Painted Blind Blog Tour: review and giveaways
We host the Painted Blind Blog Tour today. Presented by AToMR Book Blog Tours, this YA fantasy written by Michelle A. Hansen will certainly entertain fans of this genre. We share our review and there are two tour-wide giveaways to enter. Welcome.
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
YA fantasy * Paperback, 331 pages * ebook * Published May 3rd 2012 by Createspace
Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Now everyone—especially her dad—can see it. And yet, somehow, those are the mundane things in her life because she is about to fall unexpectedly, head-over-heels in love with Erik, a mysterious young man who rescues her from a crowd of admirers, and who she’s never actually seen because…he can make himself invisible.
As strange as this may seem, it’s about to get even stranger. Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Overtaken, intrigued, and still not wholeheartedly believing he’s real, Psyche is going to have to decide if she can love him blindly; because if she can’t, she may lose him forever.
Author Michelle A. Hansen
Michelle A. Hansen was raised in southeastern Washington. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English teaching from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and taught high school English for six years. She and her husband have four children.
For the complete tour list, click here.
Review:
Okay, I have to admit when I began reading Painted Blind I had the doubt-sies. I thought "how could this teen girl be so trusting and climb on a motorcycle with this guy whose face seems to be shadowed?" or "how can she let him sit on her bed and talk even if he's invisible?" Then I smacked myself offside the head and remembered my Greek mythology. Her name is Psyche so he must be Eros. At that point I dropped my doubting thoughts and let author Michelle A. Hansen entertain me with her beguiling story.
Yes, I'm using that word--beguiling. I fell so easily into believing Psyche's unfortunate predicament with her Venus modeling campaign and subsequently having the billboard posted in the middle of her town so everyone who knows her will see it. Cajoled by her mom during one of her infrequent visits, the gullible Psyche thinks her mom is actually staying with her during their European summer vacation. She soon awakens to learn mom has left a note and is gone. Back home, this teen is reluctant to tell her dad about her modeling since he's made it clear he doesn't want her doing nudity. I liked her dad, from his cooking her steaks to his apparent deep love for his daughter. Psyche herself is sympathetic and comes across as very real. Like I said, with a mom like that, and a contract to honor, it's not surprising she didn't do anything else to get herself in trouble back home. Once the word gets out her home life becomes a living nightmare with paparazzi camped outside her house and school, classmates and teachers she can't trust and strangers staring at her. When her panic attacks begin again, she's in trouble with her new found notoriety.
Enter the mysterious invisible guy, Erik. From his alluring scent, his smooth voice and knack for helping her out of uncomfortable situations, what's not appealing about him to a healthy all American teen girl? He becomes hero-like in a down to earth manner until he helps rescue Psyche one more time and takes her across the portal to his world. Even there he doesn't want her to see his face. This is what made Painted Blind stand out in a crowd of YA guys who are hot and well-built. Psyche doesn't get to see this guy, all she has is a voice, his personality and behavior and she still finds enough to fall in love with despite the entire lacking an appearance thing. Can I say refreshing?
So what else happens? I won't say so you'll have to pick up your own copy of Painted Blind to enjoy. This well paced novel with interesting characters and conflicts kept me enthused and involved for hours and I loved the author's spin on Greek Mythology. Maybe I should take a rest from paranormal creatures and check out some more Greek gods in YA literature.
Rating: 4
Cover comment: Playful. I like it.
Book source: I received a promotional eARC from the author in exchange for my honest review during a blog tour.
Giveaway #1:
Print giveaway, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2:
This giveaway of 5 signed postcards and 10 ebooks is open Internationally.
I love Greek Mythology! I have always had a love for it. The story of Cupid & Psyche has always been my favorite. I actually have a beautiful steel engraving of them, because I love the story so very much. I would love to read this story!
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited by all the stories based on Greek Mythology that are making the rounds lately! This one sounds kind of amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you ladies! We hope you both get the chance to read this.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved Greek Mythology! This book sounds amazing! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI was kind of put off by the cover cause I thought it was just another contemporary romance, but greek mythology? That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this!
ReplyDeletefelecia@twinoaksfl.org
I REALLY want this book!!! :)
ReplyDelete