Showing posts with label Stitch Trilogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stitch Trilogy. Show all posts

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: Stuck (Stitch Trilogy #3) by Samantha Durante

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Info:
Title:  Stuck
Series:  Stitch Trilogy #3
Author:  Samantha Durante
Genre:  YA Dystopian, SciFi
Release Date:  December 15th, 2018
Source:  E-galley received from Prism Book Tours which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  3.5 stars

Synopsis:
3, 2, 1… BOOM.

Things are finally looking up for the Resistance. Sure, Alessa is still processing the revelation that the best friend she’d presumed dead is miraculously alive, though far from well… And her boyfriend is being manipulated under threat of blackmail. But her quest for justice against those behind the systematic extermination of the world population is so close to victory she can taste it.

And then in a matter of seconds, everything Alessa believes in is shaken to the core. Months of preparation are obliterated. The people she cares for most are lost.

But Alessa is still standing. And Paragon must pay.

The odds are grim, but unexpected allies surface in the most unlikely of places: A new pair of citizens still under the colony’s rule who notice something amiss in the latest drama. An old adversary who realizes the error of her ways. And a veritable army of inhuman power and terrible strength, with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. The trustworthiness of each of these factions is yet to be proven, but without many other options, Alessa may have to take what she can get. Especially since the Engineers, never to be outdone, also have a few more tricks up their sleeves…

The long-awaited final installment in the riveting Stitch Trilogy, Stuck will have readers gripping their seats as Alessa and a handful of intrepid survivors usher their harrowing journey to a close, risking everything as they endeavor – once and for all – to set things right.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwordsKobo

My Review:
 I really liked the first two books in this series, and I waited 5 years between book 2 and this one.  There was one point I know that I even reached out to the author to find out if this one was coming soon, because I needed to know what would happen next. 

There was just so much going on in this book!  We had a lot of things to get figured out after book 2, who really could be trusted, like should Lizzie really trust Paragon and the Engineers.  Her mom Regina seemed to think there was no way around rebelling and fighting them, no matter the cost to anyone who might be innocent.  But there was even more to consider, like having someone who could maybe help with the immunity and save the babies being born, who did not carry the immunity their parents had from vaccinations.  However, to do this, it seemed they would have to take blood from just one person, one little girl.  And while a few people know, Lizzie, her mom Regina, Alessa and Isaac, they are keeping it a secret, worried that it would cause a panic, and that people would not care that a little girl's life could possibly be lost in the race to save everyone else.  

We learn that the stitch may have caused even worse problems, the monsters are more than just monsters, what Alessa thought she saw in the last story, was real.  We also get a chance to meet some people who had just been living and watching the shows, not realizing that things were the way they were, until they  noticed changes with what they ate and the people around them.  Some of the characters get a bit of a peek into what had actually happened to them before the stitch, horrible things, showing them who wasn't really being truthful.  

The end was a big spiral with twists and turns that kept me guessing at just how they could possibly win against the enemies, as well as save everyone.  We got a surprise about the outside world, as well as losing some people that we'd just got back, or that may have needed the redemption that came from a sacrifice of their own lives.  

As much as I enjoyed the story, I know that it was harder for me to get through because of how much time passed between reading this and the last book.  It wasn't hard to get back into the story, the author did a good job of filling details in as the story progressed without just having a lot of info dumps.  However there were probably things that I'd been more curious about 5 years ago, that just weren't as up there in my brain in suspense after this much time.  Still, if you haven't started the series yet, you are the lucky one to get to start with all three of them out now.  You can sit down and read them all, back to back, and get all the feelings that will come with a good series.  You can check out my reviews of the first two books with the links below each book cover below.

Other Books in the Series:

My review
My review

About the Author
Samantha lives in Westchester County, New York with four of the five loves of her life – her husband, son, younger daughter, and cat – and carries her fifth love, her stillborn daughter, in her heart. An avid reader herself, Samantha’s dream is to bring the same delight to readers that other authors have brought to her life. In addition to penning novels and writing candidly about grief, she is also a sometimes freelance writer/consultant – though more often than not these days she’s on full-time mom duty! A former software engineer, Samantha said goodbye to the corporate world in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and lifelong love of writing.

Learn more at www.samanthadurante.com.


Tour Schedule

December 10th:
December 11th:
December 12th:
December 13th:
December 14th:
December 17th:
December 18th:
December 19th:
December 20th:
December 21st:
December 22nd:

Tour Giveaway:


- 1 First Place Winner will receive: Signed Print Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy, a Limited-Edition Stitch Scarf, Bookmarks, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card
- 3 Second Place Winners will receive: eBook Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy for You *and* a Friend, plus a $5 Amazon Gift Card
- Open internationally
- Ends December 27th

Grab Our Button!

Monday, October 8, 2018

Cover Reveal with Giveway: Stuck (Stitch Trilogy #3) by Samantha Durante

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Cover Reveal for
Stuck
By Samantha Durante
Coming December 2018...


(Stitch Trilogy #3)
YA Dystopian, SciFi
ebook

3, 2, 1… BOOM.

Things are finally looking up for the Resistance. Sure, Alessa is still processing the revelation that the best friend she’d presumed dead is miraculously alive, though far from well… And her boyfriend is being manipulated under threat of blackmail. But her quest for justice against those behind the systematic extermination of the world population is so close to victory she can taste it.

And then in a matter of seconds, everything Alessa believes in is shaken to the core. Months of preparation are obliterated. The people she cares for most are lost.

But Alessa is still standing. And Paragon must pay.

The odds are grim, but unexpected allies surface in the most unlikely of places: A new pair of citizens still under the colony’s rule who notice something amiss in the latest drama. An old adversary who realizes the error of her ways. And a veritable army of inhuman power and terrible strength, with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. The trustworthiness of each of these factions is yet to be proven, but without many other options, Alessa may have to take what she can get. Especially since the Engineers, never to be outdone, also have a few more tricks up their sleeves…

The long-awaited final installment in the riveting Stitch Trilogy, Stuck will have readers gripping their seats as Alessa and a handful of intrepid survivors usher their harrowing journey to a close, risking everything as they endeavor – once and for all – to set things right.


Other Books in the Series



You can check out my reviews of the first two books here:  Stitch  and  Shudder.

Upcoming Tour

Sign up for the tour HERE.

About the Author
Samantha lives in Westchester County, New York with four of the five loves of her life – her husband, son, younger daughter, and cat – and carries her fifth love, her stillborn daughter, in her heart. An avid reader herself, Samantha’s dream is to bring the same delight to readers that other authors have brought to her life. In addition to penning novels and writing candidly about grief, she is also a sometimes freelance writer/consultant – though more often than not these days she’s on full-time mom duty! A former software engineer, Samantha said goodbye to the corporate world in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and lifelong love of writing. Learn more at

www.samanthadurante.com.


Cover Reveal Giveaway


1 winner will receive ebooks of STITCH and SHUDDER, and a $10 Amazon eGift Card
Ends October 12th

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Shudder Blog Tour Grand Finale Recap Post and Giveaway


The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours
& Samantha's Summer Tour

Shudder
348 pages
Published June 15, 2013

It's only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...

The Highlight Tour
8/24 - 9/1
Sharing some of the best of the summer-long tour

Shudder by Samanth Durante Blog Tour - June 15th to Sept 1st

24 - The Reading Diaries - The Mystery!

 Why does Alessa keep feeling something following them through the woods? - Review at Here's the Story
Shudder is filled with surprises around every corner, keeping me guessing till the very end.

- The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl - Raving Fans!
Can I just freaking say how much I LOVE this series?! Stitch was good. Shudder? AMAZINGLY AMAZING!!! I can't even express how much I just LOVE LOVE LOVED this book. Everything about it was perfection. - Review at Literary Meanderings 
- Rose & Beps Blog - Crushing on Side Characters!
Lizzie: I’ll support whoever can deliver that future, whether it’s the rebels or even the leaders of Paragon, if they were willing to change. I do believe in second chances. - Character Interview  at Mousehead & Tales
25 - Chapter Break - Vile Villainy!
Samantha: …the Engineers(the bad guys) are based on a variety of people I’ve met and disliked over the years for their general arrogance and lack of ability to connect with people (though I’m not naming names, haha). - Interview at Joanna In the Sky With Books:
Review:
 I enjoyed the merging of genre and thought it was a unique twist on sci-fi and dystopia, with a little paranormal aspect until we learn otherwise. 
- Wonderings of One Person - Review
Shudder by Samantha Durante is a deeply touching and sensational story of discovery and freedom laden with heavy doubts and uncomfortable choices. I was swept away...
- Mortal Moments - Crushing on Characters!
Do YOU have any favourite fiction crushes or book boyfriends? Care to share them... so we can all swoon together! :)
Issac is one to add to the list of "book boyfriends". - Review at A Thousand Lives

26 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
...what an ENDING! This story is keeping my head bent to my kindle. Ms Durante has IT, ladies and gentlemen. That thing that some authors have that just keep you turning the pages...
27 - Kindred Dreamhart - Catch some STYLE!


look 2

- The Bookish Daydreamer - OMG Endings!
Samantha: My favorite scene to write in Shudder was definitely the big revelation in the very last chapter. Heart-wrenching. - Interview at Lovely Reads
- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf - Developing Deep Characters

Things get even more complicated when Alessa discovers something new about herself, a twist that I sure never saw coming. Again kudos Samantha for a great job well done. ~Review at Total Book Nerds
 28 YA Book Addict - Review

The one constant thought that kept coming at me while I was reading Shudder was the originality of it. I remember feeling the exact same way while I was reading Stitch. Personally, I have never read anything like it before and I have to give huge applause to an author who can create such a fantastically original, well written, engaging piece of writing.
- Library of a Book Witch - POV Perfection!
...the transitions between character to character are smooth and never feel unnatural or jarring, each character’s situation has a different aura to it, I could immediately tell which character I was currently reading about... Review at Book Adoration.
- Mommasez... - Writerly Wisdom
Do what you love. - Guest Post “Celebrating the Stitch 1 Year Anniversary” at Head Stuck in a Book
Imagine the world ended tomorrow. - Guest Post “Family & Relationships in a Dying World” at My World in Words and Pages 
Review

Samantha teases us with two girls, one stoned by an angry mob, the other in a prison cell. We don’t know who is who. And it’s deliciously mysterious!!
29 - Mel's Shelves - Praise for Pacing!
Fast paced with not a single dull moment, this book will have you turning pages until the end. - Review at Little Hyuts
Review
Oh, my! Dystopia at its finest! A quick word on Stitch (book 1): It had been a while since I'd read what it was about so I just started reading. It seemed like a nice time travel romance with a hint of something else and then BAM!, in came the dystopia element. At that point, I couldn't put it down...
- Fundinmental - Painstakingly Plotted World
The complexity of the plot and the dynamics have you wondering what exactly Samantha has in her mind to be able to imagine this complex world. I never one time imagined that what happens in the book could actually happen but now the idea is planted firmly in my mind. It is a little freaky.Review at Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing
Review:
 Shudder... has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go. 

30 - Literary Meanderings - Top Ten Raving Fan Moments!
Shudder is one of the best dystopians I've read so far! It's so intense, so captivating. There's a lot in it, and it's so well written. The action, the suspense, the thrill... All of it will leave you begging for more. I know I am! Samantha, you've really set the bar with this one. I enjoyed every second of it. ~ Review at City of Books
31 - My Devotional Thoughts - More Crushing On Characters! 


Isaac Sttich Trilogy
Interview with Isaac at Always YA at Heart

Green Mountain Couple - More Vile Villainy!
“The memory alteration research mentioned some, well, unfortunate side effects…”Guest Post at Crys Book Reviews
Review
I absolutely LOVE LOVED this book. It was one of those books that I picked up and didn't want to set back down even after it was finished.
Sept. 1 - The Book Rogue - Review
Some things were not that unusual for a Dystopian, but there were also some shocking aspects -- in the regard that I don't find them too absurd to actually happen, like right now. Genius and insanity are utterly and truly a very fine line that tends to blur a lot.
Quote:

"What we haven't told you yet--"
He paused, searching her eyes before he dropped his bombshell.


"-- is that the outbreak wasn't exactly a mistake."


See what you're missing... read Stitch & Shudder now!!

Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)  Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2)

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

Samantha Durante, Author of the Stitch Trilogy

Samantha Durante


Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 - September 16, 2013

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)
* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int'l)
* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int'l)
* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)
* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2) by Samantha Durante 2013 Blog Tour: Author Interview and Review


Once again I'm very excited to be a part of a blog tour for a series that I have really enjoyed.  By being a part of this tour, I was lucky enough to get to ask the author, Samantha Durante, some interview questions, and now I can share them with you.  Now, if you haven't read the first book in the series, Stitch, you can check out my review HERE.  And you can check it out yourself for just $0.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, or anywhere else e-books are sold.

Author Interview

1.  Where did you get the idea for the Stitch series?
I started with the idea of a college ghost romance, but couldn’t figure out how to unite the girl and the ghost in the same time/place in the end… and the Stitch Trilogy basically ended up being a very creative solution to that problem.  :-)

2.  Did you do a lot of research for the science parts?
I actually didn’t have to do a TON of research, but only because the science-y stuff (viral epidemics, space-time physics, cognitive science, etc.) are all topics that I’m interested in anyway and have read about or taken classes on in the past.  So I drew from what I already knew and supplemented with some internet research.  I did also reach out to one expert from the Federation of American Scientists for input on how an apocalypse could most realistically come about, and he gave me the idea to go with a viral epidemic and recommended a really frightening book about real-world outbreaks and how easily this could happen today.

3.  What is your writing process? Do you just write as you go, do you plan it out?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, notecards, post-it notes, etc.?
I’m a planner!  I had a 40-page document outlining every minute detail of my wedding, and I have about the equivalent for each of my books.  :-)  I keep all my notes in a big OneNote notebook that’s broken into different sections on character development, notes about backstory (world and character history), day-by-day timelines to make sure all the different storylines in the plot are in sync (even parts the reader doesn’t necessarily see), plot direction, ideas for future books in the series, questions that need to be answered in the book, and of a course, a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline.  Once I’ve got all this in place (which takes a few weeks of brainstorming and talking through ideas with my husband), I’m able to sit down and write the story without thinking about it, which makes it easier to be productive and avoid any issues with writer’s block.

4.  What types of books do you like to read? Favorite authors?
I love to read anything that takes you to a different world, whether it’s sci-fi/fantasy or historical fiction, or just a really engaging romance.  My favorite authors are those who’ve created epic series that I can just get lost in for days – J. K. Rowling, C. S. Lewis, George R. R. Martin (hmm, I’m thinking I need to start using some initials in my name! lol), Stephenie Meyer, Suzanne Collins, etc.  There are too many to name!

5.  Since I am a teacher, and the best part of that is hearing back from students that they got something or learned something from me, can you name one of your teachers that you feel was important in your life in some way?

Absolutely!  I’ll give you two: my English teachers from junior and senior year of high school, Ms. Meehan and Mr. Scanlon.  I’d always been a good writer naturally, but I never really gave any thought to developing my writing or pushing it to get better until these two awesome teachers took an interest and encouraged me to really see what I can do.  When I made the decision many years later to leave software engineering to pursue writing full-time, knowing that these teachers believed in my writing even at such a young age really gave me the confidence to give writing a shot, despite the risks of leaving a lucrative career for something completely unknown.  And now I get to spend every day doing what I love and sharing the words in my head with readers.  :-)  So to all you teachers out there, just remember that you really ARE having an impact!  It may take your students a few years to really appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into them, but we will ALWAYS be in your debt, and we will remember you for it.

