~Review Blitz & Giveaway~ Soulspark by Eliza Tilton


Title: Soulspark
Author: Eliza Tilton
Genre: YA Romance
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb:
Dealing with the loss of her mother, seventeen-year-old Jessica Stone tries to find an escape from pain by secretly medicating herself with Xanax, but the anxiety increases, crushing her and her grades.

Then she meets Caleb Jonas, the pastor’s son at her mother’s church. Between his cute dimples and love of fast cars, Jessica is completely smitten, and the feeling is mutual. But dating a Christian boy isn’t easy. He doesn’t party, and he never goes past first base. Jessica struggles with his faith, since it makes her question her own, but for the first time since her mother’s death, she can breathe. Life is finally shifting into a state of happiness.

But the differences between them grow until one act of betrayal forces to rip them apart forever. Hurt and love collide into a storm neither can break free from, and Jessica must decide if she’s ready to trust her heart, one last time.


5 stars

I really loved this story so much! It has just the right amount of heartache, angst, friendship and love to keep me glued to the pages.

The characters are so well written that I often found myself in anguish and tearing up right along with Jessica.  It can't be easy, especially on a teenage girl, to loose both her parents.  Her dad, several years ago to a horrific car accident. And her mom just a few months ago to cancer.  Now, she is staying with her Step dad and Step brighter until after her senior year and she goes away for college.

--They didn’t understand the panic attacks were uncontrollable. How do you stop a hurricane? You can’t. It comes and rips everything open until you’re left with nothing but a bleeding heart.

Jessica has anxiety so crippling that she starts to self medicate herself with Xanax her friend swipes from her mom.  It's not right, and she knows this, but she is in such turmoil over her mothers death and the physiatrist she is seeing won't give her the medication she thinks she needs.

At a time when she was most lost, Caleb moves to town. His father is the new Preacher at the church her mom always attended.  While she wants to spend more time getting to know Caleb, her anxiety is a factor in her returning to the place her mom loved so much.

Jessica is mad at God, she feels He abandoned her mother when she needed Him most.  As she gets to know Caleb more, and slowly try to get over her anxiety, she wonders if God truly is to blame. And she starts to heal.

--With Caleb’s strong hand on my back and Pastor Jonas’ powerful words, the past months of burden and loss began to crumble. Warmth spread through my body, and the constant shaking of my bones slowed. Would I finally be okay?

Then, things spiral out of control.  She feels she has been betrayed in the most awful way by the ones she loves the most and now she has to find it in her heart to forgive and move on.

Then, just when it seems Jessica is on the path to forgiveness and pulling her life around, BAM - the author throws in some twists and turns, and to be honest, that just sealed the deal for me! I love it when an author can pull you into a story so much that you expect certain things, and then they change the story slightly and make it even more interesting.  Jessica doesn't know who to trust and what to believe.

If you want a great YA read, about a girl who is coming to terms with her mothers death, faith, friendship and finding  love and forgiveness (not only for others, but for herself as well) and an unexpected twist, then I think you may like this one.
Michelle



Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BA in Visual Communications. When she's not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she's writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there's always a romance. Crimson Tides: Book Three in Daath Chronicles releases May 2016 from Curiosity Quills Press.

Author Links:
Web: http://elizatilton.com/

Buy Links:


Caleb's eyes sparkled in the bright light of day. I studied his relaxed posture, resting back on both elbows, his hair ruffling in the breeze.
“I'm glad we came,” he said.
I scooted closer and rolled onto my stomach, knees bent, feet swaying back and forth. “Me too.”
He leaned onto his side and our gazes locked.
“Want to play a game?” I asked.
His lip curled into a grin. “Sure, what do you have in mind?”
“What's your favorite.”
“Huh?”
“That's the game.” I could tell he hadn't played this before. “I'll start. Favorite color.”
“Blue.”
“Favorite movie.”
“Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back.”
“Wow. Usually that one takes some thought.” I picked at a loose thread on the blanket. “Okay, next question. Favorite food.”
“Chicken parmigiana.”
I sighed. “I should’ve known that one. Okay.”
“Wait,” he interrupted. “What about you? Don't I get to ask you any questions?”
I tilted my head to get a better view of his glowing face. “Green. Labyrinth. Cheesecake.”
“Isn't cheesecake considered a dessert?”
“Yes, but it’s still a food.
He played with the curls hanging around my shoulders. “I love when you wear your hair like this.”
“Really?” My hair was a frizzy mess, half-up, half-down and all over the place. He twirled a finger into my hair, playing with the curls. The brush of his finger against my neck made my little game seem unimportant. A streak of boldness hit me and I asked something a little bit more daring. “What's your favorite part of a girl?” My heart pounded when he gave me a sexy smile.
He untangled his hand from my hair and trailed it down my back. “This.”
“My back?”
He shook his head. “No, this curve right here, that leads right there.” He touched the patch of skin that connected my back to my butt, his fingers trailing the top of my jeans.
His eyes narrowed into a sexy glance, one that made my toes curl.
I leaned over, my heart pounding, and kissed him, then inched across the blanket until I was directly beside him and kissed him again, drawing him closer with my hand.
Caleb's lips were soft and full. I loved the way he cradled me in his arms, never too hard. I'd made out with a few boys, but none of them could stand a chance against Caleb's hot kiss.
From this position, I couldn’t move my arms or hands, and I wanted to be closer. With my lips still locked on his, I shifted into a sitting position. The minute I moved, Caleb moved with me. One hand holding my face, the other grasped my waist, drawing me into his chest. Everything in me raced with bliss. My pulse sped, my heart jumped, and my mind only thought of one thing: more.









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