There’s nothing better than cuddling under a blanket, having a candle burning near you, and reading a good book, on a cold fall or winter night. Absolutely nothing better! Well … unless you have a good cup of tea or coffee in your other hand (sounds amazingly perfect!).

The book I’m reviewing today, is called Tempest by Julie Cross! I was sent this book through the mail by St. Martin’s Press, not really sure if it’s for my personnel blog, Turning Pages, or Burn Bright. But I had a great time reading it, so I’ll share my review on both sites 🙂

There is some sad news though, Tempest isn’t coming out til the beginning of next year (January 17), so not only are these my thoughts and opinions, but their also a huuuuge teaser, since you won’t be able to purchase the book for another two months! Sorry guys, but I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend going out, and getting it ASAP!

Has anyone ever asked you this question, “If you could have any super power, what would it be?” What was your answer? The power to hear what people are thinking, to be invisible, to be able to turn into a eagle, or have super strength? What if you had the ability to time travel, what would you do?

In Tempest, the main character Jackson, didn’t exactly have a choice. Not only was he born with the ability to travel time, but he was born as a time traveler. Even though, those two things might seem very similar, their actually totally different. In Tempest, there’s almost like another race of people, who have the same ability as Jackson. They’re not aliens, like in I Am Number Four, who come from a different planet. But they look and act like normal humans, the only difference is, they can go back in time, and change things to the way they want them to go.

After Jackson, tells his best friend, Adam, about his ability, they start running tests; seeing how far back he can go, and if people would remember him, when he time travelled.

Soon things start getting crazy, and Jackson’s whole life is turned around. His sister died years ago, he finds out his dad is not his real dad, and that he’s in the CIA, and his girlfriend, Holly is murdered. Now he has to go back in time, to save his girlfriend, and figure out who he really is, and where he’s really from.

To be honest, I don’t think I have one bad thing to say about this book! Since Tempest is only the first book in a trilogy, the ending was a bit open, but I really liked how everything played out. It had my attention in it’s firm grasp, from the first page, all the way to the last!

I loved Jackson and Holly’s relationship, even though the first time you meet Holly, they’re arguing and fighting. Holly was a blast, she made me laugh a few times throughout the book, the way she acted, and never fully trusted Jackson. She just really reminded me of a friend of mine. On the other hand, Jackson seems like the kind of guy who keeps his feelings to himself, and isn’t exactly the romantic. But he grows a lot by the end of the book. The things he says, and the way he treats Holly, is soo sweet!

If you know me well enough, you know I’m a sucker for sad movies! I cry at the Titanic, Toy Story 3, The Notebook, and any other sad book or movie, nomatter if I have read or watched it twenty times already! I just really enjoy stories, that touch my heart enough to make me feel sad.

When Jackson slips even farther into the past, he runs into his twin sister Courtney, who passed away a few years ago, due to cancer. This part made me cry so hard! He explained to her, that he was from the future, and that’s why he looks so much older. Then Courtney asks about her future self, but Jackson didn’t want to tell her what really happens. I just had to close the book. I could take it any more,  I just need a breather.

I couldn’t even open the book, and read the next two lines, without my eyes getting watery again. Jackson was saying goodbye, and telling how much he loved her.

Tempest, made me feel every emotion possible. I was laughing a few times about Holly, cried about Courtney, and was mad at Jackson’s dad. I really enjoyed Tempest, and I can’t wait to finish the trilogy and see it in theatres! 🙂

You can listen to an clip from the Tempest audiobook on the link below:

Tempest audioclip

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (January 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312568894
• ISBN-13: 978-0312568894

Here at Burn Bright were are excited and grateful to see that the first book of the Night Creatures trilogy has been mentioned on two Best YA of 2011 lists.

The first list is Readings Bookseller’s Best YA Fiction of 2011, and Burn Bright is in some wonderful company. The other is Holly Harper’s Booktopia blog entitled Five Fiction Favourites for 2011.

That calls for an almighty SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!

We hope you’re enjoying our website and as we head towards our own Best Of lists, we’d love to hear from you on ways we can improve things here. Let us know what you’d like more of next year.

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Every once in awhile you come across that story that you just don’t want to put down. This was one of those books for me. It was a page-turner that I found so intriguing. The description above tells more of the story than what I was originally going to touch on in my review. I intended on doing a little teaser about Archer and his feelings for Evan, but it really lays it all out for you. What the description only gives hints at, is how much this book really shows a deeper look at relationships than the angsty teenage love we see so much of in books today. Although part of that may be that these characters are in college and the time for angst has passed, for the most part.

