Review of The Earth Painter AND GIVEAWAY

My review of The Earth Painter by Melissa Turner Lee is based on an e-book that the author sent me for review. The following is my honest opinion of the work.

Goodreads Summary: "When a self-conscious young woman discovers the boy in drama class is actually the immortal who painted the world into being, she becomes the target of another painter who hates humanity. The Earth Painter is a Young Adult Supernatural Romance set in the small mill town of Chesnee, SC. It revolves around Holly Scruggs, who's family has just moved back to Chesnee after her dad lost his job along with pretty much everything they owned. Her image conscious parents correct her to the point of brokenness until she meets Theo. He is the artist responsible for all the beauty of the land and he thinks Holly is beautiful too. Together they will fight against Fritz, the water painter who hates humans and is hiding a secret under the high school."

What originally attracted me to this story was the premise; it seemed so original, something unique and just so different from what I was used to. I loved the idea of the world being painted into existence; there's just something so magical about it. Between my love of a good origin story and young adult paranormal romance it seemed like the perfect read for me and I was thrilled to be offered the chance to read it by the author.

What kept me attracted was the fact that instead of just summarizing, or giving snippets, of this spectacular origin story that she had created for her story of the world being painted by these brilliant Painters she actually told it through the characters giving glimpses through the various ones that the reader meets throughout the tale. It's such an original take.

Holly was your average teenage girl; fighting with her mother, trying to find her way, and just generally trying to survive high school. I really enjoyed this change of pace. Not every heroine has to be drop dead gorgeous, brilliant, or spectacular in every or any way for that matter. Holly was just a girl trying to find her niche, which is something that I think we can all relate to.

Theo was clueless. I adored him for this because not only was it cute it was so true to character. He was the painter of the Earth, not the people on it and therefore ignorant of their ways to some extent. It made for some interesting relations between him and Holly.

Another plus for the author was that it wasn't instant love, or the typical good girl meets a bad boy [which you all know I LOVE] but is so common in any supernatural tale, rather it comes across rather one-sided as often occurs in teenage romances. Or in any romance for that matter. I can see the groans now from those of you that read the story's summary as it says clearly that it is a Young Adult Supernatural ROMANCE and I just said it was one-sided. Confused yet? Mystified? All in good time, and all the more reason to pick up the book and find out where it comes in!

I'm giving The Earth Painter by Melissa Turner Lee a four out of five stars review and cannot wait to read the sequel!

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Melissa Turner Lee is allowing one lucky Typing Tiara reader the chance to win an e-book copy [Mobi File or Smashwords Coupon] of The Earth Painter! Since this is an e-book giveaway it is international. To enter just leave a comment below including your e-mail address so I can contact the winner. The giveaway will end in one week [December 8, 2011] and the winner will be chosen using random.org. Once chosen I will e-mail the winner to confirm than pass along their information to Melissa Turner Lee so that they can get their e-book!