Colors Like Memories

Sary #1

by Meradeth Houston

Julia has a secret: she killed the man she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her partner's life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her partner would never happen.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2012

About the author

Meradeth Houston lives in Montana where she’s an anthropology professor and scientist. If you let her, she’ll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about getting DNA out of dead stuff. She enjoys escaping the snow by imagining herself back in her favorite places in her home state of California, with a little drama or supernatural flare added in.

Reviews

[Michelle Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did-with a swift kick."

That line alone made me want to read more and I'm so glad I did. Colors like Memories was one of those guilty pleasures--the kind of book you can't put down until you read that last word. You let the kids watch television all day so you can read, you don't do chores and you order take-out for dinner--just so you can keep reading. Yeah, it was THAT good. So stop reading my review and start reading Colors like Memories! You'll be glad you did. Oh, and get that take-out menu ready. :)

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sary are souls of children who died before taking their first breath. Their job is to help people who are suicidal. They take their positions seriously, with a set of rules and a secret society that monitors activities of each Sary. Julia is a Sary. Her current assignment is to help a girl who has lost her mother and who was in an abusive relationship with an ex-boyfriend.

Julia is on edge, though. She’s haunted by memories of her first and only love, a Sary named Derek, and she feels responsible for his death. She promised him that she’ll always remain a Sary, although her emotional turmoil might cause negative attention to the point that her immortality will be stripped away. Also, there’s a new boy in town, Edison, and Julia senses something both familiar and odd about his presence. Julia is in danger, both from the present with someone out to harm her and from the past since she holds onto painful memories.

This is an amazing paranormal novel. I like the concept of The Sary. They’re like guardian angels, but different. There was a lot of suspense and emotion in this novel as the reader follows Julia both in the 1800’s and modern times. I’d love to read the rest of the series.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two love stories in one! This book weaves the past and present for Julia, a Sary, who earns the price of her immortality by helping humans resist suicide. But what's a Sary to do when her own heart is broken?

Colors Like Memories alternates between the love that might destroy Julia and the love that might save her, building to a satisfying, yet unpredicable, ending.

I look forward to reading Meradeth Houston's next book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read a book involving the Sary, so I really did not know what to expect from Colors Like Memories. What I found was a delightful story with characters I cared about. There was suspense, romance, and drama. Lots to keep me turning the pages!


A Sary is a being that has never taken a breath of life and is put on Earth to protect those who want to take their own lives. They have magnificent wings and must keep their Sary identity completely secret. Julia has seen a lot in the hundreds of years that she has been a Sary. The French Revolution, Civil War, and other important events she knows about firsthand. Of course, posing as an eighteen year old she knows way more than any history book will ever provide and she can’t get over how much the books get wrong. But, she isn’t here to focus on mistakes in history books; she is here to protect Marcy from committing suicide. Considering the depression Marcy has been in since her mother died, her father became an alcoholic, and her break up with her psychopathic ex-boyfriend- it isn’t an easy job. Julia has a hard time with this job because she has been dealing with the death of her one and only love for a long time and she can’t get passed it because she knows his death is her fault. When another Sary turns up and seems to know Julia she is definitely curious to find out how he knows her and why he is there. What she finds out has her emotions flip flopping and things go from bad to worse when Marcy’s history project prompts her to ask Julia some questions that can cause her to lose her wings. Will Julia be able to save Marcy? Why has the new Sary shown up in Julia’s life? Has Julia broken a rule that will take away her wings? You don’t want to miss this magical tale and the answers it holds!

I really enjoyed getting to know Julia and I like that she is stronger than she knows. Even though she can fly and has powers that help her to heal she still has fears and emotions that make her very easy to relate to for us mortals. I was rooting for Marcy right from the start and kept hoping she would see the value of her life and stop taking steps to try to end it. The writing was fast paced and there were lots of times I laughed out loud. It was fascinating to see the way things with the new Sary unfolded. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy magic, romance, and stories about friendship. Watching the characters grow was rewarding and the events kept me on the edge of my seat. I also enjoyed when Julia’s mind would travel back in time and we could find out more about the love she lost. As soon as I finished Colors Like Memories I just had to start the next book in the Sary Society Series.

[Cecilia Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colors Like Memories is a story which follows Julia's life and switched from present to past.

Julia is a Sary, and such she has a purpose in this world.In the present, her charge is Marcy, a teenage girl dealing with a drunk father, and ridden with guilt. Feels responsible for her mom's death. Her father doesn't help much in regards to easing that guilty.
Julia on the other side is dealing with her own loss, a companion she lost years ago and since then has never felt whole again.
Enter Edison, a Sary. Patient and sweet guy, and has a reason why he keeps hanging around Julia.

Then there is Derek, Julia's companion. I could feel the pain she was going through as she tried to live her life without him. As the memories of what happened to him years ago plagued her mind. From what I learned when the Julia's POV switched to the past, Derek was a wonderful ,sensitive, fun and loving person.

This a great story about healing, learning to forgive oneself. My only issue was the pacing at the begining which felt a bit slow. It picked up close to the middle and everything was super fine.

Sary world looks like an interesting. Hopefully there will be more of this world. I look forward to reading more from the author.

**Thank you Ms Houston for giving me a chance to read and review 'Colors Like Memories'**

[Skaistė Girtienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like emotional books. I like it when they touch your heart. And this one was one of these. It was full of various emotions and made me feel a lot.

After reading synopsis I was eager to know what happened that Julia lost her boyfriend, what‘s going to happen for her now, how she would deal with her assignment. Also I wondered who the Sary are.

Main character Julia is the one to help others, but she has wounds herself. Story tells more of her life as it is now and as it was before these wounds were made. And on the way there‘s a whole lot of various emotions – sadness, love, joy, guilt, longing, sorrow and many more. This story had bittersweet memories, sad and sweet parts. I enjoyed every part of it. I‘ve easily grewn fond of Julia and have found other main characters likable too.

I like it that there were some serious and complex themes covered in this book such as suicide, love, friendship, loss, grief and trying to live on. I loved to read how the characters go through them.

Also there‘s this interesting new idea about the Sary. Well, at least I haven‘t heard about them before. I liked to get to know more about them and their world.

Now I‘m curiuos what‘s next in the companion book The Chemistry of Fate. I wonder whether there will be more story of Julia or not.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal).

[Katie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meradeth Houston introduces a whole new species with the Sary in Colors Like Memories. They are kind of like guardian angels and help humans who are contemplating suicide. Sary Julia is sent to help Marcy, who has recently lost her mother. But ever since her Sary boyfriend died in an accident, Julia has found it hard to do her assignments and may lost her wings if she can't find a way to help Marcy. When a mysterious young man keeps appearing, Julia realizes it's not a coincidence. What is his connection to the Sary and can he help Julia keep her position with them?

Colors Like Memories is a beautifully written tale, full of rich details and deep emotions. It also has one of my favorite opening lines ever! I absolutely loved the flying scenes and felt swept off my feet with the Sary. Meradeth Houston breathes new life into the stale genre of YA paranormal romance with her imaginative Sary and Julia's journey.

[Mary Waibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I wait so long to read this? Seriously, I can't believe I didn't read this sooner.

Meradeth Houston spins a wonderful tale about Sari (children who died before taking their first breath) and their role as guardian angels (of sorts) working to keep people from committing suicide.

Julia, an experienced Sari, is having trouble completing her assignment. Not only is she having problems reaching Marcy, but Julia's own past is haunting her. Things go from bad to worse when Edison arrives, reminding her too much of the love she lost 150 years ago. You will ride an emotional roller coaster as you travel from present to past and back again with Julia as she learns how to help Marcy and herself in the process.

[Erin Rhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLORS LIKE MEMORIES is an achingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. Meradeth Houston writes with a clean, clear prose that packs a punch. She carries her characters through the full spectrum of emotions, and the reader is swept along in the journey. I encourage everyone to read COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and CHEMISTRY OF FATE. Houston and her Sary friends will leave you mesmerized.

[Crystal Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book blind. Honestly, it had been so long since I'd read the blurb, I had no idea what I was getting into. At the first mention of wings (and the gorgeous imagery that goes with it) I was hooked. Four hours later, I sat back to digest the entire story.

One sitting. Entire book. Consumed.

I loved the story world and can't wait to see where Meradeth Houston takes us next.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the new take on guardian angels. The author writes in such style that you feel every emotion the character feels. The storyline is well developed and has a natural flow. I would recommend this to readers of the YA genre. Look forward to more from this author.

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! It's not like I am surprised...Per Se...but I have to tell you that I'm always extremely cautious when I find out that a book I've been asked to review has those feathery beacons of hope and love: Angels...One of my biggest issues with the whole Angels and Demons aspect of Paranormal literature is that I struggle greatly with religious themes. I find it very difficult for authors to approach such a topic without sounding like they are on their soap box and striving to convert the world. I've spent entirely too much of my life being preached at (usually by people who should NOT be role models for anyone) and reading about religious themes tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth that taints the rest of the novel, no matter how well written it is or how much I would have liked it otherwise. That being said, I absolutely ADORED the way that Houston approached angels.

The Sary are basically everything you've ever thought you knew about angels. Particularly guardian angels. They've got wings, they have missions to save lost souls on earth, and they strive to protect their charges at all costs. The only additions here was that if people find out about them, they lose their wings and immortality forever and die among humans. Also, there was no religious identity. No god, no devil. These angels are fighting the good fight because that was their choice. They could have gone into the light when they died, or they could stay on earth to protect people from war, famine, revolution, and suicide. It was actually quite beautiful really. Made even more ethereal because the only way you can become a Sary is if you never experienced real life on earth. I.E. Sarys are children who died before taking a single breath of life. Totally fascinating concept and I could have used a bit more depth when dealing with that. How did Sarys come about? Who gives these people the choice of living or dying? I said I didn't want religion to be a huge part of it, but maybe I do want SOME kind of explanation into the Saries pasts and purpose in life.

Julia was an interesting character to say the least. I didn't really get a true sense of her personality and character because she was so tied up in the pain and grief of losing her lover and best friend Derek. She kind of hid behind her own pain so that you never got to hear her true voice...only a sort of miserable cry of heartbreak and loss. She tried to do her job the best she could and the times when she was talking with Marci were when she truly seemed to come to life as a character, but when she was left alone with just her own thoughts for company she became a bit sad and kind of boring. It's a good thing that she was almost never alone after the first few pages. If she's not with Marci, she's going toe to toe with Edison, a Sary from her past who brings with him more than memories and old hurts. In fact, if it weren't for Edison, I don't think I would have found the characters quite so awesome. He just brings a whole new level of depth because of how he's dealt with his own pain and trauma, and I loved how he helped both Julia and Marcy with their respective issues.

The storyline alternates between the past and the present as we experience Julia and Derek's relationship and then her pain at losing him. Though there was a lot of time spent on the emotional turbulence from Julia's past, the bigger story now revolves around Julia's new charge Marcy, and how Julia has been working to keep her from committing suicide. I really enjoyed Marcy's story. She has had a rough life and still keeps her spirits up for the most part, and she is pretty damn hilarious. Her abusive relationship with her boyfriend and her alcoholic father was a really fascinating story line and I wished that there would have been some more time spent on it. There's a lot of complexity involved as Houston weaves the past together with the present, but I have to say what kept me thinking about the book after I put it down, and then had me coming back to read minutes later, was the past flashbacks. You just wanted to experience more of Derek, more of their companionship, and more of the love that they felt for one another, even as the story progresses and you know that tragedy is about to strike.

I couldn't really decide what to rate Colors Like Memories. Though I enjoyed it and found myself becoming emotionally invested into the characters and the plot, I also felt like something was missing. There was just too little information on the background of the Sary, and on Julia's life in general. Her character wasn't one that I could see myself being friends with in real life so it was hard for me to be inside her head. Also, the ending felt very rushed. I could have used another 50, even 100 pages more information and plot. I mean...that was a HUGE twist that was thrown into the book. It deserved a lot LOT more time being in the spotlight and I feel like, had we experienced more of the life on Sary Island, we could have ended the book feeling much more stable. As it was, I kind of felt like I had the rug pulled out from under me and then I was left there lying on the floor wondering what had happened. Also...I have not heard that there will be any sequels, so if that was how the story will be left like forever, I do NOT approve...lol...Still, I think Colors Like Memories is definitely worth a read, just from an emotional stand point. You feel all snuggly and sweet on the inside and it's surprisingly touching when you get down to it. Four out of Five Keys!

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This book tells Julia's story (switching back and forth between her past and the present) - as it says in the synopsis, Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before she was born. One of a Sary's jobs is to help people who are considering suicide - to help them realize that life is worth living. Julia has been assigned to a teenage girl named Marcy who has been teetering on the edge of suicide since her mother died and her father turned to alcohol to nurse his emotional wounds. Julia is also trying to help Marcy rid herself of her caustic ex-boyfriend (who doesn't want to be an ex).

The problem is that Julia is suffering from her own loss - she feels responsible for the death of her companion Derek (something like a boyfriend, but that word doesn't really cover a relationship that's spanned hundreds of years!). Julia has to face her own demons before she can truly help Marcy, but getting past the death of the love of her life seems like an impossible goal.

The negatives:

A few vague details.
It seemed to me like there were a few holes in Julia's backstory. The synopsis implies that a Sary's sole job is to help people who are considering suicide (and that's implied a few times in the story as well), but when we flash back to Julia's past assignments, they seem to be centered on war - she was a nurse, helping to care for those who were injured in one. So, I think that their job was basically to help people, not necessarily just to help in suicide situations. But I wish it had been spelled out a little more clearly because I found myself confused a couple of times. Also, since it had been over a hundred years since Derek had died, I was a little unclear as to why Julia was just worried now about not being to help people because of her inability to get over his death. Had she completed past assignments just fine? It may have been the proximity to where Derek had died that was really causing her so much pain - again, I wished that would have been spelled out more if that was the case. But these were really details - they didn't mar the overall story for me much.

What I LOVED:

The unfolding of Julia and Derek's story.
I was completely engaged in the mystery of what had happened to Derek. Because the story unfolds throughout the book, I found myself constantly eager to keep reading and to learn more! Julia and Derek were wonderful together, which was bittersweet since you knew from the beginning how their story ended. I had all sorts of guesses about how Derek may have died (it's stated at the beginning that the Sary are immortal!), but I was really surprised when I found out what really happened. Derek's parts of the story were definitely my favorite!

Marcy's storyline.
I thought that this book did a great job of dealing with the issue of suicide and how someone's life can spin out of control. I really felt for her - how she had to deal with the loss of her mother and then the essential loss of her father too when he turned to alcohol to drown his sorrow. And then there was her crazy ex-boyfriend. I thought that Houston did a great job of realistically portraying that relationship - Marcy's ex was bad news, but he would try to turn on the charm in order to get her back. And, since he blamed Julia for the fact that Marcy dumped him, he showed his true colors to her pretty much all the time. I loved that Julia didn't just view Marcy as an assignment - she really cared about her and wanted so much to help her. You could tell that Julia truly ached for Marcy and just wanted to help ease her pain. Isn't that what friendship is all about?

Julia's demons (and Edison).
It's Edison (who mysteriously appears in Julia's life) who really makes Julia face her guilt and her anguish over what happened to Derek. I loved the emotional arc of this book and thought that Houston did a wonderful job with drawing us in to Julia's pain. My one complaint here is that it would be almost impossible for the relationship between Julia and Edison to live up to what she'd had with Derek, but the romance between these two isn't really central to the story, so that's okay.

I would definitely recommend Colors Like Memories to fans of paranormal books. This story is so unique and intriguing - I can't wait to read the companion novel to learn more about the Sary! 4/5 stars.

