Embrace: Blog Tour, Review + Giveaway

Review:

Title: Embrace

Author: Cherie Colyer

Book Summary:

“Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it . Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her.  It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her.  It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings.  But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington.  She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil.  When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.”

Madison has had a tough time in the past several months.  Her long time boyfriend has moved away, and though her best friend tried to help her move on… she just can’t.  Then, she meets Isaac.  Isaac seems to have it all: charm, charisma, good looks and the alluring, mysterious air about him.  Sorry for him that Madison is nobody’s fool; she can tell he’s hiding something, and now she’s determined to find out what it is.  Soon after meeting Isaac, Madison’s best friend Ashley starts seeing things that aren’t there.  One thing is certain, Madison will do anything to save her friend and get the answers she needs…

When I first read the premise, I am drawn in by just how little is given away.  One of my biggest pet peeves is reading a book only to find out the big “secret” is something that was already given to me in the book blurb!  This premise, however, does a wonderful job of intriguing me while giving away nothing important.  Since I like how little the summary gives away, and since it really adds to Embrace, I’m not going to reveal many of the plot details.  I will say that this book is definitely a YA paranormal thriller that keeps me hooked, and I definitely want more!

Connecting with Madison’s character is no challenge at all.  From the first line, “I should have cared what I wore, but I couldn’t quite get there,” to the fantastic ending, I feel a real connection with her.  She is witty, smart, and amazingly loyal to her friends, and throughout the story I feel like I am witnessing the events right beside them, not just reading what happens to them.  Throughout Embrace, Madison proves what a strong person she is, especially when things go wrong.  She is a fantastic big sister who loves and watches out for her little brother.  She misses her mom, who died when her brother was born, but she doesn’t hold it against her little brother.  She moves on.

I can’t say much about the irresistible Isaac beyond his strength and courage.  He protects those he cares about and is obviously a wonderful son to his parents.  Isaac is definitely a puzzle you have to figure out, which only adds to his mysterious persona.  He is such an interesting character, who can deliver a soft look one moment and a stinging word the next!

Overall, I like and am intrigued by this plotline; it gets my mind whirling trying to stay one step ahead. Which I fail at!  The good news is: the story is amazingly well written and definitely an edge-of-your-seat kind-of book that evades my attempts to predict it.  The bad news is: I now feel the need to sharpen my predictability skills.  ;)  The only part of Embrace that I really have a problem with is towards the very beginning when Madison and Isaac first meet, and they do that whole “insta-love” thing.  That feels very unnatural and unrealistic.  Lucky for me, this is rectified, and their relationship progresses much differently.  In the end, I am very happy and am highly anticipating book 2!

The Cover:

I really like this cover!  I find it dramatic and intriguing, especially with the red against the brown hair and pale skin.  I think this is a very beautiful cover that would look fantastic on any bookcase.  I think this is a great fit for the fantastic story underneath it!

I give Embrace 4.5 out of 5 hearts: Very Highly Recommended!

 Book Trailer:

Giveaway:

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