Category Archives: Sky Pony Press

February 13, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Switching Gears by Chantele Sedgwick

Title: Switching Gears by Chantele Sedgwick
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Still mourning the loss of Lucas Nelson, the boy she loved in secret for years, seventeen-year-old Emmy Martin turns to her passion for mountain biking to try to fill the empty void in her life. But just when things start looking up, Emmy discovers her mom has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Confused and angry that her parents didn’t tell her sooner, she throws herself into mountain biking like never before.

When Cole Evans, the rich boy who usually doesn’t care about anything but himself, offers to train her for the biggest mountain biking race of the season, she accepts, determined to beat her nemesis, Whitney, and prove she’s good enough for a sponsor. The more time she spends with Cole, the more she realizes he’s different than she’d expected, and, to her surprise, she’s falling for him. Torn between the deep feelings she still has for Lucas and her growing ones for Cole, she knows she must choose a path: one offers her the chance to love again, while the other is blocked by the overwhelming heartache for the boy she lost.

As she drifts further away from her family and closer to her dream of being sponsored, a terrible accident threatens any semblance of peace and happiness she has left. Instead of closing herself off to the people she loves, Emmy must learn to rely on those she has pushed away if she’s going to have any chance of getting her life back again.

Review:

Switching Gears by Chantele Sedgwick is a poignant young adult novel about loss, family and unexpected love. This companion piece to Love, Lucas that can be read a standalone.

Following the tragic loss of her best friend and secret love, Lucas Nelson, seventeen year old Emmy Martin’s life is still off kilter.  An avid mountain bike racer, she is disappointed when she comes in second place in a race against her nemesis Whitney.  She is still also smarting over losing her team captain spot to relative newcomer Cole Evans.  So when Cole offers to coach her after she agrees to race against Whitney, Emmy turns him down without hesitation.  However, their paths continue crossing as she trains on her own and she begins to realize there is more to Cole than she previously believed, but is Emmy ready to move on to a new relationship?

Emmy is initially not an easy young woman to like.  She is prickly, closed off and refuses to let anyone except her best friend Kelsie get close to her.  Emmy is extremely close to her mom which is why it is so upsetting when she learns her parents have been keeping secrets from her and her brother Gavin.  After learning the truth about her mother’s recent diagnosis, Emmy refuses to talk to her parents and she begins avoiding spending any time at home.  Instead, she throws herself into training for the upcoming race against Whitney and as she continues running into Cole, she is surprised when she begins to realize she might be falling for him.

Kelsie is a wonderful secondary character and she is extremely loyal to Emmy.  She easily overlooks her friends moodiness and she is quick to agree to anything Emmy asks her to do.  But Kelsie refuses to let her friend wallow in her grief and she gently, but consistently, urges Emmy to consider giving Cole a chance.  Their friendship is refreshingly lacking in angst or drama and Kelsie’s upbeat personality is a nice contrast to Emmy’s numerous issues.

Cole is a fantastic love interest for Emmy and he refuses to give up on her no matter how unpleasant she is to him.  At first he seems like he might be a little too perfect but underneath his clean cut, wholesome facade is a normal teenager dealing with the same issues as other kids his age.  Cole accepts Emmy’s refusal to let him help her train without putting up a fuss but he is not fazed by her attempts to keep him at arms’ length. His persistence pays off and a tentative friendship forms between them which eventually deepens into a real relationship.

Switching Gears by Chantele Sedgwick is a sweet young adult romance that is fast-paced with engaging characters.  The storyline is well written with realistic problems and issues to overcome.  The ending is a little overly melodramatic but the epilogue is nice.  All in all, an enjoyable young adult novel that readers of all ages will enjoy.

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Filed under Chantele Sedgwick, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sky Pony Press, Switching Gears, Young Adult

December 28, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: One Moment by Kristina McBride

Title: One Moment by Kristina McBride
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Novel
Length: 272 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

McBride delivers a novel of secrets that packs an emotional punch, perfect for fans of Sara Zarr and Gayle Forman.

Review:

One Moment by Kristina McBride is a poignant young adult novel about loss, love, friendship, secrets and betrayal.

Maggie Reynolds and her circle of friends, including her boyfriend, Joey, are  enjoying a lazy afternoon at the gorge when a horrible accident leaves Joey dead.  In the aftermath of his death, Maggie struggles to remember what happened right before Joey leapt off the cliff.  Much to her dismay, she soon learns that her seemingly perfect boyfriend lied about his whereabouts the night before.  As Maggie continues to try to recapture her memory of the events preceding his death, she cannot help but wonder what other secrets Joey might have been keeping.

As Maggie grieves for Joey’s loss, she is comforted by her memories of their relationship.  However, as more details about Joey’s life are revealed, she slowly begins to realize that she did not know Joey as well as she thought she did.  And if Joey was keeping secrets, is it possible their friends are too?  Why was Joey fighting with one of their friends the night before he died?  Why is their group of friends becoming splintered as they mourn Joey’s death?  Why can’t Maggie remember those last few minutes before Joey jumped from the cliff?

Part character study and part mystery, One Moment by Kristina McBride is a riveting young adult novel that is full of tension as Maggie tries to piece together what happened to Joey.  The cast of characters are vibrantly developed with very realistic flaws and imperfections.  The plot is surprisingly free from angst and although a little predictable in some areas, overall, it is refreshingly unique.   All in all, it is a very touching and thought-provoking young adult story that deals on some heavy topics without unnecessary drama.

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Filed under Contemporary, Kristina McBride, One Moment, Rated B, Review, Sky Pony Press, Young Adult

October 12, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Black Flowers, White Lies by Yvonne Ventresca

Title: Black Flowers, White Lies by Yvonne Ventresca
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, suspense
Length: 272 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Her father died before she was born, but Ella Benton knows they have a supernatural connection. Since her mother discourages these beliefs, Ella keeps her cemetery visits secret. But she may not be the only one with secrets. Ella’s mother might be lying about how Dad died sixteen years ago. Newfound evidence points to his death in a psychiatric hospital, not as a result of a tragic car accident as her mother always claimed. After a lifetime of just the two of them, Mom suddenly feels like a stranger.

When a handprint much like the one Ella left on her father’s tombstone mysteriously appears on the bathroom mirror, at first she wonders if Dad is warning her of danger as he did once before. If it’s not a warning, could her new too-good-to-be-true boyfriend be responsible for the strange occurrences? Or maybe it’s the grieving building superintendent whose dead daughter strongly resembles Ella? As the unexplained events become more frequent and more sinister, Ella becomes terrified about who—or what—might harm her.

Soon the evidence points to someone else entirely: Ella herself. What if, like her father, she’s suffering from a breakdown? In this second novel from award-winning author Yvonne Ventresca, Ella desperately needs to find answers, no matter how disturbing the truth might be.

Review:

In Black Flowers, White Lies by Yvonne Ventresca, Ariella “Ella” Benton is convinced supernatural forces are responsible for a series of strange occurrences that begin happening after her mother and new stepfather leave for their honeymoon.  Turning to her new stepbrother, Blake, for help, she is soon uncertain whom to trust as they try to uncover the truth.

Despite never knowing her father, Ella feels a strong connection with him.  She has a strong belief in the supernatural and she is convinced he is looking out for her.  With both his birthday and the anniversary of his death coming up, Ella turns to tarot cards and séances to contact him in addition to her frequent trips to visit his grave.  When Blake provides her with new information about her dad’s long ago death right before their parents’ wedding, she decides to hold off on confronting her mom with the inconsistencies until after she returns from her honeymoon.  So when inexplicable things begin occurring almost as soon as her mom departs, Ella is certain that an otherworldly presence is responsible. However is there, in fact, a much more down to earth reason for the increasingly disturbing events that she is experiencing?

Ella is a likable, albeit somewhat naive and trusting, fifteen year old.  She is not looking forward to gaining a stepfather but she is resigned to accepting him into her life.  With everything just a little off kilter between her and her mom, Ella is clinging a little more tightly to her father’s memory than usual and she is angry when she finds out her mom has probably been lying to her about his death.  However, not wanting to ruin her mom’s happiness or cause her to worry once she is on her honeymoon, Ella keeps quiet about this new information and the strange things that are going on in her absence. Instead Ella confides in her good friend Grace, but when her friend is not exactly supportive, she turns to Blake for help.

Blake’s relationship with his father has been troubled for years but with the upcoming wedding, he has decided to let go of his anger.  Once he arrives in town for the wedding, he is nothing but kindhearted and considerate to everyone as they transition into a family.  Once the wedding is over, Blake stays at Ella’s apartment while he waits to begin college.  Although there are a few awkward moments between them, Ella and Blake seem to moving into an amenable step sibling relationship.

Ella’s situation quickly turns suspenseful as she begins experiencing frightening phenomena and hearing things no one else seems to hear.  Initially, she is convinced these things are the result of a ghostly presence, but Blake and Grace’s reactions cause her to doubt herself.  After Blake’s revelations about her father, Ella grows concerned she might be suffering from an undiagnosed mental disorder and after a horrifying and completely out of character incident, she is certain something is wrong with her.  However, unexpected information comes to light that points in a completely different direction, but can Ella trust her instincts?

Black Flowers, White Lies is an intriguing young adult novel with a clever plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the very first page. Yvonne Ventresca’s skillful misdirects and red herrings make it impossible to figure out what (or who) is responsible for the eerie events that Ella is experiencing. While the novel is well-written and quite riveting, the conclusion is rather rushed and the lack of a clear resolution is a little frustrating.  Despite a few lingering questions, this young adult mystery is an engaging read that fans of the genre will enjoy.

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Filed under Black Flowers White Lies, Contemporary, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Sky Pony Press, Suspense, Young Adult, Yvonne Ventresca

June 8, 2016 · 11:55 pm

Review: Life Before by Michele Bacon

Title: Life Before by Michele Bacon
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Seventeen years is a long time to keep secrets, and Xander Fife has gotten very good at it.

Everyone believes Xander has a normal life and a normal family. If he can just get through this summer, he’ll start his real life in college with a clean slate—no risk, no drama, no fear.

Even better, his plans for summer are awesome: lots of pick-up soccer, relaxing afternoons with friends, and an epic road trip. Xander is banking on some long-overdue nights with his ideal girlfriend, the amazing Gretchen Taylor.

Instead of kicking off what had promised to be an amazing summer, however, graduation day brings terror. His family’s secrets are thrust out into the open, and Xander must confront his greatest fear. And survive doing so.

Armed with a fake ID, cash, and a knife, Xander skips town and assumes a new identity. Hundreds of miles from home and in danger, one thing is clear: Xander’s real life is already in progress and just getting through it isn’t enough.

Review:

Michele Bacon’s contemporary young adult debut, Life Before, is a poignant journey of self discovery and ultimately, healing, for seventeen year old Xander Fife.

With his high school graduation just days away, Xander is looking forward to this final summer with his friends before his “real” life begins.  He and his best friend, Jill Bernard, are looking planning a road trip, he is dating his longtime crush, Gretchen Taylor and best of all, a scholarship to Tulane means he can leave his small hometown behind him once and for all.  However, a chance encounter with his estranged father’s new girlfriend sets in motion an unforeseen chain of events that ends in tragedy.  In order to protect his friends, Xander decides to leave town until the threat is over, but the situation is not resolved as quickly as he thought it would be.  Life on the run is not as easy as he assumed and Xander is soon dependent on the kindness of strangers until it is safe to return home.

Xander is a likable character who is genuinely concerned for his friends’ safety.  His childhood was absolutely terrifying until his mom finally divorced his father and although they struggled financially for years, things have turned around for them recently.  He is close to his mom and when he unwittingly puts her in danger, Xander is absolutely crushed by the weight of guilt after a confrontation goes horribly wrong.  With this guilt pressing down on him, he takes matters into his own hands to protect his friends from danger.

With a pocketful of cash, a hefty dose of paranoia and a somewhat ill-conceived plan, Xander’s journey begins on a Greyhound bus.  Arriving in a small college town, his goal is stay out of sight until Jill lets him know it is safe to return home.  But things go quickly awry when accommodations are scarce and he is forced to find an alternate place to stay.  Xander then goes on to make some rather unwise financial choices and he is soon rather desperate when his funds begin to run low. He discovers a handful of places he can go during the day but at night, his options are very limited.  Ignoring Jill’s continued pleas to return home, Xander sticks to his plan even as his situation becomes increasingly precarious.  An unexpected friendship yields not only a job and a temporary place to stay, but an unanticipated friendship that provides him with a new perspective about himself and his future.

Life Before is a well-written and engaging young adult novel that delves into some very difficult subject matter.  Despite the gravity of these topics, Michele Bacon manages to keep the story from becoming overly dark or angst-ridden.  Xander’s plight is sympathetic and although his solution is not exactly well thought out, he gains valuable insight about himself and his life through his experiences and the people he meets.  All in all, a very touching story that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Life Before, Michele Bacon, Rated B, Review, Sky Pony Press, Young Adult

March 14, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath

Title: Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 240 pages
Book Rating: A+ & Recommended Read

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Keep calm and make it to prom night—without a legit panic attack.

For seventeen-year-old Bree Hughes, it’s easier said than done when gossip, grief, and the opportunity to fail at love are practically high-fiving her in the hallways of Belmont High.

When Bree’s crush, Sean Mills, gives her his phone number, she can’t even leave a voicemail without sounding like a freak. Then she’s asked to be on Prom Court because Maisey Morgan, the school outcast nominated as a joke, declined. She apologizes to Maisey, but it’s too late. After years of torment and an ugly secret shared with their class’s cruel Pageant Queen, Maisey commits suicide. Bree is left with a lot of regret…and a revealing letter with a final request.

With Sean by her side, Bree navigates through her guilt, her parents’ divorce, and all the Prom Court drama. But when a cheating-love-triangle secret hits the fan after a night of sex, drinks, and video games, she’s left with new information about Sean and the class Pageant Queen. Bree must now speak up or stay silent. If she lets fear be her guide, she’ll lose her first love, and head to prom to avenge the death of the school outcast—as a party of one.

Review:

Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath is a captivating young adult novel that is the perfect blend of teenage angst, humor and romance.  However,  Ami Allen-Vath deftly incorporates true to life, hard-hitting issues into the storyline and this is what makes it an absolute must read for readers of all ages.

Bree Hughes is well-liked by most of her classmates but she prefers to stay out of the limelight.  However, she is thrust into the middle of drama when she, her best friend Kallie Vale and the much bullied Maisey Morgan are nominated for prom queen.  Bree also has a serious crush on Sean Mills but since she is too shy to approach him, she spends a lot of time daydreaming about him.  Much to her surprise, Sean asks her to help him on a class assignment, but when the two continue hanging out together, she is uncertain whether or not they are just friends or if they are dating.  In the midst of the normal teen angst, Maisey commits suicide and leaves Bree a letter that she is too afraid to read.  She is still trying to make sense of Maisey’s death when her relationship with Sean hits an unexpected snag. With her life in chaos and prom fast approaching, Bree is finally forced to change her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems.

Bree is a very appealing and likable character who, on the surface, seems to have it all together.  But there is a lot going on her life that she is keeping to herself.  Her parents have recently divorced and while Bree is glad her home life is much more serene, she refuses to deal with her feelings over the changes in her life.  At the same time, she and Kallie are drifting apart since Kallie spends most of her free time with her boyfriend.  Bree is completely blindsided by Masiey’s suicide and she experiences a ton of guilt that she did not do more to stop her classmates incessant bullying.  She is also confused about why Maisey left her a letter but no matter many times she tries, she cannot bring herself to read Maisey’s final words.

Bree’s relationship with Sean is very sweet and slowly transitions from friendship to romance.  Their interactions are mostly fun and laidback and while Sean eventually opens up about what is going on in his life, Bree keeps quiet about the problems in hers.  She retreats when things get rough but Sean never gives up trying to get through to her.  Their romance is mostly trouble free but when Bree learns distressing news about him, she pulls away from him, refusing to allow Sean to tell his side of the story.  However, this is the impetus she needs to finally find a healthier way to deal with her problems and by prom night, Bree’s self-confidence gives her the courage to publicly speak about Maisey’s suicide.

Maisey is  an absolutely heartbreaking character and it is impossible not to feel empathy for the suffering she endured.  Bullied by her classmates for years, she is miserable and just trying to survive until graduation.  But she reaches her breaking point when she is nominated for prom queen and becomes an even bigger laughingstock to her classmates.  Maisey lashes out in anger when Bree makes a half-hearted attempt to comfort her, but it is definitely a case of too little, too late.  There is more going on behind the scenes with Maisey than anyone could possibly imagine and this, too, plays a role in her decision to take her life.

Light-hearted with darker undertones, Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that tackles some very worthwhile subjects with sensitivity and compassion.  The characters  are well-developed with true to life flaws and imperfections but this is what makes them easy to relate to.  The novel is well-written with a realistic storyline that has depth and substance.  The ending is poignant yet uplifting and the epilogue is very heartwarming. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this phenomenal young adult novel to readers of all ages.

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Filed under Ami Allen-Vath, Contemporary, Liars and Losers Like Us, Rated A+, Recommended Read, Review, Romance, Sky Pony Press, Young Adult

August 30, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Fix by Natasha Sinel

the fixTitle: The Fix by Natasha Sinel
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

One conversation is all it takes to break a world wide open.

Seventeen-year-old Macy Lyons has been through something no one should ever have to experience. And she’s dealt with it entirely alone.

On the outside, she’s got it pretty good. Her family’s well-off, she’s dating the cute boy next door, she has plenty of friends, and although she long ago wrote her mother off as a superficial gym rat, she’s thankful to have allies in her loving, laid-back dad and her younger brother.

But a conversation with a boy at a party one night shakes Macy out of the carefully maintained complacency that has defined her life so far. The boy is Sebastian Ruiz, a recovering addict who recognizes that Macy is hardened by dark secrets. And as Macy falls for Sebastian, she realizes that, while revealing her secret could ruin her seemingly perfect family, keeping silent might just destroy her.

The Fix follows two good-hearted teenagers coming to terms with the cards they were dealt. It’s also about the fixes we rely on to cope with our most shameful secrets and the hope and fear that comes with meeting someone who challenges us to come clean.

Review:

The Fix by Natasha Sinel is an emotional story of healing for main protagonist Macy Lyons. After a serious discussion one night with one of her classmates, Sebastian Ruiz, Macy can no longer hold her memories from a series of traumatic childhood events at bay. When she discovers Sebastian has been hospitalized for a drug problem, they strike up an unlikely friendship that is just the beginning of a series of changes for Macy.

On the surface, Macy seems to have it all. She is from a well to do family, she has a marvelous boyfriend and although her relationship with her mom is tense, she is close to her dad and younger brother. However, after her conversation with Sebastian, cracks begin to appear in her facade. Her life is thrown into further turmoil when their annual family vacation has been postponed and she begins working as a counselor with preschool age children. Macy’s anxiety increases after learning her cousin Scott is returning for a visit and vague but somewhat disturbing flashbacks begin to hint at a dark secret from her not too distant childhood.

Macy is a strong young woman who appears to have it all together. She is planning for life after high school and working towards her goal of going to college on the west coast. She and her boyfriend, Chris, are childhood friends and she loves spending time with him and his family. Although her best friend, Rebecca, sometimes drives her crazy, she would do anything for her. But soon Macy is spending more time with Sebastian than Chris or Rebecca and her unexpected feelings for him become an added complication to her life.

While Macy and Sebastian initially concentrate on his recovery, he eventually turns the focus of their conversations to her. A delicate dance ensues as she deflects his questions, ignores his observations and redirects the discussion back to his problems. But when she is away from Sebastian, Macy’s memories haunt her and she is very confused about her feelings regarding what happened to her when she was younger. As more information is revealed about her past, it becomes clear that Macy has been using unhealthy and risky behavior to cope with her unresolved feelings.

The Fix is a perfect blend of heartbreak and hope as Macy comes to terms with the trauma from her past.  Natasha Sinel deftly handles very difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. Macy’s flashbacks are never overly graphic but as the story progresses, her vague memories become more concrete and there is little doubt about what happened to her. I highly recommend this well-written, captivating young adult novel to teen and adult readers.

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Filed under Contemporary, Natasha Sinel, Rated B+, Review, Sky Pony Press, The Fix, Young Adult