Interview with Gina Damico

Today, I am very happy to welcome Gina Damico to my blog. She is the author of the YA series, Croak. The first in the series, also entitled Croak, releases today, yay!! She has happily agreed to answer a few questions for us. 


So, lets get started.


Would you like to start by telling us a bit about yourself.
I have very small hands. Like, creepy small. Let's see, I live in a hundred year old house outside of Boston, I own over a hundred board games - though to be fair, most of them were brought to the party by my husband - and I just ate some delicious eggplant ravioli with nutmeg sauce.


Can you sum up "Croak" in 10 words?
It has a very shiny cover, and lots of death.


If you could hang out with any of the characters for a day, who would it be?
I'd love to get Pandora's recipes for all things deep-fried. Plus she's old and cranky, and cranky old people always make for a good time.


What inspired you to write about grim reapers?
While the initial idea just sort of popped into my head, the more I thought about it, the more opportunities I saw for humor and a quirky twist on the classic stereotype of 'creepy tall guy in torn-up hooded cloak'. Just add teenagers, a dash of mystery, and stir!


If Croak was made into a movie, who would you like to see play Lex, Driggs and Uncle Mort?
For Lex and Driggs, I'd want a couple of no-name teenagers (who are actually teenagers) who hadn't done much before. I don't know why - I just kind of like the idea of having brand new kids, as opposed ones we've seen before in other things. As for Uncle Mort, I must confess a certain affinity for Colin Farrell. He'd have the perfect look, and is badass, snarky, and likable all at the same time.


Scorch, the second book is coming out in the Fall, how many books do you plan to write in the Croak series?
Three. I know where I want the story to go and I have a satisfying ending in my head, and I don't see the need to stretch it out beyond that. Anything could happen, I suppose, but as much as I love the Croak kids, I also want the opportunity to write new things after the series is over. And then of course there's my erotic Titanic fan fiction career to consider...


Quickfire Questions


Killer or Culler - Killer. I'm not graceful enough to be a Culler. I'd drop souls all over the place.


Tea or Coffee - Coffee, though I hate the taste of both. I only drink it because it makes me temporarily nutzoid.


Favourite Song - I don't know that it's my definite favorite, but I think that if every day ended with a rousing rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'", we'd all be a lot happier.


Favourite Colour - Bright green. No, red. No, black. Purple! What was the question again?


Favourite Book - There are so many books that I've fallen in love with as an adult, but I think the book that I've loved for the longest is Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss. Considering the fact that I have a book coming out, I feel very lucky these days indeed - certainly luckier than the Crumple-horn, Web-footed, Green-bearded Schlottz, whose tail is entailed with unsolvable knots!


Favourite Genre - Action/Fantasy/Paranormal/Pop Science Nonfiction. That's a thing, right?


What are you reading now? At the moment I'm plowing through a pile of books by the Apocalypsies, which is the group of 2012 debut YA/MG authors that I belong to. Trust me, this is going to be a good year for book nuts.


Thanks for having me, and happy reaping reading!


Thank you so much for joining us today Gina and I wish you the best of luck with Croak, which I'm sure you don't need. 


You can read my review here.

Goodreads/Website/Blog/Facebook/Twitter

Buy the Book Amazon/The Book Depository

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Wraith Giveaway

Wraith by Edie Claire

She thought that seeing the shadows was a curse. Until she saw him.

Seventeen-year-old Kali has always seen two sets of people: those living now, and those who lived before. But on her spring break in Hawaii, she is suddenly surrounded by more shadows than ever. Including one who, unlike the others, can see her too.

Zane remembers nothing besides surfing the monster waves of Oahu's North Shore. He doesn't even know how, or when, he died. He only knows that Kali's "gift" could be his last chance to find the light--before the mysteries of his past plunge them both into darkness…


My Review


Giveaway is international. Everyone who enters will get a half price voucher to buy the book :) 

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In My Mailbox #13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we share what we have bought/received/borrowed throughout the week.

I received these books for review this week


   


Illicit Magic (Stella Mayweather #1) by Camilla Chafer
Torn by Ashley S. Morgan
When Destiny Knocks by Heather M. White
The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker




 


Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin




I won this in a blog giveaway





Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg




Thank you for stopping by. What was in your mailbox this week?

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

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Quote of the Week #8

This is my weekly meme where I post one of my favourite quotes. Feel free to join in. I do it on Friday but you can do it any day of the week you choose just post your link in a comment below. 

This week my quote comes from Love You To Death and High Stakes by Meg Cabot. The first two books in the Mediator series. This is one of my favourite series.

“I may have been dead for the past hundred and fifty years, Susannah,...but that doesn't mean I don't know how people say good night. And generally, when people say good night, they keep their tongues to themselves.”

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Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt
Publication: 10th April 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 1620610000
Young Adult


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


World war 4 has decimated the United States. Tess lives in a compound in the West with a group of naturals. The Easterners and Westerners are constantly at war due to disagreements in the way to re-establish the country. Women can no longer have children and men are being killed at war. The government begin a Council of Creators to build a new race who will live on when the human race has died out. They are physically stronger and faster than humans (naturals), and they are trained to fight against the Easterners. They are only creating men, no women.


When the oldest girl in each family reaches the age of 16, she must go to work at Templeton, the training centre of the Chosen Ones, as a slave for three years. When Tess' older sister Emma dies in childbirth, Tess must take her place.


Tess has had a hard, sad life. She watched her father be taken away by Chosen Ones and he never returned. Her mother was an alcoholic who killed herself. Her childhood friend Henry, stopped talking to her one day and she doesn't know why. Now she only has her younger sister Louisa, who she was never really close to, and Robert, Emma's husband, who she can barely stand to look at.


Tess has always stuck to the rules of the Council and plans to never fall in love. She buries her emotions deep and doesn't show her feelings on the outside. But everything changes when she goes to Templeton. She discovers that the Chosen Ones have everything. They are treated like Gods compared to the naturals, who have lost almost everything; books, music and education. The naturals food is rationed. Tess can't remember the last time she had butter and at Templeton she is serving foods she has never even heard of, along with champagne.


She has always been taught that the Chosen Ones are there to protect the naturals but she realises that this is not the case. The Chosen Ones are taught to hate the naturals and they see them as being beneath them. Life is dangerous for the girls at Templeton. Tess meets James and discovers he is different to the others. They share a love of music and books and spend a lot of time together. But they must be careful not to show their feelings in front of anyone else.


Tess feels that she can't just stand by and watch what the Council are doing. There must be someone or something who can help them. When Tess' life is in danger, she discovers the Resistance.


The ending of this book shattered my heart and I am really anxious for the next instalment.


I really, really liked this. It has to be my favourite dystopian. It is so well written and easy to read even though there is a lot of information involved. Tiffany did a great job at the world building, I could totally envision it. Tess is given letters that her dad had written to her when she was a little girl. Through these, her dad gives us an insight into what was going on with the Council and that he was against it.


This is a fantastic story of discord, courage and love in the face of adversity. I strongly recommend it.

"The female is dangerous because of her natural tendency to embrace humans emotional side and her ability to elicit and encourage sexual activity."..."Sex equates full and utter dependence on someone else both physically and emotionally. There is brutal war going on right outside our home; we can't afford to be distracted."

Pre-order: Amazon/The Book Depository 

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review

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Waiting on Wednesday #6

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

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta


Expected publication: July 3rd 2012 by Tor/Macmillan 

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

I think this sounds really interesting and the cover is amazing. What do you think? Add it to your TBR on Goodreads.

What are you waiting on today? Leave me a comment so I can check it out.

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COVER REVEAL: Between by Cambria Hebert

Before by Cambria Hebert
Book Release Date: April 20th 2012
Target Reader: Young Adult


Blurb:

I grew up in a comfortable house with two parents and a white-picket fence. My brother, Sam, and I used to play with sticks in the backyard and pretend they were swords. There were always cookies on the table and milk in the fridge. Then, one day, things changed.

Sam changed.

Life was never the same again. Sam left. My parents abandoned him when he needed them most, and I was left to survive in a house that was merely a shell of what it used to be. Mom cried all the time and Dad expected me to fill the void my brother left behind. But mostly, all we did was pretend. We pretended that things weren’t messed up. We pretended that Sam never existed.

Until I changed, too.

Now, everything’s a mess and I’m so confused. It’s like there are two different people trapped inside one body—my body—and one of them wants out. I do things. Bad things and I don’t know how to stop. I’m not sure I want to. The only way I can be normal again is if I find Sam. He’ll know what to do. He has too.


I am loving this cover, isn't it awesome. I can't wait to read this and learn more about Logan. We only got a glimpse of him in Masquerade


Check out the trailer 

Cover Designed by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design (http://www.maeidesign.com)

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Vivid by Andrea Murray

Vivid by Andrea Murray
Published: December 13th 2011
ASIN: B006M5L7EK
Young Adult


My rating: 3.5 Stars


When Vivian was 5 years old, she saw her mother die and she was taken to live with her aunt Charlotte. Now, 11 years later, she is starting to dream about her mother, and the men she was running from.


Vivian has a gift. As had her mother and her grandmother before her. She can control the energy around her. Her gift mainly lies dormant, until one day, her best friend is attacked in the cafeteria and Vivian accidentally burns the bully's arm. After that, she just can't seem to stop using it. She decides she needs to leave in order to protect the people she loves from the same people who killed her mother.


Vivian is a strong female protagonist who grows and develops throughout this book. By the end, she is kick ass. She is really likeable and I was completely drawn to her from the start of the book. She is kind of an outcast at school, with only one friend, Abby. So when she has to tutor a jock, Easton, as punishment, she can't believe it when he seems to be attracted to her. Easton is a good guy. He is hot and sweet and I couldn't help but like him.


Abby, the best friend, didn't actually stand out too much. I wasn't crazy about her anyway for reasons which will become clear when you read the book.


I enjoyed this book a lot. Most of it is actually about Vivian learning about her powers and how to control them. We don't see much action until the very end aside from some high school drama with the usual high school populars who like to pick on others. Trista, is one such girl and she has a big grudge against Vivian. There wasn't insta-love but I felt that it did move towards the 'L' word a little too quickly.


This book is the first in a series and paved the way for what I hope to be an even better second instalment which I will be looking forward to reading. I can't wait to see how Vivian deals with the events that unfolded at the end of this book.

Buy the Book Amazon/Barnes & Noble

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COVER REVEAL: My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris

My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris
Book Release Date:  11th September 2012
Target Reader: Young Adult


Blurb

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.
Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?


Excerpt from the book:

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”

She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?”

At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.

Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”

I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.

Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.

“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”

Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.

Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

I love this cover, the colours are amazing. And the 16th century dress paired with the modern day sunglasses and pink nail varnish is great. What do you think? 

Pre-order the book: Amazon/Barnes & Noble

And don't forget to add it to your TBR on Goodreads

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In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we share what we have bought/received/borrowed throughout the week.

Bought from Amazon

Significance by Shelly Crane
Accordance by Shelly Crane


Got free from Amazon

Six Moon Summer by SM Reine
All Hallows Moon by SM Reine
Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel


For Review

Crave by Melissa Darnell

Thanks to Rebecca Short from Mira Ink for providing a copy of Crave for review

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Balthazar by Claudia Gray

Balthazar by Claudia Gray
Published: 6th March 2012 by Harper Teen
ISBN: 0061961183
Young Adult




My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this book but to be honest, I thought I would have enjoyed a book about Balthazar more (no pun intended lol). He was my favourite character from the Evernight series and I couldn't wait to read this. I thought this was just going to be one book to finish off Balthazar's story and leave us with his happily ever after but from the ending, its seems like it could be the first of a series (I'll have to check this out though I could be wrong).


I feel that as a series, it could become long winded and drawn out in a game of cat and mouse just with a change of head cat for next time. But of course, Ms. Gray could have some fantastic idea's up her sleeve that she can add to this. If its not going to be a series, then there was a lot of loose ends, so my guess would be that it is.


Balthazar is a fantastic character. Swoonworthy, brave, strong and considerate. He arrives at Skye's house, having been asked by Lucas to check on her because she was having a problem with some wraiths. He is just in time to save her from being killed by a vampire. But in the attack, the vampire manages to get a taste of Skye's blood, which turns out to have a special effect on vampires. When he returns to his tribe and tells them about it, the entire tribe go after Skye, led by Redgrave.


Skye is an awesome heroine. I didn't pay too much attention to her in the Evernight series even though she was the one who saved Bianca in the end. She showed us then how brave she was by letting Bianca possess her, and that bravery continues to show in Balthazar. She doesn't hide away when she has all the vampires on her tail, she continues on with life as best she can. She even gets Balthazar to teach her how to fight.


Most of the secondary characters in this are vampires, including Charity, Balthazars sister, who continues to be a large pain in Balthazar's butt.


We see some flashbacks into Balthazar's past which are really interesting. Previous run ins with Redgrave and his tribe. We find out more about the events surrounding him being turned into a vampire.


I would recommend this book to fans of the Evernight series. I think you could probably still read and enjoy it without having read Evernight once the reader had some idea as to who Lucas and Bianca are. They don't play that big a part in this book but I feel that if it is a series, we may see them return. There is definitely an opening for it.

Buy the Book Amazon/The Book Depository

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Quote of the Week #7

This is my weekly meme where I post one of my favourite quotes. Feel free to join in. I do it on Friday but you can do it any day of the week you choose just post your link in a comment below. 

This week my quote comes from The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong, #3 in the Darkest Powers series

“You're crying?" he said.
"No, I- " I tore my gaze away. "Just dust. From the path. Simon's that way."
I tried to pass him, but he stooped, trying to get a loom of my face. When I wouldn't let him, he caught my chin. I jerked back, flinching at his touch, heart thudding at it, too.
I told myself Simon was wrong. I'd never be dumb enough to fall for Derek. But I had. With him so close, my stomach kept doing weird flips. It wasn't fear. It hadn't been fear for awhile.
"You have been crying," he said, voice softer.”

I absolutely love this series. Everytime I read the quotes I want to read the whole series again. Chloe and Derek are one of my favourite book couples 

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150 Follower Giveaway

Well, I have reached 150 followers (probably more if I count Linky and Networked blogs but only counting GFC for the purpose of this giveaway). Thank you so much to you all. I did my first giveaway at 50 followers so it seems right to do the next one at 150, but I wont do another until 300 followers. If by any chance I reach 300 followers while this giveaway is still running, I will add another prize and will give away two books to the value of €10 each.


Update: I have reached 300 GFC followers...Yay :D....so as promised, I am adding another prize to the giveaway. You now have two chances to win!  


This giveaway is international, providing The Book Depository ship to your country for free. You can check here.

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Waiting on Wednesday #5

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

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?






I think this one sounds really good. Have seen a few good reviews about it too. I can't wait to read this!


What are you waiting on today. Leave me a comment and let me know :)

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BaSatai: Outside In by Suzan Battah

BaSatai: Outside In #1 by Suzan Battah
Published by Suzan Battah
Release Date: 14th April 2012
ISBN: 1468140450
Young Adult


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was so good. It was completely different to what I was expecting. I really didn't expect to love it as much as I did and now I miss the BaSatai already. I can't wait for the next in the series.


Armani is a BaSatai who is born with a curse in her blood. If she dies, all BaSati will die with the destruction of their realm, H-trea, but humanity will also be wiped out with the destruction of the earth.


When Armani is a few days old, she is taken to earth to be raised as a human by Elijah, a 72 year old man, in the hopes of keeping her safe from their enemies, the Stequob's. When she is 17, her guardian Karhl and the BaSatai that she is meant to be with, Rafael, arrive on earth. They are to protect her and train her. Other BaSatai will soon arrive and when Armani is ready, they will all return to H-trae.


Armani is in denial. She does not want to be the one who's cursed. She just wants to be normal. A normal human that is. While she has a smart mouth and comes across as being tough, I feel she is vulnerable and just wants to be accepted. Especially by "The Primpers", the popular girls in school, who have labeled Armani a freak. Armani is a likeable character but at times she made some stupid decisions and could be childish and whiney and I just wanted to shake her it was so frustrating lol. She would go off on one and lose her temper towards someone, usually Rafael, for stupid or no reasons. She came into her own though in the end of the book and I look forward to seeing her character grow with her acceptance of her BaSati heritage in the next instalment in this series.


I really liked Karhl and Rafael. Karhl connects with Armani so he can feel her emotions. This is to help him to better protect her. They become really close and Armani soon grows to love him, in a brotherly way.


She is falling in love with Rafael, who is already crazy about her as he knew they were destined for each other. He wants to connect with her but she won't. She says the reason she won't is because he would die for her and she doesn't want anyone to die to keep her safe. I didn't like this as a reason and really couldn't see why she wouldn't just connect with him. It would have made a lot of things better for them.


This book confused me at times because things seemed to just happen and there would be no explanation as to why. Sometimes the scene would change suddenly and I felt the dialogue could be a bit off at times. Armani would ask a question that wouldn't be answered and then there would be no mention of it again. This was all very frustrating and hindered the natural flow of the book.


I didn't like the use of the BaSatai language. Armani didn't understand what they were saying and no one ever translated for her which left the reader out of the loop too.


Aside from that, this was a fantastic story. It was original and creative and I didn't want to put it down. The character number increase as more BaSatai and guardians arrive on earth and I thought the characters were really well written. The ending of the book is amazing. The action picks up, there is a twist that is completely unforeseen and something happens that made me just want to scream.


I feel the writing style also improved as the book came to an end which made the action packed ending flow much better. We don't get to see H-trae in this book but I really hope that we get to discover it in the next one. I think I have an idea of one direction the next book is going to take and a part of me really hopes that I am wrong. I'll just have to wait and see. And hope that I won't be waiting too long.


"So, we're all in agreement," Armani declared brightly into the tense atmosphere. "Good, let's get this over with. Shut up Rafael, don't say it, you would do the same for me." "That's different!" he snapped. "You shouldn't." She couldn't comprehend his reasoning. "Why?" Rafael blinked a few times. "Because you don't love me the way I love you!"


Thanks to Suzan Battah for supplying a copy of this book for review.

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Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. You know the rules: grab your current read, open to a random page and share a two sentence teaser with us (no spoilers!). Be sure to tell us about the book, so we can add it to our TBR list!

This week my Teaser comes from BaSatai: Outside In by Suzan Battah

"You came to find Karhl. I really thought you wouldn't. You were so absorbed with Lily," she said. Rafael's eyes darkened as he shook his head. "I didn't come for him." Her jaw tensed. I should have known. "Then go away." He held up his hands before she could say anything else. "I'm here for you, to help you, to make sure you stay alive because your so stubborn you won't give up looking for the walking dead!"

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In My Mailbox #11

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we share what we have bought/received/borrowed throughout the week.

First off, this week, I had to replace my Kindle. The screen is damaged. I think (no one has admitted to it though) that one of the kids might have knocked it down. Anyone else have any problems with Kindle screens? I'm starting to believe them, usually one of them would have told by now.

I did have the keyboard one previously but found I hardly used the keyboard so just went for the basic one this time. And I actually prefer it! Who knew? I insured this one, just in case :)


I didn't buy any books this week but I received these from Netgalley

  

And this series too

  

What did you have in your mailbox this week?

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Touch by Jus Accardo

Touch by Jus Accardo
Published 1st November 2011
By Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 1937044459
Young Adult


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book turned out completely different than I expected and I loved it!


Dez in on her way home from a party when a guy literally lands at her feet. He asks Dez for her shoes and she gives them to him, not because she's afraid of him, but because of the fear she sees in his eyes. Dez covers for the boy and sends the two guys who are chasing him in the opposite direction. Always looking for ways to annoy her dad, she invites the boy, whose name is Kale, back to her house. He tells Dez that he has escaped from Denazen, a company that kidnaps kids with special powers, "sixes", and uses them for their own use. Kale is used for murder. His touch can kill.


Dez thought Denazen was a law firm her dad worked at. It turns out she didn't know her dad at all. Suddenly, she finds herself on the run with Kale. And the person she's running from is her dad.


Kale was great, a really likeable character. But with him having to learn some of the aspects of human behaviour, he reminded me of Data from Star Trek and I just constantly imagined him as kind of robotic. This didn't do much for my image of how swoonworthy he should be.


Dez was a fantastic heroine. She was tough and brave and not afraid to throw a dig if someone deserved it. But she was also sensitive and caring to the people she loved and cared about.


I really didn't get Alex. He supposedly does what he does because he is in love with Dez and wants her for himself, but a decent person wouldn't do the things he does to someone they love. Yet he seemed like a decent enough guy most of the time. I am hoping we see more of him in the next book so I can try to figure him out.


The idea of the sixes was interesting and imaginative. There were so many different types of special powers the sixes had. Like turning into a panda? Weird but it worked.


Jus's writing style just flows and she kept me intrigued throughout the book with action, suspense and romance. I didn't want to stop reading. There were a lot of characters in this book but they were all memorable and enhancing to the story.


I did feel there was one big question left unanswered. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say it involved Dez and Kale. I'm hoping this question will be answered in the next instalment in the series.


I really like this cover. The guy on the front is really HOT! I would have liked to be able to imagine him as my Kale but Data stepped in in his place lol.


“As long as I know this" - he lifted our joined hands - "is mine to hold, I'll wait for you forever.”

Buy the Book Amazon/The Book Depository

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for proving me with a copy of this book for review.

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Interview and Giveaway: Edie Claire

Hi guys. Today I'd like to welcome to my blog, author Edie Claire, to discuss her first YA novel, Wraith. 

Edie is a veterinarian, a childbirth educator, and a mother of three who delights in writing cozy mysteries, classic romantic suspense novels, comedic stage plays, and most recently, her YA ghost story, Wraith.




So, lets get started.

What inspired you to write Wraith? It's different from what you've written previously?
It started as a vague idea for a ghost story, because I really love ghost stories. (One of my previous romantic suspense novels, Long Time Coming, was about a woman returning to her hometown to encounter the ghost of her best friend, who had died when they were teenagers). But it wasn't until my first trip to Hawaii that the story idea became real to me. I was sitting on the beach, watching those beautiful, monstrous, dangerous waves, and all of a sudden it hit me. My ghost was a surfer! And furthermore, he was a teenager. Once I realized the characters were teenagers, the book had to be YA.


Can you sum up Wraith in 10 words?
Probably not. How about: "Falling in love with someone you can't touch totally sucks!"


Kali and Zane are both really likeable characters. Were they based on anyone you know or completely fictional?
They are completely fictional, except that an author always puts a bit of herself into every character, and I also put a bit of my husband into every hero. Mainly, they share our senses of humor and fun. But my husband can't surf, and I am the worst dancer ever!


If Wraith was made into a movie, who would you like to see play Kali and Zane?
Be still my heart. Wouldn't a movie be fabulous? I wonder if they'd let me on set...
Anyway, I'm not qualified to answer this question, but my seventeen-year-old daughter recommends Mila Kunis and Alex Pettyfer. Her BFF disagrees, she recommends Saoirse Ronan and Hunter Parrish.


You're a veterinarian, a childbirth educator and a mom of 3, where do you find time to write lol? 
When the kids are in school, and there are no babies coming! Seriously, I can only write part time. But I try to make every quiet minute alone at the computer count.


Quick Questions
Favourite Book?  Watership Down
Favourite Author?  Catherine Cookson or Barbara Michaels
Tea or Coffee?  Tea
Winter or Summer?  Fall!
And finally,
Would you like to be able to see dead people?
Well, maybe... but only if I saw real things that happened in the past, like Kali does. And only if I could also turn it OFF when I wanted to!


Guys, you can read my review here.

You can check out Edie's Goodreads profile, her web page, her Facebook author page and Wraith's very own Facebook page. She is on Twitter @EdieClaire.






Now for the giveaway. Edie has kindly agreed to give away an ecopy of wraith to one lucky winner. The giveaway is international.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much Edie for dropping by today and for offering a copy of your book to giveaway. I hope the winner will become as big a fan of Kali and Zane as I am. 

Buy the Book Amazon/B&N/Smashwords

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