Gut-wrenching, exquisite and so full of joy
927042
Best opening paragraph ever! Sets up the book perfectly. Go sample it online. Gregory David Roberts loves India for the same reasons I do. Amidst the deep contrasts of this ancient culture and country, lies a spiritual undercurrent that elevates even the most dire situation to a teaching moment and a communion with something eternal and internal. For foreigners, it strips you of your known responses and familiar hiding places and lovingly forces you to trust your intuition. This is a tough story and an exquisite one at the same time. But that is India. Every time he is thrust into a difficult situation, the author finds unexpected beauty, unity, and joy. It is those moments of joy and awakening that bring you to tears. Perhaps because of my relationship with India, I find those moments to be the heart and soul of this book. And perhaps others will not. But it's a fascinating story that just keeps unraveling and, for me, takes you back to the lesson mentioned in the opening paragraph.
2335303
Ok, I don't usually do the review thing because I never know what to say, but this one (the 3rd of the series) was so gut-wrenching, so glorious, so beautiful that I just had to post. If you haven't started reading this series, you are really missing out. Elizabeth has created a fascinating alternate reality that draws you in and haunts you even when you're not reading. I'm looking so forward to the final book of the series and hopeful that she's working on the other stories (dare I hope for another series?) that she's hinted at in recent weeks
1790929
Katja Millay has taken my breath away with the poignant and riveting story, The Sea of Tranquility.  My heart is heavy and my emotions run deep, for the way this story has made me feel the depths of darkness, and grief, to the slow blossom of hope, redemption, rebirth, and most of all love.  This story is unique.  It is a gift. The Sea of Tranquility is a masterpiece, unlike any you will EVER read again.  This story is about a girl named Nastya Kashnikov.  She is broken, and drowning in the depths of her own darkness.  She reinvents herself, moves to a new town, a new school, and into a new house with her aunt.  She is broken, beyond repair. and pushes people away from her because she doesn't want anyone to love her.  If they love her, she will just disappoint them and break their heart.  She has nothing to give.  Then she meets Josh Bennett.  He is broken too, but for different reasons.  Everyone he's ever loved has left him and died.  So he had decided that it is best to be alone, and not have to feel the terrible pain and despair that the loss of someone you love causes. Josh stays in his own protective bubble, and no one attempts to get close to him.  The only friend he has is Drew.  His best friend since little league.  However, Nastya and Josh's lives transform drasticly when they intersect, and they will never be the same again.

I loved the Sea of Tranquility for many reasons.  First and foremost, was that I connected to Nastya and Josh on such a deep level.  I felt their loss, pain, and darkness.  I also got to experience their hope, rebirth, and love for themselves and each other.  I also loved the story.  It was unique, it had depth to it, and the author used a lot of symbolism.  It was ultimately a story of hope.  Many horrible things happen in life, and many times fear and self-pity hold us back from the happiness that can be ours, but only if we are willing to take a chance.

I highly recommend, The Sea of Tranquility.  You will cry, and at times you'll feel like your heart is breaking, but you will never forget this story.  Long after the final page is read, this story will stay with you, and I guarantee that you will never read another one like It.  I give The Sea of Tranquility 5 out of 5 Awestruck Tropical Flowers.

If you enjoyed my book review please check out my book blog  [...]
870985
Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. What a lovely, astonishing piece of work.

Sugar and William, Sophie and Agnes, Henry and Caroline...I loved them all, even in their most heartbreaking and infuriating moments. Creatures of their time, every one of them, who lived and breathed and laughed and cried their way into my heart and memory. I loved this book.

Minor quibbles: The author's use of a second person narrative style was off-putting at first, but I soon became accustomed. And some of the language widened my eyes, but it must be put in context: any tale centered on a prostitute is bound to make use of, ummm, vulgarities.
3777193
My heart is full, right now. Full of emotion and satisfaction over having read this story that has evolved so beautifully from sexy fun to a wholesome emotional adventure. My calendar is complete. A whole year! And I'm going to miss it.

My beloved Wes and Mia have come full circle. He's dealing with this trauma in a much healthier way while Mia has another successful go at her new job filming segments for TV about what beauty is in people's lives. Their bond is deeply touching. Yet for Mia there's a huge hurdle to overcome that I was eagerly awaiting. And it's as devastating, surprising and human as I wanted it to be.

The feelings of family unity and Christmas cheer were strong and heartfelt. I loved every minute of it. There are also some harrowing moments for Mia and her sister. They were hard, realistic. I can't believe this year-long journey of life and love has come to an end, but it's been so fulfilling and intense that I can only wish it could start again.

First reviewed on Literaria http://sede-literaria.blogspot.com
1358098
A.M. Johnson is quickly rising to the top of the list of my favorite authors. The emotion that she rips from me is unreal! She deserves all the praise for this beautiful, heartbreaking story. I wish everyone could experience the love that I felt as I watched this beautifully written story unfold. This is one of those stories that captivates your heart, mind, body, and soul. A.M.'s artistic writing style consumed me from start to finish, ripping my heart open and magically sewing it together time and time again. This is the breathtaking story of love, life, loss and fresh starts. The cover and the title will drag you in but it's the author's brilliant storytelling that will swallow your heat and soul. This is not one you want to miss!! Wow just WOW.

*Advanced Copy provided for an honest review*
2402021
This is a tour de force of the heart. Ive been literally crying through ninety percent of the story. Its made of feelings! Big, true, solid, outpouring, poignant feelings.

I must confess that I felt like giving up plenty of times. Too much sadness and unfairness. Yet I couldn't give up. I couldn't do that to this story or the spirit that inspired it. I guess Im too sensitive to these issues and thats why my reaction was so visceral. It was bound to touch me deeply. It scares me. And every page in The Empty Jar was filled with the real touch of love, of family, of terrible loss, and true understanding of the meaning of all those things.

I had to stop reading frequently to breathe. Every time, I convinced myself that Id come back stronger, capable of withstanding the overwhelming emotion, capable of withholding the waterworks. Well no. I wasn't strong enough. Every time the tears would just start again.

Im not really the kind of person who reads tragic love. I did it this time only because I know where it all comes from, whats behind this authors journey that she had to pour it in the most beautiful, heartbreaking words Ive ever read.

I want to say that it was worth every tear because of the quality of the writing and the depth of the story. Nat and Lenas love is the most courageous, beautiful treasure. I don't know how I survived till the end, but I finished with a quivering heart, and amazed.

Be warned: this is not an easy thing to read. Be strong because youll need to be, but at least TRY like I did. This is not read. This is experienced with all your body and soul.
1804462
The Rock Stars Secret Baby is an astoundingly breathtaking and magnificently exquisite journey that will ever so gently open your heart and allow the purest and truest form of love to reach in and transform every part. This is a love that will change a life just by its mere presence and the surprising peace that it brings. Love not only accepts with open and honest arms, but it also center us and presents a life of simplicity and overwhelming peace. Our hearts cannot live in turmoil and anxiety, so why would be choose to complicate our life and force ourselves to live in such pain? Instead, walk towards a future that will make your soul sing with its promise of unbridled joy and sigh with its temptation of perfect peace.

Andy is living the life that has been carefully designed for her. She knows her place, and she does all she can to stay without her restrictive, allotted boundaries. The desires of her heart are inconsequential and do not matter in comparison to the future that has already been mapped out. No matter how much she yearns for more, she quickly pulls her disobedient heart back into its gilded cage. Cadell has none only chaos and demands his entire life. He knows what he must do, and yet his very soul is screaming out for something so very different. The chains that hold his captive are not as confining as they used to be, but can he figure out how to break them completely before more than his own future goes up in flames? Can Andy follow the pleading cries of her own heart and stop her very soul from dying before she has had a chance to spread her wings, or will she walk away from the only source of living water that her dehydrated soul needs only to please those she seeks approval from?

If I thought that the stories of the other members of the band Killer Valentine were utterly mesmerizing and incredibly powerful, then Babylon definitely saved the best for last with Cadell. She has painted a masterpiece so expansive and yet stunningly detailed that to take it all in at one sitting is nearly impossible. The themes that wave themselves throughout this wonderful journey will seep into your heart until you feel the full weight of them upon your very soul. The truth and the power in the words that cover these pages will pierce every facet of your life until you find the chains that hold you captive. Andy and Cadell are a perfect and beautiful balance to the other. They not only understand the implication of their past, but they see the limitless potential of their future. The only question that remains is if they are willing to step out on faith and take hold of what they desire above all else.

Blair Babylon continues to leave me utterly breatheless and completely captivated by the quite brilliance of her mind and the boundless depths of her heart. Her stories never fail to show me something new about myself, and quietly remind me that I am worth something, We are all broken and flawed in some way and yet it is those pieces that make us who we are. Regardless of what we think, we are never unredeemable or too far gone as long as we can be touched by love and hold onto hope.
664831
When I read the story last summer, I missed the richness of it all. The second read left me soooo satisfied that I couldn't read ANYTHING immediately afterwards.

Diane McKinney-Whetstone is masterful for her art of bringing characters, places, and sounds to life! On Cecil Street, you will meet the residents who are so real. The introductions are intense and animated - enabling you to feel their pain, their joy, and their sorrow.

The soulful music that moves from the pages into your heart will create a beat that you never imagined - a heartbeat for Joe, Louise, Shay, Neet, Alberta, and Deucie. These characters will etch indelible prints upon your heart - endearing you to them forever.

Leaving Cecil Street is a MUST read... a MUST hear... a MUST see... a MUST feel... a MUST have. It is sure to soothe your literary soul.
330183
It's phenomenal. Dark, deep, raw, and utterly beautiful.
This is not a quick read that you forget the moment you put it down. Every word is weighed and measured and so unbelievably meaningful, you'll FEEL it!
*sigh*
What a brilliantly written book by an incredibly intuitive, insightful and talented author.
470308
"This morning, my plans consisted of eating FunDip while watching misguided fame whores choke down buffalo testicles on old reruns of Fear Factor. Now I'm standing in black stiletto heels in the middle of a Norman Rockwell painting."

The Sea of Tranquility deserves its own shelf in my Good Reads library...in any library.  This book is devastating, heart wrenching, believable and even uplifting. It's a story of love and friendship created from the remnants of death and desire by two shattered people.  After years of disappointment and devastation these two lost souls find each other...but feel unworthy of love, broken and fear of feeling again.  Katja Millay dissects each of their lives and thoughts with skilled precision.  She is a master story teller who digs way deep into her characters. I almost felt like a voyeur...watching and understanding why each felt so haunted. I was sucked from page one and taken hostage in each of their heads.  Not many books can bring me to tears...but the last half of this book opened up a sea of emotions. There aren't enough stars for this book. Katja Millay is a brilliant writer and I can't wait to read book two (will there be a part two???)
Rebecca Donovan fans of the Breathing series will love this book.
By the way... the definition for the name Katja (you will understand after reading this book) is: pure, blessed and holy.
2841849
Holy weeping tears of sadness and happiness Batman! I'm totally bawling. Forgotten Promises is honestly one of the best books I have EVER read. The talent of Ms. Brooks truly awes me and inspires me. So poignant and full of meaning, her stories just touch deep, way down to my heart. She brings it all: humor, sexiness, seriousness, goofiness, light-heartedness, heartbreak, and growth. If you're looking for an all-around fabulous story, you've found it. Amazing. Truly amazing.

The story of Blair and Ethan is one I won't forget anytime soon and one I will revisit again and again. Promises Hurt and Forgotten Promises have both found their places on my Favorites shelf.
798094
Douleur exquise, Exquisite Pain, is my only emotion.

It has taken me a few days to put this into words, because like with Tears of Tess, I am fractured.  I feel like part of me has been opened up and gutted, and another part of me has been set free.  Never before have I read a series about a couple that has me so completely inside out that I question who I am as a person.  How would I react to the situations Tess has had to deal with?  Would I be as strong as she is?

Tess is astounding in her strength, and even when you think she cant be whole again, she finds a way to surprise you.  Even in her brokenness she is strong.  How much can one soul take?  How much can one woman withstand before she breaks completely?  This is the question that is asked from the beginning of QQ till the end.

Q is sadistic, dark, cruel, and murderous.  He is also kind, devoted, patient, and exquisite.  Q is the machine behind the strength of Tess.  Without realizing it, they have found the perfect balance to make a rather beautiful, if not a little disturbing, happily ever after.

This book goes to places that broke my heart.  It also went to places that broke my spirit.  But I wouldnt trade a minute of it.  I needed to find out who Q was.  I needed to know all of him, almost as much as Tess did.  Would I be able to love these characters as much as I did in the first book?  No.  I love them more.  They are more real, more alive, more flawed.  And I needed that.

This book surpasses ToT on so many levels, but not because it is better written or even because its darker.  Its because it gives us more of the pieces to the puzzle.  It closes gaps, and makes fractured souls look more complete.  It is what makes QQ precious.  I feel like Im rambling, but the truth is, I have no idea how to put into words what really cant be explained.  You have to experience the book for yourself.  You have to allow yourself to go to that dark scary place, and feel it.  Really feel it.

Great authors keep you riveted and your mind engaged, but Pepper Winters keeps you involved and your entire being becomes part of the story.

I give this a perfect 5 lipsticks.

~B~
4774477
I finished this book about an hour ago and still have tears in my eyes, not balling anymore, but the everyone emotion from this book is still raw at the surface. The name fits the book perfectly and shows every emotion throughout the entire book. This will be in my top ten of reads even though it will be long while until i can read it again. the ending just rips your soul right out and just makes you think about life in general and what i all means.

Life is full of very high moments and gut wrenching low moments and this book proves it all. Definitely can't wait for the second one i'm sure it won't disappoint at all like the first

Thank you for showing how writing has no bounds and life is so fragile
3186869
This was my third book in just a couple of months that strongly focused on characters and deep emotions. And you know what? Im loving every second of these experiences. In Everything Here is Beautiful we see the story from multiple perspectives - Miranda, Lucia, Manny, Yonah. Their fates forever linked by one deep emotion - Empathy.

Mira T. Lee have done an amazing job bringing her characters to life. Even their language and choice of words changed accordingly and added that exquisite touch to their personalities. Making them as real as my next door neighbours.

Miranda and Lucia, two Chinese-Americans, whose mother emigrated to the USA when Miranda was just a little girl and Luci was still tenderly protected in her mothers womb. Out of the two of them, Lucia was always the vigorous and sparkling one, discovering the world in her own keen and energetic pace. While Miranda, surely affected by their early years in the states, took upon herself a responsible role.

Always being spontaneous and strong-willed, Lucia dashes after her dreams and emotions, and no-one could keep her in one spot, not even her illness.

A duck, said Lucia. Im going to paint you, a duck. A goose! said Yonah. Lucy Goosey, Im going to paint you a goose.

As Lucia passes through Yonahs and later Mannys life, they will stay forever linked together. Either because of tenderness of ones heart, or through much more complicated emotions. But there won't be a single moment when they would have forgotten Luci and how she changed their lives.

Manny:
When I first marry Lucia, people wonder who is this Chinese girl? I say, this is Lucia, and everybody likes Lucia. Wherever she goes she is friend with everyone. Lucia is like child this way, without walls.

Emotional and heart-wrenching, Everything Here is Beautiful deserves so much more attention.
Dont go into it looking for plot twists and action, instead expect huge emotional response to the vivid characters and interlaced fates.
2762001
Claire Kingsley has transcended her earlier books. His Heart is a masterpiece, and I absolutely loved it! I cried, my heart broke, I found hope, I anguished, I was renewed...and I could not stop reading.

Brooke and Sebastian face the worst life has to throw their way, separately and together, and they face it with their best. Like real life, sometimes their best isn't good enough. Sometimes, it's more than enough. But no matter what, each in their own way and in their own time, they keep trying. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it and doesn't look like it, but that's what makes these characters so very human--and lovable.

There is no way to describe this story without revealing spoilers, so let me just say that the best thing you can do for yourself is to buy this book immediately, set aside however much time you need to read it in as close to one sitting as possible, and enjoy every second. You will not regret it.
983659
I can't even put into words just how incredible this is. I LITERALLY cannot. This is just so.... I don't quite understand how to breathe or live or function anymore. I don't know if these are tears, or my SOUL POURING FROM MY EYES. Can one even LIVE properly after reading something so beautiful, amazing, and heart-breaking? Honestly, there really aren't any words I can put together to share with you the beauty and impact of this book. No matter how hard I try. I just can't. All I can do is cry and hope that people will take away from this book, not that it was just a good book they were glad to stumble upon, but take away the, I don't quite know how to phrase it, really, the outlook on the the way things are. How things have to be. How things can't be, no matter how hard you wish for them. And, just how things are. To some, it may seem depressing or sappy, but I say that it's just.... well.... the only way to know how amazing this is, is to read it yourself. You will NOT regret it."Okay?"