A Stiff Kiss [Kindle Edition]

Avery Olive (Author)

Book Description

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves.

But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's hands, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up?

With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.

Product Details

• File Size: 401 KB
• Print Length: 248 pages
• Publisher: Crescent Moon Press (February 3, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0075M4KA2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,990 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing debut! March 28, 2012

By Avery Greaves

Format:Paperback

I must admit that going into this book I just expected it to be a fluffy read- a book with a lot of entertainment value, but also a book with little substance (a stereotypical rom-com with a paranormal element). After having finished this book all I can do is shake my head at my earlier stupidity, this book was anything but, yes, it was a paranormal rom-com of sorts, but it was so much more, a story of forgiveness, a story of growth, a story of acceptance and the likes of- it exceeded my expectations by tenfold.

Typically I am on the fence about the chapters of a book being told from alternate perspectives, one from her point of view, the other from his point of view, however I thought that it worked perfectly for the storyline. I thought that the change in P.O.V. allowed us to see a different side of the characters that we otherwise would not have. Avery was able to weave everything together perfectly and this book may very well possess the best change in P.O.V. I have ever encountered before.

All in all, if Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series, Ellen Schreiber "Vampire Kisses" series, and Akex Flinn's "Beastly" were to have a baby, I think that this book would be the result. I highly recommend this book for a number of reasons, one being that it is a story unlike any I have ever read before, another being because it is a true pageturner (I finished reading it within a few hours of starting it because I just couldn't put it down). I cannot wait to see what Avery has in store for us next!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gravely Engaging!!! Must Read!!!! March 11, 2012

By Mindy

Format:Kindle Edition

Avery Olive contacted and asked me if I would be interested in hosting a day of her blog tour and since it was my first opportunity to do so, I couldn't say no. And I am so glad she did, for if she didn't I probably would have missed this book completely and that would have been a shame!

Avery blew me away with A Stiff Kiss as I discovered it was chillingly morbid, gravely disturbing, and impulsively rebellious. This gripping novel had an amazing cast of exceptionally bizarre and immersing characters that will keep you entertained throughout the entire story and still keep you begging for more!

The setting Olive created was very dreary, realistic, and modern. It wasn't much different then what you would see today but with a plot twist she turned it into a world with a second chance at life, full of choices and reliving a certain moment could change everything!

The characters in this odd but compelling tale really made the story what it was. Xylia was truly one of a kind; obsessed with death almost seems an understatement describing her. With losing her mother at a very young age and her being the one to find her that way, it definitely scarred her. As she has had years to deal with her traumatic loss, she takes the long road to overcoming her grief. In that process she becomes very curious about the process of dying and death in general. I found Xylia to be morbid, peculiar, and grotesque; but still she was still vigorous, caring, and stubborn. She was a really rare character that I believe people can relate to. Then there's the boy that she brings back to life, Landon. Landon was the typical jock, who might not have ever noticed Xylia until her magical kiss bought him back from the dead.... He turned out to be this astonishingly thoughtful, sensitive, and considerate boy that helped Xylia in more ways than she realized that she needed.

I felt that this strange and engaging novel earned itself five stars, as it held an intriguing look at death and the afterlife that I think many people could relate to. To all readers out there this one was very imaginative and a very quick read, it will really make you ask yourself if you relive a moment of your life how would you use your second chance? Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Review for A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive September 26, 2012

By Alyssa

Format:Kindle Edition

***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog***

A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Publication Date: February 12, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Won a copy from the author

(old review - originally posted on September 26, 2012)

This book really stuck with me after I finished it. I won an e-copy and print copy of this book from Ms. Olive, and read it through in one sitting. Ms. Olive floored me with her interesting and strange story of life and death.

Summary (from Goodreads):

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything? Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves. But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's hands, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up? With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.

What I Liked:

To me, this book was interesting, to say the least. I was first fascinated by the names of the characters. Xylia is a name I've heard of, in books or otherwise. I also really like the name Landon Phoenix. Phoenixes are one of my favorite mythical creatures.

I liked the character building in this book. As readers, we really get to see the growth of character in both Xylia and Landon. From Xylia we see and understand her passion for death and funerals and graves.... We see her gradual change in behavior towards her father. I love the ending, and how she fought for something (no spoilers!).

Landon is an awesome guy! He doesn't strike me as the typical young adult hot boy that every young adult book girl wants. I loved his reactions to Xylia's strange habits. I felt what he felt, especially when it came to the open grave! I like him, because despite his confusion about death and Xylia's oddities, he stuck with her up until the end.

Oh, the end. I like how everything came full circle. It was a fitting end. I like this book as a standalone. A series wouldn't really fit, although, I never know what authors can come up with!

What I Did Not Like:

Well, I like Xylia because she's not the cool, loved, popular girl in high school. I like Landon for sticking with her despite her weirdness. But the weirdness, that was something I could not wrap my head around. Someone who likes to sleep in open graves?! Ms. Olive didn't expound upon it, but I'm pretty sure that's a psychological problem. That is so strange. Of course, people do crazier things. But that is really, really weird.

I didn't like how Xylia left her father, and put him through what she did. That was teenage selfishness (which I can see, because I am a teenager), and that makes it understandable. There wasn't much else that I didn't like. Get passed the weirdness of Xylia's habits, and it's an awesome read!

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! It's a great standalone. I think Ms. Olive has a great feel for writing and knows how to create a genuinely interesting story. Since it is set around high school students, I would recommend this book to any teenager and up.

Rating:

4 stars. Great job, Ms. Olive! I can't wait to see what else you've got! Read more ›

More About the Author

Avery Olive is proudly Canadian. She is married and has one child. When she's not helping raise her very energetic and inquisitive son, she can be found working on her latest novel--where she devilishly adds U's into every word she can.

When she is looking for a break Avery enjoys cake decorating, losing herself in a good book, or heading out to the lake to go camping.

The release of Avery's first novel proves to her it won't be the last. As long as her family continues to be supportive, she can find the time, and people want to read, Avery vows to keep on writing.