Mundie Moms

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Book Review & Guest Post: Touch by Jus Accardo

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

Published by: Entangled Publishing
Released on: November 1st, 2011
Source: book from publisher to review
3 stars: I Liked It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

33 comments:

  1. My favorite paranormal series is Vampire Academy. Thanks for the giveaway.
    delivery(dot)RN(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. My favorite paranormal series is definitely The Mortal Instruments. The writing, the world, just everything about is perfect and I always find myself wanting to read the over again. Its not just about Jace bit he is a huge factor lol.

    Sthrnsweetie115@AOL.com

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  3. I have many that I like but I think my fave would be The Other World or Sisters Of The Moon series by Yasmine Galenorn its not YA but I love it.

    berrylicious_cutie(at)hotmail(.)com

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  4. Oh no, just one?! I have too many, but if I have to pick it'd be Thurman's Cal Leandros series, I'm addicted to the books.

    However, I'm more of a Niko girl!

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  5. Its a hard choice, but my favorite paranormal series is The Vampire Academy series. I've read each book at least 4 times! :)

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  6. My Soul Steal and the rest of the SOUL SCREAMERS books by Rachel Vincent are AMAZING!!!!

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  7. Great picks! I know it's hard picking one series. My favorite is of course the TMI/ID series (I cheated and named the two together). LOL

    Thank you for leaving your comments!!

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  8. TMI & CP. If Mundie Mom's can cheat and pick two then I also will cheat. ;-p

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  9. My most favorite is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs is a very close second, though.

    Thanks! :0)
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

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  10. Mine is Strange Angels by Lilith St Crow, which i am reading the final book now.
    On the contary, I like Christophe more. Guess it's because he's the crazy and dangerous yet can be relied on one. My favourite character would be Dru, the protagonist. I like her cynicism and her saying whatever comes to her mind attitude. And of course, because she can kick ass.
    Would love to win a copy of Touch since i can't order it here in my country. Tweet me if i win? Thanks for the giveaway.

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  11. My favorite are Vampire academy and The infernal devices,I can't wait for Clockwork prince to come out!!I'm dying here!!I'm absolutely in love with Mead and Clare's writing style..When I read their books,it's like I'm absorbed in the story..I literally can't get my hands off the books not even to eat until I have finished them..XD I've read them so many times that I've lost the count, seriously..Tessa and Lissa's character(I know it's strange since she's not the protagonist of VA..^^)are my favorite characters of all the books I've ever read(and believe me,I've read many XD)
    Anyway,thank you sooo much for this amazing giveaway!!:D

    -Vale
    vally-p@hotmail.it

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  12. I'm a huge fan of the Vampire Academy series. I totally agree that Rose is a fantastic character! Touch looks and sounds so good, best of luck to Jus with it.

    h mccorkle (at) wildblue (dot) net

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  13. I adore Chime by Franny Billingsley. It's one of the few books that I want everybody to read. The story does have fey elements, but I'm not sure if it would be categorized as paranormal. In the midst of the NBA fiasco with Shine, I do hope readers give Chime a chance because it's completely worthy of its nomination.

    If you enjoy starcrossed/ill-fated-but-destined romance with angels and demons, read Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It has gorgeous writing, beautifully atmospheric settings, unusual world-building, and original plot details.

    I'm not sure if carnivorous water horses count as paranormal, but if they do, give The Scorpio Races a try. The Scorpio Races may be Maggie Stiefvater's best novel yet in terms of plotting and characterization. As always, her writing is lushly evocative.

    For some humor and a spot-on teen male POV, read Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride. The dude can raise the dead! How can you resist the snarky undead? And there are werewolf/fairy crossbreeds/half-breeds, witches, and more quirky paranormal delights than I should cram into this comment.

    (extemter at hotmail dot com)

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  14. I loved Touch!! Kale is one of my favorite boys in literature right now! I know what you mean by not connecting with Dez though. I felt the same exact way.

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  15. For recent releases I'd have to go with The Mortal Instrument series. While the first one didn't hook me right away, the following books got me addicted.

    workingforthemandroid at gmail dot com

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  16. I'm inlove with the Vampire Diaries. And I also love the Secret Circle, I love love the authors way of work.

    epv0116@hotmail.com

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  17. Since I just can't answer this question with just one answer, here comes a list... :)

    Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent (TOD!!!)
    TMI & ID by Cassandra Clare
    The Mediator by Meg Cabot (This was actually my first YA series which I absolutely adored! :) Jesse!)
    White Cat by Holly Black
    Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
    Gone by Michael grant (Oh my. Soo good!)

    ... and I better stop here before this gets long. :)

    jenelleriane(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. Since I have read more books in the past 3 years than I care to remember (and more than is probably healthy), most of which are paranormal books, it's so hard to say which I love the most so here are the most memorable for me. Because their the most memorable they are also among my favorite all time books.

    THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS!!!! by Cassandra Clare
    Incarceron & Sapphique by Cathrine Fisher (YUP!)
    Fire by Kristin Cashor (does that count... IDK)
    The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter definitely

    Those are my most memorable/ FAVORITE paranormal books. LOVE LOVE LOVE THESE.

    -Brittany Burton
    taylorswiftfan103@gmail.com

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  19. Oooooh! Such an awesome giveaway! I really want to read "Touch". It looks so smexy ;D

    I love paranormal books! My favorite paranormal reads are the Shade series by Jeri-Smith Ready and Jessica's Guide series by Beth Fantaskey to name a few :D

    marisolgaddi (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. I enjoy reading The Iron Fey series and The Mortal Instruments series! I look forward to reading Touch; it sounds so awesome!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  21. My favorite series is The Mortal Instruments by: Cassandra Clare. I cannot put into words how much this series has inspired me. I could just get lost in them!

    Email: sarahagen1@hotmail.com

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  22. My favorite is vampire Academy I always loved these books! I love alot is so hard to pick just one! I read the The Mortal Instruments one book I had to read all of them so good! Thank you for the great giveaway sounds like a great book!
    tishajean@ charter.net

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  23. I'm a great fan of The Mortal Instruments, and I also love Kirsten White's Paranormalcy series:)This book sounds great!

    bchild5 at aol dot com

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  24. Naming one favorite would be impossible for me, but I love The Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices series, The Iron Fey series, the Strange Angels series, and the Vampire Academy series.

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  25. OMG, I have sooo many :) I read in all genres, but paranormal is my go to genre. The first one of the top of my head is The Vampire Academy, love that series!!!

    june111(at)att(dot)net

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  26. My all time favorite will always be Harry potter!!

    melissaseclecticbookshelf at gmail dot com

    ♥ Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

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  27. My favorite adult paranormal series is the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman and for YA it's definitely the Strange Angel series by Lili St. Crow.

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  28. One of my favorites is all six books of the shifter series by Rachel Vincent. Loved them!Some other favorites include the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (I enjoyed all the books but have to say the first one was the best)!

    Sorry I have a hard time just choosing one :)

    heatherheartsbooks(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  29. 6/10 of those are on my fav series list :)

    My absolute favorites for YA is Vampire Academy-Richelle Mead and for Adult Shifters-Rachel Vincent and The Hollows-Kim Harrison.

    Name:Wilda
    email:Wilda85(at)aol(dot)com

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  30. yes...yes...mortal instuments. i am a school librarian in a middle school and my students also love the series.

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  31. I love the Mediator Series by Meg Cabot (though when I bought them, they were under her pseudonym Jenny Carroll). Love them!

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  32. Hm... This is a tough one. I think my favorite adult paranormal series would be The Hollows by Kim Harrison. They are what got me into Urban Fantasy.
    My favorite YA paranormal series would be a tie between The Mortal Instruments, The Demon's Lexicon Trilogy, and Wicked Lovely. But they are so many awesome ones around it's hard to decide ^^''

    Thanks a lot for the giveaway! Touch is in the top ten of my TBR list :)

    glenraven.27(at)gmail(dot)com

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  33. Thank you to everyone who entered, this giveaway is now closed.

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