Friday, September 20, 2013

Giveaway and Review of Stained by Cheryl Rainfield: Tour Kick-Off

Stained
Stained by Cheryl Rainfield
In this heart-wrenching and suspenseful teen thriller, sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for "normal." Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she’s been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer.
”add
Publishes in US: October 1st 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Netgalley
Series? No.

Buy it:
eBook Amazon.com (US)Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Hardcover Amazon.com hardcover
Powells
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository
Books A Million
IndieBound

Find Cheryl online: ~site Twitter Email Pinterest WordPress GoodReadsFacebook Google+ Scars Facebook Hunted Facebook

 
    It had a very powerful start, putting us in Sarah's shoes, showing how it feels to have such a prominent stain on her face. She is tormented and she feels like no one gives her the chance to see who she is besides someone that is not physically perfect. 
    I liked the dual perspective and getting to know Nick. He is nerdy and he is kind so I automatically was cheering for him even though he knew that she didn't see him like that. He saw past her face, and found her beautiful anyways. He thinks she is strong and they have a connection through comic books, he draws and she writes them. 
    There is a lot going on with Sarah, her dad has trouble at work and while she was going to get treatments for her face, that had to be put off because of the finances. I did like her mom, and I know as a teen that had to be annoying to be constantly told your parents think you are beautiful and that it is more than physical beauty to the world. But I am glad that she is present and saying these things. 
     I would be remiss if I didn't mention the formatting. I am not sure, it is probably a product of being an ARC (advanced reader copy) but there were "l"s missing, and some of the lines were cut off. 
     But anyways, Cheryl Rainfield the author writes with such passion and so beautifully dark and gritty. The details of what Sarah went through weren't skimmed over, they were examined and it focused on her feelings too. I was amazed at how strong she was, how courageous and the will to survive. I also thought this story was all the more powerful because Cheryl writes from personal experience in abuse. That really touched me that she can relate with her main characters that way, that the feelings and emotions come from a very real place. And that she is able to share the stories, no matter what details are fiction and what comes from what she has experienced is a real gift. Not only to survivors of abuse or captivity that there is hope and that outlets exist for pain, but to those who haven't been through something like this to get a harrowing and realistic look at the mindset and experience of someone kidnapped, raped, and manipulated. 
    I also rooted for Sarah so much because she was smart. Even though desperate, she used her brain and did what she needed to in order to survive for the most part. She learned from her mistakes and her pride, and she was a mental fighter. 
    I love how she became her own hero and learned to see the beauty inside and out.

Bottom Line: Powerful look of a courageous main character with a will to live.


Blkosiner's Book Blog Giveaway
Copy of Scars, Parallel Visions and Hunted
Scars
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.
Watch the book trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF5xEK
See my review here

Hunted
Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.
Next stops on the tour: 
September 23Review and eBook Giveaway at Mean Old Library Teacher
September 24Review and $15 Gift Card Giveaway at The Book Cellar
AND
-readers will get an extra entry into the grand prize of an ebook reader for every comment they leave on a blog in the tour (one extra entry per blog).

-ebook copy of Scars, Hunted and Stained, open internationally

-Fill out Rafflecopter to enter
-Ends on 10/19/2013 11:59 pm EST
-If you win a review on your blog and/or amazon is appreciated but not required.

*If, for whatever reason, the Rafflecopter widget does not appear, you can click on the link where it says rafflecopter giveaway and it will show up, sorry for the inconvenience.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you have any scars or birthmarks?
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17 comments:

  1. Stained sounds like a really powerful book. I love nerdy characters and I'm glad to hear that the parents are bombarding the MC with messages of love.

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  2. This sounds great! I'm really into suspenseful books lately. Awesome review!

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  3. I just saw this book, reminded me of Ellen Hopkins' cover arts. I guess it's as good too!

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  4. I have Scars (but haven't read it), and have heard such good things about Rainfield's writing. I'm glad you enjoyed this, Brandi!

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  5. Glad you liked this! should be reading it soon.

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  6. Both Sarah andN Nick sounds like good characters and I've been wanting to read more books by this author :)

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  7. String character plus dual POV = a winner! I need to read this one!

    Kate @ Ex Libris

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  8. it's nice, I'm not always into POVs but it seems like it's great here to know them like that.

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  9. I hadn't really heard of Stained before until today, but I think it sounds like a great read! I'm glad that it was able to leave such a great impression with you Brandi!

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  10. wow, thanks for sharing your review and all of the books look intense! Thanks Brandi:)

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  11. This sounds really intense! I think I would like it though so I'll watch for it!

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  12. This sounds like a very moving and powerful story! It sounds great! Great review!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  13. I love Rainfield. Great author. I haven't read this book of hers before though. I have to check it out.

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  14. I really like this cover and it sounds great. It's even better that it started out on a good note, I don't have a lot of patience for books with a slow start.

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  15. Stained sounds fantastic! I love a story that's powerful and offers a message. Thanks for sharing a great review.

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  16. Sounds suspenseful, and I always like those. Great review.

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  17. Last minute addition to the blog tour for STAINED is at my blog, for a BOOK REVIEW of STAINED and a GIVEAWAY of PARALLEL VISIONS. Hop on over and enter today. Comments and tweets also earn you extra entries in the GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY at Cheryl's Blog. http://gdonaldcribbsbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-stained-by-cheryl-rainfield.html

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I would love to hear from you! (I always try to visit your blog back) I love links, so feel free to link to your blog or a post you like.
Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)