I love celebrating the successes of writing friends! Today I bring you wonderful news about Renita Pizzitola, a New Adult writer who has just landed a three (count em' three!) book deal with Random House. Renita is a fabulous writer and I've gotten to review several of her books here on the blog. Check out the cover reveal of her latest work and catch a snippet of it on the USA today blog!
Cover Reveal Renita Pizzitola--USA Today
Congrats Renita! You deserve it!--Mary Ann
Showing posts with label renita pizzitola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renita pizzitola. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2014
Friday, September 13, 2013
Gilded by Renita Pizzitola--a review
I think Renita Pizzitola is fast becoming one of my favorite authors to read. She has a knack for engaging the reader and truly immersing them in whatever world she has created. When I reviewed her book, Dream On, a few months ago, I remember thinking the same thing then! That's why I was so excited to get my copy of her latest book, Gilded. It's a sequel to Gossamer! Read on for my thoughts on her latest endeavor.
From the publisher:
True love comes with a price.
Kyla Ashbury, half-fae, must learn to wield her Earth magic to protect herself from the king’s guard. Fleeing her betrothal to the prince, she takes refuge among the woodland fae, who are experts at Earth magic. Before she can learn to control her gift, she has to return to the castle to undo some of the damage done when she ran away with Grant. Wielding power she can’t control makes the situation worse.
Grant will do anything for the girl he loves. Even with his power to foresee danger, keeping Kyla safe is a constant challenge. As answers lead to more questions, he wonders if he is endangering her further.
Kyla’s growing talent destines her to a power struggle she doesn’t want. Every choice she makes seems to jeopardize those closest to her. She must learn to control the angry magic coursing through her if she ever hopes to live a normal life with the man she loves.
I thought this book was a solid sequel to Gossamer. Once again, Ms. Pizzitola lures the reader back into the fae world by providing clues as to what the future might hold for Kyla. With strong characters, fast paced plotting, and some great comic relief, Gilded glides along.
The characters of Grant and Kyla have really grown in this second book. They aren't quite as naive as before and the challenges of what faces them is evident. I found myself totally rooting for them as a couple! I enjoyed their connection and particularly liked the way the author handled one smoking hot love scene--very classy. With that in mind, I almost wonder if this book is leaning more towards being classified as New Adult rather than YA.
I gotta say that Lexie, the best friend, is one of my favorite characters. She cracked me up and is the kind of girl everyone wants to have their back! Her comments about the "V-card" totally had me laughing out loud.
The only character that I have some wonderings about is Liam. Liam is the "would be" love interest. He doesn't quite score the girl, but is obviously suppose to be a catch. He almost seems a little too good to be true and at times, I didn't really see a big difference between him and Grant. However, I do like that he is not the traditional jilted lover who sits around licking his wounds. I just wanted a smidge more depth from him--something tells me I'll get that in the final installment in this series.
Speaking of, when the heck is that next book coming out? I'm already wanting more!
Author Bio:
Renita lives in Texas with her husband and two children. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with an English degree. She writes both fantasy and contemporary romance for Young Adult/New Adult and Adult readers. While splitting between magical worlds and contemporary stories, she promises romance. Lots of it! She writes about swoon-worthy boys and the girls who love them! When not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, drinking copious amounts of coffee and playing referee to her two typically adorable children. Renita Pizzitola webpage
Want your own copy of Gilded? Here is the Amazon link! GILDED AT AMAZON
Better yet, click on the Rafflecopter link to win a free copy!
Embedded: a Rafflecopter giveaway
From the publisher:
True love comes with a price.
Kyla Ashbury, half-fae, must learn to wield her Earth magic to protect herself from the king’s guard. Fleeing her betrothal to the prince, she takes refuge among the woodland fae, who are experts at Earth magic. Before she can learn to control her gift, she has to return to the castle to undo some of the damage done when she ran away with Grant. Wielding power she can’t control makes the situation worse.
Grant will do anything for the girl he loves. Even with his power to foresee danger, keeping Kyla safe is a constant challenge. As answers lead to more questions, he wonders if he is endangering her further.
Kyla’s growing talent destines her to a power struggle she doesn’t want. Every choice she makes seems to jeopardize those closest to her. She must learn to control the angry magic coursing through her if she ever hopes to live a normal life with the man she loves.
I thought this book was a solid sequel to Gossamer. Once again, Ms. Pizzitola lures the reader back into the fae world by providing clues as to what the future might hold for Kyla. With strong characters, fast paced plotting, and some great comic relief, Gilded glides along.
The characters of Grant and Kyla have really grown in this second book. They aren't quite as naive as before and the challenges of what faces them is evident. I found myself totally rooting for them as a couple! I enjoyed their connection and particularly liked the way the author handled one smoking hot love scene--very classy. With that in mind, I almost wonder if this book is leaning more towards being classified as New Adult rather than YA.
I gotta say that Lexie, the best friend, is one of my favorite characters. She cracked me up and is the kind of girl everyone wants to have their back! Her comments about the "V-card" totally had me laughing out loud.
The only character that I have some wonderings about is Liam. Liam is the "would be" love interest. He doesn't quite score the girl, but is obviously suppose to be a catch. He almost seems a little too good to be true and at times, I didn't really see a big difference between him and Grant. However, I do like that he is not the traditional jilted lover who sits around licking his wounds. I just wanted a smidge more depth from him--something tells me I'll get that in the final installment in this series.
Speaking of, when the heck is that next book coming out? I'm already wanting more!
Author Bio:
Renita lives in Texas with her husband and two children. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with an English degree. She writes both fantasy and contemporary romance for Young Adult/New Adult and Adult readers. While splitting between magical worlds and contemporary stories, she promises romance. Lots of it! She writes about swoon-worthy boys and the girls who love them! When not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, drinking copious amounts of coffee and playing referee to her two typically adorable children. Renita Pizzitola webpage
Want your own copy of Gilded? Here is the Amazon link! GILDED AT AMAZON
Better yet, click on the Rafflecopter link to win a free copy!
Embedded: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, March 15, 2013
Dream On by Renita Pizzitola--a review
Ah, dreams! What they show us can sometimes be amazing and bring clarity to a difficult situation. I'm a vivid dreamer and definitely have figured out how to solve a problem or two in my waking life during my dream one. I think that's why the premise of Renita Pizzitola's latest book, Dream On, really caught my attention. It sort of reminded me of a sexy version of that Eighties movie, Dreamscape. Here is the publisher's blurb:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Her quest begins when she closes her eyes.
Emory Bennett owns a lucrative dreamwalking business. Trained in weaponry and Muay Thai, she spends her nights entering the dream realm resolving her clients’ nightmares, whatever they might be: bad guys, scary beasts, or the classic forgot-to-wear-my-pants nightmare. Her jobs get complicated when a gorgeous man keeps appearing requesting her help.
Grayson, a fellow dreamwalker, is stuck in the dream realm while a stranger inhabits his body. He needs Emory’s assistance in the waking realm, which he can’t visit if he can’t get back into his body.
Once Emory is convinced Grayson’s not a figment of her imagination, they concoct a plan to lure the body snatcher out. But as Emory begins to fall for Grayson, the line blurs between him and the stranger who inhabits his body. She must keep it together to get close enough to discover his secrets, or divide her very soul if she can’t bring the man she loves back.
WARNING: Strong language
A Lyrical Press Urban Fantasy Romance
Emory Bennett owns a lucrative dreamwalking business. Trained in weaponry and Muay Thai, she spends her nights entering the dream realm resolving her clients’ nightmares, whatever they might be: bad guys, scary beasts, or the classic forgot-to-wear-my-pants nightmare. Her jobs get complicated when a gorgeous man keeps appearing requesting her help.
Grayson, a fellow dreamwalker, is stuck in the dream realm while a stranger inhabits his body. He needs Emory’s assistance in the waking realm, which he can’t visit if he can’t get back into his body.
Once Emory is convinced Grayson’s not a figment of her imagination, they concoct a plan to lure the body snatcher out. But as Emory begins to fall for Grayson, the line blurs between him and the stranger who inhabits his body. She must keep it together to get close enough to discover his secrets, or divide her very soul if she can’t bring the man she loves back.
WARNING: Strong language
A Lyrical Press Urban Fantasy Romance
So was Dream On as dreamy as the publisher's blurb? I'd have to say yes!
It's a fast paced, romance/action thriller with strong characters that held my attention. I thought the idea of owning a dream walking business where you actually help clients solve their problems was a good one. I liked that Ms. Pizzitola helped the reader understand Emory's character by allowing us to see her in action several times as she helped out her various clients. I particularly enjoyed the opening dream sequence with its reference to the movie Scarface. You gotta love a book that can blend in some great pop culture! I don't care what age you are--everyone knows Scarface.
I wasn't sure about Grayson at first--is he the good guy or the bad? His character made me think that he might have the potential to be the bad guy in disguise. Without giving more away, Grayson kept surprising me.
In fact, there were a few peripheral characters that I was unsure about when it came to their motivations. There's a best friend who falls for a psychic who too sweet to be a total bad guy. I really enjoyed the development of these friends and the way their plot lines were weaved flawlessly into the story.
The only thing that disappointed me was...well...it has to be said....the sex. There were lots of lingering looks, lots of hot descriptions about mugging down, and one "pretty close to the deed" scene that faded to black. I felt a bit cheated as I wanted more of the scoop on Emory and Grayson's sex life.
But then again, I'm nosy like that. And it did not deter my enjoyment of this story!
If you'd care to "Dream On" yourself, click on the Amazon link below or go to the author's website to learn more about her. I know that she is also on book tour all this month, too, and doing a giveway.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Dream On by Renita Pizzitola--Cover reveal!
I'm one lucky girl today! I get to do a cover reveal for one of my favorite Lyrical Press authors, Renita Pizzitola. Isn't her last name just fun to say? As many of you know, book covers are a hot topic for me because I believe they can make or break a book. A cover tells the reader so much about the genre of the story. So check this smokin' hot book cover out and let it tantilize your senses.....
Nice, huh?
Okay, here's the book info for this upcoming release! I don't have the book blurb at this time, but I promise to post it soon.
Nice, huh?
Okay, here's the book info for this upcoming release! I don't have the book blurb at this time, but I promise to post it soon.
Title: Dream On
Author: Renita
Pizzitola
Genre:
Paranormal/Romance
Publisher:
Lyrical Press
Release Date: May
2013
Author Bio:
Renita Pizzitola
writes Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. An avid reader herself, she has
always enjoyed stories with witty humor, romance, and fascinating characters.
Renita lives in Texas with her husband and two children. When not writing, she
enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, drinking copious amounts of
coffee, and playing referee to her two typically adorable children.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The (anti) Fairytale by Renita Pizzitola
I am thrilled to have today's guest blogger at All Things Writing! Renita Pizzitola has a fabulous new book, Gossamer, out this week and she'd dropped to chat about it, as well as, fairy tales. I had the pleasure of reviewing the book this past Monday and the links to get your own copy are below.
The
(anti)Fairytale
It
seems apparent fairy tales have made their reemergence. I’ve seen everything
from the classic retelling with a twist to modern, futuristic, dark, even
horror...pretty much every genre has their spin on it. I’m actually enjoying
this trend because I like classic fairy tales. Granted, a classic fairytale
isn’t what most people envision. I’m thinking Grimm’s; most people think
Disney. But, no matter which version you’re familiar with they still follow a
similar formula. One that most know and love.
And
what’s not to adore about an enchanted kingdom, a beautiful girl meeting a
handsome prince and, of course, the ever important happily-ever-after. Sounds perfect...sort of. I think the
same fairy tale could also be interpreted as a beguiling kingdom entraps
ordinary girl who meets complete stranger and is expected to instantly fall in
love and/or marry. Hmm, that actually sounds frightening, especially if you’re
the ‘ordinary girl’ with other plans in life.
Happily-ever-after
is different for everyone, which means sometimes it goes against everything we
learned as a child. This is what I like to call the anti-fairytale. It doesn’t
mean the story won’t end happily. It simply means in order to get there we may
have to go against the standard formula. Often we find ourselves presented with
two different paths, each with its own pros and cons. One looks shiny and
bright, but doesn’t necessarily mean it’s perfect. The other route may be a
real challenge to venture down—you know the one...dimly lit, filled with bumps,
uphill both ways, crappy phone reception, no place to stop to use a bathroom,
incessant muttering of ‘are we there yet?’ (wait, that might just be a trip
with my children...a very hard road
to travel). Either way, the path is scary, the outcome is unknown and it’s
definitely not the easy choice. But, when the time comes to make a decision,
ultimately, only one question must be answered: Which of these paths leads to my happily-ever-after?
I like
to think Gossamer is two-parts faery and one-part fairytale. (Which is why I
spell faerytale with an ‘e’. The emphasis is on faery.) While the story focuses on Irish Legends involving Fae, it
has a sprinkling of what should create the standard fairytale formula ending
with a classic fairytale twist. So, can it still be considered a fairytale?
Well, when your main character is a faery searching for her happily-ever-after,
then it seems the only thing you could call it is a faerytale, right? So, yes.
Kylie’s story is a faerytale. It may be flawed, but in the end, she will decide
which path leads her to where she ultimately wants to be.
So
which path would you choose—the fairytale or the anti-fairytale?
Author Bio:
Renita Pizzitola writes Paranormal Romance and
Urban Fantasy. An avid reader herself, she has always enjoyed stories with
witty humor, romance, and fascinating characters. Renita lives in Texas with
her husband and two children. When not writing, she enjoys reading everything
she can get her hands on, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and playing
referee to her two typically adorable children.
Gossamer Blurb:
Shouldn't
all faerytales end with happily-ever-after?
Kyla Ashbury is nearing her eighteenth birthday
when a mysterious boy appears at school. Her instant attraction to him
inexplicably awakens something inside her and she discovers her true identity.
Now, armed with the knowledge of her past, she is
forced to leave behind the life she has always known for a new one filled with
temptation, faery charm and magic, and a future she wasn't prepared for.
Kyla is left with a difficult decision…but no
matter which path she chooses, someone will get hurt.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)