Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Eye Contact by Rebecca Royce - BLOG TOUR & Author Interview!

Rebecca Royce's Eye Contact (The Conditioned #1) is sure to be a thrilling read and I hope you enjoy my feature today. Big thanks to Sizzling PR for allowing me to help out with this blog tour, I am very excited to share this author and her exciting new novel with you! The book summary alone makes you want to run out and pick it up immediately, and it is unlike anything I have ever read!

Book Summary:

Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as “the condition”, would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.

The granddaughter of one the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.

Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned ‘locator.’ There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.



In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?

About the Author:

As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.

I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. We live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I've been told I'm a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

Visit Rebecca's Website HERE
Rebecca's Blog HERE
Rebecca on FACEBOOK

Author Interview:

1. Describe what it’s like to be an author in three words.

Fun, Hard, and Exciting

2. What is your favorite genre of literature?

I like to read Romance novels. I always have. I was also an English major so I can honestly say that I absolutely adore 19th Century British Fiction.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I have always known it. I can remember thinking about it when I was in 4th grade. But it was after I had my first child that I seriously decided to see if I could make a dream a reality.

4. What would you consider to be the best book you have ever read?

The best book I’ve ever read? Wow. I’m a big, big Jane Eyre fan and I don’t know if it’s the best book I ever read but I’m going to go with that.

5. Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learn something with every book I write. I think, for this one, it was a lot to do with characterization and not getting lost in the plot.

6. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write every day. It is your job.

7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

8. What is it that you like to do when you’re not reading/writing?

I love to go to Broadway shows, watch movies, and go out to dinner

9. How do you react to a bad review of your book?

It stings. And then I try to move on.

10. Are the names of the characters in your novels important? How and why?

It depends on the novel. In this series, they weren’t as important as they have been in other series. But I do think they need to set the tone. They need to show the reader where they are in time and space.

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a suspenseful read!  I was on the EDGE-OF-MY-SEAT throughout this one and couldn't wait to find out what happens!

This book really does tear on your heart strings too - it reminds me somewhat of The Messenger by Lois Lowry where people with disabilities are separated and taken out of the regular population.  It is criminal, but given historical events of the past you can see how it takes root and spread quickly.  I like books like this because it reminds us to love EVERYONE, not those who we deem "perfect."

In addition to the quest to find little Jeremy, I also really liked the developing story between Addison and Spencer is a great part of the novel as well - proving that love can be right in front of your face even though you can't see it!

Another huge obstacle for the protagonist is The Committee, which is the group in charge of identifying the Conditioned people.  I love the whole thought that Addison may one day be able to sit on the Committee and make some much needed changes - this is one of the big questions that I had as a reader throughout the book.

Rebecca Royce did a good job with this one, I highly recommend it, especially for those paranormal readers. 

3 comments:

  1. Can't wait to read it! Good luck!

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  2. I loved Eye Contact and I already have Embraced on my Kobo. A great interview! All the best!

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  3. I love Jane Eyre too. Rochester is fine by me. And I love that through all Jane suffers she never loses hope or her sense of self.

    Eye contact sounds like a great story!

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