Sunday 30 September 2012

Book Promotion - Fathom



FATHOM SYNOPSIS:

Everything is changing . . .

Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean. Then somebody spikes her drink and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater. 

Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister or her mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.


Bio:
With twenty years’ experience in publishing, Merrie Destefano left a 9-to-5 desk job as the editor of Victorian Homes magazine to become a full-time novelist. Her first two novels, Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles and Feast: Harvest of Dreams were published by HarperVoyager. Fathom is both her first YA novel and her first indie published novel. When not writing, she loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies and listen to alternative music—although rarely all at the same time. Born in the Midwest, she now lives in Southern California with her husband, their two German shepherds and a Siamese cat. 



Links for FATHOM interviews/ blog posts:

Fathom excerpt:

Author website:

Author blog:

Twitter:

Facebook:

Author’s HarperCollins micro author site

Friday 28 September 2012

FF (89)


Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.

This week's question feature is
Nina @ J’adore Happy Endings

Q: What is the BIGGEST word you’ve seen used in a book lately – that made you stop and look it up? Might as well leave the definition & book too.


My Answer: I don't usually come across many big words, not that I'd notice anyway. BUt I recently read 'Dash & Lily's Book of Dares' and Dash used a lot of 'intelligent words'. This extract is from page 2 - 


"but mostly I was spending time in the Strand, that bastion of titillating erudition, not so much a book- store as the collision of a hundred different bookstores, with lit- erary wreckage strewn over eighteen miles of shelves"

This wasn't majorly big words or anything, but made me go 'woah - concentrate' 


Happy Hopping & Blogging. :D 


P.S - Sorry there hasn't been as many posts this week, it's been a crazy, hectic week and I haven't even managed to read 1 book!!! I can normally do 3 in a week so this is really behind. Lunchbreaks have been used to run errands, I've been out a couple of evenings, went to an Agent's Party in London last night (which was awesome, got some great tips on submitting manuscripts etc) and filling out job application. So it's been crazy. I'm going to try and catch up a bit this weekend, but I'm going to a Gamers Convention in London this Sunday so I might not get much done again.
Thanks for your patience and continual support of my blog. :)

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Book Tour - Wedding Cake Girl & Review & GIVEAWAY

Title: Wedding Cake Girl
Author: Anne Pfeffer
Publisher: Bold Print Press
Release Date:  24th July 2012
ASIN: B008ONMR2Y

Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Alexandra spends so much time helping others realize their dreams that she never has time for her own. An expert ocean diver and reluctant maker of wedding cakes, she longs to leave roses and frosting behind to study oceanography. Alex’s mother won’t have it—needy and dependent, Mom can’t run the family wedding cake business on her own.

No matter what Alex does, things only get worse for her. When she saves a man's life while scuba diving and becomes the local hero, Mom's angry with Alex for going diving at all. Mom discourages Alex's new friendship with Jeremy, a fun and insanely wealthy boy who happens to have a secret. Then, Alex's best friend, Zack, a hunky island guy, starts to take an interest in her as well. The problem is, he's dating another girl.

As Alex struggles to learn where she stands between her two difficult and confusing Prince Charmings, it occurs to her that maybe what she really needs is a Prince Charming for Mom. If she doesn't do something fast, they'll bury her in her "Sue's Wedding Cakery" apron with a spatula in her hand.  


-->
Author Bio:
Anne Pfeffer lives in Los Angeles near a large rotating neon chicken head with her
daughter and her dachshund Taco.
 Contact Links:
Twitter: AnnePfeffer1
Purchase Links:
amazon: http://tinyurl.com/cybyzgm
goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/csush2s
My Review
I got asked to be a part of this tour and was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I decided to accept as I absolutely love cake making and have always wanted to do Deep Sea Diving so this book sounded like the perfect combination for me. I knew I was going to love it.
I'm a bit disappointed the cover doesn't have a diver on it, as that is such a big part of who Alex is, but I still like it.
This was a easy to read almost 'chic lit'. Overall it's a feel good story and perfect to pass a quiet afternoon.
Alex is a whiz with Wedding Cakes and has the handle on organising her mum and her business, she seems to be doing more and more of the work. But it's not what she wants, now it's too difficult to get away from it all. With her mum controlling and disapproving of her every move Alex doesn't know where to turn. Add in confusion over boys and she is in well over her head.
I liked Alex as a character, things keep standing in her way but she continues to look for a way round it, yes she has her moments of break down but she soon picks herself up. She came across as very 'real'. Following her through the story as she grows and comes to realise what she really wants from life was nice, the pacing of the book worked really well and made the book for easy reading. There is always something to keep you hooked and I couldn't stop reading. I stayed up until 1am just to finish it, I had put it down for the night at 11.30 but I couldn't stop and had to know what happened and so picked it up to finish.
It's a typical feel good story, everything you think should happen comes around and in places it was predictable, but I really enjoyed it. In a way I liked the familiarity of it all. I won't spoil the ending but I will say I was happy with who she ends up with and how it all turns out.
Jeremy is a great character, Zack is a bit of a Muppet in my opinion but for some reason you can't help but like him too. Alex's mum is a right cow to be honest. I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being so mean, if she doesn't stop her attitude she is just going to drive her daughter away even more, not make her want to stay. She really got on my nerves, and I felt for Alex. 
A good read and well written, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. 
My Rating
-->
Excerpt:
Mom stands at the kitchen counter in her pink apron that says "Sue's Wedding Cakery, Santa Margarita Island." She’s experimenting with a new frosting. The kitchen smells like a bank of fresh wild mint growing along a stream.  
On my good days, I think of Mom as "The Caked Crusader," whose mission in life is to fill the world with perfect wedding cakes. On my bad days, I think more like my friend Zack who, after we saw the film Titanic, began calling Mom "The Iceberg."
"Why?" I had asked him.
"Because she's in your way."
He didn't have to remind me what happened to the Titanic.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour - Under The Desert Moon



Title: Under The Desert Moon
Author: Emma Meade
Publisher: Soul Fire Press
Release Date: 29 Aug 2012
ASIN: B00946TUMA

Synopsis
17 year old Erin Harris spends her time daydreaming, hoping to escape her small town life in Copperfield, Arizona. When a movie crew arrives unexpectedly to shoot a vampire film over the summer, Erin’s small town world changes forever. Erin is positive she has seen the star, James Linkin before in a thirty year old TV show. He hasn’t aged a day. How is this possible? Erin is determined to find out, but how will James handle the scrutiny of an all too intelligent teenage girl?


My Review
I was asked to fill in for today's blog tour and I'm glad I did, this was a little treasure of a book. Some parts of it were slightly predictable and cliche, but overall I actually enjoyed reading it.
Erin is 17 and counting the days until she can escape from her boring life in Copperfield, until a film crew moves in and she sparks up a connection with the star. I still like a good vampire story and this didn't disappoint, typical vampire falls in love with a human girl conflict plot line, but it's actually done quite well and manages to remain fresh throughout. 
At just 211 pages this book is actually very short but there is a lot packed into those pages and everyone of them counts. This book includes adventure, passion, murder, fighting, relationships, photography and filming and a little bit of alcoholism. It may sound like it's fitting too much in, but it all slots in together.
I liked Erin, she has a cool head on her shoulders and is mature for her age, of course she has her moments of doubt and panic but she doesn't shy away from epectations or confrontations, she's actually quite kick butt by the end of the book.
James himself was actually quite arrogant and I wasn't sure I would like him, but as he gets to know Erin you seem him change and become someone you can't help but route for.
I loved the setting for the book, it was very atmospheric and I could imagine the whole thing, which is what I like in a book.
For a nice new take on the whole Vampire scene and for a nice lazy day easy read, this would be perfect. 

My Rating
    

  About Emma Meade
Emma Meade lives in rainy Ireland. She has a BA in English and History from University College Cork and an MA in Literature and Publishing from NUI Galway.When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found at the cinema checking out the latest movie releases or sipping rosé or drinking Barry’s tea in her backyard with family and friends. Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home, and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on. Writing supernatural stories and watching marathon reruns of Buffy are some of her favorite ways of escaping reality.





Publisher: Soul Fire Press  

Extract

James raised his eyes finally.  “I’m sorry, Erin.  I didn’t mean to-” he paused, searching for the right word, “unnerve you.”
“You didn’t,” Erin replied automatically, but in actuality she was feeling distinctly unnerved, disturbed even.  Those eyes, so strange, almost trance-like.  Her earlier giddiness had completed evaporated. 
“Are you sure?” James persisted.
Erin was quiet for a moment, thoughtful.  “Oh my God,” she burst out loudly.
James had been leaning towards her slowly but now froze.  “What?” he asked uncertainly, seeking to make contact again with her eyes.
“I’ve seen you before,” Erin said.  “You looked so familiar to me in Casey’s Diner the other night.” 
James only looked at her blankly. 
“But that’s impossible,” she said.
“What is?”  James’ tone was straining for a detached, almost bored air, but there was an underlying edge of anxiety.
Erin looked straight into his eyes without him having to urge her this time.  “There’s this old TV show I watched with my mom when I was a kid.  They showed re-runs on cable from time to time.”
She noticed how his knuckles clasped tightly.
 “It was a sitcom, and the older kid in it, the college hero of the family-” Erin paused.  “He looks like you, James.”
Silence.  Then James stood and laughed, but it was forced sounding, and somewhat off balanced.  He stared down at her.  “They say everyone has a double, Erin.”
Erin rose to meet his gaze.  She stepped closer to him.  “I haven’t seen it in years but the resemblance is-”   What was the word?  “Uncanny.”
“Uncanny,” James repeated dully.
“Yes,” Erin whispered.  “My mom had a crush on that guy.”
“Did she?”  James smiled, and his tone was warm again.  “I’ll have to catch this show sometime, check out the resemblance,” he said, confident and at ease once more.
“I don’t think they run it anymore,” Erin said, studying him.
James shrugged.  “Don’t dwell on it kid.”  He slapped her on the shoulder like they were old pals.
His touch was cool and she quickly moved back from him.  James’ hand hovered in the air for a moment, seemingly undecided about what to do next.  He put it back in his pocket. 
Those eyes, Erin thought again.  Like a cat, a big cat, a panther.
  James stepped back from her now.  “Got to mingle inside some more,” he said, backing further away.
Erin nodded, and watched him slink gracefully inside the warehouse.  She was thinking of that television show.  They didn’t show that program these days, but her mother had bought it on video.  Where were those tapes? 
Erin sat back down and switched on the camera.  Even if she could find them, she didn’t have a VCR anymore.  Did anyone in Copperfield own one? 
The photo of his eyes loomed up at her.  She’d add it to her Sight collection.  Animal eyes, watchful, predatory, and waiting.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Book Review - Covet

Title: Covet
Author: Melissa Darnell
Series: The Clann (Book 2)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 25 Sept 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0373210565

Synopsis
Dangerous to be together. Painful to be apart.Savannah Colbert knows she broke up with Tristan Coleman for the right reasons. Most of all, to keep from killing him with her new vampire abilities. But try telling her heart. Now, lost in a sea of hostile Clann faces, Sav tries to come to terms with what she's becoming and what that means for her future. And that someone is doing their best to bully her into making a terrible mistake.

Tristan can't believe Sav won't even talk to him. If being apart is her decision, fine. Just don't expect him to honor it. But even as he prepares to fight for the girl he loves, forces beyond their control take them both in directions neither could have foreseen or prepared for.
A reckoning is coming… and not everyone will survive.
 


My Review
I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read book 1 (Crave) a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it, I was desperate for book 2 and when I saw it on Netgalley I had to put a request on it. I never imagined I would get a copy so when I did there was definitely screaming involved - I was so excited. 
This series is so well written and totally addictive.
This book kicks off straight after the ending in book 1. Tristan and Savannah are no longer a couple but they both still love each other, they hae to fight to stay apart and try to move on - some things just can't be, sometimes you have to face defeat, but matters of the heart are never that easy. Add in rival clans, Vampires, witches, descendants, Keepers and magic of all sorts it gets really tricky!
I got this book in Adobe Digital Editions which I couldn't get to work on my ipad which meant I had to read this on my laptop, as I am at work all day and out most evenings until 9.30, this meant my only reading time was quite late for this book, and it gave me a couple of late nights. I sat down the first night at 11:30 planning to read for half an hour and before you knew it, it was 1:30 in the morning and my eyes were starting to droop. But I couldn't pull myself away before then! I hadn't even noticed how long I had been there. I was completely and utterly lost in the book, once more walking alongside Savannah and Tristan.
There are quite a few sub-plots in this story too, but it doesn't get confusing, it just helps to keep the pace up and you know that somehow it will all come together in the end. Everything in this book is relevant, every detail has a purpose and leads you further into the story.
Savannah is definitely getting more kick ass and having to face up to her responsibilities and even face her Vampire powers, she has a few moments of sulkiness and the odd bit of whining, but mostly she is fierce and facing up to her troubles.
Tristan is still a little bit arrogant in places but you can tell how much he loves for Savannah and what he would do for her. 
The characters all really grow up and have to face much more in this book and I am so excited for the next installment. 
This series really is a treasure, excellent writing, brilliant characters, gripping storyline and beautiful covers! Definitely worth reading!

My Rating
 
  

Sunday 23 September 2012

Book Review - Divergent (re-read)

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks
Release Date: 3 May 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0007420414

Synopsis
One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail…
In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior’s world, society is divided into five factions – Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) – each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a “perfect society.” At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives.
On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family’s group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly “perfect society.” To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.

My Review
I read this in May last year and loved it. I wrote a review then, which you can read here.
With the release of Insurgent I wanted to go back and re-read this one. I was surprised by how much I had forgotten so this was actually almost like reading it fresh.
I still loved Tris as a character, I knew she would be kick ass, but I also felt like I got to know her better this time, Like I had a basic idea of her from reading it last year so this year I could look at her closer, and I saw just how complex and real Veronica Roth made her. Tris has a fierce determination, a deep passion, a cool level-head, and a hardness to her that she draws on when things get tough, but at the same time a softness that cries out for acceptance and love. She seemed so much more this time through.
Four also offered other sides to him, of course this time through I already knew his secret, I had remembered that, but it didn't spoil it for me, in fact it allowed me to realise why he acts the way he does and see what a good heart he really has. 
The whole initiation process was exciting and i loved the mix of characters and factions as they try to settle into a whole new life. Once again i felt like I was in the world, it was all so clear to me. I'm even more excited to read Insurgent now. I finished this in about half a day, it's so addictive, hard to put down and walk away from.
I remembered why there was so much hype about this book and why I had it lodged in my brain as a favourite! 
I highly recommend this book and I'm sure book 2 will be just as good.
Thank you Veronica Roth for creating such a treasure!

My Rating
   

Friday 21 September 2012

FF (88)


Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.

This week's question feature is
Amelia @ The Aurthoress

Q: What hyped up book do you think was worth all the talk?

My Answer: I have quite a few - Hunger Games of course, Harry Potter, then some others like Divergent (Veronica Roth), The Selection (Keira Cass), Slated (Teri Terry). All fabulous! 


Happy Hopping & Blogging. :D

 

Thursday 20 September 2012

Whispers At Moonrise - Trailer

In just 11 days the latest part of the amazing Shadow Falls series will be released.

"Whispers at Moonrise" is book 4 in the Shadow Falls series by C.C Hunter and they just keep getting better.

Here is the trailer for the book:

Awesome right? :D

I was actually lucky enough to get a Promotion pack ahead of time, which included an ARC of the book, some pens and bookmarks, a t-shirt and a bag. Which is just Epic!

If you want to read my review of this new release you can here

Anyone else excited for its release? You should be!

YOu can get a copy from:

Book Depository

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Check out C.C Hunter's website here


It's almost here! woooo!





Book Promotion - Indralas

Synopsis:
It's been more than 200 years since the legendary Keral wrought destruction on Aethera, destroying homes and leaving hundreds dead in his wake before the Four struck him down. When fifteen year old Indralas participates in the mandatory Ceremony of Blessing, everything changes. 

Exiled from her hometown and hunted by those of the Orders, she struggles to fend for herself in the wilderness. While the Power closes in on her, she discovers she has unusual allies and a timer on her life. 

Don't start this SlimBook unless you have an hour or two of free time ahead of you, because you won't be putting it down.

Author bio:

Bridgette Conrow has wanted to be a writer as long as she can remember. After losing sight of that dream and becoming drawn to the French language she set off on her adventure to SUNY Oswego, where, two years after starting, she decided to change her major to Creative Writing. Now, years later, she's using her BA to create awesome stories and fulfill her childhood aspirations while trying to pay back the debt incurred by her education. You should probably help her do that.
 
 
here's a one-minute video on how SlimBooks is a different kind of publisher: http://youtu.be/ZHioWaFeCVM

Here's the link for purchase: http://www.slimbooks.com/indralas
 

Monday 17 September 2012

Book Review - Skulduggery Pleasant & The Kingdom of the Wicked

Title: Skulduggery Pleasant Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Derek Landy
Series: Skulduggery Pleasant (book 7)
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Release Date: 30 Aug 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0007480227

Synopsis
Magic is a disease.
Across the land, normal people are suddenly developing wild and unstable powers. Infected by a rare strain of magic, they are unwittingly endangering their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Terrified and confused, their only hope lies with the Sanctuary. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are needed now more than ever.
And then there's the small matter of Kitana. A normal teenage girl who, along with her normal teenage friends, becomes infected. Becomes powerful. Becomes corrupted. Wielding the magic of gods, they're set to tear the city apart unless someone stands up against them.
Looks like it's going to be another one of those days…


My Review
It's Skulduggery Pleasant!!!!! *Runs around excitedly clutching book* This is one of my all time favourite series and I always look forward to the release of the next installment, counting down the days until I can get it. I've met Derek Landy twice and he is so nice and genuine in real life and just as funny as his books make him seem, unfortunately he didn't come close enough to me on this tour for me to meet him again but the book was released the day after my birthday so my best friend bought it for me as a present.
So where to start, this book is full of so much Epicness it's hard to calm my thoughts and think rationally. I am going to try not to include spoilers as these are too good, they need to be read and discovered as you go.
What would you do if you woke up one day with magic? Well hundreds of seemingly ordinary people are waking up to discover their new powers, some use it for good whilst others get drunk on powers. Skulduggery and Valkyrie are once more on the case and still as kick-ass as ever. They have really become a team and they bounce off each other so well. I love the quick, sarcastic comments and witty remarks.
The new spread of characters was pretty cool, Kitana is a total psychopath and I love her! In a 'I want to kick her upside the head' kind of way. Argeddion, well what can you say about Argeddion? Nutjob? lol
Nearly all of your old favourites are back at some point and it was good to have them in it. Ghastly features quite a lot which I loves as he is one of my favourites! :D
The storyline is fast paced, action packed and just plain awesome. This book may be 605 pages but it will fly by in an instant! I couldn't stop reading and I didn't want to look away. The only complaint I have is how long we have to wait for the next one, and with that ending? Derek you are torturing us!!! I need to know what happens next. I always knew there was something going on there! 
If you haven't ever read Skulduggery Pleasant, I don't know what you have been doing with your life, or how you manage to live in such an empty existance - trust me, your life is not complete until you have read SP! So go out, find a copy of all the books in the series (Skulduggery Pleasant, Playing With Fire, The Faceless Ones, Dark Days, Mortal Coil, Death Bringer, Kingdom of the Wicked) and get reading!!! You won't regret it, I promise. You'll be laughing your socks off. 

My Rating
 
 





  

Book Promotion - Guardian of Atlantis

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Raven Weir has a somewhat normal life until she receives a mysterious necklace…a necklace others are willing to kill her to get because it contains the key codes to Atlantis. Now she finds she’s the only one standing between Atlantis and those who want to use the power hidden there to take over the world.
And Zeus is at the head of that line.
On top of worrying about social acceptance at school, Raven has to get control of her growing powers before she harms someone. And it doesn’t help that the alpha Hellhound at school is attracted to her while members of his pack are trying to kill her. And then there’s the whole biological parent issue. Finding out you’re adopted is huge, but discovering you’re actually the daughter of Medusa and Poseidon will definitely cause problems.

Author bio
Annie Rachel Cole was born in Temple, Texas, and grew up in the small town of Buckholts. Annie graduated from University of Houston—Clear Lake and has worked for the past several years as both a high school English teacher and a junior high Language Arts teacher. She currently teaches Communication Applications to 8th graders. She enjoys reading, fishing, and playing Texas Hold’em poker. Annie lives in New Braunfels with her husband, son, and two cats who think the world revolves around them.

Links

Excerpt

I remember asking my mom why we had to move again. But she never gave me a reason.
“This is the last time we’ll move,” was all she told me as she wrapped the dishes and put them into a cardboard box.
That was five years, four houses, two apartments and six schools ago. But hey, who’s counting?
     --Raven Weir’s journal


Raven chewed on her bottom lip. She hated the first day of school, even more so when it fell in the middle of the school year like so many of her past first days had. But today was worse. Today was her sixteenth birthday. In all the books and movies, sixteenth birthdays were magical. Girls discovered they were princesses of lost countries, or fairies with wings, or they had powers that no one else did. They didn’t start new schools in the middle of the school year on their sixteenth birthdays.
“How about we go back home and I help you unpack?” Raven asked her mom. She tried the birthday strategy last night, but her mom shot that down really quick, telling her she’d already missed too many days because of the move.
“There’s not much to do. Besides, you might as well get this over with,” said Suzanne Weir. “Do you want me to go in with you?”
Raven shook her head. It looked like she wasn’t getting out of going to school today, but she didn’t need her mom walking her in like she was a little kid. She stared at the students walking toward the huge two story brick building and sighed.
“Are you okay?” asked her mom.
“Unicorns? For a mascot? Mom, are they serious?”
“And what’s wrong with unicorns? They’re cute.”
“That’s the problem. School mascots shouldn’t be cute. They need to be tough and mean looking. Really! Pinewood High, Home of the Fighting Unicorns. My new mascot is a unicorn? How pathetic is that!”
“Does it really matter that much, or are you just looking for something to stall the inevitable?” asked her mom. “What’s really wrong?”
“Are you sure I can’t stay home? Just for a couple more days. It is my birthday. My sixteenth birthday.” Raven crossed her fingers, hoping maybe the birthday strategy would work this time. “I just don’t think I should go to school today. My stomach feels funny,” she added.
“You’re just having first day jitters. Go have a great day. You’ll be fine. And Raven, happy birthday.”
“You’re no help,” mumbled Raven as she got out of the car and slammed the door shut. “Just what I wanted, to be stared at on my birthday.”
Suzanne waved, but Raven just stuck out her tongue, even though it was a childish thing to do, but she was playing the new kid on her birthday. So much for a date for the prom or anything else. At least she had a chance for a date at her other school, but here? Not likely. She was the new oddity, but more so because her dad taught here before he died. Raven adjusted her book bag and stepped into the flow of students heading toward the building.
At least she already had her schedule and didn’t have to sit in the office waiting for it. One embarrassment off the list of embarrassing first day stuff she’d have to endure. Raven glanced at three girls standing just outside the glass doors. They were laughing and hugging each other.
“Maybe…” but Raven shoved the thought to the back of her mind as quick as she could. No use wishing for such things even if it was her birthday. It wasn’t going to happen. She pulled the schedule out of her back pocket as she entered the building. Biology in Room 212 was the first class listed. Raven glanced at one of the doors on her right. Its number started with a one. “So I’ve just got to find the stairs,” she told herself. “Great, the new morning workout routine.”
“Hey, moron. Get out of the way.” A huge dark headed guy shoved Raven, almost knocking her to the ground.
The girls from outside followed behind the guy, still giggling and laughing, but now it was directed at her.
“Blue hair. So not in fashion and so against the rules,” said one girl.
“Yeah, and it looks stupid. Not your color at all,” said the tall blonde in the bunch. “Way too dark. What is it? Some kind of Goth look?”
Before Raven could say anything, the guy and girls disappeared in the crowd, leaving a trail of laughter behind them. “Great. Just great,” she mumbled.
“Is there a problem?”
Raven looked up in the direction of the voice. A tall woman in a dark pin-striped suit and black heels glared down at her. The sharp angles of the woman’s face were emphasized by the severe bun she had scrapped her chestnut hair into.
“Is there a problem?” The woman asked again, but it no longer sounded like a question. Even though her voice was still low and strong, there was a weird, powerful undercurrent that pushed and twisted, as it wrapped itself around Raven.
Raven blinked and shook her head. “No. No problem. Just looking for my classroom.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Here let me see that.” She snatched the class schedule out of Raven’s hand. The woman studied the paper for several seconds. “Raven Weir,” she said as she held the paper away from her with two fingers.