The Button by Ellen Allen ~ #bookreview #dystopian

 

Title: The Button  

Author: Ellen Allen  

Publisher: BookBaby  

Publication date: July 2, 2020

Source: From the author for review 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo 

Synopsis

A global catastrophe...an airborne disease...a small group of survivors...a new set of rules. 

For the fledgling community which emerges, self-sufficiency is vital, but daily life is a grind without electricity. 

Particularly for First Borns, who are forced to stay at home, forced to tend house and forced to press a button every 90 minutes. No exceptions. 

But for one girl, it's time to say no.   

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars 

The synopsis for Ellen Allen's The Button gave me chills! Especially the last line: "But for one girl, it's time to say no." And I'm like, damn straight it is! Screw the system!! 

I agreed to review this because the synopsis was so intriguing, and I did know going in that it was gonna be a short read, so I tried to prepare myself, but it still felt way too short. There wasn't enough time allowed for more world building. Further character development would've really made this story pop. 

This story could easily be transformed into a full length novel -- there's a lot of fantastic out-of-this-world creative ideas here that could be opened up. I know I'd definitely read it. 

Back in 2014, I read Allen's novel, The Sham, and it was amazing!! She can definitely write, there's no question about it. Click here if you'd like to read my review of her debut novel, The Sham. I can't wait to see what she writes next. I'm definitely reading everything and anything Allen writes, that's for sure!

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) *  

Resurrection (Apocalypse Chronicles #2) by Laury Falter Blitz with Excerpt

Title: Resurrection
Author: Laury Falter
Series: The Apocalypse Chronicles #2
Genre: Teen Dystopian
Publisher: Audeamus LLC
Release Date: January 16th 2014
Editions/Formats Available In: eBook

Add: Goodreads | BookLikes 

Purchase: Amazon

Blurb/Synopsis:

The second and final installment in the two-book series, Apocalypse Chronicles...a dystopian romance about five high school seniors who set out to cure an apocalyptic world of a contagious infection.

Bestselling author Laury Falter finishes off this two-part series--a dystopian romance filled with an electrifying plot, a powerful romance, and unexpected twists.

About the Author

Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.

Author Links
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt

"Stay back," he repeated. 

He was bloody, soaked in it. But he wasn't concerned I'd run and embrace him. He wasn't worried about the Infected's blood covering him. There was something else on his mind. 

In a disturbing change of course, he stopped and stood up straight before commanding in a steady tone, "Kennedy, take aim at me." 

Take aim at me... His words rolled through my head. I tried to grasp their meaning but I couldn't. 

"What?" I said, stepping forward.

"Stop!" he shouted, forceful enough to make me obey.

"The rifle," he said. "Aim the muzzle at me." 

"What?" 

"You heard me. Do it." 

My eyes widened. I swallowed. "No..."

"Do it!"

"NO!"

Suddenly he came at me, crossing the space between us so quickly I didn't have time to take a breath. His fingers wrapped around the muzzle. Then it was lifting in my arms, stopping where he placed it...with the opening at his forehead. 

Every fiber of my being contracted.

This wasn't right. It opposed everything trained or innately bred within me. One of the three rules in firearms was to never, ever point the muzzle at anything you don't want to destroy. I wouldn't, I couldn't destroy him. Yet here he was, positioning the weapon at his head. 

"No, Harrison!" I tried to pull away, astutely conscious that my finger was clear of the trigger guard, but he and all his strength drew it back. "Stop, damn it!"

The fury in his eyes was what ended the struggle. A single glimpse of it told me that he wasn't playing and wouldn't yield. He was lethally serious and he was going to keep that muzzle on him whether it was by my hand or his own. 

My instinct was to release the gun, to let him have it. But I hesitated because I wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't pull the trigger on himself. The question that haunted me as we stare each other down along the length of the barrel was...why? 

"What are you doing, Harrison?" 

His lips pinched closed. 

"Why are you doing this?" 

A soft, quiet voice behind me answered for him. "He thinks he's infected."

"Tell him that he's not, Mei."

"He won't believe me." 

"You're not infected, Harrison." 

His nostrils flared but he maintained his stance, never wavering in his stare or removing his fingers from the barrel. 

So I began to plead. "Please, Harrison, let go." 

He heard me. His eyes twitched as he began to question himself. 

"Let go," I whispered, wanting more than ever before to breach the distance rigidly in place between us. "Let go..."

His stare faltered, the intensity of it lessening, but still he didn't move. 

"It's been more than sixty seconds," Mei announced quietly, as if she didn't want to disturb our private war. 

It didn't happen instantly, but it did happen. His shoulders dropped, his fingers lifted from the barrel, and his stare finally, finally broke from mine.

Blitz organized by: RBTL World of Books Blog Tours

Blog Tour: Review ~ Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the Edge of Truth Blog Tour hosted by Girls Heart Books Tours. Click here for the full tour schedule. 

Title: Edge of Truth

Author: Natasha Hanova

Release Date: June 6th 2013

Published by: Sapphire Star Publishing

Genre: YA Dystopian 

Source: Review copy

Add: Goodreads | BookLikes

Purchase: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback

 Kobo | Smashwords | Sony |  B&N  

Synopsis

Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord's laws, and stay off the Synbot's radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives. 

It's not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression. 

Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena's suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she's willing to kill to protect what's precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn't holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she's trying so hard to escape?

My Thoughts

I'm always ready for a terrific dystopian novel, and EDGE OF TRUTH definitely did not disappoint. This was a novel I couldn't put down, and so I happily lost sleep reading it - well worth the lost sleep! The characters, the plot, the world building...everything was written and set up well to create an attention grabbing read! 

Rena lives in Hollowcrest, ruled by the Overlord, and where enforcers called Synbots keep close watch over the people to make sure they follow all of the laws. Rena mentioned so many it's a wonder she can remember them all. She's what I would consider a dreamer, which is just one of the reasons I loved her so much. Dreaming of a better world where people are no longer under the oppression of the Overlord and his minions, her loyalty, bravery, and genuine upbeat personality are what gets her through everyday.

One of the most interesting aspects of this story for me was the introduction of people known as "Others" - people who possess special abilities. Rena is an Other. I've never read a dystopian novel with characters who have unique abilities, and I thought it worked well in this story. She can feel the earth and has to control her emotions to prevent herself from setting off an earthquake, which would reveal her to the Synbots and Overlord. That was difficult for her because she can't just shut off her emotions, and she feels everything so thoroughly. 

Rena has an awesome best friend in Blaze, although at first at she was a guy because of her name, which I love by the way. Blaze isn't quite as brave as Rena, and she seemed to accept their situation. She doesn't want to rock the boat and does her best to talk Rena out of breaking any of the codes with her adventurous nature.

Ah Nevan! I could probably stare into his eyes all day with the described colors - one eye is blue, the other hazel. Nevan and Rena begin as friends, and their relationship is natural. I can't describe it any better than that. The progression is natural, and I really appreciated there was no instalove. Rena has had a crush on him for a while, but it's sweet and believable - girls have crushes.    

EDGE OF TRUTH is an imaginative and well written novel, and I hope there will be more of Rena! I love her to pieces. Hanova's debut novel is impressive, and I look forward to her future novels!  

My Rating: 5 / 5 

About the Author

Natasha Hanova is an award winning author of young adult and adult dark fantasy/paranormal fiction. Her first novel, EDGE OF TRUTH, a YA dystopian, is now available from Sapphire Star Publishing.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook  

Goodreads | Amazon Author Page  

Facebook Event 

Blog Tour hosted by:

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! ~ The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on The World Without a Future Blog Tour hosted by InkSlinger PR. Please click here for the full tour schedule. :D  

Title: The World Without a Future

Series: World Without End #1 

Author: Nazarea Andrews

Release date: December 3rd 2013

Genre: New Adult, Dystopian

Source: Review copy 

Add to Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~

She was born the day the world ended...

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies - trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She's mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breech the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die...

Finn O'Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what's outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin's best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren't the most dangerous thing they're facing.

~ My Thoughts ~

My Rating: 4 / 5 

Forget the zombie action - I want some more action with Finn! I felt strange liking Finn so much more than Dustin, considering Dustin is her boyfriend and the one Nurrin grew up with and is closest to besides her brother. She absolutely hates Finn, and I did too at first but he grew on me over time. He's mysterious but very arrogant and has an obvious physical attraction to her. I think that's all it is - I don't think he loves her or cares about her personality at all. So then I swing back to hating him off and on. 

How weird would it be if you were born on the day of the zombie apocalypse? It would make your birthday awkward. Nurrin is a First, born on that day, and she never gets a birthday party since that's a day that is remembered in a somber way. With all of the zombie books I've read and movies I've seen, I never thought about being born on the day of the zombie apocalypse. Being a First also puts her life in danger, and she has to do her best to conceal that fact. 

The zombies in this book are incredibly fast, so any time they were chasing Nurrin and her friends, I pictured the zombies from the Dawn of the Dead remake back in 2004. Those were some fast zombies, which makes them even scarier. I can't run for very long, so I would be screwed. The zombie scenes in The World Without a Future were action packed, intense, very well done and had my pulse racing. 

There were a few sexual situations that make this a new adult novel rather than young adult. I love the way the apocalypse started - not that lives are lost but that it seemed so realistic and came about from something people tried to do to make life easier. The World Without a Future was an exciting read, and I look forward to the sequel. 

~ Purchase Links ~

Amazon | B&N

~ About the Author: Nazarea Andrews ~

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

~ Social Links ~

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

"The Infects" Street Team 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Cover Redesign Reveal, A Question for the Author, & Giveaway ~ Serving Time by Nadine Ducca

Donnie Darko Girl is thrilled to be taking part in the reveal for the cover redesign of Serving Time. I think it's gorgeous and exciting. I'd love to know what you guys think! :D

Feast your eyes! 

Title: Serving Time

Author: Nadine Ducca

Publication date: May 2013

Genre: Sci-fi / Dystopian 

Cover Reveal organized by: Fiction Addiction Book Tours 

~ Book Description ~ 

Life and death have been industrialized. The Forge, the birthplace of every soul, is a rumbling factory owned by the goddess Time, managed by Lucifer, and powered by the labor of demons and imps. In this dystopian world, a renegade interplanetary pilot running from his past doesn't stand a chance. 

Handling Neptunian meth and dodging security cannons are all in a day's work for Tristan Cross - not that he's one to complain. Working for the smuggling company StarCorp is an improvement over what he used to do for a living.

However, when StarCorp gives Tristan a one-way ticket into the brainwashed - and disturbingly suicidal - Loyal League, he decides to run from the company and start a new life in the only safe haven he knows: Earth. With the help of his brother, Tristan embarks on the most hazardous journey of his life, one that will place him at Time's mercy. Little does he know the demons running the universe are craving a feast, and his own soul is the next item on the menu. 

To celebrate the new cover, you can buy Serving Time at a reduced price! 

~ Purchase Links ~ 

Amazon | Amazon UK  | Smashwords
 

In Serving Time, reincarnation exists. Depending on how you live your life, you can choose more or less amenities in your next life. What would you like to choose?

Nadine Ducca: Without a doubt, if I could switch species, I’d choose to be one of my housecats. Do you have any idea how great their life is? Eat. Sleep. Poop. Then some running around, some investigating, and some chin scratches. No work, no obligations… You can sign me up right now!

~ Meet the Author: Nadine Ducca ~

 

When Nadine Ducca was a child, she wanted to be a muppeteer for the Jim Henson Company. Several years later, she found herself far from the Muppets, living in Spain and studying Translation and Interpreting at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. After completing a Master's Degree in Medical Translation, she set her eyes on a PhD, then shrugged, and said, "I need a break from all this studying." 

From then on, she decided to dedicate her free time to her greatest passion: writing. She has published several flash fiction pieces in online magazines, although her biggest ambition has always been to write a novel. Serving Time is her debut novel, and more are on the way. Nadine is currently working on her second novel, Making Time.

When she's not giving her characters a hard time (especially Eneld), she's at work coordinating the Cambridge English Language Assessment examinations, and occasionally translating documents or interpreting seminars for the city hall of Granollers, her place of residence.

~ Author Links ~ 

Website | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway ~ Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader

Hey guys, welcome to my stop on the Escape From Eden blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click here to follow along with the tour! :D

Title: Escape from Eden 

Author: Elisa Nader

Release date: August 18th 2013

Publisher: Merit Press

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian 

271 pages

Source: Review copy

Blog tour organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Add to Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~ 

Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers. In Edenton, a supposed "Garden of Eden" deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend's strict but arbitrary rules - even the mandate of whom they can marry. Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out. When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape. 

But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound's facade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined. While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters. But is there time to think of each other as they race to stop the Reverend's paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world? Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind? And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who's only concerned about his own secrets?

~ My Thoughts ~

My Rating: 5 / 5 

Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader is a fast paced thrill ride from beginning to end. My heart pounded so many times while reading with the anticipation of what would happen next. There are certain scenes that will most likely stand out in my mind forever - two of which made me shed some tears. This is a dystopian novel that takes place in a crazy religious cult that would be a nightmare for anyone to live in, especially for the kids whose parents forced them there without any choice. 

Mia is everything you want in a heroine - she's brave and clever and asks questions. While everyone else are either too afraid or too brainwashed to see that what's going on is wrong, Mia begins asking questions - questions that the Reverend doesn't want her to ask. I really admired her because I don't know if I could be as fearless and strong as she is. I felt sad that her mother chose this religious cult over her own daughter, which was obvious every time Mia was admonished by her for asking to leave. 

I loved every page, every paragraph with Mia and Gabriel. Gabriel made me laugh with his sarcasm and spoke his mind no matter what the consequences. He had a sparkle and a liveliness that made me think in other circumstances, he'd play pranks on friends and family. He has that kind of personality. There was a ton of chemistry between Mia and Gabriel, too, and I kept hoping they'd end up together. 

Escape from Eden is a superbly well written Young Adult dystopian novel with plenty of mystery, suspense, and action. I was shocked with some of the actions the Reverend took - so shocked I read certain scenes two or three times to fully grasp the magnitude of what just happened. I wanted to relive the powerful emotions I was feeling right then and there. There were twists and turns I never saw coming that hit me as hard as a punch to the gut. This is a novel that you'll love and will stay with you afterwards for a long time.  

~ Purchase Links ~

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | Powell's | IndieBound

~ Meet the Author: Elisa Nader!  ~

Hi. I'm Elisa. I like cheese and reading and TV show marathons. Writing is scary, but not as scary as, say, Civil War amputations. I'm an Aquarius. Uh... let's see... I'm not very good at writing my own biography. Or autobiography. I guess this is reading more like a slightly incoherent personal ad.

~ Social Links ~ 

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest 

~ Giveaway ~ 

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Review: Delirium (Debt Collector #1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

Title: Delirium (Debt Collector #1)

Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Publication date: March 20th 2013

Pages: 48

Genre: New Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Source: Publisher through Netgalley

Add to Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~

What’s your life worth on the open market?
A debt collector can tell you precisely.

Season One now complete!

Lirium plays the part of the grim reaper well, with his dark trenchcoat, jackboots, and the black marks on his soul that every debt collector carries. He’s just in it for his cut, the ten percent of the life energy he collects before he transfers it on to the high potentials, the people who will make the world a better place with their brains, their work, and their lives. That hit of life energy, a bottle of vodka, and a visit from one of Madam Anastazja’s sex workers keep him alive, stable, and mostly sane… until he collects again. But when his recovery ritual is disrupted by a sex worker who isn’t what she seems, he has to choose between doing an illegal hit for a girl whose story has more holes than his soul or facing the bottle alone—a dark pit he’s not sure he’ll be able to climb out of again.

Contains mature content and themes.

Delirium is approximately 12,000 words or 48 pages, and is one of nine episodes in the first season of The Debt Collector serial. This dark and gritty future-noir is about a world where your life-worth is tabulated on the open market and going into debt risks a lot more than your credit rating. For more about the Debt Collector serial, see www.DebtCollectorSeries.com

“The street-smart science of LOOPER meets the cold, just-the-facts voice of DOUBLE INDEMNITY in this edgy, future-noir thriller that will have you holding your breath, looking over your shoulder, and begging for more.” —Leigh Talbert Moore, author of The Truth About Faking, The Truth About Letting Go, and Rouge

“Do you owe more than your life is worth? No worries. A more deserving person than you can benefit from that excess life—and someone else will get paid with it. Enter the Debt Collector.” —Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead, The Caged Graves, and The Eighth Day(HarperCollins 2014)

~ My Thoughts ~

My Rating: 5 / 5 

I'm really excited about this series. In a way I'm reminded of the movie A.I. because Delirium takes place in a futuristic world with technology that seems to have outstripped what society is ready for. This seems to be the beginning of a series where anything is possible. There could be androids! Well, I'm hoping there will be androids at some point. ;)

The main character, Lirium, works for the government's Debt Collector Agency, collecting souls from people who only have a short time to live and who have racked up too much "debt" - medical bills, taxes, credit cards, etc. The problem is that if the doctors are wrong about how much time a person has left to live, the collector collects the soul anyway. Basically this process is supposed to get rid of people who are no longer productive in society and give their life force to someone who is at the height of his or her productivity. 

I was pulled in right away, and I really like the way Delirium makes me think about the implications of this system. It's horrific really - if I only had six weeks to live right now, my soul would be collected today. I have so much student debt it's ridiculous, not to mention I still owe on my car and my house... I would love to know more about this world. How was this system devised? Who came up with it? When did it start? 

Lirium is complicated with many layers to his personality, and I'm eager to peel back those layers. He seems bitter and disenchanted with the world, but he is doing a job that is depressing. He doesn't seem to really live until he's collected a soul and gets his cut. Collecting souls is like a drug for the collectors. They can keep a certain percentage before turning the rest in, and they feel like they're "high." Lirium only lives for those highs, but once he meets a new sex worker from Madam Anastazja, a different side of him is revealed once he realizes this girl isn't quite who she claims to be. 

This leaves you wanting more, to read the next episode right away. At this time, I haven't read beyond this first episode, but I've bought the entire season. I recommend you have the entire season to read each episode back to back. With the way this first episode ends, you'll definitely be ready for the rest immediately!

EPISODE LIST - add them to your TBR!
Delirium - Debt Collector 1
Agony - Debt Collector 2
Ecstasy - Debt Collector 3
Broken - Debt Collector 4
Driven - Debt Collector 5
Fallen - Debt Collector 6
Promise - Debt Collector 7
Ruthless - Debt Collector 8
Passion - Debt Collector 9

or add the collections

Debt Collector (Vol 1-3) - Delirium, Agony, Ecstasy
Debt Collector (Vol 4-6) - Broken, Driven, Fallen
Debt Collector (Vol 7-9) - Promise, Ruthless, Passion
Debt Collector Season One - in EBOOK AND PRINT

Episode 1 is free on Amazon as of this posting. Click here to grab your copy! 

~ Purchase Links ~ 

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

~ Meet the Author: Susan Kaye Quinn! ~

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. Her teachers pretended not to notice and only confiscated her stories a couple times.

Susan left writing behind to pursue a bunch of engineering degrees, but she was drawn back to writing by an irresistible urge to share her stories with her niece, her kids, and all the wonderful friends she’s met along the way.

She doesn’t have to sneak her notes anymore, which is too bad.

Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she can handle.

~ Author Links ~
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook



Blog Tour ~ Review & Giveaway: Shudder (Stitch #2) by Samantha Durante

The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours
& Samantha's Summer Tour

I wasn't able to post on my original date of August 31st, so here I am today. :)
I not only reviewed Shudder, which you'll find first, but I also reviewed Stitch. :D

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Shudder
348 pages
Published June 15, 2013

-- Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy --

It's only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...

~ My Thoughts ~

My Rating: 5 / 5

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for the blog tour. 

*Caution: Possible spoilers if you haven't read the first book yet*

After the epic ending of Stitch, Shudder picks up three days later, and the mystery behind Paragon and the people in charge begins to reveal itself. It's an action packed novel with so much going on - I felt like I couldn't read fast enough because I wanted to find out what was going on yet at the same time I wanted to savor each and every word. 

Not only has Alessa and Isaac escaped the drama they were starring in, but they've also made it out of Paragon with the help of the rebels and are searching for a location to create a base for their cause - to overthrow the men pulling the strings behind the scenes of the seemingly idyllic Paragon. In this installment of the trilogy, we hear from those behind this entire charade of an egalitarian society. At least, I think it's a charade. What seems to be ideal on the outside has hidden horrors on the inside. 

If that wasn't enough to get my heart racing, Alessa begins experiencing the memories and emotions of thousands of people from when the outbreak was at its pinnacle. This was bound to happen since you can't go messing around in someone's brain without consequences spreading beyond your original intention. The altering of Alessa's memories, also known as "stitching", has affected her beyond what was revealed in the first book. Though I didn't think of it at the time for some reason, I now realize there would have to be side effects of altering someone's memory. It's horrifying to think of that being done against your will, and even more horrifying when you aren't sure what memories are real and what memories are "fake." Memories are fragile enough as it is. 

Yes, Shudder is action packed, even more so than Stitch. I am ready for Stuck, the third and final book of the trilogy!! 

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper... about the author

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Stitch

314 pages

Published 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... Goodreads

~ My Thoughts ~

My Rating: 5 / 5

Mind. Is. Blown. I mean, really, what more could I have asked for with Stitch? Nothing, there is absolutely nothing more I could've wanted from a book. Stitch starts out seemingly as a ghost story with time travel. Then you find out that the main character, Alessa's life isn't at all what you or she thought it was. She isn't a college student whose parents died in an accident - she's really a prisoner whose memory has been tampered with or "stitched." The "ghost" that she's been seeing isn't a ghost at all - he's a real person she knows and loves. I was completely taken by surprise (I didn't read the synopsis anywhere close to the time I began reading) and could not believe how the this plot went from great to freaking awesome!

You know just by the name of my blog how much I love the movie Donnie Darko. Stitch reminds me of that movie when they talked about time travel, wormholes, time folding over time, alternate realities, and just when I thought there would never be something so original as the plot of Donnie Darko, Stitch comes along and proves me wrong. Never have I been so happy to be wrong! 

But it wasn't just the talk of alternate realities and time travel - the layers of Stitch's characters, the complexity of the plot, and the richness in detail all gave me the reading experience I crave - to open up new ideas and expand my thinking about the nature of reality, our existence as human beings, and the ultimate question, why are we here (I don't think there's just one neat, pat answer). Which is exactly what seeing Donnie Darko did for me, too. 

I love books like this that make me think about both the good and evil humanity is capable of. I like to imagine what I would do if I were in the situation, how would other people handle the devastation of the outbreak, and if a group of people would try to start society over again only to let power go to their heads and cloud their vision to where they're controlling others. Incidentally, I believe whether a catastrophe struck or not, there will always be people trying to control other people. This isn't to say I'd want to experience any of this - I'd rather devour this trilogy and keep it all in my imagination! I don't want to think about losing anyone or the world as I know it coming to an end.

Stitch has romance, action, and plenty of plot twists that will keep you turning the pages. You'll be conflicted like me as to whether you want to read faster to find out what happens next or slower to savor every word. This book will make you think about the nature of reality, something I personally have wondered about many times in my life. To be entertained and given much to think about - you can't ask for more than that from a book! 

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 - September 16, 2013. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)
* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int'l)
* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int'l)
* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)
* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Highlight Tour

Sharing Top Highlights from the Summer-Long Tour!

August dates:

24 - The Reading Diaries - Review
- The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
- Rose & Beps Blog

25 - Chapter Break - Review
- Wonderings of One Person - Review
- Mortal Moments

26 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
- Kindred Dreamhart

27 - YA Book Addict - Review
- The Bookish Daydreamer
- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

28 - Library of a Book Witch
- Mommasez... - Review

29 - Mel's Shelves - Review
- Fundinmental

30 - Green Mountain Couple
- Literary Meanderings

31 - Donnie Darko Girl - Review
- My Devotional Thoughts

Sept. 1 - The Book Rogue

GRAND FINALE