The reviews came from fellow Authors, Kathleen Allen-- Author of Witch Hunter, and Tracey Pacelli-- Author of Time Warped. These ladies participated in Review exchange with me and I have been so thrilled to not only have the chance to read their works, but get their feedback on my stor

Kathleen's Review:

What if you woke up in a hospital after being in a car accident and you could see dead people? Not to mention other unworldly creatures like demons and angels and what if you had an evil demon after you? And what if you are attracted to one of these creatures who just happens to be an elf prince? Yeah, this is Becca's new life and she doesn't like it, not one bit.

This is a Young Adult novel written from the main character's viewpoint and we get to see her world through her eyes. She is a strong willed girl who is determined to make her life as normal as possible. It's a fun read about a girl who has to accept herself and come to terms with her life all the while preparing for her junior year in high school! I recommend it!

And Tracey's Review:

Awareness by Rowan Shannigan is a fantasy like no other. She weaves ghosts, elves, angels and demons effortlessly into her plot, while keeping the story real by having them all interact with Becca, the main character, who is desperately trying to get a handle on unseen realms she never imagined really existed. At the same time, she's trying to navigate her way through challenges that present themselves at high school, while dealing with the many romantic possibilities thrown at her.

A couple of shocking twists arise, one near the end of the story that is sure to take the reader by complete surprise, as it did me! "I was coming to accept this awareness not just as a gift, but as a responsibility," Becca says, at one point. Throughout all her strange experiences, she isn't certain she's up to the tasks at-hand, but with the help of some very intriguing characters--one quite hot, in fact--she gains confidence in her newfound "awareness" and we are left wanting to see where the next adventure will take her.

High marks to Rowan Shannigan for a novel that is both sexy and exciting on so many unseen levels!

Becca’s POV

 

When I opened Sam’s door, it was to find everything in her room just as it had been last time we’d been there. Her clothes were in the closet. Her computer was on her desk. Her bed wasn’t even made. It felt seriously creepy to be in a house where every other possession was gone, but her room still had everything in it.

I stood in the center of the room and turned in a slow circle, taking everything into account. This was just too crazy! Why would she leave her things? She wouldn’t. I knew she wouldn’t willingly turn away from the things she deemed the most important. Like her paintings. She loved them. I had heard it in her voice when she’d talked to us about creating them.

A strange twinge started deep in my stomach. I moved to stand in front of the first picture. It was the painting of a Unicorn; a suddenly very familiar Unicorn. Actually, it was more than just familiar to me. It was something I could feel was so very important I couldn’t ignore it. I stared at it, waiting, hoping for something; but what?

It was then, I heard him. His voice was deep and patient as he offered advice. ‘Relax, Rebecca. To remember what you’ve forgotten, you must first let go of your worry. Stressing over it will not bring the memory back. Instead, it will push it further away. I felt the breath on my neck, his voice in my ear, speaking in a soft tone that sent goose bumps down my spine.

When I looked toward the voice, there was no one there. Well, he was there. He just wasn’t showing himself to me yet. I felt a slight touch of unease because I had no clue who, or more to the point, what he was. He could be a ghost. Or maybe he was Demon. Even as I considered the possibility, I dismissed it. No, he wasn’t a demon. He didn’t have the smell.

Taking a deep breath I turned and moved slowly to the next picture. There was something to these pictures. I just knew it. As I stared at the next picture, a nagging pain started in the back of my head. Groaning I rubbed it but kept staring at the painting. It was another image of the silvery-white unicorn. But this time, there was a rider on his back.

I stared hard at the person. Long dark brown, almost black hair and a stern expression seemed to gaze back at me. Eyes the color of the greenest forest held me immobile. The pain in my head grew worse and I gasped as I brought my hands to my temples. I knew this person! I just had to know him. But who was he? And why would trying to remember him bring me such pain?

Suddenly, I felt gentle hands on my upper arms. And the voice became even more real as the mystery man supported me. Breathe, Rebecca. Just breathe through it and let the pain wash over you. It will fade if you don’t let yourself tense up.

I trusted this voice. His hands were warm on my shoulders and his presence was comforting, like Zeke’s had been when I first met him. Following his direction, I took a deep steadying breath and closed my eyes. I don’t know how long I stood there, eyes closed and breathing deeply but the pain passed and when I opened my eyes to focus on the face in the painting, tears filled them; Darethmar, the prince of the Elfin realm.

For several seconds I just stood there, staring. He was the one who had told me he cared for me. He wanted to court me. I know it sounds silly in this day and age, but those were the words he’d used. What was worse was I had believed him. But then, he disappeared; my memory was wiped of him. No! Not just the memory of him had been taken from me, but the memory of the entire realm.

Gasping, I clutched my hand, looking down at the finger where the ring my father had given me when mom had told me he was alive and I had been able to go see him. The ring was supposed to have been a way for me to let him know I was coming to visit so he could meet me. I brought my hand to my mouth in an attempt to stifle the sob that wanted to escape me.

A gentle tightening of the hands on my shoulders reminded me that I was being helped by a stranger. I took a deep breath and turned slowly, wondering if it was perhaps another ghost who stood behind me.

Eyes the color of turquoise met mine when I turned to look up at him. His face was beautiful with a smile that was sympathetic and filled with kindness. Wavy black hair as shiny as a polished onyx stone fell past his shoulders. His face was smooth and perfect, his smile gentle and sympathetic. Just his face made him beautiful.

The wings . . . Now that made him intimidating. Huge black wings sprung from his back and rose almost to the ceiling. Is intimidating even the right word? I’m not sure. Maybe a better description would be terrifying! He was an Angel. That much was obvious. But he was bigger than Zeke and I had to admit, where Zeke looked harmless in white, this guy seemed almost threatening with all the black with streaks of white and gold laced through lower feathers.

Were his wings different for a reason? Was it a status marker? He was taller and bigger with fancier wings, so he was – what? An Archangel? Maybe… A Herald? I doubted it. How many different kinds of Angels were there, anyway? I couldn’t suppress my smirk as I considered inwardly, he certainly wasn’t a cherub.

Almost instantly, he laughed aloud and I stared at him in shocked silence. I didn’t know how to react. “I most definitely am not a cherub. Let us vanquish that notion from your mind right now.”

I had forgotten I had been standing so close to the wall until I moved to step back from him and came up flush against it. I swallowed nervously while I struggled to find something to say. Why did he make me so much more nervous than Zeke did? He wasn’t evil. If he had been, wouldn’t I have smelled the sulfur smell I always encountered when there were Demons around?

He nodded and stepped back a little to give me some space. “If I were evil, you would most certainly know. However, I am not. I am an Angel, and I came to help you.” His expression was patient and kind. And his smile was almost enough to make me forget the ordeal I was in the middle of.

His gaze went to the picture above my head and his jaw clenched. “Certain parties decided what was best for you was to forget some parts of your recent history.” He rolled his eyes before glancing back at me. “I don’t agree. Wiping your memory was neither sanctioned or approved by those in charge and I have been given leave to help you recover what you’ve lost.”

I knew I was staring at him in a way that must have made him wonder if he had grown two heads, but the truth was I had to think carefully through what he was saying because it was disconcerting to be so close to him. Plus I was still reeling from the realization that someone had played with my mind.

When I was certain I understood what he was saying, I asked, “Who would do this to me? Why?” I hated myself at that moment, because I heard the emotion in my voice even as I felt the tears slip past my eyes to slide down my cheeks. I felt like a weak fool. It wasn’t fair. Hadn’t I done everything I was supposed to?

I had accepted my fate to become a person cursed with this awareness mojo. I had agreed to try to help ghosts find their way to the light. I had even been brave and dealt with the whole, Demons will come after you now, thing. What more was I supposed to do? Was losing my memory of someone I had a fairly serious crush on who just happened to be Fae enough? Or was I going to be expected to give up everyone I cared about?

I opened my mouth to ask that question but then I saw the answer out of the corner of my eye. My vision blurred as the tears started falling faster. In the doorway, with almost blank expressions on their faces was my best friend, Rachel and my newer friend, Corey. I had known Rachel for as long as Mom and I had lived here. Corey, I had met a couple of weeks ago when I had helped her ignore a pesky little demon that could easily have passed for Dobby’s evil twin, complete with bat wings. She was a recovering drug addict and had told me she had been clean for over a year, but the voice in her head was just sometimes really hard to fight.

