Blog Tour ~ Sound of Silence by Mia Kerick and Raine O'Tierney (Review + Excerpt + Giveaway)
Title: Sound of Silence
Authors: Mia Kerick and Raine O’Tierney
Release Date: January 23rd 2018
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance
BLURB
Renzy Callen exists on the periphery of life, and not just because of the horrific childhood event that robbed him of the ability to speak. Walling himself off from the rest of the world as a means of protection, he occupies his time with art, music, and an obsession with self-help groups—whether he needs them or not. His isolation protects him, and he’s immune to drama and emotional games… or so he believes. Everything changes when he meets Seven and Morning Moreaux-Maddox, the wealthy, jet-setting siblings who move from a life of sophistication in Europe to humdrum Redcliff Hills, Missouri.
Both Seven and his sister are impossibly beautiful and elegant, like the stars in magazines and high-fashion models on the runway. When Renzy is pulled into their push-and-pull of affection and rejection, he realizes there is more to both haunted Morning and cold, diamond-sharp Seven than meets the eye.
The three teens embark on a quest to learn the reason behind Renzy’s selective mutism, and something more than friendship blossoms between Renzy and Seven. It’s during this trip of a lifetime that the three realize the truth they seek might be found in the sound of silence.
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Harmony Ink | iBooks
EXCERPT
Seven
I don’t go straight to class. First off, I don’t give a shit if I’m late to Physics for the Curious, which actually is the class’s laughable name. More importantly, though, is this: I dropped the ball with Morning last year in Paris, and she’s paid a high price for my lax behavior. I’ve sworn on all things holy and unholy that I will not drop the ball again. Therefore, I’m required to lurk in the hallways when I’m supposed to be in class, sizing up our new environment so that I will be ready to protect her.
This is what I’m doing when I notice him—the very same dark-haired imp I saw running out of the Take Back Our Power meeting. I’m not comfortable with this—catching sight of the same boy two times in one day in such close proximity to my sister. I consider it my duty to study him, to memorize his face, to do what I should have done for Morning last year, at which I failed so miserably.
So I scrutinize each feature as if my plan is to sculpt his face out of clay, with no reference point but my memory. Despite the rage that scorches my eyelids with every goddamned blink, I like what I see.
Renzy has selective mutism since he was about 7-years-old and has walled himself from others until he meets Seven and Morning Moreaux-Maddox, who move to Redcliff Hills from Paris and take Renzy under their wing.
Seven is determined to learn the cause of Renzy's mutism and 'fix him', so the three of them go on a road trip to get some answers. Although perhaps some truths are better left unearthed.
I loved Renzy. He was such a sweet, caring boy. Despite his mutism, he managed to convey what he wanted and communicate with others quite effectively. I liked Morning, too, and it was nice seeing her overcome her trauma and be more like the girl Seven remembered. Now Seven is a bit of an acquired taste, he was pushy and arrogant and he wanted to fix both Renzy and Morning, even when Renzy didn't really need to be fixed and Morning needed more support than anything else. He had his own problems that he hadn't even acknowledged, though, and that more than anything, endeared him to me, even if there were a lot of times in which I wished to punch him.
Renzy, Morning and Seven had great chemistry. It was nice to see the friendship blossoming between them and then when Renzy and Seven gave into their attraction, it was a very natural progression.
I really liked how the authors handled the very heavy issues they tackled in this book, abuse, neglect, rape and kidnapping. It was angsty, but they didn't go overboard with it, it was well researched and tactfully dealt with, for the most part, since Seven could get a bit insensitive in some instances. I had a bit of a problem with Seven thinking of Renzy as a man-child or a boy-man, especially considering he was a year younger than Renzy, even if Seven was more sophisticated and worldly than him, it just felt odd. Anyway, other than that, the book was really good, emotional, interesting and very well-written. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4.5 Stars!
Renzy has selective mutism since he was about 7-years-old and has walled himself from others until he meets Seven and Morning Moreaux-Maddox, who move to Redcliff Hills from Paris and take Renzy under their wing.
Seven is determined to learn the cause of Renzy's mutism and 'fix him', so the three of them go on a road trip to get some answers. Although perhaps some truths are better left unearthed.
I loved Renzy. He was such a sweet, caring boy. Despite his mutism, he managed to convey what he wanted and communicate with others quite effectively. I liked Morning, too, and it was nice seeing her overcome her trauma and be more like the girl Seven remembered. Now Seven is a bit of an acquired taste, he was pushy and arrogant and he wanted to fix both Renzy and Morning, even when Renzy didn't really need to be fixed and Morning needed more support than anything else. He had his own problems that he hadn't even acknowledged, though, and that more than anything, endeared him to me, even if there were a lot of times in which I wished to punch him.
Renzy, Morning and Seven had great chemistry. It was nice to see the friendship blossoming between them and then when Renzy and Seven gave into their attraction, it was a very natural progression.
I really liked how the authors handled the very heavy issues they tackled in this book, abuse, neglect, rape and kidnapping. It was angsty, but they didn't go overboard with it, it was well researched and tactfully dealt with, for the most part, since Seven could get a bit insensitive in some instances. I had a bit of a problem with Seven thinking of Renzy as a man-child or a boy-man, especially considering he was a year younger than Renzy, even if Seven was more sophisticated and worldly than him, it just felt odd. Anyway, other than that, the book was really good, emotional, interesting and very well-written. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
GIVEAWAY: Win $15 Amazon Gift Card!!
About the Authors
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.
Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.
Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.
Raine O'Tierney loves writing about first loves and friendship. She believes the best thing we can do in this life is be kind to one another, and hopes her stories always reflect that. Raine loves encouraging people to write and has been known to repeat the phrase "I believe everyone has a story to tell" endlessly, until she breaks down even the most stubborn non-writer!
Raine lives outside of Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, fellow M/M author Siôn O'Tierney. When she's not writing, she's either playing video games or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job.
Contact her if you're interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Thank you for welcoming us to your blog and for the wonderful review of SOUND OF SILENCE!
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