C.M. McCoy's Blog, page 9

Review + Giveaway Round-up: GIRL ON FIRE by Sue Wyshynski (YA Dystopian)

GIRL ON FIRE

by Sue Wyshynski

Genre: Teen/Young Adult Dystopian

Publisher: Whitman Books (Oct 2015)

Format: $6.99 eBook on Amazon

Summary from Amazon

My name is Aeris Thorne. Right now, I should be dead. By all the logic in this world, I should be shattered to pieces. How fast was I going on that ATV when I smashed into Hunter’s iron gates? Ninety? A hundred? And the men who were chasing me, where did they go? Somehow, I’m whole. Maybe better than whole.

Thank god Dad is safe. I don’t dare tell him what’s happening to me. There’s no one I can talk to, not even my best friend Gage. Gage hates Hunter. He wants Hunter’s laboratory to be shut down. He thinks Hunter’s a monster. And yet, if that’s true, if Hunter’s a monster…then what am I?

Sue Wyshynski lived a science fiction life for over a decade. She owned and operated two pioneering virtual reality companies and has 7 virtual reality patents to her name. Her work in motion sensing gesture-recognition forms the basis of the Xbox Kinect. Sue is currently writing the sequel to Girl On Fire.

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Wendy’s Review

I was glued to this book…until I wasn’t.

GIRL ON FIRE (The Butterfly Code #1) by Sue Wyshynski, the first novel in a series that begs for the follow-up book to answer questions. Too many questions. I picked up this book because it was compared to THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins and DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. I consider both of those novels in an extraordinary category of dystopian/science fiction that few others have attained. Although the effort was commendable, this book is a far cry from that level of entertainment.

Aeris Thorne is still wrestling with the death of her mother when she was five. She wants answers surrounding her mysterious passing. While visiting Maine and staying with her father for the summer, she meets Dr. Hunter Cayman, a researcher at a facility called Phoenix Lab. She is drawn to Hunter and doesn’t know why. However, she does not have time in her summer plans for men. She needs to practice for September when she begins her career as a violinist for the New York Philharmonic. She suspects the lab may hold answers to her burning questions. But everything changes when her father is threatened, and a sudden accident changes her life forever.

I was enamored with a considerable amount of this book. I enjoyed the story and the relationship developing between Hunter and Aeris. I liked the new characters introduced from the lab and unique world that Wyshynski created. Unfortunately, the story did not keep up with the pace it set. Near the end, the writing left me confused during high action scenes. I found myself continually re-reading these passages to make sense of what was taking place. A number of questions hung in the air regarding Aeris and her future. I wasn’t sure which outcome the author hoped I would be rooting for. In the end, I had more questions than answers and no real motivation to pick up the sequel. I was extremely disappointed because I was so completely swept up in the majority of this book.

This story had some violence and only alluded to sex. There were no gory descriptions or use of explicit language. This would be suitable for readers aged 13+ who like a fast-paced story and aren’t bothered by a few mental puzzles or loose ends in the end.

This book earns 2 North of Normal stars, although it would have earned 5 if it had continued to suck me in. For me, reading a book with such incredible potential is more disheartening than reading a book with none.

Format: Kindle edition:  $6.99 on Amazon

Giveaway Round-up

Win over $100 in books in these current giveaways. But hurry! Some are ending soon!

Note: CM McCoy’s Contest Policy applies. Rafflecopter terms and conditions also apply. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited.

