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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Let me just inform you that I skimmed through a lot of pages in this book. Because 1.) it was boring as heck 2.) I honestly don't feel or see any chemistry between Sophie and Nic and lastly, 3.) Nic is too dull as a main love interest.
Don't get me wrong, there were some parts that I thoroughly enjoyed. There's Luca and his icy aura (I swear there's more in him that wasn't revealed in this book), Millie and Sophie's friendship and Millie's sass.
I might read the sequel because I heard that Luca has more parts in there. XD I need more Luca in my life!
Don't get me wrong, there were some parts that I thoroughly enjoyed. There's Luca and his icy aura (I swear there's more in him that wasn't revealed in this book), Millie and Sophie's friendship and Millie's sass.
I might read the sequel because I heard that Luca has more parts in there. XD I need more Luca in my life!
Full review on Musical Bilbiolater
Rating: 4 out of 5, aww heck 5/5
Recommended for: most people, crime/thriller, romance
Summer in Cedar Hill won't be the same for Sophie. Working as a waitress at her family's diner and hanging out with her best friend Millie is all Sophie is used to, until five brothers move into the abandoned mansion up the hill. She's completely drawn to mysterious Nicoli however, this romance isn't as easy as it seems. With a fierce family rivalry brought to light, Sophie will have to chose between family or love.
Vendetta is a modern book on a classic and rarely used subject. The mystery that Catherine Doyle weaves around Sophie and the Five brothers living in the mansion on the hill creates a really intriguing, page-turning story about love and family.
This is a perfect book for reading on a sunday morning which is coincidentally, when I read this book. The plot was well thought out and developed, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
I liked all the characters, even the creepy, scary ones. Nicoli's family was dark and violent and I wouldn't want to cross a single one of them in a dark alley (except for Luca, he could cross me in a dark alley). Ms. Doyle didn't hold back on any of the crime in this book. I'm trying not to give too much away but the gritty nature of the central plot line adds to the mystery of Sophie's life. You discover bit's and pieces of Sophie's life right when the MC does and I love that. There are a lot of twist and turns in this book that keeps you wanting more. I was reading this thinking just one more page and before I knew it I finished the whole book.
Full review on Musical Bilbiolater
Rating: 4 out of 5, aww heck 5/5
Recommended for: most people, crime/thriller, romance
Summer in Cedar Hill won't be the same for Sophie. Working as a waitress at her family's diner and hanging out with her best friend Millie is all Sophie is used to, until five brothers move into the abandoned mansion up the hill. She's completely drawn to mysterious Nicoli however, this romance isn't as easy as it seems. With a fierce family rivalry brought to light, Sophie will have to chose between family or love.
Vendetta is a modern book on a classic and rarely used subject. The mystery that Catherine Doyle weaves around Sophie and the Five brothers living in the mansion on the hill creates a really intriguing, page-turning story about love and family.
This is a perfect book for reading on a sunday morning which is coincidentally, when I read this book. The plot was well thought out and developed, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
I liked all the characters, even the creepy, scary ones. Nicoli's family was dark and violent and I wouldn't want to cross a single one of them in a dark alley (except for Luca, he could cross me in a dark alley). Ms. Doyle didn't hold back on any of the crime in this book. I'm trying not to give too much away but the gritty nature of the central plot line adds to the mystery of Sophie's life. You discover bit's and pieces of Sophie's life right when the MC does and I love that. There are a lot of twist and turns in this book that keeps you wanting more. I was reading this thinking just one more page and before I knew it I finished the whole book.
Full review on Musical Bilbiolater
This is typially not my type of read, I'm all for a contemporary book every now and again and I do love a thriller. Generally speaking though I avoid books with words like Mafia or Mob in the description. I just have never enjoyed anything with that. I kind of find it an overused and tired trope.
However I heard about this one before it was released from a source I trust and decided to go for it. It shocked me, I really enjoyed it! The Mafia/mob theme is there but it's toned down, less of a huge deal than I expected. The characters for the most part were good, and thre were was only one big part where I had that 'God damnit, you're clearly a teenager in a YA novel moment'.
I don't know that I would reccommend it for all my friends but for those that enjoy YA I would definitely say go for it. I'll be picking up the second book for sure.
I won an ARC of this from a give away here on Goodreads, it was given free of charge with only a request for my thoughts.
However I heard about this one before it was released from a source I trust and decided to go for it. It shocked me, I really enjoyed it! The Mafia/mob theme is there but it's toned down, less of a huge deal than I expected. The characters for the most part were good, and thre were was only one big part where I had that 'God damnit, you're clearly a teenager in a YA novel moment'.
I don't know that I would reccommend it for all my friends but for those that enjoy YA I would definitely say go for it. I'll be picking up the second book for sure.
I won an ARC of this from a give away here on Goodreads, it was given free of charge with only a request for my thoughts.
UPDATE #2 re-read in January 2017 ( Luca you wonderful bastard<3)
UPDATE re-read in January 2016 (P. S. I still love Luca <3)
"I told you to go home."
"Aren't you glad I have no respect for your authority?"
This book really picks up toward the second half and then it gets really interesting. Sophie is a very likeable character because she questions things around her and condemns actions that go against her principles and morals. She doesn't just blindly follow orders. I had my doubts about how the author was going to tackle the wholeMafia thing to make it believable. I think she did a really good job. As for the forbidden love story I think there is something missing but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I'm not really sure where the author is leaning toward, but Luca and Sophie have an amazing chemistry. If you ask me they could have this amazing over the charts love/hate relationship. There is also a possibility that I'm slightly brainwashed from all the I-hate-him-so-much-that-I-kind of-love-him stories that I'm just imagining things. Oh well a girl can dream. On the other hand I'm not so sure about Nic and Sophie. The last chapter could be a foreshadowing about a love triangle between Nic, Sophie and Luca. I think Nic is starting to kind of suspect that Sophie and Luca have a crush on each other, that they themselves are not even aware about.
UPDATE re-read in January 2016 (P. S. I still love Luca <3)
"I told you to go home."
"Aren't you glad I have no respect for your authority?"
This book really picks up toward the second half and then it gets really interesting. Sophie is a very likeable character because she questions things around her and condemns actions that go against her principles and morals. She doesn't just blindly follow orders. I had my doubts about how the author was going to tackle the whole
Kind of predictable, but very entertaining. To be honest, though, I kind of prefer Luca.
It's a bit dark and edgy for a YA novel, but I think it's what I loved most about it! I definitely enjoyed reading this, and it helped me get out of my reading slump! It's a bit predictable, but I was so blown away at the events that occurred at the latter parts of the book.
This is definitely a great re-telling of Romeo and Juliet! (even though I hate that book a lot)
I can't wait to read the second book!
This is definitely a great re-telling of Romeo and Juliet! (even though I hate that book a lot)
I can't wait to read the second book!
I’m so happy to have found this book and this debut author. After assembling a Top Ten Tuesday list about debuts of 2015, this one came up on that list and I have been excited about it ever since! I went into the book mostly blind about the entire plot, not knowing much except that it was about revenge. I would really suggest that method if possible, because all the crazy turns were so much more exciting.
My favorite thing about this book was the intense mystery. We don’t know much about the history of the Gracewells or the new family, but we know that Sophie’s dad is in jail for a mysterious crime. Sophie is a regular teen girl in Chicago, with a job and a recently disturbed home life. I liked her immediately, as well as her relationship with her best friend. Nicoli is a different story, a much darker bad boy type character. However, I found him really intriguing too. I was a little worried I would get the five brothers confused, but that never happened for me.
There are many different turns in this book, so I don’t want to get too much into the details of the plot. However, I will say that it is very fast paced, action packed, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I always had to know what would happen next as we unravel the tale of Sophie and Nicoli and their families. It’s a little Romeo and Juliet – esque, but with some thrilling elements. I have read quite a few revenge novels in the past few years, and while I am typically tired of the tropes that come with them, this had an unique take on the idea.
This was a really great debut novel! I am looking forward to continuing on with the series, especially after having all the feels while reading this one. I would suggest this to fans looking for a really exciting mystery.
Find this review and more at my blog, Neon Yeti Reads.
My favorite thing about this book was the intense mystery. We don’t know much about the history of the Gracewells or the new family, but we know that Sophie’s dad is in jail for a mysterious crime. Sophie is a regular teen girl in Chicago, with a job and a recently disturbed home life. I liked her immediately, as well as her relationship with her best friend. Nicoli is a different story, a much darker bad boy type character. However, I found him really intriguing too. I was a little worried I would get the five brothers confused, but that never happened for me.
There are many different turns in this book, so I don’t want to get too much into the details of the plot. However, I will say that it is very fast paced, action packed, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I always had to know what would happen next as we unravel the tale of Sophie and Nicoli and their families. It’s a little Romeo and Juliet – esque, but with some thrilling elements. I have read quite a few revenge novels in the past few years, and while I am typically tired of the tropes that come with them, this had an unique take on the idea.
This was a really great debut novel! I am looking forward to continuing on with the series, especially after having all the feels while reading this one. I would suggest this to fans looking for a really exciting mystery.
Find this review and more at my blog, Neon Yeti Reads.
I admit this book started off really slowly but the more I read the more I got involved with Sophie and the mystery of the Priestly boys. I was expecting there to be insta-love which there was slightly, but Sophie was a relatable character!
She's just a normal girl, who gets mixed up in all sorts of drama. I also loved Millie, her best friend, who was funny and girlie and definitely someone I'd get on with.
The Falcone brothers were all very much alike and also completely different.
It was nice to see that, once the drama started, two of them had some kindness on their hearts to help Sophie out in her time of need...
And it all started with a jar of honey.
I really loved this book, much more than I expected to! It's a bit like Romeo and Juliet but with the Italian Mafia based in Chicago rather than Verona.
And it's brilliant!
The only part I didn't like was after the party. It never got as far as date rape but part of me saw it coming and it wasn't any less of a shock.
I can't wait to start the second one now!
She's just a normal girl, who gets mixed up in all sorts of drama. I also loved Millie, her best friend, who was funny and girlie and definitely someone I'd get on with.
The Falcone brothers were all very much alike and also completely different.
It was nice to see that, once the drama started, two of them had some kindness on their hearts to help Sophie out in her time of need...
And it all started with a jar of honey.
I really loved this book, much more than I expected to! It's a bit like Romeo and Juliet but with the Italian Mafia based in Chicago rather than Verona.
And it's brilliant!
The only part I didn't like was after the party. It never got as far as date rape but part of me saw it coming and it wasn't any less of a shock.
I can't wait to start the second one now!