Saving Me by Kelsie Blanton - Blog Tour


Blurb:

Sixteen-year old Peyton Jones had it all: straight A's in school, the perfect boyfriend, and nothing to worry about but keeping her GPA up. Then one night her perfect world is suddenly ripped away from her. Everything she has ever known changes and she goes from having a perfect plan to watching her world crumble around her.

Steve Gibbons was the quarterback of his high school football team...until the new guy showed up and stole his spot, causing him to lose his chance at a scholarship. Football was his life and now he feels like he has nothing.

Drawn together after losing hope for their futures, Peyton and Steve become best friends, but as they grow closer, a colossal secret is revealed changing everything. Will Peyton be left to face her inevitable future alone, or can she trust enough to let someone else in?

My Review

This book is one of the many reasons I love doing reviews.  This isn't the type of book I usually read, nor seek out.  If it weren't for signing up to be a host for this tour, I would have never picked it up.  I think the entire time I read this book my jaw was on the floor and my mouth was catching flies.  

I'm not going to give you information about the whole plot.  That's what the blurb/synopsis is for.  Plus, I really want you to read this book.  My heart pounded when reading a specific part of this book.  I cried for Peyton.  I was angry that I couldn't help her.  I was angry of the way she was taken advantage of.  I was angry that while reading the story up to that point, I had no idea of Aaron's true nature.  

It was easy to kind of guess the direction some things were going to go, but it didn't draw me away from the story.  I was actually a little glad that I was able to prepare myself for it to happen.  

Here are a few things that I want to point out: 

1) If you are pro-choice - please keep reading this book.  It is worth it, trust me!  Even I gave a few eye-rolls about some of the situations, but please do not let that deter you from finishing the story.  It really is about the bigger picture, and that is not about making a decision to abort a pregnancy. Besides, I am pro-choice, and that choice includes a woman's right to not abort. 

2) There is a fairly graphic scene pretty much at the beginning of the book.  This is a Mature YA novel, but if you are unsure about whether or not you want your teenage daughter to read it, then you read it first.  If my daughter were 15/16, or maybe even 14, I would have her read this story.  I think it would be a wonderful way to help prepare her for real world horrors that can, and do, actually happen, without completely terrifying her.

What is Date Rape?

Date rape is, well, rape.  It is just a way to classify being raped by someone the victim knows: acquaintance  friend, or even lover.  Even if you have had a sexual relationship with this person, and you say no, it is still rape.  Period.  I hate to be cliche, but no means no.  Not maybe, not later, not "I'm playing hard to get." 

Because of the nature of date rape (also knows as acquaintance rape), many law enforcement agencies also classify the act as domestic abuse - used as a separate charge, not to replace a rape charge. 

Where to get help if you are a victim:


Search engine for local crisis centers:


Help for friends and family:


Helpful Links for Victims of Domestic Violence:


About Kelsie Blanton

Kelsie Blanton is a fun-loving young woman from a small town in Kentucky. Writing has always been her passion and when she’s not working at her full-time job, she is at home writing on something. Her hobbies include reading, writing, singing (poorly), dancing (again, poorly), and talking…a lot.

Surrounded by amazing friends and family that support her, Kelsie is following her dreams. Happy reading


Email: kelsie_blanton@yahoo.com


Excerpt from Saving Me

I froze, too afraid to move. The steps began to get louder as each second passed. My heart was pounding to its own quick rhythm. A hand grasped my shoulder and I squeezed my eyes shut expecting the worse. I began to quiver uncontrollably, wanting to scream, to run as hard as I could, but my feet were frozen. I could only stand there as my tears mixed with the rain pouring over me.

The grip was released, and suddenly an arm snaked around my back turning me in the opposite direction. I couldn’t muster up the courage to look at the person helping me. I could only assume it wasn’t Aaron. Whoever it was had too gentle of a touch. Yet instead of feeling relief a sense of nausea washed over me. Granted, I was momentarily safe, but the emotions coursing through me had made it—for a brief moment—feel like it was happening all over again. 

I didn’t want to be vulnerable in front of anyone who could take advantage of me. With my heart going 100 miles per hour in my chest, I tried to push away from the person and nothing happened. They didn’t budge and their grip around me was too strong. After many deep breaths, I got the courage to glance up into eyes the color of emeralds—eyes filled with concern. My legs gave out and I sagged in his arms. Steve didn’t hesitate. He slowly lowered me to the wet asphalt and sat there while I sobbed into his already wet shirt.


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