Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Published April 24, 2011 by the author

188 pages

Book Source: My ePub copy was provided by the author. The book is currently only available on Kindle for $2.99.

Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

--Summary from GoodReads.com

Judging by the cover...: It's a shame that this book in only available electronically, because this is a cover I would flaunt shamelessly. Simple yet gorgeous. Absolutely love it.

Favorite Elements:

• Boy With an Accent - It goes without saying that any boy with a British accent immediately becomes swoon worthy. Andreas is absolutely perfect, and if he had just moved in next door to me (and I was 17), I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to claim him as mine.
• Subtle Supernatural - If you've followed my blog for a while, you'd know I am leery of anything to do with tiny supernatural creatures (fairies, pixies, leprechauns, etc.). There are few authors who can write them without getting sappy and obnoxious. So not the case here! Wee Folk make an appearance, but their presence adds mayhem and mystery, no drama llamas here.
• Super Powers - I will leave what they are a mystery, but when they start to happen, it's pretty freakin' cool.
• Narrator to Love - Loie has the patience of a saint and unfortunately the self-esteem of a termite (do termites have self-esteem?), but I love her anyway. If she was my best friend, I'd do everything it takes to show her just how awesome she really is (luckily she has Katie for that).

Overall: A-

You should know that I don't give out As lightly. It takes hard work and determination from an author to win a spot on my A List, and Blythe has achieved it! 

At the current price, this book is a ridiculously good deal. The world created for us is so simple yet overwhelmingly realistic, it's hard to believe that this isn't real life. Loie's voice and feelings are authentic enough to make you think she is actually telling you the story while you're sitting on your couch sipping lattes, instead of reading it on a page. I certainly hope there's a sequel on the way, because this girl can't wait too much longer to know what happens.

Recommendation: You'd have to be crazy to not buy it right now. There's something for everyone to enjoy: action, romance, fantasy, and a homecoming dance and its length will attract reluctant readers.