Guest Post: 'One Holy Hell' of a birthday to Crushed Seraphim

Hi bloggers!

This week is a very special week.  This week marks the 1st birthday of Debra Anastasia's debut novel Crushed Seraphim (You can see my review here).

So as a lovely favour to Debra I am allowing her to flash some angel wing here on the blog today! Below is a post which will then following a giveaway for an e-copy of Crushed Seraphim :) you can head to her website at the end of the post for more details on a GRAND PRIZE!

Crushed Seraphim is One Holy hell of a year old! It’s been one year since I stayed

up all night to watch my debut novel go live. When it finally popped up on Amazon,

I peed my pants a little. I never knew I wanted to be an author, but holding that

book was a huge tearjerker for me. I wrote this story as a way to tell the tale of a

woman that was a cursing, smart-mouthed nightmare who also happened to have

the courage to save the world. It was book one in the Seraphim Series and the

conclusion, Bittersweet Seraphim, will be dropping in Fall 2012.

There was definitely a stand out gentleman from this book. His name is Satan Jack

and in my head? He looks just like Johnny Depp. Jack even has his own Twitter

(@Satan_Jack ) where he flirts with readers! He’s staked a claim in quite a few

panties since his unveiling and he’s proud.

Here’s the summary:

How does a foul-mouthed angel end up as the last hope for all of Heaven and Earth?

When Seraph Emma is maimed and tossed from Heaven by a rogue angel who's taken charge, she fears

she'll never be allowed to return. Tasked with the impossible job of showing the self-loathing (and not even

human!) Jason his worth, Emma is sure she's doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, having wormed his way into Heaven, the corrupt Everett has trapped God in Hell and has

designs on unleashing evil everywhere. Fortunately, if there's one thing Emma can't do (in addition to

minding her language), it's give up. Determined to save Jason and get back to Heaven-even if it means

going to Hell-Emma's plan is simple yet impossible: trick the Devil to save God.

What she doesn't count on is the devotion and, well, humanity she finds in Jason; the spirit, hidden

compassion, and raw sex appeal within the Devil; and the vulnerability of her own heart. With the help

of two unlikely allies, she'll wage the battle for Heaven. But will Emma be sidetracked by a new sort of

heaven along the way?

What's truly more dangerous? Falling from Heaven, or falling in love?

Debra Anastasia has twisted a fast-paced tale of intimate relationships with literally universal impact. Rich

with humor and electrified by attraction, this novel offers a playfully off-beat take on the good and evil that

make up the world.

Here’s the trailer (featuring music by the insanely talented Ron Pope)

This One Holy Hell of a birthday party is being held from May 24th-26th and there are

many chances to win a prize.

On this blog, leave a comment (Rafflecopter form is at the end of this post). One of the commenters will win an eCopy of Crushed

Seraphim in the format of their choice.

On my blog, http://debraanastasia.blogspot.com/you can enter to win the grand

prize and get linked to an excerpt from Bittersweet Seraphim. Looking for a home

are two print, signed copies of my books! Poughkeepsie will come with a matching

set of temporary tattoos and crystal bracelet. Crushed Seraphim will come with an

angel themed crystal bracelet and an exclusive fifteen-minute gChat with Satan Jack!

That’s right, you can ask him anything.

So thank you to Jess for letting me flash my goods here on this site today. Feel free to

check out www.DebraAnastasia.com for more information on Crushed Seraphim.

________________________________________________________

You are most welcome Debra. I always enjoy seeing you flash your goodies ;) I hope everyone takes advantage of this fantastic giveaway. I highly recommend Crushed Seraphim  as well as Poughkeepsie. 

Debra I look forward to reading Bittersweet Seraphim, and getting me some more Satan Jack :)

That's it for this birthday celebration! I hope you all enjoyed.

Happy Reading! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Review for Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

Posted by Donna

Release Date: May 24th, 2012

Finished Date: May 17th, 2012

Publishers: MacMilliam 

Source: ARC For Review

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 448
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Immortals comes a breathtaking new saga brimming with magic, mystery, and an intoxicating love story that will steal your heart away. Meet The Soul Seekers.

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead. There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

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The Review: When I first heard about Fated, I immediately added it to my ‘to be read’ pile because I enjoyed the author’s other series 'The Immortals', so it’s safe to say, I was pretty excited to read something else by her. But after reading this book, I have to admit, I really struggled with it because, while I thought Fated had a lot of promise, the story just fell a little flat for me. 
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Daire is a young girl who starts having hallucinations.  They are being called hallucinations by her mother and her doctors and they plan to have Daire committed. But when Daire’s long lost grandmother comes back into the picture after 16 years, she take’s Daire under her wing and teaches her the real meaning of the hallucinations – there actually not hallucinations but visions. Daire’s a Soul-Seeker and she has a big role to play in order to fulfil her destiny, but there’s one boy that could shatter everything for Daire and she has to figure out if she’s meant to be with him or if he’s the enemy.
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So I’ll admit, when I first started Fated I was intrigued. The first few chapters really grabbed my attention and I was dying to read more but as I read, I lost interest fairly quickly. The start of the story follows Daire going through her struggles with the visions but it was all just so slow. Most of the first part of the book surrounded Daire complaining about how unhappy she is and all the while, I was dying for something to happen. More importantly I wanted to find out why she was having the visions but it was a good 120 pages before I found out. I did however, really enjoy the reveal of Daire’s destiny but it was very short lived as soon as it happened, the story went back to Daire complaining and going back and fourth between what she wants. Even the romance isn't really introduced to the story until nearly half way through. It was a little frustrating. 
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The characters for me didn’t really stand out and I didn’t really have any real connection with them – which is what I need from a book. I did like Daire to start with but in the end, I found her to be a very whiney character. She sometimes came across quite mean and in her defence – she’s just lashing out at her mother for leaving her with her grandmother but sometimes it was uncalled for. 
>
All in all, Fated has a good premise and an interesting story but overall it’s just not for me. If you’re already a fan of this authors work then I’d highly recommend you try this. 
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Thank you to Macmilliam for giving me opportunity to review this book. 

Blog Tour: A Review for New Girl by Paige Harbison + Author Interview

Posted by Jess

Release Date: May 4th, 2012

Finished Date: May 14th, 2012

Publishers: MIRA Ink 

Source: For Review

Format: Paperback

Pages: 320
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

A contemporary young-adult retelling inspired by the classic 1938 romantic suspense bestseller Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. 
They call me 'New Girl'... 
Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her. 
Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. 
Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be. And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

The Review: "Before I could talk myself out of it, his lips were on mine. My mind went blank. My body went numb. I faded into him, letting my bag fall to the floor. I didn't care if someone walked in. I didn't care if anyone saw." -New Girl
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I'm not even sure on where to start with this review. This book was incredible. Although I haven't read the original Rebecca, I am familiar with the story having watched the movie a few years ago, so I'm not sure if I can make an comparisons. What I can say is that Paige Harbison has managed to create a fantastically spooky story, full of mystery. Having watched the movie (I know it's not the same as the reading) I can say that Paige has done an excellent job at a retelling this story. 
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We meet 'New Girl' (We don't find out her name until the end of the book) who's parents have managed to get her into the prestigious Manderley Academy, it's been a dream of hers from the age of 8, but she grew out of it and didn't have the heart to tell her parents. So she went anyway, and that's when it all began. She is treated as an outsider, people are mean to her thinking she is there to replace Becca, the girl who went missing a year ago. The only people who treat her with any kind of friendship are Johnny, Blake and sometimes Max who happened to be Becca's ex-boyfriend. The last thing she needed to do was fall for Max. 
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New Girl is told between alternate points of view. One from New Girl and the other from Becca. This is done extremely well and helps to see how different the school year was for both girls. Becca was popular, top of the student body food chain. She was also mean, manipulative, a liar, and a cheat. She scratched her way to the top by using the people around her to get her way and get what she wanted. Towards the end of the book when she eventually had her break down, I had little, to no sympathy for her. In fact I hated her and I felt myself getting angry with Becca through out the entire book. New Girl, was different. Although she was treated badly, she stood strong, she hung in there. I would have run away back home, but she didn't she stuck it out and showed that she wasn't just going to be intimidated by Becca's memory or her friends. New Girl is probably one of the strongest female protagonists that I've read about in a long long time, and I loved her from the start. I was able to connect with her on an emotional level. Even though Paige kept New Girl's name a secret until the very last page, it didn't deter me away from the book and it didn't feel like Paige was purposefully withholding the name. In fact when her name was revlealed in the end, I was excited to finally read it! It's a pretty name too ;)
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The book itself is paced well, there aren't any dull moments (in my opinion). It's always full of intrigue and mystery. It's an extremely emotional book, which had me on a rollercoaster all the way through. I picked up so many feelings when reading this book. Anger, love, sadness, pathetic-ness. It's all there on every page. It was just simply brilliant.
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Overall the ending was satisfying. Things seemed to wrap up nicely, but I felt it could have been a little more to it. It felt a little rushed but that didn't make me give it any less than 5 stars.
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This was the first book that I've read of Paige Harbisons and I intend to read a lot more. She's wonderful story teller and brilliant writer being able to bring all of these characters to life. Being able to keep you in suspense right to the end. I will be reading from Paige Harbison most definitely, And if you haven't picked up New Girl yet, then I suggest you do so. It's absolutely thrilling and I wish there was more! 
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Note: This book is for mature adults due to use of coarse language, drugs, underage drinking, and teenage sex. I recommend this for 16+ ages. Thank you to MIRA Ink for letting me review this.

Paige Harbison

Author of Here Lies Bridget & New Girl 

Check out her Goodreads Page: HERE

Check out her Website: HERE

1) Why did you decide to write New Girl?

                New Girl is basically the story of a girl being overshadowed by the presence of a missing girl. I love the spooky mood of Rebecca, and wanted to retell it in a modern setting. In high school especially, tragedies become more than just that. They become obsessions. People want to figure out the mystery behind it; they want to understand it. Put that together when high schoolers’ ability to believe the It girl has it all? High school is a world where feelings and emotions run high and rampant at all times. I wanted to take Rebecca, a truly haunting story, and put it in the minds and hands of teenagers.

2) How long did it take to write?

                From proposal to final draft, about a year.

3) What's your favourite quote from the book?

                Oh man. I have no idea. Haha um, let me look… Okay, actually someone pointed this one out on goodreads.com and I also liked it: “You realize that everything you think and feel now will be encompassed in the hyphen between two years.” 

4) Who's your favourite character?

                I know I shouldn’t, but I like Becca. She’s just so misled and messed up that she makes every mistake imaginable. I just want to know her and say, “Hey! That’s stupid!”

5) We will be featuring New Girl in our weekly US vs UK cover battle next week. Which cover do you prefer?

It’s hard to say. I think they both play up a different aspect of the story. I think the US version does a good job of setting the mood, but I think the UK does a good job of luring you in by posing as a much lighter story than it actually is. Ultimately I like the moodiness of the US but I like the slutty factor of the UK. ;)

 

A Review for Too Hot to Handle by Aleah Barley

Posted by Donna

Release Date: May 15th, 2012

Finished Date: May 21st, 2012

Publishers: Indulgence - an Entangled Publishing Imprint

Source: For Review

Format: Kindle 

Pages: Unknown
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US 

She was playing with fire...Honey Moore has made her pledge: no more stealing cars and no more lusting after Jack Ogden. 
But when an arsonist torches her house and chases her all over Los Angeles, she’s forced to throw herself on Jack’s mercy.
No one will look for a convicted felon in an LAPD detective’s apartment, right?…and he didn't want to get burned Jack doesn’t need a woman like Honey in his life. 
She might be sexy, but trouble follows her everywhere. But it’s hard to walk away from someone who lives at full throttle—and even harder to keep her safe. 
Now he’ll have to sacrifice everything to protect Honey from the arsonist determined to kill her.

Note: This book contains sexual content. Ideal for 18+
<
The Review: Too Hot to Handle was my first novel by author Aleah Barley, so I went into it not knowing what to expect, but I have to say to I’m really pleased because what I got was a great read. It’s a hot and steamy novel – one that has a fast paced and exciting storyline, with a love story that was very intense and I loved it.
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Honey Moore is known as a criminal. She’s stolen expensive cars including a cop car and has been in jail, but after being released, she’s trying to build a new life for herself. The problem is, someone just burned down her house and is now trying to harm her. The only person she can turn to is Jack Odgen, an old high school sweetheart who happens to be a cop, and the person whose cop car she stole.
Honey and Jack’s relationship has always been complicated but at least she knows she can trust him, so of course, he’s more than willing to help her solve who’s behind the attack. But what they don’t realise is, it’s sure going to be a dangerous ride and Jack is going to have to sacrifice everything he loves in order to keep Honey save.
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This book really was a fun, exciting and fast read and all the time I was reading it, I couldn’t help being reminded of the movies like “Gone in 60 Seconds” and “Two Fast in Furious” with all the car references – which I have to say, I really enjoyed.
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Honey comes across as a tom-boy because she loves cars and well, she’s been in jail but she’s strong and definitely not a whiney character and deep down, she’s just like any girl – looking for the one guy that will treat her right. She really has found her match in Jack, even with all the obstacles that life throw at them, they really make a fantastic couple (even though they don’t always see it).
Now Jack, really? How do I describe him? Well, I’m going to leave it in the hand of Honey because she really says it all; "He was a double fudge sundae with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and cookie crumble. Beautiful. Rich. Bad for her." Need I say more? Jack really is amazing and is any girls dream. I love him!
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Too Hot to Handle was definitely a hot read and if you’re looking for your next adult fix, then this is the book for you. I can’t wait to seeing what Aleah Barley comes up with next.
<
Note: Want a chance to get the know the author more? How about winning an eBook copy of this book too? If you do, then stop by on June 21st for an author interview and giveaway.

Dusty Reads (#17)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted by Xpresso Reads featuring a book that has been sitting unread on our shelves for some time. To participate and more information, click here.

Jess's Dusty Read

Entwined
by Heather Dixon

Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . . Lush, romantic, and compelling, this debut novel by Heather Dixon will thrill fans of Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley, and Edith Pattou.

Jess's thoughts: I bought this a long time ago. It's still sat on my shelf, I hope to get to it soon. I almost picked it up on Sunday night but decided against it. I'm excited to read it, it sounds like an interesting read, and the cover is absolutely stunning! 

 Donna's Dusty Read

Fools Silver (Mortal Kiss #2)

by Alice Moss


Could you chose between the ones you love . . . ?A gorgeous boyfriend and a long summer in Winter Mill to look forward to - things are good for Faye McCarron.Then her friend Lucas disappears without a trace. But nobody seems to care - until two strangers arrive in town . Faye and Finn leave Winter Mill to try and find Lucas. But with Finn struggling to adjust to his new role as leader of the wolf pack, and unknown evil forces working against them, will they save their friend before it's too late? Love paranormal romance, werewolves and immortal villains? Then this book is for you!

Donna's thoughts:  Ahhh why have I not read this book yet? Honestly, I read the first book in the series about 18 months ago and I loved it. I know the book isn't that well known because I believe it's published in UK/Germany so far but it's a series not to be missed out on. I so need to read this now! 

So that's our Dusty Read's for this week! Don't forget to leave us your thoughts below. 

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour: A Review for The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern + Excerpt + UK/Commonwealth Giveaway

Posted by Donna 
Expected Release Date: May 24th, 2012

Finished Date: May 10th, 2012

Publishers: Vintage

Source: For Review

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

The Review: “I have tried to let you go and I cannot. I cannot stop thinking of you. I cannot stop dreaming about you.” 
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The Night Circus is one of those books that has had a lot of hype surrounding it and I have to say, I’ve wanted to read it since I first heard about it. Now after reading it, I can honestly see why so many people loved this book because it is a magical and enchanting read but I’m one of those people that neither loved nor hated it.

Morgenstern has definitely delivered a promising and historical story – one that is intriguing, captivating and beautifully written but for me, I felt there was something missing from the story but I’m not sure what. It’s no secret this is book is completely out of the norm for me, so maybe that’s the reason why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped. I kept expecting something spectacular to happen near the end and it didn’t happen so I guess my expectations were too high.  

Now, what I did like about the story were the characters. Morgenstern did a fantastic job portraying the highs and lows from our characters and I really liked the connection they developed with each other. Their romance was beautifully written and it's enough to melt you're heart. Celia was my favourite out of the two – I loved how brave and strong she was and she really stood out as a character. 

All in all, I’m glad I read The Night Circus and even though it’s not a favourite of mine, it was still worth a read so I would highly recommend it. 

Read Now for an Exclusive Extra Scene from The Night Circus (Vintage Books)

 The Collected Writings of Friedrick S. Thiessen (1905)

Original article first published September 23rd, 1892

It is often autumn when the circus appears, or those early days of winter after the first frost but before the first snow. It is not a summer circus, though it may appear in spring when the night air is still chill and damp. It matches best with the late autumn trees stretching their bare branches out over grey skies, the grey blending pleasingly with the black and white.

It can be supposed, then, that when it is autumn in one part of the world the circus is likely to be found there, and when the earth tilts in a different way the circus will be found opposite, on the other side of the world where it is autumn while it is spring where the circus had been previously. It chases the seasons around the globe.

I have attended carnivals that are summer carnivals, at night with the heavy air and singing crickets, when the sugared treats and candy seem stickier and have a tendency to melt. This is not that kind of circus.

It is a cozy feeling, to walk through the paths of the circus in the crisp air, to be chilled enough in the night to need a scarf but to be warmed when you enter a tent or pass by the bonfire. The shifts in temperature are subtle but comforting. And it is a joy to have a cup of warm cider or tea to sip, steaming and soulful.

Perhaps these small comforts help to ground the extraordinary experience of the circus in small, tangible ways. Sipping a cup of cider is familiar; it puts one at ease. It prepares the self for more unusual experiences to come.

The courtyard is a taste, a sampling of the circus. It gives the patron a hint of what to expect inside the numerous tents.

The whole of Le Cirque des Rêves is formed by series of circles. Perhaps it is a tribute to the origin of the word “circus,” deriving from the Greek kirkos meaning circle, or ring. There are many such nods to the phenomenon of the circus in a historical sense, though it is hardly a traditional circus. Rather than a single tent with rings enclosed within, this circus contains clusters of tents like pyramids, some large and others quite small. They are set within circular paths, contained within a circular fence. Looping and continuous.

There are wings to the circus, fanning out from the center like spokes on a wheel. If you were able to view the circus from above, it would look something like a series of soap bubbles stuck together as they float.

Of course, what it looks like from above is not much matter, unless you are a bird. And you would never be able to tell, walking through the circus as a spectator, where each ring begins or ends. Eventually you will end up where you started, that is the only certainty.

That, and the bonfire is in the center.

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Showcase Sunday (#4)

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly meme hosted by Vicky @ Books Biscuits and Tea. We will now be taking part in Showcase Sunday instead of In My Mailbox. If you'd like to join see HERE for more details.

Hi all, Donna here. I'm back! Thankfully last week I was only sick for a few days, so I have a few goodies to show you, so let's get started.

Donna's Showcase!

 

For Review:

The Selection by Keria Cass

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Betrayed by Ednah Walters

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Dog Days by Elsa Watson

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton

Swapped:

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby 

Bought:

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Season of Eden by Jennifer Laurens

Gifted: 

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross - Thank you Nat!!! =)

eBooks for Review:

(Click on the bookcovers to be taken to Goodreads)

   

That's it for me this week. A huge thank you to Entangled Publishing, Tor, NetGalley, Natalie, Mira Ink, HarperCollins UK, Spencer Hill Press & Hachette. 

Blog Tour: A Review for Dog Days by Elsa Watson + Author Interview + Int Giveaway

Posted by Donna

Expected Release Date: May 22nd, 2012

Finished Date: May 11th, 2012

Publishers: Tor 

Source: ARC For Review

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 352
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

In Elsa Watson's Dog Days, struggling café owner Jessica Sheldon volunteered to be the chairperson of Woofinstock, Madrona’s annual dog festival, to overcome her reputation as “number one dog hater” in her dog crazy Northwestern town. Determined to prove her dog-loving credentials, Jessica rescues Zoe, a stray white German shepherd— and in the process the two are struck by lightning. 
Jessica wakes to discover paws where her feet should be, and watches in horror as her body staggers around the town square…. Zoe and Jessica have switched bodies. Learning to live as a dog is difficult enough, but Jessica’s real worry is saving her café from financial ruin. To complicate matters, she’s falling hard for Max, the town veterinarian. 
It’s clear that Zoe is thrilled to live life on “human terms,” thoroughly relishing all of the fun and food Woofinstock has to offer. But Zoe is also anxious to use her new human skills to find her missing family—who may not want her back. And Jessica needs to confront a complicated figure from her past before she can move on with her life. 
Jessica and Zoe will need to learn from each other to set things right, and possibly find acceptance and love in the bargain.

The Review: The blurb above tells you everything you need to know about this book, so I won’t go into any more details about the plot, but what I will tell you is; Dog Days is a fun, humorous and loveable read – one that left me with a smile on my face once I had finished reading because I enjoyed it so much. 
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Elsa Watson does a fantastic job creating a magical read with Dog Days and if you’re a fan of Freaky Friday then this is right up you’re street. The story was fresh, interesting and I honestly found it a fascinating transformation when Jessica and Zoe switched bodies. It’s just something that would never happen in real life but still it was a very vivid and imaginable progress and I thought it was wrote brilliantly. 
What I also liked about this book was how we seen the struggles the characters have getting used to their new bodies.  It’s not an easy progress but again, it made it all the more real.  Both characters have their own troubles and I found them both enjoyable to read about, especially with the different points of view, it worked very well within the story. I felt very connected to them both and in the end I was really invested with them as characters. And then of course we have Max – who I have to say is totally swoon-worthy. It’s very hard not to fall for this guy and it was a fantastic edition to the story. 
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All in all, Dog Dogs is a freaky and enjoyable book – one that any non-animal lover will fall for and one that animal lovers will automatically love and I look forward to seeing more work from this author. 

Elsa Watson

Check out her website: HERE

Check out her Goodreads Page: HERE
Pre- Order her book on Amazon US: HERE
Pre-Order  her book on Amazon UK: HERE

1) What inspired you to write 'Dog Days'?

I was sitting in a coffee shop one day, pretending to be working but really watching people walk by outside with their dogs.  I was caught up in one of my favorite musings (“I wonder what it’s like to be a dog?”) when I was struck by a new idea.  Instead of wondering what it’s like to be a dog, I started thinking about how what it would be like to be turned into a dog?  What would it be like to look down and see a pair of dog feet where your own feet are supposed to be?  

About a second later I had the other key thought: what if a dog were turned into a person?  How silly would that be?  I couldn’t get those two ideas out of my head.  I started work on it that week.

2) How long did it take to write?

From the initial idea to publication—three and a half years.  It took about a year to write the book, then I spent another year revising it along with my agent as we got ready to offer it for sale.  After Tor-Forge bought it, my editor and I put in another year of revisions.  By the time we were done, I felt like I had whole chapters memorized!

3) Was it difficult to write in Zoe's point of view? 

That part actually flowed much more easily than Jessica’s part of the story.  Zoe’s voice and motivations came together pretty quickly and didn’t change all that much through the various revisions.  Jessica’s, on the other hand, got turned upside down and then right-side up again!  

4) Who's your favourite character? 

Oh, Zoe, definitely.  She’s so goofy and opinionated.  She really has her own way of seeing the world and she is absolutely unselfconscious.  Zoe is based on our dog, Kota, who has a great sense of humor.  She’s always laughing about things that happen around the house—she thinks the cat is especially hilarious.

5) What's your favourite quote? 

I love this one from Eleanor Roosevelt: “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.”

 About the Author

Pacific Northwest native Elsa Watson has always loved animals. After raising chickens and inoculating goats in the Peace Corps in West Africa, she and her husband moved to an island near Seattle where they’ve filled their lives with dogs, more chickens, and the cat they brought home from their travels. She currently works at the West Sound Wildlife Shelter, a wildlife hospital and education center. Elsa is the author of MAID MARIAN (Crown, 2004; Three Rivers Press, 2005), a re-telling of the Robin Hood legend. 

A huge thank you to Tor Books for giving me the opportunity to review this book and making this giving possible and thank you to Elsa Watson for joining us today!

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