Sterling Silver / CZ “Follow Your Heart” Necklace: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/cover-reveal-giveaway-the-heartbeat-hypothesis-by-lindsey-frydman-sweet-college-romance/

$20 PayPal Cash or Amazon Gift Card: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/giveaway-20-paypal-cash/

$10 in Books (Amazon or Book Depository): http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/review-giveaway-the-deathday-letter-by-shaun-hutchinson/

$10 Amazon Gift Card: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/guest-post-giveaway-channeling-your-inner-miss-piggy/

Signed Paperback of EERIE by CM McCoy: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/inside-edition-interview-freebie-friday-signed-eerie-paperback/

Irish Trinity Knot Wall Art: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/first-pages-giveaway-soulmated-by-shaila-patel-teen-paranormal-romance/

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber (Hardcover): https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ_BtVulryI/?hl=en

A BEDTIME STORY by LC Moon (paperback): http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/a-bedtime-story-the-bts-trilogy-1/

BLUEBERRY SHOE by Ann Dixon: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/review-giveaway-blueberry-shoe-by-ann-dixon-picture-book/

eBook UP IN A TREEHOUSE by KK Allen: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/review-giveaway-under-the-bleachers-by-k-k-allen-18-sports-romance/

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Review + Giveaway: THE DEATHDAY LETTER by Shaun Hutchinson

[image error]THE DEATHDAY LETTER

by Shaun Hutchinson

Genre: 16+ YA, Literature on Death, Dying, and Sex

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (10 Jun 2010)

Format: $8.99 eBook on Amazon

Summary from Amazon

The clock is ticking…

Ollie can’t be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he’s going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.

Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn’t work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It’s now or never…

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Shaun Hutchinson is a writer and geek living in sunny South Florida. He grew up in Florida and has only lived outside the Sunshine State twice in his life. Shaun loves geeking out on tech and sci-fi, and worships at the altar of Joss Whedon. He’s fully prepared for the zombie apocalypse.

website | twitter | goodreads

eKelly’s Review

Hutchinson does it again and does not disappoint!

The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson is a young adult standalone novel. This is not the first book by Shaun David Hutchinson that I have read; in fact it’s the third one.

Since the first two books I read by this author did not disappoint, I decided I would read everything he writes. Hutchinson’s stories are all unique but have the common theme of one or two main characters being young homosexual males. However, the sexual orientation of the characters is not the main focus of Hutchinson’s stories, which lends appeal to readers outside the LGBTQ+ community.

The Deathday Letter is about a girl-crazy high school boy named Ollie Travers who receives his Deathday Letter and learns he has 24 hours to live. There is no rhyme or reason why some people receive the letter and others don’t. They also don’t know how they will die at the end of the 24 hours.  Ollie decides to make the most of it and spends his last 24 hours making things right with his ex-girlfriend and spending time with his gay best friend. The 3 friends embark on a day of trying to knock things off Ollie’s and the other’s bucket lists. This includes some craziness like driving without a license, trespassing, and cops. The book starts out by saying the first thing you need to know about Ollie Travers is he is going to die, which might’ve deterred me from continuing (when a book hints straight away the main character will die, I’m not apt to continue.)  But because I have so much confidence in Hutchinson’s stories, I didn’t let that deter me from reading.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and loved the 3 main characters. Ollie’s raunchiness, however, was a bit repetitive and it made me think: is this what high school boys think about 24/7?

This book is shelved in the young adult section, but some of the content walks a fine line between PG-13 and R. I would recommend this for readers 16+. This book earns 4 North of Normal stars!

Format: eBook Advance Copy. Pre-order for $8.99 on Amazon

Giveaway

Win up to $10 in books from either Amazon or Book Depository! Open Internationally!

$10 in Books from Amazon or Book Depository

Note: CM McCoy’s Contest Policy applies. Rafflecopter terms and conditions also apply. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited.

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway: THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS by Lindsey Frydman (Sweet College Romance)

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Here it is! The cover for the forthcoming romance, THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS!

Did you guys notice the cover quote?

“Beautifully flawed characters woven into a brilliant tapestry of the human condition. Utterly unputdownable. Frydman delivers a gut-punching ugly cry with this stunning debut.”

– CM McCoy, Author of EERIE.

I was fortunate to read this book when Lindsey was still querying, and I fell in love with it instantly. I’m so excited for her and I’m super excited to share this awesome book with your guys! I have to say, though I love the man-butt (nice) the cover and blurb do not do this book justice. Sometimes you just want to smack a publisher for failing to capture the emotion of this stand-out book.

I hope you guys will add this to your Goodreads and pre-order it for your Kindle for $3.99!

Don’t miss the beautiful giveaway at the bottom of this post!

THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS

by Lindsey Frydman

Genre: New Adult Sweet Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Embrace (20 Mar 2017)

Pre-Order: Amazon Kindle $3.99

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Summary

His dead sister’s heart is beating inside her chest.

Heart transplant recipient and university freshman Audra takes nothing for granted and is determined to live every heartbeat to its fullest. To honor her donor, a stranger who lived life to the fullest, and whose too-young death gave Audra a new chance at life, she’ll complete that girl’s ‘done-it’ list. But she’ll need help. Enter Jake–her donor’s reclusive, reluctant, bad-boy brother… — Summary by CM McCoy

Audra Madison simply wanted to walk in the shoes of Emily Cavanaugh, a free-spirited teenager who died too young. After all, Audra wasn’t supposed to be here. Thanks to Emily, Audra has a second chance at life. She’s doing all the things that seemed impossible just two years ago: Go to college. Date. Stargaze in the Rocky Mountains. Maybe get a tattoo. You know, live.

Jake Cavanaugh, a photographer with mysterious, brooding gray eyes, agrees to help chronicle her newfound experiences. She makes him laugh, one of the only people who can these days. As they delve into each other’s pasts – and secrets – the closer they become.

But she’s guarded and feels like she can’t trust anyone, including herself.  And he’s struggling with the fact that his beloved sister’s heart beats inside her.

Lindsey has been writing since she was nine years old, when she discovered the awesomeness that is Harriet the Spy. Her books always include a romance, though sometimes there’s an added sci-fi or magical realism twist. She lives in Columbus, Ohio (where the weather is never quite right). Her BFA in Photography and Graphic Design has granted her a wide assortment of creative knowledge that serves as inspiration (and not much else). When she’s not crafting YA and NA stories, you’ll likely find her spending waaay too much time on Pinterest, playing a video game, singing show-tunes, or performing in a burlesque show—because she enjoys giving her introversion a worthy adversary. (Plus, it’s the closest to Broadway she’ll ever get.) Lindsey was a proud 2016 Pitch Wars Mentee and thoroughly adores being a part of the wonderful writing community. THE HEARTBEAT HYPOTHESIS is her debut novel.

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Giveaway

Win a sterling silver “Follow Your Heart”necklace with cubic zirconium embellishment!

Note: CM McCoy’s Contest Policy applies. Rafflecopter terms and conditions also apply. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited.

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Guest Post + Giveaway: Channeling Your Inner Miss Piggy

My first guest post went live today on NY Times and USA Today best-selling author, Delilah Devlin’s blog this morning!

The title: Channeling Your Inner Miss Piggy on Twitter

You’ll find two of my favorite Twitter stories there

…and I forgot to include the GIVEAWAY when I sent her my post, so here it is!

First, check out my guest post on Delilah’s blog and leave a comment on her blog post (CLICK HERE TO READ MY GUEST BLOG POST)

THEN, come back and enter this Rafflecopter for a chance to win $10 in book cash (Amazon or Book Depository).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review + Giveaway: UNDER THE BLEACHERS by K.K. Allen (18+ Sports Romance)

UNDER THE BLEACHERS by K.K. Allen Genre: New Adult Sports Romance Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (28 Feb 2017) Format: eBook Advance Copy. Pre-order for $2.99 on Amazon Summary One kiss can change everything. Fun and flirty Monica Stevens lives for chocolate, fashion, and boys … in that order. And she doesn’t take life too seriously, especially when it comes to dating. When a night of innocent banter with Seattle’s hottest NFL quarterback turns passionate, she fears that everything she once managed to protect will soon be destroyed. Seattle’s most eligible bachelor, Zachary Ryan, is a workaholic by nature, an undercover entrepreneur, and passionate about the organizations he supports. He’s also addicted to Monica, the curvy brunette with a sassy mouth—and not just because she tastes like strawberries and chocolate. She’s as challenging as she is decadent, as witty as she is charming, and she’s the perfect distraction from the daily grind. While Monica comes to a crossroads in her life, Zachary becomes an unavoidable obstacle, forcing her to stop hiding under the bleachers and confront the demons of her past. But as their connection grows stronger, she knows it only brings them closer to their end. It’s time to let go. To have a future, we must first deal with our pasts. But what if the two are connected? K.K. Allen is an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences graduate from the University of Washington who writes Contemporary Romance and Fantasy stories that “Capture the Edge of Romance.” K.K. currently resides in Central Florida, works full time as a Digital Producer for a leading online educational institution, and is the mother to a ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart. K.K.’s publishing journey began in June 2014 with the YA Contemporary Fantasy trilogy, The Summer Solstice. In 2016, K.K. published her first Contemporary Romance, Up in the Treehouse, which has been highly rated and nominated for two 2016 Reviewers’ Choice awards (Best New Adult and Best Review Source) from RTBookReviews.com. website | facebook | facebook fan page | twitter | goodreads Wendy’s Review * Recommended for readers aged 18+ I fell in love with Zachary Ryan over and over again! UNDER THE BLEACHERS by KK Allen is the forthcoming (28 Feb 2017) second novel in a series but can be read as a standalone. I read this book as an ARC (advance copy) because I have heard so many wonderful things about KK Allen’s writing, and I loved the blurb. I expected a sweet, romantic story but I received much more. This book stars successful PR firm Office Manager, Monica Stevens and her flirtatious, dessert loving ways. Although she doesn’t shy away from men, she doesn’t allow them to get too close. Her job affords her time to meet a lot of people and figure out what it is she intends to do with her life. All is well until NFL quarterback, Zachary Ryan decides flirting each time he visits the firm is no longer enough. The push and pull between the two will soon change Monica’s life forever. I was very pleasantly surprised by the many plot layers developed throughout this book. What I saw as a simple love story, turned into something much bigger and more heart breaking. The writing and characterization was excellent and I could feel everything Monica and Zach were going through. It was also a breath of fresh air to read about a man who wasn’t a stereotypical player despite his celebrity. Regardless of the turmoil in Monica’s life, this story does tie everything up. The ending is sure to make readers smile. There isn’t a ton of sex but enough that I would not recommend it to younger readers. I have not read enough sports romance to make a fair comparison to another book, however I believe romance readers who enjoy the push and pull uncertainty of celebrity love would enjoy this. This was very good! Although I may not purchase it for myself, I would gift this book to someone looking for a HEA read. This book earns 3.5 North of Normal stars! Format: eBook Advance Copy. Pre-order for $2.99 on Amazon Giveaway Win an eBook of UP IN A TREEHOUSE by KK Allen, the sensational first book in this angst series! UP IN A TREEHOUSE by KK Allen (eBook) Note: CM McCoy’s Contest Policy applies. Rafflecopter terms and conditions also apply. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. a Rafflecopter giveaway

INSIDE EDITION Interview + Freebie Friday (signed EERIE paperback)

It’s #FreebieFriday! I’ve got a real treat for you this week! Win a signed EERIE paperback WITH deleted scenes pasted inside (scroll to the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to enter).    Also, some awesome news! I recently interviewed with INSIDE EDITION (airs in Feb or Mar 2017) wherein we talked all things EERIE and about writing as a part of healthy living and stress management.

First Pages + Giveaway: SOULMATED by Shaila Patel (teen paranormal romance)

First Pages is a before-and-after series featuring an early draft of a published book’s first page and a short commentary from the author describing how that draft evolved into its published form. I’ve read thousands of first pages, and I started this series to study how authors get it right. It takes a lot of courage for authors to share their first or early draft, so these are a real treat! In this installment of the series, we look at SOULMATED, a Young Adult paranormal romance by debut author Shaila Patel (Jan 2017, Month9Books). Kindle SALE $4.61 Summary Two souls. One Fate. Eighteen-year-old Liam Whelan, an Irish royal empath, has been searching for his elusive soulmate. The rare union will cement his family’s standing in empath politics and afford the couple legendary powers, while also making them targets of those seeking to oust them. Laxshmi Kapadia, an Indian-American high school student from a traditional family, faces her mother’s ultimatum: Graduate early and go to medical school, or commit to an arranged marriage. When Liam moves next door to Laxshmi, he’s immediately and inexplicably drawn to her. In Liam, Laxshmi envisions a future with the freedom to follow her heart. Liam’s father isn’t convinced Laxshmi is “The One” and Laxshmi’s mother won’t even let her talk to their handsome new neighbor. Will Liam and Laxshmi defy expectations and embrace a shared destiny? Or is the risk of choosing one’s own fate too great a price for the soulmated? First Draft of First Page LIAM We parked on yet another dull street, in another dull neighborhood, of another dull city – but at least it was a new state. North Carolina. I stepped out of Mum’s Audi and stretched. It felt good to be walking around since our last stop was back in Asheville four hours ago. We’d taken a self-guided sightseeing tour for three days, from Memphis to Cary, and if I never saw another Cracker Barrel, I’d die a happy man. Since Dad had gone on ahead to meet the movers, he’d missed all the fun. I reached for the football I’d tossed in the boot back in Memphis and spun it on my finger. Agh, they call it a soccer ball in the States, Liam! The sounds of a lived-in neighborhood met my ears – dogs barking, lawn mowers running, and kids laughing. There were more trees around us than in our last few neighborhoods, but their thick, dark green canopies felt oppressive, nothing like the lively green from back home in Ireland. Dad stood on the porch, rubbing his hands together, a smile glued to his face. He was always excited at the prospect of a new lead from another one of his visions. “Isn’t this grand?” he asked. “The mountains on the drive here were fantastic, were they not?” I rolled my eyes and bounced the football between my knees and feet. My brother arrived minutes later, having flown into the Raleigh-Durham airport about an hour ago. Ciarán would only be staying for the weekend to help us with the unpacking. He’d be flying back home early Monday, and I’d be starting a new high school, looking for my next target. Again. Commentary from the author I changed Liam’s chapter because I got feedback from a prominent literary agent during a workshop. Her blunt assessment of this chapter made me cringe. She’d said, “Why would a teenage reader care about a boy who moved to a new town?” Ouch. But she was right. Overall, there wasn’t anything exciting about a boy moving to a new town. Yes, it is something my target market (teens) could relate to, but would it really win them over if they opened the book in a bookstore to see if my novel was worth buying? In the revised version, I start the book with Liam’s point of view, instead of Laxshmi’s (whose first chapter was just as dull!). The change in point of view tells readers right away that the story is paranormal—rather than waiting till Chapter 2 to find out. I also moved the story back six weeks to what prompted Liam to come to the United States in the first place. The entire first chapter now addresses what the test is for, why he’s having to undergo it, and how he ends up in North Carolina—a far cry from “Woe is me, I have to move!” Final Version of First Page LIAM They’re calling this a test? Not even a ping grazed my mind as the five Elders tried to slip past my mental blocks and into my emotions. A sheen of sweat over William’s lip proved he wasn’t faring as well. Of all the cousins now come of age, William and I were the last to be sitting before the Elders. I’d have felt guilty for his not doing so well had he ever shown an interest in leading the family. But, we all knew he’d rather have his head in a library. Now his heart was with his wife Colleen. He at least seemed to have a choice about his fate. I sighed. Not so for me. “Are we boring you, Prince Liam?” I snapped my eyes up to Elder Adebayo. He wore his trademark bow tie with a traditional fila atop his head. In the fraction of a second it took me to untangle the meaning from his heavy Nigerian accent, I’d blanked my expression and sat upright. The Elders sat along one side of an antique conference table, facing William and myself. The manor staff had rearranged the study to hold both the testing and signing-over ceremonies. Gone were the leather club chairs and stained glass lamps normally dotting the large space, giving it the air of a posh library. Now it seemed more an election night headquarters, like the sort you saw on the telly, with bright lights and a gathering of family strewn about, waiting for the results. A photographer hung about in [...]

Win It Wednesday: CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber

North of Normal Blog brings you #WinItWednesday

Today’s Top-Rated Kindle Freebies!

Review + Giveaway: A Bedtime Story by LC Moon (18+ Romance)

A Bedtime Story (The BTS Trilogy Book 1) by L.C. Moon ebook / Paperback: 314 pages D.A.D. Publishing; 1st edition (2014) Format: Kindle $3.99 Summary: BTS is an 18+ erotic thriller. It is a love story, not a romance. Book 1 ends on a cliffhanger and acts as the backstory to Book 2 & 3. Laura Spencer. Young, pretty, introverted. She worked at a local deli, where she left more broken plates than collected tips. Apologizing to aggravated waiters and cowering from overfriendly male clients made up most of her social interaction. The only friends she had lived inside the pages of books or on movie screens, offering slim comfort during the long, dark nights of her lonely life. Every two weeks, a postcard was delivered through her mail. She lived for those deliveries. Peter Spencer. Her brother, her lifelong protector and her only family. The only one who truly knew her, who would sacrifice it all for her. Peter made a bad decision, involving the worst kind of people. Kayne Malkin. Tall, dark and handsome. He belonged to the Organization, the Quebec fraction of a ruthless Russian Mafia. He was known for many things. He killed and tortured for a living. He seduced and destroyed for pleasure. But above all else, he built his reputation on one trait only. Kayne Malkin never lied. Not to the men he interrogated, not to the women he set his sights on. He got what he wanted, while staring them in the eye. Honest and remorseless. Kayne Malkin’s assignment: The Peter Spencer case. On the first warm spring night, while Montreal celebrated the passing of winter, Laura reluctantly accepted to accompany a coworker out on the town. Kayne smirked by himself seeing her arrive, all dolled up, looking uncomfortable. Lurking in the shadows, he patiently waited. The trap was set. WARNING: Contains explicit sexual content, dubious consent and criminal activities. This series is recommended for 18+ About LC Moon L. C. Moon is a graduate of Concordia University. She lives in Montreal with her husband, black Labrador, and Calico cat. She has written several poems and a few short stories. A Bedtime Story is her first novel. As with all her other works, it touches on themes such as forbidden fantasy, duality and inner struggle. Amazon | Goodreads Review by CM McCoy Wow. This is Assassins meets 50 Shades of Grey in A BEDTIME STORY, which is a debut erotic thriller with romance by LC Moon. It is the first book in what I’d hoped would be a series, but following the tragic death of the publisher, it seems LC Moon has disappeared from social media and quite possibly the publishing world. At its core, this is an erotic retelling of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Laura’s brother has stolen a thumb drive containing incriminating evidence from the mob, and they want it back. Kayne is a a mob hit man, whose job it is to find this thumb drive and eliminate the thief. Only one person knows where this thief if, and that’s Laura. What follows is a dark and thrilling love story. L.C. Moon builds tension and romantic suspense like a pro. Though there were some aspects of her writing style that should’ve made me grumpy, the push and pull of the love story was so compelling, I instantly forgave her. I got goosebumps; I cried, and I really wanted to slap a few characters. I devoured this book pretty much in one sitting, and I’ll definitely read it again. This is a fast-paced, down and dirty love story with characters to love and hate (and hate to love). There’s a bit of head-hopping, but L.C. Moon maintained complete control of the story from start to finish, and for that reason, it actually worked for me (surprise!). And I loved seeing into the minds of the various characters. My skim factor was near zero, and I need Book 2 yesterday. This love story has occupied a place in my heart since I first read it a year ago. Despite its flaws, it remains one of my favortie stories ever. Since it’s now out of print, I bought 5 copies of the paperback from various thrift bookstores to give to friends. I rated this 5-stars on Goodreads and Amazon. a Rafflecopter giveaway