Deep Calling by J.M. Lavallee - Editor's Review

It's Day 8 of the #YADeepCalling blog tour! It's my pleasure to share my thoughts on J.M. Lavallee's YA novel. But first, here's today's word clue: 

Don't forget to visit the Geeky Chiquita's blog tomorrow for the next clue! 

And now... for the review...

As a Morning Rain Publishing editor, manuscripts land in my inbox filled with hope and potential. I get to help them develop from submitted drafts to polished masterpieces. The process is amazing, like watching a child grow into adulthood. J.M. Lavallee’s works inspire me to be a better, more creative editor, because the worlds she builds deserve special attention.

Deep Calling is J.M. Lavallee’s second novel. Written with the author’s flowing tones and descriptive style, it brings to life the beauty and magic of the Lower North Shore of Quebec. Melanie, the granddaughter of a fisherman, hears a name on the wind and feels the irresistible call of the deep sea. Born and raised near the water, she can’t avoid its lure, even when her life is threatened by otherworldly, magical elements.

Manannan, the Tuatha De Danann sea king, wants his soulmate back and believes she rests within Melanie. Rhiannon, his earth-bound counterpart and nemesis, will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening. Their ethereal struggle grips the quiet town of Hailey’s Round, and only Melanie can stop their feud from destroying her world.

J.M. Lavallee delves into a fantasy world made believable by the unique setting and realistic characters. Placed in unusual circumstances, the main character overcomes her fears, personal desires, and insecurities while consistently portraying a strong, female lead. Written for a young adult audience, the romance that sparks between Melanie and Shawn is sweet, while the conflict introduced by Manannan plays upon innate human emotions.

As a reader, I enjoyed every unexpected twist and turn Lavallee introduced. Deep Calling weaves together the salty realism of the landscape, the instability of human emotion, and the unpredictability of otherworldly gods to create a novel of depth and perception. Filled with mystery and insight, readers of all ages will find themselves transported to another place, where fairy tales aren’t always so whimsical.


Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a free digital copy of Deep Calling! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is the last day to use the 20% off coupon at Morning Rain Publishing when you purchase a copy of Deep Calling. The default download is a PDF file, but if you send the friendly folks at MRP an email requesting an alternate file type, they will happily send it to you (info at morningrain.ca).

About the Author

J. M. Lavallee grew up along the Lower North Shore, Quebec, in the small community of Chevery. Experiencing childhood by the Atlantic resulted in a kindred interest in Celtic Folklore, as well as the English and Irish traditions inherited by East Coast Canadians. 

Devoted to literature, Lavallee spends much of her time reading, writing, and imagining, while working as a Preschool Instructor and Kindergarten assistant in Grovedale, Alberta. Lavallee’s most precious work, however, is shared with her husband through the raising of their two handsome sons. Deep Calling is J.M. Lavallee’s second novel.

You can connect with J.M. Lavallee on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.

Oh - those writerly feelings!

I love writers... their quirks and imaginations, their spirit and determination, and their love for something that most definitely is not going to make them rich quick, but might enrich the lives of others.

On a daily basis I get to chat with them, edit their work, review their masterpieces, and delve into the inner workings of their minds. And even though writers rarely write themselves into their stories (unless they're crafting memoirs), they do give away hints about their personalities, values, and the things they hold dear.

The one thing that makes me sad is when I come across good writers who worry people won't like their stories. I'm not talking about the occasional, "oh, that old story - that was nothing" brush-off. I'm talking about writers with real skills for story-telling who don't believe they have something worth sharing, when they really, truly do.

Writers are a special breed of people. They create worlds with words. They give birth to entire cities of characters, raise them, and nurture them before setting them free. And they weave more than their hearts and souls into their work - if you look hard enough you can find the entire person lurking between the lines, even though it's unintentional.

All they ask for in return for their hard work is that readers buy their books and enjoy them. Often these books sell for less than a cup of coffee. The only thing that thrills writers more than hearing someone appreciated their books is reading about it in a review. Some books take years to write and can usually be read over the course of a few days... an honest review takes about fifteen minutes to create and post online to any number of websites.

Please be kind to those of us with writerly feelings... we need all the support we can get.