James Moser - Chasing Prophecy - Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Mo is a shy teen who is just trying to survive high school. He has secretly fallen in love with a girl named Prophecy who lives with a group that some call a commune and others call a cult. When she disappears, Mo must find the courage to face the monster that her family has become. Chasing Prophecy is a contemporary coming of age story that is heartwarming, suspenseful, and beautifully written. This book chronicles the adolescence of one boy who must transform himself to save the girl of his dreams.

***

A stellar read for teens and adults, full of hilarious growing pains, tenderness and a few surprises. Moser’s debut is an unflinching young-adult novel that sees a group of friends tested by bigotry and the illegal machinations of a religious cult. The author serves up an irresistibly wisecracking narrator in Mo Kirkland. Every page ripples with a controlled cleverness. There’s also a rawness to this tale similar to that which many teens face in the real world. Moser can wax rhapsodic about young love, but he shows that he knows how to raise the tension in the second half of the novel. -Kirkus Reviews

My Review

Mo is just one of those male characters that girls adore reading about. He's the guy who always seems to be getting picked on. He started high school small in stature so he knows what it's like to be at the bottom of the pecking order. But his struggle to fit in creates a great sense of empathy in him. He's well aware of what it feels like when things don't go your way, and he's able to relate to other people in their time of need.

He's known Kazzy his whole life. In fact, she's usually the one taking on the bullies who rough him up. He admires the way she's not afraid to stick up for him, but he wishes he possessed enough courage to take them on himself. But her faith in him is what inspires him to stand up to his tormenters, especially after he hits a growth spurt. Little by little with Kazzy's support and encouragement, he comes out of his shell. Jumping off of bridges. Taking on a bunch of armed thugs. Looking Bigfoot square in the eye.

In the end, he's the one who winds up saving Kazzy. When she's at her most vulnerable point, Mo is there, giving her a much needed shoulder to cry on. She is dealt a devastating loss and the only way she gets through it is because of Mo. He's guides her out of her grief and fear with the strength of his love. Yeah, they're only teenagers but their feelings are written so powerfully, you can't deny the connection they have to each other. It's tender and beautiful, a young adult novel that doesn't need to rely on explicit content to sell a love story.

In fact, my favorite lines in the entire book are when Mo says, "Maybe that's what love is - when the whole world is crumbling around you and you can't even feel the rocks falling on your head - all you can see is the person you want to hold in your arms."

It takes a special kind of narrator to give voice to such words. I know they're ones that will stay with me long after reading this book. Thanks Mo for being a young guy worth getting to know, and thanks James Moser for having the guts to pen such a sensitive, memorable character.

***

Chasing Prophecy can be purchased at:
Amazon, Smashwords

Prices/Formats: $2.99 ebook
Pages: 237
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Paranormal
Publisher: Skookum Trail
Release: December 31, 2013
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About the Author

James Moser has always loved stories in all forms. He is in his fourteenth year of working with high school students. The author’s goal was to write a book that would inspire even his most reluctant readers. Young adults have always inspired him. As such, he wanted to show teenagers transforming themselves to overcome obstacles, which is what he watches them do, every day.

Moser has a B.A. in English and a Master’s degree in Secondary English Education. He lives in Seattle with his beautiful wife and eight year old son. When he’s not reading and writing, or thinking about reading and writing, he’s watching way too much television while snacking on frozen treats from Trader Joe’s. Man, those things are good.

Links to connect with James:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Blog Tour Site


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