BOOK REVIEW: Take a Chance by Megs Pritchard

Take a Chance by Megs Pritchard

Published date: 7th April, 2017

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, M/M

Format: Ebook

Pages: 198

Rating: 4*
Synopsis: 

Tom Carter 

Kicked out at fifteen for being gay, Tom survived by selling his body on the streets. Four years later, Tom, now nineteen, doesn’t know how long he can continue living this life. 

One night while out working, Tom sees a face from his past, one he had long forgotten. One he had used to fantasise about. 

Seb Banks 

Afraid of the reaction he will receive, Tom runs away hoping never to see him again. But Seb had other ideas. 

Sebastian Banks 

At twenty-five, Seb’s life is going exactly the way he had wanted. Having worked hard at University, Seb has been offered a permanent contract at a local solicitor. 

While driving to a friend’s house to celebrate, Seb is shocked to find Tom, someone he hasn’t seen in years, on the streets, selling himself. 

Feeling an overwhelming need to help Tom, Seb tracks him down and offers him a way out. 

Is Tom willing to take a chance on Seb and accept his offer, or will his distrust of everyone from his past cause him to push Seb away? 

Includes a sneak peek of book two, New Beginnings, Ben and Geoff's story. 

REVIEW:

Pretty much impressed with the whole book. 

I've never read a book that includes prostitution. It broke my heart to see how much Tom and his friends suffered because of their sexual orientation. Being gay doesn't make you a worst person, it just makes you who you are and what matters is just your happiness and nothing else. 

Tom's parents reaction to him being gay was just from another world. What the hell did they have on their minds?? Throwing out a 15 year old kid on the streets is just completely insane!! It was their freaking son for gods sake.

For four years Tom had to do what he could so he could have some money to himself and even share a bit with the other four kids who lived with him in an abandoned house.

What amazes me more about Tom is that he isn't an addict. Even with all the problems he had to deal with he managed to no choose to succumb do addiction as a way of escaping his stresses, fears and difficulties. 

It was marvelous to see how Sebastian truly wanted to help Tom and be a part of his life once again. Seb never stopped looking and thinking about Tom and how his life was and that was major sweet.

I think that Sebastian and also his boss from work were the the two best characters in the book and between all the people who didn't give two sh*ts about if Tom could manage himself, these two were always worried and wanting to help and make Tom's and his friends lives better.

After reading the synopsys I really wanted to read this book and I finished it with a smile. I was quite pleased with how everything turned out (even though there was one part that broke my heart into a million pieces).

BOOK REVIEW: Beyond Love by C. J. Pinard

Beyond Love by C. J. Pinard

Published date: 11th April, 2017

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4*
Publisher: Pinard House Publishing

Synopsis: He’s been broken, repaired, and has finally risen above his devastating injury.

She’s a cute, foul-mouthed nurse with an attitude as big as the ocean, but has a caring heart even bigger.

They once loved each other back when life was simple and being an adult wasn’t an issue. What was once a beautiful love turned into a devastating heartbreak. Are they brave enough to give it another try now that life is complicated and ugly? Because while their circumstances once tore them apart, love was never their problem.

KYLE

Eighteen years old when she broke my heart. Eighteen years old when I left to join the Marine Corps, knowing when I got back, she would not be there waiting for me. I never expected to see her ten years later, all heartbroken and humbled. I just don’t know if I can go there again with Adria Green. She’s short, sassy, and even more stubborn than she was when we were kids – and painfully more beautiful. So why do I find myself completely and inexplicably drawn to her? Because what drew me to her back then has been reignited without my permission, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to douse the old flame. I’ve already lost half a leg. I can’t lose my heart, too.

ADRIA

Am I to blame for my actions when I was just a kid and starting out at life? I was stupid back then, but I’m not stupid anymore. I’m educated, confident, and after my ex-fiancé cheated on me and left, I’m even more careful with who’s going to get my heart. Seeing Kyle Adams after all these years made my heart stop and then almost drop out of my chest. He’s even more gorgeous and considerably more built than he was when we were in high school – despite the injury. I feel myself being pulled toward him like nothing I’ve ever felt, not even back then. But can we go there again? Can you really and truly go back? No, I don’t believe you can. I’m just not sure I can go forward now, either.

REVIEW:

I'm so so so darn happy that I got to read this book.

I just fell in love with Ky and Adria's relationship and how well the story developed.

The transitions between scenes and plot holes was so well written that I felt as if I was living that story myself.

We get to see a story about second chances and confronting the past. About cleansing the mind and soul and accepting the mistakes we made but the most important thing here was that the past isn't always bad and that we should forget it. Ky and Adria were highschool sweethearts and even though their relationship came to an end, they got to find each other once again and eventually reconnect their feeling for each other. They never stopped loving one another and that made my whole heart melt into a puddle.

I don't to spoil more than I think I've already have so please pleaseeee read it!

BOOK REVIEW: Year of the Scorpio (Part 2) by Stacy Gail

Year of the Scorpio (PART 2) by Stacy Gail

Published date: 17th February, 2017

Genres: Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Format: Ebook

Rating: 4*
Synopsis:

My name is Dash.

The Vitaliev Bratva had always been a part of my life, but I was never a part of it. My father built it from the ground up, and while he never hid what the family business was, he never wanted my life to be tainted by it.

But my father forgot one thing.

I’m also a Vitaliev.

Everything I hold dear has been targeted since my father’s death—my business, my friends, and the peaceful world I’ve built for myself. But it wasn’t until the love of my life, Polo Scorpeone, was struck down by a sniper’s bullet that I realized being a Vitaliev isn’t a curse. It’s a strength.

I will face my hidden enemy with the Vitaliev fire of old, and I’ll do it with the most powerful lethal weapon Chicago’s underworld has ever known by my side.

Come to find out, the legendary Scorpio is hard to kill.

REVIEW:

Holy lord the first couple of chapters were so hard to read because they were extremely painful. Seeing Dash suffer the way she did just killed me and then BAM! Polo's here and holy molly those sexy times between the two of them.

The fire between them doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon.

This was also a book full of more action and juicy drama. The only thing that pissed the hell of out of me was the lack of communication between Dash and Polo. I mean, Polo was so blind with the need to protect Dash at any cost that he didn’t thought what was the best for Dash, he just made sure she was kept alive and thus making her suffer in a way.
Thank god that after some time Polo decided to hear Dash out and after that the book regained it’s fantastic pace and badassery.

Let’s just talk for a bit about Knives. Crazy doesn’t describe it because the guy has no brains and heart at all. This piece of sh*t was born after Nizhy died at age 15 basically which is heartbreakin
g because Dash lost her lovely brother and gained a maniac who was her brother only by blood because to her he was no longer anything important. Of course it hurt losing him in the end but the guy freaking wanted her dead and I think it was for the best that he died the way he did. Actually, that he died, it doesn’t matter how, just that he died and he won’t hurt anyone anymore because so many lives were lost thanks to this bastard, including my baby boy Konstantin. Still not over his death obviously.

I loved how in the end everything wraped up and we got to see Polo having a clean life like he wanted since he was a boy and after he gained his freedom from Boryshko. He’s happy and living next to the love of his life, Dash.
The cherry on top was obviously when Polo suggested that they name their son Konstantin, that me cry like a huge baby and I had a smile so huge on my face that I can’t even describe the stupid expression that I had.

Such an awesome book with badass characters, action packed, juicy drama and a lot of sexy times.

BOOK REVIEW: Year of the Scorpio (Part 1) by Stacy Gail

Year of the Scorpio (PART 1) by Stacy Gail

Published date: 9th October, 2016

Genres: Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 311
Format: Ebook

Rating: 5*
Synopsis:

They call me Dash. Sixteen years ago my brother and I were kidnapped. The Scorpeones believed our father, boss of the Vitaliev Bratva, could be pressured into relinquishing his hold on Chicago’s underworld.

They were dead wrong.

Ultimately the Scorpeones made the youngest of their family pay for their sins. I tried not to care. Marco Polo Scorpeone, the hostage whose life was forfeit if his family moved on the Vitalievs, was the enemy. Why should I care if he was tortured worse than a prisoner of war?

Except I did care.

For sixteen years I’ve cared, more than I can say.

They call me Scorpio.

There was no light in my world. Then I saw Dash smile.

No voice could pierce my darkness. Then I heard Dash speak.

I’ve killed to survive. Killed to please my handler. Hell, I’ve killed to please myself. Killing is what I do.

I know I’m not good enough for Dash, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that she’s mine, from now until the end of time. But that time might be nearer than I think, because someone deadlier than me is closing in…

Scorpeones believed our father, boss of the Vitaliev Bratva, could be pressured into relinquishing his hold on Chicago’s underworld.

REVIEW:

HOOKED. ON. THE. FIRST. PAGE.

Jesus, Stacy Gail knows how to grab you right at the beginning of a book. The freaking prologue was so genius and it gave me a major case of goosebumps.
I loved, loved, loved her writing throughout the whole book. The way she described everything, the cocky responses Polo or even Dash gave, my lovely Konstantin and his huge heart towards all his lovers but mostly the way he cared for Dash, he was genuinely her best friend.

Yup, I had to talk about Konstantin, he was one of my favorite characters and I think he made a great impact in both Part One and Two.

Now let’s talk about Polo and Dash. Not the usual couple we see in a book. Dash is gloriously badass and will cut your tongue out if you mess with her. She has some crazy lady balls and dear lord if someone tells her what to do instead of letting her decide said thing by herself.

Polo… Polo… Polo… Where can I find one but buy 30?! I loved him right from the get go. Even with all the suffering and torture he went through we see him as a better man than most people. Yup, he killed people for a living but that’s what he was made into. A killing machine. It doesn’t mean that it was something he liked or even wanted to do from the beginning. It’s clear all he wanted was to have a clean and legal life but even though that was taken away from him he still tried to pursue that life but with Dash by his side. You can totally see the freaking attraction between them both and it’s something not recent but with years’ worth of sexual tension and shared feelings.

I loved the whole story and character development. The whole drama and the danger lurking through every chapter. This book was just sooooo freaking juicy, I couldn’t put it down thus why I gave it five stars.
Also… that freaking ending! My heart barely lived through that for crying out loud!!!

This is a must read for you all.

BOOK REVIEW: Malaise by Max Henry

Malaise by Max Henry

Published date: 11th October, 2016

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult

Pages: 468

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: Final exams and end of year parties don’t seem so important at your brother’s funeral.

Two short weeks, and Meg would have survived her senior year relatively unscathed. But when her best and only friend—her brother—dies in a questionable road accident, being the loner in her year doesn’t fit as well as it used to.

One act of kindness from the man her small town isolated amidst rumors and lies, and her hope for a day where pain won’t overwhelm her doesn’t seem so far-fetched. Brett Carver is trouble with a capital T, but he’s also the only person who can get Meg to let go and smile.

Some good things are never meant to last.

Arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, the man who finally found a way to bring light back to her dark days is ripped away when she needs him most. Determined not to lose the only good thing to have come out of her year from hell, Meg sets out to prove Brett isn’t guilty. But first, she must accept the ugly truth …

… that the people who can prove his innocence are the same people who will do all it takes to keep them apart.

REVIEW:

I started this book knowing basically nothing. I had only read the synopsis and a couple of bookstagrammers had said that they enjoyed Max Henry’s books so I gave it a shot. 

It wasn’t a pity shot or a ‘’hm, let’s see if this is worth my time’’, none of that. The synopsis had awoken a huge curiosity inside me so I NEEDED to read this.

This was the first Max Henry book I read and I must say that I started with the right book, not that any other wouldn’t be a good introduction to the author’s books, but in a way, I connected to the story and some aspects of it.

Throughout the whole book my heart would beat so freaking fast. My concern for Meg and her life was so damn real that I was always worried of what would happen next because nothing seemed easy for her or at least less hard than it already was. What she thought she wanted wasn’t what she needed. Yes, she needed for her parents to love her and cherish her but she needed to find herself alone and by alone I mean without others influence. Once again, yes, Carver is in a way an influence in her life but he pushes her away so she fights for what she truly wants and must do to achieve everything in her life. He doesn’t want her to give up on her future for him.

I can genuinely say that this book made think of my own life choices and all the obstacles I’ve endured. This story shows us clearly, even though we already have a pretty good idea of it, that is quite hard to endure and that there will be a lot of ups and downs (mostly downs) but it doesn’t mean we should give and leave our dreams be just dreams and not a reality.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE You must read it!

BOOK REVIEW: The Elven Tales by Fabi Ghittoni

The Elven Tales by Fabi Ghittoni

Published date: 1st February, 2017

Genres: Fantasy

Format: Ebook

Rating: 3.5*

Synopsis: Prudence Clark lives a seemingly normal life in Cambridge with her best friend's family. But a series of strange events compounded by a wave of kidnappings is about to turn everything she believed about her existence upside down.

A brutal attack catapults her into a new reality - one that makes her the most important refugee of the Council of the Five Kingdoms. Now, she's charged with the task of finding the King's runes to stop Alanel, the most malicious and ruthless being, following his escape from prison.

Alanel has declared war on the king of Arkana. Now, even more shocking truths come forth, exposing long-held secrets about Prudence's past and her destiny. Her newfound knowledge will prompt her to embark on a treacherous journey to face dangerous beasts in the most inhospitable of places. But her journey will not be alone, she'll be joined by the Company of the Rose, brave warriors that will fight by her side, and hopefully, lead to the retrieval of the runes before it's too late.

REVIEW:

An ebook copy of the book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Before moving into the review of the story let's just talk about that freaking cover. It's so so beautiful! It suit the book so well and I don't know how to describe the design besides TOTAL PERFECTION.

Now into the review.

Spoiler-free!

So I'm giving this book a 3.5* rating.

Why?

Well I did quite enjoy the plot itself and where the book was leading us readers. It made me so curious to keep reading so I couldn't just not finish it but I think the fact that Prudence, our main character, lacked some emotion killed a bit of the excitement of reading this book. 

What do I mean by lack of emotion? In the beginning she's worrying about one thing of her life and then suddenly it all changes dramatically but she doesn't question anything. She just enters this whole new world like: ''oh, okay''. Also, she does everything she's told to do, no questions asked. I think that aspect itself was what killed the reading buzz. But otherwise I completely enjoyed the story line and I'm pretty sure this series has a lot of potencial of getting better and better. 

The characters and also the description of the surroundings we encounter in the book need a bit more work on them. We need to have something that makes us even more attached to them so we get hooked on the book and a bit more description about the place(s) where the characters and/or the action is progressing. 

But hey, if you're into books filled with action please pick this one. This is one badass action packed book which will totally make you breathless!

BOOK REVIEW: Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell

Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell

Published date: 24th June, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

Pages: 338

Format: Hardback

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: “His eyes settled on her…piercing green embers of flame that revealed the ferocity of his pain and passion, yet still shrouded him under veils of ever deepening mystery that made every ounce of her ache to unravel him.” 

Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.

Review:

To everyone who even thinks of reading this book (and surely must), please check Dallas Coryell's youtube channel. His voice is devine! And I'm not promoting him because he asked me so, I'm doing it because I want it. His songs are complete masterpieces that must be shared with everyone.

Now let's go into the review.

Just so you know how much I loved this story... I even read the book at work! I couldn't put it down and when I had to because I had some costumers to attend to, I was thinking of what was going to happen on the next scene the whole entire time. During 85% of the book I spent it with a huge smile plastered on my face. The other 15% I had a worried face because there were some heart-pounding moments in this book that almost gave two or three heart attacks. 

We get to meet our British girl Tegan and our American boy Mason. We get to see how both try to pick up each others broken pieces and put them all back together. The friendship, the flirt, the romance, all the emotions shared between them were so captivating. Both baring secrets and both connecting with each other in a beautiful romantic way. 

I loved how their relationship grew from time to time and not just something fast. The pull between them was there and the feelings emerged with it and grew from day to day, from each moment they shared together and each secret from the past that they revealed.

We could say ''don't judge a book by it's cover'' and this is regarding Mason. Tegan thought he was someone because of what was written on the internet, magazines and all those gossip places where you can get your fair share of fake info. But she was so wrong, her thoughts about the broken guy she met were so wrong and Tegan got to see that once she let herself know him properly. Tegan herself was a broken person, afraid to let people in but being in Mason's company changed her heart, her fears, it broke down her wall of protection.

Reading this book left a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. Dallas Coryell's writing is so exquisite and the way he describes everything just left me amazed. I really want to read more things that he may publish in the future because I'm thirsty for his writing and stories he may share. This book deserves to be read with so much attention and love towards the story and everything written in it. An amazing author and an amazing book!

I would like to thank the author for sending me his book and letting me read this amazing creation of his.  

BOOK REVIEW: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court Of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Published date: 3rd May, 2016

Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Fantasy

Pages: 624

Format: Paperback

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

Review:

*SPOILER FREE*

I have so much to say about this book. First of all, let me tell you with just one word what I think of it: Perfection.

While reading this I had so many different thoughts, feelings, fears, tears, smiles, laughs and so on. 

I've waited a whole year for this book, like a lot of people have as well, so the anticipation and great expectations I had were major. I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses so, so much that I knew for sure that Sarah J. Maas wouldn't disappoint me with this one but I started this story with my mind set on one thing and when the plot went the other way around I wanted to burn the book.

Disclaimer: No books were harmed in the process of reading A Court of Mist and Fury.

But! (there's always a but), I fell in love with character I hated and got angry, disappointed and sad with characters I previously loved. Sarah J. Maas has this power to change your thoughts towards her creations that is outstanding!

This book contains beautiful writing, a lot of plot twists, snarky and sarcastic comments which made me laugh so hard, heart-pounding suspense and the most awesome, sexy, swoon worthy romance ever.

It's impossible not to fall in love with this story and every single chapter it contains.

Let's talk about character development.

Feyre. For me she was the character who showed the most improvement while the other characters simply gave us more information about themselves or changed from one book to the other since some previous actions influenced the ones in this book.

We got to see Feyre being a bad ass girl in A Court of Thorns and Roses and in this book... DAMN GIRL, YOU GOT SOME SKILLS! But before she's all bad ass and stuff, she's broken like it's mentioned on the synopsis. After everything that happened with Amarantha it's understandable the state that Feyre is through the first chapters. What makes her heal, the action that help her get better is what made my thoughts towards some characters change.

Still gonna leave this review spoiler free so I'm not going to prolong myself even more. I really recommend this book to everyone but you have to read A Court of Thorns and Roses first before you dive into this one. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published date: 17th May, 2016

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction

Pages: 480

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Review:

*SPOILER FREE*

Once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout writes another outstanding book.

As always, she managed to create a story where you can laugh, smile with several moments, get angry, sad and cry. But most importantly is that you fall in love with every character and you desire to know more and more about every single one of them.

Since this is a spoiler free review, I won't talk about the plot (in this case, things that happened in the book).

I can pick three words that define this book:

1. Emotional
2. Hopeful
3. Inspiring

The way she managed to write about such ''hard'' and emotion filled topics was impressive. Topics like drug dealing, adoption, childhood traumas, death. The story itself sounded so real, so true that when I finished reading it, I started thinking about many things in my life and those who surround me. Like it says in the book, we take things, life mainly, for granted. Nothing lasts forever.

[ INTERVIEW ] - with Bryant A. Loney

Hellooo my fellow readers! Sorry for posting this soooo late, but here goes the interview I had with Bryant A. Loney, the author of the novel To Hear The Ocean Sigh and the novelette Exodus in Confluence.
I had a great time questioning this great author and all his answers left my mouth opened widely. Besides the stories he has written, while he speaks/writes he's quite amazing!
I'm very thankful to VERONA BOOKSELLERS for making this great opportunity available to me.
Here goes the interview:


Bri: First of all, thank you so much for giving me some of your time to chat with me. I feel honored to be here questioning you and also, you're the first author I'm interviewing!

BL: But of course! Thank you for having me on your blog.

Bri: So for the first question, I'm quite intrigued to know at what age did you start writing and having the knowledge that you liked doing it?

BL: I first started writing stories in December of 2005 when I was in third grade. I had always been intrigued by newspaper investigations, so I thought I would create my own little newsletter, which was essentially a single piece of paper with my name at the top made using Microsoft Publisher. Turns out I liked the storytelling aspect more so than the actual reporting, so all the news was fiction and based off whatever little weird ideas I had in my head at the time. Even so, it was my creative outlet for a while. Kind of embarrassing!

Bri: I wouldn't say embarrassing but yes quite creative! You could say you started your writing career at a very young age. Was there any writer (or writers) who inspired you to proceed with your writings?

BL: Stephen King's introduction to his book JUST AFTER SUNSET definitely inspired me to try my hand at short stories to see where they took me. It was through Bryan Lee O'Malley's work, however, that I was able to see the benefits of coming-of-age storytelling, or rather, works featuring teenagers as the central characters. I think it was a lovely combination of both authors that engaged my creative energy and allowed me to pursue longer fiction when I felt comfortable enough. 

Bri: So, to put it in even less words, your inspiration is a mixture of two great writers and thus was born your own book! 
Besides those two authors you've pointed out, could you recommend a book that you think a lot of teenagers should read?

BL: Every teenager should read Jay Asher's THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. Really makes you think about the way you treat a person, especially peers you may not know all too well. THE STRANGER by Albert Camus is also a must, though I would recommend this one specifically for juniors and seniors in high school during their second semester. Meursault's existentialist viewpoint is refreshing and unsurprisingly relatable at that age, and it's a quick read, too.

Bri: Since I don't know the books you've mentioned, I'll also make sure to read them. Thank your for the recommendation!
Now for a more random question. Do you get writer's block?

BL: Frequently! I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my writing, so the first draft is always difficult. I'll get frustrated with myself for not knowing a certain character's motivation just yet, for example, or I'll be dissatisfied with how I ended a particular paragraph. That's about the time I'll take a break, as an important piece of writing advice I once heard is to write when you feel inspired; don't force it. You'll get sludge if you do, and while sludge bumps up a word count, you'll always have to delete it after. I figure, in those instances, I might as well do something to bring back that creative energy, such as watching a TV show or reading a book in a similar genre or mindset as whatever I'm writing at the time. It's a struggle, but so it goes.

Bri: I agree completely when you said that you should write when inspired and to not force. I think that if you're truly inspired, the writing comes more nicely.
Besides considering yourself, and I quote. ''a bit of a perfectionist'', what other word would you choose to characterize your writing?

BL: My work can be viewed as satirical. An an American contemporary writer, I've seen there's a lot of the 2010s to talk about, whether its our obsession with technology, our nostalgic longings for simpler days, our growing concern with politics, our shaming of cruel standards, and with globalization, our sudden need to find acceptance and applause from those outside our social circle. I'm generalizing here, obviously, but these are the facets of our time that genuinely fascinate me, so it's only natural they find their way into my writing. I like calling out the inconsistencies I see, but don't get me wrong, I'm no saint. Nonetheless, I feel by doing the research to properly execute my thoughts, I'm becoming better informed on the issues of today, and in doing so, perhaps I can invoke actual change.
At the same time, I'd also use "facetious." Just because these are serious concerns of mine doesn't mean I won't approach them in a light manner. It's a segue into the darker stuff, I believe. Baby steps.

Bri: So in a way you use your viewing of today's world and adapt it to your writing, is that it? From what I've grasped from your book To Hear the Ocean Sigh, you pointed out several common issues teenagers go through on daily basis and it seemed you tried to ''joke around the topic'' as if approach a serious topic in a lighter way.
From this book, what was the hardest part to write?

BL: I wouldn't say I joked around the topics of sex, drugs, death, technology, and religion, but I certainly tried to introduce them in a more comedic tone. That's what kids do, after all. They test the waters with serious issues before going all-in. They're afraid of being judged by friends and family for having honest questions and concerns. By presenting these topics with comedy first, I believe they are easier to approach. After that, we can have an authentic conversation on sex, drugs, death, etc. Before the Internet, many teenagers would turn to novels for information on these sorts of issues, not simply because they were scared to ask a parent, but because novels are an excellent medium to discuss real aspects of our lives sans censorship. There's still a lot that can't be depicted in television, film, and video games, whereas novels can get away with a lot more. I try to do my part by engaging in these subjects by way of humor first, then reality soon after.

Bri: Now I understand it better, thank your for clarifying it for me and future readers.
And I have to agree that by introducing those topic the way you do, it turns easier to later approach them in a serious way.
Now regarding your novella Exodus in Confluence, what I wanted to know is how do you connect the ending (the part where it talk about the school shootings) with the zombie story?

BL: The protagonist of EXODUS, Stephen Hart, is a troubled individual filled with rage, as are many school shooters. The 2012 Sandy Hook and Aurora massacre sickened me, and I was so frustrated with how these young men could commit such awful acts. In writing the novella, I wanted to explore the mindset of these mass-murders. Stephen wishes for a specific girl to see him as more than just a friend, to which I'm sure a lot of high schoolers can relate. But Stephen takes his obsession too far, which he justifies in his mind by fabricating a world in which he is a survivor in a zombie apocalypse. Is he the protagonist? Yes. Is he a hero? No. He is human, not a monster, which is a notion I wanted to explore with this piece.

Bri: I must say the way you ended the novella left me wide open mouthed. I didn't even had the word to describe it but I thought it was wonderful. The connection I made with the ending and the zombie story was somewhat what you've just explained, but now that I'm reading the connection with your words, it's easier to understand the meaning behind it all. 
Well, these were all the questions I had for you.
Thank you so much for answering them all and for giving me your time.

BL: Not a problem! Thank you for reading. It means a lot.

Bri: Thank you for writing such amazing stories!