BLOG TOUR: Clayton Fall Series by Alyssa Rose Ivy (Review & Giveaway)

Derailed

By: Alyssa Rose Ivy 

Review by: Kaede

Publisher: CreateSpace

Pages: 260

Series: Clayton Falls (#1)

Format: E-book Review Copy

Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Purchase: Amazon * Free to the end of the tour! 

When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.
Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.
Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.

I'm sure most of you have heard about it by now. The "newest hot and upcoming" thing since Young Adult. But if haven't, you're probably wondering what it is. So I'll tell you. 

New Adult. 

But what exactly is New Adult? Let's turn to the handy Wikipedia for help. 

"New-adult Fiction or post-adolescent literature is a recent category of fiction for young adults first proposed by St. Martin's Press in 2009. St. Martin’s Press editors wanted to address the coming-of-age that also happens in a young person’s twenties. They wanted to consider stories about young adults who were legally adults, but who were still finding their way in building a life and figuring out what it means to be an adult." -Wikipedia

And it's target? 

"This category is intended to be marketed to post-adolescents and young-adults ages 18 to 30. This age group is considered to be the lucrative 'cross-over' category of young-adult titles that appeal to both the young-adult market and to an adult audience. Publishers of young-adult fiction now favor this category as it encompasses a far broader audience. The chief features that distinguish this category from Young-adult fiction are the perspective of the young antagonist and the scope of the antagonist's life experience. Perspective is gained as childhood innocence fades and life experience is gained, which brings insight. It is this insight which is lacking in traditional young-adult fiction." -Wikipedia

Educational course aside, I'd been informed that Derailed and it's continuation falls under the classification of a New Adult novel. Now New Adult has always been a subject of curiosity, but I had never wanted to take the first step. While certainly it was a matter of intrigue, this category of New Adult isn't the most well-received. Some more renowned titles that are often brought up with the mention of New Adult are Easy by Tammara Webber, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. And quite honestly, the only one I have remote confidence in is Easy. The books that I've seen pop up that are New Adult have blended together, and I really couldn't name more than 30 tops. It's almost as if every so called "New Adult" book is either the same or close to it. 

THE PROCESS: 

But while it seems not everybody is liking New Adult, there are more than enough of a fan base to have convinced me to give Derailed a try. And for the most part, I'm glad I did. 

Derailed is the story of a young woman named Molly who is grieving over the loss of her late fiancé. With the decision to lay low and plan out what'll happen next, Molly returns to the home she left behind. Clayton Falls, North Carolina. 

Greeted by her best friend Kelly upon her arrival, Molly and her make their way to a bar. This also serves as the introduction of Ben, Molly's high school sweetheart. She left him once, despite still being in love with him back then. Molly never saw what came next. 

Now that Molly's returned, Ben isn't going to let her go again. Not everyone gets a second chance, and he's ready to do whatever he needs to win Molly over. 

But is Molly ready to start over? Is she ready to let Ben in again? Can she handle a relationship with a boy from the past she wants so badly to leave behind? 

I did have problems with Derailed, but mostly they ended up being minor issues. The writing didn't hook me from the start, it took time to ease into the story. I also didn't end up loving Molly, like I'd hope, but she did served as a decent main character. 

It was interesting seeing Molly and Ben's relationship develop. It was sweet and enjoyable, with hints of past and present grief and sadness mixed in to balance things out a bit. Both characters have their secrets and things they rather not remember, and I liked they were able to find comfort in each other. I liked that Ben tried to make up for what he's done, and wanted to show that he had his priorities straight and that he's grown and is no longer the boy he used to be. The boy who got high and stood up dates. Ben tries his all to prove that he deserves Molly's love. 

There is touched upon sex, but nothing of the very graphic sorts. If you can handle semi-vague scenes about sexual interactions, and you like the idea of New Adult but haven't actually ventured into it like me before, then I'd recommend you give Derailed a try. It convinced me that there is potential in these New Adult books, and I'll eventually continue to try new ones. 

Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy was a good solid story. However, Veer, it's follow-up, I enjoyed slightly better. 

3 ½ coffee cups!

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Add DERAILED to Goodreads

Find Alyssa Rose Ivy on Goodreads | Website | Twitter

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Veer

By: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Review by: Kaede

Publisher: CreateSpace

Pages: 286

Series: Clayton Falls (#2)

Format: E-book Review Copy

Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Purchase: Amazon

Only when you let go can you learn to live.

Between the death of her mother and pushing through law school without her best friend, it's been a tough year for Becca. Needing a break from Boston, she moves to a tiny coastal North Carolina town for a relaxing summer. After bumping heads repeatedly with a local cop, she realizes her summer will be anything but quiet.

Three years after a career ending injury ruins his chance to play Major League Baseball, Gavin has a distrust of northerners and lately girls in general. He wants nothing to do with a girl who is only in town for the summer.

When the two give in to their impossible attraction, they realize that they may just have found the key to freeing themselves from the ghosts of their pasts.

Veer is the second novel of the Clayton Falls series, which follows Becca as the protagonist. Becca is Molly's best friend back from law school in Boston, and recently was forced to come to terms with the death of her mother and the absence of her best friend. Tossed back and forth between not knowing what she wants anymore, Becca decides to take a summer trip to a tiny town in North Carolina. This trip is Becca's chance for time to think things over. To relax and slowly overcome her problems.

Until she crosses path with local cop, Gavin. Their attraction is immediate, their chemistry undeniable, and yet it seems it simply wasn't meant to be. Gavin has developed a supreme distrust of northerners, after the incident with his ex-girlfriend, and is determined not to feel any connection towards Becca. And Becca is more than happy to return his feelings. 

When I had first come across Gavin in Derailed, I'll admit that my censors did automatically go up. Jerk-alert, jerk-alert, the sirens kept ringing. But there was something about him that I couldn't put my fingers on in the first book. Something I thought wasn't quite right. I had a feeling that I should have liked Gavin more. Gavin, like Becca, is straightforward and to the point. They have no hesitation and don't think about holding anything back. Especially rude comments. But pasts are revealed, reasons are given, and eventually you'll begin to understand that these two characters are only trying to hide their insecurities. It turns out Gavin could be quite charming and romantic. 

Veer was composed of many reasons why I love contemporaries. It was romantic (but with it, drama and misunderstandings!), fun, and had a story led by characters who undergo so much they come up as a completely new person for the better. The writing caught my attention quicker, and Beth was somebody that I only grew to love more as we find out bit by bit who she really is. 

4 coffee cups!

Add VEER to Goodreads

Find Alyssa Rose Ivy on Goodreads | Website | Twitter

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Watch the Derailed Trailer!

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Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Alyssa's Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Phew! I'm tired. But before I get to go and curl up with a book on the couch and watch some TV, I also have a giveaway for you guys! You know the drill. 

Now most of you guys probably know I'm not too fond of Rafflecopter, and only use it with it's absolutely necessary. I haven't had problems with the way I'm about to handle this giveaway yet, so I'm just going to proceed with it. 

The Prizes Are: 

• A e-book copy of Veer

OR

• Some bookmark/postcard swag

Rules & Info: 

• Open INTERNATIONALLY 

• Giveaway ends February 8, 2013 at MIDNIGHT Eastern Time

• Prizes will be sent out during the third week of February [2/10/13]

• Please, no cheating. 

How to Enter: 

Leave a comment on the post telling me whether you'd like a chance to win a e-book copy of Veer or some swag. Also, please remember to leave a email address where I can reach you if you win the contest.