Blog Tour: Dancers and Divas by Kathy Petrakis (Review + Giveaway)

 



 Book 1: Passion and Pain

Goodreads || Amazon

Contains mature content - recommended for ages 15+ 

Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit? 

These are questions tenacious street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage. 

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

My Review:

Wow. This book was so good. It has exceeded my highest expectations. I finished it more than a week ago and I'm still quite shocked at how great and amazing it was.

Performing arts are one of my greatest loves and my dream. I just love watching people perform singing, dancing and acting and I always dream to be as great as they are...

That's why I felt like this book was written for me!! It was about an average girl, my age, practically living my dream.

Elena Martinez, a high school Freshman and Sophomore during the book, is very talented in the performing arts. She studies in a special school for arts in New York and there she meets other kids just like her. Some of them are nice and friendly, and other, like Letitia, are evil and all they want to do is ruin her life. This book describes Elena's life in high school - her friends, her enemies, her first love and her first heartbreak.

Elena was definitely my favorite character of the book. I loved reading about her passion for dancing, singing and acting. She was very sensitive and emotional and has managed to show her feelings while performing. That was why she was so great at what she was doing.

I loved reading about her each time reaching a small goal in the way to become what she wanted most - a professional dancer. Even when she was going through lot, she never gave up and was always strong and determined to succeed. A lot of things happened to her in this book and I really felt sorry for her, especially at the end, but I loved how she has managed to overcome everything and learn from every situation.

I loved the romance in this book. It was actually the best part. Elena had her first boyfriend and her first true love ever and it was so great to read about what she felt towards Jay. They made a beautiful couple at the beginning, but Jay's intentions about her weren't clear during the whole book. I couldn't be sure if he was good for her or not, but what I did know was that he wasn't the best match for her.

Elena's best friend was a guy she knew since she was 12 - Sebatien. He was the best match, and I wanted to slap her the whole book and yell at her because she couldn't see that!!! Sebastien was so miserable and I couldn't help loving him and wishing I knew him in real life.

This book made me feel all sorts of emotions in such an intensity! I cried and laughed, I felt joy and desperation, I felt love and utter hatred. I was inside the book, living the story. It felt amazing and I just couldn't put the book down, couldn't get enough of it. I almost cried at the end only because it was over.

I recommend you all to read this book. It is and indie read, but be sure it is much better than most published books out there. I haven't started the second book yet, but I'll do it very soon because I can't wait to get more of this beautifully written story and characters. It is, undoubtedly, an all-time favorite of mine.

Rating:

Book Two: Bittersweet

Goodreads || Amazon

Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable?

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them?
As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them?
Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding?
Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school. 

Giveaways!!

Enter to win some amazing prizes, courtesy of the author! :) Good luck to you all!Go here for full contest terms and conditions.