Moonstone
Moonstoneby Marilee BrothersCourtesy of Bell Bridge BooksThis book was kindly sent to me by Bell Bridge Books and I thank them ever so much because I really, really liked it. Though I will be honest with you and say that I didn't think I would as I started reading. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into the story and once I did I was hooked. Surprise, actually when it was suddenly over. (I thought I had at least another 20 pages to go but it turns out it was a teaser for a book by another author! Argh!) Before even telling you about this book, I will tell you I will be finding the second one (if there is one, and I think there will be) and reading it as soon as I find it!Why I was scared that I wouldn't like the book? The plot seemed daunting to me. Unoriginal even. At first glance that is! Similar to Wake, the main character, Allie has to live with a single mother, who likes to drink too much and Allie is the one who has to do everything. Those types of stories really turn me off. They make me angry. Yes, I know this situation can be real, but I am still angry. Mothers are supposed to take care of their children, NOT the other way around.But that's my own personal soap box... so...Allie lives in a trailer with her mother. Her mother is trying to convince the Government that she has Fybromyalgia so she can get benefits and not have to work. Allie, only fourteen, has to drive the truck, buy the groceries, go to school, and just basically do everything. Of course Allie has been noticing some strange things happening to her, throw in the late-night visit from a hippie ghost, Trilby, and well, things are certainly strange. Luckily, Allie spends one night a week at her friend Kizzy's house. Kizzy is a Romanian Gypsy and gives Allie a moonstone necklace telling her, she's the Star Seeker. The prophecy has been fulfilled. But Allie's only just turning fifteen. She doesn't want to move things with her mind and know people's thoughts. She just wants to survive high school and help her mother.I instantly liked Allie, even though I thought she was written a little poorly at first, I liked Kizzy and Trilby as well. I have no opinion on Allie's two friends because they weren't really described fully, they were very one-dimensional. However Junior Rodriguez was a great addition to Allie's circle people and I enjoyed the two of them together. Allie's mother even surprised me in the end, and I love that unlike every other Teen Supernatural book where the teen hides her powers from everyone, Allie confides in her mother about everything and although it starts off rocky, in the end it proved to be the best thing to do.Allie and her "Retired from Life" mother, Faye were well portrayed and fun to read.I knew by the end of the story that it wasn't the end of the story, so now I'm just going to have to eagerly await a second book to find out more about Allie and her Star Seeker powers and the power of the Moonstone.You can find out more about the author, Marilee Brothers at her website www.marileebrothers.com.Unbidden Magic