January 2019 Book of the Month Giveaway
February 16, 2019 03:23 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
January’s reading was kind of meh for me. I tried a couple of new authors who didn’t quite make the cut, as well as another author I’d read before but who didn’t have a very good track record with me. That left only two books and a novelette, all by favorite authors, that scored highly with me. Out of those my top pick was a re-read of an old favorite that’s the third book of a phenomenally popular series. The hoopla over it may have died down somewhat in recent years, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Bella has been a character whose actions and choices I don't always agree with, but somehow I'm still able to understand her. For instance, I'm a hopeless romantic, so the prospect of marriage to someone like Edward would not be a difficult choice for me to make. Bella, however, fights not only the idea of a beautiful wedding, but also the marriage itself as though it were the most distasteful thing in the world. However, the author allows me to live my own perspective vicariously through other characters. Bella also seems to always be thinking of everyone else before herself, so I was pleased to see her grow enough by the end of this book to realize that it's OK to do something because it was right for her instead of just right for her loved ones. I did find myself wishing throughout much of the book, though, that Bella would ease up on the self-flagellation. She constantly seems to think that every bad thing that happens is somehow her fault and that she is a bad person because of it, when that clearly isn't the case, but overall, I liked her anyway.
Edward, as always, is still the perfect gentleman. He is kind, sensitive, forgiving and understanding, and while he constantly reminds Bella that he is not the perfect creature she thinks him to be, his self-control and selflessness are near-perfect things of rare beauty. These are the some of primary reasons I’ve always been Team Edward.
However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like Jacob as well, and re-reading these books has given me a new appreciation for him. I think out of all three of these characters, Jacob changed the most, not just physically but emotionally as well. He is still the best friend who seems to know Bella better than she knows herself, but he is also now a young man in love, who is not above manipulating to get what he wants. Sometimes he flat-out acts like a jerk and is never really the noble hero that Edward is, but again, I somehow managed to understand him even though I didn't always agree with his actions, which is the beauty in the author's writing.
This volume is known as the “love-triangle” portion of this epic love story. I very much enjoyed the dynamics of having Edward, Bella, and Jacob all together on the canvas throughout the entire book, and watching these three characters interact with one another was utterly fascinating to read. In addition to our three main characters, this book boasts a plethora of intriguing supporting characters. As always, Alice is a favorite of mine, with her sweet but shamelessly manipulative ways. There was plenty of character development added for Rosalie and Jasper, as well as some surprising new werewolves, and the origins of the wolf pack being revealed. It also contains an emotion-laden plot and a wonderful suspense subplot, along with many moments where I found myself smiling or even laughing at a particular character's teasing or other antics. All in all, it’s a well-balanced story that was an excellent set-up for the finale. That’s why I’m naming Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse as my January Book of the Month. Perhaps you’ve read your own copy ragged, or perhaps you’re one of the few readers who hasn’t yet discovered the fun of the Twilight series. If so and if you enjoy young adult paranormal romance with a heart-stopping love story, friendships, family and teen angst, then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? Read my complete review of Eclipse. |
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Eclipse to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Stephenie Meyer, Twilight
