Pretty Little Memoirs - a YA Book Blog

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Blog Tour & Review: Jiddy Vardy by Ruth Estevez

Title: Jiddy Vardy
Author: Ruth Estevez
Published: June 21st, 2018
Publisher: Zuntold
Rating: ★★★★
Find the Author: Goodreads 

Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

1779. On tumultuous waters a girl is born as pirates board the ship . . .
Jiddy Vardy is a survivor.
Rescued at birth, she grows up in Robin Hood’s Bay, a community which harbours a dangerous secret, one that could get you killed.
Always the outsider, with her dark skin and hair, at sixteen Jiddy is clever, brave and headstrong, soon risking her life and freedom to play her part in the Bay’s clandestine activities.
Then, just as romance blossoms and Jiddy finally feels like she belongs, figures from the past threaten to tear her world apart, and she has to decide where her loyalties truly lie.
A thrilling tale of one girl’s search for identity and love, set against a backdrop of wild seas, smuggling and violence. 

First Thoughts…

The synopsis of Jiddy Vardy reeled me in from the start. Not only did words like Robin Hood’s Bay and romance stand out, but this slice of YA is intertwined with pirates and set in 1779! I’ve never quite picked up a book like this, so I was eager to start! 

My Review…

There’s something so enticing about Jiddy Vardy from the very beginning. We’re pulled into this deeply surprising, cut-throat story with Jiddy at the forefront. We soon learn that the stature of the plot rests on Jiddy and the role that she plays among pirates involved in a sort of smuggling opperation. It’s never shy of action, even during the slower parts of Jiddy’s story, and it’s hard to crawl out once the plot anchors it’s hook into your mind. 
I was surprised at the love-triangle, because I really had my sights on Jiddy and Jonas being the only ones for each other, because of their bond already established and it seemed unlike Jiddy’s character. But we have to remember her age and that the torn-love-interests echo her passionate thought of idealistic choices. But nevertheless, Ruth blends the romance, search of Jiddy’s identity and the action, perfectly, still. Jiddy is extremely wise for her age, and has one of the smartest heads on her shoulders. It’s because of this that we can understand her more and the reasons she does things, or the way that she can be so loving but never turn her back, too wise and loyal to underestimate. 
Overall, Jiddy Vardy has knocked me off my feet. It’s so clear that this is more than a search for identity, violence and love, but an epic YA adventure that was phenomenal from mighty start to heroic end. There’s so much emotion, character and in-depth detail in Ruth’s writing style and Jiddy’s tale never failed to keep me entertained throughout. I never thought I’d love a story with Pirates in as much as I absolutely loved Jiddy Vardy. Thank you, Ruth, for writing one of the best books I’ve read in a long while! Amazing four-stars! 

by Ruth Estevez
I don’t play music when I’m writing, so I’ve made a playlist of music from when I was between 17 – early 20s with a few extras thrown in.
They are chosen because ….the singer is passionate and I believe them. I like the tune. They are from a time in my life where they meant something. I love guitars and drums. Some just make me happy. Some may be a bit cheesy but cheese can be good. I love Ella Fitzgerald, and gutsy singing. And some of these just make me laugh!
 Songs:

Have you read Jiddy Vardy? It’s out TODAY!


What do you think of the book’s theme?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour dates above on the banner!


happy reading!

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Blog Tour & Guest Post: The Girl In The Broken Mirror by Savita Kalhan (No Spoilers)

Hello, book lovers! I am so honored to bring you The Girl In The Broken Mirror today. I devoured this book entirely and there’s no doubt in my mind you’re going to feel the same way. Today on Savita’s blog tour, I’ll be reviewing the book and sharing a playlist!

Title: The Girl In The Broken Mirror

Author: Savita Kalhan

Published: March 29th, 2018

Publisher: Troika

Rating: 🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an impartial review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Jay’s creative writing exercise is to write a fairy tale, to end with they lived happily ever after.
But the way her life is panning out she’s not sure it will ever reach that stage. She and her mother are moving in with distant relatives, and they have super strict rules for girls. Jay is expected to have only Indian friends, if she has any at all. How can she see her school friends, Chloe and Matt? But this is only the beginning of a nightmare for Jay.
When her life implodes, how can she hide the shame and how will she find a way to keep going?

First Thoughts…

When Savita reached out to me with her book, I just couldn’t take my eyes off it. I saw the words Harrowing and Touching on the cover, and that just makes me FEEL like I’m in the book. These certain keywords lure me into the book, because who doesn’t love a book that makes your heart feel it?

My Review…



Spoiler free. Just a few pages in, and I’m hooked. No. I mean it! I sat down to read The Girl In The Broken Mirror a little after it arrived on my doorstep and opened the cover for a little while and the rest is history. Jay’s perspective is so clear-cut, so vivid and open, I felt like she was talking to me. The book deals with some heavy topics, including Rape, and I think that Savita dealt with these topics about shame, finding a place in this world and trusting others, with such grace and delicate consideration.
Jay, our main character, gets a creative writing assignment to write a fairytale, you know, with the whole happy-ever-after and etc. But the thing is, Jay can’t imagine it. Her life isn’t what she wants it to be, feeling overshadowed by what her Mother thinks her life should be. When they move in with distant relatives, it’s worse. They’re strict, especially when it comes to girls. She’s not supposed to have any friends that aren’t Indian, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to be with her school friends, Matt and Chloe. Her life starts to spiral after events that halt her existence, and she’s forced to watch her life implode, while trying to gather the courage to move forward.
Overall, The Girl In The Broken Mirror was a breathtaking YA novel with so. much. emotion. I found myself tearing up for Jay, her story tugging at my heartstrings. I’m actually at such a loss for words. I’ve recommended this book to three of my friends so far, and I don’t just hand out recommendations like it’s nothing. If I say it’s good, I mean it, it’s that good. Savita has quickly climbed a list of Authors to Watch for me, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Huge five-star novel.





About The Author:

Savita Kalhan was born in India, but now lives in the UK and studied at the University of Wales. She has travelled extensively, and lived in the Middle East for several years, where she taught English. She is keen on tennis, boxing and running. She is an avid allotmenteer and somehow manages to fit in some writing, reading and blogging too! She now lives in North London with her husband, her son, and her lion of a cat, Marley.

Her new YA book – The Girl in the Broken Mirror will be published on May 1st by Troika Books



Soundtrack to The Girl in the Broken Mirror

Hi Becca, thank you for inviting me on your blog today! It’s so exciting to be here, to have a book out there in the world, in readers’ hands! And to top it – I got to compile the soundtrack for it, too. So here it is – the soundtrack to The Girl in the Broken Mirror. It’s a mix of songs that feature in the book, and songs that Jay loves, her parents used to play, and the music played at her uncle’s party.
Have a listen and then when you get to the end, you’ll see I’ve set a little challenge for you all. . . I’ll give you a clue: it’s about Matt, Jay’s best friend in the book.

I Wish I Knew How it Feels to be Free by Nina Simone
Jay loves Nina Simone because it reminds her of her dad, who died almost three years ago. She plays I Wish I Would Know How it Feels to be Free when she’s trying to do her English homework – a creative writing essay with the title – ‘Once Upon a Time…’

Rolling in the Deep by Adele
Jay loves Adele. If she was allowed to go to a concert, she would go and see Adele sing live in a heartbeat. She blasts this song out loud on top volume after her mum has given her the terrible news that they are moving in with her uncle and aunty in 42 Primrose Avenue. Jay knows her life is about to change forever – and not in a good way. Her aunty is super-strict and very traditional, which for Jay spells bad news. She’s about to lose all her freedom.

1942 A Love Story. This song is considered to be one of the most romantic love songs in Bollywood. It was Jay’s parents’ song. Jay’s mum Neela doesn’t play it after her husband’s death because it brings back too many memories of her husband, of the time when she was the happiest.

The Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, from the soundtrack of Rocky. Deven plays this song when he is working out in the gym. It’s a favourite amongst some Asian men. It’s not mine! In fact I don’t like it all.


Jai Ho by A R Rahman. Since the release of Slumdog Millionaire, this song has become iconic. It’s played at most parties and weddings, and has everyone on their feet.


Apna Punjab Hove by Gurdas Maan. This is classic Punjabi Bhangra music.


Thori Thori by PBN and Raj Bains – the boys always hit the dance floor when this is played!


Someone Like You by Adele. The ultimate break-up song. If Jay was playing music when she saw Matt and Chloe together, this is the song she would have played.

Anywhere by Rita Ora. Sitting in the basement room of No.42 Primrose Avenue, this is the song that Jay thinks of as her and Matt’s song as she dreams of a living far away, living a different life.


Here’s the challenge to all your readers – what would Matt’s top five songs be? If you’ve read the book then you’ll know what Matt’s like, but basically, he’s pretty cool!

I’d love to hear of any other songs that your readers think would fit in with the book?

Please write them in the comments section below – or tweet me @savitakalhan with the hashtag #thegirlinthebrokenmirror #mattssongs.

Becca, thank you so much for having me here – it’s been so much fun! I hope you all love the book!



It’s been amazing! Have you read The Girl In The Broken Mirror? 


Let me know in the comments, or join in the conversation on Twitter!

          happy reading!     
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Blog Tour / Review: Shell by Paula Rawsthorne (+ Playlist!)

Hello, book lovers! Welcome to a brand new week and a brand new sparkly book in the form of SHELL. This was such a highly anticipated book for me as a retelling of the famous Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Thank you to Olivia at Scholastic for the amazing opportunity to read this!

Title: Shell

Author:  Paula Rawsthorne

Published: January 4th, 2018

Publisher: Scholastic

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this book for review by the publisher. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Add To Goodreads

What if you thought you had died, only to wake up to find that your brain and eyes had been transplanted into someone else’s body? 

When Lucy, a teen diagnosed with terminal cancer wakes up cancer-free, it should be a dream come true. But faced with a life she didn’t choose and trapped in a new body, Lucy must face the biggest question of all… 
How far would you go to save the one you love?


First Thoughts… Right from the start, I knew Shell was something I was going to LOVE. I am a huge fan of retellings and especially the type that are done with subtle plot changes that weave into a complete mystery. And YES, I did read this THREE times! (People have been asking since seeing my tweets, and it’s so, so true.)

My Review… Shell panned out so different than I thought (in a quite brilliant and perfect way) and that was just the start of the incredible story that awaits. Lucy has been sick for a really long time with Cancer. She’s giving up, nothing working anymore and feeling truly tired and sick. She misses the life that she used to have when she was well, and stuck in a hospital bed feels like the last place she will ever see. But then, she has a bad moment in hospital and thinks she’s died. Surely she has. But then she wakes up, being asked tons of curious questions and feeling different. Then she’s told her cancer is gone. First, she thinks it’s some kind of miracle. But then she sees the reflection of someone. . .and it’s her. But it’s not Lucy’s face that she sees staring back at her. She sees someone else – and she is stuck in their body. 

Forced to pretend to be Renee and say goodbye to Lucy forever to avoid questions from the risky and illegal procedure, Lucy is only herself in secret with her Parents. She can’t tell her best friend, or Grandmother, despite being shunned by them as her new self. School is different as someone else now, newly taken in by the popular girls that wanted nothing to do with her when she was Lucy, and thrown into a life quite different from her own. But she can’t let go of the fact that she doesn’t know whose body she is in, or the strangeness that surrounds her because of it. When darker things start to unravel, Lucy is forced to question what she would do to survive. 

So. Many. Wow. Moments. This book! I can’t get over just how complex, smart and truly gripping Shell was. Paula’s writing is truthful and Lucy’s voice is wise and so real. This whole story is ethereal and ingenious. It had so many twists that I didn’t see coming at all, and I’m usually so good at seeing the plot twist before it happens. I can’t give this book enough love. I hardly reread books when I have such a tight reviewing schedule and that should show you just how amazing I thought Shell was. Huge five stars!

About The Author:
Paula Rawsthorne is the award-winning author of Blood Tracks and The Truth about Celia Frost. She first found success when she won the BBC National ‘Get Writing’ competition with her prize-winning story read on Radio 4. She has also been a winner of SCBWI’s ‘Undiscovered Voices. She is passionate about enthusing teenagers to get reading and is a writer in residence in a secondary school for the national literacy charity ‘First Story’. SHELL is her third novel for young adults. You can buy SHELL here.

