The Silent Swan Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
Welcome to my stop for The Silent Swan Blog Tour!
I have a review and excerpt for you! Also there's a giveaway! 
Release date: August 26th 2013
Publisher: AltWit Press
Series: N/A
Age Group: Young Adult
Purchase: Amazon
Add to your library: Goodreads
Once upon a time – better known as “now” - Gabriel Pritz reigns as king of his high school. Easy grades, perfect baseball season, a pretty date for prom—he's coasting into a golden future. Until his parents demand he cook dinner once a week. Caught between kitchen fires and ballpark withdrawal, Gabe is thrown into Tam Swann's orbit. Hostile, friendless, and stubborn, she's exactly the sort of person he'd prefer to avoid.Tam's sphere of influence expands beyond Gabe's sad domestic skills, rapidly invading everything from his favorite game to parts of his soul he didn't know existed. It's uncomfortable, it's hard work, it's...making him a better man. And that's just what she does to people she doesn't like. The better he gets to know her, the more he has to face the truth: this sharp, heart-breaking outcast is worth fighting for. How many families, fairy tales, and felons will he go through to ride to the rescue of the bravest person he's ever met? (via Goodreads)
Review
This was long. Really long. But it was entertaining enough so I was able to get past the length.
It's so cliche to have the perfect guy falling for the poor little girl. What set this novel apart was the development of the relationships. It was so evident as to how Gabe's feelings towards Tam grew. From that awkward first meeting to the sweet-couple moment. It was seen how he was able to know her from scratch. I enjoyed how Gabe saw through Tam and really saw her for who she was. Especially how he was so determined to let her know he was serious about her. Even the relationship of Tam with Gabe's family grew in a happier state.
What made me like this novel was the way Tam fought for her brothers. I cannot actually think that someone can do that. But with Tam, she made it seem easy though I know that's not the case. She's so strong, admirable and dependent. She doesn't let herself owe something to someone. Not without a favor in return. What happened to her family was so sad but how she managed to lived her life was really amazing. And to think that she was fighting for her six younger siblings. I did not really understand most of the law. It was complicated but I get the point of it. So thank goodness, I'm saved.
As much as I enjoyed the novel, I felt some odd things. Like how come I never knew what happened to Kerry? I mean, I know what happened but I was waiting for a follow-up. Also, I didn't feel the love between Tam and Gabe. I know Gabe really liked her. I also know that Tam was doing her best to avoid him because of the circumstances around her. But still, there wasn't a spark! Then I realized that maybe this wasn't actually a contemporary romance novel! Maybe it was about family and all. Though the blurb didn't make it right for me either. I was sort of expecting something heavy drama. Like Gabe will actually be really fighting for Tam. Not that he didn't. But it wasn't so much of a fight. Last was the ending. I felt like it was sort of rushed or something. BUT WHATEVER!!! I enjoyed reading it! Yes, despite those things, I enjoyed reading it. It was worth the shot because it just is!
The Silent Swan is a good contemporary novel. It'll make you see how family will always be the most important thing no matter what. Blood or no blood.
It's so cliche to have the perfect guy falling for the poor little girl. What set this novel apart was the development of the relationships. It was so evident as to how Gabe's feelings towards Tam grew. From that awkward first meeting to the sweet-couple moment. It was seen how he was able to know her from scratch. I enjoyed how Gabe saw through Tam and really saw her for who she was. Especially how he was so determined to let her know he was serious about her. Even the relationship of Tam with Gabe's family grew in a happier state.
What made me like this novel was the way Tam fought for her brothers. I cannot actually think that someone can do that. But with Tam, she made it seem easy though I know that's not the case. She's so strong, admirable and dependent. She doesn't let herself owe something to someone. Not without a favor in return. What happened to her family was so sad but how she managed to lived her life was really amazing. And to think that she was fighting for her six younger siblings. I did not really understand most of the law. It was complicated but I get the point of it. So thank goodness, I'm saved.
As much as I enjoyed the novel, I felt some odd things. Like how come I never knew what happened to Kerry? I mean, I know what happened but I was waiting for a follow-up. Also, I didn't feel the love between Tam and Gabe. I know Gabe really liked her. I also know that Tam was doing her best to avoid him because of the circumstances around her. But still, there wasn't a spark! Then I realized that maybe this wasn't actually a contemporary romance novel! Maybe it was about family and all. Though the blurb didn't make it right for me either. I was sort of expecting something heavy drama. Like Gabe will actually be really fighting for Tam. Not that he didn't. But it wasn't so much of a fight. Last was the ending. I felt like it was sort of rushed or something. BUT WHATEVER!!! I enjoyed reading it! Yes, despite those things, I enjoyed reading it. It was worth the shot because it just is!
The Silent Swan is a good contemporary novel. It'll make you see how family will always be the most important thing no matter what. Blood or no blood.
EXCERPT
But the sad fact was-he brought a knife to a gun fight.
Gabe had imagined they might talk about the best game ever, maybe bond a little over how his mom came through for her brothers. Nada. Tam Swann didn't make eye contact, didn't speak unless asked a direct question. It was like she was punishing him.
Except he didn't care. Not that much, anyway.
Still, he at least made an effort to talk to her.
Why the crackpot, not the stove? Single syllable answer.
Did everything have to be canned? Monosyllabes, again.
What was with all the salads? She just handed him a knife and cutting board.
Fed up, he wondered if this all had something to do with her recent court-supervised visit. And shouldn't she be more grateful he'd talked his mom into rescinding that order and delivered her brother? "Mishka got to your meeting okay, right?"
She blinked at him. "Uh-huh."
"What?" Gabe said, spreading his hands. Tomato sauce dripped on the floor. "He wanted to be there. Is that a problem?"
She jumped down and wiped up the sauce with a napkin. " I think it was evil to the point of e-vile," she said without apology.
Excuse me?
"Who do you think you are," he snarled. "I offer to help you, you come into my house and talk trash like it's-"
"You did not drive him to that meeting because you care about him." Somehow, she managed to sound scornful and bored at the same time. "You want him loyal."
"I never said-"
"Don't start." She didn't even look interested in the argument, and here he wanted to sprain her larynx. "I know team sports. Just because it was a kind thing to do doesn't mean you did it to be kind."
She knew nothing. Gabe hissed.
"You gave to play it to know it."
Tam only shook her head. What kind of selfish monster of a girl insulted him without regard for the damage he could do to her math grades?
Girl wouldn't talk for the rest of the day. Like he was the leper, here.
As if.
His brothers gave the chili two thumbs up, so the effort wasn't a total loss. Gabe just wanted to get busy with the rest of his life. game, girl, government. He wasn't complicated.
About the Author
Lex Keating has been engaged in a passionate affair with books ever since the Velveteen Rabbit wanted to be real. She graduated from a liberal arts college with a BA in literature, and currently resides near Charleston, South Carolina, in a swamp full of barbarians and all their cats. She has been a teacher, a paralegal, a computer programmer, and a hospice caregiver. She currently divides her time between studying old fairy tales and making up new ones.
1 comments:
Good review & excerpt. thanks for participating :)
REPLYHey, there! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you! I'll reply as soon as I can! ;)