Preston's Honor - Review

Preston's Honor (Sign of Love - Gemini) by Mia Sheridan

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What they say: There were two brothers—identical twins—and though I loved them both, my soul belonged to only one.
Annalia Del Valle has loved Preston Sawyer all her life. The daughter of an impoverished migrant farmworker, she grew up as an outcast in what was no more than a tiny, cooped up shack in California’s Central Valley. But her heart found freedom in the land, in the wide-open spaces of Sawyer Farm, and in the boys who were her only friends.

Preston has yearned for Annalia since he was a boy. But a sense of honor kept him from pursuing her until he’s unable to hold back any longer and their worlds—and bodies—collide one hot summer night. A night that sets off a chain of events that will alter their lives forever.

Now Annalia is back in town after disappearing without a trace for six long months. Determined to reclaim her heart, her life, and the baby she left behind—the son who was created in a moment of lust and love and pent-up yearning.

Preston has survived grief, a ravaging drought, and the despair of heartache, but he’s not sure he can survive Annalia again. And he might be unwilling to try. Will pride and bitterness keep him from the one thing he’s always longed for?

How do you heal what is irreparably broken? How do you forgive that which is unforgivable? How do you discover that real honor comes not from circumstance, but from the place deep in our hearts where truth resides? And how do you move beyond the wounds of the past to discover that some loves are as solid as the ground beneath your feet, and as enduring as the earth itself?

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY GEMINI. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK



I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Oh the feels!!! I'm honestly not sure how Mia Sheridan does it, but with every single Sign of Love novel she manages to pack it full of raw emotion, heartbreak and a real sense of hope.
I'm not sure if any book will ever be able to hit me right in the gut like Archer's Voice but Preston's Honor comes really close. Mia Sheridan manages to include all the drama of first love, the devastating heartbreak of betrayal and the impact one event can have on the lives of many.
I always think it's difficult to comment on certain issues such as immigration unless you've experienced it yourself. Personally I don't have firsthand knowledge of immigration, but I often find it difficult to understand why in the society we currently live in people would offer anything but support for immigrants and refugees - But I'm often accused of being naive. I'm not sure if Mia Sheridan has experienced life as an immigrant but she does a wonderful job portraying the daily trials and tribulations Lia faces as the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Lia never feels truly accepted and is often bullied and belittled, especially by the twins mother. She often tries to operate in the background rather than draw attention. One of my favourite parts is when Lia is told to not be afraid, to stand up for herself and to make a fuss.

I loved the twin Gemini element demonstrated in Preston and Cole. It's always interesting to see how different twins can be yet still be drawn to the same people and qualities.

I was expecting to find the flashback elements slightly grating at times but I really didn't. To be honest I would have liked more of them to fill in certain gaps in Lia and Preston's shared past but the story worked really well without it.

I made the mistake of starting Preston's Honor before bed. This was a twofold problem because not only was I unable to put it down, I also couldn't sleep after ugly crying my way through some of the more upsetting parts. BUT I flipping loved it.

4.5 emotional Stars in my Sky!


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Review - Allegiant

To celebrate the movie release I'm finally posting my book review.
Allegiant - Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth

What they say: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, ALLEGIANT, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the DIVERGENT series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in DIVERGENT and INSURGENT. 

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US * UK

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I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: I'm going to start out reiterating that this review is for the book and not the movie. I speed read Allegiant upon release but when given the opportunity to reread and review it properly I jumped at the chance to revisit Tris and Four.

I know I'm extremely late to the party with this review, but even so, I'm going to keep it as spoiler free as possible.

I have huge respect for Veronica Roth and how she decided to conclude the series. While the story didn't take the route I was expecting, I'm finally at the place where I can understand why the events transpire in such a way. I will admit I wasn't so rational about the dramatic conclusion the first time I read it! I do now feel as though the events are in keeping with the tone of the book and Tris's story. Sometimes ugly crying is cathartic, and to be honest, I'm happy with the ending.

I remember being frustrated with Four the first time I read Allegiant. His POV was so different to the strong warrior I'd been more than I little obsessed with. What I'll take away with me after sitting down and reading the book properly without rushing to get to the end to see what transpires, is that he's not a superhero, but just a guy in a bad situation. He may be strong, but is prone to mistakes and misjudgement. This is okay, he's allowed to rely on others without being weak.

The pace really picks up as the book develops.Also because I already knew what was going to happen, I found myself sitting back and enjoying the ride more - I didn't have the constant feeling of dread. Did I still feel the emotion in the story? You betcha! I was just able to focus on the battles a bit more.

Divergent will always be the series that made me think it's okay to not have a neatly tied up HEA.

4 Stars in my Sky

My fav non-spoilers quotes:

• "Knowledge is power. Power to do evil...or power to do good. Power itself is not evil. So knowledge itself is not evil."
• "Can I be forgiven for all I've done to get here? I want to be. I can. I believe it."
• "I don't need to relive my fears anymore. All I need to do now is try to overcome them."
• "Being honest doesn't mean you say whatever you want, wherever you want. It means that what you choose to say is true."

Through Her Eyes - Tour & Review

Meet Chase Porter in Through Her Eyes by Ava Harrison!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US * Amazon UK

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What they say: One phone call changed me.

Three simple words and I was shattered.

Damaged.

Broken. 

Alone.

So I started over.

And my journey of rediscovery led me straight into his arms.

Chase Porter.

The stranger who showed me life from a different perspective. 

But we both had secrets…

His would destroy my world.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Ugly cry alert!!! Ava Harrison really puts her characters and readers through the wringer in Through Her Eyes. It's an emotional, stressful and at times, heartbreaking coming of age story. I can honestly say it wasn't anything like I was expecting and bought out all the feels!

I often moan how tricky it is to review certain books without posting any spoilers but with Through Her Eyes it really is difficult! The beauty of the story is in not knowing the secrets and experiencing Aria's trauma and joy right along with her. 

I really liked Aria and felt as though her pain was palpable, hence the ugly crying - never has a title been more apt. Her doubts and guilt came through with every page. I could visualise the different locations and I kept arguing with myself as to exactly what had happened. Did I figure out the big reveal? Yes I did, but it really didn't matter as I found myself asking what I would have done in her situation, then rapidly hoping I never am. 

Chase was almost everything I could hope for in a BBF. I did think he was almost to good to be true at times and couldn't decide whether I found his eagerness endearing or somewhat stalkerish?!

It did seem as though events conspired a little quickly at times, but I really felt as though I had seen Aria's story from her POV. My only real complaint was that I read the story before bed and spent most of the night awake snivelling afterwards...

4 - 4.5 Stars in my Sky!

Prologue:

I was a horrible person.

        Truly.

        But I had goals, and he didn’t fit into them.

I didn’t know how to take back the words I’d said. They filtered through my brain like a bad dream that I just couldn’t awaken from. Just when they started to slowly slip away, they resurfaced. Rooted so deeply in my psyche, there was really no place for them to hide.

        If only I’d known the ramifications of my actions. If only I’d known how my decisions would hurt me beyond repair.

        But at the time, I couldn’t let him halt my progress. I was so close . . .

        “Are you in love with me, Aria? Do you want to be with me?” Parker asked, and my heart completely stopped. I had waited so long to hear those words, for him to see me as more than a friend.

        “No. I don’t want to be with you,” I replied. Even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were a lie.

        I didn’t just love him. It was so much more than that. So much more than love. He was my rock, my friend. He was the lifeline that ran through me.

        At the time, I thought I had no choice . . . I thought he would be able to see that after everything I’d been through I needed to succeed. I needed to make up for the loss of my brother Owen. In the end, though, my decisions were always toxic.

        Toxic to him.

Toxic to Owen.

        Toxic to everyone.

“No, I don’t love you.”

Those were the last words he heard as he turned and walked away.

        My heart tightened in my chest as the words replayed over and over again that afternoon. A record skipping that I just couldn’t turn off.

Then the phone rang.

Three words were uttered.

Three words that changed my life.

The phone slipped from my trembling hand, and I dropped to the floor.

I couldn’t swallow. I couldn’t scream.

Cemented in place.

My shoulders curled in, and I clutched my stomach through dry heaves.

I’d lost my soul mate, and now I’d lost my future.

Everything I’d worked for crumbled, and it all no longer mattered.

Author Spotlight:

Ava Harrison is a New Yorker, born and bred.

When she’s not journaling her life, you can find her window shopping, cooking dinner for her family, or curled up on her couch reading a book.

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