Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Kimber Jr's Review of SUGAR RUSH by Kimber An, plus an Excerpt from the Story

***Decadent surprised me and released SUGAR RUSH early!  Here's the link-   SUGAR RUSH at Decadent Publishing  ***
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Yep, it’s finally time for this fabulous book to come out! Of course, I’ve already read it, obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this. But seriously, I did love this book. My job is to tell you why, so settle down and strap in, ‘cause Sugar Rush is heading your way!!!

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The story opens with Ophelia, the main character, getting mauled by the ultimate jerk ex-boyfriend, Martin Brynner (did I mention he’s a jerk?) Luckily, though, someone throws a rock and hits Martin in the side of the head and frightens him off, good riddance!
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Then we meet the rest of the supporting cast-Bianca, Ophelia’s hilarious twin sister, Worf the husky, and Ophelia’s mom Mrs. Dawson.
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We also find out Bianca’s obsessed with making dresses. She’s currently preparing hers and Ophelia’s for the high school party that night.
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That night, we find out just who threw that rock at Martin- none other than Ophelia’s currently anonymous “Sweet Wesley”. But when she collapses in the bathroom from lack of insulin (did I mention she was diabetic? It’s kind of crucial to the story, you know…..) we encounter an undercurrent of tension between Martin and another guy whose name you’ll figure out in about two seconds.
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Adrian Grayer. He’s the one who’s been fending off Martin. He’s the one who’s been leaving all those drawings and Star Trek trinkets in Ophelia’s locker. He’s also the one who’s Ophelia’s Secret Admirer……
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Some fun facts about Adrian: he likes birds, especially raptors. And his symbol is the griffin, a half-eagle, half-lion mythological creature that is very loyal and will fight to protect its mate (or whatever else it might be guarding) to the death. What this implies, I’ll leave up to you. However, I have some definite ideas…..
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If one of your ideas was “he likes rehabilitating eagles” you’d be right! In fact, that’s where we catch up with him and Ophelia next, checking out some beautiful bald eagles that were released into the wild. Of course, Martin has to come and interrupt (what is it with bad guys interrupting kissing scenes?!), but luckily Bianca covers for her and he leaves. I’d better not say what’s next, though, or the boys might get angry and leave, and we don’t want that. But girls, I think you can figure it out.
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In the meantime, we meet Raven, an ultra-intelligent raven with strange blue eyes. Is he important? Well, you could say that……
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But before we can figure out just how, Ophelia’s dad finds out about her and Adrian, starts to throw a major hissy fit, finds out Worf approves, trusts the dog, and drives off. A few days later, Ophelia’s mom finds him………in a ditch, dead. And drained of all his blood. Now, what sort of creature would do something like that? Hmmm…….
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However, all curiousness aside, it is a major All Is Lost moment. Ophelia’s father is dead, and, according to Adrian and newcomer Brandon Kelly, he was murdered. By vampires.
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Yeah. Really.
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(((Kimber An here- "They're not vampires. They're alien-human hybrids!"
(((Kimber Jr. here-  "Hey, if it sucks blood..."
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Well, as always, life goes on. The next thing we know, Ophelia’s heading off to a New Year’s party. Things aren’t looking good then-it seems the Adrian’s run off with Katelyn, local bossyboots and complete jerk. Ophelia, however, has a few tricks up her sleeve…….
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But more sinister things are hanging over the party. Martin nearly runs Trevor off the road just because he tried to help Ophelia and it looked……awkward. Why is Martin so possessive of Ophelia? Is it just because he’s the ultimate jerk ex-boyfriend, or is there another, more sinister reason?
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Sorry, Folks, but that’s all I’m allowed to say. However, I would like to say a bit more about Brandon. Well, he’s a shapeshifter, and, as a matter of fact, he’s Raven, remember him? That’s why he had those strange blue eyes. He also loves Nintendo DS, Ophelia, and moose meat……….
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Once again, I’m at the end of my rope. However, a little birdie (it looked an awful lot like a raven…..)Told me it’s out, so if you want more I suggest to hop over and get the e-book. Until then, VAMPIRES RULE!!!!!
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(((Kimber An- "ALIEN/HUMAN HYBRIDS!")))
(((Kimber Jr- "Hey, none of the other authors I've reviewed yelled at me!")))
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P.S All I can say is, thank goodness this book is published because the author was driving me crazy by singing “Sugar Rush” by the A-Teens all day for months. It wasn’t even on-key! Arrrrrrgh!!!
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***EXCERPT from SUGAR RUSH***
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Ophelia pressed pencil to paper and the lead broke. She sighed.

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“You all right?” Adrian Grayer sat next to her in nearly every class.
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“Fine.” She didn’t look at him, but leaned over and dug into her backpack for another pencil. Too bad he doesn’t like girls.
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All the while, her mind raced, trying to figure out which of the others her ‘Sweet Wesley’ could be. Josh Taylor has full lips, so he can’t be the one. I know my secret admirer’s lips very well now. They’re pouty and cute, like he needs a chocolate chip cookie. She always kept three perfectly sharpened pencils and three Sharpy pens in her backpack, but came up empty.
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Straightening in her seat, she eyed the electric pencil sharpener on the teacher’s barren desk. She did not want to walk up. The guys would all look at her and she didn’t know which one was her secret admirer.
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“You can borrow mine.” Adrian offered his mechanical pencil, left-handed.
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“Thanks.” She glanced his way just enough to see his sunny blond hair. When he leaned over to give her the pencil, she caught his scent too, the scent of birch trees in the winter. I love birch trees. She’d overheard him talking about helping at the nature center, rehabilitating eagles back into the wild.
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Wait, that’s familiar somehow. She drew breath through her nose again. Very familiar.
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His gold ring glinted in the lights as he placed the pencil above her book on the desk. A signet ring, its flat face was etched with the image of a creature, half lion and half eagle.
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“Griffin!” Ophelia couldn't stop the gasp. "Oh, my!” She stared at the ring, and then looked into his stormy blue eyes, and then his pouty lips.
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Adrian blushed deep red.
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"You really are the one!”
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"Does that mean you wanted…"
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“But, you’re gay.” Ophelia’s voice squeaked just a little.
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He pressed lips together and shook his head slightly.
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Ophelia’s mouth dropped and she didn’t even try to stop it. Her face burned and she hid behind her textbook, certain the entire class could hear her heart pound. He’s been sitting right next to me for four months! Geez, I’m an idiot! She peeked at him around the edge of her book and knew it was true. He’s gorgeous!

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