We're an Open Book
A month long dedication to Indie !
As I began to read more indie books, I started to see I didn’t know much about indie authors. For this project I’ve decided to take the time to interview the authors who have reached out to me and learn more about their writing. This week I am happy to have New Zealand writer, Fluer Gaskin. Fleur is also giving away a copy of her novel Arabelle’s Shadows to our readers !
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A month long dedication to indie/self-published YA novels
Synopsis: There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.
Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.
For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.
Hiding from a traumatic childhood secret, Callie Lawrence was always known as “Anorexic, Devil Worshiping Callie” in high school. But for her freshman year at the University of Wyoming, Callie plans to make a fresh start. Until she bumps into Kayden Owens, the rich golden boy from high school who is hiding the daily physical abuse he faces at the fists of his father. Guided by Callie’s college version of bucket list, they learn together how to heal and love again.
I’m not one for GIFs and don’t usually use GIFs in reviews, but if there is one that sums up this book it is probably this one:
It seems like everybody in this book is hiding, running or suffering from a traumatic past.
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It’s been nearly 3 months since we did one of these and we made it into a vlog ! Jess and I had a good haul with winning contests and Barnes and Nobles coupons.
On our shelf:
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
The Look by Sophia Bennett
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Blaze by Laura Boyle Krumpton
Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally
Games of Thrones Box Set by George R.R. Martin
I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
Ruined Series by Simone Elkeles
Books and Sensibility’s month long dedication to indie
It’s hard to be in the YA book blogging world without noticing all the upcoming indie novels and novelists. So, to open myself up to more independent and self published authors, I am going Strictly Indie for the month of May. I will be focusing on reviewing, discussing and posting about indie novels and even have a few guest posts along the way.
- Release Date: November 12th 2012
- Pages: 340 pages
- Genre: Science Fiction Romance
- Price: $3.99 ebook; 13.99 paperback
Synopsis: Ariel
Richmond’s everyday life consists of wrangling in her crazy best
friend, Piper avoiding her enemy Lila Hicks and finding salvation in her art, and the peanut butter brownie at her favorite cafe Demitasse.
But, the day Ariel makes eyes with Luca Grinaldi, murder and death begin to surround her. Ariel soon learns that people aren’t just dying–they are being hunted. And she and Luca’s meeting is a not just a coincidence, but destiny.
I’ve been following the publication of this novel since I happened upon Victoria’s blog for a contest. At the time she was being repped by Curiosity Quills, but deferred to self publish. It’s been interesting reading her blog and seeing the journey she has taken to self publication.
The Crimson Hunt is my first voyage into the New Adult category and I can definitely see the appeal. Being in their early 20’s New Adult characters are slightly more mature than YA characters, but still in the “I’m invincible” stage common to YA. While some Big Six publishers are dipping their toes in to the NA water, indie authors are heading in full force.
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Books and Sensibility’s month long dedication to indie !
It’s hard to be in the YA book blogging world without noticing all the upcoming indie novels and novelists. So, to open myself up to more independent and self published authors, I am going Strictly Indie for the month of May. I will be focusing on reviewing, discussing and posting about indie novels and even have a few guest posts along the way.
- Release Date: December 24th 2011
- Pages: 256 pages
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Price: $2.99 ebook; 8.99 paperback
Callum and Harper is my first real look into the world of self-published novels. Now, to be honest, I am writing this review 6 months after reading this book and I don’t have many notes, so this review will focus more on my experience with the novel.
The titular Callum Tate and Harper Bailey are a pair of teens who recently aged out of the foster care system. They meet at the Social Services office and told their only option for housing is in one of New York City’s homeless shelters. The story follows the couple as they work, study and struggle to make a better life for themselves together.
Being my first indie, the writing in this book was better than I expected. Fisher seems to really know ins and outs of New York City and the music scene the characters spend a lot of time in.
The story is told in alternating first person POVs and as I was reading them I would often forget which POV I was reading. Callum and Harper didn’t have the voice distinction. The characters were strong as a couple, but couldn’t hold their own as individuals.
One of the plots in this novel involves a boy from Harper’s past who is a a psychotic killer and starts hunting her down. This plot line felt a little melodramatic at times and took the focus away from the main story. I wish Amelie had stuck to keeping the story based on the growth of a relationship, the plot that worked great for the first half of the book.
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Books and Sensibility’s month long dedication to indie novels !
It’s hard to be in the YA book blogging world without noticing all the upcoming indie novels and novelists. So, to open myself up to more independent and self published authors, I am going Strictly Indie for the month of May. I will be focusing on reviewing, discussing and posting about indie novels and even have a few guest posts along the way.
Check back tomorrow for my first Strictly Indie post !