 

SHELL Playlist


For my Blog Tour date, I really wanted to create a SHELL themed playlist! I love making them (as many of my readers will know!) and this was no exception. I made it on Spotify, so if you’re interested in listening to any of these while reading your copy of Shell, the link is below!

Playlist breakdown:

Rescue My Heart is the song I had playing in my head throughout Shell so I had to add it in there. Farewell is definitely the song for Lucy and her best friend Makayla. Heartbeats has the lyrics that instantly made me think of Lucy when she first woke up and realized who she was now. Killing Me To Love You is all about Lucy trying to prove that she is comfortable being Renee and loving her new body despite having issues with it. Only You gets me every time and it fits so many of the scenes throughout Shell. Is There Somewhere is melodic and fitted those kind of moments when Lucy was lost. Monsters is another one of those songs I had in my head – it’s like Lucy felt she was a monster. Strong is like Lucy’s song. She felt caught in the middle of being alive, but not wanting to live as someone else. Angels is the song I knew would fit during the first few chapters of Shell and you’ll know why when you read those beginning parts. Empty is how Lucy felt as Renee, through and through, along with I Can’t Breathe. Finally, In My Dreams is the kind of song that melts into the moments when Lucy was having dreams/nightmares about her new body (although it doesn’t quite fit). 

Have you read Shell?

What did you think?

Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or in the Comments! Don’t forget to stop by the Blog Tour stops for SHELL!

happy reading!

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Blogmas Day 2: My Favourite Christmas Songs


Hello book lovers and welcome back to BLOGMAS DAY 2!


Today is probably going to be one of my favourite Blogmas days because I absolutely LOVE Christmas songs. I’m quite particular about which ones are close to my heart and definitely have clear-cut favourites! Even though I could go on about Christmas songs forever, I narrowed down my list to the couple that I definitely rotate and listen to most of December. There aren’t many classics on my list because I hear them all the time on the TV and playing in the car, but I will list a few of my favourite classic songs later on this Blogmas!


Spotify is my go-to for making playlists of any kind (and I do make a LOT of them). The songs aren’t in any particular order but my all-time favourite Christmas song is What If by Kate Winslet. It just GETS ME every single time. Hands down one of the greats.

Do any of these songs make your Christmas favourites? If you want to add this playlist to your favourites or save some of the songs to listen to later on, you can follow the playlist right here! 
Missed the first Blogmas? You can find them all by following this link.

happy reading! (and listening)

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Book Review: “Dark Metropolis” by Jaclyn Dolamore {Giveaway + Blog Tour Playlist}

Title: Dark Metropolis

Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
Release Date: June 17th, 2014 
Published by: Disney-Hyperion

I received this as part of Jaclyn’s blog tour in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 


Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

 Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder’s mother is cursed with a spell that’s driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city’s secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

 Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they’re not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

 Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don’t always seem to stay that way.

 I love everything 1920’s and 1930’s. There’s something about those times that seemed so intriguing and magical to me. So when I got the chance to read Dark Metropolis, I was eager to jump into the magic itself!
The first thing I picked up on in Dark Metropolis was how dark and bewitching the storyworld was. With it’s glittering atmosphere, yet dark and thrilling side, the book was enchanting from the very start. 
Set in a 1930’s-esque world, sixteen year old Thea’s mother had been cursed by a spell that’s making her insane. With no one to help them, Thea takes it upon herself to make a living for them both in a malefic city, where you can’t escape the dangerous and selfish rules. She starts spending her nights being a waitress at a wicked club called Telephone Club, attending all who enter. The beginning of Dark Metropolis is fast-paced, but when Thea’s best friend; Nan, goes missing, things get even more enticing. Thea will stop at nothing to find her. It’s then that she meets Freddy, a patron at the club who appeals to Thea, and he agrees to help her weave her way through the city’s secrets, keeping his own still. 
The world of Dark Metropolis is alluring, yet vicious, and it’s never safe. And when Thea and Freddy close in on the city’s secrets, it’s far too late to turn back. 
I was enthalled from the very start of the book right until the last page. It was definitely the fast-paced, heart-stopping wickedness and evil clawing at every page that kept me reeled in. Thea was a brilliant lead character and seeing the world that she lived in inside DM was fascinatingly lucid. Though at times a little gory with it’s dabblings in Zombies and spells, I was overall surprised at how much I liked it! I definitely recommend it to YA Fantasy lovers and of course for fans of the 1930’s-esque world. Just one look at that cover and I want to frame it! 

                                                                        

Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. 
She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting.

www.jaclyndolamore.com | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PLAYLIST! (Blogger’s Choice)

I’ve been trying to come up with songs that I felt suited what Dark Metropolis was about and yet, there isn’t much music to really describe the sort of vibes that I felt it would have sounded like if music played within the book. So, I came up with a couple that I thought suited the different themes, era and style!


What do you think of Dark Metropolis?


Tell me what you think in the comments or on Twitter using the tag; #DarkMetropolis 

happy reading!

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Release Day Blitz: “Don’t Fall” by Rachel Schieffelbein {Giveaway + Playlist}

Don’t Fall
Release Date: 2014
Swoon Romance
Summary from Goodreads::
In which a teenage girl endures the over-protective love of her adoptive mother until she falls for a boy who has her wanting to spread her wings, pitched as a contemporary retelling of RAPUNZEL.
Seventeen-year-old Anya leads a very secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn’t go to school, but instead has a private tutor. Her over-protective mom keeps her so sheltered that she doesn’t even have a best friend. 
But Anya doesn’t seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams, and would do anything to please her mom. Until one day at the library, the only place she’s allowed to go, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy.
Before long she’s lying to her mom, and sneaking out late at night to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she will have to risk her relationship with the only other person she’s ever cared about.



 
Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.


Author Links:
   





Playlist

First of all, thank you so much for having me on your blog! Today I’m going to share some songs from my DON’T FALL playlist.
 
 
At the beginning of the book there are some lyrics from the song Don’t Catch Me by The Gravities. Here are a few of them:
 
Defeat
my plight with your delight.
And
when you shine you shine the brightest,
and
all I can give back is my best.
 
 
I love this song. I love the idea of how someone else’s joy can bring out your own. Anya lives a fairly grey,  joyless life until she meets Zander. He helps to bring out the best in her, and her happiness reflects back on him, too.
 
 
Another song I listened to a lot when I needed some good lovey dovey inspiration was Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You by Lady Antebellum. This song is really beautiful, and romantic, and I hope some of that inspiration shines through in the book.
 
1 ebook of Don’t Fall + $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Book Blitz Organized by:

 

 

happy reading!

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This Week I…{#1}

“This Week I…” is a new weekly sort-of meme where I generally ramble on about what happened in my week, book related and more. 



                          
Alice Through The Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter
Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

 

                                                 

                                                
  Stormy & Heaven’s Gonna Wait by Hedley –
I could listen to Hedley all day, so it’s no surprise they’re in my playlist this week
Perfume (feat. Sia) by Britney Spears – 
I only just discovered this version of the song online and fell for it completely
Dark Horse by Katy Perry –
If there’s ever a time for a girl-power / kick-ass song, I will always pick this one. And it’s so catchy! 
Overjoyed by Bastille – 
Such a hauntingly beautiful song
I Do Not Love You by Ron Pope –
Another musician I could find so many songs that I love within the albums! This is just one of many, many favourites I have
The Funeral by Band of Horses –
I heard this in a YouTube video and just couldn’t get over how breathtakingly beautiful the song is!



Teen Wolf –
I love how incredible this show has evolved throughout the seasons, and now in Season 3, I’m more enthralled in the whole Scott/Allison/Stiles situation more than ever before
Grey’s Anatomy – 
How can you not be addicted to this show? 
Pretty Little Liars –
I can’t EVER miss my weekly dose of the Little Liars and when I’m not watching
 it, I’m thinking of A’s next move. What are Alison’s motives? Is Ezra really A? WHO IS A, already?!
Some others I need to catch up on: The Vampire Diaries (Klaus and Caroline?!) The Originals (How confusing is all this Witchy-stuff getting?!)


If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch – Thank you; Orion!
The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow – So excited for this one! It’s been on my TBR list forever. Thanks Mira Ink!
Letting Go by Bridie Hall – I love reading novella’s every once in a while, so I can’t wait to start this one. Thanks Bridie!


What did you do this week?

Are you excited for any of these books/music/shows?

Tell me in the comments!

Happy Reading/Listening/Watching!
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Blog Tour: “RecruitZ” by Karice Bolton {Giveaway + Interview}







Title: RecruitZ

Author: Karice Bolton
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic / Zombie Thriller
Release Date: Dec 27, 2013





Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.



Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

Karice lives in Washington with her wonderful husband, who also happens to be her high school sweetheart and their two cute English bulldogs!

She enjoys reading, baking, and trying to be crafty on her off-hours. She’s also a coffee, tea, and snow addict. If she could live somewhere that had the white stuff year-round, she probably would. She also loves chatting with her readers on Facebook!



Her books include:

The Witch Avenue Series (Lonely Souls, Altered Souls, Released
Souls, and Shattered Souls)

Beyond Love Series (Beyond Control, Beyond Doubt, Beyond Reason)

Watchers Trilogy (Taken, Awakening, Legions, Cataclysm)

Afterworld Series (RecruitZ)

The Camp

Find her here: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | BLOG | PINTEREST 




Hi Karice! Since we talked last on
our previous Q&A for “the camp” you’ve been up to a lot, including your
contemporary romance series and now the brand new “Afterworld” series! What
would you say was your favourite thing about getting to write and dabble in
different genres?

First, thank you so much for
having me.
2013 was a very busy year for
me, and I loved every minute of it. It is so much fun to be able to switch
between genres, and I think being able to do so allows for unexpected and
creative results. I’m very grateful that my readers let me dabble in the zombie
realm where romance doesn’t necessarily take priority. Getting to explore so
many different worlds is my favorite thing about writing in different genres,
and I always have a project that suits my mood.

Being a zombie fan myself (and
lover of the movie; Warm Bodies), what inspired you to write a book about
zombies?

Most of the zombie books that
I see focus on the outbreak and fighting for survival. I wanted to write about ‘after
the survival’ and how humans might behave after the outbreak was contained. As
society attempts to put itself back together, the possibilities are endless when
the unsavory  side of humanity comes out
and conspiracies are born. It’s been so much fun to write, and I look forward
to writing the rest of the series.

Was the initial idea for RecruitZ
spur-of-the-moment or did you work on the idea piece by piece?

I came up with the idea about
a year and a half ago. The initial idea was spur of the moment and then I was able
to mentally map out where I wanted to go with each book in the series. I’m
thankful I had a lot of time with the idea(s) so that they developed rather
organically.

Rebekah—the main character of
RecruitZ (who I share a name with!)—is determined for answers after seeing her
husband killed by the thing that no one was supposed to fear anymore. Are we
going to see a new strong (and amazing) lead heroine alike Triss and Ana from
your previous series’?

Awesome name might I add!!
And definitely strength will be a defining characteristic! Rebekah is strong
both mentally and physically. A lot of my characters grow into their purpose as
the circumstances present themselves. In this case, Rebekah is the one
searching out the circumstances. She is strong both physically and mentally,
but she is still human and the world isn’t a kind place any longer. She still
has a soft side, which will be unwrapped as the series continues.

Finally, if RecruitZ was ever
turned into a movie, who and why would you love to play the lead roles?

That’s a tough question –so
many choices—and definitely something that would make my dreams come true. Anywho,
I think Emma Watson would be amazing in the role.
Thank you so much for the chance to
interview you again on Pretty Little Memoirs! 


Karice: My playlist for RecruitZ is huge so here is
a small portion of it (starting with the A’s). RecruitZ is pretty action packed
and my playlist definitely reflects that-lol. This playlist is very different
than my romance playlists…for sure!
1. Alive                                        Krewella
2. All Good                                 Zeroleen
3. Android Porn                             Kraddy
4. Animals                                  Martin
Garrix
5. Animals                                        Muse
6. Apologize                               OneRepublic
7. Bad Girls                                MIA
8. Beam Me Up                          Cazzette


It’s always so much fun being a part of Karice’s Blog Tours, and I had so much fun coming up with my Interview questions and getting a glimpse into her playlist for RecruitZ. 
happy reading!

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