Finding Home

Finding Home #1

by Shelia Powell, Liz McMullen

Firestarter Kayla Cruise has been kicked out of another foster home, her twelfth, and she’s back at the railroad tracks where she always finds solace. Surprisingly, a woman shows up there as an apparition, offering something Kayla had been longing for all her life, a forever home. Not just any home, Tia Keating runs a group home for teens with special gifts…gifts like the ones Kayla has spent years running from.

The problem is that when something feels like it is too good to be true, it usually is. Evil is stalking Kayla and her new family. The Darkness is putting her dream placement in jeopardy. It also threatens a burgeoning relationship that Kayla doesn’t quite understand, as well as the only true family she has ever known.

With the help of Tia and the rest of the family, Kayla is going to fight back. The demons won’t get to take away her happiness, not this time. Will this placement be her Lucky Thirteen or will The Darkness destroy Kayla’s hope for a happily ever after?

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2015

About the author

Shelia has been writing her whole life but finally published her first book, Memoirs Of The Happy Lesbian Housewife, in October 2014 under the nom de plume of Lorraine Howell. It is a finalist for a Goldie Award. The stretch into paranormal books was a natural and necessary progression.

Reviews

[Darlene Vendegna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many things to like about this ya novel. The characters were extremely engaging and realistic; as realistic as people with paranormal talents can be. The main character, Kayla, is the point of view through which the story is revealed. She is a 16 year old Fire Starter and clairvoyant. A victim of a very unsympathetic foster system and abusive foster conditions, she sees her talents as flaws and just another way she is different, and therefore, lesser than everyone else. She is placed in a special foster family that consists of several other young people with varying talents. With their help, as well as the nurturing environment created by the house mother, she begins to feel that she might really have a home. There is a sweet romance that begins between Kayla and another girl in the home. The story is filled with all the teenage angst and drama one would expect from high school aged characters. True evil forces make various attempts to destroy these characters or bend them to their nefarious wills. Although the story is not told in first person narrative, there were a few spots where the narrative shifted to that. I wasn't sure if that was an editing snafu or intentional, so it was a bit distracting. Aside from that it was a fun read, with a cliffhanger of a finish which leads the way to a continuing series. I'd recommend this story to anyone who enjoys young adult fiction especially if their taste leans toward stories of paranormal activities and abilities.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy meets dark reality. I won it in a contest and I really enjoyed the story.

[Kristi Jung · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot is interesting and thought out, and the characters (main and sides) are unique. Story progression and plot progression is smooth.

and thats where the positives end. I’m sorry authors, but this book was a waste of money. I DNF at 60 or 70%. The writing is atrocious and incomplete. The story is missing parts. It is completely told, and its only shown parts are a few paragraphs few and far apart. Parts that should have been told are shown, and vice versa.

A good example: Girl falls down cliff due to demon possession, girl is saved, girl wakes up the next day fine.. all happening in approx. 3 short paragraphs (prob less).

Also written in 2nd person(?) “She”. This would be fine, but was not written smoothly or comprehensibly (had to reread several parts again).

Characters are unique sure, but vague and pointless. Side characters are side characters for the sake of side characters and are not necessary to the story.


I could go on, but i have already been too mean so i’m just going to leave it as: a waste of money.