Fantasy Lovers, Welcome to Everly

Fantasy Lovers: Here’s a book for you!

I’d like to introduce you to Everly, the first book in a brand new series by author Meg Bonney.

I met Meg online about a year ago. She’s a pop culture blogger, primarily for the entertainment site Pure Fandom. Some of her work has been featured on Entertainment Weekly’s page! If you enjoy popular shows like Supernatural, This is Us, The Gilmore Girls, and more, then I’d encourage you to follow her on Facebook, here.

Pictured above: Author Meg Bonney

When her book Everly was released, I purchased a paperback.

So, what’s it about? Here’s the back-of-the-book blurb:

Madison Rosewood is about to graduate and head off toward a big, bright future that any kid would kill for: a full ride on a track scholarship, the world's greatest best friend, and an aunt that has always provided for her. The problem? Madison just wants to find her birth parents, even if it costs her all of the above. 

When her Aunt Ruth is kidnapped, all of Madison's plans are put on hold. Guided by a mysterious stranger, Madison and her best friend follow Aunt Ruth's kidnappers through a portal into a hidden world called Everly. Traveling through fairy-lit caverns and towering oak forests, Madison quickly realizes that behind Everly's beauty is a world filled with treacherous magic, violent encounters, and shocking truths about her family.

There, armed only with an enchanted sword and a sharp tongue, she battles her way past deceptive witches and bounty hunters to attempt a dangerous rescue that changes both her and Everly's future forever.

I enjoyed the read, and if you like fantasy novels with strong female protagonists, then this is a book for you.

Madison “Mad Dash” Rosewood can’t wait to get out of high school. She may have broken records in track and field, but she doesn’t have any interest left in the sport. Something strange happens to Madison at the end of her senior year, and she finds out there’s a lot more to her past than she had known. She’s anxious to find her birth parents, but then she’s told they’ve passed away. That’s not quite the truth, though, either. In another world, one may be a powerful king and another a strong witch. There’s another dimension Madison discovers called Everly, where Magics as they’re called (people with special powers) have been imprisoned and are going to be executed by . . . well, you’ll see! It’s up to Madison with her new companion Ren and her best friend from our world Jason to stop them.

Madison is a humorous character, full of wit. Even with battle approaching, she can fire off fun one-liners and see the irony and humor in her life. There are twists and turns throughout the tale—are her friends and family truly on her side or has someone betrayed her? Not everything is at seems. Themes of loyalty, friendship, family, and betrayal are strong throughout the book. 

In each chapter, you’ll feel right by Madison’s side. The writing has a strong pace and good description. It turns out, without spoiling the end of the story, that there’s more to Madison’s destiny, of course. She prepares to deal with significantly stronger responsibilities—and tragedies, too.

If I had to make comparisons, I’d say the story starts out a bit like a teenage Bridge to Terabithia or Stranger Things—young, conflicted characters find another world, an alternate dimension. From there, it takes a Star Wars kind of motif, where the reader experiences not just a physical journey but a journey of self-discovery, too. Who is Madison (and the other characters), really? Who are her parents? What is her destiny?

Those questions keep the reader engaged throughout Bonney’s debut novel and what is sure to be a strong fantasy series. I look forward to the next installment, and I encourage you fantasy-lovers to give this one a chance!

Pick up a copy on Amazon, today!

About me:

Joe Chianakas is the author of the novel Rabbit in Red and is a professor of communication at Illinois Central College. Follow him on Facebook here. 

Roasting Marshmallows on the Manifold

Last weekend, I picked up a book from Peoria author Linda Lowery called Roasting Marshmallows on the Manifold.



The book is a collection of short stories about cars and life. It's a memoir of sorts, with snapshots from the author's childhood, teen years, and adult life, all centered around stories about vehicles. There are stories about a car that almost killed her, a car that wouldn't die, and the adventures of getting one's driver's license (that was my personal favorite). At the end of the book, Lowery lists "Car Truisms & Family Car Quotes," a humorous and insightful addition. Example: "Never mention buying a new car in front of an old car. It will die quicker, just for spite."

I enjoyed this collection because the stories made me laugh, and the stories took me back to my childhood, too. Especially if you grew up in Peoria, you'll enjoy the references to Central Illinois culture, from Farmington Road to I-74 and, of course, Caterpillar.

Reading Lowery's tales, I pictured myself as a boy in the backseat of my parent's car and all the adventures we had. Mom and Dad loved to take rides at night, and they'd always bring me along. We'd drive over the I-74 bridge and enjoy the skyline of downtown Peoria. I remember the old drawbridge where the Bob Michel bridge is now. The drawbridge always scared me as a kid.

We'd listen to all sorts of music on the radio, from the Beach Boys to Madonna. Eventually, I got my own Walkman and listened to the music I preferred, but I'd stare out the window on these rides. Sometimes my parents would drive for hours. There was something about the open road they enjoyed.

Eventually, my father passed, and Mom lived with my grandmother. Mom battled cancer, but she took Grandma on nightly rides every night that she could up until the terrible disease took her.

This book will bring all of your car memories back to life. It's a fun, sweet read by a talented author, and I encourage you to check it out. Although I may never want to ride in a car with Lowery if she's driving after having read these tales, I'd definitely read more of her writing.

For more about the author, like her Facebook page here or visit her webpage, www.storiesbylinda.com.



Her other books include Murder in the Library and Stories in Sepia, and you can find all of her titles on Amazon.





Enjoy!

About me:

Joe Chianakas is the author of the novel Rabbit in Red and is a professor of communication at Illinois Central College. Follow him on Facebook here.