Monday, January 18, 2016

Blog Tour and Book Giveaway: A North Shore Story by Dean Economos and Alyssa Machinis



By Dean Economos, Alyssa Machinis

Published on: 2016-01-19
Released on: 2016-01-19
Format: Kindle eBook

3 out of 5 stars



The first book of the year to be completed was A North ShoreStory. Even though I do not read a lot of YA books, I enjoyed reading this one. 

Based in Chicago, A North Shore Story illustrates the lives of a group of teenagers, who face with very adult situations.  From the very beginning, I was fascinated with the lives of the church-going teenagers.  Their maneuver through the labyrinth of life is quite intriguing to say the least.

Wrapped in a tangled web of lust, greed, deceit, and envy, each teenager has a secret that needs to be exposed.  Taylor’s insecurity spirals down a path of tragedy.  Michael’s taste of greed gives him unimaginable pleasure and satisfaction.  Joseph’s infidelity proves to be more than a betrayal, but the beginning of his life changing forever.  Kristin’s loyalty to her friend is truly unbelievable.  All the teenagers, including Alexander, James, Nichole, and Stephanie, experience real life situations at a young age.  I found myself being annoyed with Kate, who was ultimately a spoiled brat.  Peter and Stephanie's good intentions ended in the worse way possible. I questioned could it have ended in a different way, but I do not think that it could.  Based on Michael's behavior at the end, I think that could be a sequel to the book.  Check on the questions and answers from the authors about this possibility. 

As I read this book, I began to think about my own budding teenager.  From a parental standpoint, this book enlightened me about what my own son could possibly face in his teenage years.  Adults tend to forget that teenagers face important issues, too.  Reading this book made me aware of the possibilities and brought to my attention how important my role as his parent is.



Who Should Read This Book?

·         Young adults

·         Parents of teenagers

·         People who like drama

Alyssa Machinis

Dean Economos

 
Author’s Question & Answer


Dean Economos


What were the events that inspired this book?

The book was inspired by different experiences growing up.  Those key events and experiences were then intertwined with the more current events of our church’s media coverage.


Do you anticipate a sequel?

 I’ve thrown ideas around in my head, and I’ve talked about it with Alyssa.  We’re open to it, but haven’t started writing anything yet.


Alyssa Machinis


What was the most difficult part about writing this book?

The most difficult part of writing the book was helping it come alive.  The content was there, and the story was strong, but fostering the story from a passive standpoint into an active point of view was a challenge.


What do you think the most important lesson from the book is?

The most important lesson from the book is to be confident in who you are.  Don’t worry about what other people think because the fear of judgment can turn you into a person you don’t want to be.



Book Giveaway

Giveaway ends January 22, 2016.

Five readers of my blog will receive an eBook copy of A North Shore Story.  Entering is simple.  Winners will be notified in the newsletter and on my blog.

1.      Sign up for the newsletter.

2.      Leave a comment about the cover of the book and the author’s question and answer or the synopsis.

3.      Follow me on Twitter: @chawkinswilson

 The winner will be announced January 25, 2016. 


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