Lifers Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

LIFERS

Author: M.A. Griffin
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Chicken House (Scholastic)
Pages: 288
Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook 

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads


Description:

Fear haunts the streets of Preston's city: a girl has disappeared. Preston is drawn to investigate, exploring the city in the hunt for his missing friend. And deep in the bowels of a secret scientific institute, he discovers a sinister machine used to banish teenage criminals for their offenses.

Captured and condemned to a cavernous dimension, Preston is determined to escape. But this is no ordinary jail. Friendships will be forged and lives will be lost in a reckless battle for freedom, revenge--and revolution.

Set in a world all too similar to our own, Lifers is thrilling, pulse-pounding storytelling of the highest degree. 

Lifers is a unique young adult novel that blends elements of several genres together to create something fresh and new. I wasn't quite sure what to think going in to the book - the description was pretty vague, but it sounded interesting. It took me a little while to get into the story. The book is told from the third person point of view - and if you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I'm not a big fan of this style. It was a bit hard to connect with the characters, especially Preston (the main character), because of the POV. Personally, I think it hindered my reading experience more than I thought it would, but this is purely my own preference and other readers won't have the same issue. The author also uses a lot of flashbacks and memories throughout the novel - which I normally don't mind - but due to the POV, I just couldn't connect with them. If the story had been told from the first person perspective, I truly believe it would have been a whole different story for me. Again - just my own opinion.

The plot of the story was intricate and did a fantastic job of weaving together several genres. There's a bit of something for everyone - mystery, dystopia, contemporary, suspense/thriller, science fiction, action and adventure. I have to give props to the author for doing such a fantastic job of meshing all of these genres together and then make it incredibly fascinating. The story line had several layers and I enjoyed trying to figure things out before they happened - even though most of the time I was wrong. The author uses lots of detailed descriptions and vivid imagery to really bring the characters and the plot to life. I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy all types of fiction and for those looking for something different than what's out there right now.

I'm a writer of children's fiction, represented by Ben Illis at the B.I.A., available for workshops and school visits when I'm not chained to a laptop cursing my lack of progress and/or poverty of imagination.

My debut novel, The Poison Boy, was written as Fletcher Moss. My second novel, Lifers, is my first for teen readers. It arrives April 2016. 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

(3) Winners will receive a finished copy of LIFERS - US Only!

 

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Tour Schedule: 


Week One:
1/23/2017- YA Book Madness- Interview 
1/24/2017- Here's to Happy Endings- Review 
1/25/2017- Novel Novice- Excerpt 
1/26/2017- A Dream Within A Dream- Review 
1/27/2017- Fantasy Book Critic- Guest Post


Week Two: 
1/30/2017- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile- Review 
1/31/2017- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview 
2/1/2017- Book-Keeping- Review 
2/2/2017- Wishful Endings- Interview 
2/3/2017- A Gingerly Review- Review

  

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

 

Lifers

Author: Jane Harvey-Berrick 

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 7, 2014

Buy Link: Amazon

Description:

After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

Due to scenes of a sexual nature, not recommended for under 18. 

What made you start writing in the first place?
I’ve always written. But I started writing fanfiction and then someone told me I should write my own books. That’s where I started.

How did you feel when your first book went live on Amazon?
Nervous. Excited. Like standing on a cliff and wondering if you were going to fly or fall.

What inspires you to write and when did you start to write?
Everything inspires me: places, people, conversations, things I see, just my own imagination.

Do you have a favorite book?
Persuasion, by Jane Austen. No competition.

What author inspires you?
See above. Her dialogue was razor sharp. I also loved the Fifty Shades stories, even though it seems popular to slate them now. Forget all the bdsm stuff – it’s about being redeemed by love. What’s not to like?

Who’s your favorite three authors? In contemporary romance, A Meredith Walters, Devon Hartford, JD Dixon… Hmmm, after that, well, just loads!


Who or what inspires you?
Readers. Their feedback is more important than they realize. Also, I was in London for the veterans Remembrance Day parade last November. I met a lot of soldiers and ex-soldiers. Their stories were incredibly inspiring.

What is your biggest ambition as a writer?
To always feel like I’ve written to my best ability and that each book brings something different. Oh yeah, and to have one turned into a cooool movie!

If one of your books could be a movie, which one would you pick and why?
Dangerous to Know & Love because it covers a subject that doesn’t get mentioned much.

Do you get nervous or anxious right before one of your books release?
Hell, yeah! My friends get tired of talking me down from the ledge.

Does it bother you if you get a negative review?
I’d love to say no, but that’s a big fat lie. Yet another ledge my friends have to talk me down from. You put your heart and soul into these stories and then c-r-a-s-h. It’s hard.

What advice would you offer to aspiring writers?
Write every day. And fanfic is a great place to do your practice—plus you get really fast feedback on scenes/plots/dialogue that works.

I started writing contemporary romance two years ago. Before that, I didn’t think I could write a sex scene. Turns out I can!
My lucky number is 13 because I was born on the 13th and live near a haunted castle by the ocean. My number one past-time is watching hot surfers get changed into (and out of) their wetsuits.
My husband doesn’t read my books. My mother does.
Writing is my love, my hobby, my total addiction. All my characters are important to me and whisper their stories, even when I’ve finished writing their books. That’s why you’ll often find bonus chapters/out-takes from various books, because those voices just won’t be quiet.

Author Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6458246.Jane_Harvey_Berrick

http://jhbauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jane.harveyberrick

https://twitter.com/jharveyberrick

Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of Lifers - Open Internationally!

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