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Review: Ugly Love, by Colleen Hoover

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01uglyI am a puddle on the floor. My pillow is soaked. My side table is filled with tissues. I.AM.WRECKED.

There are books that you’re so afraid of reading, not because they’re bad, but because you know that they’re going to be so good, you’re afraid you won’t be able to adequately find words that will depict how this book made you feel. This is what Ugly Love did to me. I had to pull out my trusty thesaurus and here are a few words. Paralyzed, distressed, ruined, helpless, speechless, awestruck, undone….You get the picture.

Tate Collins has recently moved in with her brother, while she works on her master’s degree, in nursing. She has no time for friends, let alone finding love. But sometimes love doesn’t always listen to us, nor does it go by our timelines.

Miles has a past, that he keeps close to his heart. He is content with being a pilot and hanging with his few buddies. He’s been alone for years and wants nothing to do with women or with finding love. His past has shaped him and he refuses to change.

When Tate and Miles meet, the attraction is almost instant. But neither one of them wants to do the relationship thing, so they just decide to have sex, with no expectations. Since they weren’t even friends, this should be an easy thing to do, right? After all, Miles has only two rules that need to be followed.

“Don’t ask about my past. And never expect a future.”

Sounds simple enough. But soon feelings start to get in the way. Hearts get shattered. Tate starts to have feelings but she knows that Miles doesn’t want this. But how can you stop loving someone, if they want you too? Is it even possible?

“If I were capable of loving someone…it would be you.”

Watching Tate put her feelings out there, and having Miles throw them aside, made me mad. He slowly chipped at her. He started to bring her down, without even trying. I wanted to believe he was good. I wanted to see him come to grips with his past. I needed him to. I knew he wasn’t the jerk he came off like. But his actions were proving me wrong.

But when his past is revealed, it broke me. I could never have imagined this. Many tears were shed. I was a mess. But Miles made more sense now. His actions were based on a past that was riddled with heartbreak.

“And I realized…just now…the God gives us the ugliness so we don’t take the beautiful things for granted.”

By the end of this book, you will truly know how ugly love can be. But even if it’s ugly, it’s beautiful.

“It’s not that I don’t like you, Tate… I just don’t want to like you. I don’t want to like anyone. I don’t want to date anyone. I don’t want to love anyone.”

Colleen Hoover is truly the master of creating heart healing, soul crushing, tear jerking, emotionally draining, redemption earning books. This book was no exception. I have no idea how she does it, but every book has the ability to bring me to my knees. But I gotta say, if Colleen didn’t love Happily Ever Afters, I doubt I would’ve recovered from this book.

Honestly, my simple words still didn’t do this book justice, when all I really wanted to write was:

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

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~Melpomene

Release date: August 5, 2014
Buy Ugly Love: A Novel

Review: The Bronze Horseman, by Paullina Simons

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“There are some battles, no matter how much you don’t want to fight them, that you just have to fight. That are worth giving your life for.”

Description
The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler’s armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander’s impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

Lately I noticed people talking about this book, and it was listed on many friend’s “favorites”. So I figured I should check it out. I love a good romance with a bit of angst sprinkled in. But I was not all prepared for this. I figured, if I could read Outlander, I could do this. But this was nothing like Outlander. Nothing at all. Good Golly!!! This book made me feel so much. It made me feel angry, sad, deliriously happy, disgusted, and frustrated. But most of all, it just made me feel. No matter how mad and frustrated I was, in the first half of this book, I still was feeling. My heart was breaking to pieces, over and over again. I almost gave up, because I was so depressed. And I say that seriously. My friends kept telling me to stick it out, and I’m so thankful I did.

Now, I don’t know my history, so I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, when I read this. I just thought Russia in WWII, that’s not going to be fun, but ok. I can handle it. I was completely wrong.

Tatiana is the youngest in her family and she completely gives everything, of herself, for others. She’s even willing to give up her only love, so her sister won’t be brokenhearted. Now, I will admit, I didn’t like this part at all. I was so mad to see what she had to go through to keep her feelings secret. I wanted to reach in a slap some sense into her. She fell for Alexander almost immediately, but she didn’t want to tear her family apart, by causing anymore trouble. They already complain enough about her and treat her poorly. I can’t even imagine doing that for my family. Add that, on top of all the suffering that went all around her, the pure devastation, it was gut wrenching. I was in a constant state of depression.

Tatiana said. “Go on with Dasha. She is right for you. She is a woman and I’m-” “Blind!”, Alexander exclaimed. Tatiana stood, desolately failing in the battle of her heart. “Oh, Alexander. What do you want from me…”
“Everything”, he whispered fiercely.”

Alexander is an officer in the Red Army. He is fierce and strong, and super protective of Tatiana. He goes above and beyond his duty to protect her. But the one thing he can’t protect her from, is his love. No matter what she says, he is always thinking of her. While he is trying to survive the war, he doing everything he can, for her.

“Tania, I was spellbound by you from the first moment I saw you. There I was, living my dissolute life, and war had just started. My entire base was in disarray, people were running around, closing accounts, taking money out, grabbing food out of stores, buying up the entire Gostiny Dvor, volunteering for the army, sending their kids to camp—” He broke off. “And in the middle of my chaos, there was you!” Alexander whispered passionately. “You were sitting alone on this bench, impossibly young, breathtakingly blonde and lovely, and you were eating ice cream with such abandon, such pleasure, such mystical delight that I could not believe my eyes. As if there were nothing else in the world on that summer Sunday.”

From a historic point of view, I was fascinated to learn about rations and how little they had. I never though about how little they had, before this book. I can’t even fathom the idea of having no food, or just a bit of bread for the whole day. Or even knowing, when you leave the house, you’ll walk past dead bodies on the street or come home to dead people on your own room. It actually made me a bit more thankful for what I have, and makes me want to be a bit more prepared, in case the world goes crazy. The words were so descriptive, you felt the starvation and pain, as they felt it. It was overwhelming at times. My brain still can’t wrap around the idea of 2 million people dying in such a short amount of time.

The romance part of this story is so beautiful. The words that Alexander speaks, to Tatiana, melt my heart. Her love for him is so strong, that she is willing to risk everything just to keep him alive. At so many points I thought there would be no happy ending, but then I’d remind myself that there are two more books. So things must turn around, at some point.

“Yes. Moan, moan as loud as you want. No one can hear you but me, and I came sisteen hundred kilometers to hear you, so moan, Tania.”

See?? Totally melting to the floor. *swoon*

The last half of the book was much better, in my opinion, than the first. Don’t get me wrong, it was still devastating, and no less dramatic, but at least there was a bit more happiness sprinkled in. But there was still plenty of tears flowing from my eyes. The amount of struggles that these two have to endure, just to be together, is so unbearable. The ending left me with tears streaming down my face. Part of me wants to start the next one right away, but I know my heart can’t take it right now, because it’s laying in pieces on the floor.

~Melpomene

Buy The Bronze Horseman

Review: The Stone Boy by Sophie Loubiere

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20131110-160727.jpgWhat would you do if you thought your neighbour was abusing their child? Well, that’s the predicament faced by Elsa Perau. In this novel (touted as a national phenomenon in its native France), the reader is presented with the narrative view of Elsa Perau and her increasing concern for the safety of a child living next door to her. However, this isn’t just your usual case of an abused child living next door; Elsa isn’t exactly the most reliable person, and paranoia is the main theme of this novel. Is the child actually being abused, or is Elsa imagining it?
This novel is translated into English, and I believe that it lost something in translation. Don’t get me wrong, the pace and style was good, but I just couldn’t help thinking that I was missing something by not reading in the original language. It felt like a heavy fog – you could make out something, but not quite see it clearly.
As mentioned above, the pacing of this novel was good because just when you think it is going in one direction, it turns on you. This kept me guessing, and changing my mind at various points throughout. However, there are some parts where it seems like there is no build up to surprises, and it feels like a kind of “oh this happened, surprise!” And then it moves straight on. I did like how it made you think about what is real, and what you want to be real; so often in life we can make things seem real enough, and in fact there will be a completely different interpretation, depending upon who you ask.
Overall, it was an entertaining read, but I felt it lacked that certain je ne sais quoi. I recommend it for its ability to portray truths and versions of truths that I haven’t seen before, but being a phenomenon? I don’t know….

ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Buy it here: The Stone Boy

Review – The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam.

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Review – The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam.

13129612This was a book that I went into blind. I read a vague description months ago, but when I read it this past week, I couldn’t remember what it was supposed to be about. I am glad that it turned out this way, as it gave me a pleasant surprise throughout my reading!
There are many well-known books that examine what it was like to be fighting in the Vietnam War, particularly from the American side. It is rare that we find a story that examines the war from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant living in Vietnam, and here, Lam has created a perfect cast of characters, all sharing similar experiences.
I’m not going to reveal any of the plot, as that would act as a disservice to the book. However, what I can say is that in The Headmaster’s Wager, Lam has created a world where nothing is perfect, and there is no right or wrong. Lam does not condemn, nor does he laud. Each character has their own faults, and yet their actions are all taken to survive in one way or another. An action that you may believe to be beneficial, may not end up being so, but yet out of that misstep, comes another result that may ultimately be successful. Lam expertly weaves together the idea that every action has a consequence, and no matter if it results in tragedy or happiness, life will go on.
The timeline jumps from various decades, beginning in the 30’s and ending in the late 1970’s. This could seem jarring in many books, but Lam presents in such a fashion that it becomes essential to character building. Like I said above, some of the actions the characters take can seem extreme and excruciating, however, just when we think we hate a character, or what they do seems unrealistic, we are transported back into another decade and some of the motive is explained.
Whilst this is ultimately a story of the human condition in a time of war, there is also an interesting historical element that Vietnam War enthusiasts, or even those with just a passing interest, may enjoy. I knew very little concerning the war before I started reading, and the story teaches you several different aspects to the war, the different people/countries involved, and first hand experiences of what life was like for the people in Vietnam (whilst this book is a fictional tale, Lam’s family emigrated from Vietnam, so some parts are based on recollections that he heard from his family), and so you come away feeling like you understand the time period a lot more.
I hate to make this comparison, but in a sense, it is like the film Titanic; you ultimately know what is going to happen due to hearing bits and pieces here and there about the true life events, but you end up hoping that events take a different course, and you learn about the minor players, the behind the scenes action, and all the cogs that make the motion. This suspense that Lam creates really is brilliant.
If you’re looking for a read that will fill you with the spectrum of emotions, a read that will pique an interest in the history behind the Vietnam War, a read that will make you question human motive, then this is the book for you. Take a leap of faith and jump into this book without reading the blurb, or any plot reviews.

~ Pegasus

Buy It Here: The Headmaster’s Wager

Review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

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Never Let Me Go, is one of those books that doesn’t fall into a neat little genre.  It’s like life; it isn’t perfect, not everyone is going to like it along the way, but boy, it is fascinating! Now, I realize that this has been sitting on the shelves since 2005, however, I believe that it is nice to pick up an older book now and then and rediscover, or, indeed discover, the epitome of a multi-faceted work of genius.

Like I said above, Ishiguro’s novel cannot be defined in one genre; romance, dystopian, drama, all play their respective hands throughout. I think this is why I loved it so much.  I tend to not be a fan of romance or dystopia, but in little bits, they definitely work, and even complement one another.  With merging these genres, Ishiguro actually presents an almost deconstructed version of each one:  In a typical (and I say typical because I’m aware it’s not always the case) dystopian novel, the reader is presented with a world that is at its knees; it is often harsh, grey, and survival instincts are at an all-time high.  In Ishiguro’s novel, the reader is presented with a dystopian world in the form of an upper middle class British boarding school.  Now, we all know that there must be some kind of untowardness when the Brits are involved (after all, this isn’t a Sophie Kinsella novel, or a Merchant-Ivory production!), and the assumption would be correct.  I won’t spoil the surprise of what makes this novel have its dystopian theme, but suffice to say, Ishiguro was writing ahead of his time, as we are ever so slowly seeing this topic become ever more prevalent.

It could be argued that the romance aspect to the novel is slightly more conventional.  We are presented with a classic love triangle, where boy loves girl (or girl loves boy) boy/girl can’t verbalise said feelings and ends up seeing another person as a rebound.  However, those of you that know me, KNOW that I wouldn’t read a book with such a simple theme.  Ishiguro presents this theme and turns it on its head by making the reader love and hate each individual character.  Not one of them can claim the moral high ground all throughout the novel.

Overall, this is a novel that will infuriate you, make you smile, make you think, make you gasp, and may even make you cry.  It’s an unflinching look at a controversial topic, whilst employing classic themes and presenting them in a unique way.  Even if you don’t like it, Never Let Me Go, is worth picking up simply for the above mentioned points.  Take a leap of faith and have your opinions and comfort zone challenged.

Pegasus.

Buy it now – Never Let Me Go

Review: A Different Blue, by Amy Harmon

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“Once upon a time there was a little blackbird, pushed out of the nest, unwanted.”

WOW!!! This was an amazing book! I kept hearing about this book and that people were crying and emotionally drained afterwards. So I knew this was right up my alley.

Blue Echohawk has no idea who she is or where she came from. She doesn’t even know her real name or how old she is.

What she knows is that the man, Jimmy Echohawk, who raised her, from age 2 til 10 wasn’t her father. She was left in his truck, by her mother, and he was afraid to turn her in, after finding out her mother was killed in the motel he was parked outside of. So he took her and cared for her, until one day he went out and never came back. She was then raised with her step aunt and put into school for the first time.

The story takes place during her senior year of high school, where she is forced to revisit her past, what she knows of it, by her 22yr old good looking, British, cello playing, History teacher, Mr Darcy Wilson. Poor guy had a P&P lovin’ mom. 🙂 He forces her to think about who she thinks she is.

“You may not be a work of art, but you are definitely a piece of work.”

What she discovers is more than she bargained for.

This entire book is about her quest to find out who she really is. Mr. Wilson helps her in ways no one else ever could. As they grow closer, Blue is faced with a difficult decision and He is there to get her through it. It was one of the hardest scenes I’ve ever had to read. Ugly tears were falling. Love in the most beautiful and purest form, was shown here. I had such a hard time getting through it.

“I keep wishing you had had a better life…a different life. But a different life would have made you a different Blue.” He looked at me then. “And that would be the biggest tragedy of all.”

This is a sweet romance with a happy ending, if you can get past the crying and the emotions. 🙂

~Melpomene

Buy A Different Blue

Review (Another Look): Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

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ER I know Melpomene reviewed this book earlier in the week but I wanted to offer my take on the book because it’s a bit different from hers since we all have our own opinions!

I wanted to like this book. A lot. I’ve heard good things about the author and her other books but had never gotten around to reading those due to my huge TBR list. But I saw this listed as the New Adult genre and it drew me in as I’m quickly becoming obsessed with all things NA.

Amy is on the run from her past and has help from an unknown benefactor. She gets word she needs to leave her current life that she’d gotten used to over the last 6 years in New York. While on the plane to Denver she meets a handsome man who sweeps her off her feet and happens to live across from her new apartment building. Amy quickly gets caught up in an affair with Liam who is a rich architect. We get glimpses into her past here and there but nothing clear. The book comes to a surprising conclusion.

I just could not get into this book. If Amy was supposed to be on the run why on earth would she fall madly in love with a stranger on a plane? She did a horrible job of keeping things secret. Liam seemed to fit into the oh so popular demanding rich boyfriend trope that I’m getting tired of currently. Amy fit into the helpless I need you but I don’t girl that is so hot right now.

