Blog Tour: Water's Blood by Elaine Calloway [Review + Giveaway]

Today I bring you another blog tour, this time hosting a Virtual Book Tour stop for Water's Blood. 

Hope you all enjoy it!

Title: Water’s Blood

Author: Elaine Calloway

Published: The Writers Canvas, LLC

Description:

Nature’s Elementals—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—have lived for countless millennia. Disguised as humans, they are charged with one mission: protect the innocent from fallen angel clans, who reap human souls and force them to do their bidding.

Brooke, a Water Elemental stationed in New Orleans, broke the rules once—she mated with a human. For her indiscretion, she is forbidden to share a life with her loved ones: NOPD officer Alex and their half-breed daughter, Ella.

Now Ella is about to turn sixteen, and the local clan of fallen angels is determined to snare her soul by Halloween.

Brooke broke the rules once by allowing love to interfere with her mission. Now she and Alex must put consequences aside to break the rules again—if they wish to save their daughter’s soul.

Review:

This book has one of the most beautiful, electric and appealing covers I’ve ever seen—that’s for sure! And that was one of the reasons, probably the main reason actually, why I decided to go ahead and read it—in the end, was it a wise, great, flawless choice? No, possibly not, but there were elements in this story that somehow stood out and that, for now, is, was, enough for me.

Being a first book in a series, a lot of things had necessarily to be explained, and that took time. It is true that the reader stumbles in this crazy world where Fallen Angels haunt humans and humans coexist with Elementals, and that the initial pace of the book is relatively slow—which makes everything a bit confusing—, but once you seriously get into the story and understand a little bit of what’s happening and why is happening, the whole plot starts making sense and the reading process gains enthusiasm and speed.

Brooke is a very steady character. Her gift is unbelievable and the adoration and sorrow she feels for what was taken away from her, due to a mistake on her behalf, is the one thing that truly captivates the reader. She’s strong but delicate, passionate but modest, and, above all, she does everything in her power, even when that means for her to stay away, to give the very best to her daughter, Ella. The relationship she and Alex share is so overwhelming and emotional. Everything is felt from the heart and the reader can’t stop himself to feel compassionate for her because of what both can not have but desperately want to live, experience together.

Another cool aspect of Water’s Blood relies on the second POV the author offers to readers. This might sound a bit weird, but Soren is an awesome character. He is peculiar, charismatic and totally the kind of figure you love to hate. And to be able to perceive his actions and desires in the first person was absolutely amazing, ‘cause he is the evil villain who will do everything to achieve what he wants.

The supernatural side of this book is another kick-ass characteristic with a certain uniqueness that captivates the readers’ attention. All the Elementals are extraordinarily special and out of the ordinary but at the same time, they all have limitations and because they are not invincible and indestructible that makes them even more human.

Sadly, I did found this book to be a little too long. For all the things were left unexplained, I was hoping to get more answers and more mysteries solved. Yes, this is just a first book in a series, I know, but in a more particular level, I was eagerly expecting more. Overall, it was a satisfying reading that did not start in the best of ways, but that somehow showed enough distinctive aspects to sustain “herself”.

Goodreads

About the author:

Elaine Calloway is originally from New Orleans and can still do a decent Cajun accent upon request. She is currently writing the Elemental Clan Series, a series of paranormal tales set in iconic cities such as New Orleans. Book Two, Raging Fire, will be released summer 2013. 

Find Elaine Calloway on: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

*Giveaway*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nissa, Bethany Lopez [Review]

Author: Bethany Lopez

Pages: 216

Format: ARC (ebook)

Description:

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She’s not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a teenage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven’t let up. If Nissa can’t help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak.

To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her first assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, will Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

Review:

I don’t even know where or how to start this review (take a deep breath!).

Nissa has everything, every single interesting element, to be a great book—but at the end of the day it just isn’t. It lacks growth, inspiration, creativity and commitment. The idea itself is quite good—I haven’t read many fairies or Godmothers stories so this could easily be a good read for me—, but somehow the author found a way to write a YA book without any kind of mature behaviour from her characters. These are simply not believable nor capable of connecting with the reader—although Nissa is kind of likeable—, and for the book to be good, the plot also needed unexpected twists and turns, and the writing style had to be different, had to be more personal, more intense, more show not tell.

This is really hard for me because I hate writing bad reviews. I honestly believe that every book has its proper audience, but I couldn’t get away of this awkward sensation of emptiness throughout the book. I felt nothing with this book, not a single thing, and whenever I get into a story, I want to be able to feel something.

Surprisingly enough, I read Nissa in an afternoon—still when I wasn’t liking it, I was reading it fast, and I see that has a good thing ‘cause at least there was something in it that kept me motivated. I think the biggest problem of this book is the writing—it’s just not portraying adequate emotion and feelings. It’s flat, way too simple, with not enough dialogue or action. A lot of things that are happening are described to the reader, and for a reader to truly connect with the protagonist’s fears and wishes, he needs to see more of her not to hear, read about her. Plus, the whole love interest thing was way to monotonous and innocent for an eighteen and a twenty-one year old girl and boy. I was constantly waiting for the moment when everything would bloom and explode between the two of them, but that kept not happening.

Nissa is naïve. I know she’s supposed to be a fairy in a human’s world, but her sense of innocent is overwhelming in a bad way. She looks like a fourteen year-old girl who sees the goodness in everything and who will not practice any evil. And her mission was to protect Vicky not to forget about her around the middle of the book and fully commit herself to her love to Levi—which takes me to an even more disappointing character. C’mon, Levi is so not the kind of adult guy that we, YA crowd, are used to read about. For a man of his age, he can be more naïve than her—how is that even possible?! There were times when he was a bit sweet and kind but overall it wasn’t enough.

If this book is targeted to the younger stage of the YA public, than I understand Lopez’s creative choices for this story—ultimately, I think nowadays more and more young readers look for stories who not only are different and unique, but that also, somehow, show them things they don’t know yet, they have not yet experienced, especially relationship wise. I did liked the fact that Nissa talked about bullying and insecurities, about friendships and first love, but I don’t think those themes were developed in a way that these younger young-adult readers could relate too.

Personally, I expected more mainly when this book can easily be compared to so many others who are really, really good. But hey, this is me, this is what I think. Hopefully, there will be people who think differently.

Pedacinho picks... Porto Editora

A sério que não sei como outro mês, este ano, conseguirá ser ainda melhor no que diz respeito a novidades literárias. Então não é que a continuação de Divergente está mesmo, mesmo aí a sair? Oh, que ainda nem acredito que vou ler este livro, tenho andado numa ansiedade louca por ler o segundo volume desta trilogia absolutamente fantástica, e a oportunidade, a possibilidade, é, finalmente, um destino a ver-se cumprir em breve!

Insurgente, uma das escolhas da Pedacinho, para o corrente mês de Maio, com carimbo Porto Editora. 

Insurgente
Veronica Roth

Sinopse: 

A tua escolha pode transformar-te - ou destruir-te. Mas qualquer escolha implica consequências, e à medida que as várias facções começam a insurgir-se, Tris Prior precisa de continuar a lutar pelos que ama - e por ela própria. O dia da iniciação de Tris devia ter sido marcado pela celebração com a facção escolhida. No entanto, o dia termina da pior forma possível. À medida que o conflito entre as diferentes facções e as idealogias de cada uma se agita, a guerra parece ser inevitável. Escolher é cada vez mais incontornável... e fatal. 

Transformada pelas próprias decisões mas ainda assombrada pela dor e pela culpa, Tris terá de aceitar em pleno o seu estatuto de Divergente, mesmo que não compreenda completamente o que poderá vir a perder. 

Sobre a autora:

Veronica Roth estudou Escrita Criativa na Northwestern University. Nos seus tempos de faculdade, preferiu dedicar-se a escrever o que viria a ser a sua primeira obra, Divergente, e deixar de lado os trabalhos de casa - uma escolha que acabou por transformar totalmente a sua vida. Veronica Roth foi recentemente considerada a melhor autora pelos Goodreads Choice Awards 2012, e Insurgente conquistou o prémio de melhor livro de fantasia juvenil pela mesma entidade. 

Goodreads | Porto Editora

Opinião

Um Beijo Inesquecível, Teresa Medeiros [Opinião]

Título Original: A Kiss to Remember

Autoria: Teresa Medeiros

Editora: Quinta Essência

Nº. Páginas: 331

Tradução: Carmo Vasconcelos Romão

Sinopse:

Laura Fairleigh precisava de um marido. Se quisesse manter um teto sobre a cabeça dos irmãos, a orgulhosa filha do reitor teria de casar até ao dia do seu vigésimo primeiro aniversário. Ao encontrar inconsciente na floresta um misterioso desconhecido de rosto angelical e corpo de Adónis, que não se lembrava do nome e do passado, decide reclamá-lo como seu. Mal sabia ela que aquele anjo caído era afinal um demónio disfarçado. Sterling Harlow, o famoso devasso conhecido como o «Demónio de Devonbrooke», acorda com o beijo encantador de uma formosa jovem que lhe confessa ser ele o seu prometido. Com as faces beijadas pelo sol e sardentas, Laura é uma jovem inocente apesar do encanto feminino das suas curvas. Quando lhe garante ser ele um perfeito cavalheiro, Sterling pergunta a si próprio se, para além da memória, terá perdido o juízo. Juraria não ser homem para se satisfazer apenas com beijos - principalmente os da doce e sensual Laura. Tentando descobrir a verdade antes da noite de núpcias, um beijo inesquecível ateia a paixão que nenhum deles alguma vez esquecerá.

Opinião:

Por entre paredes que espelham uma casa vivida, escondem-se três corações palpitantes que buscam o impossível. Um, sonha com o crime perfeito, aquele do qual sairá impune e que o ajudará a levar para a realidade todas as histórias que somente leu no papel. Outro, deseja ser o homem que ainda não é, o sustento que não pode ser, e o árbitro de uma «vingança» que não poderá ser impedida. Por fim, temos o terceiro coração. O mais quente dos três, o mais sozinho. O que pede aos céus, o que promete vitórias e triunfos, em troca de uma fortuna que o salve, que o guarde, e que o ame.

Um Beijo Inesquecível é muito mais que uma capa bonita. É uma história cativante, sobre um amor improvável, que chega ao coração dos leitores como nenhuma outra. É um conto sobre a força de vontade de uma mulher para proteger aqueles que lhe são mais queridos, e sobre a ruptura abrupta de um muro emocional que uma personagem, um homem, construiu em seu redor dado uma infância que em nada, sentimentalmente, lhe foi abonatória.

Teresa Medeiros não era um nome totalmente desconhecido para mim, mas finalmente ter a oportunidade de desvendar a sua escrita transformou-se numa experiência incrível e irrepreensível. É verdade que, de quando em vez, este é um género que me cansa pela facilidade na construção do enredo, mas Medeiros tem uma escrita tão singular, e um humor tão pecaminosamente delicioso, que rapidamente me vi rendida às suas palavras e, principalmente, à sua história.

Leve e gracioso mas com um ritmo muito próprio, permitindo transparecer, ao leitor, todas as pequenas nuances de um amor disfuncional devido à disparidade das classes sociais da altura, características vitais nos romances de época, esta é uma história que enternece pela beleza de um acto impulsivo, impensado, mas que visa salvar vidas, e pela auto-descoberta e auto-conhecimento que duas personagens acabam por encontrar, desvendar uma na outra. Seja na pele de Nicholas ou no ímpeto de Sterling, este «Demónio de Devonbrooke» é uma força da natureza que não só se traduz num regalo aos olhos e a todos os outros sentidos, como igualmente exerce um encanto do outro mundo pela personalidade vincada e persistente que nunca o abandona, mas que, numa dada situação imemorável, lhe possibilita abraçar um outro lado seu, mais carinhoso, mais ternurento, que de outra forma poderia passar despercebido, talvez até a ele mesmo, para sempre. No extremo oposto, Laura, de uma delicadeza e bondade impressionantes, encontra-se uma protagonista que não se deixa levar pela ingenuidade comum dos seus pares, e que, mesmo indo contra todas as regras, mesmo indo contra a lei, de tudo fará para não ver aquele que foi o seu lar, o seu refúgio, ser-lhe arrancado do coração.

Este é, para mim, um romance feito de pormenores. Desde as infinitamente profundas e íntimas frases que iniciam cada capítulo e que, no seu todo, representam um dos elementos mais importantes da narrativa, ao gatito amarelinho que despoleta toda uma série de sensações familiares numa mente esquecida pelo desastre, passeando ainda por uma personalidade de criança maliciosa que, das formas mais extraordinárias possíveis, tenta levar a sua avante, e por toda uma vila pontuada pelo conforto da modéstia, sem dúvida de que são singelos momentos como estes, de entre tantos outros, o que torna este livro tão especial. Aliás, este romance é um autêntico mimo. O bálsamo perfeito para qualquer alma romântica. A frescura rejuvenescedora e absolutamente hilariante, divertida, para estes dias quentes que se aproximam. Uma leitura irresistível para qualquer coração apaixonado, e para qualquer mente sonhadora. Muitos serão os desejos enamorados após findo este folhear de páginas, e ainda mais serão os sorrisos satisfeitos, carinhosos e conhecedores a avivar o rosto daqueles que se deixarem perder na aventura inesquecível, irresistível, completamente louca de Laura Fairleigh. Se antes pensava saber já tudo sobre o amor, engana-se. De certeza que nunca leu uma história assim.

Uma aposta a não perder, por parte da Quinta Essência que, uma vez mais, mostra o seu lado mais feminino e romântica num romance de época que retrata os ideais da altura de forma perfeita. Gostei muito e mal posso esperar pela publicação de mais obras da autora.

Pedacinho picks... Planeta Manuscrito

Quando soube que este livro ia ser editado por terras lusas, nem quis acreditar. Na wishlist há já algum tempo, com uma edição nova quase, quase a sair com uma capa absolutamente arrepiante, e, assim, de compra obrigatória (também) pelo género que retrata, não seria já de esperar que esta fosse uma das escolhas de Maio? Não havia como escapar, eu sei, eu sei. Por isso, aqui fica...

... uma das escolhas da Pedacinho, para o corrente mês de Maio, com carimbo Planeta Manuscrito. 

Destinos Interrompidos

Lissa Price

Sinopse:

Callie tem dezasseis anos e vive com Tyler, o irmão mais novo, e Michael, um amigo, nos escombros da cidade de Los Angeles. Quando as Guerras dos Esporos rebentaram, matando todos aqueles que tinham mais de vinte anos e menos de sessenta, Callie perdeu os pais. Como muitos outros Iniciantes, teve de aprender a sobreviver, ocupando prédios desabitados, roubando água e alimentos, fugindo aos Inspectores e combatendo os Renegados. Para tirar Tyler das ruas e garantir ao irmão uma vida melhor, Callie só vê uma solução: oferecer a sua juventude à Destinos Primordiais, uma empresa misteriosa que aluga corpos adolescentes aos velhos Terminantes - seniores, com centenas de anos, que querem ser jovens outra vez. Tudo corre como previsto, até o neurochip que lhe colocaram na cabeça avariar. Callie acorda, de súbito, na vida da sua locatária, a viver numa luxuosa mansão, a guiar carros topo de gama e a sair com o neto de um senador. A vida quase parece um conto de fadas, até Callie descobrir que a sua locatária não quer apenas divertir-se e que, no mundo perverso da Destinos Primordiais, a sobrevivência é apenas o começo.

Sobre a autora:

Lissa Price estudou fotografia e escrita, mas o mundo acabou por ser o seu maior professor. Andou com os elefantes no Botswana, nadou com pinguins nos Galápagos, viu o pôr do Sol num campo com duzentos nómadas em Gurajat na Índia. Foi cercada por centenas de búfalos-do-cabo na África do Sul e assistiu a um coro quase silencioso de uma centena de golfinhos selvagens na costa de Oahu. Dançou em cabanas de barro em casamentos na Índia e bebeu chá com a mais famosa personalidade viva no Kyoto.Quando se sentou para escrever, percebeu que a mais surpreendente viagem estava dentro da sua cabeça. Vive no sopé das colinas no Norte da Califórnia com o marido e os ocasionais veados.

This is Not a Test, Courtney Summers [Review]

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (2012)

Pages: 200

Format: eBook

Description:

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Review:

It’s so hard for me to talk about this book. I don’t want to forget it, I don’t want to read anything after this, I feel kind of numb actually, and I sure don’t want… I don’t even know what I want or don’t want anymore. All I really do know is that This is Not a Test has touched me incredibly, and I seriously hope I’ll never be in a situation like the one Sloane or any other character from the group, was. It’s desperation to its maximum. It’s constant fear. It’s dealing with the unknown, with the infected ones, the starved ones, who will haunt you, hunt you, chase you and eat you at the first chance they get. This story is so well written, the characters are so astonishingly damaged and scared and lost, the plot is so damn emotional and raw and thrilling and mysterious… that anything can happen and everything undoubtedly will.

I fell in love with Sloane at first line. I’m still in love with her. I’m still in love with Rhys, and Cary, and Harrison, and Grace, and even with Trace. I absolutely love them all, because every single one of them is special, was special, in their own way, and every single one of them served a purpose. Not all had a happy ending—or when you come to really think about it, they just might have had their happy ending—but they were certainly all memorable. Sloane for her numbness and persistence, Rhys for his passion and loyalty, Cary for his leadership and strength, Harrison for the innocent panicked comments and questions that somehow made me laugh even when they were not intended to be funny, Grace for her beauty and forgiving will, and Trace… Trace for his devotion to his sister and his beliefs and, of course, his edgy side that always kept me in alert mode. But more than just a book with remarkable characters, this is a story about tension, about sacrifice, guilt and about being unable to move on, to subsist, when all we care about and everyone we love are simply taken away from us. It’s a book about will, about what’s truly important, and more importantly, about survival.

Nothing could have ever prepared me for the journey I was about to enter when I started this novel. Ingenuously, maybe, I thought I was going to read a cool book about zombies—I admit, I haven’t read many living dead stories so my curiosity was really high—but this ends up being so much more than that. In fact, this is not a zombie book. This is a book about a group of kids who clearly have no idea or are even prepared for what just happened to them and to their city and that, somehow, have to manage to survive together… oh, and with some zombies in the mix. What I mean with this is that the zombies are just a small piece of this overwhelming puzzle, and although their presence is a heavy burden, they are not the main core of the book or the reason—in my opinion—why this story was written.

I will always cherish this book deeply. I felt it in my bones, with my entire being, and whenever I had the opportunity to turn some pages, I would go completely oblivious to the world. I would hear nothing, see nothing, and speak nothing. Gosh, what a powerful experience this reading was! It’s so wonderful when, a day or two later, you can still sense the characters around you, sense the pressure they were under, and still think about them like they were real to you, like they exist. To me, that’s the most gratifying gift an author can give me.

At the end of the day, I just wish I was Sloane’s sister and that Lily would continue to be a ghost in her life. I wish I knew what happens next, ‘cause that ending was literally to die for. I guess, ultimately, I just wish there was more, because I need more, I want more. Absolutely amazing.

Quotes:

«"This is not a test. Listen closely. This is not a test." But I think she's wrong. I think this is a test. It has to be...»

«The thing no one tells you about surviving, about the mere act of holding out, is how many hours are nothing because nothing happens.»

«I move closer to the glass, as close as I can get to it, begging her, begging Lily, begging Grace, begging all of them to tell me what's left, to just tell me, while the girl pushes against the window, turns her tiny hands into tiny fists, begging me for a taste of—life. My life.»

Goodreads | BookDepository.co.uk | BookDepository.com

Blog Tour: Nissa by Bethany Lopez [Spotlight]

Welcome, welcome!

Today we have one more Book Tour, this time with Nissa, a contemporary fairy tale romance written by Bethany Lopez. 

Here you can find some information about the book and the author.

Title: Nissa
Author: Bethany Lopez
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Book Description:

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She's not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a tennage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven't let up. If Nissa can't help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak. 

To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, with Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smahswords

About the author:

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 series. 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 novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. 

Find Bethany Lopez on: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Follow the tour here:

http://atomrbookblogtours.com/2013/03/21/arc-tour-nissa-by-bethany-lopez/