Silas blog tour #3 - Presented by Kismet

Today Paranormal Wastelands is the next stop on the Silas book tour hosted by Kismet.

Silas is written by Robert J. Duperre and is about a man at odds with his life. Ken hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.





After Greta read the book she just couldn't wait to pick at Rob's brain.

These are the questions she asked him:


1) There aren't too many Man-Friendly fairy-tales in the world. The heroes never eat beef jerky. The princes all have embarrassing poofy shirts on. And they always wreck them with the girl finding a dumb shoe and getting married because she can sing songs that make the man swoon.... BORING! But while I was reading Silas I kept telling my husband how much I thought this would be the perfect MANLY MAN fairytale. Was that ever your goal?

Yeah, in a lot of ways it was. I wanted to tell the story of a man rediscovering his place in the world, while letting the events he experiences and the people he meets in the "other world" act as allegory for his life's issues - issues he has to overcome if he's going to live the rest of his days with any amount of joy. When I thought of categorizing it, I originally dubbed it a fantasy adventure, but hearing you call it a man-friendly fairy tale makes much more sense.



2) Silas revolves around a select few moments in Ken's life, but these moments are very pivotal in any 30+ man's life - From the Incredible Hulk You won't like me when I'm angry midlife crisis, to the giant I ate too many nachos in my life health scare, to learning how to chilax as the wife yammers on about wallpaper swatches - While writing Silas did you have a target audience in mind? Did you feel you were getting the Every-Man's story out there?

Funny enough, my target audience was females, not males. If there's one thing I know, it's the mind of a man. So I wanted to dive into this character, who's an amalgamation of myself and many other personalities I've met in life, and present to women a sort of "inside view" of the masculine psyche. But I also wanted it to be open to a wide audience. So yes, it is an exploration of the everyman. And my only hope is that whoever reads this will come out of it with a greater understanding of what this man, at least, feels about love, companionship, compromise, and growing up.


3) I couldn't stop thinking of two fairytales as I read this story. One would be Peter Pan and the next would be Pinocchio. Do you feel Silas is similar to either one?

I did think more than a little of Pinocchio when writing this - in particular the island of bad boys who turn into donkeys. You know, using certain aspects as metaphor for masculinity raging so out of control that they become something different. But to be perfectly honest, Peter Pan never entered my mind.


4) Nicholas Goodman is a villain to Ken and yet in Nicholas's mind he thinks he's doing exactly what's needing to be done to become the hero. Just curious but was he based on Little Red Riding Hood's wolf?

Hah! Yes, he was. Actually, I created him to be the combination of the Wolf and Judas Iscariot.





5) Planet of the Apes is one of those movies that could definitely be considered a MANLY MAN fairytale. RAWR RAWR RAWR!! I mean monkeys and time and space and destructions, role reversal, and get your hands off me you damn dirty ape OH MY!! Was there ever a time that you watched Planet of the Apes and thought of Ken and Silas before they were put onto paper?

It's like you have a wormhole that's digging into my brain, Greta. Planet of the Apes is one of my all-time fave movies, and the scene at the end, when Charlton Heston shows up at a buried Statue of Liberty and bemoans the arrogance and thoughtlessness of his race, directly influenced the creation of the "other world" Ken finds himself in. In fact, the scene that Ken starts writing over and over again was a scene I came up with for myself one day while watching that movie for the one-billionth time. You...simply...are...amazing. Well, either that or I'm completely transparent.



Want to win a most awesome kindle? Oh you know you do!! Check out this lovely!!

Here's how you can get your grubby little hands on it!


Contest Info: Answer the question of the day in the form provided and you are entered in the Kindle3 Giveaway. Questions provide contestants the chance to choose one of two answers (questions center around a playlist of songs Rob put together for Silas). Contestants are awarded three points for the correct answer (one point for the wrong) with the chance to gather up to 45 entries by answering each question. Open US/Canada







Are you late to the party? Want to know the next stop? Here's the tour dates:

Monday, August 29th - April, My Shelf Confessions
Tuesday, August 30th - Johnny, Pages of Forbidden Love
Wednesday, August 31st - Greta, Paranormal Wastelands
Thursday, September 1st - Lisa, A Casual Reader's Blog
Friday, September 2nd - Karen, The Slowest Bookworm

Monday, September 5th - Melissa, Books and Things
Tuesday, September 6th - Heather and Pushy, Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, September 7th - Cindy, Oodles of Books
Thursday, September 8th - Theresa, Just One More Paragraph
Friday, September 9th - Gef, Wagging The Fox

Monday, September 12th - Mandy, The Well-Read Wife
Tuesday, September 13th - aobibliophile™
Wednesday, September 14th - Aparajita, Le' Grande Codex
Thursday, September 15th - Farrah, The Book Faery Reviews
Friday, September 16th - Nevey, Le Vanity Victorienne

Tuesday, September 20th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Rob's Site!

Zompacolypse is coming. Are you infected yet? Robert Duperee is!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we just can't wait to get our sticky fingers on.


Title: After Obsession
Author: Carrie Jones and Steven E. WedelPublished: September 5, 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads
Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts, and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other for the first time, in a cold Maine town, they can’t stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel strongly that something, or someone, is haunting them. They’re wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it’s neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It’s Alan’s cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life—and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney, but everything around her…. Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love—and introducing an exciting new YA voice in Steven Wedel—this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.
We here at Paranormal Wastelands are super mondo excited about this book because books written by guys and girls are freaktastically awesome!! Plus who doesn't lovers a good secret? They make us go squee and we bounce around chanting

Must have NOWS!We needs it!!
We wants it!!
We can't lives without it!!

Now that you've heard what our CAN'T WAIT book is... What's yours? Drop us a comment so we can find out what has you on pins and needles.

While your here check out our upcoming Halloween event & Blog Hop, Zompacolypse 2011, and join in on the fun!

Teaser Tuesday: Silas Tour Edition

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

Silas by Robert J. Duperre

And this weeks pick is SO awesome, SO fantastical, that we couldn't pick just one teaser....so you get FOUR!!

"I wiped vomit from my chin and screamed, “Don’t!” I swatted him with the back of my hand and he backed away from me. I leaned back, pointed my eyes to the sky, and released a pain-filled, ear-splitting howl. I screamed for the lost notions of life and goodness, bellowing in anger at a God who I wasn’t sure cared in the first place." page 71

~*~*~*~*~

"The air around me grew thick. I wasn’t sure if what I saw was actually happening or a hallucination brought about by the drugs pumping through my veins. A part of me didn’t care, because to my gradually devolving mind the lights looked pretty." page 97 ~*~*~*~*~ "My body went limp as I stared at the sign. My heart sank and I wished I was dreaming. I opened my mouth to say something to calm myself but only two words came out. “Oh sh**.”" page 105 ~*~*~*~*~ "It came up with an audible whoosh, clipping the girl’s forearm in the process. Her wrist split open and blood gushed out, drenching Big Guy’s feet. She screeched at the top of her lungs. Big Guy, in turn, lifted the sword above his head like an executioner." page 181

Now c'mon...Tease me!!

Silas

Title: Silas
Author: Robert J. Duperre
Published: 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads:


Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.

A Greta Review

This book is sooooooooo the Every-Man Manly Man I love my dog, I'm going through a midlife Crisis, Oh snap where did I wind up at, why is everything different, sort of fairytale.



ANd you know what kids?



Its da BOMB!!



Ken is going through a mid-life crisis. I mean, its not a bad thing. Well, it's kinda a bad thing but its understandable. He's 32, stuck in a rut, and his wife just brought home a puppy.



HOW DARE SHE ! ! ! !



But after a night of nacho indulgence (it isn't specified if nachos were the key but I like to believe they are) Ken has a health scare with the old ticker and is put on bed rest for a bit.



During that time he bonds with Silas, the new labrador puppy.



I can tell you as a strict lover of cats that I fell in love with Silas. I'm one of those people who can't stand the needy dog. I mean I like the dog on I am Legend, and I like the dog in Marley and Me, but can I like THIS dog? This dog that wants to be petted and is a puppy that gnaws on things and drools on shoes, and is just so clingy?!!



The answer is YES.... because dogs grow up and Silas is awesome!



But the story isn't just about how a man bonds with his dog. Well, ok... some of it is. Ken has been told his whole childhood that pets aren't needed because they just break your heart after they die. He never had a pet growing up because his Dad wouldn't allow them. I had a friend like this. He got his first dog when he was in his mid 20s. And you know what? Just like Ken he realized that there was something missing in his life... The love of a pet.



As Ken bonds with Silas and his life starts to get a bit better he soon finds that life isn't always rosebuds and flea collars. Some of those nasties from life before NACHO LAND are still around. You know... the part of the chips that have the hard cheese on them? We hate those!!



This is what spirals the LOVE SONG into a Marilyn Manson cover song.



DA DA DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!



Because Ken is about to find himself in a land that is not his own. A land of holy batwing terror. A land that can only be described as a nightmare.



But the cool thing is... he still has his dog with him.

Greta's thoughts:

How would you describe this book?
THe perfect manly man fairytale. IT had everything! I think any man would LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!



What fairytales does this book remind you of?
Pinocchio
Peter Pan
The Jungle Book
Lord of the Rings
Planet of the Apes



Planet of the Apes isn't a fairy tale. Why would you say that?
Because there aren't enough fairy tales for men in the world so movies and comic books have become them.



How is the imagery in the book?
Oh My GAWD amazing!! YOu really feel like you are there!!! ITs told with just the right amount of description and not once do you have to know what stuff smells like, how things make you feel, and all that other oowy goowy touchy feely stuff that women dig.



Did you feel you got inside a man's head?
Most definitely!! It was awesome to really hear a man's voice. I super loved it!



Who would you buy this book for?
I think this would make the most awesome father's day gift. I also think this book is perfect for any animal lover (whether it be cats, dogs, or chickens... everyone will love this book).



How young of a person do you think could read this book?
This is NOT a book for kids!! There isn't much cussing which I thought was fabulous. ITs amazing how women authors cuss and cuss and cuss but men authors seem to limit their swearing. I really dug that. And there really isn't much graphic nudity (there is a bit) but this is NOT your 8 year olds bedtime story. I think a mature thirteen year old or high schooler could definitely read this book without any problem. I would let my fourteen year old son read this but I wouldn't let my eleven year old cousin read it.



Were there parts that scared you?
Oh hells to the yes!! There were most awesome creepy crawlies in this book that made me squirm but also made me go "WOAH!! THAT IS COOL!" Its the perfect mix of horror detail that I super loved.



If you could change anything about this book what would it be?
THe cover! THe cover is dreadful and I do not like it!!! That is NOT how it should look. I mean, I guess that is KEN and SILAS on the cover but they look evil and zombie-like. That's not the way they are supposed to look at ALL!! IF I was to judge this book by its cover its quite possible I wouldn't pick it up.



Were you satisfied with the ending?
Oh yes yes yes yes!! It was superb!! It had everything I wanted



Could there be a sequel?
Not with Ken's story. I think where his ended is perfect and shouldn't be mucked with. Now, with the other characters he met along the way... they could totally get more added to the mix.



Who was your favorite character?
Big Guy



Who is Big Guy?
I can't tell you..... You have to read the book to find out ;)

In Closing

THis is a most awesome book and I'm super glad that I read it. I think it would be a great plot for a movie and I hope one day it becomes just that!

*Make sure to stop by the Wastelands on Wednesday where we will be taking part of the Kismet book tour for Silas. It's sure to be a howl of a good time!

SSSHhhhhhh....

Guess what my kiddie wastelanders...

Today is a very special day here in the wastelands...

So wander on out of the hole you have no doubt dug yourself in, and join us for...

Greta's Birthday!!!!

Yep thats right is it a national holiday here. So all of my fellow wasteland employees you have the day off work for cake and yummy goodness. All to celebrate our dear Greta getting a year older :))

And what birthday wouldn't be complete without a cake?

Don't worry...Greta jumps over the moon on her birthday every year;)

And what would a party be without some music right?
You would NOT believe the amount of men that I had fighting in my living room over a chance to sing to Greta...OMG!!!
So here are just a few...

first was this guy...

and to be honest with you...I don't even think he knows how to sing. But really? I wasn't going to ask him to leave ;)

And then there was Avenged Sevenfolds lead singer, M. Shadows...

I mean he was determined. Knocking smexy men out with his baseball bat! Again I was NOT about to ask him to leave...
Just as long as he didn't get blood on my carpet.
I swear these guys are ruthless when it comes to Greta!!

And then of course there was Gavin...

He was a lot more civil then the rest but you should of seen how crushed he was when he didn't win:(

And you are NEVER going to believe won the battle...

But don't worry I couldn't let poor Gavin go away heart broken. Especially since we all know how much in love with Greta he is...
So I decided he could sing his new hit single to her instead.
(I mean it's only fair since it is probably written about her anyways *winks*)

Hope you have a very happy birthday girl!!

You know I love you and so do all of our little wastelanders...

May this new year bring you many great books...

And many MANY yummy, num num, RAWR wolfy's with Scottish accents;)

Oh yea and one more thing...don't forget to shake your booty!!

lolz

Laid Bare (Brown Siblings #1) by Lauren Dane: Review

Laid Bare (Brown Siblings #1)

By Lauren Dane
Published August 4th 2009 by Penguin Group
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Unexpected Desire...


It's been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn't in the cards just yet...


Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin's past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd's best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed--and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

Darkfallen's now jaded thoughts:

Ok so this review is going to be short & sweet...

Ok maybe not so sweet.

 *winks*

So my first ever erotica book was Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn, and I fell in love and lusted for more...

Then I met the Sinner's in Olivia Cunning's Backstage Pass, and....

*fans herself*

Ever since I have been hungry for more. More erotic/love/passion/hot yummy boy toys covered in tatts, pierced in all the places that count, preferably holding a guitar...

and nothing else

So I gave this one a go....and WOW! I guess maybe I just don't posses enough KINK for this little piece of...ummmmm....porn in print?

LOLZ

Don't get me wrong I loved Erin(the main chic). I mean she rocks, plays bass in a rock band, covered in tatts, has a I-know-who-I-am-and-it's-ok-if-I-scare-the-squares attitude...what's not to love? Oh and did I mention that she has pink hair? LOVES IT!!

But over all folks here's the deal Erin meets Todd, who is a straight laced cop, and when they get together she breaks him down. Each time stripping him layer from sexual layer, until he is completely exposed bare (yes pun intended;) But who knew that their deepest fantasy would lead to Todd's best friend from childhood in bed with them?

I didn't...then again I should have actually read the synopsis.

I just kept getting grossed out with the guy on guy action...but if that's your thing then this book is for you! But you should also know that while there is a little plot in here it felt forced. Basically squeezed in between all the sex. If it would have been fleshed out just a little more I would have given this 4 stars even thought the guy/guy stuff eekkks me out. Like I am pretty sure we had sex over 6 times in the first 90 pages...

Hot?

 YES!

 But geeezzzzz come on!

So if the Guy-Girl-Guy thing is for you then I say...
Get on your knees and...

Wait! Did I forget to mention there is a LOT of domination in this book?

*winks*

Will I read more in this series? Well I hear Erins HOT brother, who owns a tattoo shop, has his own book...so what do you think?   

*waggles eyebrows*

Until next time...

      

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we just can't wait to get our sticky fingers on.

Title: All These Things I've Done
Author: Babrielle Zevin
Published: September 6, 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.



We here at Paranormal Wastelands are super mondo excited about this book because in case there ever is a chocolate shortage Darkfallen and Greta need to know how to be prepared. We fear it wouldn't end well for we are both chocoholics who scream

Must have NOWS!We needs it!!
We wants it!!
We can't lives without it!!

Now that you've heard what our CAN'T WAIT book is... What's yours? Drop us a comment so we can find out what has you on pins and needles.

Zompacolypse is coming!! Are you infected yet?

Teaser Tuesday/Giveaway

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

<><> <><><><><><> <><><><>

"I feel as if the fear is draining from me now that I know the face of the monster, and it leaves me raw and unfinished-it turns out I'm not sure who I am without the fear." page 89 (This was just one of the many poetic things that made me go SQUEE!) "Okay...do I need to bring anything?" I ask as he turns and hurries to his bike. "yeah," he says without looking at me, swinging a leg over the seat. "My sanity, if you can find it. " page 90 (Yes because sanety is a rather important thing to have when your playing with guns *winks*) Now because the fine people at Little Brown Books are so SO super generouis... Not only will one lucky winner recieve a finished copy of the book but they will also get... Yep thats right we will also give you candy! But we promise...to not trap you in our candy shop *winks* Since this will be shipped directly from the publisher to the winner this contest is open to the US only. Sorry my interational wastelanders :( All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter form below. Be sure to leave your mailing address to help us get it to you quicker!

Now c'mon...Tease me!!

Wages of Sin

Title: Wages of Sin (Cin Craven #1)
Author: Jenna Maclaine
Published: 2008
Synopsis from Goodreads:

Dulcinea Craven descends from a long line of witches, and she has just inherited wild, untrained magical powers that she has no idea how to control. Now a ruthless vampire and an age-old demon are determined to enslave Cin and steal her power for their own. Her only hope is The Righteous, a band of warrior vampires who slay the rogue undead. Among them is Michael, a fierce swordsman who inflames Cin’s most primal hungers. Showing her a sensual pleasure beyond anything in the mortal realm, she must choose between the human existence she has always known, and immortality as a vampire—a new life filled with forbidden urges, dark yearning, and unearthly passions…






This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't a 5 Star OMG booky either. At least not for me... but you all know how Picky Picky I am ;)



I'm kind of thinking its because it the girly wasn't American. I know... I'm awful ;) I just kinda think that girls back then who are English were snobs. I know Dulcie wasn't a snob but you know how it is.





I wish they all could be California GIRLS!!









Dulcie comes from a long line of girl-power witches when one day her parents kicketh the cauldron. She then finds herself in mourning when all of the sudden there's a knock on the door and her crazy neighbor has become a vampire and wants to get his fang on. She screams and runs out towards this wizardy dude that her mom was buds with and he tells her to call Vampire-busters that is run by 3 vampires that totally won't suck her blood (unless she wants them to. *hubba hubba)





The 3 vampires seem kinda huffle puffle about being summoned to a non-Hogwartsy castle but they soon get over it and tell Dulcie the story of why they go all Buffy on their own race.







The story goes from there.





It's not a bad story but again... I'm not a big fan of Jolly Old England. I did however very much enjoy the Scottish Broody that was Michael. I did kinda wish that he was a bit more Kresley Cole like a "THROW YOU DOWN AND MAKE YOU LIKE IT" and not "Yes Dear" about stuff. Ya know? I wanted him to go all RAWR!! But lmao! He kinda did when he was all paint can about things ;) I mean.. my gawd!! Both hands couldn't get around it? LOLZ! Eek!







I recommend it to anyone who wants a good witchy story mingled in with other paranormally things. It promises to keep you entertained and leave you wondering what will happen next.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman: Review

Where She Went
By Gayle Forman
Published April 5th 2011 by Dutton
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Darkfallen falls apart:

This book was great...AMAZING even! If I could give it 8 stars I would. I truly truly would.

In If I Stay Gayle Forman takes us through a roller coaster ride of emotions. As you journey through the tragedy with Mia and her family...and the eminent lose...*sighs* you just can't help but ball like a baby. I remember reading it clutching the book so tight it's a wonder the pages didn't rip, while tears ran like a waterfall down my face.

Where She Went is the perfect addition to this story. I mean really I don't think it could have been done any better. Simply perfect. Gayle again paints a picture so broken, bruised, and damaged, it's beautifully raw. This time we get to here what happened after the accident through Adam's point of view, and WOW I love him even more. His voice is so true, so raw, so what-its-really-like and not at all this-is-how-it-happens-in-fairy tales.

We walk along with Adam and all his torment over Mia. She may have survived the car crash, but he lost her anyways. But that's what he promised her wasn't it? He made that deal while she was lying unconscious in that hospital bed three years ago. Said he would give up us if it was to hard to deal with, if only she would stay. Only he hadn't really expected her to leave him...but she had to.

