Review ~ The Song of David by Amy Harmon

SYNOPSIS

She said I was like a song. Her favorite song. A song isn’t something you can see. It’s something you feel, something you move to, something that disappears after the last note is played.

I won my first fight when I was eleven years old, and I’ve been throwing punches ever since. Fighting is the purest, truest, most elemental thing there is. Some people describe heaven as a sea of unending white. Where choirs sing and loved ones await. But for me, heaven was something else. It sounded like the bell at the beginning of a round, it tasted like adrenaline, it burned like sweat in my eyes and fire in my belly. It looked like the blur of screaming crowds and an opponent who wanted my blood. 

For me, heaven was the octagon.

Until I met Millie, and heaven became something different. I became something different. I knew I loved her when I watched her stand perfectly still in the middle of a crowded room, people swarming, buzzing, slipping around her, her straight dancer’s posture unyielding, her chin high, her hands loose at her sides. No one seemed to see her at all, except for the few who squeezed past her, tossing exasperated looks at her unsmiling face. When they realized she wasn’t normal, they hurried away. Why was it that no one saw her, yet she was the first thing I saw?

If heaven was the octagon, then she was my angel at the center of it all, the girl with the power to take me down and lift me up again. The girl I wanted to fight for, the girl I wanted to claim. The girl who taught me that sometimes the biggest heroes go unsung and the most important battles are the ones we don’t think we can win.

**This is David ‘Tag’ Taggert's book, a supporting character introduced in The Law of Moses. This is a stand-alone story.

 Purchase Links

Amazon US – Amazon UK – Amazon CA – Amazon AU

Barnes & Noble – Kobo – iTunes

FIVE HUGE EMOTIONALLY FILLED STARS

The most intimate thing we can do is to allow the people we love most to see us at our worst.

One thing you should know, and don’t kill me, but I haven’t not read Law of Moses. I know, I know -- Shameful. However, when I saw this book, it’s beautiful cover and it’s intriguing synopsis, I couldn’t pass it up. I mean. Its Amy Harmon for cripes sake! I couldn’t pass it up. What a beautiful story…

You can’t see a song. You feel a song, you hear a song, you move to it. Just like I can’t see you, but I feel you, and I move toward you. When you’re with me, I feel like I glimpse a David nobody else knows is there. It’s the Song of David, and nobody else can hear it but me.

There were so many things I absolutely loved about this book. It was flawless, if I can tell you the truth. The Hero, Tag, is totally swoon-worthy. He’s strong, yet, when his sensitive side comes out, he makes my heart pound (yes, pun intended). As for the heroine, Millie, I absolutely loved her. She’s one the strongest heroines I’ve ever met. She’s fierce, loyal and so loving. Her younger brother Henry is so blessed to have her. And speaking of Henry…OMG…what a beautiful character; he added so much to the already emotional story.

My story might not end in a miracle. But I’m eager for an ending, so I’ll take the miracles along the way and avoid the ending all together. I’ve discovered I don’t have to see what’s in front of me to keep going. Millie taught me that.

Perks of loving a blind girl.

This is one of those stories that will stick with you long after you’re done reading it. As soon as I finished, I had to message Ms. Harmon to tell her how much I loved it. I was a hot mess when it ended, but I’m glad she ended it where it ended because to me it was perfect. This story will make you cry and make you take deep breaths just because you feel like your heart will explode.

As I stated in the beginning, I have not read Law of Moses, which will be remedied soon. This can most definitely be considered a standalone, but might spoil things for you if you haven’t read Moses & Georgia’s story (though it won’t deter me from reading it).

FINAL THOUGHTS: PICK THIS BOOK UP! I will never tire of Ms. Harmon’s stories. Just outright brilliant.

Loving her wasn’t unpardonable either. But loving her and letting her down…that was unpardonable to me. That was unforgiveable. That was the part I struggled with.

#Review ~ The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. 

**Spoilers ahead**

Five Stars

Okay.

I am a sobbing mess.

I’ll be completely honest. Though I’ve heard of this book, I’ve never really wanted to read it because, well, you know. (And if you don’t, then you must be living under a rock – just sayin). Anyway, once I saw the movie trailer, I was more convinced than ever to never read it. I’m not a fan of books that don’t end happily. I’m the type of girl that likes to have the HEA; to know that everything will be okay. However, the stars were aligning and I was actually in a mood for an emotional read, so I went for it.

And I do not regret one single moment.

“I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

Hazel isn’t your typical sixteen-year old teenager. Everyday is gift. As a victim of cancer, she fights for her life everyday. Her prognosis isn’t good, but with the help of a miracle drug, her life continues Her parents want nothing but the best for her. They encourage her to attend a cancer support group. This is where she meets Augustus Waters.

“I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.”

Augustus is a seventeen-year old cancer survivor. There are so many things that I love about Augustus: His outlook on life, his quirks, his one good leg, and his unyielding support of his friend. He sweeps into Hazel’s life just by being his magnetic self. As much as Hazel tries to maintain a safe distance from him, a choice to spare him from the inevitable hurt, she falls anyway.

I LOVE AUGUSTUS!

What a slut time is. She screws everybody.

I do not like sad books, but I do not regret reading this. I’m so thankful for having met Augustus and Hazel. They felt so real and they’ve made such a huge impact on me. My emotions were all over the place and I swear and I have never cried over a character as much as I did over Augustus. How am I ever going to watch the movie adaptation? I will definitely have a box of tissues handy and ready to go. What a be

#Review ~ Love, in English by Karina Halle

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter. I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

 

4.75-5 Stars

He slowly turned around. “What is love? In English?”

I raised my brows. “Love, in English, is love?”

“What is it in Spanish?”

I was so enthralled by his hypnotic eyes, I could barely remember. “Amore?”

He shook his head ever so slightly. “No. Love in Spanish is you.”

I am utterly FLOORED by this book. This was STUNNING! As I sit here trying to write this review, I’ve had a few hours to reflect. I’m having trouble finding the adequate words to describe this story. The first words that come to mind are immediately: Beautiful, heartbreaking, conflicting & sweet. Sorry for the unoriginality, but meh! I suck at trying to paint a picture. All I know is that this one made me a swoony, hot mess.

Love, that ultimate villainess. She makes examples of us all.

And yet we still come back for more.

We keep playing the role she gives us.

For one more chance to feel alive.

Love has made me a villain. But at least now, I don’t have to be misunderstood.

This is my story…

Vera has a reputation. Her tattoos, her promiscuity has followed her around since she was teenager. At twenty-three years old, she’s a bit…lost; she’s kind of stuck in a rut, of sorts. So she decides to go to Spain and join this program to help Spaniards with their English. It is because of this program that she will have a free room for the next month. This is where she eventually meets the handsome Mateo.

I liked the calm Mateo, the witty Mateo, the lusty Mateo, and the hot-tempered Mateo.

I liked all of him.

No. I loved all of him.

I loved Mateo Casalles.

Mateo is thirty-eight, married and has a young daughter. He is also a former pro football (soccer) star who is now co-owns restaurants in Spain, but wants to expand internationally, hence why he’s in this program. Mateo and Vera hit it off immediately. They seemed so at ease with each other, their conversations constantly flowing. There was a definite connection. Vera, being Vera, knew instantly she was in deep trouble with Mateo.

“You’re married!” I yelled. “I cannot be the other woman!”

“You already are the other woman!” he yelled right back. His words smashed into me, blowing me to smithereens. He cupped my face in his hands. “You already are, whether you want to be or not. You’ve bewitched me, Vera. You’ve blinded me. You’ve made me forget my vows. And all you had to do was shine.”

Although I loved this book, part of me was torn. I love Vera & Mateo together, but the fact was that he is married. Yes, it does become quite obvious that he is in a loveless marriage, but like I said, he is still legally with his wife. I can completely understand why Vera felt so much guilt because honestly, I felt them too. You really felt all the struggles she went through – both physically and mentally. Only phenomenal storytelling can make you feel that.

My Estrella.

Overall, this was just one beautiful read. Karina Halle did a extraordinary job of writing this. The story flowed nicely, it kept my interest and it’s the type of story that will stick with you for a very long time. Bravo, Karina! Bravo.