Made me cry

Book Review — COMING HOME by Priscilla Glenn

January 22, 2014 by Aestas · 4 Comments

“I could suffer through anything if you were my reward.”

Holy WOW — this book was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!!

Coming Home was a captivating, beautifully written and deeply heartfelt romance that left me with the powerful message that love is stronger than anything. This is the kind of story that grabs a hold of your heart and doesn’t let go. It was a joy to read and I loved every single word — from the first page to the very last.

I honestly can’t even describe how full my heart felt while I was reading this. Throughout the whole story, there was this quiet intensity that kept me breathless, brimming with emotion, and completely connected.

I think it’s a sign of the author’s talent when, at the very beginning of the story — before knowing anything about the characters, or their story, or their personalities, etc — you can genuinely feel that complete connection to them and that was what happened here from the moment I started reading this book.

The story follows Leah who, on a nostalgic visit back to the house she grew up in, meets Danny, a gorgeous and mysterious mechanic. A bad relationship in her past had broken her trust making her prefer to stay away from relationships rather than put her heart out on the line again. Danny was the first guy in two years who made her feel like it was worth the risk, but he was hiding a huge secret …

Ok, even I’ll admit that what I just said there *points above* is probably THE most vague book description I’ve ever given. But there’s a reason. Honestly, this book was perfect to me. I don’t have any complaints at all to make. But I do feel strongly that one of the things that makes reading this book so special is not knowing too much about it going in. Usually, I’m one of those people who kinda likes to know but in this case, I would honestly say that the less you know in advance, the more you’ll enjoy it. Just trust me, okay? 🙂

I could not stop smiling as I was reading. Danny and Leah just the kind of connection that I felt every step of the way. I fell in love as they fell in love and could just see every scene playing out in front of my eyes like a movie.

The pacing was perfect for this story. It was slow building, but in a way that gave you the time to genuinely believe the development of the relationship. They had an instant connection but the love that grew between them was built — moment by moment, scene after scene — and I absolutely loved the way it was portrayed.

Danny was the kind of hero who you can’t help but fall for. I think the best way to describe him was a good guy with streak of bad boy. This man was kind, caring, loyal, sweet, charming, a touch cocky, and very protective of those he loved. He melted my heart from the moment I met him and had me going crazy trying to figure out what his big secret was!!!

“I was kind of hoping I’d hate you. It would have been so much easier if you were a bitch, or an idiot, or someone who annoyed the shit out of it…But of course you weren’t any of those things… You were smart, and sweet… and fucking beautiful… I figured we could just be friends, you know? No harm in that, right?… But every time I talk to you, I like you more and more, and every time I see you, it’s so fucking hard, Leah.”

Leah was such a lovely heroine. Described by Danny as “the perfect mixture of snarky and sweet, confident and shy”, she’d had her trust broken and so giving it to someone new was a huge step for her, especially to someone who was hiding something from her. But the way she handled everything in the story made me respect her, over and over again.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can. You’re one of the strongest people I know, and I really hate that life keeps making you have to prove it.”

One of the things that I loved most in this story was that there was absolutely no ‘drama for drama’s sake’ and the entire story was driven forward by the natural pull of the story. And I especially loved that the beginning of the book took the time to fully connect me with the characters before revealing the secret that would put everything to the test.

I loved watching Danny and Leah slowly open up to each other, and learn to trust each other. It was beautiful, very believable romance – the kind I could see happening in real life.

“What’s a talent you have that not a lot of people know about?”

Danny chuckled suggestively, a low rumbling sound, and Leah felt a surge of heat run through her veins. She kicked her covers off as he said, “Hmm, I’m gonna keep it PG for now and go with that I can sing.”

The writing was absolutely beautiful. It flowed effortlessly and conveyed each emotion so strongly. It was one gorgeous, heartfelt moment after another. Some scenes made me laugh out loud and smile for pages on end, and others had me sitting there with silent tears pouring down my face. I felt everything!!! It was romantic, heart wrenching, uplifting, and just SUCH a beautiful reading experience.

Oh — and the TWIST!!! What a unique idea!! I actually have to say that I’ve never read this particular twist before. It took me by surprise and spun the story in a fantastic direction that had my heart in knots wondering how it could ever get sorted out. My heart was in my throat, pounding. I was overflowing with emotion. I just needed everything to be ok. The best way I can describe it would be ‘deliciously heart wrenching.’

“When you love someone, you don’t bail when it gets hard. That’s when you stay the most.”

I’d say one of the things that struck me the most with this book was that this was genuinely a story I’d never read before. It’s not ‘like’ any other one I’ve read. It was such a treat to be able to read something like that.

There’s a lot more that I want to say but won’t because I really don’t want to give anything about the plot away but I’ll just say that I was really impressed with the way the author wrote a certain part of the ending. The way she conveyed the inner struggle that the character was going through and they way she got us right into their mind was very powerful and compelling.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It had amazing dialogue, wonderful character dynamics, a completely original plotline, absolutely beautiful love scenes, and a deeply heartfelt, sexy, and believable romance that filled my heart with every possible emotion.

“I need you,” he said hoarsely. “I need you, Leah.”
“I’m yours,” she promised. “Always.”

Rating: 5 STARS!!! Highly recommended!!

This is a standalone contemporary romance.

Book Review – The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

April 30, 2013 by Aestas · 8 Comments

Buy THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (Kindle)

“You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.”

Life is unfair. Absolutely, positively unfair.

But, while not all stories have happy endings, but it doesn’t make their journey any less beautiful.

I’ll admit, I was terrified to read this. I’ve had a copy of it for the last year and every time I’ve come even close to starting it, I just chickened out and chose something else. But now, having read it, I’m actually kicking myself now for having put it off.

Honestly, what I expected of this book was just SO different from what it actually was and what my reaction to it was. I expected to sob uncontrollably, but I didn’t. I expected it to be mostly a sad book, but it wasn’t really, at least, not until the last third. And I expected most of it to take place in a hospital, it didn’t. I was wrong on pretty much every account, except the ending. I knew the ending. The thought of it alone made my heart break, but in the last few weeks something about this book has just kept me coming back to it, so I just went for it.

The ending is incredibly sad, but the book wasn’t sad as a whole. There were a lot of really sweet moments of just two teens falling in love. The ending reminds you of how unfair and cruel life can be but the story is beautiful.

Now, just to clarify about the tears, despite the fact that I didn’t actually cry or sob at the end (which was really surprising to me), today I’ve been feeling kind of “down” and “sad” and it made me realize that I think this book affected me much more deeply in a way that wasn’t quite so apparent as tears, but no less strong.

But, I did get SERIOUSLY choked up and teary at the end. I felt my heart break, and I deeply felt the incredible tragedy of their story.

That said, while I knew to expect sadness, what I didn’t expect at all was to laugh. I laughed, I smiled, and I chuckled. So much of this book was just downright cute and funny!

“So anyways, at the end of the [driving] test, I totally thought I’d failed again, but the instructor was like, “Your driving is unpleasant, but it isn’t technically unsafe.”

The book was told from Hazel’s POV and I loved her voice. She was just so full of life (ironic, yes, but very true!). As a teen, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. It was supposed to be terminal, but thanks to a miracle drug, she’d continued to live. And while she had to carry an oxygen tank around with her at all times she was still living her life, surrounded by her loving family and living each day to the best she could.

In Support Group, she met Augustus. Ohhh Augustus! So self-assured, gorgeous, witty, and just wonderful. He had a form of cancer that had an 80% survival rate, and was doing quite well for the most part. And he and Hazel struck up a friendship that, over the course of the book, developed into so much more.

When he first appeared on scene, I felt that sort of instant connection and love for him that you feel when you meet those special book characters that steal your heart. I knew when I met him though, that there was no way this book would not break my heart. He was just downright swoony – in an oddly witty and endearing way.

This book is full of absolutely beautiful quotes! The quotes were actually what made me decide to start the book. I see them posted everywhere and every time I read one, my heart just squeezes.

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.”

“That’s the thing about pain… It demands to be felt.”

“I took a deep breath through my nose. There was never enough air in the world, but the shortage was particularly acute in that moment.”

“It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

I will say this though. I did feel a slight disconnect from the book in certain places. There is a side story line revolving around a book that Hazel and Augustus are reading that at times I felt that certain scenes relating to it pulled me away from the main characters. I understand how vital it was to the story line, but (and I don’t know if this really makes sense to say this) I felt that they had so little time left that I just wanted to get back to ‘them’ and spend every minute focused on ‘them’.

For the first half of the book, I honestly spent most of it smiling. I loved watching Hazel and Augustus fall in love. It was slow, sweet, and beautiful… and sometimes you just forgot what they were going though. Sometimes, they just seemed like regular happy teens – gorgeously intelligent, fun, flirting teens.

“May I see you again?” he asked. There was an endearing nervousness to his voice.
I smiled. “Sure.”
“Tomorrow?” he asked.
“Patience, grasshopper,” I counseled. “you don’t want to seem overeager.”
“Right, that’s why I said tomorrow,” he said. “I want to see you again tonight. But I’m willing to wait all night and much of tomorrow.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’m serious,” he said.”

But then, in both small and huge ways, you get reminded of the things they’ve been through and continue to go through and it just hits you so strongly. Makes you wonder how they could possibly manage to be so happy? How had life not just broken them? They had been through everyone’s worst nightmares and yet were still so strong. Their resilience was heartwarming and inspiring.

But they were falling in love while living on borrowed time and when the inevitable reveal hit, it just broke my heart. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it easier. Not one bit.

As many of you know, this book does not have a happy ending. It’s tragic and gut-wrenching and will leave your heart aching.

“We’d had this brief but still infinite forever.”

“Maybe ‘okay’ will be our ‘always’.”

“I love you present tense”

It’s so rare for me to read a book that doesn’t have a happy ending, but I felt I had to make an exception in this case. The Fault In Our Stars was a beautiful book, with beautiful moments and a beautiful story. Augustus and Hazel have a special place in my heart now.

But yeah, my heart still hurts. A lot.

Okay?
Okay.

*sniff*

4.5 stars

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to read this book!

CASTING:

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

Book Review – This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover

April 30, 2013 by Aestas · 549 Comments

“I love you. I’ve loved you since the second I laid eyes on you and I haven’t stopped loving you for a second since.”

Buy #1 SLAMMED (Kindle) <—– start here
Buy #2 POINT OF RETREAT (Kindle)
Buy #3 THIS GIRL (Kindle) <—– that’s this book!!

THIS IS ME SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS !!!!!

THIS. BOOK. IS. PHENOMENAL.
I’m laughing. I’m crying. I’m shaking.
It was perfect. Every single line was perfect.
Beautiful. Heartbreak. Breathtaking.
Unputdownable.
Pure. butterflying. gold.

6 HUGE STARS!!!

Books like this are the reason why I love reading.

Colleen Hoover has outdone herself. She managed to take a story that we love and retell it from the hero’s POV while still making every single word of it feel new, fresh and powerful.

Yes, technically it’s a retelling of Slammed from Will’s POV but there is SO much more. There are new scenes, added story lines, and even a epilogue that is guaranteed to make your heart squeeze. Not one word of it felt repetitive.

Reading this book was like taking a beautiful walk down memory lane. It’s been over a year since I read Slammed and Point of Retreat. Those two books are one of the reasons I started blogging. Slammed was actually the first book ever that inspired me to write anything about it. At the time, it was only a small review paragraph where I tried to convey my love for the story but it was something. The depth to which those books hit me was unlike any other book I’d read at that point. I “felt” the story with every single part of my heart and soul.

But before starting This Girl, I didn’t have time to reread either of them and I wondered if I’d be able to connect to it as strongly as I did to the first two. But can I just say that barely 10 lines into the book, every, single emotion that the original books had instilled in me came flooding back. My heart clenched. My throat closed up. I was right back there. Right. There. In this beautifully crafted world, surrounded by the characters I’d come to love with my whole heart.

There is something simply magical about reading a book that revisits characters you are already in love with. EVERYTHING just has so much more weight. It’s like the best possible kind of reunion imaginable.

Do you need to re-read Slammed and Point of Retreat before reading this? No. But you do need to read them at least once first? For sure!

Without spoilers, I want to tell you a little about this book. The whole book is from Will’s POV. I know it’s being called “Slammed from Will’s POV” but it is so much more. It actually takes place after Point of Retreat and is a continuation of their story in that respect. But, a major part of the book, is Lake asking Will what his perspective was on a lot of the things they went through together, and asking him things about himself that neither she nor us (the readers) knew.

And because when you read this, you’ll already know the general story, something as simple as this line can just make your breath catch:

“I cross the street, unable to take my eyes off the girl in the U-Haul.”

And then, finally, after the alternate story of Slammed has been caught up, Will and Lake’s story progresses even farther ((cue the squeeling)) including an absolutely perfect, utterly beautiful, heartwarming epilogue that literally left me smiling, crying and shaking.

“She doesn’t speak, but she doesn’t have to. I know in these moments when it’s just her and me and nothing else, that she truly, soul-deep, loves me.”

I could NOT put this book down. It was riveting, captivating, and I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn’t even notice that I literally read until the sun came up. I wanted both to rush through it and yet also to read it as slow as possible to savor every and every world. It absolutely consumed me.

This book was perfect from start to finish. It captured that heart-fluttering power of first love told from the POV of one of our favorite book heroes. Everything was just so emotionally charged – the flirting, the introduction, the crushing, the chemistry, the sheer, raw, passionate intensity that just rolled off the page. Like I said, perfect!

“I can’t remember feeling this way since… well, ever. It’s new. It’s scary. It’s exciting. It’s nerve-wracking. It’s calming. It’s every single emotion I’ve ever felt balled up into an intense urge to grab a hold of her and never let go.”

There are also new slams!! A few of them actually. And ohhhhh my are they ever beautiful! You know, I’ve never been into poetry, for some reason I just can’t seem to get into it, but the slams in this series are just so POWERFUL that you can’t help but “feel” them.

For those of you who have yet to start this series, you should know that there is a reason that Colleen Hoover is getting the acclaim she’s receiving right now. Everything about her writing – the story, the style, the characters, is simply breathtaking. The sheer level of raw, powerful EMOTION that exists in nearly every line of this book is just overwhelming. I loved every minute. Her words speak straight to your soul.

“I suddenly don’t care where we are or who might be watching us. I have to kiss her. I have to.”

I laughed, I cried, and sometimes I laughed through my tears. And when the FULL understanding of the title hit me, I can’t even describe to you what I felt. Just. WOW.

My 6-star book list is reserved for those few books that, from start to finish, go above and beyond. That grab a hold of my heart so strongly that a year later, I can just pick the books up and the emotions are right THERE. That tell a story that is so beautiful, real, original, and powerful that it leaves a mark on my heart that I know will be there for ever.

This book did that.

Soul deep, guys.

Just, butterflying perfect.

Rating: 6 huge stars.

Casting: This is how I see Will.

♥♥♥♥

♥♥ READING ORDER + BOOK INFO ♥♥

These books should absolutely be read in order.
Each of the books in this series got a 6 star rating from me.

Book #1 — SLAMMED
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #2 — POINT OF RETREAT
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #3 — THIS GIRL
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

♥♥ LISTS ♥♥

And, it goes without saying that THIS GIRL
has been added to my list of Best Books of 2013

Book Review – The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred

June 19, 2012 by Aestas · 21 Comments

“You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Alix, the only one I’ll ever want. That’s a promise.”

Buy THE SWEET GUM TREE (Kindle)

Oh WOW !!! What an AMAZING book!! Love! love! love!!

I’m a mess – it was an intense, utterly riveting book that I literally could not put down, that kept my heart racing, kept me near tears for a good chunk of it, that had me hanging off of every word that I read, and the story just ripped my heart out but yet still had a very sweet ending.

The writing was beautiful and flowed effortlessly, the characters were vivid, and the story was gripping and sucked you right it from the start.

If you are looking for a captivating, bittersweet, emotional read with a happy ending, this is it!

I started reading this book around midnight after a whole day of traveling expecting to just read for an hour and put it down. Boy was I wrong! I read straight through the night and finished the book around 6am when the sun came up!! I just couldn’t tear myself away from it!

The first half of the book starts out in a small Southern town where Alix, an 8 year-old girl from a very well-respected family who reaches out to help Nick, the 10-year old son of a dead-beat drunk who owns the local salvage yard. She befriends him and over the years, her family shelters him as he and Alix grow closer and closer. Even from a young age, they have a connection that is just so beautiful and powerful.

“…while I was vowing to save Nick, he had taken on the job of being my protector and staunchest defender.”

As they grow up, it becomes impossible for them to deny the love they’ve always had for each other.

“There was only one boy I wanted, and I lived for the times when I could be alone with him. It was simple. When I was with Nick, I was happy. When I wasn’t, I was restless and miserable.”

But when tragedy outside of their control strikes, Nick is forced to leave town. The second half of the book occurs 15 years later when Nick returns home and tries with everything he’s got to put their relationship back together.

This book got me so into it, that when I read these words, ““Then, fifteen years after he left, Nick came home.”, I just felt my heart clenched right up and tears literally just started falling from my cheeks. I just needed things to be made right again so badly.

“Do you want to know the real reason I came back, Alix? It was because of you. You’re my roots. Wherever you are would be home to me…I’ve never stopped loving you. I won’t give up that easily.”

There is a huge twist to the story with secrets that come out explaining the true reason why he had to leave that had me almost hyperventilating and clutching at my heart.

This story is about powerful love, loss and betrayal, family, second chances, secrets that test the strength of family and relationship bonds, overcoming prejudices, but most importantly its about a very beautiful and sweet love story that start when Alix and Nick were young and never lets go throughout all the years of hardship.

The book was told from Alix’s perspective – almost as if she were retelling it from the end. But I loved how, especially in the first part of the book when she is a child, she explains it through the eyes of child while still giving insight on the side from her adult, mature self.

I just totally fell in love with Nick. He’s was exactly my kind of hero – first he was totally HOT, but what really melted my heart was how protective he was. I just love that quality in a man. And he was just such a GOOD guy – so respectful, always trying to do the right thing, and he was just completely, utterly swoony. I’m smiling as I write this just thinking about him.

But that isn’t to say that he (or Alix) was perfect – they made their fair share of mistakes but the mistakes were understandable… I didn’t always agree with what they did, but I could totally understand why they did it. But the strength of their love for each other won out in the end.

The intensity of Nick and Alix’s love took my breath away at times and while there are a fair number of sex scenes, they are not portrayed very graphically. They are more focused on descriptions of emotions rather than acts.

I think fans of Take This Regret will really enjoy this book, and vice versa.

This book is going on my favorites shelf! Absolutely LOVED it!! A must-read!!

Rating: 5 stars. Standalone romance.

Buy THE SWEET GUM TREE (Kindle)

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