Blog Tour ~ Shift by Raine Thomas *Quotes

I am so excited today to be hosting the next stop on the Shift Blog Tour! Shift by Raine Thomas is the second book in the Firstborn series. After reading some of Raine Thomas's favorite quotes from Shift click on the banner to visit some of the other stops along the tour!

Shift by Raine Thomas

Available: Amazon, B&N

Synopsis:

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.

A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Edler Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.

Topping off Sophia's stress is Quincy, the male she's convinced can't stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can't figure out how to move past it. She'll soon learn however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.

The search for the Eldre Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don't, Eirik will aquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

Quote Highlights from SHIFT by Raine Thomas

This is one of my favorite kinds of posts! I’ve gone through Shift and selected a few bits of exchanged dialogue to help readers get a sense of how the characters connect and relate to each other. I hope you all enjoy them!

Exchange #1 (Quincy and Sophia’s mother, Olivia):

“Do you need any assistance, Olivia?” he asked.

“I sure do,” she answered with a grin. “Can you get Sophia to quit skipping out on her training sessions?"

His lips twitched. “Are you sure you don’t have something less challenging for me? Maybe a previously unknown pain, or a dire threat to your person I could possibly avert?”

Exchange #2 (Sophia’s cousin, Tate, and her protector, Zachariah):

“I’m going swimming, Sparky,” Tate argued, trying to twist away from his grip. “We wear bathing suits to swim.”

“You are practically naked. You should not be walking around others like this.”

Tate rolled her eyes. “Since when have Estilorians ever given much concern to modesty? By all that’s holy—this is my family you’re talking about here. Well…and Quincy. But he’s practically family, and he’s seen me naked lots of times.”

Exchange #3 (Sophia and Tate):

“Why do you endure Zachariah’s lectures about your wardrobe?” Sophia asked. “Any time you wear something he finds objectionable, he gets all over you about it.”

“Oh, yes,” Tate agreed. “He sure does.”

Even more perplexed, Sophia pressed, “Why don’t you tell him to leave you alone?”

“Why would I want to do that?”

Exchange #4 (Sophia, Quincy and Tate):

“Quincy?”

Tate’s muffled question came from the other side of the door just as she opened it to let herself in, something she had always done. Quincy took a step away from Sophia, who moved just as quickly in the other direction. Then they both turned guilty gazes to Tate, who studied them with raised eyebrows as she breezed into the room, followed by Zachariah.

“Oh,” she said. “What did I interrupt?”

“Nothing,” Quincy and Sophia replied at the same time.

Tate’s grin went wide as she easily read the lie in their words. “Hey, that’s great,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I interrupted nothing.”

About the Author
Raine Thomas is the author of the exciting and original series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane. Her passion for writing prompted her to earn her bachelor’s degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing from Georgia State University, then her master’s degree in Humanities from Central Michigan University. She is also a proud member of Romance Writers of America.

Residing in Orlando, Florida, Raine is a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning…two areas that intersect far more than one would think. Her years working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges inspired her to create young protagonists who overcome their own conflicts. When she isn’t writing or glued to e-mail or social networking sites, Raine can usually be found vacationing with her husband and daughter on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Goodreads / Pinterest

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Blog Tour: For Ever by C.J. Valles *Interview

Welcome to the next stop in the For Ever Blog Tour hosted by Supagurl! Author C.J. Valles has stopped by for an interview about For Ever and writing. For Ever by C.J. Valles is a paranormal romance about a girl who can read minds and the one boy she can't read. Don't forget to check out the other stops along the tour by clicking on the tour banner!

  

For Ever by C.J. Valles

Sixteen-year-old Wren Sullivan can read minds, but when she moves from Southern California to Portland, Oregon, she meets Ever Casey—the one person whose mind is off-limits. Wren does know one thing about her mysterious classmate: he has a dark secret to hide. And the closer she gets to learning the truth, the more dangerous it is for her and everyone around her.

Interview:

Did you always want to be an author?

Yep, I think at some level, even as a little kid, part of me wanted to be an author. I just got sidetracked along the way.

Tell us a bit about your novel.

For Ever follows the story of Wren Sullivan, sixteen-years-old, just moved to Portland, Oregon, and can read minds until she gets to her new school and encounters Ever Casey.

How did you come up with the idea for your novel?

For Ever started out as a two-page or so character study of a girl in high school. Now that it’s possible to read about everybody’s thoughts on the Internet, I was thinking about what it would be like to read minds and how tough that would be in high school. I enjoyed the character I was working with so much that I did some free writing and got to what I’ll call the “classroom scene,” where things just kind of blew up, and I chased the story from there. 

If you got the chance to spend a day with any character from your books, who would it be and why?

I would have to go with Ever, for the same reason my MC was so drawn to him. He’s a contradiction, a mystery. He also has a bit of an unreachable quality that I think many times draws us to celebrities and other public figures. We want to know more about them because they’re so close, yet inaccessible.

What drew you to the YA genre? 

It’s funny, because I never really read much YA when I was a young adult. I went from reading Nancy Drew in elementary school—straight into adult fiction during junior high. I had read some Sweet Valley Twins and a few one-offs of other YA books, but even at the time, it always felt like I was reading something by an adult trying to come up with what teenager might say. I know the Vampire Diaries actually came out right around the time I entered high school, but I didn’t even hear about it until maybe five years ago. I had actually started to write a more adult-centered book right before diving into YA, but then I wanted to work with characters a little bit more—hmm, not naïve, but fresh.

What do you hope readers will obtain from your book?

I think there are a lot of different reasons why I read, personally. I read to be entertained. I read to get sucked into the story someone else is weaving. I read to feel something. I read to think. I read to escape. There’s some critically lauded modern fiction out there that I’m glad I’ve read, but I was glad to be done with it. Other books have entertained me, but they wouldn’t be considered classics. When it comes to For Ever, I hope people are entertained, and that the story takes them on a journey that will continue in the sequel.

Where do you like to do your writing?

I write pretty much exclusively in my home office. I don’t have a laptop, so outside in the sunshine (when the sun shines in Portland, Oregon!) isn’t an option.

What are some of your favorite YA books or authors? Non-YA?

Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series really changed the face of YA, in my mind, because it felt like Bella Swan’s thoughts were written from such an authentic place. My curiosity with the genre was renewed after I found out about Twilight. I read L. J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries right before going on self-imposed lockdown. At that point, I stopped reading any YA, because it’s hard for me to read and write at the same time. As far as non-YA, I’m all over the place. I cruised through almost all of Carl Hiaasen’s books in a single summer. On the other side of the coin, I fell in love with The Time Traveler’s Wife and read it three times. Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls really kicked me gut when I finished it. Some of the books I love are more of a love-hate relationship.

Are there any books and stories that have influenced or stuck with you from your childhood or young-adulthood?

Yes! Definitely. I remember being absolutely captivated when one of my elementary school teachers read us Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (published in 1975). I think there are definitely echoes of the themes that touched me woven throughout For Ever. I was also a big Nancy Drew fan, so I’ve always loved a good mystery. In high school, I was swept away by Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which was so dark and gothic. If I keep thinking about it, I’ll just keep going and going … LOL

Do you have any other works published and how do they compare genre/style wise with your current work?

For Ever is my first published piece of full-length fiction. My first attempt at a full-length novel—still unfinished—was a sort of comedy-crime-mystery. Totally, totally different from For Ever. I finished another YA novel—and its sequel—just before I wrote For Ever, but they’ll never see the light of day.

Do you have any current writing projects? Can you tell us a bit about them?  

Right at the moment, I am so close to finishing a first draft of For Ever’s sequel Never. (I’m taking a little break for this interview!) I am really, really excited about that. I also have another YA title that I’m about a third of the way through that’s a twist on ghosts. I’ll work on finishing that one once The Ever Series is done!

Thanks, Angela, for the great questions and sharing with your followers!

Thanks go out to author C.J. Valles for stopping by to give us an inside look at For Ever and to Supagurl for hosting the For Ever Blog Tour!

Blog Tour: Never Say Never by Kailin Gow *Review

I am thrilled to be host today's stop in the Never Say Never Blog Tour! Never Say Never by Kailin Gow is a rockin' romance that follows Never Knight as she faces the changes growing up has on her relationships with her band mates. Click on the banner to visit the tour schedule page and check out guest posts from Kailin Gow, more reviews, and a chance to win in some awesome giveaways!

Never Say Never  

by Kailin Gow

Published: August 13, 2012

Publisher: theEDGEbooks.com

Available: Amazon

Synopsis:

What girl wouldn't want to be surrounded by the sexy guys from the hottest teen rock sensation in the country? 18-year-old Never "Neve" Knight, not only is surrounded by the hottest boys to hit the music charts, but she is the band's lead singer. As the band's lead singer and manager, Never formed and shaped the band to where it is today, a band on the rise and on the brink of being signed by a label. As one of the guys, she knew each of the band members since they were all snot-nose ten-year-olds. While her boys were the cutest guys and they would protect her like knights, she couldn't date any one of them and ruin the chance at being signed with the record label of her dreams.

That changes when one of the band members suddenly drops out of the band, and in walks Danny Blue, with his dreamy blue eyes, hot body, and British accent. Suddenly, Never's solid world has turned to mush, and her rule for not dating one of her band members is seriously challenged. Can she keep her head straight and get her band signed with a label without losing her heart?

Review:
I was pretty hesitant when I first started reading Never Say Never. I'm not into girl bands at all, but I really enjoyed Loving Summer by Gow and I love this cover, so I decided to give it a chance. By the second chapter I was completely into it.

Never is the daughter of a famous rock star, wanting to break into the business on her own merits, and despite her dad's disapproval. These two things are what made me like Never. Gow did a great job of making Never a relatable character even with her good looks, hot boyfriend, musical talent and uber rich family.

Never Say Never is not a YA book. It is a New Adult book, which really means it's YA with some mature content and slightly older characters. While the majority of the story could easily fit into the YA genre, Never's relationship with Danny Blue takes it into that new category. Danny is in his mid twenties and the type of relationship they develop goes beyond what would normally be in YA. It wasn't the sex as much as how Gow approached the sex scenes that for me made this for an older audience. There was definitely a more sensual nature to the scenes than I would expect in YA. It makes me wonder how Gow would be at writing straight genre romance.

Gow writes at a quick pace and it's hard to put down one of her books once you start, because with every turn of the page she keeps moving the story along. Overall, Never Say Never is a great read for older YA readers looking for a fun romance.

About the Author

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are:  The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more.  A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film.  She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world.

Website |Goodreads | Facebook  | Amazon| Blog| Twitter 

Book Trailer ~ The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Blog Tour: Ciao by Bethany Lopez *Character Tweets and G!vaway

I am excited to be hosting the next stop in the Ciao Blog Tour! Ciao is the third book in the Stories About Melissa series from author Bethany Lopez. After reading some Ciao Character Tweets and entering the giveaway, don't forget to click on the banner to visit the other stops along the tour!

Ciao (Stories About Melissa #3)

by Bethany Lopez

Melissa has had a fantastic summer hanging out with her friends and making new ones. Life as she knows it will change when they all come together to begin their sophomore year at Dearborn High. Connections will be made and friendships will be tested. Will Melissa’s family and friends be able to help her through the challenges she will face in the upcoming months?

Ciao Character Tweets

Author Bio

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories About Melissa. Ta Ta for Now! and xoxoxo are available now. Book three, Ciao, will be released in Aug 2012.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon / Goodreads 

Other books by Bethan Lopez in the Stories About Melissa series:

 

Giveaway Details:

Signed paperback copies of all three books: Ta Ta for Now!, XOXOXO, and Ciao, along with a Bookmark and Magnet and a Book Nerd necklace!  US Only.

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Review: Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman

Beautiful Lies 

by Jessica Warman

Published: August 7, 2012

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Available: Amazon (pre-order)

Synopsis:

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins-so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they've lived with since their parents passed away, can't tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong-especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?

Review:
Beautiful Lies is really all about lies. Not just the lies the characters tell each other, but also the lies the narrator tells the reader, and the tricks that the author plays on them. 

Part of those lies and tricks play into the idea that the girls come from a family with a history of mental illness. As the story progresses and we learn about the secrets and lies that are between the twins, it makes the idea of mental illness seem even more likely, but which one is suffering from it? The twin that is missing, who maybe really just ran away? Or the twin left behind, who is suffering from strange injuries? Warman worked so hard to make me not trust the narrator, yet then struggled to make me believe in her. Maybe that was her intention, to have me constantly questioning what was real, but it didn't work. When the first major 'lie' is revealed about 20% into the book, I was able to piece together most of the remaining plot really quickly. By halfway I had figured out the rest.

The sympathetic injuries would have been interesting, but I felt like certain aspects were being forced onto me. There's constant dialogue and narration about how the girls are an extremely rare type of twins, yada, yada, yada. Hearing it explained three times to different characters isn't going to make it believable. Let the actions and experiences of the twins speak to the power of it. Don't add in a cop with epilepsy and a guide dog that believes in her because he can make lights flicker. The cop doesn't have to have powers believe her at all, he only has to believe that she believes it, especially when his 'ability' never actually does anything for the plot.


There were parts I liked. Parts that were scattered throughout, but were disjointed by various overly descriptive memories that cut through them. Warman's writing shines when she is focused on the intensity of the action. There is a scene in the barn, which was wonderful, yet just before that there was a super long trip down memory lane that had me skimming paragraph after paragraph. This was a long book, 422 pages in print. So much of what was written was unnecessary to the central plot, yet was supposed to tie in, which made it even stranger that the end was wrapped up in less time than it took to describe the family that passes by the girls before the disappearance. The way I see it, a kidnapping/missing person story is a story that needs urgency. There is absolutely none of that, and one of the biggest details that would have given all the other characters a reason to be feeling urgent is a lie that the narrator keeps, which even after reading the entire book, I still don't get why she wouldn't have confessed to it the minute she 'knew' something was wrong.

This is definitely a book for readers who are up for a long read, love detail, and don't mind guessing if what they are being told is the truth. Personally I like to have some trust in my narrator.

Review: The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Stone Girl 

by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Published: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Available: Amazon (pre-order)

Synopsis:

She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn’t hurt, because she’s not real anymore.

Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.

Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.

Review:
I rarely (never) read stories focusing on eating disorders or self-harm, so I surprised myself when I decided to read The Stone Girl. These types of stories rarely interest me since I can't understand the desire to hurt or to starve one's self. Although, considering the amazing cover I can now see why I fell into the trap.

The Stone Girl ended up being just an average read for me. There was nothing that I absolutely loved, nor anything I absolutely hated. The writing style is very telling and with being in the third person I felt very removed from Sethie's character. Maybe if it had been in first person I would have felt more of her pain, instead I was just told. 

It's pretty obvious from the start that Sethie has low self-esteem, and this quickly develops into anorexia, bulimia, and self-mutilation. As part of her low self-esteem, she has zero self-respect. Her "boyfriend" Shaw only wants to be with her for sex, and although she realizes this, she continues to tell herself that if only she were thinner and less clingy he will eventually come around. Sethie clings to the idea of Shaw like a lifeline, despite him being a complete prick. I had no clue why she loved him, other than him giving her some type of validation as to her lack of self-worth. Being with him includes drinking and drugs and of course sex. By the end of the book it's pretty obvious that Sethie is seriously messed up, beyond an eating disorder.

So many times while reading I just shook my head and thought 'how pathetic (interchangable with: stupid, lame, idiotic, sad, desperate) can she be?'. I understand depression skews the way a person views the world, themselves, and the precepetion they have of themselves in relation to the world, but it all felt like the author was missing some point. There was no growth on Sethie's part. Just when it seemed like she was going to have a breakthrough, she leaps backwards even further away from sane than before due to the actions of someone else.

At the end it just felt like she was giving in to the pressure from yet another person. I've read a few other reviews saying it was like an instruction manual on eating disorders, and while I don't completely agree, I can definitely see their point. Sethie doesn't really have any moments where she realizes what is happening is due to bigger things than food, she never really questions what she is doing. Instead, we hear about what she does to reach her 'goal' and why. There were things she did that had me going "I wonder if that really works?" before I stopped and had to tell myself I am not that desperate. 

I have to say that my recommendation for this book is on a very limited scope: mature, older YA reads, who have never suffered from depression, or any of the other disorders Sethie suffers from.

Book Trailer ~ Wake by Amanda Hocking

Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder 

by Marissa Meyer

Published: January 3, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Available: Amazon

Synopsis:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review:
I'm usually a little cautious about books that become really popular, but with Cinder I had to read it if only for the cover. That said, I was so glad I decided to. Cinder is unlike any fairy tale retelling I've read. The world Meyer created is so detailed and done in such a casual way that it felt entirely believable.

Cinder, though, is not the typical Cinderella. Not once does she wait around to be rescued from her horrible life by a marriage proposal from Prince Kai. She knows and uses her abilities, first in an attempt to help her sister, and later in an attempt to help the Prince retain control of his kingdom. I really enjoyed how she wasn't falling all over the Prince even though he is kind, charming, and good looking. It was interesting to see the discrimination she faced and how she dealt with it in a very matter-of-fact way. She wanted a better life, she wanted to be judged for her actions and abilities, yet she never sits around having a pity party.

I did find the different ways of referring to people a bit confusing at first. Cinder is also called Miss. Linh, and Linh-mei (with an accent on the e). But after the first few times, I caught on and it added depth to the world building.


There were a few twists thrown in and I think they'll make the sequel even more interesting. Marissa Meyer is definitely an author I will be reading more from.

Cover Reveal ~ Kings & Queens by Courtney Vail

Kings & Queens by Courtney Vail has a new ebook cover out and I absolutely love it!!

Kings & Queens by Courtney Vail

How would YOU stop a massacre ... if you were only seventeen?
If the cops didn't believe you?
If your mom never listened?
If your friends thought it was a joke?
If the faceless nutjobs trolled your halls and somehow knew your every move before you made it?

Majesty Alistair, who's biggest aims of late have been to best Grief and keep any nearby 2x4s from colliding with her crush's head, has to figure that out and go all Veronica Mars when she overhears two fellow students planning a church shooting. Her hammering pleas to investigate her father's recent death and other possible crimes-in-the-works have totally killed her cred with cops, so, armed with just the bits and pieces she caught, she strives to ID the gun-toting freaks herself before they act. But when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, she becomes the centerpiece in a ruthless game that casts even her closest friends under suspicion and puts her in a conundrum where winning or losing will leave blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.

Now Available at Amazon!

Young Adult G!veaway Hop!

Thanks go out to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Reading Teen for hosting this awesome giveaway hop! For this hop I thought I'd offer up the choice of some books I've previously read, or plan to read. One winner will get to choose one of the books to be gifted to them via Amazon or B&N.

Books to choose from:

Don't forget to check out the other stops on the hop!

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Blog Tour ~ Nocturnal by Chelsea M. Cameron Review

I am thrilled to be hosting today's stop on the Noctalis Blog Tour! This is a double book tour and I am reviewing the first book in the series Nocturnal. Don't forget to enter the giveaway and click on the tour banner to see the other stops along the tour!

Nocturnal 

by Chelsea M. Cameron

Published: February 11, 2012

Available: Amazon

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ava-Claire Sullivan isn't one for doing the expected. Especially when she finds out her mother's cancer is terminal. After a crying session in the local cemetery where she's attacked by one strange guy and saved by another, she doesn't call the cops. Because those guys definitely weren't your average hooligans.

And the one who sort-of saved her? Well, he's odd. He doesn't seem to breathe or smile or have anything better to do than wait in the cemetery for Ava to come back. Which she does. Call it morbid curiosity. Even after he warns her that he's dangerous, she can't stop wanting to see him, talk to him, be with him.

There's something about Peter that provides a much-needed escape from her mother's diagnosis and her tenuous relationship with her father. Even her best friends Jamie and Texas don't know what it's like to face death. But Peter does. He already has. He also made a promise a long time ago that could destroy both of them.

When everything in your life is falling apart, what are you willing to give up to hold onto the one thing that could last forever?

Review:

I've always been a little hesitant about vampire stories. They just never really worked for me. And with the Twilight era still in full force, I've been even more cautious. Nocturnal was a wonderful departure to all of the Twilight knockoffs.

This is so much more than just a vampire story, and I really think that it is in the other issues that Ava is dealing with that the strength of this novel is built. Ava has departmentalized her problems into Thing One and things Two. Thing Two is Peter, the noctalis she meets in the cemetery, who we learn is a vampire. She's drawn to him, even before she knows what he is, but what's great is that she questions her own sanity in meeting him again. She isn't living in a fantasy Bella world where she stupidly trusts Peter to never hurt her. Ava is completely aware of what Peter is capable of, and yet she still finds herself pulled in.

Thing One is the part of the story that really makes this an amazing story, and also helps explain part of Ava's fascination with Peter. Thing One is that Ava's mother is dying of cancer. Cameron does an amazing job of showing how scared Ava is, and how she is struggling to cope with what she knows is the eventual knowledge that her mother will die. I really felt that if Ava weren't in this constant presence of looming death that she never would have been so attracted to Peter. He represented the exact opposite of the reality she faced with her mom.

Cameron definitely starts this series off with a bang! I can't wait to read Nightmare!

So two extras to add:

First, Nocturnal and Nightmare will be free from Aug. 10th through Aug 14th on Amazon!!

Second, join us for Nocturnal Night on August 30th 8pm EST / 7pm CST for a LIVE Video chat with Author of Nocturnal and Nightmare Chelsea Cameron.

We will be chatting about everything from her books, the writing process, to Edward v/s Jacob *grins* There will be some giveaways going on too. Don't have a webcam? No worries you can still totally join in with text chatting. You will be able to see everyone else. Shy? Don't be we are all eager to meet you!! Join us for a night of Awesome.

http://nocturnalnight.eventbrite.com/

You can preregister at the above link. Which would be amazing or you can just show up...

On that night be sure to enter the chat with this link *Will also be up on SupaGurl Books www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com

http://shindig.com/event/nocturnal