Published: CreateSpace (March 3, 2011)
Audience: Young Adult
Source: Personal Copy
Young Adult * Urban Fantasy
Description from GoodReads:
Scout Donovan is a girl who believes in rules, logic, and her lifelong love of Charlie Hagan. Alex Cole believes in destiny, magic, and Scout. When Alex introduces Scout to the world of Shifters, men who change into wolves or coyotes during the full moon and Seers, women who can see your most private thoughts and emotions with a mere touch, the knowledge changes everything and everyone Scout thought she knew.
How do you review a book that you have watched come into being? To admit that I am biased and partial would be an understatement. But I can tell you why I like it just like I would any other book.
When Tammy shared the manuscript for this book with me two years ago, it really did hook me. And I can be brutally honest. If it moves too slowly or doesn't hold my attention or I don't care about the characters, I will say so. Yet, as I read this early version of the manuscript, I got excited. Also, I have read this story through several revisions and again in it's final format. Trust me, I won't re-read and re-read something unless I honestly like it. Destiny Binds has several of the qualities that are important to me in a story and for that reason I can easily recommend this for fans of YA paranormal/urban fantasy/romance.
First, I loved the characters that Tammy created. Scout, the female protagonist, is bright and feisty and has a great sense of humor. I like being in her head. She is a fun narrator. Then there is her brother - really her step-brother - Jase. As you can tell from the character interview from yesterday's blog post, they play-off each other in a fun way. Of course there is Alex, the hunky new guy, and Charlie, the long-time object of hotness.
Second, books that use just the right level of humor will keep me reading. Maybe because I am envious of people who can write humor well and not be annoying in the process. Tammy has a little Joss Whedon mixed in with some Libba Bray in her style of humor. She is probably the only person that can use all these cultural references that in some books would date the text but she manages to pull it off.
Third, I have to admit that prior to Destiny Binds and Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, I really hadn't read any books that centered on shape-shifters or what might be commonly referred to "werewolves". I admit I am more of a vampire girl. (Yeah, don't hold that against me.) Thanks to Tammy, I might have found a small place in my literary heart for some really cute shape-shifters.
Finally, any book that makes me care about the characters and what will happen to them is a winner in my mind. If Tammy doesn't hurry up and write book two I might throw a fit. Really, I need more of Scout, Alex, Jase, Charlie, Talley and the rest of the gang. Heck, I just might need to invite her out to California for a writer's retreat so I can catch glimpses of book 2. If you want a chance to find read Destiny Binds, scroll down and find out how you can win your own copy.
You can find Destiny Binds on Amazon. Click here.
Complete the form below for a chance to win a signed copy of Destiny Binds. Please read contest rules carefully.
Rules for the Contest:
1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (it will be deleted if you do), you must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.
2. The Contest runs from June 18th to 11:59 Pacific Time on June 26, 2011.
3. You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
4. If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
5. International participants are welcome to enter the contest.