We literally never learn anything in the book about her past so there was a huge cliffhanger. I’m ok with cliffhangers but there was the actual literary cliffhanger and then on top of that the cliffhanger of WTF is up with this girl? Due to that there is no way I’m reading the next book. Why would I when I didn’t find out enough about the main character in this one? Is the author going to wait until the third book to reveal anything? I cannot handle that!!

I also felt that this book didn’t quite fit into the New Adult genre. I’ve read a ton in this genre and this one didn’t seem right to me.
2 stars.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
~ Clio

Buy it Now Escaping Reality (New Adult Romance) (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen)

Review: Out of Breath, by Rebecca Donovan

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What an amazing end to a powerful and emotional series!!

I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to finish it, but I knew I had too. The first two books were quite draining and pushed me way over. I’m glad I didn’t read them back to back. I don’t think I could’ve handled that. My nerves would’ve been shot. That being said, I’m glad this is over. 🙂

The book starts off about two years after Emma walks out on Evan and leaves him barely conscience. She is trying to move on, but still, she will never be the same. Her friends have tried to help her. They even encouraged her to date. But her heart’s not really in it. Her heart’s back in Weslyn, but she won’t admit that.

Unfortunately, life has a way of pushing us to do things and face things we really don’t want to. When Emma finds herself back in Weslyn, she can’t face it.

Evan and Sara find her passed out, from alcohol, and they realize that she is not the girl they knew and loved. They decide to spend all summer trying to put her back together. Emma doesn’t think she is worth the trouble. She still thinks that she has done unforgivable things and that no one should love her, especially not Evan. She wishes everyone would just leave her. But they know they can’t.

I wasn’t happy to see how she was behaving, in college. Part of me wanted her to be waiting for Evan, but I know that was unrealistic. So seeing her with someone else was hard. I don’t think she was very smart about her choices. She needed a good whack across her noggin.

Evan has had a horrible two years, since she left. He never understood why. But he wants closure and the truth, from her. He is determined to get it, even if he has to go through the hurt again. He wants her to be honest, for once. He spends all summer trying to crack her shell and see what she’s hiding and how she’s feeling.

Their friends are super supportive and don’t wanna see either of them hurt again. But they do try and help push things along. And not very subtle either. 🙂

I don’t wanna say anymore, at the risk of spoiling it. However, this ended just like I’d hoped. I was so very happy. It was a long time coming, but I’m glad I stuck around. Now I can put my Xanax away. 😉

-Melpomene

Buy it now Out Of Breath (The Breathing Series, #3)

Review: Losing Hope, by Colleen Hoover

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Give me a moment to collect myself……

5 stars isn’t enough. It’s a 10!!

I fell in love with Holder all over again. I remember being heartbroken when he talked about Les, in Hopeless, but hearing it from his POV was downright overwhelming. It broke my heart watching as he went through the loss of his twin, while still dealing with the loss of Hope. The poor boy.

I wasn’t expecting to feel any different than I did when I read Hopeless, but I was wrong. Holder lived and breathed his sister and finding Hope. But when she is taken from him, “It was like all our hope was taken right along with our Hope.” *wipes eyes*

When he meets Sky and starts hoping she’s not Hope, I started to lose it. I really didn’t want her to be Hope either, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it.

The best first kiss without even kissing…WOW! That was so very hot! “I need to know for sure that you’re feeling every single thing that I’m feeling the moment my lips touch yours. Because I want your first kiss to be the best first kiss in the history of first kisses.” *swoon*

When he found the notebook and starting writing letters, I felt my heart break after every one.

When he found the letter…I had to step away. I knew, but yet I didn’t know. I wanted to reach in and hold onto him and never let him go.

“In order to miss someone, that means you were privileged enough to have them in your life to begin with.”

Holy cow. I just can’t get myself together. This was an amazing book. Colleen Hoover just made my heart break and then slowly put it back together. I will never be the same though. This book did a number on me. As do all of her books. I don’t know how she does it, but I am thankful she does.

-Melpomene

Buy it now Losing Hope: A Novel