This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
In the ethos where herds of story ideas run wild and free, I am known as the Devourer of Books. A voracious predator, I --
Okay. I’m a mom of three young children. And I spend way too much time in the fantasy world in my head. But, hey, in this world I’m still supernatural. I channel the powers of my insomnia for good, writing into the early morning. I’m impervious to kid whining and insults (well, mostly). I have a second sense for cereal disasters and broken toy catastrophes. They call me Mom, which is code for You’re-Awesome-We-Love-You or Stop-Writing-On-Your-Computer-and-Play-With-Me. I’m not sure which. My kryptonite is my pet peeves: water running down my elbows, food stains on papers, and losing the little plastic tethers when you remove the tags off new clothes.
So, yeah, that's me. Your average superhero mom. Oh, and I’ve got three eyes (one in the back of my head).
UpSpark is my debut novel, Book One of the Five Elements Series. Not to be outdone, I have nine other books clamoring to be finished. StarDust, the second book of the Five Element series, is slated to release soon.
Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite
Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, with plans for college and a challenging career, Enya learned she has Huntington’s Disease. Although her physician explained there are new treatment options, and it may not be terminal, her father’s death a few years earlier proved its possible outcome. When her friend Jacob invited her to join him on a cross-country adventure that summer, she happily agreed. His drive to his California college included stops to connect more fully with his Native American heritage. Enya was in the beginning stages of learning about acupuncture and the possibilities of healing energies. Her commitment to meditation and exploration of other belief systems, as well as Jacob’s insights, sparked her spiritual growth. In the captivating novel, UpSpark, written by Nicole Wells, many essential themes – such as acceptance, forgiveness, trust, and love – are fully explored.
This story has many exceptional aspects – Enya’s struggle with her diagnosis; the grief of Enya and her mother, and the effects on their relationship; Enya’s friendships with Jacob and Yasmin, a Muslim who recently came out to her parents; western vs. integrative medicine; visions and other spiritual phenomena. The importance of living in the present moment is reiterated. The author’s ability to interweave these various themes into one engaging, fascinating story is truly amazing. She develops the main characters in likable and relatable ways, and each one imparts important lessons. The last chapters are unexpected and memorable. Author Nicole Wells notes the novel, UpSpark, is Book One of the Five Elements Series. Everyone who reads this gem of a book will certainly anticipate the second one!
