Review Interview and Giveaway: The Unsacred Gift by C.S. Dorsey

Title: The Unsacred Gift
Author: C.S Dorsey
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Publishing Date: April 9, 2012
Pages: 220
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Paperback


Goodreads Summary:
When Sissy was six, she had her first vision of her sister’s (Misty) disappearance. Her mother (Tina) said she had a bad dream, but not long after that Misty vanished before Sissy’s eyes. No one believed her, so Sissy pretend to act like everyone else, like Misty never disappeared and never existed. For the past fifteen years Misty’s disappearance has haunted Sissy’s dreams. She could hear the ear piercing screams at night of her sister begging for help. Sissy tries to help her, but never succeeds.
Sicily “Sissy” Monroe attends the University of Washington and is in her senior year majoring in Psychology. She has all the makings of a perfect young lady, ageless skin, flawless long black hair, full kissable lips and eyes that are shaped like almonds. She is almost where she wants to be in life. But laying deep in the pupil of her eye’s hold something that she cannot get rid of, which interferes with her plans.
In addition to the nightmares, Sissy has found that as she gets older her visions became stronger and more vivid than before. Because of the first vision of Misty, and the second of a teacher in high school, Sissy wants no part in another person’s death. For years, Sissy tried to avoid having friends and relationships because she feared their fate. Most importantly she tries to avoid her family. She has no plans of ever going back home to California. When her mother calls her to tell her about her granny’s birthday party, she is reluctant to go. Going back home was not on her list of priorities, but she is going for her mother. Little did Sissy know she cannot run from her past.
During her weekend at home, new developments surface. Her mother has been dating (Mark) for the past two years; her grandmother has the same gift she does; an old high school fling (Chris) comes clean about his love for Sissy; and an unknown girl from the grave begins stalking her dreams. Sissy begs for someone to admit her to the hospital, but she can’t get the words out. Her grandmother is the only one who can help her, but even then it’s too late. Two days after her birthday party, Sissy’s grandmother dies. However, it’s no shock to Sissy, because she knew death was coming for her grandmother—leaving Sissy alone once again. But she will soon discover that her sister Misty, the visions, and the dreams of the unknown girl were just a mere image of herself. 

Review: 
I was really looking forward to reading this book and couldn't wait to dive into it. The synopsis sounds very interesting and fresh. Once I started this book I was hooked. 

The story revolves around a young woman in college, Sissy, who has been able to see others' death since she was a little girl. Since she has been away at college, she has isolated herself because of the visions. One day she gets a call from her mother and a request to visit home for her grandmother's birthday. After much hesitation she decides to go. Upon arrival her world gets turned upside down. She finds that her mother has a new life, her grandmother has secrets of her own, and she starts to have nightmares that have an edge of realism to them. 

I really liked all the characters in the book. Sissy is really easy to relate to. She's smart and determined. She is also very committed to her family. She has had an upsetting life and although she has isolated herself she seems to deal with her past and present issues pretty good. I also really like the mother and grandmother. The family is very close and has a real southern feel. 

The book was a page turn and moved and a great speed. The only part that felt rushed to me was the romance. I do wish there would have been more to the relationship. I didn't feel much of an attachment to the emotion between Sissy and Chris. It was just a minor thing to me since it was a minor part in the story. 

I do remember at one point asking myself where the story is going. I kept waiting for something big to happen. It's not until the very end and then I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. So the ending really made the story for me. 

I enjoyed the read very much and will look for other books by C.S. Dorsey. I rated the book 3.5 hearts but I don't have the ability for half hearts... as that would look like a broken heart.... so I rounded up and gave it 4 hearts.

Rating:

Author Interview with C.S. Dorsey

C. S. Dorsey currently lives in Northern California. 

She graduated from the University

of Phoenix with an Associate’s Degree in Financial Services, 

and is currently working for a financial institution. 

She never thought about writing until one day

this girl started talking to her in her head and never stop.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a cat lover who doesn’t own one. I am hoping to have one soon. I live in sunny California near the San Francisco Bay. I am a proud single woman with no children (yes I would love to have only one child someday... just not today). I live with my mother, so you know how that goes. Every day she is looking to marry me off which gets annoying at times. By day I am a member service rep for a credit union. By night I am a young adult author trying to find time to write. So yeah Superwoman has nothing on me...LOL!! :)

2. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing in July of 2010. I was hearing voices, so that’s what made me start writing. I use to write poems and songs. I was hoping to become a famous singer one day, but of course that didn’t happen. It took me two and a half months to finish The Unsacred Gift which is the first book I ever wrote.

3. How did you choose the genre to write in?

I actually use to read adult books all the time. When I got bored with the adult genre I started looking for other genres to read. I read The Twilight Saga in one month tops. I was shocked at how clean and fresh the books were. No adult content… I thought that was cool. Then I told myself I could actually write a book for teens. Well of course I knew nothing about them since I was no longer one myself. So I had to read what was popular in order to get an idea of what to write for my audience.

4. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I loved the fact that I could finish something I started so much I really wasn’t thinking about publishing the book. “I want to see it publish!” My mother demanded, and so I set off on a quest to find an agent.

Well 20 rejection and a whole bottle of Motrin (from stress) later I said, “forget it I will do this myself.” I found an editor and created the first cover myself. I did more research on self-publishing and found Amazon and Barnes and Nobles self publishing sites. Later on I discovered Smashwords. I did all the formatting myself and click published on March 15, 2011.

5. If you gave one of your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?

I think Sissy’s mother, Tina Monroe, would say, “I want to meet Paula Deen the Food Network star. There is this homemade cobber that I made and I want her impute.” LOL!

6. Who designed the cover of your book?

That would be the wonderful Dafeenah Jameel @ indiedesignz.com.

7. What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews?

I love the reviews I get. Everyone loves the book and I am grateful for that. When I get bad reviews its usual the ones that didn’t finish the book, or felt it wasn’t for them, which is fine. I just laugh because people are always going to be people.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

My advice is read...a whole lot. Not only read books in the genre that you want to write in, but read other genres as well. Then that way you can get an idea of the different styles of writing. Also if you hear voices it’s ok, just write whatever the voice says :) Write whatever you feel even if it’s not main stream. You never know what might happen. It may just be a great hit.

9. Do you have any other projects going?

Yes, I am in the process of editing my new novella Bloody Rose. I am hoping to have that out by the end of this month (June). Also I am writing a spin off to the Lukos Trilogy I wrote (available now). So there is more books to come.

10. Where can we find you?

Blog: http://csdorsey.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cs_dorsey
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/candicesdorsey

Do you prefer?

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Pool or Beach? Beach

Pajama Pants or Sweat Pants? Pajama Pants

Early Mornings or Late Nights? Late Nights.

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