Review & Giveaway: Scintillate (The Light Key Trilogy #1) by Tracy Clark

Here is a beautiful book about another supernatural ability, narrated with so much emotions and suspense that I can't stop it and I finished this at 1.30 AM and writing this review.

Original Title: Scintillate

Series: The Light Key Trilogy #1

Author: Tracy Clark

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release Date: February 4th, 2014

Source: Review copy via Netgalley

Genre: Young adult, Paranormal

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.

Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective, and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.

As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.

There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.

Scintillate is the first book in this lush and exciting new trilogy, full of romance, adventure and metaphysical mystery.

REVIEW

Cora is admitted to a hospital with a heavy fever and miraculously she survives.   But, after that fever, she is able to see auras of other people and her aura is always silver - never changing into any other colors.  When she tries to find the reason behind this 'abnormality', it seems like there is a dead end with her dad.  So, she seeks herself answers and all answers point out to her missing mom.  To know the details of her mother, Cora travels Ireland and unravels many mysteries one by one.

I can't help thinking if she would have just been at her home within the safety of her dad and friends (okay, she is not so safe, but this is better), she could have avoided many tragedies and heart breaks in her life.  But, then again, this book would never have to be written if things were that uneventful.

This book was heck of a fast ride.  Tracy Clark keeps throwing new things in every chapter and keeps you interested until the very end.  And still there are a lot of things to be known when I completed this book, but, sigh, guess I have to read the next book to know about them.

Cora is a strong character; adrenaline-driven stupid teen, but she is strong in her motives.  She is not brave, but she never gives up.  Cora is a perfect character for this story.  Cora's relationship with her dad is bad, and I felt annoyed at some points.  Can't someone finally trust each other and be open for some time?  I loved how Cora had put in the right words about the trust they had.

"No, Dad."  I shook my head.  "Not real trust.  It's easy to say you trust a bird in a cage."

And Finn - that guy speaks the right things at the right time.  Yes, they are too cheesy, but I can't help smiling.

"How is it possible that every kiss is the most satisfying in the world, and still it's never enough?"

This guy is swoon worthy for most parts of the novel.  I hated how things ended up between them.  And then there are Mari and Dun.  The friendship and the budding romance between the two is so adorable.  And there are so many other characters towards the end of the book.  All have been portrayed well and if I start mentioning them, I am afraid the review may contain spoilers, so I stop.

Fast paced read and an entertainer.  This was a page turner and the suspense was handled well keeping the readers hooked.  Recommeded to paranormal lovers!

Scintillating!

GIVEAWAY

1 Prize pack of a key necklace and a signed copy of Scintillate. US ONLY

3 paperbacks of Scintillate US Only.
3 eBooks of Scintillate International.

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Review & Giveaway: Undying by Valerie Grojean

Original Title: Undying

Series: Undying #1

Author: Valerie Grojean

Publisher: Createspace

Release Date: September 29th 2013

Source: From Xpresso Blog Tours

Genre: Paranormal, Young adult, Horror

Buy @ Amazon | Barnes&Noble

This is a story of love . . . and zombies. 

When eighteen-year-old college freshman Christian discovers his dormitory is crawling with the living dead, he knows he has a problem. But once he learns the whole country is overrun by the flesh-eating horde, he must race to protect what matters to him most. 

Sixteen-year-old Iris, the girl he loves, is stranded eighty miles away, alone and completely unaware of the gruesome threat surrounding her.

Christian’s plan is to evade the zombies, drive the distance to rescue Iris, and get them both to his family farm—where there are guns, fuel, and everything else they’ll need to survive. His mission seems simple: Get the girl, get to the farm, and stay alive.

Things get complicated when Christian is forced to make an unthinkable choice between Iris and his family. Someone he loves must die, and he must decide.

REVIEW

Tomorrow is the day Christian is going to finally propose his love to Iris.  He goes to bed thinking of all the possibilities of Iris' reaction, just to be woken up by the loud shriek of the neighbour.  Before Christian comes to conclusion about what's going on, his roommate comes in.  He says that his blonde neighbour bit him and although Christian thinks it weird at first, soon everything is clear that people are infected through water, dies and gets up a zombie.  His first thought was to save Iris and his family.  And that's what he does.

The writing and world building are great.  The characters are relatable.  Even the zombie apocalypse is convincing.  There is very little romance thread going on.  But, this is a horror book and you can't expect any other thing much.

The horror and gore in this book is great.  It didn't scare me to my bones, but it sure made me fear the zombie apocalypse society and made me want to throw up at times.

If there is one thing I don't like about a novel, it's the repetitive storyline (exception to Jill Shalvis).  That's the major letdown of this novel.  I have read other zombie novels and there are very few that convinced me that the story is unique.   Then there is other thing - the ending.  Let's see I don't agree with this type of endings..

Other than these things, I liked this book and if you are into trying zombie novels, you can add this to your list.

GIVEAWAY

There are two giveaways for this tour.

1st Giveaway: ebook of UNDYING - open to INTERNATIONAL readers!

Rules are simple: Follow me through "blogloving" or RSS or email subscription.  Comment below with why you would like to win this book.

The giveaway ends on March 4th, 2014!  Winners will be announced by March 6th!

2nd Giveaway

Prizes - open to US and Canada:

-1 signed paperback

- One bookmark

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What Lies Inside by J.L. Myers

Amelia Lamont never asked to unleash her inner vampire

Amelia’s normal teen world is shattered when a terrifying nightmare awakens the monster inside her. A newfound, insatiable thirst for blood that leads her to drain the school quarterback is only the beginning; she’s horrified to discover that her family and best friend Kendrick have been harboring the secret all along. And is the strangely alluring boy who seems hell-bent on curbing her murderous, blood-filled desires a friend, or foe?

To escape detection Amelia and her twin brother Dorian are forced to move to a new town, and the challenge of a new, exclusive high school where nearly every classmate smells like prey. Including the irresistible Ty, who seems hauntingly familiar, yet darkly menacing …

Amelia’s disturbing dreams and entanglement in a web of forbidden romance render her increasingly powerless against the chilling lies and secrets of vampire power struggles. And, as she soon discovers, vampire politics mixed with outlawed love can be a lethal cocktail.

Falling in love may just cost Amelia everything: her friends, her family…even her life

Move over Twilight, True Blood and Underworld! J.L. Myers’ first book in the Blood Bound series will have you swooning for more!

Warning – This book contains some language and sexual situations.

YA/ Vampire/ Paranormal Fiction

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – YA Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG-13+

More details about the author

Connect with  Jessica Myers on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://bloodboundnovels.com

Dead & Godless by Donald J. Amodeo

When outspoken atheist Corwin Holiday dies an untimely but heroic death, he’s assigned a chain-smoking, alcoholic angel as his defense attorney in the trial to decide the fate of his soul.

Today many cast Christianity aside, not in favor of another faith, but in favor of no faith. We go off to school or out into the world, and we learn that reality is godless and that free thinking means secular thinking. But must faith entail an end to asking questions? Should not the Author of Reason be able to answer the challenge of reason?

Dead & Godless is a smart and suspenseful afterlife adventure that explores the roots of truth, justice and courage. In these pages awaits a quest that spans universes, where the stakes are higher than life and death, and where Christianity’s sharp edges aren’t shied away from, because we’re not called to be nice. We’re called to be heroes.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Christian Fiction

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Donald J. Amodeo on Twitter