Blog Tour Guest Post, Giveaway & Review: Charisma by Jeanne Ryan

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am super excited to join in the blog tour for Jeanne Ryan!  Her latest book Charisma is one that really made me think about what I would do if I were given the chance to be not shy.  I really pondered this for a long time so when I got the opportunity to ask Ms. Ryan almost the exact same thing I squeed!  Her answer below really blew me away take a look...

If you could take Charisma and the effects would only last for one day, what moment in time would you like to travel back to and redo with the added benefits?

This is such an awesome question. There are hundreds of moments I’d love to go back and “fix.” However, as the country song goes, since every broken highway eventually led to meeting my sweet husband, I know better than to go back and mess with any romantic entanglements (even with the jerks), unless doing so could’ve brought me to my Mr. Right even sooner.
Instead, an incident that quickly came to mind took place during sophomore year when my English class had a substitute one day, and several of my fellow students noticed she was wearing hearing aids. One of these students also possessed the knowledge that if you made a kind of shushing sound, it would play havoc with hearing aid receptors, so this girl and the kids around her began a low drone under their breaths. They in turn tapped other kids to add to the white noise. I didn’t join in, but to my regret I didn’t speak up either. My sorry excuse is that I was painfully shy and didn’t have the spine to stand up to bullies, on my own behalf or anyone else’s.
I sat and watched, at first thinking it wouldn’t go on for more than a minute. But as the substitute sat at the front of the room, her expression became ever more confused. The kids responded by shushing louder, keeping their lips positioned so it wasn’t obvious what they were up to. I cringed, wishing they’d stop, but still staying quiet. Static noise enveloped the room and the teacher became agitated, and more agitated. Her discomfort only fueled the kids, who could barely contain their snickers. Ultimately, she hurried from the room in tears. The kids responsible just laughed.
So, if I had a chance to go back in time and use some Charisma, that would’ve been a worthy day. Maybe an eloquent, more outspoken version of myself could’ve convinced them not to prey upon that woman or anyone else.

Awesome right?!  Jeanne thank you so much for stopping by!!  You are made of pure awesomeasuce!
Here's a bit more information about Charisma and my review of this captivating novel.

Charisma by Jeanne Ryan
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: March 3rd, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences in this Sarah Dessen-meets-Robin Cook thriller

Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness—that is, until she’s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late.

Part medical thriller, part social justice commentary, Charisma will have readers on the edge of their seats.

My Thoughts:
Would what you do if you were given the opportunity to go from the shy person in the corner to the outgoing center of attention.  What if the only way for this to happen was for you to accept a drug that hasn't been tested yet?  The guarantee is there though, you would become a social butterfly overnight.  Interested?

This is the basic premise of Charisma.  The main character, Aislyn is offered a once in a lifetime chance to rid herself of her shyness.  Her shyness has cost her friends, a boyfriend, and the most important of all a scholarship.  Aislyn knows she has to do something and when her mentor hands over a cure in a syringe things change overnight for her.  This story isn't a simple one though.  Things aren't as black and white as they seem at first and terrible things start happening.

What really intrigued me about this story was the gene therapy and how in this story it could change a persons personality.  I won't lie I was incredibly shy and awkward growing up and if I had had a chance to change myself at that age I'm not sure I could have passed up the opportunity.  It would have been incredibly tempting.  This is one of the reasons why I think Ms.Ryan has a hit with this one.  I bet 9 out of 10 people will relate to Aislyn.  It's hard growing up and when you hit high school for most people it gets even harder.  

 Aislyn was a great character.  I could really relate to her and her shyness.  I think that helped me connect with the story even more. I wanted her to get over her shyness. If she had been written as selfish I wouldn't have thought she deserved the chance, but Aislyn really surprised me.  She didn't just use her new found boldness for her own gain, she helped spread the word about gene therapy for her little brother who had cystic fibrosis.  I really admired her for that.  Did I think she did a few crazy things to find out the truth yes definitely, but I understand what was driving her and couldn't hold it against her.  

