Embrace Blog Tour: ARC Review + Author Interview + Giveaway

~Review~

Author: Jessica Shirvington

Series: The Violet Eden Chapters #1

Pages: 367
Format: ARC
Source: Sourcebooks (Thanks Jessica)
Rating: 3.5/5

Summery:
Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

Review:
I will always compare angel books to Hush, Hush.  That's just a fact.  And while this book isn't as kick-ass as Hush, Hush, it's still special in it's own way.

I really liked the different angel spin Shirvington put on this story.  I think it was a good idea, a good story line, and amazing writing.  There were just a few things that weren't very good: Shirvington mentioned towards the end of the book that Violet was terrified of her old teacher (you'll understand once you read the book) but I didn't really get that vibe throughout the book.  And the embrace, which should have been amazing, breathtaking, and should have sucked me right in, didn't.  It should have been a climax to the story and it wasn't.  And at the moments that should have been groundbreaking and momentous, she made the moments boring.  Those moments are when the reader should be totally sucked in and can't hear her brothers screaming bloody murder into her ear, but it wasn't.  And, although this book had a love triangle, it was only a semi one, so I think it really helped the story.

In the love triangle there are three people: Violet, Lincoln, and Phoenix.  But the thing is, there really isn't a love triangle.  Violet chooses Phoenix, and I can't for the life of me figure out why.  (Don't worry, that's not a spoiler.  It is a small detail in the whole story.)  Lincoln just seemed so nice and all, perfect boyfriend material.  But on the other hand, Phoenix was smokin' hot and totally swoon worthy.  Towards the end of the book,  I liked Phoenix better.  And, although he did something bad (I won't tell) in the end of the book, I still like him.  Usually when a boy messes up and does something like framing the girl for a crime he committed, I despise that boy.  But with Phoenix, I like him just as much.  I think part of the reason why is that Shirvington didn't make what he did groundbreaking and world-ending to it didn't really sink in as bad.
Lincoln is the perfect perfect boy.  He's nice, cute, and totally swoon-worthy.  But he wasn't as kick-ass as Phoenix.  Don't get me wrong though, I love both of them.
And, last but not least, there's Violet.  I think she was a very strong female character and I'm so glad that there wasn't a huge love triangle because I would have hated that competing against the fact that she was kick-ass.

All in all, I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next book, Enticed, to come out September 2012.

Thanks so much to Jessica Shirvington for reading my messages BEGGING for an ARC and for sending it to the right people so they could mail me one.  You're awesome!! :P

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~Interview~

Today has a been a day of several first for me: my first ever blog tour and first ever author interview and I'm so glad I get to share it with all of you. :)

 Jessica Shirvington is the author of The Violet Eden Chapters also known as The Embrace Series. An entrepreneur, author, and mother living in Sydney, Australia, Jessica is also a 2011 finalist for Cosmopolitan’s annual Fun, Fearless Female Award. She’s also one of the lucky few who met the love of her life at age seventeen: Matt Shirvington, a former Olympian and current sports broadcaster for FOXTEL and Sky News. Married for almost eleven years with two beautiful daughters, Sienna and Winter, Jessica knows her early age romance and its longevity has definitely contributed to how she tackles relationships in her YA novels. Previously, she founded a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and before that was involved in the management of restaurants Fuel Bistro and MG Garage in Sydney. Jessica is now a full-time novelist and living her dream.

(Author bio taken from Goodreads)


1.   Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Sure. I'm 32 years old, I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, Matt - who was an Olympic sprinter and is now a TV presenter, and our incredible daughters, Sienna and Winter. I have managed and owned a couple of businesses, the main one in London which was a fine foods import and distribution company - we imported products from Italy and France (specializing in espresso coffee) and supplied restaurants and hotels across the UK. I have done a lot of travel in my life, first to adventure, then to follow my husband around the world as he competed, and then living and working in Europe. Embrace is my debut novel and has just been released in stores across the US and Canada. Yay! Until the last couple of years my love of writing has been a private passion, one I never considered a possibility to pursue. I'll never know exactly why I opened my laptop that day sitting at my kitchen counter, but I will be eternally grateful I did! 


2.   What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Storytelling. I get such a buzz out of coming up with a complete story that I believe in and want to share with people.


3.   Who were your biggest influences?
I always say CS Lewis, but the truth is I've read so many books and they all influence me in one way or another. You never stop learning.


4.   Why did you start writing?
At the time, I was reading a lot. Obsessively. I'd just had my youngest daughter and we had moved back to Australia after living in the UK for 6 years. It was the first time in my life I wasn't working full-time and when I actually had a minute to think about what I wanted to do, well, I opened my laptop and started writing. It wasn't a plan. I hadn't considered it could be a new career. I just knew I really wanted to see if I could write a good story.


5.   If you could have a different career instead of being a writer, what would it be?
I did have a different career and I really loved it, so I feel confident when I say, I have no desire to be anything other than a writer (I love it that much!!)


6.   When and how did you get the idea for Embrace?
The idea for Embrace came on that same day. It started with simply writing a scene - an introduction to the main characters and discovering who they were. From there, I knew I wanted to write a story that was based on choice and consequence. This is often at the heart of coming of age stories - I just wanted to delve deeper. The concept of angels worked brilliantly for this as they are often caught up in the predetermined destiny vs freewill debates. And then the research began and the story took shape.


7.   What's your favorite animal?
Horses


8.   Favorite color?
Orange


9.   Favorite candy?
Anything chewy. I love toffee.


10.   Favorite season?
Winter


11.   What can we expect from the next book in this series?

The next books see Violet learning more about who she is and the people around her. With many answers come more questions and the only thing she is sure of is that if she wants to survive and protect the people she loves, she is going to have to fight. Hard. 

In Entice, out Sept 2012, Violet travels to Jordan in search of something that could tilt the balance of light and dark in the world forever. More secrets are revealed, enemies are made, and new characters arrive. Entice really ups the ante in terms of Violet's role in the greater fight and she is also forced to face some matters of the heart she is not sure she wants to.

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~Giveaway~

Ok, so today I've decided to give away my ARC copy of Embrace, by Jessica Shirvington.  It is in ARC format, so I hope you don't mind.  I have read the copy I am giving away but don't worry, it's in perfect condition.  Please read all the rules carefully and feel free to comment below! :)

MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FOLLOWING RULES VERY CAREFULLY!!

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on March 29, 2012 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Must be a GFC follower
4. Must be 13 or older.
5. US resident.  If you're not, no entry (sorry).
6. Fill out the form.

Thanks so much for stopping by and looking in on my first ever blog tour.  It means a lot to me and I really hope you enjoyed it.  Feel free to comment below if you have any pointers or are just feeling talkative :P
Huge thanks to Jessica Shirvington for answering all my questions and for asking me to be a part of this tour in the first place.  You're the best! :)