Monday, April 28, 2014

Review: Family Portrait Series #1 & #2 by Gillian Felix

1

 
Adriana Banovic’s 15th birthday sucked! She got fired after eight years of playing Shayanne Montgomery on the #1 soap in the country, found out that her family was on the verge of bankruptcy and worst of all, forced to return to Westwood Academy. Her only saving grace was a chance glance at dreamy mystery boy Haze Lyndon. Armed with only his picture and a determination to find him—even if it means turning Los Angeles over on its ass.

In this young adult novel, you’ll meet Robin Banovic, Adriana’s father; financially challenged, dealing with the death of a family member and his brother’s disappearance. You’ll meet Savannah DaCosta aka Savi, mother/manager; Savi enjoys the life her rock star daughter Leighann has provided. When Leighann makes a choice to end her career, Savi sees it as a personal attack. You’ll meet college boy Haze Lyndon; New to Los Angeles, Haze soon realizes how quickly money changes hands in the City of Angels. Will he return to questionable ways to survive or go back to the safety of his family in Wisconsin?
 AMAZON (FREE) | GOODREADS


MY REVIEW
3.5 stars

There's a lot of drama going and it doesn't pertain to only one person. It is told in a multiple perspective which made me understood the story better.

Changes fits the name of the book as the Banovic Family experienced many changes from their life as a family and individually. Add to the mix, there's the DaCosta family who's also experiencing changes in their life.

And the issues in the story was what made it more interesting and in one way or another all this people relates to each other. I can't go on to the details because it would spoil the story. It made me read the book in one sitting and it was a fast paced story.

The Banovic family each have their own talent but they all are experiencing something. It's either good or bad for them.

We have a basic knowledge of each family member of the Banovic and the DaCosta. Although I wanted to hit some of them because of their bad decisions like Robin's pride regarding his father. I pity Viktor. He was only doing what he thought was best for his children because he had nothing and Robin being the young punk he is chose his pride over his father.

I really hate Astrid and Savi. I have a feeling I won't hear the last of them especially Savi. She spells trouble with a capital T.

It's easy to understand the flow of the story once you're able to connect one to the other but I seriously find the issues that they are facing very difficult.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
College boy Kevin Banovic’s casual affair with Savi DaCosta suited him perfectly. Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s high school bestie. When Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After Kevin rescues Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t stop thinking about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and keep his sanity.

Bad girl Adriana Banovic is pleased with herself for getting her nemesis expelled from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her latest victim Haze Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret and threatens to expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat her at her own game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?

Zax Banovic has it all. Tall and handsome, he’s an academic genius, with a killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best friend gets into trouble, he feels responsible and covers for him. But his best friend is not as honorable and has other plans for Zax.

The Banovic Siblings learn that blackmail is a gift that keeps on giving. This is the second book in the Family Portrait novel series.

If you like shows like the original Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210 and Nashville, where the guys and girls are hot and the schemes are hotter, you will like The Banovic Siblings.

MY REVIEW
4 STARS

I enjoyed this more than book 1 minus the flair of drama involve. There's just too much drama.

As the saying goes, this book focus more on the Banovic Siblings and their problems, (*coughs) make that their love life.

It's so cute to see Adriana and Haze's relationship. I wish that she would tell Haze the truth so it would lessen their problems. I really like them together. I'm glad that Adriana has a strong character she would need it especially fighting of Carys. Another character I hate. It was worst because she was related to (view spoiler).

I'm mad at Zax. I wished he would get over his crush to Kristin and picked Leighann instead. I don't think Kristin deserves especially if she used Frankie to get to him. What I like about Zax despite Frankie being an a**, he's a true and loyal friend. Frankie does not deserve his friendship even if the reason he acted that way was due to familial problems. That's no excuse.

Kevin. You are such in trouble. Your life is more complicated than all your siblings. Of all the people you have to bang it had to be her mother. And now, you're developing feelings for L'wren and the choice you made regarding her problem. I don't know if I want to give you hug or smack you.

I want to know more about the mysterious brother, Adrian. Till the end of the book, nothing much about him was said.

This book is more complicated than the last one but despite that I couldn't help but reading it. I really hope that the people I'm rooting for get their HEA.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

1 comment:

  1. The original Silent Hill adaptation remains notable http://www.cityofwestwego.com/home.asp only because it let Sean Bean survive to the closing credits. The overriding question for the sequel: can he http://www.dibaq.com/read.html repeat the feat? It not much to hang a whole movie on, but the odds in Vegas are lively, so place your bets. Otherwise, you left with an endless series of Halloween-themed screensavers, collected from horror discard piles the world over and hastily assembled into a plot. Evil clowns, Satanic amusement chanel outlet parks, butchers who use humans instead of pigs all they need is a mob of creepy children and they got the complete set. Bassett assembles them with an eye on repetition: scare us with their very presence and never mind the fact that every scene could lv outlet pretty much be swapped with every other.

    ReplyDelete