Tell Me Something Tuesday - Favorite Heroine

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by Cambria @ CambriaHebert.com.

Each week there will be a new question to answer and share.  This is a great way for bloggers to get to know one another.

This week's question:

Who is your favorite heroine (in a book)?

1.  Lina from Between Shades of Gray by by Ruta Sepetys.

Lina is a fifteen year old Lithuanian girl living during the time of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States (at the same time as the Holocaust).  While the Holocaust is a time that most everyone knows about, The occupation of the Baltic States is just as tragic, but very few people know about this devastating event.  Lina survives her horrific ordeal to later go on a build a future and have children.

2.  Katerina from The Gathering Storm (Katerina Trilogy #1) by Robin Bridges.

Katerina learns she is a Necromancer - she can raise the dead.  What a huge secret to live with!!  She not only learns to accept her fate, but is able to use it in a positive way.

3.  Nikki from Halflings (Halflings #1) by Heather Burch.

Nikki is unknowingly targeted by some evil force. She has to face attacks around every corner, but luckily she finds herself in the company of some very handsome "hot" protectors called Halflings.  In the end she has to make some very difficult choices that could have an impact on  the survival of the human race!!!!

4.  Genevieve from Ties To The Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop.

The book begins with Gen losing her mother in a tragic house fire.  So she moves in with her aunt.  Soon after moving in with her aunt, Gen learns of a huge family secret and the life she is dealt.  She must go on a very dangerous journey in order to save the life of those she loves.

5.  Marissa from Undertow by Callie Kingston.

Marissa has had a very hard life - problems with her mother and her ex, Drake, both of which have betrayed her.  She goes to the beach to escape and almost dies at the hands of a rogue wave.  She is rescued by a gorgeous creature.  She becomes obsessed in finding her savior to the point of almost losing herself.  

I'd love to hear about your favorite heroines!  

Share your link or heroine in the comments below

Guest Post & Book Review: Undertow by Callie Kingston

Welcome to my stop on the Undertow Blog tour!  I have a guest post and review of this wonderful novel.
Make sure that after you visit, you post a comment to have a chance to win some prizes from Callie.
Guest Post:

Hi Sara. Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I love visiting readers and other writers out here in the blogosphere.

Q: What was your inspiration for Undertow?

I began writing Undertow shortly after my mother unexpectedly passed away. I’d wanted to write novels since I was a child, and her death reminded me that we don’t have forever to pursue our dreams. Around that time, the Twilight DVD was released. Since portions were filmed at various locations nearby, I was eager to watch the movie and relished the lush cinematography. Afterwards, we visited the Olympic Peninsula and stayed in Forks, which has become a tourist destination for Twilight fans. Never having read the novels, I bought the series and devoured them quickly. I became intrigued by the idea of this girl sacrificing her life to join a vampire, and thought: What if Bella was mentally ill, and Edward existed only in her mind? I wanted to write a story which would show how one young woman overcomes a painful past and meets her future with hope and strength. With my love of the Oregon coastline, I knew that had to be the setting for my novel. Thus, Undertow was born.

Q: Did you have any hurdles to overcome while writing Undertow?

Two huge hurdles. The first was my challenge to believe that I could actually finish the novel. I wrote the first draft by hand, in bits and pieces, over a long period. Revisions upon revisions followed, and then edits. But until its publication date, it still didn’t seem real! The second huge hurdle to overcome is just the finite amount of time in a day. I work full time at a very demanding job and have a family to care for. Making time to write is definitely my biggest challenge. 

Undertow by Callie Kingston
Publisher:  Carolwood Press
Publication Date:  January 01, 2012
ASIN: B006SJK0AM
Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary
Author website:  http://calliekingston.blogspot.com


Summary:  Marissa can’t wait to leave behind her mom and the traumatic life they shared. With Drake, she has it all figured out--until she discovers his betrayal. She flees to a desolate beach on the wild Oregon coast hoping to escape her pain where, overcome with exhaustion, she dozes off beside a log. When the first icy waves strike her, it is too late: a rogue wave drags her out to sea.


Somehow, she survives. Perhaps that gorgeous merman she dreams of each night rescued her? Determined to discover the truth, her obsession deepens until she again risks her life in the unyielding sea. Will the creature Marissa seeks save her? Will she be lost forever in the eddies of her mind, or will Jim, her new boyfriend, keep her from falling into the abyss?


Review:  When I set out to read this book, I was going into it thinking it was a contemporary romance involving a merman, and really looking forward to read it.  Boy, was I unexpectedly surprised - and excitedly so!  This story has so many layers that go way beyond the surface - romance, breakup, breakdown, recovery, and so much more. Everything was revealed slowly, with little hints dropped at opportune times.  Because the author did not reveal everything all at once, I found myself tied to the book, eagerly needing to know more.  The pacing was phenomenal - Callie Kingston is a master!  Can this really be her debut novel?    


Marissa and the rest of the cast of characters are so believable - honest reactions to what is happening.  I found myself easily stepping into Marissa's shoes while I was reading.  I felt her pain, her yearning, her relief.  Her friends responded just as I could imagine many of my friends responding to my life - well done!


It is so obvious that the author either is very familiar with the setting of this novel, or she has done some deep research.  The descriptions of the scenes are so vivid and detailed.  You could find yourself actually in the locations.  There were times I was envious at Marissa being on the beach, and at other times, I was thoroughly scared of the beach.  


This is a novel that will stick with me for some time.  The emotion was so real!  I want to thank Callie Kingston for asking me to read her novel & to be part of the book tour.  This is now my favorite so far this year!!!!


Giveaway:  Complete this form for a chance to win a Kindle copy of Undertow:

Leave a comment below to have a chance to the Grand Prize.  Click the Blog Tour banner for more details:

  

W.....W.....W...... Wednesday (5)

W....W....W.... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer 3 questions in a blog post:

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?  I am reading Ties To The Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop.  The author asked if I would review it.  I am so very glad.  This is a wonderful book!  I may never have found it if I was not contacted!  I cannot wait for another novel by this author!!!!!!!!!!

What did you recently finish reading?  I finished Across the Universe by Beth Revis.  Super science fiction/dystopian novel.  You can read my review here:  Book Review.

What do you think you’ll read next?  HMMM!  Good question.  I am waiting for a novel for a book tour, but have not received it yet.  So, I will probably read Undertow by Callie Kingston - another one for a blog tour.  I am very anxious to read this one.  

Wicked Winter Read-a-Thon

Hosted by Bex @ Kindle Fever & April @ My Shelf Confessions

#WWReadathon

The Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon is a time when we all get together to dedicate the weekend of February 3-5 to as much reading as possible. You read as much as you can in order to get yourself a little further through that huge to-read pile! There will be all kinds of challenges, and just all around fun.  Visit The Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon post for more information.


I really have some books I need to get done, and of course I have those that I just really, really want to read, but never seem to have time.  I am going to take time this weekend.  I just started a book last night:  Across the Universe by Beth Revis.  So, I hope to finish that one.  Then there is one for review:  Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop & it sounds great!  Finally - if I get enough time, I'd like to start reading Undertow by Callie Kingston - this is another one for review, but also one that I am so excited to read.

Come join in on the fun!!!!