SBBS: Day 16 ~ Jessica Shirvington

Spring Break Blog Spectacular ~ Jessica Shirvington interview & Embrace arc review


Today's guest is Jessica Shirvington - Embrace the first book in her Violent Eden Chapters/Embrace Series was just released in the US by Sourcebooks Fire on March 6th. Book four, Endless will be released in Australia - where Jessica lives and the series was originally released - later this year.

Interview:


Ideal school break destination: ski chalet or tropical beach villa?
As a kid in Australia we always did the beach thing, but I am totally a winter person and would choose a ski chalet every time.

In high school/college which was more likely spotting you on MTV’s Spring Break or just you and your friends savoring the week(s) off? 
Just me and my friends savoring the weeks off. We'd have our regular haunts and loved that we knew where to find everyone.

What was your favorite Spring Break ever (where and/or why)? Or if you didn't go on Spring Break trips, where did you always want to go?
When I was younger I used to have a horse and compete. I spend all of my breaks living at an equestrian center and everyone there became my family away from home. They are some of the best memories of my life! :)

Fly and have the fun be at the destination or road trip and have the journey be at least half the fun?
Depends who you are travelling with, but generally, I'd probably prefer to fly and have fun at the destination.

Do any of your characters take school break trips - either during the novel or before/after?
Yes. Embrace starts with a school break.

Where would their ideal trip destination be? (Together or on their own.)
In Embrace I think Violet and her best friend, Steph, would go most places together if they could get away with it. Violet would probably be happy to go anywhere she could afford that had art galleries nearby. Steph on the other hand would probably insist of a European destination.

Which of your characters (in The Violet Eden Chapters/Embrace Series or anything you’re working on) would you most have liked to have met on a getaway taken during a school holiday/break?
Phoenix, from Embrace. It would certainly make for an unforgettable holiday! :)

Best book to read on Spring Break or a road trip?
I always like to start a series when on holiday since I have the time to keep going with it if I am enjoying it. As for which book ... any and every.

Thank you!


- - - -


Review:


Embrace (Embrace #1)
Sourcebooks Fire
March 6, 2012
369 pages
add to Goodreads/buy on Amazon/or Book Depository 


Birthdays have never been a great day for Violet Eden. After all, why get overly excited about the day that marks the anniversary of her mother's death? But this birthday, her seventeenth, Violet is even less excited about - she's been having nightmares that are not only keeping her from sleeping but leaving her with very real, waking injuries. That and strange markings on her arms.

As if all of that wasn't enough, the guy she thinks is almost perfect, has been keeping something from her. Something that might change her life forever.


There's definitely a lot more (summary wise) that could be said about Embrace - and is said on Goodreads but as I do abhor spoilers, I"m going with the sparser version. It's not giving things away to say that Embrace is an angel book - the cover itself (at least the US one) gives that away. It's also one of the best I've read.

The lore of Embrace is brilliant. From things Jessica Shirvington created to the Biblical and other stories that are woven in, it all forms a great basis for the angels in the Violet Eden Series. The background is well thought out and different sources are woven together incredibly well.

Embrace is a book that is incredibly easy to pick up, begin reading and not want to put down. The story - Violet, her life and then what starts to happen to her - draws you in right from the first page. Once you're caught up in the story - and how well the whole story flows - you'll want to read right through to the end. Then you'll wish the other books in this series were out already (or if you're somewhere they already are, you'll be thanking your stars that they are).

The chemistry between characters in Shirvington's debut is fantastic. I can't wait to see where things go - for everyone - in the latter books of the series.

Rating : 10/10



advance copy received from the publisher - thank you




Find Violet Eden Chapters/Embrace Series on Goodreads, Book Depository or Amazon(US), Embrace Facebook fan page, @EmbraceSeries on Twitter; website; US website

and Jessica Shirvington on her website, Goodreads