WOW Blog Tour: Crossing The Line by Ellen Wolfson Valladares

I am delighted to bring to you Crossing The Line by Ellen Wolfson Valladares as part of the WOW  – Women On Writing -Blog Tour. Massive thanks to Crystal Otto for allowing me to be part of such a fantastic tour

Synopsis

Laura, who died thirty years ago, enlists the help of a tenacious high school reporter named Rebecca, who is very much alive. Rebecca, although skeptical and conflicted by her supposed encounters with a spirit, determines to learn the truth about Laura’s tragic death. As the clues unravel and their worlds collide, Rebecca finds herself at a dangerous crossroads.

Laura, now pulled back into everything she left behind when she died – her old high school and memories of her life and death—has been in training for this exact moment. And nothing means more to her than succeeding at her assignment.

It is her one chance to make sure that what happened to her does not happen to anyone else, and especially not to her new friend, Rebecca.

Paperback:  300  pages   

Genre:  Fiction / Young Adult Novel
Publisher:    WiDO (March 2018) 
ISBN-13:    978-1-937178-99-4

My Review

One afternoon finding themselves with nothing better to do Rebecca and her friends Nicole and Jenny discover an old Ouija board in the wardrobe and decide it would be fun to give it a try and see if spirits actually exist. The girls get the shock of their lives when the spirit of Laura Sherman, a teenager killed over 30 years previous, makes contact with them. Despite the teenagers trying to forget their brush with the spirit world, Laura has been assigned to work alongside Rebecca on an important case so won’t be discouraged so easily.

Laura, the victim of a murder-suicide thirty years before has been made part of the prestigious Academy on the ‘other side’. Filled with deceased teenagers, the Academy trains those who have passed over to assist in cases back in the world of the living. The Academy has a whole host of rules and regulations that must be followed by those specially chosen to help, the main one being that they must NEVER cross the line. Laura is tasked with helping Rebecca, a student from her old high school, connect with fellow student Teresa. Teresa has the weight of the world on her shoulders and could really use a friend like Rebecca and it’s Laura’s job to try and make that happen – easier said than done. Being back on her old stomping ground with memories at every turn Laura really struggles to keep herself emotionally detached and begins to struggle with her assignment putting the whole case in jeopardy.

With the help of Laura, Rebecca starts to slowly uncover the details surrounding her death and begins to realise the reason that Laura has been sent to help her. Piece by piece the puzzle begins to fall into place for both the girls and they must work together to make sure they succeed.

The blurb of this book really captured my attention as I have a real interest in the spirit world and love to read books that include anything spiritual. I was extremely excited to be given the opportunity to read and review the book and it didn’t disappoint.

Written in chapter’s which alternate between Rebecca’s and Laura’s perspectives I felt I really got to know both characters well and understood what made them tick. The story is so well structured, drip feeding information into each chapter, not giving too much away until the climatic twist, making for a real page-turner of a read. Crossing The Line is a YA book and deals with some hard hitting and real struggles that many teenagers face concerning their relationships and friendships. Suicide and bullying are discussed throughout the book and written so that both sides of every story is told giving a fantastic insight into the feelings and thoughts of those involved. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend 10/10!

About the Author

Ellen Wolfson Valladares is an award-winning writer/author, workshop facilitator, community volunteer, and mother. A native Floridian, she grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. She has worked as an editor, public relations professional, and freelance writer. Her first book, a children’s novel entitled Jonathan’s Journey to Mount Miapu, received several awards, including a Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the 2009 Coalition of Visionary Resources Visionary Awards Book of the Year award. She also has a meditation CD, entitled “Healing and Manifestation with the Archangels.”

Today, Valladares continues to work as a freelance writer. She also enjoys coaching high school students working on their college essays and helping other writers realize their dreams. She has been married to her husband, Manny, for 30 years and they have two sons, Gabriel and Michael, two dogs, Flash and Chili Pepper, and a crazy cat named Zelda. They live in Weston, Fla.

To find out more about Crossing The Line visit Ellen Wolfson Valladare’s Website 

Alternatively you can find Ellen on Twitter or Facebook or Goodreads

Crossing The Line can be purchased from Amazon.com or Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.