TC Booth Amazon Barnes & Nobles Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: self Type: Fiction Pages: 149 Copyright: June 19, 2011 ISBN-13: 9781452454405 Sixteen-year-old Erin Colley was by all accounts an ordinary teenager struggling with normal issues faced by most adolescents. A series of encounters with a mysterious boy reveals that she is not the ordinary girl she believed she was. The gift she possesses may prove to be a curse, however. Her intense connection to this mystery boy and all it entails leaves her mystified. Sixteen-year-old Erin Colley is both shocked and enchanted to learn she has the attention of a star football player at her school named Tommy. The excitement of Erin's new relationship with Tommy begins to change. She feels conflicted in the difference of his circle in comparison to hers. This clash of personalities proves to be minor in face of the collision she has yet to stumble upon.  Erin has encounters with a mysterious boy, Gabe, who seems to show up when she needs help. With each encounter Erin grows more enthralled with him and his dreamy blue eyes. She realizes that these are the eyes that appear at the end of a reoccurring dream of hers. Gabe reveals to Erin his identity as her protector. He is an angel that is drawn to her due to Erin's spiritual sensitivy, a gift Erin did not know she possessed. Erin connects with him in a way that she has not with anyone else and does not want to give that up. The problem is that Gabe cannot continue to coexist in both the physical and spiritual world. The two worlds collide as Erin becomes increasingly aware of the sensitivy she has. Erin learns how to use her gift for the good despite the heartbreak she feels due to her longing to be with Gabe. How is it that the very gift that drew her to Gabe eventually leads her back Tommy? Erin's intense connection to Gabe and all it entails leaves her mystified.        Excerpt Mystified Meet the Characters Erin Colley on life at school: I turned into my high school parking lot. My peaceful serenity was gone. The parking lot resembled a maze of adolescent madness as drivers cut each other off in order to claim the best parking spaces. Gabe on feelings for Erin: “You are very special Erin. You have evoked emotions in me that I have not known. You have challenged my intellect beyond any other. That is why I have to remain your guardian angel and protect you even from myself.” Tommy on his desire for Erin: "...You are not like the other girls. You are true to who you are. You don’t pretend to be something else to get people to like you. On top of all of that, you are beautiful.” Maggie on dressing for a party: “You know I don’t dress to impress. Probably jeans....." Keith on...himself: “Don’t get carried away everyone. I’m just a thoughtful person.” He grinned and winked at me. He got up and bounced over to the drums. “Let’s get playing.”

Inspiring Yet Exciting! A Rare Combination to Find Together!

“Mystified” is a book that truly kept me guessing from the beginning until the end. This young adult novel, which was written by T.C. Booth, is a unique blend of fantasy, faith, romance, angels, spiritual warfare, family issues and the ordinary dilemmas that are part of being a teenager in today’s world.
The plot seems simple enough, a teenage girl named Erin Colley finds herself torn between a popular jock at her school and a mysterious hottie who happens to show up whenever Erin finds herself in need of assistance. As Erin gets to know the mysterious stranger more, she realizes that he is more than human and finds out that she has some special gifts as well. As the story progresses, Erin finds out that what at first appeared to be blessings may create bittersweet yearnings as she learns to merge her gifts with her normal human life.
This story does definitely have some spiritual and Christian overtones, but in no way do they detract from the story or slow down the pace. In fact, the mix of fantasy and spirituality work together to enhance the story, making it richer and deeper. I also liked the fact that the characters were realistic. They all had their own unique personality flaws, but they also have the confidence to be themselves and choose the right path, even when things get hard. As the characters grow and mature, they come to realize that popularity isn’t really all that important, especially when it means compromising your beliefs.
If you have been looking for an inspiring, yet exciting tale, this might be just the book for you. To find out more about the book, please visit the author’s website. While there you can read a little more about the book, including character descriptions and discount promotions that are currently available. There are also links to purchase the book in eBook form from Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.
Marranda Russell
Book Reviewer/Author