Review and Giveaway! "She Smells the Dead"

As part of the "She Smells the Dead" blog tour, I have my review and a giveaway of an autographed copy of the book!

"She Smells the Dead"
by E.J. Stevens

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Release Date: Sep 9, 2010

Source: sent by author


My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.

The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.

Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?


My Review:

The author has a great understanding of today's teen voice and manner of speaking and thinking. She definitely makes a point of describing Yuki's fun goth style. I think readers will like hearing about what Yuki is wearing, it feels really authentic and not stylized or condescending to the reader or the style.

I also loved Yuki's best girl friend, Emma, the animal rights activist. She was so fun to read about with her youthful exuberance towards the issues she fought for. Of course, there was some comedy with her all consuming activism, including fighting against "bee oppression."

Calvin and Yuki are a sweet, age-appropriate couple. However, I would have liked to have seen more build up to their relationship. One minute, they were friends, and the next they were a couple, no fireworks, no build up. Their love/like just didn't feel real to me. Maybe they should have just started the story as a couple and I would have found it more believable.

I couldn't help but make comparisons to "The Body Finder" while I was reading this book. Both heroines can smell the dead and both fall in love with their best friend. Unfortunately, I didn't think this one succeeded in either storyline like "The Body Finder" did.

I think this story could possibly translate better to a younger audience, but I felt the story needed more depth, especially in the romance aspect of the book.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5 (Emma the activist)

Setting: 3/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 5/5 (WOW!! And I love that she really does dress this way)
Writing: 3/5



Bottom Line:I loved reading about Yuki's fashion choices, and the author has a great teen voice.


GIVEAWAY RULES:
EJ has given me an extra autographed copy of the book to send to one of the readers of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!

Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.

Extra Entries:
  • +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US only
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Ends Monday Nov. 1
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

55 comments

  1. I'd been kind of curious about She Smells the Dead, thanks for the review adn giveaway.

    follower
    Tweeted HERE

    hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  2. awww man!! sucks that it is US only! but it looks great, glad that you enjoyed it hun

    ReplyDelete
  3. This looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

    stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been so eager to read She Smells The Dead, and that cover art is ah-ma-zing!!
    Very good reveiw, too, cos now I ALSO want to read The Body Finder - so thanks for the heads up lol

    And I follows ya in GFC :D
    Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would love to read this one! Lorielle11@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. O
    O
    O
    thank you for the awesome contest!
    I would love to try this :)

    suitejuju(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to read this book. Thank you for the giveaway. I follow on GFC.

    Tweeted this giveaway.
    http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/27571970644

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. sounds like a fun read!

    kathiedp75atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi,
    I am a new follower..
    I follow you also on Twitter and Goodreads..
    I tweeted..http://twitter.com/#!/BabyBlackRoze
    Good Luck To All..
    :)

    baby_blackroze@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am a follower

    great giveaway

    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great review Carrie.
    I am with you on the cover, just look at that dress, I want it too

    ReplyDelete
  12. This sounds interesting, and I love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    follower
    tweeted here

    eclecticdahlia [at] aol [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I enjoyed reading your honest review of this book. I have not read The Body Finder so I think I will have an easier go of it because I won't have the other book in my head to compare it to. I would love to be entered into this giveaway.

    I Already follow your blog publicly (skyla11377).
    http://www.blogger.com/profile/17248809387512312244

    I tweeted about this giveaway on Twitter (@skyla11377).
    http://twitter.com/skyla11377/status/27572635858

    I posted this giveaway on my Left Side Bar (skyla11377).
    http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/

    skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the giveaway! This book looks like it might be pretty good!

    -GFC follower
    -tweet: http://twitter.com/Theresa_9/status/27588169267

    theresa9854@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Following via GFC (:

    blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great review! I've heard such good things about this book! I'm a GCF follower

    twilightforever.edward at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a different sounding book but sounds like a fun read.

    google friend connect follower

    kdhaney at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd like to read this as well. Please enter me. GFC Follower.

    DreamyCowgirl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway!

    jessica b
    jecca.0104@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for the giveaway, I just became a follower.

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm a GFC follower.
    I've been interested in this book, in no small part because it has a great cover, I'm sure.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Please enter me. I am a follower.

    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am a gfc follower. I thought this was interesting, the idea of smelling the dead. I would love to read it.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds good.

    I'm a follower.

    sowickedlovely(at)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Current Follower
    marlenejaberblue@gmail.com

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  26. You see this is the kind of stories that I question but I can't help but want to read this so badly.
    Just became a follower.

    demiandremi@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ooo. Sounds new and interesting. I have to admit I'm quite captivated by the plot line. It's very Japanese horror manga style. Please enter me as well! Thanks!

    spygirlbristow@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm a GFC follower (Michele). I love this cover - makes me want to read the book!
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow via GFC.
    I'd love to win this book.
    mom1248(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  30. Cool giveaway.
    I follow

    becarattacaso@yahoo.com

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  31. Thanks for the review and the chance to win.

    joycefierro@mindspring.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love the title. It sounds like a really good read.

    BookNoise at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would love to read this.

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

    ReplyDelete
  34. I follow via GFC as jewelknits! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Julie @ Knitting and Sundries

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks so much!
    texas_gal45(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm following as of now! Your blog looks great. I stumbled over here through the Goddess Girls giveaway happening next week (my daughter is a huge fan of those!) and decided to hang around a bit.

    email is mail[at]persimmon-pulp.com

    Thanks for the giveaway - the book looks fabulous & sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am a follower. The title makes me very curious!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am a GFC follower

    nhmoose99ATyahooDOTcom

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  39. I follow in GFC.
    rmelton[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  40. I follow your blog via gfc suelee1998 @ gmail.com
    I would love this.

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  41. Great review! This one sounds interesting.
    GFC follower.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I'd love to read this. I'm a GFC follower.

    Thanks for the possibility.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Looks like an awesome book. My daughter would love it.

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  44. I'd love to read this book.

    kgrant77 at gmail.com

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  45. This book sounds great, would love to win this
    flychild7(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'd love to enter!

    +1 Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/29352218188

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  47. i am a follower
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    ReplyDelete
  48. Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in :)
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    google friend klp1965

    ReplyDelete
  49. http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/29396850170

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  50. I am a new follower...sounds like a great book, and would love to read it...Thanks for the contest!
    unitedbkw@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. This sounds so good. Thanks for the chance.
    GFC follower
    mightynaynay(at)cs.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thanks for the opportunity to win this!

    crazypplrok@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!