With not much more than “Splash” as a reference, I wasn’t entirely certain I’d understand enough about mermaids to truly enjoy Everblue
to the level it deserves. But having enjoyed other stories by Brenda, I figured satisfaction was most likely a certainty! YA readers will not be disappointed! Woot, Woot!Ashlyn and Tatiana have been the closest of friends for years. A senior in high school, Ash shares the ho hum of the day’s gossip with Tachi who soaks it all up with an exuberance only a home-schooled, sheltered teen would exhibit. Boys, fashions, he said this and she said that. It’s all the same daily drab crap to Ash but to Tachi, it’s a connection to mainstream life that she grabs on to with both hands. Although limited in the amount of time they can spend together, both share a devotion to their friendship that is sure to last through the years, both counting down the days until their pending escape to college.
And then there’s Fin. Drop dead gorgeous and always polite yet distant, Tachi’s brother is a mystery to Ash and he held her young heart since the day they all met. The three of them used to be inseparable, then Fin started becoming more and more distant and any interactions Ash and Fin did have had become awkward and confusing. How could she want someone so badly who appeared to want to stay so far away from her?
There’s something about the Helton family that Ash doesn’t quite understand. There’s mystery in their sheltered existence and when they disappear without a word, she becomes extremely concerned for their safety and dangerously depressed with the disconnection from her closest and dearest friend. Is she hurt? Has something happened to the entire family? Will they every return?
As I’ve mentioned many times in previous reviews, I dive into a story and become so immersed that the words instantly translate into pictures like a filmstrip running through my imagination and for readers such as myself, character, setting and situation description is of the utmost importance. As a whole, Everblue
did not disappoint. Pandos has talent for creating a great cast of characters and bringing her settings to life. My only regret is that we didn’t get a more in-depth education on Natatoria and the history of the Helton family.Use of the dual point of view narration lends a complexity which I had initially feared would become confusing; potentially blurring the lines and making the plot hard to follow. Fortunately, this was not the case. Brenda Pandos does a great job of guiding the reader and ensuring smooth transitions between the two points of view.
With Everblue
, Brenda Pandos presents wonderfully imaginative world building, well rounded character development and a perfect timing for establishing conflict, which all helps to create a treasure of a tale that proves her talent and will do much to further establish her footing in this highly competitive industry. It’s no secret that I am a fan of Brenda’s stories and I highly admire the growth she has shown since her debut in 2010. Way to go Brenda!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everblue
by Brenda Pandos
July 2011
Obsidian Mountain Publishing
ISBN-10: 0982903391
ISBN-13: 978-0982903391
From the Publisherr
Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana’s twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn’s life forever.
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Also by Brenda Pandos
Blog tour hosted by LaFemmeReaders
Also by Brenda Pandos
Blog tour hosted by LaFemmeReaders
Reviews are written on a volunteer basis and are only the opinions of the individual review author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and/or views of the author, publisher, or public readers in general Copyright © YzhaBella's BookShelf 2010-11
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, Alec will leave the ladies gushing while we’re all still trying to determine if he’s really the grouchy bad azz bad boy he seems or if it is all just an act. 
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is intended for a young reader and, as the parent of a tween, I can only comment from the perspective of a mom.)
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differs in that the romance between the protagonists is not the center piece but rather a significant contribution, the romantic encounters are just as hot and exciting and the emotions will still set your heart to fluttering, just the same. To further explain, while 
