Taking Time to Reread: MELT and SIGNS OF LIFE by Selene Castrovilla

 Melt by Selene Castrovilla 

Published by Last Syllable Books

November 6, 2014

MELT is a brutal love story, set against the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz. Sixteen year old “good girl” Dorothy just blew into the small town of Highland Park – where the social headquarters is Munchkinland (Dunkin’ Donuts.) There, she meets Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? And then there’s his family's secret – about to be unleashed.

Told in dual first person, Joey's words are scattered on the page - reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason - until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away?

MELT is based on true events. It is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. It will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul.

 (from Goodreads)

 Signs of Life by Selene Castrovilla 

Published by Last Syllable Books

June 21, 2016

The tables are turned with a vengeance in this tour de force love story. Nearly a year has gone by and now it’s Dorothy who is fragmented and lost, while Joey keeps the promise he had made her to better himself —even though she’s gone. Joey talks about what is happening in the present while Dorothy describes what happened before— in the moments and hours after the Glock dropped. This time the stakes are even higher, as Joey forces himself to move forward while Dorothy is frozen in place. But when he learns of a devastating decision, Joey races to find her before it is too late. Truth, consequence, repercussion and modern medicine collide as pieces converge in this psychological, thrilling story which begs the question: Can love really conquer all?

 (from Goodreads)

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There are a couple of reasons I decided to reread MELT and SIGNS OF LIFE. Selene Castrovilla announced the final book of the series, UNPUNISHED, will be published this fall. I wanted to have the story fresh in my mind for when it is released. She hasn't teased her readers with the cove just yet, but I'm anxious to see what it will look like. MELT and SOL both had beautiful covers that lend well to the stories, so I'm sure the cover of UNPUNISHED will be just as gorgeous.

The other reason I wanted to reread MELT and SOL is I'm going to meet Selene this weekend at the Roanoke Author Invasion book event. I am so excited!! We've corresponded over the past few years. I've reviewed her books on my blog. I've hosted Selene for guests posts and gave away I don't know how many copies of her books to readers just because I wanted them to read them, and now I'll FINALLY get to meet her. 

From my reviews:

MELT

"MELT is a moving book that I couldn't stop reading until the very end. And when I did finish those last pages, all I could think was - Wow, that happened. And it was powerful."

SIGNS OF LIFE

 "SIGNS OF LIFE is a book that has to be absorbed."

Some Favorite Quotes:

"I couldn't help him. I could hold him, hold space for him -- but I couldn't save him. He had to find his own way through." - Dorothy, MELT

"Everything we say to people we love should make them feel good. Because it might be the last thing we get to say to them." - Joey, SIGNS OF LIFE

********************************************

Do you reread books? Or do your ever growing TBR piles keep you from picking up some of your favorite books? I'd love to know your thoughts. Leave me a comment and we can chat it up.

Early Review Tour: LUNA RISING by Selene Castrovilla

LUNA RISING

by Selene Castrovilla

Publication Date: April 25, 2017

Published by Last Syllable Books

Pages: 450

Source: JenHalliganPR

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Synopsis

Life begins at thirty-eight for Long Island mom and writer Luna Lampanelli, when she kicks her secretly gay husband to the curb. She's got her freedom, but what she wants is love.

Luna knows she doesn’t need a man to exist, but try telling that to her heart. Against the advice of Sunny, her snarky best friend, and Jiminy, the cautioning voice in Luna’s head that just won’t shut up, Luna sets course to find a mate.

Luna speed and on-line dates her way into several short-lived, surreal relationships. There’s Ari, the humorless Israeli who refuses to assimilate – to America, and to humanity. There’s Alex, the young and handsome ex-crackhead who informs Luna he doesn’t want to be monogamous while they’re in bed. There’s Memphis, the wild-eyed sadomasochist. There’s Red, angry and crippled, who becomes the catalyst for Luna to join Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.

But before Luna can proceed to recovery, she meets the elusive but oh so appealing Trip. He’s emotionally unavailable and has the Madonna-Whore Complex, but how can Luna (aka “whore”) let him go when she enjoys his dry wit so much, and his naked body even more?

Humorously haunting and packed with unspeakable truths, Luna Rising follows a woman's funny and heart-breaking struggle to relate with un-relatable men and an un-relatable world, and to figure out something even more un-relatable: herself.

My Thoughts

I jumped at the chance to read the adult novel LUNA RISING by Selene Castrovilla. I discovered her books when I first read MELT, the first of her Rough Romance Trilogy, and fell in love with her writing. 

What I liked:

• The "stats" on the characters as they are introduced. It was a quick way to know about a character, and I especially liked finding out  - what they read (or don't read) says a lot about a person.
• Her friendship with Sunny - they are at similar places in their lives, but take different approaches to relationships. Their interactions add a lot of humor to the story.
• Her relationship with her Aunt Zelda. The love between them is evident.
• So much Chinese food - by the end of the book (or maybe even the middle) I was craving some Hot and Sour soup

I thought it was just crazy how quick Luna was to jump right into relationships. She was seeking connection and companionship, and comfort, and oftentimes confused that for love. She was starved for love. She needed it as much as she needed air.

Some of my favorites scenes are when Luna visits her chiropractor for adjustments and some enlightenment and "therapy" instead of seeing a therapist. There she gets centered and finds balace - in her body, and sometimes in her mind. I wish some of my experiences seeing my chiropractor were like hers. And like her chiropractor, I believe "Everything always works out." 

Memorable Quote:
"Sometimes you have to clear your path before you can continue down it."

Luna experiences a lot of personal growth and self-realization that a lot of readers can relate to. We are always changing, always observing, always learning, and always growing. We don't always recognize when it is happening,  but when it does, it can make us feel powerful. And when Luna experiences it, she is happy with just being.

LUNA RISING is an enjoyable read - filled with humor and wit. I'm looking forward to reading more adult novels by Selene Castrovilla.

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from JenHalliganPR in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Selene Castrovilla

Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com. 

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TOUR SCHEDULE

Feb 1st - A Nook for Books

Feb 2nd - Her Book Thoughts

Feb 3rd - A Leisure Moment

Feb 7th - Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

Feb 10th - A Chick Who Reads
Feb 13th - Actin' Up With Books

Feb 14th - The Invisible Diva

Feb 16th - Reese's Reviews

Feb 22nd - Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Feb 24th - vvb32 reads

Cover Reveal: LUNA RISING by Selene Castrovilla

I'm thrilled to take part in the cover reveal for LUNA RISING by Selene Castrovilla, organized by JenHalliganPR! Check out the cover below, enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!

Luna Rising by Selene Castrovilla 

Publisher: Last Syllable Books 

Expected Release: April 25, 2017

Life begins at thirty-eight for Long Island mom and writer Luna Lampanelli, when she kicks her secretly gay husband to the curb. She’s got her freedom, but what she wants is love. 

  Luna knows she doesn’t need a man to exist, but try telling that to her heart. Against the advice of Sunny, her snarky best friend, and Jiminy, the cautioning voice in Luna’s head that just won’t shut up, Luna sets course to find a mate. 

  Luna speed and on-line dates her way into several short-lived, surreal relationships. There’s Ari, the humorless Israeli who refuses to assimilate – to America, and to humanity. There’s Alex, the young and handsome ex-crackhead who informs Luna he doesn’t want to be monogamous while they’re in bed. There’s Memphis, the wild-eyed sadomasochist. There’s Red, angry and crippled, who becomes the catalyst for Luna to join Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. 

  But before Luna can proceed to recovery, she meets the elusive but oh so appealing Trip. He’s emotionally unavailable and has the Madonna-Whore Complex, but how can Luna (aka “whore”) let him go when she enjoys his dry wit so much, and his naked body even more? 

  Humorously haunting and packed with unspeakable truths, Luna Rising follows a woman’s funny and heart-breaking struggle to relate with un-relatable men and an un-relatable world, and to figure out something even more un-relatable: herself.

What do you think of the cover?

Be sure to add LUNA RISING to your TBR on Goodreads!

About Selene Castrovilla

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest

Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com.

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Release Day: SIGNS OF LIFE by Selene Castrovilla - Excerpt and Giveaway

I'm thrilled to take part in the release launch for Selene Castrovilla's SIGNS OF LIFE (Rough Romance #2)! Check out the book's details and teaser, and be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Signs of Life (Rough Romance #2)

Publisher: Last Syllable Books

Publication: June 21, 2016

The tables are turned with a vengeance in this tour de force love story. Nearly a year has gone by and now it’s Dorothy who is fragmented and lost, while Joey keeps the promise he had made her to better himself —even though she’s gone. Joey talks about what is happening in the present while Dorothy describes what happened before— in the moments and hours after the Glock dropped. This time the stakes are even higher, as Joey forces himself to move forward while Dorothy is frozen in place. But when he learns of a devastating decision, Joey races to find her before it is too late. Truth, consequence, repercussion and modern medicine collide as pieces converge in this psychological, thrilling story which begs the question: Can love really conquer all?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Excerpt from Signs of Life

Joey — Now

    I get to the church, and low and behold there’s a new message on its sign. The messages outside this church make my soul shudder. I try not to look at it, but then I always do. It’s like an accident on the side of the road. A really bad accident, where there’s nothing you can do to help—and there you are, staring. Helpless.

    I think of this sign like an especially bad therapy session. Like it’s a shrink bringing up shit—no, topics—you don’t want to think about. But this sign is even worse, because it’s not just about me. It’s about all of us—and there ain’t a thing I can do about it.

    I don’t know what’s up with this church always making people feel bad before they walk in—or maybe they’re trying to guilt you to come in and pray, to try and do something to ease the pain.

    Maybe religion’s just another drug.

    Tonight the sign says, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

    I said that once myself, to Doll. I didn’t even know where it came from, it just blurted out without my even thinking about it. It was like the words were divinely delivered into my throat for me to say. When it was too late to do anything about them.

    Typical God.

    Makes you wonder what's up with him, causing all this grief. Maybe he’s toying with us.

    But I still go to meetings and I still surrender. What else can I do? And anyway, I don’t have the the strength to fight anymore.

    Never thought I’d see that day.

    I salute ol’ Jesus still nailed up on that cross and head inside. Poor Jesus. If he had no chance, what’s gonna happen to the rest of us?

Dorothy – Then

    The more we kissed the dreamier I felt, like that first

time. At the museum, by the Monet

paintings. When we floated among the

water lilies. We just drifted right in with

them. Now we were

floating in the water

below us, going with the

current, carried by the

tide. Nature, we could

trust.

    But could we trust human

nature?

    We were still holding

hands, he was clutching

me, so tight, but then he

let go of one

hand and

touched

my

hair. It made me feel like when his

dad touched me, and my entire body

shook. I pushed him off of me and

gasped, sucking in huge

breaths and yet still unable to

breathe.

“Doll …” he tried to touch me again and I

recoiled. I fell to my

knees on the

sidewalk, but I felt no physical

pain. It occurred to me to

pray

but the last time I did that I got

screwed.

    “What is it?” he asked. He was bent down beside

me, but giving me distance

too.

    I couldn’t

answer, but it really didn’t matter because I didn’t

know the answer.

    “Do you need me to

get

help?”

    My eyes were closed now as I

concentrated on calming

myself. Who needed God

anyway? Joey had been right about

him.

    Maybe I was my

own

God, maybe we were each our

own

gods, and that thought made me

laugh. Then I was laughing and

breathing, and I was

okay. Which proved my thesis,

right? I opened my eyes and looked at

Joey, who was not getting the

joke.

    “What the hell?”

    He looked like he was about to fit

me for a

straight

jacket.

    “I guess … I guess I have a little

PTSD. When you touched my

hair, I flashed back to your

dad touching

me …”

    “I’m

sorry. Okay, I’ll

keep out of your

hair.” He gave me a crooked

grin.

    I smiled

back. “For

now.”

    “But … what was so

funny?”

    “I surrendered to a higher

power that turned out to be

me.”

    He stared at me for a few

beats. Then he said, “Whatever

works for

you.”

About Selene Castrovilla
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

 

Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com.

 

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