28 May 2014

Blog Tour - Review - Killing Ruby Rose By: Jessie Humphries + A GIVEAWAY!!!

Title: Killing Ruby Rose (The Ruby Rose Series #1)
Author: Jessie Humphries
Publisher: Skyscape, 300 Pages (May 1st, 2014)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

Synopsis: In sunny Southern California, seventeen-year-old Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died, she's also got a few killer secrets.

To cope, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal). But after six months of therapy and pathetic parenting by her mom, the District Attorney, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

When Ruby ends up killing a murderer to save his intended victim, she discovers that she's gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There's a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who's using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up swapping Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl's forced to kill, won't the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?

Review: 3 Stars - Killing Ruby Rose is the first title in the Ruby Rose Series from debut author Jessie Humphries and takes readers on one bumpy, thrilling, mysterious and dangerous ride for a high schooler who’s looking for closure and answers.

Teenage Ruby Rose if one smart cookie and has her eye on the top spot at school. Along with her epic shoe collection she’s ready to take on the world. With a best friend by her side to help her come to terms with the death of her father, Ruby is hiding a somewhat alter-ego which takes her into somewhat of an extremely dangerous game which quickly spirals out of control.

One thing about Ruby is she is tough. She’s trained in martial arts and knows her way around a gun. She owns her own along with a permit to carry. And while she believes she’s prepared to tackle her secret side project she’s working on in memory of her father, she’s quickly going to find out just how far out of her league she truly is.

I liked Ruby, stupid choices and all, I liked her. She reminded me just a smidge of Veronica Mars - more so how she followed and watched her prey and her case files… but Ruby was a bit reckless when you compare the two. Both characters also have fathers in law enforcement so that was another small bit where I could see a small similarity. I LOVE Veronica Mars so having a chance to see even the slightest comparison between characters is a plus.. however in the end I didn’t LOVE this one as I love VM.

The part in the story that rubbed me the wrong way time and time again was Ruby’s mother. I hated the lies. I hated how absent she was in her life and I hated her part in Ruby’s story. The hate percolated just under the surface from beginning and that boil grew until it finally exploded at the end of the book. This is one of those stories where the parent is an epic failure and I hated her. Which you can say if an author can illicit such strong feelings in a reader that’s huge props to the author, and I’d more than agree with this, yet it went way too far and there was just no coming back.

The love interest in the story was prefect! Just what she needed and I loved these two together. However these was time I found even HIM creepy beyond creepy and wondered what the heck was up with him! I didn’t know if he was part of it all or not???

One thing the author did do very well was create a great base character(s) for the continuing story. I have no idea where she might go next and what might happen but I am curious to find out. Oh and there’s some humorous moments to this one too. Ruby is without a doubt quirky at times and I look forward to more of that from her in the next book.

All in all this one was very entertaining and suspenseful, the characters had their ups and downs but the twists and turns made up for some of the rough bits. I think readers of YA and fans of mysterious and stories with suspense will love this one. The second book – Resisting Ruby Rose is set to release late October 2014. Enjoy!

About the Author:

Jessie Humphries was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She received a BA from San Diego State University, where she cultivated her love of the beach, then lived in France, where she cultivated her weakness for shoes, and finally earned a law degree from UNLV, where she cultivated her interest in justice. After practicing law for several years she began writing, and, appropriately, her debut novel Killing Ruby Rose is a thriller about vigilante justice set in sunny southern California with a shoe-obsessed protagonist. Jessie currently writes and practices law in Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband and children.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Jessie is giving away 4 Kindle paperwhites, 4 digital copies of KILLING RUBY ROSE, and 4 Skyscape/Amazon books + swag from the authors.

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