Team Kilt: Round 2!

So the lovely Zachary Moore from Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade series has made it to Round 2 in the YA Crush Tourney (don't tell me you still don't know what I'm talking about!) Now I'm super into this tournament. I love the posts that each advocate writes for their man and I find myself wanting to read all the books I haven't just based on all the wonderful things they say! Our wonderful Team Kilt advocates at Ficitious Delicious know exactly how to get people excited about Zach!

Thankfully Zach is still in the running to win. Problem is, he's up against Will Herondale from Cassandra Clare's best selling series The Infernal Devices. Now I haven't read this series yet (though I have read most of her other one) but I do know that Will is a favourite and pretty much guaranteed the win :( BUT! (yes, there is a but!) we at Team Kilt do not give up even when the odds are not in our favour. Did Katniss give up? No. Did Harry give up? Never. And for those who have read the fantastic series I'm talking about here, Zach never gave up either. Neither did Aura and things worked out pretty swell for the both of them (and for us because it was hot to read!)

Now about Zach. He's a Scot and if that's not enough to make you swoon, he also wears kilts on special occasions (who can resist a man in a kilt?)

Oh sorry, where was I? He is a sweetheart who, even when I'm sure it's all he wanted, waited until Aura was ready to take their relationship to the next step. He's smart, caring and has a wicked sense of humour. He's the perfect package and seriously, he needs your vote!

I don't ask much. I just ask for your vote. I hope you'll take the time to check out the books, maybe read some quotes, and for sure drop by the YA Sisterhood and take a look at the tournament. I can't post a direct link to Zach's round because it doesn't start until midnight, but you'll have 24 hours to get your votes in. Do it for all the men in kilts. Let's look at those lovely pictures the girls from #TeamKilt made one last time ^^^^

Ya. That's what I thought.

31. Shine

Book #31: Shine
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Published: May 1, 2012
416 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.


Aura's world caught my attention the moment I fell into it. The first book in the series, Shade, introducing us to a world where ghosts haunt the living and living deal with it. After a mysterious occurrence called the Shift happens, all those under the age of eighteen can see and talk to ghosts. Aura is one of those who has to deal with listening to ghosts complain and try to move on with their afterlives. But when Aura's rockstar boyfriend, Logan, dies suddenly on his birthday, she is suddenly glad she can see ghosts. Throughout the first two novels, Shade and Shift, Aura digs into the mysteries behind the Shift and gradually moves on with her life so that Logan can pass on. This process is sped up with the help of Zachary, the gorgeous Scottish exchange student, who captures her heart and waits ever so patiently for her to move on from Logan.


In this third and final installment, Aura has discovered more about the Shift than the government would like. They now know that she was the first person born after the Shift and Zachary was the last before, and will do anything to hold them in order to find out what they can do. And boy can they do a lot. Aura, as the first, can help Shades turn back into ghosts, and Zach, as the last, is like a living black box, no ghost can come near him. When they kiss, aura takes on Zach's ability and vice versa, leaving them with the thought that they may be the only two who can end the Shift. But it won't be easy. The government holds Zach in containment and Aura is desperate to find a way to help him and to discover everything she can about the government trying to find them.


Aura and Zachary's relationship is beautiful and heartbreaking. When they are apart, you can feel Aura's agony in every breath she takes. And when they are together, it's only them against the world, trying to hold on before they are separated again. Smith-Ready knows how a heart feels when it is torn from its other half. The long distance that you feel when even though you can see them on a screen, all you want to do is touch them. Their reunion is magical, eager and too short. As they explore Ireland together, connecting the pieces of the puzzle in order to keep the world from ghosts, their love grows stronger and more inimate. There is still so much pain between them and as a reader, all I wanted was to see them have their happy ending. From the beginning, I knew Zachary was the right guy for Aura (yes I know Logan is dead, but she still loved him dearly) and I'm glad that Aura stepped out of the darkness and saw the light burning in front of her. Together, they are the key characters needed to end the Shift, and together they find a way to fall in love even when they are living on opposite sides of the ocean.


Ireland has played a key part in all three books. Logan has Irish roots and plays in a Celtic band. And Ireland is birth place of the Shift. Smith-Ready captures the magic and lore of the Isle as well as the accents and manners of the Scots. The whole world is believable and scary and the minor characters light up the scene just as much as the ghosts do. I've found a new favourite author in Smith-Ready and I can't wait to see what other magic she has up her sleeve.


“His soul's fabric was weaving itself with mine. I loved the frayed ends where it came unraveled, and I loved the strength at its firm, solid center. I loved every thread.” 


Also, don't forget to nominate Logan and/or Zachary in this year's YA Crush Tourney! 

YA Crush Tourney Time

It's about that time again kids!

Last year The YA Sisterhood started one amazing tournament: Crushes from our favourite YA novels. For months, it was all gorgeous boys and swooning all over blogs, Tumblr, and Twitter. Graphics arose showing half naked men pleading for your vote. Too many good reasons to vote for all of them and I'm sure we all had our favourites. Jace Wayland took the title (well deserved) so this year there are big shoes to fill! There will be some newcomers, old favourites, and underdogs rearing to take the throne.

Here are my top picks:

Nash Hudson (Soul Screamers Series)

Tod Hudson (Soul Screamers Series)

Peeta Mallark (The Hunger Games)

Zachary Moore (The Shift Series)

Four/ Tobias (Divergent)

Noah Shaw (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer)

Number Four (I Am Number Four)

Alex (Delirium)

Ash (The Iron Fey Series)

Adam (Shatter Me)


Nominations are now open, so please nominate your favourite boys and then Vote. Vote Vote!