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rihoward 's review for:
Pretty Reckless
by L.J. Shen
Is there anything that this author cannot write?
Every book that this author has written I have gobbled up as if her words were cheese and I was the mouse. Her gift with words is truly the stuff of legends. She is the Babe Ruth of writing and while there are many in the game she is the true MVP. It doesn't matter what the genre she writes she picks up the gauntlet and runs with it. This book was just another example of hitting a grand slam.
To say that I have been looking forward to this story would be an understatement. At first, I wasn't sure if it was because I just loved the men of All Saint's High so much that I didn't want them to ever go away. Gradually, it became so much more. The teasers and anticipation had me needing to know answers. In particular, how could the child of my favorite Hothole (Jaime) have a daughter such as Daria? Entitled I could see but a mean girl. Never. This story breaks it down. I loved the glimpses of the hotholes and especially Jaime and Mel again(because let me be frank I LOVED them and anything about them is food for my soul) but I really loved watching the dynamic between the kids. The kids remind me so much of their parents. Which again, surprised me considering that Daria could be a mean girl. Yet, she is so much more than that. This story reminds me that not everything is as it seems and not always is the grass greener on the other side of the fence.
I found myself reading certain chapters from various perspectives, (Melody's in particular at a time I REALLY needed to understand her actions concerning her daughter--nice touch to the author on this one) and would find myself so caught up in the moment that I later realized that I had tears sliding down my cheek. Who can do that? This author can it seems. This is a story filled with angst, betrayal, and heartbreak juxtaposed with butterflies, redemption, and love. In a nutshell, this story blew the others out of the park. I say that with every LJ Shen book but this one felt different. The hotholes might have been the start of all this (literally and figuratively) but these kids are going to leave them all in the dust.
Daria and Penn were perfect. Truly perfect. They will make you fall in love while simultaneously break your heart. They will remind you that sometimes not everyone is your enemy. They will also make you see why there was something so precious about the movie Lady and the Tramp. I was right to love Daria even when others were quick to misunderstand her. People tend to lash out when they are on the defensive.
I recommend anyone that reads this to be prepared for a bumpy ride. It will be rough but trust me when I say the wait for this book was worth it. I cannot wait for the next book, if what is think is happening with Knight, Luna, and Vaughn then I am one happy girl.
Every book that this author has written I have gobbled up as if her words were cheese and I was the mouse. Her gift with words is truly the stuff of legends. She is the Babe Ruth of writing and while there are many in the game she is the true MVP. It doesn't matter what the genre she writes she picks up the gauntlet and runs with it. This book was just another example of hitting a grand slam.
To say that I have been looking forward to this story would be an understatement. At first, I wasn't sure if it was because I just loved the men of All Saint's High so much that I didn't want them to ever go away. Gradually, it became so much more. The teasers and anticipation had me needing to know answers. In particular, how could the child of my favorite Hothole (Jaime) have a daughter such as Daria? Entitled I could see but a mean girl. Never. This story breaks it down. I loved the glimpses of the hotholes and especially Jaime and Mel again(because let me be frank I LOVED them and anything about them is food for my soul) but I really loved watching the dynamic between the kids. The kids remind me so much of their parents. Which again, surprised me considering that Daria could be a mean girl. Yet, she is so much more than that. This story reminds me that not everything is as it seems and not always is the grass greener on the other side of the fence.
I found myself reading certain chapters from various perspectives, (Melody's in particular at a time I REALLY needed to understand her actions concerning her daughter--nice touch to the author on this one) and would find myself so caught up in the moment that I later realized that I had tears sliding down my cheek. Who can do that? This author can it seems. This is a story filled with angst, betrayal, and heartbreak juxtaposed with butterflies, redemption, and love. In a nutshell, this story blew the others out of the park. I say that with every LJ Shen book but this one felt different. The hotholes might have been the start of all this (literally and figuratively) but these kids are going to leave them all in the dust.
Daria and Penn were perfect. Truly perfect. They will make you fall in love while simultaneously break your heart. They will remind you that sometimes not everyone is your enemy. They will also make you see why there was something so precious about the movie Lady and the Tramp. I was right to love Daria even when others were quick to misunderstand her. People tend to lash out when they are on the defensive.
I recommend anyone that reads this to be prepared for a bumpy ride. It will be rough but trust me when I say the wait for this book was worth it. I cannot wait for the next book, if what is think is happening with Knight, Luna, and Vaughn then I am one happy girl.