Review - Goodnight Brian by Steven Manchester

Title and Author: Goodnight Brian by Steven Manchester

Publisher: The Story Plant

Publication Date: January 8th, 2013

Paperback/Hardcover: 308

Genre:

Find it at: Goodreads /

Summary:

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino - who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

  

Review:

I have received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review and after having read Twelve Months I was curious.

Brian was a healthy baby boy but when his pediatrician decided to change him to a new formula, something went terribly wrong. According to the doctors the damage created was irreversible. Brian’s grandmother doesn’t believe that and she is determined not to lose hope.

Brian is not the main character in this book, in my opinion. Mama is and she’s a very interesting character. She’s Brian’s grandmother and she’s a very determined and strong woman. She never gives up, which I love.

All the other characters are interesting as well and are important to the story but Goodnight Brian really is Mama’s show.

I enjoyed the way the author described the settings and how he managed to create an emotional and compelling story.

All in all Goodnight, Brian is an interesting story about faith and not giving up. The characters are well written and the story is thought-provoking.

I don’t really enjoy books that are about religion but I actually didn’t mind this one so if you like this kind of books you should give it a try.

Rating: Somewhere Between Readable and Worth Your Time (3 ½ Stars)

Interview with Amy Plum about the Revenants Series + Giveaway

Interview with Amy Plum  about the Revenants Series

Are you a fan of the Revenants Series by Amy Plum? I am and I can't wait for the next book in the series and for Jules short-story!

Amy was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the series. I hope you enjoy this interview!

1 - Can you describe the Revenants Series to your readers in 10 or less words?

Kate, American in Paris, discovers a world of undead guardians.

2 - What compelled you to write about Revenants?

I didn't think I had anything to add to the traditional supernatural beings, like vampires, werewolves, and the like. So I decided to make up my own monster. What I did was to make a list of all of the supernatural beings I knew of, and then narrowed it down to the only ones I thought I felt interested enough in to be able to write a few books about them. I ended up with "gods" and "zombies", and my revenants are a combination of the two. 

3 - Who would you say is the hardest character to write about and why?

I had a hard time writing about Arthur until I decided to make him an author, and then everything came more easily for me. Usually my characters come with their own "suitcases": their histories, personalities, and ways of speaking are already there for me to open up and use. That didn't happen for Arthur...I had to figure him out on my own.

4 - If the Revenants series ever became a movie/tv series who would you like to play your characters?

I would really like to have some French actors play the French characters. For that reason French/German Francois Goeske might make a good Vincent. Gaspard Ulliel or Pierre Boulanger might make a good Jules. For Kate, when Emma Roberts is brunette, I think she'd be perfect for the part.

5 - What can you tell us about the next book in the series - If I Should Die?

The story starts the second UNTIL I DIE leaves off. Kate is at the height of her kick-assness and MOST of the characters will have a resolution to their stories in this book. I like to think of DIE FOR ME as romance, UNTIL I DIE as mystery, and IF I SHOULD DIE as thriller. I hope you like it!

Thank you, Amy!

You can find Amy Plum at:

Official Website

Twitter

Giveaway 

- Winner will get a bookplate and a bookmark signed by Amy Plum.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour - The Devil's Triangle by Toni de Palma - Interview with the Author

Blog Tour - The Devil's Triangle by Toni de Palma - Interview with the Author

When 17 year old Cooper dies in an attempt to burn down his school, he finds himself in the afterlife. Lucy, the Devil's sister who has crossed party lines, decides to give Cooper another shot at heaven. The deal? Cooper returns to Earth and has to find a girl named Grace. The rest is up to him.

While Cooper figures out his mission, he's thrown into the life he's always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend who can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn't watch out.

While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what's keeping him and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagine

Interview with Toni de Palma

1 - Have you always wanted to be a writer?

The first time the thought crossed my mind was when I was about 8 years old. I was reading Beverly Cleary's Ramona books. My family and I had just moved to a new house and I left my old friends behind. Ramona was my only friend and I thought it would be cool to be a writer who could make kids feel better about their lives.

2 - What inspired you to write The Devils Triangle?

Cooper, my main character, was my primary inspiration. He's a bad boy with a fresh mouth. He also has a heart of gold. He's mixed up and trying to figure out what the heck he's doing in this weird reality.

 

3 - Can you describe the book to your readers in 10 or less words?  

When the Devil's sister gives Cooper a second chance at heaven, she sends him back to find Grace, a girl with whom he has a shared history. (Over ten words, but who's counting :)

 

4 - What can you tell us about your characters? 

Cooper is conflicted. He thinks of himself as a smart ass, until he meets Grace. That's when he starts to let his guard down. Grace is a good girl, who loves whole-heartedly, but who's in a little too deep with the Devil. Lucy is like a jalapeno. She's spicy, but if you bite into her and get to know her, she'll make you sweat.

5 - Which character was the hardest to write and why?

Probably Grace. She can be so good sometimes that she may actually come across as saintly. Since nobody's that perfect, I had to pull back and allow her to be human.

 

6 - Can you name a few of your favorite books and authors?

I read across the board - contemporary, fantasy, adult, Y.A., and kids. I love an Italian writer named Niccolo Amaniti. I read his stuff in English. His characters are so real.

7 - Is there something else you would like your readers to know? What's next for you? 

When I wroteThe Devil's Triangle, I intended it to be a standalone. But I love Cooper so much, I couldn't let him go. The second book, The Devil's Temptation, takes place in southern Italy, Naples, Capri and Ischia, the island that my family is from.

Thank you!