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.

**********************************************

 

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!

 

***********************************************

Social Media links:

Facebook

Website

Twitter: @KateEvangelista

Links to find book:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752810.Kate_Evangelista

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Inbetween by Tara Fuller Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone!  The YA Sisterhood is SOOOOO excited to be able to kick of the Inbetween Blog Tour with a review and giveaway!  A big thank you to Entangled Publishing for giving us an ARC to read and review!!  Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post to win your own ecopy!

*********************************************************************

Inbetween by Tara Fuller

Arc received  by:  Entangled Teen via Netgalley

Release Date: 8-28-2012

Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say: Romantic and Resplendent

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky — and unending — lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

If you were to ask most people where they want to go when they die, their answer would, I assume, be Heaven.  However, if that someone has read about Tara Fuller’s oh so yummy reaper, then they might just answer, the Inbetween!  Inbetween is charming and fun-- a love story that shows you just might be life after death.

While this is not the first story I’ve read about reapers, I still say we need more!  I really enjoy these paranormal characters—I love that they can be good or evil, or toe the line between both.  I love that each story can invent a new aspect of them, so it’s never old.  And I fall head over heels for the ones that just won’t give up on the idea of love—even when they’re dead.

This story follows Emma as Finn, a reaper who loves her, tries to protect her from the evil soul, Maeve.  I will admit, at first I was frustrated because Finn can’t touch Emma!  I was sure the romance was going to be lacking and I was going to want to put it aside for something with a little more….corporealness?  Is that a word?  Um…I’m going to declare that the International Council for Words just said that “corporealness” is a word.  Anywho, I was pleasantly surprised.  While I still wish there could have been more steam, I found the romance to be sweet and intoxicating. 

Emma is an interesting main character, and while I was not blown away by her, I still felt a small connection to her.  She has been plagued by “accidents” all her life, not knowing these accidents were caused by Maeve.  However, she doesn’t let the constant threat of death hang over her like a dark, ominous cloud.  Instead, she decides that she is going to try and take charge.  I liked that confidence while it lasted.  Unfortunately it fizzled out, and she became the innocent victim once again.  While I like the fact that Finn or her best friend Cash has to play knight in shining armor, I still wish she would have had a bit more attitude and strength as a main character.

One of my favorite characters is Cash, Emma’s best friend.  He is portrayed as both a good and a bad guy.  What do I mean?  He’s the boy your mother warned you about—you know the one.  The player.  The partyer.  But, with Emma, he’s caring and different.  He doesn’t treat her as some girl to kiss and toss.  His relationship with her is lasting, and it really gives insight into his brokenness.  I won’t say anything else because I don’t want to spoil it, but I can assure you we will see much more of him in the next book.

And finally…we have Finn.  I like Finn, but again, I was not blown away by him.  He’s charming and head over heels for Emma, but at times, he seems a bit whiny.  He wants to take charge, but as a reaper, there are rules that keep him in the shadows.  I loved with Finn was willing to break those rules, but then it seemed like he began to cower.  I wanted to see a strong, confident, in your face guy willing to fight back—even if the odds were completely stacked against him.  But, I understand why he couldn’t be like this.  I mean, he’s a reaper, not an angel—so it’s not like he has all these powers at his disposal.  I think he will be a definite new book boyfriend for many girls, but I tend to lack my guys a little on the bad side J Like Easton…but we won’t go there, you have to read it!

My favorite part of the story (of course) was the evil Maeve.  I can’t help it, I’m a villains girl.  She’s dark and twisted, and she is set on revenge.  I loved waiting to see what she was going to do next!  And let me tell you, she does not disappoint.  I will say, that I wish there would have been more of her—to show how much she has disrupted Emma’s life.

The only warning on content I have is the teenage drinking.

Overall, Inbetween was a flirty and fun read, and I will definitely be checking out book 2 in the future.  The romance was sweet and the story was well written.  Tara brings the Inbetween to life in the few snippets we get of the past, and she definitely brings hell to life with the quick looks of torture that realm can bring!  Tara Fuller brings new meaning to the term star-crossed lovers.  Thrust apart by death, separated by life and death, will Emma and Finn ever get the happily ever after they deserve?  Read and find out!  You won’t be disappointed.

*********************************************************************

About Tara Fuller:

Tara Fuller writes novels. Some about grim reapers​. Some about witches. All of course are delightfully full of teen angst and kissing. Tara grew up in a one stop light town in Oklahoma where once upon a time she stayed up with a flash light reading RL Stine novels and only dreamed of becoming a writer. She has a slight obsession with music and a shameless addiction for zombie fiction, Mystery Science Theater, and black and white mochas. Tara no longer lives in a one stop light town. Now she lives with her family in a slightly larger town in North Carolina where they have at least three stoplights.

Website/Blog/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/ The Book Depository



a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway