Saturday, November 3, 2012

Blog Tour: Reaping Me Softly by Kate Evangelista Review and Giveaway

 
Hey everyone!  Today we have the pleasure of hosting the Reaping Me Softly Blog Tour!!!!  To see the rest of the tour stops, click here

Don't forget to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

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Reaping Me Softly by Kate Evangelista
eARC received from Omnific Publishing
Release Date:  October 30, 2012
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Rich and Romantic—a MUST READ!
Ever since a near-death-experience on the operating table, seventeen-year-old Arianne Wilson can see dead people. Just as she’s learned to accept her new-found talents, she discovers that the boy she’s had a crush on since freshman year, Niko Clark, is a Reaper.

At last they have something in common, but that doesn’t mean life is getting any easier. All while facing merciless bullying from the most powerful girl in school, Arianne’s world is turned upside down after Niko accidentally reaps the soul of someone she loves. This sends them both into a spiral that threatens to end Arianne’s life. But will Niko break his own Reaper’s code to save her? And what would the consequences be if he did?

Kate Evangelista has done it again!  I was a huge fan of Taste, so when the chance came to read and review another one of her novels, I jumped!  And I am so glad I did—Kate’s story of reapers will captivate and enthrall you!  Let Death take you for a ride.

I will go ahead and say it…I will now read ANYTHING by Kate Evangelista.  It’s like she dug into my heart and found my idea of the perfect guy and then brought him to life through her words!  First there was Luka and Demitrit, and now there is Niko.  (Gosh…don’t you just love her names!  Kate, you should write a Baby Names book…seriously.)  Niko has been a reaper for lifetimes upon lifetimes, but he has found himself questioning his existence, until he meets Arianne.  Soon Arianna discovers than Niko is anything but human, and from there, their romance, adventure, and journey begins.

I think writing a great heroine has to be one of the hardest things to do.  Swoon-worthy guys, much easier to write, but a heroine that makes you cheer for her?  Difficult.  That’s one of the reasons I liked this book.  Arianne just felt real—even though her life was anything but ordinary, I felt like her responses to death and pain were significant and realistic.  She was caring and even though she was tortured beyond belief at school, she still held her head high and tried to look past the hurt.  I liked seeing inside her head, knowing her desires along with her pain, and I am really looking forward to the next book.  (After the ending, I’m assuming there is a next book)

Don’t

Fear

The

Reaper.

Sorry…couldn’t help myself!  So…Niko!

Let’s start with a few words about him:

Brooding (slight drool)
Dark and Mysterious (a little more drool)
Wispy hair (starting a puddle here)
Overprotective instincts (can someone hand me a towel)
Great kisser with racy thoughts (lost all control of saliva)

Now doesn’t he just sound perfect?  I agree—super swoon-worthy!  I loved Niko.  Like I said, it’s like Kate stole him from my head.  I love the dark and broody guy with the hair that falls over those rumpled brows as he levels a gaze of steel at you.  And I really love the overprotective type that will come to your aid no matter what the situation.  Add that to some great kissing scenes, and voila!  Plus, he’s contemplative.  I really enjoyed his existential crisis because it gave us insight into his mind—what plagues him, what delights him.  I do wish there were a few more steamy scenes…I wanted more!  Some of the scenes in Taste took my breath away, and I was hoping for them in this book.  But, I guess I will have to wait until the sequel (hopefully my steam quota will be met).   Needless to say….I’m dying to read more of him!

The story itself was a fun and quick read.  I enjoyed the minor characters just as much because they filled out the story.  There were some parts where the wording did feel a little off and I had to go back and re-read because it didn’t flow well, but that’s something easily fixed by a little editing.  The story itself was quickly paced, and I didn’t feel like there was a slow moment.  Now, there isn’t wam, bam type of action like beat downs and car chases and what not, but the action that did take place fit well with the story.

The most interesting part of the story was Death himself.  He was a tale of contradictions; feeling yet harsh, caring yet apathetic, domineering yet acquiescing.  His words seemed truthful and like a loving father, but I couldn’t help but sense that his words were dripping with danger and deceit.  His ambiguity made it hard to tell if he was a good or bad guy, which I loved because that’s the aura of death, right?  Is it good or evil?  Or is it just…death? 

Kate’s writing swept off the page, and in the blink of an eye, I was there with her, in the In Between—frozen in time and reveling in space.  She creates a world full of layers--bittersweet love, all-consuming hate, and unyielding power.  The lines between good and evil are soaked in oil, ready to catch fire and burn with the strike of a match; and I believe Niko and Arianne have a treacherous road ahead of them.

Don’t let Kate’s world slip softly from your grasp!  Order it today, and you won’t be disappointed!
 
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