Owlet by Emma Michaels Blog Tour Read-a-long, Giveaway and Book Review!

I always love doing book tours with Tribute Books because I know that I will be reading and reviewing some pretty spectacular books and this latest blog tour is no exception, although this one also happens to be something a little different. This one also happens to be a read-along tour as well!

For a full list of all the participants please check out the list at the end of the post.

Today I get to bring you, Owlet (Society of Feathers #1) by Emma Michaels.

Synopsis:

Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.

Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.

Book Excerpt: 

 “I think that is another question for your father to answer. He will definitely be able to come in the next two weeks so it won’t be too long of a wait.”

Maybe it is better that I get these two weeks before I know. What if it will change the way I feel about my Never-Never? Or even my mother? What if she really isn’t the person I imagine her to be? Could I accept that? The thoughts rolled over and over in her mind as Iris heard Diana’s voice grow soft.

“She used to sit there and stare outside for hours. She had the garden made for birds. Every part of it is made to attract them.” She knew Diana was changing the subject but if it meant finding out more about her mother she certainly didn’t mind.

“It is beautiful. I love it,” Iris said, staring at the magnificent garden.

There was a pond in the middle of the garden with paths on both sides. An abundance of flowers that Iris didn’t recognize, lined by trees she also could not name, made the land burst with color. Looking closer, Iris realized that there was one type of flower and one tree she could name, as she took in the irises that lined the far edge of the pond with apple trees growing up behind them.

 Emma Michaels' Bio:

Emma Michaels is the author of the ‘A Sense of Truth’ and ‘Society of Feathers’ series. Her goal with her latest YA novel 'Owlet' is to give others what she did not have growing up; a strong female protagonist with asthma.  While her previous aspiration was to be a lady knight she realized that not being able to run more than a few feet might become a hindrance so turned to writing instead. Her day jobs include being a cover artist, marketing consultant and silk screen designer.

As the founder of The Writers Voice blog (http://OurBooksOurVoice.Blogspot.com) she loves to connect authors and readers. As a book blogger turned author, she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them. With the support of her fiancé, Chihuahua, and her amazing blog followers and fellow bloggers, she wants to prove to the world that anything is possible and help inspire fellow literary lovers to reach for their dreams.

My Thoughts and Review:
 

I have to start off by saying that this book has a fantastic cover. It is just gorgeous and definitely draws you in and begs to be looked at.

I liked this story. It was more than I thought it was going to be, more than a story about a girl who is a shape shifter of some sort. It was part mystery and part romance too. In fact, it had a very sweet romance to it. I just loved Falcon! The storyline was a fun one, very different from what I have been reading lately and that was a nice change and a nice surprise.

But, (yes sadly, there is a but) and this is something I don't normally find myself saying, in fact I can't remember when I said it last about a book, but, I felt like this story moved a little too fast during the first half. So much happened within the first few chapters that I kind of felt lost. I didn't get a real feel for the characters like I wanted to. It was almost like because the storyline moved so quickly it ended up taking some of the depth out of the story, something that I really think the story needed. Or maybe it was just something I needed so I could feel a better connection to the characters and to their world.

I did like Iris though and I did feel bad for her. She had a lot of secrets that were kept from her and while her dad and aunt were trying to protect her, I think they only ended up hurting her more in the end. They kept what and who she really was from her (and her dad and aunt seemed like they even kept secrets from each other too, which really didn't help anyone).

Things did start to make a little more sense as the story went on. By the second half I felt like things started to slow down as Iris and Falcon's story was told. Things started to be revealed and I finally started to feel a connection to them. They started to feel more real to me. I was really afraid that I was going to have all of these questions that I had left unanswered and I am so glad that wasn't the case.

Overall this was a quick read and once I got pass the feeling of being a little overwhelmed with how quickly everything moved, I really enjoyed it and would definitely continue with the series.

I give this one 3.5 to 4 Stars!

 eBook
ISBN: 9780985792213
ISBN: 9781476473338
Pages: 170
Release: October 13, 2012

Buy links go live on October 13, 2012.  PDF buy link is live and available for pre-orders.

Kindle buy link - $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090MXTVG?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link - $4.95
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/owlet-emma-michaels/1112581278?ean=2940014818537

iBookstore buy link - $4.99
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id555302112

Smashwords buy link - $4.99
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217648?ref=tributebooks

PDF buy link - $4.95
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1660392

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway