Shine: The Knowing Ones
Sep 28, ASH rated it really liked it. First of all I'd like to say that I enjoyed reading this book. There were a lot of very clever and wise quotes in the story that can be applied to everyday life and I enjoy reading that kind of books when you have to go back and mark or write down something that's meaningful for you: The story is basically about a girl named Sam that has special powers. She can see people's auras and has dreams about the future. She was always that way and she accepted it. Her best friend Anna and Anna's boyfri First of all I'd like to say that I enjoyed reading this book.
Her best friend Anna and Anna's boyfriend know everything about her and they trust her and try to protect her from anyone that wants to harm her. She's basically clueless about her powers or why she has them in the first place, but when she meets a handsome, tall, famous Olympic swimmer named Trin, who's also her Keeper, things start to make sense. Their romance is instant and Trin starts to teach her about her role in his tribe called Veduny, why she has the power she has and what their purpose in the world is.
Sam is trying to find herself with Trin's help and she is trying to develop and control her powers. Sam gazed down at the table. Then she looked up at him. I know society makes that a hard one to get past, but everyone is a gift. Those emo- tions make us view learning opportunities as misfortune. They only have power until we learn to view them properly. A lot of things were happening all at once so it kept me guessing about what was really happening in the story but all the Oracle, tribe, Keeper stuff was really cool and I liked that the storyline was unique in a way.
Sam and Trin were soulmates and you could feel the affection and love between them. It wasn't hot tempered, explosive kind of love but sweet and caring and I think it fit nicely into the story. He glanced away in conflict, searching for the right words and looked back at her. Not a single one even came close. With a lot of wise quotes and a positive message at the end about how every single human being has a powerful mind and if a man really believes in himself, he can do great things.
Aug 30, Dianne rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Knowing Ones by Amy Freeman! What could we be capable of doing if we knew how to use these gifts? Is it just her? When she meets hot guy, Olympic swimmer Trin, she discovers she is not alone with her extra-sensory perceptions. Dark danger lurks in the background and its getting closer, more powerful, more deadly…and it has Samantha in its sights.
Why is she so important to the gifted and the entire human race? Who is in danger just by knowing her? Amy Freeman has done a remarkable job of building an exciting world, full of evil, good, darkness, light, and pure entertainment!
She has created characters that are not only likable, but have personalities that feel real! From the main characters to those who support them, each one is colored in with detail and care. The dialogue flows smoothly, the tension runs high and the pace in each scene was perfect for sucking me in and holding me tight! The romance is only a small part of the story, but the pull between Trin and Sam is there, quiet and understated, while the dark side of this tale looms ever-present, ratcheting the tension in a race against time to save the world from pure evil.
Freeman has wasted no words, nor short-changed any part of Shine: I received a review copy as part of Shine: August 6, Publisher: Aug 31, Susan Knight rated it it was amazing. The Knowing Ones" at 1: I pictured myself in a crowd, my hands clapping slowly, then more hands clapping until the whole audience clapped more rapidly until thunderous applause resounded! Amy Freeman is a genius. I wondered all through the book how the protagonists were ever going to win all their battles. There is tension and trial on every page.
There are many examples of all these forces in this book. The religious overtones were not lost on me. The Veduny are a people of brilliant light and awareness, born to protect and guard those of us on the earth. Their powers come from the Divinity--who has a plan for us. There is definitely a plan, yet we are able to keep our free will without interference. The Veduny are allowed to proceed, come what may. I loved the time travel, which usually causes problems in books because it's not wrapped up to my liking.
However, Amy conquers this by having her characters know that what they do will affect the future, but they are careful. Yet, learning as they go, they realize what they must do, no matter what. The twist at the end blows my mind away. The main characters, Samantha Shields an ideal surname and Trinton Kosolov, work in perfect harmony as protagonists. The secondary characters, both Veduny and non-Veduny, are likeable, strong and easy to relate to and not so secondary. The descriptions and simile in the writing made me feel as if I was shivering in the snow and ice of the Ural Mountains; smelling the toxic energy of the steely antagonist; blinded by the lights and auras--even dancing on the stage.
I gasped, I sighed, my heart pounded. Buy this book as soon as you can! You won't be able to put it down. And, another thing--I want a screenplay--NOW! This would be a fantastic movie. I could picture it all in my mind the whole time. Aug 10, Robin King rated it really liked it Shelves: Action-packed, a little bit of everything, cute romance. Samantha Sam has always been a little psychic, but it isn't until she meets hunky Olympic swimmer, Trin, that she realizes she has more than just the ability to see auras and future events.
Dark visions interrupt her life as a college student and ballerina. With Trin at her side, Sam has to use her gifts to save herself and the ones she loves from an evil force haunting the campus. In the process, Sam discovers her true roots Action-packed, a little bit of everything, cute romance. In the process, Sam discovers her true roots and a predestined mission only she can fulfill.
I don't think I've ever read a book that had a little bit of everything for all audiences! Swimming, ballet, college life? Throw in some time travel, lots of romance, witty humor, and a whole new race the Veduny and you about cover all the bases. The action, along with the sweet love story of Trin and Sam, kept my interest all the way to the very end. Freeman's debut novel took me by surprise. I'm excited to hear this story is not yet over and I can look forward to sequels. Aug 15, Karen rated it really liked it. I really enjoyed this book from new author Amy Freeman.
The story is unique and not something I've ever read before. While attending college, she meets Trin who she I really enjoyed this book from new author Amy Freeman. While attending college, she meets Trin who she is inexplicably drawn to and the story begins I love a good tale and this one is full of romance, action, suspense and great characters.
I would caution that this is for older teens as some of the romantic scenes are pretty intense. Overall, a story about good versus evil, darkness and light, that is well written and the concepts are interesting and beautifully expressed. There are some great lessons woven into the story about our self worth and the fact that we all have been given certain gifts. There's a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which was both satisfying and bittersweet. Jul 24, K. Finn rated it it was amazing Shelves: My God, I don't even know where to begin to describe the merits of this book.
SHINE comprises every element you could want in a great novel. It has engaging characters that are well described, relatable and easily imagined. It has a superbly rich series of exciting settings and vivid new places to be transported to. The dialogue is fresh, clear and charming, and the plot is a cleverly-woven story that is simple to follow but deep, dark and complex at the same time.
This book was always pleasant My God, I don't even know where to begin to describe the merits of this book. This book was always pleasant to pick up, I was never bored or eager to skip over the pages, and every sentence added value to the tale. Amy Freeman is a prolific writer who deserves every success with this book and in her future endeavours, and she proves that independent writers can produce novels that are of the same discerning standards of professional publishing if not better, in my opinion.
I cannot wait for the sequel to this book to be once again enveloped in the incredible world of Veduny and their paranormal powers. Keep up the amazing work Amy! Aug 08, C Walter rated it really liked it. The romance is heart-beatingly insane! I loved how real the characters are. I could connect with them easily and found myself cheering them on. I loved how the author incorporated a bit of time travel into the action.
The Author pushed the boundaries and made them work. Overall it was written beautifully and flowed well and I can't wait until she writes another. This book should be in the big screen! Slow at first but curiosity got the better of me and was glad I carried on. I was so fascinated by the idea that the human race still has to discover the power of mind and body. I love everything psychic, makes me curious every time. The Veduny tribe from Russia are the protectors of the human race.
The tribe is led by a council of elders, the Keeper and the Oracle. Trin is present Keeper and must find the Oracle before it's too late. He needs the Oracle to This book should be in the big screen! He needs the Oracle to defeat Chernobog the evil. However, things got a little more complicated.
Trin find himself travelling back in time to rescue Sam before the winter solstice and prevent evil rising to earth. The ending was so unexpected but at the same time perfect. Will there be book 2? D Sam has always had the gift of reading auras and seeing future events. But since beginning college, her gifts are strengthening- becoming more foreboding. Meeting gorgeous Olympic swimming star Trin Kosolov, who shares her extrasensory gifts only seems to intensify the imminent peril.
Sam soon dis recommended to me, it's not usually my type of read, but I'm gonna be open minded and it's going on my TBR list: Sam soon discovers she was born with an identity she never knew she had, and finds herself fighting for her life as she and Trin struggle to save humanity from an evil that could ultimately destroy them all Jul 27, Melissa rated it it was amazing. This was a page turner. Sep 03, Beth rated it really liked it. This was a good YA paranormal. Every time I was thinking it was time for something to happen, something would happen. Nov 06, L Avery Brown rated it really liked it.
Judy Colella has given L. Avery Brown permission to post this review onto Goodreads. Thank you And Now For the Review… 1. Book Ti Please note: Did it grab your attention right away? Was it ho hum? What do you think the author might consider for future book titles? I thought it was interesting because it immediately made me think of "The Shining," which got me curious about the story line. However, there turned out to be no relation to that, and I also wasn't really certain what the point of the title was, other than that the main characters were very light-defined.
I somehow think a book as good as this one deserves a more enigmatic - and subject-related - title. Did it grab your attention? What do you think the author might consider for future book covers? Did it help make the title more effective Like so much of the story, it was stark and cold - and therefore, worked. Thinking of the first usually about 2 pages words of the book, do you think the author provided enough incentive to urge the reader to continue? What stood out to you the most? Were you captivated after a couple of paragraphs? Did the 1st sentence grab you? Did you get to around the word mark and didn't have a clue where the story was going?
The action and mystery began immediately following a brief but engaging introduction of the main character. After that, there was no putting the book own. This one is pretty straight forward - if the book is supposed to be for young teens and 'tweens does it hit the mark? Or is it entirely TOO mature? Is it really a suspense story or is it more of a romance with a few suspenseful moments? I was pleased to find that despite the suggestion and tension that with another writer would have lead to a lot of graphic sexual interplay, the author allowed none of that.
This is most certainly appropriate for young teens and 'tweens in that regard, and a great book for that age group because it doesn't "talk down" to the reader by using simplistic ideas or elementary vocabulary. Did the 'innards' of the book follow a clear, concise, standard format throughout the book? Or did you have a hard time keeping up with paragraphs or dialogue? Were multiple fonts used? The overall format was fine. However, there was a pretty consistent problem with the way paragraphs were handled, especially for the dialogue. Too frequently, there were two people speaking in one paragraph, making it very confusing, and occasionally, the proper close-quote or open-quote mark was missing.
I found myself having to re-read a large number of these conversations to be sure I understood who was talking. There were also a number of misused words; for instance, one sentence describes a character moving "with the lithe of a large cat. In another place, she uses the word "ambled" which implies a leisurely stroll. However, in the passage where this was placed, the situation was far from leisurely - it was, in fact, describing a frantic escape.
Shine - The Knowing Ones (Paperback)
Fortunately, there weren't a huge number of these. I also found some common phrases used erroneously. There are two well-known expressions: Here, the author makes the mistake far too many people today make by combining these two and coming up with "on accident.
Was this book something you'd never read? If it was a retelling - did the author make it feel fresh and just different enough that it kept you involved? While it used a number of mythological "saws," it was presented in a fresh, unique manner, setting it apart from most of what is popular today. Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. That rarely happens to me. Did the author use descriptive language and 'all those extra little things' to make it the best it could be?
Did you feel it was too sparse in description? Did the author go OVER board with the description? One of the things that impressed me the most was the beautiful balance of description - not too much, not to little.
I found it easy to envision all that was being described without getting bogged down in a lot of unnecessary details. Did you want to turn the next page because it was SO good? Mmmmm, Twinkies' while you read? Lots and lots of coffee, though. The only reason I didn't read this in one sitting is because my family life kept dragging me off to take care of stalled vehicles, rides to work, a hungry Italian husband But believe it or not, I actually found myself having dreams about it, and thinking about what might happen next when I wasn't able to read it for all the above reasons.
Shine: The Knowing Ones
Was the book pretty darn flawless? Certain words jumped out, some misused, others misspelled. For example, she describes something as being "baron," when the context clearly shows she meant "barren. They are a bit jarring, and if you know they're wrong, the continuity gets momentarily derailed. Other than that, though, this was written with blessed few errors. When all is said in done - did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to others? I thoroughly enjoyed this, and would most certainly recommend it. I liked the characters, the story line, the general feel of the story - and was highly impressed with the writer's imagination and ability to tell a ripping good tale!
Is there anything else about the book that you'd like to mention? Get someone to do deep edits to eliminate the errors mentioned here, and this will, indeed, be a flawless, reading-list-worthy book for all ages! The Bestowing of the Blossoms The Knowing Ones has earned 88 points - just missing the 5 blossom mark but those 4 beautiful blossoms are nothing to sneeze it!
TEST WIDGET
Sep 16, Steph rated it really liked it. She can see other people's auras and read their emotions. It is not until she gets to college with her best friend that things start to change. Suddenly she is having powerful, terrifying visions and she is starting to feel like she is going mad. One night at a bar, she is compelled to approach an Olympic swimmer from school.
His aura is different than any other she has ever seen and she is instantly drawn to him. Trin recognizes Sam the moment that he sees her in the bar and knows he has finally found the one he has been looking for. The more time he spends with her, the more terrifying things become for Sam. He is bound to protect her but Trin feels as though he is failing.
Sam knows Trin has the answers she seeks, but he refuses to share them. At the same time, she is falling in love with him. Can she trust a man who is keeping secrets from her with her heart and when she finally does learn the truth, can her love survive it? I really, really loved this book! It wasn't exactly what I was expected there is a lot of love but no passion but I was so swept up in the characters it didn't bother me the way it does with other stories.
There are so many twists and turns in the story I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away. I was hooked from chapter one and stayed up late reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next! There are a couple of kisses and one scene when you think you are finally going to get them together, but no luck I was on the edge of my seat for most of the second half of the book Cliffhanger?: Parts of the story are wrapped up but it is by no means over at least I hope not! I didn't see another book on the horizon for this author but I really hope there is one I need some more Trin and Sam!
Overall, I loved it. It would have been a 5 for me which I never give if Trin and Sam had finally gotten their passionate moment that was teased early on. That was the only thing about this book I was disappointed in I kept waiting for it, and didn't get it. Here's hoping that these two will get another book and there will be a little more passion in it. In the meantime, this is a great read so get ready I received a free copy of this book in exchange for and honest review Samantha Sam Shields is a ballet major with a difference, she has the ability to see auras, plagued with strange visions and dreams, and under duress she's able to influence objects.
Sam however, doesn't understand why or how she's able to do any of it. The book opens with Sam in ballet rehearsal and unable to concentrate due to disturbing images that she's been having all day. After rehearsal she has a terrifying experience and the story is off. Sam's best friends Anna and Vig try to support Samantha Sam Shields is a ballet major with a difference, she has the ability to see auras, plagued with strange visions and dreams, and under duress she's able to influence objects.
Sam's best friends Anna and Vig try to support her and make her feel safe, but they can't give her the help that she is really in need of. Enter Trin Kosolov, the Olympic swimmer and school celebrity with powers no one in their collegiate world knows about. Trin is a Russian born Veduny, a group of people with honed psychic abilities in charge of protecting humanity from evil.
The Veduny the knowing ones are made up of Keepers and are determined to see their new Oracle protected and brought into the fold to hone and understand the skills needed to fill the role. After sensing Sam in a club Trin recognizes her and her abilities and promises to help her understand and hone them.
Tying the sash, she moved to the front door, stopping in front of it. Heart hammering in her chest, she placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it. As the lock disengaged she cracked the door. He stood, beautiful, frustrated, and still wet. One arm rested on the door jamb, head bowed as if he had been arguing with himself. His shirt clung to his muscled body, sun streaked hair damp and shaggy around his tanned face.
At the sound of the door his thick black lashes lifted. His conflicted energy swept through her as his electric blue eyes scanned her body. He had nothing left. Caught completely off guard, his strength broke, conflict won out. In all the moments leading up to this one…when she thought she needed him , he now realized how much he truly needed her. Self-preservation flooded through him. His restraint, will power, every device he had ever used to control or extinguish his own needs and desires came crashing down around him before he even had a chance to engage them.
His initial reason for coming back vanished. Shoving the door open, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to him. He slammed the door shut. His lips pressed against hers, ravenous, taking what he needed. Nothing else mattered to him. She molded to him as he lifted her against the wall. Liberating release flooded his veins, as if he were experiencing sunlight or truly breathing for the first time.
Decadent power flowed unlike anything he had ever experienced. His lips left hers as he hungrily searched every aspect of her neck, his labored breath hot against her skin as he crushed her to him.
Shine: The Knowing Ones by Amy Freeman
She gasped, trying to find air—the way this felt— indescribable. Energy in the room spiked as their auras merged, his energy fusing with hers. Sam grabbed his dampened shirt, pushing it up his sculpted back, his powerful muscles moving beneath her hands as he helped her pull it over his head. Wanting more, hearts racing, blood pumping, her craving fingers explored his powerful chest, pushing past his naked shoulders, caressing his neck and lacing her fingers into his hair—she pulled.
Trin gasped, responding to the erotic pain, arousal flooding his body. He found her lips again, pursuing, pushing. Reason and reality had disappeared. Trin was taken, lost in the seduction of the woman he loved. Wherever her ravenous fingers went the tension, stress, and pressure melted away beneath them, erasing the pain, the doubt, and the crushing fear of defeat.
A few broad strides to her room, back to the bed he had forced himself to leave only ten minutes earlier. His powerful body covered her, his soft lips moving passionately against hers. A measurable physical science erupted within the room, elements working together in a feeding frenzy as preparation set in to ignite a power that had not been alive for a century. A voice—buried deep within the euphoria of the moment—nagging him. Annoyed by the distraction he pushed it out, driven by his aching need for her. Never having experienced such power, he was unprepared to fight it, and in this moment he was unwilling to fight it.