Imaginary Reads

Author Interview: J.R. Johansson

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000

Today, I'm delighted to be interviewing with J.R. Johansson, whose debut novel Insomnia, book one in The Night Walkers, comes out June 8th!

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

Tell us about yourself and how you got into writing.

My degree is in Communications/Public Relations with my minor in Psychology...clearly not a combinations that screams: WRITE BOOKS! ;-) I never thought I'd like to write books. I never even enjoyed writing when I had to for my university courses. Basically, I went through a really rough time in my life, had an idea in my head, and started writing as a form of release. Then I never stopped. Believe me, I was just as surprised about it as everyone else I knew.

It's interesting, and wonderful, how once you started writing, you kept on doing so, all the way to the publication of your first novel. What inspired you to write about a person who enters other peoples' dreams at night?

I have bizarrely wonky dreams and I always have. I remember waking up one morning and thinking, "WOW! That was crazy! I wonder what other people would think if they saw the things I dream about." It kind of evolved from there.

I love how the craziest things can come to us in our dreams. It would be so interesting to visit other peoples' dreams. On your website, you mention that your minor in abnormal psychology inspired many of your characters. How has this background helped with writing your YA thriller Insomnia?

It helped because of the thriller aspect. Abnormal psychology classes were the best. One of my favorite TV shows is Criminal Minds. I love researching the mind and what situations/abnormalities can result in an average person turning into a sociopath. With Insomnia, this interest took a slightly different turn. Sleep deprivation is a scary thing, physically speaking, but it was so interesting to look into what it does to the brain. Without giving too much away, let's just say a brain without sleep can be a terrifying thing. *insert ominous music here* :-)

I like my sleep. I don't want to think about going a night without sleep, much less four years like Parker! Parker's a teenage boy whose unique abilities threaten to drive him crazy, and now he wonders if it's turning him into something dangerous when all he wants is a good night's sleep. How did you go about developing his character and balancing his vulnerabilities with the craziness he finds himself entangled in?

Great question! That was definitely a tough line to walk. His situation has so many physical repercussions that hold him back. He has tremors and looks terrible, half the people around him (his mom included) think he's doing drugs. On top of all that, he knows he's dying but can't tell anyone. It's a terrifying situation to be in. And that's before the "craziness" really gets going. At the heart of it all, he is a good guy. He wants to do the right thing. But when questions of morality and mortality get swirled up in his crazy mess of a life, the answers aren't so black and white. With all the shades of gray, how do you figure out what the "right" option is? It's a fascinating question that I loved exploring with this character.

Parker has a lot going on in his life. It really makes me appreciate my peaceful, not-so-eventful days of classes and organization activities. Do you plan on writing more YA thrillers, or will you branch out into other genres?

I have a gigantic folder with random ideas in it. Some have fantastical/supernatural elements, some are more contemporary, some even lean toward sci-fi. But the one constant between them all is the scary bits. I see myself going different directions in regards to the other parts, but I'm a YA thriller author, and I don't see that changing. Not for awhile anyway.

That's good to hear. We need more YA thrillers! If you could choose what you dreamed about, what would it be?

Ooh, I think I would probably dream the next scene of my WiP in full detail. It would make the drafting process a lot smoother. Then again...I have some scenes coming up that would REALLY make my dreams more like nightmares. I take it back...I'd dream my favorite happy scenes from my favorite books. With Ryan Gosling, Aaron Rodgers & Adam Levine prominently featured in each one. Mmm...yeah. That.

It would certainly make writing a lot easier (and yay for free dream "movies" starring hotties)! What question do you wish I asked you (and totally forgot to add)?

Hmm...I don't know. These are most excellent questions! Let's see -- I wish you'd asked who my favorite character is in Insomnia. It's a very hard question, but I think it's Finn. Everyone should read it to find out why. :)

What are you working on right now?

Two things: 1 - Finishing up INSOMNIA 2 : WHEN INSOMNIACS ATTACK (unofficial title) 2 - A new project that is what I call a YA Contemporary Psychological Thriller. It's very visual, and VERY scary. I'm loving it.

Sounds exciting! Thanks for interviewing.

About the Author

J.R. Johansson's Website | Facebook | Twitter

J.R. Johansson has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She currently lives with her two young sons, her husband, and her cat Cleo in a valley between majestic mountains and a beautiful lake where the sun shines nearly 300 days per year. When she's not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she'll find a way to do all three at the same time.

Author Interview: Christine Amsden

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000

Today, I am interviewing with Christine Amsden, author of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective.

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.

I think I was born a writer. I wrote my first short story when I was about 8 -- it involved Cabbage Patch Dolls going to Mars. I've always like to write, and it has always been about strange or unusual events (science fiction or fantasy).

I got "serious" about writing in 2003, when I attended a by-audition boot camp with Orson Scott Card. Before that, becoming an author was a dream. After that, it became a goal.

I love writing about characters more than anything else. Give me a person with a problem and I'll give you a wonderful story of overcoming adversity.

It's wonderful how the writing camp turned your dream into a goal and how you made it become a reality. What inspired you to blend urban fantasy and crime together in a novel?

This is a pretty typical mix. At least, from my own reading. I was into Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series for years before I thought of Cassie. There might have been some inspiration there, although I definitely went my own way with Cassie.

The great thing about mystery/crime is that it allows each of my books to have a beginning, middle, and end (the solution to the mystery), while the bigger story arc continues (Cassie's personal character journey).

Characters make a book for me. I love how the greater story gives plenty of room for Cassie's personal journey. Describe her story within ten words.

You can call me Cassie.

Many books center on paranormal characters in normal families. What drew you to writing about a normal girl in a paranormal family and how do you feel this is important in shaping Cassie's character?

The idea clicked into my head one day and felt absolutely right. You hit on the answer in your question, I think -- lots of paranormal stories focus on paranormal characters in normal families. Lots of paranormal stories focus on "the chosen one" or someone with incredibly strength. I didn't want to write a story that has been told a thousand times before.

It was a challenge! Cassie is almost defined by her lack of magic in a magical family at first. It hurts her self-worth, though she tries to put a brave face on it. (She uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism.) But Cassie is more than she realizes. (And I don't mean that she has a secret magical talent she's somehow repressed for 21 years. I'm proud of the fact that I gave her a problem and owned it.)

Fantasy is a lot of fun. We all like to daydream about what it would be like if we had this or that magical power. How we could save the world. Cassie finds ways to help people without any magic at all. She smart, knowledgeable, brave, and compassionate.

I love how Cassie is able to help people without magic even in a magic-prominent world. It's something we can all learn from. Are there perks to being a normal girl living in a paranormal world?

I'm not sure there are perks in this case. It's a bit like being born deaf in a hearing world. Or blind in a sighted world. The best I can say for it is that since Cassie can't rely on magic, she has to rely on other things -- like her wits.

It would be a serious handicap; at the same time, it must lend to innovation since Cassie has to find other ways to work around her lack of magic. Supposing you got the chance to visit Cassie's world, who would you ask to be your guide and which places would you visit?

Cassie herself would be a great guide. She's got a good heart, and is a great friend. And even though she doesn't have the magic, she's smart enough to steer me away from any real dangers. I'd love to see her parents' castle home, and visit with her friends at the diner. I'd like to meet Evan Blackwood face to face as well.

Oh, Evan. He would be a delight to meet. If you were to write a spinoff for Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective, who would it be about and why?

I've already done it! Well, I have a rough draft, anyway. Cassie has two good friends that stick with her throughout the series -- Madison and Kaitlin. They were supposed to be minor characters and in Cassie's story, they are. But they kept demanding subplots until finally, I realized that each one needs a story of her own. I've written a rough draft of Madison's story already. I'm not ready for Kaitlin yet. She's a bit of a mess, to be honest. She's had a rough life and I haven't figured out how to deal with all of it yet.

It is worth noting that there are 4 books in the Cassie Scot series -- all written and all coming out in the next year or so.

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for these stories! What are you working on right now?

I'm developing a new story and a new world about people who can walk through dreams. I've got a few chapters written, but it is still very early in the process, so I don't want to say too much about it. I'm also hoping to finish Madison's spin-off story sometime this year.

Your new story sounds like a delight. I can't wait to hear more about it. Thanks for interviewing!

About the Author

Webiste | Facebook | Twitter

Christine Amsden is a science fiction and fantasy writer. She currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

Shadow Chaser Tour: Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (alice) — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as a part of the Shadow Chaser tour, I have for you my review of the book and a giveaway.

Shadow Chaser
by Jerel Law

Series: Son of Angels #3
3 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 240 Pages
Publication: May 7, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

Many months have passed since part angel siblings Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah Stone began their angelic training. As part angels, or "quarterlings," the siblings joined other children of nephilim to begin honing their special powers.

In this third installment in the Son of Angels series, Jonah's story comes to resemble a modern-day Job as he's faced with trials that affect his health, strength, relationships, and most-prized possessions. As he and the other quarterlings prepare for mid-term exams, their powers are tested once again in the most fierce battle against Abaddon's forces yet. Will Jonah's faith in Elohim continue to persevere as he fights Abaddon in his hardest battle yet?

Shadow Chaser is the story of Job. Job is a righteous man, and God has a plan for him. God has decided to let Satan test him as long as Satan doesn’t lay a finger on Job himself. But his family and household are all fair game.

Jonah Stone is a quarterling, a child who is descended from a human and an angel, and he has the gift of prophecy. Though, when he speaks prophetic word, he feels like he is going to throw up. He, his family, and the other quarterlings have already been through a lot of trials and battles in the test. However, the battle that Jonah has to face now will be the hardest one because Abbadon has singled him out. There is trial of fire to test the loyalty of his friends and the strength of his family. And at the end, they will suffer a great loss that will push all of them to the limit of their faith.

We all go through hard times and losses. This is a story of loss, heartbreak, and the faith to overcome. It is a story about how no matter how the enemy imposes illness and wants to make our lives miserable, God is always with us. Jerel Law finds a good way to explain faith to young readers through this novel without preaching.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the Author

Jerel's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Jerel Law is a gifted communicator and pastor with seventeen years of full-time ministry experience. He holds his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Tarheels!), and a master of divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Jerel began writing fiction as a way to encourage his children’s faith to come alive. He lives in North Carolina with his family. Spirit Fighter is his first novel.

Giveaway

Print books 1-3 in the Son of Angels series

Open to the US only.

To enter, fill out the form below.

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Short Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:02:00 +0000

Finals are coming up. I'm going to try and get a couple reviews up for books that I've read. However, for the next couple weeks or so, I'll be absent for the most part.

Pretty Dark Nothing Tour: Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as a part of the Pretty Dark Nothing tour, I have for you my review of the book and a giveaway.

Pretty Dark Nothing
by Heather L. Reid

3 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 256 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.(less)

I was drawn to this book because of the creepy paranormal factor, and it didn't disappoint in this regard. At the beginning, we are introduced to Quinn as she attempts to stay awake, something most of us would love not to have to do. My friends and I talk about how we need to have a national naptime. Of course, the human body can't resist sleep forever, and Quinn does fall asleep, and we find out why she doesn't want to sleep. Enter her dark world.

This is a tension-filled book, as Quinn tries to figure out what's going on and how she can solve the mess that is her life. She's a decent enough character, and it's fairly easy to sympathize with her. However, she does tend to wallow in self-pity. It's not like she was always like this. She was a normal teen before her life fell apart. I think I would have been able to relate to her more if we saw more of her other side even as she slips into her tendency to pity herself. Though she does tend to rely a lot on the people around her though, she isn't a total damsel in distress. She has her moments.

My favorite character does have to be Aaron. He goes through a lot as well, and he still manages to be so supportive of Quinn even though she pushes him away. I really wanted to see more of his character and abilities developed--and, well, more of him in general.

The characters and their relationships feel like one big high school drama, something I'm not particularly fond of, and the characters lack the depth that would help me sympathize with them more in a high school drama setting.

On the whole, the best part of this book is the paranormal focus, which we really start getting into midway into the novel. I really enjoyed exploring the dark world that consumes Quinn. By the end, I was engrossed enough into this that I would read a sequel if there were one. (Though I do admit this is partly also because a new twist was added at the end that I wasn't expecting and I feel should have been introduced earlier if this is going to be a standalone.)

I recommend this book if you love a good creepy paranormal book.

About the Author

Heather's Website | Twitter

Heather L. Reid eats mayonnaise on her fries, loves men in kilts, and met her husband playing Star Wars Galaxies online. This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of Heathcliff and William Wallace.

Giveaway

Grand prize includes a signed copy of PRETTY DARK NOTHING, bookmarks, sleep mask, and nail polish! (US Only)

Five ebook copies of PRETTY DARK NOTHING will also be given away (International)

To enter, fill out the form below.

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Echo Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

The countdown clock reads ten days until the end of the world. The citizens are organized. Everyone's been notified and assigned a duty. The problem is . . . no one knows for sure how it will end.

Energy-hungry Mages are the most likely culprit. They travel toward a single location from every corner of the continent. Fueled by the two suns, each Mage holds the power of an element: air, earth, fire, metal, water, or ether. They harness their powers to draw energy from the most readily available resource: humans.

Ashara has been assigned to the Ethereal task force, made up of human ether manipulators and directed by Loken, a young man with whom she has a complicated past. Loken and Ashara bond over a common goal: to stop the Mages from occupying their home and gaining more energy than they can contain. But soon, they begin to suspect that the future of the world may depend on Ashara's death.

Rey flashed me his trademark lopsided grin. “So how was your first day as an Ethereal?”

I considered flinging an ether ball at his smug face. Sadly, I had no idea how to do that. So instead, I leaned back into the vehicle cushion. The leather sighed as it accepted my weight. “I’m the worst Ethereal ever.” The exhaustion that had chased me most of the day finally caught up. I let my eyes drift shut.

“But you are an Ethereal?” Excitement rang in his voice.

“That’s what they tell me.”

The smooth motion of the vehicle lulled me into something that resembled relaxation. It was hard to be completely at ease with my comm pressed against my waist. Its countdown clock ticked closer and closer to the end with each second that passed.

Rey shook me so hard I thought my brain would smash into my skull.

“What?” My eyes flew open and I shoved him away.

“Why aren’t you excited about this?”

“It’s not that I’m not excited.” I yawned and stretched my arms. The yawn went on longer than expected, and Rey stared at me with raised brows as he waited.

“Are you done?”

“Maybe. It’s just that I’m more tired than I am excited. Did you know you have to channel your own energy into elemental manipulations?”

He gave me a blank expression.

“Right, of course. You knew that. You’ve been a practitioner most of your life.” My gaze scanned up and down his body; his excited expression, the nervous drumming of his fingertips against the armrest. “How come you’re not exhausted?”

“You get used to it.”

About the Author

Alicia's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Alicia Wright Brewster is a mild-mannered lady of average height and above average paranormal obsession. By day, she works in an office. At night she is an author, an electronics junkie, and a secret superhero. In her virtually non-existent free time, she loves to read, watch movies, and eat food. She is particularly fond of the food-eating and makes a point to perform this task at least three times per day, usually more.

Giveaway

One ebook of Echo for an international winner

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Also, there is a tour-wide grand prize of...

(1st prize) A print or ebook + $25 bookstore e-gift card; and

(2nd prize) A print or ebook + $10 bookstore e-gift card

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Review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

noreply@blogger.com (alice) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Reconstructing Amelia
Kimberly McCreight

4 Stars: A Great Read
Hardback: 384 Pages
Publication: April 2, 2013 by HarperCollins

Litigation lawyer and harried single mother Kate Baron is stunned when her daughter's exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, calls with disturbing news: her intelligent, high-achieving fifteen-year-old daughter, Amelia, has been caught cheating.

Kate can't believe that Amelia, an ambitious, levelheaded girl who's never been in trouble would do something like that. But by the time she arrives at Grace Hall, Kate's faced with far more devastating news. Amelia is dead.

Seemingly unable to cope with what she'd done, a despondent Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of "spontaneous" suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. And overwhelmed as she is by her own guilt and shattered by grief, it is the story that Kate believes until she gets the anonymous text:

She didn't jump.

Sifting through Amelia's emails, text messages, social media postings, and cell phone logs, Kate is determined to learn the heartbreaking truth about why Amelia was on Grace Hall's roof that day-and why she died.

Reconstructing Amelia is about the importance of open communication between parents and children. It's also a book about the dangers of keeping secrets and the need to feel fit in at school. The book teaches us that we need to get more involved in our children’s lives and listen to them. We can't take our relationships with them for granted.

Amelia is smart and funny. She is the intellectual girl that every mother dreams of. Kate is a single mother and a litigation attorney at a big Manhattan law firm. Kate thinks they are as close as a mother and daughter can be. That is, until she gets a call at work that Amelia has been accused of cheating on a paper and has been suspended. The school wants Kate picks up Amelia as soon as possible. When she finally gets to the school, police officers have surrounded school. Amelia has jumped off the roof and killed herself.

Later, Kate receives an anonymous text said Amelia did not jump. With the help of a lieutenant from the NYPD, Kate begins going through Amelia’s email, texts, Facebook posts, and the Gossip Girl-eque school blog called gRaCeFULLY. Kate finds out Amelia was tapped to join a secret society of girls, that she fell in love for the first time, and that she had a Manti Te’o-type correspondence with a gay boy Ben. All of these happened without Kate’s knowledge. Kate soon realizes there is a lot she doesn’t know about Amelia.

I can feel Amelia’s pain on the pages. I also can see why Amelia makes bad decisions, because all she wanted deep down was to belong. Her experiences are eye opening.

As a mother of two teens, it makes me wonder that what they do on the internet, who they chat with on Facebook, and who their friends are. I don't really know. I want to trust them and let them grow up without me nosing into their business, but this book shows just how much about parents don’t really know about their own children. It scares me that I may not be able to protect my children from all the horrible things out there in the world.

Reconstructing Amelia is a heartbreaking story. I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end. The book addresses many important issues such as bullying, single parents, posh private schools, homosexuality, ethics, secret clubs, adultery, and role of technology and social media in teen culture. It is a good read, and I highly recommend this book to read and share with your teens.

An ARC was provided by Harper Collins for review.

Rock Harber Search and Rescue Tour: Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as a part of the Rock Harbor Search & Rescue tour, I have for you my review of the book.

Rock Harbor Search and Rescue
by Colleen Coble and Robin Caroll

3 Stars: A Good Read
Series: Rock Harber Search and Rescue #1
Paperback: 256 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

Emily O'Reilly is obsessed with all things Search and Rescue. She volunteers with the team and goes on rescue missions with her stepmom. She is even selling homemade jewelry to save up for her own Search and Rescue puppy. But when an expensive necklace is stolen from a renowned jewelry artist at Rock Harbor's fall festival and Emily is accused of the crime, it looks like she'll never get her puppy and be able to join the Rock Harbor Search and Rescue team.

Emily isn't willing to give up on her Search and Rescue dreams that easily, and she sets out to find the real culprit and to restore her reputation. With a few suspects in mind, Emily is determined to uncover the truth, but she isn't prepared for the secrets she and the Search and Rescue dogs sniff out in the process.

I love big furry creatures, and dogs rank high up on the list of my favorite animals. It was an absolute joy to read about Search & Rescue and to see Emily's passion for the job. The story opens in the midst of a search, allowing us to get to know key people in Emily's life and how much she values the job. I love how Emily is a strong character in that she stands up for herself without going so far as to get into trouble that she can't handle despite her insistence on clearing her own name. At the same time, her youth and vulnerabilities also come out in moments of weakness, such as when the topic of her mother comes up and with her fear of the Windigo.

Add to that the strong support from those around her. Emily's younger brother Timmy and best friend Olivia are always there to cheer her up and help her out. I also love Bree and Emily's step-mother Naomi. In time, I grew to like her father as well, though I can't forgive him for being so quick to suspect Emily of stealing Mary Dancer's necklace initially. I don't want to believe that a parent can put down his or her own child like that, but he does. And she still loves him.

I do feel as though the relationships in the novel could be straightened out more, especially early on in the novel. We never do find out why Emily's father is so suspicious of her initially when she is accused of stealing the necklace, and Josh is never more than that boy Emily is interested in. I also never really felt a sense of urgency about Emily's biological mother. Though Emily fears her mother, we don't find out until late in the book why she is. I also wonder what role Greg plays in the novel and why he bothers to make an appearance in the novel when he was never brought up before and he doesn't play much of a role in the story.

The emotions could come off a bit clearer as well. It falls flat at times, which is especially noticeable because there are times when Emily's emotions really come off the page, like when she feels betrayed by her father and when she remembers the time she went to the beach with her mother.

On the whole, this was a solid read with strong dialogue and an amazing cast of characters. The novel does get a little too much on the religious side for me in the second half with the subject of God coming up more frequently; it isn't over the top, but there were too many similar references, especially in such a short novel. The ending is a bit anticlimactic. After all the searching for the true thief, Emily stumbles upon the truth by chance, and everything wraps up pretty nicely afterwards. I would have liked to see more suspense and action surrounding the mystery. At the same time, the ending is believable. Not every mystery has a big bad guy waiting at the end.

An ARC was provided by Thomas Nelson for review.

About the Authors

Colleen's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Carol Award winner Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

Robin's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. She gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year. To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart.

Giveaway

As a part of the tour, there is a giveaway of...
3 print copies of Rock Harbor (US only)

2 e-books of Rock Harbor (INT)

To enter, fill out the form below

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Unplug and Read Tour: Review of The Flame in the Mist

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as a part of the Unplug & Read tour, I have for you my review of The Flame in the Mist.
For more about Books Unplugs, check out Random House Children's Youtube videos here!

The Flame in the Mist
Kit Grindstaff

3 Stars: A Good Read
Hardback: 464 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Delacorte Press

Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.

Jemma believes that she has a weak constitution and is an utter failure to her family. She has been raised to believe so by the Noxes, a family specializing in the dark arts that has raised her since she was a little babe. However, right as she is preparing for her Initiation, which is to happen on her thirteenth birthday, Jemma learns that the Noxes are not her true family and, worse, plan to sacrifice her to strengthen their dark hold over Anglavia. Frightened, she escapes from Agromond Castle on a quest to find her real parents and get Initiated into the Light before the Noxes steal her powers for themselves.

Jemma is what I look for in a middle-grade protagonist. She's at the tender age where she still wants to believe in the adults she's grown up thinking were always in the right. Upon finding out that they aren't perfect after all, she must struggle on her own to find her way in the suddenly very big and scary world. She does depend on greater powers a lot in the story, and it was conflicting to me because I really wanted to see her do more on her own. In the end, however, I'm okay with it because she is still a child, and it's very realistic for her to need to depend on others before reaching the end goal, where she must stand on her own to protect those she cares about.

The supporting character were a joy. I have an especial place in my heart for the rats. I had one that I was very fond of as a child, and I was so sad when she died. I haven't had a rat since, but they're warm, intelligent critters. I have a soft heart for mammals, generally larger ones but these rattusses are special. Digby is strong, pure-hearted, and very supportive of Jemma. I wish that there was more of him in the story. He isn't present as often as I thought he'd be given the synopsis. Marsh is someone I'd love to have as my aunt or grandmother even. She's a bundle of warmth and someone I imagine would be fierce to face off against. (In short, don't.) To my surprise, I ended up sympathizing with a couple of the Noxes, though I wouldn't change their endings. They deserve what they get in the end.

The plot was predictible, but that is to be expected when there is a prophecy about good defeating evil. I knew from the beginning that Jemma would be the one to defeat the Noxes, and she must do so on her own without outside help. The heart of the story lies in Jemma's journey to finding her powers and the strength to defeat the Noxes. It was a bit frustrating that it took Jemma two parts of the book to escape, as the synopsis hadn't suggested that she'd be alone for so long. It bogs the story down, though it does provide context and developments that help pull the story together in the end.

What didn't work for me is how lucky Jemma is. When she gets into bad situations, all she needs to do is call upon the crystals for help, her rats will help her, or some other lucky coincidence will provide aid to her. Jemma does have to raise her fighting spirit in order to get out of scrapes, but I would have liked to see her work out more things for herself. This is a coming-of-age novel about a girl coming into her powers that were always meant to be. Not to mention that she is the prophesized Fire One who will defeat the evil residing in Agromond Castle. There needs to be more of her struggling to fend for herself for me to believe in her story.

Overall, this is an enjoyable fantasy read with epic elements that will delight upper middle-grade readers. While there are predictable elements and lucky coincidences, and the pacing is slow, the characters are a joy and the overall writing is strong for a debut work. This story is very light on the whole and a good fit for younger readers seeking to start reading larger books.

A copy was provided by Random House for review.

About the Author

Kit's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Kit Grindstaff was born near London, and grew up in the rolling countryside of England. After a brush with pop stardom, she moved to New York and embarked on her career as a pop song writer. Kit now lives with her husband in the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the SCBWI. The Flame In The Mist is her first novel.

Imagine Weekly: Mailbox #47

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:26:00 +0000

Imagine Weekly is a weekly feature where we share a summary of what has taken place on the blog the previous week and show off books that we got.

Mailbox
Gifted

Click on the cover to view a book's Goodreads page

* Check out more book hauls through Tynga's Stacking the Shelves *

Previous Week
Reviews

Upcoming Week

Tours: The Flame in the Mist, Rock Harber: Search & Rescue
Reviews: The Flame in the Mist, Dead River, Rock Harber: Search & Rescue, more TBA

What did you get this week? Leave a link in the comments section, and I'll check out your week's haul!

Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The Eternity Cure
by Julie Kagawa

4 Stars: A Great Read
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Hardback: 446 Pages
Publication: April 30, 2013 by HarlequinTEEN

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

The last time we saw Allie, she decided to leave Eden to protect the ones she love. Her choice to continue to care about and live for others continues to haunt her months later as she tracks down her mentor Kanin, who is at the mercy of a psycho crazy vampire with a vendetta against him. Though she fears Sarren (if he was able to outsmart and overpower a master vampire like Kanin, what chance does she have against him?), her loyalty towards her mentor is stronger, and she is prepared to risk her life to save him. Just when she catches up to him in her old home New Covington, she finds the humans dying of the Red Lung virus and she has a time limit to find the cure.

Allie is one of the bravest, most human protagonists I've met. She has been through more pain and suffering in her short life than most of us can ever hope not to meet, and yet she always pulls through, strong and not-always collected but always willing to hope for the future. When she chose to keep her humanity as a vampire and to open her heart once more, I predicted that there would be more heartbreak for her in the future. There is only so much one vampire girl can do.

And the emotions.

It is so easy to love or hate the characters. Their personalities just leap off the page. I am especially fond of Jackal, ex-raider king with a penchant for playing mind games with people, making enemies of them in the process because of his sharp tongue. Call me silly, stupid even, but I can't help but be drawn to sadistic characters with a talent for wordplay. The atmosphere always lightens for me when Jackal is around, though I doubt his poor victims would say the same.

While I have a new favorite guy (well, old-enemy-brought-back-as-a-comrade favorite guy), no review would be complete without a mention of the romantic interest. Especially an angel like Zeke. Only, he isn't an angel anymore, unless you'd describe an angel as a hot, trained vampire killer armed with a stake-bearing crossbow. Zeke is all grown up now and hotter than ever, though he's still sweet on the inside. That's what I love about him. No matter what he grows into, what he must become to protect those he cares about, he'll stay true to his beliefs. He gives me hope for the future of Allie's world.

This book is a tad bit on the epic romance side as reminiscent of Kagawa's Iron Fey series. Allie makes some decisions that I hadn't expected. Some come from her feelings for Zeke. Some come from a reckless side to her that I should have known existed. It threw me off a little, though it wasn't enough to take too much from my overall enjoyment of the novel. Fans of Kagawa's flair for playing around with romance and danger will love Allie's daring nature and the swoon-worthy kiss scenes. They didn't quite work for me after all the action of the first part of the novel, though I did enjoy them. Even vampires like Allie need a break from saving humanity.

The imagery is beautifully detailed, portraying a broken world that's struggling to rebuild itself. Just what I love to see in a post-apocalyptic novel. Sometimes, it gets grotesque. This isn't a pretty world. Terrible things have happened and are still happening, and I love how Kagawa isn't afraid to show all the nasty details to us.

What's really exciting, and what made this book all the better for me in the end, leaving me hungering for more Blood of Eden, is the end. You'll know what I mean when you've read it. Kagawa wraps up the plot of The Eternity Cure nicely while sneaking in a nasty turn of events that has me bouncing up and down like a little girl who's been promised a sweet... and told that she has to wait only so long to receive it. It promises more heartache and more kickass action. So much is at stake for Allison and the world. I'll definitely be picking up book three when it comes out!

A copy was provided by HarlequinTEEN for review.

Click here to read my review of The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)

Bargain Books

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:15:00 +0000

Today only, the Maximum Ride novels by James Patterson are available for $2.99!

Also, today only these books are available for $1.99

Monthly Bargains
$1.99

$2.99

$3.99

Imagine Weekly: Mailbox #46

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:01:00 +0000

Imagine Weekly is a weekly feature where we share a summary of what has taken place on the blog the previous week and show off books that we got.

Mailbox
For Review

Click on the cover to view a book's Goodreads page

Thanks to Harper Collins & Random House!

* Check out more book hauls through Tynga's Stacking the Shelves *

Previous Week
Reviews

Other News
If He Had Been With Me Tour: Interview with Laura Nowlin

New follow method!
You can now follow Imaginary Reads on bloglovin'. Let me know if you have a blog as well, so I can follow you back!

Upcoming Week

Review of The Eternity Cure

What did you get this week? Leave a link in the comments section, and I'll check out your week's haul!

Review: Fated by Alyson Noel

noreply@blogger.com (Magdalena) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Fated
Alyson Noel

4 Stars: A Good Read
Series: The Soul Seekers #1
Paperback: 368 Pages
Publication: November 13, 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Original Publication: January 1, 2012

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

Wow! What an amazing book! Well written and almost quite satisfactory, though the characters could use more development. I am biased concerning some of the content (Shamanism) because it is exactly what I like to read about.

When I just picked up the book, and read the description on the back cover, I balked at the phrase “beautiful boy.” It was like a foreshadowing of the insta-love found in the tale. I was actually taken aback at Daire and Dace’s first encounter. It went too fast, too far, and was too shallow. The thing that really gives depth to their relationship is the fact that their bond was not only based in the physical world, but it was also established in the spiritual realm.

Daire, the protagonist of the story, is the sixteen-year-old daughter of a travelling makeup artist. Her story begins at the rising of disturbing experiences that can either be classified as visions or a psychotic break down. Daire actually exasperated me when I first “met” her. I did not like her closed-minded attitude towards life’s experiences (like love) and towards the people that were trying to help her. I actually wanted to slap her. She also has a bad reaction when her gradnmother reveals that Daire is a Soul Seeker, someone with the ability to cross the worlds between the realms of the living and the dead. Once the angsty beginning was over, Daire is okay. The only other problem I have with her was that she doesn’t let the love between her and Dace flourish, resulting in the loss of some very potential scenes that would have made the romance feel stronger. It is only towards the middle and end that the strength within Daire is fully shown.

Dace, Daire’s soul mate, was – meh. He is a bit two-dimensional and mild, but very kind and loveable, and I love the story of how he came into existence. Dace is the good son, and Cade is the bad son. Cade is your standard antagonist, evil to the core. He too isn't fully fleshed out. My impression of him was: Oh yeah! I’m bad! Be bad with me too. The Grandma, Paloma, is real nice. She’s sweet and your typical Hispanic granny. Paloma is a stand in mentor and a mother to Daire, who feels that she was the one doing the mothering to her own mother. As for her real mother, Jennika is not able to provide a feeling of safety for Daire, though she made me giggle with her crazy ridiculousness. Jennika clearly never left her teenage years behind.

The Shamanism is surprisingly accurate. This semester, I am currently taking a Primal Religions course where we have studied Shamanism. While I was reading this book I was astounded at the level of accuracy dedicated to describing this way of life. I feel that the way the author writes about it is very elegant and not all that exaggerated and unbelievable. It just goes to show the quality Ms. Noel devoted to researching the subject. I appreciate that she did not haphazardly throw some facts together, but went above and beyond basic research to provide a solid foundation to this book.

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it despite my misgiving with the romance. I look forward to reading the second book, which judging by the title, sounds like a more thorough exploration of Dace’s character. For me, it is the accurate portrayal of Shamanism and the fact that it is very well written that took this story from a 3 star to a 4 star. I look forward to reading the second book, where I hope to see a more thorough exploration of the characters.

A copy was provided by St. Martin's Griffin.

If He Had Been With Me Tour: Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as a part of the If He Had Been With Me tour, I have for you an interview with author Laura Nowlin.

If He Had Been With Me
by Laura Nowlin

Paperback: 336 Pages
Publication: April 1, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

If he had been with me, he wouldn't have died.

Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...

The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy.

Interview with Laura Nowlin

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.

As soon as I discovered novels in third grade I knew I wanted to be a writer, and I’ve never veered from that path. I graduated from Missouri State University in 2007 with a B.A. in Creative Writing, and since then I’ve been doing the whole struggling artist thing, which is a lot less fun than it sounds like, though I have no regrets. I’m so thrilled to finally be publishing a novel and I’m really grateful for the chance to spread the word about the book through your blog.

What about contemporary stories draws you to the genre?

I enjoy writing realistic contemporary because I personally find it to be more challenging than creating a false reality where I get to make all the rules. Having to ask myself “Is this realistic?” is more inspiring to me than saying “I want things to be this way so that’s just how it is.” I do not in any way mean to disparage other genres; there are some incredibly talented writers out there who do brilliant work outside the confines of reality.

Realism in stories is always important to me as a reader, no matter the genre, and I agree that realistic stories can be so very inspiring. When you first came up with the idea of If He Had Been With Me, what was your vision for the novel and how has it grown over time?

My original vision for If He had Been with Me was much more cruel; the separation between Autumn and Finny was going to run much deeper and never be repaired in any way. Luckily, the characters had their own ideas about that and I found myself being more generous than I expected.

I'm so glad that Autumn and Finny have the chance to rekindle their relationship. Autumn and Finny are childhood friends who have grown apart. What inspired you to write about this topic?

I wanted to write about this topic because it’s something everyone can relate to; it’s just a part of the process of growing and changing at a person. I still find it strange though that we can share a deep intimacy with another human, and then someday they can feel like a stranger. Sometimes I look at my loved ones and wonder if someday I will not really know who they are anymore.

Autumn likes to think of herself as an individual with unique qualities. Though she dresses the part, she suppresses her dreams for the sake of conforming to her group, especially, Jamie. She also does the same with her relationship with Finny. How did you go about portraying the conflict between who she wants to be and who she feels 'everyone' wants her to be?

I don’t think the topic of adolescence could be tackled without a theme of identity conflict. Teenagers are all trying to figure themselves out, and they’re having to do it on the very public stage we call high school. Autumn’s conflicts were easy to depict, because the story is from her point of view it was simply a matter of having her think one thing and then say and do another. The other teenage characters were more difficult, I’d have Autumn notice a variation in tone or an expression on someone’s face, and just hope that the readers would wonder what struggles were going on beneath the surface.

I love how it isn't just Autumn or her close friends that get a chance to show what's going on within them. I enjoyed getting to know other characters, even if it was just a little.

Thank you for interviewing!

Thanks so much for this chance to discuss my book with you!

About the Author

Laura's Website | Twitter

Laura Nowlin holds a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Missouri State University. Her short stories have appeared in The Moon City Review and STEM. In addition to being ambitious writer Laura is also an avid reader who believes that books allow her to live many lives in one lifetime. When she isn’t at home agonizing over her own novels, Laura works at the public library where the patrons give her plenty of inspiration for her writing. She lives in St. Louis with her musician husband, neurotic dog, and psychotic cat.

Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

noreply@blogger.com (alice) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

3.5 Stars: A Good Read
Hardback: 304 Pages
Publication: September 18, 2012 by Balzer & Bray

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Imagine this. You're trapped on an island with nine other teenagers. A big storm rages as huge waves crash on the shores; the power goes out, and your companions begin dying off one by one start in different "accidents." In addition, you are all from different schools, so you don't all know each other. You have no idea how you're connected--why you would be called out here together. Naturally, this makes it hard to trust each other, and you all point fingers in different directions when the murders starts.

Meet Ten, a re-telling of Agatha Christie's best-selling novel And Then There Were None. I haven't read the original story, so this was a whole new read for me. The story is about ten teens trapped on Henry Island during what is supposed to be "the weekend of their lives" but what instead turns out to be a horror story come true when someone begins killing them off one by one.

I like the suspenseful, mysterious, eerie setting of Henry Island. It's perfect for a crime scene and sets the mood for the novel. I felt as though I was there on the island with the teens, racing to put the clues together to find the killer among them before they become the next victim. The plot is well done and doesn't give too much away too soon. As the novel progresses and we learn more about the characters, I kept changing my theory on who the killer is. It isn't until the real killer is revealed at the end that I knew for sure the killer's identity.

This could have been a stronger book overall if it had been more character driven. The characters are really superficial and flat overall, which is partly due to the lack of character development. I never felt as though I really got to know the characters, even Meg, Minnie, and T.J., who stood out to me as the three main figures in the story. Meg says what's on her mind, and uses her brain to figure out the killer's methods before everyone else does. On the other hand, her best friend Minnie is nasty: she likes to party, she is fast with guys, and she lies and keeps many things from Meg. I don't know how Meg can put up with her. The way Minnie acts is like a psycho, yet Meg keeps trying to please her. T.J. is the school’s most eligible bachelor; in short, hot. I like how he is there for Meg and also uses his brain.

If characters are important to your enjoyment of a book, I would hesitate to recommend this to you. If you are in it for the plot, however, then this will be more of your kind of read. The story is exciting, short, and fast-paced. I recommend Ten if you are into suspenseful, heart-pounding mysteries.

A copy was provided by Harper Collins for review.

HCC Poetry Month

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:43:00 +0000

HarperCollins is celebrating poetry month. You can follow HarperCollins Children's Books on Facebook and Twitter for daily poems and a chance win a set of poetry for your collection!

Lauren Oliver Talks Books

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:38:00 +0000

Check out this awesome video series in which Lauren Oliver talks about how a book is made. It gives great insight into the journey of the making of books!

Episode 1: Developing the Idea

Episode 2: Writing the Story

Episode 3: Editing the Book

Episode 4: Creating the Art

Episode 5: Proofing the Story

Episode 6: Printing the Book

I'm having trouble embedding the 7th episode, but you can find the entire series at the link below.

More Lauren Oliver!
Check out her stories from the Delirium trilogy (here)
Check out the site where the entire video series is posted (here)

Imagine Weekly: Mailbox #45

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Imagine Weekly is a weekly feature where we share a summary of what has taken place on the blog the previous week and show off books that we got.

Mailbox
For Review

Twerp by Mark Goldblatt
If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
Rock Harbor Search & Rescue by Colleen Coble
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

Loki's Wolves by K.L Armstrong and M.A. Marr
Icons by Margaret Stohl
Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
Surrender by Rhiannon Paillle
Justice by Rhiannon Paille

Thanks to Little Brown, Random House, Rhiannon Paille, Sourcebooks, Thomas Nelson!

* Check out more book hauls through Tynga's Stacking the Shelves *

Previous Week
Reviews

Other News
My Life After Now Tour: Interview with author Jessica Verdi
Sidekick Tour: Tour-wide giveaway, open internationally
Dear Cassie Tour: Tour-wide giveaway, open internationally

New follow method!
You can now follow Imaginary Reads on bloglovin'. Let me know if you have a blog as well, so I can follow you back!

Upcoming Week

Reviews of If He Had Been With Me, Ten, Prophecy Girl, Fated
Interview with Laura Nowlin

What did you get this week? Leave a link in the comments section, and I'll check out your week's haul!

Review: Scowler by Daniel Kraus

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Scowler
by Daniel Kraus

4.5 Stars: A Good Read
Hardback: 304 Pages
Publication: March 12, 2013 by Delacorte BFYR

Imagine your father is a monster. Would that mean there are monsters inside you, too?

Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.

Ry, his mother, and little sister are trying to recover from a nightmare: Ry's abusive father Marvin Burke. Back when he was only ten years old, Ry saved his mother and had Marvin put away in prison for the unspeakable abusive things he did to them. At that time, he got help from his childhood toys, the Unnamed Three (who are actually different facets of Ry's personality): Mr. Furrington, which is a small teal teddy bear; Jesus Christ, which is a robber figurine, and the Scowler, which is the ugliest: a disgusting hunk. Nine years later, Ry needs Unnamed Three’s help again because Marvin has broken out of prison and threatens their family once again. He never wants his father to do what he did to his mother and little sister ever again.

I really feel for Ry. Knowing what it is like to live in an abusive home, he wants nothing more than to not be like his father. However, he knows there is a chance that he could become like his father. That's why he can't let himself get angry. If he does, he will let out the Scowler within him, and Scowler is dark and brutal. However, it becomes clear that his father will continue to hurt, haunt, and manipulate the family until he gets what he wants. And Ry knows that he needs to become Scowler to protect his family. Ry's conflicting desires to run away from the potential darkness within him and to take care of his mother and sister are central to who he is as a character and person.

Scowler is bloody, frightful, and shocking, filled with tension and driven by Ry's fear of his father's return. If you can't stomach a lot of violence or language. This may not be the book for you. There are a lot of brutal, graphic descriptions of calculated violence. I don't know how a human can do such things to another human being. I kept having to put this book down, and yet I couldn't stop reading it. It's so enthralling.

This novel is all about how ugly humans can be, and sometimes are, to one another. Also, it deals with spousal and child abuse. Kraus knows the horror genre well. He leaves you guessing whether Ry will become a good person or if he will turn into the kind of man like his father.

Recommended for upper YA readers.

A copy was provided by Random House for review.

Review: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

noreply@blogger.com (Magdalena) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Strands of Bronze and Gold
Jane Nickerson

3 Stars: A Good Read
Series: Strands of Bronze and Gold #1
Hardback: 352 Pages
Publication: March 12, 2013 by Random House Children's Books

The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

This book is Criminal Minds [victim’s perspective] meets the Grimm brothers. As a fairy tale lover, I was expecting a bit more out of Strands of Bronze and Gold. As a reader, I enjoyed the way that the author took liberties with the story.

My first impression of Sophia Petheram was – boring. Sophia is supposed to have this insatiable curiosity that moves the story forward - and Bernard even calls her out on it - but I really did not find her all that inquisitive. She spends the first third of the book languishing in obsession, the second third just hanging around, and it wasn’t till the end that she really came through. As this novel is a Bluebeard retelling, I feel like the author could have added more action to Sophie’s everyday life. (Hello, there's a serial killer in the house! I want to see some sense of urgency.) There were qualities I admired such as her compassionate attitude with the enslaved servitude and the fact that she did evaluate what she was chose to do and did not act upon sheer stupidity.

Monsieur Bernard de Cressac was a creep. At the same time, he’s probably my favorite character in this book. Out of all the characters, it is Bernard that is the most fleshed out. In this retelling of Bluebeard, Bernard was a hottie. People did not avoid him because of a hideous beard; no, his good looks encouraged his air of mystery around town. What really tore me up was Sophia’s infatuation with him. I thought it was oogie that even though he was her father’s age and, of all relationships, her godfather, he still dared to hit on her. That was a very disturbing angle. A godfather is to take the place of a father that for whatever reason has been removed out of a child’s life. I felt that this added twist showed the extent of Bernard’s sick mind. I’ve never thought of the story of Bluebeard as merely one of a serial killer.

To my surprise, the author introduced another more romantic counterpart to Sophia. I thought it a very good choice, because it helped set up a background story to Sophia’s future marriage. In the original tale, I always found it lacking that the girl lived happily ever after because she now had money. The end. Gideon was refreshing, and he gave Sophia something to do while she dealt with the creep of her godfather. Another twist the author added was the plainness of Gideon’s looks. In most of the books I’ve read the guy that gets the girls is usually good looking. At one point in the story, in order to calm Bernard down, Sophia even actually blasts on how ugly Gideon is. I really respect Gideon, especially since he cherished her despite her disregard for her personal reputation. The one phrase that comes to mind when I think of Gideon is “aww, you tender-hearted fool.”

In retellings, authors may bend off of the original story line, which can either go well or not. I was pleasantly surprised with the direction that Nickerson decided to take with the ending. She did somewhat incorporate the rescue-by-brother, but it was not a central part of the story. Though the one-dimensional Sophie in the first third lowered the reading experience for me, the characters are more real and believable and the plot intriguing.

A copy was provided by Random House for review.

Dear Cassie Tour: Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

As a part of the Dear Cassie tour, I have for you my review of the book.

Dear Cassie
Lisa Burstein

4 Stars: A Great Read
Paperback: 352 Pages
Publication: March 5, 2013 by Entangled Teen

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?

You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

You’d be wrong.

There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.

What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?

But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.

And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

Dear Cassie follows Cassie at camp as she struggles with what happened to her. Though we know about events at a surface level, we also know that there is something deeper hapening to Cassie. And that is what we are here to explore.

The most powerful thing about this novel is how filled it is with raw emotion. Cassie is one of those broken characters that we want to hug and comfort. (At least, once I got over my initial shock over her colorful use of language and saw the vulnerable girl underneath.) At the same time, we want to pry her secrets out of her. We learn more about her through diary entries, but the most important thing is always kept from us, teasing us like bait on a line. It made me wonder "just what is she hiding from us?" What I love most about is is, though she's gone through a lot, she still has a lot of courage and pluck, and she has the strength to keep moving on in life. She's a tough girl.

My favorite character, other than that love-hate interest we have to love in the end, has to be Cassie's brother. I'm a family girl at heart, and I love when a character's relationship with family is strong. Cassie's brother really understands us and is a strong support for her. There are other people at camp who are so very fun to read about. There are lots of crazy personalities to find at camp!

At it's heart though, this is about Cassie's personal journey to find herself. A deeply moving, gritty contemporary novel, Dear Cassie about the bad things that happen in life and the consequences that we must learn to deal with. It is about forgivness and accepting both the good and bad sides of life. It is about stepping up to deal with it all. Cassie is a deeply flawed and human character. She's been through things most of us will, hopefully, never have to go through, and she goes through so much more maturing along the healing process.

A copy was provided through Rockstar Book Tours for review.

About the Author

Lisa's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Dear Cassie is her third novel.

Giveaway

There is a tour-wide giveaway for a copy for Dear Cassie. There is one hardcopy for a U.S. winner and one ebook for an International winner.

To enter, fill out the form below.

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Sidekick Tour: Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

As a part of the Sidekick tour, I have for you my review of the book.

Sidekick: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight
Pab Sungenis

3.5 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 225 Pages
Publication: March 12, 2013 by Month9Books

Bobby Baines is in high school, which is bad enough. When his hero, Scarlet Knight, dies, Bobby is forced to take up his mantel. Only Scarlet Knight never had to deal with eking out a passing grade in math, keeping his fellow sidekicks in check, or stopping a giant squid from bearing down on his school and crushing everyone inside. After all, Bobby Baines is no super hero, he’s a Sidekick!

Sidekick is a fun, humor-filled read about the ups and downs of life as a superhero and the growth of one teen as he struggles to fulfill the legacy left by his predecessor. I can't remember the last time I read a superhero book, but this is what I look for in a modern superhero book (at least, it's one of the types): it makes fun of cheesy old superheros and introduces modern innovations, it's fun, and there is a wide cast of lovable characters.

Bobby is your typical American teenage boy, and he knows it. He talks in a matter-of-fact way about his two lives and doesn't make a big deal of things, unless he's trying to make a point, which he often makes aside to readers. I enjoyed getting to know him as he searches for his identity--is he Bobby the teenage boy, or is he the new Scarlet Knight? Many superhero books are about the adventure, but this one focuses primarily on the human factor and how being a superhero impacts Bobby, morally and as an individual trying to get through high school and college apps at the same time. The only thing I felt was missing was more on Bobby's life at school, outside of superhero work, though given his situation at the beginning of the novel I can understand why so much of this is missing.

What I do wish is that the other characters were developed just as well as Bobby. There are so many interesting characters surrounding Bobby. I would have liked to see more of them, especially the superheros and how they work together. It would also have been nice to see more mystery and tension surrounding the circumstances of the intrigue surrounding the new supervillain in town. At the same time, I feel that the lightness of this novel fits the novel overall. This is a read that didn't have me hiding under the covers at night; rather, it made me laugh and relax. I recommend this for middle-grade readers, but this is still a fun read that readers of all ages can enjoy.

A copy was provided by Month9Books for review.

About the Author

Pab's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Born in the swamps of Southern New Jersey, Pab Sungenis developed a childhood fascination with cartooning and drew a daily strip for his own amusement for two years before realizing he couldn’t draw and wound up in broadcastingU. He describes his drawing ability as like that of “a mentally challenged rhinoceros on a Ny-Quil bender”, but thanks to the wonders of photo-manipulation and computer image editing, on February 8, 2006 he found himself creating The New Adventures of Queen Victoria.

Giveaway

As part of the tour, the organizers have put together a giveaway.

Grand prize

(Open to US residents only)

A print copy of Sidekick: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight

Kick-Ass DVD

Superhero mask set.

Also up for grabs

(Open internationally)

Five ebook copies of Sidekick: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight.

To enter, fill out the form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Life After Now Tour: Review

noreply@blogger.com (alice) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

As a part of the My Life After Now tour, I have for you my review of the book.

My Life After Now
Jessica Verdi

3.5 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 304 Pages
Publication: April 2, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

Related Posts

Interview with Jessica Verdi

Lucy has a perfect life: she has the perfect boyfriend and two fathers who are very loving and caring. Then, her life turns upside down. She finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her and posted it to Facebook, so everyone knows. Also, her fathers let her pregnant, drug-addict mother moves in with them without any explanation. To relieve the stress, Lucy decides to have a night of drinking and dancing at a Manhattan nightclub with her best friends. She ends up going home with a guy and having unprotected sex. Lucy never imagines that one reckless night of fun is going to have some serious consequences, but she now pays the ultimate price for it.

When Lucy tests positive for HIV, she is in so much fear and pain. It’s heartbreaking to see her reaction to the news and her determination to keep it all a secret from everyone, even her family. You can feel Lucy’s fear of never being loved again and the anger she feels towards herself. I can’t imagine how a sixteen-year-old girl can deal with this tragic situation. Throughout the book, you walk with Lucy to learn that the life is not over and what is it like to live with HIV. You have to adjust your life style to fit your situation.

What I loved the most about this book is how inspiring it is. Lucy pushes people away from her at first, but eventually she is able to pull through her situation thanks to the people around her, especially Evan, who becomes an important person in her life. My Life After Now is a wonderful, touching story that portrays Lucy’s devastation and her tangled emotions with honesty. The book is about acceptance and learning to live your life with your illness. It brings every single perspective of a life changes after a positive HIV test.

An ARC was provided by Sourcebooks Fire for review.

My Life After Now Tour: Interview with Jessica Verdi

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Chen) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

As a part of the My Life After Now tour, I have for you an interview with author Jessica Verdi. Come back later for Alice's review of the book.

My Life After Now
Jessica Verdi

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.

First of all, thank you so much for having me on your blog! Let’s see, a little bit about me: I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I love animals, tattoos, TV, and theater. And reading and writing, of course! I got into writing after ten long years as an on-again, off-again actor in New York. I was sometimes cast in shows, but in a city with so much talent and competition, those opportunities were few and far between. I started to get frustrated just waiting around for someone to cast me in something and finally give me the opportunity to be creative. I knew I needed to start making those opportunities for myself. And what better way to tell a story and use your own creativity than writing? Unlike acting, you don’t have to wait for anyone to give you the go-ahead—you can write on your own terms. And once I started writing, I knew it was what I was supposed to have been doing all along.

It's really cool how you went from acting to writing. It sounds wonderful to be able to choose your own schedule and stories to tell. What did you learn while researching for My Life After Now?

I already knew a bunch about HIV/AIDS before I wrote the book, but during the research process I learned a LOT more. The statistical facts of the virus, the more personal aspect of what it’s like to live with it, what the free testing clinic environment is like, what sorts of medications are available, the (shockingly high) rate at which young people in the U.S. are becoming infected, and so much more.

We learn about some stats at school, but there's nothing like hearing an actual story to learn about the realities of HIV and AIDS. Lucy goes through a challenging time in her life what with losing acting and her boyfriend, having her estranged mother show up after three years, and contracting HIV in a one-night stand. What was it like having to put Lucy through all this through the drafting and editing/revising process?

She really does go through a lot, poor girl, but I think it was important for her to have a series of really, really bad days in order to build the believability of her running away and doing something so out of character for her—the very thing that leads to her contraction of HIV. It was rough having to go through her journey with her time and time again, from the initial drafting stages all the way through revisions, but I love her (and her dads and her friends) so much, so I wanted to work hard to do her story justice. That’s what kept me going.

It is because she goes through all that that we can really sympathize with her. How did you go about finding the balance between sharing enough facts about HIV and all that Lucy goes through while keeping her story relatable and not preachy?

Whenever I found myself going into “preachy” territory, I took a step back and reminded myself this book is about a character, above and beyond anything else. It’s not a book about everyone in the world who has HIV, and it’s not a book meant to express an opinion on right vs. wrong. It’s a book about one character going through her own journey. So I just focused on her individual experience, her life, and the rest sorted itself out.

While the story is about Lucy at its heart, the people around her also move our hearts in different ways. Many of the characters reveal new sides to themselves as the story progresses. Is there any that surprised you in particular?

Yes, that happened so many times! But I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say that the way Lucy’s relationships change with pretty much everyone in her life—her mother, her dads, her friends—always kept me on my toes.

Relationships are a big part of the book, I agree. Would you share an excerpt from the novel that sets the tone for Lucy's story?

If I told my family and my friends the truth, everything would change. They would look at me differently, treat me differently. Of course they would—I was different. But right now I was the only one who knew it. And that was the safest place to be. Because if the world outside me became as unrecognizable as the world inside me had, I honestly wouldn’t know what to do.

On the other hand, if no one knew, they would still be expecting me to be the same old Lucy. But how do you play the role of yourself when “yourself ” no longer exists?

What are you working on right now?

Right now I’m in revisions for my second book, The Summer I Wasn’t Me, which comes out next April. It’s a love story set at an ex-gay conversion camp for teenagers.

Thanks for interviewing, Jessica. I'm looking forward to your next book!

About the Author

Jessica's Websiste | Facebook | Twitter

Jessica Verdi is a young adult author who writes envelope-pushing stories about not-so-pretty real-life issues, but always with a positive spin. After nearly ten years on the stage, she got an idea for a novel. Now she can’t imagine doing anything else. Jess received her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and works as an editor at a romance novel publisher. She loves all animals, from the cute and cuddly to the large and freakish, has been a vegetarian for most of her life, is a little too obsessed with TV shows about vampires, and has an amazing group of writer friends who keep her sane. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and dog.