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit my blog for the Book tour for this, with a giveaway. My stop is 10/12 Also, you can read an expert to there. Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books


Wow, this was one of the most interesting reads I have read in awhile. From the moment I fell in love with the beautiful cover, until I started the first page. I was captivated right from the start.
I never read a book quite like this one either. I never heard of the Sary, they are like guardian Angels I guess, but mostly their assignments are to prevent troubled people from committing suicide. I do not want to give too much away, so will keep this spoiler free as I can.

I was really able to connect with the characters. I felt what they felt. Especially Julia, her pain and the emotions she brought were felt by me, and think they will for anyone reading this book. Even though lots of time has passed, she is still not able to let go of her guilt at the death of her companion (the man she loves) She still blames herself for his release from the Sary, and then his death (once released from the Sary, he was a normal human, in the middle of a war zone.) Her pain is so crushing, you feel it with her.

The author does an amazing job with all of the emotions and turmoil.
We jump back and forth in Julia’s long life, to when she was with her companion Derek and the present time and her current assignment. But this is done very well; I did not feel lost at all. It’s like Julia thinking back to that time, a recollection. And I enjoyed being able to learn about her and Derek.

In the modern time, we have a new possible love interest, one who could help her move on (it’s been 150 years, its time she moves on) and I really like him. I won’t say much about him, as I want you to learn about him yourself.

I at first did not feel connected to Julia’s assignment Marcy, to me she was weak, with all the attempted suicides, and being walked all over. But i was glad Julia was there for her. I was also happy to see her stand up for herself later in the book, so that was good.

There is a bit of suspense too, I was anxious on what would happen in a crucial part of this, a consequence to some actions, I don’t want to say, for it would be a spoiler, but it was suspenseful for sure.

There is only one little tiny thing I didn’t like, and this is a totally personal preference to me. The descriptions of the characters are pretty vague, like I never did get a clear idea on what Juila looked like, or Marcy. But the guys were described, but I was not impressed with the descriptions, she goes on to describe the most gorgeous brown eyes, Brown eyes? Well, nothing great about that, it’s the most common color, so to me it didn’t scream supernatural great looks, etc as it should of. But that’s my personal taste of course. As we are talking about a type of angel, just expected something a little more unique and stand out.

Overall, I loved this book a lot. I really hope there will be more in this line of a story. The whole Sary types are different for me, and would like to read more.
5 out of 5 stars for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for book tour and my honest review.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
I received this e-copy direct from the author, in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
I like the cover, the floating feather and how the scene is in a red hue does make the book cover look appealing. Does the cover go with the story? That's where the lone feather is relevant and after reading the book I imagine the scene being of Paradise Island.
The plot is quite different in that the "beings" are called The Sary. A Sary is the soul of a child that never took his or her first breath. The soul is given a choice to go "into the light" or become a Sary. So what's a Sary do? A Sary is assigned to a human who is suicidal. It is the Sary's job to try and help the human and prevent them from committing suicide.
So Julia is a Sary and is assigned to Marcy. Marcy has family and boyfriend issues. But then Julia also has problems too, se is depressed herself over the death of her companion Sary Derek. So can Julia overcome her sadness and depression enough to actually help Marcy.
I don't want to say a great deal more for the sake of revealing spoilers.
I really liked this book as I thought it's quite a different concept. I haven't read any others with "The Sary" in them so that appealed to me. There's quite a lot going on too, there's Marcy's story, then Julia's past, then a new guy arrives in town called Edison and it's a case of what or who is he. There's things going on with Marcy's violent ex-boyfriend. Marcy has no one else to turn to but Julia as her mother recently died and since then her father has taken to drinking excessively There is also the consequence of if Julia fails her assignment she may even lose her position of Sary, which would then break the last promise she ever made to her Sary companion Derek.
I really got into this book straight away and it kept my interest all the way through to the end. It didn't end as I had thought, but I did like the ending it had. All the questions raised were answered, which is always good. Could there be a Bk#2? I think so yes and it could have all three main characters, Marcy, Edison and Julia as well as introducing more of the Sary too.
So did I enjoy the book?Yes Would I read more in this series? Yes would love to, in my opinion it has plenty of scope for more stories etc. Would I read more by Meradeth Houston? Yes I really enjoyed her writing style, it flowed so easily and had just enough details to envisage what she was describing without becoming bogged down with too much information or words as some books I have previously read have had.
Would I recommend? Yes I think it would appeal to quite a wide market, YA, Romance, Historical.....

[Once · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colors like Memories was a book with a message. Meradeth Houston's story, which at one point brought tears to my eyes, was a story of love. Love shared by families, love shared between friends and the unbreakable love between soul-mates along with the thrilled of romantic love to be discovered.

The beginning of the book explains the world of the Sary which is made up of souls of a lost child who died before taking his or her first breath. It is a Sary's job to help humans who are hovering on the verge of suicide. But the Sary rules have no flexibility and even an accidental sighting of a Sary's true form means that that Sary is released from the Sary world. To be released is to die a mortal death.

We are introduced to this world through Julia's eyes. Julia enjoyed the life of a Sary until an accident took the life of her soul-mate and companion, Frederick. Julia and Derek came to choose the life of the Sary together on the same day. They were together through their education and after petitioning the Sary leaders were given permission to remain together as companions in their future assignments.

After centuries together as immortals helping humans through dark times they are given an assignment in The Americas in 1862. This meant that Derek would be stepping into one of the infantry units and going to war while Julia would become a nurse trying to heal the wounds of the soldiers on the front line.

As we leave the past we are introduced to Julia's present day assignment, Marcy, a young teenager who has lost her mother to a drunk driver and her father as he retreats from the loss into bottle after bottle of alcohol. Her relationship with her boyfriend, John, is abusive and dysfunctional. She is truly lost and Julia ( who in this assignment is a teenager attending school with Marcy and has become Marcy's best friend) is struggling to bring her out of her depression and grief. As Julia tries to show Marcy reasons to live, she struggles herself with the unbearable loss of Derek even a hundred and fifty years after his mortal death.

When Julia meets Edison, a new boy in school, she is shaken by a deep feeling of "knowing" him. Edison reaches out to Julia and soon she realizes that he is also Sary but his assignment is her. As she tries to deal with the guilt she feels because of her attraction to Edison she also battles with resenting his help.

As the story swings back and forth between the past and present Julia and Edisons lives have converged in the past as well as the present and it will take the two of them together to help save Marcy.

[T.W. Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting of this story unfolds from the perspective of Julia, a Sary on assignment. A Sary is explained as the soul of a child that never took its first breath whose job is to help and in a sense protect humans that are considering suicide. As the different factors affecting Julia’s assignment are revealed the setting goes from her present to 1862 America further elaborating on her relationship with Derek and revealing the root of her own personal depression and turmoil. During the unraveling of the story we also learn more about the world of the Sary and its rules.

On this magnificent journey through different times and paranormal revelation, Meradeth Houston created characters that were instrumental in propelling the reader from beginning to end of the story. Julia is trying to balance heartache and obligation to her charge, Marcy is Julia’s troubled assignment and friend, John is Marcy’s Ex, Derek was Julia’s companion and Edison is Julia’s unexpected Sary back-up. With so many elements and working parts to this story, you might think that it could get confusing for the reader, but Houston’s story telling was both clear and precise. The author has a knack for knowing exactly when to transition, when to take the reader back in time and hot to carefully unwrap the connection of elements from a characters past to their present. The scene changes where as vivid and effective as watching movie for me. And I was intrigued with the happenings of the story throughout the reading.

Overall, this book is an extraordinary approach to addressing a sensitive subject. Coming from a generation where adults seemed to consider the challenges of their children to be insignificant or tripe, I applaud the author for providing a writing that has the power to encourage, inspire, help, heal and simply serve as a platform to stimulate communication for any reader (regardless of age), who is feeling hopeless.

If you are looking for an interesting read, this book is well written, interesting and has several positive messages that the reader can take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any reader.

[Preet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that's sort of hard to review without giving things away. The story bounces between present life and the past as we learn more and more about the characters. While I enjoyed Julia's present life, it was her past that had me the most engaged in the book. By no means was her present life not interesting, but the relationship between Derek, Julia's first life companion, was so flawlessly written that any other relationships with Julia just didn't compete with it. What's interesting about this is that Derek's part of the story wasn't even a big chunk of the book, but it's truly what made the most impact. His relationship with Julia is what carries the book without him really being present.

I appreciated that all the characters were working towards a common goal without the other truly knowing what they were going through. I really felt for Marcy and her struggle. Meradeth Houston wrote her character in a way that made me want her to get through her issues because she deserved better. My only true qualm about the story was her connection to Edison. Though they were sweet together and understood one another on a different level, I just didn't really care for them together. I'm not saying their relationship was bad by any means, but being introduced to Derek first kind of made me want his love more. It's as if Houston gave me this huge delicious piece of cake(Derek), took it away and then gave me a piece of chocolate(Edison). The chocolate is satisfying, but it just isn't as amazing as cake.

Julia's story through all of her struggle was really sweet and hopeful. My only wish was that I could've had a bit more information on the Sary. The world Houston created for them was really interesting and I kept wanting to know more about them. If more stories do release with the Sary, I'd definitely be interested in seeing where this story goes.


Soundtrack:

Make It Without You- Andrew Belle
There's A Light - Jay Malinowski
Swim - Jack's Mannequin
Under Control - Cary Brothers

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia had chosen to be a Sary many centuries ago. Sary are the souls of stillborn children who have chosen to help keep those close to suicide from going over the edge. Julia lost her companion Sary, Derek, during the Civil War and the pain is still fresh. It’s getting hard to keep her grief from interfering with her Sary duties which would ultimately lead to her being stripped of her Sary powers and thrust into a human existence. This is something she promised Derek she’d never let happen to her as it did to him. Julia’s charge, Marcy, is teetering on the edge and Julia can’t afford to let her own pain cloud her judgment. Enter Edison, a new boy at school who reminds her of Derek, yet she can’t figure out why at first. As the truth is revealed, Julia travels home to find the rules have changed and things could have been different. Can she make the right choices to save not only Marcy, but herself?

Ms. Houston has written a unique and touching novel of grief and the potential to overcome any obstacle in ‘Colors Like Memories’. The characters, from Julia and Marcy to even Marcy’s psycho ex and her drunken father, are given true depth and emotion. Ms. Houston’s beautiful and detailed descriptions have created a complex world within the everyday world we know. The flow of the plot and the underlying emotions giving it dimension will have readers turning pages with anticipation. I am highly impressed with ‘Colors Like Memories’ and the level of emotion Ms. Houston was able to infuse within its pages.

[S. Policar · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from the author via Lovers of Paranormal on Goodreads*

This story centers around Julia, a Sary, and her current live, as well as the life she once had before she was cruelly forced to face the world all alone.
Julia's assignment is to keep an eye on Marcy, which proves to be a lot tougher than she'd thought it would be. With her own thoughts constantly on her lost companion, Julia stumbles more than once in her job.
I found this story endearing. I don't quite understand the Sary yet, but I'm sure what I question will be answered in The Chemistry of Fate. I liked how the concept of "guardian angels" was changed from what most people know of them.
I did find exactly two errors in the entire book but neither were major, and neither will slow the reader down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their YA with a twist of paranormal and a splash of romance.
I give this book 5 of 5 paws

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia is a Sary and has been for a very long time. Even though her boyfriend Derek died over a century ago, it's still fresh for Julia. Now, she has a new charge, a young girl who just lost her mother. She also meets a new boy, Edison, and they connect on a different level.

Told in two different time lines, present and the time from before, leading the reader to Derek's death, is captivating. The reader is drawn to Julia and her feelings for Derek and for Edison, which shows how she grows over time. A very unique world, the Sary is unexplored territory and one that I found captivating and would love to know more about.

Julia's journey is heart-breaking and also full of hope. Take the journey with her, it will resound deeply within your heart. A beautifully written story of life, connections and loss, moving on and filled with dynamic characters, Colors Like Memories is a must read! I totally loved it!!

[Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?

