Layers of Light
by S. R.
Cronin
GENRE:
Science Fiction, Fantasy
BLURB:
A Texan teenager develops an unusual ability when she becomes an
exchange student in India. Once human trafficking touches her world, her
mysterious talent shows hope for locating her friends. If she only knew what
the talent was and how to use it.
A stranger makes her an unexpected offer. He will train her to find her missing friends, but she will need trust in ideas she barely believes and more courage than has ever been expected of her. Also, she’ll never be normal again.
She accepts his offer, intending to show those guilty of unspeakable crimes just how powerful a young woman can be.
A stranger makes her an unexpected offer. He will train her to find her missing friends, but she will need trust in ideas she barely believes and more courage than has ever been expected of her. Also, she’ll never be normal again.
She accepts his offer, intending to show those guilty of unspeakable crimes just how powerful a young woman can be.
Excerpt:
So
when the three American girls came to her office begging for help in finding
their friend, Amy knew this had all the markings of a case that would get her
in trouble with the agency. The involvement of three American students only
made it more probable this would reach the press and the ears of Amy’s
superiors back home. A savvy woman would give these girls the brush off.
“What
did you say her name was?” Amy asked.
“Usha.”
It was the tall confident girl with the long blond hair girl who spoke first.
“She’s really smart and so happy to be in school, and she has these beautiful
big trusting eyes and you’ve got to help us find her.”
The
girl with the East-Asian ancestry jumped in. “The school’s been busy with the
aftermath of the earthquake all week. Last night they got a hold of her mother
who says she has no idea where her daughter’s gone and so the school now says
she’s a runaway who couldn’t handle the advanced classes and they’re washing
their hands of it!”
The
pretty one with the head full of black curls picked up the narrative. “We know
better. There’s no way that’s true. Usha was doing great in her classes. She
has to be in real trouble.”
“Okay,”
Amy said. “Start at the beginning and tell me everything you know. No holding
back.”
The
three girls starting talking all at once. Amy smiled at their vehemence, their
innocence and their concern for their friend. There was an uncle from another
city, and huge debts to be paid. The girl wasn’t even from Darjeeling so there
was no one local to help her. Amy looked at the photo one of the girls had on
her laptop. She sat for a minute in silence as she studied Usha’s face.
A
young hopeful human being, full of potential. Just as all young people were.
Was that reason enough to get involved? Of course it was.
My Review:
Layers of Light is about one Texas teenager who decides to
go to India to attend to school as an exchange student. Teddie becomes fast
friends with her three roommates Usha, Michelle and Haley.
Usha turns up missing after the earthquake. She is hiding
from her uncle. Usha’s father passed owing her uncle money leaving Usha, her
mother and her siblings to pay the debt. Her mother becomes suspicious of how
her uncle wants the debt to be repaid so she sends Usha away to school in India
hoping he would not come after her. When he does Usha leaves the school and
goes into hiding.
Teddie, Michelle and Haley look into Usha’s disappearance.
They ask Amy for help in trying to find Usha as they believe her to be in
trouble. Teddie has these special abilities that allow her to see her friends
when she is asleep. Teddie witness’ Michelle’s abduction after too many
questions are asked while the girls are looking into Usha’s disappearance,
Teddie is approached by a stranger that offers to help her
train in using her abilities so she can become stronger and to also know how to
use her abilities to aide in finding her friends before it is too late.
While they are looking for their friends they find evidence
of a human trafficking ring. It is a race against the clock to find the girls
before they are taken away and they disappear forever never to be seen again.
Layers of Light is a very fast paced read that kept me glued
to my seat with all the action and the twists and turns that Teddie led me on.
Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. The world that was created for
Layers of Light is so awesome I love it. I love all the characters in the 46
Ascending series. I love reading about them and learning who they are and about
their abilities. I can’t wait to read the next book in the 46 Ascending series to
see which family member is up and to learn about their abilities.
All of the 46 Ascending novels can be read as stand-alone so
pick a favorite and begin the journey into this amazing world. I highly
recommend all books in the 46 Ascending series.
AUTHOR Bio
and Links:
Sherrie
Roth grew up in Western Kansas thinking there was no place in the universe more
fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career
ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a
science writer.
She
published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot
of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally
came, it declared to her it had to be a
whole book, nothing less. One night, while digesting this disturbing piece of
news, she drank way too many shots of ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up
thirty-one years later demanding to know what was going on.
The
boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down
and explained how, in a fit of practicality,
she had gone back to school and gotten a degree in geophysics and spent the
last 28 years interpreting seismic data in the oil industry. The good news,
according to Mr. Cronin, was that she had found it to be entertaining and
ridiculously well-paying. The bad news was the two of them had still managed to
spend almost all of the money.
She
was now Mrs. Cronin, and further good news was that they had produced three
wonderful children whom they loved, even though, to be honest, that was where a
lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin turned out to
be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to
write. "It's about time," were his exact words.
Sherrie
Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed
to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No
one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades.
The only problem was, the book informed her it had now grown into a six book
collection. Sherrie decided she better start writing it before it got any
longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.
Author
Social Media Links:
Blogs:
Email me at lola.zeitman@gmail.com
Giveaway:
$10 Amazon/BN GC and a gift Kindle copy of Twists of Time
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3 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for hosting me again on your blog and thanks for the review. It's always a pleasure to look around here on the The Avid Reader!
Did you major in creative writing or is something you picked up on your own?
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