SWEET EVIL BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW and Q&A with WENDY HIGGINS

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Sweet Evil Blog Tour. The tour is being hosted by Amber at Fall Into Books, and she has done a fantastic job. This tour is a very special event because it celebrates what a wonderful book Sweet Evil is, as well as it's amazing author, Wendy Higgins. I reviewed Sweet Evil before it's release, and loved it so much that I gave two copies away, and kept one for myself! So today I am re-posting my review so you can find out exactly what I thought, as well as a Q&A with Wendy Higgins. But first, take a look at Sweet Evil.

Series: Sweet Trilogy #1
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 453
Source: Received from publisher for review.

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My faith in the YA paranormal romance genre has recently grown a bit shaky. Instant love connections, reused paranormal elements, and unbelievable characters have played havoc with my patience. To be sure, there are plenty of awesome YA PNR out there, but there are a lot that fall flat for me. So, I was hopeful, but a bit wary when I began SWEET EVIL, despite the hype. I was even skeptical of trusted fellow readers. Could this book really be that good? Yeah, it can and it was. I shut my skeptical mouth after the prologue.

So what was it that I loved about this book?

~Author Wendy Higgins' take on the Nephilim. There are so, so many books with Nephilim. So many that I didn't think I could take one more. But the Nephilim of SWEET EVIL are different. Higgins gave them a particular twist that I hadn't seen before. They are pawns in the struggle between good and evil. They each have a vice that is their "specialty". Those specialties are relevant to the era. There's addictioin, envy, gluttony, vanity, and yes, lust. Which leads me to...

~Kaiden. I loved all of the characters for what they brought to the table. But, Kaiden? He's gorgeous. He's British. His father is a Lust Demon, which makes for some serious sexy times where Kai is concerned. Kai was just...Wow. I am sort of over book jerks. You know, the guys who do nothing but smirk and shoot off at the mouth, which is all a cover for their secret pain. But Kai wasn't that guy. Sure, he can be distant and a bit off-putting, but there's a depth in him that I haven't seen in a lot of book guys lately.

~Anna was well-written, as well. She's a true sweetheart, like a lot of heroines. Anna is an innocent girl thrown into a tumultuous situation. She was kind and thoughtful and did struggle to remain true to herself. She doesn't always say the right thing or make the right decision. A lot of readers complain when the heroine reacts poorly to a situation. I call that realism. Who among us hasn't flipped the eff out when the pooh hits the fan? Now, I'm not one for hand-wringing and obsessive whining, but I like a character who is realistic. Anna is written in such a genuine manner and I adored her throughout the story.

~Lastly, and most importantly, is the writing. I've followed Higgins' story to publishing a bit. I'm so happy SWEET EVIL found a home. The love for her work, the story and the characters, shines brilliantly. Her words flow beautifully, the pacing is perfect, and the story is simply lush and gorgeous. The ending is beautiful torment. I am ecstatic about this book and cannot wait to continue the series. There better be a book two. Please, please buy the book Harper!

This is a gorgeous, seductive book. And just as the title indicates, SWEET EVIL is pure, torturous pleasure.


Favorite Quote:

" 'Because all I could think about was you, Anna, and how good you are, and what you'd think of me. You put thoughts into my head a Neph shouldn't have!' "

Poor, tortured Kaiden... (pg. 250, ARC)

You can purchase SWEET EVIL at:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

 

 

Q&A with Wendy Higgins

 

Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
WH:  The ideas just come from my crazy-whack-funky imagination. I ask
myself a series of questions as a way of brainstorming. And my inspiration is drawn from
life: relationships I’ve  had, things I’ve seen, heartbreaks, books I’ve read, my spirituality—just everything.

What books have most influenced your life?
WH:  Poisonwood Bible, Harry Potter, Twilight, Vampire Academy, The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Paradise Lost, To Kill a Mockingbird…(I could go on and on, lol)

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love reading. I love watching my children learn and create. I love
spending time with my family and friends. And I love traveling.

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
WH:  Not really a routine as much as just setting the mood. I need to be
in a quiet place, alone. My favorite place to write is in my bed, propped up with pillows, when
everyone is asleep. :)

Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
WH:  Probably Richelle Mead because I love her writing style. Her
characters are always interesting and flawed, and she knows how to create awesome romantic tension.

What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
WH:  The Harry Potter series. It’s just a classic. I can’t wait until my
kids are old enough for them!

Wendy: Thanks for having me, Andrea! *muah*

 

Thanks to Wendy for taking the time to answer my questions. Anyone who lists Harry Potter, To Kill a Mockingbird and Richelle Mead as favorites is good people, in my opinon!