Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Self Publishing
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September, 2010

Author Web Page:

Can she change for him?

Can he change for her?

Enough?

Michael is in Thailand diving his dream. Leesie is at BYU living hers. And they just can’t leave each other alone. Their romance rekindles, deeper than before. They grow desperate to see one another again. To hold one another again. Michael decides there is only one direction their relationship can go and asks Leesie the ultimate question. Her answer challenges everything Michael is and wants to be.

Poetry evokes deepness and feelings on its verses, and it’s this way the words from Unbroken Connection floated. Once again love and the capability of redemption bring Leesi and Michael together in the Taken By Storm sequel. Written under the same style as the first one, Unbroken Connection is narrated in different POVs, but in four different narrative styles. The story begins weeks after the culmination of events that occurred on Taken By Storm; Leesi living her lifelong dream (studying at BYU) and Michael at the other end of the world working his passion (scuba diving). But there is “something” none of them considered and that something was the impact they caused on each other’s lives, which took Taken By Storm ending to be the beginning of a beautiful love story. In this presentation we see a more mature, outgoing and decided Leesi, who slowly develops a character that makes perfect balance between her spirituality and the lady she’s turning into. On the other hand we have Michael … OH Michael! I was not wrong when I pointed that the Michael Walden we met at the beginning of Taken By Storm didn’t turned out to be the same who left my heart aching at the end of the story. Michael shines in this book and it’s incredible to see how Leesi has been transforming his life, but what’s even more wonderful about his change is that it gets to be so natural and genuine that his voice as a character does not get lost; at the contrary, it stands out. Both their interactions in the story are lovely and charming. It’s like they finally reached the point where each one is willing to make the relationship work because “letting go” is not an option anymore. Romance is so deep and what’s wonderful is that it teaches that redemption capability is always present if you decide for it. The way Morrison grasps spiritual and denominational topics without being preachy is just graceful without passing judgment. This is the biggest compliment I can give Morrison; she does not present a religious story even though spiritual topics are being used. Morrison brings a story where a great love is capable not only of healing wounds, but building, create and open the door for eternal love and wisdom. Unbroken Connection, where love and redemption’s nature get together in a deeper feeling that only desires “forever and ever”.

Book Type: Softcover
Publisher: Self Publishing
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September, 2010

Book Trailer:

Page: 44

“I can’t help if she came back.

I can’t  help it if she still love me.

I can’t  help loving her. ”

I’m happy to announce that (October 4-8) Windowpane Memoirs will be dedicated to Angela Morrison new YA novel: Unbroken Connection. Each week’s post will be an opportunity to win the contest. Come and support this great title.  Also I will give away a random Swag Material (from different books and authors) package between the people who comment in October posts.   Wish you all GOOD LUCK!

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Macmillan
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Author Web Page:

Is love a great enough power against evil?

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone especially herself from the dark forces.

Angels have been slowly invading Young Literature and this new presentation by: Alexandra Adornetto proves they’re here to stay.  Halo narrates the story of three angel “siblings” who are sent to earth in order to accomplish a peace and restauration mission at a certain territory.  The story’s centered in Bethany’s character, which, from the three of them, feels completely invaded by human emotions.  Her mission and purpose will be seen affected when she gets to know Xavier.  Regardless her resistance and confusion, Bethany ends up pouring her heart to Xavier.  I loved this story and it certainly marks a difference between novels on the same line since this one’s narrated from an immortal and powerful point of view.  Angelology is simple, it rounds up a general idea of what many could imagine as Heaven, Hell in a battle between good and evil.    Romance is tender and sweet, but what I liked the most is that Xavier’s not the typical love interest who has NEVER loved. On the contrary, there was somebody in his life before and this fact does not fade the love he has for Bethany, but only means he didn’t loved her first.  Bethany’s siblings, Ivy and Gabriel, play an interesting secondary role and in my humble opinion Gabriell’s the most interesting.  This angel was so interesting that he kept me through the whole story asking to myself if there’s something beyond his story other than the mere fact of being an angel forged out of stone.  The antagonist character is a bit obvious, but does not take anything from the story and its fixation for Bethany will create expectations with this presentation and the next one on the series.  Certainly Adornetto has done an exceptional work by establishing a base for a series that promotes the  simplicity and the elegance this story is narrated  is addictive for the reader.  Halo, the story of an angel and her love for a mortal where between good and evil will face the most challenging task; humanity.

I’m happy to announce that this week (April 5-9) Windowpane Memoirs will be dedicated to Jennifer Murgia debut novel: Angel Star.   Each week’s post will be an opportunity to win the contest.  Come and support this great title, wish you all GOOD LUCK!

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: RazorBill
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 4, 2010

Author Web Page:

The Transformation

Beth has always been “The Beast” that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

The Love Affair

When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion for music, and for Beth leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

The Impossible Choice

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

The Heartbreak

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems.  Then Beth discovers that Derecks been hidding a dark secret … one that could shatter everything.

There is something poetic about the way Angela Morrison writes which makes me visualize her as a poet.  Sing me to Sleep has the elegance, feeling and sensitivity a great poem evokes.  In Sing Me to Sleep we have the story of Beth, a youngster whose first memories are being rejected by her appearance and this becomes the story of her life.  Beth is constantly profiled by her appearance and the only ones accepting her as she is with all of this represents are her mother and Scott, her best friend.  Regardless her low self esteem, Beth recognizes there’s a beauty in her and it’s the gift of singing.  She will receive an opportunity to be the chorus lead singer, which will bring transformation to her life and the chance to know a love that goes beyond life itself.  I really think that any girl could feel identified with Beth’s experience, no matter how secure they might feel about themselves, but it could be other aspects as well. A girl wants to feel beautiful and loved.  Words are not enough to say how much I loved this story.  It was a marvelous journey through the heart of a youngster that made me feel that she was “real”.  This story convenes the deepest human emotion’s experiences that even later after reading it will remain recorded in your heart. Sing Me to Sleep is as deep, elegant, heartbreaking and lovely as a poem itself.

 

Sing Me to Sleep was inspire by a true story you can learn more March 11 when Angela Morrison visit us.

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: RazorBill
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 4, 2010

Book Trailer:

Page: _ _ 

“The way you kiss, the way you sing.

The way you tell me everything.

Will you take my heart?

I’m offering it to you …”

Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Henry Holt
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Author Web Page:

Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip. They’re searching for one fair day a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.

There are stories that remain recorded in your memory and thanks to them you understand the “why” of loving literature so much; The Miles Between is one of those stories. The story’s extract can be summarized with words like: coincidence, faith, destiny and second chances. The story begins with our narrator Destiny Faraday making us know the base of the world she lives in: where and “why”, we’ll superficially see a bit of her previous story lived at Hedbrook Academy. Destiny lives under a simple life code: routine, pre availability and does not bond with anyone, EVER. Until one day she wishes “just a fair day”. It’s October 19th when three Hedbrook Academy classmates and herself take the car’s steering wheel unto a journey that will change their lives forever. Right over the surface, many will think that this story is about coincidences alone, but goes way beyond. We’ll meet Destiny and the rest of her companions: Seth, Mira and Aidan on some wonderful way. Their journey will be infested with curious events “Serendipity” style and, however, the trail will leave tracks in the lives of each one of our characters. They will find something once lost in their lives, giving an opportunity to trust each other, meet with themselves and granting a new opportunity to live. Flawlessly written, the Miles Between is a story of a girl finding herself and realizing life itself in her.

1. This book’s got great potential as extracurricular material. It can be used to make dynamics such as:
If you could ask for a just a fair day:

• What would you do?
• How would it be?
• Who would you share it with?

2. If you could have the opportunity Aidan had on meeting X subject, what would you suggest that could change your country for good?

This among other topics. I think that the complexity of being young and some of them being scarred by their particular circumstances in its past allows this book to explore a lot of sad topics in a brilliant, modern way and rich in content without being boring.

If we gather poetry’s elegance, spirituality VS emotions where love and redemption fight for healing wounds left by tragedy we get: Leesie and Michael in Taken By Storm. Written on different POVs and three different narrative styles, the story’s narrated by Leesie from her poems and online chats, and Michael from his dive log journal. The story starts giving the reader an idea on how’s life for both main characters previous to their encounter; Leesie lives on faith where she is constantly prejudiced by it and Michael lives on freedom … two opposed poles; one who lives at her moral boundary’s edge and the other one not aware of them.  Michael arrives to Washington after miraculously surviving the accident that took away his parent’s life, empty and emotionally broken who’s life lacks of sense. This improbable by their differences couple  tie their lives since each one sees on the other what’s invisible to the world; Leesie from the start sees someone worth saving and Michael sees in Leesie the capability and understanding to be healed. Throughout the story, the reader will be taken to see the complexity of human emotions, even more in the lives of two youngsters that are meeting love for the first time and their lives are ruled by two different moral codes.   One of the biggest credits Morrison can get is for the narrators’ voices. Their emotion’s intensity is real and would be completely reachable with all the pros and cons. As a reader, the journey was intense. Sometimes I wasn’t happy with the character’s decisions and nevertheless at the end all this complexity made me admire them even more because they are a reflection of life itself and the circumstances in which youngsters could be going through.  At the end, both made it to where I expected, especially when seeing that the Michael Walden I met at the beginning was not the same that left me heart ached. Leesie reminded me of my beloved spiritual mother Agnes on the teaching that redemption’s nature is always there on someone if they know a heart dedicated to God to give you the opportunity.

There are two aspects worth of mentioning: the author took Scuba Diving classes, which is significantly portrayed on the story. Regardless of some religious content, Morrison drives it graciously without being preachy and judgmental.