This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Scott Albert for Readers' Favorite
The Earth Painter Book 1 of The Painter Series is written by Melissa Turner Lee, a stay-at-home mom with a degree in journalism and marketing. This YA novel stars Holly Scruggs, a strong female protagonist, who discovers Immortals that painted reality into existence: Theo, the “Earth Painter” and his antithesis, Fritz, who is malicious, hates humanity, and hides a dangerous secret. Holly faces many familiar teenage issues, new school, friends, and a family secret. The themes will engage young readers with issues that teenagers will find familiar; self-perception in the face of familial and social influence; the stresses of moving, poverty, and rural life; the effect of peer pressure on choices we make; and even racial intolerance. The realistic atmosphere of the setting, the small mill town Chesnee, SC, helps readers suspend their disbelief in this supernatural romance.
Lee demonstrates an authentic knowledge of setting with a great voice. Plot and characterization are well-written and will only get better. Written in the first person, the editing was a bit awkward at times; italics, grammar, punctuation, etc.; but overall, Lee’s a good story-teller. Unlike some who write female protagonists who become obsessive and wallow in self-pity, this author creates a strong female character who struggles for identity as she faces overbearing parents, peer pressure, and the trials of moving to a new high school; a role-model for boys and girls alike. I enjoyed the creative, unique premise of this novel. Lee writes a very different tale with a new take on fantasy and on teenage romance…not what I expected.
