The Sea of Tranquility

The Sea of Tranquility

By Katja Millay

 I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone and everyone allows it, because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Katja gifted her book to me a couple of weeks ago after we met in a book group on Facebook. I was captivated by the synopsis, and although I wanted to read it right away, I couldn't. I knew just based on what I had been told by those who had read it before me that this was a book that I would need to actually sit down for. Now normally, I don't listen to all of that, but something inside of me knew that I should heed their warnings. So, I did. I waited until I was finished with the 2 books I had ahead of it, and I picked up Katja's book last night.

I desperately wanted to pull an all nighter with it, because by the time I hit 50%, I was entranced. But alas, sleep hailed and I gave in. I finished today after many an interruption and I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I believe I spent a good majority of it updating Katja on my progress via Facebook and asking her things like "Can I slap Nastya?" or "Does the pain ever stop?". I wasn't ready for this book to end, but like all good things, it had to end at some point. I must confess though that once I read the final word, I was filled with a sense of peace, the likes of which I haven't felt at the end of a book in a while.

I think what brings the book into the forefront is the fact that it even though it's YA, it isn't cookie cutter and that is exactly what I love so much about it. It is truly unique, and very much a one of a kind. The fact that it's heart-wrenching while at the same time uplifting sets it apart from any other YA book I've read, and I have read a lot of them.

This is truly a book you won't want to miss, because you see, it's about a broken girl and equally broken boy. Neither wants the other, and they're perfectly unaware that they're even falling in love with one another, while every single person around them isn't so blinded by the pain the two of them live with as they are. If I could have a book boy, I'd ask for Josh Bennett. Which is saying A LOT because I haven't veered from Maddon (Forever Changed by Tiffany King) even once.

I can't tell you too many times to read this book. Read it, you'll love it. And if you don't, then you obviously read the wrong book, because I can't see how you couldn't love this book.

Chapter 1 of You Just Know

Now, a couple of days ago, I made a promise to all of my followers on Facebook that once I reached 100 'likes' I would post Chapter 1 of YJK for their reading pleasure. Well, because I can't figure out how to share it over on my Facebook page, I am going to share it here! So... without further ado, I give you Chapter 1!

Chapter 1

Slater

Some things you can never get back. I had dreams and I had a planned future. I wish someone had told me how quickly events can change once the truth surfaces. This is my story.

My name is Slater Price. I know what you're wondering who would name their daughter Slater? Well, the answer to that question would be my parents. Well, my mother to be exact. She had it stuck in her head ages before I was conceived that she would name her first born Slater, boy or girl. A lot of times, I wished I had an older brother or sister so that I hadn't had to carry the name, but alas. Things didn't seem to work out that way. In the spirit of honesty though, I think it only fair to tell you that my mother was a huge fan of the 80s sit-com Saved By the Bell and that that is how she chose my name. Lame, I know.

My mother and father went their separate ways when I was nine. Neither of them filed for divorce, so I guess you could say they're technically still married. I won't pretend to understand what happened or why, but I haven't seen or spoken to my father in eight long years. Do I miss him? Sure. However, it's hard to miss someone you barely knew. Mom has been my rock through the last eight years. We rarely talk about him. It works for us. Secretly though, I think she misses my father more than she will ever admit. 

When I walked into the house from softball practice on Friday afternoon, I was surprised to find my no nonsense mother sitting on the couch. Her eyes were cast downward and she was fidgeting with the hem of her shorts. I slammed the door loudly behind me to announce my presence. Her head snapped up and I could tell she'd been crying. My mother never cries so I knew this was something serious.

"Slater. You're home. Go put your things away, then come back in here." That was all she said before she returned to the stare-down she was having with her shorts. 

God, this can't be good. I thought to myself. "Yeah, sure thing Mom."

I made my way past her and into the hall toward my bedroom. Our house was small. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, and an office. Everything you needed all on one floor. Walking down the hall, I passed the row of family pictures on the left side of the wall, none of which featured my father. I've never bothered to ask her why.

I shoved the door to my room open and tossed my bags down on the floor near the foot of the bed. I decided to change out of my sweaty practice clothes, and put on something a little more suited to having a conversation with my mother who may or may not be falling apart finally. I kicked my sneakers off and tossed them in the closet. 

The layout for my room was pretty standard. When you came into the room, the bed was directly in front of you. There were two windows just to the left and right of the bed. The closet and my dresser were to the left, a night stand next the bed and a desk off to the right which held everything I needed to be a senior in high school, a teenager, and a softball player. The walls were a deep purple, and the bed linens were just a shade lighter to accentuate the sheer plum colored curtains that covered the windows. Mom insisted on the curtains, I would have just been happy with the blinds alone. 

Once my shoes were in the closet, I grabbed a change of clothes out of my dresser and quickly changed. I tossed my dirty clothes in the hamper, turned off the light, and made my way back down the hallway.

I stopped to study the woman sitting on the couch who had raised me all by herself. She looked as if she'd aged five years in the time between that morning when I left for school and when I returned that afternoon. There were a few things I knew for sure. 

First, Allyson Price was beautiful. At age thirty-seven, she was absolutely stunning. Her chocolate brown hair was long and straight, just like mine. Her eyes were a clear, sparkling blue, a trait that I unfortunately didn't inherit. My eyes were storm cloud grey, just like my father's. I may not remember very much about him, but I do remember his eyes. Eyes like Roger Price's are pretty hard to forget.

Second, no one could put you in your place quite like my mother could. She had this way of looking at you, and you knew that you'd better keep the next few sentences to yourself; otherwise you would regret it pretty quickly. That could have something to do with the fact that being an author, she was a walking, talking thesaurus/dictionary, but that was neither here nor there.

Third, I had never, I repeat never, seen my mother this upset. Not even the night my father peeled out of the driveway as though Satan himself were chasing him directly into the fifth circle of Hell. Therefore I knew that whatever had happened in the nine hours I was out of the house was a pretty big deal.

Oh God! Did he finally send divorce papers? Is he dead? I could do nothing to stop the thoughts from spinning out of control inside my head. Something in the back of my mind told me though that she wouldn't be this upset if he had petitioned for a divorce after all this time. Oh shit, he is dead. I'll never see my father again.

Looking back on it now though I realize how much of an over-exaggeration that thought was, but in that moment, standing in the archway separating the hall from the living room, and seeing my mother falling to pieces in front of me, it was the only thing that made any sense at all. 

Remember how I said that I wish someone had told me how quickly things can change? Well it was happening to me in that exact moment and I had no way of stopping the chain reaction that was soon to follow.

Cover & Blurb!!!

Okay, guys! I have to show all of you the outstanding cover for You Just Know, as well as share with you the blurb, so that you'll know what you're reading about. Ready... Set... Here we go!

We'll start with the cover, and then follow up with the blurb. Please be sure to leave me a comment letting me know what you think! Be honest! Honesty is the best policy. Well, it is for me anyway. Alright, I'll stop rambling and give you what you want.

Isn't it just beautiful?! I absolutely love it. I couldn't have done a better job if I had done it myself. Luckily, I didn't do it myself, so that's why it's as gorgeous as it is. :-)

And now for the blurb! I am so super excited to share this with all of you. If you haven't read it, and this is your first time reading it, I hope you'll like it. So, here we go.

Blurb:

Slater Price is a seventeen year old senior who hasn't had the easiest life. Abandoned by her father at a young age, Slater has grown up living with a mother who loves her, a best friend who understands her, and a softball team who will stand behind her through it all. There's just one thing missing.

Brady.

Brady Davis is the star of the football team, and was Slater's best friend until they were twelve. He was a witness to her father's abandonment, but broke his vow to always be there for her when she needed him most. Over the years, he watched as Slater slowly pulled herself out of the spotlight, and now he'll stop at nothing to make it right again.

His only problem- Slater's dad sweeps back into town, revealing secrets and truths about the whys and hows of his sudden departure.

Will this fledgling foundation of a renewed friendship between Brady and Slater be enough? Will the love that Brady has held inside help Slater when she needs someone to trust? Can Slater pull herself together, face the past and the truth, and allow Brady to be the rock he's always tried to be? Or will it have all been too late?

  

And there you have it! Don't forget to leave me a comment and tell me what you think! Happy reading!!!

Welcome!

Hello y'all!!! I just wanted to take a moment and welcome you all to my blog. I named it Ramblings of a Writer, because, well... I am a writer! YAY! If you didn't know it already, or you're new to the world of my writing, let me tell you just a little about myself.

First and foremost, I am a mom. I take pride in that, and I am happy to say that although my little creature is a handful, I wouldn't trade him for the world. Okay, perhaps that isn't completely true, as there are days when I would much rather ship him off to the circus than deal with his meltdowns and brattiness, but it comes with being a mom, right?

Secondly, I am writing my first ever full length novel titled You Just Know. Now, this has been quite the little adventure, let me tell you! But, it is coming along nicely and I couldn't be happier with how the story is unfolding. I will share the blurb with you in the next post, and you'll have to let me know what you think. :-) 

Third, okay, so there really isn't a third, but it looked nice so let's just go with it. 

Anyway, I hope you'll stick around and click follow! Also, I will do my very best to keep you all up to date on all things, You Just Know here and on my Facebook page. You can find that here.