I Love Rooting For The Rebels – Stuck by Samantha Durante @SamanthaDurante

Posted on December 20, 2018 by fundinmental

On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Book Tour Launch for Stuck By Samantha Durante
Note from the Author
I am *so* thrilled to be kicking off the Stuck (Stitch Trilogy, Book 3) tour! We’ve got lots of awesome stops planned with exclusive Stitch Trilogy content you won’t find anywhere else, plus a big giveaway to celebrate the arrival of the long-awaited conclusion of the series!
I’d be so honored if you would follow along with Prism Tours and share in the excitement!
In case you’re new to the series, here’s a short (fan-produced!) trailer to whet your appetite:

Hi Sherry! Thank you so much for having me back at Fundimental and for all of your support with the series! Your enthusiasm for the Stitch Trilogy has meant *so* much to me, and I hope your readers will love it just as much!

1. What made you decide to be a writer?

I don’t know if it was a *decision* so much as a compulsion! I’ve always loved to write, ever since I was a kid. I got away from it for a few years in college and afterwards, but even as a software engineer, I managed to“sneak” writing into my job. So when it came time for a major life change (moving back across the country to be near my family), I knew it was a good time to see if I could shift gears and get back to doing what I’d always loved.

2. Tell us how you choose your covers.

A LOT goes into choosing covers for my books – my cover designer must groan whenever my name pops up in his inbox. 🙂 The Stitch Trilogy has been particularly challenging since it spans the genres of dystopian sci-fi and paranormal romance, and (in Book 1 especially) has some major twists that completely change the direction of the story. So it was hard to find a design that incorporated all that, plus hinted at major plot points and introduced the characters, and created a theme that would still be relevant for the remaining books in the series. (In fact, I have a whole guest post devoted to this topic which you can find at another stop on this tour!) In the end, though, I think we managed it –readers have been very vocal about their love for the covers!

3. How do you choose names for your characters and do you have a favorite?

The names for my characters tend to just “come to me” – I can’t really explain it. It’s almost like apart of the character and not something I “choose.” But I do also try to be deliberate about looking up the meanings of the names to make sure they fit who that character is. I think my favorite would have to be Alessa,the protagonist in the Stitch Trilogy. (In fact, I’ve had loved ones tell me to just stop pretending like it isn’t my favorite and go ahead and give it to one of my children, lol.) I just think it’s such a pretty name and not very common, so it feels sort of futuristic and appropriate for science fiction. Also, the meaning is “defender of the people” which I think is pretty fitting for a heroine!

4. If the series were ever made into a movie, who would the actors/actresses be?

Ooohh, this is another one that I could (and, in fact, did) write an entire post about (in another guest post for this tour!). 🙂 My favorites for Alessa and Isaac are Emmy Rossum and Alex Pettyfer, who I chose specifically because they look like those characters (obviously) but they also aren’t household names, so they could really become Alessa and Isaac, if I was ever so lucky to see Stitch on the big screen. But it’s so hard to pick!! These characters all originated in my head, so no one is really perfect for the role, and I’m always open to suggestions! Who do you see when you picture these characters??

5. Do you have a favorite author? What are you reading now?

I have several favorite authors, but the one I’ve been most loving in recent years is Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander books. Her character building is just so, so good; I love all of her main characters and am so invested in everything that happens to them. I just can’t put those books down, and I wish they would go on forever and ever and ever. I’m also (like half the population of planet Earth) a HUGE Game of Thrones fan, so I am eagerly awaiting GRRM’s next release!

