Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

Stitch - Samantha Durante
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Released: August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.



** spoiler alert ** Warning: Spoiler-ville ahead! Seriously, DO NOT read this if you don't want the novel spoiled for you!

I went into STITCH knowing what to expect from the get-go. I’d read enough reviews of the book to know which direction Samantha was heading in with this story. Did it take anything away from the story? Absolutely not! I was still affected by all the twists and turns that Samantha threw at me.

STITCH is hard to box into one specific genre and I have come to the realization that it spans across THREE genres, not two. The book started out as a Paranormal Romance. I was completely captivated by the ghost story that was unfolding. The connection between Alessa and Isaac was undeniable. I looked forward to the brief moments where Isaac’s “ghost” appeared and Alessa was trying to figure out why she was so affected by him.

The book took a Science Fiction turn for me when the “wormholes” and “time travelling” plot came about. I was like, “Whaaat?” At first, my logical mind was resisting this plot twist, but on the other hand, I really wanted Alessa to stop the fire from happening and, in turn, prevent Isaac’s death. Just as soon as I was beginning to accept the Sci-Fi of it all, THAT happened.

By “THAT”, I mean we are suddenly told that, “No, STITCH is not really a Paranormal Romance or a Science Fiction novel about wormholes; STITCH is really a well-disguised Dystopian novel.” Um, WHOA! It sounds like a lot, right? You’re wondering how a debut, self-published author can pull something like that off, right? Trust me, the revelations aren’t overwhelming at all. Samantha Durante is one hell of a writer!

The writing was excellent and I found myself flying through this book (it totally broke my reading slump!). The characters and their relationships with each other were intriguing, and the glimpses into the Dystopian world and Paragon were really interesting. We didn’t get to see a whole lot on it, but I know there is a sequel and I’m sure many of our questions will be answered in SHUDDER.

All in all, STITCH was a fantastic debut by Samantha Durante. She has done an amazing job crossing genres and is a talented writer. I really can’t wait for SHUDDER’s release, so I’m off to bug Samantha to write faster!

Reading Slump. Yikes!

I am here today because some of you may have noticed that I have been a wee bit absent. Part of it is yes, the baby that's on the way. But I will admit, I am in a reading slump. Have you ever had one of those?

I have read multiple books in the last three weeks (maybe more weeks) and nothing appeals. I have no doubt the story is well-written, the characters realistic or unrealistic since my taste runs toward paranormal, I am just not gripped. I actually stopped reading because I felt I was being judgemental.

Now, for a nerdy, English teacher, this is a crisis. Its not that I am unwilling to read, I just need that pull, that desire to get back to the book, to see what happens.

So what do you do when in a reading slump?

What book is your go to book for a reader? Plz suggest it!

Anyone else having this problem?

Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

 Title: The Indigo Spell

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Released: Feb 12th 2013

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

 

 

After I finished reading The Indigo Spell, I sat looking at my computer for a long time trying to figure out how to put the awesomeness into words. I finally gave up and just decided to start writing and hope that I am able to convey to you how much I love this series, especially the 3rd installment.

The Indigo Spell is jammed pack full of action, humor and swoon-worthy moments (courtesy of Mr. Adrian Ivashkov).  I’ve been a fan of Adrian’s since VA but he really shines in the Bloodlines series. He is brave, chivalrous, sweet, charming and sexy (Can we take a moment just to swoon over those Spirit Dream escapades?)

“I’ll just love you whether you want me to or not”

While I like Sydney in the VA series, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because she seemed, well, a little boring but I loved Adrian and knew he was going to be one of the main characters so I picked it up and I was so glad I did! Sydney is the complete opposite of boring.  After reading the Bloodlines series, I actually find her endearing. I smile when she worries about silly things like unbuttoning the top two buttons of her blouse (how scandalous!) and when she packs flats because it’s “just smart planning for any occasion”.

As the series progresses, Sydney is changing--in a big way. She has turned into quite the little warrior, not like Rose, but she can definitely hold her own.  I love watching her character grow as she learns more about her world and finally embraces her feelings (that have been so completely obvious from the first book in my opinion!). Plus, she's pretty funny!

“His face was the picture of politeness and restraint, meaning something disastrous was probably about to happen.”

The banter between Sydney and Adrian has always been great. They make me smile. They have great chemistry and might just be my new favorite literary couple. At first glance they seem like an odd pair because they are so completely different from each other BUT they really understand each other. They have an amazing connection. I just love them!

“It’s a pirate skeleton, not the Mona Lisa. You’re not going to decrease it’s value.”

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read the VA series, but I don’t remember them being nearly this romantic (or steamy for that matter).

 “Everything about her has to do with me.”

My one and only complaint about The Indigo Spell is the let-down I felt over the character of Marcus Finch. I was expecting something more after reading all of those hints about him on Facebook. Did you guys see those?

 

Anyway, I guess I was expecting a stronger character. I was even expecting (not happily or anything) Marcus to rival Adrian for Sydney’s affection, but he was just sorta of flat. Which is good, I’m glad because I want Adrian and Sydney together. I suppose The Indigo Spell could’ve just been a “teaser” about Marcus and he’ll be more important in later novels but for all the hype about him before the release, I was just surprised he wasn’t a bigger player in this installment.  

But the rest of the story and characters more than made up for this slight disappointment.

“Any life worth having is going to have risks.”

Seriously guys, if you haven't picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for? It's fabulous! All of the action of VA but with way more romance tossed up in the mix. Definitely one of my favorites!

Now the wait for The Fiery Heart begins....finally getting inside Adrian's head? Yes please!

Interview: Erica Cope

I am so excited to get the chance to interview Erica Cope! As y'all know, she is one of my critique partners and also a very good friend, and I have been super excited about her debut novel, Lark, for a very long time. Lark is THAT book. You know? The one with the drop-dead gorgeous cover. Yeah, that one.

Erica Cope lives in Missouri with her husband and their three children. She has been writing short stories and poetry since childhood, but LARK is her first novel. She enjoys knitting, pretending she knows how to play her guitar, and reading pretty much anything you put in front of her.

____________________________________________________________________________

For those who are unfamiliar with Lark, can you briefly tell us what the story is about?

It’s a story about a completely ordinary girl who thinks she has a pretty good life. Then her world is completely turned upside down when she discovers that her real dad (who abandoned her before she was born) is actually the king of the Light Elves and that nothing is as she thought it was.

What was your inspiration behind the story?

I actually, as cliché as it sounds, woke up from a dream that I couldn’t get out of my head. I laid awake for hours before I finally just got up and wrote the whole thing down. I fell asleep after that but the next day I started thinking about what would have happened before and after the scene I dreamt. After that I started writing.

Describe your main character in five words.

Independent, caring, courageous, but also a little short-tempered and impulsive. 

She, like most teenagers, doesn’t always think things through but her heart is the driving force in her decision making.

 

Holy Jacoby! I am seriously in love with him, though Greyson is pretty awesome too. What can you tell us about this love triangle and the inspiration behind the love interests?

 I think most people “fall” for more than just one person while they are in high school. Mia is no different in that sense, but what is different is that while both Greyson and Jacoby serve a role in Mia’s life, only one of them is “right” for her.

However, she doesn’t spend the entire book contemplating which one! LOL I wanted to show that as Mia learned more about herself that she would ‘out grow’ her crush, which would then open her up to something more.

What has been your biggest challenge of being a self-published author?

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have so many people offer me advice and to answer all of my questions but a lot of it I still had to learn for myself. I guess my biggest challenge was the decision making part of it all. I didn’t want to make the wrong decision about something as simple as trim size or cream vs white paper, pricing and then end up regretting it or worse, forgetting to do something important! Like adding page numbers to my paperback…yeah…that happened. Whoops!

What do you love the most about being an author?

My most favorite thing is hearing all the positive feedback from readers. I love it when someone tells me they read it, loved it and can’t wait for the sequel…those days I’m pretty giddy and I walk around with a huge smile on my face.

I know you are super busy juggling three kids. How do you find the time to write?

Oh gosh! When I was writing LARK I would start writing as soon as I put the three Blondies to bed and I would often write until 3am without even realizing how late it was! I was in the zone! But when your kids wake up around 7am, that’s not much sleep! I survived those months by drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages!

I try to squeeze in writing whenever I can, sometimes I’ll get something stuck in my head so I’ll have to jot down some notes on a piece of paper and type it up later that night. Which in theory is a great idea but usually I write my notes so quickly that I can barely read my own handwriting!

What are you currently reading?

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. I adore Adrian!

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

I’m about 75% done with the first draft of a contemporary romance I started last fall and I’m also currently writing the sequel to LARK. Ideally, I would like to have one of the two ready to be released by this fall.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I would encourage aspiring authors to pick good crit partners! I’m immensely grateful for mine!

- FUN FACTS -

Human or elf? I could totally be an elf.

Jacoby or Greyson? I can’t say. ;) Don’t want to be unfair to my guys by picking favorites!

E-book or book? I love the convenience of ebooks but I love the smell of the real thing!

Amazon or book store? For shopping, definitely Amazon, but I could spend hours browsing a book store and sipping on coffee.

Pen or keyboard? Definitely a keyboard. Sometimes I can’t even type fast enough for my thoughts so when I do write them down I have a hard time deciphering my chicken scratch!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Erica! It was wonderful having you here!

_____________________________________________________________________________

You can find out more about Erica at the following social network sites:

Blog/Website

Facebook

Twitter - EricaCope3

Add Lark on Goodreads

Lark can be purchased in the following places:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review: LARK by Erica Cope

Lark - Erica Cope
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Released - February 5, 2013

The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…
The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.


*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to read this book and since that moment I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the fantastical world of Alfheimr.

Mia is an interesting protagonist and you get swept up in her journey as she discovers her identity as a Half-Blood and daughter of the King of the Light Elves. I especially enjoyed the history of the Light Elves and the Dark Elves. The prophecy was well-written and the plot was strong and engaging. The world-building was done well, the pacing was great and there was a lot of action that left me turning the pages.

Oh, and I have a new book boyfriend! Jacoby, oh Jacoby! Swoon! The banter between Jacoby and Mia was so witty and left me with this goofy smile on my face. There is also another love interest in the form of Greyson, and believe me when I say that he is just as swoon-worthy as Jacoby is.

Erica Cope’s debut novel is well-written, fresh, and entertaining. I was left feeling satisfied at the end, but also eager for the sequel. All in all, a fantastic debut! I highly recommend it!

Bloodlines series and the VA movie

I haven't read anything new in over a week! Shocking! I can't think of a time I've gone this long without reading anything. Yes, I have a good excuse (I've been working on getting my debut novel ready for publication) but it's more than that. I think that I'm looking forward so much to the upcoming release of The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead that I can't even think about reading anything else knowing it's soooooooo close to being released.
Richelle Mead has been doing daily "book club" posts on her blog and I've been loving all the recap and insights into each of the chapters of Bloodlines and The Golden Lily. It's been fun remembering all the funny and super swoon-worthy Adrian parts. I've always been Team Adrian though I knew Rose HAD to pick Dimitri. Rose and Dimitri are perfect for eachother but I always loved Adrian. Reading the Bloodlines series is making me love him even more!
I know that a lot of people have been hesitant to pick up the Bloodlines series because they are worried it won't live up to Vampire Academy, but they are seriously missing out. Sydney is great, Adrian is ah-mazing and just writing all this out is making me want to go re-read the first two books just so I can get an Adrian fix before February 12th.
*sigh*
But speaking of the VA world, are you guys as super stoked as me about the casting choices for the movie???

Rose

Lissa

I looked up the actress who is going to play Rose and I gotta tell you, I think she is dead on! I'm not 100% sold on Lissa based on this picture but I have seen a couple of other pictures of her that I thought "Okay, yeah, I can see it" but I will reserve judgement until after the movie.

And as for the actor playing Dimitri...Holy smokes:

Grow his hair out and he is perfect.
Filming is set to start this summer and I can not wait to see this movie! Even though I'm usually disappointed in book-to-movie adaptations, I'm an eternal optimist so I'll keep hoping.

What Makes a Great World?

So while The Owens Legacy: Redemption sits waiting for me and my dream walker novel sits waiting for me to pick TOLR up again, I started a new WIP. Yeah. I know it doesn't make much sense, but this WIP has been bouncing around in my head for a little while (at least since summer). So I am putting it down on paper.

It's a dystopia (I'm aware that the trend has died out, but when the idea is there, you go with it).

But I want all of you to go back to your Dystopia phase. I was hoping you would tell me what you think makes the world well-rounded. For the dystopia's world to be believable, what components do I need to include and fully develop?

Put it down.

Thanks!