Blog Tour, Giveaway, Interview, & Review: Our Song by Jordana Fraiberg

Today WinterHaven Books is participating in the blog tour for Our Song by Jordana Fraiberg hosted by Itching for Books.  Our stop includes and interview with the wonderful Jordana and a giveaway!

Welcome Jordana!

Describe your book in 5 words or less.
There's life after heartbreak.

Olive really felt like the typical teenage girl trying to find herself, how did you come up with her character?
While my life growing up was quite different from Olive's, I've definitely found myself feeling lost and unhinged after a painful breakup. And I've definitely made the mistake of choosing the seemingly right guy on paper, who was definitely the wrong fit on a soulful level, so I wanted to explore that with Olive. I wanted to track the evolution, and in a sense, the awakening, of a girl who starts to not only become aware of the fact that she has an internal life, but also starts to listen to it, to trust it as her guide.

I have to admit Nicks story completely broke my heart! Did you know from the beginning what his story would be or did it become clear after you started writing?

I knew that there was going to be a boy after Derek who would really show Olive what it means to authentically connect to another person, and I knew that he too had experienced loss and grief, but the exact circumstances of Nick's tragedy started to really unfold as I started writing. I wanted to explore the idea of guilt and how paralyzing it can be, and through Olive's impact on Nick, she starts to regain her own power and her own sense of self.

What do you hope your readers take from reading Our Song?
That second chances exist, even if they don't appear neatly wrapped with a bow exactly when we want them to. That second chances are often hard and painful and seemingly the exact opposite of what we want, but once we get to the other side, once we evolve, we have better perspective and can understand that it's exactly what we need.

Do you have any other projects in the works?
I do! I'm working on another contemporary romance that contemplates questions of faith and fate, but that's all I can say about it right now!

Speed round!
Pizza or Gourmet Meal?
Pizza
DVD or Movie Theater?
DVD
Sports Car or SUV?
neither! Prius!
Paperback or eBook?
paperback
Candy or Cake?
um...both! but ok, if I *had* to choose, I'm a sucker for candy

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to hear more about your new project!

Our Song by Jordana Fraiberg
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: May 2, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Olive Bell has spent her entire life in the beautiful suburb of Vista Valley, with a picture-perfect home, a loving family, and a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But after a near-fatal car accident, she’s haunted by a broken heart and a melody that she cannot place.

Then Olive meets Nick. He’s dark, handsome, mysterious . . . and Olive feels connected to him in a way she can’t explain. Is there such a thing as fate? The two embark on a whirlwind romance—until Nick makes a troubling confession.

Heartbroken, Olive pieces together what really happened the night of her accident and arrives at a startling revelation. Only by facing the truth can she uncover the mystery behind the song and the power of what it means to love someone.

 
My Thoughts:
Our Song is a very real look at a teenage girl whose life gets turned upside down after an accident.

Olive having just come home from the hospital starts questioning everything she knows after realizing that what she thought she wanted is no longer within her reach.  Before her accident she was in a relationship with Derek, her high school sweetheart, but right before she crashed his car something happened and while we don't know what that was we know that they aren't together anymore.  All Olive wants is for things to go back to the way they were, that is before she goes to a meeting for people who have had near death experiences and she meets Nick.  Once she meets Nick everything starts to change and Olive realizes that there is more to herself that just being a model student with Derek by her side.

This was filled with all kinds of hormones, but when you think about it that's what High School is one big hormone infested building.  Olive let so much get in her way and I wanted to scream at her at times, but her character was very true to the story so I can't complain.  She was just trying to find herself which is what I think every high school student is trying to do.  Nick was the star for me in this book.  When he confessed to his past my heart stopped and I mean I actually stopped reading and gasped.  His confession is huge and and very intense, I have to say that the author wrote that scene beautifully.  I hated that Olive chose to do what she did following his confession, but I think she needed to do it.  Nick said some pretty awful things to her and well the new Olive showed she wasn't going to take crap from other people anymore.  I loved what came after she left prom and the letter that she wrote.  That was all very moving and at that moment I fell in love with this story.

I don't read a lot of contemporaries, but after reading this one I think I need to read more.  This was might hearted at times, frustrating at others, and just beyond sweet throughout.  I grew to love Olive as much I as I loved Nick and Annie, Olives BF, was another great addition. If you are looking for a fun summer read then you won't want to miss this one.

3 Snowflakes

About the Author:

Jordanna Fraiberg was born in Montreal, Quebec, and currently lives in L.A., where she settled after receiving degrees from Harvard and Oxford. A former national squash champion and Hollywood film executive, she now divides her time between dreaming up stories and chasing her toddler. She is the author of Our Song and In Your Room. Check out her website at www.jordannafraiberg.com

Itching for Books is hosting an amazing giveaway that we are very happy to share with our readers!  One lucky reader will win a finished copy of Our Song!  Open to US residents only.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Policy: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents. The finished copy was provided by the publisher and not available for resale. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners will be selected after June 18, 2013 randomly by Rafflecopter. Entries will be reviewed for accuracy. WinterHaven Books is not responsible for lost or damaged items received through mail. This giveaway is sponsored by Itching for Books and shipping will be arranged through them.  WinterHaven Books has the right to obtain and publicize the winner's name and likeness. Void where prohibited by law.