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The Ameryn Chronicles #1
Finding Summerland
After his brothers recent disapearance Wesley Rochester wished he could just fade into obscurity. Searching for closure, he's haunted by visons. Consumed with decoding the messages, he begins turning dangerously deeper inward. Enter an intriguing, 'not quite' human stranger, who mysteriously arrives just as he feels all hope is lost. Together they begin to realize that their destinies are intricately tangled in a drama reaching far beyond the realms of the wold they know. Discovering the secrets plaguing wesley since childhood are no coincidence, and everything he believes is shattered. Captivated by her, he must decide between the life he has and the one he'd forgotten. 'Finding Summerland' is like 'Twilight' in the sense that it is a supernatural, coming of age romance—but has a genre bending, metaphysical element and a much deeper rabbit hole. Follow the journey of two star crossed souls as they explore who they are and the ties that bind them. Enter a world intentionally forgotten. A place buried by history, where only the chosen are aware of its existence. A place covenants are made and broken, where myth leads to truth and forbidden love threatens to destroy or be destroyed, becoming just another casualty in their shadow war. The introductory novel in a series of five, called 'The Ameryn Chronicles'—but compelling enough to stand alone—'Finding Summerland' is sure to be savored by anyone craving to stretch the bounds of ordinary imagination, edgy enough to engage readers who enjoy unravelling a mystery, and sweet enough to grab onto the hearts of the romance lovers! Where legends breathe and dreams are alive. A 'trippy' journey to a new reality.
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Paige Bleu
1 book59 followersI'm a Sagittarius born in the wrong era....I would have fit better in the 50's I think. I'm hard to peg...a somewhat eclectic mixed breed. I love to read a good book...preferably in hardback. I've never been a tweeter, facebooker, etc....despite the fact I'm on the internet everyday, for hours at a time. Coincidentally, I just set up a facebook for the first time yesterday. I prefer phone calls to texts, and in person, to phone calls. I hate pictures and attention, but did some modeling. I don't drink, but bartended. I made it to the top of the mountain and fell off. When people tell me I can't is when I go from timid to tenacious. I'm writing a book series. Someday I want to go to Tibet and own an Alpaca. I like people, but I'm not 'in love' with them....I'm outgoing, but secretly terified. Yellow is my favorite color. I'm looking forward...
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 25, 2013
I must start out by saying that I really enjoyed this book and found myself studying the use of the English language that was used by the author. Her writing is exquisite and the words flow like poetry.
“She would never tell me. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. It was like trying to put together a puzzle with invisible pieces. I only had small fragments
to work with, and even those were constantly changing forms.”
It is precise and each word seems like it was hand picked like a jewel. Miss Bleu just has a way with words but not words you hear put together exactly like this. There is an art form to her writing.
Even though this book falls under the category of Young Adult, which I am not, I still really enjoyed the story. I couldn’t wait to read what would happen next. It was pleasurably unpredictable.
I am already looking forward to book two in the series. The story between Wes and Olivia is very much a beautiful mystery.
I would highly recommend Finding Summerland. It was great escape that was not at all predictable.
“She would never tell me. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. It was like trying to put together a puzzle with invisible pieces. I only had small fragments
to work with, and even those were constantly changing forms.”
It is precise and each word seems like it was hand picked like a jewel. Miss Bleu just has a way with words but not words you hear put together exactly like this. There is an art form to her writing.
Even though this book falls under the category of Young Adult, which I am not, I still really enjoyed the story. I couldn’t wait to read what would happen next. It was pleasurably unpredictable.
I am already looking forward to book two in the series. The story between Wes and Olivia is very much a beautiful mystery.
I would highly recommend Finding Summerland. It was great escape that was not at all predictable.
October 27, 2012
when i was asked to read this book for a honest review i was kinda nervous
i thought to my self well what if i hated it i dont want to hurt anyones feelings
but oh boy am i glad i read this book and this is honest
paige bleu is a amazing author
she takes you on a ride of love,hurt and even betrayel this was a great book
if you need a book to read, the kind of book you start to read and you cant put it down
because its that good well this is the book for you
sit down and follow wesleys story i promise you wont regret
i thought to my self well what if i hated it i dont want to hurt anyones feelings
but oh boy am i glad i read this book and this is honest
paige bleu is a amazing author
she takes you on a ride of love,hurt and even betrayel this was a great book
if you need a book to read, the kind of book you start to read and you cant put it down
because its that good well this is the book for you
sit down and follow wesleys story i promise you wont regret
July 18, 2012
I loved it, but I'm biased LOL ;-)
August 5, 2013
Over the past 18 months, it has been my pleasure and privilege to read a number of extraordinary Young Adult novels; so many that I've run short on superlative adjectives and am now forced to recycle a few. Needless to say, there are quite a few gifted authors out there and this reader believes that he's just found another one.
Finding Summerland tells the story of Wesley Rochester - Wes to his friends - who lives in the Texas oil country. Though his family is quite well off, money has brought him little happiness. Wes suffers from being a middle child, sandwiched between his younger sister who is all into beauty pageants and competitions - spurred on by an indulgent mother - and his older brother, Channing, who was a star athlete, Mr. Popularity and an all around heart-throb. Wes has lived in Channing's shadow all his life and now that shadow has deepened; Channing disappeared on a post-graduation trip to Mexico less than a year before the story opens. While Wes never really wanted to compete against his older brother, that is thoroughly impossible now. How can you compete with someone who is no longer there? Wes is not Channing.
Instead, Wes is a loner, a misfit. He would love nothing more than to be alone in his room with his guitar and away from the goldfish bowl that's high school. Wes has been diagnosed with learning disorders, ADD and has been marked with this ever since he was little. Is Wes really a victim of the disorder or is he a victim of something else; Not fitting in this world or this life? What Wes can say is that something odd is going on and has been for quite some time.