Archer and Vivian’s relationship has been getting stronger since they were young. There is just as much as a brotherly love her for has there is physical attraction. He has decided that by killing off all of the people that have ever hurt her, that she will eventually be able to take control of her life and live a better one, hopefully with him. She has not had a very good life, and now finds herself in an abusive relationship.

Every time something happens to her, she runs to Archer for support and comfort, but never for love. When Archer finds a friend in Evan, the fact that Vivian may never love him the way he loves her, has started to become realized. When he opens his mind up to how much Evan cares, his own emotional needs are finally getting to be met.

The murder scenes become more intense as well as each one happens. Archer has been carefully planning for a long time, how to make them all look like accidents. He is very calm when questioned by the police because of his connections with all of the people and until things start getting out of control we see a very calm and intellectual person in Archer. But as his hit list becomes shorter and his attraction to Evan becomes stronger, things begin spinning out of control, fast.

It was like watching a movie, the events and plot twists all add up to an intense and unexpected ending. A deep story about relationships, family and hate.

Paperback, 260 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 139781937044749

Some great news just in is that that Burn Bright and Angel Arias will be available in large print and Braille formats in Australia and NZ. They are being published by Read How You Want!

And to accompany that good news there have been some wonderful reviews for Angel Arias from Ever After Esther,  Winterhaven Books and from Good Reading Magazine (click to enlarge the review below).

In other news, congrats to Sharon for winning a copy of [intlink id=”7464″ type=”post”]Equinox by Lara Morgan[/intlink]. Please contact us!

And if you love the Night Creatures covers please consider nominating them for the Paranormal Cover Art Awards.

Have a boyfriend (or girlfriend)? Been dating for a while? Not sure what to do on dates anymore? Well, no need to fear! I’ve set up a WHOLE list of different, and cheap date ideas!

1. Going to the Zoo.

Who doesn’t love animals?! There’s tons to talk about, you guys can walk around, hold hands, go to the petting zoo, and just have a good time together looking at all the different types of animals they have. You can go to a smaller zoo, so the entrance fee won’t be as much(:

2. Go to a Rec Center.

Rec centers have TONS of different activities to do! Instead of this date being a one time thing, you can come multiple times, each doing some new and different.

3. Mini Golf (Putt-Putt)

I love mini golfing, it’s so much fun! I’m not sure how much it costs, but the place Josh takes me to is around $12 for both of us. And as long as we don’t play the last hole (because the golf ball goes into the hole, and gets taken away!) we can go back to hole one, and play as much as we want!

4. Watch Movies, and Cuddle!

There’s nothing better than this! Together, make a list of movies you both want to see, than pick the top three or four, and make a movie night. Grab a blanket, popcorn, soda and enjoy the movie! This is a great way to spend the night together, and what’s better than cuddling?

5. Go to the Coffee Shop and then the Bookstore.

I don’t think this is for every guy though. Not all guys like coffee, nor reading, but if he does this is a great way to connect, and talk about books!

6. Buy two cheap $1 Kites.

Go to the dollar store (they have tons of cool stuff), buy a kite, go to a big empty field or a beach, and fly them together! This is a super cheap date, only $1 for each kite, and you get to spend the whole day together.

7. Cook Dinner Together.

Everyone should enjoy cooking! Or eating! So why not make something of your own together. It doesn’t have to be a three course meal, it could just be grilled cheese, sandwiches, or soup!

8. Play Video Games Together.

Again, I don’t think this is for all girls. Some girl do enjoy playing video games, just make sure it’s a game you both like, and can talk and communicate about.

9. Have a Picnic!

Awwwh, I love picnics! At a pretty beach, just you and him! I think this is the cutest thing a guy could do 🙂

10. Go on a Walk, Go to a Park!

If you’re tired of just sitting at home together, go out, get some fresh air. Hold hands and go for a walk, to a park. You can swing together, and go on the slides! And if it’s cold out, you can go back home, or stop somewhere to get some hot chocolate!

I hope this list helped you at least stir up some date ideas! Just remember, you don’t have to always spend a ton of money to have a good time. As long as you’re with that special someone, it shouldn’t matter what you’re doing, or how much it cost!