BLOG TOUR ~ KARMA BITES by NYRAE DAWN

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Karma Bites Blog Tour! My stop includes a review of the newest book by author Nyrae Dawn.

Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Publication Date: August 15, 2012
Format: ebook
Pages:
Source: Received from author for review.

"Whoever said, 'parents are always right' really should have thought that one through. After all, my mom believes in vampires. Go figure."

All Abigail Thompson ever wanted was to be considered normal. Instead, she ended up a loner with a vampire–obsessed mom and a stamp labeling her the resident freak of Karma, California.

When bad boy Caleb Evans saves Abby from a mean girl attack straight out of a “B” movie, Abby’s own karma starts to improve. Maybe “normal” could become her way of life, after all. But Caleb isn’t the only boy to notice her. Once newcomer Gabriel Chambers becomes Abby’s new best friend, she finds herself trapped between two boys, both holding secrets. And when Abby learns sometimes things really do go bump in the night, she discovers one of those secrets could just get her killed.

With a disbelieving and snarky teen protagonist, Karma Bites is a fun take on vamps.

Abby Thompson's mom believes in vampires. Like, really believes in them. Her quirkiness makes the pair outcasts in the town of Karma, California. Abby has zero friends and is constantly on the run from The Lipstick Posse, a group of mean girls who bully her. But one day, the school bad boy Caleb stands up for her. Caleb has long been the object of Abby's would-be affections, but he has some serious mystery surrounding him, keeping Abby at arm's length. But they soon grow closer while bonding over their problems. Then comes Gabe. He's new in town, and definitely interested in being Abby's friend, maybe more. Naturally, Caleb and Gabe don't like one another, and Abby doesn't know who to trust. As if her problems aren't enough for one teenager, a face from the past comes back and proves that Abby's mom isn't so crazy at all.

I instantly liked Abby. She was funny, sarcastic, and self-depracating. Sometimes I wished she would lighten up on herself, but honestly, being a social outcast gave her more than enough reason. As for Caleb and Gabe, there was so much mystery surrounding the both of them, that even I didn't know who was best for Abby. I thought Caleb was a good guy, what with his standing up for Abby. I just hated how he was so hot-and-cold with his feelings toward her, even though he does have his reasons. I didn't feel like I knew Gabe that well except that he was kind of strange, which made perfect sense later in the story.

For much of the story, the plot focuses on the characters, particularly Abby's sense of not fitting in, and her attraction to the two boys. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on with Gabe and Caleb, personally I like knowing what's up. Everything started fitting into place and making sense in the last fifty to sixty pages. Behaviors and motivations that were confusing were explained. The arrival of hidden characters that had been operating behind the scenes helped kick the drama up a notch and moved the plot into high gear.

I feel like Karma Bites will have appeal to those who love YA Paranormal Romance. The snarky, dramatic voice of the mc and pieces of the story, particularly the mystery, put me in mind of the Vampire Kisses series.


Favorite Quote ~

  "I break into a run. Sad, I know, but unfortunately I don't have any super-vampire abilities where I'm able to take on The LP by myself. I shove through the charred-brown doors leading to the back of campus. Ahead of me is a field of green. If this were a movie, I'd be frolicking through it rather than running for my life." (ebook, 1%)

You can purchase Karma Bites at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


About the author:

I am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.

I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me. I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.

Connect with Nyrae at:
GoodReads  |  Twitter  |  Blog