The Gun Runner Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm joined on the blog by author Scott Hildreth as part of the promotional tour for his newest contemporary romance, The Gun Runner. Scott was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about bad boys, relationships, and crime families, so I hope you guys enjoy the interview and add this one to your lists:)

What are three things that make Tripp a true bad boy rather than a more romanticized version of one?

Tripp’s experiences as a US Marine have left him with the belief that he is invincible. This belief, be it accurate or not, have left him fearing no one. This lack of fear allows him to push boundaries that a normal man wouldn’t come close to even approaching. Three things that I believe support his belief are:

• When approached (and threatened) by the mafia boss, his response was “tell him to go f*ck himself”
• When provided many opportunities to walk away from potential harm, he repeatedly chooses to walk right into the middle of it (saving a woman from being raped, ridding a movie theatre of a man who is a nuisance, saving a woman from being assaulted, defusing a live bomb…)
• Saks Fifth Avenue dressing room sex scene.

Terra comes from a family capable of truly terrible things. What is her biggest fear regarding her family (other than that Tripp will find out who she is)?

Loss. Criminals are eventually captured. Considering the crimes her family commits, she realizes the strict penalty (should anyone be caught) would split her family apart.

If Terra could give her pre-Tripp self a few words of advice about what was in store for her in their relationship, what she say?

Regarding relationships, never keep secrets.

Looking forward to book two, what one word would both Tripp and Terra use to describe the events that unfold?

Unbelievable.

Thanks so much for stopping by Scott!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

THE GUN RUNNER

Tripp

Once, I took down terrorists on the front lines as a marine.

Now I'm in the business of bad.

I've sold guns to people others might not approve of.

I've eliminated the criminals, the lowlifes and the thugs who've tread on my turf.

And I looked the Sicilian Mafia boss in the eye and told him to f*** off.

No one tells me no, unless it's their last word.

I didn't just act the part of bad—I lived it. Then she stumbled into my life.

I tried to stay away from her. Tried focusing on moving my merchandise. But one smile from Terra was like a shot to the heart.

She's mine now. And no one threatens what's mine.

Terra

I've seen a lot of terrible things in my life.

I grew up around lies and deception, and I ran away from all of them.

Until I met him.

I knew he was corrupt. I knew he was dangerous.

I should have stayed away, but my attraction to him, my need for him, overrode my logic.

Now I love him.

If he finds out who I am, we're done and I'll be nothing.

I never wanted to be the Mafia princess they tried to make me, but mia familia had other plans. And what mia familia wants…it gets.

Only Michael Tripp can save me.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

SCOTT HILDRETH

Born In San Diego California, Scott now calls Wichita, Kansas home. Residing in Kansas with his wife, Jessica, and six children, he somehow finds twelve hours a day to work on his writing.

Addicted to riding his Harley-Davidson, tattoos, and drinking coffee, Scott can generally be found in a tattoo shop, on his Harley, or in a local coffee house when not writing.

Scott is a hybrid author who both self-publishes and conventionally publishes. Look for a three book (mafia erotic romance) series releasing in 2016 through Harlequin Romance.

Loyal to the fans, fan girls, and faithful followers who allowed him to make writing a full-time career, Scott communicates with his followers on Facebook almost daily. He encourages his readers to follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Goodreads Author Page

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the team at Harlequin and Carina Press, one lucky winner will receive the following:

• $25 Amazon Gift Card
• eCopy of The Gun Runner by Scott Hildreth

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

• Monday, July 25th - Bewitched Bookworms
• Wednesday, July 27th - BookHounds
• Friday, July 29th - Supernatural Snark 
  
  
• Monday, August 1st - Book Briefs
• Wednesday, August 3rd - Curling Up With A Good Book
• Friday, August 5th - Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets 
   
• Monday, August 8th - Alpha Book Club
• Wednesday, August 10th - Parajunkee
• Friday, August 12th - underneath the covers

Review: The Gilded Cage

THE GILDED CAGE
Lucinda Gray
Young Adult/Historical/Mystery
256 pages
Henry Holt
Available August 2nd
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (From Goodreads)
After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper-class England in the 1820s, is shattered when her brother mysteriously drowns. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident.

A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?

MY THOUGHTS
The Gilded Cage is a quick, easy read, whisking us off to a sprawling state in England where greed runs rampant, secrets lurk in every dark corner, and rumors of a beast lurking in the woods abound.

Katherine knows nothing of Society life, spending her days working her family's farm in Virginia until an unexpected inheritance has her trading her dirt-stained hands for white lace gloves. Given her upbringing she's incredibly down to earth, the extravagances of life at Walthingham foreign to her on every level, and the rules of conduct for young ladies lost on her in the best possible way. She's not afraid to speak her mind or display traits and talents considered unbecoming for someone of her gender and station, and we can't help but love her all the more for refusing to conform.

While there's a lot to love about Katherine, her affections are a bit more easily won than we might like, her interest flitting from a footman to the family's estate lawyer with relative ease, with neither relationship moving beyond surface level. The plot bounces around in much the same way, giving us what at first appears to be a paranormal storyline as the staff and locals whisper of the Beast of Walthingham, but before we can settle in for some quality time with the supernatural, we switch gears to a murder mystery and finally find ourselves walking the halls of a mental institution. It's not as though these separate plot points aren't tied together however–they are and the story itself flows well enough–there's just so much that could have been explored with each one, but instead of getting to peel back layers and really dig in, we switch gears and head off in a different direction.

Overall though, The Gilded Cage is a solid read in terms of entertainment value, a perfect palette-cleansing type of read that keeps us interested even if we don't close the back cover and immediately add it to our shelf of favorites.


Rating: 3.5/5

Find Lucinda:

Website • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Last Magician

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

THE LAST MAGICIAN

Lisa Maxwell

Young Adult/Fantasy

Releases April 2017 from Simon Pulse

From Goodreads:

Stop the Magician.
Steal the book.
Save the future.

In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Tessa is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Tessa can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Tessa’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1901 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Tessa to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

You guys. LOOK AT THAT COVER! It's gorgeous. A glorious, creepified version of The Neverending Story ouroboros, and it makes my little designer (and reader) heart happy. If the cover wasn't enough to sell me on this one (sidenote: it was), the synopsis sealed the deal with all its talk of magical artifacts, time travel and secret societies. Tessa sounds like she has an epic adventure ahead of her and I want in!

Goodreads • Amazon    

Cathy Reviews: A Trio of Mysteries

My mother in law Cathy is back today with some mini reviews from her very favorite genre: mystery!

ALL THE LITTLE LIARS
Aurora Teagarden #9
Charlaine Harris
Cozy Mystery
240 pages
Minotaur Books
Available Now
Source: Bought

CATHY'S THOUGHTS
My reading weakness is mysteries – all mysteries. I use them as a palette cleanser between my book club books which tend to be heavier reads. I love the set formula of the mystery, and most often I choose ones that have a strong woman as the main crime solver. I received several new mysteries at BEA and they were all great reads. I thought I would share them with you.
 
All the Little Liars is the newest Aurora Teagarden mystery by Charlaine Harris. This is a cozy mystery series. Aurora is a librarian that has a knack for getting caught up in murders. This time her brother is missing along with several other teens from town. I love this format because Aurora rushes reckless into danger in the effort to solve the crime. This book lives up to its title, you never know who is telling the truth!

Goodreads • Amazon

STALKING JACK THE RIPPER
Kerri Maniscalco
YA Mystery/Historical
336 pages
Jimmy Patterson
Available September 20th
Source: BEA

CATHY'S THOUGHTS
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco was one my wish list for BEA. The unsolved murders by Jack the Ripper have been the source for many a mystery. Ms. Maniscalco has a fresh new take on the mystery in her first YA novel. Audrey Rose resists her Victorian role in life by secretly working for her uncle doing forensic autopsies. She is smart and headstrong in an era where girls should look pretty and think only of marriage. Through her involvement with her uncle, Audrey Rose becomes obsessed with finding the Ripper. This leads her into many dangerous situations and conclusions that could wreck her world. And like any good YA novel there is a hint at a budding romance.  This is a page turner and needs to be added to your reading list.

Goodreads • Amazon

 

DON'T YOU CRY
Mary Kubica
Mystery/Thriller
320 pages
MIRA
Available Now
Source: BEA

CATHY'S THOUGHTS
Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica is a must-read. There are certain authors I always look to see if they have a new release, and ever since I was first introduced to Ms. Kubica at BEA several years ago, she is at the top of the list. I was very happy to see this book this year. Ms. Kubica's books are  psychological thrillers. She knows how to extend the suspense and we just hold our breath throughout the entire book. In this book, we learn all about the main character from two different viewpoints, neither of which is the main character's voice. The mystery is revealed and unfolds all around Esther. Ms. Kubica truly understands how the mind works and how we can get carried away in our own imagination. This makes is hard to tell what is real and what is imagined. This story keeps you guessing until the very end. I couldn't put it down.

Goodreads • Amazon

Reliquary Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm thrilled to welcome author Sarah Fine back to the blog to answer a few questions about her newest release, Reliquary. As you guys already know, I'm obsessed with everything Sarah writes so I couldn't be more excited for this new book! I hope you guys enjoy the interview and be sure to check the bottom of the post for all the details on a fun giveaway as well as the full list of blogs participating in Sarah's tour. 

The magic in this world has a darker edge, working like a drug and addicting those who use it. If you were able to take a group of readers and cross from our reality into this world, what are three things you would make sure they knew about magic before going in?

1. Ekstazo (pleasure) magic can be as dangerous as Knedas (manipulation) magic. Don't make the mistake of thinking it's harmless.

2. Pain can be your friend. Especially if you encounter a Knedas in a dark alley.

3. If you are carrying the slightest whiff of magic on you, Asa will know.

If Mattie could describe brothers Ben and Asa using only one word, what word would she pick for each of them, and would they agree with what she's chosen?

For Ben: Perfect
Ben's response: Of course I'm not perfect! I'm perfectly imperfect.

For Asa: COMPLICATED
Asa's response: *smirk* Shut the fuck up. 



If Mattie's world hadn't suddenly changed with Ben's disappearance, what part of planning her wedding would have been her favorite?

Wedding favors! Mattie loves the idea of planning a gift for her guests that both makes them happy AND represents how intensely ideal her life with Ben is and will be. 



I have a sneaking suspicion that Asa might make his way onto more than a few book boyfriend lists. Who would top Mattie's list of book boyfriends?

What she will tell you: Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Edward from Twilight.
Who she's intrigued, frightened, and turned on by all at once (but will never admit it out loud): Jericho Barrons.

*Jenny excited flails at the mention of Barrons. MINE MATTIE*

Looking forward to book two, as a fun little teaser, what color would you say most accurately represents the events that take place?

Probably red. There is so much turmoil, upheaval, and pain for Mattie in Splinter, and so much ferocity and intensity from Asa, but also something very fundamental and necessary happening for both of them ... I think red might capture it. All that said, Splinter is one of the more humorous books I've ever written!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Sarah!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

RELIQUARY

Mattie Carver’s engagement party should have marked the start of her own personal fairy tale. But when her fiancé, Ben, is violently abducted the next morning, her desperate quest to find him rips her away from small-town life and reveals a shattering truth: magic is real—and Ben is hooked. It’s not the stuff of storybooks. It’s wildly addictive, capable of producing everything from hellish anguish to sensual ecstasy almost beyond human endurance.

Determined to find out who took Ben and why, Mattie immerses herself in a shadowy underworld and comes face-to-face with the darkly alluring Asa Ward, a rogue magic dealer, infamous hustler…and her missing fiancé’s estranged brother. Asa has the power to sense magic, and he realizes Mattie is a reliquary, someone with the rare ability to carry magic within her own body, undetected. Asa agrees to help find Ben on one condition: Mattie must use her uncommon talent to assist his smuggling operations. Now, from magic-laced Vegas casinos to the netherworld clubs of Bangkok, Mattie is on a rescue mission. With Asa by her side, she’ll face not only the supernatural forces arrayed against her but the all-too-human temptation that she fears she can’t resist.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SARAH FINE

Sarah Fine is a clinical psychologist and the author of the Servants of Fate and Guards of the Shadowlands series. She was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY

Three lucky winners will each receive a finished copy of Reliquary! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE:

7/17: Polished Page-Turners - Spotlight

7/18: The Eater of Books - Excerpt

7/19: Behind Closed Covers - Spotlight

7/20: Gone with the Words - Excerpt

7/21: Reading is Better with Cupcakes - Excerpt

7/22: Supernatural Snark - Q&A

7/23: Quite the Novel Idea - Spotlight

7/24: The Book Cellar - Review

7/25: Fiction Fare - Q&A

7/26: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

7/26: Emily Reads Everything - Review

7/27: Stuck in Books - Excerpt

7/27: Reads All the Books - Review

7/28: Ex Libris - Review

7/28: BCS Reviews - Review

7/29: kimberlyfaye reads - Review

7/29: Wandering Bark Books - Review

7/30: Lost in Lit - Review

7/30: Bookish Lifetsyle - Review

7/31: Don't Fold the Page - Review

7/31: Miranda's Book Blog - Review

Review: How To Hang A Witch

HOW TO HANG A WITCH
Adriana Mather
Paranormal Young Adult
368 pages
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available Now
Source: BEA

THE STORY:
Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?
 
If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with the Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.

MY THOUGHTS
How to Hang Witch gives us a look at how quickly mass hysteria can build and mob mentality can take over, and though it's not a story meant to be a profound examination of current affairs through the lens of the past, it's something that deeply resonates nonetheless given the tragic events around the world this year.

While we can't help but draw comparisons between the prejudice and hatred running rampant in Salem during the witch trials with that of today, this story also gives us an intriguing family curse to try and solve right alongside Sam and the mean girls clique that is the Descendants. The mystery surrounding the families with direct ties to the trials is well done, small clues given here and there to keep us interested, with Ms. Mather mixing just enough history with the paranormal to have us itching to do more in depth research once we close the back cover.

Though unraveling the family curse makes for the rapid turning of pages, older readers of YA like myself will likely find themselves needing to channel their inner teenager with regards to Sam, trying to see her fiery temper, snap judgements and impressive ability to push people away with a few cruel words through our younger eyes in order to keep from getting overly frustrated. In addition to Sam's youthful drama we also have a love triangle in which one point of said triangle is dead while the other two are living, and a group of high school girls who are a bit over the top in terms of nastiness, making it a bit hard to really settle in character-wise.

That being said though, those looking for something more story-driven than character-driven will likely appreciate this as a quick read and a fascinating take on a tragic event in our history, made even more so due to the author's direct link to Cotton Mather.

Rating: 3/5

Find Adriana:

Website • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday: Etched in Bone

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

ETCHED IN BONE

The Others #5

Anne Bishop

Urban Fantasy

Releases March 2017 from ROC

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop returns to her world of the Others, as humans struggle to survive in the shadow of shapeshifters and vampires far more powerful than themselves…

After a human uprising was brutally put down by the Elders—a primitive and lethal form of the Others—the few cities left under human control are far-flung. And the people within them now know to fear the no-man’s-land beyond their borders—and the darkness…

As some communities struggle to rebuild, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery’s shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings.

With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end—with her standing beside a grave.

SIMON AND MEG YOU GUYS! They have fast become one of my favorite almost-couples, and I'm hoping this is the book where we finally get to see them together. *rubs hands together in gleeful anticipation* I have to admit that I don't love the sound of Montgomery's shady brother, he's clearly going to cause all sorts of problems, but the Others always handle their business so I know he'll get what's coming to him. Also? That last line terrifies me. I don't want to lose any of my beloved Others! *sobs just thinking about it*

Goodreads • Amazon    

Review: Allegiance of Honor

ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR
Psy-Changeling #15
Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance-ish
Berkley
496 pages
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy…and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

MY THOUGHTS

Allegiance of Honor is a unique installment in Ms. Singh's outstanding Psy-Changeling series, reuniting us with beloved couples and characters from previous books instead of focusing on a single primary romance as the political maneuvering in this world reaches an all-time high.

While perhaps a touch slower in terms of pace given the lack of romantic tension fans like myself have come to know and love from Ms. Singh, spending new time with some of the early couples that stole our hearts is nothing short of delightful. Sascha and Lucas, the pair that started it all, are at the forefront of this fifteenth installment, bringing a smile to our faces with their every appearance as they work together to raise baby Naya. Bringing a little humor to the rising tensions is a very pregnant Mercy, whom everyone continually tries to distract to keep her from focusing on the fact that she's yet to give birth. Vaughn and Faith, Judd and Brenna, Hawke and Sienna and so many others fill the pages alongside Sascha and Lucas, giving us longtime fans a true sense of how rich and expansive this world has become over the years, and leaving us with an intense desire to go back to the beginning and start all over again.

Those who have yet to read any of the books in this series should not start with this one, as the storylines from previous books all come to a head and there's no individual romance on which to focus when the unfamiliar politics might prove to be a bit confusing. Allegiance of Honor is truly a gift to the fans, a chance to revisit the past while basking in the present, watching and waiting with breath held to see what the future of the entire Psy-Changeling world is going to hold in store.

Rating: 4/5

Find Nalini:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon 

This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Friday Flourish: Concealed + Exposed

Happy Friday Everyone!

It's disgustingly hot here (if it's under 93 degrees where you live, let me know where that is so I can move immediately. If it's over 93, let me know where you are too so I can avoid it ;-)), so I have an indoor kind of weekend ahead of me. *basks in the air conditioning*

One of my recent projects was a young adult post-apocalyptic series, a genre that had me really excited because I haven't done many covers in the way of post-apocalyptic or dystopian designs, and you guys know how much I love a new kind of challenge. When I know a book is going to be a part of a series, my overall design process takes a different path than with standalone covers as I need to make sure what I create for the first book has adaptability and branding potential moving forward. I want to make sure each book in the series fits with one another while still making a strong statement on its own, so with the Virus series author RJ Crayton and I spent quality time in the planning process figuring out just how we would connect each book visually.

RJ new she wanted a more symbol-focused design, a strong focal point in the middle that would stay the same book to book while the color scheme and textures would change to reflect each individual story. Given Concealed and Exposed both dealt with a viral outbreak and its aftermath, the biohazard symbol seemed like the perfect fit – a bold warning to catch the eye and hopefully intrigue enough to make readers want to know more.

I wanted to share both covers today so you could see how they worked together as a pair, and stay tuned for book three, Contained, in the coming months! I hope you guys love how they turned out:)

They said it was extremely hard to get.
They said it wasn’t airborne.
They said there was nothing to fear.
They were wrong.

Seventeen-year-old Elaan Woodson was supposed to be one of the lucky ones. She got one of the few spots in the subterranean protection unit designed to keep select scientists, military officials and their families safe from the deadly virus ravaging the world above.

But, how lucky are you really when the people in charge and those you love keep secrets from you? 

While Elaan has heard that what you don’t know can’t hurt you, she’s beginning to think otherwise. And she should…

Goodreads • Amazon

The safety of the underground bunker is left behind. Elaan and her friends are out in the open, exposed to the world above. Exposed to a world that has been ravished by the virus. Can they make it to the one person they've been told can provide them safety?

Goodreads • Amazon

Find RJ:

Website • Facebook • Twitter

You can check out more of my design work at Seedlings Design Studio!   

Review: Gifted

GIFTED
H.A. Swain
Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Feiwel & Friends
336 pages
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
In Orpheus Chanson's world, geniuses and prodigies are no longer born or honed through hard work. Instead, procedures to induce Acquired Savant Abilities (ASAs) are now purchased by the privileged. And Orpheus's father holds the copyright to the ASA procedure.

Zimri Robinson, a natural musical prodigy, is a "plebe"--a worker at the enormous warehouse that supplies an on-line marketplace that has supplanted all commerce. Her grueling schedule and her grandmother's illness can't keep her from making music--even if it is illegal.

Orpheus and Zimri are not supposed to meet. He is meant for greatness; she is not. But sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. Here is a thriller, love story, and social experiment that readers will find gripping--and terrifying.

MY THOUGHTS

Gifted takes a little while to settle into, a futuristic world where young people have brain surgeries to catapult them to fame and fortune in music, arts or entertainment making it initially (and likely purposely) challenging to relate to Orpheus and his ilk. Zimri, being a lowly plebe and hardworking factory girl is of course easy to root for from the beginning, and watching as Orpheus finds himself walking a mile in her shoes makes their story a satisfying one.

Zimri is a young woman who's lost both parents to a world where one company single-handedly determines who is worthy of wealth and status and who is not, and though she's much easier to connect to than Orpheus, we never get to know either of them very well. Her relationship with her grandmother is the strongest of all those in this tale, the depth of her love and loyalty toward the woman who's always been there for her something that shines brightly from the pages. Zimri's friendship and eventual romance with Orpheus stays firmly on the surface, a few highlights and cute moments scattered throughout as they prepare to facedown Orpheus's father and the CEO of Chanson Industries–the company responsible for the brain surgeries–but we never delve too deeply into the emotional complexities that typically accompany a star-crossed type of romance.

Additionally, the final confrontation between Zimri, Orpheus and his father is shorter and less intense than expected, a few pulse-pounding moments as things fall apart holding our attention before everything is remedied quickly and easily, denying us the gritty details of a revolutionary action. All that being said though, Gifted is still a quick, enjoyable read, a look into a future that hopefully never comes to pass but isn't entirely hard to imagine given our fixation on the entertainment world as a whole.

Rating: 3.5/5

Find Heather.:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.