Colors Like Memories is the debut novel by Meradeth Houston. I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. The book never mentions angels, but the Sary seem like a type of Guardian Angel. They become a part of the human's life, so they can better protect them. The story presents you with segments from Julia's past and her life with Derek to segments from the present and a possible new love interest, who I'm very curious about. These two perspectives fit together to tell two stories within Julia's life that weave perfectly together into one. This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let it go.

[Jimena Novaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit--I probably wouldn't have picked up this book on my own. But I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway, and, well...

"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick."

Who wouldn't want to read more after that opening sentence?

I loved the writing in this book. The descriptions popped out at me, the dialogue was natural and engaging, and it easily sucked me into the world and the characters. Meradeth Houston has created such a unique world that feels so real, from the ordinary world where Marcy lives to the complex world of the Sary. And she made me believe in the characters--in Julia's grief and longevity, in Marcy's fragility and strength, in Derek and Julia's love for each other, in Edison's steady sweetness.

A wonderful novel about grief, love, and life.

[Conda Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colors Like Memories is a YA fantasy about a member of the Sari, which are angels made up of babies born who never breathed before death. Julie, the Sari, struggles with her own overwhelming grief as she tries to keep a teen from suicide.

Meradeth creates an excellent fantasy world with the right balance between the elements of the "real" world and the fantastic. Julie has abilities (and wings, I love wings) but she also has to eat and sleep--and has other human failings that are more important, the primary of which is that she's stuck in grief. Another excellent balance in the novel: the world was created with just enough back story and details for it to come alive, and not so much it bogged down this wonderful tale.

It was an excellent read.

[Susan Swiderski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Houston creates a somber reality of grief and attempted suicide, and then lifts the story up on the beautiful wings of a Sary, an immortal being whose mission it is to keep a grief-stricken teenager alive. The trouble is, that Sary isn't doing a very good job of dealing with her own grief. With her beloved soulmate Sary gone, she can't help but wonder what's the point of being immortal if she's doomed to being alone forever... or is she?

I don't usually read fantasies, but I found this story to be ... fantastic. And I'm a new fan. This book is engaging and delightful. Might make you laugh or even shed a tear or two, but mostly, this book is an enchanting escape that soars on beautiful feathery wings.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colors Like Memories was a book that there was never a moment something wasn't happening. The story started and hit the ground running. Most of the time I didn't want to put the book down even when I had to. At first I will say the cover was very odd, but the deeper I went the more I understood the red feather. Soon I was indeed knee deep in Julia's amazing world full of Sary and the human that was her assignment. From the very first sentence~
"I greeted his tombstone the way I always did— with a swift kick". I was immediately wanting to know more. And as I read more and more it all fell into place.
For my complete review see my blog :D
http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com

[Sharolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Colors Like Memories" is a moving story of Life, the importance of living that life, and how we are connected with others. As a Navy Wife (Hubby retired now since 2006) I feel that I have a unique perspective about this story and it is especially touching. Over coming temendous loss, dealing with duty and responsibility despite that loss, and realizing that..."Purpose is Everything". I hope that reading this story will touch your life as it has touched mine. Looking forward to reading whatever Meradeth is inspired to write next!

[Jacquelyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a very dark area that deal with the pain of loss.
Julia's job as Sary was to help other like Marcy handle bad times after a death to keep from killing herself.
The only problem with this is Julia is so deep in depression from the death of Derek that it's a struggle to keep going from day to day...

This whole time I was reading this story I was in tears.

This is a real problem with teen and I am glad that the author put it into words!!!

[Stuart West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meradeth Houston has written a magnificent fantasy about the mythical Sarys, a race of angelic creatures sent to the mortal realm to guide souls in trouble. What makes it great is the touching romance and character interaction. A timeless, tragic romance through-out time always gets this curmudgeon going. Ms. Houston's prose is stellar, dang near poetic at times. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the sequel.

[Kai Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of the Sary—to prevent suicide—really fascinated me and this first story in the series didn’t disappoint. I also liked the complication of the main Sary, Julia, having a battle with her own kind of suicide. There was enough mystery through the plot to keep me guessing too. With a lot of emotion woven throughout, this was a very enjoyable story.