How To Fall In Love by Cecelia Ahern

First Published: 24 Oct 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Pages: 327
Format: Paperback
Finished Date: 6 Aug 2015

Synopsis

She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life.

Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump. Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him she can show him that life is worth living before then.

Despite her determination, Christine knows what a dangerous promise she’s made. Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life.

But has she done enough to change his mind for good? And is that all that’s starting to happen?

My Rating

My Review

I don’t know what to say. But Cecelia Ahern has written a book that just touches my very heart. I can’t exactly say why or how, but I love how she dealt with such a big issue. I loved how she didn’t try to sugarcoat it, but just gave it to us plainly and simply. I can’t really say how much I love this book; I can’t even point out my favorite scenes. It’s like every scene in the book (at least, those involving Adam and Christine) was written in a way that it was amazing on its own but it had to all be put together because they all fit like a jigsaw.

Christine’s determination was impressive. I saw how she wasn’t happy, but she chose to live on and keep trying to fix the problems. And then we see Adam, who is so different from her. It was a very interesting pairing, but it just worked. I loved seeing how Christine was always so positive and trying her best to feel alive, that it just changes the people around her. Some people are just born with a sense of happiness emanating from them, and I think Christine was one of them. She might not have been happy herself, perhaps even depressed, but the way she always looked for the best in things makes one inspired to find that little spark of positivity too.

Sure, there were some story arcs that weren’t fully explored, or that seemingly made no sense. But life is like that, isn’t it? Sometimes it makes no sense. I think that’s the beauty in life sometimes. Its just so random and random things just happen, but you have to find the joy in them.

This story was truly heartwarming. I really enjoyed seeing how they both slowly fell in love – with each other, and with life. It was beautiful how as she tried to heal him, she got healed too. That through the imperfections and the brokenness, they healed each other along the way. And I loved how in this book, love wasn’t a crutch that they leant upon to somehow magically fix themselves, but love here healed and subtly showed them the way to fix things.

This was truly an amazing read, and I’m honored to have the chance to read it.

Shattered Veil by Tracy E. Banghart (The Diatous Wars #1)

First Published: 24 February 2014
Series: The Diatous Wars #1
Pages: 377
Format: Ebook
Finished Date: 4 June 2014

Synopsis

When everything that defines you is stripped away, who do you become?

War has invaded Atalanta’s quiet villages and lush woodlands, igniting whispered worries in its glittering capitol. Far from the front lines, 18-year-old Aris Haan, a talented wingjet flyer, has little cause for concern. Until her beloved Calix is thrust into the fray, and a stranger makes her an impossible offer: the chance to join a secret army of women embedded within the all-male military.

Aris’s choice to follow Calix to war will do more than put her in physical danger; it will make her question everything she believes about herself. When she and her enigmatic commander uncover a deadly conspiracy, her expert flying may be the only hope for her dominion’s survival…and her own.

It’s Mulan meets Battlestar Galactica, with a heroine who is strong enough to save a nation…but only if she’s willing to sacrifice everything, even the one promise she swore she’d never break.

**WINNER** 2014 IndieReader Discovery Awards: 2nd Place, Fiction

My Rating

My Review

Shattered Veil was fantastic. It was extremely well-written, with an awesome cast of characters, great character building, a solid plot and an interesting concept. To top all that off? It has a really pretty cover too. Oh and before I get started? 1 disclaimer. I absolutely cannot spell veil and keep spelling it as ‘viel’ instead. So forgive me in advance if there’s any spelling errors over veil haha:)

I feel the need to spaz over character development first. I mean, like seriously. Shattered Veil has one of the best character developments I have ever read. It is so real and appropriate to everything that Aris, our female lead, goes through. Never once was I skeptical over her conclusions and reactions to an event that took place. In this aspect, I think the writing is flawless.

Aris may have started out with selfish reasons, ie wanting to be with Calix, the guy she loves. But it’s the journey that she is taken on, a journey of self-discovery, of strength, of growing up. She is extremely relatable and all her actions make sense. I loved the decisions she made towards the end, when she realized it wasn’t about herself, it wasn’t even about Calix anymore and hadn’t been for a long time. I think I especially loved how she wasn’t all perfect. Even though she could very well have been the best Flyer, this was counterbalanced by her slight walking disability and that she was physically not very strong. And the way she powered through that and overcame her challenges? That was inspiring. I don’t care that it was done for Calix, because I believe in love. I believe in love that pushes someone through all his or her difficulties, just to be with the other person. Maybe it wasn’t the most noble thing she could have done. I mean, it’s a war after all, people should be concerned more about saving lives and ending the war, than about a single other person or themselves. I don’t like perfect heroines, I love heroines that have flaws, that have to fight for their place in life, but also not arrogant with what they have. In Aris, I found all these qualities I love in a heroine.

The plot, too, was fantastic. It was very well laid out and engaging. I couldn’t put the book down, and all I could think about was when I would be able to read again, when I had no choice but to put it down. I love Ms. Tracy Banghart’s writing style. It’s simple, yet it doesn’t talk down to you. You feel like you’re actually there, beside Aris as she experiences it. Oh, how I wish I could fly like Aris. Maybe the action wasn’t very long but that didn’t bother me. I loved seeing how the experiences shaped Aris. And that confrontation with Calix? Alright, not confrontation exactly. Conversation, more like. That was one of the best parts of the book in my opinion.

Even the world building was fantastic. I really want to know more about the world and every little glimpse I’m given into it makes it more interesting. I think it was just enough to sate my curiosity, yet not overwhelming. This isn’t exactly a dystopian, even though choices can get taken away from you. Still, it is a fair system in my opinion. And the wards of each dominion changes things a little. Reminds me a bit of a game where you have to choose what best to do with your country. Like the game Civilizations haha. I love that game!

If I have one complaint, its that the thing with Major Milek was a little abrupt. Actually, I’m not surprised or even unhappy about it. I mean, its kinda sweet how such things happen I feel. Perhaps I just wanted a little more. But I have no doubts I’ll get it in the next book:)

You know that feeling you get when you finish an excellent book and you’re left smiling after it? Then a few days later, you think about the book again and you’re like, oh wow that was fantastic, I need that again!! And the whole host of emotions that you experience that I have no idea how to put into words. Yep, I got all that with Shattered Veil. Its been quite a while since I read such a good book and I cannot thank the author enough for writing such a good story and giving me the chance to read it. I am so excited to read the next book now, and it couldn’t come sooner. Now, time to go check out Ms. Banghart’s backlist:)

Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. All views posted here are mine alone.

Blog Tour: When The Silence Ends by Jade Kerrion - Review + Author Interview

When The Silence Ends

When you choose your friends, you also choose your enemies.

Seventeen-year old Dee wants nothing more than to help her twin brother, Dum, break free from the trauma in their childhood and speak again, but the only person who can help Dum is the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre, whom the U.S. government considers a terrorist and traitor.

The search for Danyael will lead Dee and Dum from the sheltered protection of the Mutant Affairs Council and into the violent, gang-controlled heart of Anacostia. Ensnared by Danyael’s complicated network of friends and enemies, Dee makes her stand in a political and social war that she is ill equipped to fight. What can one human, armed only with her wits and pepper spray, do against the super-powered mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution?

America, nevertheless, is ripe for transformation. Exhausted by decades of belligerence between humans and their genetic derivatives—the clones, in vitros, and mutants—society is on the verge of falling apart or growing up. Dee, with her sassy attitude and smart mouth, is the unwitting pebble that starts the avalanche of change. In her quest to help her brother become normal, Dee will finally learn what it means to be extraordinary.

When the Silence Ends is the Young Adult spinoff in the award-winning Double Helix series and can be read as a standalone novel.

Buy it from Amazon US | Amazon UK

Jade Kerrion

Jade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

And now, let's welcome Jade to the blog for an author interview!

1.     Tell us a little about your book.

On the one hand, When the Silence Ends is the story of an ordinary girl, Dee, facing ordinary challenges. She holds down two jobs to pay the rent, makes sure her twin brother gets to his speech therapy class, and wonders how to pay for college. Dee, however, is an ordinary girl in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution—a world that is struggling to deal with the social and political repercussions of human derivatives: the clones, in vitros, and mutants. What chance does “ordinary” have in a world of “extraordinary” people?

2.     How did you come up with the title?

Silence is a key theme in the novel. Dum, Dee’s twin brother, has not spoken ever since a shattering event destroyed their family when they were five. The novel is the story of Dum’s journey out of silence. A secondary theme is that of secrets. Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who trains Dum, has secrets of his own, and as the story unfolds, the silence around an eighteen-year old secret comes to an end.

3.     What inspired you to write this book?

Young Adult novels abound with extraordinary protagonists. I’m sure that in your travels through books, you’ve met the child of destiny who’s fated to end a war and unite two worlds. You’ve probably also met the quiet kid who doesn’t quite fit in, who discovers his amazing super powers and uses them to save the world. Of course, there’s the protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious world that coexists alongside her reality, populated by sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves.

I’ve found two major themes running through most YA novels: the first, as I noted above, the extraordinary teenage protagonist, and second, the adults are frequently the enemy, ranging from indifferent parents to murderous despots. Neither of those observations particularly aligns with my observations of life.

So, when I set out to write a YA spin off my award-winning Double Helix series, featuring Dee and her twin brother, Dum, I wanted my readers to appreciate adults in more roles than that of the enemy. Some of them are, of course, but like the real world, there’s a vast spectrum of them; some adults even become Dee’s friends and mentors. More importantly though, I wanted my readers to appreciate the power of “ordinary.”

4.     Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I’d like my readers to realize that “extraordinary” is within all our grasps, and it has nothing to do with destiny, superpowers, or being loved by a vampire. Dee is the embodiment of ordinary, but she still manages to change her world for the better. If she can do it, there’s no reason at all the rest of us can’t.

5.     Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest release?

It’s hard to choose just one scene. I enjoy many of the scenes involving Jessica—the fifteen-year old alpha mutant, who, unlike Dee, isn’t ordinary, but is striving to find her own brand of normality, nonetheless. My favorite scene, however, is the very last scene at the concert when the silence ends. Several readers have reported tearing up at that scene.

6.     Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of “A”s scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It’s only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I’m still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.

7.     Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability.

8.     Have you published anything else?

My award-winning Double Helix series includes three books, Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon. When the Silence Ends is set in the world of the Double Helix, and readers will find that many of their favorite characters play much larger roles in the main series. My YA science fiction novel, Earth Sim, was just released as well and is currently on tour. It is a compelling and whimsical view of Earth’s history through the eyes of the two students assigned to manage our planet.

9.     What’s next for you? / What is your next project?

I’m currently working on a paranormal romance called City of Eternal Night. Once I finish that, I’ll start work on the fourth novel in the Double Helix series. My plan is to release three novels in 2013.

10.  Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your enthusiastic reviews, and your outraged e-mails over what I did to some of my characters. Thank you for loving them. Thank you for rereading my novels. Thank you for trusting me with your time. I do promise to honor that trust and keep delivering fantastic novels that keep you reading past your bedtime.

Here's my review of the book, finished around the 8th of February!

My Rating

My Review

When The Silence Ends was a fantastic novel. I loved every moment of it. When The Silence Ends is a spin-off from the Double Helix series, with several characters like Danyael, Jessica and Zara appearing in this book. Here, we are reintroduced to two characters we saw in Perfect Weapon. Dee and Dum. Dum doesn’t speak due to events that occurred in the past. Dee is his sister, and who I truly do admire.

Throughout the book, I felt that while it displayed the amazing powers that mutants could have, especially that of Dum’s, it did truly show me how a simple human without any powers could influence so much. Dee was someone without any powers. Yet, she fought so hard for what she wanted, protected Dum in ways that is scarcely impossible to imagine. And the depth of love she had for her friends and the people around her was so great. Truly, she was an inspiration.

Heh, its really so much easier to write a review when you love the book so much. I read this book, a long time ago, right at the beginning of this year. And yet, right now, everything is still in my head. And it makes me want to read this book and the whole Double Helix series again.

This book was truly a good read. The storyline was well thought out, well paced, and just about everything good you could want to see in a novel. There was even a small romance, though not overdone that it would over shine the main theme of the book.

As for character development, it was great. It was amazing to see how Dum slowly recovered from that silence that had trapped him for so many years. And I especially loved how Dee coped with everything. Her strength of will is truly amazing. I dare say that without her, Dum wouldn’t have survived all those years.

I love Jade Kerrion’s writing style. Its just so natural that you just feel like you’re really there, experiencing the story right where the characters are. There is humor in the book too, and if you do know the backstory of the other characters, there are sure to be scenes that will make you smile. Heck, even if you don’t, I’m sure you’ll smile.

And the last few sentences of the book brought tears to my eyes. I won’t say what and spoil the surprise, but it truly did touch me. Overall, I think she has crafted an amazing story, one that does not just speak about how mutants are superior, but with the strength that she has given Dee, just a young girl of 17, has showed us that humans too can be strong. And of course, that teenagers, while we may be young, should not be looked down on. Because Dee truly did impress me. I recommend this book to just about anyone who likes science fiction. I mean, I honestly feel that this is an excellent story, along with the books in the Double Helix novels. Its easy to read, yet I would say the tone is just right, and its just very natural. Definitely a 5 star read:)

So yep, that's about it for today! Thanks for visiting! :)

Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Philips (Chicago Stars #4)

First Published: 1 February 1998
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 400
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Finished Date: 14 January 2012

Blurb from Goodreads

After the discovery that her late husband, a popular televangelist, embezzled five million dollars from his ministry, Rachel Stone is outcast and broke with a five-year-old son to raise, and in need of a job. Then fate and a dead car engine leaves her at a shabby drive-in theater owned by Gabriel Bonner, the hunky, anti-social black sheep of a prominent family, and the only person in Salvation, North Carolina, willing to employ her. The sexual electricity starts crackling the instant they meet--but it will take the shock of both their lives to give these two lonely people a second chance at love.

My Rating

My Review

Dream a Little Dream was amazing. It touched me in so many ways and I have to say, I loved every single moment of it. After I finished the book, all I could say was wow. Simply amazing. It was so compelling that I just could not put the book down. I could think of a thousand other things I had to do at that moment, but right then, the book just seemed paramount. I literally devoured every single word. And now and then, without any conscious control, I would start to tear. That was simply how sweet the book was for me.

The characters in the book were so real and you could just feel for them. As you read the book, you’ll feel their pain, their sadness, their love. Everything. Even the supporting characters were really interesting to read about. Throughout the entire book, I was taken on a journey. I didn’t just read the book, I felt like I was really there with them.

I would give a summary but I think this book has to be read when one does not expect anything. Only then, can the book truly be appreciated.

So let me start by saying how amazing Rachel is. Even though she faces condemnation from almost everyone, even though she has barely a few dollars to her name, she still never gives up. Her love for her son is so amazing. It really shows how much a mother is willing to give up for her children. She gives him everything. Even though she herself has no food to eat, she still makes sure he always has a full meal. And her determination to work hard, to survive is just so admirable. She is certainly one of my most respected female characters. She doesn’t put on pretences. If she needs something and it is offered, she will take it. Her pride isn’t paramount here and that just says a lot.

Gabe is a man who has lost his wife and his son. Though it happened 3 years ago, he has never recovered from it. He tries to hide away from the world and in short, he’s a completely different man than before. How would I say it? He’s kind of broken inside. But when Rachel comes into his life, it is changed forever.

I don’t really want to write about the characters, so I’m gonna keep this to just my feelings.

I really loved this book for several reasons. The love shown in this book is not any simple love. This book truly showed how love healed. I love that idea that a person can fall in love a second time even after losing his or her first love. The whole plot and storyline was very well written and it really did flow very well. The pace was good and I really didn’t find anything I disliked throughout the whole book. I was just rooting for them to give in to their desires and at last, fall in love. My heart broke when she was going to leave him and he finally realised he loved her. It was just so so sweet.

Even the roles the supporting characters played was excellent. I loved Kristy. Though she was rather weak in the beginning, I loved it when she finally had a change of mindset. And I admired her from the start when she didn’t condemn Rachel at all. She’s a fantastic character. Actually, I wished she would have her own book. Her story and Ethan’s would have been amazing! As it is, I loved the short part they had together.

Of the whole series, I personally feel that this is the best. It doesn’t just brush across events, but it really shows the reader the pain and the hurt the characters are feeling. And even when they fall in love, Susan Elizabeth Philips makes one feel that everything is perfect again. I really love this book and I was extremely touched by it. Everything about the book just seemed so real. I went through a maelstrom of emotions just reading the book. It really did touch my heart. I know I said it already, but I just had to say it again! This was a very real book, and I loved that the characters weren't depicted to be perfect, because that just isn't how people are like right?

Alright, I made a promise to myself to keep this review short, so I’m not gonna ramble on anymore. Suffice to say, this was a really beautiful book. It wasn’t like the rest of the books at all, this one touched my heart so completely. A definite 5 stars.

P.S. I’m sorry, I really don’t know why I can’t write this review well. I really loved the book, don’t get me wrong. I just can’t write anything.

Perfect by Judith Mcnaught

First Published: May 1993
Publisher: Pocket
Pages: 704
Format: Paperback
Finished Date: 19 November 2011

Awards:
1998 AAR Top 100 Romances #15
2000 AAR Top 100 Romances #62
2004 AAR Top 100 Romances #82
2007 AAR Top 100 Romances #70

Blurb from Goodreads

A rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned.

Zachary Benedict was an actor/director whose Academy Award-winning career had been shattered when he was wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. After the tall, ruggedly handsome Zack escaped from a Texas prison, he abducted Julie and forced her to drive him to his Colorado mountain hideout. She was outraged, cautious, and unable to ignore the instincts that whispered of his innocence. He was cynical, wary, and increasingly attracted to her. Passion was about to capture them both in its fierce embrace...but the journey to trust, true commitment, and proving Zack's innocence was just beginning....

My Rating

My Review

What can I say? The title is a perfect representation of how the book is like. Without a doubt, Perfect was... perfect. There's no better word to describe it. What's perfect can't be made any better, can it? Throughout the book, I was led on an adventure with the characters that brought me from emotional peak to peak. I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I smiled, I got angry, I sighed in happiness. Everything that a person would normally experience, I experienced while reading this book. I found myself wishing so hard that the book was real, that somewhere out there, there are people who have found such a great love. Because the love shown in this book is just simply amazing. It cannot be adequately described, it is simply perfect.

Zack is an ultra-rich guy. Megabillionaire I believe. Thrown out at the age of 18, he worked hard all the way to make himself into who he was. I really admire that strength of will he had when he was thrown out. He has always been raised in the lap of luxury, but after being thrown out, he had no choice but to use his own two hands to support himself. And throughout all that, he somehow survived and became successful. When he was about 30, he was framed for murder and went to prison. He escaped when he was 35 and the next 2 weeks after his escape was the best weeks of his life. Because he found Julie. And in so doing, he found love.

Julie came from a very poor background. Abandoned at birth, she practically grew up on the streets even though she went to orphanage after orphanage. Why? She couldn’t keep up at school and hence she played truant. But one day, she was placed with the Mathisons’ and from that day on, her whole life changed. That is one amazing family, by the way. They never stopped believing in Julie and I found that very touching. And I got the sense that even though Julie tried to make her life as perfect as possible, so as to not let down the Mathisons, she wasn’t truly happy. At least, not until she met Zack. Then everything changed. For both of them.

So when Zack escaped, he met Julie along the way. He kinda kidnapped her and made her take him to his hideaway in the Colorado mountains. That place is just so beautiful. Wow, the next bits that happened are just so amazing. I can’t describe it well enough to do it justice. From their first kiss, both of them were hooked. He kissed her to hide the fact that he was kidnapping her, but that kiss just started off their relationship. I loved it when he was trying to rationalize with himself why he should seduce her. It was so cute haha:P

Those days that they spent in the house on the mountains were one of the most beautiful that I have ever read. I can’t describe it, it wouldn’t seem that good. But as I was reading it, I could see how much they were in love with each other and how they were just like a part of each other. It really was an example of 2 soulmates, finally finding each other. What can I say? Beautiful. Simply amazing.

Even the lovemaking scenes were so much more than just sex, so much more than just mutual pleasure. It was the joining of two souls that no matter how much they tried to fight it, they would fall in love.

But I think my absolute favourite part of the book came when Zack wrote that letter to Julie. That letter is simply the most beautiful words that could ever be written. Every single word showed the depth of love that Zack felt for Julie. He loved her so so much but yet, for her, he left, knowing that she would be better off without him. But he underestimated the power of love, especially the type of love they had. That type of love will never go away, because that sort of love lasts a lifetime. In the past, whenever I read that letter, I would cry my heart out. Because that sort of beauty just makes you cry. This read was no exception. I wept. Even if I just read the letter on its own, I would cry so easily. I remember flipping to the letter in a bookstore. I teared there and then, seeing those sweet sweet words. With a few short paragraphs, Mcnaught successfully conveyed the depth of love the two characters had for each other and that was the most amazing thing of the book for me.

After the amazing start and middle, the ending was a little bit of a disappointment. I mean the emotional peaks this book brought me to from the start to the middle was the highest I’ve ever reached. But after she decided to join him in Mexico, it just wasn’t that fantastic anymore. It was still good yes, but nothing compared to the beginning. And the letter:P I didn’t like how they made up. It wasn’t emotional enough. I actually would have preferred Zack having an epiphany, that he couldn’t live without Julie, rather than because of what Paul showed him for him to change his mind. But oh well, at least after he realised just how much Julie loved him, and that she had never truly intended to betray him, he went to seek her forgiveness.

