Stolen by Melissa De La Cruz/Michael Johnston – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Stolen
Heart of Dread series – Book #2
by Melissa De La Cruz & Michael Johnston
Release Date: November 18, 2014

Stolen Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Who is Eliza Wesson?

Months after Nat and Wes said good-bye on the shores of the Blue, Nat is learning how to control and use her new power. She and her drakon are the last of their kind—and she’s risked her life for their reunion. When she receives a mysterious distress call, she races to help, soliciting the guidance of her new friend, the beautiful and aloof Faix Lazaved of the Blue.

Still heartbroken over losing Nat, Wes is racing cars on a New Vegas racetrack while his team is scattered and lost. When he finds out that his sister, Eliza, is being held in the golden domes of El Dorado, he does what he’s best at—running to her side—and gambles on luck to see him through one more time.

Magic, romance, and danger collide as Nat and Wes become entangled in a dark new adventure that leads right to the heart of the mystery of their frozen, broken world. They soon discover that the answer to both their quests lies in the same question: Who is Eliza Wesson—what is she capable of, and why was she stolen from her family so long ago?

Review:
Stolen by Melissa Dela Cruz & Michael Johnston is the 2^nd book in their Heart of Dread series. This is a YA Paranormal/Fantasy Dystopian storyline, with two wonderful leading characters in Nat & Wes. When Frozen, the first book in this series left off, they finally had found the promised land, Blue. Nat discovers she is the last Draykonrydder, with her own Drakon. She was where she belonged, to help protect Blue. Wes, with the promise that he would come back, walked away to return with his friends to live life on the edge; stealing to survive, and make ends meet. Wes does have a reason, as he has been looking for his long lost sister, Eliza, who was kidnapped 12 years ago.

The story picks up with Nat and Mainas, her Drakon battling the evil RSA, as they have done since they became a team. Only this time, her Drakon is hurt, and must go underground to heal, leaving Nat completely alone. She meets up with her trainer, Faix to guide her how to use her powers. During the difficult training on using her mental awareness to be able to do almost anything, she receives a telepathic call for help. Together, her and Faix leave Blue to try and find Liannan, a sylph and one of Wes’s team.

While they race to find Liannan, Wes and two of his friends are captured while looking for Eliza. It is here that Wes and Nat find each other again. The romance between the two of them lights up the pages, as we know how they feel about each other. Since this is YA, there are no sex scenes, but Dela Cruz and Johnston do a wonderful job showing their love. Will that be enough to keep them together?

The action is non stop, intense and very exciting. There are so many twists, betrayals, constant danger, and to tell you much more would be spoilers. The adventure revolves around Wes, Nat, Faix and the boys to find Liannan, and Eliza with all the enemies surrounding them. Expect the unexpected, when they reach their goal and all hell breaks loose. There a major game changer at the end, which is a cliffhanger that will keep us holding our breath until the next book. If you like adventure, fantasy, a magnificent story, and two great heroes, then Heart of Dread series is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publicist

Melissa_de_la_Cruz_credit_Denise_Bovee
The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome back the wonderful Melissa De La Cruz. Today Melissa will be discussing her new release, Stolen, which she co-wrote with her husband Michael Johnston. Stolen is the 2nd book in their Heart of Dread series.

Let’s catch up with Melissa.

Hi Melissa. Thank you for taking the time to visit us again at The Reading Cafe, and to give an update as to what you have upcoming in 2014/2015.

TRC: For those who may not have read the first book, can you give a brief description of the premise of your Heart of Dread series?

Melissa: The Heart of Dread series is about a girl named Nat with a dangerous secret and a boy named Wes who helps get her to safety. Set one hundred years in the post-apocalypse New Vegas, the story melds fantasy and science fiction tropes to create a fast-paced and gritty story about two young people tossed together in a great adventure. In the first book, Wes helps Nat on her journey and in book two, Stolen, we find out more about their background and how the world was destroyed.

TRC: The Heart of Dread series is written by you and your husband, Michael Johnston. Can you please tell us your process in writing the book together?

Melissa: We talk a lot. Talk, talk, talk, talk. Then one of us will write something down and give it to the other to develop then we trade it between us until the book is done. Mike usually does a lot of the work in the beginning and I do a lot of work at the end.

TRC: Stolen is the 2^nd book in this series, being released tomorrow. Can you please give us a brief description of Stolen?

Melissa: Stolen picks up a few months where Frozen left off, Nat is learning to use her power and Wes is reduced to driving in the death races in Vegas. Wes gets a tip about his missing sister and races to her, only to find himself in the same place as Nat. They uncover more terrible secrets of in both the fantastic world of Vallonis and the gritty world of the RSA.

TRC: You write a number of genres. Do you find it difficult to switch between genres?

Melissa: No. I love it. Keeping my work different is what keeps me going.

TRC: Your Witches of East End series is now in its second year on television (Lifetime). You have a wonderful cast on the show. I love Jenna DewanTatum & Daniel Di Tomasso together. How does it feel to see your characters come to life? Also, how do you feel the television series is portraying your storyline in comparison to the book?

Melissa: It’s awesome. Just a joy to see my characters on screen. Pure joy. The TV show has a different story, but it kept the heart of the book – the love triangles, the family dynamics, the small town, the mythology. I love it, I’m a huge fan. I’m devastated at its cancellation but I have other projects I’m working on that will hopefully be on television soon.

TRC: You have a new series, The Ring and the Crown. Can you please give us a brief description of this series, and how many books are you planning?

Melissa: The Ring and The Crown is an alternate historical fantasy set in the early 20^th century where France and Britain have combined into one kingdom and Merlin has been alive a thousand years. It is about princesses, love, magic, betrayal, romance and sisterhood. I am unsure yet of how many books, at least three, maybe more, but that all depends on sales. Publishers want to see series selling or they cancel them too.

TRC: Would you like to share with us anything else that you may have upcoming in 2015?

Melissa: My big Disney Middle grade book is Isle of the Lost: a Descendants prequel – Descendants is the new Disney Channel Original Movie that comes out in August 2015. My book comes out in May.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Melissa: We’re also currently developing The Ring and The Crown as a television show, so hopefully that will get picked up. We can only hope!

TRC: Thank you, Melissa for giving us an update on what we can look forward to in 2015, and we wish you the best of luck with Stolen.

If you want to learn more about Melissa, you can find her at the following links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Tumblr

Giveaway beige Melissa’s publisher is offering a hard-copy of STOLEN to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1.If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Melissa De La Cruz on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is U.S. only

8. Giveaway runs from November 17- 20, 2014

STOLEN by Kelley Armstrong

Calling out all Kelley Armstrong Fans!!!

WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD reading challenge hosted by Link: MOONLIGHT GLEAM’S BOOKSHELF

Seeing as my most favorite series is coming to an end, I thought it would be a great opportunity to gather all Women of the Otherworld lovers to say goodbye and show our appreciation to such a wonderful series!

If you have not yet read Women of the Otherworld and have some of the books on your TBR shelves, this would be a great opportunity to enter Kelley Armstrong’s magical world of all things paranormal and join in on this amazing adventure!

STOLEN by Kelley Armstrong

STOLEN is the second book in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. Elena Michaels, the only known female werewolf in existence, wants to lead a normal life with her mate and family, but a group of ‘researchers’ and the billionaire who heads the institute, have other plans for Elena and the world of supernatural beings.

Following a lead on a story about werewolf sightings, Elena is introduced to Paige and Ruth Winterbourne, mother and daughter witches who sit on the Council for Supernatural beings. As surprised as Elena is, that such a council exists, let alone witches, she is more surprised to find out that the ‘supernatural’ are hunted by billionaire Ty Winsloe, and then experimented upon and held in custody for his own personal collection.

After a failed kidnapping attempt by Winsloe’s men, Elena and some of the pack make a decision.-it is time to meet the Council of Supernatural Beings and find out, what they know about Winsloe and his compound of vigilante hunters. Jeremy (Pack alpha) and Clayton (Elena’s mate) make an appearance alongside Elena at the emergency Council meeting, where we are introduced to Adam Vasic, a half demon whose powers involve fire, and Cassandra, a vampire who has eyes for Clay. Without a doubt, the reader knows, we will see these characters at a future date, with stories of their own.

When Elena is abducted and held prisoner at the compound, she realizes she isn’t alone. Ruth Winterbourne and an assortment of other supernatural beings are already held in custody, trying desperately to communicate with one another. But it isn’t until Ruth dies under mysterious circumstances, and Elena is introduced to Savannah Levine, a young and powerful 12 year old witch, that she makes the decision to attempt freedom.

Meanwhile, following several ‘physical exams’ and a threat against her mate, Elena becomes aware of one of the true reasons behind her abduction-to ‘make’ another werewolf. Sondra Bauer, a compound examiner and scientist, has injected herself with saliva she procured from one of the physical exams. Without the aid of a Pack, Sondra’s change to werewolf is anything but successful-her body is unable to handle the many changes and when attempting to escape, she is killed by the very guards, she once controlled.

We are introduced to several supernatural characters including demons Xavier Reese and Leah O’Donnell, a chameleon shifter Armen Haig, and vampire Aaron Darnell, someone from Cassandra’s past and recent present. With an attempt at telepathic communication, Jeremy and Clay are able to contact Elena through Paige, but Clay refuses to believe that Paige has any ability beyond her ability to irritate. When the connection is broken, Elena becomes distraught and through dreams, she is able to connect once again with Clay, only to see that he too is suffering without his mate and lover.

Ty Winsloe, is a sadistic collector of the supernatural, and when his ‘projects’ no longer serve any purpose, he pits Elena against a few of the failures. Hoping to learn more about the werewolf’s physiology and her ability to shift, Winsloe continues to antagonize Elena with pictures of an injured werewolf and talk of her ‘dead’ mate. She soon realizes that Clay and the others have tried unsuccessfully to rescue her, and she is now determined, to free herself from the compound and its’ band of vigilante warriors.

Following her bid for freedom, Elena and Clay must return to the compound to rescue Savannah and the others. Without a doubt, Savannah is a powerful witch and they soon realize she is one being, that could very well, control many of the people with a few words and a look. We see the introduction of Adam to Savannah, a foreshadowing of many storylines, and the escape of Leah O’Donnell, a demon that will surface again in a future book. But, all is not lost, when Clay and Elena make the final move against Winsloe and his crew at the compound. One by one, each member of Winsloe’s team is ‘removed’ from duty and meets his demise at the hands or ‘paws’ of either a demon or wolf.

Again, I can’t say enough about Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. I found this series, purely by accident, while looking for something in the paranormal genre. As a fellow Canadian, I was excited and thrilled to read such an exciting series of novels and characters, and one that didn’t follow the usual vampire/werewolf storylines. I am saddened that Kelley is ending her Otherworld series in 2012, but with her continued novellas and anthologies, Elena, Clay and the other werewolves, will continue to be some of my favorite characters and Kelley one of my favorite authors.

reviewed by Sandy

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Tag Archives: Stolen

Stolen by Melissa De La Cruz/Michael Johnston – Review & Catching Up Interview

Stolen by Melissa De La Cruz/Michael Johnston – Review, Interview & Giveaway

STOLEN by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Reading Challenge)

STOLEN by Kelley Armstrong