The Starlight Saga - By Sherry Soule

First Book in the 'Starlight Saga'

Hi everyone! This review is for the book 'Lost in Starlight' by Sherry Soule, listed under the genre of Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance. I have to say, this was a very entertaining book, but the story line was also very similar to the series 'Lux' by Jennifer L.Armentrout, if you have read that. Don't get me wrong here though; this similarity could be seen as good or bad! If you liked the series 'Lux', then you will most probably enjoy this book, but if you haven't read 'Lux', this book could very well open up your love for this genre.

The main character, Sloane Masterson (great name) is one fiery, curvy, unique 17 year old girl who reminds me a lot of myself (minus the purple hair) and Nancy Drew. Sloane has a best friend called Violet who pretty much takes charge in many aspects of their relationship. The hero is introduced during the first few pages and helps to immediately begin building the love for Hayden Lancaster (another great name!). However, you also immediately begin to dislike immensely/hate his brother - as you can tell, this book creates intense emotional differences! They have quite a few public arguments that create suspicion and causes Sloane to do a bit of undercover personal checks, blaming it on a report for the school paper. Anyway, I don't want to reveal anymore than is already said, but check the synopsis for more info - it's pretty self-explanatory and predictable!

Books in the Starlight Saga:

1 - Lost in Starlight

2 - Under Sunless Skies

3 - Interstellar Love Story

'Lost in Starlight' Synopsis:

"High school is tough. Romance with a sexy alien—even tougher.Star reporter Sloane Masterson knows she has one helluva story when she witnesses hottie Hayden Lancaster bending forks with his mind.Like any good journalist, Sloane sets out to uncover the truth, even if it includes a little stalking. When the superhuman feats start to pile up and the undeniable heat rises between them, Hayden has no choice but to reveal his secret: he’s an alien hybrid.They’re as different as night and day—she’s a curvy, purple-haired, horror junkie and he’s a smoking hot, antisocial, brainiac—yet the intense fascination between them refuses to go away. Even at Hayden’s insistence that dating each other is “off limits” and dangerous, their fiery attraction threatens to go supernova.Now Sloane’s dealing with creepy government agents, über snobby extraterrestrials, and a psycho alien ex-girlfriend out for revenge. After a crash course on the rules of interstellar dating, Sloane must decide if their star-crossed romance is worth risking her own life...."

Further Links

There you have it folks! If you want to check out more about this book, follow link no. 1 to direct you to Sherry's page about her book and to check out any sneak peeks for any other upcoming novels or series'. Check link no. 2 to read an excerpt from the book; check link no. 3 to read reviews on the book from Goodreads; or check link no. 4 to read more reviews or to buy the book.

1) http://sherrysoule.blogspot.ae/p/starlight-saga.html

2) http://www.wattpad.com/story/14214838-lost-in-starlight-syfy-romance

3) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20707942-lost-to-starlight

4) http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Starlight-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B00L89JAB2

Ten Random Facts About The Starlight Saga

Amazon bestselling author, Sherry Soule wants to chat about her paranormal romance with a Sci-Fi concept novel, 'Lost in Starlight'.

To help promote this interstellar love story, Sherry is doing this guest post to share the news with fellow book-lovers.

1.) I believe in the paranormal genre that aliens and science fiction type stories are going to be the next big thing. Add a little romance…even better. Vampires had their time, werewolves are overworked, and even though zombies are still going strong, I think extraterrestrials need some love now, too.

2.) My newest novel, 'Lost in Starlight', is considered “soft” science fiction romance, and the story-line revolves more around the two main characters trying to overcome major obstacles to be together. It’s like an intergalactic version of Romeo and Juliet, with scorching-hot character chemistry right from the beginning. Hayden and Sloane share a strong attraction and mutual interest in one another and become best friends, which make the best kind of love stories in my humble opinion.

3.) From the very first draft, I wanted to add something a little unique and special to Sloane’s quirky character. Thus, 'Fright Night Babble', her online newspaper column was born. I think the short, humorous posts every few chapters adds a fun element to the narrative. My last few books were so angst-ridden and dark that I wanted to write something lighter, but still thrilling and romantic.

4.) The island that the characters live on is actually a real place within the San Francisco Bay Area. Although the name Winter Haven is fictional, the actual island is named Alameda, and it’s a lovely city to visit. I would love to live there! It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to west of Oakland and within the East Bay.

5.) 'Lost in Starlight' is the fastest book that I’ve ever written! It took me only about four months to write and do revisions. I had the idea in the back of my mind for about a year now, but it wasn’t until a short-lived TV show called “Star-Crossed” convinced me that alien love stories were super hot right now. And I was extremely lucky and blessed to have worked with some very talented writers (my CP's) that really helped me to shape the book into the thrilling story-line it is now.

6.) The Starlight Saga will be a trilogy; unless of course, it goes viral and readers clamor for more Sloane and Hayden adventures. Then I’ll happily keep writing more novels featuring this quirky and lovable cast of characters. (I know readers will fall in love with Hayden along with Sloane.)

7.) Sloane is by far my favorite character. She is just snarky and quirky and fun to write. Most authors admit that a little bit of themselves goes into each protagonist, but Sloane is near and dear to my heart. If a headstrong, gutsy, and imperfect heroine with an eccentric fashion sense appeals to you, then I think you'll love Sloane, too. 

8.) In 'Lost in Starlight', there isn’t the instant love or love triangle that is popular in so many YA books nowadays; this is the real deal. The book is meant for older YA readers and does contain some mild language. The characters are all eighteen years old, except for Sloane who is only seventeen in this first book.

9.) The names of the two main characters came to me instantly. They just seemed to fit perfectly. Some of the secondary characters had a few name changes during rewrites, but Sloane and Hayden’s never varied.

10.) One day, I was browsing images on a stock photo site and as soon as I saw the image of that purple-haired girl (the female image featured on the book cover), I just knew that I’d found my “Sloane.” This photo completely inspired me to write her story and make Sloane different from most YA heroines. Hayden’s image, featured on the front cover beside his darker haired younger brother, seemed to perfectly fit the character I had envisioned, too.

So there you have it! Ten random facts about the Starlight Saga!

Apology and Explanation! (2-for-1 combo)

Hi everybody! 

I know that I have been a bit (a lot) of a recluse for the past months of this year, and although I agree that it is completely and totally mean, I have issues. I have not been well at all, being in and out of hospitals in Brent, then adding extreme brain melting exams to the list this year for physics, chemistry, biology and maths! Yes, I know, I'm bonkers for taking triple science and maths, but I'm good at them (I think :/) so sue me! Anyway, if we could put this behind us and keep moving forward ('Meet the Robinsons' - GREAT MOVIE!), then I will get re-started with the reviews and hopefully pleasing fellow humans worldwide. ;) 

Shaiyra x

The Return of the Key - By Alisha Nurse

    

Hey everyone! This is a new novel I was kindly asked to review based on fey lore but with a completely new and original take on these magical creatures that I loooove!

The main character is Eliza Aurelio (great name!) who feels like an outcast and has never fit in because she is mixed race *awwwwwh*. The book starts with one of her 'premonitions', a talent that have haunted the women of her family for generations (tad bit creeps), that she has repeatedly been having for a couple of weeks. Then her and her beloved grandmother are sent to England by her grandfather for their safety (LOL - the irony). Here she becomes automatic best friends with the outgoing and spirited Gwen! But Gwen has a secret. Quelle surprise! Gwen is seen as a bit of an odd fellow when everyone calls her dead mum a witch, which is not far from the truth because she was fey! *Gasp* These two become ultimately connected when Eliza is taken into the land of the Fey by use of the 'Key' which she must return because she is 'The Chosen One' *double take on Eliza*.
Naturally, she meets a completely hot fey who is her instant crush, Arden, and a good friend who is her crush's cousin, Arrae. 
I've got to say, I do love the names in this book, but mostly, I love the moral. Eliza learns to overcome her personal fears that were installed into her from a young age, one of the hardest missions to accomplish. During her time in Annwn (faeryland), she is also discriminated against because she is a human! Her character is inspiring and is narrated very well. She doesn't just come out of her shell, she obliterates it!

Talk of a Series

I believe this is not a stand-alone novel and will be part of a series as Alisha has confirmed! Whoop whoop! I absolutely cannot wait! 

'The Return of the Key' Synopsis:

'16 year old Eliza Aurelio grapples with her mixed race identity amid rising racial tensions on her little island. For their safety, Eliza’s grandfather sends her and her grandmother to a quiet town in Southwest England to stay with a relative. But this otherwise quiet town has been turned upside down by people mysteriously disappearing. Eliza eventually encounters a magical but dangerous realm accessible through a doorway in the town, and sees its connection to the abductions. She intends to put things right, only wanting to protect her family. To do this, she must return a stolen key to lock the open doorway. But Eliza has to overcome her own inner conflicts if she is to stand any chance of being successful and leaving the other realm alive.'

'Angelfire' Series - by Courtney Allison Moulton

First book in 'Angelfire'

Okay, so I bought this book on a complete whim because I was bored and it was the first one I came across on Goodreads. So my advice to everyone? Buy books on whims more often! 'I found the greeaateest whim of all' (pun intended) because this ended up being one of my favourite series!

This series is about a girl called Ellie having a normal/not life with nightmares and a dad who is extremely rude to her when, surprise surprise, she is approached by a hot, intense, weird guy called Will who follows her and pulls her into his world after they are attacked on her 17th birthday. Everything pretty much just goes berzerk for her after that. 
The secrets he keeps interests me and make me want to skip ahead to find them already! The whole series is like one big cliffhanger and you just can't guess what's going to happen next! This is not your typical fallen Angel series with new characters and completely different ideals (apart from the fall of Lucifer). 

Books in the Angelfire series:

0.5 novella - A Dance With Darkness
1st book - Angelfire 
2nd book - Wings of the Wicked
3rd book - Shadows in the Silence

'Angelfire' synopsis:

'First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.'

'Trylle' Series - By Amanda Hocking

       

First Book in 'Trylle'

This series.......just wow. I loved reading it, every second. One of the most enjoyable series I've read in a long time, and you know why? Not just because it's about Trolls and Troll lore, but because it is so unpredictable!

'Switched' starts with the usual sob story 'mummy tried to kill me because she said I was a monster then was locked up for being cray cray', so she lives with her loving older brother and aunt. Until.....she meets a guy. He stares. She notices. They talk, yadah yadah yadah. Then out comes the secret and BOOM, she's a changeling, a troll baby switched with a human baby, so *gasp* the mum was right. 
It's written in first person by Wendy, through her we meet her crush Finn, her brother Matt, her aunt Maggie and then Rhys and Elora! You will probably hate Elora, but then later in the series you will understand why she acts the way she does and you will feel guilt like never before, so just keep an open mind please :)

Books in the Trylle Trilogy:

1st book - Switched
2nd book - Torn
3rd book - Ascend
3.5 novella - Fresh Water

'Switched' synopsis:

"Seventeen-year-old Wendy Everly has always been different, but she never thought she was more than human. However, when she’s thrown into a world unlike any she’s ever imagined, Wendy must uncover her heritage, tap into her powers, and fight against those who want to use her gifts for evil. Enter a world of magic, mystery, and romance in Amanda Hocking’s bestselling young adult series that takes readers to Trylle, a world as beautiful as it is deadly. Torn between worlds, Wendy must decide who she really is and what she wants, between love and duty, in a struggle for her very survival."

'Covenant' series - By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Absolutely MUST READ the 'Covenant' series! *NO SPOILERS HERE*

First Book in 'Covenant'

The 'Covenant' series is by Jennifer L. Armentrout (author of the Lux series!); a Greek mythology based book about the offspring and their secret society on Earth.

Written in first person by Alexandria, the main character, as we take her view on the other main characters; Aiden, Seth, Marcus, Lucian, as well as many other amazing characters that pop up in the later books. This series has a way of making you laugh, huff in annoyance, tear up, and get you jumping up and down on the edge of your seat. The characters were very well developed from the moment you started the book, and I could tell that a lot of deep thought was put into the entire series before the first book began.

It starts with Alexandria being super rebellious, having left her Hematoi boarding school as a teen with her mum, who was just killed by one of the bad guys...the daimons! Even through her vengeful haze of having killed 3 of these daimons already, when she is caught by three sentinels *in walk Senor Hottie* she still swoons at the sight of Aiden and his beautiful silver eyes. Honestly, I bet if I met the guy, I'd probs swoon too, the way he's made out to be. Anyway, she's taken back to the Covenant and is forcably put back into training by her uncle, the Headmaster. She is then reunited with such great friends like Caleb, and great enemies like Leah :0

I genuinely love Armentrout's writing skills and have nearly read all of her books, so it came as no surprise to me to find this series just as engaging as the rest.

Books in the Series:

(0.5 novella - Daimon)
1st book - Half-Blood
2nd book - Pure
3rd book - Deity
(3.5 novella - Elixir)
4th book - Apollyon
5th book - Sentinel

'Half-Blood' synopsis:

"The Hematoi descend from the unions of Gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi have God-like powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals - well not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons, or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen year old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with all the rules, especially Rule #1 - Relationships between pure bloods and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem - staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a Daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck."