Blog Tour: Review & Guest Post: Recalled

Title: Recalled (Death Escorts #1)
Author: Cambria Hebert
Publisher: Self-published
Released: 15th February 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ladies and gentleman (though I think generally ladies?), friends and followers, I present to you...my first successful reaper book.

What do I mean by that, you ask?  Basically...no reaper book that I've read has been particularly enjoyable.  Until now.  Cambria Hebert brings to the readership something new, a world in which Death Escorts and Ghost Escorts exist, all working under the formidable rule of the Grim Reaper - or, as he prefers to be known, G.R.  Dex is a guy living on the streets until one night, he saves a waitress from getting hit by a bus and in the process gets hit by it himself and dies.  Waking up to find himself the newest Death Escort, he's offered everything - money, food, even a house and car - if he'll agree to kill specific Targets and bringing the bodies back to G.R.  Between the chance to live a life so different to his old one, and the alternative being a place worse than hell, it's not long before he agrees.  His first Target is Piper, the waitress he saved.  And at first it's fine.  But as time goes on, he begins to question whether he can really kill people...especially the girl he's falling in love with.

Hebert captures your attention as soon as you start reading.  I was able to get acquainted with the characters and their personalities immediately, and in a way that was different and enjoyable to read.  There isn't a massive amount of wordbuilding in this, but what there is is enough to appreciate  the new life that Dex is now living and the kind of world he's part of.  The idea of Escorts is certainly a new one, and the Grim Reaper was actually slightly creepy, mostly through the contrast between how he first comes across to people and his real personality.  He's very ruthless and not prone to giving chances.  I did take issue with the alternating POVs, however.  I felt they switched back and forth far too quickly, and there were times where I'd barely settled into one POV before I was back in the other.

Dex is a very conflicted character.  He spends a lot of time with this internal struggle going on, trying to go ahead with killing Piper but then his conscience and his heart countering that.  On the one hand I questioned his decisions and his attitude, but then on the other it's impossible to deny that his life on the streets has toughened him.  We learn a bit about his life before then, though not much; I would have liked to see more.  At the same time, however, it's clear that he didn't have a happy childhood, and his refusal to look back at that time emphasises that and also shows just how much he's closed himself off from people and emotion.  It was sweet to see him slowly open up to Piper and even just to see how difficult it was for him to go through with this, how much he really cared for her.  Piper herself was a gloriously tough heroine, continually fighting for herself and not once giving up.  She's brave and understanding, traits also seen in her best friend Frankie.  Frankie's bubbly, supportive nature made me like her quickly.

I haven't read Cambria Hebert's Heven and Hell series, but it was the praise that I'd heard for it that made me want to read Recalled.  I can see now why the author is so popular.  Recalled offers a new take on the world of grim reapers, with characters it's not hard to root for.  I definitely can't wait wait to see where the story is taken in the sequel.

Guest Post: Random Questions

 

Do you ever ask people random questions just to hear their answers?  I do sometimes.  One of my favorite questions is: If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you bring?

 

It's a really fun question, I think.  I guess because I am a nosy type of person.  LOL.  Meaning, I like to know all these weird things about people because one: it's informative, and two:  it's hilarious!!

 

Today I am going to give you a list of things I would bring with me.  See if any of my choices match up with yours!

 

Now, about my answer: I'm going to list 5 things like the question asks, but can we please just skip the whole "my family" answer??  LOL.  Now, that isn't because I wouldn't bring them, because I totally would.  It's my default answer.  It's my obvious answer.  I feel practically obligated to list them as number one.  But that is NO fun!  I mean sure, it would be totally fun to be stranded on an island with my husband and I couldn't think of a better person to be stuck with but I didn't say people in the question, now, did I??  LOL.  So...if you could all do me a favour and NOT think I am a heartless meanie for not saying my family because the way I see it my family is a given anyway. ☺

 

So now that I have given a disclaimer, lol, let's get to my list!

 

#1 Eye Cream.

Specifically, Clinique's All About Eyes Rich. Yes, there is an All About Eyes, but I must have the All About Eyes RICH.  There's a difference, people, don't let the sales girl tell you different.  LOL. I use this faithfully, twice a day and have for almost 5 years...I think it's probably my favourite type of beauty product..  It is pricey but a little goes a long way...and I tried the cheaper eye creams from Walmart (there is nothing wrong with beauty products from Walmart, I use them, just not the eye cream) but I have really sensitive skin and I literally had burn marks on my eyes.  Ouch.

 

So why eye cream??  There's gonna be a lot of sun on this Island...I don't want to get wrinkles.  A girl needs to stay hydrated.  LOL.

 

   #2 A Barista.

 

Like you didn't know I was going to list this.   And yeah, yeah, I didn't list people but this isn't a person...it's a MAGICIAN.  A coffee wizard.   A sanity keeper...a MUST HAVE.  I need to have my Starbucks and being on an Island is no different.  If I didn't have a barista to make me the coffee concoction of my choice, then I would be one grouchy lady.  Maybe he will even deliver it to me with a little tropical umbrella.  Very appropriate, yes??

 

And of course this barista will bring along his own stock to keep me in coffee...forever. ☺

 

 #3 My iPhone.

 

Seriously, I can't live without this.  I can honestly say that I would be so lost without it.  I use that thing for everything.  It is clutched in my hand at all times like a life line.  My case literally has indentations on the side from where I clutch it.  LOL.  Plus, what a handy little gadget to bring!  I would have music all the time, books, access to email, the internet and if I got bored on this little island I can call someone to rescue me...and give them the directions from the GPS on how to find me.

 

I know.  I'm like MacGyver.  Of course, my iPhone will be super powered and NEVER run out of battery.

 

#4 A werewolf.

 

LOL!!!  Yes, I said it.  Before you roll your eyes think about how practical this choice would be!!  If I had a werewolf, I would never get cold, I wouldn't have to hunt for my own food, I would always have a nice pillow, none of the island's wild wildebeasts or natives would mess with me, and I would have someone with brute strength to build me a nice little house.  Sounds good to me.

 

Note: If I couldn't find a werewolf, I would just bring a really big blanket instead and then count on my MacGyver ways to get some food. ☺

 

#5 Luna Protein Bars

Lemon Zest flavor only.  Yeah, I'm picky.  They have a few other flavors I like but this is my absolute fav.  I eat these ALL the time.  Since I am not a big meat eater at all...and I have a feeling my werewolf will be catching a lot of whatever the heck is running around on the island, I figure I need these. ☺  Gotta get that protein.  I can just count on my werewolf to climb the trees and get me some fruit and get in the ocean to catch me some fish (then he can proceed to cook it over a fire and make it look edible meaning: NO eyeballs, scales or tails that I have to see - bleck, maybe I will stick to the bars and the milk in my coffee (skim of course!) as my only sources of protein).

 

So those are my 5 items that I would bring if I were to be stranded on an island!  What about you?

 

Wow, it looks like Cambria has it all figured out!  I gotta wonder, though...would one of the iPhone's superpowers be to have reception?  All the movies show phones but no signal, but since Cambria's won't lose battery, I guess it could also pick up a signal. ;)

 

As for what I would take, hmmm....it's a good question.  I guess my Kindle, because it has loads of books on there.  A writing kit, because it could include pens, pencils and paper, all as one (aren't I clever? ;D).  My iPod, for the music.  If there was some kind of magical tea-maker, where tea could be made out of thin air, I'd totally take that.  Because seriously.  Life is not life without tea. Tea makes the world go round, people, whatever you say.  And finally...*thinks*...*thinks some more*...*thinks still more*...No, I got nothing.  That's it.  Those things are all I'd want to take.

 

Your turn!  What would you take with you?   Let us know in the comments!

 

(Wait!  I thought of something!  Um...*looks around desperately, then gives up, shoulders slumped.  Thinks, and then smiles* Oh well.  I guess it shows I don't need a lot to be happy.  I'd be fine in my solitude. :P  (But if I did think of something, it would be totally cool.))