.Xpresso Reads.

Black City Cover Reveal + Giveaway (INTL)

2012-02-29T08:00:00.100-04:00

Black City
Elizabeth Richards
Release date: November 13th, 2012
by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Add it to your Goodreads

Deep in the heartland of the United Sentry States are the burning ruins of the Black City, a melting pot simmering with hostility as humans and Darklings struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a brutal and bloody war. A wall now divides the city separating the two races. Trapped on the wrong side of the wall is sixteen-year-old hustler Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling who’ll do whatever it takes to survive, including selling his addictive venom ‘Haze’ to help support his dying mother.

Then there’s Natalie Buchanan, the daughter of the Sentry Emissary, who feels imprisoned by her life of privilege and fame. When their paths cross, they instantly detest each other but Ash is shocked when his once still heart starts to beat. Bonded by a mysterious connection, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed. Then Haze users start dying all over the city and Ash discovers the terrible truth behind his and Natalie’s mystical connection. Suddenly, city walls and the threat of execution become the least of their problems.

Elizabeth's Website/ Goodreads/ Facebook/ Twitter

Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist and debut author, who spent her early career writing for videogame publications such as CUBE, P2 and GamesTM,and now works as a website editor. Previously, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls. She won the Jane Hayward Young Journalist of the Year award for her feature on girls in the games industry, and was named 'Editor's Choice' in the industry trade magazine, MCV.

Wow! This cover is absolutely amazing. I love the colors, I love the details. It's all really awesome! Plus, the cover totally matches my blog! The synopsis is pretty cool too you have to admit! If you agree, keep reading for a look at the first chapter and a chance to win!

1st Chapter of Black City

ASH

An air raid siren wails in the distance, alerting Black City citizens to lock their doors and turn out the lights. They don’t want to be out in the dark alone. They might meet something dangerous. Something like me.
    I head under the canal bridge and wait for the girl, taking a packet of Sentry-regulation smokes from my back pocket and sparking up. The nicotine courses through my veins, making them throb with adrenaline; the sensation is almost like a pulse . . . almost.
    Footsteps approach the bridge, and a short girl with straggly black hair appears from the shadows, dressed in men’s work boots, tight black trousers and a tailcoat made from a patchwork of clashing fabrics. Her hazel eyes gaze up into mine. She’s brave. Not many cherry-poppers have the courage to look me in the eyes. She hands me an old playing card with two hearts on it, one red, one black. It’s my calling card. It seemed an appropriate choice; that’s what I’m selling her after all, an illusion of love. I slip it into the pocket of my dark green military jacket.
    “You’re late,” I say. “Last thing I need is to be caught out here after curfew by a Tracker. They’re just begging for a reason to throw me in jail.”
    “Sorry, they’ve put up extra checkpoints, stopping everyone. There’s tanks everywhere!” she babbles. “I guess they can’t be too careful with the Sentry Emissary back in the city, what with the boundary negotiations with the Legion and—”
    “You paid Beetle?” I interrupt.
    The girl nods.
    “Terms and conditions,” I say. “No refunds. You don’t enjoy it, you puke, you freak—not my problem, okay?”
    She nods again.
    “You pregnant?” She blushes furiously. “I’ll take that as a no. It may cause drowsiness, so don’t drive or operate any heavy machinery.” She smiles at this, and I grin. They always like that. “And no repeats for at least two weeks, all right? I mean it.”
    “That all?”
    “No kissing. Strictly business, okay?”
    She seems a little disappointed by this, but I don’t like to mix business with pleasure. She shyly unbuttons the collar of her coat, revealing her slim, pale neck. Hunger grips my stomach at the sight.
    “What do I do?” she asks.
    “Lean back,” I say.
    She obeys like a good girl. I place a hand against the wall and slip my other hand between her thighs, gently easing her legs apart. Touching her doesn’t turn me on, but I groan like it does, knowing she’ll enjoy that. They all do, even the guys—it’s why they come to me instead of the Haze dens. I slide my body between her thighs so we’re face-to-face. Her shallow breaths are warm against my cool skin.
    “Relax, okay? It’s more enjoyable if you relax.”
    “My heart’s pounding a mile a minute.” She gives a nervous laugh.
    “Can’t say I know how that feels,” I admit.
    She tentatively presses a hand against my chest, and her eyes widen. “So it’s true, then? You don’t have a heart?”
    “I have a heart,” I growl, shoving her hard against the wall. It just doesn’t beat.
    A small tear snakes down her cheek, her thin lips trembling.
    “Sshhh, it’s okay, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I gently wipe her tear away. “Forgive me?”
    She nods, then tilts her head to one side, exposing the smooth whiteness of her neck. The poison sacs behind my fangs swell with venom.
    Focus, Ash. Don’t blow your load.
    I lean toward her, pressing my lips against the soft flesh on her neck, just below her ear. Her pulse flutters under my lips, and I nearly lose it. I begin to nibble on the flesh, tickling the tiny hairs on her neck with my tongue, making them wet with my saliva.
    “Do it,” she whispers.
    So much for foreplay. I sink my fangs into her jugular. Hot blood spills over my tongue, making my taste buds burst with its sticky sweetness. Man, I love the newbies; they always taste the best. She sighs as my venom enters her bloodstream. I wait for the Haze to take effect before I start to drink from her. That’s the bonus of Haze; my clients get high from me, and I get high from them by drinking their drugged blood. It’s win-win.
    A sour, bitter flavor suddenly floods my mouth, and I gag, leaping back.
    “What the—” I spit up blood.
    The girl stares at me with glazed eyes, blood trickling down the two puncture wounds in her neck.
    “Everything’s sparkling,” she says dreamily.
    “Didn’t Beetle tell you I don’t take clients on meds?”
    She lurches toward me, and I grab her before she falls into the water.
    “I love you,” she slurs, trying to kiss me.
    I shove her, hard. She falls back against the wall and slides to the floor. Her eyes roll back into her head, and she begins to spasm, white foam bubbling out the corners of her mouth.
    “No, no, no! Wake up.” I kneel down and shake her, panic rushing through me.
    The girl jerks, her boots leaving black scuff marks on the cobblestones. Fragg! This is why I don’t take clients on meds. You can never tell how they’re going to react to the Haze. I shrug off my jacket and place it under her head.
    A Sentry tank rolls over the bridge, and I shut my eyes and wait for it to pass. Even though the war is officially over, I still get chills at that sound. Wherever they went, Death followed. I had a few close scrapes during the war. During those days, the fact that I was a legal citizen and half human didn’t mean much to them. If you weren’t 100 percent human, you were the enemy. Every day was a fight for survival. Not much has improved since then; I’m still the enemy in most people’s eyes. All they can see is the Darkling in me. The tank turns down Bleak Street toward the Sentry Emissary’s headquarters.
    The girl groans. It’s too dangerous here; I have to go. I could just leave her . . . No, that’s not an option, but I can’t take her to the hospital. I’d get in so much trouble.
    Beetle!
    I peer down the canal. A yellow barge is moored about one hundred feet away. The lights are off. Where is he? He’s meant to be my wingman; that’s why I came to the bridge in the first place. Can this get any wor—
    An explosion of pain bursts inside my chest, and I clutch a hand over my lifeless heart. I sense someone behind me and turn.
    A girl stands by the entranceway, lit by the headlamps of a passing truck. In the fleeting light, I catch a glimpse of cornflower-blue eyes flicking between me and the Hazer writhing on the ground.
    Her gaze finally fixes on me.
    I fall back, struck down, as the pain in my chest blooms again.
    Shivers run through my body, rushing toward a single point in my chest. There’s a spark of electricity and then:
    A flutter.

Giveaway

Big thanks to Penguin Books for Young Readers who is very generously offering an ARC (physical) of Black City for giveaway to one of my readers.

PLUS
The winner of this ARC will be added to a draw to win one of 5 exclusive and personalized drawings of the main characters—Ash and Natalie—drawn and autographed by the author.

