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momwithareadingproblem
I received a copy of this book as a part of a blog tour from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Ok so you know those cheesy Hallmark movies that come on nonstop this time of year? The ones that are so sappy and so predictable that your husband or significant other rolls his eyes at you for watching them? The same ones that even though you know how they end you still watch them, still laugh at them, still cry during them all the way to the ending credits? You do...that's great! That's this book :D
Despite the cheesy Hallmark feel, I ♥︎ this book so much! I'm not sure I can put it into words. Under a Georgia Moon follows the story of Addie, a jilted young woman forced on vacation to forget her heartache, and Chase, a young musician realizing his dreams may not be what God has planned for him.
Addie is exactly what you would expect of a woman dumped by her fiancé a few weeks before their wedding. She is angry, hurt, and extremely self-conscious. Nothing really that you can fault her on because I would be exactly like her. Finding moments that just cause you to break down into tears. Yep, we've all been there at one point. Now though her father and sister think it's time she gets back out there. Her ex is married to another woman and expecting a baby!! She needs to move on. She knows this, but her heart and her head are saying doing the same thing for once...building walls to protect what's left of herself.
Chase is just....wow! He's not only nice looking (thank you Cindy ;) ) but he is a talented musician and puts his family and God first. He's not looking for marriage though his friends and family tell him it's time to settle down. He's just looking for his big break into the country music scene. That is until he meets Addie.
Addie's aunt sends Chase to the airport to pick up the forlorn traveler and from there a relationship blossoms...however it isn't what you think. You see, Addie's aunt is determined for her to meet a guy and start dating again the two weeks while she is visiting in Macon, GA. And Chase's ex is in town trying to force him to be with her. So he comes up with a little proposal for Addie to get both of them off their backs...they fake a relationship. Yeah...you see where this is going without me telling you right ;) because I'm not spoiling anything for you! Navigating the relationship between Addie and Chase is rough waters as the lines between what's real and what's pretend begin to blur. And Addie is unsure what she wants as her heart and her head begin to conflict.
Despite the predictability, I really enjoyed this book! I sat down one night before bed to read it, thinking "Oh, I'll just start this one tonight" and about eight hours later at four in the morning I had finished it. The characters, the writing, and even the predictable plot sucked me in and I just couldn't sit it down. Bonus and kudos to the author...the book is completely clean! No closed door sex scenes or anything, no foul language either! Maybe one or two heavy makeout sessions ;) If you enjoy clean, contemporary romance, I highly recommend you check this book out! It will not disappoint!
Ok so you know those cheesy Hallmark movies that come on nonstop this time of year? The ones that are so sappy and so predictable that your husband or significant other rolls his eyes at you for watching them? The same ones that even though you know how they end you still watch them, still laugh at them, still cry during them all the way to the ending credits? You do...that's great! That's this book :D
Despite the cheesy Hallmark feel, I ♥︎ this book so much! I'm not sure I can put it into words. Under a Georgia Moon follows the story of Addie, a jilted young woman forced on vacation to forget her heartache, and Chase, a young musician realizing his dreams may not be what God has planned for him.
Addie is exactly what you would expect of a woman dumped by her fiancé a few weeks before their wedding. She is angry, hurt, and extremely self-conscious. Nothing really that you can fault her on because I would be exactly like her. Finding moments that just cause you to break down into tears. Yep, we've all been there at one point. Now though her father and sister think it's time she gets back out there. Her ex is married to another woman and expecting a baby!! She needs to move on. She knows this, but her heart and her head are saying doing the same thing for once...building walls to protect what's left of herself.
Chase is just....wow! He's not only nice looking (thank you Cindy ;) ) but he is a talented musician and puts his family and God first. He's not looking for marriage though his friends and family tell him it's time to settle down. He's just looking for his big break into the country music scene. That is until he meets Addie.
Addie's aunt sends Chase to the airport to pick up the forlorn traveler and from there a relationship blossoms...however it isn't what you think. You see, Addie's aunt is determined for her to meet a guy and start dating again the two weeks while she is visiting in Macon, GA. And Chase's ex is in town trying to force him to be with her. So he comes up with a little proposal for Addie to get both of them off their backs...they fake a relationship. Yeah...you see where this is going without me telling you right ;) because I'm not spoiling anything for you! Navigating the relationship between Addie and Chase is rough waters as the lines between what's real and what's pretend begin to blur. And Addie is unsure what she wants as her heart and her head begin to conflict.
Despite the predictability, I really enjoyed this book! I sat down one night before bed to read it, thinking "Oh, I'll just start this one tonight" and about eight hours later at four in the morning I had finished it. The characters, the writing, and even the predictable plot sucked me in and I just couldn't sit it down. Bonus and kudos to the author...the book is completely clean! No closed door sex scenes or anything, no foul language either! Maybe one or two heavy makeout sessions ;) If you enjoy clean, contemporary romance, I highly recommend you check this book out! It will not disappoint!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
What's not to love about a sweet story during the Christmas season?! Stacy Henrie's A Christmas Hope follows the evolving relationship between Maria Schmitt and Dale Emerson. Maria is a character that I fell in love with during Hope at Dawn. She was hopelessly in love, or I guess infatuated with, Friedrick and is heartbroken when he chooses Livy over her. But the willful girl leaves her hometown and remakes herself. She finds a job at a bank and puts her heart and soul into it. You have to admire her! She is strong-willed, full of faith, but guards her heart and why wouldn't she?!
Dale has just returned from the war (WWI), injured and insecure. He lost an eye which means he can no longer be the surgeon he trained to be. He broke off his engagement with a girl that had been his since college. Though thankful for his life, he mourns the life he dreamed of having. Is he bitter? No, not really. Is he unhappy? Yes. He takes his uncle's offer of managing the bank so he can retire. Although he is good at it, it feels stifling to him. With Maria's help though, he begins to accept the hand fate dealt him.
What I love about this story is that Dale and Maria do not instantly like each other. It's a slow, creeping up on them type of love and it's utterly heart-warming! I loved reading the progression of their relationship. Their own insecurities hinder them, but each makes the other a better version of themselves. And isn't that what a spouse/significant other is supposed to do? Make you the best you? Their relationship starts simply when Maria offers to help Dale in his new role at the bank. It's professional, but evolves to friendship. You know the kind of friendship that you feel comfortable being with him/her, the kind that when the day is over you're already planning your next excursion.
The emotions that come through tied with the historical setting are beautifully written. The characters come alive as does the scene of a Northern Christmas where electric lights on the tree is new and something to still wonder at. I lost myself in this short novella and really didn't want it to end! The story was romantic with a hint of Christmas magic and like Hope at Dawn some Christian influence as well. Even though this is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel without any interference with the plot. If you are looking for a good, faith-based, historical romance for your quick weekend read or maybe just something for the holidays, I highly suggest you check this one out. It is not to be missed!
What's not to love about a sweet story during the Christmas season?! Stacy Henrie's A Christmas Hope follows the evolving relationship between Maria Schmitt and Dale Emerson. Maria is a character that I fell in love with during Hope at Dawn. She was hopelessly in love, or I guess infatuated with, Friedrick and is heartbroken when he chooses Livy over her. But the willful girl leaves her hometown and remakes herself. She finds a job at a bank and puts her heart and soul into it. You have to admire her! She is strong-willed, full of faith, but guards her heart and why wouldn't she?!
Dale has just returned from the war (WWI), injured and insecure. He lost an eye which means he can no longer be the surgeon he trained to be. He broke off his engagement with a girl that had been his since college. Though thankful for his life, he mourns the life he dreamed of having. Is he bitter? No, not really. Is he unhappy? Yes. He takes his uncle's offer of managing the bank so he can retire. Although he is good at it, it feels stifling to him. With Maria's help though, he begins to accept the hand fate dealt him.
What I love about this story is that Dale and Maria do not instantly like each other. It's a slow, creeping up on them type of love and it's utterly heart-warming! I loved reading the progression of their relationship. Their own insecurities hinder them, but each makes the other a better version of themselves. And isn't that what a spouse/significant other is supposed to do? Make you the best you? Their relationship starts simply when Maria offers to help Dale in his new role at the bank. It's professional, but evolves to friendship. You know the kind of friendship that you feel comfortable being with him/her, the kind that when the day is over you're already planning your next excursion.
The emotions that come through tied with the historical setting are beautifully written. The characters come alive as does the scene of a Northern Christmas where electric lights on the tree is new and something to still wonder at. I lost myself in this short novella and really didn't want it to end! The story was romantic with a hint of Christmas magic and like Hope at Dawn some Christian influence as well. Even though this is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel without any interference with the plot. If you are looking for a good, faith-based, historical romance for your quick weekend read or maybe just something for the holidays, I highly suggest you check this one out. It is not to be missed!
A big thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review
WARNING: If you have NOT read book one Distraction, there are minor, unavoidable spoilers in this review.
Me Throughout This Book:
Addiction picks up just hours after the end of Distraction. Tristan and Elle are on their way home for Christmas dinner and everything is perfect in the world. Or so they think. Heather, Elle's sister who Tristan secretly helped get into rehab for her drug addiction, is coming home sober for Christmas much to Elle and her mother's surprise. Tristan is determined to stand up to his father and profess his feelings for Elle to his family. When circumstances beyond their control occur, Elle and Tristan's perfect world falls apart.
I cannot say just how much I adore Elle and Tristan. They are just perfect! In book one I had a real love-hate relationship going on with them as neither wanted to confess their feelings for each other. In fact it was literally painful to read, but at the same time I couldn't sit it down. This addition to their story is no different. Tristan is finally grounded in his relationship with Elle, he feels whole in a way he never has before.
Elle feels the same, but after she learns that Tristan hid his involvement with Heather from her (you know the whole helping her into rehab thing) after she cried for months looking for her, well it kind of blows up in his face.
The story really centers around the fall of their perfect world and Elle's struggle to pull herself together. I can't say much about the plot without major spoilers :? What I can say though is I started the book on an emotional high, about mid-way I hit rock bottom and kept falling. This installment tore at my heart in a way a book hasn't in a long time. The emotions that come through in the author's writing resonated with me and just had me sobbing (you know like puffy eyes and red nose, hiccup sobbing....the ugly crying).
Overall, I love the series and this installment just adds depth to two already amazing characters. I will warn you though, it is short, not novella short, but short enough to read in one sitting. While there are some sexual scenes and strong language, it doesn't stand out in the story. The story is about the characters and Tristan and Elle are written so well they could be real. And that my friends is a feat all of its own that the author has achieved. If you've not read book one of this series, I highly suggest you do that before picking up this book as you may find yourself lost. If you enjoy New Adult, contemporary romance, I highly suggest you check it out.
WARNING: If you have NOT read book one Distraction, there are minor, unavoidable spoilers in this review.
Me Throughout This Book:
Addiction picks up just hours after the end of Distraction. Tristan and Elle are on their way home for Christmas dinner and everything is perfect in the world. Or so they think. Heather, Elle's sister who Tristan secretly helped get into rehab for her drug addiction, is coming home sober for Christmas much to Elle and her mother's surprise. Tristan is determined to stand up to his father and profess his feelings for Elle to his family. When circumstances beyond their control occur, Elle and Tristan's perfect world falls apart.
I cannot say just how much I adore Elle and Tristan. They are just perfect! In book one I had a real love-hate relationship going on with them as neither wanted to confess their feelings for each other. In fact it was literally painful to read, but at the same time I couldn't sit it down. This addition to their story is no different. Tristan is finally grounded in his relationship with Elle, he feels whole in a way he never has before.
Elle feels the same, but after she learns that Tristan hid his involvement with Heather from her (you know the whole helping her into rehab thing) after she cried for months looking for her, well it kind of blows up in his face.
The story really centers around the fall of their perfect world and Elle's struggle to pull herself together. I can't say much about the plot without major spoilers :? What I can say though is I started the book on an emotional high, about mid-way I hit rock bottom and kept falling. This installment tore at my heart in a way a book hasn't in a long time. The emotions that come through in the author's writing resonated with me and just had me sobbing (you know like puffy eyes and red nose, hiccup sobbing....the ugly crying).
Overall, I love the series and this installment just adds depth to two already amazing characters. I will warn you though, it is short, not novella short, but short enough to read in one sitting. While there are some sexual scenes and strong language, it doesn't stand out in the story. The story is about the characters and Tristan and Elle are written so well they could be real. And that my friends is a feat all of its own that the author has achieved. If you've not read book one of this series, I highly suggest you do that before picking up this book as you may find yourself lost. If you enjoy New Adult, contemporary romance, I highly suggest you check it out.
Ticker had so much promise. Just look at that gorgeous cover and the synopsis?! Hello, it screamed at me "PICK ME! READ ME! YOU'LL LOVE ME!" Well, books don't actually talk, except in my head so I guess technically it didn't lie to me....
But...but I really just didn't like this one as much as I thought I would. I went in with my expectations too high. Does that mean I hated it? No, but it could have been so much better.
First, the MC was a let down.
I really didn't like our main character Penny Farthing, like at all! She's a bit heartless (pun intended) at times. Here's this girl who has a clockwork heart, she's basically beaten and survived against all odds yet she doesn't seem to appreciate it. In fact, I feel like it is totally wasted on her. She lives her life in that whole "carpe diem" style. I don't fault her that, however she takes risks that no sane person would take, let alone a person with failing health! She has a bit of survivor's guilt going on too. The genetic defect only affects the girls of the family, can strike at any time and usually it kills you. Penny lives, her two other sisters are dead, leaving her family in a broken, mourning type state. Penny seems to think she would've been better off dead too.
Nic, her twin brother, will do anything, and I do mean ANYTHING to save his sister. He's a bit on the crazy over-protective side and drives her insane. I feel sorry for him because he doesn't understand why Penny can't just act like a normal girl, or at the very least not be a daredevil.
Then there's Marcus, the love interest and head of the private army. He's smart and has this brooding sensitivity thing down pat. His character is very at odds with his profession. Don't get me wrong he makes a good general, but it's not him. He's a thinker.
And then they all ran in circles.
In the first 5-10% of the book, the Farthing's company explodes, the parents are kidnapped, Warwick (the bad guy) escapes from prison, and Nic and Penny receive a ransom letter demanding all their parents' Augmentation (this is what they called people with clockwork upgrades on their person) research. Penny doesn't know who is behind it all and decides to trust no one. However this blows up in her face pretty quickly as she is a girl with a clockwork heart that is on the fritz.
Basically all I can tell you without any spoilers is this: Warwick is a crazy lunatic with good intentions gone awry. All he wants is to fix Penny's heart, no matter the cost. I didn't understand his motivation and it isn't revealed until nearly the end of the book so I won't say it here. Although I will say that I think it would've contributed to the story and actually led to me connecting to the characters if it would've been given sooner, like at the beginning. It really wouldn't have ruined the story or taken away from the crazy plot.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and determining where the book was going due to all the technical jargon and world-building that is thrown in. Personally I like a bit of slow immersion into a world where things are explained as you are introduced to them. If you don't need to know what it is leave it out. However in this book, the first several chapters are inundated with (made-up, at least I'm pretty sure they were) words that I can't pronounce about things I could only dream of. Yes it adds to the dystopian society Penny lives in but it also distracted me from the overall story.
But the ending was epic!
The final showdown in this book saved it for me. Honestly I was ready to sit this book down at around 40% but I decided to push through it and by 75% I'm glad I did. The story started coming together better for me. The characters were making sense. I even began to connect with Penny on some level.
Overall, the writing and world-building were excellent. I may have struggled a bit in the beginning, but the author and characters won me over in the end. If you enjoy young adult, steampunk, science fiction, give this book a go.
But...but I really just didn't like this one as much as I thought I would. I went in with my expectations too high. Does that mean I hated it? No, but it could have been so much better.
First, the MC was a let down.
I really didn't like our main character Penny Farthing, like at all! She's a bit heartless (pun intended) at times. Here's this girl who has a clockwork heart, she's basically beaten and survived against all odds yet she doesn't seem to appreciate it. In fact, I feel like it is totally wasted on her. She lives her life in that whole "carpe diem" style. I don't fault her that, however she takes risks that no sane person would take, let alone a person with failing health! She has a bit of survivor's guilt going on too. The genetic defect only affects the girls of the family, can strike at any time and usually it kills you. Penny lives, her two other sisters are dead, leaving her family in a broken, mourning type state. Penny seems to think she would've been better off dead too.
Nic, her twin brother, will do anything, and I do mean ANYTHING to save his sister. He's a bit on the crazy over-protective side and drives her insane. I feel sorry for him because he doesn't understand why Penny can't just act like a normal girl, or at the very least not be a daredevil.
Then there's Marcus, the love interest and head of the private army. He's smart and has this brooding sensitivity thing down pat. His character is very at odds with his profession. Don't get me wrong he makes a good general, but it's not him. He's a thinker.
And then they all ran in circles.
In the first 5-10% of the book, the Farthing's company explodes, the parents are kidnapped, Warwick (the bad guy) escapes from prison, and Nic and Penny receive a ransom letter demanding all their parents' Augmentation (this is what they called people with clockwork upgrades on their person) research. Penny doesn't know who is behind it all and decides to trust no one. However this blows up in her face pretty quickly as she is a girl with a clockwork heart that is on the fritz.
Basically all I can tell you without any spoilers is this: Warwick is a crazy lunatic with good intentions gone awry. All he wants is to fix Penny's heart, no matter the cost. I didn't understand his motivation and it isn't revealed until nearly the end of the book so I won't say it here. Although I will say that I think it would've contributed to the story and actually led to me connecting to the characters if it would've been given sooner, like at the beginning. It really wouldn't have ruined the story or taken away from the crazy plot.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and determining where the book was going due to all the technical jargon and world-building that is thrown in. Personally I like a bit of slow immersion into a world where things are explained as you are introduced to them. If you don't need to know what it is leave it out. However in this book, the first several chapters are inundated with (made-up, at least I'm pretty sure they were) words that I can't pronounce about things I could only dream of. Yes it adds to the dystopian society Penny lives in but it also distracted me from the overall story.
But the ending was epic!
The final showdown in this book saved it for me. Honestly I was ready to sit this book down at around 40% but I decided to push through it and by 75% I'm glad I did. The story started coming together better for me. The characters were making sense. I even began to connect with Penny on some level.
Overall, the writing and world-building were excellent. I may have struggled a bit in the beginning, but the author and characters won me over in the end. If you enjoy young adult, steampunk, science fiction, give this book a go.
