Crossroads Saga Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Crossroads Saga Blog Tour!  I have a review of Crossroads and a SWEET giveaway for you all today!

Crossroads is the first book in the Crossroads Saga by author Mary Ting.  The second book, Between, is now available.  Here's the Goodreads blurb:

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. Where, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should?

This book was an interesting read on a number of levels.  Claudia is such a mature and unusual teenage girl. Her voice is really unique and I enjoyed that.  You can just tell that she is different, special.  The way she reacts to Michael is a bit more subdued than you'd expect but their love is the kind that you feel even just reading the book.  The mythos of Mary Ting's angels is really unique and interesting too.  Usually you get a scholarly Christian angel mythology in YA but this take on angels has a decidedly Catholic flavor to it.  It was interesting for me because while I have Catholic family, I was raised Protestant.  It served to make the story that much more interesting.  I've heard some YA reviewers say that they feel that religion has no place in YA literature but I have to respectfully disagree.  There should be YA books that represent EVERYONE.  I had a lot of friends in college who were Catholic and Claudia reminds me of them- all strong, loving Catholic women.  Also, I don't see how you can have angels without religion.  Angels are a religious being.  Plain and simple.  The other interesting thing that I loved in this book was the idea of Crossroads.  The Crossroads is a place that isn't Earth, Heaven or Hell.  It's something outside of everything.  Wow.  What an interesting concept!  Now for some of my favorite characters, the alkins.  Alkins are Mary Ting's "nephilim."  My favorites have to be Davin and Michael.  They are the most adorable best friends.  The kind of best friends that everyone wishes for.  They're willing to do anything to see the other happy and safe.  The alkins in the story are so interesting to me because they are what makes me think the hardest.  What is wrong?  What is right?  Can breaking a rule be the same as doing the right thing?  (And forgive me for waxing religious here.)  If God is love, would he REALLY expect the alkins and angels to live without it?  I love a book that makes you feel AND think.  Crossroads really grabbed me and I've jumped right into Between already.  I hope you all will give this one a try.  I'm glad that I took the time to read it.

You can find out more about Mary Ting and the origin of Crossroads by checking out her Amazon Author Page, her website or her blog.  You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.  You can click here to find the Crossroads Saga on Goodreads.  Crossroads by Mary Ting earns 4 Fairies for a lovely and imaginative book about angels.

Now for the giveaway!  I have a Swarovski Crystal Snowflake Necklace for one lucky winner!!  You can enter below on the Rafflecopter.  If for any reason the Rafflecopter doesn't work, email your information to the email address listed in the upper right hand corner or the blog page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You should also check out the rest of the blogs involved in this tour! Here's the schedule so you can check out all the reviews and giveaways.

 Crossroads Tour Schedule..

 May 7th InsaneAbout Books 
May 8th Me and Reading
 May 9th I Love Teen Books
 May 10th Some Like it Paranormal
 May 11th Books Complete Me
 May 12th Jean Book Nerd
 May 13th Amethyst Daydreams
 May 14th Totally Bookalicious
 May 15th I am Wolf
 May 16th InBetween
 May 17th Stuckin Books
 May 18th Putting Pen to Page
 May 19th Sassy Book Lovers
 May 20th Delphina Reads Too Much
 May 21 Insane About Books I Love Teen Books