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    Solstice
    Solstice
    Solstice
    Ebook81 pages1 hour

    Solstice

    By Emma Lilly

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    On the eve of the summer solstice, Emma swaps one blind date for another. It's going to be a sunrise like no other...

    What would you do if your blind date didn't show up? Would you go home, throw a microwave meal in the oven and spend the rest of the evening watching television and cursing your luck?

    Or would you accept an dinner invitation from a handsome stranger?

    All you'd be doing is swapping one blind date for another, right? That's what Emma decides. And so she finds herself dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant with a man who swears you can tell what people do for a living simply by looking at their hands.

    But when Adam suggests an after supper walk up a moon-flooded hillside, Emma discovers the true magic of the summer solstice...

    Originally written and published under the pen name Lily Evans.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEmma Lilly
    Release dateJan 26, 2011
    ISBN9781458080677
    Solstice
    Author

    Emma Lilly

    Emma Lilly (also known as Lily Evans but now growing weary of being associated with a certain young wizard...) lives in Northamptonshire, England with her husband and teenage son.Emma started writing novels at the age of seven and hasn’t stopped writing since! Luckily, she has plenty to write about, thanks to taking her time over settling on a career. So far, Emma’s varied occupations have included selling electronic widgets, teaching, nursing and... Well, if she told you what she does now, she'd probably have to kill you.She loves writing (of course), watching films (especially romantic comedies!), cooking and reading.She also enjoys taking long walks along sandy windswept beaches so it’s a bit of a shame she lives around 75 miles from the nearest coast.

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    Reviews for Solstice

    3.5/5

    31 ratings6 reviews

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    • 2/5
      There's a special kind of sadness reserved for a book that starts out well, that you think you're going to be best friends with, but which, instead, goes somewhere that your heart and mind can't embrace. For me, Solstice is one such book. For the first hundred pages, Solstice was heading for a 3.5-4 star rating, but then the twist and the romance happened. Though not for me, Solstice does have good qualities and will no doubt be pleasing to a slew of other readers.The first hundred pages of Solstice are solid post-apocalyptic, though I wouldn't really call the book dystopian myself, though really what a dystopia is has really lost all meaning for me by this point. The world Hoover has created is an eerily possible future earth, one beset by global warming. In Piper's world, one hundred degrees Fahrenheit is a cool day in Austin, TX. Going outside requires sunscreen pills and cool misting sprays at all times. Water comes in two temperatures: warm and hot. Air conditioning is used to cool buildings down to the upper 80s or 90s - any more than that is illegal. Governments around the world try to fix the heat with science, but the attempts are not proving promising.In these opening chapters, Piper is cool-headed, thoughtful, and obedient to her overbearing mother. Other students look to her for advice and instructions during crises. Because of her mother's restrictions, she does feel a bit lonely, and wishes she were allowed to date like the other kids, especially since she's legally an adult at 18. For this reason, I wasn't bothered by her intense immediate attraction to the hot new boy at school who just happened to sit next to her in class and want to talk to her OR to the hot boy who came by her house claiming to be the son of one of her mother's colleagues. The girl has been toeing her mother's line for so long she was bound to crack eventually; she's entered her rebellious phase, as evidenced by the tattoo she gets with her best friend. That was all fine.At this point, if you're concerned about spoilers, you may want to step away. I can't review this one without spoiling the big twist, because I have things I need to talk about to explain why my opinion changed about Solstice. The twist is discussed in the blurb above, but I generally ignore those and didn't know myself, so up to you.Right around the one hundred page mark, Solstice becomes an entirely different book, a fantasy about Greek mythology. Unfortunately, the transition is marked with excruciatingly instalove-ridden romance, rather than action or good mythology. Hoover does bring the mythological elements to an interesting conclusion, but there was too much unfortunate romance before that got going that kept me from liking this book.The romance elements have the unfortunate gender dynamics present in other young adult Persephone adaptations, like Abandon and The Goddess Test. Reese (Ares) and Shayne (Hades) are fighting for Piper's love, though she cannot figure out why (even though she's OBVIOUSLY Persephone from when the Greek myth stuff first starts, she won't figure that out until page 290). She instaloves (one week, people!) with Shayne, who refers to her as the "spoils" of his position in the Underworld and refuses to tell her anything, though, to be fair, there does end up being a reason for that later (though my opinion was set by the time I learned that). Whenever Piper gets near Reese, though, his intoxicating scent fills her with memories of their time together, fictional ones, and she cannot help making out with him. Only at the very end does she actually make any sort of informed choice about romance, mostly being led about by the men. The logical, thoughtful heroine of the beginning of the book disappears never to be seen again. Neither love interest ever gets personified beyond on nice strong guy and evil strong guy respectively.Much as I can't personally get past the romance, I can appreciate the way that Hoover resolved everything. She does put an interesting twist on the relationship dynamics of the myth. Piper's relationship with her mother echoes the original tale, but puts a different spin on Demeter's desire to keep Persephone with her.I'm torn on the resolution to the whole global warming plot of the beginning. Hoover does come back to that and deftly ties it into the mythology by explaining that it's always summer when Persephone's with her mother. That's pretty awesome on one level, but also really annoys me on a couple of others. From a mythology standpoint, I just don't think that her mother being happy would equal an increasingly hot summer, because it's not like the world was an arid desert until Persephone started spending six months in the Underworld every year. Also, I find the idea that global warming has been turned into a side effect of the squabbles of the gods, rather than of humans completely fucking up the planet, distasteful. I know it's just been done for the fictional value, but I still can't get completely behind it.If, like me, you're not a fan of poorly characterized instalove romances, you may want to give Solstice a pass. However, if you're curious and not as easily frustrated by such things, there are a lot of cool things in Solstice for you to appreciate. I really like what Hoover did in theory, and I do think that she shows a lot of promise as an author; her writing is good and the concept is fantastic. Though Solstice didn't work for me, I'll be open to reading more of Hoover's books in the future.
    • 4/5
      3.5

      I love reading books that happen in my home state. I love them even more when ridiculous heat is mentioned. Let's face it, living in Texas sometimes is like living in one of the inner circles of Hell. (This little rant could be because I worked outside yesterday, and I swear the thermometer was lying. It was insanely hot.)

      Now that I'm off my little rant session, here's some book love coming at you. I always find it amazing when authors can mix mythology and dystopian themes. P.J. Hoover did an awesome job with this. She is able to mix one of my favorite Greek myths with extreme heat, and an earth that is falling apart.

      I will say that I was able to predict a lot of what was going on, but as I said the storyline includes one of my favorite myths. Even with having an idea of what was going to happen next, I had to keep turning the pages. Hoover drew me into her world, and had me wanting more. Bizarre things start happening to Piper when she turns 18, and she's not sure how to deal with any of them.

      Piper kind of gets on my nerves in the beginning. She suddenly has these two guys fighting for her attention, and is all googly-eyes toward both of them. As the plot continues though, you are able to figure out why it's hard to resist one of them. She begins to learn who she is, and accepts things rather quickly. Her mother is AWFUL! I thought my mom was uber protective when I was in high school, but she doesn't have anything on Piper's mom. It's almost demented how much Piper's mom wants Piper to stay with her.

      I don't want to get into too much more, so that you have the opportunity to figure out what's going on. I will say that I really enjoyed the book. It made a great hot, summer day read. ;) I do hope after everything that takes place in this book we can get a follow up of sorts.
    • 1/5
      The promising premise of this book never delivered. I just couldn't finish this book and I gave it more than a fair shake reading almost half of it. The mysteries about the main character's life (I can't even remember her name she was that unremarkable), who her father is, why her mother is so overprotective, why two gods disguised as teen boys appear in her life and fight over her, took too long to develop with too much navel gazing. I don't understand the 5 star ratings.
    • 5/5
      What can I say about this book other than it is one of my favorite books of 2011!! It's definitely one of the best books dealing with mythology that I have read. I never thought I would say this, but I really want to meet Hades, the King of the Underworld! PJ Hoover makes the Underworld sound like the best, most happening place in the world! From Goodreads: "Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom."Piper has always been controlled by her domineering, uber-overprotective mother, and now that she is 18, she has had enough. She starts to rebel, with the help of her best friend Chloe, starting with getting matching Greek tattoos that Chloe picks out for them both. And then things start getting really weird, really quick. She meets two very hot guys (both of whom have apparently been at her school all year, although she has never noticed them before), and they are both vying for her attention. She has no idea that they are both Gods, and while Earth is suffering from global warming, the Underworld is in chaos as well. She has some part to play in all of this, but all she is interested in is finding out who she really is and why all of this is happening to her. Everyone else seems to know, but nobody will tell her. This is a truly awesome book full of mythology and a girl trying to discover her own identity in a world that is dying. PJ Hoover has a way of giving you everything that you want, and tons more that you didn't even know you wanted! This is a quick, easy read because it keeps your interest from the very beginning, and it moves from one thing to the next seamlessly. The pace is perfect, and the characters are very well developed. There is definite character growth, which is missing in a lot of books that are quick reads. The characters are not sacrificed for the plot, which is a definite pet peeve of mine. There are some great twists and turns, and I was constantly kept guessing about what was going to happen next. In summary, this is a really great book that I highly recommend to all lovers of YA, fantasy, and mythology. I give it an enthusiastic 5 stars :DOf note, there is one part of the book that mentions the male genitalia, something to keep in mind for the younger readers out there.
    • 5/5
      Solstice is the best mythological-based book that I’ve read all year!The events of Solstice take place in the future of Austin, Texas, where 99 degrees is the new low. The effects of global warming are becoming a reality with heat bubbles taking large numbers of lives and Austin’s government worsening the global warming issue instead of helping. Piper’s mom is on the council and disproves of the way the council handles the situation, but she doesn’t speak up. Instead, she’s satisfied working with her plants at Botanical Haven, their private greenhouse, and overshadowing Piper in her obsessive desire to monopolize her daughter.As the story progresses, Piper realizes that there are secrets surrounding her identity. She has always believed that her father is a criminal, but now she learns that her mom lied to her. Melina, a frequent customer at Botanical Haven, gives her a mysterious box for her birthday. And the two new guys at school? Well, everyone else believes that Reese and Shayne have been there all year, and so do they, so she goes along with their ideas.When I learned Shayne’s true identity (the first that you’ll discover), I’ll admit that began to think that this book would turn out to be just another one of the up and coming mythology books. However, P.J. Hoover introduces yet another twist to her dystopian novel: the fact that Piper is one of the gods.Once the gods step in, this story becomes less dystopian and more mythological/paranormal as Piper uncovers clues as to whom she really is. I’ll tell you this. While I was disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on impending world doom, it made me fall in love with the story all over again. Piper doesn’t go on action-filled quests to save the world, but she does discover her identity—and along with it, she finds love. It’s not destiny, nor is it not forbidden love (excluding Mom’s daughter complex). It’s pure love.I must say that the ending left me feeling empty. Hoover does give us a feel for how events will turn out: Piper finds her rightful place, and we have a feel for what will happen to the “bad guys.” However, the bad guys have yet to be judged, and anything could happen. She also leaves us the question of whether or not the balance in the world will be righted. The book would have been all right by itself since Piper’s back in her rightful place, suggesting that everything’s all right now, but… there’s a sequel, which means more trouble for Piper. Which means I expect answers in the sequel!!P. J. Hoover turns the gods and goddesses into very realistic personalities. Hades is moody, mysterious, yet caring and responsible about the Underworld, which he rules wisely and justly. I enjoyed looking at the three areas of the Underworld through Piper’s eyes. Cerberus is so very doggy and lovable. Ares is cruel and arrogant, the very manifestation of the God of War that he is. Aphrodite is manipulative and vain. Zeus is easygoing and open about his affairs. As for Demeter? Well, you see another side to her that you’d never think to see. And it’s interesting, real, and adds spice to this story.Solstice is a real page-turner of a novel. I couldn’t stop reading it from the moment I read the first lines. I recommend Solstice for readers looking for a good mythological read, a story of true love, the journey of self-discovery, and some steamy scenes with hot gods.
    • 4/5
      I love books about Greek Mythology. To me it's all about capturing the ideas and beliefs of an ancient civilization. The stories have always held a particular spot in my imagination. It's been great for me to see books coming out that capture the Greek myths and bring them into modern civilization. Piper lives sometime in the near future where the world in in perpetual summer. The temperatures soar and threaten all life. Many of the creatures and plants have died. Life revolves around escaping the heat and surviving it. Piper lives with a very controlling mother. He mother doesn't want her to ever leave. She monitors who she is with and where she is at. They have moved many times to keep her away from her father. Piper has been lead to believe that he is a terrorist and a threat to her. Of course, as in all good books, things are never as they seem. Piper is given a gift on her 18th birthday from one of the customers who come to their botanical nursery. She opens it and finds a feather. From that point on her world changes. Two young men suddenly appear at her school and vie for her affections. They are both immortals in disguise. There is something about Piper that they want. She is not sure what it is, but is determined to find out. She is brought into a world of secrets and lies. Her future depends on unlocking her past. P.J. Hoover's book is well written with a solid plot. I loved turning the pages and finding out what she had up her sleeve next. The romance seemed a bit creepy and obsessive, but I still liked it. The mother would have driven any person insane quickly. She kept the book moving at a quick pace that kept my interest. I must admit that I didn't start figuring out what was happening with Piper and her role in the mythology aspect until about 2/3 of the way through the book. There is one section of the book in the Underworld that is a bit graphic for younger readers dealing with genatalia. That is my only caution to readers.

    Book preview

    Solstice - Emma Lilly

    Solstice

    by

    Emma Lilly

    SMASHWORDS EDITION

    * * * * *

    PUBLISHED BY:

    Emma Lilly on Smashwords

    Solstice

    Copyright 2012 by Emma Lilly

    Originally written and published under the name of Lily Evans

    Smashwords Edition License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

    *****

    Chapter 1

    I glanced at my watch. Eight thirty-six. Thirty-six long minutes past the hour. And I’d arrived early of course. Just in case. So all in all, I’d been sitting on the steps of the Buttercross for a bottom-numbing forty-nine minutes. It was time to face facts.

    I’d been stood up.

    Blowing out a sigh, I got to my feet and brushed down my dress. Maybe he’d turned up, taken one look at me and bolted. Or maybe he’d just forgotten.

    Yeah, right. I snorted at my own naivety, startling the pigeon that had landed by my foot. Who’d forget they’d been set up on a blind date? I certainly couldn’t have forgotten. Bloody Lisa and her great ideas.

    I’m going to set you up with my boss, she’d said last Saturday night when I’d been bemoaning my lack of love life. I think you two would get on really well.

    Your boss? I’d stared at her in disbelief. You mean Mike? She couldn’t mean Mike, I’d thought, panicking. Yes, I knew he was single but he had to be at least twenty years older than me, had a beer belly and a white beard. Father Christmas material. I knew beggars couldn’t be choosers, but still…

    No! She laughed merrily. Not Mike. Griff.

    Griff? I frowned, trying to remember if she’d mentioned him before.

    He’s been supervising a project in Aberdeen for the last year. He’s been away since before I started working at ASG. Seems like a nice bloke though I don’t know that much about him.

    Then how do you know he hasn’t got a wife and two kids?

    Because I asked him.

    Then he’s probably gay.

    She shook her head adamantly. He isn’t. I asked him that too.

    I groaned. Lisa! You can’t—you can’t ask things like that!

    Why not? She looked bemused. If you don’t ask, how are you supposed to find out?

    And that was the fundamental difference between Lisa and me. It would never occur to her to baulk from the nitty-gritty question. Never occur to her not to speak up if someone said anything she disagreed with, no matter what their creed, colour or status. I’d known her my whole life—her parents owned the semi-detached house adjoining my parents’—and she’d become less and less bothered about what anyone might think of her candour with every passing year. To my constant wonder and secret admiration, this hadn’t resulted in Lisa lacking friends or male attention. In short, she was the person to ask whether your bum looked big in your jeans.

    Even though I’d protested that at twenty-eight I was much too old for blind dates, she’d gone ahead and arranged one anyway. I still couldn’t quite believe Griff had agreed. It spoke volumes about Lisa’s impressive powers of persuasion or, more likely, her uncanny ability to brow-beat someone into submission.

    So where was he?

    I lifted a hand to shield my eyes from the evening sun and stared down the street. Though there were numerous people milling around, wending their way to the bars and clubs, there was no sign of a six-foot man with blond hair and blue eyes carrying a book of poetry with a pink carnation tucked between its pages.

    A book of poetry? I’d spluttered when she told me that part. That’s such a cliché.

    So? She’d grinned. What’s your problem? It is a blind date, after all.

    Well, maybe he’d had a problem with it. Or maybe he’d simply been unable to locate any Wordsworth or Keats.

    At least I hadn’t missed the last bus home. As I turned to walk back up the street, I noticed the guy standing outside the bank opposite. I’d seen him earlier but discounted him as Griff immediately. For a start, he was under six feet tall. Taller than me but definitely not six feet. And his hair wasn’t blond; it was light brown. Most tellingly of all, he wasn’t carrying a book, let alone a pink carnation.

    He’d been there when I arrived and judging by the way he’d been looking up and down the street, he too had been expecting to meet someone. I sent him a sympathetic glance as I approached.

    To my astonishment, he smiled. Been stood up? he said softly.

    Uh… I felt heat flood into my face. I’d been watching him. No doubt he’d been watching me too. It was no use denying what was patently true. Yep. I guess he got a better offer. I forced a smile then found the courage to reciprocate. How about you?

    Looks like it. He shook his head. Never mind. It’s their loss, right?

    Definitely. He certainly didn’t look like someone who should’ve been stood up. Okay, so he wasn’t movie star gorgeous but he was good-looking nonetheless. In his early thirties, at a guess, with well-proportioned features, a strong jaw and twinkling dark eyes. Anyway, I said, my discomfort returning as I realised I’d been staring, hope you still have a good evening anyway.

    He nodded. You too.

    But before I’d taken more than a few steps I heard his voice again.

    Hey?

    Figuring I should probably keep walking, I looked back over my shoulder.

    I’ve got a reservation for dinner at the Mill House Hotel. He shot me a speculative look. "By all means, say no, but I was wondering, seeing as we’ve both been stood up, whether you’d care to join

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