A Music Playlist for The Calling by Branwen OShea

 Two of my favorite things are books and music. Quite often, the two go together. Today, author Branwen OShea is sharing with us her playlist for her new book The Calling. You can also read an excerpt before downloading your own copy and then follow the tour for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Humanity’s wake-up call. Answer it or face extinction.

When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.

Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.

But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.

Read an excerpt:

A bloodcurdling howl pierced the darkness nearby. He startled, and the rover lurched to the side, the treads grinding against the ice. In all his years of secret studies, he’d never considered studying animal vocalizations. Anything, including the Undescended, could be making the howls beyond the range of his snow rover’s headlights. As much as he had longed for this world, he was lost here.

As he scanned the inky horizon, a large dark blob drew his gaze to an elevated area of ice. Did it move? He narrowed his eyes, straining to confirm reality. Just get to the camp. Just get to the camp.

It moved.

“Base, something’s out here…pacing on a hill above me. I’m maintaining course, but I’m going to have to pass below it. Should I change course?”

“You heard Commander Savas. Shoot it as soon as it’s in range. Continue course.”

“Continue course. Got it, sir.” Bleu hastily checked his gun, wishing for Stamf’s longer-range rifle. It’s not close enough yet…

His hand tightened on his gun. I don’t even know what it is, and I have to kill it? The rover sped along as his indecision churned within him. Trust your instincts, Bleu, his mother had said. It lured us, Savas had said.

In his mind, Bleu replayed Neviah’s terrifying video footage. That creature could be stalking him right now. Orders were orders. He raised his gun.

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A Music playlist for The Calling:

While I don’t usually listen to music while writing, I almost always listen before writing sessions to figure out the day’s scenes. My favorite music for planning The Calling is Two Steps From Hell’s album Invincible.

However, recently I began making playlists for all my characters that will eventually be on my website. At Andi’s request, I created a general playlist for The Calling that I’ve linked below. It’s on Spotify, and if you download the free Spotify app, you should be able to access the music. The following is my spoiler-free reasoning for adding each song.

The first song is Hearts of Courage by Two Steps From Hell. When I imagine The Calling as a movie, this is its theme song. It starts out with a base beat that reminds me of the humans living below ground. Its joined by another higher and contrasting theme including a chorus that reminds me of the ethereal star beings. The two themes interplay and then reach a somewhat settled conclusion at the end.

Human Characters:

The other songs are for the characters in order of appearance. For eighteen-year-old Bleu Reinier, who is constantly called by nature to leave his home and venture onto the Surface, I chose Into the Unknown by Idina Menzel. This song also fits chapter two where Bleu discovers he and his mother have an unusual connection to someone outside of Northern Haven.

For fifteen-year-old Ayanna Reinier, Bleu’s wild kid sister, I chose I’m Going Slightly Mad by Queen. Ayanna contracts the strange Sickness that is plaguing the teens and makes them lose their minds.

Commander Savas spends much of the book enjoying guns and mad at Educator Girak (Atsushi and Ayanna’s science teacher) for being a ‘traitor.” For Savas, I chose Traitor by Daughtry.

Bleu and his best friend Stamf (also 18) are the number one team in the holographic games arena. Stamf enjoys strutting his stuff in front of the women, so I chose Another One Bites the Dust by Queen, which I can imagine Stamf playing after a big match and trying to get Bleu to dance to.

Fifteen-year-old Atsushi has a sweet crush on Ayanna, but never knows how to quite make his move. I do Adore by Mindy Gledhill fits him well.

For Educator Girak and his wife Josefina Girak (both scientists), I chose The Science Love Song by ASAPScience. Their love is adorable and full of the humorous banter this song contains.

Star Being Characters:

The star beings have a vastly different culture and music based on their goal of Crowning, or metamorphosing into a near-enlightenment state of existence. For 16-year-old Rana, I chose Adi Shakti: Bhangra Mix by Sada Sat Kaur because of its danceable beat and mantra invoking the divine feminine. Rana wants to Crown more than anything, but fears she won’t because her parents were both rare failures at Crowning.

Rana’s best friend and possible love interest, Kahali plays the drums and is one of the best dancers around. For Kahali I chose Ceremony of Passage by Vas, because its one of the best songs I know that’s mainly drums and he’d love playing it.

Eka, another star being who also likes Rana, is more into wood carving. I struggled to find a song for him, but chose I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers because despite his anxiety, when he commits to something, he’s all in.

The final star being is Kalakanya, the only main character to have already Crowned. We Are Peace by Snatum Kaur is slightly dancey, a bit playful, but also has a strong message. It fits the way Kalakanya sees the world even when its falling apart around her.

The Calling is a multiple point of view sci-fi adventure novel that features the POV of Bleu, Atsushi, Commander Savas, Rana, and Kahali. Step into their world with their playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/403roJ5G7O7Gqt5G162Kdu?si=9CYv3zBITSWlj9yoDGRFFA

Read more from Branwen O'Shea:

The Chasm (includes an excerpt)

A musical playlist and excerpt from The Calling

Author interview and excerpt from Chasm

Meet Rana from The Chasm

As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.

Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.


Website: www.branwenoshea.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/branwenoshea

Instagram: www.instagram.com/branwenoshea

Facebook: www.facebook.com/branwenoshea

Branwen OShea will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of Dog Girl by Gabi Justice

Welcome to the Book Tour & Giveaway! 

Dog Girl
by: Gabi Justice 

YA Contemporary Fiction 

Tour: March 8-12 

Lots of goodies for you today! I really enjoyed this book and had some thoughts to share with you. There's also a bonus playlist and a chapter excerpt for you to enjoy. Thanks for stopping by!

Summary: Dog Girl is Fangirl meets Pit Bulls and Parolees.

Saving the dogs who end up at Delray Dog Rescue is Kendall's life. It’s the perfect job for a girl with severe social anxiety.

Delray Dog Rescue doesn’t just rescue dogs, it’s a second chance for felons, like her dad. Losing the rescue means losing Kendall's home, her sanctuary, the dogs she loves, her identity and her dad, all over again.

But money's tight, and soon, Kendall must decide between keeping a roof over her head and saving the rescue.

When a video of Kendall’s harrowing rescue of a pit bull from the path of an oncoming train goes viral. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Kendall, making her anxiety worse. But this is an opportunity to put the rescue in the spotlight and secure the donations needed to save it.

Can she overcome the social paralysis that's plagued her all her life? Can she ignore negative comments on social media about her looks and smell? Can she accept help from a boy who really sees her, even though she can’t understand what he could possibly see in her?

DOG GIRL is the story of a teen girl who wants to save the world, and ends up saving herself in the process.

For a Book Club Kit, follow this link! 

https://www.gabijustice.com/book-club-kit  

**My thoughts**

Kendall and her mom have an organization that is focused on rescuing dogs from some pretty bad situations. In fact, we begin our story with a very intense rescue that has you already begging for this story to make it to a screen.

Kendall has a lot of struggles in her life. Her father passed away and she [understandably] just cannot let him go. She still speaks to him pretty regularly and gets some counsel in return. She has mad anxiety and really relates to Peter Parker. Even having to wait more than a minute or two for her friends to arrive lunch can provoke a massive panic attack.

Someone is going around purposely hurting dogs. Kendall's dramatic pit bull rescue actually garners her family's rescue some national attention, but also puts them all in danger as they continue to try to discover who the jerk is who is harming these dogs. The story goes through a lot of page-turning twists as they try to sort it all out and Kendall has to come into her own and can find the good parts of being "Dog Girl." She also learns a lot about her own preconceived notions, such as those involving a super preppy boy named Ryan who ends up being so much more than she could ever imagine.

There are also some good lessons in this story about social media - the pros and cons, and a teacher named Mr. Young that I just want to throttle for his lack of understanding of teens, particularly bullying. And of course, we have a smidge of romance. I admit I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this YA novel, but was pleasantly surprised by the story and how much I actually enjoyed it.

I received a requested review copy for this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy Links:

Amazon * B & N * Target 

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Read an excerpt from Chapter 2:

Chapter Two

The truck pulls into the animal hospital. Rock rushes the pit bull inside. The five-thirty alarm on my phone buzzes reminding me how late it is. Typically, I’d be done with chores by now, or at least almost done, and heading into the house for a shower. God, I need a shower.

I could follow Rock, I’m definitely concerned about that sweet dog, but my part in this rescue is over.

You’re so far behind. The anxiety stirs.

Inhale. Exhale. It’s okay.

I hurry along the sandy path between the vet and the rescue center. Gotta get back on schedule. Three rambunctious, disobedient dogs need training, and the wolf-rescue-flyers for Spring Festival are still not finished. Plus Algebra II homework. There’s no way. Not enough time. My breathing quickens.

Calm down. Slow inhale. Exhale. A few deep breaths and the rapid fire breathing reduces to a controllable smolder.

I pass the length of the yard and close in on the barn when Cruz nearly knocks me over. “Cruz!”

Mid-jog, he says, “Sorry. Damn bus was late. Just got here.”

“Where’s Mom?”

“Don’t know.” He gives me a small wave, but no smile. “Gotta go do work.”

That’s weird. Cruz never misses an opportunity to talk, especially when it comes to rescues. He loves to hear the stories. He’s desperate to go on calls, but he’s only been here a month, and so far, none of us are very impressed with his abilities.

I didn’t expect Mom to be gone this long. And she never explained why the Miami agent wanted to see her.

The phone alarm shrieks again, snapping me back to panic mode. I rush into the barn.

My boy, Rascal, spots me. His tail whips in quick circles and his paws drum the ground. The unconditional love soothes. He smiles. I grin back. I love him so much.

“Let’s go, boy.” I lead him to the training area.

Rascal, being his usual stubborn self, won’t crawl through the agility tunnel, so I enter the tube on my hands and knees, creep half-way, then turn around. He pokes his head in and growl-mumbles.

“Get in here. I don’t have time for this.” My fist pounds the ground.

“Arrooh,” he answers.

I laugh, “Come on, boy.”

He tilts his head, backs away, inches forward, tilts his head again, and talks in his hilarious dog howl.

“You can do it.” At the sound of my high pitch, he perks up and touches the tube with his front paw but doesn’t enter. “Tease.” I pound the floor with my fists again, shake my head, and whip my stringy, brown hair around. That gets him. He races inside, trampling me with dirty paws in an attempt to ram his way past.

“Rascal!” I’m shoved up against the wall of the tube.

We’re squished side by side. Wet slobbery kisses drench my face. His deafening bark rings my ear. Lick, bark, lick, bark, as if this is a fun game we’re playing. He nudges me with his slimy, wet nose and eventually squeezes past, scratching and tickling. I’m sure from the outside it looks like some freakish anaconda digesting a gator.

“Ouwa! Rascal!” One of his nails snags my skin.

He opens his mouth in a tongue-dangling, Bull Terrier smile, so I can’t stay mad at him. He’s adorable with that long nose, pink tongue, and goofy spotted face. He has muscles so dense he can drag a person without a problem.

“Rascal!” I cover my nose as the foul odor of his fart encircles me. “Rude!”

No remorse. He saunters out the other end to chase anything that moves.

I crawl to the opening, stick my head out, and gulp in the fresh air.

A guy leans over the fence. An extremely cute guy. He’s grinning wide, laughing. How stupid I must look, bested by a fifty-pound Bull Terrier. My cheeks burn. Oh my God, is my face bright red? I’m a tomato-red idiot rolling around in a tube with a dog. Wonderful!

“That looks fun.” His piercing blue eyes mock me.

“Very.” I’m still stuck in the tube. I start to ask him if he’s a Saint Paul’s guy. He looks like a preppy asshole. They’re all the same – faux hawk haircut with spiked blonde tips, clean sporty clothes because he probably doesn’t sweat, and a superiority complex. However, the amount of embarrassment zooming through my body will not allow proper functioning of speech right now.

I rush to stand, tripping over my feet, and brush the dirt off of my clothes in an attempt to look somewhat presentable. It’s not working. In fact, it’s worse. Large mud stains smudge my shirt. The old, faded, Spider-Man shirt! All the air leaves my lungs. No wonder everyone thinks I’m weird.

He’s even more gorgeous close-up. A flawless face, bad-boy grin with boy-next-door dimples and those blonde tips are actually from the sun, not the salon. 

God, I sound like one of Vicky’s stupid Cosmo magazine articles. Listicle: Top five things on the hot meter.

But honestly, he’s probably an Instagram model. I can’t help but gawk with a huge smile plastered across my face. I might as well have a neon sign flashing: Seventeen-year-old virgin, approach with caution. She might attack.

I snap out of it and force myself to act professionally. It’s strangely difficult to get my mouth to cooperate and stay straight.

“May I help you?”

“Yes. I need community service hours for school, and I’d like to help out here.” 

Even his voice is smooth.

“Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” I ask.

“Huh? No.” He laughs, the kind of choke-laugh that gets stuck in the back of your throat when someone has just said something ridiculous.

“Then you can’t work here.” I turn my back on him. Those perfect cheekbones are too much. If I don’t look at him, then maybe my heart will stop doing circus acts.

“I can go to the Walgreens and shoplift a pack of cigarettes if that’s the prerequisite to volunteer here,” he says.

My lips defiantly curl upward at his joke. Cute, articulate, and funny. I’m screwed.

Just keep your uncooperative face toward Rascal. Remember, he’s a Saint Paul Boy, and they’re all spoiled, entitled tools. 

I struggle to ignore the voice, and whatever this is that’s happening inside my body and gather my facial expressions into a proper attitude of indifference. I spin around and face him. “I’m afraid that even if you so generously shoplifted on the rescue’s behalf, we still would not have a position available for you.”

Rascal takes advantage of my distraction and digs a giant hole in the dirt.

“No, Rascal!” I grab the leash and clip it to his collar then he jolts behind. His brute force pulls my legs out from under me, and I face plant in the mud. He drags me a few inches before I can get to my knees and wrestle him back into obedience.

Suddenly, Saint Paul Boy’s hands clamp under my sweaty armpits pulling me to my feet.

“What are you doing?” 

“You’re welcome.” He removes his hands.

“No! You never jump the fence. Rascal could’ve attacked you, and we’d get sued.” He’s in my personal space. I’m nearly as tall as him, and it takes all my nerve not to look away, to stand my ground, to inhale his hypnotic cologne.

Why didn’t I take that shower? 

But he just snickers and gestures to Rascal. “Him?” 

He’s still too close. Maybe his olfactory glands don’t work?

“Rascal doesn’t look vicious at all.” Cute Saint Paul Boy cocks one luscious eyebrow.

Rascal sits next to us with his tongue flopping out and gooey slobber bouncing all over the place, that goofy grin lighting up his expression.

“It’s obvious you know nothing about dogs.” I turn to Rascal and deflate. Come on, you’re a bully breed. Do something to support my argument! Growl? Just a little growl. How about a rumble?

I yank Rascal, which I shouldn’t, and immediately regret it. My social helplessness isn’t his fault. I lead him over to the ramps hoping that will normalize this situation. Saint Paul Boy doesn’t move and continues to stare at me. The mud dries on my cheek, it itches and reeks of dog poop. If I could, I’d curl up in the corner and die.

Why is he still here? Don’t look at him. Keep working.

My eyes never leave Rascal as he masters the first ramp and ascends the second.

“You’re bleeding,” Saint Paul Boy says.

“What?” I glance down and see a smear of blood on my arm. It’s from earlier. It must be the pit bull’s blood. “I’m fine.” I rub it, but it’s dried onto my skin and won’t wipe off.

Saint Paul Boy offers a bandana handkerchief.

What is this, the fifties? “Uh. No, thank you.”

“Hello. May I help you?” Shane appears out of nowhere. Rascal didn’t even notice her, but he does now. He barks and tugs the leash. My stepmom is his favorite.

She eyeballs me, concerned I’ve allowed a stranger into the dog pit. Mom would be livid, but Shane gets worried not mad.

“Yes, you may.” He politely extends his hand over the fence.

She shakes it generously. They exchange greetings that I can’t hear over Rascal’s barking. I give up and let go of the leash so he’ll shut up.

“I need community service hours for my senior year. It’s a graduation requirement. I love dogs and was hoping I could help out.” His dazzling blue orbs slide in my direction. 

He wouldn’t last a day here. We don’t need him. I’m sure Shane is going to say no.

“Yes,” she says.

What? Yes! Why is she doing this? 

“We could use a strong boy like you. Corvette just left us, and he was about your build. No medical conditions, right? You can lift heavy bags?”

Ah. That’s it. Cruz’s late, I was gone, nothing got done so she needs someone to unload the Science Diet truck.

 “Sure.” He shrugs his shoulders.

As if he’s ever done manual labor. Ha!

“Great. Come with me,” Shane says.

His eyes widen in surprise.

I snort. Those neat, sporty clothes are going to get so filthy.

“Now?” he asks Shane but looks at me for assistance.

I smirk and glance down at the pristine whiteness of his shorts. Overwhelming satisfaction fills my chest, and I suppress the giggles.

 “Yes, of course.” Her chin lowers, and her brows rise.

 “Great, let’s go.” His voice remains smoothly confident, but the slack in his smirk reveals the effect of Shane’s challenge.

He follows in her wake. He’s tall, six feet or more, and thin but definitely strong, carrying those broad shoulders proudly. Long, lean, tan legs with powerful quads and calves. And that butt. Wow!

He turns around and busts me checking out his ass. His lips return to a full smirk. It’s a gut-wrenching punch.

Frantic anger strikes like a bolt of thrilling but painful electricity. This time I can’t stop the critical voice inside my head. He saw you checking him out! You’re an idiot! Good job, Kendall. You deserve that dog girl label. Actually, you’ve stepped it up to dirty, weird, red-faced, dog girl. Why in a million years did you think you were capable of interacting with a guy like that? 

 I should’ve been busy training Rascal and totally ignoring him.

Rascal’s exuberant face bounces as he pants, oblivious to my internal death.

“Traitor!” I growl. “You’re as dumb as a stump.”

To this, he bows his head.

My heart breaks. I bend down and give him a generous scratching on his sternum. “I’m sorry, boy.” The tightness in my chest fades as I watch Rascal’s tongue hang and flap with joyful satisfaction. “You’re way cuter than he is.”

I risk a peek over my shoulder. Saint Paul Boy is carrying one of the giant dog food bags off of the truck, and he’s looking over here.

What’s behind me? I turn around. Nothing’s there.

I turn back and catch his eyes on me. Now he’s smiling. This isn’t good! The web of anxiety stretches and shudders.

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About the Author:

Gabi Justice is the author of Dog Girl, her teen and young adult contemporary romance debut set to publish in the fall of 2020. She is the mom to three dogs and one stray cat named Luna Buna. She lives in Florida with her husband and children. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tennis court in the state that she hasn’t visited, having three competitive junior players in the family. She spent most of her adult life writing editorial copy for local magazines after graduating from the University of South Florida. Florida provides the settings for all her coming-of-age stories that highlight bullying, misjudgment, acceptance, and teen anxiety. Her main characters are goal-oriented teenage girls with a drive that can be fierce and dangerous.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.gabijustice.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabijustice/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagabijustice

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20495013.Gabi_Justice

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabi_justice

BONUS Playlist! 

Tour created by YA Bound Book Tours 

Playlist for Sister of the Chosen One by Colleen Oakes and Erin Armknecht!

Check out the playlist for Impact by K. Maze

 

Top 10 Songs to Mend a Geek's Broken Heart by Shevi Arnold

Shevi Arnold is back! This time, she is sharing a playlist for geeks who are in love or having difficulty in love.

So I’ve been asked to come up with 10 songs to mend a geek’s broken heart. I thought about it long and hard. I came up blank.

You see, there’s a contradiction between being a geek and breakup songs.

Being a geek is about love. It’s about being so in love with something that you feel the need to shout it from the rooftops, and you don’t care what anyone else thinks. You want Doctor Who to pick you as his next companion. You want to tell Hans Solo, “I love you,” and you want him to reply, “I know.” You want to be Link rescuing Zelda. You want to be chosen to join Starfleet or the Avengers. You want to fly on the Serenity with Captain Mal. You’re still hoping for your invitation to Hogwarts. It doesn’t really matter what it is you love. What makes you a geek is that you geeking LOVE it. That thing makes you happy just to daydream about it.

Breakup songs aren’t about love. They’re about bad feelings. They’re about sadness and anger and jealousy and the end of love.

So how could there possibly be a breakup song for geeks?

And it’s not that geeks don’t experience breakups. Of course, we do. And we have the thing we geeking love to console us.  

Take me, for example. I would eat my favorite ice cream, Godiva Dark Belgian Chocolate, and watch my favorite movie, The Princess Bride, about a dozen times. And at about the ninth or tenth time I would realize there’s a Westley out there waiting for his Buttercup, and I am that Buttercup.  

I could give you a list of soundtracks you could listen to, but I don’t think that would really mend a broken heart. Not unless the thing you’re geeky about is soundtracks, in which case, cool.

So instead I’m going to give you the unofficial soundtrack for my funny, geek-centric YA novel: Why My Love Life Sucks. You see, I love all kinds of storytelling, including movies and TV shows, and I sometimes envision my stories in those mediums--with soundtracks and everything.

So here are ten of the songs I hear when I think of certain scenes and characters from the book. Enjoy!

Why My Love Life Sucks soundtrack to the TV version in my brain:

Intro: “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” by Eric Idle (Monty Python)

Chapter one: “Breakeven” by The Script.

Chapter three (Amber): “She’s So High Above Me” by Tal Bachman

Chapter three: “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” (Gonzo’s Song from The Muppet Movie, with clips from Life on Mars, cover version by Paula Jarvis)

Chapter four: “Crazy” by Seal

Chapter five: “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas (Oprah show flash-mob version)

Chapter 10: “Galaxies” by Owl City

Chapter 12: “D & D” by Stephen Lynch

Chapter 16: “Fix You” by Coldplay

Epilogue: “May It Be” by Enya from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack

About the Author-

I've always been super geeky about comedy, fantasy and science fiction.

When I was little, I'd take them apart and analyze them, kind of like what Gilbert Garfinkle--the hero of Why My Love Life Sucks--does with electronics. This continued into my college years, when I majored in English Literature and Theater Studies.

For twelve years I worked in magazines and newspapers as an editorial cartoonist, illustrator, editor, arts-and-entertainment writer (specializing in children's entertainment and, of course, comedy), and a consumer columnist.

My last job was at the Jerusalem Post, but I had to quit when my family decided to move to New Jersey to pursue better education options for my autistic son.

This was in February 2001. Since then I've written 40 picture books and seven novels for kids and teens, four of which I've indie published. I was an ABNA quarterfinalist with Why My Love Life Sucks, and I won third place in SmartWriter's Write It Now contest in the the YA category (which was judged by Alex Flinn, the author of Beastly) for my romantic, YA ghost story, Ride of Your Life.

Links-

Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/shevistories/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheviStories

Blog: http://shevi.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shevistories

Website: http://www.shevistories.com/Home.html

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SheviStories

Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4027770.Shevi_Arnold

Facebook Event-

https://www.facebook.com/events/592818107403748/?context=create#

Book Info-

Title-Why My Love Life Sucks

Series-The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer Book # 1

By- Shevi Arnold

Published-March 23, 2010

Blurb-

Seventeen-year-old Gilbert Garfinkle is the ultimate tech geek. He likes to take apart, figure out, and fix things, and he dreams of someday fixing the world. But now his own life has been taken apart by the one thing he'll never be able to figure out. Her name is Amber, and she's a gorgeous girl with a killer smile who wants to turn him into her platonic BFF--literally forever! It's the ultimate geek's ultimate nightmare, and it leaves Gilbert asking life's ultimate question: "Why me?"  

Why My Love Life Sucks is a funny novel about geeks, girls, gadgets, vampires, and the start of a most unlikely friendship. It's the first book in The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, the series that  proves it takes the ultimate geek to be the ultimate hero. 

Read an excerpt:

The night after Amber bites Gilbert, he wakes up in pain and confusion in a hospital. He wants answers, so he escapes and heads to the arcade where they first met.

“Where to?” the driver asks.

“Bucky Bee’s on Broadway.”

Everything seems mercifully quiet the moment I close the door of the cab, but I’m noticing some extremely unpleasant odors. There’s the smell of cigarettes, the musky odor of sweat, and something that smells like grungy gym socks. The lights outside on the streets of New York are so bright and colorful. It’s like I’m Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, when everything goes from black-and-white to Technicolor. I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

The people remind me of television commercials for fruit-flavored breakfast cereals. So many flavors, and all so yummy. This is so wrong. It’s like I’m that damn shark from Finding Nemo. I have to keep telling myself that people are people, not food. I tie my sneakers, and try to spend the rest of the ride just staring at my feet.

The driver lets me off. After paying the fare, I’m left with thirty-four dollars from the money Uncle Ian gave me, and I still have the other thirteen in my wallet, or rather Amber does.

“Hi, Alex,” I say as I walk into Bucky Bee’s. “Anything broken tonight?” I don’t know why I said that. Force of habit I guess.

“Gilbert?”

“Yeah?”

“You look different.”

“I've had a really bad day.” Oh, wait, he’s probably talking about my glasses. “Oh, and I . . . got laser eye-surgery.” Okay, stupid thing to say. I’m pretty sure you have to wear goggles for weeks after eye surgery.

“Really, that fast?”

“Oh, yeah.” I should have said contact lenses.

“Looks good on you. Maybe I should get laser eye-surgery too.”

He informs me that all the machines are in working order, so my services aren’t needed tonight. Still he lets me in.

I scan the tables. Amber isn't at one. So what do I do now?

Oh, wait, there she is, leaning against the wall next to the game I fixed last night. She’s still wearing her bright red dress, and the navy-blue jacket she borrowed from me is draped over her shoulders. She sees me, and she comes over. I find an empty booth and sit down. She sits opposite me. Bucky Bee’s looks like a rainbow threw up in it, the colors are so damn bright.

“I hardly recognized you,” Amber says, with a wide smile. “You look great.”

“Great like a corpse at an open-casket funeral?”

“No, silly, great as in you're no longer wearing those nerdy glasses, your zits are gone, your hair and skin look terrific, and you have this really sexy brooding stare.”

“Brooding stare?”

“Mmm . . .” Amber is looking at me and making a yummy sound. I can't help but twitch, knowing how she thinks I taste and what part of me she’s tasted. “It’s very sexy.”

“This is not a brooding stare. This is my I'm-so-mad-I-could-kill-you face.”

“Well, whatever it is, it's working for you.”

That’s it. I can't keep my anger inside any longer. “How could you do this to me??”

Wait a minute . . . Did I just yell in Bucky Bee's?

Fortunately the noise level is so high I don't think anyone’s noticed. Oh, I’m wrong. Alex is staring at Amber, so he’s noticed, and he probably thinks I'm nuts to be yelling at a girl who is way out of my league. Wish I didn't know what you don't know, Alex. And Chloe, who is working at the counter tonight, is also staring at me. And some guy or girl dressed as Bucky Bee may or may not be staring at me. It’s hard to tell with the costume on.

Amber’s looking around too. We have to wait until no one seems to be staring at us anymore. It takes several excruciatingly long minutes.

She sighs. “Look, Gil, I know you're scared.”

“That's putting it mildly.”

“But the truth is being a vampire—”

“Please don't say that word.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Vampire?”

“Please don't say it.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Sounds like someone is in denial.”

She’s right. I am in denial. But what else can I do? How the hell am I supposed to accept this? “I. Am. So. Screwed.”

“No, you're not.” She has this huge smile on her face, and I want to believe her, but . . . “Listen to me, Gil. In a few days after the pain has worn off, you're going to see this is the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  

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