Oh yes, one part that was kinda funny was when they were engaged. I loved seeing how Zack found it so difficult to control himself and actually had to restrain himself. It was so cute! Haha, and it just continued to reinforce the idea of how much he loved her.

And I don’t have any complaints about the book. It’s perfect and you can’t improve on perfection, can you? The pace was great, the storyline captivating and the love between the characters just the most wonderful thing ever. You really understood every bit of their actions and how their past shaped them. There really isn’t anything I didn’t like about the book, even though I felt that the ending wasn’t as good as the starting. And that’s the reason why I can’t say Perfect is the best book I’ve read. Because overall, its comparable to a couple of other books. But solely based on the book until the letter, it’s simply the best book I’ve ever read and I ever will. The maelstrom of emotions this book let me feel is simply incomparable to any other book I have read.

Perfect is honestly one of the best books I have ever read. True, the book IS pretty unrealistic, the events that allowed Zack and Julie to meet was just too coincidental to be possible. What were the chances of that happening? But then again, perhaps in the case of true love, fate will always contrive to bring the two souls together to make them fall deeply in love. Somehow, someway. All I know is that love will find a way.

I have read Perfect 3 times in total, and not once has it lost its magic for me. I think this read was the emotional read for me, because I found myself in tears every few pages. Zack and Julie were so in love, it was almost like love at first sight. Their love was so obvious and prevalent and simply so sweet. It shows the beauty of love and how love can truly conquer all. Perfect is a book that will always have a special place in my heart.

The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

First Edition: 01 December 1997
Republished: 08 June 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 768 pages
Finished Date: 06 September 2011

Note: This edition is a trilogy that came out as a bind-up a few years after the books were first published.

The Chase: March 1994
The Hunter: May 1994
The Kill: July 1994

Blurb from Goodreads
To lose the game is to lose your life in bestselling author L.J. Smith's THE FORBIDDEN GAME.

To capture the love of Jenny Thorton, Julian--a visitor from a dark world--draws Jenny and her friends into forbidden games; the contest for a human soul. The prize is Jenny's freedom. The stakes are all of their lives. Jenny's friends are determined to help her win. But Julian is the master of the Game. Jenny's most desperate fight will be with him, this eerily handsome boy with electric blue eyes. He knows her deepest secrets, her darkest fears. He has almost infinite power. And the only thing he wants is for Jenny to surrender to him--body and soul.

My Rating

My Review

I’ll give the reviews for each book individually first then later, sum up everything.

The Hunter

I liked this book a lot. I never once found it dry and the Game was absolutely riveting. I must admit though, there were times at the beginning that I got kinda freaked out. I mean, it was just kinda scary about them facing their worst nightmares. I can’t say too much without giving away the plot of the book, but for me, every page I read just got me more and more engrossed in the book. I especially loved the ending. Read it, you’ll know what I mean. It was absolutely ingenious of Jenny, who is the main heroine of the book. And I know Julian, who is the main hero of the book, is evil, but he’s so hot! I can’t explain it though, but I must say, if I were Jenny, I would have chosen to go with him! Ah well, there’s just something about bad guys! : )

Jenny was a very interesting character. I have to say, I didn’t really like her in the beginning. But as I witnessed how she bravely fought on with her friends and how she tried her best to fight Julian, I admired her more and more. I especially loved it when she managed to solve the riddle. I couldn’t believe the answer when it was revealed. It was something so incongruous, something I never even imagined. But after she solved the riddle, I changed my mind about her being an empty-headed bimbo. I have no idea why I thought of her that way, I just did. And as she went along, figuring out the rules of the Game and doing her very best to win it, I admired her more and more. Imagine being there, surrounded by fear and yet somehow managing to figure out so much. To have the courage to stand up to your own worst nightmares. I dunno, to me, it just seems so awesome. I did predict who was the one who probably wouldn’t make it.

The Chase

Omg. I was completely freaked out throughout the book. Literally. I felt like I was right there with them and I was experiencing what they were which completely sucked. The first third of the book wasn’t very good and I felt that it was just a filler. But when the Game started, I was completely hooked. All I can say is wow. It was really scary but then that simply means that the descriptions were so good.

The events that transpired right before the Game were to me the most scary. None of them knew what was happening to them. I won’t say any more, but just know that I was literally cowering in my bed as I read.

My admiration for Jenny also grew. She’s not exactly smart, but she can piece information together pretty quickly. I dunno, I wouldn’t say I love her, but I certainly admire her. Before, I used to like Julian. Now, I think he’s just plain crazy. Insane. Mad. What more do I need to say? Sadistic. Evil. I love it when Jenny beats him at his own Game. It really makes my day when I see him outwitted by her. He fell for tricks twice already and because of that, she won the Game. I’m gonna read the 3rd book now, and let’s see if he falls for her tricks again.

Tom was exceedingly brave. I must say, I didn’t have the best impression of him cos I felt he was rather spineless in a sense. I mean, giving up the girl you love just cos of some supernatural being staking a claim on her? How then can he say he loves her? But when he went to the mountains alone (to do what I shall not say), what I thought about him completely changed. Honestly, that was one of the bravest things to do. And I did feel it proved his love for her. Of course, right at the end, the choice he made to walk with her, though he didn’t truly believe, was the perfect example of his love for her. I mean, he literally walked through fire with her, just so that she wouldn’t have to go alone.

The Kill

One word. Amazing. This book wasn’t as scary as the 2nd. But just for the ending alone, I give this book 5 stars. Ok let me start from the beginning. So it started off well enough, a little bit of scares here and there but nothing really worth mentioning. For me, the main story started when they were in the Shadow World. Now that part was scary. Especially the mine part. I dunno, I can’t explain it but I was just so frightened for them. So when Jenny got separated from the rest and almost died, Julian saved her. Now that part, made me fall in love with Julian. I dunno, before, I felt his love for her was more of an obsession. But because of that scene there, I saw the depth of his love for her. It really touched my heart. And I believed Jen did grow to love him. Perhaps not how she felt for Tom, but a part of her definitely loved him.

So they went on to rescue Tom and Zach. Surprises happen along the way, some are pretty scary, I might add. But another thing that Julian did, just made me love him. He gave Summer back to them. And he did that because he loved her.
But my absolute favourite part came at the ending.

This may be a spoiler

So they managed to rescue Tom and Zach. But of course, they couldn’t escape, due to reasons which I will not say. But what Julian did, just made my heart melt. No matter how much he said he was evil and all, that action of his, just disproved it.

Then came the ending. It was a bittersweet feeling I had after I read it. I loved it yes, but at the same time, I hated it. I hated it cos I felt that it wasn’t a happy ending and I love books with happy endings. But I loved it so much because of what Julian said to Jenny. I won’t say anything about it, but all I know is that I wept after reading that part. I literally sobbed my heart out. It was so amazingly sweet and beautiful. After the book ended, I put it down and screamed at it. I didn’t want that sort of ending, I wanted them to end up together. Why did it have to happen the way it happened?

I really really really wanted Jenny and Julian to get together. She could have changed him, I know she could. Besides, he wasn’t truly evil. To me, Tom isn’t good enough for her. Yes, he’s sweet and all, but he can never compare with Julian. Jenny grew to love Julian in the end, I’m sure of that. And I’m so sure that he was the perfect one for her. What a pity they couldn’t be together.

All in all, I can only say what a good trilogy this was. It brought me on a roller-coaster of emotions. Excitement, fear, happiness, love, and sadness were all portrayed to its very best to me. I couldn’t help but love it. Yet, at the same time, this trilogy was made perfect by the ending. Without that ending, it wouldn’t have been right, but with it, it just made me sad. Still, I felt that the ending was one of the best I’ve ever read. And certainly, it’s the only ending to make me cry so much.

Yes, the plot was rather hard to believe. With all the different worlds and all, I was a bit lost at times. But this was so small it didn't really matter to me. The characters were all awesome and i felt her clique really grew up over time. Yes, I didn't really like most of them at first, but I have to say, as the book progressed, I liked them all after seeing how they matured and faced their fears bravely. Honestly though, I dunno how Jenny resisted Julian for so long or why she even did. Can't she see that he's way better than Tom? However, this does show that she truly loves Tom. Because, to me, to pick Tom over Julian is just plain stupid. But that's just me.

This book is definitely a must-read. I picked it up, not expecting much. In the end, I was brought into a whole new world. Throughout it, I experienced a maelstrom of emotions. Its not everyday I can pick up a book that can make me feel so much. Thus, I can only say this book is simply amazing. And even if you don’t really like the story, just stick through with it for the ending. To me, the ending is worth reading all 3 books just to see it. I read it 3 times continuously. I cried every time. I wiped away my tears, read it again and cried. I can’t explain it, its simply indescribable. All I can say is wow. This is certainly a trilogy that I’ll be reading again. Simply amazing.

Whitney, My Love (Westmoreland #2) by Judith Mcnaught

First Edition : Jan 1985
Revised Edition : May 2006
Mass Market Paperback: 736 pages
Finished Date: 25 August 2011

I kinda read this book 4 times in total, but I only kept track of the 4th read! The 4th read was for the Revised Edition, the first 3 was the First Edition!

Awards:
1998 AAR Top 100 Romances #5
2000 AAR Top 100 Romances #35
2004 AAR Top 100 Romances #35
2007 AAR Top 100 Romances #71

Blurb from Goodreads

Whitney, My Love stands as Judith McNaught's timeless bestseller — a novel so rich with laughter, tears, and the power of dreams that millions of readers have returned to it again and again to savor its beauty and majesty.

Under the dark, languorous eyes of Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore, Whitney Stone grew from a saucy hoyden into a ravishingly sensual woman. Fresh from her triumphs in Paris society, she returned to England to win the heart of Paul, her childhood love . . . only to be bargained away by her bankrupt father to the handsome, arrogant duke. Outraged, she defies her new lord. But even as his smoldering passion seduces her into a gathering storm of desire, Whitney cannot — and will not — relinquish her dream of perfect love.

My Rating

My Review

When I first saw this title, I have to say, I didn't expect much from it. I didn't even want to pick it up. But boy, am i so glad to have been proven wrong.

The first time I read the book, I literally could not stop reading. For the whole day, my eyes were glued onto the book pages. I couldn't even sleep because I was so engrossed. To me, it was one of the best romance novels I have ever read.

I won't go into the synopsis because I can't write summaries, but throughout the book, I was taken on an emotional roller-coaster. Some parts had me sighing in happiness, some parts made me feel like throwing the book across the room. One thing stayed constant. I simply could not put down the book.

Seeing how Whitney grew up made me smile. No more was she a spoiled brat. Yes, she could be mischievous at times, but she was mature. To me, Clayton was a jerk at times, yes. But he made up for it. I couldn't help but see why she fell in love with him, because a little part of me did too.

The next time I wanted to read this book, I was a little reluctant. I had read many reviews saying how much they hated this book and so on. I was afraid to read it a second time in case I didn't enjoy it so much and I would have lost that magic.

But I took a gamble and read it again. I loved it. Once more falling in love with all the characters even with her dad when I realize he truly loves her.

I have never understood why others do not like this book. Maybe it's just me but I found this book to be really amazing. I have read many other romances, historical and contemporary. But so far, this remains one of the only romances that have compelled me from the beginning to the end.

I have read this book a total of 3 times and I must say, Whitney, My Love, has not lost even a bit of its original magic for me.

25 August 2011

I just read the book for the 4th time and all I can say is that it is amazing. No words can truly describe it. Granted, I didn't enjoy the first part as much as in the past, but it was still entertaining to read. What I truly loved was when their problems started. I screamed, I wept. I just couldn't take it at times. My heart was breaking right along with theirs. I remember when she rejected him at the wedding banquet, I was practically begging that it would't happen.

Clayton Westmoreland truly convinced me he loved Whitney beyond belief. He tolerated so much, put up with so much of her nonsense and did so much for her. My heart broke when the book mentioned that he knew he was gonna be lying beside her for the last time ever. And of course my heart broke again after they were married and he stupidly assumed she had been with another man. I was so pissed and annoyed with him at that point that I couldn't read and could only scream and shout at his stupidity. I loved it when he finally realised he loved her so much he didn't care anymore how many men there had be before him. But when he finally realised she couldn't have slept with another, my heart melted when he tried desperately to find her but couldn't. And when he did, I was immensely touched. No words can describe it, I have to say.

This leads me to the conclusion once more, that Whitney, My Love remains unparalleled in my heart. It has every aspect that I love in a romance and it doesn't brush across the issues easily, it really goes deep into the issues and bring out the true beauty of everything. All I can say is that this book is still as magical for me as when I first read it. Beautiful beyond belief is all I can say.