Here is my review for Shudder:

So, Alessa is now out of Paragon, but not for good, she and Isaac have been sent on a mission by Regina to find a new, safer place to make a base for the Rebellion.  Of course as they left, her sister Janie might have been taken, as well as Regina's daughter Lizzie.  And so it is hard for Alessa to just leave.  On their journey, they seem to run into some kind of creatures, they seem human like to a degree, but make noises that are extremely un-human.  And Alessa begins having strange feelings.  As if she can sense the feelings of others, but the feelings are almost always related to people dying.  Even in a mall they find, that is deserted, she feels what seem to be the last thoughts of many, many people.  Along the way, they are worried about catching the virus, the one that sent everyone to Paragon in the first place for safety.  In fact, Isaac even gets sick, so sick that Alessa spends a day caring for him, and even getting a glimpse into his thoughts.  They do finally find a building, some sort of business/security building, that would be perfect for a base, but now they must make it safely back to share this location with the Rebels.  While this is going on, Lizzie is being held by the Engineers, the men who came up with the idea of Paragon.  They are taking care of her after a terrible attack, helping her to heal, and also filling her in on the background of Paragon, what their idea was behind it, and trying to help persuade her to get the Rebels to work with them.  You see, all the people in Paragon were chosen, chosen to help bring the human race back from all the war and disasters that had been going on in the world.  And really, the Engineers feel they need all of the people in order for their plan to be a success.  That is how the "stitch" was brought into use.  A way to control the upper class people by entertaining them with their tv shows, and also to control those people who might be getting out of hand and recognizing that this upper class thing wasn't really fair.  Alessa's sister Janie is in prison, next door to Nikhil, and they find a way to communicate, trying to figure a way to get free, if and when the rebels come to rescue Janie, she'll try to get Nikhil, but just in case, she also teaches him the way to try to resist the stitch so that he can remember who he is no matter what.
Now, it was a bit hard to get into the book, as we don't start off with as interesting of a story as the first one, with the ghost, tv show, etc., and I also feel it has a bit of what I call the "second book slump."  But once this one gets going, you can see how the author is using it to bring us along and set up the final part of the trilogy.  We get so much information, learn about the "bad guys", as well as find out just what the rebels have planned.  Throughout this Alessa has doubts about wanting to fight.  After her peaceful time spent with Isaac at the future rebel base, she decides at first she just wants to run away with him and Janie, and try to avoid all the violence.  But there will be things that she learns, things that convince her the only way to move on is to stop this group of Engineers and take back the world for humans, the way they should be.

And if you'd like to purchase Shudder, here are the links:
Amazon (Kindle $2.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $2.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $2.99)
Also available ($2.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold

So, I hope you're ready to read on, or give the first book a try and see how you like the series.  I've also included below some author details in case you would also like to get in touch with her after you read the books.



Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series. Learn more about Samantha at www.samanthadurante.com.

 Social Media Links —
Facebook: Stitch Trilogy | Author Samantha Durante
Goodreads: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante
Twitter: @SamanthaDurante | Hashtag suggestions: #Stitch, #StitchTrilogy, #Shudder
LibraryThing: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante
Shelfari: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

Friday, June 7, 2013

Free e-book of Stitch by Samantha Durante

Unfortunately as far as I know it is only available on Kindle, and I am a Nook person, but, I still want to promote it!

Stitch by Samantha Durante is FREE on Kindle this Friday (June 7th) to Tuesday (June 11th)

A college ghost romance with a SURPRISING dystopian sci-fi twist, Part 1 of this trilogy is sure to keep you on your toes! (And better yet, Part 2 - Shudder - launches on the 15th!) You definitely don't want to miss this innovative debut novel that will appeal to fans of the YA and New Adult genres - check out my review HERE.


Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, Book 1)
by Samantha Durante
Genre: YA/NA Dystopian/Paranormal Romance
Synopsis: see Amazon or Goodreads
Rating: 4.3 stars (100+ reviews)
Get Your FREE Kindle Copy Today! Limited Time ONLY (June 7-11th):

Share the news for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! (Open Internationally)


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2) by Samantha Durante

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting. I participated in a blog tour for the first book in this series last fall.  You can see my review of the first book, Stitch, HERE.  I'm excited to hopefully participate in the blog tour this summer for the sequel, Shudder.  Here's the synopsis from the author:


It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.
Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.
And then there are the visions.
The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…
The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

I'm very excited to read this after where the first book left off.  The expected release date is going to be June 15th, 2013.  You can add it to your Goodreads shelf below:

Add Shudder to Goodreads

And if you want, you can even enter to win a print ARC of Shudder using the Rafflecopter below.

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!

So tell me, what book are you eagerly awaiting this week?