Little had she known, the little voice in her head had actually been about two foot six and just as evil as the invisible stars from Amityville. Honest to goodness, I have no clue if that movie was real or just something thrown together from the imaginations of people spooked by murders committed by a troubled young man who wanted to blame the devil.

But I did know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the voice inside Corey’s head was nowhere near her brain, but operating completely free of her body with a consciousness all his own. He had attacked my favorite teacher, Miss Elliot. I still have a bone to pick with that little jackal. But that was a different subject for a different time.

At the moment, I was struck dumb once again by the sight of my two friends, standing immobile in the doorway. I couldn’t stop myself from walking over to them and looking closer. It was as if they were frozen. They didn’t breathe, their eyes didn’t blink. It was as if time was standing still for them.

“It is.” The beautiful Angel answered as if I had asked him a question. “When we are done, they will be returned to their homes with no memory of ever setting foot inside this house.

Turning back to look at him, I asked the question that if I was honest with myself, I already knew the answer to. “They can’t know about you, can they?” My heart sank as I realized, once again, that there were things about my life that I could never share with the ones closest to me.”

His eyes filled with compassion. “Do you really want them to? Even if it might endanger them to know the truth of it all?” he sighed. “Knowing the reality of me also opens them up to the Demons you have begun to have to deal with. Those doors, once open are nearly impossible to close.”

Fear for my friends made my anger fade and my shoulders slumped. “Send them away now, then. I don’t want to have to keep seeing them like this.” I answered softly, turning away from them completely. “It hurts to see them like that.”

With a silent nod and a wave of his hand, my two friends who had come inside Sam’s house with me, disappeared. I stared at the empty doorway for a few moments before looking back to him. “Will they be okay? I mean, you didn’t do anything crazy with them like drop them on their heads outside their houses?”

The beautiful winged man in front of me shook his head and offered me a smile. “Rachel dropped you off at your house first, because you live the furthest away. Corey went with her to her house and Rachel is at this moment helping her study for an exam she’s unsure of.” His wings stretched a little, drawing my attention, even as he continued to speak. “That is what they will remember.”

I pulled my gaze from the black, white and gold feathers to look back at his face. It was an honest expression he gave me and I felt myself relax. “Thank you.” I was grateful he sent them away safely. Then I realized I had no idea what his name was. “Who are you?”

Bowing a little he introduced himself. “I am Narvozivar. I am one of your Guardians and had I known what was about to be done to you, I would have made myself known sooner.” To those who are like me; bad with pronouncing crazy words, that name is spoken as Nar-Vo-ZEE-Var. Whoever translated Angels names has got to be foreign.

I watched him, feeling more relaxed than I had just seconds ago. I attributed it to the fact that my friends were gone and I didn’t have to see them frozen stiff and know they would remember nothing later. Actually, the feeling I was having now was pretty amazing. Suddenly I didn’t seem so upset about my new knowledge of what was happening to my memory. I pondered that even as I stood there listening to his words. Actually, when I thought about him, I found myself wondering why he had not introduced himself to me in the beginning when Zeke did. I considered asking him that very question but found I didn’t need to voice it.

“Zeke is a trainer, if you will.” His voice flowed over me like warm caramel, wrapping me in a sense of security and comfort. It felt odd to be surrounded in such emotions when I was almost certain anyone else in my place would be feeling panic and fear. “When a person feels the awakening, as you did, he is the first of us to greet them. The others must wait until they have had time to get used to their new abilities.”

Well that made sense. I guess. I could easily remember how overwhelming it had been to me. It was just weeks ago I had discovered my gift and I can well imagine that it would have been just a tad too much to have to come to terms with not one, but two Angels. I found myself smiling happily up at Narvozivar even though part of me was a little confused at how suddenly I had gone from being upset to thinking everything was peachy.

“What are you doing to me?” I asked in a happy voice. Ick! I did not just say that in a sing-song manner. Did I?

Narvozivar watched me closely as he answered. “I am one of your Guardians. It is my duty to help sooth you when I can. Many times, I cannot do such things because of the dangers you will face as one who has the Awareness.” He shrugged. “But for now, you are in no immediate danger and you seemed to need it.”

The sensible side of me felt shocked and repulsed while my physical self smiled at him like a moron and giggled. Seriously, I very nearly snorted before I answered,“Oh-kee-Doe-kee!” Oh my stars! I was horrified! Absolutely horrified at myself, but I just couldn’t seem to stop the behavior. “Your little Angel touch mumbo-jumbo has made me a little woozie kookie, cutie!” Would someone just shoot me now, please?

Taking a deep breath, I tried to rectify the situation before I made a complete ass of myself. “I think maybe I need to go bed and get in home.” My eyes widened as I registered the smile that was growing on my Guardian Angel’s face. I could feel my cheeks burning and I just wanted to be invisible. Clearing my throat I pointed at him. “You’re why is this happening? You’re my guardian?” he nodded. “Well, you’re not doing a very good job, now are you? I mean, look at me!” His eyebrows rose as if in question and I gestured clumsily to myself. “I’m intoxicatedbid, I mean intoxicabeded! I mean intobeaxeded!” I threw my hands up in the air and tried an easier word. “I’m drunk!”

That’s what it felt like, anyway. I was getting drunker by the minute and I swear that was how I sounded! I had to be drunk! Either that or I had become a complete imbecile! What made it even worse was the fact that this drop dead gorgeous Angel dude was almost laughing at my attempts to communicate with him. Angrily, I shook the finger that was still pointed in his direction. “Hey! I’m not like normally this! You’re doing purpose this on! Just admit now it!”

He held up his hands as if in surrender. “I do not make a habit of intoxicating my charges, no! But, you were severely distressed and in my need to ease your discomfort, I may have relaxed you a little too much.” He gave me another, almost apologetic smile. “I’m truly sorry.”

I tried my best to glare at him, but the fact that I couldn’t even stand up straight anymore was a big problem. “Well, you home me take! Seen I can’t be this like!” Oh great! Now I sounded like Yoda from Star Wars! If I hadn’t been as drunk as a skunk I would have stomped my foot to prove how mad I was. But instead, I did the next best thing. I promptly passed out.

This is to get you interested. I will be posting some scenes and unpublished scenes on the Random Scenes page. Also, you can check out the Sneak Peaks page to see what's next in

One—Voices

Voices . . . the first thing I remembered hearing when I woke up in the hospital that morning. I was confused and disoriented. My mother sat perched near me with a worried expression on her face, but all I could do was take everything in.

I was lying in a bed with tubes connected to me. Shadows danced along the pristine walls, but had no apparent point of origin. Who did the shadows belong to?

Voices; hundreds of voices whispered all around me, but I saw no physical body for any of them. My heart sped up as I looked around, trying to make sense of it all. Surely I was going crazy. I had no other explanation for it, though.

My inner musings were interrupted when the doctor entered and greeted me with a smile. “Well, look at you! All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”

I glanced from the doctor to my mother and back again. “What’s going on?” I asked in a voice that was hoarse from disuse. “Why am I here?”

Mother leaned forward and took my hand. “Baby, you were in a car accident. You’ve been unconscious for six days.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ve been so worried.”

Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I whispered. “Is everyone else okay?”

Squeezing my hand, Mom nodded. “You were the only one who had to come here. Everyone else went home that first day.”

“Thank God,” I responded, closing my eyes. When I opened them, a woman was standing just to the left of my mother, looking down at me with a curious expression.

Then, just as fast as she had appeared, she vanished. I blinked and reached up to rub my eyes, trying to clear them of the days of crusty sleep that had built up in the corners. Surely I was seeing things. How bad were my injuries? Did I have a concussion?

“So, what’s wrong with me? When do I get to go home?” I asked quietly.

The doctor smiled. “Well, I’m keeping you for a little longer, just to make sure your head injury is truly on the mend. But I think we can probably let you go home in time for the weekend.”

When he spoke, a shadow raced past him, drawing my attention as it stopped abruptly and turned toward me. As I watched, it moved closer and a face took shape.

The boy looked me over intently before offering me a lopsided grin. “Don’t tell him you see me, or they’ll transfer you to the State Hospital, just as sure as I’m floating around.”

