A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL BY SUZANNE YOUNG

Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Balzer + Bray (June 21, 2011)

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.
Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

Book Opening:

"I sit on the front steps of St. Vincent's Cathedral and pick at the moss nestled in the cracks of the concrete. I'm waiting for Sarah- as usual."

Notable Scene:

"The force of it hits me. A shiver that runs from my toes to the top of my aching head. An intense burning in my shoulder. A vine that twists around my gut.


The Need. It's back."- Page 77 ARC version

A Need So Beautiful stormed into my life with both guns blazing and immediately captured my heart. Normally when I sit down to read, so many things can easily distract me- cell phone, email- you name it. Not this time. I read this book entirely in one sitting. When was the last time you read a book in one sitting from start to finish? Let me tell you, that is not a normal occurrence for me. But right from page one, A Need So Beautiful captured my interest and I relished every minute of it!

 I loved how Suzanne Young took the angelic element, and reworked it into something entirely her own. I have never read a book where the main protagonist has an overwhelming “Need” to help people and then was faced with the fact that everyone would soon forget her as she slowly and painfully disappeared from their memories. This was so fresh and exciting to me. Also, I can't express enough how much I appreciated that Young did not resort to the standard “we lock eyes and now we’re instantly in love” routine so prevalent throughout the YA genre today. Charlotte was already in a committed relationship with the dreamy Harlin as the book began—I loved this departure from the norm. Why can't we see more of this in YA?  As for Harlin himself, he was definitely my kind of guy. A dangerous looking bad boy on the outside but with a heart of gold on the inside. But the best part? He didn’t just serve in the book to be the token boyfriend—he was an important plot driver and his relationship with Charlotte only deepened my affection for both of their characters.  I also thought Suzanne Young transitioned beautifully between moments of pain and pleasure. I never felt bogged down by the emotional burden of Charlotte’s situation and I always felt connected with all the people in Charlotte's life. From troubled best friend Sarah, to Mercy, Charlotte's good-hearted foster mother, each character was unique and memorable. All were important to the story and Charlotte’s bonds with the people in her life only strengthened my connection to her and the choices she was being forced to make. 

A Need So Beautiful was a book with a beautiful premise and thought-provoking questions.  If you are expecting your run-of-the-mill paranormal romance, do not be mistaken. This is not your typical YA book. Charlotte was no socially awkward, passive teenage girl waiting for a super hot supernatural boy to burst into her life and give it meaning. Her character was  built instead with an inner strength that evolved as she was pushed further and further to her limits. To sum up, A Need So Beautiful was a contemporary, unique novel, both engaging and entertaining with its strong, sympathetic female protagonist and lingering questions of self-sacrifice, love and the power of memories. I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel.

 More books by Suzanne Young: 

Suzanne Young currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she uses the rainy weather as an excuse to stay inside and write obsessively. After earning her degree in creative writing, Suzanne spent several years teaching middle school language arts. Now she can be found at home chasing after her two children and writing novels for teens. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com.

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

BREATH OF ANGEL BY KARYN HENLEY
Reading level: Young Adult 
Paperback: 272 pages 
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 21, 2011)
Download sample chapter HERE. 

The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
 
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.

Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

Book Opening:

"The price of the thorn drew blood, but Melaia smiled."

Notable Moment: 

"She would not let him get the best of her. She would not shrivel. She would not cower. …her last breath would not be a whimper, but a shout." -Page 254 

“The breath of an angel, the blood of man”.

Breath of Angel, the first installment in Karyn Henley's The Angeleon Circle series is a story with a chilling prophecy. It centers around  Melaia, a young priestess who unwittingly becomes embattled in an immortal feud with cataclysmic ramifications.   Breath of Angel stands out in my mind from other YA angel-based fiction in that it's more of a timeless, medieval fantasy melded together with mythology instead of a contemporary paranormal romance.

 I have to admit I was initially thrown by the pacing of this book though.  Right from page one, the reader is slammed smack-dab into a world bursting with so many characters and world-building lingo, that it made my head spin. Once I got acclimated, things definitely got easier for me, but I had to get out a pen and paper to keep the characters straight at first. But Melaia's world was definitely a well-thought out place with painstaking attention to detail and intricate characterization. I picture a long-ago, far away type setting sewn together with all manner of  supernatural oddities- angels, shapeshifters and one in particular that stands out in my mind the most—the "draks". Made from human souls, they were some sort of vulture-like monster that sounded really frightening.

