Welcome to my stop on the Family Portrait Series by Gillian Felix blog tour! Today, I’m bringing you a review of the first book, Changes, and a character guest post. Also, you can find below more information about the books, the author and a great giveaway that is open international. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!
Title: Changes
Author: Gillian Felix
Author: Gillian Felix
Series: Family Portrait Vol. 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: GillianFx Publishing, LLC
Published: July 25th, 2013
Page count: 82 pages
Format: ebook
Source: From author in exchange for an honest review
Book Summary:
Adriana Banovic’s 15th birthday sucked! She got fired after eight years of playing Shayanne Montgomery on the #1 soap in the country, found out that her family was on the verge of bankruptcy and worst of all, forced to return to Westwood Academy. Her only saving grace was a chance glance at dreamy mystery boy Haze Lyndon. Armed with only his picture and a determination to find him—even if it means turning Los Angeles over on its ass.In this young adult novel, you’ll meet Robin Banovic, Adriana’s father; financially challenged, dealing with the death of a family member and his brother’s disappearance. You’ll meet Savannah DaCosta aka Savi, mother/manager; Savi enjoys the life her rock star daughter Leighann has provided. When Leighann makes a choice to end her career, Savi sees it as a personal attack. You’ll meet college boy Haze Lyndon; New to Los Angeles, Haze soon realizes how quickly money changes hands in the City of Angels. Will he return to questionable ways to survive or go back to the safety of his family in Wisconsin?
*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
Want to give the series a try? Changes the first novel in the series is FREE on Amazon !
Changes is truly a full on soap opera! There are many characters and subplots going on that it might take a while to get in the swing of things. We have a family who just inherited the mansion on their brink of bankruptcy, a teen soap opera star trying to get a new acting job after they fire her from her 8 year old role, a pop star who wants to have a normal life for once, and a model who’s far away from his home in Wisconsin.
Their lifes start to clash unexpectedly as each person tries to get what they want. Like the title of this book suggests, this book is all about Changes. The characters suffer in their own way trying to come to terms when things aren’t turning out how they want them to be. The harsh reality makes them turn into a different direction than originally planned and with this choices, new opportunities arise.
I’m not particularly attached to any of the characters since I feel I didn’t get enough time to focus on each and every one of them. I can feel them growing and changing, but I would have loved to have the ability to stop the book on some parts and stay, for example, with Adrianna for a while, no interruptions. However, the author did cover a lot of ground with only 82 pages! Awsome feat if you ask me.
I also didn’t notice much in the romance department, but I know that part is coming pretty soon if I push on with the series. Like a good old soap opera, the book ends just when things are blooming. That’s what I love AND hate about them, although I do admit that’s what keeps you glued. I’ll definitely try to read what’s next and see what’s in store for everyone.
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The Double Standard in Romance Novels by
Savi DaCosta.
Savi DaCosta.
If I were a man, women would love me. They’d
fall on their knees for me. Why? Because I’m the bad boy women swoon over in
novels… except I’m a woman. In The Family Portrait series by
Gillian Felix (there is another series another series with the same title), I
play the bad girl/woman everybody loves to hate.
fall on their knees for me. Why? Because I’m the bad boy women swoon over in
novels… except I’m a woman. In The Family Portrait series by
Gillian Felix (there is another series another series with the same title), I
play the bad girl/woman everybody loves to hate.
Readers hate me so much that they’ve called
for my reluctant lover to kill me already. In my defense, I enjoy bringing men
to their knees, I enjoy a good scheme… or ten. I am not afraid to go after what
I want, through any means necessary.
for my reluctant lover to kill me already. In my defense, I enjoy bringing men
to their knees, I enjoy a good scheme… or ten. I am not afraid to go after what
I want, through any means necessary.
Not since Amanda Wentworth from the TV
series Melrose Place, can I think of a memorable woman TV villain. Maybe
writers have gone soft or think that women should be damsels in distress or
that it’s sexy to be helpless. Frankly I like being the tormentor.
series Melrose Place, can I think of a memorable woman TV villain. Maybe
writers have gone soft or think that women should be damsels in distress or
that it’s sexy to be helpless. Frankly I like being the tormentor.
I think it’s very empowering when a woman
stands up and show her male counterparts that she is their equal. That she will
not be submissive, she will not be talked down to or brought to her knees.
stands up and show her male counterparts that she is their equal. That she will
not be submissive, she will not be talked down to or brought to her knees.
In the series I have 2 daughters, one
biological and one adopted, does that mean that I should put up with whatever
comes my way? Heck no! I’m still young, sexy and in control of myself.
biological and one adopted, does that mean that I should put up with whatever
comes my way? Heck no! I’m still young, sexy and in control of myself.
I’ll admit I am hard on my girls, but
that’s because I want to toughen them up. I don’t believe in the cuddling
approach to parenting. I never had it.
that’s because I want to toughen them up. I don’t believe in the cuddling
approach to parenting. I never had it.
Is there a double standard in romance
novels? I say yes, we live in a world of the Alpha male. Come on ladies,
there’s nothing wrong with being the Alpha female, it’s quite fun actually.
novels? I say yes, we live in a world of the Alpha male. Come on ladies,
there’s nothing wrong with being the Alpha female, it’s quite fun actually.
Catch Savi in the Family Portrait Series: Changes
(Book 1), The Banovic Siblings (Book 2), Bastard’s Brew (Book 3)
and the soon to be released The Perfect Escape. (Book
4).
(Book 1), The Banovic Siblings (Book 2), Bastard’s Brew (Book 3)
and the soon to be released The Perfect Escape. (Book
4).
Want to give the series a try? Changes the first novel in the series is FREE on Amazon !
About the Author:
I have been writing since I was old enough to hold
a pencil. I enjoy creating characters that could be your next-door neighbor,
but would you want them as your neighbor is another story.
Originally from the island of Trinidad and Tobago,
I moved to the United States in 1998. Since then I have been involved in the
entertainment industry for over ten years.
I moved to the United States in 1998. Since then I have been involved in the
entertainment industry for over ten years.
I am an entrepreneur and advocate for women and
children’s rights and I enjoy being in nature and volunteering.
children’s rights and I enjoy being in nature and volunteering.
I always wanted to work with Aaron Spelling
because I grew up watching his shows, but he died before I got the chance, so
in a way my books are an ode to him. I know he would have loved them. I tip my
hat to him.
because I grew up watching his shows, but he died before I got the chance, so
in a way my books are an ode to him. I know he would have loved them. I tip my
hat to him.
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