He glanced over toward my mom and the doctor, adding, “They’re watching. You need to tell them your head’s hurting and ask them to turn down the lights.” Glancing back at me, he clicked his tongue. “Trust me. Do it now!”

Without even thinking, I turned and covered my eyes with my hands. “I’m sorry. The lights hurt my eyes. Can we turn them off?”

The doctor nodded. “Of course; you have a couple of hours until lunch. Why don’t you try to get some more sleep?” Turning to my mother, he smiled. “She seems to be in the clear now. I’ll be back to check on her later.”

She offered him tears of gratitude, and I watched, feeling pretty overwhelmed. I wondered silently how close I had actually been to dying.

“Oh, you were close,” the boy said. “They’ve been in and out of here for days.”

I looked back at the boy, who had now materialized completely to stand beside me. He couldn’t have been any older than twelve, but he seemed very with it. Glancing over, I saw my mother standing at the door, talking to the doctor still, so I could respond with no worry of being overheard.

Looking back at the boy, I asked quietly, “They? Who are they?”

He looked from me to my mother, then back at me. “Okay, two rules. One: you don’t talk to me. I can hear your thoughts. You don’t want just anyone seeing you talking to things they can’t see. They’ll think you’re crazy.” He smiled. “And second: don’t ask questions you aren’t prepared to hear the answers for.”

He chuckled. “I’ll come back tonight after your mom goes home. It’ll be easier for you to understand me and not freak her out by talking to imaginary friends she probably can’t accept.” He smiled and reached to touch my arm, but stopped, holding his hand just inches from my skin.

Fascinated, I watched as the hair on my arm directly below his hand stood straight up. A chill ran through me, making me shiver. I could feel him. But I knew he had no physical body.

He stepped back. “Just don’t freak out at what you see today. The things you see here in the daylight won’t hurt you. I’ll explain when I come back tonight.”

With those few wise words, he vanished, exactly like the woman who’d been standing beside Mom earlier had. To say I was shaken would have been an understatement. This went beyond anything I’d ever imagined possible.

“Well, baby girl, it looks like you’ll be coming home soon,” Mom said as she moved back to take the seat beside my bed. “That’s wonderful.”

I turned to smile at her. “Yeah,” I answered. “That’s good.” And it was. I just wasn’t sure this other thing was good. But how could I tell her about that? I mean, I was seeing ghosts. Wasn’t I? How was that even possible?

Or maybe I had just hit my head so hard this was all still a hallucination and I only thought I was awake! Yeah. That sounded like the better option. It was a heck of a lot easier to believe than the version of ghosts, disembodied voices, and shadows dancing all over the walls. I mean, move over, space cadet . . . Psycho in ward three!

Okay, so ghosts were real. All right, I could buy that. I mean, it was actually pretty cool . . . in a really weird, spooky, don’t-tell-anyone kind of way. But they didn’t need to talk to me. I mean, no way was I going to continue seeing them. I could refuse. Couldn’t I?

I was soon to learn just how impossible it would be to ignore the spirits that float around us every single day of our lives. I was also about to learn the plans I had been making for my life were no longer an option.

Have you ever been somewhere, minding your own business and suddenly, for no known reason, the hair on the back of your neck stand on end? Have you ever heard voices which had no point of origin? What about Seen things you couldn't explain?

When I was a teenager, I was in a really bad car accident. I basically died. I had the whole life after death experience. Walking into the light, seeing loved ones long lost. The feeling of love, warmth and acceptance which surrounded me was overwhelming. I never wanted to leave.

Then I was told I had to come back. I woke up in the hospital. My body was bruised, battered and broken. I was in extreme pain. And I wasn't alone. There were voices. Whispers, shadows, touches and strange smells surrounded me. It was so spooky. The scariest thing about it was no one else could feel, see or sense ANY of these things.

My novel, Awareness was inspired in part, by these memories. Now, understand, Awareness is a work of fiction. I'm not asking you to believe in the Faeries, Elves and such that are apart of this story. Heck you don't even have to believe in the ghosts. But I did want to share where I got the idea to start with.

Awareness is going to be a series of at least three, maybe four books. The first one is complete and going to be available through http://www.gypsyshadow.com very soon.