Below is a sketch of the drawing. The finished drawing will be more polished and each one will be just a bit different, so each winner will receive an original and unique image. Winners of the drawings will be chosen at random by the author.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
One advanced copy of Black City
Open internationally

Giveaway ends March 21st, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

2012-02-29T00:00:00.006-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week:

The Lost Girl

Sangu Mandanna

Release date: August 28th, 2012

by Balzer + Bray

Add it to your Goodreads

Eva's life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination - an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her 'other', if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it's like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she's ever known - the guardians who raised her, the boy she's forbidden to love - to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

Sangu calls this a mixture of Tim Burton and Frankenstein - who does not this this is particularly awesome!? All of Tim Burton's movies have become favorites of mine, so anything he has inspired, Me waaaaaant! Even without him in the mix, though, it sounds like a very intriguing plot. I will be waiting impatiently to read this one! =)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

The Weeping Tour Stop

2012-02-28T09:00:00.114-04:00

Today I'm thrilled to have The Weeping blog tour visiting Xpresso Reads for a super fun post. First I'll be showing you my thoughts on this book so you all get to see what it's about. Then I'll be showing you O'Dell's dream cast - which actors he'd love to see playing the roles of his characters. There is also a fabulous giveaway at the end! I'm telling you, this is one awesome day!

Review

The Weeping
O'Dell Hutchison
Release date: March 6th, 2012
by H, C & B Publishing

Goodreads / Purchase

Twenty years ago, Catherine Whitley was the victim of a horrible crime. Betrayed by her friends, including the boy she loved, she was left to die when the Rock Harbor Opera House caught fire, taking a disturbing secret with her to her grave.

Seventeen-year-old Heath Ingram was driving the night his Jeep careened off the road, killing three of his closest friends. Once a popular, outgoing athlete, Heath now suffers from severe depression and crippling anxiety. His parents decide to send him to stay with his uncle in Rock Harbor, Oregon for the summer, praying that by getting away he will be able to put this awful tragedy behind him.

When Heath starts working at the newly renovated Rock Harbor Opera House, he meets Molly, a young dancer who awakens in him a desire to start over and move on. But, when he begins having visions of a half-burned girl in a white dress, he starts to think he may be slipping even further over the edge.

As the apparent hauntings become more intense, Heath begins to fear for his safety. With the help of his friend Josie, Heath discovers an unsettling secret that ties the mysterious girl to both their families. When two of their friends die unexpectedly, Josie and Heath realize that something, or someone, is after the children of those who wronged Catherine, and they are next.

*A copy was provided by H, C & B Publishing for review purposes*

"It's been exactly ten weeks and eighteen days since I killed three of my closest friends."

This is how it starts. I love it when a book can get you intrigued by its very first sentence. The owner of these colorful thoughts is our damaged, but wonderful protagonist, Heath- a troubled soul who is trying to live with himself after a car accident killed his friends. He's been sent to spend the summer with his uncle where he'll be working at the newly rebuilt Opera House. What he doesn't know, is the ghost of Catherine who is haunting this place is looking for revenge. Heath is a surprisingly deep, sympathetic character. Once a popular jock, he's now struggling to get through the days. He's living in guilt and O'Dell's writing has a way of making us really feel for him. His thoughts -cynical and forlorn, drives us deep into his soul where we get to understand what he's going through.

Soon after Heath arrives at his uncle's, he realizes something isn't right. Strange whisperings, sightings and incredibly melancholy- yet realistic- dreams. While Heath is trying to find out more about this ghost, her story is told to us in short, journal style spurts. This is a great way to build anticipation, it makes it mysterious and captivating. We learn bit by bit what happened in her past, and with every piece we're left with the challenge of putting it all together to try to find what is really happening. And then, the murders start.

Combine a fast pace with a constant eerie vibe and we've got ourselves a pretty decent thriller. I've always been a fan of scary stories, and even though I can't say this one's the scariest I've come upon, I was left with the satisfaction of a thrilling ride. I enjoyed the suspense of trying to decipher who or what was killing Heath's friends. I did eventually figure it out, but only mere pages before it was all revealed. The ending leaves us hanging quite a bit, though. So much so that I double checked to make sure my copy wasn't missing the final pages. It isn't without some closure, but it's incredibly abrupt. This is the only real qualm I have towards the book. I just wish we had one more, tiny chapter.

Equally creepy and exciting, fans of thrillers will easily be found captivated by O'Dell Hutchison's The Weeping. It's a quick read with an easy to like protagonist and an absorbing storyline that I certainly recommend despite the hasty ending.

4 Hot Espressos

The Weeping Dream Cast

Heath: Chace Crawford - Chace looks older than seventeen these days, but then again most actors playing teenagers today are well into their twenties. For some reason, I envisioned first-season, Gossip Girl, Chace the entire time I was writing.

Catherine: Britt Robertson - I love Britt on The Secret Circle. She has the sad, stoic look down. I think she would be perfect as Catherine.

Phillip: Bradley Cooper - Phillip and Heath are supposed to look a lot alike. I can definitely see a resemblance between Chace and Bradley.

Molly: Ashley Jackson - I worked with Ashley as an actor when she was twelve-years-old - we were in a play together. I also directed her in the musical “bare” when she was eighteen. Ashley now resides in California and has been in several TV shows (Glee, Sonny with a Chance and 10 Things I Hate About You). She’s a wonderful actress, and I always envisioned her as Molly while I was writing.

Josie: Mae Whitman - Mae has the smart-ass thing down, but she also has a lot of emotional depth. I love her work in Parenthood. I think she would be great as Josie.

Luke: Nicholas Braun - Nicholas was in 10 Things I Hate About You with Ashley, and he would make the perfect Luke - tall and goofy.

Patrice: Keke Palmer - I loved Keke’s performance in Joyful Noise. I think she would be perfect as Patrice.

Juda: Kellan Lutz - I can’t think of anyone else to play Juda. Kellan is stocky and looks like he thinks he’s a bad ass (even though he seems to be a really nice guy). I think he would be great as Juda.

Julia: Dianna Agron - Dianna can definitely do bitchy - she’s proven that with her work in Glee. She also needs to be able to sing and dance, which I know Dianna can do.

Vic: Dylan McDermott - Dylan looks as if he could be related to Heath and Phillip. I also really like him as an actor.

Dr. (Melanie) Plummer: Lauren Graham - I love Lauren Graham in pretty much everything she does. I think she would be perfect as Melanie. Plus, she already plays Mae’s mother on TV - perfect.

Marilyn Plummer (Gran): Lois Smith - I loved Lois on True Blood. She perfectly embodied a loving, huggable grandmother, which is exactly what Marilyn needs to be.

This is one hot cast! Thanks so much for dropping by, O'Dell, and having me be a part of this great tour!

O'Dell's Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

O'Dell Hutchison was born in a small rural town in Idaho. After attending college in the Pacific northwest, he found his way to the Houston area in 1997. He currently lives in Katy, TX with his dog, Gia. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst. In his free time, he tries (and fails) to work out regularly and eat healthy. He also acts and directs at various theaters around Houston.

This post is a part of:

Hop on over to Live To Read who also has The Weeping Blog Tour visiting today!

Next stop on the tour:

February 29th: -Kindle Fever & Young Readers

Giveaway

H, C & B Publishing has generously offered 1 Signed hardcover copy of The Weeping for giveaway

Open to US and Canadian addresses

Giveaway ends March 16th, 2012

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter

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Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

2012-02-27T09:00:00.005-04:00

Graffiti Moon
Cath Crowley
Release date: February 14th, 2012
by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

*A copy was provided by Random House Children's Books for review purposes*

I know nothing about graffiti, I know even less about art - why the heck did I read this book? Well, for the same reason you should! It's an incredibly sweet, delightfully romantic story that can not be on your unread shelf. Why?
    -True to life, complex romance
    -Artistic imagery that will enthrall any reader- art fanatic or not
    -Characters that make you fall in love
    -A story that is simply too gorgeous to be left unexplored

If this isn't enough to convince you, maybe you should go back to playing with Legos - or something.

I must admit, I did not get into the story right away. I don't know if it was the unique lyrical writing, or the artsy details, but I kept getting distracted. The writing, although beautiful, is much more elaborate than what I was expecting from a young-adult novel so it threw me off at first. However, once I got into it, I couldn't stop staring at these beautiful sentences that simply blew me away. Or these outstanding characters that do nothing less than take your heart, and pull you inside the pages.

Lucy is desperate to find this graffiti artist who calls himself Shadow. Ed is a lost soul who paints to find himself. We're taken into this story with a dual perspective that lets us see into each of these characters hearts; these characters who are notably profound, yet believable. I loved how they aren't stylized to fit the unconvincing image of prim and proper teenagers we often get in YA novels. These are real, raw personalities who express themselves with art, while trying to find their place in this big, unforgiving world. Cath does not soften the edges to make a cute, romantic story, she gives us a story so pure, so deep, that it bleeds out the truest of love stories.

There is a lot more in here than a love story, however. We see these kids struggle through real life problems - financial dilemmas, marital issues and death are all a part of this well rounded tale. It's undoubtedly a one of a kind novel that is bound to impress a wide range of readers, from young to adult. I'm glad that, despite my lack of artistic knowledge, I decided to give this one a try- and you should too!

4 Hot Espressos

Blogger Zombies Guest Post

2012-02-26T09:00:00.011-04:00

This post is part of Zombies vs Unicorns month co-hosted with Literary Exploration, YA-Aholic and YA Bookmark

Last month, I asked some of my fellow team zombie bloggers to drop by and explain why exactly, team zombie? Why are zombies so incredibly awesome that they will always be awesomer than unicorns? This is what they had to say!
*Don't forget to click on their buttons to check out their fabulous blogs!

Andrea from The Bookish Babes

I'm going to take a semi-unpopular position here because I don't love all zombies. Nope. They're gross and I can't even watch The Walking Dead without gagging. But, as it turns out, I do love some zombies. I was reading Dearly,Departed by Lia Habel, when I finally found a zombie who stole my heart, Bram Griswold. Bram, and his cohorts are not your typical zombies. Through the marvels of science, they have managed to slow their decay and retain most of their humanity. Their body parts are largely intact and they keep the shuffling to a minimum. Best of all, they do not eat people. In fact, Bram satisfies his protein cravings by eating "Nummy, nummy tofu". They are soldiers, fighting the bad zombies. You know, the ones who actually do want to eat you. Day after day, as they inevitably rot away, they are out there, fighting for you. Kinda hot, right? So if you are like me, and thought you could never be "Team Zombie", talk a walk on the "dead, but civilized side". Go Team Zombie!

Bonnie from Sweet Tidbits

A good zombie story is always one of my favorite type of reads because when zombies are involved, you're always in for a wild, exciting ride. They're so unpredictable you never quite know what to expect! Honest and truly, the idea of zombies/a zombie apocalypse is truly terrifying. The dead returning to life with the sole intent of feasting on your body? That's crazy talk, yet I'm somehow completely fascinated at the possibility. I think a lot of the appeal has to do with the state of the world when the apocalypse hits. The riots and the looting and the overall 'survival of the fittest' frame of mind would be a drastic change from the world we live in now, but it's also a bit exciting if you ask me.

Ashley (aka THE zombie queen) from The Bookish Brunette

Zombies are the SCARIEST, but also most diverse (in my opinion) of monsters. Yeah, I totally went there- right? There are no 'vampire' apocalypses, or 'unicorn' apocalypses... You only hear of the savagery of the walking dead annihilating the human race. To me this is freakier than ANY other sort of fiction.
Zombie... TEAM Alpha baby!
Besides the fact that zombies are by far the MOST awesome, rocksauce FABULOUS of supernatural creatures... I am their Queen... so how could you be Team anything else?? :)

MaryAnn from Chapter by Chapter

Zombies: The creatures that can haunt your nightmares and eat you alive without any signs of mercy whatsoever. The idea of zombies have been around probably since the beginning of time, when the cavemen were afraid that their fellow dead cavemen would rise from the grave and have an all you can eat buffet on every caveman tribe. Now obviously that hasn't happened, but my point is that the fearful idea of the undead has always been real. You can't go anywhere on the planet without hearing some countries superstition on how a once living person can return from the bright (or dark) beyond with a serious hankering for some flesh on a stick. Now I know that you are probably wondering why zombies just get to be so awesome? The answer is simple, zombies can be anybody. Any time, any place. Like right now; While you're sitting behind that computer screen reading this an outbreak could be taking place and right outside your window your neighbors are turning into the undead. Or maybe it's your best friend? The best and scariest part is that they will never stop their hunt for living flesh. But don't be offended or anything! It's nothing personal, they're just hungry. And to prove my point that these zombies don't stop is Bicycle Girl from The Walking Dead she doesn't even have legs anymore and yet she continues patriotically try to eat you (now you should all feel so honored).

Katie from Katie's Book Blog

I'm team zombie for many reasons but mainly because I figure if there is a zombie apocalypse, they might let me live. Just kidding. They would totally eat my brains but still, that's why you just have to love them. They certainly don't discriminate. Hehe. Zombies are just pure awesome. They don't care about appearances (while some still manage to be good looking i.e. Warm Bodies and Dearly, Departed), they don't break down when they lose limbs, and they certainly don't worry when food supplies run out (always plenty of brains.) Really, zombies are just made of awesome and it's hard not to see why they would kick unicorn ass.

Gabbi from Book Breathers

Why do zombies rock my polka-spotted toe socks? That's like asking why the Weasley twins are so great--there are so many answers! First of all, zombies are the only creatures that can really rock that rotting corpse look. And, hello! They are going to take over the world one day. I've tried doing that before and it wasn't easy. ;D Obviously, zombies are the best ever.

Shellie from Creative Reads

*looks at title, looks around* Really guys…did you read the title? Who do you think will win this match? Will it be the ~~one-horned-horse~~ Unicorn or the Zombie who eats living things as snacks? Of course the Zombie is going to win because 1) They’re awesome 2) They’re already dead – what do they have to risk?! And 3) They aren’t the nice guys in this scenario, they are the gruesome ones. I honestly don’t see a Unicorn taking out a Zombie, which they might be able to do if they spear the head but this is a Unicorn we are talking about, I don’t think they even hurt flies let alone jab their horn through someone’s head, dead or not. On another side, when do you ever see Unicorn’s besides kids cartoons or in 1980 movies whereas Zombies still have their own show *cough, The Walking Dead* AND still have movies being made about them (current date, not umpteen years ago people). So in an a all out battle who do you think would win? The girlie Unicorn that prances around, or, the Zombie who nom noms on any living being? I’m going to go with the Zombie and you should too!

Christy from Love of Books

Confession: I was once Team Unicorn. When I was very young, I had everything imaginable with unicorns on it. When I was about 9-years-old I got up in the middle of the night and turned the television on. That night I switched teams. Forever. What on earth could have caused such a change? Night of the Living Dead was playing - the old black & white one. From then on, I was absolutely fascinated with cannibalistic dead people. Unicorns can hold their own, but there is something utterly frightening about hoards of rotting dead people wanting to eat you. Would you rather have a world full of horses with horns, or a world full of flesh eaters? Zombies already win the psychological war, because when people are scared, they get stupid and make mistakes. Zombies rule, hands down.

Why do YOU think zombies are made of awesome (and decay)?

In My Mailbox (24)

2012-02-26T00:00:00.050-04:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme, created by Kristi at The Story Siren, that features books I have

received/ purchased/ borrowed during the week.

I hope everyone had a fabulous week because this week was my BIRTHDAY! Yay! We went out today to celebrate with steak an lobster. It was delicious! I didn't actually buy any books this week but I did receive a few review copies that can count for birthday gifts, right!? I also got a cake, I left it on the coffee table and my toddler found it this morning. He was quiet for a few minutes, so I came to see what he was up to and he was stuffed full of chocolate. Then I sent him off to his grandparent's. Teehee.

This week at Xpresso Reads was zombilicious. Make sure you haven't missed any zombie fun by clicking here. I also posted a massive cover reveal -here- with some lovely new pretties. And I scheduled a new tour for Someone Else's Life. I already had a copy for review so I was happy to be asked to take part of the tour as well. Oh, and I've still got 5 open giveaways, don't forget to enter (found on sidebar), as a couple of them are ending soon!

Let's see what I got for review this week:

-Dark Eyes by William Richter

-Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

-Before You Go by James Preller

A huge thank you to Thomas Nelson, Tabitha Vale, J. Meyers, Macmillan Publishers, Nikki Jefford, JL Bryan and Penguin Canada for the review copies.

What's in your mailbox this week?

Link me up!

Review & Guest Post: Deadlocked by A.R. Wise

2012-02-25T09:00:00.014-04:00

Deadlocked
A.R. Wise
Release date: November 9th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

David was caught in the middle of the city when the zombie outbreak started. His wife and daughters were at home, stranded on the roof as zombies waited below. He would have to fight through hordes of undead, merciless other survivors, and a series of death defying stunts to get home. However, even if he makes it there, how can he be sure they're safe?

Deadlocked puts you into David's head as he struggles to get home. Then a final confrontation occurs that will guarantee his family's survival, but at what cost?

Deadlocked 2

A.R. Wise

Release date: December 9th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Part two of this series picks up immediately after the end of the first. David's wife, Laura, is forced to take over the protection of their family as the boat travels out into Hailey Bay, away from the zombies. However, the boat's pilot plans to dock back in the overrun city to rescue his own family, which will put Laura's in jeopardy.

Laura is forced to overcome unimaginable horrors as the zombie apocalypse explodes around her, but it is the evil intent of the humans around her that present her greatest challenge. The reader is taken far beyond the edge of their seat as Laura pushes forward to the inevitable end. No one is safe in a world where the dead hunt the living.

*Copies were provided by A.R. Wise for review purposes*

Note: This is a combined review of book 1 and 2 of the Deadlocked series.

A zombie apocalypse is far from a unique plot. George Romero made his epic zombie movie way back in 1968 and it's safe to say we've had our share of undead cannibals since. A.R. Wise tackles this widely used horror icon by giving us novellas from different point of views that, although short, are stacked with emotions, horror and realism.

As I mentioned, you can only go so far with originality in zombie stories, but I have to admit that this series has some twists that I never would have even dreamed of. Some are heartbreaking, others are disturbing, but it all comes down to realistic representation. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds most zombie movies more amusing than scary, simply because they're either cliché or outrageous. In Deadlocked, we're sent on a journey with a family who is bent on surviving, and A.R. doesn't shy away from the truth of how it would be. He shows us how Zombies are never the only ones to fear either. With everyone in a panic, some would go to great lengths to get what they need, losing all sense of humanity in the process. This one's not for the faint of heart!

We first meet David when the zombie apocalypse starts. We go with him while he's trying to get from his office to his family in the midst of this chaos. Then in book 2, we're following the story through Laura's eyes - David's wife and mother of his two small children. Both of these characters go through unimaginable ordeals to save the ones they love. David's story is a great start, but I enjoyed book 2 the most. We're thrown in the middle of the apocalypse where every page is filled with high speed survival. I also found Laura's character growth remarkable. She turns into this power house survivor that would do absolutely anything to save her kids. I found it admirable. It also makes us wonder how we would fare in her shoes. Would we be strong enough to survive?

As every installment is from a new point of view, we get to experience this gruesome apocalypse through different eyes, which gives us an original take on how different minded people perceive such horror. Written as novellas, the Deadlocked hands gives us quick, highly intense stories that I would recommend to any zombie fan out there.

4 Hot Espressos

Along with my review I have A.R dropping by to tell us a bit about why zombies are so scary.

The Value of a Good Zombie

Why do we love zombies? There are hundreds of different monsters to choose from, but these undead shamblers continue to delight us. Readers go back to the well over and over, even though we're pretty certain it's been tapped. Why is that?

I chose to write a zombie story for two reasons: A friend of mine was convinced he would never like another zombie book, and I was struggling to deal with my mother's cancer. I decided to write Deadlocked, a novella series, as a way to take on my friend's challenge, but also as a cathartic exercise in dealing with my mother's illness. In doing this, I stumbled upon the secret that makes zombies an indelible bad guy:

Zombies are a constant reminder of our own impending death.

This is the reason they have become a genre unto themselves: no other monster can contend with the emotions these shambling corpses subliminally stick in our heads. Every time a protagonist faces off with a zombie, they are staring at their own inevitable demise. We will all die, and every minute of every day is yet another step into our own grave. When we look into the face of a zombie (a decaying, disgusting, vile human face) we are looking into a mirror at our future selves. Kind of creepy, isn’t it?
Also, don't forget that zombies eat people - that's pretty terrifying too!

A good zombie story is less about the zombies, and more about the struggles of the characters trying to survive. There are a lot of great zombie stories that create a pulse-pounding plot by simply throwing characters into a zombie filled area and letting the story tell itself. However, I think the best zombie tales are the ones that tell a larger story. I want to read about characters that are more than just action heroes.

Deadlocked starts with a father that has recently learned he might have cancer. From there, the world turns upside down as zombies take over, but I wanted to use the living dead as an analogy to the main character's crushing realization that he is going to die. Don't worry, the apocalypse isn't just in his head, but I wanted this to be a story about how this father will do anything to protect his family in the face of death. The entire story is designed around the idea that the protagonist is trying to make sure his family will be safe after he's gone. When you look at it from the viewpoint of someone with terminal cancer, instead of someone simply frightened of being eaten, you see many parallels. He wants to make sure they are safe and provided for after his death.

In George Romero's best zombie films, he uses the undead as a thinly disguised metaphor for some part of the human condition. Night of the Living Dead is as much about racism as it is about zombies. And my personal favorite, Dawn of the Dead, is a thinly veiled discussion on modern consumer culture. These underlying plots are what make those movies classics. The zombies are there to scare us, but they mean so much more.

When you see a rotting corpse in Dawn of the Dead, you're seeing the storyteller's attempt to equate consumerism and death. Romero is asking you, without having to ask, "What do all your possessions matter when you're dead?"

In Night of the Living Dead, when those creatures outside are threatening to eat the occupants of that house, Romero is asking you, "What does it matter what skin color you are when you're dead?"
You're going to die - and there's no monster out there that more fully embodies that inescapable truth than a zombie. THAT'S why they scare us.

…And they eat people. Gross.

This post is part of Zombies vs Unicorns month co-hosted with
Literary Exploration, YA-Aholic and YA Bookmark

Fresh Batch (Feb. 26th - March 3rd)

2012-02-25T00:00:00.224-04:00

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavour of the week:

When the Sea is Rising Red

Cat Hellisen

Goodreads / Purchase

After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend, Ilven, kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous, wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.

Click here for an excerpt!

Cat's Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Cat Hellisen is an author of fantasy for adults and young adults. Born in 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa, she has also lived in Johannesburg, Knysna, and Nottingham.

Other releases this week (click on cover for Goodreads):
*In no particular order* *Purchase links are for Book Depository*

Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother.

.Xpresso Reads.

Black City Cover Reveal + Giveaway (INTL)

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

The Weeping Tour Stop

Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Blogger Zombies Guest Post

In My Mailbox (24)

Review & Guest Post: Deadlocked by A.R. Wise

Fresh Batch (Feb. 26th - March 3rd)

Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Massive Cover Reveal - 5 New Pretties

Review: Torn by Amanda Hocking

Review: The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Review: Die For Me by Amy Plum

Review: The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

In My Mailbox (23)

Fresh Batch (Feb. 19th - 25th)

Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Miss World Tour Stop

Giveaway: Starters by Lissa Price (CAN)

Review: The Dark and Hollow Places

Guest post & Giveaway with Sean Page

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Guest post & Giveaway with Suz Korb

Dusty Reads (21)