Review - Cicada, by Belle Whittington

Summertime had always been carefree and fun for Blair Reynolds and her friends--until they came upon something that was not human. As the group of friends band together in a fight for their lives, Blair's true love becomes something more than human...something unnatural. And their existence relies on their ability to keep a secret.

(From GoodReads)

My Review

From the very beginning of the book, the narrative of Cicada drew me in. It made me part of a secret. What that secret was, took a little bit of time to determine. But it definitely got my attention.

There were a few things I really liked about Cicada. And a few that I didn't love, so much. I'll start with what I liked.

Whittington's writing and description of the landscape and the climate was beautiful. I loved the East Texas setting.  I could almost always visualize the scenery.  And it was gorgeous.

I also enjoyed the main character, Blair. She was strong, stubborn, and loyal. She was willing to take matters into her own hands to help those she loved.

As for the things I didn't love...I hate to confess it, but I just could not get fully invested in the story, through quite a lot of the book.  I didn't connect with the story or most of the characters. And I really hate that I have to admit that.  Mostly because it's hard to determine if it's the actual story that is the problem, or if it's my own personal preferences that got in the way.

I will say, that Cicada really picked up in the last part of the story. The realizations some of the characters made and the suspenseful situations they faced definitely took the intensity and interest level up a few notches.

Cicada was a unique and thoughtful story. And if the intensity continues to build, the sequel, Firefly, should be an enjoyable ride.

Favorite Quote:

" It was the pain that hit me late at night when my head found it's way to my pillow in the dark of my

   room. That was when I allowed it to consume my thoughts until I drifted off to sleep. But the

  daylight hours belonged to me, and I would not permit the gnawing to steal that time from me."

Cicada Book Trailer

Published July 14th 2011                                 

Find Cicada at:

GoodReads  |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

* I received a copy of Cicada from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *

Guest Post and Giveaway From Belle Whittington, author of Cicada

Today I am really excited to have a guest post from Belle Whittington, author of Cicada.

Miss Belle (I call her "Miss" because I find it next to impossible to not address any Southern lady named Belle as "Miss"!) and I have been emailing back and forth for a little while now and she seems like the sweetest lady. When I read the text of her post, I found what she wrote to be so charming! I'm sure you will, too.

Here is Miss Belle...

I have been daydreaming stories for as long as I can remember.  My first recollection of wanting to be a writer was when I was in the second grade, and my teacher, Mrs. Rambin, would have us lay our heads on our desks after lunch while she read us stories full of magic and imagination.

Most of my early writings were stories with a twist of science fiction…even my earliest poems.  I remember sitting on the dam of a neighbor’s pond around the time I was eleven, writing a story about space travel.  In fact, I still have that little handwritten story.  It’s still bound in the same yellow notebook that I put it in way back in the sixth grade!

Growing up in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, afforded me summers full of adventure with my friends.  I call on those adventures and memories a great deal for my YA stories.  Cicada has a lot of the energy of those childhood adventures spun throughout.  One of them is something that actually happened to me when I was thirteen years old.  I was on one of my adventures in the woods with my dog, Dusty.  We made our way through the woods to a neighboring pasture and crawled through the barbed wire fence.  When we got to the top of one of the rolling hills in the grassy field, I realized I was standing in the middle of a giant circle imprinted in the pasture grass.  No one had ever told me about crop circles at that time in my life, so I just thought it was an odd occurrence that there was a strange circle in the tall grass.   Now that circle is forever memorialized in a YA novel, Cicada!

Nowadays, I work at a day job in higher education and spin my tales during those off hours that I’m not working on assignments for my English classes at University of Houston, where I’m earning my degree in hopes of teaching English at the college level one day.

I’m currently writing the two sequels to Cicada.

You can find me online at these locations. I’d love for you to stop by!

• Facebook
• GoodReads
• Tumblr
• Twitter
• Cicada is currently available in paperback at: CreateSpace
• Cicada will be available in paperback on Amazon very soon
• You can find Cicada for e-readers at: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Cicada Book Trailer

Oh my gosh! I loved that post. She is the most charming lady.

Giveaway!

Miss Belle would like to give an e-copy of Cicada to one lucky reader.

Summertime had always been carefree and fun for Blair Reynolds and her friends--until they came upon something that was not human. As the group of friends band together in a fight for their lives, Blair's true love becomes something more than human...something unnatural. And their existence relies on their ability to keep a secret.

(From GoodReads)

This giveaway will be easy-peasy. All you have to do is comment, leaving a name and email address. The giveaway is International. It will run from Saturday, Sept. 24- Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm.  If the winner would leave a review of Cicada once they've read the book, that would be super!

The winner is:

Jessica

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy Cicada.

In My Mailbox #4

Here are the books I received:

Thanks to Sash and Em @ Sash and Em blog
Find DoS&B at GoodReads.

Thanks to Candace @ Candaces Book Blog and Del Rey Publishing.
Find Unholy Ghosts @ GoodReads. 

Thanks to Harper Teen
Find Carrier of the Mark @GoodReads.

Thanks to Harper Teen
Find A Beautiful Dark @ GoodReads.

Thanks to author Belle Whittington
Find Cicada @ GoodReads.

I purchased this book for myself.
You can find Bloodlines @ GoodReads.

I purchased this book for myself.
You can find One Grave at a Time @ GoodReads.

Thanks to Ruby @ Ruby's Reads
Find Forever @ GoodReads.

Thanks to Bathzaida @ Book Kitty Blog and Spencer Hill Press
Find Half-Blood @ GoodReads.






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