This Girl

This Girl by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #3)

The question that I started this book was, “Can I love Layken and Will anymore?” After I finished? Yes, yes I can.  This is a great change of pace and this book is from Will’s point of view and he is telling Layken (and the audience) what he was feeling and his thoughts on what was taking place during the first few months of the relationship that was building between them. 

I loved the way that Hoover set this book up.  We get to see the Cooper’s on their honeymoon and experience that with them, but also it is set where Layken is asking questions and Will is telling her what was going on that she didn’t know about.  There were happy times and there were sad times, but it was great experiencing Will’s side to know what was happening. 

In my blog on the second book of this series I posed a question.  Is this an epic love story?  I still have to say no, but it is a love story that will stay with me for years to come.  Hoover has sewn a thread of love and the thoughts of fate and allowed me to escape this week with these three books unlike any other series I have ever read.  Who changes POV characters in the middle of a series?  Colleen Hoover, that’s who!  It was a brilliant story, it made me laugh and cry, sit on the edge of my seat and make me never want to put my iPad down ever again. 

Since I read Hopeless first, it’s hard for me not to compare Holder and Will.  I won’t do it, but Will’s side of the story has made me want to rob a book store to get Losing Hope before it comes out in a few days.  I’ve already purchased it, let me read it early!!!

I don’t have a lot to say, just read this book/series as soon as possible!  And Colleen Hoover, keep writing books!  You have a God given gift and I cannot wait to see what else you have for us, your fans!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Retreating Has Never Sounded So Good!

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #2)

Can I call this an epic love story?  Probably not.  But I really want to.  I love this book, these characters, the plot, the twists and turns that Hoover takes us on.  Epic?  Maybe not, but definitely a story worth writing down and we thank you Colleen for giving us this gift.  Listen to me, I haven’t even finished the series and I’m already declaring it not epic, it could totally become epic in the last book of the Slammed series.

Point of Retreat is the moment in Will and Layken’s alone time when they know that they must retreat before things go too far.  I loved this.  I loved that they kept their word to Julia when it could have been so easy to break after she was gone.  I love that they respected their boundaries and retreated when things were going too far. 

New characters were introduced and who doesn’t love a know it all 11 year old that is wise beyond her years and cusses like a sailor, ok, maybe not that last part, but Kiersten was a great addition to the gang.  Her mother Sherry also gave some great words of wisdom to Will as things were looking dark for him and Layken.  Not new to the story, but I still love Kel and Caulder, they are such great kids and fun and I just love them.  They make me laugh and I appreciate how they took a stand for Kiersten.

While we’re on Will, let’s give Mrs. Hoover a round of applause for changing the book’s POV character and not missing a beat.  I actually loved Layken more through Will’s eyes than when I was in her head.  And isn’t Will one of the best male characters ever?!?!  I mean really, he is great and responsible and emotional  and amazing! 

Of course no book is any good if there isn’t something horrible that happens.  When this something horrible does happen I was so upset I actually almost prayed for one of the characters.  I think I was a little sleep deprived and a lot crazy for praying for made up people, but that’s how real of a picture Hoover creates with her words.  Her words have put a spell on me and I’m not looking forward to ending the story.  Nothing will be as good… except maybe Loosing Hope.  I can’t wait for Holder’s point of view. 

Readers, go quickly to your Nook or Kindle and buy these books, do not hesitate, you should actually be doing this right now.  You will not be sorry, you will thank me.  And speaking of Thanking… I should take this moment to thank my book friend JillBud for introducing me to Colleen Hoover.  You pick amazing books Jill, and I thank you!  Keep Reading my Friends!  

So you keep your ocean, I'll take the lake

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

After Layken Cohen’s father passes away from a sudden heart attack, her family in financial struggles moves from Texas to Michigan.  Since it’s the beginning of her senior year this is anything but a happy moment for her.  Her mother Julia and her little brother Kel, try to piece their life together and in walks Will Cooper.  The hansom across the street neighbor walks into Layken’s life and the magic sparks immediately between Will and Layken.  They have an amazing first date and then their circumstances gets in the way.  Every time them turn around there is another obstacle in the way of them being together.  With so much against them, how can they be together? 

Colleen Hoover has done it again…I know she wrote this book first, but I read Hopeless first, so again… she has done it again.  I can’t believe how much I love these characters.  Every single character was believable and easy to love.  Layken and Will are amazing together and when they are kept apart, I felt like my heart was ripped in two even if they were only across the street from each other.  I loved the magic that took place between them from the very beginning.  As she’s acting crazy like a zombie, playing with Kel her little brother, I just loved that meeting Will and Caulder and I couldn’t wait until they saw each other again. 

“That’s not a good idea.” Every time he said this to Lake, it made my heart happy.  It’s one of those book sayings that will live in the on in the lives of the fans forever.  It’s the “Okay?” “Okay.” Of The Fault in Our Stars or the many phrases that have been tattooed on body parts from Twilight.    

I loved Layken, but she disappointed me with her immaturity at times, it was more like I expected more of her and didn’t expect her to be retreat from life at difficult situations.  I think I felt like this because she thought more of herself than this and that’s why I came to this conclusion. 

But of course, Will is the reason to read this book.  He is amazing.  He changes the story, heck, what am I saying, he is the story. I love him through Layken’s eyes and then something happens (no spoilers, I wouldn’t do that) and his true character comes out and what we don’t know about him makes us love him even more!

Colleen Hoover  is amazing.  I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters with the turn of each page! Hoover has a way with plots and story lines like no other writer I have ever read.  I was constantly surprised and consistently in awe of her words-smith-ability.

Buy this book people, quickly!  Keep Reading my Friends!

A shout out to the Secret Garden

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

As I finished this book by Kate Morton, I am literally speechless.  I am having a hard time putting my thoughts into words as my mind has been on an expedition to complete this fantastic book.  Morton takes her reading audience on a journey that can be equated to the Maze that is so many times talked about in The Forgotten Garden. 

The journey that I took to start and complete this book was nothing short of fate.  My sister in law Anne suggested this book to me what seems like a very long time ago.  She was reading it for her book club and I believe that it was her first pick.  I remember how much she loved it and I mentally placed it on my to-read list.  Then not too long after that a friend of a friend sent me about 7 books that I put on my shelf with hopes of reading them in the future.  Then my friend Renae who had read a book by Morton before wanted to read this book together, not knowing that I already own it, Renae purchased it on her Kindle.  Many months go by, the stack of free books forgotten, moved and unpacked.  Then Sam Taylor picks The Forgotten Garden as the May book club book.  Even though I am no longer a member, I still try to stay up to date on what’s being read.  So I finally picked it up.  It took me over a month to read, with some TV to distract me and I listened to 2 books in the middle, but finally I got the reading bug and completed over 250 pages in 24 hours (which is a lot for me).  With all of that coming at me, it was fate that got me to read this book and I will treasure it as a great read that I will refer back to for years to come.  I have already given it as a suggested read and I can’t wait for someone to read it and for this story to stay alive in other readers.

The story starts off very confusing.  With several different characters and different time lines, but the way Morton sews the themes and plots together is nothing less than magical.  It is authors like Morton that make me lament that I will never be as great as her and several others that I have read.  Some books inspire me to write because they are easy reads and I think, “Dang, I can do that and better.” Then there are stories that break my heart because I know that I will never be able to spin a story with so much heartache and love and mystery that it warms and breaks the reader’s hearts at the same time.  This is one of those stories. 

I cannot go into the plot without spoilers, I dare not ruin one aspect of this story, therefore you will have to do without.  I will just leave you with one thought. 

I loved Eliza.  Her entire story was incredibly interesting.  Every time I type something about her story it is riddled with spoilers, so when you read the book, just know that I loved Eliza.  My heart is always joined with authors or readers.  Anyone who can spend their time enjoying a good book, or writing stories for fun is a favorite character for me.

I will leave you with a quote from the book, Keep Reading my Friends!

**Cassandra couldn’t help herself.  She curled up on her side in the center of the camp bed.  It was the perfect place for reading, cool and quiet and secret.  Cassandra always hid when she read, though she never quite knew why.  It was as if she couldn’t shake the guilty suspicion that she was being lazy, that surrendering herself so completely to something so enjoyable must surely be wrong.**