Open Heart (Farsighted Series) [Kindle Edition]

Emlyn Chand (Author)

Book Description

Meet ordinary teens with extraordinary powers in the award-winning Farsighted Series.

Plus-sized Simmi Shergill doesn't need to use her gift of psychic feeling to lure Alex and Dax into falling for her; they do that on their own. Choosing between the blind seer who loves her and the charming telekinetic with "bad idea" written all over him won't be easy--especially while trying to survive high school.

Evolved Publishing presents the second in a 5-part series, Farsighted, by award-winning author Emlyn Chand. YA / ROMANCE / PARANORMAL / FANTASY

Simmi Shergill's life is a mess. Her powers of psychic feeling are on the fritz, and Grandon Township's sudden population boom has brought quite a few unsavory characters to town. She also looks like an over-blown balloon in her size 14 pants, but not even starving herself seems to be helping.

At least she has Alex, the boyfriend who loves her so much he'd do anything for her. Last summer, he even risked his life to protect her from the mysterious boy everyone was convinced wanted to kill her.

Just one problem: she's not so sure she feels the same way. Is Alex really the man of her dreams? Why can't she stop fixating on her would-be killer, Dax? Part of her wants to run screaming in the other direction whenever Dax is around, while the other part longs to run into his embrace, no matter whom she'd hurt or what she'd risk.

Simmi's loyalty is on the line. Whom will she choose--the blind seer who loves her, or the charming telekinetic with "bad idea" written all over him? Emotions run high in the tension-packed book two of the "Farsighted" series.

Praise for Farsighted:

• Winner, Writer's Digest Self-Published Novel Awards, Young Adult Category, 2012
• Best Multicultural Fiction, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, 2012 
• Finalist, Eric Hoffer Award, 2012
• BookBundlz Book Club Pick, 2012
• Overall Winner, Best Young Adult Fiction, Best Debut Author, Dragonfly eBook Awards, 2011
• Bronze Medalist, Paranormal Fiction, Readers Favorite, 2012
• Finalist, Speculative Fiction, Global eBook Awards, 2011
• Winner of the Alternative Booker Award, 2011
• Winner of the WritersType First Chapter Competition, September 2011

"Chand's characters are compelling and diverse... Shapri is a standout." - Kirkus Reviews

 

"A showdown...brings the novel to a surreal and...suspenseful close." - Publisher's Weekly

 

"A suspenseful and spellbinding mystery that grips you from the very start." - IndieReader

 

"A paranormal story line vastly different from the many offerings of vampires, fae and elves... Right away I liked Farsighted" - Tracy Riva for Midwest Book Reviews

 

"Alex Kosmitoras might not have a magic wand or vampiric strength and speed, but he is a totally swoon-worthy hero that any mom would be proud to let her daughter date." - Melissa Luznicky Garrett, author of Turning Point

 

"You don't have to be psychic to know that Farsighted is going to take the world by storm. Vampires are so last year." - Kimberly Kinrade, author of Forbidden Mind

 

"I read the book in one sitting... the ONLY other time I have done this is when I read the Harry Potter series." - Marie Bothwick, blogger at Write Panic Live

***This eBook is DRM-Free.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Whether you've read my books in the past or are still trying to decide whether they're something you'd like to read, I'm glad you're here. It's readers like you that have made all my crazy dreams--you know the ones that everyone said were impossible--come true. You are the ones who keep me writing, keep me inspired, keep me sane. And for that, I owe you a gigantic thank you.

You see, I started writing as a way to feel a little less lonely in this far too impersonal world. Since then, I've made it my mission to write and talk about the issues facing today's youth, the issues that are often overlooked in entertainment because they're conceived as gritty, taboo, or simply "too depressing."

In the Farsighted Series, I tackle topics like racism, self-esteem and eating disorders, physical disabilities, and teen substance abuse.

In the Bird Brain Books, the lessons are far simpler--remember to say thank you when someone does something nice for you, know that who you are is what makes you special rather than what you look like, appreciate love, friendship, and beauty where ever you can find it.

I've connected with some amazing people who share my same outlook on today's literary landscape, and I've made fantastic friends in the process. At the end of the day, I love hearing from people who've read my books, and I welcome emails, Facebook messages, tweets--any way you'd like to get in touch with me, it just makes my day.

Every now and then, I like to reach out to readers with free Advance Review Copies or other giveaways on my site, and I'm planning to do so much more of that in 2013. To keep up with these opportunities, please come on over and subscribe to my newsletter at EmlynChand.com/contact.

You can also email me at [e-mail] or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or GoodReads. I look forward to hearing from you!

About the Author

Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Best known for her Young Adult novels, she is also developing a small, but devoted, following to her children's book series and is beginning to dabble in other genres as well. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available via almost every social media site in existence. Visit EmlynChand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!

Product Details

• File Size: 589 KB
• Print Length: 354 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983930848
• Publisher: Blue Crown Press (May 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0084H1262
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #369,291 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Open Heart Will Open Yours and Take It for a Hell of an Emotional Ride May 21, 2012

By Vixenne Victorienne "Kymberlyn Reed" VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Firstly, many thanks to the awesome Emlyn Chand for offering an Advanced Reader Copy of Open Heart to her blog followers. Some of us (*me*) lack the patience to wait until it's released. I scarfed this book down in the span of two days, highly upset that things like work and sleeping kept getting in the damn way.

Emlyn Chand gets major kudos for writing a series of books that aren't Caucasian-centric. I don't get why so many YA fiction authors (and genre fiction writers in general) seem to write contemporary books that feature NO characters of color, or gay, or disabled people. It's like these authors are channeling 'Mad Men' or something. Of course, when put on the spot about their willful whitewashing, they'll fall back on lame stock answers like "I don't know if I could write a character like that right" or "My character can be anyone" (yeah, right). It's obvious that Ms. Chand got the Facebook update that not only do diverse people exist in contemporary settings (and historical ones), but it's not rocket science to write characters who are just like real people and not stereotypes. Simmi, Alex and Shapri could be found in practically any high school in America. The only difference is her teenagers just so happen to possess preternatural powers abnd struggle with all the responsibility of what such gifts bring.

I'm going to do my damndest not to give away too much, but truthfully, this book was a love/hate relationship. Overall I loved it and am now eagerly chomping at the bit for Shapri's story. Open Heart was just as intense as Farsighted and perhaps even more so since the main character Simmi is dealing with a crisis just as debilitating as Alex's blindness. She's suffering from serious self-esteem issues and she's also is distancing herself from her power of clarsentience out of fear she could hurt or kill someone accidentally. Suddenly, the self-assured, kick-ass girl with the huge smarts from the first book doubts everything about herself, including how much boyfriend Alex loves her. It's highly ironic that she can use her powers to make others feel better, but can't save herself from the controlling cycle of binging and purging that has begun to take over her life. I kept wanting to grab Simmi around her head and shake some sense into her. Unfortunately Simmi's fictional issue with weight is one that many struggle with in real life. The scenes of her convincing herself while bent over the toilet bowl were so painful to read. They were crafted with an immediacy that put me right there as a reader in the bathroom and unable to do anything to help.

The hate part also belongs to Simmi (for reasons that I will not give away), but it all stems from her self-hate.

Can I spare a few sentences for Alex? Okay I'm fangirling over Alex. Forget all the stalker-I-love-you-I-hate-you fake boyfriends littering the YA landscape. Alex is just awesome and the love he feels for Simmi felt that it came from a real and honest place. I love his loyalty, and I understand his discomfort about having the guy who'd he been dreaming about murdering his girlfriend now living under his roof.

Open Heart is a wonderfully emotional roller-coaster of a book with characters who feel as real to be as best friends. Now, hurry up with Shapri's story!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy follow up to Farsighted! May 20, 2012

By J. A. Afzelius

Format:Kindle Edition

I loved this book. I read it in a day, give or take a few, and just wanted to find out what happened next. There is a paranormal aspect to this book, a mystery that controls the aspects of the characters lives but it takes a backseat to them and their relationships.

It takes the same characters from Farsighted, but now we're inside Simmi's head instead of Alex's. Simmi is a sympathetic lead and one I wanted to be friends with and kill at the same time. She's hard on herself like alot of teen girls are and she compares herself to the thing, perfect girls she thinks other people expect her to be.

I would love to hug her and tell her it's going to be okay, people love her for who she is, and she doesn't need to change. I think alot of girls need that and I hope by reading how hateful Simmi's own thoughts about herself can be, girls will realize how destructive this self talk is.

Simmi's inner turmoil and struggles are forefront in my mind, because they are simular to my own. I'm a binge eater, no secret there, and Simmi takes this a step further. She's endangering her health, her relationships, and her health, though she never thinks of it this way exactly. Though I am sure she knows it can't continue forever.

Her struggles are real and feel that way from the first time she's embarrassed at the mall. I know the self-loathing she feels shopping with friends, or just going to school. The author did a great job of portraying it and also pouring her heart onto the pages.

Simmi and Alex are dating and it's fun, interesting to see Alex from a different point of view, if you have read Farsighted. Alex becomes that clingy boyfriend, desperate not to lose his girlfriend. Oh, Alex. If only I could smack you upside the head. He's a nice boy and Simmi is a nice girl, so that means this is a match made in heaven, right?

I am trying not to spoil too much. I know I enjoyed this book immensely and the slow burn of suspense that builds from the characters interactions. I enjoy high octane chase-fight-action oriented fiction most of the time. This pace was slower than that, but in no way less enjoyable.

Here the characters are center stage. Their relationships and their days are what is most important. It's almost like being a 6th wheel and you're the invisible friend, tagging along. It was fun and I loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.

There are moments where you will route for everyone in the book, be it Simmi, Dax, Alex, Sharpi, and newcomer to the group Murray. Ahh, Murray, when you grow up, you're the guy all the girls are going to want to marry, I'm sure of it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Emlyn Chand knows what I like! May 25, 2012

By Lydia

Format:Kindle Edition

As soon as I heard Farsighted was going to be a trilogy I was beside myself! Farsighted was a brilliant debut work by Emyln Chand and "Open Heart" is a great sequel. Simmi is a girl after my own heart. After going through a exhilarating ordeal last summer and being saved by her own prince charming, Alex, who even though Dax is dark and mysterious, is still my replacement literary boyfriend, finds herself in a typical teenage girl situation. Doesn't know if she's pretty enough, doesn't know if her relationship with Alex is too good to be true, just normal girl stuff with a tad difference. That difference her being of the psychic nature.

UGH! I find myself in the same situation as I did when I read Farsighted. I want to give everything and gush at the same time, but I respect the laws of the spoilers and will not reveal anything to drastic like I am with another book I just read, which was disappointing, but I digress!

Open Heart in a nutshell: Awesome; Can't wait for the next one; Alex is still the love of my life next to my real life boyfriend; and it's just soooooooooo good!!

I love that Emyln writes amazingly and that her characters are so diverse that I feel like I'm not reading another stereotypical, and let's face it the YA genre is going in that direction, YA book!

Kudos to you kid! <3

More About the Author

Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Best known for her Young Adult novels, she is also developing a small, but devoted, following to her children's book series and is beginning to dabble in other genres as well. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available via almost every social media site in existence. Visit EmlynChand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!