Showing posts with label abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abuse. Show all posts

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan: Feeding my strange fascination with characters that can't speak

ISBN: 9781495390906
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle eBook
Series: No, Stand Alone
Released: January, 2014
Length: 354 pp
Goodreads  |  B&N

     SUMMARY
When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.
Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.
     REVIEW

I have a fascination with stories about people who can't (or wish not to) speak. I don't know why, but it all started with this book (and was followed up by Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay and Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover). I think I just love seeing the amazing ways people find to communicate and I realize how much we take our ability to communicate for granted. (Let me also point out that most of those who can speak spend half of our time on social media anyway [me included] so these stories have really impacted my thoughts on that).

Archer's Voice is a love story at its core, but it's also a story about sorrow and grief and how love can heal. I read Archer's Voice a few months ago, and then when I sat down to finally write my review, I was getting all teary eyed and worked up just thinking about it so I had to read it again. It was just as amazing the second time around (except I knew what was coming so I didn't have as many panic attacks).

The romance was...amazing. I was grinning and crying and laughing and screaming and everything all at once, or at least it felt that way, and it was literally perfect. It was so sweet and innocent, but hot and sexy and it was perfect. Have I mentioned that it was perfect? My favorite thing about it was that Archer, the main male character, had been through so much, such horrible tragedy, and maybe he was a little rough around the edges from being shy and afraid, but he was always sweet and perfect and I didn't have to read about a man playing hard to get or being broody for no reason and treating the female lead like crap. No, Archer was perfect and all of the issues that came up in this book had more to do with outside forces than with Archer being an asshole. It was nice to finally read about someone who wasn't an asshole!

The back stories, each character's need to heal, forgive, etc., were so powerful and so beautiful to watch happen over the course of the book. Add in the fact that it was the first book I've ever read that included a character who couldn't communicate in the traditional ways - I was hooked. Freaking hooked from the very first page.

If I had to list any gripes, I'd say that the first few chapters seemed a little rushed. Around the 20% mark of the eBook is when things sort of evened out of perfection took over the rest of the way. That's basically it. Because otherwise, Archer's Voice made me sob like a baby and grin like a fool and it was unique and refreshing and beautiful to see everything unfold.

RATING: ★★★★★ - Absolutely Loved it!

The strange fascination with communicating in nontraditional ways such as speaking out loud aside, Archer's Voice was so unique and fresh, but beautiful and perfect in its own right. I'd definitely never read anything like it so I of course had to read it twice! And it was just as amazing the second time around.

If you're looking for something that will take your breath away, break your heart and put you back together again, you've found the book you've been looking for! Have any of you read Archer's Voice? What did you think? Did you love Archer and Bree as much as I did? I'd love to hear what you thought about it!

A.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Review: More Than Him by Jay McLean

ISBN: 9781495340604
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle eBook
Series: More #3
Released: January 2014
Goodreads  |  Book Depository
*Please note this review may contain spoilers for the previous books in this series.*

     SUMMARY
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson
We live in a world of darkness and shadows,
where monsters hide and aim to ruin.
And they did.
They ruined us and turned our dreams into nightmares.
But now we're back.
And we're fighting.
Not just for us, or for each other, but for our light.
     REVIEW

There isn't much to say about this book that I haven't already said about Jay McLean's previous books in the series. They're amazing, heart-wrenching, hysterically funny... I can't think of words adequate to describe how these novels made me feel. More Than Him was very unique in that the progression of the series took a bit of an unexpected turn - something I'd never experienced in a romance series before: (highlight to read sort-of spoiler) MTHim is a continuation of Logan and Amanda's story from book 2, MTHer. Most romances generally have some sort of happy ending for every book, especially in a series. So the series as a whole kind of blew my mind in that aspect, too - McLean totally took it outside the box.

There weren't as many gasp-worthy moments in this book that broke my heart as there were in the previous book, but for me this was a good thing. There were more swoon-worthy moments in MTHim and that really made the book in my opinion. Jay McLean seriously cemented my love for Logan, the MC, in this one and there is nothing anyone (real or fictional) can say or do to change that.

One of the best parts of this book (and of the series) is that we see more hilarious friend interaction here and I can honestly say I've never laughed so hard at another book as I have over the nonsense these characters get up to. I love them, I love the romance, I love the little lessons hidden in the stories - I love these books!

RATING: ★★★★ 1/2 - Loved it!

The More series is definitely my favorite NA romance series ever. Not only was it one of the first I've ever read which basically introduced me to the genre, but every NA romance I've read since hasn't lived up to the standard. Have you read any of the books in this series yet, more specifically, MTHim? What do you think of the series as a whole, and what do think of Logan now that we've seen who he really is?

Also, be very aware that the next book, More Than Forever, is being released in less than two weeks from today - July 12, 2014. You'll see a review from me some time in July, but trust me - you won't be disappointed!

Happy Reading!
A. 

P.S. In non-More related news, I'm giving away a paperback copy of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Giveaway ends July 7, 2014, at midnight. Enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Review: More Than Her by Jay McLean

ISBN: 9781494205942
Source: Purchased
Format: Kindle eBook
Series: More #2
Released: 2013
Goodreads  |  Amazon
*Please note this review may contain spoilers for book one in the series. See my review for More Than This here*

     SUMMARY:
"For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction."
For every choice you make there are rewards,
or there are consequences.
It was my choice to walk away the first time.
And my choice to chase her the second.
But sometimes you don't get a choice,
and all you get are the consequences.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Unless that someone is Logan Matthews.
Because loving him didn't give me
the strength to walk away.
It didn't give me
the courage to fight for him.
And when it was over,
all it gave me was a broken heart.
     REVIEW

I managed to read this book in one day (same as I did with the first in the series, More Than This). I think this speaks volumes for the book all on its own considering I usually take a bit more time than that, but don't worry - I'll give you plenty of other reasons why you should go read it.

I went into More Than Her with low expectations - it's about a character from book one that I actually happened to hate. You'd never know it now, but I hated Logan Matthews before reading this book. In the first book, he was arrogant, obnoxious, only seemed to care about himself - oh, and add in that he was a womanizer, screwing chicks left and right like it was his JOB. I couldn't stand him. Logan's lucky he was funny, because didn't think I could deal if he had no redeeming qualities. So then I find out he has a book - which means someone was about to make him settle down right? Correct...ish. Please take that statement with a grain of salt. MTHer is nothing like what you're expecting.

Jay McLean not only manages to completely change my mind about the preconceived notions I had regarding the main character, but she makes me love him, deeply - you know, if being in love with a fictional character is possible.

Not only are there hella plot twists and heart-wrenching moments that simply took my breath away; not only did Jay McLean manage to make me crack up laughing seconds after I finished ugly crying, but she managed to build me up - all the way freaking up - and then knock my ass right down. This book left me an emotional mess and I thank the heavens that I read these books when I did,with the ability to order the next one on my kindle immediately after finishing this one.

Trust me - if you're reading paperback, you're going to need the next one handy. If you're reading via e-book, please have at least $3.00 handy to order the next one the very second you finish this one. This is not an exaggeration. You will thank me for this advice one day.

On top of all of this, I think what Jay did with this book (and the series as a whole) was very unique and perfect for the way things played out. There's a very intense feeling that comes along with reading these books and Jay's fans have formed a very tight-knit "Moremunity" to work out these feelings (because therapists cost too much).

MTHer is my favorite book out of the four in the series, not because of the actual things that happen, but because of the FEELS. I've never been so emotional over a book before. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that if you haven't read any of these yet - please do it now! You won't regret it.

RATING: ★★★★ 1/2 - Loved it!

MTHer is one of my favorite books so far this year! The tiny little issues I had with the book don't even warrant mentioning at this point. Just know that there is basically nothing that can keep you from loving this book if you give it a shot. I adored it and I adore Logan Matthews and one day when I find out where the human manifestation of this beautiful specimen has been hiding himself, he is all mine! DIBS!

Have you read this book or any of the books in this series? What did you think? I bet you loved Logan just like I do! And if you haven't read them, I know you will love him just as much.

Let's talk books!

A. 

P.S. In non-More related news, I'm giving away a paperback copy of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Giveaway ends July 7, 2014, at midnight. Enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway