. Intangible is her first novel.

MY REVIEW -

This book was so much better than I thought it was going to be, and I thought it was going to be pretty good! 

I loved this book. It just flowed effortlessly. I know this is the Author's first novel but it reads like she has been doing this all her life.  I know I say that I "like" paranormal books, but honestly I never really loved them. And I was never really into vampires. Lately it seems like I keep falling in love with the main Vamp. character in the books I read. I started out wanting to give this book a 4 star rating but the more I read the more I loved it and the more I loved the characters.

This story mainly centers around the two twins - Luke and Sera. Luke is the "Seer", he has visions and can see the future (which always comes true). Sera is the "Healer" she can heal with only a laying on of hands (emotional and physical healing). I loved both of these kids, but especially Sera! What a wonderful teen she was. A strong girl with a good head on her shoulders. I love the relationship between the two, the way they would banter back and forth, and joke around even in the face of danger, just like teenagers.

There were a few secondary characters -

Jonas - LOOOVED him! Vampire, strong, good looking. I loved him right from the start, even when he seemed real shady.

Marc - Could hear people's thoughts and conversations from far away. He was just OK for me. I could never make up my mind about him. Maybe my views on him were wishy washy because his character was wishy washy in the story.

Fey (Feyth) - Sera's BFF. I loved her too! She was their "protector", beautiful, another strong female.

"The Shadows" - Nasty dark tormenting creatures. I wouldn't want to meet up with them!

Lilith - Queen of the Vampires, She is the Ultimate Bad Guy! She reminded me of Regina (the evil Queen) on "Once Upon a Time" only a hundred times more evil!

One of the things I loved about this book is that it was not always clear who were the "good guys" and who were the "bad guys". Just when you thought someone was bad, they turn out good, and just when you were so sure they were good - they were actually bad, or were they??? 

Most books have a twist or two in them. Usually in the middle or at the end there are a few twists and turns to keep you guessing. This book had twists in every chapter! It also seemed like every chapter ended with a cliff hanger, making you want to read more. I had a real hard time putting this book down. You defiantly do not know how this is going to end up. This is not a predictable story at all. This is a book where nothing is as it seems.

Even though this story was Paranormal and of course - unreal. It seemed very real to me. I think it was because of the excellent character development and the setting of the scenes. Everyone had such real personality, it was very believable!

This book was very clean with no swearing and no Sex (there is some minor graphic fight scenes, but I wouldn't say it was bad). So good for every age Teen - Adult to read.

THE INTERVIEW -

 1. What made you want to write a book - why YA, and why Paranormal?

I was inspired to write a book after reading some great YA. I stumbled upon YA books, paranormal to begin with, by accident, and just fell in love. I've read piles of YA over the last three years--some contemporary, some paranormal--and what I love about them is how creative they are, how they grab your attention and don't let go, how the story moves along at a good clip. It's some of the best writing out there now, and I actually find it much more enjoyable to read than adult literature.
    
And I chose to write paranormal because it's fun. I love living (in my mind) in a world where magic is possible and mythological or folklore creatures can be real. It can be our world, but so different from our world because the possibilities are truly endless.

2. Your book is self published, why did you decide to go this route? And are you glad you did?
    
I had planned to go traditional, but with the huge changes in publishing happening thanks to the digital revolution, I changed my mind and chose to go indie. It was a choice--I was never turned down by any agent or publisher. It was my first choice to self publish. At this point in the publishing industry, it simply makes better business sense to me. I have control over my career this way. I make the decisions--and that was something I was really worried about if I went with a publisher. (I've been traditionally published--I co-authored two parenting books. So I know the drawbacks, and I've dealt with many frustrations.)
    
And I can replicate the entire process my book would have gone through with a publisher. I can hire an editor, copyeditor, and proofreader just like the big boys do. I know all the steps, having freelanced in publishing for many years. So I've been very happy to do it myself. I also end up making more money per every book sold, so it's possible I'll be able to make a living at this in time. If I went traditional, unless my book became a huge hit, I'd never make a living at it. Most writers don't make enough to live on--I don't think a lot of people realize that. Only the big successful authors are the ones making a living at it. (And if you think about how many books come out each year, there aren't that many that are big successes.)

3. What are some of your favorite books and Authors?

This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor
Chime by Frannie Billingsley
The Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner
The Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas

4. In the book you mentioned - "Steamed maple milk, a Vermont thing" is this a real thing? It sounds good!

Yes! It's really on the menu at Muddy Waters, a real coffee house in Burlington. I'm sure it's delicious, but I've never had one.

5. My husband and I own a cabin in the Adirondacks - One day we drove over to Vermont for the day (went to Ben & Jerry's, drove around, etc.) we loved it and are now planning a longer trip.
Being from Vermont yourself - Where are some places you would tell visitors to go and what would you tell them they should definitely do while there?

I suppose it depends on the time of year. For summer and fall, I'd definitely hike up Mt. Mansfield, if you're able. It's a gorgeous hike, and an amazing view of Vermont from up there. Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury is a MUST. :-) And definitely go down to the lake or find some high ground to look out over the lake toward New York. It's such a gorgeous area.
    
Burlington is a great city to visit, with the Flynn theatre where you can see concerts and traveling shows, lots of great restaurants, shops, etc. Drive up through Smuggler's Notch to Stowe. The drive up there is amazing, on a twisty road going up, up, up. And there's this place where you can pull off to park and climb up through huge rocks and tree roots. (Way too much fun for big and little. And honestly the place feels almost magical to me. We took the kids there last summer and all I could think about the whole time we were exploring it was that it would make a great setting for a book. Maybe about faeries...)
    
And Stowe is beautiful. Oh, the whole state is really an incredible place. Go there and just drive around. You're sure to be wowed with the beauty of Vermont. I love it. I know it's hard to tell, but I do. ;-)

I actually had the chance to meet Jen (J. Meyers). We realized that we don't live to far from each other! So we met at a local coffee shop and chatted for over an hour. She really seems like a wonderful person. We had a lot in common. I told my daughter I could have just hung out all day with her. She brought her 4 children along and they were very charming! I would love to get together with them again sometime, maybe a picnic in the summer.

Thanks you so much Jen, for giving me a copy of your wonderful book and meeting with me. Both were great!

 Jen is working on a second book which I can't wait to read.

THE GIVEAWAY -

I am giving away a signed copy of "Intangible" with a signed bookmark and a temporary tattoo!

I have a few extra bookmarks and tattoos for some winners who don't win the book.

* To win a copy of this book, please fill out the form below.

(If you would like to be entered to win a bookmark and tattoo - please say so on the form)

* Please US & Canada only.

And please only enter once!

* Winner will be chosen on 4/16/12

* Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond.

 
Buy it from B&N - HERE
Or from Amazon - HERE