Selene Castrovilla's Rough Romance Trilogy

MELT

Rough Romance Trilogy, Book 1

by Selene Castrovilla
Last Syllable Books
YA Contemporary Romance
278 pages

Based on true events, MELT is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. MELT will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul.

MELT is a brutal love story set against the metaphorical backdrop of The Wizard of Oz (not a retelling). When sixteen year old Dorothy moves to the small town of Highland Park, she meets, and falls for Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism?

Told in dual first person, Joey’s words are scattered on the page – reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason – until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away?

MELT: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

MY TIDBITS

This is a romance with so many sharp edges that it cuts, burns and won't let go even long after the last page has been read.

The story centers around Joey, a seventeen-year-old with alcohol, drug and jail burdens, and Dorothy, a sixteen-year-old with a wholesome life and family. It's told from both points of view, switching with chapters to make it easy to follow. But this isn't a normal story or romance. Joey's horrible family circumstances are presented raw and naked with no room for sugar coated. This is made clear in his voice--short, choppy phrases and words. Dorothy, on the other hand, has a more traditional story telling feel, but this too changes when circumstances throw her into direct conflict with Joey's world.

Warm, fuzzy feelings have nothing to do with this book. It's a literary look at how horrid life can be, the damage it does and the difficult but still hopeful process of healing. The words grip and bite, letting the pure emotions and thoughts come over--ones very fitting to teens in this circumstance. Love and romance are a wonder and beautiful, but life is not. This book does a marvelous job in bringing this message across in its purest and harshest form. In other words, it's a book teens will understand, feel and not easily forget.

SIGNS OF LIFE (Rough Romance #2) by Selene Castrovilla

Publisher: Last Syllable Books | Publication Date: June 21, 2016

The tables are turned with a vengeance in this tour de force love story. Nearly a year has gone by and now it’s Dorothy who is fragmented and lost, while Joey keeps the promise he had made her to better himself—even though she’s gone. Joey talks about what is happening in the present while Dorothy describes what happened before— in the moments and hours after the Glock dropped. This time the stakes are even higher, as Joey forces himself to move forward while Dorothy is frozen in place. But when he learns of a devastating decision, Joey races to find her before it is too late. Truth, consequence, repercussion and modern medicine collide as pieces converge in this psychological, thrilling story, which begs the question: Can love really conquer all?

Signs of Life: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here's Selene Castrovilla!

Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats. Visit her website: www.SeleneCastrovilla.com. 

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest

Follow the tour. . .

June 20th - The Recipe Fairy

June 22nd - Dystopian Citzn

June 24th - Actin' Up with Books

June 27th - Kidbits

June 29th - A Book and a Latte

July 2nd - The Quirky Reader

July 4th - Rhea's Neon Journal

July 6th - Wandering Bark Books

July 8th - Worth Reading It?

Last but not least...

a...

GIVEAWAY!!!

One signed set of MELT and SIGN OF LIFE (US Only)

$50 Gift Card to Amazon or Book Depository (International)

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