Saturday, April 16, 2011

Review and Giveway: Shades Of Atlantis by Carol Oates



Genre:   YA, Paranormal, Romance

Release Date:  November 2010

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Author Website:  http://www.caroloates.com/

Format ReadPaperback Print Copy

Pages307

SourcePublisher

Rating:  Three flowers of love

Book Blurb
Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn't quite fit in...in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona's small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous...and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It's there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her - secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

My Thoughts
First of all, let me say this.  This review may be one big ramble because it was so hard for me get this review out.  There were parts of the book that I loved and parts that I didn’t particularly care for, and after rewriting and rewriting, I just decided to let it flow...

When I first picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I liked the story and the characters, but it gave me such a déjà vu feeling that I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.  True, in most YA novels, you get the same storyline:  Average girl meets super hot looking guy that’s totally into her and she can’t figure out why.  It’s always love at first site and there’s always some blown up conflict that tests that relationship, blah, blah,blah. With Shades Of Atlantis, there was a different overall twist to the same story, but it just wasn’t enough to make me not compare it to others of its kind. 

The beginning of the story was a little slow and I was worried about it holding my attention.  At first, I didn’t like Triona because she came across as awkward and whiny.  I loved Caleb of course.  Not even sure why but I just loved him as her hero.   He was handsome, mysterious and protective.  What’s not to love?

Although I did like their romance, I thought it happened too quickly.  Even though I’m a big romance fan, the sappier the better, for some reason I’m not into the love at first site storylines.  I just think I would have been more interested if their feelings had not been revealed so early in the book.  I appreciate the suspense of the romance being drawn out and revealed towards the end. 

Overall, Shades Of Atlantis was a good read. The immortality twist and the family secrets mystery keep me reading. 



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Other Reviews Of This Book:
Shelfari




Want a chance to get a copy of Shades Of Atlantis and some cool swag?  Here’s what Carol Oates is offering four readers a chance to win


  • Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar, and SoA mug.
  • Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar
  • eBook copy of SoA
  • eBook copy of SoA 


To Enter:
You must leave a comment on ALL tour stop posts.  The blogs on the tour are listed below.  Then the names will be chosen by random.org and the name chosen will be checked on comments. All giveaways are open internationally. Participants do not need to be followers to be entered.  Giveaway ends April 22 and is being hosted by A Tale Of Many Reviews.

Here’s the tour schedule

20 Talk to me!:

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for your review!

I'm eager to get my hands on this book.

amanda(at)lettersinsideout(dot)com

ArtemisG said...

Great review! Book sounds very interesting!!!

Aydrea said...

Thanks for the honest review! Can't wait to read the book to see what I will think.

danceislove27(at)gmail(dot)com

IandSsmom said...

Great review! got the feel for it! Really can't wait to read it!!
shannonjean14(at)gmail(dot)com

Bookworm Lisa said...

Thanks for your review. ;0)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for participating! :)

Katie said...

thanks for the review!

katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mary Preston said...

Thank you for the review. You highlighted the romance side more than I had heard before. marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

TheGirlOnFire said...

This is great! Thanks!


thegirlonfire

thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

donnas said...

Thanks for sharing your review. Im looking forward to reading this one.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Vivien said...

Thanks for your honest opinion. It matters :)

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

nicolesender said...

Enjoyed your honest opinion. I'd like to read this book.
nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jolene and Family said...

I want, I need, I have to have :) Thanks for the honest review, anxious to read this

june111(at)att(dot)net

Notorious Spinks said...

Great review! I'll have to check this out.

magan bagan said...

I definitely can't wait for more from her!

megan.qualls@gmail.com

Stacy said...

Thanks for your honest review and thanks for participating in the tour. I can't wait to read it.

the imagine tree at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Interesting to hear your thoughts about this book! I'm excited to read it!

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

mamabunny13 said...

Thanks for the review! I'm looking forward to reading it.
mamabunny13 bat gmail dot com

Pamela said...

I know what you mean about not always liking love at first sight stories. They can get tired sometimes. Great review!

Allison said...

This looks cute, I hope I get to read it!