Tuesday, June 26, 2012

HUGE Giveaway and Review for Auracle by Gina Rosati

*A HUGE thank you to Gina Rosati for providing me with an ARC of Auracle to review! Thank you, thank you! *


Release Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher:
Roaring Brook Press
Author Information: WebsiteTwitter / Facebook
Genre:
Contemporary, Paranormal
Available Formats:
Hardcover and eBook
My Shelf: Own (ARC)
Other Information:
Debut
16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.
Review:
I point to my chest, mouthing the word me.
“Me,” he says softly. “‘That’s not me.’ That’s not you? Well, then, who is it?” He looks more confused than ever. Over at my house, the front door opens. Taylor comes out barefoot and walks slowly up the driveway toward the mailbox. She doesn’t look over, but Rei sees her, and he knows I can’t be here and there at the same time.
I mouth the word very slowly. “Taylor.” 
Auracle was a real treat to read. Rosati smoothly blends vivid details and evocative writing with an original, emotional story, heartfelt and down-to-earth characters, and a plotline that will keep you reading until the very end.

Growing up, I watched the show Charmed religiously, and I remember thinking Prue’s ability of astral projection was one of the most amazing abilities ever. To be able to escape from both your body and life, traverse to places of unforetold wonder, experience things such as sight, smell, and sound more intensely than in your physical body, it would truly be a life-altering experience. While the concept of astral projection was what drew me to Auracle initially, I quickly discovered there was so much more to love about it.

The characters themselves were exquisitely rendered, each with their own strengths and imperfections, and they felt genuinely real. Roasti brilliantly constructs deep bonds between the characters, and portrays what it means to be a true friend. Personally, I found the strongest and most compelling part of this story to be the growing relationship between Rei and Anna. Having been best friends since childhood, there were already close to one another, but I loved watching their relationship realistically and gradually change as they became aware of the romantic connection between them. (I was totally giggling the first time Anna realizes that Rei has abs! Yum! :D)

Utterly unique and emotionally gripping, Auracle is easily a book I would recommend to anyone. It has quickly been added to my list of top favorites, and it is the type of book you will reach for again and again. To put it simply, Auracle was an absolutely mesmerizing read, and I hope it dazzles you as much as it did me.  
The Greatest Escape!

Well, if that is not enough to inspire you to read Auracle, I’ll share a funny story from the author –

“I was having trouble visualizing Rei, so one day while I was using my husband's computer, I decided I needed to find a picture. Rei is half Japanese, so I Google Image-searched "Hot Asian Guys". NEVER do this from your husband's computer (or boyfriend or parent, etc.) because there is this little thing I was unaware of called Google Search History. Later that night, my husband asked me 1) why I had been Googling "Hot Asian Guys" on his computer and 2) why his computer was infested with malware. Oops! (I now know that anything Googled with the word “Hot” can lead to big trouble!) Fortunately, my husband has a really great sense of humor and he's a whiz at fixing computers.

As soon as I saw this picture, I knew I’d found my Rei (although this is really actor/singer Takeshi Kaneshiro!) And since he looks so good all drippy wet, I felt compelled to keep Rei wet as much as possible, which explains Rei’s shower obsession. Seriously. This is character development at its finest! ;)”
To view the picture of Rei, click here!

And now it is GIVEAWAY TIME! Gina is giving away a bunch of awesome prizes: a signed ARC of Auracle, two bags of Auracle swag, and a Swarovski crystal bracelet! (^o^) This giveaway is international, so anyone can join! The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. To enter, just sign up below!
The prizes (detailed): Signed ARC, beaded bookmarks, buttons, magnets, silicone bracelets, Swarovski crystal bracelet and stickers! About the bracelet: The center star and fastener are lead-free pewter. The blue crystals are Swarovski, but the large clear beads are quartz crystal, which (according to newly minted crystal geek, Gina) absorbs negative energy. Leave your bracelet on a sunny windowsill from time to time to let the crystals clear and charge up.  The bracelet pictured measures seven inches. If you need your bracelet bigger or smaller, let me know and Gina will restring to fit.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

77 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great review! Will def. check this book out once it's released :)

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  2. This sounds so good & I love the cover. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  3. I really love the cover. I've been pinning for this one for months!

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  4. Sooo looking forward to this book! And love the story about the inspiration for Rei. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway! The cover looks amazing! My friend featured it on Thursday and she got me first interested!

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  6. Wow! This sounds really original. Yay, FINALLY! YA needs some novel notions like this. Looking forward to reading it, even if I don't win the ARC... but I sure hope I do!

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  7. This book looks so awesome!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  8. Ooh, I can't wait for AURACLE to hit shelves!

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  9. First off all, Bri, what a beautifully written review! You are so eloquent and expressive in it that I got goosebumps just from reading it! How excellent! I love all the details you give and how you talk about the Charmed TV show (I, too, grew up watching it, and your mere mention of it gets me all excited for this book!). It truly sounds like a great read, and as much as I wanted to read it before, after reading your review I'm practically dying to get my hands on it!

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and for sharing the book love! I adore the SWAG- looks so gorgeous and perfect to wear with summer dresses!:D

    Please stop by and check out my blog sometimes, I have many giveaways going on right now, too!

    Evie @Bookish

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  10. I am SO looking forward to Auracle. Glad to hear it is good :)

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  11. I cannot wait to read this! Thanks for the chance to win it!

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  12. This looks so good!!! I cant wait! :-)

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  13. Awesome giveaway, and fantastic review! :D I can't wait to read this one! :D It's been on my to-read list for a while now!! :D

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  14. Cool giveaway! It's always fun to receive things that are book related. :) Great review!

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  15. Fun note: my tweet for this contest was my 4,444th Tweet. I like 4s!

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  16. Great giveaway, but wow what a book! I can't believe I haven't heard about this one before because it sounds fantastic! =)

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  17. Thanks, I'm loving the drippy wet look, too!!!!

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  18. Lovely review!! Now I'm so much more excited to read this book! And I was pretty excited before. ;) Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

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  19. Awesome review, thank you!! I am dying to read this book!

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  20. Great review and awesome giveaway :)

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  21. I just found your blog, and I love it! I had been on edge about whether I wanted to read this book, but your review sealed the deal! Can't wait to get it when it's out!

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  22. I love the cover of Auracle. I have been drooling over it and itching to read it ever since I first saw it on goodreads. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  23. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I am really looking forward to reading Auracle; it's been on my to-read list for ages!

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  24. A fantastic review! I have heard SO many great things about this book! SO MANY!!!

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  25. LOL on your story of searching for Rei. That picture of Rei looks so hot!!!

    Your review for Auracle has now forced my hand to do whatever it takes to get Auracle in my hands ASAP. Sigh......

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  26. wow this sounds like an awesome read! thanks for the giveaway!!

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  27. This looks great!! I definitely want to read it!

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  28. Yay for paranormal otherworldly books! And SERIOUS YAY for that picture of Rei. Um. WOW.

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  29. I feel so sneaky but….I've already read Auracle, and it's awesome!!!! I was yelling at the characters (then emailing Gina and yelling about them to her), then cheering for them, then feeling genuinely terrified, and then ahhhhh. The ending. Awesome read.

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  30. The story is very beautiful. Anna and Rei seem very interesting characters and I loved your review.
    Thank you for the great giveaway!
    Artemis

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  31. A BIG thank you to everyone for all your wonderful comments and for stopping by! It makes me ridiculously happy! :D I hope you guys love Auracle (and Rei) as much as I do!

    @Anne Glad you liked the book! I also sent Gina quite a few e-mails after I finished it, but I am embarrassed to admit that most of mine were just about my love for Rei and fangirling over the book in general. I think I am lucky she still talks to me after sending all those crazy e-mails! :)

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  32. AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE AURACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    So excited!!!! This seems like a really, really, really, good book!!!! I've had it on my TBR list for the longest time!!!! It's so great to see that it's coming out soon!!! And squeee!!! Look at that cutey picture of Rei I believe? he's sooo cute!!! I am totally fangirling right now, but seriously, can anyone blame me?! :D
    Thank you for the giveaway!!!!

    Alyssa Susanna

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  33. I loved Charmed! I grew up watching that show too, Prue's Astral Projection is really an awesome power. Takeshi Kaneshiro is really a hot looking Japanese, I watched a few of his movies. Can't wait to read Auracle.

    Malvina Beatrice

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  34. I really want this novel! And the guy on the pic is GORGEOUS!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  35. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  36. Thanks for a awesome giveaway! Really looking forward to reading Auracle, love the cover as well as the summary.

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  37. I have been waiting forever for this book to come out. I can't wait to read it. This is an awesome giveaway!!!!!!!

    Thanks for the chance to win!!!!!!!! You Rock ^U^

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  38. Awesome can wait to read it

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  39. thank you for this epic giveaway. cannot wait to read this.

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  40. I'm loving this guy with the drippy wet look too! :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  41. Thank you for the giveaway! I love the guy ;)

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  42. Eeep! Wow, this is awesome! Thanks so much for the giveaway! :D

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  43. Great Giveaway! I just posted this as my Cover Love, last thursday! :D

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  44. Auracle looks awesome! :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  45. Have added Auracle to my TBR pile!

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  46. Thank you for the international giveaway! :)

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  47. This is SO going on my wishlist! Thanks for the wicked awesome giveaway!! (:

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  48. Thanks for the giveaway. I cant wait to read this book :)

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  49. Great review! thanks for the giveaway!

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  50. AWESOME blog & AWESOME giveaway! coming here more often. new follower!
    -Lisseth (Read-A-holicZ)

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  51. I think this is one of my favorite covers of the year! It looks so great! Can't wait to read this.

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  52. I had yet to hear of this book but oh my goody goodness am I looking forward to it now! Thanks so much for introducing me =D

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  53. I think this book looks interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  54. this book looks great and I liked your review thanks for the chance to win<3

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  55. Thank you so much for the giveaway,this sounds like an amazing book

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  56. The cover is one of the most beautiful I've seen!
    (Ileana-rafflecopter)

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  57. that book sounds great and I love Takeshi Kaneshiro too, he is my favorite japan actor^^

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  58. Great review. This book sounds amazing""
    Thabks so much for the giveaway!!

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  59. ooh the cover is capitvating as is the story - fab giveaway xx

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  60. Thank you oh so much for this awesome Giveaway! I love the cover of Auracle and think the book sounds amazing!

    Kayla @ Bengal Reads

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  61. Auracle definitely sounds promising.

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  62. This is a book I WANT to read.
    Thanks for the giveaway:)

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  63. This giveaway is awesome! I've been wanting to read this since I saw that great cover!
    --Markella

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  64. I really want to read this, it looks so good. Thanks

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  65. Thank you to everyone for entering, and a huge thank you to Bri for hosting this contest!! One more day until the winner is picked - good luck!!

    xox
    Gina

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  66. OMG! Am I too late??

    I Love your book cover, Gina. Your book is going to my wishlist now. And that story was great! I bet you were like "Oops, you caught me honey. I'll never do it again.. on your computer" LOL
    And HE is a HOT asian guy.. =)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  67. thanks for the giveaway..pls pls pls enter me..i really interest for reading this book and i love the cover,,,

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  68. Thanks for give away! Can't wait to read Auracle!

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  69. Whoa, this book sounds interesting!

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