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Enchanted Heart is the first book in a new paranormal/mythology series Game of Hearts. I think the concept of the book is fascinating. I loved the world that Mindy Ruiz dreamed up. And I really enjoyed Cassie as well. But the overall story was very confusing and at times frustratingly so. I understand it all added to the mysterious atmosphere, but it was almost too much. It felt like we were just dropped into the middle of a story, and into a world that we knew nothing about. So much so, I had to check on goodreads to make sure that is was the first book in a series, instead of a later one.
A lot of stuff happens very quickly in Exchanted Heart. Cassie goes to Las Vegas for new years/her birthday and it seems like overnight everything about her life changed and she (we, really) was left in the dark about most of it. She got little bits of explanation, but I still had so many more questions. What we do find out seems really cool. I loved that the whole Las Vegas operation centers around Midas and 4 royal families- The Hearts, Spades, Clubs and Diamonds. There are even lesser nobles in the families that are numbered. It is a deck of cards. What a cool idea. It was this concept that kept me reading.
Cassie is a great main character. Spunky and sassy. She has a smart mouth on her, and sometimes it gets her into trouble. It is funny because I get the feeling that she was pretty much the "good girl" before she get to Las Vegas, but here she has no problem speaking up for herself. She is quite spirited. I really enjoyed her and AJ. I just wanted her to plant herself down and demand more of the answers up front. I know I would have. She was kept in the dark for so long.
Overall, Enchanted Heart is a very cool concept for the start of the series. I think the next book is going to be even better than this one because hopefully it won't be as frustratingly confusing. There is still a lot that we don't know, but at least we kind of have our bearings in the world now. I loved Cassie and I loved the idea of the deck of cards, but the overall story I only liked, but did not love. The story line was at times jarring and too confusing for me to jump from like to love, but maybe the next book will make that leap for me.
A lot of stuff happens very quickly in Exchanted Heart. Cassie goes to Las Vegas for new years/her birthday and it seems like overnight everything about her life changed and she (we, really) was left in the dark about most of it. She got little bits of explanation, but I still had so many more questions. What we do find out seems really cool. I loved that the whole Las Vegas operation centers around Midas and 4 royal families- The Hearts, Spades, Clubs and Diamonds. There are even lesser nobles in the families that are numbered. It is a deck of cards. What a cool idea. It was this concept that kept me reading.
Cassie is a great main character. Spunky and sassy. She has a smart mouth on her, and sometimes it gets her into trouble. It is funny because I get the feeling that she was pretty much the "good girl" before she get to Las Vegas, but here she has no problem speaking up for herself. She is quite spirited. I really enjoyed her and AJ. I just wanted her to plant herself down and demand more of the answers up front. I know I would have. She was kept in the dark for so long.
Overall, Enchanted Heart is a very cool concept for the start of the series. I think the next book is going to be even better than this one because hopefully it won't be as frustratingly confusing. There is still a lot that we don't know, but at least we kind of have our bearings in the world now. I loved Cassie and I loved the idea of the deck of cards, but the overall story I only liked, but did not love. The story line was at times jarring and too confusing for me to jump from like to love, but maybe the next book will make that leap for me.
The Sound blew me away. It is such a beautiful book. It deals with a serial killer (in part), so I know that may sound strange, but it is. Sarah Alderson did a fantastic job telling the story of The Sound. I loved it so much. This book just kept growing and evolving into more and more. It exceeded all of my expectations.
Ren gets way more than she bargained for when she arrived in Nantucket to nanny for the summer. She was looking to get away from a bad breakup, just have some time to relax and to work on her music blog. I loved Ren. She is like a breath of fresh air. She is interesting and real. She hates labeling people and she has no problem befriending both the rich kids and the townies. I enjoyed how she was her own person.
The Sound is both a really sweet romance, as well as so much more than that. There are multiple side plots that all worked together in unexpected ways so well. There was the mystery of the nanny killer, the mystery of what happened between Jesse and the rich kids, as well as another storyline that I didn't even see coming at all. I called the romance in this book from a mile away, but the mystery part of the book had me guessing right until the very end. It was great!
I even enjoyed the relationship that Ren had with the kids she nannied- Brodie and Braiden. Brodie was so cute. (And I am not a kid person, so that is really saying something.) I read the sound in one sitting because I just couldn't put this book down. Sarah Alderson has a fan in me. She is a very talented writer. The Sound is a fantastic book- romantic and mysterious. It will leave you swooning and your heart pounding as you try and figure out who the killer is.
Ren gets way more than she bargained for when she arrived in Nantucket to nanny for the summer. She was looking to get away from a bad breakup, just have some time to relax and to work on her music blog. I loved Ren. She is like a breath of fresh air. She is interesting and real. She hates labeling people and she has no problem befriending both the rich kids and the townies. I enjoyed how she was her own person.
The Sound is both a really sweet romance, as well as so much more than that. There are multiple side plots that all worked together in unexpected ways so well. There was the mystery of the nanny killer, the mystery of what happened between Jesse and the rich kids, as well as another storyline that I didn't even see coming at all. I called the romance in this book from a mile away, but the mystery part of the book had me guessing right until the very end. It was great!
I even enjoyed the relationship that Ren had with the kids she nannied- Brodie and Braiden. Brodie was so cute. (And I am not a kid person, so that is really saying something.) I read the sound in one sitting because I just couldn't put this book down. Sarah Alderson has a fan in me. She is a very talented writer. The Sound is a fantastic book- romantic and mysterious. It will leave you swooning and your heart pounding as you try and figure out who the killer is.
Carnelian is a solid start to what seems like is going to be a really interesting series. It has romance, magic and time travel, which I Thought was an interesting combination. I was easily drawn into the world that B. Kristin McMichael created. It was an interesting read and has me hooked enough that I want to continue on. There were some crazy twists and turns at the end of the story that I didn't see coming. They seemed a bit unbelievable, but they were a cool twist to the story.
I liked how self assured Mari was. She is not one to let someone push her around, but when she makes up her mind about someone, she is loyal and determined to stick by them. I liked that about her. She was skeptical about Seth, and rightly so. But eventually he wore her down, and from that point on she was committed. She didn't waver anymore. The romance was cute. There was a bit of insta-pull but it was more of the prophesy/destiny variety. I thought the tingles that they each got when they were near the other were adorable too.
I liked Seth and his brothers. They were interesting. I thought the author's take on time traveling. You lose some of your memories from the different times and there are some interesting side effects on healing when you are in another time. I thought the way the author worked those details in was a nice touch.
The ending of the story left open some really interesting possibilities for the next book in the series. I liked this story and I am interested in seeing what the author is going to bring us next. I can't wait to see what is going to happen in the past as well as where we stand with the romance.
I liked how self assured Mari was. She is not one to let someone push her around, but when she makes up her mind about someone, she is loyal and determined to stick by them. I liked that about her. She was skeptical about Seth, and rightly so. But eventually he wore her down, and from that point on she was committed. She didn't waver anymore. The romance was cute. There was a bit of insta-pull but it was more of the prophesy/destiny variety. I thought the tingles that they each got when they were near the other were adorable too.
I liked Seth and his brothers. They were interesting. I thought the author's take on time traveling. You lose some of your memories from the different times and there are some interesting side effects on healing when you are in another time. I thought the way the author worked those details in was a nice touch.
The ending of the story left open some really interesting possibilities for the next book in the series. I liked this story and I am interested in seeing what the author is going to bring us next. I can't wait to see what is going to happen in the past as well as where we stand with the romance.
What I really liked about this book was how realistic it was. While I was reading it, I could totally picture it happening just the way Avery Flynn described. That to me is the mark of good writing.
I really loved how spunky Claire was. I instantly connected with her because of her fire. She was alive, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. I loved how she just jumped right in, no questions asked. Even if it did get her into trouble sometimes.
Because it was a murder who-dun-it with the killer on the loose, there was a good amount of suspense and intrigue. I was trying to solve the case the whole time right there along with Claire. There are also some close call and kind of scary moments. I love creepy moments in murder books. hehe maybe I'm a little weird?
This is a really good book, it sped right along. No dull moments or extra fluff. I really appreciated that. I easily read the book in one sitting. I could totally see how this book would make a great start to a series or a complete standalone. It ended in a good place.
Up a Dry Creek contained some sexual content, so the age rating recommendation is 18+. It was not overdone though, I thought it was a good amount. Not too much, not too little. Up a Dry Creek was a fast paced, believable and throughout enjoyable read.
I really loved how spunky Claire was. I instantly connected with her because of her fire. She was alive, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. I loved how she just jumped right in, no questions asked. Even if it did get her into trouble sometimes.
Because it was a murder who-dun-it with the killer on the loose, there was a good amount of suspense and intrigue. I was trying to solve the case the whole time right there along with Claire. There are also some close call and kind of scary moments. I love creepy moments in murder books. hehe maybe I'm a little weird?
This is a really good book, it sped right along. No dull moments or extra fluff. I really appreciated that. I easily read the book in one sitting. I could totally see how this book would make a great start to a series or a complete standalone. It ended in a good place.
Up a Dry Creek contained some sexual content, so the age rating recommendation is 18+. It was not overdone though, I thought it was a good amount. Not too much, not too little. Up a Dry Creek was a fast paced, believable and throughout enjoyable read.
Wow, I didn't even realize that this story was a re-telling of Beauty and The Beast until I was over half way into the story. Made me feel a little slow. But in my defense, Jessa Russo did a fantastic job twisting and turning the beloved fairytale and completely flipping it on its' head. I loved her topsy turvy take on the story. Like any good fairy tale it all starts with a curse. Every 4 generations the cursed family's descendants have a daughter that will turn into a beast, and every 4th generation there is a son that can try and break the curse. Pretty cool, right?
It was such a fun ride. There are plenty of twists and turns. The insight into the characters was phenomenal. I loved the different points of views and the looks into each of the characters heads and thoughts. Holland is facing some serious inner turmoil and the author captured it perfectly. I could feel her tension jumping off the page. Holland has had a rough year at school. Her boyfriend dumped her and started dating her best friend, and that is really only the start of her problems. I enjoyed watching Holland's progression the most in the story. She is spunky and strong, but you can tell that she is scared and lonely too. She is such an interesting dichotomy for a character, and it fit the story theme perfectly.
And then there is Mick. Mick is desperate to save Holland. Oh, how I adored Mick. His loyalty and devotion to Holland, no matter how stubborn or foul tempered she was being was so nice. I was rooting for him as soon as I met him.
For the most part the book flowed along at a great brisk pace. There were a few instances where a chapter or two lagged, but my attention never waned for too long. There was plenty going on in the story at any given point to reel me back in. There is romance, magic, and lots of fun background information on the fairytale and curse. There are also bumps and twists along the way. Does Mick get to break the curse? Just who the heck is Donovan and where did he come from? What kind of beast does Holland turn into? (if any) My lips are sealed. Read Divide to find out!
It was such a fun ride. There are plenty of twists and turns. The insight into the characters was phenomenal. I loved the different points of views and the looks into each of the characters heads and thoughts. Holland is facing some serious inner turmoil and the author captured it perfectly. I could feel her tension jumping off the page. Holland has had a rough year at school. Her boyfriend dumped her and started dating her best friend, and that is really only the start of her problems. I enjoyed watching Holland's progression the most in the story. She is spunky and strong, but you can tell that she is scared and lonely too. She is such an interesting dichotomy for a character, and it fit the story theme perfectly.
And then there is Mick. Mick is desperate to save Holland. Oh, how I adored Mick. His loyalty and devotion to Holland, no matter how stubborn or foul tempered she was being was so nice. I was rooting for him as soon as I met him.
For the most part the book flowed along at a great brisk pace. There were a few instances where a chapter or two lagged, but my attention never waned for too long. There was plenty going on in the story at any given point to reel me back in. There is romance, magic, and lots of fun background information on the fairytale and curse. There are also bumps and twists along the way. Does Mick get to break the curse? Just who the heck is Donovan and where did he come from? What kind of beast does Holland turn into? (if any) My lips are sealed. Read Divide to find out!
I have read a lot of mythology books now, and I have to say that Persephone's Orchard is a different take than most of the others. I don't think I have read told quite the way this one was. Persephone's Orchard is the first book in the Chrysomelia Stories series. And it deals with the concept of immortal souls, rather than the traditional greek gods. There are all the usual players in the book, but they are reincarnated throughout the ages and they each live many different lives as various mortals, after their rein as gods. I thought that was an interesting play on the concept of greek mythology.I loved how unique Molly Ringle was with her interpretation of the gods.
Persephone's Orchard deals with Sophie, a college girl, trying to put together the pieces of who she was in a past life. And really try and get her bearings on this whole new world. The story takes place on earth as well as in the underworld and a lot of Sophie's "greek" memories are shown to her through dreams, so the story alternates between the present and the past in her dreams. It was an interesting technique that Molly Ringle employed. The effect was like a greek mythology story time. I liked it, but it also felt slow and dragged on in parts. The gods personalities were also a little shifted than how I am used to seeing them in classical mythology, but I attributed that to the fact that this was a modern version of their immortal souls, so they were bound to be a little different.
There is light romance hinted at in the story, and honestly most of the romantic interaction took place through the characters memories. I hope to see more present interaction and romance between Sophie and Adrian in the next book. Parts of the story, I found to be really interesting and other parts failed to hold my interest for more than a few pages. I am going to read the second book because I want to see where the author takes the story now that the ground work has been laid, but I am hoping that the next book doesn't have as many flashbacks and background information as this one. I did like the opposition storyline, I think they will be a formidable enemy. I will have to see how the next book goes before I decide if I will be continuing on with this series, but it is worth checking out if you are looking for a different twist on mythology.
Persephone's Orchard deals with Sophie, a college girl, trying to put together the pieces of who she was in a past life. And really try and get her bearings on this whole new world. The story takes place on earth as well as in the underworld and a lot of Sophie's "greek" memories are shown to her through dreams, so the story alternates between the present and the past in her dreams. It was an interesting technique that Molly Ringle employed. The effect was like a greek mythology story time. I liked it, but it also felt slow and dragged on in parts. The gods personalities were also a little shifted than how I am used to seeing them in classical mythology, but I attributed that to the fact that this was a modern version of their immortal souls, so they were bound to be a little different.
There is light romance hinted at in the story, and honestly most of the romantic interaction took place through the characters memories. I hope to see more present interaction and romance between Sophie and Adrian in the next book. Parts of the story, I found to be really interesting and other parts failed to hold my interest for more than a few pages. I am going to read the second book because I want to see where the author takes the story now that the ground work has been laid, but I am hoping that the next book doesn't have as many flashbacks and background information as this one. I did like the opposition storyline, I think they will be a formidable enemy. I will have to see how the next book goes before I decide if I will be continuing on with this series, but it is worth checking out if you are looking for a different twist on mythology.
I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, so as soon as I saw Just like the Movies I knew that I needed to read this book. Just Like the Movies follows two high school seniors- Marijke and Lily. Complete opposites in terms of high school cliques, but they both love romcom movies and they hatch a plan to use them to get what they each want. What a cute concept, right? Marijke wants her boyfriend to drop the "L" bomb on her and Lily wants her crush to notice her. What I liked the most about Just Like the Movies surprisingly was not the romance, but rather the friendship that formed between Marijke and Lily.
The guys in this story, but high school aged and adult, are much like guys in real life- not perfect! They each had their butthead moments, that is for sure. Another cool thing that Kelly Fiore did was give us a glimpse into different kinds of relationships. There is the single settling dater, the long term married couple, the under appreciated girlfriend, and the girl trying to get noticed.
And while you may think that this book is going to be just as predictable as the romantic comedies it was emulating, there were multiple times where I honestly did not know how everything was going to turn out. Who would get their happy ending, and who wouldn't? It was great. And yes, some parts did turn out to be a little predictable, but come on- isn't that what we love about romantic comedies in the first place? That satisfaction of seeing the guy get the girl? Of seeing that happily ever after? I think so.
Just Like the Movies is a fun read. I loved all the scheming and plans that Lily and Marijke came up with. It was so funny to see them execute them, and I loved all the movie references that Kelly Fiore worked into the story. I am proud to say that I have seen every single one of the movies that were mentioned. Sometimes I kind of hated one of the guys, and I am not going to tell you whether my opinion of him changed because I think that aspect of the story made Just Like the Movies so unique from other young adult books. Movie lovers and YA lovers alike should check out Just Like the Movies. It is cute, it is different and it is an all around good read. Plus, you will love the friendship between Lily and Marijke. I know I did.
The guys in this story, but high school aged and adult, are much like guys in real life- not perfect! They each had their butthead moments, that is for sure. Another cool thing that Kelly Fiore did was give us a glimpse into different kinds of relationships. There is the single settling dater, the long term married couple, the under appreciated girlfriend, and the girl trying to get noticed.
And while you may think that this book is going to be just as predictable as the romantic comedies it was emulating, there were multiple times where I honestly did not know how everything was going to turn out. Who would get their happy ending, and who wouldn't? It was great. And yes, some parts did turn out to be a little predictable, but come on- isn't that what we love about romantic comedies in the first place? That satisfaction of seeing the guy get the girl? Of seeing that happily ever after? I think so.
Just Like the Movies is a fun read. I loved all the scheming and plans that Lily and Marijke came up with. It was so funny to see them execute them, and I loved all the movie references that Kelly Fiore worked into the story. I am proud to say that I have seen every single one of the movies that were mentioned. Sometimes I kind of hated one of the guys, and I am not going to tell you whether my opinion of him changed because I think that aspect of the story made Just Like the Movies so unique from other young adult books. Movie lovers and YA lovers alike should check out Just Like the Movies. It is cute, it is different and it is an all around good read. Plus, you will love the friendship between Lily and Marijke. I know I did.
Just like the cover and title suggest, This Summer is a fun and fabulous book for summer. It takes place mostly at a summer camp, and I loved the setting for this second chance romance. Hadley had a huge crush on her best friend and next door neighbor, Will. And she was starting to think that he liked her too when he just up and left town. That was 2 years ago, and This Summer he is back...
That is how the book starts out. Well, the book starts out with Hadley and her ex breaking up, and I was really happy that the ex was out of the picture before she even knew Will was coming back into town. Not because the ex was the biggest jerk in the world, but because I know that it would have colored my impression of Will if she just dropped someone else for him. But luckily, she was free and single from page one. Not that Will runs back to town and they picked up right where they left off. No the build up between them was slow and a total one step forward, two steps back kind of deal. There are major secrets on Will's part holding him back, and we don't find out what they are for a good chunk of the book.
The book is told in dual narrative between Hadley and Will and even though they don't rush right into each others arms, you can clearly see that each one likes the other. It made their romance all that much sweeter and more satisfying to see both of their thoughts and feelings. I loved seeing this classic new adult contemporary romance setup used in a young adult contemporary. I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. Everyone in this book seemed both age appropriate and at the same time mature. Hadley's best friend Lily was adorably protective over Hadley, and her younger brother Ethan was great. I want to see Ethan get his own book!
This Summer is exactly what you would expect it to be. A fun summer romance. There are ups and downs for all of the characters, sure, but you will get what you want out of this book. It will make you happy, make you smile and make you awh over Hadley and Will. I really enjoyed This Summer, and I know you will too. The summer camp setting is perfect for this summer romance. So grab a cold drink (or a smore) and sit back by the pool (or campfire) and enjoy.
That is how the book starts out. Well, the book starts out with Hadley and her ex breaking up, and I was really happy that the ex was out of the picture before she even knew Will was coming back into town. Not because the ex was the biggest jerk in the world, but because I know that it would have colored my impression of Will if she just dropped someone else for him. But luckily, she was free and single from page one. Not that Will runs back to town and they picked up right where they left off. No the build up between them was slow and a total one step forward, two steps back kind of deal. There are major secrets on Will's part holding him back, and we don't find out what they are for a good chunk of the book.
The book is told in dual narrative between Hadley and Will and even though they don't rush right into each others arms, you can clearly see that each one likes the other. It made their romance all that much sweeter and more satisfying to see both of their thoughts and feelings. I loved seeing this classic new adult contemporary romance setup used in a young adult contemporary. I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. Everyone in this book seemed both age appropriate and at the same time mature. Hadley's best friend Lily was adorably protective over Hadley, and her younger brother Ethan was great. I want to see Ethan get his own book!
This Summer is exactly what you would expect it to be. A fun summer romance. There are ups and downs for all of the characters, sure, but you will get what you want out of this book. It will make you happy, make you smile and make you awh over Hadley and Will. I really enjoyed This Summer, and I know you will too. The summer camp setting is perfect for this summer romance. So grab a cold drink (or a smore) and sit back by the pool (or campfire) and enjoy.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Reality of You was a fresh, fun and just all around great new adult contemporary romance. It is told in dual narrative between Naomi and Reese. I really loved the unique setup. Geeky ex-soccer star hasn't dated anyone since her jerk of an ex broke it off years ago. The one bright spot in her day is stalking watching this hot guy come back from lunch every day at her office. Her roommate wants to get her out of her funk and over her little crush, so she arranges Naomi to be his temp for a week when he is scouting a hotel in Puerto Rico. Tons of hi-jinks ensue, and their adventure is off. Just pure romantic comedy fun. I mean it, this book is seriously funny.
It took me a while to warm up to Naomi. I was slightly worried that she just wouldn't be a character that I particularly cared for. She just seemed whiny and ditzy for a good amount of the beginning of the book. I was worried that she was just going to be an airhead, but I was pleasantly surprised when she found her voice around Reese. Turns out, he just makes her seriously nervous and uncoordinated. It was kind of adorable looking back. (only after I knew what she was really like though. haha) Once I warmed up to her, I was her biggest fan. It was around the time that I saw her play soccer, and tell Reese off. I wanted to high five her!
Reese is a complicated guy too. At first he comes off as an arrogant pretentious snob. And he does have a bit of pretension in him, but he is so much more than that. Watching them open up to each other was my favorite part of the book. I feel like they each went into this with different expectations and Reese really surprised me. But watching them open up and show the other their true self made me swoon inside, and made me feel a deeper connection to the two of them.
The Reality of You is a great book. I loved the storyline. I loved the romance, and even though I had a little speedbump in the start, I loved both of the main characters. Naomi kind of brought Reese back down to earth. It was so funny how she teased him for his "prep school talk". She sucked the pretentious out of him little by little. If you are looking for a romance that is both hot and sweet, as well as funny, The Reality of You is the book for you. It is a read that you will easily be able to lose yourself in for a few afternoons.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Reality of You was a fresh, fun and just all around great new adult contemporary romance. It is told in dual narrative between Naomi and Reese. I really loved the unique setup. Geeky ex-soccer star hasn't dated anyone since her jerk of an ex broke it off years ago. The one bright spot in her day is
It took me a while to warm up to Naomi. I was slightly worried that she just wouldn't be a character that I particularly cared for. She just seemed whiny and ditzy for a good amount of the beginning of the book. I was worried that she was just going to be an airhead, but I was pleasantly surprised when she found her voice around Reese. Turns out, he just makes her seriously nervous and uncoordinated. It was kind of adorable looking back. (only after I knew what she was really like though. haha) Once I warmed up to her, I was her biggest fan. It was around the time that I saw her play soccer, and tell Reese off. I wanted to high five her!
Reese is a complicated guy too. At first he comes off as an arrogant pretentious snob. And he does have a bit of pretension in him, but he is so much more than that. Watching them open up to each other was my favorite part of the book. I feel like they each went into this with different expectations and Reese really surprised me. But watching them open up and show the other their true self made me swoon inside, and made me feel a deeper connection to the two of them.
The Reality of You is a great book. I loved the storyline. I loved the romance, and even though I had a little speedbump in the start, I loved both of the main characters. Naomi kind of brought Reese back down to earth. It was so funny how she teased him for his "prep school talk". She sucked the pretentious out of him little by little. If you are looking for a romance that is both hot and sweet, as well as funny, The Reality of You is the book for you. It is a read that you will easily be able to lose yourself in for a few afternoons.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Breathe Annie Breathe is the 5th book in the Hundred Oaks series, but it can be read as a standalone. I am going to tell you guys a dirty dirty secret of mine...I haven't read the books in the Hundred Oaks series yet. Shh! Please don't throw tomatoes. I have the first two books sitting on my kindle, but review books just took over my life and they just haven't been read yet. BUT, the good news is, I can attest that Breathe Annie Breathe can completely be read as a standalone. And I loved it! I am completely kicking myself in the butt for putting off the rest of the series for so long. I will be reading the rest of the books as soon as possible.
Annie is a tough young lady. That is what struck me the most about her. She had this amazing sweet sweet boyfriend for most of highschool, and he died. And she is carrying around guilt for that. I just felt awful for her. Before he lost his life way too soon, he was training for a marathon. So in his honor, Annie decides that she is going to train and run the marathon in his honor. Just reading about it made me tear up. I loved that this is how she chose to honor him. And I loved how the whole town got behind her. That takes strength and dedication. She signed up for a training coach.
I loved how the book progressed through her weekly runs with her running group and coach. It was nice to be able to meet some of the other runners in her group and get to know them a little as well. Liza was a nice surprise. I'm glad that the love interest was not her training coach, but rather his younger brother- little adrenaline junkie that he is. Their friendship was interesting to say the least. I loved watching the two of them interact. Jere is so fantastic with Annie. Kind and patient, I was so impressed with him.
I completely see what all the hype is with Miranda's books. She is just a talented author. She writes characters that you just want to grab lunch with, be friends with and hug. I want to hug all of the characters. Annie comes such a long way from page one to the end of the book. Watching her life progress is such a treat. I also really appreciated the fact that we got to see her go from high school to college.
I can so see why this series is a must read for young adult. It is everything that I want my young adult books to be. Fun, moving, detailed and developed. The main characters shine just as must as the secondary characters. You will love Annie and Jere. If you are like me, and you are one of the few people left on this earth that have not discovered the magic of Hundred Oaks, don't wait any longer! Grab Breathe Annie Breathe and fall in love. She even made me want to run... and that is no easy feat. I am going back to read the rest of the books now!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Breathe Annie Breathe is the 5th book in the Hundred Oaks series, but it can be read as a standalone. I am going to tell you guys a dirty dirty secret of mine...I haven't read the books in the Hundred Oaks series yet. Shh! Please don't throw tomatoes. I have the first two books sitting on my kindle, but review books just took over my life and they just haven't been read yet. BUT, the good news is, I can attest that Breathe Annie Breathe can completely be read as a standalone. And I loved it! I am completely kicking myself in the butt for putting off the rest of the series for so long. I will be reading the rest of the books as soon as possible.
Annie is a tough young lady. That is what struck me the most about her. She had this amazing sweet sweet boyfriend for most of highschool, and he died. And she is carrying around guilt for that. I just felt awful for her. Before he lost his life way too soon, he was training for a marathon. So in his honor, Annie decides that she is going to train and run the marathon in his honor. Just reading about it made me tear up. I loved that this is how she chose to honor him. And I loved how the whole town got behind her. That takes strength and dedication. She signed up for a training coach.
I loved how the book progressed through her weekly runs with her running group and coach. It was nice to be able to meet some of the other runners in her group and get to know them a little as well. Liza was a nice surprise. I'm glad that the love interest was not her training coach, but rather his younger brother- little adrenaline junkie that he is. Their friendship was interesting to say the least. I loved watching the two of them interact. Jere is so fantastic with Annie. Kind and patient, I was so impressed with him.
I completely see what all the hype is with Miranda's books. She is just a talented author. She writes characters that you just want to grab lunch with, be friends with and hug. I want to hug all of the characters. Annie comes such a long way from page one to the end of the book. Watching her life progress is such a treat. I also really appreciated the fact that we got to see her go from high school to college.
I can so see why this series is a must read for young adult. It is everything that I want my young adult books to be. Fun, moving, detailed and developed. The main characters shine just as must as the secondary characters. You will love Annie and Jere. If you are like me, and you are one of the few people left on this earth that have not discovered the magic of Hundred Oaks, don't wait any longer! Grab Breathe Annie Breathe and fall in love. She even made me want to run... and that is no easy feat. I am going back to read the rest of the books now!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs