Showing posts with label kate evangelista. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kate evangelista. Show all posts

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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Twitter: @KateEvangelista
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Taste by Kate Evangelista Review and Giveaway


Taste by Kate Evangelista
Review Copy provided by Author
Published by Crescent Moon Press
Available NOW!!!
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Tempting, Titillating, and Totally Tantalizing 
At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

One word:  Sexy.
Two words:  Completely hypnotic.
Three words:  Absolutely insanely hott!!!!!  (Yes, that’s hott with 2 t’s!!!)

This was definitely one of my favorite novels to read so far this year.  It was new and fresh, full of seduction, and never without a dull moment.  Kate Evangelista creates a world where nightmares can be freedom and where flesh-eating monsters can be sexy!  From the first chapter, I was completely hooked!

One thing I really hate about some stories is how they take forever to get to any action…you just keep reading and reading and wondering when something is going to happen.  That is NOT the case with Taste!  Kate jumps straight to the action and introduces us straight away to a nightmare world beyond our own, but there’s something seductive about her world.  I don’t care how revolting the sound of tasting flesh is, I still am completely attracted to these beyond beautiful, dangerous creatures.  I never felt the need to skip a few paragraphs because I was bored with description.  I relished every aspect of her world, and I loved that she didn’t get caught up in the color of the sky or the kind of stone of the castle.  She blended the right amount of description with the right amount of action so I never got bored.

The story follows Pierce McKay who is plucked from her high profile boarding school into a deadly society of zombie-like creatures.  Pierce is broken and lost after the death of her mother, and driven by a need for answers, she launches herself into their dangerous realm.  I really connected with Pierce—I understood her need for answers because I am the same way.  I’m sorry, but I discovered a race of super hot creatures that no one else knew about and one of them saved my life, I would not hesitate to try and discover the truths of their world.  Pierce does just this, without ever thinking, and I admire her bravery and curiosity.  She was a fun heroine—plagued by doubts, but she doesn’t let those get in the way of her decisions.  She doesn’t let anything hold her back.

But the best part of the story?  Of course it’s the guys!  There are two love interests for Pierce—Demitri and Luka (could you get any hotter names??)

Demitri is dark and mysterious, hidden behind a mask of unfeeling, but Pierce gets to him the moment he saves her.  I absolutely love Demitri!  He’s sexy and protective—more than once offering up a pummeling or two on Pierce’s behalf.  But, Demitri has secrets that hold him back, and if you’re like me, you will love discovering his truths and lies.  Plus….there’s this one scene between Demitri and Pierce…and let me just tell you, WOW!  Hold on a bit….I’m going to go read it again!  (About 5 minutes later)….Just as I suspected….even hotter the second time!!!!

And then there is Luka…and I love him, too!  I seriously can’t decide who I want her to end up with!  I would be completely happy with either, which is completely new to me because I always have an overwhelming opinion on the romance!  Luka doesn’t have Demitri’s dark eyes and dark hair—his appearance is bright and electrifying, but every bit as smoldering as Demitri’s.  But he also has his secrets, and he can be just as dark and broody.  And, of course, Pierce feels a pull towards him as well.  Such a lucky girl!  I’m jealous!

The only flaw I saw was that the ending felt rushed. I wanted to see more about how things ended up, so I am hoping that there is a sequel in the works.

I ABSOLUTELY, IRREVOCABLY recommend you go buy this book and read it today!  Kate Evangelista creates a world where the darkness is more enticing than the light, where the devils are sexier than the angels, and where everything wrong just feels so right! 
 I can’t wait to see more from this budding debut author!  Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win Taste!

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