Mundie Moms

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Half Moon Blog Tour with Jordan Deen

Today we are excited to be the second to last stop in Jordan Deen's Half Moon blog tour. I have to say, if you've read her first book, The Crescent, you're in for a treat with Half Moon! It's a fantastic sequel to her debut book.
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By Jordan Deen
Published by Black Rose Writing
To Be Released on January 13th, 2011
Source- e-ARC from Jordan Deen
4 stars- Great Read

"I’d been a fool for coming here with them, and now... no one would come to save me. The world that hid in the shadows of humanity was full of enemies."

Faced with death, Lacey Quinn ran away from the only family she’d ever known.
That... was just the beginning.
As the decision she’s made sinks in, Lacey struggles to fit in with the pack and find the key to bonding with her werewolf soul mate, Brandon. But, lies can only be concealed for so long.
Adjusting to a powerful new best friend, a twelve-year-old roommate with a nauseating Barbie fetish, and a lost love that won’t stop haunting her dreams, she knows she has no hope of having a normal future—ever again.
After a long talk with the dead mother she never knew, and an almost deal-breaking night out with Brandon, Lacey starts spiraling into the underworld—a place where all things are possible and everyone is out to kill her.
With mysterious legends of witches and sorcery marring her past and clouding her future, she quickly learns—werewolves aren’t the only ones lurking in the woods...waiting to claim her powers for their own.
The Mares? Well, they are the least of her worries
(quoted from Goodreads)

Half Moon is a fantastic sequel to Jordan's debut release, The Crescent. The difference in the two stories wasn't just the writing, but I felt the story was more complete and I was able to get more out of it. I really enjoyed reading Half Moon, what I felt was missing in The Crescent, wasn't the case here.

I liked that the story picks up right where the first one ended. I liked seeing Lacey's character grow more and finding out the answers as to why she was still drawn to Alex, which at first was really irritating to me, as she felt one way towards Brandon and still wanted Alex, and in the end it all made sense. I liked seeing her relatable frustrations with the pack and Brandon, as she's kept in the dark about some important things and trying to adjust to her new life.

There's a fantastic cast of characters in Half Moon, and my favorite is Brea, Lacey's BFF. She is such a fun character to get to know and someone who will not stand down to anyone. She's a fierce protector of Lacey and I really liked reading the scenes with the two of them. I was able to get into the story more, through understanding some of the pack dynamics. I liked the creative way in which Jordan reveals the history of the pack and the prophecy Lacey will fulfill. I felt that I was learning these things along with Lacey.

Half Moon's story really picked up for me when Lacey embraces who she is. It's during this time a lot of questions I had from The Crescent and the first half of Half Moon are answered. There's a lot of action towards the end of the book, which takes place in the woods up in the mountains in Oregon. For me, Jordan's story telling really came to life with Half Moon as she explains some of the more significant events that will, I'm guessing, lead up to a phenomenal series ending in her third book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Lacey's story, as Half Moon's plot twists, action and romance leaving me wanting more. I would recommend this for 15 yrs old and up. There are references to sex and a non-graphic scene in the book.
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I'm thrilled we have Jordan Deen visiting us on the blog today.

I know I say this a lot, but I'm a huge wolf fan and thrilled to know your series is about wolves. What got you interested in writing about wolves?
First, thank you so much for participating in the 'Half Moon' tour! I'm so thrilled to be with you! I've always been interestd in paranormal novels and I just accidentally stumbled into the world of werewolves. I just happened to get lost there and I haven't yet found my way back out. Does anyone have a map? GPS?

There are a lot of great wolf books out right now. What is it about your wolves that makes them so unique? I didn't intend to write the next 'break out' werewolf novel, in fact, werewolves weren't hot when I started this book. It just sort of happened that way. My werewolves are different because they have a little bit of witchery and magic to them. You have to read to find out the full extent, but they rock.

What has your writing journey been like and what is one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring writers? Keep writing. That is the one thing I tell everyone that asks me. Keep writing. Rejections will come. Queries will get shot down. You have to move on. If you let yourself get wrapped up in those moments, you will drown. So, take the lumps and keep on rolling. There is another opportunity just waiting around the corner.

What kind of research did you do while writing your series?
I didn't do too much research for 'The Crescent', however, with 'Half Moon' I read every Wiccan book I could get my hands on. I found this wonderful book on candle magic that I will read over and over again in the future.

Who's your a favorite wolf character from the 2010 YA releases?
Oooh excellent question. I'm *really* in love with Max from '13 to Life' by Shannon Delany. Three little words: He. Is. Hot. Yup. You have to read the book if you haven't.

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Thank you so much Jordan and Max is a fantastic answer! LOL

The tour Half Moon tour ends tomorrow on Jordan's site!! She has a fabulous giveaway, but first, be sure to visit the rest of the stops on the tour:

Book Review- The Crescent


By Jordan Deen
Published by Black Rose Writing
Released on January 14th, 2010
Source- Bought
2.5 stars- I Wanted To Like It More

Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator.
Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused.
Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever know (quoted from Goodreads)

Being a huge wolf fan, I was really looking forward to reading The Crescent, as I was eager to read a wolf story mixed with lore, romance and action. Sadly, I didn't get into as much as I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, Jordan Deen has a great love triangle, but what bothered me the most about the book's main character Lacey, is even after she realizes which of the guys/werewolves isn't right, she continues to be with him, even after professing her love for the other one. To be honest, I almost put the book down half way through as I was so frustrated with the main character as she kept feeling one way and acting another.

Lacey is in the heart of a tug of war between two packs, both of which have her heart. Alex is the hot, new student who's got his eyes on Lacey. He does everything he can to make her his world and even his words sweep her off her feet. Then there's the equally good looking Brandon who makes Lacey feel complete. She's constantly dreaming about him and he makes her feel safe. Here lies Lacey's problem- how do you choose between someone you've started to fall in love and someone you feel you've loved your whole life. These feelings are a lot more complicated when your human, vs being a wolf. If Lacey chooses the wrong guy, her bond and future mate will die, resulting in her death, destroying the prophecy.

Over all I felt the story was lacking in it's flow and at times found myself confused as to what was happening, as I felt some major details were left out of the story, which I'm hoping will be explained in the sequel. There were times I also enjoyed reading Lacey's story and getting to know the characters around her, and I feel in love with her dog Grant. I'm eager to find out if my suspicions on who he is are correct. I sympathized with Lacey as she begins to learn the truth in who she is, and the prophecy she is to fulfill. Everything she thought she knew about her life changes in short amount of time. In the end of the story, I enjoyed some of the plot twits, seeing the packs in action, and Lacey making her decision. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next, and what will become of some of the characters when Half Moon is released.

Happy Book Birthday To:

Here's a few of the books we're excited to see on book store shelves today!













* Across the Universe by Beth Revis
* Warped by Maurissa Guibord
* Timeless by by Alexandra Monir

I'm looking forward to sharing my review of Warped and Timeless soon. You can read my 4.5 star review for Across the Universe here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-review-across-universe.html. At 11:11 est you can read the first 111 pages of ATU here http://www.io9.com and watch the book trailer here:

Twitter Tuesday - Cassandra Clare and VLC Productions

Look, MMs, more pics from the City of Fallen Angels book trailer photoshoot. Simon's got a tough choice there and holy hotness -- Jace and Clary and the tights!!!! Many thanks to Vania at VLC Productions for the photos!!!

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