I am so happy to participate in the blog tour for Pieces and its previous sequel, The Breakaway. Hereby today, I will review both books in the series! Enjoy...
Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle
Publication: May 1st 2012 by Rhemalda Publishing
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the tour organizer/author
Rating:
When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she's missing. Escape isn't high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she's part of a family-even if it is a family of criminals. But she's still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she's falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn't sure she wants to take it.
-- My Rating --
4/5 Oscars Really Liked it...
-- My Thoughts --
The second book in the series, Pieces, was released a few weeks ago. So and so, I was very happy that I had the chance to review the first AND the second book in the series.The first book was pretty good, it went past my expectations.
Naomi, wakes up and realizes she has been kidnapped. She only remembers pieces of that night. The night she was kidnapped. Her family is broken. Her parents are distant. Naomi might even be a little pleased that she has been taken away. She thinks that her parents don't love her, and will give up searching for her in a couple of weeks. She is wrong.
As she finds outs, her family of kidnappers are really nice. They feed her, they help her, they even let her watch TV. She feels like one of the family, but Naomi still wants to run. She decides that the best way to do this is make one of the kidnappers fall in love with her. And who is better than Jesse? Caring, hot, and to-the-point. But while she tries to make him fall in love, will she fall into her own hole? Will she ever get away from the kidnappers? And why did they kidnap her in the first place? Find out more when you read this breathtaking novel, The Breakaway...
I liked this novel a lot. Michelle, has a really great writing style, although the book was written in third person, I was able to connect with Naomi and her mother, as the chapters alternate between them. I liked the love interest, too. Jesse is definitely a swoon-worthy guy. This novel has a lot of potential. But a few things irked me. I didn't like Naomi's way of thinking. I thought it was irrational, but I haven't been through what she had, so I can't really be a judge.
I liked the secondary characters, nonetheless. They were a wonderful addition to the story. I can't wait to see what Michelle Davidson Argyle, would bring to the field after this amazing novel. Keeping my fingers crossed for Pieces, the second book.
Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle
Publication: February 14th 2013 by Rhemalda Publishing
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the tour organizer/author
Rating:
Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.
Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.
Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.
-- My Rating --
4/ 5 Oscars: Really liked it...
-- My Thoughts --
I find that duologies are very little in the book world, it seems like authors cannot push all their thoughts into two books and work it out. It always seems to need more. But in this duology, the author perfectly captured her readers and gave them the most satisfying ending.
It's been two years since Naomi ran away from her kidnappers, but she had never been the same. She still misses Jesse, her love, who is in prison but she seems to move on. And when she meets the kind, sweet Finn, her world brightens once more. Well, up until Jesse comes out of prison on parole. Then everything turns upside down...
I wondered what road Michelle D.A. would take in the second book, since there was a lot of potential. And I feel like she walked down the right road. Even though it's written in third person, we connect with Naomi on an intimate basis. I still feel like Naomi's decisions are ones that are done without thinking, and I would never do what she did. I don't connect with her well, but Jesse and Finn really add to the story. In the first book, when there was only Jesse, I wanted a love triangle (like, wow. I ASKED for a love triangle), so I could love the guy on the other side. Thank you, Michelle for bringing Finn in. My heart was always with Finn, he is the cutest, sweetest guy every girl could ask for. I adored him.
The book dragged a little in the middle, but then it sped up and everything was fine. The ending was superb, Michelle D.A. nailed that one! And she is definitely on the list of authors I will always look out for. Recommended to every contemporary reader out there who wants a little bit of thrill mixed in!
-- About The Author and The Books --
Where to purchase The Breakaway:
Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.
So glad you're part of the tour, thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed both books. :D
ReplyDeleteThey were amazing!
DeleteI've seen these around quite a bit have been interested. It's an interesting idea...the whole kidnapping thing. I think I need to get to these one of these days soon. Thanks for another great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, ALi!
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