Wes has dreams. Inexplicable dreams. He does inexplicable things like drawing in his sleep and then waking up to find that he had not done just one sketch but many. One of those drawings seems to be both original and meaningful so he has it tattooed on his back. Wes is haunted. One of his dreams features a pair of beautiful girl's eyes are looking at him. Just what is going on here?
Wes has a best friend, Wyatt, whom he has known since kindergarten. Highly intelligent, Wyatt has stood by Wes and stayed with him even when Wyatt's intellect could earn him a chance to take honours courses. Wyatt is the reason Wes is where he is in school with the finish line a few months away. Without him, Wes would have faced the prospect of being left back, multiple times.
Concerned about Wes, Wyatt has finally coaxed him out of his shell somewhat and somehow induced him to come along on a Spring Break expedition to Corpus Christi. Wes admits to himself that it just might do him good to break away from the confines of high school life and go back to his parents' beach house, the scene of his happiest memories. It is this decision that will change his entire life.
The second night of his stay, Wes takes his beloved guitar and slips out to the beach in order to get away from a raucous party going on in the beach house. Finding his favourite spot on the sand - a log, actually - he sits, plays and works on lyrics to some of his tunes. That is, until he feels himself being watched. In a Madison-esque moment, Wes discovers that it's a girl who has been watching him. A girl named Olivia. Things will never be the same for Wes.
Finding Summerland is told from a 1st person viewpoint by Wesley Rochester. This is news in and of itself as the vast majority of YA Mer-fiction is told in 1st person by the heroine. While this reviewer enjoys a tale that's told in a feminine voice, it's always good to hear from the guys; they make up 50% of the population after all. While the feminine viewpoint can give YA males an insight into a YA girl's thoughts, feelings and aspirations, the road goes both ways and YA girls have an opportunity to learn that guys have feelings, are sensitive and are not quite the dumb beasts that many paint them to be.
When this seemingly rare event occurs in YA Mer-fiction, this reviewer is usually amazed at how well women authors - and there is definitely a preponderance of them in YA Mer-fiction - get it right. Ms Bleu is decidedly one of those writers and Wes Rochester is indeed portrayed with a healthy dose of reality. While Wes may come from a privileged background, he is not the arrogant, unfeeling jerk that is all too often a stereotypical figure in novels. Paige Bleu has created a character with warmth and feelings. Wes is a real guy.
In stories narrated in the first person, the other central characters seem two-dimensional more often than not. In the case of Finding Summerland's girl of mystery, Olivia, the character is quite palpable. Of course, we don't know everything there is to know about Olivia - it wouldn't be much of a novel if we did - but the reader does sense that she is just as real and multi-dimensional as Wes.
If readers are expecting tails, scales and a mystical, magical mermaid-land, they are in for disappointment as none of this appears in this first book of The Amryn Chronicles. It becomes obvious that Olivia "isn't from around here" and both the facts that there is a hidden land and that Olivia doesn't always walk upon terra firma are spoken of but never seen in this installment. The story builds slowly but deliberately. With four more books to come (!!!) Ms Blue can afford this luxury. What Paige Blue does do is weave a spell-binding tale that is both compelling and haunting. She seems to have an extraordinary gift for story-telling; one that caused this reviewer to peruse this book in almost record time - stopping only to catch his breath - in order to unravel the mystery that is Olivia and learn what happens next. To praise Paige Bleu's obvious talent any further would only be gilding the lily. If you are a fan of Mer-fiction, paranormal romance and mystery, by all means read this book.
Paige Bleu's novel seems to have it all: loss, grief, anger, discovery, joy and - ultimately - heartbreak, all set in the milieu of a Texas high school as students teeter on the brink of departure and escape. There are many more questions than there are answers in Finding Summerland. In a planned 5-book series, there is plenty of time for answers and this reviewer suspects that they will not come as fast - or as easily - as readers would like. Ms. Bleu should not worry too much about the next installment of The Ameryn Chronicles being a success. If the subsequent novels are as engaging and well-written as Finding Summerland, Paige Bleu will have readers queuing up - both virtually and physically - to learn what comes next. This reviewer can hardly wait.
Paige Bleu's website is at paigebleu.blogspot.com
More reviews of Mer-fiction may be found at The Parsons' Rant
Finding Summerland tells the story of Wesley Rochester - Wes to his friends - who lives in the Texas oil country. Though his family is quite well off, money has brought him little happiness. Wes suffers from being a middle child, sandwiched between his younger sister who is all into beauty pageants and competitions - spurred on by an indulgent mother - and his older brother, Channing, who was a star athlete, Mr. Popularity and an all around heart-throb. Wes has lived in Channing's shadow all his life and now that shadow has deepened; Channing disappeared on a post-graduation trip to Mexico less than a year before the story opens. While Wes never really wanted to compete against his older brother, that is thoroughly impossible now. How can you compete with someone who is no longer there? Wes is not Channing.
Instead, Wes is a loner, a misfit. He would love nothing more than to be alone in his room with his guitar and away from the goldfish bowl that's high school. Wes has been diagnosed with learning disorders, ADD and has been marked with this ever since he was little. Is Wes really a victim of the disorder or is he a victim of something else; Not fitting in this world or this life? What Wes can say is that something odd is going on and has been for quite some time.
Wes has dreams. Inexplicable dreams. He does inexplicable things like drawing in his sleep and then waking up to find that he had not done just one sketch but many. One of those drawings seems to be both original and meaningful so he has it tattooed on his back. Wes is haunted. One of his dreams features a pair of beautiful girl's eyes are looking at him. Just what is going on here?
Wes has a best friend, Wyatt, whom he has known since kindergarten. Highly intelligent, Wyatt has stood by Wes and stayed with him even when Wyatt's intellect could earn him a chance to take honours courses. Wyatt is the reason Wes is where he is in school with the finish line a few months away. Without him, Wes would have faced the prospect of being left back, multiple times.
Concerned about Wes, Wyatt has finally coaxed him out of his shell somewhat and somehow induced him to come along on a Spring Break expedition to Corpus Christi. Wes admits to himself that it just might do him good to break away from the confines of high school life and go back to his parents' beach house, the scene of his happiest memories. It is this decision that will change his entire life.
The second night of his stay, Wes takes his beloved guitar and slips out to the beach in order to get away from a raucous party going on in the beach house. Finding his favourite spot on the sand - a log, actually - he sits, plays and works on lyrics to some of his tunes. That is, until he feels himself being watched. In a Madison-esque moment, Wes discovers that it's a girl who has been watching him. A girl named Olivia. Things will never be the same for Wes.
Finding Summerland is told from a 1st person viewpoint by Wesley Rochester. This is news in and of itself as the vast majority of YA Mer-fiction is told in 1st person by the heroine. While this reviewer enjoys a tale that's told in a feminine voice, it's always good to hear from the guys; they make up 50% of the population after all. While the feminine viewpoint can give YA males an insight into a YA girl's thoughts, feelings and aspirations, the road goes both ways and YA girls have an opportunity to learn that guys have feelings, are sensitive and are not quite the dumb beasts that many paint them to be.
When this seemingly rare event occurs in YA Mer-fiction, this reviewer is usually amazed at how well women authors - and there is definitely a preponderance of them in YA Mer-fiction - get it right. Ms Bleu is decidedly one of those writers and Wes Rochester is indeed portrayed with a healthy dose of reality. While Wes may come from a privileged background, he is not the arrogant, unfeeling jerk that is all too often a stereotypical figure in novels. Paige Bleu has created a character with warmth and feelings. Wes is a real guy.
In stories narrated in the first person, the other central characters seem two-dimensional more often than not. In the case of Finding Summerland's girl of mystery, Olivia, the character is quite palpable. Of course, we don't know everything there is to know about Olivia - it wouldn't be much of a novel if we did - but the reader does sense that she is just as real and multi-dimensional as Wes.
If readers are expecting tails, scales and a mystical, magical mermaid-land, they are in for disappointment as none of this appears in this first book of The Amryn Chronicles. It becomes obvious that Olivia "isn't from around here" and both the facts that there is a hidden land and that Olivia doesn't always walk upon terra firma are spoken of but never seen in this installment. The story builds slowly but deliberately. With four more books to come (!!!) Ms Blue can afford this luxury. What Paige Blue does do is weave a spell-binding tale that is both compelling and haunting. She seems to have an extraordinary gift for story-telling; one that caused this reviewer to peruse this book in almost record time - stopping only to catch his breath - in order to unravel the mystery that is Olivia and learn what happens next. To praise Paige Bleu's obvious talent any further would only be gilding the lily. If you are a fan of Mer-fiction, paranormal romance and mystery, by all means read this book.
Paige Bleu's novel seems to have it all: loss, grief, anger, discovery, joy and - ultimately - heartbreak, all set in the milieu of a Texas high school as students teeter on the brink of departure and escape. There are many more questions than there are answers in Finding Summerland. In a planned 5-book series, there is plenty of time for answers and this reviewer suspects that they will not come as fast - or as easily - as readers would like. Ms. Bleu should not worry too much about the next installment of The Ameryn Chronicles being a success. If the subsequent novels are as engaging and well-written as Finding Summerland, Paige Bleu will have readers queuing up - both virtually and physically - to learn what comes next. This reviewer can hardly wait.
Paige Bleu's website is at paigebleu.blogspot.com
More reviews of Mer-fiction may be found at The Parsons' Rant
August 21, 2012
If you skipped the prologue of Finding Summerland and started at Chapter 1, you might not realise that it is a paranormal novel since there is very little to suggest that this is the case for the first half of the book. Of course, it is unlikely that the prologue would be skipped. It takes place one year ahead of the rest of the story and in contrast to the first half of the book is packed with paranormal activity. What I got from these two contrasting approaches was that it allowed me get a better understanding of what it would be like to be awakened to the existence of mystical beings. It made it more real. I’ve only come across this once before: when I read the beginning of Philip Pullman’s ‘The Subtle Knife’ - good company to be in ;)
The protagonist is Wesley Rochester, a 17 year old boy who doesn’t fit in - not at school or at home. He has learning difficulties, is an under-achiever and has trouble integrating at school. He has lived in the shadow of his older brother Channing, whom he loves. Channing is missing and presumed dead - although Wes does not believe this - and he is trying to come to terms with his disappearance. His life takes a turn for the better when he meets Olivia, a mystical girl who remains mysterious throughout. They fall in love. I would say the love story is Twilightesque with the roles reversed.
Wes is a nice guy but he isn’t perfect. He spends a lot of time observing what goes on in the lives of the popular teenage girls at his school and giving us an account of this. It is clear that he doesn’t like them and he is sometimes uncharitable in his opinion of them, while placing Olivia on a pedestal. On the plus side, he comes across as intelligent and wise and he is a likeable character. Some may say that there is too much of the daily routine of high school in the novel and one could argue that Wes’ fixation on the girls at his school is unrealistic (i.e. boys don’t care about that stuff). It would have been different if he were a girl.
Without giving too much away, the back story to how the Ameryn society came into existence (the paranormal stuff) comes in the form of documented information which Wes is able to read. The history is complex and there are a number of key players, each with a key part to play - so my advice is pay attention when you get to this part. I had to read it twice to get to grips with it and it maintains an air of mystery so you are still left with questions. The plot is well thought out and intriguing, with hints of good things to come in future books in the series. It’s a really good read and I am looking forward to the next instalment.
The protagonist is Wesley Rochester, a 17 year old boy who doesn’t fit in - not at school or at home. He has learning difficulties, is an under-achiever and has trouble integrating at school. He has lived in the shadow of his older brother Channing, whom he loves. Channing is missing and presumed dead - although Wes does not believe this - and he is trying to come to terms with his disappearance. His life takes a turn for the better when he meets Olivia, a mystical girl who remains mysterious throughout. They fall in love. I would say the love story is Twilightesque with the roles reversed.
Wes is a nice guy but he isn’t perfect. He spends a lot of time observing what goes on in the lives of the popular teenage girls at his school and giving us an account of this. It is clear that he doesn’t like them and he is sometimes uncharitable in his opinion of them, while placing Olivia on a pedestal. On the plus side, he comes across as intelligent and wise and he is a likeable character. Some may say that there is too much of the daily routine of high school in the novel and one could argue that Wes’ fixation on the girls at his school is unrealistic (i.e. boys don’t care about that stuff). It would have been different if he were a girl.
Without giving too much away, the back story to how the Ameryn society came into existence (the paranormal stuff) comes in the form of documented information which Wes is able to read. The history is complex and there are a number of key players, each with a key part to play - so my advice is pay attention when you get to this part. I had to read it twice to get to grips with it and it maintains an air of mystery so you are still left with questions. The plot is well thought out and intriguing, with hints of good things to come in future books in the series. It’s a really good read and I am looking forward to the next instalment.
November 5, 2012
Finding Summerland by Paige Bleu is a captivating story of love and loss. It is written in the first person narrative from the eyes of Wes Rochester, a teenage boy from the privileged family. But somehow he never fit into the high society, he is a loner and prefers a company of his guitar over a loud party. He lived in the shadow of his older brother Chunnig who is all that, but he's gone missing without a trace for some nine months. The family is going through tough time to get over the loss of their oldest son and Wes finds his mother's donning and turning her attention to him a bit overwhelming. It is during a spring break party in their summer house that Wes retreats to the log on the beach and finds Olivia. He is instantly drawn to her. Her innocence of all the things like cell phones, drama of high school and other things his society strives on, is like a magnet to him. But not all is right with her, we discover she is from another ancient realm, but due to her ability to shift her shape at will, she is seen as different by her own people and cast away. She helps bring his brother back to the world of humans and the passage between the worlds wiped his memory clean. He believes only what he's been told. Olivia broke the rules of her world with her actions and therefore will be punished. She decides to enjoy what little time she has left before she is brought back to her world. She enrols in the same school with Wes to complete the senior year. All the girls adore her and she becomes instant star. After the prom night the party spills over at the beach house, Wes goes to check on his brother who drank himself to a stupor. When he returns to the party downstairs, Olivia is no where to be found. But he knows in his heart this was the beginning of an end. A few days later he sees her with the man who fits the description of the guy she was last seen with. They are waist deep in the sea, they kiss and disappear into the surf. That was the last glimpse of his love Wes was granted. As he's walking back to the house, he feels his mood change to lighter and he understands Olivia did not betray him but rather liberated him from his sins.
October 31, 2012
I was given this book for my honest review by the author
My Opinion:
Wesley Rochester was what you would call a stranger in his own family. His sister had won every pageant and contest that she entered and his brother was a athlete, a star athlete. To his friends his name is Wes didn’t really belong in his family. He was told that he had a learning disability, ADD but did he? All he wanted to do was stay in his room and play his guitar with no one around his to bug him. What I thought the weirdest thing about this book was his dreams. Where he was drawing and drawing but only woke up to one drawing. Everything changed for Wes of course as soon as he met a girl who was watching him. Her name is Olivia. From there on Wes’s life will never be the same.
This book was filled with so much emotion, makes you wonder if the author herself cried, laughed when was needed. I know it took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. With Wes’s family ways and how he doesn’t fit into his own family it made my heartache for him. I find this book a paranormal romance genre and right up my alley on what I like to read. To think that I read this book within 2 days, that shows you how much I loved this book and cant wait to read more on this series. I am happy that the second book will be out soon. I also put off on finishing this book because I didn’t want to wait to see what happens and I wanted to stay in Wes’s and Olivia’s world. I think a HUGE thank you is in order to the author for writing such an amazing book! And I look forward to reading more from this author rather it’s the next book in this series or a short story I don’t care.
Star Rating:
5 out of 5 star
My Opinion:
Wesley Rochester was what you would call a stranger in his own family. His sister had won every pageant and contest that she entered and his brother was a athlete, a star athlete. To his friends his name is Wes didn’t really belong in his family. He was told that he had a learning disability, ADD but did he? All he wanted to do was stay in his room and play his guitar with no one around his to bug him. What I thought the weirdest thing about this book was his dreams. Where he was drawing and drawing but only woke up to one drawing. Everything changed for Wes of course as soon as he met a girl who was watching him. Her name is Olivia. From there on Wes’s life will never be the same.
This book was filled with so much emotion, makes you wonder if the author herself cried, laughed when was needed. I know it took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. With Wes’s family ways and how he doesn’t fit into his own family it made my heartache for him. I find this book a paranormal romance genre and right up my alley on what I like to read. To think that I read this book within 2 days, that shows you how much I loved this book and cant wait to read more on this series. I am happy that the second book will be out soon. I also put off on finishing this book because I didn’t want to wait to see what happens and I wanted to stay in Wes’s and Olivia’s world. I think a HUGE thank you is in order to the author for writing such an amazing book! And I look forward to reading more from this author rather it’s the next book in this series or a short story I don’t care.
Star Rating:
5 out of 5 star
August 20, 2012
This book was provided through a Read to Review. A great big thank you to the author for sharing this with me. Here is my honest review of the book...
This book is described as something similar to Twilight and while I can see some similarities, I think it definitely has its own story. I enjoyed the love story aspect and watching it unfold. I also loved the characters. I felt that I could really connect with the main character, Wes, and understand everything he was feeling.
Let's start with the intro - I liked how the story started. It quickly gave away that there was some sort of supernatural feel to it. While it gives that much, it doesn't nearly explain all parts and, to be honest, leaves you confused and wanting to read more to make sense of it. However, I should warn you the end of the book doesn't explain the entire first scene and definitely leaves you on a HUGE cliffhanger.
I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 because I found myself getting a little lost when they were providing some back-story. At the beginning, it seemed to go slowly because I was so eager to find out what they were talking about during the first scene. The book really started picking up about 75 or so pages in. The last 100 pages seemed to go by very fast because I couldn't put the book down.
I'm pretty bummed the second book isn't out yet. I want to find out what happens next! I truly believe that this is going to be a great set of books.
This book is described as something similar to Twilight and while I can see some similarities, I think it definitely has its own story. I enjoyed the love story aspect and watching it unfold. I also loved the characters. I felt that I could really connect with the main character, Wes, and understand everything he was feeling.
Let's start with the intro - I liked how the story started. It quickly gave away that there was some sort of supernatural feel to it. While it gives that much, it doesn't nearly explain all parts and, to be honest, leaves you confused and wanting to read more to make sense of it. However, I should warn you the end of the book doesn't explain the entire first scene and definitely leaves you on a HUGE cliffhanger.
I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 because I found myself getting a little lost when they were providing some back-story. At the beginning, it seemed to go slowly because I was so eager to find out what they were talking about during the first scene. The book really started picking up about 75 or so pages in. The last 100 pages seemed to go by very fast because I couldn't put the book down.
I'm pretty bummed the second book isn't out yet. I want to find out what happens next! I truly believe that this is going to be a great set of books.
December 12, 2012
OK.... so to review this book the right way and give nothing away I can honestly say I cannot do that haha. When I first picked up Finding Summerland I was also reading another book and all the amazing things from both books got scrambled in my head so I set this one down a couple days. When I picked it up again I started back from the beginning so I would leave NO detail unread.
rereading something I previously read went a little slow in the beginning but before I knew it I was flying through the book wanting to know more about Olivia and Wes!
Wes wasn't your typical teen he comes from a extremely wealthy family and Olivia she wasn't typical either she was from the SEA! (I know, wow. right?!) this story sprinkles bits of myths that I am sure everyone at one point or another has read about, through out it. this is the kind of book that will make you think and keep you on your toes. some of the details that Paige Bleu incorporates seem looked over at first but in reality she is painting a picture of sorts with her words pulling you deeper in to what is happening or what is going to happen next. I really enjoy Paiges' writing style and I truly did enjoy this book and would honestly whole hartedly recommended it to others. I am also excited to read more of Wes and Livs' story
rereading something I previously read went a little slow in the beginning but before I knew it I was flying through the book wanting to know more about Olivia and Wes!
Wes wasn't your typical teen he comes from a extremely wealthy family and Olivia she wasn't typical either she was from the SEA! (I know, wow. right?!) this story sprinkles bits of myths that I am sure everyone at one point or another has read about, through out it. this is the kind of book that will make you think and keep you on your toes. some of the details that Paige Bleu incorporates seem looked over at first but in reality she is painting a picture of sorts with her words pulling you deeper in to what is happening or what is going to happen next. I really enjoy Paiges' writing style and I truly did enjoy this book and would honestly whole hartedly recommended it to others. I am also excited to read more of Wes and Livs' story
October 27, 2012
Will review at a later date, thinking of how I would like to write my review in the mean time...
After letting this book settle into my mind for a few days I believe I can honestly review this book.
I was hooked from the beginning with the Prologue being what it was, it captured my interest. I love everything paranormal really and with the slight mystery of what the ending holds, it kept me reading wanting to know more. I wanted to know what brought on the intriguing Prologue.
Throughout the book I was interested in the why's most of all. The book's characters worried me a bit because there are just so many that I almost couldn't keep up with who was who. About half way through the book I decided not to worry about the simple mention of a character only the ones that were the main characters. This helped me in getting through the talk of new characters when they didn't come back and I was able to play the story in my head as a movie.
Thank you for writing this book, I'm wondering what happens next and would be willing to buy the next book in order to follow the story. :)
After letting this book settle into my mind for a few days I believe I can honestly review this book.
I was hooked from the beginning with the Prologue being what it was, it captured my interest. I love everything paranormal really and with the slight mystery of what the ending holds, it kept me reading wanting to know more. I wanted to know what brought on the intriguing Prologue.
Throughout the book I was interested in the why's most of all. The book's characters worried me a bit because there are just so many that I almost couldn't keep up with who was who. About half way through the book I decided not to worry about the simple mention of a character only the ones that were the main characters. This helped me in getting through the talk of new characters when they didn't come back and I was able to play the story in my head as a movie.
Thank you for writing this book, I'm wondering what happens next and would be willing to buy the next book in order to follow the story. :)
September 18, 2012
Starting out with a strong prologue, this book takes you on an amazing journey. At first it reminded me of Hunger Games but with a paranormal twist. The main character is an 18-year old boy with a lot of inner strength and maturity. Even though the reader finds out he attacks his best friend in the first few pages, the rest of the book keeps you on edge and wondering why. I found myself reading very quickly toward the end, anxious to find out what happens next.
There are many characters, but they are well drawn and distinguishable. This book will definitely appeal to the young adult reader as well as their parents. If you want adventure sprinkled with romance, I recommend Finding Summerland! But, beware, even though the book ends and gives the reader a satisfied feeling, there remain the nagging questions that still plague Wesley and will propel you to read the next volume.
There are many characters, but they are well drawn and distinguishable. This book will definitely appeal to the young adult reader as well as their parents. If you want adventure sprinkled with romance, I recommend Finding Summerland! But, beware, even though the book ends and gives the reader a satisfied feeling, there remain the nagging questions that still plague Wesley and will propel you to read the next volume.
October 28, 2012
A brilliant fantasy novel that is on par with many of the top ones out there today. Romance, mystery and more is what you will find when you open the pages of this book. I really enjoy the characters in this book are really well written and from the start I found myself anxiously waiting to turn the page to see what was going to unfold. There is a lot of suspense and mystery even from the first couple of pages and that is what captured me. The magic, mythology and fantasy all weaved into one kept me turning the pages and I was so disappointed when the book ended. I wanted to know what was going to happen next but it seems I have to wait to find out. This book will definitely appeal to the YA genre but don’t be surprised if you find you enjoy it too as an adult. It may just take you back to a time when magic, fantasy and mermaids seemed all too real to you too.
October 23, 2012
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This was a fun book with some aspects to it that made me think it was “Twilight + +”. I loved the story, it jumps around a bit but eventually comes together. I think this was the first time that reading the prologue actually gave me an all around feel for the novel. It drew me in and kept me interested. I also loved the way it helped you understand Wes and all he was experiencing, what he felt. All in all, a pretty good book. The only issue I had was that it left me hanging, now I wait in anticipation for book two!
November 4, 2012
I was kindly given this book by the author in return for an honest review.
What a fantastically intriguing read. I really loved this book and found it refreshingly different in a GREAT WAY!!!
I can't wait to read book 2 to see if Olivia & Wesley manage to be together!!!
A definite MUST READ FOR ANYONE!!!!
What a fantastically intriguing read. I really loved this book and found it refreshingly different in a GREAT WAY!!!
I can't wait to read book 2 to see if Olivia & Wesley manage to be together!!!
A definite MUST READ FOR ANYONE!!!!
August 25, 2012
Full review coming soon!
Want to Read
August 10, 2012Sounds intriguing. Will check it out.
September 8, 2012
I feel as though I am waking up from a dream. One that, as I get more and more awake, I can remember less and less of. That’s what this book was like for me. I still am not completely sure what the conflict in the story was - why the characters did what they did. This book seems to be 269 pages of building up to one page of something finally happening. Then, The End.
There’s a very confusing prologue, to start. It’s supposedly setting up the ending of the story so the reader knows something horrible awaits. But the problem is,
There’s a very confusing prologue, to start. It’s supposedly setting up the ending of the story so the reader knows something horrible awaits. But the problem is,
September 1, 2012
Before I start my review, I want to point out that this is in indie novel - that means there are typos and misused words and the page numbers don't line up perfect in your ereader. So if you can't overlook that stuff, don't bother. I, on the other hand, am an indie author myself, so I've learned to ignore a lot of that because I know the main goal of a indie author is to gather a fan base and get a real publisher so you can spend more time developing your story than trying to make it look perfect. So moving on to my review.
More than once in this book I was confused, but in a good way - the way that makes you want to keep reading so you'll find the spot where it all comes together (not the bad writing way). Bleu does the same thing at the beginning of this novel that I do at the beginning of mine - starting with a prologue that takes place in the future, in both cases so far in the future it's not even in the first book. In reviews of my books, a lot of people hate that. Why, I do not understand; I personally love it, especially here, because it gets me into the book knowing something huge is going to happen, shows me the character is going to grow, and keeps me wondering throughout the whole book what the heck's going on.
Another thing Bleu does that I never even thought of is continuing this prologue about halfway through the book. When I first read it, I found it supremely irritating - I was jolted out of one big deal and into another I wasn't prepared for. But after I finished reading it, I realized actually liked it. It reminded me there was a bigger picture, not just the Liv/Wes love story.
And speaking of the love story (spoilers follow), I don't know where the whole "the love story is like Twilight" review is coming from. The only minuscule connection I can make to that is that Liv is afraid to take their relationship too far because she doesn't want to put Wes in any more danger than he already is - but not danger from her, danger of her people who hate her. And when she leaves at the end, we're supposed to think it's because she betrayed Wes and went with another dude - although it's kind of obvious, I think, that there's something else going on.
When I first picked up this book, I honestly thought it was about angels or something - that's what comes to mind when I think of Summerland, probably because the only time I've ever heard it referenced was in Alyson Noel's Immortals/Riley Bloom books. So when the book started and it was clear Liv was otherwordly, and she kept loving the water, I was all confused and thinking "Mermaids?" And then, behold my luck, it was! The last book I read about mermaids was Sea Change (which I loved) and that was quite a few years ago, so it was a nice change from the usual vampire/werewolf/angel stuff.
I don't like the way Wes talks, I feel like he's too proper - at first I thought it was just lack of knowledge about the teenage species (which I am rather close to, seeing as I'm 18) but after a few chapters I recognized it as just normal southern boys. My family is from the deep south, and I've always been annoyed at how they talk - all yes ma'ams and no ma'ams to every female they meet, even if she's younger than them (we don't speak so sweetly up here in the north country). I also found it a bit of an odd anomaly the book was set in Texas - usually paranormal stories are set in some small cozy town that's cold and gloomy (Twilight, Shiver) or some very small town run by a lot of very rich people (Blue Bloods, Sea Change). So Texas was unusual and a breath of fresh (albeit hot and humid) air.
My favorite scenes took place at the beach house. I have a soft spot for beach house scenes, and I love the water myself. The final scene of the book, when Wes sees Olivia leave him, left me super confused. The dog is some obvious foreshadowing (I'm thinking the crow is the mysterious Black Spirit or Soul or whatever it was and the dog is Wesley). What left me confused was that Wes seemed to accept Olivia leaving him, but he was still crying about it... Like, okay, I've grown and moved on but I'm still gonna cry about her? I think it's pretty clear she's coming back, but still... kind of felt like Bleu suddenly got the giggles while writing and thought, hey, let's make Olivia a flaming beeotch all of a sudden and not just break Wes's heart but literally blow it up... but he's gonna be okay with it.
Overall, I'd say I did enjoy the book, I'd recommend it to romance fans, and I'm very much looking forward to the sequel... Especially since it's called LivEternal, so clearly Liv is coming back! And I'm still extremely curious about the whole Wyatt going evil thing.
More than once in this book I was confused, but in a good way - the way that makes you want to keep reading so you'll find the spot where it all comes together (not the bad writing way). Bleu does the same thing at the beginning of this novel that I do at the beginning of mine - starting with a prologue that takes place in the future, in both cases so far in the future it's not even in the first book. In reviews of my books, a lot of people hate that. Why, I do not understand; I personally love it, especially here, because it gets me into the book knowing something huge is going to happen, shows me the character is going to grow, and keeps me wondering throughout the whole book what the heck's going on.
Another thing Bleu does that I never even thought of is continuing this prologue about halfway through the book. When I first read it, I found it supremely irritating - I was jolted out of one big deal and into another I wasn't prepared for. But after I finished reading it, I realized actually liked it. It reminded me there was a bigger picture, not just the Liv/Wes love story.
And speaking of the love story (spoilers follow), I don't know where the whole "the love story is like Twilight" review is coming from. The only minuscule connection I can make to that is that Liv is afraid to take their relationship too far because she doesn't want to put Wes in any more danger than he already is - but not danger from her, danger of her people who hate her. And when she leaves at the end, we're supposed to think it's because she betrayed Wes and went with another dude - although it's kind of obvious, I think, that there's something else going on.
When I first picked up this book, I honestly thought it was about angels or something - that's what comes to mind when I think of Summerland, probably because the only time I've ever heard it referenced was in Alyson Noel's Immortals/Riley Bloom books. So when the book started and it was clear Liv was otherwordly, and she kept loving the water, I was all confused and thinking "Mermaids?" And then, behold my luck, it was! The last book I read about mermaids was Sea Change (which I loved) and that was quite a few years ago, so it was a nice change from the usual vampire/werewolf/angel stuff.
I don't like the way Wes talks, I feel like he's too proper - at first I thought it was just lack of knowledge about the teenage species (which I am rather close to, seeing as I'm 18) but after a few chapters I recognized it as just normal southern boys. My family is from the deep south, and I've always been annoyed at how they talk - all yes ma'ams and no ma'ams to every female they meet, even if she's younger than them (we don't speak so sweetly up here in the north country). I also found it a bit of an odd anomaly the book was set in Texas - usually paranormal stories are set in some small cozy town that's cold and gloomy (Twilight, Shiver) or some very small town run by a lot of very rich people (Blue Bloods, Sea Change). So Texas was unusual and a breath of fresh (albeit hot and humid) air.
My favorite scenes took place at the beach house. I have a soft spot for beach house scenes, and I love the water myself. The final scene of the book, when Wes sees Olivia leave him, left me super confused. The dog is some obvious foreshadowing (I'm thinking the crow is the mysterious Black Spirit or Soul or whatever it was and the dog is Wesley). What left me confused was that Wes seemed to accept Olivia leaving him, but he was still crying about it... Like, okay, I've grown and moved on but I'm still gonna cry about her? I think it's pretty clear she's coming back, but still... kind of felt like Bleu suddenly got the giggles while writing and thought, hey, let's make Olivia a flaming beeotch all of a sudden and not just break Wes's heart but literally blow it up... but he's gonna be okay with it.
Overall, I'd say I did enjoy the book, I'd recommend it to romance fans, and I'm very much looking forward to the sequel... Especially since it's called LivEternal, so clearly Liv is coming back! And I'm still extremely curious about the whole Wyatt going evil thing.
July 1, 2013
~Synopsis~
After his brothers recent disapearance Wesley Rochester wished he could just fade into obscurity. Searching for closure, he's haunted by visons. Consumed with decoding the messages, he begins turning dangerously deeper inward. Enter an intriguing, 'not quite' human stranger, who mysteriously arrives just as he feels all hope is lost. Together they begin to realize that their destinies are intricately tangled in a drama reaching far beyond the realms of the wold they know. Discovering the secrets plaguing wesley since childhood are no coincidence, and everything he believes is shattered. Captivated by her, he must decide between the life he has and the one he'd forgotten. 'Finding Summerland' is like 'Twilight' in the sense that it is a supernatural, coming of age romance--but has a genre bending, metaphysical element and a much deeper rabbit hole. Follow the journey of two star crossed souls as they explore who they are and the ties that bind them. Enter a world intentionally forgotten. A place buried by history, where only the chosen are aware of its existence. A place covenants are made and broken, where myth leads to truth and forbidden love threatens to destroy or be destroyed, becoming just another casualty in their shadow war. The introductory novel in a series of five, called 'The Ameryn Chronicles'--but compelling enough to stand alone--'Finding Summerland' is sure to be savored by anyone craving to stretch the bounds of ordinary imagination, edgy enough to engage readers who enjoy unravelling a mystery, and sweet enough to grab onto the hearts of the romance lovers! Where legends breathe and dreams are alive. A 'trippy' journey to a new reality.||
~My Review~
Sometimes a review just need to be short and to the point. This is one of those times.
Paige Bleu brings us a delightful breath of fresh air with this book. You will relish in this captivating and beautifully written fun tale.
Wes Rochester and his family still mourn the death of the oldest son/brother. This alone keeps you intrigued and awaiting Paige's next move.
My most favorite of all is the love story that is set upon us with Wes and Olivia. Olivia is one to keep your eye on. The day Wes sets his eyes on her, is the day his heart will never be the same.
The mythology and mysteries that unravel will keep you turning page after page.
You won't believe just how deep Paige will really take you. (Pun intended).........Happy Reading Book Lovers!!:)
After his brothers recent disapearance Wesley Rochester wished he could just fade into obscurity. Searching for closure, he's haunted by visons. Consumed with decoding the messages, he begins turning dangerously deeper inward. Enter an intriguing, 'not quite' human stranger, who mysteriously arrives just as he feels all hope is lost. Together they begin to realize that their destinies are intricately tangled in a drama reaching far beyond the realms of the wold they know. Discovering the secrets plaguing wesley since childhood are no coincidence, and everything he believes is shattered. Captivated by her, he must decide between the life he has and the one he'd forgotten. 'Finding Summerland' is like 'Twilight' in the sense that it is a supernatural, coming of age romance--but has a genre bending, metaphysical element and a much deeper rabbit hole. Follow the journey of two star crossed souls as they explore who they are and the ties that bind them. Enter a world intentionally forgotten. A place buried by history, where only the chosen are aware of its existence. A place covenants are made and broken, where myth leads to truth and forbidden love threatens to destroy or be destroyed, becoming just another casualty in their shadow war. The introductory novel in a series of five, called 'The Ameryn Chronicles'--but compelling enough to stand alone--'Finding Summerland' is sure to be savored by anyone craving to stretch the bounds of ordinary imagination, edgy enough to engage readers who enjoy unravelling a mystery, and sweet enough to grab onto the hearts of the romance lovers! Where legends breathe and dreams are alive. A 'trippy' journey to a new reality.||
~My Review~
Sometimes a review just need to be short and to the point. This is one of those times.
Paige Bleu brings us a delightful breath of fresh air with this book. You will relish in this captivating and beautifully written fun tale.
Wes Rochester and his family still mourn the death of the oldest son/brother. This alone keeps you intrigued and awaiting Paige's next move.
My most favorite of all is the love story that is set upon us with Wes and Olivia. Olivia is one to keep your eye on. The day Wes sets his eyes on her, is the day his heart will never be the same.
The mythology and mysteries that unravel will keep you turning page after page.
You won't believe just how deep Paige will really take you. (Pun intended).........Happy Reading Book Lovers!!:)
December 30, 2012
I am very interested in reading "Finding Summerland", not only because it sounds interesting, but because Paige is a dear friend of mine. However, the fact that it is only available in e-format has become a problem and has caused quite a delay in completing the book. I do not have an e-reader of any sort--and don't want one--and sitting in front of the computer to read a book just isn't relaxing.
But do not fear. I will definitely finish reading it and provide an accurate review. I unfortunately don't know exactly when that may be. (Sorry, Paige)
**To my GREAT delight, Paige is sending me a printed copy of Finding Summerland which I know I will quickly devour. Thanks, sis!!
December 24, 2012--my printed copy arrived today and I am devouring it as I thought I would!! So excited to finally have it in hard copy (and autographed as well!)
MY OFFICIAL REVIEW ON "FINDING SUMMERLAND" by Paige Bleu
Although I must admit there were quite a bit of editorial errors, it did not take away from the fact that Finding Summerland was an incredibly awesome story, dealing with mystery and romance and mythological wonder. I gave it only four stars because of the editorial errors and I cannot give it 4 1/2, but I am still eagerly awaiting the second installment of The Ameryn Chronicles.
But do not fear. I will definitely finish reading it and provide an accurate review. I unfortunately don't know exactly when that may be. (Sorry, Paige)
**To my GREAT delight, Paige is sending me a printed copy of Finding Summerland which I know I will quickly devour. Thanks, sis!!
December 24, 2012--my printed copy arrived today and I am devouring it as I thought I would!! So excited to finally have it in hard copy (and autographed as well!)
MY OFFICIAL REVIEW ON "FINDING SUMMERLAND" by Paige Bleu
Although I must admit there were quite a bit of editorial errors, it did not take away from the fact that Finding Summerland was an incredibly awesome story, dealing with mystery and romance and mythological wonder. I gave it only four stars because of the editorial errors and I cannot give it 4 1/2, but I am still eagerly awaiting the second installment of The Ameryn Chronicles.
January 8, 2014
Perhaps I'm just used to action novels. I found the book had a slow start, and at first was hard to get through, so I can understand why people lost patience with it. In many respects, the book seems to be a flash back. Wesley Rochester's present is some kind of conflict tied up in Ameryn. However, in the story, he is a younger son who didn't seem to fit in. His older brother, Channing, had gone missing on a trip to Mexico.
One day, he meets Olivia, a girl he knows from his dreams. However, she is only half human. She becomes the love of his life. She even rescues Channing, though in doing, she has broken her peoples rules. There comes a time of ephemeral happiness for Wesley, where Olivia finishes the school year with him. But she is finally forced to return to her people.
Obviously, there is more to come. Will Wesley eventually be reunited with Olivia, or have their paths irreparably seperated? Paige blue has got me currious.
One day, he meets Olivia, a girl he knows from his dreams. However, she is only half human. She becomes the love of his life. She even rescues Channing, though in doing, she has broken her peoples rules. There comes a time of ephemeral happiness for Wesley, where Olivia finishes the school year with him. But she is finally forced to return to her people.
Obviously, there is more to come. Will Wesley eventually be reunited with Olivia, or have their paths irreparably seperated? Paige blue has got me currious.
October 26, 2012
Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
I had a very hard time staying focused on this story. The beginning started off great. It got you pumped and ready for something that you expected to take place later within the story, but it wasn't re-visited. So, that left me a little confused. Did I miss something? As a whole, I don't feel like I was given enough information to really know what was going on in the long scheme of things. The premise behind the book is very interesting, and the series has the potential to be great. Finding Summerland simply wasn't for me, but there are several reviewers who loved this story, so you might like it too.
August 14, 2012
So to begin I got this book on goodreads read2review which I signed up for so thank you for a chance to read the book. I'll b the first to admit the romance part of the story is like twilight but other than that it's it own story an worth a read. I loved that the story got straight into it an didn't waste a lot of time setting the scene since I usually get board so it grabbed me straight away and kept me entertained. Without giving away spoilers there were parts of the book were I thought it was a little slow for my liking but the overall story was interesting to read and car wait to read the second book as it was left on a cliff hanger!!!!!!!!
September 9, 2013
I have never read a book that involved mermaids or anything close to it. I’m glad my first exposure was with Finding Summerland by Paige Blue. This well-written, well-paced book had me intrigued from the beginning. I personally love the main character Wes, who, in many ways, reminds me of my son. Paige’s story is so different and so intriguing that I found it difficult to get off my mind once I managed to walk away from it. I am seriously hooked to this storyline. I need to know what happens to Wes. Paige, I need book 2 now!
February 15, 2013
Wes is an outcast in his own family. His star athlete brother has gone missing and he is left in a state of despair. Olivia comes in and gives Wes hope once again that life will be alright. This book took awhile to pull me in which is a drawback for me. WaAR
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November 7, 2012Review to come
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