The Sharing Moon

The Sharing Moon #1

by Christy A. Campbell

Alternate Cover Edition for B00DHLS4LG.

Elijah is different. He's confused. And he used to be alive.

When eighteen year old Elijah Solomon dies, so do all of his memories. A mysterious message sends his lost soul back to change the life of one girl, and relive a very intriguing world. It isn't easy having a second chance, Elijah soon realizes. Dreams reveal clues from his past he isn't prepared for.

Seraphina Adams lives with her emotionally distant mother and battles the darkness in her own mind. After the loss of her father, Sera finds that opening up and learning to trust can be the hardest things to grasp.

Until she meets Elijah, the most beautiful boy she's ever seen.
 

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

319 pages, ebook

First published June 20, 2013

About the author

Being sadly unemployed at one point gave Christy a chance to pursue a lifelong dream of writing and publishing. After months of working both on and off paper, that dream was fulfilled.

Christy enjoyed writing about teens, mainly because she isn't one anymore. But as a self-proclaimed young adult genre junkie, it was a wonderful experience to be on the other end of the spectrum.

Christy lives in Michigan with her husband Chris, two children, two cats and a hyperactive dog named after Percy Jackson. She and her family love to visit Lake Michigan, which inspired the setting for The Sharing Moon. The sequel, A Halo Sun, is her second novel.

Reviews

[Bookish Satty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank Christy A. Campbell, author of The Sharing Moon, for giving me this wonderful opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.

This was a bitter sweet experience for me and I really enjoyed it a lot and it was like a fresh splash after reading so many dark stories. I really loved the plot and the story line and it's totally unique and doesn't resemble any other book I have read.

The pure love essence was present in the story and it was sweet and cute and won my heart completely. The characters are well developed and fit into the plot very well.

The writing style of the author really impressed me and I got carried out by the emotions that the author successfully portrayed through her writing style and skill.

The blurb is really exciting and intriguing as well and I'm totally satisfied with the whole book too and the author didn't give me any chance of being disappointed, well except for one that it kept me up till 3 am in the morning because it's totally unputdownable and I had to complete it before I went to sleep and dream about the characters.

The touch of fantasy with the practical and totally real life incidents really made the story remarkable and the well thought out plot and it's ending touched my heart as well.

A great and must read for all of you out there and I would definitely recommend it to ya all. Hope to read a next installment to this story and would love to witness the development and progress of the characters and of their lives as well.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully haunting tale that tugs at the heartstrings of human emotion.

’The Sharing Moon’ was an unexpected delight filled with raw emotion, captivating characters and fantastic premise. Amid the whirlwind of thought-provoking inner meaning and fabulous twists and turns, I was sucked into such a suspenseful storyline of depth and sincerity. Lost soul, Elijah captures the essence of ‘goodness’ in his actions when presented with a second chance of life by the Universe. If Elijah is light then Seraphina is the dark; she is a broken soul, one that desperately seeks true meaning in her life and purpose. I found both characters intriguing, as I could draw from them many qualities that I embody {as we all have both light and dark within us}. Campbell has created a unique and original Young Adult novel that is supremely singular and very different from anything I have encountered before, as her writing style is identifiably individualistic.

Written similarly to a script one is able to clearly visualize the unfolding events, despite being somewhat detached from the characters as an onlooker. The way in which the narrative was written, was the only element of this book that I disliked. As I felt it was harder to connect and feel ‘a part’ of the story, as I had expected the reading experience to seem. The author boldly highlights some significant issues such as Depression and loss, which certainly stood-out within the cleverly complex storyline. I loved how the author deftly interwove many truth-drawing issues within what could have been a bland, predictable romance.

The Sharing Moon is refreshingly original, delightfully unexpected and an incredibly absorbing read that is hard to put down! This story was a wonderful break from the genre of novels that I tend to read, and something that surpassed all my expectations in one satisfying sitting. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy YA romance or contemporary fiction {such as Delirium for instance or this song will save your life}, as it is a book with memorable impact and outstanding eclectic implication.

3.5 stars!

*I won a copy of Christy Campbell’s novel ‘The Sharing Moon’ through a GoodReads, first-read book giveaway*

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by the author to read and write a honest review.
Thanks Christy. :)

My review of this book is 4.5 stars (although I can't reflect that above).

Well this book was really good, surprisingly so. I thought it would be quite depressing reading about depression, but actually it was quite eye opening and very well researched.

The characters were wonderful! So detailed. I have to say that Elijah is my favourite character in this book. Sera is right, he's perfect. He's so endearing, so selfless and so refreshing. I am so OVER all the "bad boys are best" books out there at the moment. Good guys are great characters and he's so well written, that his character traits are totally believable.

I thought that the swapping between the Elijah, Sera and their dreams, was done seamlessly. I didn't find the swap between the characters confusing, even though the chapters didn't state which characters the author was writing from (which I really liked).

Something that was so refreshing about this book was it was so real. The issues happen in real life, the characters choices and feelings are believable. Although this is written on the very cusp of fantasy themes, I really enjoyed it.

Why only 4.5 starts then? That is because the characters are so detailed that sometimes the surroundings (the world they live in) are lacking a few details. I'm a big visual person, I need read the details to fully imagine the scene in my head. I completely understand why she has written it this way, as I think it have been too much detail to comprehend, but it's just my personal presence when reading books.

All in all, a very good debut novel.

[khulhet24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elijah got a second chance in life while Sera was at lost with her emotionally detached mother and a deceased father. They fought their demons that haunted them by being together.

Christy has done a pretty good job in writing her characters cause their feeling touches your soul in every word. You can feel the depression, the happiness when they are together, the anxiety, the sadness and most of all their love for each other. I love how Christy reveal little bits of info as the story goes that makes you want to finish it right away. I love how it inspires you to fight for you know what is right and never give up even if gets harder along the way.

The Sharing Moon is an inspiring story about second chances and moving on. It is about how love can give you courage to fight for your life and making it better. Making yourself better.

To sum it all up this is a good book and I can't wait for the next one.

Thanks Christy Campbell for this one.

[Kristi Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully heart-wrenching debut novel about the miracle of second chances and true love.

This novel turned out to be so much more than a friendship turned into soul mates. The depth and emotion takes you on a whirlwind ride of beautifully chosen words and a welcomed assault on your senses. This book revolves around depression and how it can suck you into the deepest of holes that you think you are honestly going crazy, but beauty of it is there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Seraphina (Sera) is depressed ever since her father died. Her mother is fighting her own depression and leaves Sera to fend for herself at a time when she most needs someone. Elijah is that someone that comes through for her. He has a sixth sense about him, but I won't spoil anything by saying more. He is drawn to Sera and learns that she suffers in her own mind a darkness that no one else can see. She exhibits all the signs of depression: not wanting to participate in activities, not letting anyone get close to her, hiding when it gets really bad, having nightmares, not believing she has any kind of self worth. Elijah, over a period of a few years, chisels through, slowly, to get to her beautiful warm heart. That was what made me love Elijah, he never gave up when most guys would have moved on to a different girl. Elijah, seemingly perfect, had his own demons to fight. He actually had a ghost that came to him and made him mentally struggle with his memories. He learns that Sera is even more important than he thought when he finds out he was given a second chance at life. He knows it is up to him to save Sera.

The author blew me away with this novel. It's deeper than what I explained above, but it's something the reader just needs to experience to really appreciate. The author thought outside the box on this one, and it has left me sitting back in awe. A must-read for everyone!

[Maryellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written and held my interest throughout. I could go on and on but I will simply say that I enjoyed it very much, liked the way the story came together, and look forward to a possible sequel. Some of the characters deserve their own book!

[Amber Escalera · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're to start this book honestly took me a little while to get into it confused me but it turned out to be amazing I live how this boy gives everything to help this one girl it's a must read

[Amanda Munes · Rating 3 out of 5]

**** arc exchanged for honest review ****

So I'm not sure where to start. I did enjoy this book but found it hard to get into. I did not like the change in voices without it being told to me. It took me a sec to realize I was in the other persons head. I also do not understand depression to this level. I really loved t he good guy thing Elijah has going on and I feel for sera with her dad passing as I too have lost a parent. I think some other people need a novella to explore more of their worlds.

I will look into more of this authors work and would recommend this book for a change from the standard romance nowadays (not saying I don't love them too) but it's nice to breathe new air!

Happy reading :)

[Christina Hamlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in high school, there was a girl a year ahead of me who was strange. Strange in the sense that she carried on animated conversations with people who weren't there. Strange that she'd zone out in the middle of class, staring at her fingernails as if she'd never seen them before. Strange that she'd write bleak poetry about death and depression and that she'd often go several days without combing her hair or changing her clothes. This being the 1960's, teachers were reluctant to raise red flags, no doubt fearing backlash from the girl's parents that she was being labeled "crazy," a stigma that could jeopardize her future. That she seemingly wasn't doing any harm to herself or anyone else was, in their minds, a good enough reason to just let her be and hope that she got better on her own. I also recall she had a boyfriend for a few months - a popular, outgoing, and compassionate guy who wanted nothing more than to be her protector. In the end, though, he was forced to concede to the sobering reality that she was beyond his help, beyond his love, and beyond all of his gentle patience that she seek professional help.

I hadn't thought about this girl for decades until I began reading Christy Campbell's thoroughly compelling YA novel, "The Sharing Moon." The haunting premise of a young woman without any hope and a young man without any recollection of his past invites readers to experience in gritty and surrealistic detail what it's like to be caught between dreams and reality, sanity and delusion. Sera and Elijah are instantly relatable as a pair of teenagers trapped in the bewildering scenario of being "newcomers." For Sera - still grieving from the death of her father - there's no shortage of angst derived from moving to a new neighborhood with her manic depressive mother and enrolling in a high school where she doesn't as yet no anyone. For Elijah, it's all about adjusting to the mysterious second chance his soul has been given to redeem itself; that this new journey is encumbered by the recurring presence of a ghostly girl makes it more than a little difficult to get through each day...and night.

While a 300+ page book might seem daunting on the surface for Campbell's technology-obsessed target readership, it actually reads quite fast. Her decision to employ a present-tense narrative was a smart one because it keeps readers "in the moment" from one page to the next. She also artfully shifts back and forth from the perspectives of her two lead characters as they simultaneously explore the fragile terrain of young romance and try to keep a plethora of emotional baggage in check. Twists and surprises abound as the author purposely illustrates what it's like to occupy the mind of someone for whom suicide has become an increasingly attractive option for escaping pain and fear.

A must-read for anyone who has ever dealt with the anxiety, sorrow, frustration and guilt of trying to save a loved one who believes that s/he is not worthy of salvation.

[Crissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Sharing Moon, Christy Campbell shares a beautiful story of two lost souls - one living and one who receives a second chance at life. The story reveals their love that begins with a mission and grows to something strong and unconditional. The underlying theme of the story is depression, a disorder that is battled by two of the characters. From the author's notes, this is something she herself has battled in the past. By the way she painted the portrait of depression within her characters, it's apparent it was written from a first-hand experience. Campbell does an amazing job of shedding light on a sensitive subject, giving a bird's eye view of what it feels like to be trapped in a dark place with no way out.

There is much growth in each character as the story evolves. Even a few of the secondary characters go through change as life molds them through experiences. And I really loved seeing how Sera and Elijah grew within the innocence of their romance, supporting each other in times of weakness and forming an unbreakable bond. There were even points that made me feel angry (the result of good storytelling), like the responsibility Elijah took with Leah - the girlfriend from his former life. She was suffering so deeply in her depression, and Elijah seemed more like a parent to her than a teenage boyfriend. I couldn't understand how he could fall in love with a girl who had nothing left in her to give back to him, and grew frustrated. But further reading revealed the emergence of truth through snippets of his former life, where Elijah's head was at, and his inner struggle over whether he truly loved her, or just felt obligated to stay just to keep her safe. It was an unfair predicament for him to be in, making this second chance with Sera even sweeter.

My one criticism of the story is that it was told in popcorn scenes. What I mean by that is that each scene was told in a few paragraphs before moving on to the next scene, and in small fragments of information at a time. In some ways, this was almost necessary as it was kind of parallel to Elijah's understanding of his former life. But there were times the author would jump into a dream sequence from an awake sequence, and it would make the storyline confusing. After a while, I was able to understand what the author was trying to do, and it felt less distracting. But in the beginning, it made it hard to grow attached to the characters and what they were going through.

All in all, I give this story a 4 out of 5. The author revealed a very intimate view of depression, touching on a subject that is very real for many but rarely talked about. I definitely recommend this book to others.

[Tamsyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

'The Sharing Moon' was given to me in a goodreads read & review

Actual Rating 2.5

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was excited. As I started reading, I noticed the author had a different style of writing to what I usually read. But this didn't put me off.

What did put me off though, was I didn't realise that the book was about depression. I think if I had known this before, I probably wouldn't have read it.

It took me a while to read and I think it is just because I found it quite depressing and sad, really.

I think that the authors writing was lovely, but I just didn't warm to the story. Well I did, but only right until the very end when the truth came out and it got a little more exciting.

I'm not sure if I'll read the next book. I probably will as it is doesn't seem like it will be centred around depression but we will see.

I think if anyone has depression or has suffered from it, however, that this would be a good read for you.

Elijah's love for Sera was lovely and their bond was beautiful.

Thanks Christy for my free copy and good luck with the next book!!

-TM

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to Goodreads First Reads for my free copy of The Sharing Moon.

This book was a difficult read. First, there are lots of errors, including a paragraph that is cut off in the middle of a sentence and then jumps ahead. It didn't seem to be edited well. Second, it is a total downer (granted the book is centered around the effects of depression). Lastly, it jumps around a lot, and I had a hard time following the story. The dialogue is unrealistic, and didn't flow.

I did come to like Elijah's character, though, and it did make me more aware of how debilitating depression is.

[Chyrl Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this in a giveaway and also got the secon part which I will start next. I would get confused sometimes with the transitions between past and present, but once I clarified everything it was fine. I enjoyed this very much and love Sera's character. I wish it would have revealed more about her parents, though.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. Honestly I don't like YA novels or Paranormal romances but this is really good. It is lengthy but not in the least bit boring or repetitive.
The characters were well developed and very well written. I like the relationship of Elijah and Seraphina. It was very sweet and pleasant.

[Julia (Pages for Thoughts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received The Sharing Moon for free from the author in exchange for an honest review! The book tackled some important issues and everything felt real, like it was all happening right in front of me. I could feel the emotions of the characters while I was reading, even though the characters do not exist in real life. I liked that the characters called their parents by their first names. It made them feel like real people, and that they had a purpose. I liked the mystery of the Messenger. I kept trying to picture this mysterious character that can leave notes whenever and wherever. To read my full review, see http://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/...

[Heather Powell-thornhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to be neutral and give an honest review but since the author is one of my good friends it's hard! I really enjoyed this book and the plot was a refreshing change from the dystopia/vampire genre that has been done to death. For a first time author this book was well developed in it's characters and storylines and loved that it was based here in Michigan. Looking forward to reading the follow up!