Embrace ( The Gryphon Series) by Stacey Rourke
Author's Bio:
Writing is something I have always done. I can remember in elementary school creating stories that I would stand up and read aloud to my classmates…whether they liked it or not. As I grew older I didn’t flaunt my writing as freely. It became something I did just for me to vent my teenage angst, or chronicle my journey to adulthood. I never thought about becoming a writer because that title prompted the visual of a grey-haired man in a tweed smoking jacket with suede elbow patches, slaving over an old fashion typewriter while puffing away on a pipe. No way was that stuffy kind of life for me. (Plus tweed is itchy.) Instead I wanted to be in the spotlight! I wanted to be–pause for dramatic effect–an actress! I gave it my best shot, too. Got about as far as any aspiring actress can get in Flint, Michigan. Which is exactly no where. But I did get two great things out of my time delving into the theatrical world; I gained the ability to act out the scenes I write to make sure they’re believable (yes, I really do that and no, you can’t watch) and I met my amazing husband.
My theater ambitions behind me, I decided to do the “mature,” “grown up” thing and went back to college. As I worked toward my Bachelor’s degree in marketing I did a lot of writing. Essays, research papers, PowerPoint presentations. All of it mandatory, none of it what I would ever call fun. Even then, becoming a writer never entered my mind. No, then I was going to be a business tycoon…or somethin’.
Truth be told, I never picked writing. It picked me. During my time as a stay at home mom I needed an outlet to give me a mental break from diapers, formula and midnight feedings. That’s when my hands found their way back to the keyboard. Story ideas began coming at such an incessant rate that my rapidly clicking fingers couldn’t keep up. Post-It notes and scrapes of paper with story ideas decorated every inch of our house. In mid-conversation with my husband I would dart off to jot down things that would come to me. Sweet guy my hubby is, he would just shake his head at my obvious rudeness and hold my place in the conversation.
My first book was completed for an entire year before I told anyone about it. I outed myself as an author and then sent out my first round of query letters to literary agents. Surely, it would be picked up immediately and become an overnight success! Yeah, not so much. For two years I got rejection, after rejection, after rejection, after rejection…you get the idea. Thankfully with the ever increasing pile of rejections came feedback. I digested all the suggestions and applied the usable ones to my manuscript. Little by little, the rough edges were chipped away and the diamond shone through. The work paid off when I received an email from a publisher offering me a contract on The Conduit.
It’s been a long road, and it ain’t over yet. But now, at thirty-mumble, mumble years old I finally know what I wanna be when I grow up–-a writer.
Book Description (taken from Goodreads):
Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her.
Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.
My Opinion:
This second book in the Gryphon series was most certainly worth the wait! But now that I read this one I want the next book in this amazing series! There was so many great things about this book, I dont know where to start. Let's see there there was finding out what happens to Alec which what was bugging me the most about the first book LOL. Then you have Celeste and her great comebacks! She made me laugh every time she did that. You also have this new character Caleb, which was amazing hot and who had a secret of his own. All the twist and turns in this book sometimes had my head spinning and me going back and reading some parts to make sure that that is really what happened because it was mind blowing. The ONLY thing that I had a problem with this book well with this series is the cliff hangers!! They will drive you crazy!! Stacey did a cliff hanger at the end of the first book now there was one at the ending of this book. But knowing and loving Stacey's writing I am sure that she will make the 3rd book just as amazing!! Which I am anxiously awaiting til November when it comes out, thankfully it's not to far away.
Stars:
5 out of 5 stars
Embrace blog tour stops and dates are as follows
August 1st http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ (Review)
August 2nd http://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com/ (Review)
August 3rd http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/ (Author interview)
August 4th http://paranormalbooks.blogspot.com/ (Character interview)
August 5th http://www.curiositykey.blogspot.com/ (Review)
August 6th http://addicted2bookreviews.blogspot.com/ (Review)
August 7th http://jennswiger.blogspot.com/ (Character interview)
Follow Stacey
http://www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5309409.Stacey_Rourke
https://twitter.com/Rourkewrites
http://www.staceyrourke.com/
http://www.diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com/
Buy Links for Embrace
http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-The-Gryphon-Series-ebook/dp/B0080GLL5Y/ref=as_li_tf_mfw?&linkCode=wey&tag=phenoparanrev-20
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-gryphon-series-book-2-stacey-rourke/1112134874?ean=2940044697713
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/170451
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