Sarah’s Review of The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

I loved this book! The Best of Me is, as sad as I am to say it, the very first Nicholas Sparks book I have ever read. Why? I have no idea, because he is an amazing author. His writing style is impeccable and just draws you in. With that being said, I will be reading more Nicholas Sparks books in the future.

The Best of Me is a story about two high school sweethearts, Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole, who, despite all odds against them and coming from two entirely different worlds, fell in love in high school. They came from a small town in North Carolina, Oriental. After their senior year of high school, just as they are getting ready for what the future has in store, they are torn apart and set off on two very different roads. The story goes back and forth between their love in high school to the present, twenty five years later, when they are both brought back to Oriental for a funeral of a mutual friend, Tuck. Both Amanda and Dawson have lived their lives, but not in the way they thought they would, and they both can remember how passionate their love was for one another. While in Oriental, they are forced together and pushed to face their memories while uncovering truths about themselves.

This is a story about young love, and how, even though years can pass, feelings sometimes do not go away. The theme of right and wrong and morals is strong throughout the book, and it leaves you wondering which decision you would essentially want Amanda to choose. I was torn myself, as a reader. You see the love that her and Dawson have for each other and really wish for them to have that love and happiness in their lives. Yet, you are also aware of the new life she has had with her husband and her children. Even though they have their challenges, they are the path that she chose.

As someone who has found and is still with the love of my life, I could not imagine not having that. I can’t imagine not being with the one you love, your best friend, your soul mate, and it really tugs at the heart to know that Amanda and Dawson have had to give all of that up and go their separate ways. You realize that not everyone has a marriage full of love and in that sense, I was hoping for the passion between them to be reunited. Yet I was also very aware of her present life with her children, and didn’t want her to leave what she had forged with Frank. The whole time I was reading this book, I didn’t know which decision I wanted Amanda to make. I can’t even imagine the internal struggle she was faced with. It was very evident how hard it was in her words to Dawson and in her inner monologue.

I loved the way Sparks wrote, linking memories from the past with the present and filling in the blanks by jumping time frames. His characters are so well developed. I felt as though I knew exactly who they were while I was reading, almost as though I had grown up alongside them and had been witness to their love. I love how Tuck has gotten to know the two of them so well and as his dying wish wants them to come to the realization of their true feelings. Yet he is not one to push too hard, he just puts the wheels in motion and allows them to make their own decisions. Tuck was a very smart man.

The ending really ties things together in a way you’d never imagine possible until the last few chapters. The irony of it all is so very sad, yet stunning. Sparks knows just how to wrap things up so you’re not left wondering.

Sarah’s Review of Dark Deliverance by L.J. Sealey

Dark Deliverance is book #2 in the paranormal romance series Divine Hunter written by L.J. Sealey. At the end of Awaken, Lacy and Michael were forced apart. Lacy believes Michael to be in Hell, but Michael is in Kentucky where he is searching for answers to help his friend, Evo, and hunting demons. He has found a new group of demon hunters whom he calls friends, but despite all of their hard work they aren’t finding out any valuable information. Evo has been sent to Mathrah, and none of the demons that they capture will talk. Since he is coming upon no information, Michael decides that the only thing left for him to do is to once again enter Hell in the hopes of finding and rescuing Evo himself. He hopes that while there he can put an end to Varesh and once again find his way back to Lacy. He has been staying away as he doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her.

Lacy is living in Oakland and is trying to once again figure her life out, after having her heart broken, and believing that Michael had been sent to Hell. She has found a new friend in Nina and has just begun her own business. While taking a form of self-defence class with Nina, she meets Paige, who she believes may help her find Michael and reunite them. Unbeknownst to Lacy, Michael does not need saving, and through both of their adventures, they find each other, only to realize that there may be an even bigger threat than they once believed. Now they have to work together to fight the evils that are growing. Michael and his new friends are put to the test, and Michael hopes that he is strong enough to defeat Varesh and the evil he is planning.

In this book, we find out more about both Michael’s past, as well as Lacy’s.

I found Dark Deliverance to have two major story lines, one right after the other, and one major theme I kept seeing was that of friendship. You really see what a real friendship is, and how that love will force you to go to great depths to help each other out. I think we all need at least one friend like that in our lives, to see us through everything and love us unconditionally.

Right at the end of the book, Sealey throws out another curve ball to hook you into her next book, not to mention the epilogue! Both the ending and the epilogue pull you in and I can’t wait until the next one is out!

One point to mention is that this book does contain mature content, it is recommended for 17+.

Sarah’s Review of Awaken by L.J. Sealey

Awaken is the debut novel by L.J. Sealey. It is the first in her Paranormal Romance series, Divine Hunter. In Awaken, we meet Michael Warden. Michael’s life was taken away from him and he now finds himself inhabiting a body that was not his, fighting demons that should not exist, while trying to figure out what happened to him and why. His quest for truth leads him to take a job as a university professor. He took the job to try to uncover the reason behind numerous suicides by the students. He doesn’t believe it to be because of natural reasons and thinks if he figures out why the students are killing themselves, then it could lead to answers as to what happened to him. He feels as though there is a supernatural element to it. In his search he encounters numerous demons from Hell, from which he has returned but is unsure why he was able to leave. As well, he makes a new friend in a demon hunter named Evo. While working as a professor, Michael meets and quickly develops a friendship with colleague Lacy Holloway.

Lacy has just begun to heal from things in her past when she meets Michael, and quickly becomes comfortable in his presence. All of a sudden things from her past start resurfacing and she feels as though Michael has some part of it. Even though there is something strange about Michael, she can’t help but fall for him, she finds him smart, attractive, and very easy to talk to. Lacy finds out quickly that Michael isn’t what he seems to be and Lacy finds herself fighting demons alongside Michael as they try to help one of her students who has tried to commit suicide but failed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Right from the beginning you realize that Lacy and Michael have a unique bond and even though it seems dangerous, you are rooting for them. Her kind heart and personality are exactly what Michael needs amidst all of the torture he is going through, both physically and emotionally. The journey Michael takes throughout the book is captivating. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see what else he would discover about himself as he unravelled the questions and found some answers as to what he was and what had become of him.

Sealey filled the book with a lot of descriptive so that you are able to picture everything and have a real sense of what is going on with the characters in detail. The story flowed well from chapter to chapter and things unravelled in a uniformed way, not leaving you wondering what happened. Her characters are interesting people and are easy to understand. It made you feel as though you were a friend of theirs and had known them for years. Yet the mystery surrounding their past was very intriguing and I loved how she told bits and pieces of it throughout the book to keep you wanting to read. The story line is great and easy to follow.

I really liked the overall tone of good versus evil with the underlying romance. Even though Michael has returned from Hell, you are wondering throughout the whole book why, since he doesn’t seem to have the “demon” in him. Instead he is fighting on the good side. I found the further I read the more hooked I got and the ending was amazing!

If you enjoy paranormal romance then this is a series to check out. I just started reading the second book in the series, Dark Deliverance, and so far I am hooked.

Sarah’s Review of Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

Harvesting the Heart is one of Jodi Picoult’s earlier novels. It is about a woman named Paige. Paige grew up with only a few memories of her mother. When she was five years old, her mother abandoned Paige and her father. Paige decides after graduation that it is time for her to leave her father and the city she grew up in, Chicago, after dealing with a challenging decision. Paige leaves and dreams of attending art school. While gone she meets and marries Nicholas, an ambitious young doctor. Soon after Paige becomes a mother herself to a son. She quickly feels overwhelmed with the demands of having a family and she cannot get past the fact that her own mother left her and was absent most of her life. She also struggles with her own past and the reason behind why she left Chicago and her father in the first place. She is unsure of herself as a mother and as a wife and so in a moment of desperation leaves everything in search of answers.

This story was hard for me to get into. I usually love Picoult’s writing style, but in this particular story, I found she jumped around time frames too much, especially in the beginning of the book. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on. Luckily after the first part it became a bit easier to follow and the flow was much better.

This story deals with such a fragile topic of ambivalent motherhood. I think all moms can relate to feeling overwhelmed in the beginning. It’s a completely new life and you need to adapt rather quickly. But I think that’s where most moms, at least in my case, stop relating. I could never in a million years ever consider leaving my children and it was hard for me to understand why Paige could do that to her own son. But Picoult does do a good job in putting you into Paige’s shoes and seeing it through her eyes. You really have to have empathy in order to understand the emotions that she is going through, especially, if like me, you find it unthinkable to just get up and leave.

Picoult does a good job of writing from the perspectives of both Paige, the mother, and Nicholas, her husband and the father of the child. You really get a sense of what both of them are feeling and the struggles they each have to deal with. But as I already said, I had a really hard time relating to the characters and what they were going through.

Overall I found this particular novel to be lacking what most of her other novels have. It took me a long time to really get into it and when I did, I couldn’t relate much to what I was reading. The story line was a bit predictable and there weren’t really any twists or surprises. It was an interesting read, but not one of my favourites.

NEW RELEASE!!! DARK DELIVERANCE BLOG TOUR, INTERVIEW, AND GIVEAWAY!!!

Title: Dark Deliverance
Series: Divine Hunter #2
Author: L.J. Sealey
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: September 30th 2014

SYNOPSIS:

Sometimes you just have to go to Hell and back. . .

Forced apart, Lacy and Michael are now living very different lives. Michael is in Kentucky fighting demons and searching for a way to save his friend but even with the help of new allies he is hitting nothing but dead ends. Faced with no other choice, Michael returns to Hell and is determined to save Evo and put an end to his enemy so he can be reunited with the woman who holds his heart.

Lacy is trying to piece her life back together in Oakland but is struggling to fill the void that is almost tearing her apart. Just as she’s about to hit rock bottom, a new friend could hold the key to reuniting her with Michael. But at what cost?

Both find themselves in less than perfect circumstances. The repercussions of which lead them to discover a new threat born of Varesh and his growing army of demons: a new weapon, and a new plan that will ultimately lead to the end of the world as they know it. Will Michael’s new power be enough to destroy Varesh and protect not only the people he cares about, but also the rest of humanity?

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Links for AWAKEN: AmazonUS | AmazonUK | iBooksUS | iBooksUK | B&N | Kobo

My Interview with L.J. Sealey

When you began the Divine Hunter series, where did you find your inspiration? Even though it is a paranormal romance series, did you bring anything from your real life into the story?

I’ve always had this fascination with otherworldly creatures. Since being old enough to understand what they are, I’ve loved vampires in particular. My favourite programmes are always supernatural based. Starting with shows like Buffy, then Supernatural (who doesn’t love watching Same and Dean), and Vampire Diaries. I first had the idea for Michael Warden quite a few years ago when I was actually writing something else, but he was niggling away at me. So much so that I put my other story aside so that I could see what he wanted. I never went back to that other story, but I’m sure I will do eventually.

Paranormal Romance is my favourite genre to read, so mixing the demon/angel elements with romance was perfect for me.

For the readers who haven’t yet read Awaken, Book #1 in the Divine Hunter Series, do you recommend they read it first or could they dive right into Dark Deliverance Book #2?

I definitely recommend reading Awaken first. A lot of the storyline continues on from book one, so I really feel that you have to know what happened in Awaken to really be involved with what the characters go through in Dark Deliverance. Also, you really need to know what Michael and Lacy go through in terms of their relationship before understanding things fully in book two, particularly in the first half of the book.

Are there any sneak peeks you can give the readers about Dark Deliverance? In particular about Michael and Lacy’s relationship? I think we are all curious to know what happens with the two of them.

Without giving too much away, Michael and Lacy have to deal with a few issues in this instalment. Something big happened at the end of Awaken (I won’t say what just in case your readers haven’t read it yet), and even though Michael thinks that what he did was for the best, he begins to realise that he just might have made the wrong decision.

You will see other characters returning in Dark Deliverance – some welcome, some not so welcome – and you will also meet a few new ones.

If you could be any character in the Divine Hunter series, male or female, who would you choose to be and why?

That’s a hard one. But I think if I’m forced to choose it would have to be Alethia. She’s a powerful goddess who can easily protect herself. She’s pretty badass when she needs to be, but she’s also very caring.

How long is the Divine Hunter series going to be? Will we be seeing more of Michael and Lacy in the future?

We’ll definitely be seeing more of Michael and Lacy. Their journey isn’t over yet. I originally planned for the story to take place over four books and unless anything drastic happens that will still be the case. Michael and Lacy’s story arc will be wrapped up in book four. I’ve even written the final scene. The next book I’m currently working on will be a tie-in novel to the Divine Hunter series. It will take place in the Divine Hunter world but will stray from the main story arc. The book will be titled EV): A Divine Hunter World Novel. I’m pretty sure I don’t have to tell you who it will be about. From the feedback I’ve had, Evo has made an impression on the Divine Hunter series readers. He’s a cheeky, loveable rogue. I’m really excited to write his story.

The cover for Dark Deliverance is full is intrigue, romance and suspense. I personally love the cover. What did you think when you first saw it?

Well, I actually design my own covers so I have to say I LOVE them. The first design I did for the Dark Deliverance cover was very different, but something wasn’t sitting right with me. So I bravely scrapped the whole design and started again. I have to say I love the model on the cover of Awaken. It took me a long time to find him but the minute I saw him, I knew he had to be my cover model for Michael.

Which part of the book did you write last?

With Awaken, I didn’t write the last chapter last. By the time I was halfway through writing it I knew exactly how it was going to end, so I wrote it earlier on. With Dark Deliverance, I wrote the epilogue earlier on, and apart from what I already had in my notes, I wrote the final chapter last.

You are a fairly new published writer, with this being your second book. Is there any advice you can give to aspiring writers?

Just go for it. If you have a story that’s itching to leave your head, write it down. Get it out of there whether you believe you can do it or not. When I started writing I didn’t have a clue if I would ever release anything. I simply wrote my story because it was in my head all of the time. I thought to myself, if I manage to do it then maybe I’ll just let my family and friends read it. I wasn’t at all confident to start with. But I did it, and I still have to pinch myself because I never thought I’d ever put it out there for other people to read. It turned out to be the best decision of my life.

What is your process for writing a book? Do you always start at the beginning or do you jump around to different chapters then fill in the pieces?

I start by making notes and writing out the rough draft of the storyline. Then I dive right in, starting at page one. I mostly write from start to finish, but if I get an idea for something that might happen later on in the story, I work on that for a time, then go back.

Who are some of your favourite authors and why?

My two absolute favourite authors are Jeaniene Frost and J.R. Ward. I can’t really decide between the two because I like them equally, but I will lean slightly towards Frost because her Night Huntress series novels were what got me hooked on the paranormal romance genre.

I also love Elizabeth Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian…I could be here all day!

 

And here is an excerpt from Dark Deliverance....

Michael leaned against the wall inside a disused building on West Clinton Street. It wasn’t long before he felt a shift in the air and a cold breeze blew across his neck, causing him to turn and face the gray mist that had begun to appear on the opposite side of the building.

“I know this isn’t a social visit. But it’s good to see you anyway.” He smiled at Alethia as she walked towards him. She was wearing a long, navy coat and tight jeans with her deep brown hair drawn back in a sleek ponytail which made it easy for Michael to notice the troubled expression on her face.

She walked to him with her hands in both pockets. “It’s good to see you too. Although, I know somebody else who would like to see you more.”

 His chest instantly tightened. He knew who she was referring to and for the first time in days Lacy’s face flashed into his mind. He took in a deep breath and let the air out slowly while trying desperately to quash the emotion that those simple words had instantly stirred up. “You know that can’t happen right now, Alethia. Not until I know she’ll be safe.”

 

The deity nodded her understanding and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I know. It’s just hard to hear what she’s thinking and not be able to tell her you’re safe, that’s all.”

 

He knew Lacy would be suffering, but he had no choice right now. It was much safer for her to believe he’d been taken than to know he was safe.

 

“Is she the reason you’re here?”

 

“No.”

 

He watched Alethia lower her gaze and she removed her hand from him. She looked troubled. This couldn’t be good.

 

She huffed. “My father won’t listen to me, my mother refuses to speak to him about helping me find where Evo is, and I can’t reach out to anyone else, so. . . ”—she held her hand out to him—“I need you to give me the ring back.”

 

“What? Alethia! You can’t be serious. You know I—”

 

“Just listen to me for a second. You have to hand me the ring, Michael. It’s the only way you’re going to find Evo.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L.J. Sealey was born and raised in a little Welsh town by the sea. It rains a lot, so she often has a great excuse to sit at her writing desk and while away the hours at her laptop.

She still lives in N.Wales and when she’s not travelling around the country working with her husband – who is a professional singer – or singing backup vocals herself, she likes to read and watch her favourite TV shows which normally includes plenty of CSI, The Vampire Diaries and endless amounts of sitcoms. Being addicted to reading about vampires, demons, shifters and angels, she has always had a thing for all things paranormal and is a big sucker for impossible love stories. So it was inevitable that when she started writing herself she would mix the two together.


 

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1 x SIGNED PAPERBACK COPY OF DARK DELIVERANCE & SWAG PACK
3 x eBOOK SETS OF DIVINE HUNTER BOOKS 1&2, AWAKEN & DARK DELIVERANCE
(Open Internationally)


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Sarah’s Review of Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Sarah’s Key is a novel that spans two different times and two different realities. One view is that of Sarah. She is a ten year old girl living in Paris. Her story begins in July of the year 1942 when she and her parents are taken from their homes by the French police who were going to every door and arresting families who were Jewish during the night. When the police came knocking on Sarah’s door, she only wanted to protect her younger brother so she locked him in a cupboard hidden in their bedroom promising to come back for him. It was their secret hiding place.

The other view of the story takes place sixty years later when an American journalist, living in Paris, begins to investigate the Vel D’Hiv roundup. Julia Jarmond unearths secrets that bring her to Sarah past and her own future. The novel goes back and forth between the two stories, linking them through time.

Sarah’s Key is written with such intensity and suspense. There are rich descriptives on every page, making you feel as though you were living there. The rich history is intriguing and sorrowful. It’s heartbreaking to know that people suffered these horrors and the few survivors had to live with their loss. That is something one could never forget and it would change a person forever.

Tatiana de Rosnay’s writing style is impeccable. She has filled each page with so much detail and history. Even after putting the book down, the story stays with you. The characters were so real that I felt I knew them personally and their stories made my heart ache. The author did a good job of explaining the conditions and the treatment of the Jewish community during the Holocaust and the role the French played in July 1942. She helps explain from the characters points of view why so many people living in France have forgotten what happened or did not even know about it. Before reading this book, I had no idea that so much had happened in France during the Holocaust. I learned about the roundup as I read.

This story is rich in history and so engaging that you almost forget it is a work of fiction. I would highly recommend picking up this book and learning a bit more while reading for pleasure. This story highlights why it is so important to remember our past and to never forget.

Sarah’s Review of Long Drive Home

Long Drive Home, written by Will Allison, is a captivating story looking into real life consequences of our actions, and how our morality plays into it.

In Will Allison’s novel, we meet Glen Bauer, a married man with a young daughter. Glen makes one quick decision that changes the course of his life and everything he knew. He made one quick mistake, jerking his steering wheel to try and scare a reckless driver, that turned deadly. He quickly realized that there were no witnesses to the accident, other than his daughter in the back seat, so he makes up a lie to the police, his wife, and Sara, his daughter who is only six years old. Glen’s wife becomes panicked and decides that they need to do something quick in order to keep their family and Sara safe. While his wife is spiraling, Glen begins to wonder if the accident was really his fault or if someone else is to blame.

We see Glen struggling with what is right and wrong. His conscious plays a huge part in trying to decide what is the moral thing to do. You are left wondering what you would do if you found yourself in a similar situation. Would you lie to save your wife and kids and try to keep your family together, or would you tell the truth, even if you weren’t entirely sure you were the real cause of the accident? Were there other factors involved?

I love Allison’s writing style. He goes between writing from the viewpoint of Glen, to the letter he writes a few years later to his daughter Sara, explaining everything. It’s also an interesting viewpoint to write from. If we were reading this same story from the view of Sara or her mom, we may look at Glen differently. But seeing it through the eyes of him, and seeing the way he is feeling and thinking leaves a different tone.

Definitely a good read.