What Tomorrow May Bring
Samantha Durante, Shelbi Wescott, David Estes, Cary Caffrey, Jenni Merritt, David J. Normoyle, Susan Kaye Quinn, Deborah Rix, Tony Bertauski, Megan Thomason, Joseph A. Turkot
[b:What Tomorrow May Bring|21946861|What Tomorrow May Bring|Tony Bertauski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397818641s/21946861.jpg|41251734] is a boxed set made by someone who must love me! If anyone knows me, they know my preferred read is a good dystopian book, and this set tops the cake! With ten unique books at a bargain price what more could I ask for!!! Below you will find my reviews for each book (updated as I read them):
[b:Open Minds|12727768|Open Minds (Mindjack Trilogy, #1)|Susan Kaye Quinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389593158s/12727768.jpg|17864554] by [a:Susan Kaye Quinn|4094557|Susan Kaye Quinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1277246178p2/4094557.jpg]
[b:The Moon Dwellers|13931214|The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers, #1)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339737488s/13931214.jpg|19566155] by [a:David Estes|3167424|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1359857929p2/3167424.jpg]
...is book one of a seven book saga about the human race and their fight for survival. Adele Rose and Tristan Nailin come from two very different realities. Adele lives in the Moon Realm, has always known what it is to be poor, and when her parents are convicted of treason is sent to the Pen (a juvenile detention center). Adele's only goal is to escape and find her family. Tristan lives in the Sun Realm, the son of the president he knows only a life a luxury. Fed up with the rules of his father, Tristan with his best friend Roc leave to see if they can make a change.
So I seriously loved this book! The author alternates first person POV between Tristan and Adele giving you a full picture of the world they live in. I'll admit that it was hard to follow for the first few chapters until I got use to the characters but then the story flowed well.
Adele is a wonderful female lead character. She's strong-willed, independent, a fighter, and not afraid to go after what she wants, which in this case is her family. And Tristan....I love Tristan! When I was reading about Tristan, my mind immediately went to Prince William...you know born to rule, everyone knows his face, charismatic persona, yet no one really knows him. Tristan doesn't want his father's life though, and he has this natural self-depreciating humor, he just doesn't take his role in the Tri-Realms seriously. But the two main characters are not the only ones to make up this story. Adele's two friends Cole and Tawni and Tristan's best friend and servant Roc make our main characters' flaws and strengths known. Not to mention the constant banter between Roc and Tristan had me laughing out loud!
This story is well-developed with strong dystopian themes, lots of suspense, a little mystery and an undercurrent of romance. The world-building is subtle yet believable and is explained/revealed as the story unfolds, rather than given to you all at once. I loved this! It was much easier to stay invested in the main plot, which was two-fold. First Adele along with her new friends Tawni and Cole escape the Pen to find her family. And second Tristan who after a chance glimpse of a mysterious Moon Dweller had a strange painful experience decides it's time to leave his father and find this Moon Dweller to discover the reason for the pain.
Overall I highly recommend this book! It was a fast, easy read with an intricate dystopian tale, lots of suspense and action to drive the plot and just a hint of romance. I read this book in just under a day, and I can't wait to start the next one. If you like young adult dystopians, you don't want to miss out on this one!
[b:Prison Nation|13141794|Prison Nation (Prison Nation, #1)|Jenni Merritt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348997135s/13141794.jpg|18318945] by [a:Jenni Merritt|5032809|Jenni Merritt|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1323116690p2/5032809.jpg]
[b:daynight|18625293|Daynight (Daynight, #1)|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380862499s/18625293.jpg|21982405] by [a:Megan Thomason|6578897|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353133187p2/6578897.jpg]
...is book one of the daynight series and lays the foundation for an excellent series! The story revolves around Kira Donovan and Blake Sundry, the latest SCI (Second Chance Institute) Recruits. Kira joins to escape the past that haunts her and Blake joined to bring the SCI down, but he will need Kira's help to do so. The problem lies in if he can trust her and if she should trust him.
This review is really hard for me to write. There are so many twists and turns and surprises that come throughout the book I'm afraid to reveal too much and spoil the book for you! Let me break it down this way:
The Characters
There are really three main characters and the POVs alternate between the three giving you a much clearer picture of this new world and what the characters' think and believe. Kira Donovan is a type A personality and highly loyal to her friends and family. After an explosion kills her friends and most of her high school class she joins the SCI hoping that being away from her home will distract her from the memories that haunt her. Blake Sundry went to high school with Kira, and he has the bad boy kind of loser reputation. But he is anything except a loser. Blake knows what the SCI really does and he is there to bring them down, but with Kira as a partner he will need her help. Ethan Darcton is the son of the senior Ten (head of SCI) and briefly meets Kira before the explosion that killed her friends. Kira believes him dead, but Ethan has strict instructions to stay away from her. However he believes he loves her and wants her to be his.
Thera
Okay here's where things get confusing, or at least for me it was slightly confusing. Thera is the sister-planet to Earth. Basically it's like a reverse copy of Earth. Where there's land on Earth, there's water on Thera and vise versa. Thera is much hotter than Earth, to the point that Therans sleep during the day and work at night when temperatures are still 100-120 degrees. The SCI rules Thera and they are kind of like dictators with strict political rules. If the rules are broken, you are Exiled or killed. To be Exiled means you live off the land outside of the cities of Thera, which is basically a death sentence.
Plot
This story revolves around Kira finding out about the SCI, they're convoluted government, rules, and Thera. The more that is revealed the more Kira realizes how bad this government is and their reach on Earth. Kira must decide what to do. Does she side with Blake and his revolution or Ethan and keep the peace on Thera?
That's really a dumb-downed version of the plot. Like I said there are so many surprises throughout the book I can't reveal much without spoiling it and I don't want to do that! There's a ton of action, surprises that I couldn't guess, and a little romance. Kira is actually quite confused by her feelings throughout the book, which means that yes there is the dreaded love triangle. And it really is dreaded in this book! You have Blake, who is her confidant and friend, her partner on this new planet. And then you have perfect Ethan, who is unavailable and seems to be lying to her. This triangle should not exist!!! It detracted from the main plot and made the characters kinda whiny. Hence the reason for three stars and not four or five.
Overall there is a ton of action in this book, lots of surprises and like I said some romance which with that aside lays the groundwork for an amazing series. As soon as I finished book one, which let me tell you culminates in one finally big surprise and then abruptly ends!!!!, I rushed and bought book two and the bridge novella. Having already read them, I can tell you it is a very good series and I'm dying for book three! If you enjoy young adult dystopians with a little romance and a whole lot of action, I highly recommend this book!
[b:Stitch|15779886|Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)|Samantha Durante|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343769353s/15779886.jpg|21494430] by [a:Samantha Durante|6453465|Samantha Durante|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1364153903p2/6453465.jpg]
[b:The Annihilation of Foreverland|13368166|The Annihilation of Foreverland (Foreverland, #1)|Tony Bertauski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339717282s/13368166.jpg|18597276] by [a:Tony Bertauski|449366|Tony Bertauski|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1293454552p2/449366.jpg]
[b:The Girls From Alcyone|13120464|The Girls From Alcyone (The Girls from Alcyone #1)|Cary Caffrey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327155584s/13120464.jpg|18295574] by [a:Cary Caffrey|5354569|Cary Caffrey|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1383654198p2/5354569.jpg]
[b:The Narrowing Path|18460869|The Narrowing Path|David J. Normoyle|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378462846s/18460869.jpg|24887822] by [a:David J. Normoyle|4684814|David J. Normoyle|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1378752233p2/4684814.jpg]
[b:The Rain|20694827|The Rain (A Post-Apocalyptic Story)|Joseph A. Turkot|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391332287s/20694827.jpg|33728264] by [a:Joseph A. Turkot|5312609|Joseph A. Turkot|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1352159128p2/5312609.jpg]
[b:Virulent The Release|17285841|The Release (Virulent, #1)|Shelbi Wescott|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359184475s/17285841.jpg|23905440] by [a:Shelbi Wescott|6906145|Shelbi Wescott|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362505295p2/6906145.jpg]
[b:External Forces|18165962|External Forces (The Laws of Motion #1)|Deborah Rix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374184322s/18165962.jpg|25531228] by [a:Deborah Rix|7162675|Deborah Rix|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1380000789p2/7162675.jpg]
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
[b:Open Minds|12727768|Open Minds (Mindjack Trilogy, #1)|Susan Kaye Quinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389593158s/12727768.jpg|17864554] by [a:Susan Kaye Quinn|4094557|Susan Kaye Quinn|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1277246178p2/4094557.jpg]
[b:The Moon Dwellers|13931214|The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers, #1)|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339737488s/13931214.jpg|19566155] by [a:David Estes|3167424|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1359857929p2/3167424.jpg]
...is book one of a seven book saga about the human race and their fight for survival. Adele Rose and Tristan Nailin come from two very different realities. Adele lives in the Moon Realm, has always known what it is to be poor, and when her parents are convicted of treason is sent to the Pen (a juvenile detention center). Adele's only goal is to escape and find her family. Tristan lives in the Sun Realm, the son of the president he knows only a life a luxury. Fed up with the rules of his father, Tristan with his best friend Roc leave to see if they can make a change.
So I seriously loved this book! The author alternates first person POV between Tristan and Adele giving you a full picture of the world they live in. I'll admit that it was hard to follow for the first few chapters until I got use to the characters but then the story flowed well.
Adele is a wonderful female lead character. She's strong-willed, independent, a fighter, and not afraid to go after what she wants, which in this case is her family. And Tristan....I love Tristan! When I was reading about Tristan, my mind immediately went to Prince William...you know born to rule, everyone knows his face, charismatic persona, yet no one really knows him. Tristan doesn't want his father's life though, and he has this natural self-depreciating humor, he just doesn't take his role in the Tri-Realms seriously. But the two main characters are not the only ones to make up this story. Adele's two friends Cole and Tawni and Tristan's best friend and servant Roc make our main characters' flaws and strengths known. Not to mention the constant banter between Roc and Tristan had me laughing out loud!
This story is well-developed with strong dystopian themes, lots of suspense, a little mystery and an undercurrent of romance. The world-building is subtle yet believable and is explained/revealed as the story unfolds, rather than given to you all at once. I loved this! It was much easier to stay invested in the main plot, which was two-fold. First Adele along with her new friends Tawni and Cole escape the Pen to find her family. And second Tristan who after a chance glimpse of a mysterious Moon Dweller had a strange painful experience decides it's time to leave his father and find this Moon Dweller to discover the reason for the pain.
Overall I highly recommend this book! It was a fast, easy read with an intricate dystopian tale, lots of suspense and action to drive the plot and just a hint of romance. I read this book in just under a day, and I can't wait to start the next one. If you like young adult dystopians, you don't want to miss out on this one!
[b:Prison Nation|13141794|Prison Nation (Prison Nation, #1)|Jenni Merritt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348997135s/13141794.jpg|18318945] by [a:Jenni Merritt|5032809|Jenni Merritt|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1323116690p2/5032809.jpg]
[b:daynight|18625293|Daynight (Daynight, #1)|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380862499s/18625293.jpg|21982405] by [a:Megan Thomason|6578897|Megan Thomason|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353133187p2/6578897.jpg]
...is book one of the daynight series and lays the foundation for an excellent series! The story revolves around Kira Donovan and Blake Sundry, the latest SCI (Second Chance Institute) Recruits. Kira joins to escape the past that haunts her and Blake joined to bring the SCI down, but he will need Kira's help to do so. The problem lies in if he can trust her and if she should trust him.
This review is really hard for me to write. There are so many twists and turns and surprises that come throughout the book I'm afraid to reveal too much and spoil the book for you! Let me break it down this way:
The Characters
There are really three main characters and the POVs alternate between the three giving you a much clearer picture of this new world and what the characters' think and believe. Kira Donovan is a type A personality and highly loyal to her friends and family. After an explosion kills her friends and most of her high school class she joins the SCI hoping that being away from her home will distract her from the memories that haunt her. Blake Sundry went to high school with Kira, and he has the bad boy kind of loser reputation. But he is anything except a loser. Blake knows what the SCI really does and he is there to bring them down, but with Kira as a partner he will need her help. Ethan Darcton is the son of the senior Ten (head of SCI) and briefly meets Kira before the explosion that killed her friends. Kira believes him dead, but Ethan has strict instructions to stay away from her. However he believes he loves her and wants her to be his.
Thera
Okay here's where things get confusing, or at least for me it was slightly confusing. Thera is the sister-planet to Earth. Basically it's like a reverse copy of Earth. Where there's land on Earth, there's water on Thera and vise versa. Thera is much hotter than Earth, to the point that Therans sleep during the day and work at night when temperatures are still 100-120 degrees. The SCI rules Thera and they are kind of like dictators with strict political rules. If the rules are broken, you are Exiled or killed. To be Exiled means you live off the land outside of the cities of Thera, which is basically a death sentence.
Plot
This story revolves around Kira finding out about the SCI, they're convoluted government, rules, and Thera. The more that is revealed the more Kira realizes how bad this government is and their reach on Earth. Kira must decide what to do. Does she side with Blake and his revolution or Ethan and keep the peace on Thera?
That's really a dumb-downed version of the plot. Like I said there are so many surprises throughout the book I can't reveal much without spoiling it and I don't want to do that! There's a ton of action, surprises that I couldn't guess, and a little romance. Kira is actually quite confused by her feelings throughout the book, which means that yes there is the dreaded love triangle. And it really is dreaded in this book! You have Blake, who is her confidant and friend, her partner on this new planet. And then you have perfect Ethan, who is unavailable and seems to be lying to her. This triangle should not exist!!! It detracted from the main plot and made the characters kinda whiny. Hence the reason for three stars and not four or five.
Overall there is a ton of action in this book, lots of surprises and like I said some romance which with that aside lays the groundwork for an amazing series. As soon as I finished book one, which let me tell you culminates in one finally big surprise and then abruptly ends!!!!, I rushed and bought book two and the bridge novella. Having already read them, I can tell you it is a very good series and I'm dying for book three! If you enjoy young adult dystopians with a little romance and a whole lot of action, I highly recommend this book!
[b:Stitch|15779886|Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)|Samantha Durante|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343769353s/15779886.jpg|21494430] by [a:Samantha Durante|6453465|Samantha Durante|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1364153903p2/6453465.jpg]
[b:The Annihilation of Foreverland|13368166|The Annihilation of Foreverland (Foreverland, #1)|Tony Bertauski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339717282s/13368166.jpg|18597276] by [a:Tony Bertauski|449366|Tony Bertauski|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1293454552p2/449366.jpg]
[b:The Girls From Alcyone|13120464|The Girls From Alcyone (The Girls from Alcyone #1)|Cary Caffrey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327155584s/13120464.jpg|18295574] by [a:Cary Caffrey|5354569|Cary Caffrey|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1383654198p2/5354569.jpg]
[b:The Narrowing Path|18460869|The Narrowing Path|David J. Normoyle|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378462846s/18460869.jpg|24887822] by [a:David J. Normoyle|4684814|David J. Normoyle|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1378752233p2/4684814.jpg]
[b:The Rain|20694827|The Rain (A Post-Apocalyptic Story)|Joseph A. Turkot|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391332287s/20694827.jpg|33728264] by [a:Joseph A. Turkot|5312609|Joseph A. Turkot|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1352159128p2/5312609.jpg]
[b:Virulent The Release|17285841|The Release (Virulent, #1)|Shelbi Wescott|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359184475s/17285841.jpg|23905440] by [a:Shelbi Wescott|6906145|Shelbi Wescott|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362505295p2/6906145.jpg]
[b:External Forces|18165962|External Forces (The Laws of Motion #1)|Deborah Rix|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374184322s/18165962.jpg|25531228] by [a:Deborah Rix|7162675|Deborah Rix|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1380000789p2/7162675.jpg]
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I don't even know where to begin!
Hope Rising by [a:Stacy Henrie|5778153|Stacy Henrie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1340140237p2/5778153.jpg] is book two of her Of Love and War series and tells the story of Evelyn, a war nurse, and Joel, Livy's surviving brother and soldier. Joel is fighting at the front lines when he is injured and his best friend is killed. He is sent to the nunnery turned hospital where Evelyn works to be treated. Evelyn on her last leave fell in love with a soldier...(do you see where this is going?) Now she is pregnant and Joel brings news that her soldier, the man who told her he'd marry her is dead.
Evelyn is a finicky character to me. I had a hard time liking/relating to her. The book starts with her defending her morals. She won't fraternize with the soldiers because it's against the rules, then in a moment of weakness she decides a coffee won't hurt, next thing you know it's 12 weeks later and oops! She's pregnant. Okay I can overlook that. Then she receives news that Ralph (that's the soldier) is dead via his best friend, the irresistible and handsome Joel. She says she'll never love again. But then she makes this proposal to Joel (I'll go there in a minute) that completely contradicts that. I get it she's a woman, it's her job to change her mind, but really?! Honestly though I didn't connect with Evelyn, by the end of the story I was able to see things from her point of view and sympathized with her. So it's not all bad!
Joel reminds me of a guy-version of Livy from book one. Joel is the oldest child, has received news that his brother is dead, his sister is now married, and now his best friend dies in a battle that Joel feels guilty for. His struggles are relatable as he struggles with overwhelming guilt and grief, and also struggles with his faith in God. Joel doesn't ever give up on Him completely. He learns after his injuries that the life he's always wanted is no longer possible (not saying more because spoilers!!!) and he questions the path God has set him on. Then he meets Evelyn the girl Ralph was going on and on about, learns of her predicament and questions what he should do. He feels an overwhelming need to help her, but the question is how.
Back to Evelyn's unusual proposal...Okay so I struggled with whether or not to include this in my review, but I decided it would be okay because it occurs fairly early in the book. However I'm putting in a spoiler box so if you wish to skip it you can. I don't think it will spoil the book though if you read it. Joel wanting to help Evelyn as much as he can, decides to become her friend and get to know her. Their relationship blossoms into a beautiful friendship as they grieve together and learn to lean on one another.
I liked their relationship! I felt that it progressed naturally and the author does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life. In addition to the characters is the landscape of scenery of war in Europe and the life these people live. It's written in such a way that you feel the action and the dreary mud and rain, but also the bright spots of sun and happiness.
Overall I laughed, I cried, and my heart ached for these characters and the trials they were put through. Historical fiction has always been one of my vices and this author has done her research, keeping the time and culture present throughout the book. Not only that but it is a clean read with Christian influence throughout which just enhances it for me. If you enjoy historical romance, clean romance, and inspirational fiction I highly suggest you check out not just this book but all of Henrie's novels!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Hope Rising by [a:Stacy Henrie|5778153|Stacy Henrie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1340140237p2/5778153.jpg] is book two of her Of Love and War series and tells the story of Evelyn, a war nurse, and Joel, Livy's surviving brother and soldier. Joel is fighting at the front lines when he is injured and his best friend is killed. He is sent to the nunnery turned hospital where Evelyn works to be treated. Evelyn on her last leave fell in love with a soldier...(do you see where this is going?) Now she is pregnant and Joel brings news that her soldier, the man who told her he'd marry her is dead.
Evelyn is a finicky character to me. I had a hard time liking/relating to her. The book starts with her defending her morals. She won't fraternize with the soldiers because it's against the rules, then in a moment of weakness she decides a coffee won't hurt, next thing you know it's 12 weeks later and oops! She's pregnant. Okay I can overlook that. Then she receives news that Ralph (that's the soldier) is dead via his best friend, the irresistible and handsome Joel. She says she'll never love again. But then she makes this proposal to Joel (I'll go there in a minute) that completely contradicts that. I get it she's a woman, it's her job to change her mind, but really?! Honestly though I didn't connect with Evelyn, by the end of the story I was able to see things from her point of view and sympathized with her. So it's not all bad!
Joel reminds me of a guy-version of Livy from book one. Joel is the oldest child, has received news that his brother is dead, his sister is now married, and now his best friend dies in a battle that Joel feels guilty for. His struggles are relatable as he struggles with overwhelming guilt and grief, and also struggles with his faith in God. Joel doesn't ever give up on Him completely. He learns after his injuries that the life he's always wanted is no longer possible (not saying more because spoilers!!!) and he questions the path God has set him on. Then he meets Evelyn the girl Ralph was going on and on about, learns of her predicament and questions what he should do. He feels an overwhelming need to help her, but the question is how.
Back to Evelyn's unusual proposal...Okay so I struggled with whether or not to include this in my review, but I decided it would be okay because it occurs fairly early in the book. However I'm putting in a spoiler box so if you wish to skip it you can. I don't think it will spoil the book though if you read it.
Spoiler
So Evelyn knows that once the army finds out she is pregnant she will be discharged and sent back to live with her grandparents an unwed mother. Her other option is to hide the pregnancy as long as she can and pray she doesn't get sent to the front lines. She creates another option when she learns that Joel's dreams have been crushed by his injuries and asks him to wed her.I liked their relationship! I felt that it progressed naturally and the author does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life. In addition to the characters is the landscape of scenery of war in Europe and the life these people live. It's written in such a way that you feel the action and the dreary mud and rain, but also the bright spots of sun and happiness.
Overall I laughed, I cried, and my heart ached for these characters and the trials they were put through. Historical fiction has always been one of my vices and this author has done her research, keeping the time and culture present throughout the book. Not only that but it is a clean read with Christian influence throughout which just enhances it for me. If you enjoy historical romance, clean romance, and inspirational fiction I highly suggest you check out not just this book but all of Henrie's novels!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
So I've been on this kick recently reading books that are very similar to Hallmark movies...Cinder & Ella fits that description! It's sweet, overly dramatic, and utterly predictable. It also leaves you with this ooey-gooey feeling like your insides have turned to mush. I kinda loved it!
On Ella Rodriguez's 18th birthday her life changes dramatically. Her mother is killed in a car accident that leaves Ella recovering from her own injuries in a hospital for 8 months. She misses the end of her senior year of school, loses touch with all of her friends, and she is forced to live with her father, a man who left her when she was 10. Basically anything and everything that could happen to this poor girl does. Her only constant is Cinder, a boy she's never met, an anonymous internet pen pal (for lack of better term).
Brian Oliver is Hollywood's heart-throb and is labeled as possibly "the next big thing" if he can clean up his somewhat dismal reputation. His publicists come up with a plan, a terrible awful plan that had me screaming at my Kindle....a fake engagement with his co-star who happens to be a class-A B****! He goes along with the plan because he wants an Oscar nomination and well everyone pressures him too. Then he gets an email from his internet friend he believed was dead. Now everything changes!
This story is a sweet, loose re-telling of Cinderella. Ella is crippled from her accident, both emotionally and physically. She is forced to live with a father who abandoned her after her parents divorced and his new family, complete with step-mother and two evil step-twins. The step-twins make life for Ella difficult as they are threatened by her. Ella is now considered the ugly girl or at least she thinks she is. A lot of the story she struggles with the loss of her identity due to the crippling nature of her injuries and as most of the story comes from her own perspective I believe she sees what she wants (meaning that maybe not all the people looked at her as she looks at herself). Brian is the prince of the story and really he has a lot to live up to. Honestly though I thought he nailed it.
The basic premise of the story is that Ella now needs to cope with her new life, but she feels unable to do so, hindered by her own emotions towards her injuries. Cinder helps her through this and the book revolves around their will they/won't they meet and fall in love. As I said, it's sweet and very predictable, but charming and heart-warming all at the same time. The best part, it's a fairly clean romance and fits both the New Adult and Young Adult genre :) If you enjoy sweet, heart-warming romance, get a box of tissues and go read this book!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
On Ella Rodriguez's 18th birthday her life changes dramatically. Her mother is killed in a car accident that leaves Ella recovering from her own injuries in a hospital for 8 months. She misses the end of her senior year of school, loses touch with all of her friends, and she is forced to live with her father, a man who left her when she was 10. Basically anything and everything that could happen to this poor girl does. Her only constant is Cinder, a boy she's never met, an anonymous internet pen pal (for lack of better term).
Brian Oliver is Hollywood's heart-throb and is labeled as possibly "the next big thing" if he can clean up his somewhat dismal reputation. His publicists come up with a plan, a terrible awful plan that had me screaming at my Kindle....a fake engagement with his co-star who happens to be a class-A B****! He goes along with the plan because he wants an Oscar nomination and well everyone pressures him too. Then he gets an email from his internet friend he believed was dead. Now everything changes!
This story is a sweet, loose re-telling of Cinderella. Ella is crippled from her accident, both emotionally and physically. She is forced to live with a father who abandoned her after her parents divorced and his new family, complete with step-mother and two evil step-twins. The step-twins make life for Ella difficult as they are threatened by her. Ella is now considered the ugly girl or at least she thinks she is. A lot of the story she struggles with the loss of her identity due to the crippling nature of her injuries and as most of the story comes from her own perspective I believe she sees what she wants (meaning that maybe not all the people looked at her as she looks at herself). Brian is the prince of the story and really he has a lot to live up to. Honestly though I thought he nailed it.
The basic premise of the story is that Ella now needs to cope with her new life, but she feels unable to do so, hindered by her own emotions towards her injuries. Cinder helps her through this and the book revolves around their will they/won't they meet and fall in love. As I said, it's sweet and very predictable, but charming and heart-warming all at the same time. The best part, it's a fairly clean romance and fits both the New Adult and Young Adult genre :) If you enjoy sweet, heart-warming romance, get a box of tissues and go read this book!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Karey White is after my heart! This book is adorable, funny, and a tribute to all Pride & Prejudice fans (specifically the movie with the extremely handsome Matthew MacFayden in it).
My Own Mr. Darcy begins with a trip to the theater. Lizzie and her best friend Janessa are dragged to the theater by Lizzie's mother to see the 2005 movie Pride & Prejudice. Skeptical and not wanting to see the movie, Lizzie reluctantly agrees to go as she has the book as an English assignment. Then magic happens in the form of Matthew MacFayden.
Flash-forward six years, Lizzie is now a college-educated adult working as a bank teller because unfortunately for her the economy sucks and no one needs/can afford an interior designer. She's smart, funny, and a bit naive, but that's what makes her character so lovable. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy is one I can relate to, however she takes it a bit too far and it is really unhealthy, which makes for a great read :D
When I say her obsession is unhealthy, I mean that she doesn't give guys a second glance unless they look like Matthew MacFayden AND carry his persona as Mr. Darcy. This makes for a very uninteresting love life for our poor lead character as in the six years since the movie she's gone on multiple first dates knowing full well she will not give the guy a second. In a moment of weakness she tells her BFF Janessa about her dream guy and now at twenty-two after another dead end date her friend (who I truly love) gives her a challenge. Lizzie must give the next guy ten dates before deciding he's not the one.
That guy is the incredibly, super-sweet and nice looking Chad, who puts himself out there by asking Lizzie on a date at a supermarket after striking up a conversation. I have to say I fell in love with Chad before Lizzie was forced by Janessa with the challenge to date him. He's funny and seems so in sync with Lizzie. Not to mention he's just an all-around good guy. He genuinely cares about Lizzie, something that as the reader I picked up way before Lizzie did.
Unfortunately for Chad after their second date, Mr. Darcy...oops I mean Matt Dawson walks in to Lizzie's bank. He's perfect, or at least he is to Lizzie. He looks just like Matthew MacFayden, he's arrogant, and he's got money too. Not that Lizzie cares about the money. I must say I didn't care for Matt Dawson much. He was cold, conceited, and very much what Mr. Darcy was in the beginning of the movie and never warmed up.
The author does a fantastic job of setting up this story and its characters. Told in first-person from Lizzie's perspective, the reader has a good understanding of her "dream" and can easily pick up on the other character's feelings based on their actions (verbal and nonverbal). It's truly written well as I could see through Lizzie's eyes what a perfect match Chad was for her starting with their second date. It was obvious she was attracted to him, but fought it because of her dream. Then there was Matt Dawson who was the picture perfect guy until she started to get to know him.
How long do you fight for your dream though? And when is it time to say enough? These are the questions addressed in the book along with this important question: When is it time to admit that sometimes what you have planned for yourself isn't always what you need?
So as a huge Pride & Prejudice fan, and not just the 2005 movie, I like how the author incorporated the story into Lizzie. Her pride, or rather stubbornness, with her obsession and her prejudice against any man who didn't fit the Mr. Darcy mold made for an entertaining, light-hearted read. Remember the Hallmark movie kick I've been on recently...this book fits that description and I'd love to see on my small screen but only if Matthew MacFayden would play Matt Dawson. If you like clean contemporary romance, I highly suggest you check out this book. It's a wonderful, easy read!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
My Own Mr. Darcy begins with a trip to the theater. Lizzie and her best friend Janessa are dragged to the theater by Lizzie's mother to see the 2005 movie Pride & Prejudice. Skeptical and not wanting to see the movie, Lizzie reluctantly agrees to go as she has the book as an English assignment. Then magic happens in the form of Matthew MacFayden.
I was enchanted. I ached for it to go on and on and dreaded the moment it would end. Every time Mr. Darcy was on the screen, I melted. When he looked at Elizabeth, I couldn't breathe. When he helped her into the carriage, I gripped the armrest a little tighter. When he danced with her my heart stopped beating for a second. He was the most intriguing man I'd ever seen.Yes, Lizzie...every girl and woman who saw this movie as you did felt exactly the same way :D And so begins the obsession that spurns the title...
That night a dream was born. I'd discovered what I wanted, what I knew someday I must have. I knew I could never be satisfied until I found it. I wanted my own Mr. Darcy.
Flash-forward six years, Lizzie is now a college-educated adult working as a bank teller because unfortunately for her the economy sucks and no one needs/can afford an interior designer. She's smart, funny, and a bit naive, but that's what makes her character so lovable. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy is one I can relate to, however she takes it a bit too far and it is really unhealthy, which makes for a great read :D
When I say her obsession is unhealthy, I mean that she doesn't give guys a second glance unless they look like Matthew MacFayden AND carry his persona as Mr. Darcy. This makes for a very uninteresting love life for our poor lead character as in the six years since the movie she's gone on multiple first dates knowing full well she will not give the guy a second. In a moment of weakness she tells her BFF Janessa about her dream guy and now at twenty-two after another dead end date her friend (who I truly love) gives her a challenge. Lizzie must give the next guy ten dates before deciding he's not the one.
That guy is the incredibly, super-sweet and nice looking Chad, who puts himself out there by asking Lizzie on a date at a supermarket after striking up a conversation. I have to say I fell in love with Chad before Lizzie was forced by Janessa with the challenge to date him. He's funny and seems so in sync with Lizzie. Not to mention he's just an all-around good guy. He genuinely cares about Lizzie, something that as the reader I picked up way before Lizzie did.
Unfortunately for Chad after their second date, Mr. Darcy...oops I mean Matt Dawson walks in to Lizzie's bank. He's perfect, or at least he is to Lizzie. He looks just like Matthew MacFayden, he's arrogant, and he's got money too. Not that Lizzie cares about the money. I must say I didn't care for Matt Dawson much. He was cold, conceited, and very much what Mr. Darcy was in the beginning of the movie and never warmed up.
The author does a fantastic job of setting up this story and its characters. Told in first-person from Lizzie's perspective, the reader has a good understanding of her "dream" and can easily pick up on the other character's feelings based on their actions (verbal and nonverbal). It's truly written well as I could see through Lizzie's eyes what a perfect match Chad was for her starting with their second date. It was obvious she was attracted to him, but fought it because of her dream. Then there was Matt Dawson who was the picture perfect guy until she started to get to know him.
How long do you fight for your dream though? And when is it time to say enough? These are the questions addressed in the book along with this important question: When is it time to admit that sometimes what you have planned for yourself isn't always what you need?
So as a huge Pride & Prejudice fan, and not just the 2005 movie, I like how the author incorporated the story into Lizzie. Her pride, or rather stubbornness, with her obsession and her prejudice against any man who didn't fit the Mr. Darcy mold made for an entertaining, light-hearted read. Remember the Hallmark movie kick I've been on recently...this book fits that description and I'd love to see on my small screen but only if Matthew MacFayden would play Matt Dawson. If you like clean contemporary romance, I highly suggest you check out this book. It's a wonderful, easy read!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.