Of Congratulations!

A few weeks ago, Gilbert entered a contest for "Mayne Attraction: In the Spotlight" by Ann Mauren. "In the Spotlight" is one of her very favorite books and Ann is her very favorite author so when she saw that Ann had an interview with Jason McIntyre, author of "Thalo Blue" and "The Gathering Storm", she checked it out. (You can read the interview on Jason's website The Farthest Reaches)


Basically, to enter the contest she had to leave a quick comment on the post about Ann. The winner would get an Ellery-Style prize package filled with goodies that are mentioned in the book. Jason McIntyre selected the winner by drawing randomly from the pool of commenters. 


The winner was announced on Friday, May 27, announcing that our very own Enjoli Gilbert of the dynamic duo, Gilbert & Gomez is the winner! We would like to say congratulations to you Gilbert, we know how fantastic your comments are and are so very very proud of you. 

Of Invisibility, Hidden Attractions, & Spotlights

In the Spotlight by Ann Mauren 

"One of the most unique young adult books I have ever read."

Ellery Mayne has made a disburbing discovery.  After a foiled abduction attempt, she realizes that an entire security detail has been shadowing her every move, protecting her from danger she didn’t know she was in.  Working to uncover the secrets behind her mysterious guardians, she carefully conducts her own surveillance, testing the limits of professionals who think she is clueless about them. 

Ellery’s attachment to her protectors grows as it becomes clear their care for her goes beyond the promise of a paycheck.  Summoning all her courage, she declares her feelings for her favorite agent, Ash Ryan, who is blindsided with joy and a sweet romance unfolds.  But they must carefully hide their love because his team will lose its lucrative security contract if their mysterious employer learns of Ellery’s secret relationship with Ash.

When her first love, Grayson Gregory, abruptly returns seeking to rekindle a relationship that she thought was over forever, she suspects she’s discovered the source of her security team’s employment.  Deeply buried affections for Grayson resurface and battle with the love and loyalty she feels for Ash.   Probing for the answers she needs and conscious that her actions will impact so many, Ellery finds that her life is ‘In The Spotlight’ and that she is the ‘Mayne Attraction.’

Can I marry a book? Because if so In the Spotlight would definitely be on my list of fiancées. The plot is FANTASTIC and Ann Mauren did a super job at creating characters than can stand alone and merge together to make a perfect story. It had everything a book needs: murder, intrigue, secrets, romance, complications, love triangles, etc. You name it, Ann Mauren had it in there. 

Of Technology, Unnatural Abilities, & Love Triangles

The Girl in the Steel Corset (The Steampunk Chronicles 1)  

by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Once again I was intrigued by how an author, in this case the wonderful Kady Cross, was going to connect seemingly opposite ideas into a book. The first time this happened was with Rosemary Clement-Moore's "Texas Gothic" and the outcome was wonderful. The result this time is just as amazing. Ms. Kady Cross has astounded me with her fresh characters and ideas.