Now it's three years later. Adam and his band have made it big, but are barely holding it together. Mostly because Adam is barely holding it together. Three years. Three whole years and still he can't sleep, he drinks his meals, has a medicine cabinet full of pills that is supposed to make the panic away, but it's pointless. All of it means nothing without her. Only she left him. And not only has Adam been morning the lose of Kat, Denny, & Teddy, now he mourns her too. A living ghost...that's what she is to him. That's what he is to everyone else, without her.

Then one night while walking through New York past Carnegie Hall there's a poster. It's her. She's playing tonight. The show is sold out but he tries anyways, if it's meant to be then its meant to be...and it was.

This is the beautiful story of how grief changes people. How is breaks you apart. How some of us run away from people to heal, leaving the others to tear apart. But in the end you realize the only thing that will heal you both is each other.

I devoured this book in about 4 hours. I cried, I even laughed at times. Again this writer is great, Adam's voice is one you can't help but love. Don't miss this...it is a must read:)

Lymi...



Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish: Review

Savannah Grey
By Cliff McNish
Published Feb 2010 by Orion Children's books
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Orcrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realise its savage intent.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

There is a monster lurking in the shadows...

Waiting for his chance to strike back. Slowly evolving since the dawn of time. While this creature takes on many forms, one thing is certain. It is at war. A constant battle is brewing between the monster, and nature itself....

Savannah Grey as always been a little different. Bouncing from foster home to foster home, always feeling restless. Then something begins to happen with her throat. That's when she meets Reece, who also has something strange going on with his throat. Little does she know that is not the only thing going on here. Savannah is more than a little different, more like supernatural. Nature's answer for taking down the monster for once and all.

Will she be able to accept her fate and BE the deadly weapon that she is destined to be?

Well that my friends you'll just have to read for yourself;)

My thoughts on this book are very torn. So lets start with the most important parts shall we? Yes we shall!

Cliff McNish is amazing. He has wowed me in his ability to paint a picture in such great detail. Leaving no stone unturned, he walks you through an amazing journey. The things he talks about in this story should leave you a little confused, but the DON'T. He just has a way of making you not only understand everything, but believe it to be real.

I fell in love with Savannah right from the start. I like how when she was faced with impossible choices, she did what any teenage girl would do, and made mistakes. It is the way that she handles those mistakes and learns from them that makes you admire her. As for Reece? What can I say he surprised me the most! I don't want to give anything away but by then end of this I was totally hearting him.

McNish has a talent for making you love a character one minute, and them hating them the next. Every time I thought "Oh I see. Now I know whats gonna happen," he pulled the rug out from under me. Keeping me on the edge of my seat, guessing what was going to happen next. It wasn't until the final pages that I finally was able to string it all together, and I assure that was only because McNish decided it was time. While there was some level of well played romance, he didn't flood the pages with it. This is definitely more of a hold on to the seat of your pants, action packed novel.

Now I'll go into why I was torn...I'll start by saying that I am a BIG wimp when it comes to all things creepy crawly. Both of the buggy and microscopic variety. I'm a big wuss. I get it I really do. That being said, there was a lot of that in this book. In such vivid detail that I literally had to take a few breaks/showers. Note that this is not a constant throughout the entire book. It's mostly just the parts from Ocrassa's point of view. Like I said McNish has a way with words that will leave you with a clear picture of every detail, including the evolution of the monster. Please don't let this keep you from reading this book. If me and my trusty bottle of hand sanitizer can make it through it, so can you.

All in all, no matter how much it gave me the hee-bee-gee-bee's, this book was worth all of it. I am so glad I found my "big girl" pants and kept going. The ending alone is an amazing twist that will make you squee!!

Lymi...





Heavnly by Jennifer Laurens: Review

Heavenly
by Jennifer Laurens
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

First I wanna say a special thanks to Jennifer Laurens for giving my this copy for review. I have had Heavenly on my TBR for a LONG time and when she asked me to review it I jumped at the chance...so Thank You!

So like I said I have been wanting to read this for close to forever now, so I naturally wanted to love it. But in the beginning it was quite the opposite of love I was feeling. Zoe is a 18 yr old teenage girl whose little sister, Abria, is autistic. But in the beginning Zoe just came off as mean, and heartless when it came to her sister. The resentment Zoe felt for all the struggles that came along with living with Abria really grated with me. In fact I almost threw the book down and walked away...I just couldn't do it. But like I said I have really wanting to read this so I scoured pages upon pages of reviews on Goodreads, only to find out that 90% of the population LOVED this book. So I thought to myself...why don't I? With shear determination I decided that I was not giving up on this book. I was going to find out why so many people love this story.

And...I...Did!

You are taken through a rough journey about a family that it falling apart. Due to the struggles and the strain of living with someone with autism they all start to unravel. Zoe turns to drinking, and hooking up with guys. Luke, her 16 yr old brother, turns to smoking pot, and eventually selling Lortabs to supply his habit. All the while both of the parents seem to overlook their older children, grasping at straws, just praying for the strength to make it through another day. It isn't until Matthias, Abria's guardian angel, steps in the picture that things start to change. Abria clams down from his touch, making everyone else's life that much easier, but Zoe can see Matthias when no one else can...

The relationship between Zoe and Matthias had me laughing out loud on more then one occasion. Zoe and her thoughts kept getting her in trouble. I also love the way Zoe kept trying to save her brother from the mistakes he was making once she got herself straightened out. I will say that this was a little to clean cut for me. I mean there is definitely some twists and turns you won't see coming and OMG the ending is fantastic in the most tragic way, but the way Zoe stops drinking and becomes the good girl, Luke stops smoking pot, gets a job, does his homework. The way their parents actually start to take stock in their older children's lives and everyone just seems, all of a sudden, So Happy Together, seems a little forced to me. I just don't see it going down that way in the real world. This is very much one of those books that is sending the message Put your faith in God and everything will work out. So if that's your kind of thing I say go for it, you'll prolly love it! I'm just not one of those girls. But overall this was a good read, with the most awesome twist at the end...a twist that made me cry.

Lymi...







Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we just can't wait to get our sticky fingers on.


Title: Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved #2)
Author: Cate Tiernan
Published: September 5, 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads:

Nastasya has lived for hundreds of years, but for some reason, life never seems to get any better. She left her spoiled, rich girl life to find peace at River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. There, she learned to embrace River's Edge, despite some drama involving the sexy Reyn, who she wants but won't allow herself to have. But just as she's getting comfortable, her family's ties to dark magick force her to leave.

She falls back into her old, hard partying ways, but will her decision lead her into the hands of a dark immortal? Or will it be her first step to embracing the darkness within her?




We here at Paranormal Wastelands are super mondo excited about this book. So excited that we are bouncing around our little bat cave while drinking coconut milk as we chant

Must have NOWS!
We needs it!!
We wants it!!
We can't lives without it!!

Now that you've heard what our CAN'T WAIT book is... What's yours? Drop us a comment so we can find out what has you on pins and needles.

Teaser Tuesday/Giveaway

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)

*~*~*Giveaway Special*~*~*
after I tease you a bit enter for a chance to win your own copy!
This weeks teaser is from....

"He threatened me," he said.
 "Threatened you how?"
 "Well, if I do unspecified things to you, he plans to do specified things to me, none of which sound like much fun. Are all of your friends this violent?" page 222

and one more just to make you go "awwww"

"I am avoiding you. "
 "...oh"
 "You don't-I want to touch you, Ellie. I want to kiss you,all the time. I want to talk to you for hours, and...I don't know. " he scowled at the ocean. "Watch bad tv with you. Sit beside you in Classics and scribble on your notebook. Whatever normal people do. I just...I wanted you to know that. " page 276

So do I have your attention?
Wanna get your hands on your own copy?
Well thanks to the fabulous people from Little Brown Books you just might!
They have so graciously offered a copy up to one lucky US follower.
(sorry my international wastelanders, this one is open to the US only.)

To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Now c'mon...Tease me!!