BOOK REVIEW ~ SONG OF THE FIREFLIES BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Song of the Fireflies
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
eBook, 464 pages

ARC provided by NetGalley



Book Blurb

New York Times bestselling author J.A. Redmerski brings us a stunning and heart-wrenching new novel about a couple who find each other in their darkest moment. 

Since they were kids, Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable. When Bray moves to South Carolina, separating the two for the first time, they both at last realize that their innocent childhood friendship has developed into something much more. So when Bray finally returns to Georgia—and to Elias—things between them couldn’t be more perfect…until one fateful night changes everything.

Desperate not to go to prison for a terrible accident, Elias and Bray decide to run. As they try to make the most of their freedom, the two find themselves relying on a rebellious group of people who tempt the duo into a wild and daring new life. But they can’t run from their troubles forever.

As the consequences of their past catch up to them, the couple must finally face reality. Even if they can make it through the unimaginable, Elias knows the truth about Bray’s painful history, and in the end he may not be able to save Bray from herself…

Book Review


What I love about J.A. Redmerski's books is the fact that she writes with a brutal honesty -- flawed characters faced with circumstances that are a little on the edge. If I want a heaping pile of angst and a gritty story, I know I will find it in her stories.

Song of the Fireflies is told from both Elias and Brayelle's point of view. It is a story of two best friends who become intimately involved. Eli loves Bray, will do anything for her, but Bray is afraid that having a serious relationship with her best friend will ultimately destroy the bond they have. If they break up, she will lose the best friend she has always relied on. So, Bray crushes Eli's heart and leaves him.

Fast forward a couple of years--Bray returns and both decide to give it another try.

Songs of the Fireflies deals with a lot of dark themes. Things that some people will find offensive. But real life is not tied up in some pretty package. People experience real problems. And Redmerski gives her characters some hard shit to deal with: depression, bipolar disorder, drug use. All of which make the current situation Bray and Eli find themselves thrown into more problematic.

With Brayelle and Eli on the run.

Reading Songs of the Fireflies is like watching a horrible train wreck with a black cloud of doom hanging over Eli and Brayelle--as they struggle to survive one shit storm after another. I'm not sure if I loved it or hated it, to be quite honest. It's a hard read. Brayelle and Eli's love is almost toxic and I felt like I was put through an emotional ringer.

This is a dark, angsty, read that you have to be in the mood for, or you'll be sorely disappointed.

REVIVING IZABEL RELEASE EVENT BY J.A. REDMERSKI

REVIVING IZABEL

(In The Company of Killers #2)

By Bestselling Author J.A. Redmerski

Release December 10, 2013

An Adult Suspense

Goodreads

Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers, #1) is on sale for .99 cents for the release of Reviving Izabel!

Killing Sarai: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.

About the Author

Born November 25, 1975, J.A. (Jessica Ann) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Author social media links:

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

EXCERPT #1 – REVIVING IZABEL (In the Company of Killers #2)

-Meeting Arthur Hamburg-


“If you touch me,” I say to the suit-clad guard standing outside Hamburg’s private room, “I’ll put your nuts in a meat-grinder.”

The guard’s nostrils flare and he glances at Willem Stephens.

“You requested a meeting with Mr. Hamburg,” Willem says from behind. “It’s only proper that you be searched for weapons before we allow you inside.”

Damn it! 

Calm. Just keep calm. Do what Izabel would do.

I breathe in a heavy breath and sneer at both of them menacingly. Then I throw my little black purse at the guard; he catches it as it hits his chest.

“I think it’s safe to say I couldn’t hide a weapon wearing a dress like this unless I put it up my cunt,” I snap, looking back at Willem Stephens. “My gun is in the purse. But don’t even think of touching—”

“Let her in,” a familiar voice says from the door.

It’s Arthur Hamburg, still as porky and grotesque as he was before, wearing an oversized suit ready to bust at the buttons if he exhales too deeply.

I smirk at the guard who glares back at me with murder in his eyes. I know that look, I’m all too intimate with it just the same. He takes the gun from my purse and hands the purse back to me.

“Mr. Hamburg,” Willem Stephens says, “I should remain with you.”

Hamburg shakes his double-chinned head. “No, you mind the restaurant. These people aren’t here to kill me or else they wouldn’t be so obvious. I’ll be fine.”

“At least leave Marion outside the door,” Willem suggests, glancing at the guard.

“Yes,” Hamburg agrees. “You stay here, let no one interrupt our…,” he looks at me once coldly, “…meeting, unless I ask for an interruption. If at any time you no longer hear my voice for a full minute, come inside the room. As a precaution, of course.”

He smirks at me.

“Of course,” I mimic and smirk right back at him.

Arthur Hamburg steps to the side and gestures me in with an opened hand, palm-up.

“I thought this was over, Miss Seyfried.”

Hamburg shuts the door.

Tour Giveaway:

• (3) Signed print copy sets of Killing Sarai and Reviving Izabel  – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INDI PUBLISHED AUTHORS ~ WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE?

There has been such a huge debate about Indi authors versus self-published authors...which route should an author take when trying to get his/her work out there...


But this post is about those who travel the less traditional route. It takes a lot of courage to put your pen to paper and put it out there for someone else to read. 

And I have read some really terrific books out there over the past year that I have to pass on to you...These books would have never seen the light of day if it hadn't been for that author's tenacity. Thank you. And yes, you have seen some of these books out on shelves, picked up by well known publishing houses--but they originally started as an independently published work. 


So, who have been your favorite independently-published authors? Fave indi books? 



Here are just a few of my favorite Indi Authors and their books. Click on the author's name to go their website to find out more information. 

And, as always, happy reading! 


1. Karina Halle

2. R.L. Mathewson

3. Madeline Sheehan

4. L.H. Cosway

5. Jay Crownover

6. J.A. Redmerski

7. J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

8. Abbi Glines


9. Colleen Hoover

SEXY SNIPPET ~ THE EDGE OF ALWAYS BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Tuesdays have never been so sexy!

Sexy Snippets is a weekly feature hosted by Reading Between the Wines for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then add your post to the linky over at RBtW's blog so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

This week my SS comes from an ARC--The Edge of Always, so it may not appear as written in ARC in the new release today.

I move my hand from the outside of her pants and slide it behind the loose-fitting fabric to find her warmth. God damn, she's already wet. Leaning into the crook of her neck, I shut my eyes and inhale the scent of her skin. She stays very still, but I can feel her body quivering and her pulse beating fast under my touch. I want to fuck her so bad. But I won't yet, because I like to torture myself. I fucking love it.



And I just love Drew in this book. He is scrum-deli-ish-ous!

Now it's your turn to show me your sexy!