Sunday 27 February 2011

Author Interview: Ramona Wray & Giveaway!


Ramona Wray
Website | Blog | Facebook

Ramona Wray's Books
Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale [Review] [Buy]




Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in Romania, but I haven’t lived there for a long time. I like to travel a lot which is why my six year old son knows his way around a number of airports. I love art in any form, as long as it’s not pretentious. I used to dance, but I don’t have time for it anymore. I love to run.


Being from Romania, have you ever flirted with the idea of writing about vampires? Would it be something that you may try out in the future?

Oh, I’ve written about vampires alright - a great, beloved novel over which I slaved for quite a while. Sure, vampires make fascinating characters. I might write about them again, in the future.


Could you tell us a little bit about your novel, Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale?

Sure. It’s the story of an outsider, seventeen year-old Lily Crane, who has the “power” to “see” into people’s minds simply by touching them. This makes her terribly unpopular and, to some degree, feared by many people. No touching means no boyfriend, no friends, no normal relationships. But everything changes when the hottest guy in school asks her to prom. Then a newcomer shows up in town, and he’s very interested in our girl, too. There’s a lot of drama, unexpected trips to eighteenth-century England, and a dark past that’s looming over the trio, threatening Lily’s life.

I’m not going to say more because I don’t like spoilers. Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale is a good story - surprising and funny. I hope everyone will like it.


Your trailer for the book is amazing. Did you create it yourself? Also, what was the inspiration behind the trailer?

Yes, the trailer is my baby. It was a challenge I guess - I wanted to see if I could do it. The inspiration came with the music, which was the first thing I found and loved on the spot. The pictures and the slides came after. I loved it! Making the video was like solving a puzzle, finding the right pieces and sliding them into place. It was so much fun.


Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale is your first published novel but not the first novel you’ve written. Have you considered publishing your other novels?

Not until recently. For a while I thought I wanted my vampire novel to be published, but then I changed my mind. Publishing a book and promoting it is a full time job. I wasn’t in the right place for it before.


Young Adult seems to be the preferred genre for not only teens, but adults - especially women - as well. Why do you think that is?

Same reason Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet so young - youth is inspiring. It’s what makes the world go round. The emotions, the naivete, the purity of feeling - these are precious and inspiring notions; they make the sun shine a little bit brighter.


What are some of your favorite YA reads?

Okay, I just read “Delirium” and I was blown away. I think Lauren Oliver has created something epic here. I can’t wait for the sequels! Otherwise, I have a few favorite authors. Jenny Downham’s “Before I die” was a revelation. Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Annette Curtis Klause, Sarah Dessen, Sarah Rees Brennan - I read and re-read them constantly. Greatest YA writers of our time.


Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about your book and/or yourself?

I wanted to make the book as accessible as possible for the readers which is why, from next week, Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale will be available at Amazon.com at the brand-new price of $8.64. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no definitive plans for it to be released in Australia or the UK. I’ve been getting lots of emails about this and I’m terribly sorry for not having better news.

Lastly, I want to thank those readers who have sent me their thoughts on it. Their feedback never fails to brighten my days. Thank you!

As a part of this interview, Ramona was kind enough to offer up a copy of her young adult novel Hex, A Witch And Angel Tale.

To Enter:
- Follow the link below.
- US only.
- It isn't required, but I strongly urge you to follow Ramona on Facebook. She's a delight to talk to and loves keeping in touch with her fans!
- Contest ends on Sunday, March 6 at midnight EST.

!! Click HERE To Enter !!

Review: Hex, by Ramona Wray


Hex, A Witch And Angel Tale
Ramona Wray
Paperback, 254 pages
CreateSpace
Source: Author
Rating: (Avg 4.0)
Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.


Obviously, the first thing you're going to notice about this book is the cover. You're either going to think, "Oh my God, that's the cutest cover EVER!" (like I thought), or you're going to think, "Wow... what a frilly pink cover." Either way, you can't deny that it's not an eye catcher. But if you're really expecting a frilly story to match the cover, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Why? Because Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale reaches deeper than just a fun, young adult book. But if you're looking for a story rich in action, well-written characters, plot, romance and suspense; well then, you've come across the right book!

I don't know what I was truly expecting from this book. I think when author Ramona Wray asked me to review her book, I was thinking it'd be a fun and fluffy read. What I didn't expect was to be so completely swept up in Lily's story. Lily is one of the strongest females that I have come across in some time, but she's not without fault. While she's smart, strong-willed and witty as ever (her one-liners had me crying, I was laughing so hard!), she's still confused and vulnerable. She knows that there are connections with Ryder and Lucian, but she doesn't know what those connections are and has to figure it out for herself throughout the story.

Ryder and Lucian are also both strong characters. While both are mysteries at the beginning, you get to know them better as the story is told. Both of their fates are twisted together with Lily's and it was nice to see that they both took steps into determining their own fate, not completely depending on Lily to do everything herself. While the idea of a love-triangle was flirted with between the three of them, I'm impressed at how well it was tackled. For once, we don't have a weak girl indecisively flitting back and forth between the two guys. No, we have a girl who makes a decision and, while some things that come to her attention may confuse her and make her think she made the wrong choice, she never strays. She sticks by her decisions and her feelings, and doesn't sway just because she's being led to think that it's the right thing to do. Because of this, I wanted to jump up and scream a hallelujah! Finally, an author gets it. Yes, you can have a girl that's chased after by more than one guy without making her seem completely careless with the guys' feelings, leading both of them on while she "finds herself" or whatever excuse they use these days.

The past and present in this story is intricately weaved together seamlessly, giving you just the right taste of what's going on to help you understand what needs to happen in the story. Twists and turns are around every corner in this book. Between the action, the backstory and hilarious commentary, this story will have you flipping anxiously until the very end. And just when you think you know what's going to happen, BAM! You get hit with a curve ball that you don't see coming. The conclusion of the story is bittersweet, yet perfect. I couldn't see it ending any other way. This book far exceeded anything that I could have anticipated when picking it up. I am absolutely enthralled by it.

My sincerest praises go out to the author who is not only a great person to talk to, but an incredible storyteller with a very promising future in writing. She is definitely one that I will continue to follow.



Find Ramona Wray Online
Website | Blog | Facebook

Purchase Hex: A Witch And Angel Story
Amazon

Friday 25 February 2011

Hop & Follow Fridays!


Hosted by Crazy For Books

Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?
You know, sometimes I think my blog name is a little too long. I look at some other blog names and I'm like, "Why couldn't I think of something clever like that?" But that "sometimes" and those kind of thoughts only lasts a few minutes because I have come to absolutely love my name. Why? It's self-explanatory... it's my name - which distinguishes me from others - and it tells what I do. I think that's pretty much the best kind of name that you can come up with, in my case. I like my name ... it's grown on me.


Hosted by ParaJunkee's View
; Featured Blog is Totally Obsessed
Share your current favorite television show. Tell us a bit about it...
Oh, I have so many I don't know if I can choose! I guess over all it would probably be True Blood and The Vampire Diaries... both for the vampires, obviously, but also because I follow both book series and absolutely love them. I am also madly in love with Supernatural because of its ghost, goblins, etc and incredible storyline between the brothers. Loves it! Give me some supernatural storylines and I'm all about it! Oh, then there's House ... I love that sarcastically witty man!


**Don't forget to check up top for current giveaways that you still have a chance to enter!**

Thursday 24 February 2011

Thoughts on Thursday

Today's Topic
Do you judge a book by its cover?
- Aleetha

Honestly, it depends. If I'm looking at a book as an author request, the cover doesn't really matter to me. Content is too big of a deal for me on author's requests, so covers are only a small blip on my radar. If I'm looking online for books to add to my list or I'm shopping for books at a store... then I'm more likely to judge by the cover. Typically, if it's a cover that catches my attention then the book automatically gets more of my attention - I have to pick it up, read the blurb, see if there's any reviews, etc etc. If the cover is dull, I tend to pass up on it. Sometimes, this proves to be the wrong direction in choosing books. Some books with awesome covers are really, really crappy. Likewise, some books with crappy covers are really, really good. However, that doesn't stop me from doing it this way. In short, if it's my choosing with no request ... most likely, yes, I will judge a book by its cover.

How about you? Do you judge a book by its cover??



Have a topic for Thoughts on Thursday? Be sure to fill out this form so it can be featured!

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Review: Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton

Darkness Becomes Her
Kelly Keaton
Hardcover, 288 pages
Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)
Source: S&S Galley Grab
Rating: (Avg 4.0)
Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.


Darkness Becomes Her went from a story that had me curious from just reading the synopsis … to having my full and undivided attention for turning into an unexpectedly fantastic read. I don't really know how to put into words for what I feel for this book without giving too much away. The plot just kept building into layers and layers of story from the very beginning, when we first meet Ari and find out about her mom. From there, we're taken to a familiar place that isn't so familiar anymore. It's been ravaged by the hurricanes, and has become a place that you'd only read about in folklore and myth. Everything in the story is weaved together perfectly – there are no stray hairs that leave you hanging. Well, of course, until you get to the end … then, there's a pretty big cliffhanger waiting for you, snaring you in its grasp and holding you hostage until the next book is released.

The characters in this book charmed me – every. single. one. I loved Ari, our heroine. She was strong, yet still vulnerable. The best part? She didn't act like a spoiled, whiny brat! The love interest, to me, is obvious from the very beginning. Sebastian is a truly swoon-worthy character, heritage or not, and I loved that he was so brave and fearless – even when he knew he wasn't invincible. I also love that Ari and Sebastian didn't go completely love-struck and just forget about the entire world around them. No, the tension was just a soft buzz. You knew it was there, but it never distracts you from the real story. The other characters, especially the house of “misfits”, was exceedingly charming and the other characters were well-fleshed out and never deviated from themselves – no matter how rotten I thought they were. Ha.

Like I said, there was a definite cliffhanger. Of course, it didn't take the cliffhanger for me to be hooked … the story pretty much had me from “hello” and I'm still not out of its trance even after I completely finished the story. One thing that caught me off-guard was the amount of offensive language in the book. I don't think it was completely necessary to the story at all, but it's there – so, if you have a younger child reading the book, you might want to take that into consideration. But it didn't make my interest in the novel stray any. This has to be one of my top most enjoyable reads so far this year. It's definitely a recommendation for paranormal lovers that may also have an interest in Greek mythology.




Find Kelly Keaton Online
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Buy Darkness Becomes Her
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository


Waiting on Wednesday


Waiting Until ...
May 31, 2011

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.


Not only is the cover to this book insanely gorgeous, but the premise is just as intriguing - if not more so. I am also a sucker for sagas.


What are you waiting on?

Blog Tour Review: The Long Weekend, by Savita Kalhan




The Long Weekend
Savita Kalhan
Paperback, 192 pages
Anderson Press (Oct. 2, 2008)
Rating: (Avg 4.5)
Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night.

This book was delightfully creepy, and I hate to use the word 'delightful' with such a sensitive subject matter - but the creep-factor was incredible in this. It was just the right amount without seeming fake or forced in any way.

As a matter of fact, this whole book flowed perfectly well with no sense of discord or falsehood at all. From the characters to what happens to them... everything connected and flowed perfectly. I think the most shocking part to me was how Savita managed to capture an 11-year-old boy's voice so well. All of his emotions seemed completely genuine. Everything he felt, you felt. Sam and Lloyd are both the "boy next door" types and very easy to relate to. Very easy to empathize with.

From the characters to the actual storytelling, I was absolutely blown away. Somehow, the author managed to leave out graphic details and still be able to give me goosebumps from the creepiness of it all. Coming from someone who's been into horror most of her life - that's no easy feat! From beginning to end, I was on the very edge of my seat eagerly reading to find out what happens to the boys. Because of how easily it is to relate to Sam and Lloyd, you can't help but root for them.

I cannot sing my praises loud enough for this book - it's everything I've always loved in thriller books. If you love psychological thrillers as much as I do, that have a nice helping of the creeps, then I strongly suggest this book.


Find Savita Kalhan Online
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Buy The Long Weekend
Amazon (ebook)| The Book Depository
**Enter to win The Long Weekend! Just click here. (Ends 2/25)**


Teaser Tuesdays!




Sam didn't need to watch any more. He had to get away. He wriggled backwards ever so slowly, flat on his stomach, and didn't stand up until he was deep inside the enveloping darkness of the woodland.

- p. 77, The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan

Monday 21 February 2011

Review: Logic of Demons, by H.A. Goodman

Logic of Demons
H.A. Goodman

AuthorHouse (July 14, 2010)
Paperback, 272 pages
Rating: (Avg 3.5)
Source: Author
What would you do if the love of your life was murdered by a deranged killer? Would you become a vigilante and seek retribution? And would this revenge affect those you care for in the afterlife? LOGIC OF DEMONS The Quest for Nadine's Soul takes you on a journey inside the psyches of men and women forced to deal with the spiritual consequences of their decisions. Through the lives of a demon, two Angels, and a mysterious teenage girl, a plethora of politically and socially relevant issues ranging from the roots of genocide and sex trafficking to child conscription and religious fundamentalism are addressed in this fantasy thriller. Life as well as the afterlife converge in this novel to explain certain peculiarities of the human condition. Whether you are God fearing individual or an atheist, LOGIC OF DEMONS The Quest for Nadine's Soul addresses moral and theological issues of interest for people of all backgrounds.
Although this book is about a lot of heavier topics, I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read. The story revolves a lot around choices and consequences, which not only gives us more insight into the book but also into our own characters as well.

While we're on the subject of characters, there is an entire cast of them that make up Logic of Demons - everyone of them important to the story. I liked Devin as a character. Though I became a little annoyed with his actions and choices at times because he seemed to leap into things without thinking about the consequences. Considering his ultimate goal, you'd think he would put a little more thought into this. However... even though it wasn't necessarily always the right choices, I could understand his reasoning behind his actions somewhat, which made it a little easier to relate. Nadine is a creative and amazing soul. I wish that we could have seen more of her besides just little snippets through other peoples' minds. Along with these and the other characters, the way the story was told gave it more dimension than a good many of books that I have read.

The amount of description and detail in this book offers that the author put a lot of research and thought into his writing... and it shows. Logic of Demons is a thrill ride full of twists and turns that will have you holding your breath from the exhilaration of the experience until the end. With some of the graphic nature and heavier content in this book, I'd recommend it for a more adult crowd - we'll say mature YA and up.


Find H.A. Goodman Online
Website | Goodreads

Buy Logic of Demons: The Quest for Nadine's Soul
Amazon | AuthorHouse | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository


Monday, Monday!

Mondays always come entirely too soon, don't they? Nevertheless, it's here ... so, what can you do? I got some reading done this weekend, which made me extremely happy. The husband wanted to catch up on his gaming, so I caught up on my TBR pile. It's still massive, but I did put a dent in it. All of my review books for February are done! Now, I'll have a few days to do some pleasure reading as well as catching up on author and blogger e-mails.

Last Week...
The Demon Trapper's Daughter, by Jana Oliver
Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale, by Ramona Wray
Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro
In The Company of Vampires, by Katie MacAlister
Casanova: Actor, Lover, Priest, Spy, by Ian Kelly

This Week...
Warped, by Maurissa Guibord
Overprotected, by Jennifer Laurens
Evercrossed, by Elizabeth Chandler
Once in a Full Moon, by Ellen Schreiber
Angelfire, by Courtney Allison Moulton
Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand

Things To Note...
- The international contest for a copy of Savita Kalhan's The Long Weekend is still open. Go here.
- My giveaway for a book from one of January's Before & After authors is still open until the end of this month. Click here to go to the post.
- Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale's review is scheduled for next week, along with an interview with author Ramona Wray... as well as a giveaway for a copy of the book. So be on the lookout for that!

Sunday 20 February 2011

In My Mailbox (10)

Hosted By: The Story Siren
Inspired By: Pop Culture Junkie



For Review

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale, by Ramona Wray
Overprotected, by Jennifer Laurens
Warped, by Maurissa Guibord

Purchased

All Just Glass, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Delirium, by Lauren Oliver
I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
In The Company of Vampires, by Katie MacAlister

Gifted

Across the Universe, by Beth Revis

Friday 18 February 2011

Hop & Follow Fridays!

Hosted by: ParaJunkee's View


Be sure to check out the featured blog, Dreaming About Other Worlds.


Here's What's Happening on the Blog

Below are the reviews and Before & After links for the past couple of weeks since I haven't done the blog hop in a while.

**Please remember that for every comment you post on the Before & After feature, you'll automatically get an entry into the end-of-month giveaway. When I post the last B&A author of that month, a post will go up for your chance to enter to win your choice book from one of the featured authors!


Misc
Be My {Bookish} Valentine Giveaway
Guest Post with Savita Kalhan & GIVEAWAY!