Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Blog Tour Stop: Starseed by Liz Gruder: Review and Giveaway







Starseed
Author: Liz Gruder
ISBN: 978-1937178291
Publisher: WiDo Publishing
Published: February 2013

SUMMARY


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Starseed concerns a sixteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a starseed boy who reveals that she, too, is half extraterrestrial, and is forced to choose her allegiance between Earth and her star family.
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Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. When she meets Jordyn Stryker at school, she finds out just how different.

Jordyn was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent to Louisiana's Bush High to learn human ways. But Jordyn didn't count on meeting someone like Kaila.

When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn awakens her to a new reality—and to love. But to prove herself, Kaila must look the other way as the real purposes of the starseeds unfold.

As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves inexorably forward, Kaila and Jordan, caught in an impossible love, must determine where their true loyalties lie.




My Review

Starseed blew me away.  I was a little unsure about it at first, because it did start off a little slow, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down.  I read this book in one sitting, because I had to know what happened.  There were characters in this story that I just had a feeling about and didn't trust.  So I had to see if I was right or not. The story was beautifully written and well thought out.  Luz's writing style was able to draw me into the world and let me be apart of it.  I was able to picture everything going on, feel everything that the characters felt.  I love stories like that.  What I also love about this story is its uniqueness and originality.  I haven't read another book like it so I was able to enjoy it more.  I can pretty much read anything as long as there is romance in it.

I loved the characters in this book.  Kaila was a sweetheart.  She was a character that I was able to relate to easily.  It is horrible what she had to go through at school everyday.  A lot of kids today are bullied.  Jordyn is an awesome character and that is all I am going to say.  If you want to know what happens between Kaila and Jordan you all will have to read it.  I can't really say anything about him without spoiling it.  I was really shocked with what happened.

Starseed kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.  There was so many twists and turns that I was left shell shocked half the time.  I can't wait to read the sequel!!!!  I need it now!!!  I can't wait to what happens to these characters next.  Grab this book everyone!!!


Excerpt

Kaila was acutely aware of Jordyn’s presence. He felt like gravity, tugging her. “Tell me,” Kaila said. “Am I crazy or did you visit me last night in my dreams?”
“You know,” Jordyn said. “But you have to come to the answers yourself.”
He drew her to him. He bent his head close to hers. “Like the goddess Aphrodite. You look so beautiful,” he said. “And no matter what the others say, I like your new coverings. I think they’re  . . . sexy.”
Kaila softened, feeling his arms, his chest, his warm breath. Her heart fluttered like a bird beating its wings in a cage.
As quickly, Jordyn pushed her away. He rubbed his temples. “I can’t believe I just said that.” He stood straight as a soldier.
Kaila could actually feel his energy withdraw, as if he had put up an intentional cloud over his sun.
“It’s time for class,” he said thick as night. He walked toward the classroom trailer. “Understand,” he said over his shoulder. “We are as alone as you. We are far away from home. You are the best we’ve encountered since coming here.”
Kaila stared at Jordyn’s shoulders in the silver overalls. “I don’t know what to do with this,” she called.
Jordyn turned, faced her. “You do, Kaila. You have a powerful mind just like us. Wake up.” They stared at one another as the sound of a mower cutting grass hummed in the background. The smell of fresh cut grass filtered through the breeze. “Be who you are,” he urged. “Take off the head covering.”
Kaila hesitated. “If I take it off, they will come for me.” She didn’t know what she was saying, merely parroting her mother’s words.
“You needn’t be afraid anymore,” Jordyn said. “We are already here.”


Praise


"After reading Starseed, my faith in YA sci-fi has been restored! ... I didn't want to put it down ... it had enough mystery and suspense to keep me going, page after page. Superb job 4.5 out of 5!"
-- The Forbidden Library Book Reviews

"I would recommend this book to all sci-fi lovers and, to those who aren't into it, take a chance. Who knows? You may love this book just as much as I did! Liz Gruder is definitely an author you should keep a look out for as she has great talent in writing and a huge imagination. Starseed was a wonderful read and very different from other books I've read. It was a very nice change from what I usually read and kept me enticed all the way."
--Starlight Book Reviews

"Interesting read. A lot like Roswell, but different. Gruder does a great job building the dark mystery of what the aliens are really up to on earth."
--Charity Bradford, sci-fi author, "The Magic Wakes"
“The story caught me off guard and won me over after the first chapter. The main conflict is a personal one for Kalia. Will she embrace her alien side or continue life as a human?”
--Pixie Dust Book Reviews
Starseed is a fun sci-fi read with romance. It brings light to the cliques of high school, and challenges the main character, Kaila, to be herself, instead of how others expect her to be.
--Kerri Cuevas, YA Author "Deadly Kisses"

"Liz Gruder's characters come alive through youthful, spunky narrative, and her headstrong heroine, Kaila Guidry, elicits a reader's encouragement from the first page. Fans of P.C. Cast will find themselves similarly transported into Gruder's exploration of the dark sides of faith, love, higher dimensions, and, of course, high school."
-- Jadie Jones, YA author "Moonlit"



Purchase



Author Liz Gruder

As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.









Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.






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