Today we're excited to have Touch author Jus Accardo stop by the blog to share some of her favorite YA Reads with us!
I love to read. I'll devour anything from Contemporary to horror so long as it has awesome characters and a great plot, but my ultimate favorite is Paranormal. I heart paranormal books almost as much as I love my coffee--and lemme tell you--that's a lot. Everything from Vampires toshifters and everything in between, they've all got a special place in my heart. So in honor of my love for all things paranormal, I thought I'd share my top 10 faves (in no particular order).
1. The Strange Angels Series by Lili St. Crow.
My fave character has tobe Graves. He's changed and grown so much--I can't wait to read thelatest--which is out Tuesday !!
2. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Mmmm Jace... Nuffsaid. This series gets better and better with each new book.
3. Soul Screamers Series by Rachel Vincent.
I've just started the fifth book in the series and I gotta say, I'm SO team Tod...
4. The Shade Series Jeri Smith-Ready.
I've been a fan of Jeri Smith-Ready since the beginning of her WVMP Series. Then she startedwriting YA? Yeah. Sold!
5. The Cal Leandros Series by Rob Thurman.
Not YA, but one of my all time faves. Cal Leandros. Full of snark and utter badass. My dream guy...
6. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.
I do like the other books in the series, but this one I can read over and over again and never get tired ofit.
7. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.
Same thing. I adore the entire series, but this particular book I can read over and over. It's one of my comfortreads.
8. Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead.
It's Rose. I love Rose. Her issue with authority and her all around badass. She's my kind of character!
9. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot.
I've actually read the entire series like six times. Out of all of them, I think the last book is myfave--but that might have a lot to do with Jesse ;)
10. The Shifter Series by Rachel Vincent.
I know some people don't like Faythe, but I did. She's got issues with authority. Hmm...I see a trend...Your turn.
What's your favorite paranormal read (or series) ?
Leave us a comment answering Jus's question for your chance to win a copy of TOUCH! This giveaway will end on Dec 1st, 2011
Released on: November 1st, 2011
Source: book from publisher to review
3 stars: I Liked It
When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.
Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her.It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy, and her father's "law firm," than she realized. Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation -- an organization devoted to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons -- his entire life.And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills.The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.A secret Kale will kill to protect.
Touch is a fast paced, action packed story that will introduce you to some incredibly gifted characters who have superhero like qualities. There's some sizzling chemistry, a butt kicking protagonist and some killer fight scenes. Jus Accardo introduces readers to whole new YA paranormal read with Touch.
While I enjoyed how fierce, stubborn, independent, sarcastic and tough Dez is, try as hard as I might, I just couldn't connect with her. I felt at times Dez was a bit too naive for her character, when other times I seemed really intelligent and gun go with the decisions she makes. I wasn't a fan of how boy crazy she was, and I didn't get how she could feel one way towards one of the guys and then turn around go a little too far with another. That's not to say I didn't enjoy reading about about Dez, Kale and the other characters who are introduced. Each character brought something new to the story, and made it more exciting, not to mention a bit steamy. Dez and Kale have some hot chemistry, which starts off sweet and innocent and quickly becomes a bit more than that. I totally get why so many people loved reading about them. Kale is intense, intriguing, mysterious and has an unwavering devotion to Dez. It's hard not to like him.
What an enticing, exciting plot line! This action packed, twisted story kept me hooked, even though it was at times predictable. I liked the unique element that Jus introduces with Touch. The concept behind humans having special powers is always fascinating to me, and liked how Jus twisted that into Dez's story and made it personal for her. She deals with secrets, lies, a betrayal, love, loss and moving beyond wanting to do things to tick her father off, to taking a stand for her and those she loves, something that seemed almost impossible to do. Especially since she's taking a stand against her father who's far more dangerous than she could have ever thought possible.Though I didn't connect with any of the characters like I had expected to, I did however try to sympathize with some of them, I cheered them on, but over all I was left wanting more from them.
This is a book I'd recommend to older YA readers. There is mild language through out the book, a few sensual scenes, mentions of sex, drugs and there's underage drinking.