TSK, TSK, What to Read?: BLOG TOUR: In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni

At eighteen there is one thing Kate Ericson is certain of—the world is at war and has been since she was two years old. That was when her father pulled her family and a group of close friends to a God forsaken place in the middle of nowhere. For Kate there is no escape from the sea of lies she is drowning in until her world collides with Hunter Marks—the son of her father's biggest opponent. An opponent that Kate didn't even know existed. What Hunter kidnaps Kate for, and what her family will try to kill her to keep secret, is a knowledge that she doesn't have. Now Kate’s innocence seems to becoming undone at the seams of reality. Hunter then finds himself fighting the hopelessness that is creeping into the edges of her heart as she learns more about the corruption that has devoured their lives. As Hunter and Kate forge a strong and unique relationship it becomes clear that their love is something that the bureaucracy never expected, and that Hunter's father will do whatever he can to destroy it. Hunter believes he must sacrifice love in order to teach Kate that the world's deadliest weapon is her. Hunter and Kate will have to find the strength to rise above a deception that is so great, even the ones who created it don't realize its depth.

Cassandra Giovanni is an avid writer of young adult novels and can’t wait to share her work with you. The genres of her novels include dystopian, paranormal, mystery and romance all aimed at appealing to adults and young adults alike. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. She began writing at a very young age, in fact from the moment she could draw she was telling stories that way. At age seven she won a contest in American Girl Doll to have a chapter she had written published. From that point on she was always writing, if not on paper than in her head. In May 2012 she published her first novel, In Between Seasons, which demonstrated her unique writing style and approach to the genre of post-apocalyptic fiction. On Halloween 2012 Cassandra released her second novel, Walking in the Shadows. This novel puts a new twist on the obsession of vampires in literature and explores some of the darkest parts of human nature, while still showing that there is always hope–if we only choose to believe in ourselves.

Cassandra is also a professional photographer with areas of interest such as car features, floral and architecture. Her photography company,

Gio Design Studios, will be transitioning into a publication marketing company that designs covers and marketing materials for authors utilizing the company’s photography. She is currently studying to receive her associates degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other love of her life their dog, Bubski.

www.cgiovanni.com

www.cgiovanniwrites.wordpress.com

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First, thank you to Megan at Reading Away the Days and Cassandra Giovanni for the advanced copy of In Between Seasons, and for having us on this tour.

Wow! Was this a whirlwind...Of tensions, emotions, manipulations, and confusion.
We are immediately thrown into Kate's cold, dark, empty world. Kate, though sheltered and reclusive, is very likeable and easy to connect with. Smart. Resilient. And tough. I was quickly caught up in her circumstance. Each moment felt as if I were running right alongside her. Terrified where we might end up- hopefully not dead.

And then we actually get to meet Hunter. Kate's world literally comes to a standstill when she and Hunter come face to face.
Can he really be a cold-blooded kidnapper/killer? WOW! Again- Yes, he's that awesome! But you'll have to wait and find out why for yourself.
What we know right away is he's beyond strong, drop dead gorgeous, resourceful, dangerous and deadly. So, what is this War, and what's he fighting for? And what does everyone want with Kate?
She's just a girl, right?!

Suddenly Kate doesn't know who or what to believe about the war, her family or herself. Her world and Hunter's are about to collide and nothing will ever be the same. Could this be a good thing?

The story progresses pretty quickly, and you wonder if this will be a case of Stockholm syndrome. Given Hunter's rugged looks, obvious power and persuasive manner, it's easy to see how Kate might connect with the one person she feels is the only one telling her the truth about the messed up world they live in.
No matter how unconventional it may seem, Hunter is kind and compassionate, not at all what he seems on the surface. Because he's all that and more.
Hunter is not your typical kidnapper. He's a soldier in a war between the two families. And he might have agenda other than his commander's, his father. He explains what's really been happening in the world- opening Kate's eyes and raising more questions. He doesn't tell her everything, but he comforts and protects her, and trains her to protect herself.
There are several endearing and even humorous scenes but, their little training sessions are some of my favorites.

There is quite a bit of action throughout the story. A lot of angst and anticipation. A lot of deception, and role playing (you'll see what I mean), heartache and panic. There is a war going on after all. And life on the compound is not what Kate- or I expected.
There is also a lot beauty. Wa...wait- what? Yes, actual beauty. In discovery... of the truth, in finding out who you really are- not what you were made to believe. The beauty of finding your savior, your best friend, and your way in life through desperate times and extreme measures. In finding strength. And hope. And possibilities. And the will to survive and create change.

Will they both survive? Together? Will the conflicts ever end? Is there a HEA? Well, you have go to through the trials and tribulations yourself to find that out. All in all, IBS was an easy flowing read with enough action, twists, and turns to keep you guessing, and plenty of romance to keep you engaged. I enjoyed every bit of it, and I'm eager to see what Cassandra does with the next installment.