Monday, August 27, 2012

Tiger's Destiny Blog Tour



Welcome to TSK TSK What to Read, Tiger's saga fans! If you're not already a fan of this magnificent series, we really hope we can entice you to check out what the fuss is all about. We're just one of several stops on the exciting Tiger's Destiny blog tour and we encourage you to visit each of the blogs involved. We promise you'll be glad you did.
As fans ourselves, we're excited about Tiger's Destiny's release and so honored to have been asked to be part of the fun. Shelley was lucky enough to spend a few moments with our heroine, Kelsey. So now that you know what this is all about, let's jump right to it and get to know Kelsey a little bit better. 


Shelley: Kelsey, thank you for joining us today. I can't tell you how excited I am to have you here. *fangirl gushing*
We share a hometown; Salem, Oregon, and for those that don't know, this is where your adventure begins. So to ease in with the questions, we'll start there too...


Shelley:   What do you like and dislike the most about Salem or Oregon as a whole? 

Kelsey:  The only thing I dislike about Oregon is that India is too far away


Shelley:   Your journey has taken you to many exotic locales. Places most of us only dream about visiting. What has been your favorite place so far? 


Kelsey:  Tibet was a place I’d like to visit again when the curse is behind me. There is something special about the place. It feels like a part of the world and yet otherworldly.


Shelley:  Do you still remember the first time you and Ren kissed? 
Yes, we want details...please. ;) 



Kelsey:  How could I forget something like that? I’d never kissed anyone before and it was like we became a part of each other in a new way. I wasn't wholly myself after that. I knew a piece of me would belong to him forever after that first kiss. I’ll admit that it scared me a little. I wasn't ready for the intensity of his feelings. He was ready to declare his love for me to the world. His personality is to hold nothing back, but I’m more reserved. To me, our first kiss was a baby step. That’s one of the reasons I tried, but failed, to keep my distance for a while.


Shelley:  You've encountered several creatures along the way. Is there one that's really stuck with you or frightened you more than the others? 


Kelsey:  There is nothing I've fought that compares with the giant shark. I’d take a Kraken or a Kappa any day of the week before getting in the water with a shark again. It freaks me out just to think about it. Still, the worst monster I have faced is the human, or mostly human, Lokesh. The shark just wants to eat but Lokesh wants to devour for no other purpose than to amuse himself.


Shelley:  Can you tell us one thing about the men in your life that only you would know? 

Kelsey: 
Ren likes to leave me little notes and poems. I find them on my breakfast plate, tucked in my blanket, on the bathroom sink, and under my pillow. Most of them are about me but some are just pieces of other things he’s been working on, a lyric, a couplet, or just a few lines in free verse. It’s hard to control my pulse when Ren’s around. Sometimes I can feel his presence in the room even when my back is turned to him. I get an allover tingly feeling any time he’s near me. Sometimes that happens when I just think about him.

Mr. Kadam is the sweetest man. He never thinks of himself. When we eat lunch together he makes my favorite dishes instead of his own and he bought a whole shelf full of books that he thought I might be interested in reading. I often find surprises in my room—little presents like a particular bath soap or a barrette for my hair that used to belong to some duchess or another—things he thinks I will like.

Kishan notices everything. If I’m feeling sad he suggests going for a walk together or a swim. Kishan is a great listener and he manages to get me to share things I’d normally keep to myself. He’s been very sympathetic about the emotional turmoil I've experienced and he doesn’t push me, he just provides a very muscular shoulder to lean on. I don’t know what I would do without him. When he holds me in his arms I feel safe and loved.



Wow! What fantastic answers. Of course, I had a few more pressing questions, but hey, Kelsey's a private and very busy girl. I was thrilled to get this much out her.
It's fun to get inside a favorite character's head, especially when it's someone as complex as Kelsey and her Tiger's. Kelsey makes it easy to see the reasons we, as readers, also love these 3 men. They truly are special.
And speaking of special, Kelsey is amazing in her own right and we can't thank her enough for coming by today and taking us a bit deeper into her world. We feel rather privileged that she answered the tough and personal questions with such honesty and emotion.
I'm also thrilled to hear she loves her hometown as much as I do. It's difficult to leave a place you love so much and build a new life.
I have a feeling though, she'll end up just where she's supposed to be... somewhere magical and with the one she truly loves and who wholly loves her in return. She's destined for a HEA (happy ever after)...wouldn't you agree?
Thank you all for joining us today as well.
We hope you enjoyed our spotlight and will continue to follow Kelsey and the boys onto their next adventure.



With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling "Tiger's Curse" series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

Shelley's Review of Tiger's Destiny
**I want to thank Colleen Houck and Sterling Publishing for the opportunity to read this fabulous ARC. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!**

Aw, intense, emotional...wonderful. Cannot imagine where this will end! Come on September 4!

Those were my first thoughts when I closed the book. Obviously I have so much more to say. It is me, after all. So here goes... I started Tiger's Destiny immediately after finishing Tiger's Voyage. I was so wrapped up and exasperated by the ending. And quite frankly exhausted from the extremely emotional ride. 
Well, let me tell you, that was nothing. I felt like Colleen literally ripped out my heart, stomped on it and then served it to me on a silver platter. "Here you go, I hope that didn't hurt too badly." Oh she knows me, as a reader, well. I thrive on these heartbreaking-gut wrenching tales. The more wrapped up I get, the better. And so, here we are again. I thought Kelsey had to make difficult choices in the past. In this installment, her choices affect not only her and the boy's lives, but quite possibly change the world...the actual course of history. No pressure and talk about choosing one's fate. But is it really fate then? Oh for that, you must read on...and read the book!
Ok, ok. On to the guts and glory of our tale. The story begins right where Voyage left off. Kelsey is separated from her tigers. And the three of them must find a way to bring her home-and out of the clutches of Lokesh. This beginning is brilliant. Clever, scary and surprisingly fun. You know I don't spoil, so I'll tread lightly here. Well, so much for fun. Never, ever are events small or insignificant. There's a tragedy that sets Kelsey and the boys world on edge. Sets them reeling. But there's no time to waste on their shock and pain. They each have a destiny to fulfill and this tragedy actually leads them on to their next journey. And what an amazing journey it is.
As always, there is a quest that must be completed and that itself is a struggle and very exciting. But amongst all that are other challenges; between themselves and those they perceive as enemies. Colleen introduces some truly amazing characters and creatures here. Different and exciting. Frightening and breathtaking. All essential and a colorful part of the rich mythology she weaves so well into this modern young woman's tale. The story is intricate and powerful. Often driven by Kelsey's emotion and her attempts to come to grips with the choices she's already made. Her love for both tigers is evident, as is their love for her. It's heartbreaking "watching" them each try to make the best of their circumstances. Most difficult when dealing with Ren and his obvious pain. He loves this girl. Heart and soul. They are connected in ways that no one else could ever feel or understand. Not even Kishan. Though his love for Kelsey is also true. And of course, Kelsey struggles to maintain that she has made the right choices-for everyone. So emotional. There is that thing I call "sweet torture" again. Oh, yes, you'd better believe this book made me cry. There were places I had to put it down and just sob. No reading through those tears. Moments of "Why Colleen, WHY?!?".
It hurts just recalling them. *sniff sniff*
Amidst all this oft times irrational and impassioned turmoil, lies a very real battle with unimaginable demons and powerful magic. A battle like none they've encountered before. One that may very well be the end of all them. It's a long road the three have to travel, with stops along the way where they are tested over and over again, confronted with their own demons and introduced to new dangers, some that become allies-but it's hard to know who to believe, who to trust and how to know what's real. Destiny reintroduces beloved characters like Phet, the old wise Indian prophet, and brings one of my favorites, Fanindra, to the forefront of all action. In the end, this is as action packed as ever, full of unexpected twists and surprises and as romantic and tear jerking as we expect a Tiger saga read to be. It encompasses everything I love about a good, YA paranormal book. It's one of the darker of the series, but it really gets down to the nature of things; life and death-and after death, good vs evil and whether you can really fight for the greater good. Is the such a thing as fate and your one true love?
Does it answer these questions? Well, in true Tiger fashion, Colleen leaves things wide open for us to discover...later.
I was lucky enough to get this ARC, but as I'm sure you've all heard by now, I have to wait until September 4th, along with everyone else to see how it all ends. Having said that, where the ARC leaves off is a cliffhanger in itself. I really cannot imagine how she's going to pull off an ending here and where she could possibly be leading us into next.
My finally thoughts....I loved Tiger's Destiny. It may be my favorite of the series thus far. I guarantee it will take you on a wild ride that will leave you breathless and panting for more.

Shelley gives Tiger's Destiny:



=SCORCHER





Colleen Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse series has received national praise with the fourth book, Tiger’s Destiny, debuting September 2012. Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.


Where you can find more info about Colleen and the Tiger Saga:
Facebook


A special thank you to Colleen and Sterling Books for this amazing series. Tiger's Destiny was beyond fantastic and I just know you'll love it as much as I did.
Also a big thank you to Jean Vallesteros of Jean BookNerd, for the chance to be a part of this very fun and exciting tour.
Please be sure to drop by each stop. Everyone has something special to share with you as well as the chance at our amazing Tiger's prize pack! The deets on the GIVEAWAY are just below...
GOOD LUCK and happy reading! ~ Shelley and Kathryn


a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 comments:

  1. Thanks to colleen for her donation , for writing the series, for being such an awesome author!!! <3 Kishan

    ReplyDelete
  2. A big thank you to College for this awesome interview, and the cool content/insight, and for writing this amazing series!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Enjoyed this Kelsey Chat! Liked the Ren comments the BEST! References regarding Lokesh “creeped-me-out”. **shivers** Just LOVED the bits about Mr. Kadam . . . he is one of my FAV characters. Some JUICY STUFF here! Tremendously enjoyed this little spotlight . . . and follow . . . I SHALL!

    Thank you for one of the BEST Tiger’s Curse book reviews I have read. I enjoyed this review very much. Even though I haven’t had the opportunity to read Tiger’s Destiny yet, I have a good sense of what my next journey with Kelsey and the Brothers Tiger is going to entail. You appear to have touched on every aspect of my coming journey without giving away any intimate details. You make reference to a tragedy that sets Kelsey and the boys world on edge and sends them reeling. This is making me VERY apprehensive . . . I have had a sense of foreboding regarding a certain very sweet character (one of my favs), so this has me more than a little concerned for what may await this character. Not certain I am ready for the continuing emotional roller coaster Miss Colleen has in store . . . but you assure within your review that this is exactly what lies ahead. So I had best prepare (if that’s at all possible) for a bumpy ride.

    Thank you Colleen and Sterling Books for the Blog Tour donations and to Jean Vallesteros of Jean BookNerd Blog for hosting and putting together the Tiger’s Destiny Blog Tour. Really looking forward to the chance at winning one of your amazing Tiger's prize packs! Good Luck all you Tiger FAN-atics!

    ReplyDelete
  4. OMG! Cynthia! You made my year! Thank you for the lovely comments. I can tell yoi are as big of a fan as I am. Hopefully I haven't given ANYthing away. It truly was an amazing roller coaster ride. I know you'll love it! Colleen has again out done herself.
    Thank you everyone who has stopped by. Good luck and happy reading! <3 Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  5. These books are the best thing that has ever happened to me with no doubt

    ReplyDelete
  6. These books are the best thing that has ever happened to me with no doubt

    ReplyDelete