The Liberator blog tour: review and giveaway

Welcome to my stop on The Liberator blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

The Liberator (Dante Walker #2) by Victoria Scott

YA paranormal

Paperback/eBook, 350 pages

Release Date: August 27, 2013

From Entangled Teen

Where to find The Liberator:

   

Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

About the Author

I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.

My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.

*Author Links*

     

2013 is definitely Dante Walker's year. His first book, The Collector, had readers riveted and laughing earlier in the spring and now towards the end of summer, the wisecracking demon turned somewhat angelic is back. I've been jazzed to snag a read of his second book, The Liberator, and I'm stoked to say there is no sophomore slump here. The Liberator starts off with a comical bang and takes readers on a fascinating paranormal trip.

If you read and loved The Collector (our review), don't hesitate to grab a copy of The Liberator. Dante may have changed colors from the sizzling red of the 'collectors' to the soothing blue of the 'liberators' but his transfer from evil to good doesn't happen without some drama. Drama occurs in the form of rebellion and some partying. Dante doesn't feel like a good guy and he's no longer exuding his classic designer threads since he lost his American Express black card. Being good is boring but this is Mr. Walker we're talking about.

Dante has changed-big time-since the first book and it's because of a girl. A very lucky girl named Charlie Cooper. She's very pretty now and no longer has glasses since she was physically transformed at the end of book one. Still, deep inside she's the same Charlie with a great big golden heart. Even she undergoes some changes as she tries to be more like her boyfriend. Dante has become softer, hey, the guy is in love (BIG TIME) and there's nothing he wouldn't do to protect Charlie and her soul from the Collectors. Of course, the bad guys are going to make a return, Dante will receive an assignment from the Big Guy, Valery will act as mentor and Max will still be his best friend.

I don't know how author Victoria Scott does it. How she keeps up the tight pace giving readers exactly what they need for each scene while never losing sight of who her characters are. I never doubt this gang of people, each are fully realized individuals and the story is so nuanced. There is action galore, romance, sexy scenes, new characters to love, and a trip to Hell no one in their right mind would want to take. There were enough twists to keep my eyes riveted to my ereader and a slew (!!) of surprises I thoroughly enjoyed.

Laughing out loud while reading The Liberator is a given. But this time Dante shows a softer side. This dude's in love and his moments of deep realizations about his feelings for Charlie make me love him even more. He can switch from intense to sweet to killer-defend mode with the blink of an eye. I liked the new additions to the story, his job involving a rich girl named Aspen from Denver, the introduction of the two scrolls, sirens, and more. I applaud the author for not forgetting Grams and readers are treated to a lot more of Kraven (all I can is "Whoa!"). I do need to mention Ms. Scott believes in equal opportunity for her female characters. Watch out for some sweet revelations from Charlie, Aspen, Annabelle and Valery.

Dante Walker is back and his return is even better than the first. He has to deal with demons from Lucille's homeland and his own as well as he figures out exactly what is important to him and who he really is. We saw how tough and how much swag Dante has in The Collector. In The Liberator, Mr. Walker has a heart to match the size of his girlfriend's. Changes abound but our favorite demon turned kinda-angel never loses his essence-that sharp, hilarious wit. I can only imagine what Ms. Scott has for readers in her next book. I know I will snap it up as soon as it's available.

Rating: 4.5

1/2

Cover comment:

Keeping in the same style of the first book cover. Will the third cover feature a girl or two?

Book source:

I received a promotional copy in return for my honest review during a book tour.

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Giveaway

1 signed copy of THE LIBERATOR and a signed copy of TWILIGHT, international.

a Rafflecopter giveaway