CONTEST CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsay
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: Philomel
(December 8, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0399256226
A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger
Lenzi hears voices and has visions – gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can’t help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she’s a reincarnated Speaker – someone who can talk to and help lost souls – and that he has been her Protector for centuries.
Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn’t make a decision soon.
I debated with myself several times on whether or not to post a review for this book. I didn’t finish it, but I did make myself read to the halfway point. Since it is classified as a Did Not Finish on my shelves, instead of a review I thought I would just share with you on why I couldn’t finish it.
First character in the hot seat is Lenzi. Can we get any weaker than this character? Does she even still have a spine intact and a brain in her head? I know this seems a little harsh but seriously, I thought she was one of the worst characters I have read about in a long time. This character has mastered the art of whine and selfishness. The only strength this girl had was mad and slightly OCD paper skills called origami.
Second character in the hot seat is Zak. Seriously? This is the type of character you want for a romance interest for a teen? If this guy came within fifteen feet of my teen daughter I would snatch the shotgun from my husband and send him running for the hills praying I miss the bulls eye of his family jewels. He is worse than the bad boy image that you are afraid to bring home to meet the parents. Why would someone be attracted to a boy who gets drunk and tries to seduce you while you are visiting your fathers grave? Oh and this was part of a birthday gift to Lenzi. Sorry to tell you Zak, but that present is one you can handle yourself. But no, Lenzi keeps kissing his butt and basically thinking he is a God among men. I am sorry but mentally abusive men who have a thing for belittling a woman while not being able to hold their liquor is not an attractive man to hold high on a pedestal.
So you would think the author, who decides a triangle might help save this story, would learn the lesson on abusive and emotionally battering men. No. She decides to bring in man number two named Alden, who just happens to be her Protector. You hear the word Protector and you think he might just be the one for Lenzi. Then the author ruins it by having him tell Lenzi that her fear and pain is a big turn on for him. Um, hello? This borders on creepy and just plain sadistic.
At this point, I had to put the book down and just deal with the eye twitching I get when I don’t finish a book. I just couldn’t stomach anymore of the characters and I can’t even remember what the point of the plot was suppose to be.
That seems to be the question of late, and also one that has been eating away at my thoughts. When I started this blog a few years ago, I was worried about many things. One of the main worries and questions I had was how much should I blog? Should it be daily? A few times a day? A few times a week?
As my blog has grown and many of you have stuck with me throughout the few years I have been blogging, you may have noticed that my blogging has slowed down. When I first started, my goal was to post reviews a few times a day. It was not unusual to see that I posted 2 to 3 reviews a day since I read so many books. I can usually finish two books a day with no problems. Plus, I always try to stay ahead of the game by reading as much as I can over the weekend so I have a bunch of books to post about during the week.
While I still have a stack of books waiting to review on my desk, I have slowed down in the posting process and become more sporadic in posting them. Sometimes I will post one to three reviews a day, and other times I will not post anything for a day or two.
I finally realized that I don’t want posting to be a chore. I want to post when I can without worry. I have lost a few blog followers for changing up my posting schedule, but I have accepted that this is my hobby and not a job. I want to enjoy reading, friendships made through blogging, and have time for my family as well. I know it is a given that I will lose even more followers for this, but I also made a choice in not caring about those numbers in the followers gadget. I love hearing from each and everyone of you, but if you feel the need to unsubscribe from my blog just because I don’t post every single time — several times a day — then I don’t know what to say or do to stay. I am hoping that my reviews that do post are enough of a reason to follow my blog, just as it is for other reviewers, but sometimes people have different tastes and change up who they follow daily.
I am in the process of trying to figure out a balanced medium and it is something I struggle with everyday. Do I want to post like I did before? Yes. But I also want to be able to venture out more into the realm of other bloggers and spend time chatting to you about books. I also don’t want to reach the point of ‘blogging burn out’ that others seem to reach.
So for today’s discussion tell me how you feel about blogging? Do you see yourself as a daily blogger or as you feel like it? Do you worry about losing everything you have worked for while slowing the pace down? What do you think would be an acceptable number of posts per day to keep you interested in reading a blog?
Hi Amy, thanks for hosting this stop on the blog tour for Shield the Heart!
The theme for this blog tour is a little different and I hope all of you will enjoy it. It’s titled ‘A Russian Tour’ because each day during the blog tour we’ll explore the Russian cities and historical sites that are the backdrop for my new YA novel Shield the Heart.
Sometimes the setting of a novel is so interesting and unique that it deserves a closer look, and that’s why I thought this blog tour would be so much fun. ‘A Russian Tour’ will give my readers a chance to get a better view of where everything in Shield the Heart takes place.
After all, these are the places that have inspired me, and I hope they inspire all of you, too.
Today on our itinerary we’re visiting the Kremlin!
To follow along each day and visit some of the places found in Shield the Heart, be sure to follow the blog tour.
Okay, onto our destination!
The Kremlin is probably one of the most well-known buildings in Russia and one that everyone has heard of. Just the name makes it seem like it’s clouded in mystery, steeped in secrecy, and filled with history. To a great degree that’s true.
And this is exactly how the Kremlin is viewed in Shield the Heart. After all, these are the images and ideas that help fuel the story.
“A potent symbol of two mighty imperial cultures – that of medieval Muscovy and that of the Soviet Union – the Kremlin is at once fascinating and foreboding, a mixture of lavish opulence and austere secrecy, and its eclectic mix of architecture reflects these paradoxes and seismic cultural shifts.
Today, the Kremlin remains as alluring and enigmatic as ever. Two thirds of the citadel territory are closed to visitors, but the remaining third contains enough treasures to occupy several days of sightseeing. Not only one of the largest and most interesting museums in the world, but also the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.” (russia.info/kremlin)
A Short History of the Kremlin~
“Although there is evidence of human habitation on the site of the Kremlin dating back to 500 BC, Moscow’s history really begins around 1147, when Yuri Dolgoruky, Grand Duke of Kiev, built a wooden fort at the point where the Neglina and Moskva Rivers converge. The city grew rapidly and, despite being razed by the Mongols in 1208, was soon powerful enough to attain primacy among the Russian principalities, acknowledged in 1326 when the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church moved there from Vladimir.” (russia.info/kremlin)
It’s easy to see why the Kremlin plays a role in Shield the Heart. But exactly how it fits into the book remains a mystery until you read it! I hope your curiosity is piqued enough to find out more.
Character quote~
It felt like a dream. We walked up the steps and I thought at any moment I would wake up. We strolled past security without any question and it was then I knew the Kutuzov Family was powerful, prominent, and respected- even her at the seat of power for all of Russia.
~Lilly Paige, Shield the Heart
I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini tour of the Kremlin. Be sure to follow us to our next destination. Tomorrow on the blog tour we’ll visit the Ipatiev Monastery! http://eveningfades.blogspot.com/p/shield-heart-blog-tour.html
Amy, thanks again for hosting me on the blog tour. I hope you and your blog followers enjoy my new release!
