Review - Brother by Ania Ahlborn

Brother by Ania Ahlborn
Published: September 2015 by Gallery Books
Source: eARC
Rating: 5+ Stars

Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place...

It comes as no surprise that I'm a die hard Ahlborn fan, but REALLY?!? She did it again. She has written another relentlessly appalling, yet magnetic book that I adored. 

The Morrow family is the stuff of an old school horror family - all the sadistic tendencies included. One day the baby boy of the family, Rebel, decided he wanted something... kind of like when a kid wants a pet. Except Rebel saw a boy outside. Michael was taken from his front yard at a young age and was raised as a Morrow.

The inner dynamics of the Morrow family are soul-crushing. I'm not talking about Lifetime movie qualities here - more like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre family or one of those messed up stories you glanced at on your social media feed and you thought, "Wow. These things really happen?" That's how this book sucks you in. Just like reading that one sentence news line that catches your eye so you'll click on the link to read the full article. If this book had links, I'd have arthritis from so much clicking. 

This book has a story to tell and I  promise it is one you'll want to hear.

Review - Harrowgate by Kate Murayama

Harrowgate by Kate Murayama 
Published: September 2013 by 47North
Source: Gift from Author
Rating: 4 Stars

Michael should be overjoyed by the birth of his son, but his wife, Sarah, won't let him touch the baby or allow anyone to visit. Greta, an intrusive, sinister doula has wormed her way into their lives, driving a wedge between Michael and his family. Every time he leaves the Harrowgate, he returns to find his beloved wife and baby altered. He feels his family slipping away, and as a malevolent force begins to creep in, Michael does what any new father would do?he fights to keep his family together. Kate Maruyama's debut novel, Harrowgate, is a chilling, richly detailed story of love, loss, and the haunted place that lies between.




Holy shit. This was one creepy book. There were several times I thought I had everything figured out, and I was wrong. And then it just gets creepier... 

Michael often travels for work. He gets a message that his wife, Sarah, has gone into labor while he is out of town. He immediately packs and goes home as quickly as possible. He finally reaches the Harrowgate, his apartment complex, and Sarah is there... with his newborn, Tim. In the very beginning, Sarah acted weird... paranoid. Sarah wouldn't even let Michael hold Tim at first. Then Sarah wouldn't allow anyone in the apartment or let Michael leave. Every time he would leave, when he came back, Sarah and Tim were older, different. 

Then here comes Greta... the sinister/hippie/loving mother looking type. Michael immediately dislikes her (as do I), but Sarah is enamored with her. Greta even gives Sarah a special tea to drink that makes Sarah feel a little better, but then Greta gives some to Sarah to secretly give to Michael. What's up with that?! Greta always says, "Everything I do and help you with is so that you can be with your baby and Michael." It's awfully rhetorical... Michael and the baby, Michael and the baby... I was to the point of thinking bad thoughts about Greta by the middle of this book. 

As the story progresses, Sarah's physical condition worsens, Tim just keeps growing, and Michael realizes there is evil in his home. Something that he has to fight. He wants to keep his beautiful family and NOTHING will change that. 

It was particularly hard to review this book without unintentionally including spoilers. Its one of those books like The Exorcist... you want to experience every moment as if it was the first time you're reading it. I recommend this book to anyone who likes creepy mystery/thrillers. I'd have a giveaway for my copy, but my goober wiener dog knocked a glass of water on it so... go buy it for your nook or kindle. 

Review - Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Published: May 2015 by Viking Juvenile
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 Stars

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and - lately - concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.
Sydney is a normal teenager with a normal life until one day her brother, Peyton, makes a tragic mistake. He drives drunk and hits a young boy who was riding his bicycle home after staying up late playing video games at a friend's house. Peyton goes to jail and the family starts to crumble. Sydney's mom tries to hold everything together with a thread so thin you can't even see, all the while Sydney can't stop thinking about David, the young boy who will now be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. 

With all the court costs and attorney fees, Sydney notices when the second car is sold and when other household luxuries are cut down. At her school (a private/very costly one), she is now known as the girl whose brother almost killed a boy drunk driving. In an attempt to escape her surroundings as well as help with finances, Sydney transfers to the local public school. Of course its awkward at first, but that's a given. After school one day, she spontaneously walks into a pizzeria that she assumed would be the local teen hangout spot, only to find it empty. Cue cute boy entrance.... Mac Chatham, the pizzeria owner's son, walks in, puts an apron on, and asks Sydney for her order. 

Sydney quickly befriends Mac's sister, Layla, whom she can tell everything to. They hang out and study at her dad's pizzeria almost every weekday while Mac takes orders and makes deliveries. While we're talking about Mac... he's in a band, is very smart, and well... he's what every teenage girl wants in a boy. Sydney starts hanging out with the whole gang... the band, Layla, Mac, and even their friends. She starts to feel vaguely normal again. Then her brother's calls from jail dislodge her new life. Her parents either ignore her or treat her like she's been bad in the past like her brother, even though she never has. 

Sydney finds herself at a standstill several times with the Chathams. She has to keep secrets from Mac, she has to keep secrets for Layla... but there is a special sort of connection between Sydney and Mrs. Chatham. She has MS and is totally awesome and down to Earth. And yes... I just said totally awesome. But Sydney's thoughts are never far from Peyton or the boy he accidentally hurt, David. These thoughts cause extreme turmoil within Sydney and throughout the book, we struggle right along with her. 

This was my first Dessen novel and it won't be my last. I loved the detailed personalities each character had, which just brought the book to life for me. I also enjoyed the subject matter. I was worried it would just be another YA romance, but it was much more. I am an adamant Jodi Picoult fan and this book was very much like a YA version of a Picoult book... which is a definite compliment. 

Review - In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Published: August 2015 by Scout Press
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 Stars

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.
In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house
Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?
And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room
But something goes wrong. Very wrong.
And in the dark, dark room…
Some things can’t stay secret for ever.




This was a decent mystery/thriller for me. I honestly bought it thinking it was a horror novel, but it turned out to be a good mistake. The main character is Nora, a writer who enjoys her independent lifestyle, including her precious alone time. She once dated a boy named James when she was a teenager. They broke it off and kept the secret of why... well, a secret for over ten years. Nora denies it even to herself, but she's still not over James. 

Out of the blue, a woman named Flo emails Nora inviting her to a hen party weekend at a secluded house in the woods for one of Nora's old high school friends, Claire. Claire was an amazing best friend ten years ago. Nora and Claire did everything together, but Claire was always the one of the two who shined brightest. Nora was confused when she read the invitation... Nora and Claire had drifted apart years ago. Claire spends a few days thinking on whether or not to accept the invite. She eventually decides to go and rides up to the secluded house with another one of her old friends, Nina. There are a few other characters who come along for the weekend getaway as well such as Mel and Tom. It can't be a party without people, right? 

As soon as Claire arrives at the house, she drops a bomb on Nora. Claire is marrying Nora's old flame, James. Nora finally understands why she was invited to a party for someone she hasn't even heard from in ten years. This was Claire's way of making sure that Nora knew, but by breaking the news as easily as possible. Of course, Nora is upset, but she reminds herself that her and James' relationship ended ten years ago. Nora and the rest of the group try to enjoy the weekend as much as possible. 

Let me talk about Flo... she is quite the character. Flo, the overprotective friend of Claire, now starts to act strangle. She makes everyone uncomfortable, including me. She's very snippy and reminds everyone how they should be eternally grateful to even be considered one of Claire's friends. Flo even dresses like Claire, which unfortunately looks unflattering because of the body type difference between Claire and Flo. Everyone just assumes Flo is obsessed with Claire and they try to ignore her strangeness and get on with the weekend, or more truthfully... get to the end of the weekend. 

So many deceptions, secrets, lies, truths... all unfold during this weekend getaway. It seemed never-ending. I thought I had it figured out several times, but I was fooled. If you're looking for a mystery/thriller with a great well-rounded group of characters, then this one is for you. 

Review - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Published: April 2011 by Dutton
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 Stars

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you... "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say?

Poor, poor Lincoln. In love with a woman who doesn't even know he exists... or does she? :) Lincoln lands a (what I'd call cushy) job as an internet security officer in a news building on night shift. He spends a few hours a night checking a folder that collects emails that contain flagged (or work inappropriate) words/phrases and then send those employees warnings. It takes him about two hours of his eight hour shift to actually do his job. So naturally, he gets bored. 

Two people keep getting their emails flagged: Beth and Jennifer. Instead of just sending them warnings, Lincoln reads their emails... all of them. Every night he tries to keep himself from reading them, but he can't. He becomes completely engrossed in these ladies' personal lives. He knows he should stop. He eventually confessed to a female friend, who also advises him to stop. But... its a little too late. Lincoln falls hard for Beth, a movie reviewer from the newsroom. 

I was so curious as to what Lincoln would do. Would he run up the stairs and confess his undying love to a virtual (pun-intended) stranger? Would he stalk her outside of just reading her emails and it end up creeping me out? Or maybe Beth will run into him and that FATE thing would happen. 
There's no way I'm spilling the beans on this one, but trust me... you are going to want to pick up this book just to find out what happens next. Rowell has written yet another show-stopping book and I just can't help but be truly impressed.

Review + Giveaway - The Escape by Hannah Jayne

The Escape by Hannah Jayne
Published: July 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire
Source: eARC
Rating: 3 Stars

When two boys walk into the woods, and one comes out covered in blood, what would you believe?

Fletcher and Adam venture into the woods for an afternoon hike, but when day turns into night and neither boy returns, their town is thrown into turmoil. Avery, the detective's daughter, is the one to find Fletcher - dishelved, disoriented, and covered in blood. He has no memory of what happened, but Avery can't shake the feeling that something's off. When Adam's body is finally found, Avery is determined to uncover the truth. But if she stands by her gut, and Fletcher, is she standing by a friend, or a murderer? The answer might cost her her life.


This was a nice psychological thriller that I read in about two sittings. Fletcher is the weird kid in school that most people just ignore, Adam is the jock that every adores, and Avery is the smart girl that people just label as the police chief's daughter. Adam is one of Fletcher's only friends and they go on a hike that ends up in tragedy. The day after the hike, Fletcher is found close to death by Avery, while Adam was still missing.

Fletcher tries so hard to remember what exactly happened to him. You can almost feel his agony with himself, his anger at not being able to remember to help Adam. Adam's body is found and Fletcher's life is thrown into a hellfire. Now his classmates say he killed Adam, instead of previously speculating that there was a killer on the loose. 

This has the small town feel that reminding me of the Salem Witch Trials. I felt like the townsfolk where scared, and looking for someone to blame. All the while Avery takes up a place beside Fletcher to help him remember.. to remember anything and to also just be his friend. Avery takes after her dad and tries to do a little detective work. She thinks of everyone's safety at all times and always has her sights set on finding Adam's killer. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I guessed who the killer was midway through the book, but to be fair.. I do that quite frequently and it is annoying. I run books and movies for myself. I'd recommend this book if you are looking for some mystery, detailed/in-depth characters, and a completely mind-bending reading experience.

About the Author
Hannah Jayne is possibly the only person living in Silicon Valley who has never worked in high tech. When she’s not writing, she’s obsessively watching HGTV or shopping at Target.. also obsessively. Find out more about Hannah’s urban fantasy, young adult thrillers, and latest obsessions at hannah-jayne.com.

Now on to the giveaway! Giveaway ends July 31st. Open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Must be 13 or older to enter.

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Review - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Published: January 2011 by Penguin Books
Source: Finished Copy Provided by the Publisher
Rating: 5+ Stars

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. 

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. Her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. She has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. 

I honestly don't know where to start. Harkness took my soul, wrapped it around her pinky finger, and watched as her words made it glow in the darkness. Not only could I escape reality every moment I picked this novel up, but I felt the main characters' feelings. When they were heartbroken, my heart bled. When they were eloped in passion, i had naughty thoughts (and may have told the boyfriend). When they were scared, but brave... well you understand. 

Back to the basics.. we have Diana Bishop, a witch who has chosen to refuse her own powers and instead has focused her life on being a professional academic. She calls up a mysterious manuscript from Oxford's library, realizes it has been spelled, and promptly sends it back. The problem is all of the creatures have perked up. Witches, vampires, and daemons alike are all vying for the manuscript that may hold the answer to how each creature was created.  In steps Matthew Clairmont, a gentlemen/scientist/vampire whom we all start to swoon over. Which is the only proper response.

"He held me while I spoke, and when I couldn't speak, and when I cried."

Matthew wants the manuscript just like anyone else, but then he takes an interest in Diana. In her professional and personal life. He starts to see her as more than just another witch. Diana has always ignored her heritage as a witch. She has focused her entire life on her education and her professional and has earned all of her merits the good old fashioned way. Matthew tests Diana to be who she is. A man pushing a woman to be herself? 

Can we love this man anymore? NO. The answer is no. I've decided to stop here. I don't want to ruin for you the AMAZINGNESS that happens with Diana and Matthew, but I'm sure you can imagine the storm the is a brewing. All I can say is if you enjoy some fantasy, some adult love, and amazing writing... just go buy this book. And then the sequel. And then the third book in the trilogy. 

Review - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Published: January 2015 by Riverhead Books
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 Stars

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life - as she sees it - is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?


I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I felt every single character's feelings... I felt angry, depressed, hopeless, hopeful, satisfied, imaginative. Rachel isn't a character I can relate to, but she allowed me to see alcoholism from a different perspective. I was around an alcoholic for most of my childhood and in my early teenage years. I was never an enabler and I have pretty strong views on drunks in general. That being said, Rachel is an alcoholic. She has blackouts and knows the consequences of drinking before she takes a sip, but still decides to drink at some times. This small aspect of the novel angered me, but it was integral to the story.

Rachel rides the train every day and observes the people around her. Her daily commutes to and from home take her by the same house, where she become slightly obsessed with the couple living there. One day she sees something different than the usual. This enrages Rachel and she takes her anger out by drinking more alcohol and harassing her ex-husband. Then she blacks out. Feeling guilty and not knowing what happened on a very important night, she starts investigating herself. She rips off small pieces of paper, writes down details, and then stuffs them in her purse. She wanted to be a part of something, but we find out quickly that sometimes it's not good to be in the inner circle. My favorite quote in the book...

"Life is not a paragraph, and death is no parenthesis."

I enjoyed this novel to rate it 5 stars. I don't normally read thriller/suspense novels, but this one surprised me. It is very hard to review this novel without giving details that I know a reader would want to discover themselves. So I'm basically saying to quit reading everyone's reviews and just go buy this book. I promise... you'll thank me later.

Review - Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane

Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane
Published: 2011 by Dutton Adult 

Source: Crazy Book Tours

Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn't fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides — one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away.

Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he’s one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he’s sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named Maria, and for the first time in his life his singleminded, bloody purpose fades away.

Before Maria, Joseph’s only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the war... is leaving it.

So this book is totally different from my usual genres. That being said.. I really enjoyed it! I actually commented on Goodreads while I was reading it wondering what genre this book is and guess who commented back?! Trevor Shane!! He took the words right out of my mouth and called it a genre stew. I love it. I would label this book as dystopian, action-packed, adventurous, suspenseful with a splash of romance. 

The main character, Joe, is an assassin. Yup, he definitely kills people for a living and he does it seamlessly in the first chapter. He is a part of one of two faction. There's the good guys and then the bad guys. He believes he's on the good side. But is there really a way to tell? Both sides kill people. While I can't honestly say they kill innocent people, but some of them are elderly, they are moms and dads, brothers and sisters. This war though and Joe believes his cause transcends morality. Besides his job, Joe is just like us. He eats, sleeps, watches TV, and has a mom. While his job does make him a recluse and non-committal in relationships, I could still identify with him in some way. 

While on a job, Joe does meet an interesting girl in a way interesting way. I won't spoil the surprise for you, but it did get a chuckle out of me. Here's where the splash of romance comes in. He's never had a girlfriend. Basically, he can't have one. But will his sudden affection deter him way from his destiny? 

Trevor Shane did a great job regarding world building with this book. The dystopian-feel was amazing, but I am a little bias on that comment since it is becoming one of my favorite genres. This book isn't for the faint of heart.. it does have some blood and guts, but what book about an assassin wouldn't? I really did enjoy my foray into a new kind of book that I never thought would be on my shelf. You should give it a try.

Blog Tour - Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane

all wars have rules

rule #1: no killing innocent bystanders

rule #2: no killing anyone under the age of eighteen

break the rules, become the target
 

Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn’t fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides — one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away.


Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he’s one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he’s sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named Maria, and for the first time in his life his singleminded, bloody purpose fades away.


Before Maria, Joseph’s only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the war. . .is leaving it. 

Book Trailer

About the Author

Trevor Shane lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son. This is his first novel, and the first in the trilogy.


Find Trevor At...
Website
Twitter
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Children of Paranoia on Facebook
Read an Excerpt of the Book

Interview with Trevor Shane

What inspired you to write Children of Paranoia?

I wanted to write a hugely entertaining series with a nuanced, even complicated view of good and evil.  I think a lot of the really entertaining grand struggle books (many of which I love) ultimately have a kind of snarling, mustache twirling villain who claims his dedication to the dark-side at the end.  In the real world, these struggles are more often between different sides that all truly believe that they are the good guys.  So I open my book with the protagonist committing what, to most sane people, appears to be this horrible act and everything else flows from there.     

What are some of your favorite books?

I try to read a lot of different genres and different authors and try to read both the really popular stuff and some more obscure books.  I loved the Harry Potter series and really enjoyed the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.  I read, and liked, the first Hunger Games book but haven’t had time to get to the second and third ones yet.  My all-time favorite books, however, have to be Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernst Hemingway.  I’m a stickler for a good ending and those two books have two of the best endings of any books I've ever read. 

Did you have much say in the cover of your book?

The team at Dutton designed it.  They asked for my opinion but it’s honestly hard to say whether or not they would have listened to my opinion because I loved what they did on the very first shot.  I remember telling my agent that I really liked the cover but that I would probably just defer to the professionals on this one anyway (I've always thought of a book cover as more of a marketing exercise than part of the book and I am anything but a seasoned marketer).  My agent warned me not to trust the professionals too much because they often do a crappy job with their first attempt at book covers but that they did a great job with Children of Paranoia.  She was as excited about the cover as I was.  Still, her advice was probably good advice, though I hope to never have to follow it because I hope I to keep getting to work with great people who love and understand my books.

When can we expect to read your next book?

Book II, tentatively titled Children of the Underground, should come out next fall.  It’s the second book in the Children of Paranoia trilogy and I’m really excited about where it’s going to take readers.  Now that I've gotten such positive feedback on the first book, I’m really inspired to try to break new ground with the second book and shock and thrill people by bringing them to places that they didn't expect and making them feel things that surprise them.  I feel like every book is an exercise in setting your readers’ expectations and then a dance between when you should meet those expectations and when you should subvert them.  This dance gets even more magnified when you’re writing a series.   

Tour Schedule

10/11 - Kritters Ramblings   http://www.krittersramblings.com                       
10/12 - Ravishing Reads   http://ravishingreads.blogspot.com                        
10/13 - My Utopia   http://myutopia36.blogspot.com/                           
10/14 - Reader Girls   http://readergirls.blogspot.com                          
10/16 - Mental Foodie   http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com                             
10/17 - Rants~N~Scribbles   http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com       
10/18 - Sinnful Books   http://sinnfulbooks.blogspot.com                         
10/19 - A Bookish Affair   http://abookishaffair.blogspot.com/                           
10/20 - Between the Covers   http://www.betweenthecoversblog.net/               
10/21 - The Fiction Enthusiast   http://thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com/      
10/22 - Proud Book Nerd   http://proudbooknerd.com/                           
10/23 - Book Hooked   http://www.bookhookedblog.com                           
10/24 - Girls in the Stacks   http://www.girlsinthestacks.com                          
10/25 - All I Ever Read   http://books.nicoleabouttown.com  


Don't forget to drop by the other tour stops for more Children of Paranoia info!! :)

Blog Tour - Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth + Giveaway

Cheers for the last stop on Loretta Ellsworth's Blog Tour for her novel, Unforgettable! I am so glad I got to participate in this tour for two reasons. One being Loretta is such a nice person. I met her on Twitter at the beginning of the year when I started book blogging. She is so insightful and I instantly knew I wanted to read her books. The second reason being her lastest book, of course! I got a last minute chance to squeeze in her Blog Tour and she bumped me right in. Thank you so much, Loretta! I absolutely loved Unforgettable (review to come) and I know you will too. So what's this book all about?

Baxter Green isn’t like everyone else. While most people would forget about the little details of everyday life, Baxter never forgets—not pain, not hurt, not embarrassment. In fact, Baxter never forgets anything—not even a string of account numbers, flashed before his eyes by his mother’s criminal boyfriend, Dink, for use in a credit card scam. Years after his testimony has locked Dink away, Baxter and his mother are in a new town, trying to forget the danger Dink brought into their lives. Baxter wants to hide his unique ability, but it becomes increasingly more difficult when he reconnects with Hallie, a girl from his childhood who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Can Baxter win Hallie’s heart? Loretta Ellsworth’s newest novel is one readers will never forget.

Intriguing, yes? :) Loretta was kind enough to also do an interview, so here she is!

What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always been intrigued by what we remember and how we remember. Maybe it’s due to growing up in a large family with six other siblings. We all seem to remember events differently. I also lost a great aunt to Alzheimer’s Disease and constantly worry about getting it, too. But when I heard about people who actually have amazing biographical memories, I wondered if it would be a curse or a blessing to remember every detail of your life. And that’s how Baxter came to be – he was my exploration into this fascinating subject.

What are some of your favorite books?

Some of my favorite books are To Kill a Mockingbird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Canticle for Leibowitz, Tuck Everlasting, Charlotte’s Web, The Stand, and Madame Bovary.

Did you have much say in the cover design of your book?

No, which is good because I never would have come up with such a unique design. Sarah King did the cover art and she’s amazing – to check out some of her other work, here’s her website: http://www.sarahaking.com

When can we expect to read your next book?
I’m working on a new book right now, but it’s a departure from my other books so I’m letting the story unfold as it takes me in new directions, and who knows where it will end up?

Thanks for the interview, Lauren! There’s one day left to enter my Unforgettable giveaway – you simply leave a comment about your earliest memory on my blog for a random drawing for a Nook here: www.lorettaellsworth.com

Thanks so much for everything, Loretta!!!

And there's one more perk.. I am giving away my own personal signed copy of Unforgettable!! To win, just comment with your email address. Open to US only. Ends October 12th at midnight. Thanks for reading!