Squid color change and music

Ok, I admit it, I can get easily distracted when I am writing a review and at a temporary loss for words.  That is happening a lot lately since I have written reviews for Night Owl Reviews for the past three years according to a particular template and last month the specifications changed abruptly.  It's amazing how one gets into a rut and makes a commonplace task difficult but it has been really difficult for me to switch to the new format and I fear that my writing is even more stilted than ever before.  Anyway, that means I get stuck frequently and start wandering around and doing other things like looking at e-mails and visiting blogs and getting my 10 second news inputs at various homepages.  I was really intrigued by the article stating that some scientists hooked up a squid to an iPod nano and recorded video of the color changes (squids have something called chromatophores in their skin that allows them to release color...brown, red or yellow).  The video shows their response to Cypress Hill's Insane in the Brain.  It's fascinating to watch (and yes, I turned up the volume since I usually have my computer on mute).  The link to the article is here and directly to the video is here.  And no, I don't get hungry when looking at squid since I don't like calimari but I do admit that visiting another blog which gave a picture and a recipe for lobster roll (yum) did make me hungry!

Back to the reviews.  Don't get me wrong, most of the reviews on tap are for excellent reads, I have been fortunate to have been reading some great review books (although there were a couple of titles I am still struggling about what to say since I had trouble finishing them) and will be posting over the next few days about Lori Foster's Run the Risk, Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade, Shift and Shine trilogy (yes, there is a story about this since I have already posted about Shine) and Corrina Lawson's Luminous.  I also was fortunate enough to receive Laura Griffin's upcoming novel, Scorched so that is toward the top of my TBR pile!  Back to being productive...



   

Shine

Shine  
by Jeri Smith-Ready is the fascinating final story in a creative young adult paranormal trilogy.  The author has created a world that is even more divisive between youngsters and adults due to an ability to see and communicate with ghosts that is only granted to those who were born after a certain date which is known as the Shift.  Those under eighteen are quite comfortable with the presence of ghosts (who, under normal circumstances, can only appear in places that they visited while alive) but the adults are less accepting and have developed a system for policing these entities.  There are inimical forms of ghosts which are labeled as 'shades' but there are facts being uncovered throughout the trilogy which will change the world's view of these tortured souls forever.  The young girl named Aura who is at the nexus of these stories matures through a series of very emotional events even as she struggles with her own identity.  There is plenty of angst and serious subject matter in these volumes but I didn't feel it was overdone and cloying (unlike some very popular young adult series that I have read).  I suggest that you start at the beginning of the series, with Shade then Shift for maximum understanding and enjoyment (and greatest emotional impact) and keep a tissue or two handy.  Be forewarned that the books were originally released with different covers so there are two different versions floating around.  I think they were all lovely but I do congratulate the author on the new artwork.  I am reluctant to part with this wonderful book but think that the young readers at my local library will enjoy the chance to read Aura's adventures even more!  My Amazon review for Shine is at this link under ELF2060.  I always appreciate 'yes, this was helpful' votes!

 

Shine!

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready is going to be released next month!  If you haven't read this fascinating young adult trilogy and you like compelling paranormal stories, you are in for a wonderful treat.  The first book, Shade, and the second, Shift, are emotional and fantastic reads.  I will post my review of Shine as soon as I can carve out enough time to read it!

My Goodreads reviews for Shade link and Shift link



If you have never read the adult vampire series by this author you should also try her WVMP series that starts with Wicked Game 


I was lucky enough to obtain some bookmarks that have the beautiful cover of Shine on them (thank you Jeri!) and I am willing to share them with the first three people who leave me a comment asking for them if they leave a valid e-mail address so I can contact you privately about obtaining a snail mail address.  This will be the first time I have tried this so please be patient with me!