May 8th, 2012 | 
Author: 
Rae of Hope by W.J. May
Publisher: Mitchell Morris Publishing, Inc
Genre: YA Fantasy
Length: 248 pages
Book is available at:
Amazon Print Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble
Summary:
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth about the past?
Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is an exclusive, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her.
She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become inked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their ink-art. Both of her parents where inked, though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope in her own life.
AJ’s Review:
W.J. May is a new author to me, but she is definitely going on my list of young adult authors. Rae of Hope is the perfect combination of teen angst, magic, suspense, and romance. Ms. May grabbed my attention from page one and kept me engrossed until the very end.
Rae Kerrigan is a young lady who has been marked by the tatu like her parents before and suddenly finds herself admitted to the Guilder Boarding School. Normally, this would be exciting for a young teenager, except Rae never applied to the Guilder Boarding School. However, she pulls up her big girl panties and decides to attend against her better judgment. I loved 
this amazing young woman who is strong-willed, feisty, independent, and trustworthy. You can’t help but smile as you watch her grow into using her powers, but on the flip side, weep as she learns more about her family’s secrets. Unfortunately, it’s the secrets that Rae has to be leery of, but more importantly, the enemies that lurk in the background.
Rae of Hope is a well-written, creative, fast-paced, action-packed story with engaging characters, plenty of twist and turns in the plot to keep it interesting and fresh, young, uninhibited puppy love, humor that will have you laughing for days on end, and enough suspense to keep you guessing as to what will happen next until the very end. In addition, the secondary characters increased the depth of the plot while allowing the story to progress. I especially enjoyed Rae’s roommate, Molly, who is charismatic, humorous, and an awesome choice in a best friend.
If you like stories where the world-building is amazing, the characters are genuine, but flawed which only brings them to life on the page, the emotions are raw, and the climax has a thrilling edge that will have you begging for more with the turn of every page, then Rae of Hope is definitely the book to read.
Rated 4.5 Seashells by AJ!
About the Author
Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario – St.Catharines. Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy.
The youngest of six — four older brothers, and sister – they taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.
At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada’s JR High Jump record (1.92m – 6′ 3 1/2″ for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - graduating with a BS degree in Kinesiology and beginning her Masters in Business.
She is currently married, and the mother of three adorable kids.
After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she’d loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.
Her first book, Rae of Hope – from the Chronicles of Kerrigan - is available Nov 15, 2001 by Mitchell Morris Publishing. It is contracted as a four book series and available in print and ebook through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords and other online sites.
She is currently represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.
Blog: http://wanitajump.wordpress.com/
Author website: http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wanitajump
Current Schedule
April 4 Guest blog
It’s All About Me
heathercim.wordpress.com
April 11 Guest blog and review
Cindy’s Love of Books
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com
April 17 Guest blog and review
Mindy Wall
http://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogspot.com/
April 20 Guest blog and review
BelleBooks
www.bellebooksx.blogspot.com
April 21 Review
http://pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/
April 23 Review and promo
bookbriefs.blogspot.com
April 23 review and promo
Carrie Ardoin
http://sweetsouthernhome.wordpress.com
April 25 Guest blog
Mama Knows Books
http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
April 27 Guest blog and review
Aislynn @ Stitch Read Cook
www.stitchreadcook.com
May 4 Promo and review
Arianne Cruz
http://ariannecruz07.blogspot.com
May 5 review and promo
Place of Reads
http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com
May 6 review and promo
Froggaritaville
http://www.froggaritasbookcase.net
May 7 Guest blog and review
Book Travels
http://booktravels.blogspot.com/
May 8 Promo and review
The Readers Roundtable Young & the Restless
http://youngandtherestless.thereadersroundtable.com
May 10 Guest blog and review
Persephone from Persephone’s Winged Reviews
wingedpersephone.wordpress.com
May 12 Interview and review
Paranormal Romance
http://sjclarke.com/blog-2/
May 13 Interview
Read2Review
http://read2review.com
May 14th promo –
http://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
May 18th review –
http://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
May 19 Review
The Bornean Bookworm
http://borneanbookworm.blogspot.com/
May 20 Promo/Excerpt
JeanzBookReadNReview
http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
May 21 Interview and review
Beverly @ The Wormhole
http://wormyhole.blogspot.com
May 23 Interview and review
Shayna Gier’s Book Reviews
www.shaynagier.com/book-reviews
May 24 Guest blog
The Daydreamer’s Book Obsession
http://thedaydreamer3.blogspot.com/
May 26 Guest blog and review
My blog is Indiewritersreview
http://indiewritersreview.wordpress.com/
May 29 Guest blog and review
Lissette E. Manning
http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
June 1 Promo and review
A Bibliophile’s Thoughts on Books
http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
June 7 Promo and review
Kindling the Fire
June 12 Guest blog
Bookin’ It Reviews ~
http://www.bookinitreviews.com/
Posted in 4.5 Seashells, AJ, Author Spotlight, Bewitching Book Tours, Inc, Rae of Hope, W.J. May, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy
Thanks for the fantastic review – for reading and enjoying the book!
can’t wait to see what you think of the second book!!
Cheers,
WJ May