Guest Post & Contest with author Jamie Rush

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Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I have the pleasure of introducing to you author Jamie Rush!  She is the author behind The Offspring Novels and she is a wonderful writer!  Let’s sit back and see what Jamie has to say today!
The Things We Do For Love
We slay adjectives and adverbs. We slice and dice our words, cutting precious phrases and sentences, sometimes even entire scenes. Occasionally we have to kill a character, even a good one. We face the evilest of villains, fearlessly fighting for justice, for the innocent. We are writers. Not just writers, but fiction writers, creating whole words from nothing more than a glimmer of inspiration. Facing the blank computer screen with nothing more than an outline, if that.
We suffer disparaging remarks about writing “those trashy books.” We brave critique partners, editors, and reviews about our “precious children,” letting 12-page revision letters and negative reviews bounce off our shining armor. We fear what the rising piracy rates steal from us, not just money but perhaps our chance to make our livelihood doing what we want most.
We follow our dreams with the lofty ideals of some of our heroines, fighting to keep our hope alive as we face all the travails this life throws into our path. We do it for love, for money, but always from passion. There is nothing more satisfying (well, not much) than creating people, worlds, danger and triumph, putting that manuscript into the mail and sometime later receiving a much smaller envelope with the finished book.
We love hearing from our fans, knowing we have taken them into our world for a while, and hopefully, into their hearts. Our stories are, at their core, about people. Sure, larger than life, but still, people like us. People who love. Who are afraid they’re not enough. Who’ve been hurt by life but still dare to try again. People who go through hell but find love on the other side. Love for someone else, and most importantly, for themselves.
And that, my friends, is what writing is all about, at least for me. We are all the heroes and heroines of our own stories. And while there is no guarantee of justice, the perfect romance, or a happy ending, I hope that you will be inspired to never give up, never give in, and always give love.
Like all of my characters, Fonda and Eric have their issues. She’s clinging to the memory of the only guy who ever stood up for her, because her father never did. And then Eric went and torched him. She would feel worthless if she doesn’t finish the task the CIA operative who hired her set out to do: kill Eric.
Eric is the first to admit he’s an arrogant ass. He thinks he’ll have no problem killing the enemy, even if she’s a cute blonde. Both think they’re on the right side. And when they reluctantly work together, they see that maybe they were wrong about each other … and about themselves, too. And we can have the enjoyment of watching them on their journey to self-discovery.

I’m celebrating the release of BURNING DARKNESS with my Kick Butt First Line contest.  Shocking, suspenseful…make us want more!  Cash prizes! Contest runs from Feb 1 through March 1, 2011. For aspiring authors, it’s a chance to get your name out there and add a “win” to your bio.  For readers, it’s a chance to play at being a writer.  Even if you’re not inclined to write a line, check out the entries—they’re a lot of fun!  For details, go to www.JaimeRush.com and click on the Contest link.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

BURNING DARKNESS, Book Four of the Offspring Series
By Jaime Rush
Avon Books, Feb, 2011 (ISBN 978-0-06-201885-4)
RT Book Reviews and Night Owl Reviews Top Picks!
Fonda Raine lives for one thing: killing Eric Aruda for slaying her lover. But she’ll have to be careful–Eric can set fires with his mind. Seconds from plunging a knife into his heart, an assassin tries to take them both out. Now, she must choose: join forces with the man who’s burning through her defenses or go down in flames.


CONTEST:
Thanks to Jamie, I have ONE copy of Burning Darkness to giveaway! All you have to do is answer the following question:

What is your greatest triumph? 

RULES:
1. This contest is open to the USA only.
2. No need to be a follower, but I would love it if you would!
3. Leave a comment with an email address to contact you with if you win.
4. Contest will end on 2/12/2011.
 
GOOD LUCK!!!

WINNERS!!!!

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Sorry about the late post today in picking the winners! I have been having some computer connectivity issues that have hopefully been resolved!  I know, just announce the winners already! LOL As always, winners were chosen with Random.org.

The winner for the ARC copy of  The Girl Who Became A Beatle is:

 The winner of the set of books by author Sarwatt Chadda is:

Congrats to both of the winners and you have 48 hours to claim your prize! I will be emailing you both shortly!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

IMM: In My Mailbox (21)

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In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren
 I had a slow week this time, but what I did get was squeal worthy! I got a few surprises in the mailbox that was wonderful to find!

Here is what showed up in my mailbox this week!
FOR REVIEW:
(I already reviewed Clarity, and I am thrilled they sent me a finished copy!)

Thanks to:
Scholastic Point and Walker Books

 BOUGHT:
(I have only read one of her books before and wasn’t overly thrilled with it. Yet, this one sounded good so I picked it up in hopes that it will be better than the last book I read by her.) 
MISC. FOR REVIEW: 
A personalized license plate from Build-A-Signs.  I designed it like my blog header because I wanted to hang it in my library to represent my accomplishment of my blog every time I go in there. 
GIFTED:
I was so thrilled to find this in my mailbox this week!! I literally squealed like a little girl and did a happy dance! I have been wanting Shadowfever since I am now addicted to the series.  When Kelly from For The Love Of Books offered to send it to me I was over the moon! She is such a sweetheart and she just started her own book blog.  You really need to go follow her blog.  She is doing great and is so much fun to talk to! She is super sweet and just as addicted to books like the rest of us!  She even threw in the other two books as a surprise for me and sent me candy and a sweet card.
THANK YOU!!!!  
That is what I got this week! Feel free to link your IMM in the comments!
 

(ARC Review) Clarity by Kim Harrington

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CLARITY
Author: Kim Harrington
Source: Publisher
*I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Point (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545230500
ISBN-13: 978-0545230506

SUMMARY:


When you can see things others can’t, where do you look for the truth? 

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats. 

Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift. 

And a curse. 

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case–but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother–who has supernatural gifts of his own–becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

MY THOUGHTS:

Every now and again, an author brings to the table a paranormal book that is not only beauty on the outside, but wonderfully written on the inside.  With Clarity, I was sucked in from the first page and couldn’t put it down until the end.

Clarity comes from a family who have special gifts.  The whole town she was originally from had gifts as well.  Clarity can see past events from touching objects.  Her brother Perry can see the dead spirits.  Her mother is a telepath and can read the immediate thoughts of others.  Together they run a home based business for tourists in their town on Cape Cod.  When a tourist is found murdered at the local hotel, Clarity teams up with Gabriel who happens to be the newest Detective’s son.  To make it more complicated though, he ex-boyfriend is included in the investigation as well. When clues and suspicion is suddenly on Perry, Clarity makes it her number one priority to find the real killer.

I really liked Clarity.  She had strong feelings supporting her family and proving her brother innocent no matter what was thrown at her.  Yes, she had doubts at some point, but she quickly got over them and believed in her brother.  When other people started dying, she refused to back away from the case and continued to try and find out just who the murderer was.

Gabriel was the bad boy on the outside, but the heart of a good guy that balanced with Clarity perfectly.  Even though her ex-boyfriend Justin came off as the typical cheat at first, but once you delve in deeper to his character you will find a hard time choosing between Gabriel and Justin.

The only problem I really had with this book was the clues.  We barely had any clues to go by in figuring out who it could be.  It was like we were actually learning as Clarity was.  Sometimes this can be a good thing if written well.  I think it hindered this book though, because near the end, all of the clues surface just as the killer is revealed.  I wanted more clues to keep me guessing throughout the entire book instead of just the end. 

Overall though this was a great read that enjoyed.  I read it fairly quickly and held my interest for the whole book.  I do hope the author plans to write a sequel to it and have a story branched off for Perry as well.  I would like to see him have his own book.

MY RATING:




Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

(ARC Review) Wither by Lauren DeStefano

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WITHER
Chemical Garden #1
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Source: Publisher
* I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; 1 edition (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442409053
ISBN-13: 978-1442409057

SUMMARY:

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden’s genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden’s eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

MY THOUGHTS:

When I received this book for review, I was excited because I was hearing so many wonderful things about it.  Yes the cover is gorgeous, and after you read the book, you realize there is symbolism in it as well. I think the main reason I hesitated in reading this book was because of the hype and the fact that I was afraid that it wouldn’t live up to all the praise it had received.  Boy, was I wrong.


While I was not a big fan of men having more than one wife–which is just selfish in my book–the reason behind the many wives is warranted I guess with the dystopia theme of the book.  When Rhine is chosen to be one of the brides for the wealthy Linden Ashby, I felt her pain and the anger she goes through knowing that she will have a hard time making it back to her twin brother.  I felt Rhine was a strong and determined character in the book.  She was focused on trying to find a way out of her prison of a marriage to get back to her twin brother who she knows is out there trying to find her.


Once Rhine finds out that Linden isn’t the one orchestrating the life she is now in, I felt the author redeemed him in my eyes.  Once I knew that,  Linden Ashby became a man in my eyes. I felt he truly came to care for Rhine and the other sister wives.  Though I didn’t agree with some of his actions towards them, I understood him a little more with his background story that he shares. This brings me to Gabriel.


Sweet and caring Gabriel was one of my favorites of the book.  I felt he was a better match for Rhine in the love department.  Even though he was only a servant, I felt him to be the better man of the two.  My only problem with Gabriel is the fact that he wasn’t around for much of the book.  I craved more of his tenderness and humor. 


While some of the story is still unresolved at the end, romance and plot/story both, I feel the ending was perfect for a first book in a series.  It satisfied the reader just enough, but left me wishing for more of it.  A perfect balance like that is hard to do and the author pulled that off wonderfully. The ending was told in such a way that it is also a beautiful beginning to the next book. 


I will warn readers that I feel this book should be for the older teens and adults.  It does have subjects in it such as polygamy, sex, underage pregnancy and death.  By no means is this book a cheery and happy book.  It is gritty, dark and only some parts lightness.  


Overall the book was amazing.  If the subjects above are not a problem for you to read about, then I am sure you will fall in love with this book as much as I have. An amazing story of hope, life and love that will leave you thinking about what you would do as well!


MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS