Review & Interview: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

MAGNOLIA
by Kristi Cook

Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: August 5th 2014
by Simon & Schuster

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

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First, I would like to point out that if you do a research on this website you will see that I rarely EVER read and review young adult contemporary. I've always had a hard time getting into contemporary YA, and usually give up halfway through the book. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of MAGNOLIA, and it’s now one of my favorites! It has opened my eyes for YA contemporary, and since then I have read about fifteen YA contemporaries.

I think a big part of it was my obsession with natural disasters, and romance. I am always worried about hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, etc. It creeps me out to the point that I DO NOT watch the news. I also do not go to the beach because the ocean freaks me out. If I can avoid anything that has to do with the ocean, I do. Go ahead… laugh. I laugh at myself all the time, but it’s true. :)

Anyway, when I read the blurb to MAGNOLIA I immediately got hooked. I knew it was something I would really enjoy. It sounded like a very unique story, and something I haven't read before. I dived into the story and did not want to come out. Everything I had hoped for, and more was inside this story. Kristi Cook managed to blend together family, friendships, romance, and a disaster into one, perfectly. I am not sure if it’s my obsession with storms and natural disasters, but while reading I was literally waiting for the moment that all hell would break loose. The suspense was killing me!

I also loved the way Kristi Cook set things up for Ryder and Jemma. Things happen at the right moment, and I couldn't help but keep turning the pages. And the way they come to realize that they actually do care for each other was so amazingly sweet. The ending I did not see coming, but it was PERFECT! Not sure if there is more to come, but I sure hope so. I would love to get lost inside Ryder and Jemma’s world again.

MAGNOLIA is a beautiful tale of love, family, and unbreakable friendships. The perfect blend of family drama and sexy times, it’s an A+ read from beginning to end. It’s clean, and great for parents and their teens to share and talk about.

A Good Choice for Reading! :0)

Author Kristi Cook took the time to answer a couple of questions for us on MAGNOLIA. She even shares a small teaser. Check it out below!

1. Tell us a little bit about the story behind Magnolia. Is there any truth behind it?

No truth behind it at all! Mostly, I just wanted to write a story showcasing the small-town Mississippi setting--you know, one of those towns where everybody knows everybody else's business; where everyone is someone's cousin or your mom's childhood best friend. Mississippi just seemed like a perfect stand-in for a modern-day Verona.

2. The story takes place in Mississippi. Have you ever been there?

I went to college in Mississippi--I'm a proud graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi! So I was lucky enough to spend four years living in the Magnolia State.

3. Do you plan on writing a sequel, or a companion novel to MAGNOLIA?

I'm tempted to write a digital-only sequel--just a novella! But I'd really like to spend a little time with Jemma and Ryder off at college in New York.

4. Did you have to do any research on storms or natural disasters? Or did you write this from personal experience?

Oh, having grown up in Florida/Georgia/Louisiana, etc., I'm way too familiar both hurricanes *and* tornadoes! So...I didn't really have to do much in the way of research. Plus, you know how Jemma is obsessed with watching the Weather Channel?! Yeah, that's me, too.

5. Share a small teaser with our GCReaders.

“You awake?” Ryder asks.

“Yeah,” I mumble sleepily. “Is it morning yet?”

“Not quite. Soon.”

I nod, and we both fall silent. Inexplicably, I find myself scooting closer to him, fitting myself against his side, seeking his warmth.

He puts an arm around me, drawing me closer.

I let out a contented sigh. There’s something so familiar—and yet so foreign—about his closeness. I think about those shared cribs, the communal pack-n-plays our mothers insisted on. Maybe that explains it—old memories, too far out of reach to be easily accessed, but there all the same.

That’s why this feels so…right. It must be.

There you have it! Make sure to get your copy of MAGNOLIA! You won't regret it! 

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You can find Kristi Cook at www.Kristi-Cook.com

Review: Torn by K.A. Robinson

Torn by K.A. Robinson
Published May 7th 2013
by Atria Publishing

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Chloe hasn't had the best life. With a mother who is gone more often than not, she has had to raise herself. After graduating high school, she leaves to start a new life away at West Virginia University with her best friends Amber and Logan, determined to leave her demons in the past.

On her first day, she meets a stranger who takes her breath away at first sight. Until she met Drake, no one had ever sparked her interest. Now this tattooed and pierced bad boy is all she can think about, no matter how hard she fights it.

Falling for Drake was never part of her plans, but when it happens, things seem to do anything but fall into place.

Dealing with a tragic past, Drake has never cared about anyone else but himself and his band. But when Chloe takes the empty seat next to him in class, things start to change. Instantly drawn to her, he begins to wonder if one girl can take a cold hearted womanizer and change every part of him?

Long hidden feelings are revealed and friendships tested to the brink. 

Even though its getting a bit old, "the whole good girl falling for a tattooed bad boy", I did still enjoyed this New Adult novel. But honestly, if you've read one you've read them all. And it's sad because even though some stories are good, its gets a little tiring.

I liked some of the characters in this novel. I really liked Drake. I like his cocky attitude. Normally I don't like guys with huge egos. But the author wrote him well. Chloe on the other hand, I wasn't crazy about. She had her head all over the place. And as much as I wanted to like her, I didn't. She was immature and just blah in my opinion and did things knowing others would be hurt. So she's my least favorite character. Her best friend was funny and I would love to read a book about her. Logan her other "best friend" fell a little short for me. He came off as a weak character. He let Chloe walk all over him. I feel he needed to man up. 

Now even if I didn't like Chloe I did still want things to fall in her favor. But only because I wanted Drake to be happy. Despite the fact that he was a man-whore, he was a character with potential and I wanted him to be happy and successful. And he did change his ways when he started having feelings for Chloe. And their chemistry was good. I love the sarcasm between the two. Made the whole cliche worth while.

I liked this book. Did I love it? No. Will I continue the series? Yes. Because I believe Chloe & Drake will grow and mature. I think this book will be a fast and easy read for those that's looking for a New Adult novel. If you're looking for a book with a sexy, tattooed bad boy then give this one try. Torn gets a 3.5 stars from me.

Cover Reveal: Craving Him by Kendall Ryan

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway w/ author Marata Eros & More!

Review: Crash (Vision #1) by Lisa McMann

Crash by Lisa McMann
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published January 8th 2013
by Simon Pulse
Amazon † B&N † Website

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

          My Review: 

     I really do love Lisa McMann's books. They are all full of excitement. If you like her Wake series, then you'll enjoy this book. Though in Wake her character sees her visions in people's dreams, Jules sees them every where in this novel. They are everywhere, billboards, on television on any plain surface. It's like a movie is playing before her eyes. These two series are about visions. McMann must have a thing for it as I do too. The visions in this story were very engaging.

      What would you do if you see a vision that resulted in someone's death? Would you tell them and risk the chance of them not believing you? Well that's what happens to Jules. Jules can't get rid of these visions. She doesn't know what to do with it. At first she kind of ignore it but something made her pay close attention. That's when she realized that one of the dead bodies is Sawyer. Her love interest. That's where the story becomes interesting. How will she get him to take her serious about her vision? Lucky for her she has a super cool brother that is there for her regardless if he believes her or not.

     I really enjoyed this novel, but I sort of felt that I was watching a human version of Spongebob sometimes. Jules and Sawyer's family both have a restaurant business. And there's a lot of talk about secret recipes. It reminded me of Mr. Krabs & Plankton. LOL. I liked the story as it progressed. The change of events happen so quickly. I had to re-read the scene to make sure I grabbed everything. Though I wasn't crazy about the ending, I think that fans of Mcmann won't be disappointed in this novel, especially if you like her Wake series. I give Crash 4 stars and a Good Choice for Reading.

   

Eternal by Kristi Cook Cover Reveal (#Giveaway)

Okay, so I am trying my hardest to contain my excitement! I love Kristi Cook's WINTER HAVEN series and just the thought that we're getting closer to the third book in the series fills me butterflies. I cannot wait!

In the mean time, Kristi has asked GCReading to reveal the cover to the third and final book, ETERNAL. What did we do? We asked bloggers all over to help us and make this event HUGE!

If you haven't read this series it's definitely one GCReading highly recommends! :)

Well, here is the cover *squee*

THERE’S NO HIDING FROM DESTINY…

In the final book of the Winterhaven trilogy, Violet McKenna and her friends find themselves right in the middle of a vampire war. The stakes have been raised, the danger unavoidable now. As the Warriors’ senior year draws to a close, not everyone makes it out alive. Who will be left standing at the end of it all? Will Aidan be a part of Violet’s future, or is he just a specter of the past?

About The Author

YA author Kristi Cook is a transplanted southern gal who lives in New York City with her husband and two kids. Her YA debut, HAVEN, was released in Feb. 2011 by Simon Pulse.

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Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
by Michelle Hodkin
Published: September 27th 2011
by Simon & Schuster

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

My Thoughts:

What I loved most about this story was the author's ability to weave such a captivating, hang off the edge of your seat story. I could not put this book down, and read straight through the night. I liked trying to solve the mystery and predicting what might happen next. I couldn't figure out if Mara was hallucinating, having visions that predicted the future or what.

I found Mara to be a very relatable character. She was quiet, shy, kept to herself, and tried to stay away from drama. Unfortunately, she always ended up at the wrong place, at the wrong time. She landed right smack dab in the middle of mysterious events, and even murder.

Noah was gorgeous, and the most popular guy at Mara's new school. He had a bad reputation for being a male slut. However, I loved how Hodkin shows us not to prejudge a person. People will always talk, but it's important to get to know a person before you draw any conclusions about that person. Throughout the book, Noah is driven to get to know Mara and discover everything about her. Once Mara agrees to spend time with Noah, the relationship intensifies and Mara finds herself falling for Noah against her will. As their relationship develops, Noah stands up for Mara repeatedly when the mean girl in the story, Anna, tries to embarrass, ridicule, and make Mara's life miserable. Noah is such a wonderful character, and I found myself getting excited every time he made an appearance in the story. The passion that Mara and Noah expressed for one another was intense and romantic.

I recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars. It has all of the elements of a great story. There was great world building, complex characters, mystery, romance, and of course the desire to keep reading until the story was complete! I loved the huge surprise at the end, and never saw it coming. The cliffhanger at the end has me desperate to get my hands on the sequel, The Evolution of Mara Dyer!


                           LINDY

Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed: A Novel
By Colleen Hoover
Nook Edition, 206 pages
Published April 17, 2012
By Atria Books

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

My Thoughts:

First, I want to say that this book was absolutely amazing! If you haven't read it yet, go out and buy it now! Colleen Hoover is one of the most talented authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

The characters in Slammed are extremely relatable. I felt like I knew Lake and Will, and they were a part of my family. Every time they laughed, I laughed, and every time they cried, I cried too. This book turned me into a ball of emotion. That's how good it was.

Another thing that I loved about Slammed was the beautiful love story that unfolded before my eyes. Lake and Wills' love for one another was the type of love we all yearn for. They were soul mates. They both enjoyed the same kind of music, loved poetry, were mature for their age, and they both had gone through more than anyone their age should ever have to go through. The characters connected on such a deep level that they felt each others pain, and would do anything to take away the pain of their significant other. Lake and Will found refuge, a place for healing, and a home in each other. Throughout the whole story, I was routing for their relationship to succeed, despite the obstacles that were continually thrown in their paths.

I also loved the plot line. There was never a lull or dull moment in this story. Everything that occurs in this story will touch your heart, and leave you thinking about it, long after the last page is read.

The bottom line is that I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, and go so far as to say that it's one of the best books that I've EVER read in my life!



                                                         Lindy

Review: The Program by Suzanne Young!

The Program
by Suzanne Young
416 pages
Expected publication: April 30th 2013
by Simon Pulse
ARC provided by Around The World ARC Tours

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Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.

The Program by Suzanne Young is broken down into three parts and each part is just as good as the first. I found myself at the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach, and also fear that Sloane and James would be flagged and taken into The Program.

The world that Sloane and James live in believe suicide is a disease and can be cured. I was taken by surprise over this unique idea. It's a very touchy subject because it's happening in the real world more and more. But the view Suzanne Young creates in The Program on suicide was beyond entertaining and refreshing as well as super, super scary. If you cry, you can get flagged. If you show any type of sadness you can be flagged. Even lashing out over things that you have every right to lash out about can get you flagged. Basically, to survive you have to constantly be happy and smiling. It's the only way you will not attract any attention to yourself.

Things for Sloane are already rough as it is. She lost her brother to suicide so she has to be even more cautious. Since, according to The Program suicide spreads like Cancer, Sloane can easily “catch it” and attempt to take her life.

This book was sick! I mean this in a good way. I truly enjoyed this novel. I did feel though that somewhere in the middle is drags a little, but it’s all necessary in order to understand how the world Young has created works. I loved some of the scenes between James and Sloane and quickly fell in love with them both. They have been through so much and know that they can only count on each other to get through all this. There is so much betrayal, hurt, confusion, loss , and love in this book that it was hard not to like it. I was highly entertained and was eager to get to the end and find out what happens.

Things I was not very happy with were the slight love triangle and the ending. I was not happy one bit with the ending, but it leaves room for a second book so I guess I will just have to wait to find out what happens next.

Overall, The Program is a pleasurable story with a unique take on teen suicide. The story climaxes at the right time, and the characters are very likable. There is lots of suspense, romance, and action to keep you glued from page one until the very end. I highly recommend this book!

4 out of 5 stars!

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
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ARC provided by Netgalley
Published by Atria Books
August 14, 2012

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

          My Review:

     Beautiful Disaster consumed me. This is one of those books that pulls you in and doesn't release you until you have finished it. Have you ever read a book that's so good you can't wait to finish it? But when you finish it, you're sad because it's finished. I took my time a little bit with this book, because I know the second one isn't out yet or won't be out until next April. So as much as it consumed me, I just read it at bedtime. This book is so so good. I know this book has many mixed reviews but my review will be a raving one.

     I'll start off with Travis. Travis has a bit of a obsessive personality. When he loves he loves hard. When he hates, he hates hard. So whatever he feels about something whether it being good or bad, he felt it strong. So needless to say when he fell in love with Abby, he loved her with every fiber of his being. Now that's where people consider this dysfunctional and I can totally understand that. And to some degree, I agree, but I also believe that some people just love hard. I love Travis. This character actually made me feel bad for him. I understood his past which made me understand why he is the way he is.

     Abby took me by surprise. I liked that she was a strong minded girl and stood her ground with Travis. She wasn't at all what I expected. Most characters in most contemporary stories get all mushy and aren't strong at all. She knew how to handle Travis like no one else. She didn't cower to him at all. She held her own just about anywhere she went. And that's something you have to admire in a character.

     I absolutely loved this book. But I have to say that I'm completely shocked at the ending. I didn't think it would end that way. The author really took the ending and ran with it. Though in Beautiful Disaster you do witness some obsessive and possessive behavior it doesn't take away from the story. The story is about two people with different lifestyles, who fell in love. I give this book 5 huge gold stars and a definite Good Choice for Reading!!

Cover Reveal: Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland!

Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: April 2nd 2013
By Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge…no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work?

As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13643222-vengeance-bound

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vengeance-Bound-Justina-Ireland/dp/1442444622

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442444621

This cover is hot! I love it! I am sold on this book on the cover alone!

What do you think of this cover? 

Waiting On Wednesday: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

The Dark Light
By Sara Walsh
Hardcover, 496 pages
Expected publication: August 28th 2012
By Simon Pulse

GoodReads † Amazon † B&N

Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she's concerned, that's about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia's not one to fall for just any guy, but she can't get Sol--or the brilliant tattoo on his back--out of her mind.

Then Mia's brother goes missing, and Mia's convinced that Sol knows more than he's sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol's not who Mia thought he was--and neither is she.

Shadows Before The Sun by Kelly Gay Mini-blog tour! Excerpt + giveaway!

Hey GCReaders!


Today GCReading is kicking off SHADOWS BEFORE THE SUN mini-blog tour!

We sharing an excerpt with you, plus Kelly Gay is also giving away a signed copy of Shadows Before the Sun + Swag!

Check it out...

For a long moment, we just stared at each other. They loved Hank, too. Emma, certainly. Rex would in time. Right now he was having too much fun playing the protector. It wasn’t so much that Rex thought I needed protecting, but more that he found it vastly entertaining to give “the siren” a hard time.

“So here’s the way I see it,” Rex broke the silence. “We have two choices. Accept the official government drivel, or give them the official Madigan salute.” 

 

I was almost afraid to ask. “The official Madigan salute?” 

He rolled his eyes like I should be following—like it was ever easy to follow Rex’s Crazy Train of thoughts. “Emma, dear one, close your eyes.” She snorted, but did as he asked. Then he turned to me and said, “Let me introduce you to your new response to any and all comers who spew this particular party line.” He made a grand gesture of lifting his hand, folding his fingers down, and popping up his middle finger. “Voilà.” 

“I know what you’re doing,” Em said dryly. “I have seen the middle finger before.” 

Rex gave her a gentle shove. “Already she’s a juvenile delinquent. What are they teaching you at this school of yours?” 

“A bunch of boring stuff,” she muttered, falling back behind me, drawing in her knees, and crossing one leg over the other, so that her knee rested against my shoulder. Brim’s nose lifted her hand in a bid to be rubbed. 

Emma had gotten a partial scholarship to attend the League of Mages’ school in Atlanta, a very private, very expensive school that taught gifted children, human and off-worlder, how to craft and best grow their powers. They also, to Emma’s great dismay and my delight, were keen instructors of math, science, grammar, languages, and believed in laying a solid foundation to crafting long before students were able to actually craft. 

“Since you were going into Fiallan anyway and Bryn and Miss Marti are already watching me for the week, I think you should stick to the plan. Go to Fiallan and get Hank.” 

Rex joined in. “The chief is still cool with giving you the week off. He wanted me to tell you that. And you already have the necessary paperwork to travel . . . Everything is still on, Charlie. Only question is, when are you leaving?”

A feeling of such relief and hope erupted inside of me. They weren’t going to take anyone’s word for it, either. They’d stand by me, by Hank, no matter what. 

“Well?” Rex prompted. 

My stomach was doing somersaults. Right. Okay. “Well, as soon as I get a shower and pack then,” I heard myself say. 

Rex slapped his hands on his knees and then stood. “Awesome. I picture you walking out the Circe’s door with the siren thrown over your shoulder, giving your new salute as you go.” 

Emma laughed. “That’d be so cool. You totally have to do that.” 

“Yeah, I’m sure Hank would love to be thrown over my shoulder and rescued like a sack of potatoes.” 

“Oh, but that’s the beauty of it,” Rex said with longing. “He’d never live it down and I could spend years reminding him of it.” He looked off into nothingness. “Good times. Good times.” 

I got off the bed. “You guys are nuts.” But they believed in me. Believed in Hank. And I was fine living on the funny farm as long as I had them in my corner. I leaned down, grabbed my daughter’s face, and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you. I’m taking a shower.” I turned to walk away. 

“Uh, hello? What about me?” Rex asked. “What the heck kind of gratitude is that? Why don’t I get kisses on my forehead and I love you’s?”

“Aww, what’s wrong, Wexie Poo?” Emma teased. “Are your whittle feel-wins hurt? I bet Brim will kiss you, won’t you, Brim.” 

Rex’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare tell that hound to kiss me.” 

I stopped by the bathroom door. That was the thing about my kid. She could communicate with the hellhound, and poor Rex was about to get slimed.

Rex stood on one side of the bed and Brim on the other, attention fixed on Rex with perked-up ears and a drooling mouth. The look on my daughter’s face was priceless. She so wanted to do it; she was on the edge and already falling. 

Rex must’ve realized she was a goner. “You realize I will get you back for this!” 

Her grin was wide. “I know, but it’ll be worth it,” she said, right before pointing at Rex and commanding, “Smooch!” 

Happy to oblige, Brim leapt onto my bed and off the other side, tackling Rex to the floor. Rex fell with a loud oomph and screamed like a little girl, vowing revenge as Brim laid wet kisses on his face. I couldn’t help but laugh. Em rolled on the bed, holding her stomach and yelling that she was going to pee her pants. 

“Don’t pee on my bed!” I laughed as she jumped off and called Brim after her, running for cover, thumping down the stairs and out the back door. 

Rex moaned from the floor, arms flat out, panting, face screwed up and wet. “Call 911. Hurry. I’m not . . . gonna . . . make it. Tell my wife . . . I lov—” he gasped dramatically, lifted his hand to some un- seen apparition, and then died a painful, glorious pretend death on my floor. 

“Nuts,” I muttered, shutting the bathroom door. “I live in a house full of nuts.” 

About Shadows Before the Sun.... 

The electrifying sequel to the acclaimed urban fantasies The Better Part of Darkness, The Darkest Edge of Dawn, and The Hour of Dust and Ashes!

After filling out mountains of paperwork, Detective Charlie Madigan sets out for a death-defying trip into heavenly Elysia to rescue her partner Hank and bring the siren home. Of course, she doesn’t expect to leave behind an all out siren revolution or return home to find that jinn crime boss, Grigori Tennin, has begun a massive search for the divine being, Ahkneri. Tennin’s tactics set off a chain reaction that puts Charlie in the crosshairs of the shadowy creature known as Death and awakens Ahkneri from her long sleep. And when Vengeance rises, Atlanta will never be the same.

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Review: Red Rain by R.L. Stine

Title: Red Rain
Author: R.L. Stine
Hardcover: 384 pgs
Publisher: Touchstone
Published:  October 9, 2012

Travel writer Lea Sutter finds herself on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, the wrong place at the wrong time. A merciless, unanticipated hurricane cuts a path of destruction and Lea barely escapes with her life. In the storm’s aftermath, she discovers orphaned twin boys and impulsively decides to adopt them. The boys, Samuel and Daniel, seem amiable and immensely grateful; Lea’s family back on Long Island—husband Mark and their two children, Ira and Elena—aren’t quite so pleased. But even they can’t anticipate the twins’ true nature—or predict that, within a few weeks’ time, Mark will wind up implicated in two brutal murders, with the police narrowing in.

For the millions of readers who grew up on Goosebumps, and for every fan of deviously inventive horror, this is a must-read from a beloved master of the genre.

I've talked about R L Stine on this blog before - how I've met him twice, how much I love his writing and how his Goosebumps series are what actually spurred my passion and love for books and reading.

But because I placed him on such a high pedestal, I was both excited and extremely nervous about reading his first adult novel, Red Rain. As if the title weren't intriguing enough, the cover is incredibly mysterious - but would his great reputation be enough for Stine to transition to the adult world?

The answer? This book is creepy!!!!

I don't think I would call it scary, not like Stephen King scary, but man oh man, R.L. Stine knows how to give you shivers and real-life goosebumps!

The story begins with a hurricane ravaging this tiny, little island. At the end of all the devastation, Lea, a travel blogger, watches as red rain literally falls from the sky. And then, out of nowhere, these two boys walk out of the rain and she instantly falls in love with them. Lea adopts the two boys as her own (even though she already has two children) and brings them back to her home where all hell breaks loose!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: there is nothing scarier than demon children! LOL. The Shining, Village of the Damned, The Omen...the list can go on and on - children are scary! And I would definitely add Red Rain to that list.

This novel will definitely creep you out (if not scare your socks off). It is filled with suspense, violence and a little bit of sex - do not let your kids read this one!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars