BOOK PROMOTION
ASIN: TBC
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages/File Size: 300pages
Formats Available: TBC
Release Date: 1st December 2013
BLURB from Goodreads
Julia fell down on her knees next to his lifeless body, her heart filling with dread as she noticed the left side of his face was covered in blood. He had fallen off the motorbike, hitting his temple on a sharp-edged rock. His head injury looked really, really bad.
“Michael?” she whispered softly, putting a trembling hand on his forehead. “Can you hear me?”
Julia has been in love with Michael for years. He’s the hottest guy in school, and she can’t believe her luck when they finally hit it off during Senior Prom. Her dream doesn’t last, though: after a few dates, he callously dumps her out of the blue. Summer vacation starts with Julia feeling heart-broken and miserable.
But then she rescues Michael in the woods when he has a motorcycle accident in a heavy thunderstorm. From that point onward, her life is turned upside down. Michael has changed completely after the blow to the head that nearly killed him... and he wants her back. But why is he so different? And will she be able to trust him this time around?
Can the boy who broke your heart ever win it back again..?
REVIEW
ASIN: TBC
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages/File Size: 300pages
Formats Available: TBC
Release Date: 1st December 2013
BLURB from Goodreads
Julia fell down on her knees next to his lifeless body, her heart filling with dread as she noticed the left side of his face was covered in blood. He had fallen off the motorbike, hitting his temple on a sharp-edged rock. His head injury looked really, really bad.
“Michael?” she whispered softly, putting a trembling hand on his forehead. “Can you hear me?”
Julia has been in love with Michael for years. He’s the hottest guy in school, and she can’t believe her luck when they finally hit it off during Senior Prom. Her dream doesn’t last, though: after a few dates, he callously dumps her out of the blue. Summer vacation starts with Julia feeling heart-broken and miserable.
But then she rescues Michael in the woods when he has a motorcycle accident in a heavy thunderstorm. From that point onward, her life is turned upside down. Michael has changed completely after the blow to the head that nearly killed him... and he wants her back. But why is he so different? And will she be able to trust him this time around?
Can the boy who broke your heart ever win it back again..?
INITIAL THOUGHTS
To be totally honest I agreed to read this book without even reading the blurb as I have read other books by Jen Minkman and loved them.
During reading the book, I did think "where is this book going?" a few times. I also felt a little confused at times too.
MY REVIEW
So as I have said before, I have read other books by Jen Minkman so immediately jumped at the chance to read her latest book. Jen sent me a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The title is also on Netgalley so my review will be going there too.
I think the cover is very dreamy looking and I'd say you can almost imagine fae and pixies dancing about in the woods near Julia's home. As Julia's favourite place to be is by a tree and I think the cover represents that well. There is quite a lot of strong imagery within the book that could have been used as the cover. I think as Julia is the central character to everything that her being on the cover is a good choice. Would the cover make me pick it up in a book store? Being 100% honest it would be the author's name that would draw me to the book and make me want to now more even though the cover is attractive enough on its own.
The main characters in this book are teenagers who have recently graduated from school, yet they also seem to be old enough to go to a pub and drink already. I guess the legal drinking age could be different where the book is set in Austria but I admit the whole "meeting and drinking at the pub" was confusing at times. I also think the use of bad language was really unnecessary in certain parts of the book, it just didn't sit totally right with the characters for me. So Julia made a really bad decision and slept with the guy she had had a crush on whilst at school. The problem was Julia was hoping for a lasting relationship and Michael was not, in fact he was extremely indifferent to her the morning after! So naturally they haven't really spoken since that happened. then Michael is involved in a motorcycle accident near Julia's favourite tree in the woods near her home and when she finds him and calls an ambulance etc, he seems to have undergone a complete character change. Suddenly he loves Julia and wants to date her. Naturally Julia is skeptical as are her friends and family. Her Gran wisely tells her to just "see what happens".
Then there's another plot running at the same time which concentrates on Anne, Julia's sister who has suddenly become secretive and obsessed with the woods and forest. Julia see's drawing Anne has done and thinks they are of some imaginary Prince of the Woods her sister has made up from an old story they were told when younger, but things end up taking a much more sinister direction. Michael ends up "saving the day" helping to locate Anne but will she live? and how on earth did Michael find her? He too seems to have become more attached to the woods since his accident.
It is quite difficult to explain some of my points without giving away major spoilers or the books plot.
The pace of the book kind of goes up and down. It has some really great sections and then some that seem to go off on a tangent that isn't necessarily in line with the story. I did find things a little confusing at times as it felt like there were two different books going on together, Anne's story and Julia & Michael's. Maybe it's because its set in a country I do not know much about. It sometimes felt the really interesting parts, such as Anne being missing were a little rushed over, instead of playing out steadily.
I specifically enjoyed the parts when Julia was working at the book store, and quoting and reading from the books. It reminded me a little of when I worked in a book store! Obviously bookstores are universally similar!
So did I enjoy the book? I liked it, so yes, but being totally brutally honest, not as much as the other books I've read by Jen Minkman. Would I recommend the book? Yes for the YA age group of readers. Would I read a Bk#2? With the way the book ends I really don't think there will be another book. I think this was a standalone book. Would I read other books by this Author? Yes, I have read other books by Jen Minkman and intend to keep reading her books!
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