Title: Scintillate (Scintillate #1)
Author: Karen Tjebben
Genre: Young Adult, supernatural romantic thriller
Date Published: November 2013
Kate Archer is instantly drawn to Nick. He's handsome, smart, and interested in her - perhaps a little too interested according to Kate's brother. It's a good thing Nick is interested, or Kate would have died the night of the football game. Nick may have rescued Kate, but he can't stop the inevitable. Kate is changing; she just doesn't know it. She can't explain the visions and sensations affecting her body, but she can enjoy the pleasure of Nick's kiss - that is, until she learns the real reason he is with her. Betrayed by her genetics, Kate begins a metamorphosis that forces her to confront an unseen reality and claim her true destiny.
Excerpt
Excerpt
Nick
picked up my brown leather coat. “May I,” he said. He gently raised the coat
into place, slipped his hand along the back of my neck, and lifted my hair so
it hung over the coat instead of uncomfortably down inside of it. “You were
fabulous tonight, and you haven’t even begun to reach your potential.”
I
chuckled as his breath and lips tickled my neck. “Nick, not here. We’re in
church.” I turned and promptly ended his kisses.
“I’m
sorry. You’re right. You just have this aura about you that gets me going. I
can’t help myself. When you smile, laugh, or get excited, you scintillate.”
“I
scintillate!” I burst out laughing. “That’s ridiculous.”
“You
see. You’re doing it now.” He stared at me. It felt like he was looking into me,
examining my soul. “Your face is radiant. I wish you could see it.”
“We
should get going before I literally grow wings and become your personal angel,”
I said sarcastically. I picked up my bouquet of flowers and deeply inhaled
their floral scent. “Having you for a boyfriend would either help a girl’s
self-concept or make her really self-conscious.” I playfully touched the
bouquet to his chest.
“Huh,”
Nick looked at me incredulously. “Did you just refer to me as your ‘boyfriend’
and not as your ‘really good, special, guy friend’?” he asked as we entered the
crowded hallway and headed towards the exit.
“Pfft,
don’t let it go to your head.”
“Wow,
I’m moving up in the world,” he said. “I guess that necklace is working its
magic already.”
I
slipped my hand under my leather coat to search for the ornate chain and butterfly.
It was still there, resting against my sweater. “Thanks again for the necklace.
It’s beautiful.” I looked at him as we stepped into the cold night. Stars
twinkled, and his warm hand took mine.
“I’m
honored that you’d wear it.” We stopped under the portico, oblivious to those
around us.
“Please
wear it at all times,” he urged. “The lady who designed and forged this
necklace is very… how can I put it? Religious.”
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a crooked smile. “Bear with me,” he
said as he ran his fingers through the loose ends of my hair. “She put an
enchantment on it. That necklace will help protect whoever is wearing it.”
“I’m
religious, not superstitious.”
“That
doesn’t matter. Your beliefs are inconsequential. The miraculous in this world
is not dependent on us. Humans, we, are too weak to control such power.
Besides, sometimes faith gives people great comfort. In ancient Greece, they
believed that butterflies were the souls of their loved ones. So you can see
why the butterfly is important to Greeks.”
“Since
it is from you, I will never take it off.” I rose up on my tiptoes, placed my
hands on his face, and pulled his lips to mine. We kissed a simple kiss in the
lights under the portico.
My thoughts...
Not even sure where to begin...I totally thought this was going to be a 90's contemporary...I was so wrong but there was just enough puppy love to satisfy my need, and there is a love triangle! Lolz probably thee highlight of the book for me...But look at that cover, is it not gorgeous!
Let us get to it! We are introduced to Kate, Kate Archer who has been in love with her brother's bff Matt for years! Unrequited love at its best...very sad but very relatable. Can you imagine watching what you think is the love of your life give your love away? This was hard to read but then Kate sees Nick and her whole world changes...She is instantly drawn to him, and can't understand why or how. He just gets this sense of home... Yeah, I can't really explain but it's in every contemporary known to man...Nick has his eyes on Kate too! It's quite sweet how just instantly took to her, and showed genuine interest...Until we learn why Nick has arrived and why he seems so interested in Kate. Kate and Nick jump head first into a relationship... Kate thinks she has an overactive imagination but what Kate doesn't know is the monsters that she sees are real and Nick knows they are too! Kate soon starts to change, and realizes that Nick knew this would happen...What do you do when your #foreverguy knows more about you than you anticipated including that your body is going through a change...Kate adjusts to her new life, new love, and the danger that now follows her. Just so you know there is a love triangle!! If you get a chance, you should totally read this book!! My rating is 4/5!!
About the Author
Storytime always captivated Karen. As a child, she fell in love with books that transported her to different worlds and introduced her to new creatures. As a teacher, she encouraged her students to explore different times and new worlds through literature. Now, when Karen isn’t living in reality with her husband and daughters, she can be found creating an alternate reality filled with creatures and worlds that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers.
Where to buy Karen’s books-
Where to find Karen Tjebben –
Thanks for hosting
ReplyDelete