Despite a difficult to pronounce first name, I enjoyed Melaia's character. The book is narrated from her point of view and she impressed me with her strength of mind and her courage. I also appreciated that the romantic element did not overpower the true theme of the story – what did transpire added a nice touch to the trajectory of the storyline and was just enough to picque my interest, but never over the top. 

For readers who enjoy a clean, less-violent read, Breath of Angel should appeal greatly for its fast-paced narrative, depth and intriguing mix of mythology, magic and fantasy.

Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written over 100 titles, which include a mix of children's books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CD's/DVD's of original music for children. An accomplished songwriter, Karyn has been a Dove Award nominee, and received a regional Emmy Award as Music Composer for a Christmas television special. She has traveled worldwide speaking to parents and teachers and entertaining children and their families in storytelling/active movement sessions and concerts. Most of her work has been in the area of spiritual development. She is best known as the author of the original version of The Beginner's Bible, which during the fifteen years it was in print (1989-2004), sold over 5 million copies and was translated into 17 languages.

A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BSEd), Karyn received a Master's of Fine Arts degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2004. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Official Website

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

TEMPEST RISING BY TRACY DEEBS 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 352 pages 
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 10, 2011)
READ AN EXCERPT

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

 Tempest Rising was an entertaining novel with memorable characters and a ferocious mythology under the sea. Much like the hypnotic pull of the ocean, this book also pulled me under into an exciting new world I enjoyed being a part of.

Main protagonist Tempest Macguire was aware of her mermaid heritage right from page one. This was such an important factor for me. Why? It was so refreshing to read a paranormally-themed book where the main character does not take half of the story to understand the changes happening to her. I usually find that frustrating to no end—when you are aware before you even turn to page one that the story is going to be about mermaids, but then you have to wait 150 pages for the characters to figure it out too.  I absolutely loved the fact that Tempest knew her mother was a mermaid and that at age seventeen she would be faced with much of the same decisions (both physical and emotion) that her mother struggled with.  Her pain at having to choose between her  little brothers ( vibrant young boys who really tug at your heartstrings) or the life calling to her from the deep blue sea was so appealing to me as a reader.

Like many YA books, there was love triangle in this book. However, to my surprise, it was not overblown or swoony. Gasp! What a relief! I thought it was done beautifully—so much so, that I was torn throughout almost the entire book as to who Tempest should pick: Mark or Kai. Even now, I'm still a bit unsure. Mark was Tempest's quiet strength- he loved her but he didn't really know her or understand her. Not like Kai, the boy with supernatural secrets and a dark appeal. Kai was mysterious, dangerous and a little unpredictable. He stirred up powerful feelings in Tempest she hadn't felt before and I looked forward to seeing him every time he came into the picture.

The book is set in a seaside community and was well-written with great attention to detail.  I felt like I was there with Tempest and her gang of guys, riding the waves with the wind against my face and the electric pull of the tides and that one perfect wave. There are also underwater scenes with battles, romantic interludes and an introduction into a world were mermaids, mermen and other creatures all intermingle. If I had to choose, I'd say the parts 'on land' were actually more special to me than those "under the sea". Tempest's interactions with the people who cared about her were what kept my heart pounding the most.  Sometimes the underwater fantastical elements (the sea witch, the vampiric octopus monster, etc) skewed the book a little younger than I would generally prefer.  I was also a little disappointed in how things tied up with Tempest's mother at the end. Most of the book built up to the big "showdown" between the absentee mermaid mom and Tempest. But when it actually happened, it wasn't what I had anticipated or really wanted. However none of these things really hindered my enjoyment of the book—they are just my own personal reading preferences. I would still highly recommend Tempest Rising for its fresh take on mermaid mythology and it's unique approach to storytelling. The romance was never over-the-top or annoyingly saccharine. It all worked for me.  Both guys were incredibly alluring and I'd love to dive back into Tempest's world anytime!

TRACY DEEBS collects books, English degrees, and lipsticks. She has been known to forget where-and sometimes who-she is when immersed in a great novel. She is a writing and literature professor at Austin Community College.
www.tracydeebs.com

Book Review: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

 

WAKE UNTO ME BY LISA CACH


*Reading level: Young Adult 
*Paperback: 304 pages 
*Publisher: Speak; Original edition (March 31, 2011)

Caitlin Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It's what her dead mother's note suggested, and it's what her recurring nightmares allude to.

Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams--and her small town--she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse.

But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s.

Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams?

Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

From the Back Cover

I see him in my dreams, this mysterious boy.
He comes from
a different time,
a different place,
a different reality.

But there is something that connects us.
We are supposed to be together--bound by the heart of another.
But that's not possible... or is it?

Some girls have all the luck. High school would've been so much more interesting if I could've gone to a place like Chateau de la Fortune! 

Wake Unto Me transported me into Caitlin Monahan’s world. It was a place where history and the paranormal came to life-complete with mysteries yet to be unlocked, romantic interludes with debonair ghosts and a plot filled with more twists and turns than the halls of the French castle itself.

To be honest, I was really leery about reading the book at first—so many YA paranormal books lately have been way too heavy on the instantaneous love connection thing. It's to the point where it’s become almost comical (at least for me).  When I picked up this book, I was nervous. It seemed ripe for the signature YA paranormal formula ( Awkward girl + godlike supernatural boy = Tru Luv 4-EVA)  But thankfully, Wake Unto Me had so much more to offer than most YA paranormals I've read lately. With a rich, exciting plot and great conflict, everything seemed to meld together with a heaping good dollop of paranormal romance as the cherry on top. As for the romance itself, I actually found Caitlin's relationship with Raphael pretty darn alluring—it was all done with just the right amount of sizzling tension and definitely reeled me in right from the start.

But my favorite aspect of Wake Unto Me were the bits of historical intrigue interwoven throughout the narrative. This actually was what kept me on my toes more than I had anticipated and I was constantly surprised as each new clue unfolded along the way.  Another thing that stood out to me was how much time the author must have spent working on the intricacies of her plot with all the clues-within-clues. All in all, Lisa Cach's efforts really showed with both the quality of the writing and her memorable cast of vibrant, quirky characters.  The French boarding school setting itself was vital to a book like this and it added so much— Chateau de la Fortune was an eerie, imposing boarding school with its gothic architecture and colorful medieval history. Even the people running the school seemed to somehow be setting the stage and adding to the general ambiance of the book.  

Needless to say I adored this book. I was immediately drawn in by the idea of Caitlin traveling to a strange castle and getting more than she bargained for with ghosts, eerie dreams and long-buried secrets.  How can you not be interested in a novel where treasure had been hunted since the Crusades and where ghosts are said to haunt the grounds?More please!  Wake Unto Me exceeded my expectations and thoroughly entertained me. In fact, I suffered a major book hang-over from my subsequent lack of sleep the next day at work. But you know what? It was well worth it.  

Be sure and visit the Teen Book Scene for more Wake Unto Me tour stops. Tomorrow Lisa will be guest posting here at The Book Butterfly, where she will share photos of the real places that inspired her writing. Be sure and check it out!

Lisa Cach has authored a whole genre of books including books on paranormal works, chick literature, romantic erotica, and young adult. The breadth of her work continues to expand as she grows as a novelist. 

Official Website 

Book Review: Kindred by Tammar Stein

KINDRED BY TAMMAR STEIN 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 272 pages 
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 8, 2011) 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

The first time I meet an angel, it is Raphael and I am eighteen.

Miriam is an unassuming college freshman stuck on campus after her spring break plans fall through. She's not a religious girl--when pressed she admits reluctantly to believing in a higher power. Truth be told, she's about as comfortable speaking about her faith as she is about her love life, which is to say, not at all. And then the archangel Raphael pays Miriam a visit, and she finds herself on a desperate mission to save two of her contemporaries. To top it all off, her twin brother, Mo, has also had a visitation, but from the opposite end of the good-evil spectrum, which leaves Miriam to wonder--has she been blessed and her brother cursed or vice versa? And what is the real purpose behind her mission?

While I know there's a readership out there for people who are interested in religious fiction and angelic encounters, Kindred was not my cup of tea. But that's partly my fault.  I assumed the book was going to be the typical, romanticized YA angel-type story, which I always enjoy. But Kindred was not that book by any means. So if you are looking for a Hush-Hush, be aware of this prior to picking up a book like this. Kindred was not a paranormal romance but more of a celebration of religious rebirth with sub-plots within subplots. 

What I enjoyed: I loved the background story about Miriam with her family history. I would've actually liked to have learned even more about her parents.  I wanted to learn more about how her former Catholic nun mom and rabbi father shaped her life and her outlook on faith in general. 

I was interested in Raphael's presence in Miriam's life- what he wanted from her, why he chose her specifically and how she would handle the tasks given to her. I also was fascinated by her brother's conflicting situation with the evil presence guiding him down a very different path.

What I had a difficult time with: Stein has a very different writing style. I don't know the exact words to describe it, but it's something that you either love or hate. For me personally, I was a bit thrown by it and as such, I found it difficult to connect with Miriam's character.  While I admire her creativity, I found the writing to be very sparse. 

There is also a large portion of the book devoted to the degeneration of Miriam's health, which seems to have been brought upon by the angel Raphael's presence in her life. For me, this sub-plot spiraled out of control and took on much more prominence than was necessary—I didn't need to know the intricacies of Miriam's gastrointestinal problems at ALL.  Personally I think all of the medical drama didn't deserve as much "on screen" time as it did and it really took away from the book for me. 

Bottom Line:  While I'm confident that Kindred will find an audience with a specific type of reader and I admire Stein's originality with her unique, interesting premise, this wasn't a good fit for my reading style.

Tammar Stein is the award-winning author of the YA novel, Light Years, a Virginia Reader's Choice book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2006. Her second novel, High Dive, was nominated for an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2009.

She lives in Florida with her family and bilingual dog.
Official Website  & Blog

Be sure to check out The Teen Book Scene for more stops on the Kindred blog tour! Tammar will be featured tomorrow at Reading Teen.

Book Review: Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

MAD LOVE BY SUZANNE SELFORS 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Hardcover: 336 pages 
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (January 4, 2011)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth—that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

 

 

Book Opening:    

"When you're sixteen, summer is supposed to spread before you like a magic carpet, waiting to carry you to new, exciting places. Paperback novel in hand, bare feet buried in speckled sand, long kisses with the boy in the kayak- that's what it's supposed to be about." 

  Notable Scene:  

"I'm Cupid. The original, one and only Cupid."
I clenched my hands into fists. "YOU SHOT ME WITH AN ARROW?" - Pg 132 ARC version

 

On the surface, I thought Mad Love sounded like a sweet, quirky story that I'd settle in to read along with my comfy quilt and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The idea of Cupid stalking the sixteen-year old daughter of a famous romance writer really appealed to me.  What a creative and fun idea!  Unfortunately, I'm sad to say that my experience with Mad Love didn't quite live up to the high hopes I had for the book.

HIGHLIGHTS: I thought it was endearing how much Alice loved her mom, the bestselling "Queen of Romance." There was nothing Alice wouldn't do to protect her mom from the media and that would be a huge burden for any teenager to bear. I only imagine how exhausting it would be to constantly have to lie and keep up appearances. This was actually the strongest component of Mad Love for me. And after reading the author's notes at the end, I found it even more compelling because Suzanne Selfors used experiences from within her own family to help in constructing the book.

I also want to note that the minor characters like Mrs. Bobot and Realm were actually really well fleshed-out and downright hilarious.  At times I found them even more entertaining than Errol or Alice!

LOWLIGHTS: Alice, while definitely cute as a button, often reminded me more of a 13-year old rather than a 16-year old, which I found odd because this was a girl who had to essentially be the "adult" all the time due to her mom's illness.  Alice's experience with boys and her conversations with the "skate board guy" made it hard for me to believe that she could be a 16-year old and this skewed the book to a middle-grade level for me. But one thing about Alice- she was definitely one of those characters you'd want to have in your life—sweet, trustworthy and always there for you no matter what. 

My biggest issue with Mad Love, however, was that it took FOREVER for Alice to realize that Errol was Cupid. Now, I know that  if some strange guy started stalking me and insisting he was Cupid, that I'd never in a million years believe him either. But for the sake of the story and the need to keep the plot moving, I believe Alice should've caught on so much quicker than she actually did.  

As for Errol, I didn't connect with his character or feel drawn to him at all.  Even now, I still don't have a clear picture of him in my mind.  I had imagined him as this tall, dark and handsome guy with so much passion bottled up inside him. But the actual Errol in Mad Love wasn't anywhere near as colorful as the one I had imagined, and this was extremely disappointing. Yes, some of the reasoning for this was explained later on but by that time I was too far removed to really care...

BOTTOM LINE: While Mad Love was not as enjoyable to me as Selfors' previous novel, Coffeehouse Angel (or even on the same level to be honest), I do think that the book will find an audience with a much younger teen demographic—it's got this sweet, adorable appeal to it that I think certain readers will connect with and walk away from with a smile.  Though this  wasn't a knock-out of the park for me by any means, I really adore Suzanne Selfors' writing and will continue to support her work in the future. 

 \

Suzanne Selfors is the author of Coffeehouse Angel and Saving Juliet. She held a number of jobs before becoming a writer, including children's photographer, video producer, organic flower grower, and marketing director. She lives in Washington.

Official Website of Suzanne Selfors

Book Review: Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

FALLEN ANGEL BY HEATHER TERRELL 
Reading level: Young Adult 
Paperback: 336 pages 
Publisher: HarperTeen (December 28, 2010) 
Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Indiebound

Heaven-sent?

Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.

Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

In this electrifying novel, Heather Terrell spins a gripping supernatural tale about true love, destiny, and the battle of good versus evil.

While I found Heather Terrell's, FALLEN ANGEL to have an intriguing premise with strong writing, I ended up walking away from the book with an overall sense of disappointment.  In a genre filled to the brim with angels, werewolves and vampires, so many supernatural-themed books have begun to feel the same to me. I really wanted to love this book though. I thought the cover was eerily beautiful and the description sounded so promising. But sadly, FALLEN ANGEL was not a stand-out novel for me. Part of the problem could've been a simple issue with the book's title and synopsis – I mean it's pretty obvious what type of book this is from the words "Fallen Angel", right? Well maybe if I hadn't known what Ellie was before I even started the book, it would've added more of an an air of mystery to the plot.  As it was, I felt like I had to wait forever for her to figure out what was going on, which was frustrating because I knew what she was before I even turned to page one.

But overall, my biggest issue with FALLEN ANGEL was the romance between Michael and Ellie. It felt way too clichéd for my taste. I didn't feel the electricity between these two at all. Here's the crux of the matter—so often in YA, two characters meet and instantly fall for one another. Why does this keep happening? For me, there's nothing that will make me lose interest in a book quicker than that. I like a slower build-up, more of a getting-to-know you stage in my books. In all honesty, I was more interested in Ezekiel – the dark villain of the group—than I was with Ellie and Michael's romance. As for Ellie, I often felt frustrated with her—for instance, if some random guy started following me around everywhere I went, the word"stalker" would've definitely danced around my psyche a time or two.  But for her, it seemed A-okay!  Ellie reminded me of so many YA protagonists-a pretty girl trying to downplay her looks and fly under the radar who just can't believe the hot guy is interested in her.

To sum up, FALLEN ANGEL was a book with a creative, romantic story-arc and a whole lot of potential that left me underwhelmed.  While I can't say that I'll continue with this series, I do want to point out that Heather Terrell has a clear, strong writing style. It definitely stuck out to me when I was reading FALLEN ANGEL. Also, the last 100 pages of the book do kick into high gear and become more interesting. My hope is that the series will continue to evolve with each new installment.

Books by Heather Terrell

Heather Terrell is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms and for Fortune 500 companies. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in History and Art History, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.

Heather is the author of the historical novels The Chrysalis and The Map Thief, which will appear in more than ten countries, as well as Brigid of Kildare. She is also the author of the upcoming young adult series, entitled Fallen Angel.