Shapeshifter's Secret Review and Giveaway

Book Blurb:

She tried telling herself to stop, but it was useless. Something had fully claimed her mind and body. A sound began to erupt from inside her chest, a deep sort of growl that seized her entire being. She felt as if there was a grizzly bear inside her, trying to escape. And then a deafening roar echoed from her mouth, only inches away from Lancer’s face. It took everything inside of her not to attack him.

In Julia’s life, timing is everything. Like the time her paranoid father put bars on her window so she wouldn’t sneak out at night—even though she’s never given him a reason not to trust her. Or the time this weird new kid showed up at her school and pretty much every girl in sight instantly and inexplicably fell in love with him. What was up with that?

But as time moves on, things in Julia’s life go from strange to seriously impossible. Now it’s all she can do to keep herself and the life she’s always known from falling apart.

This fast-paced action-adventure story is packed with humor, romance, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the very last page. Get lost in a world of hidden royalty, shifting alliances, and dangerous vendettas, but don’t ever forget: nothing is what it seems.
Author bio

Heather Ostler grew up near the mountains with a rambunctiously entertaining family. She majored in English at Utah Valley University, and soon began composing stories about masquerades, water nymphs, and shapeshifters. She and her husband, Kellen, reside in Highland, Utah with two remarkably pleasant pugs.

Quote from the book:

As
Julia burst through the school’s front doors she began

running with
quickness and agility she’d never known before.

Normally it would
have taken her at least an hour to get to Covington

Park. However, only
minutes had passed when she arrived

out of breath and
fatigued. Her chest heaved, but she continued

onward to the
deserted woodland behind the park.

Julia
entered into the hidden dark forest and collapsed on the

dirt floor. She tried
to shake off the anger and heat that pulsed

inside her, but it
only seemed to have gotten worse. Images of Ms.

Finnary and the
students swirled in her head, and she screamed

with anguish. Why
couldn’t she get rid of the horrible feelings? It

seemed her whole body
was reacting more extreme this time, and

she knew she was dangerous.

A
branch snapped near her, and she sprang up from the

ground baring her
teeth again like a wild animal.

“Who’s
there?”

She
spun around menacingly, and to her shock, found Caleb

standing just a few
feet away from her.

“Julia,
are you okay?” he asked walking toward her with his

hands out. 

“How
did you find me here?”

“You
need to calm down. I can help you,” he said, far too

composed for the
situation.

“Leave.”
Julia’s voice was mean, and she hoped it would be

enough to get him to
disappear. “I don’t want to be responsible

for what I do to
you.”

“I’m
not going to leave you,” Caleb stated. “I want to help.”

         “No,”
she growled. Soon her hands began shaking harder

than ever before. Her
breathing seized her, and she felt her lungs

might explode before
she had enough air. She shook her head as

her
vision was obscured, and suddenly she was no longer Julia.

Review

I'm thrilled for this opportunity to review my friend Heather Ostler's debut novel, Shapeshifter's Secret, the first book in her YA fantasy series.  If you like Twilight-esk paranormal romance, Harry Potter-like magic, and Phantom of the Opera-ish ghost mysteries, then you'll love Shapeshifter's Secret. From shape shifting werecats to masquerade balls, the story is brimming with action, romance, and danger around every corner.

Julia is just an average teenage girl—or so she thinks—until she starts having odd fits and seeing strange things. Her world is flipped on it's head when she finds out the dark secrets her over-protective father has been keeping from her; such as the fact that she's not who she always thought she was, that there's a whole world she never knew existed, and that her life is on the line.

I enjoyed the premise of this book: a young woman trying to find herself and deal with the normal teenage infatuations, friendships, and school work, while also dealing with supernatural elements, betrayal, and attempts on her life.

I look forward to the next books revealing more of the world and characters and developing Julia's powers further to give her an even greater role in resolving not only her own problems, but also the problems that threaten to bring the downfall of her world. 

If you'd like to read other reviews of Shapeshifter's Secret check the blog tour calendar here:http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/blog-tour-the-shapeshifters-secret/.  

Here are some other links:  

Author Website: http://www.heatherostler.com/ 

Author blog: http://heatherostler.blogspot.com/ 

Publisher Blog http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/ 

Publisher Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks 

Publisher Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks 

Purchase link to Amazon or BN.com http://www.amazon.com/The-Shapeshifters-Secret-Heather-Ostler/dp/1462110339/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335931337&sr=1-1

Giveaway: 

Also, if you'd like the chance to win a copy of Shapeshifter's Secret, please  follow or like Cedar Fort or the author on Facebook or Twitter and comment on this post to let me know.

Launch Party:

The launch party will be at the King's English at 7pm on June 14th. Hope to see you there!