I was thankful for her friend Evie.  Evie tried helping Aislyn the best she could and when things went wrong Evie stood her ground and told her what she thought.  I even liked that Evie stood up for Aislyn's mom.  It's hard being a friend and a voice of reason, but I think teens need to see that it can be done.  Shoot even adults need to see it.

I also really loved how the author chose to write Aislyn's mom.  I have seen way too many YA books recently where the parents are just non existent and it's really starting to bug me.  Aislyn's mom was front and center and didn't let her daughter get away with too much.  Plus Aislyn helped her mom.  There were a couple of forgetful moments but in the grand scheme both were there for each other and it was nice to see a different type of relationship.

I can't wait for more people to read this.  It was a very interesting read that made me question what I would have done if given the same opportunity.  

4.5 snowflakes 

About the Author:

 I’ve lived all over the world, raised in a family with eleven brothers and sisters. I spent my early childhood in Hawaii and the rest of my growing-up years trying to figure out a way to get back there, with stops in South Korea, Michigan and Germany along the way. Before writing fiction, I tried my hand at many things, including war game simulation and youth development research. But I decided it was much more fun to work on stories than statistics.
These days, I still love Hawaii, but have found my home under the moody skies of the Pacific Northwest.
Note, I post news on Twitter / Facebook / Website 

Because I really felt something for this book I am giving away a finished copy to one lucky reader. Open to wherever The Book Depository ships to.
Good luck!
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Review & Giveaway: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: August 15, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch

My Thoughts:
I love to read creepy books, it has been that way for the past few months and in these past few months I have only read a handful of books that have truly scared me.  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea has officially shown me what a creepy book can do.  I woke up last night from a nightmare with the night sweats and my heart pounding!  After I settled down I realized that my nightmare was caused by reading this book and I have to admit I was giddy.  Most books don't have that kind of effect on me and when one does I know the book at least in my opinion is amazing and one I will never forget.

Vi lives with her brother in an old mansion that has been named Citizen Kane by their late grandmother.  Their parents are off in Paris somewhere painting leaving Vi and Luke to fend for themselves.  When they run out of money Vi puts up an ad to rent their guesthouse.  The ad is answered by River, a boy who is as mysterious as they come and admits to lying 99% of the time.  Vi for some reason feels drawn to River, but when the town goes into crisis mode looking for a little girl who appeared to have been kidnapped Vi starts wondering who River really is and where exactly he was when the little girl went missing.  With little kids in cemeteries holding stakes and sticks, druken mad men killing themselves in the town square, and people accused of being witches and burned to death Vi doesn't know what to do.  All she knows is River is the connecting tie to everything, she just has to figure out what he is doing before she falls under the spell.

I can't tell you enough how much I loved this book.  It was creepy and gory and had my heart pounding from the start.  I might have read this somewhere and I agree with whoever said it that this book is for people who will eventually go on to read Stephen King.  The writing to me was very similar of Kings and the story was one that I could see him writing.  When I started reading King I wasn't quite ready so I really wish I would have had this book or one like it to give me a stepping stone into the thriller genre. 

The characters were all a vital part of the story and each had their own quirks.  I will say that these characters could possibly turn some readers off because of the dialogue.  It was a little weird at times but I think it worked with the story really well and it made everything more memorable.   I have seen this type of character writing before and it hasn't honestly worked for me until now.  I know you are probably wondering what I am talking about and it is a little hard for me to explain.  The characters aren't your typical everyday teenagers we see in YA.  They talked different and gravitated more towards old fashioned type things.  I just loved it!

I need to look and see if this is going to be a series because with the way it ended I am hoping with every fiber of my being that it will be.  I want to know more!  Awesome creeptastic book that will leave you with nightmare, I mean really what more could you want?!

4 snowflakes 

I am giving away my ARC copy of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea to one lucky follower!  I love this cover and I have to share it! 

Good luck!

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