Summer Reading Event with Omnific Publishing: Ember by Carol Oates

I have the wonderful opportunity to work with Omnific Publishing for the Summer Reading Blog Tour. This opportunity was made available through AToMR Tours, so thank you very much!

Ember by Carol Oates

The Ember Series #1

Omnific Publishing - July 2011

237 Pages

www.caroloates.com

Facebook:

Twitter: @CarolOates

Source: Publishert and AToMR Tours

Rating: Vibrant with emotion, believable characters. Thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster ride of this book.

I was given a copy of this book, free, in exchange for an honest review.

Read what this book is about here.

Whew!  I can't tell you what I was expecting when I signed up to review Ember, but whatever it was, I can say that it wasn't this.  This was an amazing, heartwrenching and heartlifting ride. A small part of me wanted it to be kind of corny, and I guess in another setting or environment it would  be. I  mean it's aboiut angels and Nephilim and the war that has not completely ended.   Ember was pushed into a whirlwind of discovery, learning who and what she truly was, who her father had been and a whole host of other secrets.. On top pf all that, she now has the burden of saving humanity on her shoulders. She must face this without really knowing who it is that she can trust.
But in truth, we don't know who it is that's trustworthy either,a nd that makes it even better. There is Sebastian who tries to hide from his bloody past. Then there's Draven who holds way too many secrets for me to fully trust him. The rivalry is thick and the sexiness factor is ramped up to dangerous heatstroke levels. 
Candra was the perfect characer to see this wold through, it was as new to her as it was to us. Maybe that's why her struggle seemed so real. I could almost feel every touch, every gasp, ever sigh. it was so utterly real that I totally forgot that angels aren't supposed to exist. I could go on and on about what I loved about this book, but to keep it short I think you should just go out and get your own copy.
If I had to list any complaints, it would be that even with the ending the enemies are not clearly defined. IF what Draven says is true than, why did he go to the lengths he went through to get everyone together.  But the cliffhanger at the end? I'm never a huge fan of cliffhangers, but I kind of liked this one. It definitely keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat while waiting for Book #1 Iridescent, due out in October.

Recommendation: Go get you a copy of Ember right now! If you don't read this, you will be disappointed.

There is also a giveaway going on for as an ePack of Omnific's YA Catologue.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Other blogs participating in the Summer Reading Tour:
Saturday, August 11:

• The Literati Press  ~ Review EMBER
• Always YA at Heart ~ Review BREAKING POINT
• Memories Overtaking Me ~ Review LIFE LIBERTY PURSUIT
• Comfort Books ~ Review EMBER
• Sweet Southern Home ~ Review BREAKING POINT
• whoopeeyoo ~ Review DESTINY’S FIRE
• Paperbook Princess ~ Review BREAKING POINT
• We Fancy Books ~ Promotional Post
• Bookish Temptations ~ Review SHADES OF ATLANTIS

Always Shine,

Starr K

Cover

AToMR Tours Summer Reading Event

August TBR pile

Most, if not all of these, will be review books. I am catching up and trying to stay on target at the same time. We will see how many I get through, and if it works out, maybe I’ll start posting my TBR lists monthly. (If I totally fail, then I probably won’t because really who wants to be reminded of what they have failed to do?)

City of Women by David R. Gilham I’ve started this, while it is slower than some of my other reads, it is still pretty interesting.

 The Romanov Conspiracy by Glenn Meade

 Ember by Carol Oates I’ve also started this one, I’m part of the blog tour for it, so far so good.

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Pool of Souls by Cheryl Landmark

Imperfect Weapon by A B Potts

Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty  by Neil M Hanson

Cry for Tomorrow by Paul Debusschere

Blood Eye by Kristian Giles

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

Always Shine,

Starr K

Review: Red Heart Tattoo

Red Heart Tattoo by Lurlene McDaniel

Delacorte for Young Readers – July 24, 2012

224 pages

http://www.lurlenemcdaniel.net/

Facebook: Yes

Twitter: @LurleneMcdaniel

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Rating: This was an okay read for me. I am disappointed that it did not live up to its potential.

I received a copy of this book, free, in exchange for my honest review.

Read what this book is about here

            The lives of Edison High School students are changed dramatically and permanently after a bomb is set off inside the atrium. Morgan, the student council president and Trent the football star are the cutest couple. Mark, another football stara dn Kelli, the tumbler for the cheerleading squad are best friends with Morgan and Trent. All are part of the popular crowd. Roth is the local bad boy, an image protected as a shield to cover childhood pain. Liza, best friends with Roth and carries a long-hidden crush and another dangerous secret. Executioner and Apocalypse are students that exist on the fringes of the high school world.

                I have to admit that I was really looking forward to Red Heart Tattoo. I was excited that someone had decided to fictionally tackle the violence and terror of school bombings. Unfortunately, it fell flat in way too many ways for me to say that I enjoyed this story.  I remember the Paducah, Kentucky School shooting of 1997. I remember the Columbine School shooting that followed two years later. I remember the icy fingers of terror that stretched across the entire United States and the extreme reactions that followed.  There were the desperate attempts to protect all the students but also to understand how people could reach this point or terror, violence and deeply-rooted hurt.

                I won’t remember Red Heart Tattoo.  I don’t want to because it did nothing, it didn’t put me in the mind of the bomber(s) or the victims. While, I don’t think the bombing should be glorified, there should be enough to feel something- anything. Instead, it was treated as if the school shut down for renovations.  The bombing barely touched the community surrounding Edison High School, so it’s not surprising that no one else cared about what happened.  Even the ending upset me.  Out 224 pages, the ending sounds more of a wrap –up summary than a conclusion.  I don’t agree with the reason that was given by the bombers and the diagnosis given to the lead bomber. (“Because I can” and sociopath). I think that just shows how little effort the author did to understand the mind of those who perpetuate school violence. While narcissistic sociopaths may exist in high school, they tend to do things more complicated than bombings (tend to be more like a serial killer than a mass murderer). I’m not sure if the reactions of the victims were believable.

                Besides not getting into the story, I feel a little offended that this wasn’t handled better.  Maybe I feel this way because I remember, I’m not sure.

Recommendation: I would not recommend this book to anyone.

What’s Next? Her website has not been updated with any news of upcoming books. 

Cover Art

Always Shine, 

Starr K