6. Tell us something personal about yourself.

Even though much of my series revolves around the characters’ grief, I actually did not have much personal experience in that department when I wrote the first two books of the trilogy. And then, shortly after I published Shudder in 2013, I lost my first child, Alana, at birth to a cord accident, just two days before her due date. Needless to say, I have since become intimately acquainted with grief and all of its ravages and quirks. (And reading back, I’m surprised at how well managed to capture the experience of grief in Books 1 & 2 – I have to chalk that up to reading what had been written about it from other, more talented writers!) So that enormous loss and learning to live with the absence of one of the people I love most in this world has really changed my perspective as a human being and given me a deeper level of insight into my writing. My hope is that that really shines through in Book 3 and resonates with readers who have experienced losses of their own. :’-)

Thanks for joining us!! Samantha

Stuck
(Stitch Trilogy #3)
By Samantha Durante
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Paperback & ebook, 306 Pages
December 15, 2018

MY REVIEW

I remember when I first saw Stitch, Book I of the Stitch Trilogy by Samantha Durante. I had to have it! I fell in love with the story and the characters and have patiently waited as each book became available, then devoured it.

The Engineers manufactured world is the total opposite of the dystopian world of poverty and desolation the rebels live in. Myself, I love rooting for the underdog and the rebels need my help. Here I come guys.

I love that Alessa and Isaac act together, but what about Joe? I think he will be playing a very important part in the story, I just won’t be able to tell you about it. LOL

“Poor bugger got stuck.”

And the monsters were born!

Extermination, extinction, a virus, the end of the world, a man-made apocalypse, secrets, unlikely allies, and a very special girl.

This is one of those books that gets my motor running into overdrive. The elite feel they are the be all end all and to hell with everybody else. OMG! I knew the evil bastards would do something, but I didn’t see that coming. Could it be true?

The writing of the trilogy took place over a five year time span. I think it would have been better if I went back and read the series from the beginning and I will be doing that some time. I have a feeling it will change my rating.

That being said, once the previous books began to come to mind, I was able to bring myself up to date. The story became intense and I was happy to add Alex and Deion to my group of friends. I found it easy to get lost in their world, their struggles, their regrets, loss, hope and love. the writing made the story unfold as if I was watching it on the big screen.

As Samantha Durante brings the trilogy to a close, it brought tears to my eyes. I felt happy with the characters endings. BUT, man oh man, Joe…well, I saw that , and Lizzie, oh Lizzie…I can’t tell you any more without ruining it for you.

If you love having your emotions ramped up to a fever pitch, if you love white knuckled reading, if you love apocalyptic/dystopian novels and are looking for an original storyline, you may want to grab the Stitch trilogy.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Stuck by Samantha Durante.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

3, 2, 1… BOOM.

Things are finally looking up for the Resistance. Sure, Alessa is still processing the revelation that the best friend she’d presumed dead is miraculously alive, though far from well… And her boyfriend is being manipulated under threat of blackmail. But her quest for justice against those behind the systematic extermination of the world population is so close to victory she can taste it.

And then in a matter of seconds, everything Alessa believes in is shaken to the core. Months of preparation are obliterated. The people she cares for most are lost.

But Alessa is still standing. And Paragon must pay.

The odds are grim, but unexpected allies surface in the most unlikely of places: A new pair of citizens still under the colony’s rule who notice something amiss in the latest drama. An old adversary who realizes the error of her ways. And a veritable army of inhuman power and terrible strength, with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. The trustworthiness of each of these factions is yet to be proven, but without many other options, Alessa may have to take what she can get. Especially since the Engineers, never to be outdone, also have a few more tricks up their sleeves…

The long-awaited final installment in the riveting Stitch Trilogy, Stuck will have readers gripping their seats as Alessa and a handful of intrepid survivors usher their harrowing journey to a close, risking everything as they endeavor – once and for all – to set things right.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Smashwords│Kobo

Tour Schedule

December 10th:
Launch
Andi’s Young Adult Books
Mythical Books
December 11th:
Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, and Characters
Paulette’s Papers
December 12th:
Wishful Endings
December 13th:
Lisa Loves Literature
Coffee, Books and Cakes
Why Not? Because I Said So!
December 14th:
FUONLYKNEW
Bri’s Book Nook
December 17th:
Colorimetry
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
December 18th:
Lovely Reads
Chapter Break
Words Are the Breath Of Life
December 19th:
Books & Such
Bri’s Book Nook
December 20th:
fundinmental
Coffee, Books and Cakes
December 21st:
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Oh Hey! Books.
December 22nd:
Grand Finale

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Samantha lives in Westchester County, New York with four of the five loves of her life – her husband, son, younger daughter, and cat – and carries her fifth love, her stillborn daughter, in her heart. An avid reader herself, Samantha’s dream is to bring the same delight to readers that other authors have brought to her life. In addition to penning novels and writing candidly about grief, she is also a sometimes freelance writer/consultant – though more often than not these days she’s on full-time mom duty! A former software engineer, Samantha said goodbye to the corporate world in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and lifelong love of writing. Learn more at www.samanthadurante.com.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram
Tour Giveaway

– 1 First Place Winner will receive: Signed Print Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy, a Limited-Edition Stitch Scarf, Bookmarks, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card – 3 Second Place Winners will receive: eBook Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy for You *and* a Friend, plus a $5 Amazon Gift Card – Open internationally – Ends December 27th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY SAMANTHA DURANTE REVIEWS

Stitch
Shudder

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal – Stuck by Samantha Durante @SamanthaDurante @PrismBookTours

Posted on October 9, 2018 by fundinmental

Continue reading →

Grand Finale Wrapup for Shudder by Samantha Durante

Posted on September 7, 2013 by fundinmental

Samantha Durante has written another hit. Shudder, Book II of the Stitch Trilogy continues where Stitch left off. I can hardly wait to see where Stuck, Book III of the Stitch Trilogy will go.

The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours

& Samantha’s Summer Tour

Shudder

348 pages

Published June 15, 2013

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

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The Highlight Tour

8/24 – 9/1

Sharing some of the best of the summer-long tour

24 – The Reading Diaries – The Mystery!

Why does Alessa keep feeling something following them through the woods? – Review at Here’s the Story

Review:

Shudder is filled with surprises around every corner, keeping me guessing till the very end.

– The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl – Raving Fans!

Can I just freaking say how much I LOVE this series?! Stitch was good. Shudder? AMAZINGLY AMAZING!!! I can’t even express how much I just LOVE LOVE LOVED this book. Everything about it was perfection. – Review at Literary Meanderings

– Rose & Beps Blog – Crushing on Side Characters!

Lizzie: I’ll support whoever can deliver that future, whether it’s the rebels or even the leaders of Paragon, if they were willing to change. I do believe in second chances. – Character Interview at Mousehead & Tales

25 – Chapter Break – Vile Villainy!

Samantha: …the Engineers(the bad guys) are based on a variety of people I’ve met and disliked over the years for their general arrogance and lack of ability to connect with people (though I’m not naming names, haha). – Interview at Joanna In the Sky With Books:

Review:

I enjoyed the merging of genre and thought it was a unique twist on sci-fi and dystopia, with a little paranormal aspect until we learn otherwise.

– Wonderings of One Person – Review

Shudder by Samantha Durante is a deeply touching and sensational story of discovery and freedom laden with heavy doubts and uncomfortable choices. I was swept away…

– Mortal Moments – Crushing on Characters!

Do YOU have any favourite fiction crushes or book boyfriends? Care to share them… so we can all swoon together! 🙂

Issac is one to add to the list of “book boyfriends”. – Review at A Thousand Lives

26 – A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

…what an ENDING! This story is keeping my head bent to my kindle. Ms Durante has IT, ladies and gentlemen. That thing that some authors have that just keep you turning the pages…

27 – Kindred Dreamhart – Catch some STYLE!

look 2

– The Bookish Daydreamer – OMG Endings!

Samantha: My favorite scene to write in Shudder was definitely the big revelation in the very last chapter. Heart-wrenching. – Interview at Lovely Reads

– Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – Developing Deep Characters

Things get even more complicated when Alessa discovers something new about herself, a twist that I sure never saw coming. Again kudos Samantha for a great job well done. ~Review at Total Book Nerds

28 – YA Book Addict – Review

The one constant thought that kept coming at me while I was reading Shudder was the originality of it. I remember feeling the exact same way while I was reading Stitch. Personally, I have never read anything like it before and I have to give huge applause to an author who can create such a fantastically original, well written, engaging piece of writing.

– Library of a Book Witch – POV Perfection!

…the transitions between character to character are smooth and never feel unnatural or jarring, each character’s situation has a different aura to it, I could immediately tell which character I was currently reading about… Review at Book Adoration.

– Mommasez… – Writerly Wisdom

Do what you love. – Guest Post “Celebrating the Stitch 1 Year Anniversary” at Head Stuck in a Book

Imagine the world ended tomorrow. – Guest Post “Family & Relationships in a Dying World” at My World in Words and Pages

Review

Samantha teases us with two girls, one stoned by an angry mob, the other in a prison cell. We don’t know who is who. And it’s deliciously mysterious!!

29 – Mel’s Shelves – Praise for Pacing!

Fast paced with not a single dull moment, this book will have you turning pages until the end. – Review at Little Hyuts

Review

Oh, my! Dystopia at its finest! A quick word on Stitch (book 1): It had been a while since I’d read what it was about so I just started reading. It seemed like a nice time travel romance with a hint of something else and then BAM!, in came the dystopia element. At that point, I couldn’t put it down…

– Fundinmental – Painstakingly Plotted World

The complexity of the plot and the dynamics have you wondering what exactly Samantha has in her mind to be able to imagine this complex world. I never one time imagined that what happens in the book could actually happen but now the idea is planted firmly in my mind. It is a little freaky. – Review at Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing

Review:

Shudder… has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go.

30 – Literary Meanderings – Top Ten Raving Fan Moments!

Shudder is one of the best dystopians I’ve read so far! It’s so intense, so captivating. There’s a lot in it, and it’s so well written. The action, the suspense, the thrill… All of it will leave you begging for more. I know I am! Samantha, you’ve really set the bar with this one. I enjoyed every second of it. ~ Review at City of Books

31 – My Devotional Thoughts – More Crushing On Characters!

Isaac Sttich Trilogy

Interview with Isaac at Always YA at Heart

– Green Mountain Couple – More Vile Villainy!

“The memory alteration research mentioned some, well, unfortunate side effects…” – Guest Post at Crys Book Reviews

Review

I absolutely LOVE LOVED this book. It was one of those books that I picked up and didn’t want to set back down even after it was finished.

Sept. 1 – The Book Rogue – Review

Some things were not that unusual for a Dystopian, but there were also some shocking aspects — in the regard that I don’t find them too absurd to actually happen, like right now. Genius and insanity are utterly and truly a very fine line that tends to blur a lot.

Quote:

“What we haven’t told you yet–“

He paused, searching her eyes before he dropped his bombshell.

“– is that the outbreak wasn’t exactly a mistake.”

See what you’re missing… read Stitch & Shudder now!!

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

Samantha Durante, Author of the Stitch Trilogy

Samantha Durante

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 – September 16, 2013

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)

* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int’l)

* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int’l)

* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grand Finale for Shudder, Book II of the Stitch Trilogy by Samantha Durante with Review

Posted on August 29, 2013 by fundinmental

Samantha Durante has written a unique tale of science fiction. I am honored to be a part of this fantastic tour. Congratulations Samantha and I can hardly wait for Book III.

The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours& Samantha’s Summer Tour

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Shudder

348 pages

Published June 15, 2013

— Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy —

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

And then there are the visions.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

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MY REVIEW OF SHUDDDER

Alessa is finally learning what the Stitch is all about.

Now, she has a mission. She wants to get it done so she can go home. She has no idea if Janie is dead or alive. It had broken her heart to leave her behind.

The Mission:

1. Find the rebels base.

2. Figure out who is the enemy.

3. Avoid the creatures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cover for Shudder is very pretty. I like that the covers of the trilogy are similar.

Samantha Durante’s second book of the trilogy, Shudder, is another resounding hit. It has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go. There is much to decipher, while she weaves her way through the hidden pitfalls.

Alessa left Pargon and her sister behind her to be with Isaac. But she could not forget about Joe, even though it was jeopardizing her relationship with Isaac. I’m thinking there must be a reason that Joe is on her mind so much. Will we see him again?

The nuclear winter caused when the bombs fell created famines. As the viral epidemic decimated the population and people became more and more desperate to survive, there was a group of men who figured out a solution. But, it is not a solution that anyone in their right mind could believe would work. I wonder if the same would happen in the real world.

The saying: “History repeats itself” is so pertinent to the events happening to Alessa.

It makes me think of the Holocaust and and the evil that spawned from the minds of some evil men who thought they had all the answers. It, also, makes me think of American politics at this time, how a few can disregard the many, for their own gains.

It is amazing to me that the egos of some people allow them to think they have all answers and, therefore, have the right to play God.

The thought of a virus wiping out the majority of the Earth’s population is something real. Just think – due to rapid means of travel, a virus could be spread world-wide before it is even recognized. I have talked to a doctor who believes that is what will be our downfall.

Would our governments step in and decide who would live and who would die? What do you think?

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbaised review. I was eagerly waiting for Book II of the Stich Trilogy and would have written the review regardless. Now I am waiting for Book III so I can see how Alessa’s story ends.

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GUEST POST

Painstakingly Plotted World

Review at Frodo’s Blog of Randomness (good comments here on POVs)

The plot! People, the twists and turns in this book?! Seriously, it’s amazing how Durante keeps you on your toes throughout. I kept thinking I had everything figured out and then BAM, another wrench thrown into what I thought I knew. There are conflicts of interest between characters, on opposite sides and even on their own. Dangers lurk around every corner. New abilities are just waiting to be discovered! How do you get better than that? Awesome.

Review at Wintry Words

Starting Shudder, I had little idea where the story was going to go. I had little predictions that might go somewhere, but in the end…nothing went as planned. Shudder has so ferociously shown me how quickly good things can turn bad. When things should’ve been heart-lifting, but ended up heartbreaking. There wasn’t a moment where I was privy to the whole plot. Samantha keeps you guessing throughout every page, ever chapter. Roads she could’ve led the plot down are erased and then rewritten. She puppeteers the story into a direction you wouldn’t think possible. Yet again Samantha breaks all boundaries before set.

Review at Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing

The complexity of the plot and the dynamics have you wondering what exactly Samantha has in her mind to be able to imagine this complex world. I never one time imagined that what happens in the book could actually happen but now the idea is planted firmly in my mind. It is a little freaky. While reading the book, you will do nothing but search your mind, wondering what in the world could happen next, and you would be wrong every time.

Review at Dark Obsession Chronicles

I’m having trouble wrapping my head around all the revelations, and questions Shudder contained. Yet another noodle warp. … Stitch really did set it up, but like Neo found out in the Matrix, that rabbit hole is one freaky mother. … I was surprised, confused, hopeful, frustrated, elated, and flabbergasted at times while reading Shudder. That is a sign right there. Any book that can give you some sort of emotional roller coaster (but not a traumatizing one,) is definite re-read material.

Review at Nette’s Bookshelf

I find the juxtaposition of Paragon and our society fascinatingly similar. Similar in that we are so enamored or distracted by “reality t.v” and the lives of others that we forget about what’s going on “out there” in the real world. I also find similarities with the ruling class and our government but I’m going to stop at this sentence, lest I get away from myself and begin discussing politics and world issues and other topics that have nothing to do with my review of a book. And that whole issue with the food? One word. Monsanto. Anyway, I’m getting away from myself here…What I’m trying to say is, Samantha Durante creatively and cleverly devised a story that’s based on real-life ideas and turned it into a thought provoking novel.

Interview at Passionate Book Divas

Something about the dystopian genre has always drawn me to it even since I was a little kid. I vividly remember reading The Giver back in sixth grade and I just loved how much it made me think. I guess that’s true of science fiction in general – I love trying to picture how we could get from where we are today to one of these crazy future societies.

Guest Post at Book Briefs

To me, there’s nothing creepier than a place that’s *supposed* to be filled with people, but isn’t Being alone in a big, quiet place just sets my primal instinct sirens wailing. My heart starts fluttering in anticipation of the need to run or fight, and every tiny noise rings in my ears like a cannon blast. It was this eerie feeling – of being utterly alone, but at the same time, not feeling in any way secure – that I sought to recreate in Shudder.

Review at Fuonlyknew

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Durante, Author of the Stitch Trilogy

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Stitch

314 pages

Published August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 – September 16, 2013. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)

* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int’l)

* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int’l)

* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Highlight Tour

Sharing Top Highlights from the Summer-Long Tour!

August dates:

24 – The Reading Diaries – Review

– The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl

– Rose & Beps Blog

25 – Chapter Break – Review

– Wonderings of One Person – Review

– Mortal Moments

26 – A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

– Kindred Dreamhart

27 – YA Book Addict – Review

– The Bookish Daydreamer

– Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

28 – Library of a Book Witch

– Mommasez… – Review

29 – Mel’s Shelves – Review

– Fundinmental

30 – Green Mountain Couple

– Literary Meanderings

31 – Donnie Darko Girl – Review

– My Devotional Thoughts

Sept. 1 – The Book Rogue

GRAND FINALE

You can pick your Amazon copy by clicking on the cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Giveaway and Review of Shudder by Samantha Durante

Posted on July 10, 2013 by fundinmental

I love the covers for the Stitch trilogy. Be sure and scroll to my Review and the Giveaway below.

Shudder by Samanth Durante Blog Tour - June 15th to Sept 1st

Haven’t read the first book in the series? Check it out on Amazon and Goodreads. Just $0.99!

Genre/Keywords: Dystopian, Paranormal Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, New Adult, Psychic Abilities, Empath, Clairvoyance, YA, NA

Length: ~80,000 words (348 pages)

Sample Chapters: Ch1-4 (31 pages)

Release Date: June 15th, 2013

Shudder Synopsis

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

And then there are the visions.

Shudder Purchase Links

Amazon (Kindle $2.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $2.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $2.99)
Also available ($2.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold

EXCERPT

She heard one set of footsteps trail away from her doorway, and a moment later, a man stepped through.

He cleared his throat gruffly. Phoenix fluttered her eyelids, feigning disorientation from sleep before she finally settled her eyes on his.

He wasn’t a large man, but there was something intimidating about him, something dark. He was middle-aged, neat, not unattractive exactly, but there was something about his face that pushed her gaze away instead of drawing it towards him. His eyes, maybe. His eyes seemed to drink all the light from the room, flat and cold as they bored into her. Something about those eyes made her shudder inwardly.

She noticed that he was distractedly rubbing a long scar that slashed across his thin lips.

“You’re awake?” he groused.

As she sat up in bed, his eyes slithered quickly over her body, making her feel unclothed. She pulled the blanket up over her thin hospital gown.

“Y-yes,” she answered. Her voice was shaky, but she didn’t understand why. She steadied herself, and more forcefully she added, “And you are?”

He regarded her for a moment before answering in a low growl, “You can call me the General.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY REVIEW OF SHUDDDER

Alessa is finally learning what the Stitch is all about.

Now, she has a mission. She wants to get it done so she can go home. She has no idea if Janie is dead or alive. It had broken her heart to leave her behind.

The Mission:

1. Find the rebels base.

2. Figure out who is the enemy.

3. Avoid the creatures.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

The cover for Shudder is very pretty. I like that the covers of the trilogy are similar.

The saying: “History repeats itself” is so pertinent to the events happening to Alessa.

It is amazing to me that the egos of some people allow them to think they have all answers and, therefore, have the right to play God.

Would our governments step in and decide who would live and who would die? What do you think?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

— Social Media Links —

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Shelfari: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

To purchase a copy of Samantha Durante’s books, simply click on either cover.

To see my Review of Stitch, go HERE.

STITCH INFO

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface…

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.

Stitch Purchase Links.

Amazon (Kindle $0.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $0.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $0.99)
Also available ($0.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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FREE – Stitch (Book I, Trilogy) by Samantha Durante with Giveaway

Posted on June 6, 2013 by fundinmental

Stitch by Samantha Durante is FREE for four days only – June 7-11, 2013. Be sure and pick up this fascinating novel of the paranormal, sci-fi, romance and dystopia.

Stitch is an awesome debut novel by Samantha Durante. To see my 5 STAR Review, go HERE.

To get your copy, find an interview link for Samantha or enter the giveaway, scroll down to the end of the post.

Stitch by Samantha Durante

Add To Goodreads

Genre: YA/NA Dystopian/Paranormal Romance

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Rating: 4.3 stars (100+ reviews)

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

To learn about Samantha Durante, go HERE for the Q and A with Shut Up and Read.

To get your copy of Stitch, simply click on the cover.

Add To Goodreads

Shudder: Expected Release Date: June 15th, 2013. Stay tuned for the upcoming tour and my review.

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Gift Card! (Open Internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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If you were following me on my old blog, but have not subscribed here, on my new blog, you will need to follow by email again. I lost all my follower information when I moved. Thanks and I look forward to talking with you.

Cover Reveal for Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2) by Samantha Durante

Posted on April 10, 2013 by fundinmental

SHUDDER

(Stitch Trilogy, #2)

by Samantha Durante

Expected Release Date: June 15th, 2013.

SYNOPSIS

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.
Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.
And then there are the visions.The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Facebook: Stitch Trilogy | Author Samantha Durante
Goodreads: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

STITCH

(Stitch Trilogy, #2)

by Samantha Durante

Stitch Purchase Links

Amazon (print $9.99, Kindle $2.99)
Also available to borrow for FREE from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (Amazon Prime members only).

To see my 5 STAR Review of Stitch, go HERE.

SYNOPSIS

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Author Bio
Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

Website | Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!

WINNER!!! of the Stitch Giveaway

Posted on January 3, 2013 by fundinmental

My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winner of the Stitch by Samantha Durante Giveaway is:

Kari

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments. I hope you will continue to follow fundinmental.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To see my Review, go HERE.

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Giveaway/Review of Stitch (Trilogy, #1) by Samantha Durante (fundinmental.wordpress.com)

Giveaway/Review of Stitch (Trilogy, #1) by Samantha Durante

Posted on December 18, 2012 by fundinmental

. Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)

Alessa has seen him numerous times. When the nightmares started, she found it hard to concentrate on anything else. The ghost was in her nightmares. Does that mean he really exists? He seemed so familiar to her. Did she know him? How was that possible?

Alessa fell apart after her parents died, but managed to get into Eastern State University. She thought it would help her, so she joined a sorority. She chose it because of the house. She thought that was how she had found her best friend, Janie and the ghost. She never saw that there was something else going on.

She did wonder why no one else could see him. She was afraid, frozen by her feelings of longing and sorrow. Should she talk to him? She felt a connection. Janie joked that maybe her and the ghost shared a past. Could that be why she was so attracted and drawn to him? That night in her dream, she saw him. He blamed himself for what happened to her family. How could that be?

There was an odd incident with security and her teacher, but she shrugged it off. She really should have paid more attention. Janie even hinted at it, but she didn’t pick up on it

The sorority was holding a party and it was Alessa’s job to pass out invitations. That was how she met Nikhil. For the first time in a long time, she was excited about meeting a guy and invited him to the party. Her and Janie were on their third beers when Nikhil and Josh showed up. They stared dancing with the guys and when Nikhil started to kiss her, she looked into his eyes, but they were Isaac’s eyes. She ran to her room.

The next day, the showers were full when Alessa went in, so she told Janie that she was going to take a bath in the attic bathroom. Isaac appeared and sat on the edge of the tub. When he turned to her, she realized he was really looking at the her. She reached for him and he disappeared. Now she was more motivated than ever to find out what was going on. She was shocked at what found. Isaac was so much more than just a ghost.

Janie knew more than she was telling. She was afraid for Lessa. When Alessa heard Janie say, “her stitch seems to be holding strong”, Alessa was past being afraid. She was confused and terrified.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Stitch is Samantha Durante’s debut novel. I love it when I am so surprised by the quality of the writing and story from a writer’s first novel. She is currently working on the second book in the Trilogy, Shudder, and is happily considering any suggestions readers have for Book II. What would you like to see? Follow the link to her blog, below, to see what others are looking for in Book II.

I loved the title and cover. The blurb and excerpts I’d seen made me feel like I had to have this book. I tweeted day after day, determined to win the giveaway. I was right. The book surpassed my expectations.

I thought it was gonna be a haunted house story, but it took a great, surprising twist. Made me smile and delve deeper into story to see where it went. It just kept getting better and I kept reading faster as the plot twisted and turned through the pages.

Even though Alessa is the main character, I became enamored with Janie. A true blue “friend” that would risk it all for Alessa as she tries to make her aware of all that is going on.

Wow. Samantha led me down a twisted road. What a great journey. I loved it. I wondered where the idea came from to start with this, then go here, then there. Wow again. I haven’t read a book quite like this and am eagerly anticipating the next one.

I won the book through a blog tour where nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com was a participant. Naomi and Samantha noticed that I tweeted so much and offered me a signed paperback, instead of the ebook I had won, which I eagerly accepted. Thank you Naomi and Samantha.

About the Author

As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper, and I’ve always felt a debt of gratitude to these wonderful authors – J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Suzanne Collins, Christopher Paolini, Sharon Shinn, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and most recently Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth, to name a few.

Stitch – my very first novel, and part one of an upcoming trilogy – is my humble attempt to return the favor. My dream is to bring the same enjoyment and delight to readers that these authors have brought to my life. If you find yourself staying up just a little too late to finish another chapter, or sneaking into the bathroom at work to read when things are slow, I will know I have done my job!

I currently live in New York with the two loves of my life – my husband, Sudeep, and my cat, Gio. In addition to penning novels, I am also a freelance business writer and communications consultant at my company, Medley Media Associates.

Prior to pursuing my passion for writing full time, I spent three years in software engineering at Microsoft, as a Program Manager first on the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) developer platform team and later on the Zune for Xbox LIVE team. I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, where I studied Systems Engineering, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Operations & Information Management at Penn Engineering and Wharton business school.

I love to hear from readers! I do my best to answer each and every email I receive, so please don’t hesitate to send me comments, questions, or even suggestions for what you’d like to see in future books. You can also find me on Facebook at my author and Stitch fan pages, on Goodreads and Twitter, and on my Amazon Author page.

Giveaway

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Samantha is offering 1 e-book for the giveaway (format of the winner’s choice – mobi/Kindle, epub/Nook, or pdf). Entry is easy, as always. Just leave an email address, so I can contact you if you win, and answer the question – If you were to meet a ghost, who would you want it to be and why?

Closed. Winner is Kari. Congratulations Kari and I would like to thank everyone who stopped by and commented.

Giveaway runs 12/18 – 1/2/2013.

Please tweet it out to share with your friends, family and followers, not required.

It is always appreciated if you follow my blog, also, not required.

To order the book, simply click on the cover.