Bewitching Blog Tour: Revamped by Ada Adams

Description:


A simple mission turned deadly. 

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue. 

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same. 


Excerpt:

FROM CHAPTER TWO

I ordered Seth to wait in the car and slowly made my way up the dirt path in the direction of what I had hoped was Sebastian’s residence. The longer I walked, the darker and more daunting the clouds above became. Finally, with a booming crash of thunder, the sky tore open, releasing a fresh downpour of cool rain. This time it was faster and heavier, pummeling against Hannah’s note and drenching her small, neat writing. I considered turning back and meeting with Sebastian another time, but my curiosity got the best of me.

I examined Hannah’s note, squinting to make out some of the smudged words.

Sebastian York is a twenty-one year-old Scorpio. He has gorgeous light gray eyes, the color of sparkling glaciers. His midnight-black hair is slightly curly and just long enough to make you daydream about running your fingers through his locks. He’s super tall and really, really hot. Just try to peel your eyes away from all those lean muscles! Yum! He’s brooding, mysterious, strong, and self-deprecating (or at least he seems like the type)—the perfect vampire!

I had to stop myself from reading the rest. Hannah’s report on Sebastian was a little over-the-top for my taste. Not to mention, much too unbelievable. I scrunched up the soaked paper and tucked it into the pocket of my jeans. I smiled to myself, thinking that the bubbly redhead had a promising career ahead of her as a writer of cheesy romance novels.

The hike through the forest led to a secluded clearing. The trees parted, revealing a striking building more akin to a grand mansion, than a house in the woods. While made in the same style as the buildings in town, the three-storey structure had a stately, regal air about it. Clad in white stone with Grecian temple-inspired columns towering across its entire façade, it very much resembled the majestic inn on the grounds of the Angel Creek Park.

The driveway finally came to an end and I found myself next to a luxury antique car. Its cherry-red hood was propped wide open, so it took a moment before I noticed that there was a figure tinkering with the machinery underneath. He wore a pair of loose, black pants, the muscles on his bare back flexing as he strained to tighten something with a metal wrench.

Hannah’s words flashed through my mind as I stood frozen in place, observing Sebastian’s profile. My gaze traveled along his tall, lean body, to his face, gliding over his sharp angular jaw and high cheekbones, and, finally, finding a resting place on his dark locks. Embarrassed by my unexpected attraction to the vampire in front of me, I sharply looked away, thankful for the cooling sensation of the wet raindrops against my skin.

Suddenly, Sebastian sensed my presence. His entire body tensed as he spun around, the wrench firmly grasped in his hand, ready and poised for an attack. The moment his eyes fixed on me, he froze, a look of sheer terror seizing his face. The metal tool fell out of his hand, hitting the cobblestone with a loud clank. The noise seemed to break the spell he was under. As his gaze connected with mine, the look of horror that came over him just moments before, immediately vanished.

“Sebastian?” I asked breathlessly, unnerved by his startling reaction.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he continued to examine every inch of me with his cool, gray eyes. My entire body blazed under his scrutinizing stare, but despite the uneasiness, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him. The strong wind frantically tugged at my hair, as if trying to snap me out of my trance. In spite of nature’s best efforts, I simply stood there, locked in an unnerving staring contest with the mysterious vampire. A deafening clap of thunder shook the earth, causing me to jump, and startling Sebastian back to his senses.

“Who wants to know?” he finally responded. There was a sharp edge to his smooth voice.

“My name is Dawn,” I said, attempting a smile. “I’m here on an assignment from the Vampire President to train the new guardians of Angel Creek. Since you’re one of the five vampire residents, I thought you’d want to know about the mission and take part—” I paused abruptly, distracted by the angry scowl forming across his face.

Another earsplitting roar of thunder sounded before he spoke. “Not interested.” he said curtly, his eyes still intent on me. He was boldly exploring my face, his gaze slowly traveling down my body.

“Dawn, did you say?” he asked curiously, his voice a little less brisk.

I nodded, crossing my arms in a self-conscious effort to shield myself from his gaze. “So can we count you in?” I asked hopefully.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?” I asked in disbelief. I was quickly becoming annoyed with the shirtless, ill-mannered vampire.

“No. Nope. Not interested. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really—no.” He turned away, waving his hand in my direction as if to let me know I was dismissed.

“Why?” I asked, stretching out to grab his arm. Thankfully, he had moved just before I could reach him, as mid-grab, I realized that touching Sebastian was a bold move that I had not fully thought out.

He turned around to face me, the feverish look in his eyes causing me to take a slight step back. “I don’t really embrace this whole vampire fad. I’m not interested in anything related to vampires, being a vampire or serving the Vampire President. Got it?”

“What about your obligation to protect humans?” I questioned.

“I’m not interested in humans either, not even the sad, vulnerable ones so many vampire idiots fall for. You could say, I'm only interested in myself.” He smirked, his tone once again reaching sub-zero temperatures. “So, if you wouldn’t mind leaving, I’d love to get back to work.”

“But, but…you can’t do that. When I tell the President that you’re here, he’ll order you to join the group.” I was grasping at straws.

All of a sudden, Sebastian charged toward me, thrusting his face into mine. He was so close our noses almost touched. As I raised my eyes to meet his, the raindrops from his glistening locks dripped onto my forehead. I resisted the temptation to blink as droplets of water fell onto my eyelashes, not wanting to show him any weakness.

“For the past century I’ve been doing exactly what I want, when I want. I don’t owe anything to any human or vampire—especially not the President. Now, leave before I make you leave!” he said through clenched teeth.

“Fine!” I yelled, pressing my fists tightly against my legs in an effort to prevent myself from striking him. “But, just so you know, you’re a really sucky vampire.” I mentally kicked myself for the lame retort, also chastising myself for having wanted this aggravating snob to join the group.

“Please don’t come around here anymore.” With those final words, Sebastian stormed off into the house, slamming the heavy door behind him. I was left alone on the wet driveway; feeling confused, angry, and somewhat excited by our meeting.

That evening, nestled in the small, cozy cottage in the depths of the Angel Creek forest, I glumly surveyed the vampires gathered around the dining room table. Hunter was resting his head on the linen tablecloth, struggling to stay awake. Every so often, he would succeed in lifting his heavy lids and focusing his eyes on me, only to instantly retreat into his intoxicated coma. Sophie sat to Hunter’s right, her forehead scrunched tightly as she squinted at the tiny print of her historical fiction novel. Her pupils moved at lightning speed as her eyes traversed the pages of the book, hungrily devouring the story. Across from them, Brooke was polishing her nails with a sharp, pink file. She paused after each stroke to carefully inspect her nails and ensure that she was creating the perfect shape. Seth sat at the foot of the table, a large head of garlic in his hand. He peeled off a clove and popped it into his mouth, wincing as the bitter flavor reached his taste buds. All the while, he shot dirty looks in Brooke’s direction.

Drawing in a deep, calming breath, I launched into a short speech I had prepared earlier in the day. “Congratulations new vampire recruits! The four of you are now the official guardians of Angel Creek. This is both a great honor and an important task. Are you ready to band together and work with me?” I asked with as much excitement as I could muster.

“Hmm?” Hunter murmured, raising his head.

“Y-Yes.” Sophie whispered.

“Okay,” Brooke said. “But it better make me super popular.”

Seth narrowed his eyes at Brooke. “As long as I don’t have to work too closely with her.”

It was the best I was going to get, I realized.

“Tomorrow morning we begin our train—” Before I had a chance to finish my sentence, a sudden blur of movement in the woods caught my attention. I only saw it for a split second, but it was enough to convince me that someone was lurking outside. Someone had found our secret location.

Not wanting to panic the recruits, I casually made my way to one of the dining room windows. Wiping away layers of dust that clouded the glass pane, I pressed my forehead against its cool surface, scanning the horizon for the origin of the activity. It was difficult to make out through the thick sheets of rain, but right at the edge of the forest, concealed by the shadowy trees, stood a tall, dark silhouette. From its frame alone, I could not tell if it belonged to a human, a vampire, or some other being altogether. I was only sure of one thing—it was watching us. I rushed outside to investigate, but by the time I had reached its hiding spot, the stranger had vanished into the darkness.

About the Author:

"Many people sing in the shower. I, on the other hand, write scenes in my head and act them out."

At age five, Ada read her first chapter book - Pippi Longstocking. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for the stories and characters found within the pages of literature.

In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master's of Science in Education.

Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years. "ReVamped" is her debut novel.

She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

www.revampedbook.com

www.facebook.com/revampedbook

www.twitter.com/Ada_Adams

www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495198-revamped

Review:

ReVamped by Ada Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine a world where after all the vampire hype started, all the vampires came out of the “coffin” so to speak… And not in the “True Blood” kind of way either.  This cute YA novel is set exactly like that.  All the vampires have come out of the coffin (so to speak).  They are joining in with moving stars, working with their own government run by the Vampire President, and everyone is going crazy with excitement.  Dawn, the President’s beautiful daughter, has been protected from the world and when she if finally given her first mission she is so excited she doesn’t care what the mission is.  Funny thing is, it is not the easiest job in the world.  She has to “revamp” 4 very unvampire-like vampires, and turn them into strong Guardian vampires.  What no one knows is that the past is coming back to haunt her and the little town she is in. 

Oh, my goodness, this was a great book!  Now, I love my YA vamp books for one of 2 reasons:  1) They are corny and no-brainers that don’t require too much attention or 2) just for the plain fun of it.  Well, this book doesn’t fall into category #1, but it sure does fall into category #2. 

I loved book so much for several reasons.  I loved the spin that Ms. Adams gave.  A lot of vampire YA books are almost seemed to be in a set pattern or mold, but I didn’t see a pattern with this book.  It was refreshing spin on the vampire myth, with surprising twists.  There were at least 2 that caught me completely by surprise, and I absolutely loved it!

I really liked Dawn as a character.  She is trying to find her place in the world, trying to show that she is an adult to her father and trying to find herself.  When she discovers things about her family’s past, she is unsure how to proceed, who to trust, and what to do.  The struggles she deals with, though circumstance could be different, are similar to what we as young adults (or even adults) have to deal with and figure out. 

Oh, and there was definitely a fun love triangle.  Ethan and Sebastian = YUMMY!  One tall, dark and handsome brooding vampire and one cute, blonde human make for a fun story line.  I easily picked which one I wanted Dawn to pick (and boy was I right on which one she should pick!), but there is still that struggle on which one is right for her. 

Best part of the whole book though:  The werewolves.  That whole scene and description had me laughing so hard I almost chocked.  Definitely not what I thought werewolves would look like, and that was definitely refreshing!

Other great perks of this book:  I love the play on the title and what happens in the book.  There is really a lot of “revamp”ing and I liked how the author played with that.  I think that the historical reference that was mentioned is pleasantly and believably intertwined to the plot of the story (No real hints, but think Dolly in 1996), and I can remember this stuff being such a big deal as a teen.  Then there was the garlic twist that I absolutely love… It really makes me want garlic bread right now.  And the history of how each of the four new vampires were turned was pretty great.  Brook’s was the funniest just because of the irony of it all (though personally, I wouldn’t want to be stuck as a 17 for life/unlife), plus the other stories of other vamps were pretty cool!

The only thing confusing me were the prologue and the flash backs.  It made me think one thing, but it was completely different.  It only slightly confused me until Alastair cleared it up with the explanation ¾ of the way through the book.

One question that I’m still dying to know the answer to, is about the concept of the Born and the Made, and would the normal Born/Made rules apply to Dawn and Sebastian?  Can’t really be more specific as it might give away important details of the book, but it does make me wonder.  Hmmm, sounds like a great thing to figure out in the next books.

Overall, I think this is a great book, and I highly recommend it.  I can’t wait to see what Ms. Adams is going to be doing next.

Happy Reading!


Cana