Title: Jane of Air ( The Tattooed Girl Series Book #1)
Author: Jessican Penot
Pub Date: October 2018
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Pages: 199

About the book:

Amazon bestselling author, Jessica Penot, brings you a dark and compelling series about an orphaned girl in her first year of college who begins to discover her true identity and inner strength as she falls for a broken and mysterious young man.

A young adult YA gothic paranormal series inspired by the beloved classic gothic novel, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Jane Marsh has spent her entire life hiding. Hiding under bulky clothing. Hiding behind glasses. Hiding behind books. Abandoned at a hospital emergency room at the age of four with her name written on her forehead in black Sharpie and a mysterious tattoo of a door on her back, Jane grew up in foster care in the small town of Gateshead, Massachusetts. She learned early on that keeping her head down and pretending to be normal was the only way to survive.

Now, at the age of sixteen, Jane is looking forward to a fresh start. Hard work and many late study nights earned her early graduation from high school and a full scholarship to a small, but prestigious college in Huntington, Virginia. Even better, her best friend Helen—her only friend actually—is going too. Older by two years, the beautiful and off-beat Helen is the only person from high school who broke through Jane’s shyness and made her feel accepted. As the two girls embark on their new adventure, Jane is feeling hopeful about her future. But with limited resources and no family to help her, Jane takes a job as a live-in companion to a wealthy old woman who lives near the college. She grows to care for the elderly Miss Adele and the kindly housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax. Jane also falls in love with her new home, the magnificent Thornfield Hall, even though everyone, including Helen, says it’s haunted. Helen begs Jane to leave and move in with her and her boyfriend in town, but Jane refuses. Jane feels at home at Thornfield and its massive library. For a book nerd like Jane, Thornfield is like her very own Gryffindor House.

When Adele’s grandson, Edward Rochester comes home for a visit from Yale, Jane can’t help but be drawn to the brooding, good-looking young man. As tentative friendship blooms between them, Jane believes that maybe, just maybe, she can have a normal life. Maybe even a boyfriend. But then one night Jane begins to hear ghostly whispers that lure her into the dark corners of Thornfield. Wicked whispers about Edward and his past. As the ghosts continue to haunt Jane, her tattoo begins to transform and spread across her back. Soon, Jane fears that Helen was right, something evil does lurk at Thornfield. But is the evil in Edward or in Thornfield itself?

Thanks to YA Reads Blog Tour for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour.

This is the first time I have read any of Jessica’s books and in case you didn’t know it she is a best selling amazon author with several books to her name and after reading this I have to say I will be checking out her other books.

Jane of Air is a YA Gothic paranormal series that is inspired by Jane Eyre and I have to admit I have never read Jane Eyre. Not quite sure why but I am pretty sure I have a copy sitting in a bookcase.  I know in high school our English teacher would flip between Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights to avoid people passing on their work to other students and I was the class that got Wuthering Heights.

I found this to be a quick read and pretty much read it in one sitting. Once I started the book I was instantly hooked and had a hard time to put it down. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I really want to read Jane Eyre now to see if I can put the pieces together to see how it was inspired.

The main character is Jane and she is a sixteen year old orphan girl. She is starting her freshman year at college. There was so much mystery surrounding Jane that you wanted to read on to discover more about her such as the tattoo she has on her back that seems to grow and expand each year. Plus she can hear ghosts that no one else can.

When her best friend, Helen gives her the chance of a lifetime she jumps at it. She will be taking care of Miss Adele at Thornhill Hall. Miss Adele is another character surrounded in mystery that you wanted to read on to discover more. Hopefully as the series progresses more will be revealed. Thornhill Hall has a reputation of being haunted and the scene of several killings of the years. This made for the perfect Halloween read.

Helen has been Jane’s best friend since high school. The two girls are night and day when you look at them. Helen is loud and kind of obnoxious. This friendship definitely worked and loved reading their interactions together.

Now we know there  has to be a love interest and that person was Edward. He is a bit older then Jane and you know as you read there is more to him then meets the eye. He is definitely someone who will keep you on your toes in a good way. Deep down he is such a sweet guy and I think the perfect match for Jane but he has a family curse that makes him do things that he doesn’t want to do but he has to to keep things in order.

I loved their relationship. It was slow and gradually and not bam in your face like so many other books are. I am looking forward to seeing where this goes in the upcoming books

I absolutely loved Jane because for a young girl who has endured so much she is coming out on top. She has suffered so much under the care of her foster mother. When you look at other kids her age and going through what she is most would cave and say the hell with it but Jane was determined to make something of herself. She not only graduated high school but is in college. She has learned that the only person who will take care of Jane is Jane. She is smart, loving, caring, quiet and reserved. She is the daughter any mother would love to have in my opinion.

There was no huge cliff hanger here and in a way I am grateful because as the book ended I wanted more and I think leaving the book where it did it leaves you asking questions and I can’t wait to read book two hopefully that will be sooner rather then later.

When Stars Come Out
Scarlett St. Clair
Publication date: October 31st 2018
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Anora Silby can see the dead and turn spirits into gold coins, two things she would prefer to keep secret as she tries to lead a normal life at her new school. After all, she didn’t change her identity for nothing.

As it turns out, hiding her weirdness is just one of many challenges. By the end of her first day, she’s claimed the soul of a dead girl on campus and lost the coin. Turns out, the coin gives others the ability to steal souls, and when a classmate ends up dead, there’s no mistaking the murder weapon.

Navigating the loss of her Poppa, her mother’s unpredictable behavior, and Roundtable, an anonymous student gossip app threatening to expose her, are hard enough. Now she must find the person who stole her coin before more lives are lost, but that means making herself a target for the Order, an organization that governs the dead on Earth–and they want Anora and her powers for themselves.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

Are you a book reviewer?
Request a review copy here!

—

EXCERPT:

A woman with blond hair and a pink blazer smiles at me.
“Can I help you?” Her voice sounds robotic, filtered through the round metal intercom.
“I’m new. I don’t have my schedule—”
“Oh! You must be Anora Silby!” She retrieves a folder from her desk and hands it to me via a small opening at the bottom of the glass barrier. “Inside you will find your schedule and your student handbook.”
I open the folder and stare at the materials. My schedule sits on top. I have already zoned in on my first hour: trigonometry…a.k.a. Hell.
“Be sure you are aware of curfew.”
“Oh, I don’t live on campus.”
“Curfew is countywide,” she advises. “No one’s to be outside after midnight.”
“Why?”

It takes the lady a moment to realize I’ve asked her a question. She blinks.
“It’s always been like that. Since the twenties. You know, after the murders.”
“No, actually…I don’t know,” I wave my folder around to remind her I’m the new girl.
“It’s nothing to be worried about,” the lady assures me. “There haven’t been any murders since then. The curfew’s just in place as…a precaution. It’s best if it’s obeyed.”
She says it like a warning, like she thinks I’m one to break the rules. I can understand curfew for campus, but why is it countywide?
“Would you like a guide to help you find your classes?” Her voice brightens, her smile intensifies. It looks fake, and I get the sense I’m not welcome anymore.
“Uh, sure.”
It’ll be nice to have a map of this place in case I get lost trying to avoid the dead. The lady disappears from view and I take a closer look at the pictures on the wall. I’m partly hopeful I’ll see a picture of the girl outside in one of the photos, but I don’t find her. The images are mostly of buildings on campus in their prime. Gold plates beneath the frames indicate the year they were built. My favorite is Rosewater—that sounds calming.
I run my fingers over the cold metal, tracing the name.
“You must be Anora Silby.” The voice is energetic and warm, but it startles me. I tear my hand away from the plate as if I’ve been caught stealing and yelp, twisting to find a boy standing beside me. He has striking blue eyes and sharp features. My gaze drops to his lips, which are initially pulled into a smile until I face him, then it falters.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I study him for a moment—lively eyes, faint color in his cheeks, and…warmth. He’s definitely alive. I guess I stare too long because he clears his throat and says, “Can I help you find your classes?”
“Oh…um…the lady was getting me a map.”
A smile stretches across his face again, brightening his expression. “I’m your map.” He extends his hand to me, keeping the other in his pocket. “Shy.”
I stare at his hand, confused—did he just call me shy?
“Excuse me?”
He chuckles under his breath. “It’s my name—Shy Savior.”

“Oh.” My cheeks flame and I want to hide. I fumble as I cradle my folder in my arm and reach for his hand. “Anora Silby…er…I guess you knew that.”
“Yeah,” he breathes, and then quickly adds, “But that’s okay. You have a nice name.”
He doesn’t move his gaze from mine as he shakes my hand firmly, and it is a little unnerving, especially since the pigment of his eyes is so concentrated—seriously, he has to be wearing contacts.
“Um, are you going to let go of my hand?”
“Sorry.” He drops my hand and snakes his behind his neck. “It’s just…have we met?”
I laugh. “No. I think I would remember you, Blue Eyes.”
Shy smiles and turns the faintest shade of pink. “You just feel so familiar.”
“I hope I’m familiar in a good way.”
God. I’d have to say that, wouldn’t I?
I’m breaking my second rule: Absolutely no boys.
“Yes.” He narrows those gorgeous eyes and my resolve weakens. “Yes, only in a good way.”
I inhale and hug myself, feeling self-conscious.
“Mr. Savior, I think it’s about time Miss Silby made it to class,” the lady in the pink blazer advises from the counter.
Shy turns and smiles at her. “Yes. Sorry, Mrs. Cole.” He looks at me, clearing his throat. “So, what’s your first class?”
I’m glad the distraction gives me a reason to look away from him because my cheeks are on fire. I open my folder to look at my schedule. I’d seen it a few minutes ago but now, I can’t remember anything.
“Um, Mr. Val, trig … in Walcourt?”
Shy laughs.
“What?” I lean away to get a good look at his face, but he just shakes his head, eyes focused on my schedule.
“Nothing—what’s your locker number?”
Forty-four.

Shy directs me out of the lobby, down a hallway flanked with a large trophy case and a couple bulletin boards covered with flyers for homecoming.

“The lockers, dorms, and cafeteria are all located here in Emerson,” he explains. “It’s a little inconvenient, but you just have to make sure you have everything you need for your first four classes before lunch,” he pauses and nods to my locker, then the one next to it. “That one’s mine.”

I smile at him and it feels like I’m falling into a trap. “I guess I’ll see more of you, then?”
“Yeah.” He grins, showing his teeth, and runs a hand through his blond hair. I like the way his eyes crinkle at the sides when he smiles, all things I shouldn’t notice about him, considering my rules. “Yeah, you will.”

Author Bio:

Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology-all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway