Blog Tour: Vain by Fisher Amelie

To Add Vain to Goodreads Click HERE

Vain (The Seven Deadly #1)
By:  Fisher Amelie
Published:  December 24, 2012
Source:  InkSlinger PR
Mature Content


GR's Summary:

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Lindy's Take:


Vain was an outstanding story that touched my heart, made me think about the less fortunate that we should be helping, because we have the ability to do so, but are so comfortable in our own little bubble, that most of us do not take enough interest in what's happening outside of our country.  This story had so much depth to it, that it made me look at myself, contemplate and question my worldview.  I think the book cover fits this story perfectly.  At the beginning of the story, all that Sophie price cared about was her appearance, power, and her image.  She looked in the mirror constantly, and had to make sure that not one hair was out of place.  The broken glass in the cover image, represents her seeing herself for who she is, instead of just staring at the image, that she uses to portrays to the world.  I could not stand Sophie Price at the beginning of the story.  She was shallow, arrogant, petty, mean, vengeful, and had no morals.  She did what ever she wanted, and didn't let anything stand in her way!  This story stood out to me, because I empathized with the characters, the life lessons, and my heart was touched so deeply by the story.


The characters in Vain were amazing!  They were well-developed, and Sophie made a huge amount of character growth as a result of her life experiences.  At the beginning of the story, Sophie started out as a narcissist!  She was completely selfish, and self-involved.  As the story went on, events that took place changed her little by little.  She evolved into a completely different person, who put others before herself, and she showed caring, compassion, self-sacrifice, loyalty, and love.  Sophie learned how to love herself, and be proud of who she was by being responsible, and accountable for her actions.  Ian was an amazing man.  He was caring, hard-working, persevered, and a beautiful person inside and out.  He was essential to Sophie's growth.  There were certain surprises about Ian that were unexpected, and gave me a well-rounded portrayal of who he was, his past, and how he came to be the person that he was.  I became attached to some of the secondary characters as well.  My favorite's were Pembrooke, who was Sophie's father's lawyer.  Since Sophie had two cold parents who ignored her, Pembrooke became like a surrogate father for Sophie.  He would stop by and check in on her, he would call her, put her in her place, but really did love and support her.  When she made bad decisions, he would be disappointed as a father would be in their child, but at the same time, he wanted to help her to change for the better.  Karina and Charles, were a married couple, that I loved and admired, as I read the story.  They both lead by example, really came to care about Sophie, and everyone around them, and were so full of love, caring, and compassion, that it rubbed off on everyone around them.  These character's all became a part of Sophie's "family," and helped guide, and teach her what was important in life, and that she needed to make a change.


There were many life lessons in this story!  What stuck out as most important was to appreciate what we have.  Image, designer labels, and competing with others is not important.  People are important, and there are people all over the world that are dealing with extreme poverty, illness, and violence, among other things.  Vain focused on Africa, and specifically Uganda, where there are an unbelievable amount of orphans, who's parents have been murdered, siblings abducted, and these orphans live in extreme poverty with a bleak future ahead of them.  Another life lesson was that a person can change, and we all deserve a second chance.  Sophie may have been a vain, selfish, self-centered person at the beginning of the story, but without her second chance, she wouldn't have helped so many people, nor would she have changed into a better person.


I connected to this story, and felt so many emotions as I read, Vain.  I felt anger and disgust, at the person Sophie was at the beginning of the story.  I also felt anger towards Kony and his army of evil followers.  It bothered me that as a strong, and powerful nation, we didn't help more.  I felt sadness for the children in Africa that had suffered at the hands of Kony, and his army.  Children had missing limbs, disfigurement, were orphaned, and had lost their siblings, and parents at the hands of this corrupt, and evil man!  These kids didn't have enough to eat, clothing and shoes, toys, or even electricity.  They were just trying to survive, and not be abducted, and forced to kill in Kony's army, among other horrible things.  These orphan children from Uganda may have lived in a horrible state of poverty, fear, and constantly contracted illnesses, yet they still had hope, happiness to be alive, and enjoyed the simple things in their lives.  They appreciated every little thing given to them.  They treasured their education, every meal, bit of clothing or shoes.  I felt hope for a brighter future for these children, and Sophie and Ian.  I also felt the love that Sophie, Ian, the children, Karina, Charles, (along with others that worked at the orphanage), all had for one another, as well as the family they had built.


Vain was such a captivating story with depth, compassion, change, love, and hope for a brighter future.  It showed us that while it may not be typical for people to change, it is possible.  It also showed me how our life events, and people within out lives, can be a vehicle for that change.  This was an outstanding story, the made me think about the less fortunate, violence going on in the world around me, and how I can help.  This story overwhelmed me with emotion, and Ms. Amelie used the written word, as a powerful tool to educate us, and make us think outside of ourselves.  If I could, I would give Vain 10 Stars!   


My Rating:


I highly recommend Vain, by Fisher Amelie, if you are looking for an outstanding story with depth, that will tug at your heartstrings, include astounding character growth, romance, major swooning, chemistry, and love between the main characters, this is the story for you!  Vain is a must read!  It has a little of everything, which will appeal to a large audience with eclectic tastes.  This book has been added to my favorite's shelf, and I for one cannot wait to continue this series.  It will be interesting to see what Fisher Amelie comes up with for the remainder of the seven deadly sins series.  I give Vain, an unconditional, selfless, loving, transformative, brightly lit 5 Stars!!!!

My Favorite Quotes:


"Freedom is just that.  Absolutely no restrictions.  I abandoned myself to every whim I felt.  Every want I fulfilled and every desire was quenched.  I wanted for nothing.  Except attention."  (Nook, 13)


"How do you manage?  I asked quietly, taking in the expanse of children.  We just do.  Lots of faith, my love.  It always works out in the end.  Somehow.  Somehow we turn thirty beds into sixty.  Somehow we stretch our food to impossible measures.  Somehow we survive on our impossibly meager income.  Somehow we love them all equally.  Somehow."  (Nook, 63)



"And this was my new epiphany.  Men wanted me.  They all did, however briefly, but none of them wanted to keep me.  That's what I needed.  I needed to be owned, loved.  But not by a man.  I  knew then that I never needed to be kept by a man.  What I needed was to love myself, to want to keep myself around.  And in that revelation, I knew that if I wanted to keep myself, that a man, that a man wanting to keep me would just be a by-product.  Who wouldn't want to keep someone who respected himself or herself?"  (Nook, 101) 

 
"You may have misery, she continued, ignoring my plea, you may lose hope in the sorrow of  an unplanned life but as long as you have faith and trust, in adoration, in affection, in love, that sorrow will turn to happiness.  And that is a constant, dear."  (Nook, 175)

Ria's Take:

Hey y’all Vain was...Wow, just WOW.  I am at a loss for words! This story will take your breath and open your heart, in a way you don’t expect.  Seamless!  From beginning to end, it will enthrall you.  Ms. Amelie does an amazing job of keeping you glued to the pages all the way through!  Sophie Price is troubled and self depreciating, her lawyer decides she needs saving, and she receives a punishment that changes her life completely. Vain will melt your heart. This book will pull at your heart strings and stay with you long after you put it down.  I highly, highly recommend this book!

V-enomous, the life style Sophie has lived needs to change, or she will never grow into the beautiful person she can become.

A-lone, is all Sophie has known, and it takes a second chance for her to embrace the person she can become.

I-ndiscretion, Sophie can no longer keep up appearances.  She needs to embrace her new life, and give 100% of her heart away to those that need her most. 

N-ostalgia, without realizing it, Sophie misses her home, but comes to a quick realization.

I cannot stress this enough, Vain shows you the world the way it is, and the beautiful simplicity that is with us, within us, and how to open ourselves to it.  Truly a moving book, I am so happy to have read this!!  Vain will definitely move you!  Get this book ASAP! You will not be disappointed!  Vain is a story of second chances, and how powerful they can be. Vain will show you how amazing the human soul is.  It can morph into true beauty, when we accept all of the beauty that surrounds us, in the simplest of ways.

My Fav’s 

Sophie

She is so resilient, and she grows to be a remarkable young woman.  At first, she is the biggest witch any one may know, but after life punches her in the face, she develops, and takes it with stride.  I love Sophie for being loving, and for embracing every facet of her life, and using it as a tool to further grow.

Ian

Amazing!  He is so guarded and when confronted with Sophie, he doesn’t know what to do.  Ian doesn’t know that he is exactly what Soph needs, to open her heart, and become remarkable.  Ian loves her so deeply, it takes my breath away!  Ian is an amazing man, and I feel they are meant for each other!!

My Rating

4.5 Brilliant, Cocaine, Court Sentence, South African, Starving Girl, Shrapnel, Baobab Tree, Everlasting filled stars!! This is a story of love, forgiveness, change, development, and growth!  Let us not forget second chances!! EVERYONE.MUST.READ.THIS.BOOK!!

Vain Book Trailer:

Casting:

Sophie Price and Ian Aberdeen

Guest Post:

We would like to invite the talented Fisher Amelie to our blog!  We are both honored, and excited for you to share the 10 ingredients that make up Vain's main character, Sophie Price.  Thanks for talking with us!


First off, I’d like to thank Ro, Ria, and Lindy for having me. I’m honored.  Thank you! 

P.S  I love your blog.  When I landed on the page, I shouted, “Aloha!”

10 Key Ingredients That Make Up the incomparable Sophie Price:

Grab yourself a bowl, high-speed mixer, a lemon zester, seriously, a lemon zester, and a one of those thingy’s that people sprinkle powdered sugar with. Set those aside, because you’re making me a lemon cake later.

Moving on.

Ingredient One! A whopping dollop of wiatch. 

“If they squealed like the pigs they were, I would make their lives miserable. There’s a fine line between friend and foe in my world.”

Ingredient Two!  A dash of mean.

“My lingerie probably costs more than your entire wardrobe,” I spit out at the short, stocky one who eyed me with disdain.”

Ingredient Three! Carefully fold in la fée verte. An alternative: Promiscuity.

“They were hooked by la fée verte as I was so often called. I was “the green fairy.” I flitted into your life, showed you ecstasy, and left you dependent. I did this for fun, for the hell of it, for attention. I wanted to be wanted, and my word, did they want me. Did they ever.”

Ingredient Four! Half a cup of cruel user.

“Besides, when I’m done with their boys, I give them back. They consider it their dues.”
“Trust me,” she said quietly toward the wall, “they do not consider it their dues.”

Ingredient Five! Blend in neglected.

“My mother and father were so absorbed in themselves I don’t think they remembered me some days.”

Ingredient Six! One stick of reality.

“Sophie Price,” he said with finality, making my stomach clench. My eyes closed tightly in preparation. “You are hereby sentenced to six months in Masego.” And with that, Reinhold slammed his gavel home, sending an icy shiver through my body.”

Ingredient Seven! A teaspoon of humility. Add yeast. Watch it grow.

“Girl, you are the epitome of spoiled. I can smell it in your expensive perfume, in the quality of your ridiculous clothing, in the bracelet wrapped ’round that delicate wrist.” He closed the gap between us and all the air sucked from the room. “You won’t last out here. You’ll stay blind to the environment that surrounds you. You’ll live in your clean, perfect bubble and return to your posh life come six months. You are....you. I know your kind. I’ve seen it all before. You will never wake up. Not really.”

Ingredient Eight! A pound of friendship.

“You must be the infamous Sophie Price! I’ve heard many things about you, child!” he said in an accent similar to Pemmy’s. 
“All good I hope?” 
“No, not all good,” he stated honestly, making me blush. I peered Dingane’s direction for his reaction, but his face was stoic. “But that is neither here nor there. It has brought you to us and that is all that matters. Second chances. I’m all about second chances.”

Ingredient Nine! A cup of selflessness.

“More and more gunfire rang out and the adrenaline took over. I was ready.
Ready to defend her.
Ready to save others if I could.
Ready to die for them...especially Ian.”

Ingredient Ten! One true love.

“Sophie Price, you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met,” he stated before turning my direction and staring me dead in the eyes. “You are so gosh damn beautiful in here,” he said, tapping my chest, “that what’s here,” he spoke, running the side of his hand down my face, “is magnified tenfold and that is a sight to behold.”

Stir evenly until blended. Bake at the temperature of Uganda for six months. Melt the hearts of everyone involved and pour over Sophie generously. Let it rest for ten minutes. Enjoy!

Purchase At:

Amazon/Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum & Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client's said, 'Hey! You're funny. You should write books'. Which in turn she said, 'Hey, get out of here! This is the lady's restroom.' While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

Fisher Amelie's:  

Website/Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads/Youtube

Follow the Vain Tour:

April 15^th

Aestas Book BlogEnticed By Books
Hesperia Loves Books

April 16^th

A Bookish Escape
Books Over Boys

April 17^th

The Bookish Babe
My Secret Romance

April 18^th

Into the Hall of Books
Book Bitches Blog

April 19^th

Pink Fluffy Hearts
SM&I Book Club

April 20^th

YA Novelties
A Dream Within A Dream

April 21^st

Reader Girls
Brittany Blabs Books

April 22^nd

A Book Lover’s Review
Always YA at Heart

April 23^rd

Book and a Latte
Magnet 4 Books

April 24^th

Total Bookaholic
Pink Polka Dot Book Blog

April 25^th

FicTalk
Fictionators

April 26^th

Oh, Chrys!
Romantic Book Affairs

April 27^th

Tiffany Talks Books
Bookshelf Banter

April 28^th

My Crazy Book Obsession
My Book Muse

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Tour Was Hosted By: